JP2015158830A - Allocation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an allocation system capable of improving the allocation efficiency.SOLUTION: An area information management unit 201 stores, for each of a plurality of allocation areas, area information in which the range of the allocation area and a priority applied to the search of a vehicle to be allocated to the range are set. A vehicle information management unit 202 stores positional information of a plurality of vehicles. On the basis of the priority set for the area information of the allocation area including an allocation destination specified by a customer in the range and the positional information of the plurality of vehicles, a vehicle candidate search unit 241 searches for a vehicle to be allocated to the allocation destination.

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle allocation system using an AVM (Automatic Vehicle Monitoring) system for taxi vehicle allocation.

  In recent years, with the development of wireless mobile communication systems, it has become possible to easily perform mobile data communication for a wide area. In addition, with the development of positioning technology using radio waves, position information can be obtained by a GPS (Global Positioning System) positioning system using artificial satellites. By combining these wireless mobile communication systems and positioning systems, mobile data transmission systems and location management systems have been put into practical use, and are used for the purpose of improving the efficiency of taxi and transport vehicle allocation through business radio and public radio.

A vehicle allocation system using a wireless mobile communication system and a positioning system will be described with reference to an example of a schematic configuration shown in FIG.
The dispatch system shown in FIG. 1 includes a management center 101, a plurality of radio base stations 102 (102-1, 2,..., L), and a plurality of mobile stations (vehicles) 104 (104-1, 2,... A taxi dispatching AVM system configured using N), a GPS satellite 105, and a dispatching center 107 having a plurality of dispatching terminals 106 (106-1, 2,..., M).

Each radio base station 102 has a communication area in which the own station can communicate. For example, the communication area 103-1 of the radio base station 102-1 includes a mobile station 104 and a radio base station 102- in the area. 1 can communicate.
Each mobile station 104 can receive position information from the GPS satellite 105 and obtain position information (latitude, longitude) of the host vehicle. The location information obtained by the mobile station 104 is periodically sent to the management center 101 through the radio base station 102 having the communication area 103 where the vehicle exists together with the dynamic information of the mobile station 104 (vehicle).
The management center 101 collects position information and dynamic information of the mobile stations 104 existing in the communication area 103 through a plurality of radio base stations 102 and manages each mobile station 104.

In such a taxi dispatch AVM system, a customer contacts the dispatch center 107 to inform the location of the dispatch destination (for example, the current location of the customer) and desired vehicle information, and a dispatch request is made.
In the dispatch center 107, the operator operates the dispatch terminal 106 to transmit a dispatch request (location of the dispatch destination and desired vehicle information) to the management center 101.
In accordance with the dispatch request received from the dispatch center 107, the management center 101 searches (searches) a vehicle suitable for dispatch from the collected location information of each mobile station 104, and moves the vehicle to the position instructed by the dispatch destination. Operate to dispatch.

Here, various inventions have been proposed so far with respect to the above-described vehicle allocation system.
For example, in Patent Document 1, a vehicle as a mobile station transmits vehicle information including vehicle position information and vehicle state information (actual vehicle, empty vehicle, etc.) as a polling response signal to a base station. Based on the vehicle information sent from the station and the dispatch information, calculate the broadcast information including the actual dispatch rate and the actual vehicle rate for each area and time zone, and send it to the mobile station vehicle via the base station, An invention in which a vehicle displays the notification information on a monitor is disclosed.

JP 2008-245048 A

In the conventional vehicle allocation system, the search for the vehicle allocation is executed in the same conditions in all the areas. Therefore, depending on the area, the vehicle may not be allocated under the most desirable conditions, and further improvement in vehicle allocation efficiency has been demanded.
The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances as described above, and an object thereof is to provide a vehicle allocation system capable of improving vehicle allocation efficiency.

In the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, the vehicle allocation system is configured as follows.
That is, for each of a plurality of areas, an area management unit that stores area information in which a range of the area and a priority order to be applied in a search for a vehicle to be dispatched within the range are stored, and a vehicle that stores position information of the plurality of vehicles Search for searching for a vehicle to be dispatched to the dispatch destination based on the priority order set in the area information of the area including the management destination and the dispatch destination designated by the customer in the area and the position information of the plurality of vehicles And the vehicle allocation system.
According to such a configuration, the priority order applied in the search for vehicles to be dispatched to each area can be set for each area according to the characteristics of the area, so that the efficiency of dispatching to each area can be improved. it can.

  Here, in the area information, a priority order with respect to the waiting place of the vehicle can be set, and the search means is waiting in the waiting place where a high priority order is set in the area information corresponding to the dispatch destination. It is good also as a structure which gives priority to a vehicle and searches the vehicle delivered to the said delivery destination. As a result, the priority order for the place where the vehicle waits can be set in consideration of the distance between the place and the area of the dispatch destination, the time required for movement, etc., and the dispatch efficiency can be improved. .

  Further, the area information can be set to prohibit the vehicle allocation in a specific area, and the search means can set the prohibition in the area information corresponding to the vehicle allocation destination. It is good also as a structure which excludes the existing vehicle and searches the vehicle dispatched to the said dispatch destination. Thereby, the situation which arranges the vehicle which exists in the area which has trouble in the movement to a dispatch destination can be prevented.

  Further, in the area information, it can be set that prohibiting the dispatch of a vehicle waiting in a specific waiting place, and the search means is set to prohibit the area information corresponding to the dispatch destination. Alternatively, the vehicle waiting in the waiting place may be excluded and the vehicle to be dispatched to the dispatch destination may be searched. As a result, it is possible to prevent a situation in which a waiting vehicle is arranged at a standby place that hinders the movement to the dispatch destination.

  In addition, when there is no area information corresponding to the destination, the search means searches for a vehicle to be delivered to the destination in a priority order based on a distance relationship between the destination and the position of each vehicle. It is good also as composition to do. Thereby, the trouble of setting area information can be saved.

  Further, the vehicle management means further stores at least one of information indicating the characteristics of each vehicle or information indicating the characteristics of the crew of each vehicle, and the search means requests the characteristics of the vehicle or the crew. When a vehicle allocation request including a vehicle allocation request is received, a vehicle that allocates a vehicle to the vehicle allocation destination may be searched in preference to a vehicle that satisfies the request. Thereby, the vehicle along a customer's request can be dispatched.

  In addition, the vehicle management means further stores information indicating the dynamics of each vehicle, and the search means is a vehicle that dispatches the vehicle to the destination of delivery from among vehicles that have preset dynamics that can be dispatched. It is good also as a structure which searches. As a result, it is possible to prevent a situation in which a dynamic vehicle that cannot be dispatched is searched as a dispatch target.

  The area information can be set to a time zone to which the area information is applied, and the search means uses the area information in which the time zone including the time of the search is set to deliver the vehicle to the destination. It is good also as a structure which searches a vehicle. Thereby, it is possible to set the priority order in consideration that the characteristics of each area change according to the time zone, and it is possible to improve the vehicle allocation efficiency.

  According to the present invention, the priority order applied in the search for vehicles to be dispatched to each area can be set for each area according to the characteristics of the area, so that the efficiency of dispatching to each area can be improved.

It is a figure which shows the example of schematic structure of the vehicle allocation system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a structure of a management center. It is a figure explaining the search of the vehicle suitable for dispatch. It is a figure explaining the operation | movement which changes the aspect of area division according to a time slot | zone. It is a figure explaining the example of a setting of the area information according to a time slot | zone.

An example of a vehicle allocation system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As already described with reference to FIG. 1, the vehicle allocation system of this example includes a management center 101, a plurality of radio base stations 102 (102-1, 2,..., L), and a plurality of mobile stations ( Vehicle) 104 (104-1, 2,... N), a GPS satellite 105, and a dispatch center 107 having a plurality of dispatch terminals 106 (106-1, 2,..., M). It is configured.

Each mobile station 104 can receive position information from the GPS satellite 105 and obtain position information (latitude, longitude) of the host vehicle. The location information obtained by the mobile station 104 is periodically sent to the management center 101 through the radio base station 102 having the communication area 103 where the vehicle exists together with the dynamic information of the mobile station 104 (vehicle). In addition, dynamic information means the information which shows the states of vehicles, such as an empty vehicle, an actual vehicle, payment, and a reception vehicle.
That is, the mobile station 104 includes a device that detects position information (for example, a navigation device), an operation device that a driver inputs dynamic information, and a wireless device that performs wireless communication with the base station. These devices may be separate or integrated. In the following description, the mobile station 104 is described as being synonymous with or substantially synonymous with a vehicle. However, the apparatus as the mobile station 104 is provided in the vehicle.
The management center 101 collects position information and dynamic information of the mobile stations 104 existing in the communication area 103 through a plurality of radio base stations 102 and manages each mobile station 104.

The customer makes a vehicle allocation request by contacting the vehicle allocation center 107 and transmitting information on the location of the vehicle allocation destination (for example, the destination of the customer's current location) and the desired vehicle.
In the dispatch center 107, the operator operates the dispatch terminal 106 to transmit a dispatch request (location of the dispatch destination or information on the location of the dispatch destination and desired vehicle) to the management center 101.
In accordance with the dispatch request received from the dispatch center 107, the management center 101 searches (searches) a vehicle suitable for dispatch from the collected location information of each mobile station 104, and moves the vehicle to the position instructed by the dispatch destination. Operate to dispatch.

  In addition to making a request for dispatch to a taxi company by phone, the customer uses a taxi company's homepage or an application for requesting a dispatch installed on various mobile terminals (mobile phone terminals and tablet terminals) that are generally available on the market. By accessing the management center 101 through the Internet line, it is possible to make a vehicle allocation request to the management center 101 without going through the vehicle allocation center 107.

  Here, the vehicle allocation system of the present example is roughly applied to the search for a vehicle to be allocated within each range by providing a plurality of vehicle allocation areas in the sales area of a taxi company that uses the system. The priority order to be set can be set.

First, the area division of the sales area (setting of a plurality of dispatch areas) will be described.
Sales areas are divided into areas in a manner that allows efficient vehicle allocation by changing the priority order applied when searching for vehicles to be allocated. Is done. In this example, a vehicle allocation area is provided for each range where there is a bias in the customers who make a vehicle allocation request and a vehicle allocation request in the business area, and the remaining areas in the business area are “outside area”. Note that the area may be divided without being particularly conscious of the sales area.

  Moreover, it is good also as a structure which attaches time zone information with respect to each dispatch area, and, thereby, changes the mode of area division according to a time zone, or sets the priority order applied by the search of the vehicle to dispatch. It can be changed according to. This means that the positional difference between the customers who want to dispatch vehicles and the number of standby vehicles that can respond to the dispatch request changes depending on the time zone (for example, the time zone when the train is open and other time zones). Is taken into account. As a mode of time zone attached to each dispatch area, a mode of time zone obtained by simply dividing a day into a plurality of times, or dividing a day into a plurality of time zones after dividing into weekdays and holidays An aspect etc. are mentioned. In addition, when there are many positional differences among customers and standby vehicles due to seasonal factors, it is possible to divide a day into a plurality of time zones after dividing the year into a plurality of times.

  In addition, an area that is prohibited as a dispatch destination (a dispatch prohibition area) and a time zone that prohibits dispatch (a dispatch prohibition time zone) are set as parameters common to the system, and when a corresponding dispatch request occurs, a dispatch center 107 or the management center 101 may not accept the dispatch request, and may return a response indicating that delivery is prohibited to the dispatch request source.

Next, a standby place that exists in the business area will be described.
The waiting place is installed in the vicinity of a place (such as a station or a large-scale hospital) where a large number of customers who desire to use a taxi can be expected. A vehicle that is waiting at a standby location is not only used by a customer who visits the location, but can also be called up and used by a dispatch request from a customer who is away from the standby location. Therefore, in the search for the vehicle to be dispatched, the vehicle that is waiting at the standby location is also searched as a vehicle to be dispatched.

Vehicles waiting in the standby place are managed in the order in which the crew operated the mobile stations 104 deployed in the vehicles (the order in which the standby buttons were pressed). That is, when the vehicle arrives at the standby location, the crew member of the vehicle operates the mobile station 104 (for example, presses the standby button) in accordance with the taxi company operating rules, and information indicating that standby at the standby location is started. Information specifying the standby location is transmitted to the management center 101 together with the identification information of the vehicle. The management center 101 manages the number of vehicles on standby for each standby location, and based on the above information received from the mobile station 104, a value obtained by adding 1 to the number of vehicles already waiting at the corresponding standby location Is set as the standby order of the vehicle. In addition, when the vehicle whose waiting order is earlier than that of the vehicle is placed on a passenger or dispatched to another place and leaves the waiting place, the waiting order of the vehicle is decremented by one.
In addition, it is good also as a structure which uses the positional information on a vehicle as information which pinpoints a waiting place, and specifies the waiting place nearest to the position of the vehicle pointed by the positional information on the vehicle as the waiting place of the vehicle.

The position of the waiting place is managed by the position of the reference point provided in the waiting place, and the vehicle waiting in the waiting place exists not at the position of the vehicle itself but at the position of the waiting place (reference point position). It treats as what you do. That is, a mechanism is adopted in which the vehicles are ordered according to the standby order of the standby places without taking into account the subtle differences in the positions of the plurality of vehicles waiting at the same standby place.
When it is determined that there is no standby vehicle at the standby location, the management center 101 appropriately instructs the empty vehicle to move to the standby location and replenish the standby vehicle.

In addition, it is possible to set whether the vehicle is to be dispatched or not to be dispatched for each standby location, and the standby location that is not to be dispatched is excluded from the search for vehicles to be dispatched. For example, a waiting place where a customer can be expected immediately, such as a waiting place provided in a station in a city center, is excluded from dispatching, and a waiting place other than that is excluded from dispatching.
In addition, the operation time can be set for each standby place, and the standby place outside the operation time is excluded from the search for vehicles to be dispatched. For example, with respect to a standby place provided at a station, an operation time is set corresponding to a time when the station can be used, and the other time is outside the operation time.
These settings regarding exclusion may be set for each dispatch area, but may be set commonly applied to the entire system.

  In the search for vehicles to be dispatched, when it is decided to dispatch a waiting vehicle to the waiting location, the number of waiting vehicles to be dispatched from the waiting location is determined in consideration of the circumstances of each waiting location. Set for each standby location. In other words, for waiting places where passengers can be expected without waiting too much, the waiting order is assigned in order from the vehicle with the waiting order other than the first (for example, second). It is set so that the subsequent vehicles are dispatched in order from the first vehicle.

In addition, when the waiting place where the waiting order is set to be dispatched from the second and subsequent vehicles is determined as the dispatching source of the vehicle, the waiting order is determined if there are not enough vehicles even after dispatching from the second and subsequent vehicles. Whether or not the first vehicle is also dispatched can be set for each standby place.
In addition, when the minimum number of waiting vehicles is set for each waiting place and the vehicle is not reached when the vehicle is dispatched from the waiting place, the waiting place is not given priority and empty vehicles other than the waiting place are not given priority. Priority may be given to dispatch.

Next, the priority order etc. which are set for each vehicle allocation area and which are applied when searching for vehicles to be allocated within the range of the vehicle allocation area will be described.
The priority order setting for each dispatch area is based on the method of ordering by specifying the waiting place individually, and the distance between the position of the dispatch destination and the position of each candidate vehicle (including vehicles in the waiting place). It can be set in combination with a method of ordering based on the target relationship. Specifically, for example, for the allocation area to be set, the first priority is given to the standby location existing in the allocation area, the second priority is given to the standby location other than the allocation area and closest to the allocation area, In the waiting place other than the dispatching area, the waiting place closest to the dispatching area is set as the third priority, and the ordering based on the distance relation between the position of the dispatch destination and the position of each vehicle is set as the fourth priority. .

Here, the index indicating the ordering based on the distance relationship between the position of the dispatch destination and the position of each vehicle (hereinafter referred to as the distance index) may be a linear distance between these positions, and along the route connecting these positions. It may be a route distance, or may be an estimated travel time calculated taking into account traffic factors (such as traffic jams and accidents) that affect the travel speed of travel along the route. In other words, any index may be used as long as each vehicle is ordered in an order suitable for dispatch to the dispatch destination according to the distance relationship between the location of the dispatch destination and the position of each vehicle.
In this way, the positional conditions of each vehicle that can be a vehicle allocation candidate (the conditions regarding the position of the waiting place where the vehicle is waiting, the conditions regarding the distance relationship between the position of the vehicle allocation destination and the position of the vehicle) are set in the vehicle allocation area. Can be set as a priority order.

  In addition, for each vehicle allocation area, a vehicle allocation source area (hereinafter referred to as an exclusion area) to be excluded from the target of vehicle allocation to the vehicle allocation area may be set. For example, an area that is assumed to require a relatively long time to move to the dispatch area is set as the exclusion area. To give a specific example, when a plurality of vehicle allocation areas are provided across a structure such as a track that causes a significant increase in travel time between the areas, one vehicle allocation area that sandwiches the structure is provided. The other vehicle allocation area is set as an exclusion area that is not a search target for vehicle allocation candidate vehicles.

Next, other requirements to be considered in searching for a vehicle to be dispatched will be described.
Such requirements include front-end conditions, vehicle dynamics, crew or vehicle shifts, vehicle dispatch prohibited areas, and the like. Preconditions include basic attributes of the vehicle master, general attributes of the vehicle, basic attributes of the crew master, general attributes of the crew, priority / exclusive crew, group (sales offices, group companies, etc.), priority, etc. Can be mentioned.
These requirements are used when rearranging vehicle allocation candidate vehicles searched based on the priority order or exclusion area set for each vehicle allocation area, or when further narrowing vehicle allocation candidate vehicles.

Next, the mobile station 104 provided in each vehicle will be described.
The mobile station 104 can exchange various information with the management center 101 through wireless communication with the wireless base station 102 having the communication area 103 in which the host vehicle exists.
Further, the mobile station 104 periodically obtains the position information (latitude, longitude) of the own vehicle based on the information received from the GPS satellite 105, and information indicating the dynamics of the vehicle in which the mobile station 104 is deployed, and The management center 101 is notified together with the vehicle identification information.

  The vehicle dynamics include “actual vehicle”, “empty vehicle”, “arrival”, “payment”, “break”, and the like, and are set by the crew operating the mobile station 104 provided in each vehicle. Vehicles searched as candidates for dispatch are basically “empty vehicles”, but vehicles with other dynamics (“payment”, “break”) that can be virtually dispatched are also searched as candidates for dispatch. It may be configured, and it is only necessary to set in advance according to a taxi company policy or the like which dynamics are to be searched for a vehicle to be dispatched.

Further, when the mobile station 104 starts waiting at the standby location, the mobile station 104 receives information indicating that the standby at the standby location is started in response to the operation of the mobile station 104 by a crew member. Information specifying the location is transmitted to the management center 101 together with the vehicle identification information.
Further, when the mobile station 104 finishes the standby at the standby location, the mobile station 104 receives information indicating that the standby at the standby location is terminated in response to the operation of the mobile station 104 by a crew member. Information specifying the location is transmitted to the management center 101 together with the vehicle identification information.

  Here, as the mobile station 104, a dedicated wireless communication terminal may be used. However, the mobile station 104 may be used for various mobile terminals such as commercially available mobile phone terminals (for example, smart phones) and tablet terminals having a wireless communication function. You may use what installed the application for vehicle allocation systems which implement | achieves each of these functions. In the mobile station 104, the radio unit communicating with the radio base station 102 and the operation unit for the crew member to input the dynamic information may be integrated, or may be configured as separate devices.

Next, the configuration of the management center 101 will be described with reference to the configuration example shown in FIG.
The management center 101 of this example includes a database server 200, a map server 220, and a dispatch server 240.

  The database server 200 is a server that manages various data related to the operation of the vehicle allocation system, and in this example, the area information management unit 201 that stores and manages area information related to individual vehicle allocation areas, and vehicle information related to individual vehicles. A vehicle information management unit 202 that stores and manages the vehicle information.

  In the area information of each dispatch area managed by the area information management unit 201, the dispatch area identification information, the information indicating the range of the dispatch area, the information indicating the priority order applied in the search for the vehicles to be dispatched to the dispatch area, Stores information indicating an exclusion area to be excluded from the allocation to the vehicle allocation area, information indicating a time zone to which the area information is applied (hereinafter referred to as application time zone), information indicating a vehicle allocation prohibition area in the vehicle allocation area, and the like. Is done.

  The vehicle information of each vehicle managed by the vehicle information management unit 202 includes vehicle identification information, current position information of the vehicle, information indicating the standby location when the vehicle is standby at the standby location, and the standby order. The information indicating the dynamics of the vehicle, the information indicating the front condition regarding the vehicle, the information indicating the crew / vehicle shift of the vehicle, and the like are stored. Various data in the vehicle information management unit 202 is updated as needed by communication with the mobile station 104.

  The map server 220 is a server that manages map information including the business area of the taxi company. In this example, according to the input of the departure point and the arrival point, a search for a route connecting these points and a distance index (linear distance) , Route distance, estimated travel time).

  The vehicle allocation server 240 is a server that uses the database server 200 and the map server 220 to search for vehicles to be allocated. In this example, the vehicle allocation server 240 is a candidate for searching (searching for) a vehicle suitable for vehicle allocation in response to a vehicle allocation request. A vehicle search unit 241; and a vehicle allocation instruction unit 242 that issues a vehicle allocation instruction to the vehicle (mobile station 104) searched by the candidate vehicle search unit 241.

  When receiving the vehicle allocation request, the candidate vehicle search unit 241 accesses the area information management unit 201 and the vehicle information management unit 202 using the vehicle allocation request as a search condition, and determines the position of the vehicle allocation destination specified in the vehicle allocation request. The area information of the dispatch area included in the range and the area information of the applicable time zone including the current time (search time) is specified, and the priority order is the highest according to the priority order and the excluded area set in the area information. A high empty vehicle or a standby vehicle that does not exist in the exclusion area is searched, and the vehicle is determined as a vehicle to be dispatched (a vehicle that is most suitable for dispatching to a designated dispatch destination). Here, when a plurality of vehicles are specified in the vehicle allocation request, the specified number of vehicles are searched and determined as vehicles to be allocated.

In addition, the candidate vehicle search unit 241 determines whether or not the location of the vehicle allocation destination is a vehicle allocation prohibition area based on the area information management unit 201. Since the vehicle is in the no-loading area, the fact that the car cannot be sent is transmitted. In this case, when a vehicle allocation request is received from the customer via the Internet, the candidate vehicle search unit 241 notifies the customer that the vehicle cannot be allocated via an interface (not shown) for Internet communication. On the other hand, if a candidate vehicle search unit 241 receives a vehicle allocation request from a customer, the candidate vehicle search unit 241 notifies the vehicle allocation terminal 106 of the operator who has received the telephone that the vehicle cannot be allocated.
In addition, when the distance parameter | index about the position of a dispatch destination and the position of each vehicle is required, these positional information is provided to the map server 220, it is made to calculate by the route search part 221, and the result is acquired, Used to search for vehicles.
In addition, when there is a request for front-end conditions such as vehicle characteristics (vehicle type, body color, etc.) and crew characteristics (gender, age, etc.) in the vehicle allocation request, priority is given to vehicles that satisfy the requirements. , Search for vehicles.

The vehicle allocation instruction unit 242 notifies the mobile station 104 deployed in the vehicle searched by the candidate vehicle search unit 241 of the location of the vehicle allocation destination specified in the vehicle allocation request, and causes the vehicle to be allocated to that location. Instruct the dispatch.
The dispatch instruction by the dispatch instruction unit 242 may be automatically executed or may be executed based on the operation of the dispatch terminal 106. For example, when a vehicle allocation request is received from the customer via the Internet, the candidate vehicle search unit 241 transmits the vehicle search result to the vehicle allocation instruction unit 242. And the dispatch instruction | indication part 242 implements a dispatch instruction | indication based on the received search result. As a result, it is possible to promptly notify the customer of the vehicle allocation and the completion of the vehicle allocation.
On the other hand, when there is a vehicle allocation request from the customer and the vehicle allocation terminal 106 receives the vehicle allocation request, the candidate vehicle search unit 241 transmits the vehicle search result to the vehicle allocation terminal 106. Then, when the operator of the vehicle allocation terminal 106 confirms the vehicle to be allocated (may be a plurality of candidates) and performs a vehicle allocation instruction operation, the vehicle allocation instruction unit 242 transmits the vehicle allocation instruction to the mobile station 104. This makes it possible for the operator who has requested a vehicle dispatch by telephone to reliably give a vehicle dispatch instruction that matches the customer's request, and to provide a better service to the customer.

A vehicle search (searching) suitable for dispatch will be described with reference to FIG.
In the example of FIG. 3, the area around the track extending in the vertical direction on the paper is divided into the left and right sides of the track, and further divided into the upper and lower sides. The upper left area is the dispatch area A, and the upper right area is the dispatch area B. The lower right area is managed as a dispatch area C, the lower left area is managed as a dispatch area D, and other areas are managed as outside the area. Further, the dispatch area A is further divided into left and right parts and managed as a dispatch area A-1 and a dispatch area A-2.
Waiting place 1 is provided in the dispatch area A-2, and waiting places 2 and 3 are provided in the dispatch area A-1. In the dispatch area B, waiting places (i), (b) and (c) are provided. A waiting area X is provided in the dispatch area C.

First, a case where a priority order is assigned to standby places will be described.
Here, as priority order to be applied in the dispatch area A-2, (1) dispatch from the waiting place 1, (2) dispatch from the waiting place 2, (3) dispatch from the waiting place 3, (4) pick-up destination (ship destination) ) In the vicinity of the vehicle (including the waiting place) is set. That is, the vehicle allocation area A-1 outside the vehicle allocation area A-2 is also set to preferentially search. Also, it is assumed that a vehicle allocation area B and a vehicle allocation area C on the opposite side across the track are set as exclusion areas to be applied in the vehicle allocation area A-2.
In such a setting, the waiting vehicle at the head of the waiting place 1 is assigned with the highest priority in response to the customer's dispatch request in the dispatching area A-2, and if the vehicle is not waiting at the waiting place 1, The leading standby vehicle at location 2 (or standby location 3) will be dispatched.

Next, a case will be described in which dispatch of a vehicle in the vicinity of the dispatch destination has the first priority, but the standby location closest to the dispatch destination is the exclusion standby location.
Here, as a priority order to be applied in the dispatch area B, it is assumed that (1) dispatch a vehicle (including a waiting place) in the vicinity of the destination (the dispatch destination) is set. Further, it is assumed that a vehicle allocation area A and a vehicle allocation area D on the opposite side across the track are set as exclusion areas to be applied in the vehicle allocation area B. In addition, as a parameter common to the system, it is assumed that the waiting place B is excluded from the search target of the vehicle to be dispatched. As such a waiting place, for example, a waiting place provided for a customer of a specific facility (hotel or the like) can be cited.
In the case of such setting, in response to the customer's request for vehicle allocation in the vehicle allocation area B, even if the vehicle closest to the vehicle allocation destination is a vehicle waiting in the standby place b, the vehicle is excluded, and then A nearby vehicle (for example, the first waiting vehicle at the waiting place C) will be dispatched.

Next, a case will be described in which there is no vehicle in the first priority standby place and a nearby vehicle at the destination is dispatched.
Here, (1) dispatch from the waiting place X and (2) dispatch a vehicle (including the waiting place) in the vicinity of the destination (ship destination) are set as the priority order applied in the dispatch area C. And Further, it is assumed that a vehicle allocation area A and a vehicle allocation area D on the opposite side across the track are set as exclusion areas to be applied in the vehicle allocation area C.
In the case of such a setting, if a vehicle is not waiting in the waiting place X in response to a customer's dispatch request in the dispatch area C, the vehicle that is closest to the position of the dispatch destination (waiting in another waiting place) Vehicles other than the vehicle allocation area A and the vehicle allocation area D are allocated.

Next, a case where there is no standby place in the dispatch area and a nearby vehicle at the dispatch destination is dispatched will be described.
Here, as a priority order to be applied in the dispatch area D, it is assumed that (1) dispatch a vehicle (including a waiting place) in the vicinity of the destination (the dispatch destination) is set. In addition, it is assumed that a vehicle allocation area B and a vehicle allocation area C on the opposite side across the track are set as exclusion areas to be applied in the vehicle allocation area D.
In the case of such setting, in response to a customer's vehicle allocation request in the vehicle allocation area D, a vehicle (including a vehicle waiting in another standby location) that is closest to the location of the vehicle allocation destination and the vehicle allocation area B and Vehicles that exist outside the dispatch area C will be dispatched.

In addition, as a priority order to be applied outside the area, (1) vehicle allocation (including a waiting place) in the vicinity of the destination (allocation destination) is set in advance as a parameter common to the system.
In the case of such a setting, in response to a vehicle allocation request from a customer who is outside the area (a customer who is not included in any vehicle allocation area), the vehicle that is closest to the location of the vehicle destination (in another standby location) (Including waiting vehicles) will be dispatched.

Next, an operation example in which the mode of area division is changed according to the time zone will be described with reference to FIG.
The area division map 1 shown in FIG. 4A is an example in which the area is divided into upper, lower, left, and right, and a dispatch area 1-A, a dispatch area 1-B, a dispatch area 1-C, and a dispatch area 1-D are assigned. is there. Further, the area division map 2 shown in FIG. 2B is an example in which the area is divided into left and right, and the allocation area 2-A and allocation area 2-B are assigned. Further, the area division map 3 shown in FIG. 5C is an example in which the area is divided into an upper right area and a remaining area, and a vehicle allocation area 3-A and a vehicle allocation area 3-B are allocated.

  In this way, by preparing a plurality of maps with different modes of the dispatch area and assigning different time zones to each of the maps, it is possible to cope with a change in the trend of the dispatch request with the passage of time. It should be noted that the priority order to be applied and the setting of the exclusion area may be changed according to the time zone without changing the mode of the dispatching area. It becomes possible to respond.

More specifically, even if the operation is the same, a plurality of maps with different modes of the dispatch area as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B are prepared, and the operation time is given to the area. And a method of setting the priority order and the exclusion area setting according to the time zone without changing the mode of the dispatch area as shown in FIGS. 5 (c) and 5 (d). it can.
In FIG. 5A, from 7 o'clock to 1 o'clock with respect to the area 12, priority is given to dispatching from the waiting place X as a priority order, and next, a nearby vehicle (near the destination) is searched for dispatch. On the other hand, in FIG. 5C, between 7 o'clock and 1 o'clock for both area 1 and area 2, priority is given to dispatching from waiting place X as the priority order, and then the neighborhood (near the destination) ) To search for vehicles to be dispatched. Thus, the conditions in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5C are substantially the same.
5B differs from FIG. 5A in area division, and FIG. 5D has the same area division as FIG. 5C, but FIG. 5B and FIG. d) is practically the same condition.
These conditions are determined based on the operating time of the standby station X.

Thus, in the case of a method of preparing a plurality of maps with different modes of the dispatch area as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B and switching the area with operating time, area information management is performed. The unit 201 holds the identification information of the areas 12, 3, 4, 13, 24 as the identification information of the dispatch area, information indicating the range of each area (for example, latitude / longitude range information), and application of each area Information indicating time zones (areas 12, 3, and 4 are from 7 o'clock to 1 o'clock and areas 13 and 24 are from 1 o'clock to 7 o'clock), information on respective priorities, and the like are held.
In the case of the method of setting the priority order and the exclusion area setting according to the time zone without changing the mode of the dispatch area as shown in FIGS. 5C and 5D, the area information management unit 201 holds identification information of areas 1 to 4 as identification information of a dispatch area, information indicating each area range (for example, latitude and longitude range information), and information indicating a plurality of application time zones for each area ( 7 o'clock to 1 o'clock before 1 o'clock and 1 o'clock to before 7 o'clock), and the priority order information for each applicable time zone is stored.
Note that, as described above, the candidate vehicle search unit 241 accesses the area information management unit 201 and, based on the location of the dispatch destination and the search time, the candidate vehicle under the conditions such as the corresponding area and the priority order corresponding to the time. Search for.

  In the vehicle allocation server 240 in the above description, the candidate vehicle search unit 241 searches for the number of vehicles specified in the vehicle allocation request, and the vehicle allocation instruction unit 242 automatically issues a vehicle allocation instruction to each applicable vehicle. However, an operator who operates the dispatch terminal 106 of the dispatch center 107 may manually issue a dispatch instruction to each applicable vehicle.

When manually instructing a vehicle allocation, more vehicles (n + α) than the number (n) specified in the vehicle allocation request are searched as vehicle allocation candidates, and a list of vehicles in the search results (vehicle allocation candidates) is allocated. May be displayed on the display and presented to the operator, and the operator may select a designated number of vehicles from them, and issue a vehicle dispatch instruction to each corresponding vehicle. As a result, it is possible for the operator to give a vehicle dispatch instruction in consideration of detailed circumstances that cannot be managed by the database server 200.
In this case, it is preferable to present a list of dispatch candidates in an order according to the priority order.
In addition, the number of vehicles to be added as allocation candidates (α) may be set as a system common parameter.

Here, with respect to the vehicle searched as a vehicle allocation candidate, exclusive control is performed in order to avoid a situation in which a vehicle allocation instruction has already been given by another operator at the time when the operator has selected and dispatched the vehicle. It is preferable to keep it.
At this stage, at the stage of presenting the list of dispatch candidates, exclusive control of the number of vehicles (n) designated in the dispatch request is performed from the top of the list, and the remaining vehicles (added α vehicles) are controlled. Is configured to perform exclusive control when the operator selects to give a vehicle dispatch instruction, so that exclusive control with relatively little waste is achieved. Even if the vehicle is exclusively controlled, it is preferable to remove the exclusive control at that timing when the operator performs an operation to exclude the vehicle from the target of the dispatch instruction.
In this way, by changing the exclusive control mode of the vehicle searched as a vehicle allocation candidate as appropriate, even when a plurality of vehicle allocation requests having the same contents occur at the same time or at close timings, exclusive control between the vehicle allocation requests is performed. It is possible to reduce the influence of the vehicle, and it is possible to proceed with the arrangement of the vehicle allocation more smoothly.

As described above, in the vehicle allocation system according to the present example, the area information management unit 201 sets, for each of a plurality of vehicle allocation areas, the range of the vehicle allocation area and the priority order to be applied when searching for vehicles that are allocated within the range. Information is stored, the vehicle information management unit 202 stores position information of a plurality of vehicles, and the candidate vehicle search unit 241 sets the area information of the vehicle allocation area including the vehicle allocation destination designated by the customer within the range. Based on the priority order and the position information of the plurality of vehicles, the vehicle to be dispatched to the destination is searched.
For this reason, according to the dispatch system of this example, the priority order applied in the search for vehicles to be dispatched to each dispatch area can be set for each dispatch area according to the characteristics of the dispatch area. The vehicle dispatch efficiency can be improved.

The present invention can also be provided as, for example, a method or method for executing the processing according to the present invention, a program for realizing such a method or method, or a storage medium for storing the program.
In addition, the configuration of the system and apparatus according to the present invention is not necessarily limited to the above-described configuration, and various configurations may be used.

  For example, a plurality of sales areas are set up, the sales offices in charge are defined for each, and the vehicles belonging to the sales offices are managed, and specified by the vehicle allocation request when there is a vehicle allocation request. Based on the priority order set in the area information of the corresponding dispatch area in the sales area and the position information of the plurality of vehicles from among the vehicles belonging to the sales office in charge of the sales area including the dispatched vehicle destination The vehicle may be searched for a vehicle to be dispatched to the destination.

  The present invention can be used in various types of vehicle allocation systems for instructing vehicle allocation in response to a vehicle allocation request.

101: Management center, 102 (102-1, 2,..., L): Radio base station, 103 (103-1, 2,..., L): Communication area, 104 (104-1, 2,. ... N): mobile station (vehicle), 105: GPS satellite, 106 (106-1, 2, ..., M): dispatch terminal, 107: dispatch center,
200: database server 201: area information management unit 202: vehicle information management unit 220: map server 221: route search unit 240: vehicle allocation server 241: candidate vehicle search unit 242: vehicle allocation instruction unit

Claims (8)

Area management means for storing area information in which a range of areas and a priority order to be applied in searching for vehicles to be dispatched within the range are set for each of a plurality of areas;
Vehicle management means for storing position information of a plurality of vehicles;
Search means for searching for a vehicle to be dispatched to the dispatch destination based on the priority order set in the area information of the area including the dispatch destination designated by the customer in the range and the position information of the plurality of vehicles;
A vehicle allocation system characterized by comprising: In the area information, it is possible to set a priority order for a waiting place of the vehicle,
The search means preferentially waits for a vehicle waiting in a standby place set in a high priority order in the area information corresponding to the vehicle destination, and searches for a vehicle to be delivered to the vehicle destination.
The vehicle allocation system according to claim 1. In the area information, it can be set to prohibit the allocation of vehicles existing in a specific area,
The search means excludes vehicles existing in an area set to be prohibited in the area information corresponding to the destination, and searches for vehicles to be delivered to the destination.
The vehicle allocation system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein In the area information, it can be set to prohibit the dispatch of vehicles waiting in a specific waiting place,
The search means searches for a vehicle to be dispatched to the dispatch destination, excluding vehicles that are waiting at the standby location set to be prohibited in the area information corresponding to the dispatch destination,
The vehicle allocation system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The search means, when the destination is not included in any of the plurality of areas, a vehicle that delivers to the destination in a priority order based on a distance relationship between the destination and the position of each vehicle. Search for
The vehicle allocation system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein The vehicle management means further stores at least one of information indicating characteristics of each vehicle or information indicating characteristics of crew members of each vehicle,
When the search means receives a vehicle allocation request including a request for characteristics of a vehicle or a crew member, the vehicle that satisfies the request is preferentially searched for a vehicle to be allocated to the vehicle destination.
The vehicle allocation system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The vehicle management means further stores information indicating the dynamics of each vehicle,
The search means searches for a vehicle to be dispatched to the dispatch destination from among vehicles in a dynamic state that can be dispatched in advance.
The vehicle allocation system according to any one of claims 1 to 6. In the area information, a time zone to apply the area information can be set,
The search means searches for a vehicle to be dispatched to the dispatch destination using area information in which a time zone including a search time point is set.
The vehicle allocation system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein

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