JP7223623B2 - Vehicle management device and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle management device and program for dispatching vehicles.

Conventionally, there is known a system capable of requesting taxi dispatch using application software installed in a terminal of a person who uses a taxi (hereinafter referred to as “user”) (see, for example, Patent Document 1). ).

JP 2017-204042 A

Among users who want to take a taxi, there are users who want to secure a taxi that can be taken as soon as possible. However, conventionally, when the number of available taxis is small, it is not possible to secure a taxi that can be boarded, and users who want to secure a taxi that can be boarded quickly request another taxi company to allocate a taxi. there was a case. In this way, conventionally, all users have been dispatched under the same conditions, which has caused a problem that users may be dissatisfied.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of these points, and an object of the present invention is to improve user satisfaction at the time of dispatching a vehicle.

A vehicle management apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an information acquisition unit that acquires a vehicle allocation request from a user's information terminal; and selecting a vehicle to be allocated to the first user from more vehicles than when the information acquisition unit acquires the vehicle allocation request from the second user corresponding to a second priority lower than the first priority. and a notification unit for notifying the information terminal that the vehicle allocation process has been completed when the vehicle selection unit selects the allocated vehicle.

The vehicle selection unit selects the allocated vehicle from a plurality of actual vehicles when there is no available vehicle that can be allocated under the condition that the priority of the vehicle allocation request is the first priority. may

The vehicle selection unit may select the dispatched vehicle from one or more vehicles that are estimated to be able to reach the user's position within a predetermined time from among a plurality of actual vehicles.

The vehicle selection unit may estimate an area reachable by a vehicle in the actual vehicle state within the predetermined time, and select a vehicle in which the user's position is included in the estimated area as the dispatched vehicle.

The vehicle selection unit estimates an alighting position, which is a position at which a passenger who is on board the actual vehicle gets off, and the vehicle can reach the user's position within the predetermined time via the alighting position. The dispatched vehicle may be selected based on the result of determining whether or not.

When the vehicle selection unit selects a vehicle in an actual vehicle state as the allocated vehicle and then the vehicle changes to an empty state, the notification unit notifies the information terminal that the allocated vehicle has changed from an actual vehicle state to an empty state. may be notified to

The vehicle management device further includes a billing amount determination unit that determines a billing amount for the user, and the billing amount determination unit determines a billing amount when the vehicle is dispatched in response to the dispatch request corresponding to the first priority. The amount may be higher than the billing amount when the vehicle is dispatched according to the vehicle dispatch request corresponding to the second priority.

A program according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises a computer, an information acquisition unit that acquires a vehicle allocation request from a user's information terminal, and an information acquisition unit that acquires the vehicle allocation request from the first user corresponding to the first priority. and selecting a vehicle to be allocated to the first user from more vehicles than when the information acquisition unit acquires the vehicle allocation request from the second user corresponding to a second priority lower than the first priority. and a notification unit that notifies the information terminal that the vehicle allocation process has been completed when the vehicle selection unit selects the allocated vehicle.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it is effective in the ability to improve a user's satisfaction at the time of vehicle allocation.

1 is a diagram for explaining an outline of a vehicle dispatch system; FIG. It is a figure which shows the functional structure of a vehicle management apparatus. It is a figure which shows the function structure of a taxi terminal. It is a figure which shows an example of a user information database. It is a figure which shows an example of a vehicle state database. 4 is a flow chart of the operation of selecting a dispatched vehicle by the vehicle management device.

[Overview of Vehicle Allocation System S]
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an outline of a vehicle allocation system S. As shown in FIG. The dispatch system S is a system for dispatching a taxi T in response to a request from a user who uses the taxi T, and includes a vehicle management device 1 and a plurality of user terminals 2 (user terminals 2-1 to 2-m). , m is a natural number) and a plurality of taxi terminals 3 (taxi terminal 3-1 to taxi terminal 3-n, n is a natural number).

The vehicle management device 1 is, for example, a computer managed by a taxi company, and dispatches taxis T from a plurality of taxis T registered in advance in the vehicle management device 1 in response to a user's dispatch request transmitted from the user terminal 2. Select a taxi T as a vehicle. A dispatch vehicle is a vehicle that goes to a place where a user is in order to pick up the user who requested the dispatch.

The user terminal 2 is an information terminal of a user who uses the taxi T, such as a smart phone, a tablet, or a personal computer. The user terminal 2 can transmit and receive data to and from the vehicle management device 1 via a wireless communication line and network N. FIG. Network N is, for example, the Internet. A user can make a dispatch request using application software installed in the user terminal 2 or an operation screen displayed by web application software provided by the vehicle management device 1 .

The taxi terminal 3 is an information terminal mounted on the taxi T, and has a display for displaying various information and an operation unit for receiving operations by the taxi driver. The taxi terminal 3 can transmit and receive data to and from the vehicle management device 1 via the wireless communication line and the network N. The taxi terminal 3 periodically transmits position information indicating the position of the taxi T to the vehicle management device 1 .

The vehicle management device 1, for example, based on the operation of a dispatcher of a taxi company or automatically, confirms whether or not a plurality of taxi terminals 3 mounted on a plurality of taxis T can pick up the taxi. pick-up request is sent, and the taxi T whose pick-up is approved by the driver is selected. The vehicle management device 1 may determine the priority of the taxis T in descending order of the time required to reach the user's position, and may transmit the pick-up request in order from the taxi terminal 3 of the taxi T with the highest priority. .

The vehicle management device 1 normally transmits a pick-up request to a taxi terminal 3 mounted on an empty taxi T, but there are cases where there is no empty taxi T. In this case, on the condition that the vehicle management device 1 has received a dispatch request from a user with a high priority, the vehicle management device 1 selects a taxi terminal mounted on a taxi T that is expected to become vacant in a short time among the actual taxis T. A dispatch request is sent to 3. The priority is one of the conditions that the vehicle management device 1 or the manager of the taxi T refers to when searching for the taxi T to be the dispatched vehicle when receiving the dispatch request. By operating the vehicle management device 1 in this manner, a user who wants to quickly secure a taxi T to board can secure a taxi T that can be boarded in a short time. Details of the vehicle allocation system S will be described below, focusing on the configuration and operation of the vehicle management device 1 .

[Functional Configuration of Vehicle Management Device 1]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of the vehicle management device 1. As shown in FIG. The vehicle management device 1 has a communication section 11 , a storage section 12 and a control section 13 . The control unit 13 has an information acquisition unit 131 , a vehicle selection unit 132 , a notification unit 133 and a billing amount determination unit 134 .

The communication unit 11 is a communication interface for transmitting and receiving data to and from the user terminal 2 and the taxi terminal 3 via the network N, and has, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network) controller. The communication unit 11 notifies the control unit 13 of data received from the user terminal 2 and the taxi terminal 3 . Also, the communication unit 11 transmits data input from the control unit 13 to the network N. FIG.

The storage unit 12 is a device for storing various data, and includes storage media such as a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a hard disk. The storage unit 12 stores programs executed by the control unit 13 . The storage unit 12 also stores a vehicle state database for managing the states of each of the plurality of taxis T. FIG. The storage unit 12 also stores the user's position, vehicle allocation request status, past vehicle allocation history, billing amount, etc. in association with the user using the user terminal 2 that has transmitted the vehicle allocation request.

The control unit 13 has, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and by executing a program stored in the storage unit 12, an information acquisition unit 131, a vehicle selection unit 132, a notification unit 133, and a billing amount determination unit. 134. Details of the information acquisition unit 131, the vehicle selection unit 132, the notification unit 133, and the billing amount determination unit 134 will be described later.

[Function configuration of taxi terminal 3]
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of the taxi terminal 3. As shown in FIG. The taxi terminal 3 has a communication section 31 , a display section 32 , an operation section 33 , a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver 34 , a storage section 35 and a control section 36 .

The communication unit 31 is a communication interface for transmitting and receiving data to and from the vehicle management device 1 via the network N, and has, for example, a wireless communication controller. The communication unit 31 notifies the control unit 36 of the data received from the vehicle management device 1 . The communication unit 31 also transmits data input from the control unit 36 to the network N. FIG.

The display unit 32 is a display that displays information. The operation unit 33 is a device for receiving operations by the taxi driver. The operation unit 33 may have a touch panel provided on the display unit 32 .

The GPS receiver 34 receives radio waves transmitted from GPS satellites, and calculates the longitude and latitude indicating the position of the taxi T based on the information contained in the received radio waves. The GPS receiver 34 notifies the control unit 36 of the calculated longitude and latitude.

The storage unit 35 is a device for storing various data, and includes storage media such as ROM, RAM, and hard disk. The storage unit 35 stores programs executed by the control unit 36 .

The control unit 36 has a CPU, for example, and functions as an information acquisition unit 361 , an operation reception unit 362 , a position specifying unit 363 and a display control unit 364 by executing programs stored in the storage unit 35 .

The information acquisition unit 361 acquires various types of information from the vehicle management device 1 . The information acquisition unit 361 receives, for example, information requesting the user of the user terminal 2 that has transmitted the dispatch request to pick up the vehicle, information requesting notification of the status of the taxi T, and information that the taxi T has been selected as the dispatch vehicle. Information including the pick-up instruction shown is acquired from the vehicle management device 1 . The information acquisition unit 361 notifies the display control unit 364 of the acquired information in order to display the acquired information on the display unit 32 . In addition, the information acquisition unit 361 sends information indicating that the driver of the taxi T accepts a pick-up request, information indicating the location of the taxi T, and information indicating the vehicle state indicating whether or not the taxi is vacant to the vehicle management device 1. Send.

The operation reception unit 362 receives an operation by the taxi T driver. Specifically, the operation reception unit 362 identifies the content of the operation performed by the driver based on the operation position detected by the operation unit 33 while the display unit 32 is displaying the operation screen. For example, when it is specified that an operation for accepting a pick-up request has been performed, the operation accepting unit 362 notifies the information acquiring unit 361 that the pick-up request has been accepted.

The position specifying unit 363 acquires position information indicating the longitude and latitude corresponding to the position of the taxi T from the GPS receiver 34, and specifies the position of the taxi T based on the acquired position information. The position specifying unit 363 periodically notifies the information acquiring unit 361 of the specified position.

The display control unit 364 causes the display unit 32 to display the information notified from the information acquisition unit 361 . The display control unit 364 causes the display unit 32 to display, for example, a screen for prompting the user to input the vehicle state (for example, a screen including a button indicating that "the vehicle will be available in 5 minutes"). The display control unit 364 may emit a sound for prompting the vehicle state to be input from a speaker (not shown).

In addition, the display control unit 364 may cause an external display mounted in front of the taxi T to display the vehicle status such as empty, being picked up, being in the actual vehicle, being forwarded, and the like. When the information acquisition unit 361 acquires the pickup instruction in the actual vehicle state, the display control unit 364 displays information indicating that the vehicle is not in an empty state (for example, text information “Picking up”) on the external display even after the vehicle becomes empty. to display.

[Detailed Operation of Control Unit 13]
Returning to FIG. 2, the details of the control unit 13 will be described. The information acquisition section 131 has a user information acquisition section 141 and a vehicle information acquisition section 142 . The user information acquisition unit 141 acquires a dispatch request from the user terminal 2 of the user who uses the taxi T. FIG. The dispatch request includes information indicating the location of the user (that is, the location of the user terminal 2). The user information acquisition unit 141 notifies the vehicle selection unit 132 of the acquired vehicle allocation request.

(Specification of the state of taxi T)
The vehicle information acquisition unit 142 transmits and receives various information to and from the taxi T. The vehicle information acquisition unit 142 acquires information indicating the state of the taxi T from the taxi T, for example. The vehicle information acquisition unit 142 stores the state of the taxi T in the storage unit 12 in association with the vehicle ID for identifying the taxi T. FIG.

The vehicle information acquisition unit 142 may transmit information requesting notification of the state of the taxi T to the taxi terminal 3 . The vehicle information acquisition unit 142 receives, for example, the data of the screen for inputting the destination to which the taxi T is currently heading, or the schedule that the taxi will be empty within a time (for example, 5 minutes) preset by the administrator of the vehicle management device 1. The instruction information is transmitted to cause the taxi terminal 3 to display the screen data for inputting the presence or absence of. When the vehicle information acquisition unit 142 acquires the information indicating the destination or the information indicating that the taxi is scheduled to become empty, the vehicle information acquisition unit 142 associates the acquired information with the taxi T and stores it in the storage unit 12 .

For example, the vehicle information acquisition unit 142 periodically (for example, at intervals of several seconds to one minute) transmits information requesting notification of the state of the taxi T to the taxi terminal 3 . The vehicle information acquisition unit 142 transmits information requesting notification of the state of the taxi T to the taxi terminal 3 when the taxi T approaches a place where many people get off (for example, a station or a large-scale facility). good. The vehicle information acquisition unit 142 may transmit information requesting notification of the state of the taxi T to the taxi terminal 3 when the vehicle allocation request is acquired from the user terminal 2 .

(Selection of dispatch vehicle)
When the user information acquisition unit 141 notifies the vehicle allocation request, the vehicle selection unit 132 selects a vehicle to be allocated to the user who requested the allocation from a plurality of taxis T registered in advance. At this time, when the user information acquisition unit 141 acquires a dispatch request by the first user corresponding to the first priority, the vehicle selection unit 132 selects the second priority corresponding to the second priority lower than the first priority. A dispatched vehicle is selected from more taxis T than when the user information acquisition unit 141 acquires a dispatch request from a user.

Any method may be used by the vehicle selection unit 132 to determine whether the priority of the vehicle allocation request is the first priority or the second priority. For example, when information indicating the first priority is included in the distribution request, the vehicle selection unit 132 determines that the acquired distribution request corresponds to the first priority. The vehicle selection unit 132 may determine that the acquired distribution request corresponds to the first priority when information indicating the second priority is not included in the distribution information.

Further, the vehicle selection unit 132 refers to the user information database stored in the storage unit 12 to determine that the user using the user terminal 2 that has transmitted the distribution request is the first user corresponding to the first priority. or the second user corresponding to the second priority.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a user information database. In the user information database, users and priorities are associated. In the example shown in FIG. 4, different priorities are assigned to each user depending on the time zone or area. In FIG. 4, the first priority is given to the time zones and areas marked with a circle.

Specifically, user A wants to quickly secure a taxi during the daytime on weekdays when he or she often travels for work, so the first priority is set during the daytime on weekdays. User B wants to quickly secure a taxi T in Chiyoda Ward, which is the area in charge of sales, and therefore has the first priority in Chiyoda Ward. User E has first priority in all time zones and regions. The larger the range of the time zone and the area with the first priority, the higher the usage fee for the priority dispatch service may be set. In this way, by associating the priority with the time zone or place, it becomes easier for the user with the high priority to secure the taxi T quickly when the user wants to secure the taxi T.

In addition, in the above description, the case where the priority is assigned to the user in advance is exemplified, but the priority does not depend on this. When the vehicle allocation request is made during a busy time period, or when the vehicle to be allocated cannot be found within a predetermined time after receiving a normal vehicle allocation request, for example, based on the instruction of the vehicle selection unit 132, the user terminal 2 may display a button asking to "request priority dispatch". When the displayed button is selected by the user, the vehicle selection unit 132 increases the priority of the user to the first priority. The vehicle selection unit 132 may accept the user's request to increase the priority on the condition that the user is charged an additional amount.

Any method may be used to determine the number or range of vehicles from which the vehicle selection unit 132 selects a dispatched vehicle. The vehicle selection unit 132 selects a taxi T in a state corresponding to the priority of the dispatch request, for example, by referring to a vehicle state database in which all pre-registered taxis T and the states of the taxis T are associated. .

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a vehicle state database. In the vehicle state database shown in FIG. 5, the vehicle ID, the position information indicating the position of the taxi T, and the state information indicating the state of the taxi T are associated. The status information includes information indicating whether the vehicle is vacant, scheduled to be vacant, actual, picking up, or resting. The state information is updated when the vehicle information acquisition unit 142 receives notification of the latest state from the taxi T. FIG. The taxi terminal 3 acquires the status of the taxi T, such as whether or not the taxi T is empty, from a taximeter that can communicate with the taxi terminal 3, and transmits the acquired status to the vehicle management device 1 as the vehicle status. .

The vehicle selection unit 132 selects an empty taxi T when the priority of the dispatch request is the second priority. On the other hand, the vehicle selection unit 132 selects a dispatched vehicle from a plurality of actual taxis T on condition that the priority of the dispatch request is the first priority. For example, when the priority of the dispatch request is the first priority, the vehicle selection unit 132 first confirms whether or not there is an empty taxi T, and if there is no empty taxi T, a plurality of actual taxis T A dispatch vehicle is selected from the taxi T.

The vehicle selection unit 132 selects the taxi T if there is a taxi T that can reach the user's position within a predetermined time (for example, a time specified by the user) among the empty taxis T. If there is no vacant taxi T, or if there is no vacant taxi T that can reach the user's position within a predetermined time, the vehicle selection unit 132 selects a plurality of actual taxis. A dispatched vehicle is selected from one or more taxis T that are estimated to be able to reach the user's position within a predetermined time. For example, the vehicle selection unit 132 estimates an area that each of a plurality of actual taxis T can reach within a predetermined time, and selects a taxi T that includes the user's position within the estimated area as a dispatched vehicle.

The vehicle selection unit 132 selects a dispatched vehicle from, for example, a plurality of taxis T in an actual vehicle state, from taxis T that are scheduled to become vacant within a predetermined time and that have been notified from the taxi terminal 3. . The vehicle selection unit 132 selects a dispatched vehicle based on the result of determining whether or not the taxi is scheduled to become vacant, even when it is not notified from the taxi T that it is scheduled to become vacant. good too. For example, the vehicle selection unit 132 selects a taxi T that is expected to arrive at the location within a predetermined time from among the taxis T heading to a location where many people get off (for example, a station or a large-scale facility). may be regarded as T.

(Estimation of required travel time)
The taxi T in the actual vehicle state needs to go to the location of the user requesting the taxi dispatch after unloading the passengers. Therefore, the vehicle selection unit 132 first estimates the drop-off position at which passengers on board the actual vehicle get off. It may be determined whether or not the user's position can be reached within a predetermined time. For example, the vehicle selection unit 132 estimates the position notified as the destination from the taxi terminal 3 as the drop-off position. Then, the vehicle selection unit 132 calculates the time required to move from the current position to the user's position via the estimated getting-off position (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "movement required time").

The vehicle selection unit 132 estimates the required travel time Tm when the taxi T travels from the current position to the user's position via the drop-off position, for example, using the following equation.
Tm = Ta + Tb + Tc = Da/V + Tb + Dc/V
Here, Ta is the time required for the taxi T to move from the current position to the drop-off position, Tb is the time required for the passenger to get off (for example, time for payment processing), and Tc is the time required for the taxi T to travel from the drop-off position to the user It is the time required to move to a position. Da is the distance from the current position to the drop-off position, Dc is the distance from the drop-off position to the user's position, and V is the average speed around the drop-off position. Ta and Tc may be average times determined based on past performance.

The vehicle selection unit 132 selects, as a candidate for a dispatched vehicle, a taxi T whose estimated travel time is equal to or less than the time allowed to arrive at the user's position. When there are a plurality of candidates, the vehicle selection unit 132 selects the taxi T with the shortest estimated travel time as the dispatched vehicle. The vehicle selection unit 132 notifies the notification unit 133 of the identification information (vehicle ID) of the taxi T selected as the dispatched vehicle and the estimated travel time.

Any method may be used by the vehicle selection unit 132 to estimate the drop-off position. The vehicle selection unit 132 selects a passenger from among a plurality of positions (hereinafter referred to as “registered alighting positions”) registered in advance as possible alighting positions within a predetermined range based on the position where the taxi T scheduled to be empty is traveling. The registered drop-off position determined to have the highest probability of getting off may be estimated as the drop-off position. The predetermined range is, for example, a range that can be reached within 5 minutes on the traveling direction side of the position of the taxi T.

The vehicle selection unit 132, for example, based on at least one of the lane in which the taxi T is traveling and the speed at which the taxi T is traveling, estimates the registered drop-off position with the highest probability that the passenger will get off as the drop-off position. . Specifically, the vehicle selection unit 132 selects the nearest registered drop-off position that can be reached in the lane in which the taxi T is traveling, the registered drop-off position near the position where the taxi T moved to the left lane, or the taxi T The registered drop-off position near the position where the vehicle slows down while traveling in the left lane is estimated as the drop-off position.

The vehicle selection unit 132 selects a registered drop-off position with the shortest travel time required to move from the current position to the user's position via the registered drop-off position, and a registered drop-off position with the longest travel time. The registered drop-off position may be estimated as the drop-off position. In this case, the vehicle selection unit 132 selects, as the dispatched vehicle, the taxi T having the shortest average value of the shortest and longest travel times when passengers get off at each registered drop-off position.

The vehicle selection unit 132 may estimate the registered drop-off position closest to the current position and the registered drop-off position farthest from the current position as the drop-off position among the plurality of registered drop-off positions. In this case, the vehicle selection unit 132 selects, as the dispatched vehicle, the taxi T having the shortest average value of the shortest and longest travel times when passengers get off at each registered drop-off position.

When estimating a plurality of registered drop-off positions as the drop-off positions, the vehicle selection unit 132, via the notification unit 133, selects the vehicle from the current position to the user's position via each of the plurality of registered drop-off positions. The user terminal 2 may be notified of the shortest and longest required travel times. The user terminal 2 displays the shortest value and the longest value of the travel required time, so that the user of the user terminal 2 can grasp how long the user may wait, so that the user's satisfaction is improved.

The vehicle selection unit 132 may change the position estimated as the drop-off position based on a change in the position of the taxi T after estimating the drop-off position. For example, when the taxi T passes the position estimated as the drop-off position, the drop-off position is re-estimated based on the position of the taxi T at that time. In this case, the vehicle selection unit 132 recalculates the travel time based on the reestimated drop-off position, and notifies the notification unit 133 of the recalculated travel time.

(Notification to user terminal 2)
The notification unit 133 notifies the user terminal 2 that the vehicle allocation process has been completed when the vehicle selection unit 132 selects the allocated vehicle. The notification unit 133 may notify the expected waiting time when notifying the user terminal 2 that the vehicle allocation process has been completed. The notification unit 133 notifies, for example, the required travel time notified from the vehicle selection unit 132 as the expected waiting time.

When the vehicle selection unit 132 selects an empty taxi T as a dispatched vehicle, and when the vehicle selection unit 132 selects a taxi T which is scheduled to be vacant in an actual state as a dispatched vehicle, the notification unit 133 selects the user terminal 2 may be notified differently. The notification unit 133 causes the user terminal 2 to display "Taxi has been arranged" when, for example, the dispatched vehicle is vacant. The notification unit 133 causes the user terminal 2 to display "We have arranged a taxi that will soon be vacant" when the allocated vehicle is scheduled to be vacant.

After the vehicle selection unit 132 selects the taxi T in the actual state (for example, scheduled to be vacant) as the dispatched vehicle, the notification unit 133 changes the state of the dispatched vehicle from the actual state to the vacant state. The user terminal 2 may be notified that the car has become vacant. Further, when the vehicle selection unit 132 re-estimates the drop-off position and the vehicle selection unit 132 notifies the required travel time after recalculation, the notification unit 133 corrects the required travel time after recalculation. The expected waiting time may be notified to the user terminal 2 . In this way, the notification unit 133 notifies the user terminal 2 of the guidance according to the state of the taxi T, so that the user can grasp the situation, so that the user's anxiety can be eliminated.

(Billing process)
The billing amount determination unit 134 determines the billing amount for the user. The billing amount determination unit 134 sets the billing amount when the vehicle is dispatched in response to the vehicle allocation request corresponding to the first priority higher than the billing amount when the vehicle is dispatched in response to the vehicle allocation request corresponding to the second priority. do. The billing amount determination unit 134 stores the determined billing amount in the storage unit 12 in association with the user. The billing amount determination unit 134 may notify the user terminal 2 of the billing amount.

The billing amount determining unit 134 determines the amount corresponding to the first priority when the vehicle selecting unit 132 searches for a vehicle in response to the vehicle allocation request corresponding to the first priority and selects the allocated vehicle. It may be determined by the charge amount. The billing amount determination unit 134 may determine the amount corresponding to the first priority as the billing amount on the condition that the dispatched vehicle is selected from among the actual taxis T. Such operation of the billing amount determination unit 134 is suitable when the user performs an operation requesting priority vehicle allocation on the user terminal 2 .

If the billing amount is composed of the ride amount determined by the distance or time traveled and the additional amount for dispatching the vehicle in response to the dispatch request, the billing amount determination unit 134 determines only the additional amount for dispatch as the priority. and the ride amount may be determined regardless of the priority. Also, if the user regularly pays the cost for making a dispatch request with the first priority (for example, if he/she pays a monthly charge), the charging amount determining unit 134 The additional charge for dispatching may be set to zero up to the number of times based on the number of times based on the calculation, and an amount corresponding to the monthly charge may be discounted from the ride charge. By operating the billing amount determining unit 134 in this way, it becomes easier for the user who wants to quickly secure a taxi T to use the service.

The billing amount determination unit 134 may determine the billing amount based on the length of time required for movement from when the user terminal 2 transmits the dispatch request to when the taxi T arrives at the user's location. Specifically, the billing amount determination unit 134 increases the billing amount as the travel time is shorter. If the actual required travel time becomes longer than the required travel time (that is, the expected waiting time) notified to the user terminal 2 at the time of determining the dispatched vehicle, the billing amount determination unit 134 may reduce the billing amount. By operating the billing amount determining unit 134 in this way, the user's dissatisfaction with the late arrival of the taxi T can be reduced. Note that the billing amount determination unit 134 may increase the billing amount as the distance traveled from when the user terminal 2 transmits the dispatch request until the taxi T arrives at the user's location is longer.

By the way, when the taxi T in the actual state is selected as the dispatched vehicle, the travel time required for the taxi T to arrive at the user's position is longer than that in the case where the taxi T in the empty state is selected as the dispatched vehicle. There is a high probability that it will fluctuate from the expected waiting time notified to. Therefore, the billing amount determination unit 134 may set the billing amount smaller when the taxi T in the actual state is selected as the dispatched vehicle than when the taxi T in the empty state is selected as the dispatched vehicle. By operating the billing amount determining unit 134 in this way, even if the taxi T arrives late due to the selection of the taxi T in the actual state as the dispatched vehicle, there is a cost advantage for the user. become easier to use.

Also, the billing amount determination unit 134 may increase the billing amount as the number of users requesting vehicle allocation within a predetermined distance from the user's position increases. In this case, the billing amount determination unit 134 may cause the user terminal 2 to display an area where the billing amount is lower than within a predetermined distance from the user's position. By operating the billing amount determining unit 134 in this way, the user can select to take the taxi T after moving to an area where the billing amount is low by a means other than the taxi T.

Also, the billing amount determination unit 134 may determine the billing amount based on the frequency with which the user makes a dispatch request. The billing amount determination unit 134 reduces the billing amount for a user who frequently makes a dispatch request during a time period when there are many empty taxis T, for example. Since the billing amount determination unit 134 operates in this manner, the user can easily make a dispatch request in a time period when there are many empty taxis T, so many dispatch requests are generated in a time period when there are few empty taxis T. , and the vehicle management device 1 can shorten the average time required to secure the taxi T for the user.

[Operation Flowchart of Vehicle Management Device 1]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the operation of the vehicle management device 1 selecting a dispatched vehicle. The flowchart shown in FIG. 6 starts when the user information acquisition unit 141 acquires a dispatch request from the user terminal 2 (S1). When the user information acquisition unit 141 acquires the vehicle allocation request, the vehicle selection unit 132 determines whether the priority of the user using the user terminal 2 that has transmitted the vehicle allocation request is the first priority (S2).

When the vehicle selection unit 132 determines that the priority of the user is the first priority (YES in S2), it determines whether or not there is an empty taxi T (S3). When the vehicle selection unit 132 determines that there are vacant taxis T (YES in S3), it selects one taxi T selected from one or more vacant taxis T as a dispatched vehicle (S4). When the vehicle selection unit 132 determines that there is no vacant taxi T (NO in S3), it selects one taxi T selected from one or more vacant taxis T as a dispatched vehicle (S5 ). The notification unit 133 notifies the user terminal 2 of the result indicating that the dispatched vehicle has been secured (S6).

When the vehicle selection unit 132 determines in S2 that the priority of the user is not the first priority (NO in S2), it determines whether or not there is an empty taxi T (S7). When the vehicle selection unit 132 determines that there are vacant taxis T (YES in S7), it selects one taxi T selected from one or more vacant taxis T as a dispatched vehicle (S8). When it is determined that there is no vacant taxi T (NO in S7), the vehicle selection unit 132 does not select a dispatched vehicle (S9). In this case, the notification unit 133 transmits to the user terminal 2 a result indicating that the dispatched vehicle could not be secured (S6).

When transmitting to the user terminal 2 the result indicating that the allocated vehicle could not be secured, the notification unit 133 may transmit to the user terminal 2 a screen for performing an operation to increase the allocation priority. When the user information acquisition unit 141 acquires information indicating that the user has performed an operation to increase the priority on the screen, the vehicle selection unit 132 returns to S5 and Select a dispatch vehicle. By operating the notification unit 133 in this way, even a user who has not been set to the first priority can secure a taxi T.

[First modification]
In the above description, the case where the priority is two levels was exemplified, but three or more levels of priority may be set. In this case, the vehicle selection unit 132 selects a dispatched vehicle from more taxis T as the priority is higher.

The higher the priority, the more frequently the notification unit 133 notifies the user terminal 2 of the state of the allocated vehicle selected by the vehicle selection unit 132, or the more detailed information indicating the state of the allocated vehicle. You may Then, the billing amount determination unit 134 may increase the billing amount as the priority is higher.

[Second modification]
In the above description, the case where the control unit 13 functions as the billing amount determination unit 134 and the billing amount determination unit 134 determines different billing amounts according to the priority has been exemplified. In this case, the charge paid by the user and the priority are interlocked, but the control unit 13 does not function as the billing amount determination unit 134, and the priority may not be interlocked with the charge.

For example, the vehicle selection unit 132 may select a dispatched vehicle based on a priority determined based on the states of a plurality of taxis T registered in advance. Specifically, the vehicle selection unit 132 assigns the priority of the user who has transmitted the dispatch request during the time period when the number of vacant taxis T is equal to or less than the threshold and the number of taxis T scheduled to be vacant is equal to or greater than the threshold. It may be set to 1 priority. In addition, the vehicle selection unit 132 sets the priority of the user who made the dispatch request at a position (for example, near a station or a large-scale facility) within a predetermined distance from a place where there are relatively many taxis T scheduled to be vacant to the first priority. May be set.

[Third Modification]
In the above description, the vehicle selection unit 132 selects an actual taxi T as a dispatched vehicle when there is no vacant taxi T when a dispatch request is received from a user of the first priority. The unit 132 may select an actual taxi T as a dispatched vehicle even when there is an empty taxi T. For example, when it is estimated that the actual taxi T will arrive at the user's position earlier than the empty taxi T will arrive at the user's position, the vehicle selection unit 132 dispatches the actual taxi T. Select as vehicle. By operating the vehicle selection unit 132 in this manner, even when the empty taxi T is located away from the user, it is possible to quickly secure a taxi T that the user can board.

[Fourth Modification]
In the above description, it is determined whether or not the taxi T in the actual state is to be selected as the dispatched vehicle based on the priority corresponding to the user. The condition of the taxi T to do is not limited to this. A plurality of taxis T registered in advance are divided into a plurality of groups, and the vehicle selection unit 132 selects a dispatched vehicle from the plurality of taxis T belonging to one of the plurality of groups based on the priority. good too. For example, when there is a dispatch request from a user corresponding to the first priority, the vehicle selection unit 132 selects dispatched vehicles from all the taxis T belonging to either the first group or the second group, When there is a target vehicle from the user corresponding to the priority, the dispatched vehicle is selected from the taxis T belonging to one of the first group and the second group.

If the taxi T belonging to the first group is a higher-grade vehicle than the taxi T belonging to the second group, the vehicle selection unit 132 selects the taxi T from the first group when there is a dispatch request from the user corresponding to the first priority. If there is no taxi T that can be picked up in the first group, a dispatched vehicle is selected from the second group. The vehicle selection unit 132 selects an allocated vehicle from the second group of taxis T without considering the taxi T of the first group as a candidate for the allocated vehicle when there is a dispatch request from the user corresponding to the second priority. . By operating the vehicle selection unit 132 in this manner, the probability that the user with the first priority can get into the high-quality taxi T is increased, so that user satisfaction can be improved.

[Effect of vehicle management device 1]
As described above, when the vehicle selection unit 132 acquires a vehicle allocation request by a user corresponding to the first priority from the information acquisition unit 131, the vehicle selection unit 132 transmits a vehicle allocation request by the user corresponding to the second priority to the information acquisition unit 131. Selecting a dispatch vehicle from more vehicles than if it was obtained from . For example, when a vehicle allocation request is received from a user with the first priority, the vehicle selection unit 132 selects an allocated vehicle from the actual taxis T that are scheduled to become available within a short period of time (for example, 5 minutes). . By operating the vehicle management device 1 in this way, the time from receiving a dispatch request from a user to securing a taxi that can be boarded can be shortened, and a high-quality taxi T can be dispatched to a specific user. Since it is possible to improve the satisfaction of the user at the time of dispatching the vehicle.

Although the present invention has been described above using the embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist thereof. be. For example, all or part of the device can be functionally or physically distributed and integrated in arbitrary units. In addition, new embodiments resulting from arbitrary combinations of multiple embodiments are also included in the embodiments of the present invention. The effect of the new embodiment caused by the combination has the effect of the original embodiment.

1 vehicle management device 2 user terminal 3 taxi terminal 11 communication unit 12 storage unit 13 control unit 31 communication unit 32 display unit 33 operation unit 34 GPS receiver 35 storage unit 36 control unit 131 information acquisition unit 132 vehicle selection unit 133 notification unit 134 Billing amount determination unit 141 User information acquisition unit 142 Vehicle information acquisition unit 361 Information acquisition unit 362 Operation reception unit 363 Position specifying unit 364 Display control unit

Claims (8)

an information acquisition unit that acquires a dispatch request from a user's information terminal;
When an information acquiring unit acquires the vehicle allocation request by the first user corresponding to the first priority, the information acquiring unit acquires the vehicle allocation request by the second user corresponding to the second priority lower than the first priority. a vehicle selection unit that selects a dispatched vehicle to be dispatched to the first user from more vehicles than when acquired by
a notification unit that notifies the information terminal that a vehicle allocation process has been completed when the vehicle selection unit selects the vehicle to be allocated;
A vehicle management device having The vehicle selection unit selects the allocated vehicle from a plurality of actual vehicles when there is no available vehicle that can be allocated under the condition that the priority of the vehicle allocation request is the first priority. ,
The vehicle management device according to claim 1. If there is no vehicle that can reach the position of the user within a predetermined period of time among the vacant vehicles, the vehicle selection unit selects one of the plurality of vehicles that are actually in the vehicle state and selects the user's position within the predetermined period of time . selecting the dispatched vehicle from one or more vehicles estimated to be able to reach the position of
The vehicle management device according to claim 1 . The vehicle selection unit estimates an area that a vehicle in an actual vehicle state can reach within the predetermined time, and selects a vehicle in which the user's position is included in the estimated area as the dispatched vehicle.
The vehicle management device according to claim 3. The vehicle selection unit estimates an alighting position, which is a position at which a passenger who is on board the actual vehicle gets off, and the vehicle can reach the user's position within the predetermined time via the alighting position. Selecting the dispatched vehicle based on the result of determining whether or not
The vehicle management device according to claim 3 or 4. When the vehicle selection unit selects a vehicle in an actual vehicle state as the allocated vehicle and then the vehicle changes to an empty state, the notification unit notifies the information terminal that the allocated vehicle has changed from an actual vehicle state to an empty state. to notify
The vehicle management device according to any one of claims 2 to 5. further comprising a billing amount determination unit that determines a billing amount for the user;
The billing amount determining unit calculates a billing amount for dispatching a vehicle in response to the vehicle allocation request corresponding to the first priority, and calculating a billing amount for dispatching a vehicle in response to the vehicle allocation request corresponding to the second priority. make higher than the amount
The vehicle management device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. the computer,
an information acquisition unit that acquires a dispatch request from a user's information terminal;
When an information acquiring unit acquires the vehicle allocation request by the first user corresponding to the first priority, the information acquiring unit acquires the vehicle allocation request by the second user corresponding to the second priority lower than the first priority. a vehicle selection unit that selects a dispatched vehicle to be dispatched to the first user from a larger number of vehicles than in the case where the vehicle selection unit selects the dispatched vehicle; a notification unit that notifies the information terminal;
A program to function as

Images