JP7313053B2 - Information processing system, information processing program, information processing apparatus, and information processing method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing system, an information processing program, an information processing apparatus, and an information processing method.

Conventionally, management systems for rental bicycles have been developed.

For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a vehicle rental management device that manages location information of scattered rental bicycles that are freely abandoned and provides guidance information to the most accessible vehicle for a user who wishes to rent a vehicle.

Patent Document 2 discloses a rental cycle system that manages vehicles such as bicycles, motorized bicycles, and motorbikes with two-dimensional barcodes using a GPS function-equipped mobile phone that can use a barcode reader and map information. Moreover, Patent Literature 2 discloses the reduction of bicycles left unattended on the street.

JP-A-2002-175589 JP 2010-55583 A

However, the conventional techniques (Patent Documents 1 and 2, etc.) have a problem that they cannot present the optimum route for rescuing the abandoned vehicle.

For example, in the vehicle rental management device described in Patent Document 1, although it is possible to grasp the local position of the vehicle from the position detection means mounted on the vehicle and to grasp whether each vehicle is in a rental state or an empty state, there was a problem that no consideration was given to rescuing abandoned vehicles. In other words, the vehicle rental management device described in Patent Document 1, for example, does not have specific means for detecting a vehicle under a predetermined condition as an abandoned vehicle, so it has a problem that it cannot actually detect an abandoned vehicle.

In addition, although the bicycle rental system described in Patent Document 2 mentions reducing the number of abandoned bicycles in the city by creating bases for renting bicycles throughout the city by providing bases for renting bicycles in empty spaces in the city, it has the problem that it does not have a specific means for realizing this. In other words, the rental cycle system described in Patent Document 2 does not have a specific means for, for example, recognizing abandoned vehicles and presenting a route to the abandoned vehicles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a navigation system, a terminal device, a navigation server, a navigation device, a navigation method, and a program capable of presenting an optimum route for rescuing an abandoned vehicle.

In order to achieve such an object, the navigation system of the present invention is a navigation system in which a navigation server having at least a control section and a storage section and a terminal device having at least a control section and an output section are communicably connected to each other, wherein the storage section comprises network data storage means for storing network data defining a transportation network, station information storage means for storing station information including at least location information of a station where a rental cycle stops and information on the number of rental cycles parked at the station, and usage information of the rental cycle. based on the usage information stored in the usage information storage means, the control unit of the navigation server receives, based on the usage information stored in the usage information storage means, abandoned vehicle detection means for detecting the rental cycle that meets a predetermined condition as an abandoned vehicle; virtual station registration means for registering the rental cycle detected as the abandoned vehicle by the abandoned vehicle detection means in the station information storage means as a virtual station; a route search condition receiving means for searching for a candidate route including a route using the rental cycle from the departure point to the destination that satisfies the route search conditions received by the route search condition receiving means, using the network data stored in the network data storage means and the position information and the number information of the stations and virtual stations stored in the station information storage means, and generating route guidance information; and transmitting the route guidance information generated by the route guidance information generation means to the terminal device. route guidance information transmitting means for transmitting the route search conditions to the navigation server; route guidance information receiving means for receiving the route guidance information transmitted from the navigation server; and route guidance information output means for outputting at least part of the route guidance information received by the route guidance information receiving means through the output section.

Further, the navigation system of the present invention is characterized in that, in the navigation system described above, the usage information further includes rental period information indicating a rental period of the rental cycle, and the abandoned vehicle detection means detects the rental cycle as the abandoned vehicle if the rental cycle is not returned to the station within the rental period indicated by the rental period information included in the usage information.

Further, the navigation system of the present invention is characterized in that, in the navigation system described above, the usage information further includes available area information indicating an area in which the rental cycle can be used, and the abandoned vehicle detection means detects the rental bicycle as the abandoned vehicle when the rental bicycle is not in the available area indicated by the available area information included in the usage information.

Further, the navigation system of the present invention is characterized in that, in the navigation system described above, the usage information further includes position information indicating the current position of the rental cycle, and the abandoned vehicle detection means further detects the rental cycle as the abandoned vehicle when the current position of the rental cycle indicated by the position information included in the use information does not change for a predetermined period of time.

Further, the navigation system of the present invention is characterized in that, in the navigation system described above, the virtual station registration means registers the rental cycle as the virtual station by storing virtual station information including the position information of the rental cycle detected as the abandoned vehicle by the abandoned vehicle detection means and the information on the number of rental cycles in the station information storage means.

Further, the navigation system of the present invention is characterized in that, in the navigation system described above, the station information storage means deletes the virtual station information corresponding to the rental cycle when the rental cycle detected as the abandoned vehicle by the abandoned vehicle detection means is returned to the station.

Further, the navigation system of the present invention is characterized in that, in the navigation system described above, the station information storage means deletes the virtual station information corresponding to the rental bicycle when the rental bicycle detected as the abandoned vehicle by the abandoned vehicle detection means is used.

Further, the navigation system of the present invention is the navigation system described above, wherein the station information storage means deletes the virtual station information corresponding to the rental cycle when the position information of the rental cycle detected as the abandoned vehicle by the abandoned vehicle detection means is different from the current position information of the rental cycle.

The navigation system of the present invention is the navigation system described above, wherein the route guidance information generating means searches for the candidate route using the network data stored in the network data storage means and the position information of the stations and virtual stations stored in the station information storage means; station extraction means for extracting the stations and virtual stations included in the candidate route searched by the candidate route search means; and the number of stations corresponding to the stations and virtual stations extracted by the station extraction means. and a route generating means for generating the route guidance information based on the candidate route searched by the candidate route searching means and the number information obtained by the number information obtaining means.

Further, the navigation system of the present invention is characterized in that, in the navigation system described above, the station information and the virtual station information further include basic charge information of the rental cycle, and the route guidance information generating means acquires the basic charge information from the station information storage means, generates post-change charge information by changing the basic charge information based on the number information and the basic charge information, and generates the route guidance information including the post-change charge information.

Further, the navigation system of the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-described navigation system, the route guidance information generating means changes the basic charge information to be free of charge when the rental cycle detected as the abandoned vehicle by the abandoned vehicle detecting means is used, and generates the post-change charge information.

Further, the navigation system of the present invention is the navigation system described above, wherein the navigation system is further communicably connected to an in-vehicle device mounted on the rental cycle and having at least a position acquisition unit and a control unit, the control unit of the in-vehicle device includes position information acquisition means for acquiring the position information of the rental cycle using the position acquisition unit, and position information transmission means for transmitting the position information acquired by the position information acquisition means to the navigation server, wherein the control unit of the navigation server is: It further comprises position information receiving means for receiving the position information transmitted from the in-vehicle device, and position information storing means for storing the position information received by the position information receiving means in the utilization information storage means.

Further, the navigation system of the present invention is the navigation system described above, wherein the navigation system is further communicably connected to a station device installed in the station and provided with at least a control unit, the control unit of the station device includes vehicle monitoring means for monitoring the number of rental bicycles parked at the station and generating the number information, and vehicle number information transmission means for transmitting the number information generated by the vehicle monitoring means to the navigation server, wherein the control unit of the navigation server transmits the information from the station device. The apparatus further comprises number information receiving means for receiving the transmitted number information, and number information storing means for storing the number information received by the number information receiving means in the station information storage means.

Further, the navigation system of the present invention comprises network data storage means for storing network data defining a traffic network, station information storage means for storing station information including at least location information of a station where a rental cycle is to be parked and information on the number of the rental bicycles parked at the station, usage information storage means for storing usage information of the rental bicycles, abandoned vehicle detection means for detecting the rental bicycles that meet a predetermined condition as abandoned vehicles based on the usage information stored in the usage information storage means, and the abandoned vehicle detection. virtual station registering means for registering the rental cycle detected as the abandoned vehicle by means in the station information storage means as a virtual station; and candidate routes including a route using the rental cycle from the departure point to the destination satisfying a route search condition including at least a means of transportation including the rental bicycle, a departure point and a destination, using the network data stored in the network data storage means and the location information and number information of the stations and the virtual stations stored in the station information storage means to obtain route guidance information. and route guidance information output means for outputting at least part of the route guidance information generated by the route guidance information generation means through an output unit.

Further, the terminal device of the present invention is a terminal device communicably connected to a navigation server and provided with at least a control unit and an output unit, wherein the control unit comprises route search condition transmission means for transmitting to the navigation server route search conditions including at least a transportation means including a rental cycle, a departure point and a destination, route guidance information reception means for receiving route guidance information transmitted from the navigation server, and route guidance information for outputting at least part of the route guidance information received by the route guidance information reception means through the output section. and outputting means, wherein the navigation server detects the rental cycle meeting predetermined conditions based on the rental cycle usage information as an abandoned vehicle, registers the rental cycle detected as the abandoned vehicle as a virtual station, and stores a candidate route including a route using the rental cycle from the departure point to the destination satisfying the route search condition as network data defining a transportation network, location information of the station where the rental cycle stops and the virtual station, and positional information of the station and the virtual station at which the rental cycle is stopped and the station and the virtual station. The information is generated by a search using the information on the number of parked rental bicycles.

Further, the navigation server of the present invention is a navigation server communicably connected to a terminal device and includes at least a control unit and a storage unit, wherein the storage unit comprises: network data storage means for storing network data defining a transportation network; station information storage means for storing station information including at least location information of a station where a rental cycle stops and information on the number of the rental bicycles parked at the station; Abandoned vehicle detection means for detecting the rental cycle that meets a predetermined condition as an abandoned vehicle based on the usage information stored in the storage means; virtual station registration means for registering the rental cycle detected as the abandoned vehicle by the abandoned vehicle detection means in the station information storage means as a virtual station; route search condition reception means for receiving a route search condition including at least a transportation means including the rental bicycle, a departure point and a destination transmitted from the terminal device; route guidance information generating means for searching for a candidate route including a route using the rental cycle from the departure point to the destination using the network data stored in the network data storage means and the position information and number information of the stations and the virtual stations stored in the station information storage means to generate route guidance information; and a route guidance information transmission means for transmitting the route guidance information generated by the route guidance information generation means to the terminal device.

Further, the navigation server of the present invention is a navigation server comprising at least a control unit and a storage unit, which are communicably connected to a terminal device having at least an output unit, wherein the storage unit comprises: network data storage means for storing network data defining a transportation network; station information storage means for storing station information including at least location information of stations where rental bicycles are parked and information on the number of rental bicycles parked at the station; a virtual station registering means for registering the rental cycle detected as an abandoned vehicle by the abandoned vehicle detecting means in the station information storing means as a virtual station on the basis of the usage information stored in the usage information storing means; a route search condition receiving means for receiving, from the terminal device, a route search condition including at least a transportation means including the rental cycle, a departure point, and a destination; route guidance information generating means for generating route guidance information by searching for a candidate route including a route using the rental cycle from the departure point to the destination that satisfies the route search condition using the network data stored in the network data storage means and the position information and number information of the stations and virtual stations stored in the station information storage means; a route guidance screen generation means for generating a route guidance screen based on at least a part of the route guidance information generated by the route guidance information generation means; and output control means for transmitting the route guidance screen generated by the means to the terminal device and outputting at least part of the route guidance screen via the output unit.

Further, the navigation apparatus of the present invention is a navigation apparatus comprising at least a storage section, a control section, and an output section, wherein the storage section comprises: network data storage means for storing network data defining a transportation network; station information storage means for storing station information including at least location information of a station where a rental cycle stops and information on the number of the rental bicycles parked at the station; Abandoned vehicle detection means for detecting, based on usage information, the rental cycle that meets a predetermined condition as an abandoned vehicle; virtual station registration means for registering the rental cycle detected as the abandoned vehicle by the abandoned vehicle detection means in the station information storage means as a virtual station; route search condition setting means for setting a route search condition including at least a transportation means including the rental cycle, a departure point and a destination; route guidance information generating means for generating route guidance information by searching for a candidate route including a route using the network data stored in the network data storage means and the position information and the number information of the stations and virtual stations stored in the station information storage means; and route guidance information output means for outputting at least part of the route guidance information generated by the route guidance information generation means through the output unit.

Further, the navigation method of the present invention is a navigation method executed in a navigation system in which a navigation server having at least a control unit and a storage unit and a terminal device having at least a control unit and an output unit are communicably connected to each other, wherein the storage unit comprises network data storage means for storing network data defining a transportation network, station information storage means for storing station information including at least location information of stations where rental bicycles are parked and information on the number of rental bicycles parked at the station, and usage information of the rental bicycles. an abandoned vehicle detection step executed in the control unit of the navigation server for detecting the rental cycle that meets a predetermined condition as an abandoned vehicle based on the use information stored in the use information storage unit; a virtual station registration step executed in the control unit of the navigation server for registering the rental cycle detected as the abandoned vehicle in the abandoned vehicle detection step as a virtual station in the station information storage unit; a route search condition receiving step of receiving the route search conditions transmitted from the terminal device in the route search condition sending step executed in the control unit of the navigation server; and a candidate route including a route using the rental cycle from the departure point to the destination that satisfies the route search conditions received in the route search condition receiving step and executed in the control unit of the navigation server is stored in the network data storage means. a route guidance information generating step of generating route guidance information by searching using the network data stored in the station information storage means and the location information and number information of the stations and virtual stations stored in the station information storage means; a route guidance information transmitting step executed in the control section of the navigation server of transmitting the route guidance information generated in the route guidance information generating step to the terminal device; and a route guidance information receiving step executed in the control section of the terminal device receiving the route guidance information transmitted from the navigation server in the route guidance information transmitting step. means, and a route guidance information output step of outputting at least a part of the route guidance information received in the route guidance information receiving step, which is executed in the control section of the terminal device, via the output section.

The navigation method of the present invention is a navigation method that is executed in the navigation system, and the navigation system above has a network data memory method that memorizes the network data specifying the transportation network, the location information of the station that stops the bicycle, and at least the number of rental rentals that are stopped at the station. The station information that recalls the station information, the usage information that memorizes the usage information of the rental bicycle, the use of abandoned vehicle detection, the virtual station registration means, the route guide information generation means, and the route information output means, and the above -abandoned vehicle detection method is based on the above -mentioned information memorized information in the above -mentioned information storage means. The abandoned vehicle detection step that detects the above rental cycle that meets the prescribed conditions as an abandoned vehicle, and the above -mentioned virtual station registration means, the above -mentioned rental bicycle detected as an abandoned vehicle detected in the above -abandoned vehicle detection step, is a virtual station registration step that registers as a status information memory / Candidate data, including the route that uses the rental cycle from the departure site to the destination that meets the route exploration conditions, including the cycle, and the destination, is remembered in the above network data memory means, and the above -mentioned station information memory The route guide information generation step that generates the route guide information information using the above position information and the number of units of the above virtual station and the information output step that outputs at least a part of the above route guide information generated in the above -mentioned sutras guide information generation step is a route guide information output step. Is characterized.

Further, the navigation method of the present invention is a navigation method executed in a terminal apparatus communicably connected to a navigation server and comprising at least a control section and an output section, wherein a route search condition transmission step executed in the control section transmits to the navigation server route search conditions including at least a means of transportation including a rental bicycle, a departure point, and a destination; a route guidance information reception step receives the route guidance information transmitted from the navigation server; The route guidance information is output in the navigation server by detecting the rental cycle meeting predetermined conditions as an abandoned vehicle based on the rental cycle usage information, registering the rental cycle detected as the abandoned vehicle as a virtual station, and storing a candidate route including a route using the rental cycle from the departure point to the destination satisfying the route search condition as network data defining a transportation network, location information of stations stopping the rental cycle and the virtual station, and The information is generated by searching using information on the number of rental bicycles parked at the station and the virtual station.

Further, the navigation method of the present invention is a navigation method executed in a navigation server communicably connected to a terminal device and having at least a control unit and a storage unit, wherein the storage unit comprises: network data storage means for storing network data defining a transportation network; station information storage means for storing station information including at least location information of stations where rental bicycles are parked and information on the number of rental bicycles parked at the station; a virtual station registration step of registering the rental cycle detected as an abandoned vehicle in the abandoned vehicle detection step in the station information storage means as a virtual station; a route search condition reception step of receiving a route search condition transmitted from the terminal device and including at least a transportation means including the rental bicycle, a departure point, and a destination; a route guidance information generating step of searching for a candidate route including a route using the rental cycle from the departure point to the destination that satisfies the route search condition by using the network data stored in the network data storage means and the position information and number information of the stations and virtual stations stored in the station information storage means; and a route guidance information transmitting step of transmitting the route guidance information generated in the route guidance information generating step to the terminal device.

Further, the navigation method of the present invention is a navigation method executed in a navigation server comprising at least a control unit and a storage unit communicably connected to a terminal device comprising at least an output unit, wherein the storage unit comprises: network data storage means for storing network data defining a transportation network; station information storage means for storing station information including at least location information of stations where rental bicycles are parked and information on the number of rental bicycles parked at the station; a virtual station registration step of registering the rental cycle detected as an abandoned vehicle in the abandoned vehicle detection step as a virtual station in the station information storage means; a route search condition receiving step of receiving a route search condition including at least a means of transportation including the rental cycle, a departure point and a destination transmitted from the terminal device; A route guidance information generating step of searching for a candidate route including a route using the rental cycle from the departure point to the destination that satisfies the route search condition received in the condition receiving step, using the network data stored in the network data storage means and the position information and the number information of the stations and virtual stations stored in the station information storage means to generate route guidance information; and an output control step of transmitting the route guidance screen generated in the route guidance screen generation step to the terminal device and outputting at least part of the route guidance screen via the output unit.

Further, the navigation method of the present invention is a navigation method executed in a navigation apparatus having at least a storage unit, a control unit, and an output unit, wherein the storage unit comprises: network data storage means for storing network data defining a transportation network; station information storage means for storing station information including at least location information of a station where a rental cycle stops and information on the number of the rental bicycles parked at the station; a virtual station registration step of registering the rental cycle detected as an abandoned vehicle in the abandoned vehicle detection step in the station information storage means as a virtual station; a route search condition setting step of setting a route search condition including at least a means of transportation including the rental bicycle, a departure point, and a destination; a route guidance information generating step of searching for a candidate route including a route using the rental cycle of (1) using the network data stored in the network data storage means and the position information and the number information of the stations and the virtual stations stored in the station information storage means; and a route guidance information output step of outputting at least part of the route guidance information generated in the route guidance information generating step through the output unit.

Further, the program of the present invention is a program to be executed by a terminal device communicably connected to a navigation server and provided with at least a control unit and an output unit, wherein the control unit transmits, in the control unit, a route search condition transmission step of transmitting, to the navigation server, a route search condition including at least a means of transportation including a rental bicycle, a departure point and a destination; a route guidance information reception step of receiving the route guidance information transmitted from the navigation server; a route guidance information output step for outputting, wherein the route guidance information detects, in the navigation server, the rental cycle meeting predetermined conditions based on the rental cycle usage information as an abandoned vehicle, registers the rental cycle detected as the abandoned vehicle as a virtual station, and stores a candidate route including a route using the rental cycle from the departure point to the destination that satisfies the route search condition as network data defining a transportation network; The information is generated by searching using information on the number of rental bicycles parked at the station and the virtual station.

Further, the program of the present invention is a program to be executed by a navigation server communicatively connected to a terminal device and having at least a control unit and a storage unit, wherein the storage unit comprises: network data storage means for storing network data defining a transportation network; station information storage means for storing station information including at least location information of a station where a rental cycle is parked and information on the number of the rental bicycles parked at the station; a virtual station registration step of registering the rental cycle detected as an abandoned vehicle in the abandoned vehicle detection step in the station information storage means as a virtual station; a route search condition reception step of receiving a route search condition transmitted from the terminal device and including at least a transportation means including the rental bicycle, a departure point, and a destination; A route guidance information generating step of searching for a candidate route including a route using the rental cycle from the departure point to the destination that satisfies a route search condition using the network data stored in the network data storage means and the position information and number information of the stations and virtual stations stored in the station information storage means, and a route guidance information transmitting step of transmitting the route guidance information generated in the route guidance information generating step to the terminal device.

Further, the program of the present invention is a program to be executed by a navigation server comprising at least a control unit and a storage unit and communicably connected to a terminal device comprising at least an output unit, wherein the storage unit comprises: network data storage means for storing network data defining a transportation network; station information storage means for storing station information including at least location information of stations where rental bicycles are parked and information on the number of rental bicycles parked at the station; a virtual station registration step of registering the rental cycle detected as an abandoned vehicle in the abandoned vehicle detection step in the station information storage means as a virtual station in the station information storage means; a route search condition reception step of receiving, from the terminal device, a route search condition including at least a transportation means including the rental bicycle, a departure point and a destination; and the route search condition reception. a route guidance information generating step of searching for a candidate route including a route using the rental cycle from the departure point to the destination that satisfies the route search condition received in the step, using the network data stored in the network data storage means and the position information and the number information of the stations and virtual stations stored in the station information storage means to generate route guidance information; an output control step of transmitting the route guidance screen generated in the route guidance screen generation step to the terminal device and outputting at least part of the route guidance screen via the output unit.

Further, a program of the present invention is a program to be executed by a navigation device having at least a storage unit, a control unit and an output unit, wherein the storage unit comprises: network data storage means for storing network data defining a transportation network; station information storage means for storing station information including at least location information of stations where rental bicycles are parked and information on the number of rental bicycles parked at the station; a virtual station registration step of registering the rental cycle detected as the abandoned vehicle in the abandoned vehicle detection step in the station information storage means as a virtual station; a route search condition setting step of setting a route search condition including at least a transportation means including the rental cycle, a departure point and a destination; A route guidance information generating step of generating route guidance information by searching for candidate routes including a route using rental bicycles using the network data stored in the network data storage means and the position information and number information of the stations and the virtual stations stored in the station information storage means, and a route guidance information output step of outputting at least part of the route guidance information generated in the route guidance information generation step through the output unit.

According to this invention, in the navigation server, network data defining a traffic network is stored in a storage unit, station information including at least location information of stations where rental bicycles are parked and information on the number of rental bicycles parked at the station is stored in the storage unit, usage information of rental bicycles is stored in the storage unit, rental bicycles that meet predetermined conditions are detected as abandoned vehicles based on the usage information stored in the storage unit, rental bicycles that are detected as abandoned vehicles are registered as virtual stations in the storage unit, and transmitted from the terminal device. A route search condition including at least a means of transportation including a rental bicycle, a starting point and a destination is received, a candidate route including a route using a rental cycle from the starting point to the destination that satisfies the received route search condition is searched using the network data stored in the storage unit and the location information and number information of the stations and virtual stations stored in the storage unit to generate route guidance information, the generated route guidance information is transmitted to the terminal device, the terminal device transmits the route search conditions to the navigation server, and the route guidance information transmitted from the navigation server. is received, and at least part of the received route guidance information is output via the output unit. Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to present a candidate route from the departure point to the destination using rental bicycles to the user after taking into account the number of rental bicycles at each station, so that it is possible to optimally disperse the unevenness of rental bicycles among stations.

Further, according to the present invention, the usage information further includes rental period information indicating the rental period of the rental cycle, and in detecting an abandoned vehicle, if the rental cycle is not returned to the station within the rental period indicated by the rental period information included in the usage information, the rental cycle is detected as an abandoned vehicle. Therefore, it is possible to accurately detect a rental cycle that has not been returned to the station within the rental period as an abandoned vehicle.

In addition, according to the present invention, the usage information further includes available area information indicating an area in which the rental cycle can be used, and in detecting an abandoned vehicle, if there is no rental cycle within the available area indicated by the available area information included in the usage information, the rental bicycle is detected as an abandoned vehicle. Therefore, it is possible to accurately detect a rented bicycle that has deviated from the available area as an abandoned vehicle.

Further, according to the present invention, the usage information further includes position information indicating the current position of the rental cycle, and in detecting an abandoned vehicle, if the current position of the rental cycle indicated by the position information included in the usage information does not change for a predetermined period of time or more, the rental cycle is detected as an abandoned vehicle.

In addition, according to the present invention, when registering a virtual station, position information of a rental bicycle detected as an abandoned vehicle and virtual station information including information on the number of such rental bicycles are stored in the storage unit, thereby registering the rental bicycle as a virtual station. Therefore, when searching for a route using rental bicycles, the position where the abandoned vehicle is parked can be considered as a virtual station, and as a result, a route using the abandoned vehicle can be presented.

Further, according to the present invention, when a rental cycle detected as an abandoned vehicle is returned to a station, the storage unit deletes the virtual station information corresponding to the rental cycle. Therefore, when the abandoned vehicle is returned to the station, there is no point in registering the abandoned vehicle as a virtual station, so there is an effect that the corresponding virtual station information can be reliably deleted. As a result, the present invention has the effect of preventing the abandoned vehicle from being searched by a plurality of users when the user searches for a route for using a rental cycle including the abandoned vehicle.

Further, according to the present invention, when a rental cycle detected as an abandoned vehicle is used, the storage unit deletes the virtual station information corresponding to the rental cycle. Therefore, when the rental cycle detected as an abandoned vehicle is used, there is no point in registering the abandoned vehicle as a virtual station. As a result, the present invention has the effect of preventing a situation in which an abandoned vehicle is searched by a plurality of users when a user searches for a route for using a rental cycle including an abandoned vehicle.

According to this invention, the memory portion has no point in which the abandoned vehicle is registered as a virtual station, as the rental bicycle location detected as an abandoned vehicle and the current location information of the rental bicycle is different, the virtual station information corresponding to the rental bicycle is deleted. Therefore, if the location information at the time of the virtual station is registered and the current location information of the rental bicycle is different, the applicable virtual station information can be ensurely deleted. As a result, the present invention has the effect of being able to reliably present a virtual station where an abandoned vehicle exists when a user searches for a route for using a rental cycle that includes an abandoned vehicle.

According to the present invention, in generating the route guidance information, the candidate route is searched using the network data stored in the storage unit and the position information of the stations and virtual stations stored in the storage unit, the stations and virtual stations included in the searched candidate route are extracted, the number information corresponding to the extracted stations and virtual stations is acquired from the storage unit, and the route guidance information is generated based on the searched candidate route and the acquired number information. There is an effect that the route can be processed in consideration of the number of rental bicycles at each station and each virtual station. As a result, the present invention has the effect that it is possible to provide a route using rental bicycles as an optimum route from the departure point to the destination, instead of a route that prioritizes only the optimization of the distribution of rental bicycles.

According to the present invention, the station information and the virtual station information further include basic usage charge information for the rental cycle, and in generating the route guidance information, the basic usage charge information is acquired from the storage unit, and based on the number information and the basic usage charge information, the changed usage charge information is generated by changing the basic usage charge information, and the route guidance information including the changed usage charge information is generated. As a result, the present invention has the effect of prompting users to cooperate in relieving abandoned vehicles and dispersing unevenness in rental bicycles among stations.

Further, according to the present invention, when a rental cycle detected as an abandoned vehicle is used in the generation of route guidance information, the basic usage charge information is changed so that it is free of charge, and post-change usage charge information is generated. Therefore, it is possible to present an abandoned vehicle usage route free of charge for the rental cycle corresponding to the abandoned vehicle to the user who has searched for the route. As a result, the present invention has the effect of further prompting the user to cooperate in rescuing the abandoned vehicle.

Further, according to the present invention, in the in-vehicle device mounted on the rental cycle, the position acquisition unit is used to obtain the position information of the rental cycle, the position information is transmitted to the navigation server, the navigation server receives the position information transmitted from the in-vehicle device, and the received position information is stored in the storage unit.

According to the present invention, the station device installed at the station monitors the number of rental bicycles parked at the station, generates information on the number of bicycles, transmits the generated information on the number of bicycles to the navigation server, receives the information on the number of bicycles transmitted from the station device, and stores the received information on the number of bicycles in the storage unit in the navigation server. .

In the above, the navigation system of the present invention has been described as an example of the effects, but the same effects can be obtained in the navigation server, the terminal device, the navigation device, the navigation method, and the program.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a navigation system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the station information database in this embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the usage information database in this embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an example of processing of the navigation system in the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of candidate routes between stations and virtual stations in this embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an output screen for route guidance information in this embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another example of the route guidance information output screen in this embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an abandoned vehicle management screen according to the present embodiment. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a navigation server according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing an example of processing of the navigation server in the second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the navigation device according to the third embodiment. FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing an example of processing of the navigation device in the third embodiment.

Embodiments of a navigation system, a terminal device, a navigation server, a navigation device, a navigation method, and a program according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited by this embodiment.

Hereinafter, the configuration and processing of the present invention will be described in detail in the order of a first embodiment (navigation system), a second embodiment (navigation server (server-driven type)), and a third embodiment (navigation device (standalone type)).

[First Embodiment]
First, a first embodiment (navigation system) of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. FIG. However, the first embodiment shown below is an example of a navigation system for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the present invention is not intended to be limited to this navigation system, but can be equally applied to navigation systems of other embodiments included in the scope of claims. For example, the form of functional distribution on the server side and the terminal side in the navigation system exemplified in the first embodiment is not limited to the following, and can be functionally or physically distributed and integrated in arbitrary units within the range where similar effects and functions can be achieved.

[Navigation system configuration]
First, an example of the configuration of the navigation system according to the first embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the navigation system according to the first embodiment, and conceptually shows only those portions of the configuration that are related to the present invention. In this embodiment, a navigation system that provides communication-type information will be described as a specific example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can also be applied to a standalone type navigation system or the like.

As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation system of the first embodiment is schematically configured by communicably connecting a navigation server 200 capable of searching for a route, a terminal device 100 loaded with a route guidance application, a transfer guidance application, and the like, a station device 600 for monitoring the number of vehicles installed at stations where rental bicycles are stopped, and an in-vehicle device 700 for transmitting position information and the like of vehicles mounted on the rental bicycles. Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the communication includes remote communication such as wired/wireless communication via the network 300 as an example. Also, each part of these navigation systems is communicably connected via an arbitrary communication path.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, in the navigation system of the first embodiment, the navigation server 200 generally includes at least a control unit 202 and a storage unit 206. FIG. Terminal device 100 also includes at least position acquisition unit 112 , output unit (display unit 114 and audio output unit 118 ), input unit 116 , control unit 102 , and storage unit 106 . Moreover, the station device 600 includes at least a control section 602 and a storage section 606 . In-vehicle device 700 also includes at least a position acquisition unit 712 , a control unit 702 and a storage unit 706 .

[Configuration of Navigation Server 200]
Here, in FIG. 1, the navigation server 200 detects, as an abandoned vehicle, rental bicycles that meet predetermined conditions based on the usage information stored in the storage unit 206, registers the detected rental bicycles as abandoned vehicles in the storage unit 206 as virtual stations, receives route search conditions including at least a means of transportation including rental bicycles, a departure point, and a destination transmitted from the terminal device 100, and determines candidate routes including routes using rental bicycles from the departure point to the destination that satisfy the received route search conditions. , search using the network data stored in the storage unit 206 and the location information and number information of the stations and virtual stations stored in the storage unit 206 to generate route guidance information, and transmit the generated route guidance information to the terminal device 100.

The navigation server 200 is connected to the terminal device 100 , the station device 600 and the in-vehicle device 700 via the network 300 via the communication control interface section 204 so as to be able to communicate with each other. The control unit 202 is control means for performing various processes. The communication control interface unit 204 is an interface connected to a communication device (not shown) such as an antenna or router connected to a communication line, telephone line, or the like, and has a function of controlling communication between the navigation server 200 and the network 300. That is, the communication control interface unit 204 has a function of communicating data with the terminal device 100, the station device 600, the in-vehicle device 700 and the like via communication lines.

In FIG. 1, the storage unit 206 is a fixed disk device such as a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and a storage means such as an SSD (Solid State Drive), and stores various databases and tables (network database 206a, station information database 206b, usage information database 206c, map database 206d, guidance database 206e, route guidance information database 206f, etc.).

Among the constituent elements of the storage unit 206, the network database 206a is network data storage means for storing network data defining the transportation network. Here, the network data stored in the network database 206a may include road network data, route network data, and in-facility network data. These network data are pre-stored in the network database 206a, and the control unit 202 of the navigation server 200 may periodically download the latest data from an external device or the like via the network 300 to update the network data stored in the network database 206a.

Here, the road network data stored in the network database 206a is network data that defines a road network. For example, it is network data represented by a combination of node data of nodes that are nodes on the road network representation such as intersections, and link data of links that are road sections between nodes. Here, the node data may include information such as a node number (for example, node ID, etc.), node name, position coordinates such as latitude, longitude, altitude, etc., node type, number of links to be connected, connection node number, and intersection name. Link data includes link numbers (e.g., link IDs), start node IDs, end node IDs, road types, route numbers such as national roads, prefectural roads, and city roads, route information to be heavily used, attribute information of administrative areas where links exist, link lengths (e.g., distances, etc.), road service status, traffic restrictions during extreme weather conditions, vehicle weight restrictions, vehicle height restrictions, width, road width classification, lane information (e.g., number of lanes, exclusive lanes, priority lanes for buses, vehicle traffic divisions, and progress vehicular traffic zone information about traffic divisions by direction, etc.), attributes in links such as speed limits, overpasses, tunnels and bridges, and information such as names. The road network data may also include usage fee data and the like. Here, the usage charge data may be information representing fuel charges for traveling by car, motorcycle, etc., and tolls for toll roads such as national highways and motorways. Further, the road network data may store location information such as latitude and longitude information of facilities, etc. existing on a route when moving by car, motorcycle, bicycle, or on foot.

Also, the road network data may include road traffic information. Here, the road traffic information may include congestion information such as congestion occurrence points, congestion distances, and transit time between two points on the road (that is, travel time, etc.). Moreover, the road traffic information may include traffic obstacle information, traffic regulation information, and the like. Here, traffic regulation information is data that defines various traffic regulations. For example, traffic regulations during abnormal weather such as rainfall regulations, snow/freezing regulations, supersonic wave regulations, wind speed regulations, and visibility regulations; vehicle traffic regulations such as height regulations and weight regulations; , and information such as prohibition of entry of general vehicles due to being a connecting road to private land. These road traffic information are stored in advance in the network database 206a, and the control unit 202 of the navigation server 200 periodically (for example, every five minutes) sends the latest data via the network 300 to an external system (for example, VICS (registered trademark) (Vehicle Information and Communication System) and ATIS (Advanced Traffic Information). Service), Japan Road Traffic Information Center (JARTIC), etc.) and the road traffic information stored in the network database 206a may be updated.

The route network data stored in the network database 206a is network data that defines the route network of each transportation system (for example, public transportation) such as railroads, airplanes, buses, and ships. is network data expressed by a combination with link data of Here, a railway is a transportation system that transports passengers and freight by being guided by fixed guideways (rails, guide rails, etc.) installed on the route. The node data may include information such as node numbers (e.g., node IDs), node names (e.g., station names, stop names, stop names, stop names, airport names, port names, terminal names, etc.), and position coordinates such as latitude, longitude, and altitude. In addition, the link data may include information such as a link number (e.g., link ID, etc.), start node ID, end node ID, type, link length (e.g., distance, etc.), in-link attribute such as viaduct, tunnel, and bridge, and name (e.g., route name, etc.).

Also, the route network data may include timetable data of transportation facilities. Here, the timetable data is information representing the timetable of each means of transportation such as railroads, airplanes, buses, and ships. In addition, the timetable data may further include destination information of transportation (for example, final destination information) and types of transportation (for example, limited express, express, semi-express, rapid, rapid express, commuter limited express, commuter rapid, commuter express, section express, section semi-express, section rapid, local train, local, etc.). Further, the timetable data may be information including attribute information such as departure and arrival times (e.g., scheduled departure, transit, and arrival times, etc.) of transportation facilities at nodes on the route (i.e., stop points of transportation facilities), names of routes of transportation facilities, and names of nodes on the route of transportation facilities (i.e., stop points of transportation facilities). In addition, the timetable data may include transportation facility attribute information (e.g., type and destination information, etc.) associated with each section (e.g., one or more links, etc.) connecting nodes on a transportation facility route.

Also, the route network data may include usage fee data for transportation facilities. Here, the charge data may be, for example, information representing the charges incurred when using each means of transportation such as railroads, airplanes, buses, and ships. Also, the route network data may include boarding position data. Here, the boarding position data may be, for example, information representing the boarding position of a transportation system in which a plurality of vehicles such as trains, streetcars, monorails, cable cars, and linear motor cars are connected (for example, a vehicle near a ticket gate, a vehicle at a convenient position for transfer, a vehicle with a low congestion rate, and a women-only vehicle, etc.). Also, the route network data may include operation information of each means of transportation such as railway operation information, air operation information, ship operation information, and bus operation information. The operation information of each transportation facility is stored in advance in the network database 206a, and the control unit 202 of the navigation server 200 may periodically download the latest data from an external system or the like via the network 300 to update the operation information of each transportation facility stored in the network database 206a.

Further, the intra-facility network data stored in the network database 206a is network data that defines the intra-facility route network. Here, the in-facility network data stored in the network database 206a includes, for example, node data of nodes that are nodes that connect passages, such as entrances and exits of shops, companies, offices, and toilets in a building, entrances and exits of elevators and escalators, entrances and exits of stairs, boarding gates of airplanes, boarding positions of trains and the like on station platforms, and ticket gates of stations, and links that are passages, stairs, moving walkways, escalators, and elevators that connect nodes. It is network data represented by a combination with link data.

Here, the node data may include information such as a node number (e.g., node ID, etc.), a node name (e.g., entrance name, entrance name, etc.), position coordinates such as latitude, longitude, altitude, etc., node type (e.g., entrance, entrance, entrance, passage corner, passage branch point, etc.), number of connected links, and connection node number. In addition, the link data may include link numbers (for example, link IDs, etc.), start node IDs, end node IDs, link lengths, widths, link types (for example, passages connecting nodes, stairs, slopes, escalators, elevators, moving walkways, etc.), and barrier-free information. Here, the facility may be a station, an office building, a hotel, a department store, a supermarket, a museum, an art museum, a school, an aquarium, an underground passageway, a parking garage, an underground parking lot, or an indoor building such as an underground mall. The facility may also be a bus terminal, a park, an amusement park, a campground, a connecting passageway, an outdoor parking lot, or an outdoor building such as a zoo.

The station information database 206b is station information storage means for storing station information including at least location information of stations where rental bicycles are parked and information on the number of rental bicycles parked at the stations. Here, the station information database 206b may store a rental cycle detected as an abandoned vehicle by the control unit 202 as a virtual station. Specifically, the station information database 206b may store virtual station information including location information of rental bicycles detected as abandoned vehicles by the control unit 202 and information on the number of such rental bicycles. In the present embodiment, the station information and virtual station information stored in the station information database 206b are used together with the network data stored in the network database 206a when the control unit 202 searches for a route using rental bicycles (that is, including rental bicycles detected as abandoned vehicles by the control unit 202) from the departure point to the destination.

Further, in this embodiment, when a rental cycle detected as an abandoned vehicle by the control unit 202 is returned to the station, the station information database 206b deletes the virtual station information corresponding to the rental cycle. Also, when a rental cycle detected as an abandoned vehicle is used, the station information database 206b deletes the virtual station information corresponding to the rental cycle. Further, if the position information of a rental cycle detected as an abandoned vehicle by the control unit 202 differs from the current position information of the rental cycle, the station information database 206b may delete the virtual station information corresponding to the rental cycle. That is, when the abandoned vehicle is rescued (for example, when the abandoned vehicle is returned to the station or when the abandoned vehicle is used), or when the rental cycle detected as the abandoned vehicle is illegally moved, there is no point in storing the abandoned vehicle as a virtual station in the station information database 206b, so the corresponding virtual station information is deleted from the station information database 206b. Thus, in this embodiment, when a user searches for a route for using a rental cycle including an abandoned vehicle, it is possible to prevent the abandoned vehicle from being searched by a plurality of users, and to reliably present a virtual station where the abandoned vehicle exists.

Here, an example of the data structure of the station information database 206b will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, station information database 206b includes station information for real stations and virtual station information for virtual stations.

Here, in the present embodiment, the virtual station is defined as a virtual station so that the position where the rental cycle detected as an abandoned vehicle by the control unit 202 is parked can be searched in the same way as a real station.

First, station information about an existing station will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the station information stored in the station information database 206b includes location information of each station associated with the station ID (station A, station B, station C, etc. in FIG. 2) of each station, number information indicating the number of currently available rental bicycles parked at each station (in FIG. 2, "10" for station A, "15" for station B, "18" for station C, etc.), and the rental bicycles installed at each station. Dock number information indicating the total number of parking docks, which are bicycle parking devices equipped with a lock opening/closing function that physically fixes the parking dock (in FIG. 2, "15" for station A, "17" for station B, "18" for station C, etc.), and vacant number information indicating the number of vacant cars ("5" for station A, "2" for station B, "0" for station C, etc. in FIG. 2).

Here, the station ID included in the station information is unique identification information assigned to each station, and may be, for example, character data indicating the name of the station or numerical data indicating the identification number of the station. Position information included in the station information is coordinate data indicating the position of each station in latitude and longitude. Further, the number information included in the station information is numerical data indicating the number of rental bicycles (number of vehicles stopped) that are stopped at each station, which is acquired by the control unit 602 of the station device 600 installed at each station and transmitted to the navigation server 200. Further, the dock number information included in the station information is numerical data indicating the total number of docks corresponding to the maximum number of vehicles that can stop at the station. Also, the information on the number of vacant cars included in the station information is numerical data indicating the number of vacant cars corresponding to the number of cars that can be stopped at the current station.

Further, in the present embodiment, the number of bicycles may be counted as parked rental bicycles by the control unit 602 of the station device 600 when a parking dock, which is a bicycle parking device having a lock opening/closing function for physically fixing (docking) the rental bicycles, is closed. Further, the information on the number of bicycles may be numerical data counted by the control unit 602 of the station device 600 as stopped rental bicycles, for example, when the position of the rental cycle obtained by the position obtaining unit 712 of the in-vehicle device 700 mounted on the rental cycle described later and the position of the station device 600 match or are within a predetermined range. The number information may also be numerical data counted as stopped rental cycles by the control unit 602 of the station device 600 when the position of the rental cycle is included in the area of the station. Also, the number information may be numerical data indicating the number of rental bicycles parked at the station, which is input by the station administrator or the like via the input unit of the station device 600 . In the present embodiment, the vacant number information may be counted as the number of vacant cars by the control unit 602 of the station device 600 when the bicycle parking device is unlocked, or may be numerical data calculated by subtracting the number of vacant cars indicated by the vacant car number information from the total number of docks indicated by the dock number information.

Although not shown, the station information stored in the station information database 206b may further include basic charge information for rental cycles. The basic usage fee information is numerical information indicating the usage fee of a rental cycle predetermined by a rental cycle company or the like, and may be determined according to, for example, the number of times of use, hourly basis, half-day basis, daily basis, weekly basis, monthly basis, or the like. The station information stored in the station information database 206b may further include at least one of information on the number of people who can use the rental cycle, type information (rental type information), and reservation information. Here, the available number of people information is numerical data indicating, for example, one-seater, two-seater, three-seater, four-seater, five-seater, and the like. The type information is, for example, data indicating types such as city bike, cross bike, mountain bike, road racer, BMX bike, folding bike, small wheel bike, mini cycle, electrically assisted bicycle, children's bicycle, bicycle for two infants, three-wheeled bicycle, four-wheeled bicycle, recumbent, three-wheeled recumbent, handbike, bicycle with trailer, bicycle with sidecar, and the like. The reservation information is data indicating whether or not there is a reservation for a rental cycle. For example, in this embodiment, the station information database 206b may refer to the reservation information and change the number of bicycles information and the number of empty bicycles information according to the number of reserved rental bicycles when there is a reservation.

Further, the station information database 206b may store (hold) required time information indicating the required time between stations (for example, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, etc.) calculated in advance using the network data stored in the network database 206a. In this case, the station information database 206b may store required time information between stations for all combinations of stations, or may store required time information between stations only for combinations of stations within a predetermined area (administrative boundary, etc.) or within a predetermined distance. In addition, the required time information stored in the station information database 206b may further take into account movement costs such as directions and gradients. Specifically, the station information database 206b may store different required time information (for example, "10 minutes" when traveling from station A to B, "15" minutes when traveling from station B to A, etc.) as the required time information between station A and station B in consideration of the travel cost, because the direction, slope, etc., differ between stations A and B when traveling from station A to station B and when traveling from station B to A. Furthermore, the station information database 206b may store different required time information (e.g., when traveling from station A to station B, "10 minutes" for fine weather, "15 minutes" for strong winds, "20 minutes" for rain, etc.) that further considers the weather (e.g., fine weather, strong winds, rain, etc.) as travel costs, for example, because bicycles are highly affected by the weather. In this embodiment, the required time may be calculated each time the control unit 202 performs route search processing.

These station information are stored in advance in the station information database 206b, and the control unit 202 of the navigation server 200 may periodically or in real time download the latest data from an external device (for example, the station device 600 described later) via the network 300 to update the station information stored in the station information database 206b.

Next, virtual station information about virtual stations will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the virtual station information stored in the station information database 206b includes the same information as the station information so that when the control unit 202 searches for a route using a rental cycle, the rental cycle detected as an abandoned vehicle is also searched. For example, the virtual station information includes location information associated with the station ID (virtual station X1, virtual station X2, etc. in FIG. 2), number information (in FIG. 2, "1" for virtual station X1, "1" for virtual station X2, etc.), dock number information ("1" for virtual station X1, "1" for virtual station X2, etc. in FIG. 2), and empty car number information ("0" for virtual station X1, virtual station X in FIG. 2, including "0 units", etc.). In addition, in this embodiment, the virtual station information may further include basic charge information, available number of users information, type information, required time information, etc., like the station information.

Here, the station ID included in the virtual station information is unique identification information assigned to each virtual station (that is, the rental cycle detected as an abandoned vehicle by the control unit 202). The position information included in the virtual station information is coordinate data indicating the position of the rental cycle detected as the abandoned vehicle by the control unit 202 in terms of latitude and longitude. The number information included in the virtual station information is numerical data indicating the number of rental bicycles parked at the position where the control unit 202 detected the abandoned vehicle. Also, the dock number information included in the virtual station information is numerical data that always indicates the same number as the number information included in the virtual station. Since the virtual station is not a real station but an abandoned vehicle, this is a control for excluding it as an arrival side station from the search targets. Therefore, the vacant car number information included in the virtual station information always becomes numerical data indicating "0 cars" indicating a full car state. Thus, in the present embodiment, the station information database 206b controls data so that the number information and dock number information in the virtual station information are always the same number, and the number of empty cars is always "0". As a result, in this embodiment, when the control unit 202 searches for a route, for example, if the number of vehicles information and the number of docks information is "1", only one vehicle can be selected, so the virtual station is always searched as the station on the departure side. Similarly, when the control unit 202 searches for a route, virtual stations are always excluded from search targets as arrival stations because the empty car information is "0" and there is no free space.

Furthermore, the station information database 206b may store attribute information indicating whether the station is a real station or a virtual station. In this case, the control unit 202 can refer to the attribute information of the station information database 206b when searching for a route, so that the virtual station can be searched as the starting station. That is, when the control unit 202 searches for a route, virtual stations are excluded from search targets as arrival stations.

The virtual station information is registered when an abandoned vehicle is detected by the control unit 202, which will be described later, and is updated by being deleted after the abandoned vehicle is rescued by the station information database 206b.

The usage information database 206c is usage information storage means for storing usage information of the rental cycle. Here, the usage information may further include rental period information indicating the rental period of the rental cycle. In addition, the usage information may further include available area information indicating an available area for rental bicycles. Also, the usage information may further include location information indicating the current location of the rental cycle. In addition, the usage information database 206c may include user IDs, vehicle IDs, rental information, and the like. In the present embodiment, the usage information stored in the usage information database 206c is used by the control unit 202 to detect rental bicycles that meet predetermined conditions as abandoned vehicles.

Here, an example of the data structure of the usage information database 206c will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the usage information stored in the usage information database 206c includes vehicle IDs ("C008", "C195", and "C327" in FIG. 3) associated with user IDs ("001", "002", "003", etc. in FIG. 3), rental information of each rental cycle ("in use" for vehicle ID "C008" in FIG. "in use" for vehicle ID "C327", "overdue" for vehicle ID "C327", etc.), rental period information for each rental cycle (in Fig. 3, "February 1 to 2" for vehicle ID "C008", "February 1 to 7" for vehicle ID "C195", "February 1 12:00 to 18:00" for vehicle ID "C327", etc.), available area information for each rental cycle (in Fig. 3, "X district" for vehicle ID "C008", "Y district" for vehicle ID "C195", "Z district" for vehicle ID "C327", etc.), and location information of each rental cycle.

Here, the user ID included in the usage information is unique identification information assigned to each user, and may be, for example, character data indicating the user's name or numerical data indicating the user's identification number. The vehicle ID included in the usage information is unique identification information assigned to each rental cycle, and may be, for example, character data indicating the name of the vehicle or numerical data indicating the identification number of the vehicle. The rental period information included in the usage information is numerical data such as date and time indicating the rental period of each rental cycle (for example, a period of hours, half days, days, weeks, months, etc.). Also, the available area information included in the usage information is coordinate data indicating the available area determined in advance for each rental cycle in terms of latitude and longitude. The position information included in the usage information is coordinate data indicating the current position of each rental cycle in terms of latitude and longitude, which is acquired by a control unit 702 of an in-vehicle device 700 (described later) mounted on each rental cycle and transmitted to the navigation server 200. Although not shown, the usage information database 206c, like the station information database 206b described above, may further include at least one of rental cycle basic usage charge information, available number of users information, type information (rental type information), and reservation information.

These usage information are stored in advance in the usage information database 206c, and the control unit 202 of the navigation server 200 may periodically or in real time download the latest data from an external device (for example, a terminal device 100, an in-vehicle device 700, etc., which will be described later) via the network 300, and update the usage information stored in the usage information database 206c.

The map database 206d is map data storage means for storing map data of maps. Here, in the present invention, the map data stored in the map database 206d may be outdoor map data such as map data meshed according to scale (for example, JIS standard first to third regional division mesh data, 100 m mesh data, etc.). Also, the map database 206d may store outdoor map data such as road maps and route maps of the whole country and each region. In addition, the map database 206d may further store indoor map data such as floor guide maps for buildings with height information (for example, indoor rental cycle stations, multi-storey parking lots, stations, department stores, schools, etc.).

The map data stored in the map database 206d includes shape data of features displayed on the map (for example, structures such as buildings, houses, stations, and rental cycle stations, roads, railroad tracks, bridges, tunnels, contour lines, water lines such as coastlines and lakeshorelines, seas, rivers, lakes, ponds, marshes, places such as parks and outdoor facilities, administrative boundaries, districts, and town blocks), and annotations displayed on the map (for example, place names, addresses, telephone numbers, shops, etc.). Facility names such as parks, train stations, rental cycle stations, etc., names including popular names such as famous places, historic sites, rivers, lakes, bays, mountains, forests, etc., names of roads, bridges, tunnels, etc., route names, location information, word-of-mouth information, etc.), annotation data, and symbols displayed on maps (e.g., map symbols such as mountains, historic sites, temples, shrines, schools, hospitals, factories, graveyards, etc., store symbols such as gas stations, convenience stores, supermarkets, restaurants, banks, post offices, etc., road signals, toll road entrances and exits. , symbols such as toll gates, service areas, parking areas and interchanges, facility symbols such as rental cycle stations, parking lots, stations, hotels, art museums and museums, and symbol data such as word-of-mouth point symbols.

The indoor map data stored in the map database 206d may also include premises route data for indoor routes within the premises of facilities. Here, the premises route data may be data based on at least travel route data in premises such as stations and rental cycle stations, and map data of a map (facility guide map) including the travel route. For example, the premises route data may be image data in which a travel route is drawn on a facility guide map. Also, for example, the local route data may further include message data describing the travel route. Here, the travel route based on the travel route data may be an optimal route (for example, shortest route or barrier-free route) connecting ticket gates when transferring between multiple modes of transportation within a facility.

Also, the outdoor map data and the indoor map data may be image data for map drawing, such as raster format and vector format. These outdoor map data and indoor map data are pre-stored in the map database 206d, and the control unit 202 of the navigation server 200 may periodically download the latest data from an external device (for example, a map providing server that provides map data) via the network 300 to update the outdoor map data and indoor map data stored in the map database 206d.

The guidance database 206e is guidance data storage means for storing guidance data output at guidance target points. Here, the guidance target point may be set at an arbitrary position on the candidate route composed of nodes and links. For example, the guidance target point may be set on a node that is a node corresponding to a branch point such as an intersection, or may be set on a link that indicates a road section between nodes. Also, the guidance data stored in the guidance database 206e may include at least one of character data, voice data, and display data. These guidance data are stored in advance in the guidance database 206e, and the control unit 202 of the navigation server 200 may periodically download the latest data from an external device or the like via the network 300 to update the guidance data stored in the guidance database 206e.

Here, the character data among the guidance data stored in the guidance database 206e is character data that constitutes a message indicating that the current position is approaching a target and the direction of travel, which is associated with the direction of travel at the guidance target point (fork, etc.) (e.g., "You will soon be around the rental cycle station," "You will soon be around the destination," "You will turn left at the next intersection," "You will turn right at the next intersection," "Please go straight ahead," and the names of intersections and rental cycle stations. character data), which is used, for example, when the control unit 102 of the terminal device 100 executes route guidance by character guidance. Among the guidance data stored in the guidance database 206e, the voice data is converted from character data that constitutes a message indicating that the current position associated with the direction of travel, etc., at a guidance target point (branching point, etc.) is approaching a target or the direction of travel (e.g., "I will turn left at the next intersection"), and the voice data (for example, "I will turn left at the next intersection") It is voice data corresponding to the names of intersections and rental cycle stations), and is used, for example, when the control unit 102 of the terminal device 100 executes route guidance by voice guidance. Among the guidance data stored in the guidance database 206e, the display data includes turn-by-turn (TBT) (e.g., icons such as left-turn arrows, right-turn arrows, and straight-ahead arrows, etc.), road signs (e.g., intersection names, traffic closures, vehicle entry prohibited, one-way traffic signs, etc.) and direction signboards (e.g., signboards displaying "A direction" with a leftward arrow). , a signboard displaying "direction B" along with an arrow pointing to the right), and is used, for example, when the control unit 102 of the terminal device 100 executes route guidance by display guidance.

The route guidance information database 206f is route guidance information storage means for storing route guidance information. Here, the route guidance information stored in the route guidance information database 206f may be route guidance information generated by the control unit 202 and including at least candidate route (guidance route) data described later. The route guidance information may also include map data of maps containing candidate routes stored in the map database 206d. Further, the route guidance information may include guidance data stored in the guidance database 206e and output at guidance target points included in the candidate route.

Note that the storage unit 206 may further store facility information (POI information) of the facility (POI). Here, the facility information stored in the storage unit 206 is information including a plurality of items indicating attributes of facilities. Here, the attributes are, for example, facility name, genre and type (facility category), address, telephone number, URL, business hours, products handled, average price (e.g., average usage fee), reputation, ranking, surge, ease of drop-in, recommendation score, photo data, coupon information, word of mouth (e.g., word-of-mouth evaluation and user comments), usage conditions, usability, facility size, latitude and longitude indicating the coordinate position of the facility (facility location information), location of the point where the facility exists (city, suburb, port). bay area, station area, etc.), use restriction, facility ID, reference rate such as the number of times or access frequency of access to the facility information, update date and time of the facility information, and the like. Here, the recommendation score may be a value obtained by automatically calculating the degree of recommendation from user information, history information, and the like.

Here, POI is an abbreviation for point of interest, and is, for example, a specific point or facility that people perceive as a convenient place or a place of interest, such as a store, company, office, public facility, entertainment facility, outdoor facility, and the like. Here, the store may be, for example, a restaurant, a grocery store, a liquor store, a tobacco shop, a department store, a shopping center, a supermarket, a convenience store, a gas station, a financial institution, a post office, a multilevel parking lot, a bicycle rental station, and an accommodation facility such as a hotel or an inn. Also, public facilities may be, for example, government offices, police stations, police stations, fire stations, stations, medical institutions, art galleries, museums, schools, and the like. Also, entertainment facilities may be, for example, movie theaters, theaters, amusement parks, pachinko parlors, casinos, racetracks, and the like. Outdoor facilities may also be bus terminals, parks, amusement parks, campsites, connecting passages, outdoor parking lots, outdoor rental cycle stations, zoos, and the like. Further, the storage unit 206 may store an icon (facility icon) corresponding to the facility. The facility information is stored in advance in the storage unit 206, and the control unit 202 of the navigation server 200 may periodically download the latest data from an external device (for example, a facility information providing server that provides facility information) via the network 300 to update the facility information stored in the storage unit 206.

The control unit 202 also has an internal memory for storing a control program such as an OS (Operating System), programs defining various processing procedures, and required data. Then, the control unit 202 performs information processing for executing various processes using these programs and the like. The control unit 202 functionally conceptually includes an abandoned vehicle detection unit 202a, a virtual station registration unit 202b, a route search condition reception unit 202c, a route guidance information generation unit 202d, a candidate route search unit 202e, a station extraction unit 202f, a number information acquisition unit 202g, a route generation unit 202h, a route guidance information transmission unit 202i, a number information reception unit 202j, a number information storage unit 202k, a position information reception unit 202m, and a , and a position information storage unit 202n.

Of these, the abandoned vehicle detection unit 202a is an abandoned vehicle detection means that detects a rental cycle meeting a predetermined condition as an abandoned vehicle based on the usage information stored in the usage information database 206c. Here, if the rental cycle is not returned to the station within the rental period indicated by the rental period information included in the usage information, the abandoned vehicle detection unit 202a may detect the rental bicycle as an abandoned vehicle. Further, if there is no rental cycle within the available area indicated by the available area information included in the usage information, the abandoned vehicle detection unit 202a may detect the rental bicycle as an abandoned vehicle. Further, the abandoned vehicle detection unit 202a may detect the rental bicycle as an abandoned vehicle when the current position of the rental bicycle indicated by the location information included in the usage information does not change for a predetermined time or longer. Thus, in the present embodiment, the abandoned vehicle detection unit 202a recognizes an abandoned vehicle in order to create virtual station information by the virtual station registration unit 202b, which will be described later.

The virtual station registration unit 202b is virtual station registration means for registering a rental cycle detected as an abandoned vehicle by the abandoned vehicle detection unit 202a as a virtual station in the station information database 206b. Here, the virtual station registration unit 202b registers the rental bicycle as a virtual station by storing, in the station information database 206b, virtual station information including position information of the rental bicycle detected as an abandoned vehicle by the abandoned vehicle detection unit 202a and information on the number of rental bicycles. As described above, in the present embodiment, the virtual station registration unit 202b refers to the rental cycle usage information stored in the usage information database 206c by the abandoned vehicle detection unit 202a, and registers the rental cycle identified as an abandoned vehicle as a virtual station.

Further, the route search condition receiving unit 202c is a route search condition receiving unit that receives a route search condition including at least a means of transportation including a rental cycle, a departure point, and a destination, which is transmitted from the terminal device 100. FIG. Here, the means of transportation may further include at least one of, for example, walking, car, railroad, airplane, bus, ship, and the like. Also, the departure point may be the current position of the user of the terminal device 100 . Moreover, the route search condition may further include departure time or arrival time. Here, the departure time may be the current time. Moreover, the route search condition may further include intermediate points and the like. Moreover, the route search condition may further include transit times. Also, the route search condition may be input by the user of the terminal device 100 via the input unit 116 of the terminal device 100 .

The route guidance information generation unit 202d is route guidance information generation means for generating route guidance information by searching for a candidate route including a route using rental bicycles from the departure point to the destination that satisfies the route search conditions received by the route search condition reception unit 202c, using the network data stored in the network database 206a and the station and virtual station position information and number information stored in the station information database 206b.

Here, the route guidance information generation unit 202d further includes a candidate route search unit 202e, a station extraction unit 202f, a number information acquisition unit 202g, and a route generation unit 202h.

Of these, the candidate route search unit 202e is a candidate route search unit that searches for a candidate route that satisfies the route search conditions received by the route search condition reception unit 202c, including a route using a rental cycle from the departure point to the destination, using the network data stored in the network database 206a and the position information of the stations and virtual stations stored in the station information database 206b.

Here, the candidate route searching unit 202e may search for a candidate route including a route using a rental cycle from the current position to the destination based on the current position information of the terminal device 100 transmitted from the terminal device 100. FIG. Further, when the route search condition further includes the departure time or the arrival time, the candidate route search unit 202e may search for a candidate route including a route using a rental cycle from the departure point to the destination that satisfies the route search condition further including the departure time or the arrival time. Here, the departure time may be the current time. Further, when the route search condition further includes a waypoint, the candidate route searching unit 202e may search for a candidate route via the waypoint. Further, when the route search condition further includes a stopover and a stopover time, the candidate route search unit 202e may search for a candidate route that is a route from the start to the destination via the stopover that satisfies the route search condition including the departure place, the destination, the stopover, and the stopover time.

The station extraction unit 202f is station extraction means for extracting stations and virtual stations included in the candidate route searched by the candidate route search unit 202e. In this embodiment, the station extraction unit 202f extracts at least stations on the boarding side of the rental cycle and stations on the alighting side of the rental cycle from the stations and virtual stations included in the candidate route searched by the candidate route search unit 202e. However, as described above in the explanation of the station information database 206b, the virtual station is not an existing station but actually a parked vehicle. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the station extraction unit 202f may extract a virtual station as the boarding side of a rental cycle, but not as the alighting side of the rental cycle.

The number information acquisition unit 202g is a number information acquisition unit that acquires number information corresponding to the stations and virtual stations extracted by the station extraction unit 202f from the station information database 206b. Here, the number information acquisition unit 202g may acquire the number information corresponding to the stations extracted by the station extraction unit 202f by directly inquiring the storage unit 606 of the station device 600 via the network 300. FIG.

The route generation unit 202h is route generation means for generating route guidance information based on the candidate route searched by the candidate route search unit 202e and the number information acquired by the number information acquisition unit 202g. Here, the route generation unit 202h may acquire basic usage charge information from the station information database 206b, generate post-change usage charge information by changing the basic usage charge information based on the number information and the basic usage charge information, and generate route guide information including the post-change usage charge information. In addition, when using a rental cycle detected as an abandoned vehicle by the abandoned vehicle detection unit 202a, the route generation unit 202h may change the basic usage charge information to free and generate post-change usage charge information.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the route generation unit 202h may generate post-change usage charge information by changing the basic charge information to discount or free if the number of bicycles information at the station on the boarding side of the rental cycle is greater than or equal to a predetermined number and the number of bicycles information at the station on the alighting side of the rental cycle is less than a predetermined number. Also, the route generation unit 202h may select a route using a rental cycle from the candidate routes based on the information on the number of bicycles, and generate route guidance information. In addition, when the information on the number of bicycles at the station on the boarding side of the rental cycle is less than a predetermined number, or when the information on the number of bicycles on the station on the alighting side of the rental cycle is equal to or greater than a predetermined number, the route generation unit 202h may remove the route using the rental cycle from the candidate routes and generate the route guidance information. Further, the route generation unit 202h may generate notification information indicating that a route using a rental cycle among the candidate routes is not recommended based on the information on the number of bicycles, and may generate route guidance information including the generated notification information. In addition, the route generation unit 202h may generate notification information when the information on the number of bicycles at the station on the boarding side of the rental cycle is less than a predetermined number, or when the information on the number of bicycles at the station on the alighting side of the rental cycle is equal to or greater than a predetermined number. Further, the route generation unit 202h may acquire at least one of the available number of people information, type information, and reservation information from the station information database 206b, and may generate route guidance information further based on at least one of the acquired available number of people information, type information, and reservation information. In this embodiment, the route generating unit 202h may determine whether there are many vacant vehicles or not many vehicles by determining whether the number of vacant vehicles is equal to or greater than a predetermined number or less than a predetermined number, based on the number of vehicles information indicating the number of vehicles stopping at the station and the number of vacant vehicles indicating the number of vehicles that can stop at the station.

Here, the route generation unit 202h may further generate route guidance information including boarding and alighting times of transportation, destination information of transportation, route types of transportation, route names of transportation, names of boarding and alighting points such as railway stations and bus stops, exit information of stations, boarding position information of transportation, information indicating that it is the first train, information that it is a walking route, weather information, the number of times of transportation transfers, the required time of a candidate route, and/or fare data when using a candidate route. In addition, the route generation unit 202h may further generate route guidance information including map data of maps containing candidate routes stored in the map database 206d. In addition, the route generation unit 202h may further generate route guidance information including in-plant route data and timetable data. The route generation unit 202h may further generate route guidance information including guidance data (display guidance data, voice guidance data, etc.) output on candidate routes stored in the guidance database 206e.

Further, the route guidance information transmitting unit 202i is route guidance information transmitting means for transmitting the route guidance information generated by the route generating unit 202h to the terminal device 100. FIG.

The number information receiving unit 202j is a number information receiving unit that receives number information transmitted from the station device 600, which will be described later.

The number information storage unit 202k is a number information storage unit that stores the number information received by the number information reception unit 202j in the station information database 206b.

Also, the position information receiving unit 202m is position information receiving means for receiving position information transmitted from an in-vehicle device 700, which will be described later.

The location information storage unit 202n is location information storage means for storing the location information received by the location information reception unit 202m in the usage information database 206c.

[Configuration of terminal device 100]
In FIG. 1, the terminal device 100 has functions such as transmitting route search conditions to the navigation server 200, receiving route guidance information transmitted from the navigation server 200, and outputting at least part of the received route guidance information via an output unit.

Here, the terminal device 100 is, for example, an information processing device such as a desktop or notebook personal computer that is generally commercially available, a mobile terminal device such as a mobile phone, a smart phone, a PHS, and a PDA, and a navigation terminal that performs route guidance and the like. Here, the terminal device 100 may be loaded with an Internet browser or the like, and may be loaded with a route guidance application, a transit guidance application, an information search application, and the like. The terminal device 100 also includes a position acquisition unit 112 having a GPS function, an IMES function, etc., so that the current position can be obtained in real time. The terminal device 100 also includes an output section including at least a display section 114 and an audio output section 118 . Although not shown, the terminal device 100 may include a photographing unit such as a camera capable of photographing still images and moving images.

Here, the display unit 114 is display means (for example, a display and a monitor configured by liquid crystal, organic EL, etc.) for displaying a display screen of an application or the like, current position information, route guidance information, and the like. Also, the audio output unit 118 is audio output means (for example, a speaker or the like) that outputs audio data as audio. The terminal device 100 also includes an input unit 116 (for example, a key input unit, a touch panel, a keyboard, a microphone, etc.) for inputting and operating route search conditions. Also, the input/output control interface unit 108 controls the position acquisition unit 112, the display unit 114, the input unit 116, the audio output unit 118, the imaging unit (not shown), and the like.

Here, the position obtaining unit 112 may be position obtaining means for receiving a position information signal transmitted from the position transmitting device 500, for example. Here, the position transmission device 500 may be a GPS device that transmits a position information signal (GPS signal). Position transmitting device 500 may be an IMES device that implements IMES (Indoor Message System) technology that enables indoor positioning using a position information signal having characteristics similar to GPS signals (GPS satellite signals). Note that the IMES technology is a system proposed from the framework of the quasi-zenith satellite, which is a positioning satellite system. The position acquisition unit 112 may also receive other satellite signals (eg, Galileo satellite signals, etc.).

Also, the position transmitting device 500 may be a GPS repeater that transmits indoors GPS signals received outdoors. In addition, the position transmitting device 500 may be a small transmitting device that is arbitrarily installed at each floor in a building (for example, an indoor rental cycle station, a multi-storey parking lot, etc.) or an underground structure (for example, an underground rental cycle station, a subway station, an underground mall, an underground passageway, an underground parking lot, etc.). In addition, self-position information (position ID, etc.) corresponding to the installation location is assigned to this small-sized transmitting device. Then, when the terminal device 100 enters the communicable range, the terminal device 100 receives the self-position information transmitted from the small transmitting device as a position information signal. The communication method at this time may be, for example, an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag system, various short-range wireless methods such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), an infrared communication method, or the like. Also, the position transmitting device 500 may be a wireless LAN access point. In this embodiment, the position acquisition unit 112 may receive a wireless LAN signal or the like to acquire the identification information of the access point. Then, the control unit 102 may acquire the position information by specifying the position of the access point from the access point-specific identification information acquired by the position acquisition unit 112 . Further, in this embodiment, the control unit 102 may calculate position information including latitude, longitude, and height information from the position information signal acquired by the position acquisition unit 112 . Here, the position information may indicate an absolute position specified by latitude and longitude, or a relative position from a reference position.

Further, the position acquisition unit 112 may acquire, for example, direction information such as the traveling direction of the terminal device 100 detected by a direction sensor, distance information detected by a distance sensor, and position information indicating the current position of the user of the terminal device 100 based on map data. Here, as the orientation sensor, a geomagnetic sensor that detects the absolute traveling orientation of the terminal device 100, an optical gyro that detects the relative traveling orientation of the terminal device 100, or the like may be used. Also, the direction sensor may be an electronic compass or the like that can acquire information about direction and inclination by combining a geomagnetic sensor and an acceleration sensor.

The communication control interface unit 104 is an interface connected to a communication device (not shown) such as an antenna or router connected to a communication line, telephone line, or the like, and has a function of controlling communication between the terminal device 100 and the network 300. That is, the communication control interface unit 104 has a function of communicating data with the navigation server 200 and the like via a communication line. In addition, the network 300 has a function of interconnecting the terminal device 100 and the navigation server 200 with an external device such as an external map providing server or an external system, and may be, for example, the Internet, a telephone network (a mobile terminal network, a general telephone network, etc.), an intranet, or a power line communication (PLC).

Further, the storage unit 106 is storage means such as large-capacity storage means (e.g., HD and SSD, etc.) and/or small-capacity high-speed memory (e.g., cache memory) configured using SRAM (Static Random Access Memory), etc., and may store various databases, files, and tables (route guidance information file 106a, etc.). Here, the storage unit 106 may temporarily store various files and the like.

Of these, the route guidance information file 106a is route guidance information storage means for storing route guidance information. Here, the route guidance information may be previously stored in the route guidance information file 106a, or may be received from the navigation server 200 and stored in the route guidance information file 106a.

The control unit 102 also has an internal memory for storing a control program such as an OS, a program defining various processing procedures, and required data. Then, the control unit 102 performs information processing for executing various processes using these programs and the like. The control unit 102 functionally and conceptually includes a current position information acquisition unit 102a, a route search condition transmission unit 102b, a route guidance information reception unit 102c, and a route guidance information output unit 102d.

Among these, the current location information acquisition unit 102 a is current location information acquisition means for acquiring the current location information of the user of the terminal device 100 . Here, the current location information acquisition unit 102a may acquire the current location information of the user of the terminal device 100 every predetermined time (predetermined period) (for example, every second or every three minutes). Further, the current location information acquisition unit 102 a may acquire location information calculated from the location information signal received from the location transmission device 500 by the location acquisition unit 112 as the current location information of the user of the terminal device 100 . Further, the current location information acquisition unit 102a may acquire direction information such as the traveling direction of the terminal device 100 detected by the direction sensor of the location acquisition unit 112, etc., as the current location information of the user of the terminal device 100.

Further, the current location information acquisition unit 102 a may acquire location information such as location coordinates of the current location input by the user via the input unit 116 as the current location information of the user of the terminal device 100 . Here, the current position based on the current position information input by the user via the input unit 116 may be a position where the user actually exists, or may be a virtual current position arbitrarily selected by the user (for example, an arbitrary point such as a station or airport in Osaka selected by the user in Tokyo). For example, the current position information acquisition unit 102a may acquire, as the current position information of the user of the terminal device 100, the coordinates specified by the user via the input unit 116 on the display screen of the map data displayed on the display unit 114 (for example, a specification operation on the touch panel type display unit 114). Further, the current position information acquisition unit 102a may acquire direction information specified by the user on the display screen of the map data displayed on the display unit 114 via the input unit 116 as the current position information of the user of the terminal device 100.

The route search condition transmission unit 102b is a route search condition transmission unit that transmits to the navigation server 200 a route search condition including at least a means of transportation including a rental cycle, a departure point, and a destination. Here, the means of transportation may further include at least one of, for example, walking, car, railroad, airplane, bus, ship, and the like. Also, the starting point may be the current position of the user of the terminal device 100 based on the current position information acquired by the current position information acquisition unit 102a. Moreover, the route search condition may further include departure time or arrival time. Here, the departure time may be the current time. Moreover, the route search condition may further include intermediate points and the like. Moreover, the route search condition may further include transit times. Also, the route search condition may be input by the user of the terminal device 100 via the input unit 116 of the terminal device 100 .

The route guidance information receiving unit 102c is route guidance information receiving means for receiving route guidance information transmitted from the navigation server 200. FIG. Here, the route guidance information receiving unit 102c may further store the received route guidance information in the route guidance information file 106a. Further, when existing route guidance information is stored in the route guidance information file 106a, the route guidance information receiving unit 102c may overwrite the existing route guidance information with the newly set route guidance information.

The route guidance information output unit 102d is route guidance information output means for outputting at least part of the route guidance information received by the route guidance information reception unit 102c via the output unit. Further, in the present embodiment, the route guidance information output unit 102d may output the basic charge information and/or changed charge information of the rental cycle. Further, the route guidance information output unit 102d may sort and output the candidate routes in the order of cost of the basic charge information and/or changed charge information of the rental cycle. Further, the route guidance information output unit 102d may output route guidance information obtained by removing a route using a rental cycle from the candidate routes. Further, the route guidance information output unit 102d may output notification information indicating that a route using a rental cycle among the candidate routes is not recommended. Further, the route guidance information output unit 102d may output available number of people information, type information, and/or reservation information.

Further, the route guidance information output unit 102d may output the current position information acquired by the current position information acquisition unit 102a and at least a part of the route guidance information received by the route guidance information reception unit 102c via the output unit to execute route guidance. Further, the route guidance information output unit 102d may cause the display unit 114 to display a display screen in which the candidate route data included in the route guidance information and the current location information of the user of the terminal device 100 are superimposed on the map data included in the route guidance information.

Further, the route guidance information output unit 102d may cause the display unit 114 to display a display screen based on the route guidance information. For example, the route guidance information output unit 102d outputs candidate route data, boarding and alighting times of transportation, destination information of transportation, route type of transportation, route name of transportation, names of boarding and alighting points such as railway stations and bus stops, exit information of stations, boarding position information of transportation, the fact that it is the first train, the fact that it is a walking route, weather information, the number of transportation transfers, the required time of the candidate route, the fare data when using the candidate route, the premises route data, Display unit 114 may display a display screen based on display guide data such as TBT included in timetable data, map data, and/or guide data. Further, the route guidance information output unit 102d may cause the route guidance information to be output via the voice output unit 118. FIG. For example, the route guidance information output unit 102d may cause the voice output unit 118 to output voice guidance data associated with the direction of travel at a branch point or the like on the candidate route included in the route guidance information.

[Station device 600]
In FIG. 1, the station device 600 has functions such as monitoring the number of rental bicycles parked at the station, generating information on the number of bicycles, and transmitting the generated information on the number of bicycles to the navigation server.

Here, the station device 600 is an information processing device installed at a station where the rental cycle stops, and is configured with at least a control section 602 and a storage section 606 . The station device 600 also includes a communication control interface unit 604, and is communicably connected to the navigation server 200, the terminal device 100, the in-vehicle device 700, and the like via the network 300. FIG. Also, the station device 600 may be communicably connected to another station device installed in another station.

Further, in the present embodiment, the station device 600 may be configured as a device integrated with each bicycle parking device provided with a lock opening/closing function for physically fixing the rental cycle, which is arranged at a predetermined position in the station, for example. Moreover, the station device 600 may be configured as a single device and communicably connected to a plurality of bicycle parking devices in the station. Moreover, the station device 600 may not be integrated with or communicatively connected to the bicycle parking device described above, and may be, for example, an information processing terminal operated by a station administrator or the like. Further, the station device 600 may include an input section, a display section, and an audio output section (not shown).

Here, in FIG. 1, the number information file 606a in the storage unit 606 is a number information storage means for storing the number information acquired by the control unit 602. FIG. Furthermore, the storage unit 606 may store position information of stations, position information of bicycle parking devices arranged at predetermined positions in the stations, and the like.

In FIG. 1, a vehicle monitoring unit 602a in the control unit 602 is vehicle monitoring means for monitoring the number of rental bicycles parked at a station and generating information on the number of bicycles.

Here, the vehicle monitoring unit 602a may generate the number information by, for example, counting the number of bicycle parking devices in which the locks that physically fix the rental bicycles are closed. In addition, the vehicle monitoring unit 602a may determine whether or not the location information of the rental bicycle acquired by the location acquisition unit 712 of the vehicle-mounted device 700 mounted on the rental bicycle described below matches the location information of the station device 600 stored in the storage unit 606 or whether the location information is within a predetermined range, and count the rental bicycles that meet the conditions, thereby generating the number information. In addition, the vehicle monitoring unit 602a may determine whether or not the location information of the rental bicycle is included in the area of the station indicated by the location information of the station stored in the storage unit 606, and count the rental bicycles that meet the condition, thereby generating the number information. In addition, the vehicle monitoring unit 602a may generate the number of rental bicycles parked at the station, which is input by the station manager or the like via the input unit, as the number information.

The vehicle monitoring unit 602a also stores the generated number information in the number information file 606a. Further, when the existing number information is stored in the number information file 606a, the vehicle monitoring part 602a overwrites the existing number information with the newly generated number information and stores it, thereby updating the latest number information.

The number information transmission unit 602b is a number information transmission unit that transmits the number information generated by the vehicle monitoring unit 602a to the navigation server 200. FIG. Here, the number information transmission unit 602b may transmit the latest number information stored in the number information file 606a to the navigation server 200 when the control unit 202 of the navigation server 200 receives a request for number information.

[In-vehicle device 700]
In FIG. 1, an in-vehicle device 700 is an information processing device mounted on a rental cycle, and has a function of transmitting vehicle position information and the like. Also, the in-vehicle device 700 includes at least a control unit 702 and a storage unit 706 . The in-vehicle device 700 also includes a communication control interface unit 704 and is communicably connected to the navigation server 200, the terminal device 100, the station device 600, and the like via the network 300. FIG. The in-vehicle device 700 also includes an input/output control interface section 708 and is connected to the position acquisition section 712 via the input/output control interface section 708 . In-vehicle device 700 may further include an input unit and an output unit (display unit and audio output unit), although not shown.

In this embodiment, although not shown, the rental cycle may be provided with a fixing device for physically fixing (docking) the bicycle parking device of the station and the rental cycle. Here, the fixing device and the in-vehicle device 700 may be configured as an integrated device, or the fixing device and the in-vehicle device 700 may be communicably connected. For example, the in-vehicle device 700 may transmit docking information indicating that the rental cycle is parked at the station to the navigation server 200 or the like when the rental cycle fixing device and the station bicycle parking device are physically fixed. Further, the navigation server 200 described above may update the number information stored in the station information database 206b by counting the docking information received from the in-vehicle device 700 mounted on the rental cycle.

The rental cycle may also be equipped with an automatic lock that locks the rental cycle. Here, the automatic lock and the in-vehicle device 700 may be configured as an integrated device, or the automatic lock and the in-vehicle device 700 may be communicably connected. For example, the in-vehicle device 700 may control the automatic lock to be unlocked when authentication information such as a personal identification number for authenticating the user matches authentication information pre-stored in the in-vehicle device 700 . Here, the authentication information may be transmitted directly from the navigation server 200 to the in-vehicle device 700, or may be transmitted from the navigation server 200 to the terminal device 100 of the user who uses the rental cycle. For example, the user may input the authentication information to the in-vehicle device 700 via near field communication or the like by bringing the terminal device 100 close to the in-vehicle device 700 within a predetermined distance. Also, the user may input the authentication information displayed on the display section of the terminal device 100 through the input section of the in-vehicle device 700 .

Here, in FIG. 1, the storage unit 706 stores in advance authentication information such as a personal identification number used when unlocking the automatic lock provided for the rental cycle. Here, the authentication information stored in the storage unit 706 may be rewritten to another authentication information via the network 300 by the navigation server 200 or the like periodically or after the user uses the rental cycle.

Further, in FIG. 1, the position information acquisition section 702a in the control section 702 is position information acquisition means for acquiring the position information of the rental cycle. Here, the position information acquisition unit 702a may acquire the position information of the rental bicycle at predetermined time intervals (predetermined cycles) (for example, at intervals of 1 second or 3 minutes). Further, the position information acquisition unit 702a may acquire position information calculated from the position information signal received from the position transmission device 500 by the position acquisition unit 712 as the position information of the rental cycle. In addition, the position information acquisition unit 702a may further acquire direction information such as the traveling direction of the rental cycle detected by the direction sensor of the position acquisition unit 712 or the like as the position information of the rental cycle.

The position information transmission unit 702b is position information transmission means for transmitting the position information of the rental bicycle acquired by the position information acquisition unit 702a to the navigation server 200, the terminal device 100, the station device 600, etc. via the network 300. FIG.

Further, the movement information acquisition unit 702c is movement information acquisition means for acquiring movement information indicating whether the user of the rental cycle is riding. Here, the movement information acquisition unit 702c may determine that the vehicle is being boarded (in use) when the above-described automatic lock is unlocked, and acquire the movement information. Further, the movement information acquisition unit 702c may determine that the bicycle is being ridden based on the position information of the rental cycle acquired by the position information acquisition unit 702a, and acquire the movement information. Further, the movement information acquisition unit 702c may transmit the movement information to the navigation server 200. FIG.

This completes the description of an example of the configuration of the navigation system according to the first embodiment.

[Navigation system processing]
Next, an example of processing of the navigation system in the first embodiment configured as described above will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 4 to 8. FIG. Here, FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of processing of the navigation system in the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of candidate routes between stations and virtual stations in this embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an output screen for route guidance information in this embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another example of the route guidance information output screen in this embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a management screen for abandoned vehicles according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 4, first, the abandoned vehicle detection unit 202a of the navigation server 200 detects a rental bicycle that meets a predetermined condition as an abandoned vehicle based on the usage information stored in the usage information database 206c (step SA-1).

Here, in step SA-1, the abandoned vehicle detection unit 202a may detect the rental cycle as an abandoned vehicle if the rental cycle has not been returned to the station within the rental period indicated by the rental period information included in the usage information (for example, in the case of the vehicle ID "C327" in FIG. 3 described above, "12:00 to 18:00 on February 1"). That is, if the rental cycle has not been returned to the station even after the rental period has expired, the abandoned vehicle detection unit 202a recognizes the vehicle as an abandoned vehicle. Here, in the present embodiment, the abandoned vehicle detection unit 202a may determine whether or not the rental cycle has been returned to the station by determining, for example, whether or not the bicycle parking device of the station and the rental cycle fixing device are in a state of being physically fixed (docked state), or whether or not the location information of the rental cycle is in the station. In this manner, the abandoned vehicle detection unit 202a may identify an abandoned vehicle based on time.

Further, in step SA-1, the abandoned vehicle detection unit 202a may detect the rental cycle as an abandoned vehicle when there is no rental cycle within the available area indicated by the available area information included in the usage information (for example, in FIG. 3 described above, "Y area" for vehicle ID "C195"). That is, the abandoned vehicle detection unit 202a recognizes the rental cycle as an abandoned vehicle when the rental cycle is located outside the available area defined for the rental cycle. In this manner, the abandoned vehicle detection unit 202a may identify an abandoned vehicle based on the space.

Further, in step SA-1, the abandoned vehicle detection unit 202a may further detect the rental bicycle as an abandoned vehicle if the current position of the rental bicycle indicated by the location information included in the usage information does not change for a predetermined period of time (for example, one day or longer). That is, the abandoned vehicle detection unit 202a recognizes the rental cycle as an abandoned vehicle if the rental cycle deviates from the available area defined for the rental cycle and stays in the same position for a predetermined time or longer. In this way, the abandoned vehicle detection unit 202a may identify an abandoned vehicle based on both time and space.

Then, the virtual station registration unit 202b of the navigation server 200 registers the rental cycle detected as an abandoned vehicle by the processing of the abandoned vehicle detection unit 202a in step SA-1 as a virtual station (for example, "virtual station X1" in FIG. 2) in the station information database 206b (step SA-2).

Here, in step SA-2, the virtual station registration unit 202b registers the location information of the rental bicycle detected as an abandoned vehicle by the processing of the abandoned vehicle detection unit 202a in step SA-1 (for example, "35.7..., 139.50..." for the vehicle ID "C195" in FIG. (for example, virtual station information including the station ID "virtual station X1", position information "35.7..., 139.50...", number information "1", dock number information "1", and vacant number information "0" in Fig. 2 described above) is stored in the station information database 206b to register the rental cycle as a virtual station.

In the present embodiment, the processing of the abandoned vehicle detection unit 202a in step SA-1 and the processing of the virtual station registration unit 202b in step SA-2 may be performed at predetermined time intervals in order to store the latest virtual station information in the station information database 206b, or may be performed when route search conditions are received from the terminal device 100.

Then, the route search condition transmitting unit 102b of the terminal device 100 transmits to the navigation server 200 a route search condition including at least a means of transportation including a rental cycle, a departure point, and a destination (step SA-3). Here, the means of transportation may further include at least one of, for example, walking, car, railroad, airplane, bus, ship, and the like. Also, the starting point may be the current position of the user of the terminal device 100 based on the current position information acquired by the current position information acquisition unit 102a. Moreover, the route search condition may further include departure time or arrival time. Here, the departure time may be the current time. Moreover, the route search condition may further include intermediate points and the like. Moreover, the route search condition may further include transit times. Also, the route search condition may be input by the user of the terminal device 100 via the input unit 116 of the terminal device 100 .

Then, the route search condition receiving unit 202c of the navigation server 200 receives the route search conditions including at least the means of transportation including rental bicycles, the departure point and the destination, which are transmitted from the terminal device 100 by the processing of the route search condition transmitting unit 102b in step SA-3 (step SA-4).

Then, the route guide information generating unit 202D of the navigation server 200 is a network data that is remembered in the Network Database 206a, a candidate pathway that uses a rental rental route from the departure location to the destination that meets the route search conditions received by the processing of the route search conditions 202C in step SA -4. In addition, exploring the stations and virtual stations in the station information database 206b to generate route guide information (step SA -5 -SA -8).

Hereinafter, the processing of the route guidance information generation unit 202d (that is, the candidate route search unit 202e, the station extraction unit 202f, the number information acquisition unit 202g, and the route generation unit 202h) executed in steps SA-5 to SA-8 will be described with reference to FIG.

Specifically, the candidate route searching unit 202e of the navigation server 200 stores candidate routes including a route using a rental cycle (for example, a route from the virtual station X1 shown in FIG. 5(2) to the station A shown in FIG. 6a, and location information (see FIG. 2 above) of stations (for example, station A shown in FIG. 5(3), station B, station C, etc. in FIG. 5) and virtual stations (for example, virtual station X1 shown in FIG. 5(2)) stored in the station information database 206b (step SA-5).

Here, in step SA-5, the candidate route searching unit 202e may search for a candidate route including a route using a rental cycle from the current position to the destination based on the current position information of the terminal device 100, which is transmitted from the terminal device 100 by the processing of the route search condition transmitting unit 102b in step SA-3. Further, when the route search condition further includes the departure time or the arrival time, the candidate route search unit 202e may search for a candidate route including a route using a rental cycle from the departure point to the destination that satisfies the route search condition further including the departure time or the arrival time. Here, the departure time may be the current time. Further, when the route search condition further includes a waypoint, the candidate route searching unit 202e may search for a candidate route via the waypoint. Further, when the route search condition further includes a stopover and a stopover time, the candidate route search unit 202e may search for a candidate route that is a route from the start to the destination via the stopover that satisfies the route search condition including the departure place, the destination, the stopover, and the stopover time.

Then, the station extraction unit 202f of the navigation server 200 extracts stations (stations A, B, and C in FIG. 5) and virtual stations (virtual station X1 in FIG. 5) included in the candidate route searched by the process of the candidate route search unit 202e in step SA-5 (step SA-6). Specifically, in the example of FIG. 5, the station extraction unit 202f extracts at least stations on the boarding side of the rental cycle (virtual station X1, station C, etc. in FIG. 5) and stations on the alighting side of the rental cycle (station A, station B, etc. in FIG. 5) among the stations and virtual stations included in the candidate route searched by the process of the candidate route search unit 202e.

Then, the number information acquisition unit 202g of the navigation server 200 acquires the number information corresponding to the stations (station A, station B, and station C in FIG. 5) and the virtual station (virtual station X1 in FIG. 5) extracted by the processing of the station extraction unit 202f in step SA-6 (in FIG. It is obtained from the database 206b (step SA-7). Further, in the present embodiment, the number information acquisition unit 202g may further acquire dock number information (in FIG. 2 described above, "15 units" for station A, "17 units" for station B, "18 units" for station C, "1 unit" for virtual station X1, etc.). In addition, the number information acquisition unit 202g may further acquire information on the number of empty vehicles (in FIG. 2 described above, "5 vehicles" for station A, "2 vehicles" for station B, "0 vehicles" for station C, "0 vehicles" for virtual station X1, etc.).

Although not shown, in step SA-7, the number information acquisition unit 202g may acquire the number information corresponding to the stations extracted by the processing of the station extraction unit 202f in step SA-6 (station A, station B, and station C in FIG. 5) by directly inquiring the storage unit 606 of the station device 600 via the network 300. In this embodiment, the number information transmission unit 602b of the station device 600 may transmit the latest number information generated by the vehicle monitoring unit 602a to the navigation server 200 periodically or when station information is requested. Also, the number information storage unit 202k of the navigation server 200 may store the number information received by the number information reception unit 202j in the station information database 206b. As a result, at step SA-7, the number information acquiring unit 202g can acquire the latest number information from the station information database 206b.

Then, the route generating unit 202h of the navigation server 200 selects the candidate route searched by the processing of the candidate route searching unit 202e in step SA-5 (for example, in FIG. 5, (1) starting point → (2) virtual station X1 → (3) station A → (4) the candidate route to the destination), and the number information acquired by the processing of the number information acquiring unit 202g in step SA-7 (for example, in FIG. "15 units", "18 units" for station C, "1 unit" for virtual station X1, etc.), route guide information is generated (step SA-8).

Here, in step SA-8, the route generation unit 202h may acquire basic usage charge information (for example, 200 yen) from the station information database 206b, generate changed usage charge information (for example, 100 yen or 0 yen) by changing the basic usage charge information based on the number information and the basic usage charge information, and generate route guidance information including the changed usage charge information. Further, when using a rental cycle detected as an abandoned vehicle by the processing of the abandoned vehicle detection unit 202a in step SA-1 (for example, a rental cycle stopped at the virtual station X1 in FIG. 5), the route generation unit 202h may change the basic usage fee information to free (that is, 0 yen) and generate post-change usage fee information.

In this way, at step SA-8, the route generation unit 202h generates route guidance information including a candidate route using a rental cycle corresponding to an abandoned vehicle registered in the station information database 206b as a virtual station (for example, in FIG.

Then, the route guidance information transmitting section 202i of the navigation server 200 transmits the route guidance information generated by the processing of the route generating section 202h in step SA-8 to the terminal device 100 (step SA-9).

Then, the route guidance information receiving section 102c of the terminal device 100 receives the route guidance information transmitted from the navigation server 200 by the processing of the route guidance information transmitting section 202i at step SA-9 (step SA-10). Here, at step SA-10, the route guidance information receiving unit 102c may further store the received route guidance information in the route guidance information file 106a. Further, when existing route guidance information is stored in the route guidance information file 106a, the route guidance information receiving unit 102c may overwrite the existing route guidance information with the newly set route guidance information.

Then, the route guidance information output unit 102d of the terminal device 100 outputs at least part of the route guidance information received by the processing of the route guidance information reception unit 102c in step SA-10 via the output unit (step SA-11).

Here, referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the process of the route guidance information output unit 102d at step SA-11 will be described more specifically, taking the route guidance information output screen as an example.

As shown in FIG. 6, in step SA-11, the route guidance information output unit 102d may output route guidance information including a candidate route passing through a virtual station (station X1 in FIG. 6) corresponding to the rental cycle detected as an abandoned vehicle by the process of the abandoned vehicle detection unit 202a in step SA-1. As an example, as shown in FIG. 6, the route guidance information output unit 102d may output route guidance information including a fourth candidate route from (1) departure point → (2) station X1 (that is, the stop position of the rental cycle detected as an abandoned vehicle) → (3) station A → (4) destination. Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the route guidance information output unit 102d may further output a message such as "This route uses an abandoned vehicle. Points will be returned."

Although not shown, in step SA-11, the route guidance information output unit 102d
It is also possible to output basic rental charge information (for example, "100 yen" from station C to station A) and/or post-change charge information (for example, "0 yen" from virtual station X1 to station A) for the rental cycle. Further, the route guidance information output unit 102d may sort and output the candidate routes in the order of cost of the basic charge information and/or changed charge information of the rental cycle (for example, the order of cost of the third candidate route “0 yen”, the first candidate route “0 yen”, and the second candidate route “300 yen”). Further, the route guidance information output unit 102d may output route guidance information obtained by removing a route using a rental cycle (for example, a route using station B, which is almost full) from the candidate routes. In addition, the route guidance information output unit 102d may output notification information indicating that a route using a rental cycle is not recommended among the candidate routes (for example, text data notifying that "Station B is currently full, so we recommend using another route"). Furthermore, the route guidance information output unit 102d may output available number of people information (e.g., one-person use, two-person use, etc.), type information (e.g., city car, electrically assisted bicycle, etc.), and/or reservation information (e.g., with reservation, without reservation). In this way, in the present embodiment, it is possible to appropriately distribute resources to the user by movement and to rescue abandoned vehicles without providing a significantly inconvenient route.

Further, in step SA-11, the route guidance information output unit 102d may output, via the output unit, the current position information acquired by the processing of the current position information acquisition unit 102a in step SA-3 and at least part of the route guidance information received by the processing of the route guidance information reception unit 102c in step SA-10 to execute route guidance. Further, the route guidance information output unit 102d may cause the display unit 114 to display, for example, a display screen in which the candidate route data included in the route guidance information and the current location information of the user of the terminal device 100 are superimposed on the map data included in the route guidance information.

Further, at step SA-11, the route guidance information output unit 102d may cause the display unit 114 to display a display screen based on the route guidance information. For example, the route guidance information output unit 102d outputs candidate route data, boarding and alighting times of transportation, destination information of transportation, route type of transportation, route name of transportation, names of boarding and alighting points such as railway stations and bus stops, exit information of stations, boarding position information of transportation, the fact that it is the first train, the fact that it is a walking route, weather information, the number of transportation transfers, the required time of the candidate route, the fare data when using the candidate route, the premises route data, Display unit 114 may display a display screen based on display guide data such as TBT included in timetable data, map data, and/or guide data. Further, the route guidance information output unit 102d may cause the route guidance information to be output via the voice output unit 118. FIG. For example, the route guidance information output unit 102d may cause the voice output unit 118 to output voice guidance data associated with the direction of travel at a branch point or the like on the candidate route included in the route guidance information.

Further, in this embodiment, the station information database 206b of the navigation server 200 deletes the virtual station information corresponding to the rental cycle detected as an abandoned vehicle by the process of the abandoned vehicle detection unit 202a when the rental cycle is returned to the station. Further, the station information database 206b deletes the virtual station information corresponding to the rental cycle when the rental cycle detected as the abandoned vehicle by the process of the abandoned vehicle detection unit 202a is used. If the position information of the rental cycle detected as an abandoned vehicle by the process of the abandoned vehicle detection unit 202a differs from the current position information of the rental cycle, the station information database 206b deletes the virtual station information corresponding to the rental cycle.

For example, the station information database 206b may delete the virtual station information corresponding to the rental cycle of the abandoned vehicle when a user other than the person who left the abandoned vehicle logs in or applies for use. Specifically, the station information database 206b may refer to the usage information database 206c, and when a user other than the final user logs into the vehicle, the corresponding virtual station may be deleted. Here, the logged-in state means a state in which it is decided to use a route for rescuing an abandoned vehicle. For example, when the terminal device 100 or the like performs the authentication process with the in-vehicle device 700 mounted on the vehicle, the logged-in state may be the state in which the authentication with the vehicle is completed.

Further, the station information database 206b may delete the virtual station information corresponding to the rental cycle of the abandoned vehicle when the navigation of the route including the abandoned vehicle is executed. For example, when route guidance information including a message such as "Would you like to start guidance for the fourth candidate route?"

Further, the station information database 206b may delete the virtual station information corresponding to the rental cycle of the abandoned vehicle when the administrator collects the abandoned vehicle. For example, when a management screen such as that shown in FIG. 8 is output to the terminal device 100 or the like possessed by the administrator of the rental cycle, the administrator may select "Y (Yes)" in response to a message such as "Would you like the abandoned vehicle C385 to be collected?"

As described above, in the present embodiment, when an abandoned vehicle is rescued (for example, when an abandoned vehicle is returned to a station or used), or when a rental cycle detected as an abandoned vehicle is illegally moved, there is no point in storing the corresponding abandoned vehicle as a virtual station in the station information database 206b, so the corresponding virtual station information is deleted from the station information database 206b. As a result, in this embodiment, the station information database 206b can prevent a situation in which an abandoned vehicle is searched by multiple users when a user searches for a route for using a rental cycle that includes an abandoned vehicle, and can reliably present a virtual station where an abandoned vehicle exists.

This concludes the description of an example of the processing of the navigation system according to the first embodiment.

[Second embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention (navigation server 200 (server-driven type)) will be described below with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. Here, FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the navigation server 200 according to the second embodiment, and conceptually shows only those portions of the configuration that are related to the present invention.

In the second embodiment, the navigation server 200 generates data to be output to the output unit (the display unit 114 and the audio output unit 118) of the terminal device 100, and transmits the data to the terminal device 100, thereby causing the output unit of the terminal device 100 to function. Thus, the second embodiment differs from the other embodiments in that the navigation server 200 performs server-led processing.

[Configuration of navigation server 200 (server-driven type)]
First, an example of the configuration of the navigation server 200 (server-led type) in the second embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 9, a navigation server 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a terminal device 100 including at least a position acquisition unit 112, an output unit (display unit 114 and an audio output unit 118), an input unit 116, a control unit 102, and a storage unit 106, a station device 600 including at least a control unit 602 and a storage unit 606, and a position acquisition unit 712, a control unit 702, and a storage unit 706. It is communicably connected to the in-vehicle device 700 . Here, the navigation server 200 includes at least a control section 202 and a storage section 206 . Although not shown, the terminal device 100 may include a photographing unit such as a camera capable of photographing still images and moving images. The communication includes, by way of example, remote communication such as wired/wireless communication via the network 300 . Further, each part of the navigation server 200 and the terminal device 100 are connected via an arbitrary communication path so as to be able to communicate with each other.

In FIG. 9, the navigation server 200 has functions such as storing network data defining a transportation network in a storage unit 206, storing station information including at least location information of stations where rental bicycles stop and information on the number of rental bicycles parked at the stations, and storing usage information of rental bicycles in the storage unit 206. Based on the usage information stored in the storage unit 206, the navigation server 200 detects rental bicycles that meet predetermined conditions as abandoned vehicles, registers the detected rental bicycles as abandoned vehicles in the storage unit 206 as virtual stations, receives route search conditions including at least a means of transportation including a rental bicycle, a departure point, and a destination transmitted from the terminal device 100, and stores candidate routes including routes using rental bicycles from the departure point to the destination that satisfy the received route search conditions in the storage unit 206. 06 and location information and number information of stations and virtual stations stored in the storage unit 206 to generate route guidance information, generate a route guidance screen based on at least part of the generated route guidance information, transmit the generated route guidance screen to the terminal device 100, and output at least part of the route guidance screen through the output unit.

Functions of communication control interface unit 204 and storage unit 206 (network database 206a, station information database 206b, usage information database 206c, map database 206d, guidance database 206e, route guidance information database 206f, etc.) in navigation server 200; Each function of the unit 606, and each function of the position acquisition unit 712, the control unit 702, and the storage unit 706 in the in-vehicle device 700 are the same as those in the first embodiment, so description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 9, the control unit 202 has an internal memory for storing control programs such as an OS, programs defining various processing procedures, and required data. Then, the control unit 202 performs information processing for executing various processes using these programs and the like. The control unit 202 functionally conceptually includes an abandoned vehicle detection unit 202a, a virtual station registration unit 202b, a route search condition reception unit 202c, a route guidance information generation unit 202d, a candidate route search unit 202e, a station extraction unit 202f, a number information acquisition unit 202g, a route generation unit 202h, a number information reception unit 202j, a number information storage unit 202k, a position information reception unit 202m, a position information storage unit 202n, and route guidance. A screen generation unit 202p, an output control unit 202q, and a current position information acquisition unit 202r are provided.

The functions of the abandoned vehicle detection unit 202a, the virtual station registration unit 202b, the route search condition reception unit 202c, the route guidance information generation unit 202d, the candidate route search unit 202e, the station extraction unit 202f, the number information acquisition unit 202g, the route generation unit 202h, the number information reception unit 202j, the number information storage unit 202k, the position information reception unit 202m, and the position information storage unit 202n are the same as those in the first embodiment. Therefore, the description is omitted.

Of these, the route guidance screen generation unit 202p is route guidance screen generation means for generating a route guidance screen based on at least part of the route guidance information generated by the route guidance information generation unit 202d. Here, the route guidance screen generation unit 202p may generate, for example, a route guidance screen including post-change charge information included in the route guidance information. Further, the route guidance screen generating unit 202p may generate a route guidance screen based on route guidance information obtained by removing a route using a rental cycle from the candidate routes. Further, the route guidance screen generation unit 202p may generate a route guidance screen including notification information included in the route guidance information. Further, the route guidance screen generation unit 202p may generate a route guidance screen based on route guidance information including at least one of available number of people information, type information, and reservation information included in the route guidance information.

Further, the route guidance screen generation unit 202p may generate the route guidance screen based on at least part of the current position information acquired by the current position information acquisition unit 202r and the route guidance information generated by the route guidance information generation unit 202d. Here, for example, the route guidance screen generation unit 202p may generate a route guidance screen in which the candidate route data included in the route guidance information and the current location information of the user of the terminal device 100 are superimposed on the map data included in the route guidance information.

In addition, the route guidance screen generation unit 202p includes, for example, candidate route data included in the route guidance information, boarding and alighting times of transportation, destination information of transportation, route type of transportation, route name of transportation, names of boarding and alighting points such as railway stations and bus stops, station exit information, boarding position information of transportation, the fact that it is the first train, the fact that it is a walking route, weather information, the number of transfers of transportation, the required time of the candidate route, the fare data when using the candidate route, and the premises route. A route guidance screen may be generated based on display guidance data such as TBT included in data, timetable data, map data, and/or guidance data. Further, the route guidance screen generation unit 202p may generate a route guidance screen in which voice guidance data is embedded such that the route guidance information is output via the voice output unit 118. FIG. For example, the route guidance screen generation unit 202p may generate a route guidance screen in which the voice guidance data is embedded so that the voice guidance data associated with the traveling direction at the branch point on the candidate route included in the route guidance information is output via the voice output unit 118.

The output control unit 202q is output control means for transmitting the route guidance screen generated by the route guidance screen generation unit 202p to the terminal device 100 and outputting at least part of the route guidance screen via the output unit. Here, for example, the output control unit 202q may transmit, to the terminal device 100, a route guidance screen in which the candidate route data included in the route guidance information and the current location information of the user of the terminal device 100 are superimposed on the map data included in the route guidance information generated by the route guidance screen generation unit 202p, and output at least part of the route guidance screen via the output unit to execute route guidance.

The output control unit 202q also controls, for example, the candidate route data included in the route guidance information generated by the route guidance screen generation unit 202p, the boarding and alighting times of transportation, the destination information of the transportation, the route type of the transportation, the route name of the transportation, the names of boarding and alighting points such as railway stations and bus stops, the station exit information, the boarding position information of the transportation, the fact that it is the first train, the fact that it is a walking route, the weather information, the number of times of transportation transfers, the required time of the candidate route, and candidates. A route guidance screen based on display guidance data such as toll data, in-plant route data, timetable data, map data, and/or TBT included in the guidance data may be sent to the terminal device 100, and at least part of the route guidance screen may be output via the output unit to execute route guidance. Further, the output control unit 202q may transmit the route guidance screen generated by the route guidance screen generation unit 202p and embedding the voice guidance data so as to output the route guidance information via the voice output unit 118 to the terminal device 100, output at least part of the route guidance screen via the output unit, and execute the route guidance. For example, the output control unit 202q may output, via the voice output unit 118, the route guidance screen embedded with the voice guidance data generated by the route guidance screen generation unit 202p and associated with the traveling direction and the like at the branch points on the candidate route included in the route guidance information, and output at least part of the route guidance screen via the output unit to execute the route guidance.

Also, the current location information acquisition unit 202r is current location information acquisition means for acquiring current location information of the user of the terminal device 100 . Here, the current location information acquisition unit 202r may receive from the terminal device 100 the location information signal received from the location transmission device 500 by the location acquisition unit 112 of the terminal device 100, and acquire the location information calculated from the location information signal as the current location information of the user of the terminal device 100. Further, the current position information acquisition unit 202r may receive position information such as position coordinates of the current position input by the user via the input unit 116 of the terminal device 100, and acquire the position information as the current position information of the user of the terminal device 100.

This completes the description of an example of the configuration of the navigation server 200 according to the second embodiment.

[Processing of navigation server 200 (server-driven)]
Next, an example of processing of the navigation server 200 according to the second embodiment configured as described above will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of basic processing of the navigation server 200 in the second embodiment.

In FIG. 10, the processing from step SB-1 to step SB-8 is the same as the processing of steps SA-1 and SA-8 in FIG. 4 of the above-described first embodiment, so description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 10, after performing the processing from step SB-1 to step SB-8, the route guidance screen generation unit 202p of the navigation server 200 generates a route guidance screen (for example, the route guidance information output screen shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 above) based on at least part of the route guidance information generated by the processing of the route guidance information generation unit 202d at step SB-8 (step SB-9).

Here, in step SB-9, the route guidance screen generating unit 202p may generate a route guidance screen including post-change charge information (for example, "0 yen" from virtual station X1 to station A) included in the route guidance information. Alternatively, the route guidance screen generation unit 202p may generate a route guidance screen based on route guidance information obtained by removing a route using a rental cycle (for example, a route using station B, which is almost full) from the candidate routes. In addition, the route guidance screen generation unit 202p may generate a route guidance screen including notification information included in the route guidance information (for example, text data notifying that "Station B is currently full, so we recommend using another route"). In addition, the route guidance screen generation unit 202p may generate a route guidance screen based on route guidance information including at least one of available number of people information (e.g., one-person use, two-person use, etc.), type information (e.g., city car, electrically assisted bicycle, etc.), and reservation information (e.g., with reservation, without reservation) included in the route guidance information.

Further, in step SB-9, the route guidance screen generation unit 202p may generate the route guidance screen based on at least part of the current position information acquired by the processing of the current position information acquisition unit 202r and the route guidance information generated by the processing of the route guidance information generation unit 202d in steps SB-5 to SB-8. Here, for example, the route guidance screen generation unit 202p may generate a route guidance screen in which the candidate route data included in the route guidance information and the current location information of the user of the terminal device 100 are superimposed on the map data included in the route guidance information.

In step SB-9, the route guidance screen generation unit 202p generates, for example, the candidate route data included in the route guidance information, boarding and alighting times of transportation, destination information of transportation, route type of transportation, route name of transportation, names of boarding and alighting points such as railway stations and bus stops, station exit information, boarding position information of transportation, the fact that it is the first train, the fact that it is a walking route, weather information, the number of times of transportation transfers, the required time of the candidate route, and the case where the candidate route is used. toll data, premises route data, timetable data, map data, and/or display guidance data such as TBT included in the guidance data. Further, the route guidance screen generation unit 202p may generate a route guidance screen in which voice guidance data is embedded such that the route guidance information is output via the voice output unit 118. FIG. For example, the route guidance screen generation unit 202p may generate a route guidance screen in which the voice guidance data is embedded so that the voice guidance data associated with the traveling direction at the branch point on the candidate route included in the route guidance information is output via the voice output unit 118.

Then, the output control unit 202q of the navigation server 200 transmits the route guidance screen generated by the processing of the route guidance screen generation unit 202p in step SB-9 (for example, the output screens shown in FIGS. 6 and 7) to the terminal device 100 (step SB-10), and outputs at least part of the route guidance screen via the output unit (step SB-11).

Here, in steps SB-10 and SB-11, the output control unit 202q transmits, to the terminal device 100, a route guidance screen in which the candidate route data included in the route guidance information and the current location information of the user of the terminal device 100 are superimposed on the map data included in the route guidance information generated by the processing of the route guidance screen generation unit 202p in step SB-9. Guidance may be executed.

In steps SB-10 and SB-11, the output control unit 202q generates, for example, candidate route data, boarding/alighting times of transportation facilities, destination information of transportation facilities, route types of transportation facilities, route names of transportation facilities, names of boarding/alighting points such as railway stations and bus stops, exit information of stations, boarding position information of transportation facilities, the first train, information about the first train, and so on. A route guidance screen based on information indicating that the route is a walking route, weather information, the number of transportation transfers, the time required for the candidate route, toll data when using the candidate route, premises route data, timetable data, map data, and/or display guidance data such as TBT included in the guidance data may be transmitted to the terminal device 100, and at least a portion of the route guidance screen may be output via the output unit to execute route guidance. In addition, the output control unit 202q may transmit the route guidance screen generated by the route guidance screen generation unit 202p and embedded with voice guidance data so as to output the route guidance information via the voice output unit 118 to the terminal device 100, output at least part of the route guidance screen via the output unit, and execute route guidance. For example, the output control unit 202q may transmit the route guidance screen embedded with the voice guidance data to the terminal device 100 so as to cause the voice output unit 118 to output, via the voice output unit 118, the voice guidance data generated by the route guidance screen generation unit 202p and associated with the traveling direction and the like at the branch points and the like on the candidate route included in the route guidance information.

This concludes the explanation of an example of the processing of the navigation server 200 according to the second embodiment.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment (navigation device 400 (standalone type)) of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. FIG. Here, FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the navigation device 400 according to the third embodiment, and conceptually shows only those portions of the configuration related to the present invention.

In the third embodiment, the navigation device 400 integrates the functions of the terminal device 100 and the navigation server 200 described above in the other embodiments into the navigation device 400, stores network data defining the transportation network in the storage unit 406, stores station information including at least the location information of the station where the rental cycle stops and the information on the number of rental bicycles parked at the station in the storage unit 406, and stores the usage information of the rental cycle in the storage unit 406. have. Further, the navigation device 400 detects, as an abandoned vehicle, a rental bicycle that meets a predetermined condition based on the usage information stored in the storage unit 406, registers the detected rental bicycle as an abandoned vehicle in the storage unit 406 as a virtual station, sets route search conditions that include at least a means of transportation including a rental bicycle, a departure point, and a destination, and stores candidate routes that include a route using the rental bicycle from the departure point to the destination that satisfies the set route search conditions as network data stored in the storage unit 406, It also has a function of searching using the position information and number information of the stations and virtual stations stored in the storage unit 406, generating route guidance information, and outputting at least part of the generated route guidance information via the output unit. Thus, the third embodiment differs from the other embodiments in that the navigation device 400 is configured as a stand-alone type and performs processing independently.

[Configuration of navigation device 400 (standalone type)]
First, an example of the configuration of a navigation device 400 (standalone type) according to the third embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 11, a navigation device 400 according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes at least a position acquisition section 412, an output section (a display section 414 and an audio output section 418), an input section 416, a control section 402 and a storage section 406. In addition, the navigation device 400 is communicably connected to an in-vehicle device 700 including at least a position acquisition section 712, a control section 702, and a storage section 706. FIG. Although not shown, the navigation device 400 may include a photographing unit such as a camera capable of photographing still images and moving images. The communication includes, by way of example, remote communication such as wired/wireless communication via the network 300 . Moreover, each unit of the navigation device 400 may be communicably connected via an arbitrary communication path. The navigation device 400 may be, for example, various navigation terminals such as a PND (Portable Navigation Device), various information processing devices such as a notebook personal computer, or portable terminal devices such as a mobile phone, PHS, PDA, or the like.

11, the functions of the communication control interface unit 404, the input/output control interface unit 408, the position acquisition unit 412, the display unit 414, the input unit 416, and the audio output unit 418 in the navigation device 400, the functions of the control unit 602 and the storage unit 606 in the station device 600, and the functions of the position acquisition unit 712, the control unit 702, and the storage unit 706 in the in-vehicle device 700 are the same as those in the first embodiment. is omitted. In addition, each part of the storage unit 406 (network database 406a, station information database 406b, usage information database 406c, map database 406d, guidance database 406e, route guidance information database 406f, etc.) is also the same as in the first embodiment except that it is provided in the navigation device 400 instead of the terminal device 100 and the navigation server 200 described above in the other embodiments, so description will be omitted.

In addition, regarding each unit of the control unit 402 (current position information acquisition unit 402a to position information storage unit 402p, etc.), each function is basically the same as that of the first embodiment except that the navigation device 400 of this embodiment is a stand-alone type, and the control unit 402 does not include each transmission/reception unit for the navigation server 200 described above in other embodiments.

Also, in FIG. 11, the control unit 402 has an internal memory for storing control programs such as an OS, programs defining various processing procedures, and required data. Then, the control unit 402 performs information processing for executing various processes using these programs and the like. The control unit 402 functionally conceptually includes a current position information acquisition unit 402a, an abandoned vehicle detection unit 402b, a virtual station registration unit 402c, a route search condition setting unit 402d, a route guidance information generation unit 402e, a candidate route search unit 402f, a station extraction unit 402g, a number information acquisition unit 402h, a route generation unit 402i, a route guidance information output unit 402j, a number information reception unit 402k, a number information storage unit 402m, A position information receiving unit 402n and a position information storage unit 402p are provided. Note that the functions of the abandoned vehicle detection unit 402b, the virtual station registration unit 402c, the station extraction unit 402g, the number information acquisition unit 402h, the route generation unit 402i, the number information reception unit 402k, the number information storage unit 402m, the position information reception unit 402n, and the position information storage unit 402p are the same as those in the first embodiment, and description thereof will be omitted.

Among these, the current position information acquisition unit 402 a is a current position information acquisition unit that acquires the current position information of the user of the navigation device 400 . Here, the current position information acquisition unit 402a may acquire the current position information of the user of the navigation device 400 every predetermined time (predetermined period) (for example, every second or every three minutes). Further, the current position information acquisition unit 402 a may acquire position information calculated from the position information signal received from the position transmission device 500 by the position acquisition unit 412 as the current position information of the user of the navigation device 400 . In addition, the current position information acquisition unit 402a may further acquire direction information such as the traveling direction of the navigation device 400 detected by the direction sensor of the position acquisition unit 412 or the like as the current position information of the user of the navigation device 400.

Further, the route search condition setting unit 402d is a route search condition setting means for setting route search conditions including at least a means of transportation including a rental cycle, a departure point, and a destination. Here, the means of transportation may further include at least one of, for example, walking, car, railroad, airplane, bus, ship, and the like. Also, the departure point may be the current position of the user of the navigation device 400 based on the current position information acquired by the current position information acquisition unit 402a. Moreover, the route search condition may further include departure time or arrival time. Here, the departure time may be the current time. Moreover, the route search condition may further include intermediate points and the like. Moreover, the route search condition may further include transit times. Moreover, the route search condition may be input by the user of the navigation device 400 via the input unit 416 of the navigation device 400 .

The route guidance information generation unit 402e is route guidance information generation means for generating route guidance information by searching for a candidate route including a route using a rental cycle from the departure point to the destination that satisfies the route search conditions set by the route search condition setting unit 402d, using the network data stored in the network database 406a and the station and virtual station location information and number information stored in the station information database 406b. Here, the route guidance information generation unit 402e further includes a candidate route search unit 402f, a station extraction unit 402g, a number information acquisition unit 402h, and a route generation unit 402i.

The candidate route search unit 402f is a candidate route search unit that searches for a candidate route that satisfies the route search conditions set by the route search condition setting unit 402d, including a route using a rental cycle from the departure point to the destination, using the network data stored in the network database 406a and the position information of the stations and virtual stations stored in the station information database 406b.

Here, the candidate route search unit 402f may search for a candidate route including a route using a rental cycle from the current position to the destination based on the current position information of the navigation device 400 acquired by the current position information acquisition unit 402a. Further, when the route search condition further includes the departure time or the arrival time, the candidate route search unit 402f may search for a candidate route including a route using a rental cycle from the departure point to the destination that satisfies the route search condition further including the departure time or the arrival time. Here, the departure time may be the current time. In addition, the candidate route search unit 402f may search for a candidate route via the waypoint when the route search condition further includes the waypoint. Further, when the route search condition further includes a stopover point and a stopover time, the candidate route search unit 402f may search for a candidate route that is a route from the start point to the destination via the stopover that satisfies the route search condition including the departure point, the destination, the stopover, and the stopover time.

Further, the route guidance information output unit 402j may output the current position information acquired by the current position information acquisition unit 402a and at least a part of the route guidance information generated by the route guidance information generation unit 402e via the output unit to execute route guidance. Further, the route guidance information output unit 402j may cause the display unit 414 to display a display screen in which the candidate route data included in the route guidance information and the current position information of the user of the navigation device 400 are superimposed on the map data included in the route guidance information.

Further, the route guidance information output unit 402j may cause the display unit 414 to display a display screen based on the route guidance information. For example, the route guidance information output unit 402j outputs candidate route data, boarding and alighting times of transportation, destination information of transportation, route type of transportation, route name of transportation, names of boarding and alighting points such as railway stations and bus stops, exit information of stations, boarding position information of transportation, the fact that it is the first train, the fact that it is a walking route, weather information, the number of times of transportation transfers, the required time of the candidate route, the fare data when using the candidate route, the premises route data, The display unit 414 may display a display screen based on display guidance data such as TBT included in the timetable data, the map data, and/or the guidance data. Further, the route guidance information output unit 402j may cause the route guidance information to be output via the voice output unit 418. FIG. For example, the route guidance information output unit 402j may output, via the voice output unit 418, voice guidance data associated with the direction of travel at a branch point on the candidate route included in the route guidance information.

This completes the description of an example of the configuration of the navigation device 400 according to the third embodiment.

[Processing of navigation device 400 (standalone type)]
Next, an example of processing of the navigation device 400 according to the third embodiment configured as described above will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of basic processing of the navigation device 400 in the third embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 12, first, the abandoned vehicle detection unit 402b detects rental bicycles that meet predetermined conditions as abandoned vehicles based on the usage information stored in the usage information database 406c (step SC-1).

Here, in step SC-1, the abandoned vehicle detection unit 402b may detect the rental cycle as an abandoned vehicle if the rental cycle has not been returned to the station within the rental period indicated by the rental period information included in the usage information (for example, in the case of the vehicle ID "C327" in FIG. Further, the abandoned vehicle detection unit 402b may detect the rental cycle as an abandoned vehicle when there is no rental cycle within the available area indicated by the available area information included in the usage information (for example, in FIG. 3 described above, "Y area" for vehicle ID "C195"). Further, the abandoned vehicle detection unit 402b may further detect the rental bicycle as an abandoned vehicle when the current position of the rental bicycle indicated by the location information included in the usage information does not change for a predetermined period of time (for example, one day or longer).

Then, the virtual station registration unit 402c registers the rental cycle detected as an abandoned vehicle by the processing of the abandoned vehicle detection unit 402b in step SC-1 as a virtual station (for example, "virtual station X1" in FIG. 2) in the station information database 406b (step SC-2).

Here, in step SC-2, the virtual station registration unit 402c registers the location information of the rental bicycle detected as an abandoned vehicle by the processing of the abandoned vehicle detection unit 402b in step SC-2 (for example, in FIG. By storing virtual station information including "one") in the station information database 406b, the rental cycle is registered as a virtual station.

In the present embodiment, the processing of the abandoned vehicle detection unit 402b in step SC-1 and the processing of the virtual station registration unit 402c in step SC-2 may be performed at predetermined time intervals in order to store the latest virtual station information in the station information database 406b, or may be performed when route search conditions are set.

Then, the route search condition setting unit 402d sets a route search condition including at least a means of transportation including a rental cycle, a departure point, and a destination (Step SC-3). Here, the means of transportation may further include at least one of, for example, walking, car, railroad, airplane, bus, ship, and the like. Also, the starting point may be the current position of the user of the navigation device 400 based on the current position information acquired by the processing of the current position information acquiring section 402a. Moreover, the route search condition may further include departure time or arrival time. Here, the departure time may be the current time. Moreover, the route search condition may further include intermediate points and the like. Moreover, the route search condition may further include transit times. Also, the route search condition may be input by the user of the navigation device 400 via the input unit 416 of the navigation device 400 .

Then, the route guidance information generation unit 402e searches for a candidate route including a route using a rental cycle from the departure point to the destination that satisfies the route search conditions received by the processing of the route search condition setting unit 402d in step SC-3 using the network data stored in the network database 406a and the location information and number information of the stations and virtual stations stored in the station information database 406b, and generates route guidance information (steps SC-4 to SC-7).

More specifically, the candidate route search unit 402f stores candidate routes that satisfy the route search conditions set by the process of the route search condition setting unit 402d in step SC-3, including a route using a rental cycle (for example, a route from the virtual station X1 shown in FIG. 5(2) to the station A shown in FIG. 5(3)) from the departure point (for example, the departure point shown in FIG. 5(1) above) to the destination (for example, the destination shown in FIG. 5(4) above), in the network database 406a. and location information (see FIG. 2) of stations stored in the station information database 406b (for example, station A shown in FIG. 5(3), station B, station C, etc. in FIG. 5) and virtual stations (for example, virtual station X1 shown in FIG. 5(2)) (step SC-4).

Here, in step SC-4, the candidate route searching unit 402f may search for a candidate route including a route using a rental cycle from the current position to the destination based on the current position information of the navigation device 400 acquired by the processing of the current position information acquiring unit 402a. Further, when the route search condition further includes the departure time or the arrival time, the candidate route search unit 402f may search for a candidate route including a route using a rental cycle from the departure point to the destination that satisfies the route search condition further including the departure time or the arrival time. Here, the departure time may be the current time. In addition, the candidate route searching unit 402f may search for a candidate route via the waypoint when the route search condition further includes the waypoint. Further, when the route search condition further includes a stopover point and a stopover time, the candidate route search unit 402f may search for a candidate route that is a route from the start point to the destination via the stopover that satisfies the route search condition including the departure point, the destination, the stopover, and the stopover time.

Then, the station extraction unit 402g extracts stations (stations A, B, and C in FIG. 5 above) and virtual stations (virtual station X1 in FIG. 5 above) included in the candidate route searched by the process of the candidate route search unit 402f in step SC-4 (step SC-5). Specifically, in the example of FIG. 5 described above, the station extraction unit 402g extracts at least stations on the boarding side of the rental cycle (virtual station X1, station C, etc. in FIG. 5 described above) and stations on the alighting side of the rental cycle (station A, station B, etc. in FIG.

Then, the number information acquisition unit 402h acquires number information (in FIG. 2, "10 units" for station A, "15 units" for station B, "18 units" for station C, "1 unit" for virtual station X1, etc.) corresponding to the stations (station A, station B, and station C in FIG. 5 above) and the virtual station (virtual station X1 in FIG. 5 above) extracted by the processing of the station extraction unit 402g in step SC-5. 06b (step SC-6). Further, in the present embodiment, the number information acquisition unit 402h may further acquire dock number information (in FIG. 2 described above, "15 units" for station A, "17 units" for station B, "18 units" for station C, "1 unit" for virtual station X1, etc.). In addition, the number information acquisition unit 402h may further acquire information on the number of empty vehicles (in FIG. 2 described above, "5 vehicles" for station A, "2 vehicles" for station B, "0 vehicles" for station C, "0 vehicles" for virtual station X1, etc.).

Although not shown, in step SC-6, the number information acquisition unit 402h may acquire the number information corresponding to the stations (station A, station B, and station C in FIG. 5 described above) extracted by the processing of the station extraction unit 402g in step SC-5 by directly inquiring the storage unit 606 of the station device 600 via the network 300. In this embodiment, the control unit 602 of the station device 600 may transmit the latest number information generated by the control unit 602 to the navigation device 400 periodically or when station information is requested. Also, the number information storage unit 402m may store the number information received by the number information reception unit 402k in the station information database 406b. As a result, at step SC-4, the number information acquiring unit 402h can acquire the latest number information from the station information database 406b.

Then, the route generation unit 402i generates the candidate route searched by the processing of the candidate route search unit 402f in step SC-4 (for example, the candidate route from (1) departure point → (2) virtual station X1 → (3) station A → (4) destination in FIG. , "18 units" for station C, "1 unit" for virtual station X1, etc.), route guide information is generated (step SC-7).

Here, in step SC-7, the route generation unit 402i may acquire basic usage charge information (for example, 200 yen) from the station information database 406b, generate changed usage charge information (for example, 100 yen or 0 yen) by changing the basic usage charge information based on the number information and the basic usage charge information, and generate route guidance information including the changed usage charge information. Further, when using a rental cycle detected as an abandoned vehicle by the processing of the abandoned vehicle detection unit 402b in step SC-1 (for example, the rental cycle stopped at the virtual station X1 in FIG. 5 described above), the route generation unit 402i may change the basic usage fee information to free (that is, 0 yen) and generate post-change usage fee information.

In this way, at step SC-7, the route generation unit 402i generates route guidance information including a candidate route using a rental cycle corresponding to an abandoned vehicle registered in the station information database 406b as a virtual station (for example, in FIG. That is, in the present embodiment, the route generation unit 402i can generate route guidance information including a route for rescuing an abandoned vehicle for users, administrators, and the like.

Then, the route guidance information output unit 402j outputs at least part of the route guidance information generated by the process of the route generation unit 402i in step SC-7 via the output unit (step SC-8).

Here, in step SC-8, the route guidance information output unit 402j may output route guidance information including a candidate route via a virtual station (station X1 in FIG. 6) corresponding to the rental cycle detected as an abandoned vehicle by the process of the abandoned vehicle detection unit 402b in step SC-1. As an example, the route guidance information output unit 402j may output route guidance information including a fourth candidate route from (1) departure point → (2) station X1 (that is, the stop position of the rental cycle detected as an abandoned vehicle) → (3) station A → (4) the destination, as shown in FIG. Here, as shown in FIG. 6 described above, the route guidance information output unit 402j may further output a message such as "This route uses an abandoned vehicle. Points will be returned."

Further, in step SC-8, the route guidance information output unit 402j may output the basic charge information of the rental cycle (for example, "100 yen" from station C to station A) and/or post-change charge information (for example, "0 yen" from virtual station X1 to station A). Further, the route guidance information output unit 402j may sort and output the candidate routes in the order of cost of the basic charge information and/or changed charge information of the rental cycle (for example, the order of cost of the third candidate route “0 yen”, the first candidate route “0 yen”, and the second candidate route “300 yen”). Further, the route guidance information output unit 402j may output route guidance information obtained by removing a route using a rental cycle (for example, a route using station B, which is almost full) from the candidate routes. In addition, the route guidance information output unit 402j may output notification information indicating that a route using a rental cycle among the candidate routes is not recommended (for example, text data notifying that "Station B is currently full, so it is recommended to use another route"). Furthermore, the route guidance information output unit 402j may output available number of people information (e.g., one-person use, two-person use, etc.), type information (e.g., city car, electrically assisted bicycle, etc.), and/or reservation information (e.g., with reservation, without reservation). In this way, in the present embodiment, it is possible to appropriately distribute resources to the user by movement and to rescue abandoned vehicles without providing a significantly inconvenient route.

Further, in step SC-8, the route guidance information output unit 402j may output, via the output unit, the current position information acquired by the processing of the current position information acquisition unit 402a and at least a part of the route guidance information generated by the processing of the route generation unit 402i in step SC-7 to execute route guidance. Further, the route guidance information output unit 402j may cause the display unit 414 to display a display screen in which the candidate route data included in the route guidance information and the current position information of the user of the navigation device 400 are superimposed on the map data included in the route guidance information.

Further, at step SC-8, the route guidance information output unit 402j may cause the display unit 414 to display a display screen based on the route guidance information. For example, the route guidance information output unit 402j outputs candidate route data, boarding and alighting times of transportation, destination information of transportation, route type of transportation, route name of transportation, names of boarding and alighting points such as railway stations and bus stops, exit information of stations, boarding position information of transportation, the fact that it is the first train, the fact that it is a walking route, weather information, the number of times of transportation transfers, the required time of the candidate route, the fare data when using the candidate route, the premises route data, The display unit 414 may display a display screen based on display guidance data such as TBT included in the timetable data, the map data, and/or the guidance data. Further, the route guidance information output unit 402j may cause the route guidance information to be output via the voice output unit 418. FIG. For example, the route guidance information output unit 402j may output, via the voice output unit 418, voice guidance data associated with the direction of travel at a branch point on the candidate route included in the route guidance information.

Also, in this embodiment, the station information database 406b deletes the virtual station information corresponding to the rental cycle when the rental cycle detected as the abandoned vehicle by the processing of the abandoned vehicle detection unit 402b is returned to the station. Further, the station information database 406b deletes the virtual station information corresponding to the rental cycle detected as the abandoned vehicle by the process of the abandoned vehicle detection unit 402b when the rental cycle is used. If the position information of the rental cycle detected as an abandoned vehicle by the processing of the abandoned vehicle detection unit 402b differs from the current position information of the rental cycle, the station information database 406b deletes the virtual station information corresponding to the rental cycle.

This concludes the description of an example of the processing of the navigation device 400 according to the third embodiment.

[Other embodiments]
Now, the embodiments of the present invention have been described so far, but the present invention may be implemented in various different embodiments other than the above-described embodiments within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims.

Further, among the processes described in the embodiments, all or part of the processes described as being automatically performed can be manually performed, or all or part of the processes described as being manually performed can be automatically performed by a known method.

In addition, the processing procedures, control procedures, specific names, registration data of each process, information including parameters such as search conditions, screen examples, and database configurations shown in the above documents and drawings can be arbitrarily changed unless otherwise specified.

In addition, regarding the terminal device 100, the navigation server 200, the navigation device 400, the station device 600, and the in-vehicle device 700, each illustrated component is functionally conceptual and does not necessarily need to be physically configured as illustrated.

For example, the processing functions provided by each of the terminal device 100, the navigation server 200, the navigation device 400, the station device 600, and the in-vehicle device 700, particularly the processing functions performed by the control unit 102, the control unit 202, the control unit 402, the control unit 602, and the control unit 702, can be realized by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a program interpreted and executed by the CPU, Alternatively, it can be implemented as hardware by wired logic. The program is recorded in a recording medium, which will be described later, and mechanically read by the terminal device 100, the navigation server 200, the navigation device 400, the station device 600, and the in-vehicle device 700 as necessary. That is, the storage unit 106, storage unit 206, storage unit 406, storage unit 606, storage unit 706, etc., such as a ROM or HDD (Hard Disk Drive), work together as an OS to provide commands to the CPU and store computer programs for performing various processes. This computer program is executed by being loaded into the RAM and constitutes a control section in cooperation with the CPU.

Also, this computer program may be stored in an application program server connected to terminal device 100, navigation server 200, navigation device 400, station device 600, and in-vehicle device 700 via arbitrary network 300, and all or part of it may be downloaded as necessary.

Moreover, the program according to the present invention may be stored in a computer-readable recording medium, or may be configured as a program product. Here, this "recording medium" includes memory cards, USB memories, SD cards, flexible disks, magneto-optical disks, ROMs, EPROMs, EEPROMs (registered trademark), CD-ROMs, MOs, DVDs, and any "portable physical media" such as Blu-ray (registered trademark) Discs.

A "program" is a data processing method written in any language or writing method, regardless of the format such as source code or binary code. Note that the "program" is not necessarily limited to a single component, but also includes a component distributed as multiple modules or libraries, and a component that achieves its function in cooperation with a separate program represented by an OS. It should be noted that well-known configurations and procedures can be used for the specific configuration for reading the recording medium in each device shown in the embodiments, the reading procedure, the installation procedure after reading, and the like.

Storage unit 106, storage unit 206, storage unit 406, storage unit 606, and various databases stored in storage unit 706 (route guidance information file 106a, network database 206a, station information database 206b, usage information database 206c, map database 206d, guidance database 206e, route guidance information database 206f, network database 406a, station information database 406b, usage information database 406c, map database 40 6d, guidance database 406e, route guidance information database 406f, and number information file 606a) are storage means such as memory devices such as RAM and ROM, fixed disk devices such as hard disks, flexible disks, and optical disks, and store various programs, tables, databases, and web page files used for various processes and website provision.

The navigation server 200 may be configured as an information processing device such as a known personal computer or workstation, or may be configured by connecting any peripheral device to the information processing device. Further, the navigation server 200 may be implemented by installing software (including programs, data, etc.) that causes the information processing device to implement the method of the present invention.

Furthermore, the specific form of distributing/integrating the devices is not limited to the illustrated one, and all or part of them can be functionally or physically distributed/integrated in arbitrary units according to various additions or functional loads. That is, the embodiments described above may be arbitrarily combined and implemented, or the embodiments may be selectively implemented.

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a navigation system, a terminal device, a navigation server, a navigation device, a navigation method, and a program capable of presenting an optimal route for rescuing an abandoned vehicle.

100 terminal device 102 control unit 102a current position information acquisition unit 102b route search condition transmission unit 102c route guidance information reception unit 102d route guidance information output unit 104 communication control interface unit 106 storage unit 106a route guidance information file 108 input/output control interface unit 112 position acquisition unit 114 display unit 116 input unit 118 voice output unit 2 00 navigation server 202 control unit 202a abandoned vehicle detection unit 202b virtual station registration unit 202c route search condition reception unit 202d route guidance information generation unit 202e candidate route search unit 202f station extraction unit 202g number information acquisition unit 202h route generation unit 202i route guidance information transmission unit 202j number information reception unit 202k number information storage unit 202m Position information receiving unit 202n Position information storage unit 202p Route guidance screen generation unit 202q Output control unit 202r Current position information acquisition unit 204 Communication control interface unit 206 Storage unit 206a Network database 206b Station information database 206c Usage information database 206d Map database 206e Guidance database 206f Route guidance information database 300 Network 400 Navigation device 402 control unit 402a current position information acquisition unit 402b abandoned vehicle detection unit 402c virtual station registration unit 402d route search condition setting unit 402e route guidance information generation unit 402f candidate route search unit 402g station extraction unit 402h number information acquisition unit 402i route generation unit 402j route guidance information output unit 402k number information reception unit 402 m number information storage unit 402n location information reception unit 402p location information storage unit 404 communication control interface unit 406 storage unit 406a network database 406b station information database 406c usage information database 406d map database 406e guidance database 406f route guidance information database 408 input/output control interface unit 412 position acquisition unit 414 display unit 416 input unit 418 voice output unit 500 position transmission device 600 station device 602 control unit 602a vehicle monitoring unit 602b number information transmission unit 604 communication control interface unit 606 storage unit 606a number information file 700 in-vehicle device 702 control unit 702a position information acquisition unit 702b position information transmission unit 702c movement information acquisition unit 704 communication control interface Section 706 Storage Section 708 Input/Output Control Interface Section 712 Position Acquisition Section

Claims (10)

abandoned vehicle detection means for detecting the rented vehicle as an abandoned vehicle when the rented vehicle is not returned to the station within the rental period, when the rented vehicle is not in the available area, or when the location of the rented vehicle does not change for a predetermined time or longer;
registration means for registering position information of the abandoned vehicle in a storage unit;
when the abandoned vehicle is returned to the station by a person other than the final user of the abandoned vehicle who returns the abandoned vehicle to the station, or when a user other than the final user logs in or applies to use the abandoned vehicle as a means of transportation, deleting means for deleting the position information of the abandoned vehicle from the storage unit ;
An information processing system comprising: In the information processing system according to claim 1 ,
Usage fee changing means for modifying a usage fee of the abandoned vehicle when the abandoned vehicle is used as the transportation means ;
An information processing system, further comprising: In the information processing system according to claim 2 ,
The above usage fee change means is
An information processing system, wherein when the abandoned vehicle is used as the means of transportation , the usage fee for the abandoned vehicle is waived. In the information processing system according to claim 1,
charge changing means for changing a charge for the abandoned vehicle based on information on the number of vehicles stopped at the station when the abandoned vehicle is returned to the station;
An information processing system, further comprising: the computer,
Abandoned vehicle detection means for detecting the rented vehicle as an abandoned vehicle when the rented vehicle is not returned to the station within the rental period, when the rented vehicle does not exist within the available area, or when the location of the rented vehicle does not change for a predetermined time or longer;
registration means for registering position information of the abandoned vehicle in a storage unit;
When the abandoned vehicle is returned to the station by a person other than the final user of the abandoned vehicle who returns the abandoned vehicle to the station, or when a user other than the final user logs in or applies for using the abandoned vehicle as a means of transportation, deleting means for deleting the position information of the abandoned vehicle from the storage unit ;
An information processing program characterized by functioning as An information processing system composed of a plurality of computers communicatively connected,
abandoned vehicle detection means for detecting the rented vehicle as an abandoned vehicle when the rented vehicle is not returned to the station within the rental period, when the rented vehicle is not in the available area, or when the location of the rented vehicle does not change for a predetermined time or longer;
registration means for registering position information of the abandoned vehicle in a storage unit;
when the abandoned vehicle is returned to the station by a person other than the final user of the abandoned vehicle who returns the abandoned vehicle to the station, or when a user other than the final user logs in or applies to use the abandoned vehicle as a means of transportation, deleting means for deleting the position information of the abandoned vehicle from the storage unit ;
Information processing program to function as An information processing program for causing the information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 to function by a plurality of computers communicatively connected. An information processing program for causing the information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 to function on a computer. abandoned vehicle detection means for detecting the rented vehicle as an abandoned vehicle when the rented vehicle is not returned to the station within the rental period, when the rented vehicle is not in the available area, or when the location of the rented vehicle does not change for a predetermined time or longer;
registration means for registering position information of the abandoned vehicle in a storage unit;
when the abandoned vehicle is returned to the station by a person other than the final user of the abandoned vehicle who returns the abandoned vehicle to the station, or when a user other than the final user logs in or applies to use the abandoned vehicle as a means of transportation, deleting means for deleting the position information of the abandoned vehicle from the storage unit ;
An information processing device comprising: an abandoned vehicle detecting means detecting the rented vehicle as an abandoned vehicle if the rented vehicle has not been returned to the station within the rental period, if the rented vehicle is not in the available area, or if the location of the rented vehicle has not changed for a predetermined period of time;
registering means for registering position information of the abandoned vehicle in a storage unit;
a step of deleting the position information of the abandoned vehicle from the storage unit when the abandoned vehicle is returned to the station by a person other than the final user of the abandoned vehicle who returns the abandoned vehicle to the station, or when a user other than the final user logs in or applies for using the abandoned vehicle as a means of transportation ;
An information processing method comprising: