JP7082338B2 - A method for supporting taxi dispatch and a taxi dispatch support system using it - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for supporting taxi dispatch and a taxi dispatch support system using the method, and more specifically, can predict the demand in a preset area and appropriately dispatch a taxi. , A method for supporting taxi dispatch and a taxi dispatch support system using the method.

Compared to railroads and airplanes, taxis do not require large-scale infrastructure equipment, and users can freely set their destinations regardless of the distance traveled. In modern society, taxis are one of the important means of transportation for the world including Japan.

In the transportation business of users using such taxis, for example, in Japan, there are a plurality of business methods called "waiting for a taxi", "wireless dispatch", "sink" and the like.

In particular, "sink taxi" refers to a business method in which a crew member searches for a user while traveling within a preset area (also referred to as a business area or business area). However, it has been pointed out that in the conventional sales method using a "sink taxi", the number of passengers per day is easily influenced by the experience and intuition of the crew. For this reason, many taxi crews may need a longer "sink" to increase the number of passengers on board.

On the other hand, with the long-time "sink", the increase in fuel for driving, the adverse effect on the environment due to the accompanying CO ₂ emission, the deterioration of the vehicle itself, the physical load on the crew due to long working hours, etc. It cannot be ignored. For this reason, taxi crews and taxi operators (for example, business entities engaged in taxi business) are desired to acquire more efficient users.

In addition, there were delays and suspensions of transportation such as railroads, buses, and aircraft due to disasters, accidents, etc., or around the venue when large-scale events such as sports competitions, concerts, festivals, and fireworks displays were held. Demand for taxis may temporarily increase around stations, stops, airports, etc. It is thought that the efficiency of taxi user acquisition will be further enhanced if information on such demand in the business area can be obtained at an early stage.

In order to improve the efficiency of acquiring users by such taxis, various techniques for forecasting the demand for taxis have been proposed.

For example, Patent Document 1 predicts the demand for vehicle allocation based on a storage means for storing a time zone and the increase / decrease in the population for each region in the time zone and the increase / decrease in the population for each region in the time zone at the time of vehicle allocation. A demand forecasting device including a demand forecasting means is disclosed.

However, the demand forecasting device described in Patent Document 1 is arranged for each taxi vehicle. For this reason, if there are multiple taxis equipped with the demand forecasting device in the same business area, a large number of taxis will be concentrated in a specific place based on the demand forecasting, and a certain number of users will be competing for each other. It could be. In addition, since such a demand forecasting device needs to make a forecast for each taxi to be installed, it must have an advanced information processing function for processing a large amount of information in a short time, while boarding. Considering space, it must be miniaturized.

Moreover, such a demand forecaster may increase the introduction cost for taxi operators. For this reason, taxi operators must be cautious about introducing the device, considering the balance between the introduction cost and the expected number of users.

For this reason, further technological development is desired to support the appropriate dispatch of taxis to areas where the demand of taxi users can be efficiently predicted and the demand is predicted.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-052455

The present invention has an object of solving the above-mentioned problem, and an object thereof is to provide predicted demand forecast information of taxi users without introducing a large-scale device for a running taxi. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for supporting taxi dispatch and a taxi dispatch support system using the method, which can appropriately dispatch a taxi based on the above.

The present invention is a method for supporting the dispatch of taxis.
(A) A process of receiving individual driving information from a plurality of taxis existing in a predetermined business area by the management server unit;
(B) A process of creating demand forecast information for taxi users in the business area using external environmental information in the management server unit;
(C) A step of creating optimized demand forecast information by performing optimization calculation based on the demand forecast information and the individual driving information in the management server unit;
(D) A step of transmitting the optimized demand forecast information to in-vehicle units attached to the plurality of taxis existing in the business area;
(E) A step in which the plurality of taxis in the business area send and receive the individual driving information to and from each other as other taxi driving information via the in-vehicle unit; and (f) the plurality of taxis in the in-vehicle unit. , The process of updating the individual driving information based on the optimized demand forecast information and the other taxi driving information;
Is a method that includes.

In one embodiment, the individual travel information is at least one information selected from the group consisting of taxi position information, travel speed, travel direction, and boarding or empty vehicle information.

In one embodiment, the external environmental information includes the total number of operating taxis existing in the business area, the vacancy rate of taxis existing in the business area, the date, day, time, and past rides in the business area. At least one piece of information selected from the group consisting of performance information, weather, traffic information, public transport operation information, and event information in the business area.

In one embodiment, the demand forecast information created in the step (b) is
(B1) The individual driving information from the plurality of taxis and the external environment information are transmitted from the management server unit to the upper management server unit.
(B2) In the upper management server unit, the external environment information, other external environment information obtained from one or more other business areas, and the upper external environment information are used to use the business area and the one. Or create combined area demand forecast information in the combined area with multiple other business areas,
(B3) The combined area demand forecast information, the individual driving information from the plurality of taxis, and other individual driving information from the other plurality of taxis obtained from the one or more other business areas. It is obtained by performing an optimization calculation based on Information.

In one embodiment, the optimized demand forecast information created in the step (c) is the optimized demand forecast information at a predetermined time.
The number of empty taxis existing in one of the area cells divided into multiple areas from the above business area, and
The number of actual taxis existing in the one area cell, the number of taxis vacant within a predetermined time in the one area cell, and
The number of taxis moving from one area cell to another adjacent area cell,
The number of taxis moving from the adjacent other area cell to the one area cell, and
It is information calculated from the actual number of taxi users existing in the one area cell for each taxi.

In one embodiment, the optimized demand forecast information created in the step (c) is the optimized demand forecast information at a predetermined time.
The actual number of taxi users in the section from one intersection to the next intersection, which is located in the direction of travel of the road on which each taxi runs in the above business area, and the actual number of taxi users per taxi.
The estimated passage time of the taxi in the section from the intersection to the next intersection, and
It is the information calculated from.

The present invention is also a system for supporting the dispatch of a plurality of taxis existing in a predetermined business area.
The management server unit, and the in-vehicle unit attached to each of the multiple taxis,
Equipped with
The management server unit is:
A support-side communication module that receives individual driving information from a plurality of taxis existing in a predetermined business area and transmits optimized demand forecast information to the plurality of taxis.
A database means for storing external environmental information related to the business area; and the external environmental information is used to create demand forecast information for taxi users in the business area, and the demand forecast information and the plurality of taxis. A calculation means that creates optimized demand forecast information by optimization calculation based on the individual driving information;
And the in-vehicle unit is:
It transmits its own driving information to the management server unit and the plurality of taxis as the individual driving information, receives the optimized demand forecast information from the management server unit, and receives the optimized demand forecast information from the plurality of taxis. An in-vehicle communication module that receives the individual driving information from another taxi among the individual driving information;
An in-vehicle database means for storing the optimized demand forecast information and the individual driving information from the other taxi;
A driving information updating means that updates its own driving information based on the optimized demand forecast information and the individual driving information from the other taxi; and the optimized demand forecast information, the said from the other taxi. A display that displays individual driving information and its own driving information;
It is a system equipped with.

In one embodiment, the individual travel information is at least one information selected from the group consisting of taxi position information, travel speed, travel direction, and boarding or empty vehicle information.

In one embodiment, the external environmental information includes the total number of operating taxis existing in the business area, the vacancy rate of taxis existing in the business area, the date, day, time, and past rides in the business area. At least one piece of information selected from the group consisting of performance information, weather, traffic information, public transport operation information, and event information in the business area.

In one embodiment, the system of the invention further comprises a higher management server unit.
The higher management server unit is:
The management server unit receives the individual driving information and the external environment information from the plurality of taxis existing in the business area, and provides the management server unit with higher-level optimized demand forecast information. Upper support side communication module to be transmitted as optimized demand forecast information;
A higher-level database means that stores higher-level external environmental information rewritable by external information in the area of connection between the business area and one or more other business areas; as well as the external environmental information, one or more other businesses. Using other external environmental information obtained from the region and the higher external environment information, the combined region demand forecast information in the combined region is created, and the combined region demand forecast information, the individual from the plurality of taxis. The optimization calculation is performed based on the driving information of the above and other individual driving information from the other plurality of taxis obtained from the one or more other business areas, and the upper optimization demand forecast information is obtained. High-level calculation means to create;
To prepare for.

According to the present invention, it is possible to support the dispatch of taxis by providing the taxi crew with demand forecast information in the business area in response to changes in demand of taxi users in the business area over time. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce unnecessary "sinking" running of a taxi, so that the fuel required for running can be reduced, and the CO ₂ emissions associated therewith can also be reduced. Furthermore, it can contribute to improving the working environment of taxi crews.

It is a figure which shows an example of the taxi dispatch support system of this invention schematically. It is a figure which shows an example of the vehicle-mounted unit which constitutes the taxi dispatch support system of this invention shown in FIG. 1 schematically. It is a figure which shows the other example of the taxi dispatch support system of this invention schematically. It is a figure which shows still another example of the system of this invention schematically, and in order to centrally support the dispatch of a taxi in the combined area managed by a plurality of management server units by arranging the upper management server units. It is a figure shown in the example of the system of. It is a figure schematically showing still another example of the system of this invention, and is broader by arranging management server units of a plurality of (m) layers in the business area of a plurality of (n) locations. It is a figure which shows an example of the system for centrally performing the dispatch support of a taxi in a combined area.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the taxi dispatch support system of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the taxi dispatch support system 100 includes a management server unit 110 and an in-vehicle unit 152 attached to the taxi 150.

In the present invention, first, individual travel information from a plurality of taxis 150 existing in a predetermined business area 30 is received by the management server unit 110.

As used herein, the term "business area" is an area in which an organization that introduces the methods and / or systems of the present invention (eg, taxi operators, taxi business associations) conducts taxi business. When the group conducts a taxi business in a plurality of divided business areas, it may be, for example, each of the divided business areas or one business area in which they are integrated.

As used in this specification, the term "multiple taxis existing in a business area" means a taxi owned or managed by an organization in the business area, which is open, that is, an actual vehicle (when a taxi user is on board). In addition, it refers to a taxi (including the case where a taxi user is making a reservation for boarding) or a taxi that is empty (hereinafter, also referred to as "operating taxi"). For this reason, even if the taxi is owned or managed by a group in the business area, the taxi user gets off while the taxi user is boarding and traveling outside the business area during repair or breakdown, change of crew or break. Later, taxis on the way back to the business area from outside the business area will be excluded. In addition, multiple taxis existing in the business area are not only those running on the road (so-called "sink"), but also those waiting at the designated boarding area (so-called "waiting"), from the taxi support center. Includes any of the vehicles that are being dispatched by receiving communication (so-called "wireless vehicle dispatch").

The individual travel information from the taxi 150 is various information obtained from the taxi 150 in the business area 30. As individual driving information, for example, the position information (geographical position information) of the taxi 150 obtained through GPS (Global Positioning System), the traveling speed, and the traveling direction (for example, traveling southward on a road extending from north to south). Information on boarding or vacant vehicles (for example, the taxi user is on the taxi, the taxi is being settled, the taxi user is not on the taxi but is being dispatched wirelessly, is vacant, etc.) ), Landing amount (sales) on the day, engine speed, fuel level, battery level, total mileage of taxi vehicle, outside temperature (temperature), outside humidity, inside temperature, inside humidity, and crew body temperature・ Blood pressure, heart rate, total time of boarding work on the day, and combinations thereof. In particular, the position information, traveling speed, traveling direction, and boarding or empty vehicle information of the taxi 150, and combinations thereof are preferable.

Such individual travel information from the taxi 150 is wirelessly communicated to the support side communication module 112 of the management server unit 110 by a method well known to those skilled in the art through an in-vehicle communication module described later provided in the in-vehicle unit 152 of the taxi 150. Ru. The management server unit 110 is usually installed in a place isolated from the taxi 150 (a business office, a branch office, a command center, etc. owned or controlled by a taxi operator and / or an organization).

In the system 100 of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, the management server unit 110 includes a support side communication module 112, a database means 114, and a calculation means 120. In the management server unit 110, the support side communication module 112, the database means 114, and the calculation means 120 are connected by telecommunication.

In the present invention, the individual travel information received by the support side communication module 112 is temporarily stored in the database means 114 in the management server unit 110.

The database means 114 is also telecommunicationsally connected to other database means 184 provided outside the management server unit 110 via the support side communication module 112, and is individually received by the support side communication module 112. In addition to the travel information of the above, external environmental information related to the business area 30 is stored in, for example, a rewritable format. Such external environmental information includes, for example, the total number of taxis owned or managed in the business area 30, the total number of operating taxis existing in the business area 30, the vacancy rate of taxis existing in the business area 30, and the business area 30. Taxi boarding rate, date, day, time, past boarding record information in the business area (past taxi user boarding record in the business area 30 (for example, boarding point and its date,) Day, time, and / or weather; drop-off point and its date, day, time, and / or weather), weather, traffic information in business area 30 (eg, traffic jam information, construction information, and accident information), business Operation information of public transportation (for example, railroads, buses, aircraft, and ships) in area 30, event information in business area 30 (for example, presence / absence of events such as sports competitions, concerts, festivals, fireworks displays, etc., and their mobilization. Number of people, holding time, end (estimated) time,), and combinations thereof. In particular, the total number of operating taxis existing in the business area 30, the vacancy rate of taxis existing in the business area 30, date, day, day. , Time, past boarding record information in the business area 30, weather, traffic information, public transportation operation information, event information in the business area 30, and combinations thereof are preferable.

In the present invention, the demand forecast information of the taxi user is created in the management server unit 110 by using the external environment information stored in the database means 114.

The creation of such demand forecast information is performed, for example, by the demand forecast unit 116 in the calculation means 120.

In one embodiment of the invention, the calculation means 120 is a computer. The demand forecast information of the taxi user is created by a computer program including a predetermined algorithm implemented in the computer functioning as the demand forecast unit 116.

Specifically, the demand forecast information is, for example:
A) It is not possible to board in the area cell (i) in the finite section from time t to time t + T for one area cell (i) among the area cells divided into a plurality of areas from the business area. The minimum number of taxi users is calculated based on the current and / or past external environmental information; or B) one of the area cells divided into multiple areas from the business area (i). ), The number obtained by maximizing the number of taxi users who can board in the area cell (i) in the finite section from time t to time t + T is the current and / or past external value. Calculated based on environmental information;
By doing so, it can be created for each divided area cell of the business area.

The demand forecast information created by the demand forecast unit 116 is created by using a combination of the current and / or past boarding record information, the current and / or past external environment information, etc. in the business area 30 as described above. It was done. A taxi crew may be able to acquire a new taxi user by obtaining the information and moving to a specific place (in a specific area cell) in the business area 30 based on the information. be. However, since such demand forecast information is information that can be commonly accepted by a plurality of taxis in the business area, which is found only from the above external environment information, the taxi crew determines it based on the demand forecast information. Even if the taxi is moved to the same location, the accuracy of the demand forecast will decrease because other taxis that receive the same demand forecast information in the same business area will acquire taxi users first. Can be considered.

Therefore, in the present invention, the accuracy of the demand forecast is further improved by "optimizing" the demand forecast information created above by using the individual driving information from a plurality of taxis existing in the business area. be able to.

That is, in the present invention, the optimized demand forecast information is created by performing the optimization calculation based on the demand forecast information and the individual driving information from a plurality of taxis existing in the business area in the management server unit 110. Will be done.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the optimization is performed by a computer program including a predetermined algorithm implemented in the calculation means 120 functioning as the optimization unit 118.

The optimization in the optimization unit 118 can be modeled using, for example, a mixed theory dynamical system known in the art. This can be done by applying model predictive control to find the optimal taxi movement distribution in a subregion (regional cell) that is configured by dividing the business area into multiple areas.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the optimized demand forecast information is obtained in a predetermined time (from t to t + T).
The number of empty taxis (x _i (k)) existing in one area cell (i) of the area cells divided into a plurality of areas from the business area,
The number of actual taxis existing in one area cell ( _i ) (si (k)), the number of taxis vacant within a predetermined time in one area cell ( _i ) (ei (k)), and
The number of taxis (ui _{, j} (k)) moving from one area cell (i) to another adjacent area cell (j),
The number of taxis (uj _{, i} (k)) moving from another adjacent area cell (j) to one area cell (i), and
This information is calculated from the actual number of taxi users (di (k + 1)) existing in one area cell ( _i ) in units of one taxi.

Specifically, using the above, the following taxi movement model can be constructed, and the finite section from time t to time t + T is optimized.

Here, in each of the above equations (1) to (7),
x _i (k) represents the number of empty taxis existing in one area cell (i) of the area cells divided into a plurality of areas from the business area.
s _i (k) represents the number of actual taxis existing in one area cell (i).
e _i (k) represents the number of taxis that will be vacant within a predetermined time in one area cell (i).
u _{i, j} (k) represents the number of taxis moving from one area cell (i) to another adjacent area cell (j).
u _{j, i} (k) represents the number of taxis moving from another adjacent area cell (j) to one area cell (i).
di ( _k + 1) represents the actual number of taxi users existing in one area cell (i) in units of one taxi.
pi ( _k ) represents the number of new taxi users existing in one area cell (i).
β _i represents the ratio of taxis that become empty from boarding in one area cell (i).
α _i represents the percentage of taxi users who can board in one area cell (i), and

Represents the total number of actual vehicles in one region cell (i) in the time interval [kk + 1].

It should be noted that such an optimization calculation method is known, for example, Hiromoto et al., "Formulation of the optimal taxi allocation problem by model prediction control", Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers, 2017, p. 113-116.

Alternatively, instead of the above, the following optimization calculation can be performed in the present invention.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the optimized demand forecast information is obtained in a predetermined time.
Actual taxi for each taxi in the section from the intersection (i) to the next intersection (j), which is located in the direction of travel of the road (l; feasible route) on which each taxi in the business area travels. Number of users ( _{ai, j} ) and
The estimated taxi transit time (ti _{, j} ) in the section from the intersection (i) to the next intersection (j), and
It is the information calculated from.

Specifically, the optimization is done as follows:

In this way, the optimized demand forecast information is created.

Next, in the present invention, the optimized demand forecast information obtained above is transmitted to the in-vehicle unit 152 attached to the plurality of taxis 150 existing in the business area 30.

In FIG. 1, the optimization demand forecast information created by the optimization unit 118 of the calculation means 120 exists in the business area 30 through the support side communication module 112 provided in the management server unit 110, preferably all. It is transmitted to the in-vehicle unit 152 of the taxi 150.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing an example of an in-vehicle unit constituting the taxi dispatch support system of the present invention.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the in-vehicle unit 152 includes an in-vehicle communication module 158, an in-vehicle database means 154, a traveling information updating means 160, and a display 162. In the vehicle-mounted unit 152, the vehicle-mounted communication module 158, the vehicle-mounted database means 154, the traveling information updating means 160, and the display 162 are connected by telecommunication.

The optimized demand forecast information transmitted from the support side communication module 112 provided in the management server unit 110 shown in FIG. 1 is the in-vehicle communication module 158 in the in-vehicle unit 152 provided in each taxi 150 shown in FIG. Is received and temporarily stored in the in-vehicle database means 154.

The in-vehicle database means 154 is also telecommunicationsally connected to another database means 184 provided outside the in-vehicle unit 152 via the in-vehicle communication module 158, and the above-mentioned optimization demand received from the support side communication module 112. In addition to the forecast information, the driving information of the taxi 150 itself (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "own driving information") and the driving information from other taxis existing in the business area (hereinafter "other taxi driving information"). Is remembered, for example, in a rewritable format. Here, "own driving information" and "other taxi driving information" are the same as the above "individual driving information".

In the present invention, the individual traveling information of the plurality of taxis 150 in the business area is transmitted to and received from each other as other taxi traveling information via the in-vehicle unit 152.

The transmission / reception is performed via the vehicle-mounted communication module 158 of the vehicle-mounted unit 152. As a result, the taxi 150 in the business area runs another taxi from another taxi in the business area together with the optimized demand forecast information obtained from the support side communication module 112 of the management server unit 110 shown in FIG. Information can also be obtained. The other taxi travel information received in this way is also temporarily stored in the vehicle-mounted database means 154 via the vehicle-mounted communication module 158.

The optimized demand forecast information and other taxi driving information temporarily stored in the in-vehicle database means 154 are displayed on the display 162 through, for example, the driving information updating means 160, and the taxi crew members visually check the optimized demand on the display 162. Along with the prediction information, it is possible to acquire driving information (for example, position, driving direction, boarding or empty vehicle information) of another taxi traveling in the business area. Alternatively, the optimized demand forecast information can be converted into audio information in place of or in addition to the display on the display 162 by means well known in the art, through an in-vehicle speaker (not shown). Can be communicated to taxi crew.

In the present invention, in the vehicle-mounted unit 152 of a plurality of taxis, individual traveling information is updated based on the optimized demand forecast information and other taxi traveling information.

Taxi crew members who are in contact with optimized demand forecast information and other taxi driving information can, for example, use this information to drive the taxi 150 by themselves in order to efficiently acquire taxi users. Etc. (that is, own driving information) can be changed. Alternatively, independently of the intention of the taxi crew, multiple taxis existing in the business area change their own driving information by autonomously cooperating with each other by means known to those skilled in the art. May be.

The traveling information updating means 160 shown in FIG. 2 is connected to other instruments (not shown) (not shown) in addition to the in-vehicle database means 154, for example, electrically or telecommunications. When the own traveling information is changed as described above, the information accompanying the change is transmitted to the traveling information updating means 160 through the in-vehicle database means 154 and / or the instruments. Examples of instruments are, but are not necessarily limited to, instruments provided on the taxi 150 itself (eg, speed meters, tacomometers, fuel gauges, battery meters, boarding / empty vehicle indicators, toll gauges, thermometers, and hygrometers). ), And various sensors worn by taxi crews (eg, body temperature sensors, blood pressure sensors, and heart rate sensors), and combinations thereof.

In this way, the travel information updating means 160 updates the individual travel information of the taxi 150. After that, the updated individual travel information of the taxi 150 is temporarily stored in the in-vehicle database means 154, and through the in-vehicle communication module 158, the management server unit 110 in the business area 30 shown in FIG. 1 and other in the area 30. Sent to taxi.

The vehicle-mounted unit 152 may be, for example, a mobile phone terminal, a smartphone, a tablet, or a car navigation vehicle-mounted device, as well as a unit specially provided for the taxi 150.

In addition, in the present invention, in consideration of the position of the taxi in the business area, the boarding / alighting situation of the taxi user, and the fluctuation of the demand of the taxi user, the above update is performed at regular time intervals. It is preferable to do it. The time interval for updating varies depending on the area of the target business area, the number of taxis existing in the business area, the scale and capacity of the management server unit, etc., and is not necessarily limited, but for example, several minutes. It is preferably set to 1 to 2 minutes.

In the system 100 of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, optimized demand forecast information is created by the management server unit 110 away from the taxi 150 for a plurality of taxi 150 existing in the business area 30. As a result, the taxi 150 in the business area 30 does not need to create its own demand forecast information, the load on the in-vehicle unit 152 of the taxi 150 can be reduced, and the in-vehicle unit 152 can be miniaturized. .. Further, the processing speed can be further increased by adopting a large-scale computer for the management server unit 110 as needed.

Although FIG. 1 describes a case where one management server unit 110 is provided for one business area 30, the present invention is not necessarily limited to such a configuration.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing another example of the taxi dispatch support system of the present invention.

The taxi dispatch support system 200 shown in FIG. 3 includes a management server unit 210 and in-vehicle units 152a, 152b, 152c attached to the taxi 150a, 150b, 150c, and exists in a plurality of business areas 30a, 30b, 30c. It is possible to support the dispatch of a plurality of taxis 150a, 150b, 150c for each business area 30a, 30b, 30c.

In the system 200 shown in FIG. 3, first, individual travel information from a plurality of taxis 150a, 150b, 150c existing in the predetermined business areas 30a, 30b, 30c is collected from the support side communication module 212 in the management server unit 210. Received through.

The individual travel information received by the support side communication module 212 is temporarily stored in the database means 214 in the management server unit 210.

On the other hand, the demand forecast unit 216 in the calculation means 220 creates demand forecast information for each of the business areas 30a, 30b, and 30c, for example, by using the external environment information obtained from the other database means 184. After that, for the demand forecast information created for each of the business areas 30a, 30b, 30c, the same optimization calculation as described above is performed for each of the business areas 30a, 30b, 30c in the optimization unit 218 in the calculation means 220.

The obtained optimized demand forecast information for each of the business areas 30a, 30b, and 30c can be obtained from the plurality of taxis 150a, 150b, which exist in the business areas 30a, 30b, 30c, respectively, through the support side communication module 212 of the management server unit 210. It is transmitted to the in-vehicle units 152a, 152b, 152c attached to the 150c, respectively.

After that, in the same manner as described above, the taxi crew members of the plurality of taxis 150a, 150b, 150c existing in the business areas 30a, 30b, 30c are referred to the optimized demand forecast information of each business area through the in-vehicle units 152a, 152b, 152c. And other taxi driving information existing in the same business area can be acquired. Then, the own traveling information updated based on these information can be transmitted to the management server unit 210 again through the vehicle-mounted units 152a, 152b, 152c.

In this way, the system 200 of the present invention can support the allocation of a plurality of taxis 152a, 152b, 152c in a plurality of business areas 30a, 30b, 30c.

As described above, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, one management server unit 210 is used to allocate a plurality of taxis 152a, 152b, 152c in a plurality of business areas 30a, 30b, 30c independently for each business area. Can support you.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing still another example of the taxi dispatch support system of the present invention.

The taxi dispatch support system 300 shown in FIG. 4 includes a higher-level management server unit 310 capable of integrating and managing these systems in addition to the systems 100a, 100b, and 100c similar to those in FIG. 1.

The upper management server unit 310 includes a higher support side communication module 312, a higher database means 314, and a higher calculation means 320. In the upper management server unit 310, the upper support side communication module 312, the upper database means 314, and the upper calculation means 320 are connected by telecommunication.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the individual travel information received by the support side communication modules 112a, 112b, 112c of the systems 100a, 100b, 100c is combined with the external environment information of the business areas 30a, 30b, 30c, respectively. It is once transmitted to the upper management server unit 310 through the support side communication modules 112a, 112b, 112c of each system, and temporarily stored in the upper database means 314 in the upper management server unit 310.

The upper database means 314 is telecommunicationsally connected to another database means 184 provided outside the upper management server unit 310 via the upper support side communication module 312, and is connected to the upper support side communication module 312. In addition to the above-mentioned individual driving information and external environmental information (for example, external environmental information obtained from the business area 30a and external environmental information obtained from each of the business areas 30b and 30c other than the business area 30a). Upper external environment information separately obtained from other database means 184 is stored, for example, in a rewritable format.

As the upper external environmental information, for example, the operation information of the business area expected in conjunction with the operation of public transportation in the area other than the business areas 30a, 30b, 30c (for example, the railway whose departure station is outside the business area). Departure delays cause delays in the arrival of the railway at arrival stations within the business area); weather information, event information, and traffic information such as traffic jams in areas other than the business areas 30a, 30b, 30c; And combinations thereof.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the taxi user's combined area demand forecast information in the combined area of the business areas 30a, 30b, and 30c is obtained in the upper calculation means 320 by using the external environment information and the upper external environment information. It is created by the upper demand forecasting unit 316. Here, in one embodiment of the present invention, the higher-level calculation means 320 is a computer, and for the combined region demand forecast information, a computer program including a predetermined algorithm implemented in the computer functions as the higher-level demand forecast unit 316. As a result, it is created in the same manner as above.

Next, the combined area demand forecast information created by the upper demand forecast unit 316 is optimized and calculated using individual driving information from a plurality of taxis 150a, 150b, 150c existing in the business areas 30a, 30b, 30c. By performing the above, the upper optimized demand forecast information is created. Here, in one embodiment of the present invention, this optimization calculation is performed by a computer program including a predetermined algorithm implemented in the upper-level calculation means 320 functioning as the upper-level optimization unit 318. The optimization calculation in the upper optimization unit 118 can be performed in the same manner as the calculation in the optimization unit 118 described in FIG. 1, for example.

After that, the obtained upper-level optimized demand forecast information is used for the support-side communication of the management server units 110a, 110b, 110c in the business areas 30a, 30b, 30c via the upper-level support side communication module 312 of the upper-level management server unit 310. It is transmitted to the modules 112a, 112b, 112c, respectively, and is handled as the demand forecast information of each management server unit 110a, 110b, 110c.

The demand forecast information created in this way is obtained by using the individual driving information of the taxis 150a, 150b, 150c existing in the business areas 30a, 30b, 30c in each management server unit 110a, 110b, 110c, respectively. The optimization calculation is performed in the same manner as in FIG. 1, and the optimized demand forecast information in each business area is created.

The obtained optimized demand forecast information for each business area 30a, 30b, 30c exists in each of the business areas 30a, 30b, 30c through the support side communication modules 112a, 112b, 112c of the management server units 110a, 110b, 110c. It is transmitted to the in-vehicle units 152a, 152b, 152c attached to the plurality of taxis 150a, 150b, 150c, respectively.

After that, in the same manner as described above, the taxi crew members of the plurality of taxis 150a, 150b, 150c existing in the business areas 30a, 30b, 30c are referred to the optimized demand forecast information of each business area through the in-vehicle units 152a, 152b, 152c. And other taxi driving information existing in the same business area can be acquired. Then, the own traveling information updated based on these information can be transmitted to the management server units 110a, 110b, 110c again through the vehicle-mounted units 152a, 152b, 152c.

In this way, the system 300 of the present invention can support the allocation of a plurality of taxis 152a, 152b, 152c in a plurality of business areas 30a, 30b, 30c.

As described above, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the management server units 110a, 110b, 110c corresponding to the plurality of business areas 30a, 30b, 30c are provided, and the upper management server unit 310 is provided above these. Has been done. Then, by providing the upper management server unit 310, information in a wider range than the system 100 shown in FIG. 1 (for example, with respect to the business area 30a, the external environment information of the business areas 30b and 30c and the higher level as described above. Demand forecast based on (external environment information) and optimization calculation using it can be performed. Further, it is possible to perform optimization that reflects the business form peculiar to each of the plurality of business areas 30a, 30b, and 30c. Here, "optimization that reflects a peculiar business form" means that in the optimization problem, a separate cost function setting and constraint conditions are added based on the reason peculiar to each of the plurality of business areas 30a, 30b, and 30c. This means that the optimized demand forecast information is created. For example, among the business areas 30a, 30b, and 30c, in the business areas 30a and 30b, the acquisition of taxi users is mainly performed by the taxi sink, whereas in the business area 30c, the taxi is not flown. It is assumed that it may be easier to acquire taxi users by waiting at a predetermined waiting place within 30c. In such a case, the optimization calculation in the business area 30c introduces a separate penalty for the variable related to the movement of the taxi, while the optimization calculation in the business areas 30a and 30b introduces such a penalty. There is something that cannot be done.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a case where a two-layer management server unit (management server units 110a, 110b, 110c and an upper management server unit 310) is used for three business areas 30a, 30b, and 30c will be described. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to such a configuration. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, in the system of the present invention, m-stage management server units are provided for n business areas 30 (1), 30 (2), ... 30 (n). You may.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide taxi user demand information (optimized demand forecast information) to taxi crew members with higher accuracy in response to changes in demand of taxi users over time in the business area. The taxi crew will also be provided with travel information on other taxis within the business area. As a result, taxi crews should consider both this optimized demand forecast information and the driving information of other taxis in the business area to dispatch their taxi to the place where the demand of taxi users is expected. It is possible to make a judgment. According to the present invention, the unnecessary "sinking" running of a taxi can be reduced, and the fuel required for running can be reduced. The present invention can also contribute to improving the working environment of taxi crews.

30,30a,30b,30c Business area 100,200,300,400 Taxi dispatch support system 110,210 Management server unit 112,212 Support side communication module 114,214 Database means 116,216 Demand forecasting unit 118,218 Optimization unit 120, 220 Calculation means 150, 150a, 150b, 150c Taxi 152, 152a, 152b, 152c In-vehicle unit 154 In-vehicle database means 158 In-vehicle communication module 160 Driving information update means 162 Display 184 Other database means 310 Upper management server unit 312 Upper support Side communication module 314 Upper database means 316 Upper demand forecasting unit 318 Upper optimization unit 320 Upper calculation means

Claims (5)

It ’s a way to help taxi dispatch,
(A) A process of receiving individual driving information from a plurality of taxis existing in a predetermined business area by the management server unit;
(B) A process of creating demand forecast information for taxi users in the business area using external environmental information in the management server unit;
(C) A step of creating optimized demand forecast information by performing optimization calculation using a dynamic system based on the demand forecast information and the individual driving information in the management server unit;
(D) A step of transmitting the optimized demand forecast information to in-vehicle units attached to the plurality of taxis existing in the business area;
(E) A step in which the plurality of taxis in the business area send and receive the individual driving information to and from each other as other taxi driving information via the in-vehicle unit; and (f) the plurality of taxis in the in-vehicle unit. , The process of updating the individual driving information based on the optimized demand forecast information and the other taxi driving information;
Including
The demand forecast information created in the step (b) is
(B1) The individual traveling information from the plurality of taxis and the external environment information are transmitted from the management server unit to the upper management server unit.
(B2) In the upper management server unit, the business area and the business are used by using the external environment information, other external environment information obtained from one or more other business areas, and the upper external environment information. Create combined area demand forecast information in the combined area with the one or more other business areas away from the area.
(B3) The combined area demand forecast information, the individual driving information from the plurality of taxis, and other individual driving information from the other plurality of taxis obtained from the one or more other business areas. Based on the above, the optimization calculation using the dynamic system is performed to create the upper optimization demand forecast information, and (b4) the upper optimization demand forecast information is transmitted from the upper management server unit to the management server unit. It is the information obtained by doing
The external environmental information includes the total number of operating taxis existing in the business area, the vacancy rate of taxis existing in the business area, the date, day of the week, time, past boarding record information in the business area, weather, and traffic. At least one piece of information selected from the group consisting of information, public transport operation information, and event information in the business area, and.
The upper external environmental information is expected to be linked to the operation of public transportation in an area other than the business area, the operation information of the business area, the weather information in the area other than the business area, and the area other than the business area. A method that is at least one piece of information selected from the group consisting of event information and traffic information in areas other than the business area . The method of claim 1, wherein the individual travel information is at least one piece of information selected from the group consisting of taxi position information, travel speed, travel direction, and boarding or empty vehicle information. The optimized demand forecast information created in the step (c) is in a predetermined time.
The number of empty taxis existing in one of the area cells divided into a plurality of areas from the business area, and
The number of actual taxis existing in the one area cell, the number of taxis vacant within a predetermined time in the one area cell, and
The number of taxis moving from one area cell to another adjacent area cell,
The number of taxis moving from the adjacent other area cell to the one area cell, and
The method according to claim 1 or 2 , which is information calculated from the actual number of taxi users for each taxi existing in the one area cell. It is a system to support the dispatch of multiple taxis existing in a predetermined business area.
Management server unit,
An in-vehicle unit attached to each of the plurality of taxis, and an upper management server unit,
Equipped with
The management server unit is:
A support-side communication module that receives individual driving information from a plurality of taxis existing in a predetermined business area and transmits optimized demand forecast information to the plurality of taxis.
A database means for storing external environmental information related to the business area; and the external environmental information is used to create demand forecast information for taxi users in the business area, and the demand forecast information and the plurality of taxis. A calculation means for creating optimized demand forecast information by optimization calculation using a dynamical system based on the individual driving information;
Equipped with
The in-vehicle unit is:
It transmits its own driving information to the management server unit and the plurality of taxis as the individual driving information, receives the optimized demand forecast information from the management server unit, and receives the optimized demand forecast information from the plurality of taxis. An in-vehicle communication module that receives the individual driving information from another taxi among the individual driving information;
An in-vehicle database means for storing the optimized demand forecast information and the individual driving information from the other taxi;
A driving information updating means that updates its own driving information based on the optimized demand forecast information and the individual driving information from the other taxi; and the optimized demand forecast information, the said from the other taxi. A display that displays individual driving information and its own driving information;
Equipped with
The higher management server unit is:
The management server unit receives the individual driving information and the external environment information from the plurality of taxis existing in the business area, and provides the management server unit with higher-level optimized demand forecast information. Upper support side communication module to be transmitted as optimized demand forecast information;
A higher-level database means that stores higher-level external environmental information rewritable by external information in the area of connection between the business area and one or more other business areas; as well as the external environmental information, one or more other businesses. Using other external environmental information obtained from the region and the higher external environment information, the combined region demand forecast information in the combined region is created, and the combined region demand forecast information, the individual from the plurality of taxis. Based on the driving information of the vehicle and other individual driving information from the other taxis obtained from the one or more other business areas, the optimization calculation using the dynamic system is performed to perform the upper optimum. High-level calculation method for creating demand forecast information;
Equipped with
The external environmental information includes the total number of operating taxis existing in the business area, the vacancy rate of taxis existing in the business area, the date, day of the week, time, past boarding record information in the business area, weather, and traffic. At least one piece of information selected from the group consisting of information, public transport operation information, and event information in the business area, and.
The upper external environmental information is expected to be linked to the operation of public transportation in an area other than the business area, the operation information of the business area, the weather information in the area other than the business area, and the area other than the business area. A system that is at least one piece of information selected from a group consisting of event information and traffic information in areas other than the business area . The system according to claim 4 , wherein the individual travel information is at least one information selected from the group consisting of taxi position information, travel speed, travel direction, and boarding or empty vehicle information.

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