JP7642034B2 - Vehicle operation support device, vehicle operation support system, terminal device, vehicle operation support method, and vehicle operation support program - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle operation support device, a vehicle operation support system, a terminal device, a vehicle, a vehicle operation support method, and a vehicle operation support program that support the operation of a vehicle whose operating route and operating time are predetermined.

For vehicles such as route buses and community buses, the operating hours and routes are generally determined in advance by a timetable. Similarly, for taxis, there may be pre-determined operation plans, such as the number of vehicles to be deployed at specific locations, such as in front of stations, during each time period. On the other hand, at bus stops with few users, it is possible that there may not actually be any passengers getting on or off, and in such cases, excessive vehicle operation will occur.

In Patent Document 1, a vehicle operation management system for providing services that provide both fixed-time, fixed-route operation and on-demand operation decides to perform on-demand operation, and when the user who has booked the on-demand operation allows carpooling, it suspends the fixed-time, fixed-route operation scheduled to operate in a time period close to the on-demand operation, thereby reducing the operation load.

JP 2020-52923 A

However, the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 targets a service that performs both scheduled and on-demand operation, and reduces the operating load by using the time difference between on-demand operation and scheduled operation. For this reason, the technology described in Patent Document 1 cannot be applied to services that do not assume on-demand operation.

The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above, and aims to provide a vehicle operation support device that can smoothly reserve vehicles with predetermined operating routes and operating times according to demand.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the objective, the vehicle operations support device disclosed herein is a vehicle operations support device that supports the operation of a vehicle whose operating route and operating times, including multiple stops to be passed through, are determined in advance as an operation plan, and includes a reservation information receiving unit that receives reservation information including a boarding stop, which is a stop where the vehicle will board, a disembarking stop, which is a stop where the vehicle will disembark, a desired boarding time, and the number of passengers, a reservation processing unit that performs reservation processing to determine a vehicle to be assigned to the reservation corresponding to the reservation information, and a reservation result sending unit that sends a reservation result, including information indicating the assigned vehicle and information indicating the departure time of the assigned vehicle from the boarding stop, to a terminal device that sent the reservation information, and the reservation information receiving unit further receives reservation information from the vehicle installation terminal based on input to a vehicle installation terminal installed in the vehicle from a user who has not made a vehicle reservation before boarding the vehicle .

The present disclosure has the effect of enabling smooth reservation of vehicles with predetermined operating routes and operating times according to demand.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a vehicle operation support system including a vehicle operation support device according to a first embodiment; FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an autonomous driving vehicle or a vehicle having a driving assistance function according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a route according to the first embodiment; A flowchart showing an example of a vehicle operation support processing procedure in the vehicle operation support device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of reservation information according to the first embodiment; FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of alternative route information according to the first embodiment; FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of vehicle operation information according to the first embodiment; FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a reservation result stored in a storage unit according to the first embodiment; A flowchart showing an example of a process for determining whether to use another route according to the first embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of display of an operation plan for a bus stop that is included in a regular operation route but not included in an alternative route in the first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of an operation plan in the display device of the first embodiment; FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a display example of an operation plan before change in the first embodiment; FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a display example of an operation plan after it has been changed to use a different route in the first embodiment; FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a display example in which the operation plan before the change is displayed together with the operation plan after the change shown in FIG. 13; FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen on which an operation plan according to the first embodiment is displayed together with a reservation result. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another example of display of reservation results in the first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a computer system that realizes a vehicle operation support device according to a first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a vehicle according to a first modified example of the first embodiment; A flowchart showing an example of a vehicle operation support processing procedure in a vehicle operation support device according to a second modification of the first embodiment. A flowchart showing an example of a reservation process procedure according to the second modification of the first embodiment. A flowchart showing an example of a process for determining whether or not to use another route according to the second modification of the first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a vehicle operation support system including a vehicle operation support device according to a second embodiment; A flowchart showing an example of a vehicle operation support processing procedure in a vehicle operation support device according to a second embodiment. A flowchart showing an example of a process for determining whether or not to use another operation time according to the second embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an operation plan displayed by the display device of the second embodiment; FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an operation plan displayed on a bus stop display device according to a second embodiment. A flowchart showing an example of a procedure for determining whether or not to use another operation time according to the first modification of the second embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of different time information according to the first modification of the second embodiment; FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an operation plan displayed by a bus stop display device in the first modification of the second embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a display of an operation plan displayed on a display device when an increase in the number of flights is combined with the first modification of the second embodiment; FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of displaying a shortened train interval in a first modified example of the second embodiment; FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of displaying a time period in which the operating time has been changed due to a shortened operating interval in the first modification of the second embodiment; FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of displaying a time period in which the operating hours have been changed due to an extension of the operating interval in the first modification of the second embodiment; FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another example of displaying a time period in which the operating time has been changed due to a shortened operating interval in the first modification of the second embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another example of displaying a time period in which the operating hours have been changed due to an extension of the operating interval in the first modification of the second embodiment. A flowchart showing an example of a vehicle operation support process procedure in a vehicle operation support device according to a second modification of the second embodiment. A flowchart showing an example of a process for determining whether or not to use another operation time according to the second modification of the second embodiment.

The vehicle operation support device, vehicle operation support system, terminal device, vehicle, vehicle operation support method, and vehicle operation support program according to the embodiments are described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1.
1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a vehicle operation support system including a vehicle operation support device according to a first embodiment. The vehicle operation support system 1 of this embodiment includes a vehicle operation support device 2 that supports the operation of a vehicle 6 whose operation route including a plurality of stops and operation time are determined in advance as an operation plan, and a display device 3 that displays the operation plan of the vehicle 6. The vehicle 6 of this embodiment is, for example, a route bus, a community bus, or a taxi whose boarding point and dispatch time period are determined, and is a vehicle whose operation route and operation time are determined in advance. Note that the vehicle 6 is a vehicle that travels on a road and does not include a railroad vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle operation support device 2 receives reservation information, which is information related to reserving the vehicle 6, from a bus stop terminal 4, which is a terminal device provided at a bus stop where the vehicle 6 can stop. Note that a bus stop is an example of a place where the vehicle 6 stops to board and disembark passengers, and any place where the vehicle 6 stops to board and disembark passengers may be used, and the name is not limited to a bus stop, and may be a place with another name, such as a boarding area or a boarding and disembarking location. The vehicle operation support system 1 may include the bus stop terminal 4 and the vehicle terminal 7.

The vehicle operation support device 2 redetermines the operation plan for the vehicle 6 using the reservation information received from the bus stop terminal 4 and a predetermined operation plan. The operation plan includes, for each vehicle 6, the arrival time at each stop and the departure time from each stop. Depending on the reservation situation, even if a redetermining is performed, the operation plan may not actually be updated from the predetermined operation plan, but this case is also referred to as redetermining. The vehicle operation support device 2 also redetermines the operation plan for the vehicle 6 using the reservation information, and transmits, as a reservation result, the identification number of the vehicle 6 corresponding to the reservation identification number, which is a number for identifying the reservation information, and the departure time of the vehicle 6 to the bus stop terminal 4 using the reservation information.

Here, an example will be described in which passengers need to make a reservation to board vehicle 6. Note that passengers who do not make a reservation may also be allowed to board, and an example including passengers who do not make a reservation will be described later. The vehicle operations support device 2 transmits operation plan related information including the operation plan after the update process to the display device 3. Furthermore, the vehicle operations support device 2 transmits the operation plan after the update process to the bus stop terminal 4 and the vehicle terminal 7, which is a terminal device installed in the vehicle 6. Furthermore, the vehicle operations support device 2 performs reservation processing using the reservation information, and transmits the reservation result to the bus stop terminal 4. The vehicle operations support device 2 may also receive location information indicating the current location of the vehicle 6 from the vehicle terminal 7 mounted on the vehicle 6, and transmit the received location information to the display device 3.

The display device 3 displays the operation plan and the like included in the operation plan related information received from the vehicle operation support device 2. The display method of the display device 3 will be described in detail later, but the display device 3 is provided in a location that is visible to the manager who manages the operation of the vehicle 6. By displaying information including the operation plan, the display device 3 can present various information related to the operation of the vehicle 6 to the manager of the operation of the vehicle 6. The display device 3 may also receive location information indicating the current location of the vehicle 6 from the vehicle operation support device 2 and display the received location information.

As described above, the bus stop terminal 4 is installed at a bus stop, for example, and accepts reservations for boarding the vehicle 6 from passengers who plan to board the vehicle 6, and transmits reservation information related to the accepted reservation to the vehicle operation support device 2. The bus stop terminal 4 also receives reservation results and operation plans from the vehicle operation support device 2, and transmits the received reservation information and operation plan to a display device 5 installed at a bus stop, for example. The display device 5 displays the reservation information and operation plan. Note that in FIG. 1, the display device 5 and the bus stop terminal 4 are separately installed, but the display device 5 and the bus stop terminal 4 may be integrated. Also, the bus stop terminal 4 may have a display unit, and the reservation information may be displayed by the display unit, and the operation plan may be transmitted from the bus stop terminal 4 to the display device 5 and displayed by the display device 5. Note that, although one bus stop terminal 4 is illustrated in FIG. 1, a bus stop terminal 4 is installed for each bus stop, so there are generally multiple bus stop terminals 4.

The vehicle 6 is equipped with a vehicle installation terminal 7, and the vehicle installation terminal 7 transmits the operation plan received from the vehicle operation support device 2 to the display device 9 mounted on the vehicle 6. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 6 is not an autonomous vehicle but a vehicle driven by a driver. An example in which an autonomous vehicle or a vehicle with a driving support function is used will be described later. The vehicle installation terminal 7 may also transmit position information indicating the position of the vehicle 6 to the vehicle operation support device 2. For example, the vehicle 6 is equipped with a position detection device such as a GPS receiver that performs GPS (Global Positioning System) positioning (not shown), and the vehicle installation terminal 7 acquires the position information of the vehicle 6 from the position detection device. The display device 9 displays the operation plan received from the vehicle operation support device 2. This allows the driver of the vehicle 6 to understand the operation plan. In addition, when the operation plan for the vehicle 6 on which the vehicle installation terminal 7 is mounted is updated and changed from the operation plan previously received from the vehicle operation support device 2, the vehicle installation terminal 7 may transmit the operation plan to the display device 9 together with information indicating that the operation plan has been changed.

When the display device 9 receives information indicating that the operation plan has been changed, it may display the changed portion in an emphasized manner or display a message indicating that the change has been made, thereby alerting the driver. This allows the driver of the vehicle 6 to know that the operation plan has been changed. The display device 9 may also be equipped with a device that generates voice or other sounds, and when it receives information indicating that the operation plan has been changed, it may notify the driver that the operation plan has been changed by sound. The display device 9 may also be equipped with a device that generates voice or other sounds separately from the display device 9, and the vehicle operation support device 2 may transmit information indicating that the operation plan has been changed to the device, and notify the driver that the operation plan has been changed by sound. This allows the driver and passengers to easily know that the operation plan has been changed.

In FIG. 1, the display device 9 and the vehicle-mounted terminal 7 are provided separately, but the display device 9 and the vehicle-mounted terminal 7 may be integrated. Also, in FIG. 1, one vehicle 6 is shown, but generally, multiple vehicles 6 are used for operation. There may be any number of vehicles 6.

Next, an example of the functional configuration of each device in this embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle operation support device 2 includes an operation plan determination unit 21, a reservation processing unit 22, an operation route redetermining unit 23, an operation plan redetermining unit 24, a memory unit 25, a reservation information receiving unit 26, a reservation result transmitting unit 27, an operation plan transmitting unit 28, a display information transmitting unit 29, and a position information receiving unit 30.

The operation plan determination unit 21 creates an operation plan including information indicating the first route, which is a regular operation route, and operation time, and stores the created operation plan in the storage unit 25. For example, the operation plan determination unit 21 determines the operation plan using a regular operation route (regular operation route) and operation time input by the manager. The manager determines the operation route and operation time based on, for example, the presence or absence of facilities and housing, and long-term usage conditions in the past, but the method of determining the operation route and operation time input to the operation plan determination unit 21 is not limited to this, and any method may be used. The operation route and operation time in the operation plan created by the operation plan determination unit 21 are predetermined operation routes and operation times, and do not take into account the reservation status or actual demand.

The reservation information receiving unit 26 receives reservation information from the bus stop terminal 4 and stores the received reservation information in the storage unit 25. The reservation processing unit 22 performs reservation processing to determine the vehicle 6 to be assigned to the reservation corresponding to the reservation information based on the reservation information. Specifically, the reservation processing unit 22 performs reservation processing to assign a vehicle 6 to the user who made the reservation using the reservation information stored in the storage unit 25 and the operation plan stored in the storage unit 25, and stores the reservation result in the storage unit 25. The reservation result includes information for identifying the corresponding reservation information and information indicating the assigned vehicle 6 and the departure time. The seat may or may not be specified. When the reservation result is stored in the storage unit 25, the reservation result sending unit 27 sends the reservation result to the bus stop terminal 4 that sent the corresponding reservation information.

The operation route redetermining unit 23 determines whether to use an alternative route that is a route different from the first route that does not include at least one of the stops included in the first route. Specifically, the operation route redetermining unit 23 determines whether to use an alternative route by using the reservation information stored in the memory unit 25 and the operation plan stored in the memory unit 25. The alternative route is determined in advance, and alternative route information indicating the alternative route is stored in the memory unit 25. The alternative route information is input by, for example, an administrator. Multiple alternative routes may be determined. When multiple alternative routes are determined, the operation route redetermining unit 23 determines whether to use an alternative route and, if an alternative route is used, which alternative route to use. The method of determining whether to use an alternative route will be described in detail later.

The operation plan redetermining unit 24 redetermines the operation plan of the vehicle based on the result determined by the operation route redetermining unit 23. Specifically, the operation plan redetermining unit 24 redetermines the operation plan using the result of the determination (judgment result) by the operation route redetermining unit 23 of whether or not to use a different route and the predetermined operation plan stored in the storage unit 25. If the operation plan is changed by the redetermining, the operation plan redetermining unit 24 updates the operation plan stored in the storage unit 25 with the redetermined operation plan, and also stores the operation plan before the update in the storage unit 25 as a pre-update operation plan. In this way, when an operation plan that is not a predetermined operation plan is used, the storage unit 25 stores the updated operation plan and the operation plan before the update as operation plans. Details of the redetermining of the operation plan by the operation plan redetermining unit 24 will be described later.

The operation plan transmission unit 28 transmits the operation plan stored in the memory unit 25 to the bus stop installation terminal 4 and the vehicle installation terminal 7. The operation plan transmission unit 28 may transmit the operation plan at regular intervals, or may transmit the operation plan each time the operation plan is updated. For example, the operation plan transmission unit 28 may transmit the updated operation plan stored in the memory unit 25 at regular intervals, or may transmit the updated operation plan and the predetermined operation plan. Alternatively, for example, when the operation plan determination unit 21 determines an operation plan, i.e., a predetermined operation plan, and stores it in the memory unit 25, the operation plan transmission unit 28 may transmit the operation plan to the bus stop installation terminal 4 and the vehicle installation terminal 7, and when the operation plan stored in the memory unit 25 is updated, i.e., when the operation plan is updated by the operation plan redetermining unit 24, the operation plan after the update may be transmitted to the bus stop installation terminal 4 and the vehicle installation terminal 7. At this time, the operation plan transmission unit 28 may also transmit the operation plan before the update to the bus stop installation terminal 4 and the vehicle installation terminal 7.

When the operation plan is updated, the operation plan transmission unit 28 may transmit the updated operation plan to the bus stop-installed terminal 4 installed at the bus stop corresponding to the change in the operation plan, and may not transmit the updated operation plan to the bus stop-installed terminal 4 installed at the bus stop that is not affected by the change in the operation plan. The operation plan transmission unit 28 may transmit the updated operation plan to the vehicle-installed terminal 7 mounted on the vehicle 6 whose operation plan has been changed, and may not transmit the updated operation plan to the vehicle-installed terminal 7 mounted on the vehicle 6 that is not affected by the change in the operation plan.

The location information receiving unit 30 receives location information of the vehicle 6 from the vehicle-mounted terminal 7 and passes the received location information to the display information transmitting unit 29.

The display information transmission unit 29 transmits operation plan related information including the operation plan stored in the memory unit 25 to the display device 3. When the operation plan is updated, the operation plan related information includes at least the updated operation plan. The operation plan related information may also include the updated operation plan and the operation plan before the update, i.e., the predetermined operation plan. Note that, in the first transmission of operation plan related information after the operation plan is determined by the operation plan determination unit 21, the operation plan related information includes the operation plan determined by the operation plan determination unit 21. Here, the operation plan related information further includes at least one of the reservation information and the reservation result, and the position information of the vehicle 6 received from the position information receiving unit 30.

The memory unit 25 stores the operation plan, alternative route information, reservation information, and reservation results described above. The memory unit 25 further stores vehicle information and vehicle operation information. The vehicle information includes information for each vehicle 6 indicating whether the vehicle 6 is in operation or waiting. The vehicle information may also include information indicating the waiting location of a waiting vehicle 6. The vehicle operation information includes the operation plan and seat usage status. Details of the information stored in the memory unit 25 will be described later.

The bus stop installation terminal 4 may be a reservation terminal provided at a bus stop where the vehicle 6 can stop. The bus stop installation terminal 4 includes a reservation reception unit 41, a reservation information transmission unit 42, a reservation result reception unit 43, an operation plan reception unit 44, and a display information transmission unit 45. The reservation reception unit 41 receives reservations from users who wish to use the vehicle 6. The reservation reception unit 41 receives reservation inputs that include at least the alighting stop, which is the stop where the user will alight. Information received by the reservation reception unit 41 includes, for example, the boarding stop, which is the stop where the user will board, the alighting stop, which is the stop where the user will alight, the desired boarding time, and the number of passengers. Note that the information received by the reservation reception unit 41 only needs to include information indicating at least the alighting stop, and other information may be automatically set by the bus stop installation terminal 4.

For example, the bus stop installation terminal 4 may set the boarding stop to the bus stop where the terminal itself is installed, the desired boarding time to the current time, i.e., the time when the input is accepted, and the number of passengers to one. When the number of passengers is fixed to one, a reservation is input for each passenger. The bus stop installation terminal 4 may display a screen to prompt the user to select either the method of specifying only the above-mentioned disembarking stop (the boarding stop, the desired boarding time, and the number of passengers are fixed) or the method of specifying all of the boarding stop, disembarking stop, the desired boarding time, and the number of passengers, and the reservation acceptance unit 41 may display a corresponding selection screen based on the selection result, so that the user can select the input method. When accepting the boarding stop, disembarking stop, the desired boarding time, and the number of passengers, the bus stop installation terminal 4 may display the boarding stop, the desired boarding time, and the number of passengers as default values, i.e., the bus stop installation terminal 4 is installed, the current time, and one person, respectively, and may make the displayed default values changeable so that the changed input can be accepted.

The reservation reception unit 41 outputs the received information, the reservation time, and information identifying the reservation to the reservation information transmission unit 42 as reservation information. The reservation time can be the time when an operation such as reservation confirmation is performed after the above-mentioned information input is completed, but is not limited to this as long as it indicates the time when the reservation is made. The information identifying the reservation is, for example, a reservation number represented by a numerical value. The reservation number may be a combination of a number and an alphabet. Hereinafter, the information identifying the reservation is called a reservation number, but the information identifying the reservation may include alphabets, hiragana, katakana, kanji, etc. There are no particular restrictions on the method of determination of the reservation number in the reservation reception unit 41 as long as it can determine the reservation number so that the reservation of each user can be distinguished. For example, the reservation reception unit 41 assigns reservation numbers in the order in which reservations are received within a unit period, starting from the smallest number, with a set period such as one day or one week as the unit period. In addition, the bus stop installation terminal 4 installed at each bus stop transmits the reservation information to the vehicle operation support device 2. For this reason, the reservation number may be determined so as not to overlap with the number received by the bus stop installation terminal 4 at another bus stop. For example, the reservation number may include characters indicating the bus stop where the input was received, or a range of numbers used as reservation numbers may be assigned to each bus stop so that they do not overlap. Also, the reservation numbers may be allowed to overlap between bus stops, and the vehicle operation support device 2 may identify the reservation by managing the reservation number together with information identifying the bus stop terminal 4 that sent the reservation information when the vehicle operation support device 2 receives the reservation information.

The reservation information transmission unit 42 adds at least the reservation time and reservation identification number to the reservation information received from the reservation reception unit 41, and transmits the reservation information including the disembarking stop, reservation identification number, boarding stop, and desired boarding time to the vehicle operations support device 2. The reservation information received from the reservation reception unit 41 is transmitted to the vehicle operations support device 2. The reservation information transmission unit 42 also outputs the reservation information to the display information transmission unit 45.

The reservation result receiving unit 43 receives reservation results from the vehicle operation support device 2 and outputs them to the display information transmitting unit 45. The operation plan receiving unit 44 receives an operation plan from the vehicle operation support device 2 and outputs them to the display information transmitting unit 45.

The display information transmitting unit 45 transmits to the display device 5 display information for displaying the reservation results received from the reservation result receiving unit 43 and the operation plan received from the operation plan receiving unit 44. That is, the display information transmitting unit 45 transmits display information for displaying the reservation results and transmits display information for displaying the re-determined operation plan received from the vehicle operation support device 2. The display device 5 displays the information received from the display information transmitting unit 45.

The vehicle-installed terminal 7 includes an operation plan receiving unit 71, a display information transmitting unit 72, and a position transmitting unit 73. The operation plan receiving unit 71 receives an operation plan from the vehicle operation support device 2 and outputs it to the display information transmitting unit 72. The position transmitting unit 73 acquires position information indicating the current position of the vehicle 6 and transmits it to the vehicle operation support device 2. The position transmitting unit 73 may transmit the position information at regular intervals, or may transmit the position information when the vehicle arrives at a specified location, such as transmitting the position information each time the vehicle arrives at a bus stop. The display information transmitting unit 72 transmits display information for displaying the operation plan to the display device 9. As described above, when the operation plan is updated, that is, when the operation plan is changed from the predetermined operation plan, the display information transmitting unit 72 notifies the display device 9 of information indicating the change, and the display device 9 may display an image emphasizing that the operation plan has been changed.

1 shows an example in which the vehicle 6 is driven by a driver, but if the vehicle 6 is an autonomous vehicle or a vehicle with a driving assistance function, the update of the operation plan is reflected in the autonomous driving or driving assistance function of the vehicle 6. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an autonomous vehicle or a vehicle with a driving assistance function in this embodiment. The vehicle 6a shown in FIG. 2 is an autonomous vehicle or a vehicle with a driving assistance function, and is equipped with a vehicle control device 7a. The vehicle control device 7a is equipped with an operation plan receiving unit 71, a display information transmitting unit 72, and a position transmitting unit 73 similar to the vehicle installation terminal 7 shown in FIG. 1, and is equipped with a vehicle control unit 74 that controls each device for driving (not shown) mounted on the vehicle 6a. The operation plan receiving unit 71 also outputs the operation plan received from the vehicle operation assistance device 2 to the vehicle control unit 74, but the operations of the operation plan receiving unit 71, the display information transmitting unit 72, and the position transmitting unit 73 are the same as those in the example shown in FIG. 1. The vehicle control unit 74 performs autonomous driving control or driving assistance control based on the operation plan received from the operation plan receiving unit 71. For example, the vehicle control unit 74 sets the operation route and operation time based on the operation plan and controls the equipment of the vehicle 6a.

As described above, in this embodiment, the vehicle operation support device 2 determines whether or not to use a second route, which is different from the first route and does not include some of the stops on the first route, based on the reservation information, for the vehicle's operation route. If it is determined that the second route is to be used, the vehicle operation plan is determined to use the second route instead of the first route. This makes it possible to change the vehicle operation plan according to the reservation situation, that is, according to the expected demand of the vehicle 6 whose operation route and operation time are predetermined, and to avoid excessive operation and reduce the operation load. Note that it is difficult to determine such an alternative route for a railway vehicle that runs on a railroad track, but since the vehicle 6 in this embodiment is a vehicle 6 that runs on a road, it is possible to determine an alternative route. In addition, in this embodiment, the alternative route is also predetermined, and the vehicle 6 is assumed to have a predetermined operation route and operation time, and demand operation that operates when requested by a user is not used in combination. In this embodiment, the operation load can be reduced in the operation service of the vehicle 6 with a predetermined operation route including the alternative route and a predetermined operation time.

Next, the route of operation in this embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram that shows a schematic example of the route of operation in this embodiment. In the example shown in FIG. 3, five bus stops, 200-1 to 200-5, are provided with corresponding bus stop-installed terminals 4-1 to 4-5 and display devices 5-1 to 5-5. Each of the bus stop-installed terminals 4-1 to 4-5 is the bus stop-installed terminal 4 shown in FIG. 1, and each of the display devices 5-1 to 5-5 is the display device 5 shown in FIG. 1. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the display device 5 is shown above the bus stop-installed terminal 4, but the bus stop-installed terminal 4 and the display device 5 may be separated as long as they are capable of communicating with each other, and the relative arrangement of the bus stop-installed terminal 4 and the display device 5 is not limited to this example.

The example shown in FIG. 3 illustrates vehicles 6-1 to 6-6, each of which is the vehicle 6 shown in FIG. 1, with vehicles 6-1 to 6-4 in operation and vehicles 6-5 and 6-6 waiting at a vehicle depot 201, which is a waiting location for vehicles 6. Note that FIG. 3 is a schematic example, and the number of vehicles 6 and the number of stops used are not limited to the example shown in FIG. 3. There may also be multiple vehicle depots 201. The operating route is not limited to the circular route shown in FIG. 3, and may be a route in which the starting stop and the ending stop are different.

The first route 202 shown by a solid line is a predetermined route determined by the operation plan determination unit 21, and the second route 203 shown by a dashed line is another route that does not include some of the stops that the first route 202 passes through. As shown in FIG. 3, the first route 202 is a route that, upon departure from the vehicle depot 201, stops are made in the order of stop 200-1, stop 200-2, stop 200-3, stop 200-4, stop 200-5, and stop 200-1. In the example shown in FIG. 3, since the first route 202 is a circular route, the vehicle 6 can stop at stop 200-1 after stop 200-5 and then travel on the first route 202 again. Note that the vehicle 6 can also head to the vehicle depot 201 after stop 200-5 without heading to stop 200-1. In the example shown in Figure 3, the train also travels in the reverse direction of the first route 202.

The second route 203 shown by the dashed line is a route that stops at stop 200-1, stop 200-2, stop 200-3, stop 200-5, and stop 200-1 in that order, and does not stop at stop 200-4. As shown in FIG. 3, the second route 203 is a shorter route than the first route 202, which does not pass through stop 200-4, unlike the first route 202 from stop 200-3. In this embodiment, the vehicle operation support device 2 uses the reservation information to change the operation plan so that the operation route of the vehicle 6 is changed from the first route 202 to the second route 203, which is a different route, when there are no users who plan to get on or off at stop 200-4. This reduces the operating load of the vehicle 6 and the energy consumed by the vehicle 6. In addition, by shortening the route, it is expected that delays caused by traffic congestion and other factors can be avoided or eliminated, resulting in more punctual service.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a vehicle operation support processing procedure in the vehicle operation support device 2 of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the vehicle operation support device 2 receives reservation information including the boarding stop and the disembarking stop (step S1). In detail, the reservation information receiving unit 26 receives the reservation information from the bus stop installation terminal 4. Note that in FIG. 4, step S1 is described before step S2, but the processing of step S1 is performed in parallel with the processing of steps S2 and after.

Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example of reservation information in this embodiment. As shown in Figure 5, the reservation information includes the boarding stop, the alighting stop, the desired boarding time, the number of passengers, the reservation time, and the reservation number. As described above, the alighting stop is input by the user to the bus stop installation terminal 4, and the boarding stop, the desired boarding time, and the number of passengers may be input automatically by the bus stop installation terminal 4 or may be input by the user. The reservation number is assigned by the bus stop installation terminal 4.

Reservations may be accepted from terminal devices other than the bus stop terminal 4. For example, the vehicle operation support device 2 or another device not shown in the figure may function as a web server, and the user may operate a terminal device such as a smartphone, tablet terminal, or personal computer managed by the user to access a corresponding web page to accept input of the boarding stop, disembarking stop, desired boarding time, and number of passengers. When the other device accepts input related to a reservation, the other device transmits the information received to the vehicle operation support device 2. Alternatively, a dedicated application may be installed on the terminal device, and the terminal device may accept input of the boarding stop, disembarking stop, desired boarding time, and number of passengers and transmit it to the vehicle operation support device 2. In these cases, the reservation number is assigned by the vehicle operation support device 2 or another device not shown in the figure.

Returning to the explanation of FIG. 4, after step S1, the vehicle operation support device 2 determines whether or not to use an alternative route based on the reservation information (step S2). Specifically, the operation route re-determination unit 23 determines whether or not to use an alternative route using the reservation information, alternative route information, and operation plan stored in the memory unit 25. Details of step S2 will be described later.

Next, the vehicle operation support device 2 determines an operation plan using the result of the decision on whether to use an alternative route and a predetermined operation plan (step S3). In detail, the operation plan redetermining unit 24 redetermines the operation plan using the result of the decision by the operation route redetermining unit 23 on whether to use an alternative route and the predetermined operation plan stored in the memory unit 25.

For example, when the operation route redetermining unit 23 determines not to use an alternative route, the operation plan redetermining unit 24 redetermines the operation plan by determining to use the predetermined operation plan stored in the storage unit 25 as the updated operation plan as is. When the operation route redetermining unit 23 determines to use an alternative route, the operation plan redetermining unit 24 redetermines the operation plan using the alternative route information stored in the storage unit 25. In detail, when the operation plan is changed by the redetermining, the operation plan redetermining unit 24 updates the operation plan stored in the storage unit 25 with the redetermined operation plan, and stores the operation plan before the update in the storage unit 25 as the pre-update operation plan. In this way, when an operation plan other than the predetermined operation plan is used, the storage unit 25 stores the updated operation plan and the operation plan before the update as the operation plan. The operation plan redetermining unit 24 also reflects the update of the operation plan in the vehicle operation information stored in the storage unit 25.

Figure 6 is a diagram showing an example of alternative route information in this embodiment. In the example shown in Figure 6, a regular operation route, which is a first route, and an alternative route, which is a second route, are stored as alternative route information. As shown in Figure 6, the alternative route information includes information indicating stops on each route. Also, "Stop 3 - Stop 5: 3 minutes" in the alternative route in Figure 6 is information indicating the required time for traveling a section of the alternative route that is different from the regular operation route. In this way, for a section in the alternative route information that passes through a route different from the regular operation route, as shown in Figure 6, the alternative route information may include the required time for that section, or the required time for a section that passes through a route different from the regular operation route may be managed separately from the alternative route information. Also, here, the alternative route information includes information indicating the regular operation route, but information indicating stops on the regular operation route may be stored in the storage unit 25 separately from the alternative route information, and the alternative route information may not include information indicating the regular operation route.

The operation plan redetermining unit 24 uses the alternative route information to change the operation time of at least a part of the section where the route is changed from the regular operation route by the alternative route. For example, the operation plan redetermining unit 24 may adjust the arrival time and departure time of all stops after the section that is changed by using the alternative route, or may adjust the arrival time of the stop immediately after the section that is changed and leave the departure time unchanged from the operation plan before the update, i.e., by adjusting the time so that the vehicle 6 waits at the stop, so that the departure time is not changed from the operation plan.

When the operation plan is updated in step S3, the operation plan transmission unit 28 of the vehicle operation support device 2 transmits the updated operation plan or the operation plan before and after the update to the vehicles 6 and the bus stop installation terminal 4. At this time, the operation plan transmission unit 28 may transmit the updated operation plan to all vehicles 6, or may transmit the updated operation plan of the vehicle 6 to the vehicle 6 whose operation schedule has been changed. The operation plan transmission unit 28 may also transmit the updated operation plan to all bus stop installation terminals 4, or may transmit information on the arrival time and departure time of the corresponding bus stop for each bus stop installation terminal 4. The operation plan transmission unit 28 may also transmit information on the arrival time and departure time of the corresponding bus stop only to the bus stop installation terminal 4 corresponding to the bus stop where at least one of the arrival time and the departure time has been changed.

Returning to the explanation of FIG. 4, after step S3, the vehicle operation support device 2 executes reservation processing based on the reservation information and the vehicle operation information (step S4). Specifically, the reservation processing unit 22 assigns a vehicle 6 to reservation information for which reservation processing has not been completed, using the reservation information and the vehicle operation information stored in the memory unit 25.

Figure 7 is a diagram showing an example of vehicle operation information in this embodiment. As shown in Figure 7, the vehicle operation information includes an operation plan and information indicating seat usage status. Note that in Figure 7, information on "vehicle 01", which is a vehicle 6 with an identification number of 01, is shown, but the vehicle operation information stores information indicating the corresponding operation plan and seat usage status for each vehicle 6. The seat usage status has a number of columns according to the number of seats in the vehicle 6, and if the corresponding seat is not reserved, each column is blank, and if the seat is reserved, the corresponding column is updated to "used". Note that the method of indicating whether each seat is vacant or reserved is not limited to the example shown in Figure 7. For example, whether a seat is vacant or reserved may be indicated by a numerical value of 0 or 1. Also, if a seat is not specified, the total number of seats in each vehicle 6 and the number of reserved seats may be indicated as the seat usage status.

The reservation processing unit 22 refers to the vehicle operation information and selects a vehicle 6 in operation suitable for the reservation information to be processed. For example, the reservation processing unit 22 refers to the boarding stop, alighting stop, the number of passengers, and the desired boarding time in the reservation information, and selects a vehicle 6 that has vacant seats for the number of passengers specified by the number of passengers and departs from the boarding stop at a time closest to the desired boarding time after the boarding time, among the vehicles 6 that run on a route that passes through the boarding stop and then the alighting stop. The reservation processing unit 22 changes the seat usage status of the selected vehicle 6 from the vehicle operation information to "used" for the number of passengers indicated in the reservation information to be processed. As a result, the reservation processing unit 22 determines the vehicle 6 corresponding to the reservation information, and stores the reservation result including the identification number of the determined vehicle 6 in the storage unit 25. Note that when the process shown in FIG. 4 is performed each time multiple reservation information is received, the reservation process of step S4 is performed in order from the reservation information with the earliest reservation time.

Figure 8 is a diagram showing an example of reservation results stored in the memory unit 25 of this embodiment. As shown in Figure 8, the reservation results stored in the memory unit 25 include the reservation time, vehicle identification number, boarding stop, boarding time, disembarking stop, and number of passengers for each reservation number. The reservation time, boarding stop, disembarking stop, and number of passengers are information included in the reservation information, the vehicle identification number is the identification number of the vehicle 6 assigned by the reservation process described above, and the boarding time is the time when the assigned vehicle 6 departs from the boarding stop. The reservation processing unit 22 uses the reservation information and the result of the reservation process to store this information in the memory unit 25 as a reservation result.

Returning to the explanation of FIG. 4, after step S4, the vehicle operation support device 2 transmits the reservation results (step S5). In detail, the reservation result transmission unit 27 transmits the reservation results stored in the memory unit 25 to the bus stop terminal 4 corresponding to each reservation number.

Next, the vehicle operation support device 2 transmits the operation plan related information (step S6) and ends the process. In detail, in step S6, the display information transmission unit 29 transmits the operation plan and reservation results stored in the memory unit 25 and the position information of the vehicle 6 received from the position information receiving unit 30 as operation plan related information to the display device 3. The operation plan related information is display information including the re-determined operation plan. Note that the position information receiving unit 30 may transmit the position information of the vehicle 6 separately from the operation plan and reservation results, for example, each time position information is received. In addition, the vehicle operation support device 2 may obtain road construction information, road congestion information, weather information, and the like from other devices (not shown) and include this information in the operation plan related information and transmit it to the display device 3.

Next, the above-mentioned step S2 of the process of determining whether or not to use an alternative route will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the process of determining whether or not to use an alternative route in this embodiment. The operation route redetermining unit 23 judges whether or not it is time to make a decision (step S11), and if it is not time to make a decision (step S11 No), ends the process. The decision timing is, for example, when the vehicle operation support device 2 receives reservation information, when a predetermined number of reservation information has been received, when a certain amount of time has passed, etc.

If it is the determination timing (step S11 Yes), the operation route redetermining unit 23 performs provisional reservation processing by provisionally determining a vehicle 6 for each reservation based on the vehicle operation information during operation and the reservation information (step S12). The vehicle operation information during operation means vehicle operation information including the currently used operation plan, and is the vehicle operation information before the reservation processing of step S4 based on the reservation information to be processed is performed. In detail, in step S12, the operation route redetermining unit 23 assigns a vehicle 6 to the reservation information to be processed using the vehicle operation information and reservation information stored in the storage unit 25, similar to the reservation processing of step S4 described above. However, this assignment result is not stored in the reservation result of the storage unit 25, but is held as temporary information in the storage unit 25. For example, the vehicle operation information is copied and temporarily stored in the storage unit 25 as provisional reservation information, and the operation route redetermining unit 23 assigns a vehicle 6 by updating the seat usage status in the provisional reservation information, and temporarily stores information similar to the reservation result in the reservation processing in the storage unit 25 as a provisional reservation result. The tentative reservation result is the result of the tentative reservation corresponding to the newly received reservation information. Note that, although the process of step S12 is performed by the route re-determination unit 23 here, the process of step S12 may also be performed by the reservation processing unit 22.

Next, the operation route redetermining unit 23 judges whether the disembarking stop includes a stop that is omitted on the alternative route (step S13). That is, the operation route redetermining unit 23 judges whether the disembarking stop included in the reservation is included among the stops that are omitted on the alternative route. In detail, for example, the operation route redetermining unit 23 uses the tentative reservation result and reservation result stored in the memory unit 25 and the alternative route information to judge whether there is a reservation number in which the disembarking stop is a stop that is omitted on the alternative route among the tentative reservation result and reservation result. Note that the processing from step S13 to step S16 is performed for each vehicle 6.

If the disembarking stop includes a stop that is omitted in the alternative route (step S13: Yes), the operation route redetermining unit 23 ends the process. If the disembarking stop does not include a stop that is omitted in the alternative route (step S13: No), the operation route redetermining unit 23 determines whether or not there is a boarding plan at a stop that is omitted in the alternative route (step S14). That is, the operation route redetermining unit 23 determines whether or not the boarding stop, which is the boarding stop included in the reservation, is included among the stops that are omitted in the alternative route. In detail, for example, the operation route redetermining unit 23 uses the tentative reservation result and reservation result stored in the memory unit 25 and the alternative route information to determine whether or not there is a reservation number in which the boarding stop is a stop that is omitted in the alternative route among the tentative reservation result and reservation result.

If there is a plan to board at a stop that is omitted in the alternative route (step S14: Yes), the operation route redetermining unit 23 ends the process. If there is no plan to board at a stop that is omitted in the alternative route (step S14: No), the operation route redetermining unit 23 determines whether the bus is full (step S15). In detail, for example, the operation route redetermining unit 23 determines whether the bus is full using the tentative reservation results and reservation results stored in the memory unit 25.

If the bus is not full (step S15: No), the operation route redetermining unit 23 ends the process. If the bus is full (step S15: Yes), the operation route redetermining unit 23 decides to use an alternative route (step S16) and ends the process. Note that if the process is to end without going through step S16, the operation route redetermining unit 23 decides not to use an alternative route.

As described above, the processes from step S13 to step S16 are performed for each vehicle 6, but the processes from step S13 to step S16 may be performed for all vehicles 6 that are operational on the day, or, for example, the processes from step S13 to step S16 may be performed for each vehicle 6 that will be in operation within a certain time from the present.

The process of step S15 may be omitted. In this case, after the process of determining whether to use an alternative route, reservation information for boarding or disembarking via the alternative route may be received. However, for example, the deadline for accepting reservations for boarding or disembarking from a stop that is omitted on the alternative route may be set to a certain time before the arrival time of the vehicle 6, and the process of determining whether to use an alternative route (the process of step S2) may be performed after the deadline, thereby omitting the process of step S15.

In this way, the operation route redetermining unit 23 performs a tentative reservation process that uses the reservation information and the operation plan to provisionally determine a vehicle 6 to be assigned to the reservation corresponding to the reservation information. Then, using the result of the tentative reservation process and the reservation result confirmed by the reservation process, if the operation route redetermining unit 23 determines that there is a vehicle 6 that is not assigned to a reservation in which a stop not included in the alternative route is the boarding stop and that is not assigned to a reservation in which a stop not included in the alternative route is the disembarking stop, it decides to use the alternative route for the operation of that vehicle. The reservation processing unit 22 performs reservation processing corresponding to the reservation information that was the subject of the tentative reservation process using the operation plan that reflects the result of this determination.

Next, an example of display of an operation plan at a stop that is included in the regular operation route but not included in the alternative route will be described. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of display of an operation plan at a stop that is included in the regular operation route but not included in the alternative route in this embodiment. The display device 5 installed at a stop that is included in the regular operation route but not included in the alternative route displays the operation plan received from the stop installation terminal 4 as a timetable, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, so that the bus whose stop is omitted by using the alternative route can be seen. In the example shown in FIG. 10, the predetermined operation plan is scheduled to stop at the stop corresponding to 9:15 on weekdays, but the process shown in FIG. 4 above has determined that the alternative route will be used and the stop at 9:15 has been omitted, and the omission is indicated by a cross. Note that the method of indicating that a stop has been omitted is not limited to the example in FIG. 10, and other methods may be used, such as displaying the time of the bus whose stop is omitted in a color different from the other numbers.

Next, a display example on the display device 3 will be described. The display device 3 displays the operation plan received from the vehicle operation support device 2. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of the operation plan on the display device 3 of this embodiment. The bus stop numbers 301 shown horizontally at the top of FIG. 11 indicate the numbers of bus stops that identify the bus stops. In FIG. 11, the number 4 surrounded by a rectangle is given a code, but the numbers 0 to 3 and 5 surrounded by similar rectangles also indicate the bus stop numbers. The vehicle identification number 302 in FIG. 11 indicates the identification number of the vehicle 6. The numbers such as 02 surrounded by other rectangles on the left side of FIG. 11 also indicate the vehicle identification number 302. The operation start time 303 shown to the right of the vehicle identification number 302 indicates the time when the corresponding bus starts operation in a state where boarding is possible at each starting stop. In addition, the time surrounded by a thick rectangle marked "now" indicates the current time.

Here, an example is shown in which the first route 202 and the second route 203 shown in FIG. 3 are used as a regular service route and an alternative route, respectively, with stop number 0 indicating the vehicle depot 201 and stop numbers 1 to 5 corresponding to stops 200-1 to 200-5, respectively. In this example, stop 200-1 is both the starting stop and the ending stop, and as shown in FIG. 11, after stop 200-4, the bus passes through stop 200-5 before arriving at stop 200-1.

Schedule 304 shows the operation plan for vehicle 6 with vehicle identification number 01, and schedules shown with dotted lines, like schedule 304, show schedules that have already finished operation. Lines connecting bus stops show movement between bus stops. Schedule 305 shows the operation plan for vehicle 6 with vehicle identification number 03, schedule 306 shows the operation plan for vehicle 6 with vehicle identification number 04, and schedule 307 shows the operation plan for vehicle 6 with vehicle identification number 06. Current position 308, shown as a rectangle, shows the current position of vehicle 6 with vehicle identification number 03. Current position 308 is above the current time, shown as now, and shows that vehicle 6 with vehicle identification number 03 is running behind the operation plan.

As shown in FIG. 11, vehicle 6 with vehicle identification number 03 is scheduled to run on first route 202 in FIG. 3 and is therefore scheduled to stop at all of stops 200-1 to 200-5, but vehicle 6 with vehicle identification number 04 is scheduled to run on second route 203 in FIG. 3 and therefore does not stop at stop 200-4. Note that in the example shown in FIG. 11, only the updated operation plan is shown for vehicle 6 with vehicle identification number 04 that is scheduled to run on second route 203, but the method of displaying the operation plan is not limited to this example.

12 to 14 are diagrams showing an example of a display method before and after a change in an operation plan. In order to make it easier to understand, only one of the operations shown in FIG. 11 is enlarged in FIG. 12 to 14. In this example, the first route 202 shown in FIG. 3 is used as a regular operation route, and the second route 203 shown in FIG. 3 is used as an alternative route. FIG. 12 shows an example of a display of an operation plan before the change in this embodiment, and FIG. 13 shows an example of a display of an operation plan 310 after the change to use an alternative route. FIG. 14 shows an example of a display that displays the operation plan before the change 311 together with the operation plan after the change 310 shown in FIG. 13. In this way, the display device 3 can display the re-determined operation plan of the vehicle 6 and the operation plan before the re-determination in a distinguishable manner. The display device 3 may display only the operation plan after the change as shown in FIG. 13, or may display the operation plan after the change together with the operation plan before the change as shown in FIG. 14.

The display device 3 may also display the reservation results together with the operation plan. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen that displays the operation plan of this embodiment together with the reservation results. The upper part of FIG. 15 shows the same operation plan as FIG. 11, and the lower part of FIG. 15 shows the reservation results 320. The numbers 1 to 5 enclosed in a rectangle at the top of the reservation results 320 indicate the numbers of the bus stops, and the vehicle identification number 321 indicates the identification number of the vehicle 6. The numbers written as the reservation order 322 are numbers indicating the reservation order. The reservation order indicates the order of reservation times. For example, the reservation order can be a number that is assigned so that the earlier the reservation time corresponding to each reservation number, the lower the number, and can be used as the number indicating the reservation order. This makes it possible to check whether the vehicle 6 that departs earlier after the desired boarding time is assigned in order of the earliest reservation time. For example, suppose that the reservation with reservation order number 001 and the reservation with reservation order number 006 are both reservations to board at bus stop 200-1 and disembark at bus stop 200-3, and the desired boarding time is the same for reservation with reservation order number 001 and reservation with reservation order number 006. In this case, as shown in FIG. 11, it can be seen from reservation order number 006 that reservation 001, which has a lower reservation order number, is assigned vehicle 6 with vehicle identification number 03, which departs before vehicle 6 with vehicle identification number 04, which is assigned to reservation order number 006. Note that the display device 3 may display the desired boarding time together with the reservation order, for example by listing the desired boarding time next to the reservation order.

16 is a diagram showing another display example of the reservation result of this embodiment. In the example shown in FIG. 16, as in the example shown in FIG. 15, the same operation plan as in FIG. 11 is displayed in the upper part, but the upper part is omitted in FIG. 16. In the lower part of the display screen, as shown in FIG. 16, the reservation result 323 is displayed. In the reservation result 323, the reservation order is indicated by the order of horizontal lines shown in the reservation order display area 324 instead of being indicated by numbers. The horizontal lines shown in the reservation order display area 324 indicate that the higher the line, the earlier the reservation order. The arrow shown as reservation 325 is connected to one horizontal line in the reservation order display area 324, and the corresponding reservation order is indicated by the top-bottom order in the reservation order display area 324 of the connected horizontal lines. In this way, by including information indicating the reservation order in the reservation result, the display device 3 can display information indicating the reservation order together with the reservation result. Note that the display method for displaying the reservation result together with the operation plan is not limited to the examples shown in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16.

Next, the hardware configuration of the vehicle operation support device 2 of this embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, a vehicle operation support program, which is a computer program that describes the processing in the vehicle operation support device 2, is executed on the computer system, so that the computer system functions as the vehicle operation support device 2. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a computer system that realizes the vehicle operation support device 2 of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 17, this computer system includes a control unit 101, an input unit 102, a memory unit 103, a display unit 104, a communication unit 105, and an output unit 106, which are connected via a system bus 107.

In FIG. 17, the control unit 101 is a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and executes a vehicle operation support program in which the processing in the vehicle operation support device 2 of this embodiment is described. The input unit 102 is composed of, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and is used by the user of the computer system to input various information. The storage unit 103 includes various memories such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a storage device such as a hard disk, and stores the program to be executed by the control unit 101, necessary data obtained in the process of processing, and the like. The storage unit 103 is also used as a temporary storage area for the program. The display unit 104 is composed of a display, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display Panel), and the like, and displays various screens to the user of the computer system. The communication unit 105 is a receiver and a transmitter that perform communication processing. The output unit 106 is a printer, a speaker, and the like. Note that FIG. 17 is an example, and the configuration of the computer system is not limited to the example of FIG. 17.

Here, an example of the operation of the computer system until the vehicle operation assistance program of this embodiment is in a state where it can be executed will be described. In the computer system having the above-mentioned configuration, for example, the vehicle operation assistance program is installed in the storage unit 103 from a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM set in a CD (Compact Disc)-ROM drive or DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)-ROM drive (not shown). Then, when the vehicle operation assistance program is executed, the vehicle operation assistance program read from the storage unit 103 is stored in the main memory area of the storage unit 103. In this state, the control unit 101 executes processing as the vehicle operation assistance device 2 of this embodiment according to the program stored in the storage unit 103.

In the above explanation, a program describing the processing in the vehicle operation support device 2 is provided on a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM as a recording medium, but this is not limiting. Depending on the configuration of the computer system and the capacity of the program to be provided, for example, a program provided via a transmission medium such as the Internet via the communication unit 105 may be used.

The operation plan determination unit 21, the reservation processing unit 22, the operation route redetermining unit 23, and the operation plan redetermining unit 24 shown in FIG. 1 are realized by the control unit 101 shown in FIG. 17 executing the vehicle operation support program stored in the storage unit 103 shown in FIG. 17. The storage unit 25 shown in FIG. 1 is part of the storage unit 103 shown in FIG. 17. The reservation information receiving unit 26, the reservation result transmitting unit 27, the operation plan transmitting unit 28, the display information transmitting unit 29, and the position information receiving unit 30 shown in FIG. 1 are realized by the communication unit 105 shown in FIG. 17. The vehicle operation support device 2 may be realized by multiple computer systems. For example, the vehicle operation support device 2 may be realized by a cloud computer system.

For example, the vehicle operation assistance program of this embodiment causes a vehicle operation assistance device 2 that supports the operation of a vehicle whose operation route including multiple stops and operation times are determined in advance as an operation plan to execute the steps of receiving reservation information including boarding stops and disembarking stops, determining whether to use an alternative route that is a route different from the predetermined operation route that does not include at least one of the stops included in the predetermined operation route based on the reservation information, and redetermining the vehicle operation plan based on the result of the determination of whether to use the alternative route.

The bus stop terminal 4 is also realized by the computer system illustrated in FIG. 17, similar to the vehicle operation support device 2. The computer system that realizes the bus stop terminal 4 does not need to include the display unit 104 and the output unit 106. The reservation acceptance unit 41 is realized by the control unit 101 and the input unit 102 shown in FIG. 17, and the reservation information transmission unit 42, the reservation result reception unit 43, the operation plan reception unit 44, and the display information transmission unit 45 are realized by the communication unit 105 shown in FIG. 17.

The vehicle-installed terminal 7 is also realized by the computer system illustrated in FIG. 17, similar to the vehicle operation support device 2. Note that the computer system that realizes the vehicle-installed terminal 7 does not need to include the display unit 104 and the output unit 106. The operation plan receiving unit 71, the display information transmitting unit 72, and the position transmitting unit 73 are realized by the communication unit 105 illustrated in FIG. 17.

Similarly to the vehicle operation support device 2, the vehicle control device 7a is also realized by the computer system exemplified in FIG. 17. Note that the computer system that realizes the vehicle control device 7a does not need to include the display unit 104 and the output unit 106. The vehicle control unit 74 is realized by the control unit 101 shown in FIG. 17 executing the vehicle control program stored in the memory unit 103 shown in FIG. 17. The operation plan receiving unit 71, the display information transmitting unit 72, and the position transmitting unit 73 are realized by the communication unit 105 shown in FIG. 17.

Display device 3, display device 5, and display device 9 shown in FIG. 1 are displays, but display device 3 may also be a computer system equipped with a display, such as the one shown in FIG. 17.

<Modification 1>
In the above example, it is assumed that a reservation is made before boarding the vehicle, but a user who has not made a reservation may be allowed to board the vehicle from a bus stop. In this case, the input of the alighting stop is accepted in the vehicle at the time of boarding or after boarding. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a vehicle in a first modified example of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 18, the vehicle 6b in this embodiment is equipped with a vehicle-installed terminal 7b instead of the vehicle-installed terminal 7 shown in FIG. 1, and is equipped with a reception device 10. The reception device 10 is an input device for inputting the alighting stop. When the reception device 10 accepts the input of the alighting stop, it transmits information indicating the alighting stop and the number of passengers to the vehicle-installed terminal 7b. When the reservation information transmission unit 75 of the vehicle-installed terminal 7b receives information indicating the alighting stop from the reception device 10, it transmits reservation information including the boarding stop, the alighting stop, the number of passengers, and the reservation time to the vehicle operation support device 2, with the boarding stop as the next stop and the desired boarding time and the reservation time as the current time.

The vehicle operation support device 2 constituting the vehicle operation support system 1a of the first modified example has a configuration similar to that of the vehicle operation support device 2 shown in FIG. 1, but differs from the example shown in FIG. 1 in that the reservation information received from the vehicle installation terminal 7b is also processed. The vehicle operation support system 1a includes a vehicle operation support device 2a and a display device 3. The vehicle operation support system 1a may further include a bus stop installation terminal 4 and a vehicle installation terminal 7b. The reservation information receiving unit 26 also receives reservation information from the vehicle installation terminal 7b and stores it in the storage unit 25. Note that, for the reservation information transmitted from the vehicle installation terminal 7b, reservation processing is not performed because the boarding has already been confirmed, but the reservation processing unit 22 reflects the contents of the reservation information in the reservation result. In addition, the reservation information transmitted from the vehicle installation terminal 7b is used to determine whether or not to use a different route, similar to the reservation information transmitted from the bus stop installation terminal 4. In addition, in the first modification, in order to prevent passengers who have reservations to board later from being unable to board due to passengers who have not made reservations boarding, the vehicle 6b that is scheduled to be full with reservations is operated so that users who have not made reservations cannot board, and only when the vehicle is not full including reservations, users who have not made reservations are allowed to board. In addition, in the reservation process, the entire capacity of the vehicle 6b may not be assigned to reservations, and some seats may be reserved for users who board without reservations. In addition, for users who board without reservations, a restriction may be set on the number of people who can board at one time. In the first modification, if a user who has not made a reservation plans to get off at a stop that is omitted on the alternative route, the corresponding vehicle 6b is not operated on the alternative route, and if a user who has not made a reservation plans to get off at a stop other than the stop that is omitted on the alternative route, the corresponding vehicle 6b is operated on the alternative route depending on the status of other reservations. In addition, the first modification may be applied to a vehicle having an automatic driving or driving assistance function shown in FIG. 2.

<Modification 2>
Next, the modified example 2 will be described. The configuration of each device in the modified example 2 is the same as that in FIG. 1. In the modified example 2, the timing of the reservation process and the determination of the alternative route is different from the process shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing an example of a vehicle operation support process procedure in the vehicle operation support device 2 in the modified example 2 of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 19, the vehicle operation support device 2 determines whether it is a timing to decide whether to use an alternative route (step S21). In detail, the operation route re-determination unit 23 determines whether it is a timing to decide, and if it is not a timing to decide (step S21 No), ends the process. The determination timing is, for example, when the vehicle operation support device 2 receives a predetermined number of reservation information, when a certain time has passed, etc.

If it is time to make a decision (step S21: Yes), the operation route redetermining unit 23 determines whether or not to use an alternative route (step S22). Details of step S22 will be described later. Next, step S3 and step S6 shown in FIG. 4 are performed, and the process ends.

Figure 20 is a flowchart showing an example of a reservation processing procedure of variant 2 of this embodiment. As shown in Figure 20, the vehicle operation support device 2 determines whether it is reservation processing timing (step S23), and ends the processing if it is not reservation processing timing (step S23 No). In detail, in step S23, the reservation processing unit 22 determines that it is reservation processing timing when reservation information is added to the memory unit 25 by receiving reservation information, or when a predetermined number of reservation information is added to the memory unit 25 by receiving reservation information.

If it is reservation processing time (step S23 Yes), the vehicle operation support device 2 executes reservation processing based on the unprocessed reservation information among the received reservation information and the latest vehicle operation information (step S24). In detail, the reservation processing unit 22 executes reservation processing similarly to step S4 of FIG. 4 using the vehicle operation information stored in the storage unit 25 and the unprocessed reservation information among the received reservation information. At this time, the vehicle operation information includes an operation plan updated based on the reservation results confirmed up to that point. Therefore, if the reservation information to be processed for reservation includes information indicating boarding or disembarking on a different route, a vehicle 6 will be assigned from among the vehicles 6 excluding the vehicles 6 that have already been determined to operate on a different route. After step S24, step S5 similar to FIG. 4 is performed, and the reservation processing is completed. Note that, when multiple reservation information is processed in step S24, the reservation processing unit 22 executes processing in order of the earliest reservation time.

Next, the above-mentioned step S22 of determining whether to use the alternative route will be described. FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing an example of the process of determining whether to use the alternative route in the second modification of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 21, the operation route redetermination unit 23 performs steps S13 to S16 for each vehicle 6, similar to the example shown in FIG. 9. However, in the first modification, the tentative reservation process is not performed. Therefore, in step S13, the operation route redetermination unit 23 uses the reservation results stored in the memory unit 25 and the alternative route information to determine whether there is a reservation number in the reservation results whose disembarking stop is a stop that is omitted in the alternative route. Similarly, in step S14, the operation route redetermination unit 23 uses the reservation results stored in the memory unit 25 and the alternative route information to determine whether there is a reservation number in the reservation results whose boarding stop is a stop that is omitted in the alternative route.

In this way, in the second modification, when the operation route redetermining unit 23 determines, using the reservation results confirmed by the reservation process, that there is a vehicle 6 that is not assigned to a reservation in which a stop not included in the alternative route is a boarding stop, and is not assigned to a reservation in which a stop not included in the alternative route is a disembarking stop, the operation route redetermining unit 23 determines to use the alternative route for the operation of the vehicle 6. When the procedure of the second modification is used, the same effect as the example shown in FIG. 9 can be achieved.

In addition, in the above-mentioned variants 1 and 2, reservations may also be accepted from a terminal device other than the bus stop installation terminal 4.

As described above, in this embodiment, the vehicle operations support device 2 determines, based on reservation information, whether to use a second route for the vehicle's operation route, which is different from a predetermined first route and does not include some of the stops passed through on the first route, and if it determines to use the second route, determines an operation plan that uses the second route instead of the first route. This makes it possible to change the vehicle operation plan according to the reservation situation, i.e., according to the expected demand for the vehicle 6, whose operation route and operation time are predetermined. Therefore, excessive operation can be avoided and the operation load can be suppressed.

Embodiment 2.
FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a vehicle operation support system including a vehicle operation support device according to the second embodiment. The vehicle operation support system 1b of this embodiment includes a vehicle operation support device 2a that supports the operation of the vehicle 6, and a display device 3 that displays the operation plan of the vehicle 6. The vehicle operation support system 1b may further include a bus stop terminal 4 and a vehicle terminal 7. The configurations of the bus stop terminal 4 and the vehicle 6 are similar to those of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1. Components having the same functions as those of the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment, and duplicated explanations are omitted. Below, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly explained.

As shown in FIG. 22, the vehicle operation support device 2a of this embodiment is similar to that of embodiment 1 except that it includes an operation time redetermination unit 23a and an operation plan redetermination unit 24a instead of the operation route redetermination unit 23 and the operation plan redetermination unit 24, and alternative time information is stored in the memory unit 25 instead of alternative route information.

Figure 23 is a flowchart showing an example of a vehicle operation support processing procedure in the vehicle operation support device 2a of this embodiment. Step S1 is the same as in embodiment 1. The vehicle operation support device 2a determines whether or not to use alternative operating hours based on the reservation information (step S31). Details of step S31 will be described later, but the operating time redetermining unit 23a determines whether or not to use alternative operating hours, and if alternative operating hours are used, also determines whether to increase or decrease the number of services.

After step S31, the vehicle operation support device 2a determines an operation plan using the result of the decision on whether or not to use the separate operation time and a predetermined operation plan (step S32). In detail, if the result is that the separate operation time will not be used, the operation plan redetermining unit 24a redetermines the operation plan using the result of the decision by the operation route redetermining unit 23 on whether or not to use the separate operation time and the predetermined operation plan stored in the memory unit 25.

For example, when the operation time redetermining unit 23a determines that a different operation time is not to be used, the operation plan redetermining unit 24a redetermines the operation plan by determining to use the predetermined operation plan stored in the storage unit 25 as the updated operation plan as is. When the operation time redetermining unit 23a determines that a different operation time is to be used and the number of flights is to be increased, the operation plan redetermining unit 24a uses the different time information stored in the storage unit 25. The different time information stores information indicating the time of the increase in the number of flights when the number of flights is increased due to a high occupancy rate of the corresponding flight for each flight in the regular operation plan. When the operation time redetermining unit 23a determines that a different operation time is to be used and the number of flights is to be reduced, the operation plan is redetermined so as to omit the target flight from the operation plan stored in the storage unit 25. When the operation plan is changed due to the redetermining, the operation time redetermining unit 23a updates the operation plan stored in the storage unit 25 with the redetermined operation plan, and stores the operation plan before the update in the storage unit 25 as the operation plan before the update. The operation plan redetermining unit 24 also reflects the update of the operation plan in the vehicle operation information stored in the storage unit 25. After step S32, steps S4 to S6 are performed in the same manner as in embodiment 1.

Next, the process of determining whether or not to use another operation time in step S31 described above will be described. FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing an example of the process of determining whether or not to use another operation time in this embodiment. The operation time redetermining unit 23a performs steps S11 and S12 in the same manner as in embodiment 1. After step S12, it is determined whether the occupancy rate of the vehicle 6 that arrives earliest after the desired boarding time is equal to or greater than the first threshold value (step S41). In detail, the operation time redetermining unit 23a refers to the operation plan stored in the memory unit 25 to find the vehicle 6 that arrives earliest after the desired boarding time in the reservation information tentatively reserved in step S12, refers to the vehicle operation information stored in the memory unit 25 to calculate the occupancy rate of the vehicle 6, and determines whether the calculated occupancy rate is equal to or greater than the first threshold value.

If the occupancy rate of the vehicle 6 that arrives earliest after the desired boarding time is equal to or greater than the first threshold (Yes in step S41), the operation time redetermining unit 23a determines whether or not there is an appropriate vehicle 6 (step S44). In detail, the operation time redetermining unit 23a, for example, refers to the vehicle information in the memory unit 25 and determines whether or not there is a vehicle 6 waiting at the vehicle depot 201 or another location after the operation time of the vehicle 6 that arrives earliest after the desired boarding time.

If there is an applicable vehicle 6 (step S44: Yes), the operation time redetermining unit 23a decides to use a different operation time (increased service) (step S45) and ends the process. If there is no applicable vehicle 6 (step S44: No), the operation time redetermining unit 23a ends the process.

If the occupancy rate of the vehicle 6 that arrives earliest after the desired boarding time is less than the first threshold (step S41 No), the operation time redetermining unit 23a judges whether the occupancy rate is equal to or less than the second threshold (step S42). That is, the operation time redetermining unit 23a judges whether the occupancy rate of the vehicle 6 that arrives earliest after the desired boarding time is equal to or less than the second threshold. The second threshold is smaller than the first threshold. If the occupancy rate is equal to or less than the second threshold (step S42 Yes), the operation time redetermining unit 23a decides to use a different operation time (reduced service) (step S43) and ends the process. If the occupancy rate is not equal to or less than the second threshold (step S42 No), the operation time redetermining unit 23a ends the process. If the process ends without going through either step S45 or step S43, the operation time redetermining unit 23a decides not to use a different operation time. Through the above processing, the operation time redetermining unit 23a can determine operation times so as to increase the number of services when vehicle 6 is expected to be crowded and reduce the number of services when vehicle 6 is expected to have few passengers. When vehicle 6 is expected to be crowded, it is expected that a user will be assigned a vehicle 6 that is much later than the desired boarding time. In such a case, by increasing the number of services, the user can use a vehicle 6 that operates as close as possible to the desired boarding time.

In addition, instead of step S41, the operation time redetermining unit 23a may determine whether the difference between the arrival time of the vehicle 6 that arrives earliest after the desired boarding time and the desired boarding time is greater than a threshold value. Alternatively, the operation time redetermining unit 23a may perform the processing of step S44 when at least one of the determinations in step S41 and the determination of whether the difference between the arrival time of the vehicle 6 that arrives earliest after the desired boarding time and the desired boarding time is greater than a threshold value is Yes.

In this way, when the operation time redetermining unit 23a decides to use a different operation time, it decides whether to increase or decrease the number of services based on the occupancy rate of the vehicle 6 based on the reservation information. In detail, the operation time redetermining unit 23a performs a provisional reservation process that provisionally determines the vehicle 6 to be assigned to the reservation corresponding to the reservation information using the reservation information and the operation plan, and calculates the occupancy rate using the result of the provisional reservation process and the reservation result confirmed by the reservation process.

Figure 25 is a diagram showing an example of an operation plan displayed by the display device 3 of this embodiment. In the example shown in Figure 25, stop number 301 and vehicle identification number 302 are shown, similar to the example shown in Figure 11. Figure 25 shows an example in which services have been reduced, and services between operation plan 331 of vehicle 6 with vehicle identification number 02 and operation plan 332 of vehicle 6 with vehicle identification number 04 have been omitted, so there is a larger gap between them compared to other times. Note that in this embodiment as well, the display device 3 can simultaneously display the operation plan and reservation results, similar to embodiment 1.

Figure 26 is a diagram showing an example of an operation plan displayed on the display device 5 of a bus stop in this embodiment. The example shown in Figure 26 shows an example in which the display device 5 displays a timetable, which is an operation plan for bus stop 200-1, which corresponds to the reduction in service in Figure 25. As shown in Figure 26, the service is reduced so that the service departing from bus stop 200-1 at 9:15 is omitted, so a cross is marked with the corresponding number. Also, in the example shown in Figure 26, the service has been increased between 10:00 and 10:30, so a 10:15 service has been added, and the corresponding number is circled. In this way, the display device 5 can display the operation plan in such a way that the operation plan that has been changed due to an increase or reduction in service can be identified.

<Modification 1>
Next, a first modified example of this embodiment will be described. The configuration of each device in the first modified example is the same as that in FIG. 22. In the first modified example, the process of determining whether or not to use another operation time differs from the process shown in FIG. 23. FIG. 27 is a flow chart showing an example of a procedure of a process of determining whether or not to use another operation time in the first modified example of this embodiment. Steps S11, S12, S41, and S42 are the same as the example shown in FIG. 24.

As shown in FIG. 27, if the answer to step S42 is Yes, the operation time redetermining unit 23a decides to use the alternative operation time (extended operation interval) (step S51) and ends the process. That is, the operation time redetermining unit 23a decides to use the alternative operation time and to extend the operation interval. Also, if the answer to step S41 is Yes, the operation time redetermining unit 23a decides to use the alternative operation time (shortened operation interval) (step S52) and ends the process. That is, the operation time redetermining unit 23a decides to use the alternative operation time and to shorten the operation interval. Thus, in the first modified example, if the operation time redetermining unit 23a decides to use the alternative operation time, it determines whether to shorten or extend the operation interval based on the vehicle occupancy rate based on the reservation information.

In the first modification, the other time information includes information indicating the operation interval when the operation interval is extended and when the operation time is extended for each interval of operation time in the predetermined operation plan. FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an example of the other time information in the first modification of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 28, the other time information includes information indicating the operation interval when the operation interval is shortened and when the operation interval is extended for each current operation interval, i.e., for each operation interval in the operation time in the predetermined operation plan.

In the first modification, when the operation time redetermining unit 23a determines to use a different operation time, the operation plan redetermining unit 24a updates the operation plan using the different time information to change the operation interval of the corresponding vehicle 6, i.e., the interval from the operation time of the previous vehicle. Note that when the operation interval is changed in this way, even if the operation interval of the next vehicle 6 to be operated is the same as the operation interval in the predetermined operation plan, the departure time itself will be shifted. In this case, the operation time redetermining unit 23a also reflects such changes in the departure time.

Figure 29 is a diagram showing an example of an operation plan displayed by the display device 5 of the bus stop in the first modified example of this embodiment. In the example shown in Figure 29, in the operation plan before the change, the interval between 9:00 and 10:00 is 15 minutes, and between 10:00 and 30 minutes, as in the example shown in Figure 26. In the example shown in Figure 29, the interval between the buses scheduled to depart at 9:15 in the operation plan before the change is shortened, and the interval between the buses in the 9:00 and 10:00 thereafter is 15 minutes, as in the operation plan before the change. In addition, the interval between the buses is extended from 30 minutes to 45 minutes from 9:55 to 10:40. In the example shown in Figure 29, the departure times that have been changed to shorten the interval are marked with an upward arrow, and the departure times that have been changed to extend the interval are marked with a downward arrow. This allows users to understand the buses whose intervals have been changed.

Note that variant 1 may be combined with an increase or decrease in the number of services. In other words, if the service interval is shortened, the number of vehicles 6 in operation may be increased, and if the service interval is extended, the number of vehicles 6 in operation may be decreased.

Figure 30 is a diagram showing an example of an operation plan displayed on the display device 3 when an increase in the number of services is combined with the first modified example of this embodiment. Current position 335 indicates the current position of vehicle 6. In the example shown in Figure 30, vehicle 6 with vehicle identification number 03 is increased in frequency and the service interval is shortened. In the example shown in Figure 30, vehicle 6 with vehicle identification number 03 moves from vehicle depot 201 corresponding to stop number 0 to stop 200-1 for operation as shown by movement 333. Service 330 shown in Figure 30 indicates an increased service. Thereafter, the service interval is returned to the original interval from service 336 onwards. Therefore, after the operation of service 330, vehicle 6 with vehicle identification number 03 returns to vehicle depot 201 as shown by movement 334. In this way, in order to understand that the vehicle has moved from vehicle depot 201 due to an increase in the number of services, in the example shown in Figure 30, the movement from vehicle depot 201 is shown with a line different from the line type indicating the movement due to operation. Similarly, movement back to the depot 201 due to reduced service is shown with a line type different from the line type indicating movement due to operation. Note that the method of displaying different lines is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 30, and any method may be used, such as changing the color, changing the thickness, or writing identifying letters nearby.

Figure 31 is a diagram showing an example of displaying a shortened interval between services in Variation 1 of this embodiment. As in Figure 30, current position 335 shows the current position of vehicle 6. In the example shown in Figure 31, services whose interval between services has been shortened are shown in change display area 337 with triangles, and services whose operating times will be changed as a result of the shortened interval between services are shown with circles. Services whose interval between services has been similarly extended may be shown with inverted triangles, and services whose operating times will be changed as a result of the extended interval between services may be shown with circles. In this way, display device 3 can distinguish between services whose interval between services has been shortened and extended, and services whose operating times have been changed as a result of these.

The display device 3 may also display time periods in which operation times have been changed due to shortened intervals between services so as to distinguish between time periods in which operation times have been changed due to extended intervals between services. Figure 32 is a diagram showing an example of the display of time periods in which operation times have been changed due to shortened intervals between services in Variation 1 of this embodiment. Figure 33 is a diagram showing an example of the display of time periods in which operation times have been changed due to extended intervals between services in Variation 1 of this embodiment. In the examples shown in Figures 32 and 33, services in which operation times have been changed due to shortened intervals between services are shown as triangles with their apex at the top, and services in which operation times have been changed due to extended intervals between services are shown as triangles with their apex at the bottom.

Figure 34 is a diagram showing another display example of a time period in which the operating time has been changed due to a shortened interval in Variation 1 of this embodiment. Figure 35 is a diagram showing another display example of a time period in which the operating time has been changed due to an extended interval in Variation 1 of this embodiment. In the examples shown in Figures 34 and 35, the time period in which the operating time has been changed due to a shortened interval and the time period in which the operating time has been changed due to an extended interval are shown by rectangles of different colors and thickness, and in the example shown in Figure 34, a thicker and darker rectangle than the example shown in Figure 35 is shown to the right of the vehicle identification number and time. Note that the figures showing the services in which the operating time has been changed due to a shortened interval and an extended interval are not limited to the examples shown in Figures 32 to 34, and any method may be used as long as the time period in which the operating time has been changed due to a shortened interval and the time period in which the operating time has been changed due to an extended interval can be displayed by a different display method.

In this way, the display device 3 can display time periods in which the operating time will change due to a shortened operating interval and time periods in which the operating time will change due to an extended operating interval in a manner that makes it easy to distinguish.

<Modification 2>
Next, the second modification will be described. The configuration of each device in the second modification of the present embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG. 22. In the second modification, the timing of the reservation process and the determination (determination) of the alternative operation time is different from the process shown in FIG. 23. FIG. 36 is a flowchart showing an example of a vehicle operation support process procedure in the vehicle operation support device 2a in the second modification of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 36, step S21 is performed in the same manner as in the second modification of the first embodiment. If the answer is Yes in step S21, the operation time redetermining unit 23a determines whether or not to use the alternative operation time (step S61). The details of step S61 will be described later. Next, the operation plan redetermining unit 24a determines an operation plan using the result of the determination of whether or not to use the alternative operation time and a predetermined operation plan (step S62). The process of step S62 is the same as the process of step S32. Thereafter, step S6 is performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and the process ends.

The reservation process shown in FIG. 20 is performed in the same manner as in Variation 2 of the first embodiment. Next, the process of determining whether or not to use another operating time in step S61 described above will be described. FIG. 37 is a flowchart showing an example of the process of determining whether or not to use another operating time in Variation 2 of the present embodiment.

The operation time redetermining unit 23a judges whether the occupancy rate of the vehicle 6 is equal to or greater than the first threshold (step S71). In detail, the operation time redetermining unit 23a refers to the reservation results stored in the storage unit 25 to obtain the occupancy rate of the vehicle 6, and judges whether the calculated occupancy rate is equal to or greater than the first threshold. If the occupancy rate of the vehicle 6 is equal to or greater than the first threshold (step S71 Yes), steps S44 and S45 are performed as in FIG. 24. If the occupancy rate of the vehicle 6 is less than the first threshold (step S71 No), the operation time redetermining unit 23a judges whether the occupancy rate of the vehicle 6 is equal to or less than the second threshold (step S72 Yes). If the occupancy rate of the vehicle 6 is equal to or less than the second threshold (step S72 Yes), step S43 is performed as in FIG. 24. If the occupancy rate of the vehicle 6 is greater than the second threshold (step S72 No), the operation time redetermining unit 23a ends the process.

In addition, by combining the first and second variations of this embodiment, the reservation process and the decision on whether to use a different operating time may be performed in parallel in the first variation as well, without making a tentative reservation. In addition, in this embodiment as well, a vehicle 6a similar to that shown in FIG. 2 of the first embodiment may be used. As in the first variation of the first embodiment, the vehicle may be equipped with a reception device 10 and a reservation information transmission unit 75 to allow a user to board without making a reservation. In addition, in the example shown in FIG. 22 of this embodiment and in the first and second variations, reservations may be accepted from a terminal device other than the bus stop terminal 4, as described in the first embodiment.

As described above, in this embodiment, a decision is made as to whether or not to use an alternative operating time different from the predetermined operating time based on reservation information, and if a decision is made to use the alternative operating time, the operation plan is redetermined using the alternative operating time. This makes it possible to change the vehicle operation plan according to the reservation situation, i.e., according to the expected demand for vehicle 6, whose operating route and operating time are predetermined.

The configurations shown in the above embodiments are merely examples, and may be combined with other known technologies, or the embodiments may be combined with each other. In addition, parts of the configurations may be omitted or modified without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1, 1a, 1b Vehicle operation support system, 2, 2a Vehicle operation support device, 3, 5, 9 Display device, 4 Bus stop terminal, 6, 6a, 6b Vehicle, 7, 7b Vehicle terminal, 7a Vehicle control device, 10 Reception device, 21 Operation plan determination unit, 22 Reservation processing unit, 23 Operation route redetermination unit, 23a Operation time redetermination unit, 24, 24a Operation plan redetermination unit, 25 Memory unit, 26 Reservation information reception unit, 27 Reservation result transmission unit, 28 Operation plan transmission unit, 29, 45, 72 Display information transmission unit, 30 Position information reception unit, 41 Reservation reception unit, 42, 75 Reservation information transmission unit, 43 Reservation result reception unit, 44, 71 Operation plan reception unit, 73 Position transmission unit, 74 Vehicle control unit.

Claims (18)

A vehicle operation support device that supports the operation of a vehicle whose operation route including a plurality of stops and operation time are determined in advance as an operation plan,
a reservation information receiving unit that receives reservation information including a boarding stop, which is the stop at which the passenger boards the bus, a disembarking stop, which is the stop at which the passenger disembarks, a desired boarding time, and a number of passengers;
a reservation processing unit that performs reservation processing to determine a vehicle to be assigned to a reservation corresponding to the reservation information;
a reservation result transmitting unit configured to transmit a reservation result including information indicating the assigned vehicle and information indicating a departure time of the assigned vehicle from the boarding stop to a terminal device that is a source of the reservation information;
Equipped with
The reservation information receiving unit further receives the reservation information based on an input to a vehicle installation terminal installed in the vehicle from a user who has not made a reservation for the vehicle before getting on the vehicle, from the vehicle installation terminal .
A vehicle operation support device comprising: A display information transmission unit that transmits the reservation result to a display device associated with the vehicle operation support device,
2. The vehicle operation support device according to claim 1 . The display information transmission unit further transmits at least one of road construction information, road congestion information, and weather information to the display device.
3. The vehicle operation support device according to claim 2. The reservation processing unit selects, based on the reservation information, as the vehicle to be assigned, a vehicle that has vacant seats for the number of passengers specified by the number of passengers and departs from the boarding stop at a time that is after the desired boarding time and closest to the desired boarding time, among the vehicles that run on a route that passes through the boarding stop and then the disembarking stop.
4. A vehicle operation support device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle operation support device is a vehicle operation support device. An operation plan transmission unit that transmits an operation plan of the vehicle to the terminal device,
5. A vehicle operation support device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle operation support device is a vehicle operation control device. The vehicle is an autonomous vehicle.
6. A vehicle operation support device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle operation support device is a vehicle operation support device. The terminal device includes a smartphone, tablet terminal, or personal computer managed by the user.
7. A vehicle operation support device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle operation support device is a vehicle operation control device. A vehicle operation support device that supports the operation of a vehicle whose operation route including a plurality of stops and operation time are determined in advance as an operation plan,
a reservation information receiving unit that receives reservation information including a boarding stop, which is the stop at which the passenger boards the bus, a disembarking stop, which is the stop at which the passenger disembarks, a desired boarding time, and a number of passengers;
a reservation processing unit that performs reservation processing to determine a vehicle to be assigned to a reservation corresponding to the reservation information;
a reservation result transmitting unit configured to transmit a reservation result including information indicating the assigned vehicle and information indicating a departure time of the assigned vehicle from the boarding stop to a terminal device that is a source of the reservation information;
a display information transmission unit that transmits the reservation result together with information indicating an order of the reservations to a display device associated with the vehicle operation support device;
Equipped with
A vehicle operation support device comprising: A vehicle operation support device that supports the operation of a vehicle whose operation route including a plurality of stops and operation times are determined in advance as an operation plan;
A display device associated with the vehicle operation support device;
A vehicle operation support system comprising:
The vehicle operation assistance device includes:
a reservation information receiving unit that receives reservation information including a boarding stop, which is the stop at which the passenger boards the bus, a disembarking stop, which is the stop at which the passenger disembarks, a desired boarding time, and a number of passengers;
a reservation processing unit that performs reservation processing to determine a vehicle to be assigned to a reservation corresponding to the reservation information;
a reservation result transmitting unit configured to transmit a reservation result including information indicating the assigned vehicle and information indicating a departure time of the assigned vehicle from the boarding stop to a terminal device that is a source of the reservation information;
Equipped with
The display device displays, based on the information received from the vehicle operation support device, information on the number of people expected to board and alight at each bus stop, a predetermined operation plan, and an operation plan redetermined based on the reservation information and the predetermined operation plan.
A vehicle operation support system comprising: A terminal device that transmits reservation information for a vehicle to a vehicle operation support device that supports the operation of a vehicle whose operation route including a plurality of stops and operation time are determined in advance as an operation plan,
The reservation information includes a boarding stop, which is the stop where the passenger boards the bus, a disembarking stop, which is the stop where the passenger disembarks, a desired boarding time, and a number of passengers.
The terminal device receives a reservation result from the vehicle operation support device, the reservation result including information indicating the vehicle assigned to the reservation corresponding to the reservation information determined by the vehicle operation support device and information indicating a departure time of the assigned vehicle, and displays display information including information indicating the assigned vehicle and the departure time of the assigned vehicle from the boarding stop based on the received reservation result, or transmits the display information to a display device;
When accepting the reservation of the vehicle, an input screen for designating only the alighting stop is displayed, or the input screen is displayed on the display device.
A terminal device comprising: The display information includes a vehicle operation plan.
The terminal device according to claim 10 . When the operation plan of the vehicle is changed, the display information includes the operation plans before and after the change.
13. The terminal device according to claim 11 . The terminal device is a bus stop terminal.
The terminal device according to any one of claims 10 to 12 , characterized in that The terminal device is a smartphone, tablet terminal, or personal computer managed by a user.
The terminal device according to any one of claims 10 to 12 , characterized in that A vehicle operation support method in a vehicle operation support device that supports the operation of a vehicle whose operation route including a plurality of stops and operation times are determined in advance as an operation plan, comprising:
receiving reservation information including a boarding stop, which is the stop at which the passenger boards the bus, a disembarking stop, which is the stop at which the passenger disembarks, a desired boarding time, and a number of passengers;
receiving, from a vehicle installation terminal installed in the vehicle, the reservation information based on an input from a user who has not made a reservation for the vehicle before boarding the vehicle to the vehicle installation terminal installed in the vehicle;
performing a reservation process for determining the vehicle to be assigned to the reservation corresponding to the reservation information;
transmitting a reservation result including information indicating the assigned vehicle and information indicating a departure time of the assigned vehicle from the boarding stop to a terminal device that is a transmission source of the reservation information;
Including,
A vehicle operation support method comprising: A vehicle operation support method in a vehicle operation support device that supports the operation of a vehicle whose operation route including a plurality of stops and operation time are determined in advance as an operation plan, comprising:
receiving reservation information including a boarding stop, which is the stop at which the passenger boards the bus, a disembarking stop, which is the stop at which the passenger disembarks, a desired boarding time, and a number of passengers;
performing a reservation process for determining the vehicle to be assigned to the reservation corresponding to the reservation information;
transmitting a reservation result including information indicating the assigned vehicle and information indicating a departure time of the assigned vehicle from the boarding stop to a terminal device that is a transmission source of the reservation information;
transmitting the reservation result together with information indicating the order of the reservations to a display device associated with the vehicle operation support device;
Including,
A vehicle operation support method comprising: A vehicle operation support device that supports the operation of a vehicle whose operation route including a plurality of stops and operation times are determined in advance as an operation plan,
receiving reservation information including a boarding stop, which is the stop at which the passenger boards the bus, a disembarking stop, which is the stop at which the passenger disembarks, a desired boarding time, and a number of passengers;
receiving, from a vehicle installation terminal installed in the vehicle, the reservation information based on an input from a user who has not made a reservation for the vehicle before boarding the vehicle to the vehicle installation terminal installed in the vehicle;
performing a reservation process for determining the vehicle to be assigned to the reservation corresponding to the reservation information;
transmitting a reservation result including information indicating the assigned vehicle and information indicating a departure time of the assigned vehicle from the boarding stop to a terminal device that is a transmission source of the reservation information;
A vehicle operation assistance program that causes a vehicle to execute the above steps. A vehicle operation support device that supports the operation of a vehicle whose operation route including a plurality of stops and operation times are determined in advance as an operation plan,
receiving reservation information including a boarding stop, which is the stop at which the passenger boards the bus, a disembarking stop, which is the stop at which the passenger disembarks, a desired boarding time, and a number of passengers;
performing a reservation process for determining the vehicle to be assigned to the reservation corresponding to the reservation information;
transmitting a reservation result including information indicating the assigned vehicle and information indicating a departure time of the assigned vehicle from the boarding stop to a terminal device that is a transmission source of the reservation information;
transmitting the reservation result together with information indicating the order of the reservations to a display device associated with the vehicle operation support device;
A vehicle operation assistance program that causes a vehicle to execute the above steps.

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