JP7683538B2 - vehicle - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to a vehicle in which a user boards and receives food and beverages from a delivery person at a delivery location along the vehicle's travel route.

Patent Document 1 discloses a delivery support device. This delivery support device provides support to reduce the workload associated with the delivery of a transaction item desired by an orderer.

JP 2021-174447 A

When a user uses a service that delivers food and beverages to a vehicle traveling toward a destination, it is expected that after arriving at a delivery location on the vehicle's travel route, the user will open a vehicle opening such as a door or window and exchange the food and beverages with the delivery person. Delivery of food and beverages in this manner needs to be carried out while appropriately ensuring the safety of the user.

This disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a vehicle that can appropriately ensure the safety of the user when receiving food and beverages from a delivery person while in the vehicle traveling to a destination.

The vehicle according to the present disclosure is a vehicle in which a user boards to receive food and beverages from a delivery person at a delivery location on the vehicle's travel route, and is equipped with a processor. After the vehicle arrives at the delivery location, the processor executes a process to prevent the opening of the vehicle opening for the delivery of the food and beverages while the delivery person is not being authenticated by a communication terminal operated by the user or an in-vehicle authentication device.

According to the vehicle disclosed herein, after the vehicle arrives at the delivery location, while the delivery person is not being authenticated by the communication terminal (user terminal) operated by the user or the in-vehicle authentication device, a process is executed to prevent the opening of the vehicle opening for the delivery of food and beverages. This prevents the user from carelessly opening the vehicle opening to receive food and beverages, so that the safety of the user can be appropriately ensured when receiving food and beverages from the delivery person inside the vehicle while traveling to the destination.

A diagram showing an example of the configuration of a food and beverage delivery system and a vehicle in an embodiment. 13 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when food and drink are handed over in the embodiment.

Below, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the attached drawings. However, when the number, quantity, amount, range, etc. of each element is mentioned in the embodiment described below, the technical idea of the present disclosure is not limited to the mentioned number unless it is specifically stated or clearly specified in principle.

1. Configuration Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a food and beverage delivery system 10 and a vehicle 60 according to an embodiment. The food and beverage delivery system 10 shown in Fig. 1 provides a service (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a "delivery service") of delivering food and beverage to a vehicle 60 moving toward a destination. The vehicle 60 is a vehicle in which a user who uses the delivery service rides, and is, for example, a four-wheeled automobile.

1-1. Food and Beverage Delivery System The food and beverage delivery system (hereinafter also simply referred to as the "system") 10 comprises a user terminal 20, a store terminal 30, a delivery person terminal 40, and a server 50 that manages the delivery service.

The user terminal 20 is a communication terminal operated by a user who uses the delivery service. The user terminal 20 is, for example, a smartphone or a tablet personal computer, and is equipped with a processor, a storage device, and a communication device. The user terminal 20 can also obtain location information of the user who possesses the user terminal 20 based on signals from GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) satellites. The user terminal 20 may be a communication terminal mounted on the vehicle 60 instead of being possessed by the user.

The store terminal 30 is operated by the supplier of the food and beverages related to the delivery service. The store terminal 30 is, for example, a personal computer, and is equipped with a processor, a storage device, and a communication device.

The delivery person terminal 40 is carried and operated by the delivery person who delivers the food and drink. The delivery person makes the delivery by a means of transportation such as a bicycle, a two-wheeled vehicle, or on foot. The delivery person terminal 40 is, for example, a smartphone, and is equipped with a processor, a storage device, and a communication device. Like the user terminal 20, the delivery person terminal 40 can obtain location information of the delivery person.

The server 50 is a computer that executes various processes related to the delivery service, as described below. Specifically, the server 50 includes a communication device 52, a processor 54, and a storage device 56. The server 50 (communication device 52) is connected to the user terminal 20, the store terminal 30, the deliveryman terminal 40, and a communication device 64 described below via a communication network 1, such as wireless communication. The processor 54 executes the various processes described above. The storage device 56 stores various information. Examples of the storage device 56 include a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, a HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and an SSD (Solid State Drive). The processor 54 executes various computer programs to realize various processes by the processor 54. The various programs are stored in the storage device 56 or recorded in a computer-readable recording medium. Note that there may be a plurality of processors 54 and storage devices 56.

The storage device 56 stores a database DB of various information related to the delivery service. The information in the database DB includes personal information identifying the user who uses the delivery service, information on the various restaurants corresponding to the delivery service (e.g., information on the restaurant's menu and store location), and information on the delivery staff (e.g., personal information identifying the delivery staff, such as their face and name, and information on the means of transportation for delivery (e.g., bicycle)). The information in the database DB also includes various information that forms the basis for generating the delivery route (e.g., various types of traffic information, such as road traffic information, and various types of map information, such as road maps).

Users, food and beverage suppliers, and delivery personnel can participate in the delivery service by installing a dedicated application on their respective terminals 20, 30, and 40 and completing registration for the delivery service.

To realize the delivery service described above, the server 50 is interposed between the user terminal 20, the store terminal 30, and the deliveryman terminal 40, and executes various processes related to the delivery service. Specifically, the server 50 accepts order information for food and drink from the user via the user terminal 20. The order information includes, for example, information indicating the order content (e.g., the name and quantity of the ordered food and drink) and information about the store that provides the food and drink, as well as location information of the current location and destination of the vehicle 60 and personal information of the user.

The server 50, which has received the order information, then generates a delivery plan for the food and beverages. The delivery plan is generated, for example, based on the current location information of the vehicle 60, the location information of the destination of the vehicle 60, the location information of the store, and the location information of the delivery person. The delivery plan includes, for example, a delivery route (route from the store to the delivery location P for the user (vehicle 60)) and a predicted delivery time of the delivery person to the delivery location P. The delivery location P is set, for example, as a location where roadside parking is possible on the driving route of the vehicle 60 to the destination. In addition, in generating the delivery plan, the server 50 extracts candidates for the delivery person in charge of this delivery from among delivery people who are present within a specified distance from a store that can provide the ordered food and beverages.

Next, the server 50 determines whether or not the food and drink can be delivered according to the generated delivery plan. This determination can be made, for example, by comparing the predicted passing time of the vehicle 60 with the predicted arrival time of the delivery person (predicted delivery time) for the pick-up location P included in the delivery plan. Specifically, for example, the result of the determination is positive if the predicted delivery time of the delivery person is earlier than or the same as the predicted passing time of the vehicle 60, and negative if not.

Then, the server 50 presents the user with a delivery plan (including the delivery location P) for which delivery is possible. As a result, when the user approves the presented delivery plan, the server 50 notifies the restaurant and the delivery person of the delivery plan and the details of the food and drink order. As a result, the restaurant starts preparing the food and drink. The delivery person then delivers the food and drink in accordance with the delivery plan.

The vehicle 60 includes an electronic control unit (ECU) 62, a communication device 64, a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver 66, an external sensor 68, an HMI (Human Machine Interface) device 70, an on-board authentication device 72, and a door lock device 74.

The ECU 62 is a computer that controls the vehicle 60. Specifically, the ECU 62 includes a processor 76 and a storage device 78. The processor 76 executes various processes, including the processes shown in FIG. 2 described below. The storage device 78 stores various information. Examples of the storage device 78 include a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, a hard disk drive (HDD), and a solid state drive (SSD). The ECU 62 (processor 76) executes various computer programs to realize various processes by the ECU 62. The various programs are stored in the storage device 78 or recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. There may be multiple ECUs 62.

The communication device 64 includes a processor and communicates with each of the user terminal 20 and the server 50 via the communication network 1. The communication between the communication device 64 and the user terminal 20 may be performed using short-range wireless communication. The GNSS receiver 66 acquires the position and orientation of the vehicle 60 based on signals from GNSS satellites. The external sensor 68 recognizes (detects) the situation around the vehicle 60, and examples of the external sensor 68 include a camera, a LIDAR (Laser Imaging Detection and Ranging), and a radar. The HMI device 70 includes, for example, a touch panel and a speaker. The on-board authentication device 72 includes an IC chip installed on the body of the vehicle 60 (for example, the center pillar on the side of the road). When the delivery person arrives at the delivery location P, he or she can authenticate himself or herself by holding the delivery person terminal 40 near the IC chip. The door lock device 74 locks and unlocks each door of the vehicle 60.

2. Processing during delivery of food and drink In order to ensure the safety of the user when receiving food and drink from a delivery person inside the vehicle traveling to the destination, the ECU 62 (processor 76) of the vehicle 60 executes the processing described below with reference to Fig. 2. This processing includes processing to prevent the opening of the vehicle opening for delivery of food and drink while authentication of the delivery person is not being performed by the communication terminal (user terminal 20) operated by the user or the in-vehicle authentication device 72 after the vehicle 60 arrives at the delivery location P.

Figure 2 is a flowchart showing the process flow when delivering food and drink in accordance with an embodiment. The process of this flowchart is executed after the user completes the food and drink order.

In step S100, the ECU 62 determines whether the vehicle 60 has arrived at the receiving location P according to the delivery plan, for example, using the position information of the GNSS receiver 66. If the determination result is Yes, the process proceeds to step S102.

In step S102, the ECU 62 executes a process (hereinafter, for convenience, referred to as "Process A") for preventing the opening of a vehicle opening used for the delivery of food and drink. Specifically, an example of Process A is a process for controlling the door lock device 74 so that the door, which is an example of a "vehicle opening", is locked. Note that even after the door has been locked by the door lock device 74, if the user performs an operation to unlock the door at their own discretion, the door lock device 74 may accept the user's operation and unlock the door.

Alternatively, if the vehicle 60 is capable of controlling the locking and unlocking of the trunk lid, process A may be a process of locking the trunk lid, which is another example of a "vehicle opening". Process A may also be a process of keeping a window, which is another example of a "vehicle opening", closed (i.e., a process of prohibiting the user from opening the window by operating it). Furthermore, process A may be a process of notifying the user through at least one of audible and visual means using the HMI device 70 to urge the user not to open the vehicle opening (e.g., a door, window, or trunk lid).

In step S104 following step S102, the ECU 62 determines whether or not authentication of the delivery person has been completed correctly. Authentication that the person approaching the vehicle 60 is a delivery person can be performed, for example, by the delivery person holding the delivery person terminal 40 close to the IC chip of the on-board authentication device 72. Note that the delivery person information required for authentication using this method is assumed to have been transmitted in advance from the server 50 to the vehicle 60.

Alternatively, the authentication may be performed by the ECU 62 executing an image recognition process to determine whether a facial image of a person captured by the external sensor 68 (camera) matches a facial image of a delivery person registered in the database DB.

In an example in which the current location information of the delivery person is displayed on the user terminal 20, the user can determine (identify) that a person near the vehicle 60 is a delivery person based on the current location information of the delivery person displayed on the user terminal 20. In this example, the ECU 62 may determine that authentication is complete when the ECU 62 receives information indicating the determination result from the user who has determined that the person near the vehicle 60 is a delivery person via the user terminal 20 or the HMI device 70. Alternatively, the ECU 62 may determine that authentication is complete when the distance between the current location of the delivery person and the current location of the vehicle 60 is less than a predetermined threshold based on the current location information of the delivery person and the current location information of the vehicle 60.

Furthermore, the ECU 62 may determine that the authentication is complete when the user terminal 20 or the vehicle 60 receives a notification from the delivery person terminal 40 indicating that the delivery person has arrived at the delivery location P.

If authentication of the delivery person is not completed in step S104, then in step S106, the ECU 62 determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the process proceeded to step S104. If it is within the predetermined time, the process of step S104 is repeated. On the other hand, if authentication is not completed even after the predetermined time has elapsed, then in step S108, the ECU 62 notifies the server 50 of information indicating that authentication of the delivery person is not completed.

On the other hand, if authentication of the delivery person is completed in step S104, then in step S110, the ECU 62 determines whether or not there is a suspicious person around the vehicle 60. This determination can be made based on whether or not there is anyone other than the delivery person around the vehicle 60, for example, using object recognition using the external sensor 68 (a camera that monitors the surroundings of the vehicle 60).

If it is determined in step S110 that there is no suspicious person around the vehicle 60, then in step S112, the ECU 62 executes a process to open the vehicle opening so that the delivery person can complete the delivery of the food and drink. In other words, process A of step S102 is canceled.

Specifically, in an example where the door was locked in step S102, the door lock device 74 is controlled to unlock the door. This allows the delivery person to open the door and place the food and drink inside the vehicle. Similarly, in the example where the trunk lid is used, the ECU 62 executes a process to unlock the trunk lid. In an example where a window is used as a vehicle opening, the ECU 62 may open the window. Furthermore, in an example where a notification was given to the user urging them not to open the vehicle opening, the ECU 62 may notify the user that they may open the vehicle opening.

After completing authentication of the delivery person, the ECU 62 may notify the user to confirm whether or not it is OK to open the vehicle opening before unlocking the doors or trunk lid or opening the windows in step S112.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S110 that there is a suspicious person around the vehicle 60, then in step S114, the ECU 62 continues process A of step S102 (i.e., does not cancel process A even if authentication is completed). Then, in step S116, the ECU 62 determines whether or not the suspicious person is gone. As a result, process A continues while the suspicious person is still present. On the other hand, if the suspicious person is gone, the process proceeds to step S112. According to the processes of steps S110, S114, and S116, it is possible to prevent the suspicious person from harming the vehicle by taking advantage of a momentary gap after the authentication is completed.

The payment for the food and beverage order by the user may be made, for example, at the time of authentication of the delivery person described above, or at the time of approval of the delivery plan described above.

3. Effects As described above, according to this embodiment, after the vehicle 60 arrives at the delivery location P, a process is executed to prevent the opening of the vehicle opening for the delivery of food and beverages while the delivery person is not being authenticated by the communication terminal (user terminal 20) operated by the user or the in-vehicle authentication device 72. This makes it possible to prevent the user from carelessly opening the vehicle opening to receive food and beverages, thereby making it possible to appropriately ensure the safety of the user when receiving food and beverages from the delivery person inside the vehicle traveling to the destination.

1 Communication network 10 Food and beverage delivery system 20 User terminal 30 Store terminal 40 Delivery person terminal 50 Server 52, 64 Communication device 54, 76 Processor 56, 78 Storage device 60 Vehicle 62 Electronic control unit (ECU)
66 GNSS receiver 68 External sensor 70 HMI device 72 Vehicle authentication device 74 Door lock device

Claims (1)

A vehicle in which a user receives food and beverages from a delivery person at a delivery location on a vehicle driving route,
determining whether the vehicle in which the user is riding has arrived at the delivery location based on current location information of the vehicle;
After determining that the vehicle has arrived at the delivery location , it is determined that authentication of the delivery person has been completed if a predetermined condition is satisfied ;
While the authentication is not completed , a process is executed to prevent the opening of the vehicle opening for the delivery of the food and drink.
a processor configured to :
The predetermined condition is:
The on-board authentication device detects that the delivery person has held a delivery person terminal near an IC chip of the on-board authentication device of the vehicle.
A facial image of a person captured by an external sensor mounted on the vehicle matches a facial image of the delivery person registered in a database of a server that communicates with the vehicle;
The vehicle receives, via the communication terminal, information indicating a result of the user's judgment that a person near the vehicle is the delivery person based on current location information of the delivery person displayed on a communication terminal operated by the user;
The distance between the current location of the delivery person and the current location of the vehicle is less than a predetermined threshold based on the current location information of the delivery person and the current location information of the vehicle, or
A notification indicating that the delivery person has arrived at the delivery location is received by the user terminal or the vehicle from the delivery person terminal.
is
vehicle.

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