Vehicle allocation processing apparatus, system, method, and program, and recording medium recording the program Number:7,146,270 from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) owispatent A vehicle allocation processing apparatus with a rationalized vehicle allocation processing is provided. A server communication section (53) acquires driving status information concerning driving states of vehicles from vehicle communication terminals mounted on the vehicles. A vehicle information storage (552) stores the acquired driving status information and vehicle information concerning the vehicles, linked to each other. The server communication section (53) acquires customer delivery position information concerning a delivery position requested by a customer, and vehicle allocation request information concerning a vehicle requested by the customer and including customer destination information concerning a destination of the customer. An allocable vehicle searching section (543) searches for allocable vehicles, based on the acquired vehicle allocation request information and the stored vehicle information and driving status information. A vehicle allocation processor (545) transmits the acquired vehicle allocation request information to vehicle communication terminals (4) of the allocable vehicles, to suggest allocation to the allocable vehicles.<H processing, allocation, Vehicle, allocat, 7146270.html, Patent, pto, 7146270

Title: Vehicle allocation processing apparatus, system, method, and program, and recording medium recording the program

Abstract: A vehicle allocation processing apparatus with a rationalized vehicle allocation processing is provided. A server communication section (53) acquires driving status information concerning driving states of vehicles from vehicle communication terminals mounted on the vehicles. A vehicle information storage (552) stores the acquired driving status information and vehicle information concerning the vehicles, linked to each other. The server communication section (53) acquires customer delivery position information concerning a delivery position requested by a customer, and vehicle allocation request information concerning a vehicle requested by the customer and including customer destination information concerning a destination of the customer. An allocable vehicle searching section (543) searches for allocable vehicles, based on the acquired vehicle allocation request information and the stored vehicle information and driving status information. A vehicle allocation processor (545) transmits the acquired vehicle allocation request information to vehicle communication terminals (4) of the allocable vehicles, to suggest allocation to the allocable vehicles.

Patent Number: 7,146,270 Issued on 12/05/2006 to Nozaki, et al.

Inventors: Nozaki; Takashi (Tokyo, JP), Amano; Kouji (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Increment P Corporation (Tokyo, JP)

Appl. No.: 10/815,971

Filed: April 2, 2004

Foreign Application Priority Data


Apr 04, 2003 [JP]			2003-101109

Current U.S. Class: 701/200 ; 701/201; 701/209; 705/13; 705/5

Current International Class: G01C 21/26 (20060101); G07B 15/02 (20060101)

Field of Search: 701/200-201,209 705/5,13 340/992,993,988 235/375,382.5,384

References Cited [Referenced By]

U.S. Patent Documents


5289369	February 1994	Hirshberg
5973619	October 1999	Paredes

Foreign Patent Documents


2002-190038	Jul., 2002	JP
2002-342424	Nov., 2002	JP

Other References

Patent Abstracts of Japan vol. 2002, No. 09, Sep. 4, 2002 & JP 2002 133588 A (Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd), May 10, 2002 *abstract*. cited by other .
Patent Abstracts of Japan vol. 2003, No. 05, May 12, 2003 & JP 2003 022496 A (Fujitsu Ltd), Jan. 24, 2003 *abstract*. cited by other .
European Search Report of Aug. 11, 2005. cited by other.

Primary Examiner: Beaulieu; Y.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Armstrong, Kratz, Quintos, Hanson & Brooks, LLP

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle allocation processing apparatus which executes a vehicle allocation processing of allocating vehicles to customers in accordance with requests from the customers, comprising: a driving status information acquiring section which acquires driving status information concerning driving states of the vehicles, from vehicle communication terminals mounted on the vehicles and for transmitting/receiving information; a vehicle information storage which stores the driving status information acquired by the driving status information acquiring section, with the driving status information linked to vehicle information concerning the vehicles; a vehicle allocation request information acquiring section which acquires vehicle allocation request information concerning a vehicle requested by a customer and including customer delivery position information concerning a delivery position to which the customer requests delivery, and customer destination information concerning a destination at which the customer aims; an allocable vehicle searching section which searches for allocable vehicles, based on the vehicle allocation request information acquired by the vehicle allocation request information acquiring section, and the vehicle information and driving status information stored in the vehicle information storage; and a vehicle allocation processor which transmits, as information suggesting allocation, the vehicle allocation request information acquired by the vehicle allocation request information acquiring section to the vehicle communication terminals mounted on the allocable vehicles, based on the vehicle information stored in the vehicle information storage and corresponding to the allocable vehicles.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a setting input recognizer which recognizes an input manipulation made by the customer, wherein the vehicle allocation processor processes the vehicle information stored in the vehicle information storage and corresponding to the allocable vehicles, to make the vehicle information reportable to the customer, to suggest the customer to select a particular one of the allocable vehicles, recognizes the selection of the particular vehicle by recognizing an input manipulation made by the customer via the setting input recognizer, and transmits, as the information suggesting allocation, the vehicle allocation request information acquired by the vehicle allocation request information acquiring section, to the vehicle communication terminal mounted on the particular vehicle, based on the vehicle information corresponding to the particular vehicle.

3. A vehicle allocation processing apparatus which executes a vehicle allocation processing of allocating vehicles to customers in accordance with requests from the customers, comprising: a driving status information acquiring section which acquires driving status information concerning driving states of the vehicles, from vehicle communication terminals mounted on the vehicles and for transmitting/receiving information; a vehicle information storage which stores the driving status information acquired by the driving status information acquiring section, with the driving status information linked to vehicle information concerning the vehicles; a setting input recognizer which recognizes input manipulations made by the customers; a vehicle allocation request information acquiring section which acquires vehicle allocation request information concerning a vehicle requested by a customer and including customer delivery position information concerning a delivery position to which the customer requests delivery, by recognizing an input manipulation made by the customer, via the setting input recognizer; an allocable vehicle searching section which searches for allocable vehicles, based on the vehicle allocation request information acquired by the vehicle allocation request information acquiring section, and the vehicle information and driving status information stored in the vehicle information storage; and a vehicle allocation processor which processes at least one of delivery time information concerning delivery time required for delivering each of the allocable vehicles and calculated on the basis of the driving status information stored in the vehicle information storage and corresponding to the allocable vehicles and the customer delivery position information included in the vehicle allocation request information acquired by the vehicle allocation request information acquiring section, and the vehicle information stored in the vehicle information storage and corresponding to each of the allocable vehicles, to make at least one of the delivery time information and the vehicle information reportable to the customer, to suggest the customer to select a particular vehicle, recognizes the selection of the particular vehicle by recognizing an input manipulation made by the customer, via the setting input recognizer, and transmits, as information suggesting allocation, the vehicle allocation request information acquired by the vehicle allocation request information acquiring section, to the vehicle communication terminal mounted on the particular vehicle, based on the vehicle information corresponding to the particular vehicle.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the driving status information is configured to include vehicle current position information concerning a current position of each of the vehicles, operating status information indicative of a vacant state and a charged driving state of each of the vehicles, and charged driving destination information concerning a destination in case of the charged driving state, and the allocable vehicle searching section determines the vacant state or the charged driving state from the operating status information included in the driving status information, calculates the delivery time based on the vehicle current position information included in the driving status information and the customer delivery position information included in the vehicle allocation request information if the vacant state is determined, or calculates the delivery time based on the vehicle current position information and the charged driving destination information and customer delivery position information included in the driving status information if the charged driving state is determined, and searches for, as the allocable vehicles, vehicles each having the calculated delivery time equal to or shorter than a predetermined threshold value.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 3, wherein if the allocable vehicle searching section recognizes that there is no applicable vehicle as a result of searching for the allocable vehicles, the allocable vehicle searching section processes search result information indicative of no applicable vehicle, to be reportable to the customer.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 3, further comprising: a discount information calculation section which calculates discount information concerning a discount rate to a charge for use of each of the allocable vehicles, based on at least one of the vehicle information and the driving status information stored in the vehicle information storage, and also based on the vehicle allocation request information acquired by the vehicle allocation request information acquiring section; and a storage which stores the discount information calculated by the discount information calculation section, with the discount information kept transmittable to the vehicle communication terminals mounted on the allocable vehicles or to a payment processor which executes a payment processing for charges for the vehicles.

7. A vehicle allocation processing apparatus which executes a vehicle allocation processing of allocating vehicles to customers in accordance with requests from the customers, comprising: a driving status information acquiring section which acquires driving status information concerning driving states of the vehicles, from vehicle communication terminals mounted on the vehicles and for transmitting/receiving information; a vehicle information storage which stores the driving status information acquired by the driving status information acquiring section, with the driving status information linked to vehicle information concerning the vehicle; a vehicle allocation request information acquiring section which acquires vehicle allocation request information concerning a vehicle requested by a customer and including customer delivery position information concerning a delivery position to which the customer requests delivery; a vehicle allocation processor which transmits, as information suggesting allocation, the vehicle allocation request information acquired by the vehicle allocation request information acquiring section to the vehicle communication terminals mounted on allocable vehicles, based on the vehicle information stored in the vehicle information storage; a discount information calculation section which calculates discount information concerning a discount rate to a charge for use of each of the allocable vehicles, based on at least one of the vehicle information and the driving status information stored in the vehicle information storage, and also based on the vehicle allocation request information acquired by the vehicle allocation request information acquiring section; and a storage which stores the discount information calculated by the discount information calculation section, with the discount information kept transmittable to the vehicle communication terminals mounted on the allocable vehicles or to a payment processor which executes a payment processing for charges for the vehicles.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: an allocable vehicle searching section which searches for the allocable vehicles, based on the vehicle allocation request information acquired by the vehicle allocation request information acquiring section, and the vehicle information and driving status information stored in the vehicle information storage.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, 3 or 7, wherein the discount information calculation section calculates delivery time required for delivering each of the allocable vehicles, based on the customer delivery position information included in the vehicle allocation request information acquired by the vehicle allocation request information acquiring section, and the driving status information stored in the vehicle information storage, and calculates the discount information concerning the discount rate to the charge for each of the allocable vehicles.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the vehicle allocation request information is configured to include customer request delivery time information concerning delivery time requested by the customer, and the discount information calculation section compares the delivery time required for delivering each of the allocable vehicles, with the delivery time based on the customer request delivery time information included in the vehicle allocation request information, to calculate the discount information concerning the discount rate to the charge for each of the allocable vehicles.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the driving status information is configured to include vehicle current position information concerning a current position of each of the vehicles, operating status information indicative of a vacant state and a charged driving state of each of the vehicles, and charged driving destination information concerning a destination in case of the charged driving state, and the discount information calculation section determines the vacant state or the charged driving state from the operating status information included in the driving status information when calculating the delivery time required for delivering each of the allocable vehicles, and calculates the delivery time on the basis of the vehicle current position information included in the driving status information and the customer delivery position information included in the vehicle allocation request information, if the vacant state is determined, or calculates the delivery time on the basis of the vehicle current position information, the charged driving destination information included in the driving status information, and the customer delivery position information, if the charged driving state is determined.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, 3 or 7, wherein the discount information calculation section calculates a delivery distance to drive when delivering each of the allocable vehicles, based on the customer delivery position information included in the vehicle allocation request information acquired by the vehicle allocation request information acquiring section, and the driving status information stored in the vehicle information storage, and calculates the discount information concerning the discount rate to the charge for each of the allocable vehicles, based on the delivery distance.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the vehicle information is configured to include vehicle waiting position information concerning a waiting position of each of the allocable vehicles, and the discount information calculation section calculates a vacant driving distance of each of the allocable vehicles, based on the vehicle waiting position information and the driving status information stored in the vehicle information storage, and compares the vacant driving distance of each of the allocable vehicles, with the delivery distance to drive when delivering each of the allocable vehicles, to calculate the discount information concerning the discount rate to the charge for each of the allocable vehicles.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, 3 or 7, wherein the vehicle information is configured to include vehicle service information concerning contents of services held by the vehicles, the vehicle allocation request information is configured to include customer request service information concerning contents of services with respect to the vehicle requested by the customer, and the discount information calculation section compares the customer request service information included in the vehicle allocation request information acquired by the vehicle allocation request information acquiring section, with the vehicle service information included in the vehicle information stored in the vehicle information storage, to calculate the discount information concerning the discount rate to the charge for each of the allocable vehicles.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, 3 or 7, further comprising a setting input recognizer which recognizes an input manipulation made by the customer, wherein the vehicle allocation processor processes listed information including the discount information stored in the storage, to make the listed information reportable to the customer, to suggest the customer to select a particular vehicle, recognizes the selection of the particular vehicle by recognizing an input manipulation made by the customer, via the setting input recognizer, and transmits, as information suggesting allocation, the vehicle allocation request information acquired by the vehicle allocation request information acquiring section to the vehicle communication terminal mounted on the particular vehicle, based on the vehicle information corresponding to the particular vehicle.

16. The apparatus according to any of claims 1, 3 and 7, wherein the vehicle allocation request information acquiring section acquires the vehicle allocation request information from a communication terminal operated by the customer and capable of transmitting/receiving information.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the communication terminal has customer identification information to identify the customer, the vehicle allocation request information acquiring section acquires the vehicle allocation request information including the customer identification information from the communication terminal, the vehicle allocation processor transmits, as the information suggesting allocation, the vehicle allocation request information acquired by the vehicle allocation request information acquiring section, to the vehicle communication terminal mounted on the particular vehicle, and the apparatus further comprises: a customer information storage which stores the customer specific information including the customer identification information and specifying the customer; an authentication section which compares the customer identification information included in the vehicle allocation request information acquired by the vehicle allocation request information acquiring section, with the customer specific information stored in the customer information storage, to authenticate the customer identification information; a use complete information acquiring section which acquires use complete information linked to charge information concerning the charge for the particular vehicle, and the customer identification information included in the vehicle allocation request information, from the vehicle communication terminal of the particular vehicle, after the customer identification information is authenticated by the authentication section and the vehicle allocation request information is transmitted to the vehicle communication terminal of the particular vehicle from the vehicle allocation processor; and a payment processor which executes a payment processing, based on the customer specific information stored in the customer information storage and corresponding to the customer identification information in the use complete information acquired by the use complete information acquiring section, and the charge information in the use complete information.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1, 3 or 7, wherein the discount information is point information concerning points given to each customer who uses allocation of any vehicle, the vehicle allocation request information acquiring section acquires the vehicle allocation request information from the communication terminal which has customer identification information to identify the customer, is operated by the customer, and is for transmitting/receiving information, the vehicle allocation processor transmits, as the information suggesting allocation, the vehicle allocation request information acquired by the vehicle allocation request information acquiring section, to the vehicle communication terminals mounted on the allocable vehicles, the storage stores the discount information calculated by the discount information calculation section, and the customer identification information included in the vehicle allocation request information used when calculating the discount information, and the apparatus further comprises: a customer information storage which stores customer specific information including the customer identification information and specifying the customer; an authentication section which compares the customer identification information included in the vehicle allocation request information acquired by the vehicle allocation request information acquiring section, with the customer specific information stored in the customer information storage, to authenticate the customer identification information; a use complete information acquiring section which acquires use complete information linked to charge information concerning the charge for the particular vehicle, and the customer identification information included in the vehicle allocation request information, from the vehicle communication terminal of the particular vehicle, after the customer identification information is authenticated by the authentication section and the vehicle allocation request information is transmitted to the vehicle communication terminal of the particular vehicle from the vehicle allocation processor; and a payment processor which executes a payment processing, based on the customer specific information stored in the customer information storage and corresponding to the customer identification information in the use complete information acquired by the use complete information acquiring section, and also based on the charge information in the use complete information, and makes the customer information storage store the discount information stored in the storage and corresponding to the customer identification information in the use complete information, together with the customer specific information, after executing the payment processing.

19. The apparatus according to any of claim 1, 3 and 7, wherein the vehicle allocation request information is configured to include customer delivery position information concerning a delivery position to which the customer requests delivery or customer destination information concerning a destination at which the customer aims, the apparatus further comprises a setting input recognizer which recognizes an input manipulation made by the customer, and a map information storage which stores map information, the setting input recognizer processes the map information stored in the map information storage, to make the map information displayable and to suggest the customer to make an input manipulation and recognizes the instruction of the predetermined position on the map information as the input manipulation made by the customer, and the vehicle allocation request information acquiring section acquires the instruction position recognized by the setting input recognizer, as the customer delivery position information or the customer destination information.

20. A vehicle allocation processing system which executes a vehicle allocation processing of allocating vehicles to customers in accordance with requests from the customers, comprising: the vehicle allocation processing apparatus according to any of claims 1, 3 and 7; a vehicle communication terminal mounted on each of the vehicles and for transmitting/receiving information; and a communication section enabling transmission/reception of information between the vehicle allocation processor and the vehicle communication terminal of each of the vehicles.

21. A vehicle allocation processing system which executes a vehicle allocation processing of allocating vehicles to customers in accordance with requests from the customers, comprising: the vehicle allocation processing apparatus according to any of claims 1, 3 and 7; a vehicle communication terminal mounted on each of the vehicles and for transmitting/receiving information; a communication terminal which transmits vehicle allocation request information concerning a vehicle requested by a customer; and a communication section enabling transmission/reception of information among the vehicle allocation processing apparatus the vehicle communication terminal of each of the vehicles, and the communication terminal.

22. A vehicle allocation processing method for executing a vehicle allocation processing of allocating vehicles to customers in accordance with requests from the customers, comprising steps of: acquiring driving status information concerning driving states of the vehicles, from vehicle communication terminals mounted on the vehicles and for transmitting/receiving information; storing the acquired driving status information linked to vehicle information concerning the vehicles; acquiring vehicle allocation request information concerning the vehicle requested by the customer and including customer delivery position information concerning a delivery position to which the customer requests delivery, and customer destination information concerning a destination at which the customer aims; searching for allocable vehicles, based on the acquired vehicle allocation request information and the stored vehicle information and driving status information; and transmitting, as information suggesting allocation, the acquired vehicle allocation request information to the vehicle communication terminals mounted on the allocable vehicles, based on the stored vehicle information corresponding to the allocable vehicles.

23. A vehicle allocation processing method for executing a vehicle allocation processing of allocating vehicles to customers in accordance with requests from the customers, comprising steps of: acquiring driving status information concerning driving states of the vehicles, from vehicle communication terminals mounted on the vehicles and for transmitting/receiving information; storing the acquired driving status information linked to vehicle information concerning the vehicles; recognizing an input manipulation made by the customer, to acquire vehicle allocation request information concerning the vehicle requested by the customer and including customer delivery position information concerning a delivery position to which the customer requests delivery; searching for allocable vehicles, based on the acquired vehicle allocation request information, and the stored vehicle information and driving status information; and processing at least one of delivery time information concerning delivery time required for delivering each of the allocable vehicles and calculated on the basis of the stored driving status information corresponding to each of the allocable vehicles and the customer delivery position information included in the acquired vehicle allocation request information, and the stored vehicle information corresponding to each of the allocable vehicles, to make at least one of the delivery time information and the vehicle information reportable to the customer, to suggest the customer to select a particular vehicle, then recognizing the selection of the particular vehicle by recognizing an input manipulation made by the customer, and transmitting, as information suggesting allocation, the acquired vehicle allocation request information, to the vehicle communication terminal mounted on the particular vehicle, based on the vehicle information corresponding to the particular vehicle.

24. A vehicle allocation processing method for executing a vehicle allocation processing of allocating vehicles to customers in accordance with requests from the customers, comprising steps of: acquiring driving status information concerning driving states of the vehicles, from vehicle communication terminals mounted on the vehicles and for transmitting/receiving information; storing the acquired driving status information linked to vehicle information concerning the vehicles; acquiring vehicle allocation request information concerning the vehicle requested by the customer and including customer delivery position information concerning a delivery position to which the customer requests delivery; transmitting, as information suggesting allocation, the acquired vehicle allocation request information to the vehicle communication terminals mounted on allocable vehicles, based on the stored vehicle information; calculating discount information concerning a discount rate to a charge fQr use of each of the allocable vehicles, based on at least one of the stored vehicle information and the driving status information, and the acquired vehicle allocation request information; and storing the calculated discount information linked to the vehicle allocation request information used for calculating the discount information and kept transmittable to the vehicle communication terminals mounted on the allocable vehicles or to a payment processor which executes a payment processing for settling charges for the vehicles.

25. A vehicle allocation processing program embodied in a recording medium in a computer-readable manner, wherein the program makes a computer execute a vehicle allocation processing method for executing a vehicle allocation processing of allocating vehicles to customers in accordance with requests from the customers, comprising steps of: acquiring driving status information concerning driving states of the vehicles, from vehicle communication terminals mounted on the vehicles and for transmitting/receiving information; storing the acquired driving status information linked to vehicle information concerning the vehicles; acquiring vehicle allocation request information concerning the vehicle requested by the customer and including customer delivery position information concerning a delivery position to which the customer requests delivery, and customer destination information concerning a destination at which the customer aims; searching for allocable vehicles, based on the acquired vehicle allocation request information and the stored vehicle information and driving status information; and transmitting, as information suggesting allocation, the acquired vehicle allocation request information to the vehicle communication terminals mounted on the allocable vehicles, based on the stored vehicle information corresponding to the allocable vehicles.

26. A vehicle allocation processing program embodied in a recording medium in a computer-readable manner, wherein the program makes a computer execute a vehicle allocation processing method for executing a vehicle allocation processing of allocating vehicles to customers in accordance with requests from the customers, comprising steps of: acquiring driving status information concerning driving states of the vehicles, from vehicle communication terminals mounted on the vehicles and for transmitting/receiving information; storing the acquired driving status information linked to vehicle information concerning the vehicles; recognizing an input manipulation made by the customer, to acquire vehicle allocation request information concerning the vehicle requested by the customer and including customer delivery position information concerning a delivery position to which the customer requests delivery; searching for allocable vehicles, based on the acquired vehicle allocation request information, and the stored vehicle information and driving status information; and processing at least one of delivery time information concerning delivery time required for delivering each of the allocable vehicles and calculated on the basis of the stored driving status information corresponding to each of the allocable vehicles and the customer delivery position information included in the acquired vehicle allocation request information, and the stored vehicle information corresponding to each of the allocable vehicles, to make at least one of the delivery time information and the vehicle information reportable to the customer, to suggest the customer to select a particular vehicle, then recognizing the selection of the particular vehicle by recognizing an input manipulation made by the customer, and transmitting, as information suggesting allocation, the acquired vehicle allocation request information, to the vehicle communication terminal mounted on the particular vehicle, based on the vehicle information corresponding to the particular vehicle.

27. A vehicle allocation processing program embodied in a recording medium in a computer-readable manner, wherein the program makes a computer execute a vehicle allocation processing method for executing a vehicle allocation processing of allocating vehicles to customers in accordance with requests from the customers, comprising steps of: acquiring driving status information concerning driving states of the vehicles, from vehicle communication terminals mounted on the vehicles and for transmitting/receiving information; storing the acquired driving status information linked to vehicle information concerning the vehicles; acquiring vehicle allocation request information concerning the vehicle requested by the customer and including customer delivery position information concerning a delivery position to which the customer requests delivery; transmitting, as information suggesting allocation, the acquired vehicle allocation request information to the vehicle communication terminals mounted on allocable vehicles, based on the stored vehicle information; calculating discount information concerning a discount rate to a charge for use of each of the allocable vehicles, based on at least one of the stored vehicle information and the driving status information, and the acquired vehicle allocation request information; and storing the calculated discount information linked to the vehicle allocation request information used for calculating the discount information and kept transmittable to the vehicle communication terminals mounted on the allocable vehicles or to a payment processor which executes a payment processing for settling charges for the vehicles.

28. A recording medium which records the vehicle allocation processing program according to any of claims 25 to 27, to be readable from the computer.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a vehicle allocation processing apparatus which performs an allocation processing for allocating vehicles to customers in accordance with requests from the customers, and a system, method, and program thereof, and a recording medium which records the program.

2. Description of Related Art

A known conventional vehicle allocation processing to respond to a request for allocation and delivery of a vehicle such as a taxi or the like is as follows.

For example, a customer requests allocation of a taxi from a taxi company on the phone. An operator in the taxi company who receives the request for taxi allocation sends information given by the customer (about the customer's current position, destination, name, phone number, etc.) by wireless transmission to all taxies owned by the company. The operator then waits for a response from each taxi. If a response is given from any taxi, the operator of the taxi company informs the customer of the vehicle number of the taxi, a waiting period until arrival at the current position, and the like, and then carries out a taxi allocation processing.

In another known taxi allocation system, an allocation processing is carried out via the Internet (for example, Jpn. Pat. Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-342424, FIG. 2). In this taxi allocation system, customers input conditions of desired services (e.g., charges, delivery time, and the like) through their own mobile terminals. Taxi allocation request information including conditions of a service is transmitted to a taxi allocation server via the Internet from the mobile terminal. The taxi allocation server searches for a taxi which satisfies the conditions of the desired service according to the taxi allocation request information received. Then, communication terminals of taxies which are thus sought through the search are informed of the order from the customer via the Internet. The drivers of these taxies send information setting a charge, delivery time, and the like to the taxi allocation server from the communication terminals via the Internet, to accept the order. The taxi allocation server sends listed information including taxi information concerning the taxies which can accept the order and the conditions of services, to the customer's mobile terminal via the Internet. The customer sees the listed information on the mobile terminal, selects a desired taxi depending on the conditions of services (a charge, delivery time, and the like), and sends the selection to the taxi allocation server. Then, the taxi allocation server informs the communication terminal of the selected taxi of a successful acceptance, and a taxi allocation processing is carried out.

However, the allocation processing using the phone and the wireless transmission cannot properly manage allocated taxies, and therefore, cannot respond appropriately to customers' requests. For example, this causes a problem of lowered efficiency in allocating taxis.

Also, in the invention described in the foregoing publication, the server manages information concerning taxies in advance, and searches for taxis as requested from customers, based on the information managed. This prior art may hence be considered to be able to respond appropriately to demands from customers and to increase the efficiency in allocating taxies, compared with the above-described taxi allocation processing using the phone and wireless transmission. However, this server has to wait for responses from taxies in executing the taxi allocation processing. This causes problems, for example, in that rapid responses are impossible and the taxi allocation efficiency cannot be increased sufficiently.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the problems described above, the present invention has its major object to provide a vehicle allocation processing apparatus, a vehicle allocation processing system, a vehicle allocation processing method, and a vehicle allocation processing program, which rationalize the processing of allocating vehicles, and a recording medium which records the program.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a vehicle allocation processing apparatus executes a vehicle allocation processing of allocating vehicles to customers in accordance with requests from the customers, and includes: a driving status information acquiring section which acquires driving status information concerning driving states of the vehicles, from vehicle communication terminals mounted on the vehicles and capable of transmitting/receiving information; a vehicle information storage which stores the driving status information acquired by the driving status information acquiring section, with the driving status information linked to vehicle information concerning the vehicles; a vehicle allocation request information acquiring section which acquires vehicle allocation request information concerning a vehicle requested by a customer and including customer delivery position information concerning a delivery position to which the customer requests delivery, and customer destination position information concerning a destination at which the customer aims; an allocable vehicle searching section which searches for allocable vehicles, based on the vehicle allocation request information acquired by the vehicle allocation request information acquiring section, and the vehicle information and driving status information stored in the vehicle information storage; and a vehicle allocation processor which transmits, as information suggesting allocation, the vehicle allocation request information acquired by the vehicle allocation request information acquiring section to the vehicle communication terminals mounted on the allocable vehicles, based on the vehicle information stored in the vehicle information storage and corresponding to the allocable vehicles.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle allocation processing apparatus executes a vehicle allocation processing of allocating vehicles to customers in accordance with requests from the customers, and includes: a driving status information acquiring section which acquires driving status information concerning driving states of the vehicles, from vehicle communication terminals mounted on the vehicles and capable of transmitting/receiving information; a vehicle information storage which stores the driving status information acquired by the driving status information acquiring section, with the driving status information linked to vehicle information concerning the vehicles; a setting input recognizer which recognizes input manipulations made by the customers; a vehicle allocation request information acquiring section which acquires vehicle allocation request information concerning a vehicle requested by a customer and including customer delivery position information concerning a delivery position to which the customer requests delivery, by recognizing an input manipulation made by the customer, via the setting input recognizer; an allocable vehicle searching section which searches for allocable vehicles, based on the vehicle allocation request information acquired by the vehicle allocation request information acquiring section, and the vehicle information and driving status information stored in the vehicle information storage; and a vehicle allocation processor which processes at least one of delivery time information concerning delivery time required for delivering each of the allocable vehicles and calculated on the basis of the driving status information stored in the vehicle information storage and corresponding to the allocable vehicles and the customer delivery position information included in the vehicle allocation request information acquired by the vehicle allocation request information acquiring section, and the vehicle information stored in the vehicle information storage and corresponding to each of the allocable vehicles, to make at least one of the delivery time information and the vehicle information reportable to the customer, to suggest the customer to select a particular vehicle, recognizes the selection of the particular vehicle by recognizing an input manipulation made by the customer, via the setting input recognizer, and transmits, as information suggesting allocation, the vehicle allocation request information acquired by the vehicle allocation request information acquiring section, to the vehicle communication terminal mounted on the particular vehicle, based on the vehicle information corresponding to the particular vehicle.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle allocation processing apparatus executes a vehicle allocation processing of allocating vehicles to customers in accordance with requests from the customers, and includes: a driving status information acquiring section which acquires driving status information concerning driving states of the vehicles, from vehicle communication terminals mounted on the vehicles and capable of transmitting/receiving information; a vehicle information storage which stores the driving status information acquired by the driving status information acquiring section, with the driving status information linked to vehicle information concerning the vehicle; a vehicle allocation request information acquiring section which acquires vehicle allocation request information concerning a vehicle requested by a customer and including customer delivery position information concerning a delivery position to which the customer requests delivery; a vehicle allocation processor which transmits, as information suggesting allocation, the vehicle allocation request information acquired by the vehicle allocation request information acquiring section to the vehicle communication terminals mounted on allocable vehicles, based on the vehicle information stored in the vehicle information storage; a discount information calculation section which calculates discount information concerning a discount rate to a charge for use of each of the allocable vehicles, based on at least one of the vehicle information and the driving status information stored in the vehicle information storage, and also based on the vehicle allocation request information acquired by the vehicle allocation request information acquiring section; and a storage which stores the discount information calculated by the discount information calculation section, with the discount information linked to the vehicle allocation request information used for calculating the discount information and kept transmittable to the vehicle communication terminals mounted on the allocable vehicles or to a payment processor which executes a payment processing for charges for the vehicles.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle allocation processing system executes a vehicle allocation processing of allocating vehicles to customers in accordance with requests from the customers, and includes: any of the vehicle allocation processing apparatuses according to the foregoing aspects of the present invention; a vehicle communication terminal mounted on each of the vehicles and capable of transmitting/receiving information; and a communication section enabling transmission/reception of information between the vehicle allocation processor and the vehicle communication terminal of each of the vehicles.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle allocation processing system executes a vehicle allocation processing of allocating vehicles to customers in accordance with requests from the customers, and includes: any of the vehicle allocation processing apparatuses according to the foregoing aspects of the present invention; a vehicle communication terminal mounted on each of the vehicles and capable of transmitting/receiving information; a communication terminal which transmits vehicle allocation request information concerning a vehicle requested by a customer; and a communication section enabling transmission/reception of information among the vehicle allocation processor, the vehicle communication terminal of each of the vehicles, and the communication terminal.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle allocation processing method for executing a vehicle allocation processing of allocating vehicles to customers in accordance with requests from the customers includes steps of: acquiring driving status information concerning driving states of the vehicles, from vehicle communication terminals mounted on the vehicles and capable of transmitting/receiving information; storing the acquired driving status information linked to vehicle information concerning the vehicles; acquiring vehicle allocation request information concerning the vehicle requested by the customer and including customer delivery position information concerning a delivery position to which the customer requests delivery, and customer destination information concerning a destination at which the customer aims; searching for allocable vehicles, based on the acquired vehicle allocation request information and the stored vehicle information and driving status information; and transmitting, as information suggesting allocation, the vehicle allocation request information to the vehicle communication terminals mounted on the allocable vehicles, based on the stored vehicle information corresponding to the allocable vehicles.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle allocation processing method for executing a vehicle allocation processing of allocating vehicles to customers in accordance with requests from the customers includes steps of: acquiring driving status information concerning driving states of the vehicles, from vehicle communication terminals mounted on the vehicles and capable of transmitting/receiving information; storing the acquired driving status information linked to vehicle information concerning the vehicles; recognizing an input manipulation made by the customer, to acquire vehicle allocation request information concerning the vehicle requested by the customer and including customer delivery position information concerning a delivery position to which the customer requests delivery; searching for allocable vehicles, based on the acquired vehicle allocation request information, and the stored vehicle information and driving status information; and processing at least one of delivery time information concerning delivery time required for delivering each of the allocable vehicles and calculated on the basis of the stored driving status information corresponding to each of the allocable vehicles and the customer delivery position information included in the acquired vehicle allocation request information, and the stored vehicle information corresponding to each of the allocable vehicles, to make at least one of the delivery time information and the vehicle information reportable to the customer, to suggest the customer to select a particular vehicle, then recognizing the selection of the particular vehicle by recognizing an input manipulation made by the customer, and transmitting, as information suggesting allocation, the acquired vehicle allocation request information, to the vehicle communication terminal mounted on the particular vehicle, based on the vehicle information corresponding to the particular vehicle.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle allocation processing method for executing a vehicle allocation processing of allocating vehicles to customers in accordance with requests from the customers includes steps of: acquiring driving status information concerning driving states of the vehicles, from vehicle communication terminals mounted on the vehicles and capable of transmitting/receiving information; storing the acquired driving status information linked to vehicle information concerning the vehicles; acquiring vehicle allocation request information concerning the vehicle requested by the customer and including customer delivery position information concerning a delivery position to which the customer requests delivery; transmitting, as information suggesting allocation, the acquired vehicle allocation request information to the vehicle communication terminals mounted on allocable vehicles, based on the stored vehicle information; calculating discount information concerning a discount rate to a charge for use of each of the allocable vehicles, based on at least one of the stored vehicle information and the driving status information, and the acquired vehicle allocation request information; and storing the calculated discount information linked to the vehicle allocation request information used for calculating the discount information and kept transmittable to the vehicle communication terminals mounted on the allocable vehicles or to a payment processor which executes a payment processing for settling charges for the vehicles.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle allocation processing program makes a computer execute any of the vehicle allocation processing methods according to the foregoing aspects of the present invention.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a recording medium records the vehicle allocation processing program according the foregoing aspect of the present invention, to be readable from the computer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the structure of a vehicle allocation processing system according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of a server unit as a vehicle allocation processing apparatus according to the present invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are tables each showing a data configuration of a database in an embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart which explains the operation of a vehicle allocation processing in the vehicle allocation processing system in the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of a vehicle allocation request screen displayed on a cellular phone in the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a view showing another example of the vehicle allocation request screen displayed on the cellular phone in the embodiment; and

FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of listed information displayed on the cellular phone in the embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described based on the drawings.

[Structure of Vehicle Allocation Processing System]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the structure of the vehicle allocation processing system in the present embodiment FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a server unit forming a part of the vehicle allocation processing system.

In FIG. 1, the reference symbol 1 denotes the vehicle allocation processing system which allocates taxies as vehicles to customers in response to the customers' requests. For example, in the vehicle allocation processing system 1, a customer requests allocation of a taxi to an allocation company with use of a cellular phone as a communication terminal. The system allocates, to the customer, a taxi fit for the allocation request, and settles an electronic payment on a charge for use of the vehicle allocation service. The vehicle allocation processing system 1 has a network 2 as a communication section, a cellular phone 3, a vehicle communication terminal 4, and a server unit 5 as a vehicle allocation processing device.

The network 2 connects the cellular phone 3, the vehicle communication terminal 4, and the server unit 5 to each other, with various information kept transmittable/receivable among each other. For example, the network 2 is constructed in the form of the Internet or Intranet based on a general-purpose protocol such as TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) or the like. Thus, the network 2 is connected to the vehicle communication terminal 4 and the server unit 5 to enable transmission/reception of various information among the cellular phone 3, the vehicle communication terminal 4, and the server unit 5. The network 2 is further connected to a base station not shown which receives electric waves from the cellular phone 3 to connect the cellular phone 3 to the network 2.

The cellular phone 3 is owned by a customer and has a computer body, an internal memory, a display device, an input device, and the like, though not shown. Application software programs such as browser software to browse homepages and the like on the Internet that is the network 2, E-mail software, and the like are installed in the cellular phone 3, and various information can be transmitted/received via the base station not shown and the network 2.

The internal memory of the cellular phone 3 stores a communication terminal identification information as customer identification information specific to this cellular phone 3, and also stores information received via the network 2. For example, the communication terminal identification information is identification information specific to the cellular phone 3, and may be the serial number, phone number, or E-mail address of the cellular phone 3, or a password to confirm the owner of the cellular phone 3. The identification information, however, is not limited to these items.

The communication terminal is not limited to a cellular phone but a mobile terminal such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants) or the like may be used. Further, not only mobile terminals of this kind but also personal computers connectable to the network 2 may be used.

The vehicle communication terminal 4 is mounted on a taxi owned by the allocation company, and has a computer body, a current position measuring device, an internal memory, a display device, an input device, and the like, though not shown. The current position measuring device measures the current position of the taxi, and calculates vehicle current position information indicative of the current position. The input device is inputted with operating status information indicative of a vacant state or a charged driving state upon an input manipulation from the driver of the taxi. Also, when in the charged driving state the input device is inputted with charged driving start position information indicative of the start position of a charged drive, and charged driving destination information indicative of a destination, upon an input manipulation from the taxi driver. Further, the input device is inputted with charge amount information concerning the charge corresponding to use by the customer, upon an input manipulation from the taxi driver. The computer body calculates driving status information, lining the vehicle current position information, the operating status information, the charged driving start position information, and the charged driving destination information to each other. Also, the computer body links the charge amount information to the communication terminal identification information concerning the customer who uses the taxi, and calculates use complete information. Further, at a predetermined cycle or upon a manipulation from the taxi driver, the vehicle communication terminal 4 transmits the driving status information and the use complete information to the server unit 5 via the network 2. Also, the vehicle communication terminal 4 receives appropriately predetermined information from the server unit 5.

As the current position measuring device, it is possible to use a device which measures the current position by receiving navigational electric waves from GPS satellites by means of a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver. Also, as the current position measuring device, it is possible to use a device which has a velocity sensor to detect the driving velocity and the acceleration of the vehicle, an azimuthal sensor to detect the driving direction of the vehicle and the like and which measures the current position of the vehicle, based on the information such as the driving velocity, acceleration, driving direction, and the like of the vehicle. Further, as the vehicle communication terminal 4, it is possible to use a vehicle navigation device which can transmit/receive information, a cellular phone, a PDA, a personal computer, or the like which can measure the current position.

The server unit 5 is constructed, for example, as a WWW (World Wide Web) server connected to the network 2. The server unit 5 opens a vehicle allocation order homepage (vehicle allocation request screen) on the network 2, and suggests each customer to input vehicle allocation request information concerning the taxi which the customer requests. Further, the server unit 5 acquires vehicle allocation request information, and sends a vehicle allocation command to the vehicle communication terminal 4 mounted on the taxi, based on the acquired vehicle allocation request information, to allocate the taxi to the customer. The server unit 5 has an operation section 51, a display section 52, a server communication section 53, a system control device 54, and a database 55, as shown in FIG. 2.

The operation section 51 is, for example, constructed by a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and has various operation buttons not shown which are manipulated for input operations. By manipulating these operation buttons, the server unit 5 can be operated appropriately, the contents of operations of the server unit 5 and information to be stored in the database 55 are set and inputted, for example, with respect to information displayed on the display section 52. Further, predetermined operation signals are outputted appropriately to a system controller 54A from the operation section 51, by making input manipulations on the operation section 51 by a user.

The way of setting and inputting various conditions via the operation section 51 is not limited to the input manipulations on the operation buttons but may be configured to be made, for example, by input manipulations via a touch panel, input operations based on voices, and the like.

The display section 52 is controlled by the system controller 54A and displays predetermined images. For example, when information to be stored in the database 55 is set and inputted or updated by an input manipulation on the operation section 51, data i