Patent Publication Number: US-2020292334-A1

Title: Program and information processing method

Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-043978 filed on Mar. 11, 2019 including the specification, drawings and abstract is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a program and an information processing method. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     In the related art, there has been known a technology related to vehicles such as an automobile, for example. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-008576 (JP 2009-008576 A) describes a navigation device configured to perform a route guidance by setting, as a destination, one of a plurality of candidate destinations that are parking lots or getting on and off points. The navigation device also performs a route guidance by changing the destination to a destination other than a current destination in response to an instruction from a user to change the destination. The destination other than the current destination is selected from among the candidate destinations. 
     SUMMARY 
     In recent years, there has been known a passenger transportation service in which a travel route of a ride-sharing vehicle is determined based on a boarding reservation made by a user. The passenger transportation service is, for example, ride-sharing in which a plurality of users rides together in a vehicle, an on-demand bus that can travel on a route other than a normal circuit route, and so on. However, users who are accustomed to using conventional shuttle bus service in which a travel route is determined in advance, for example, may sometimes feel complicated about procedure for using recent passenger transportation service in which a travel route can change each time. Thus, for some users, the recent passenger transportation service is not necessarily convenient so much. Accordingly, there is room for improvement in convenience of passenger transportation service in which a travel route of a ride-sharing vehicle is determined based on a boarding reservation made by a user. 
     An object of the present disclosure that is accomplished in view of such a circumstance is to improve convenience of passenger transportation service in which a travel route of a ride-sharing vehicle is determined based on a boarding reservation made by a user. 
     A program according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a program for causing an information processing device communicable with a server, the server being configured to manage a travel plan of a specific vehicle, to execute: a step of receiving information about the travel plan from the server; a first display step of displaying, on a screen, stoppage points of the specific vehicle and at least part of a travel route passing through the stoppage points, based on the information about the travel plan; an operation step of waiting for a user operation to designate a stoppage point on the screen or a point other than the stoppage points; a step of transmitting a first request to the server when the stoppage point is designated by the user operation, the first request being a request to modify the travel plan so that a user of the information processing device gets on the specific vehicle or gets off the specific vehicle at the stoppage point; and a step of transmitting a second request to the server when the point other than the stoppage points is designated by the user operation, the second request being a request to modify the travel plan so that the specific vehicle goes by way of the designated point as an additional stoppage point and the user gets on the specific vehicle or gets off the specific vehicle at the additional stoppage point. 
     A program according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a program for causing a server configured to manage a travel plan of a specific vehicle to execute: a step of transmitting information about the travel plan to an information processing device; a step of waiting for a first request or a second request from the information processing device; a step of, upon receipt of the first request, making modifications to the travel plan and reflecting the modifications on the travel plan so that a user of the information processing device gets on the specific vehicle or gets off the specific vehicle at a stoppage point designated by the first request; a step of, upon receipt of the second request, determining whether or not to cause the specific vehicle to go by way of a point designated by the second request as an additional stoppage point; a step of, when the server determines to cause the specific vehicle to go by way of the point thus designated as the additional stoppage point, modifying the travel plan so that the specific vehicle goes by way of the additional stoppage point and the user gets on the specific vehicle or gets off the specific vehicle at the additional stoppage point; and a step of, when the server determines not to cause the specific vehicle to go by way of the point thus designated as the additional stoppage point, notifying the information processing device of rejection of the second request. 
     An information processing method according to one aspect of the present disclosure is an information processing method executed by an information processing device communicable with a server, the server being configured to manage a travel plan of a specific vehicle. The information processing method includes: a step of receiving information about the travel plan from the server; a first display step of displaying, on a screen, stoppage points of the specific vehicle and at least part of a travel route passing through the stoppage points, based on the information about the travel plan; an operation step of waiting for a user operation to designate a stoppage point on the screen or a point other than the stoppage points; a step of transmitting a first request to the server when the stoppage point is designated by the user operation, the first request being a request to modify the travel plan so that a user of the information processing device gets on the specific vehicle or gets off the specific vehicle at the stoppage point; and a step of transmitting a second request to the server when the point other than the stoppage points is designated by the user operation, the second request being a request to modify the travel plan so that the specific vehicle goes by way of the designated point as an additional stoppage point and the user gets on the specific vehicle or gets off the specific vehicle at the additional stoppage point. 
     With the program and the information processing method according to one aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to improve convenience of passenger transportation service in which a travel route of a ride-sharing vehicle is determined based on a boarding reservation made by a user. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals denote like elements, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a view illustrating a schematic configuration of an information processing system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an information processing device; 
         FIG. 3  is a view illustrating an example of a screen displayed by the information processing device; 
         FIG. 4  is a view illustrating an example of the screen displayed by the information processing device; 
         FIG. 5  is a view illustrating an example of the screen displayed by the information processing device; 
         FIG. 6  is a view illustrating an example of the screen displayed by the information processing device; 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a server; 
         FIG. 8  is a view illustrating an example of candidate point information stored in the server; 
         FIG. 9  is a view illustrating an example of information about a travel plan of a specific vehicle, the information being stored in the server; 
         FIG. 10  is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the information processing device; and 
         FIG. 11  is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the server. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     The following describes an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     Configuration of Information Processing System 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , the following describes a schematic configuration of an information processing system  1  according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. In the present embodiment, the information processing system  1  is used to provide on-demand bus service. However, the information processing system  1  is not limited to this and may be used to provide given passenger transportation service in which a travel route of a ride-sharing vehicle is determined based on a boarding reservation made by a user. The information processing system  1  includes an information processing device  10 , a specific vehicle  20 , and a server  30 . The information processing device  10 , the specific vehicle  20 , and the server  30  are communicable with each other via a network  40  including a mobile communication network, the Internet, and so on, for example. 
     The information processing device  10  is an information processing device such as a personal computer (PC) or a smartphone, for example. However, the information processing device  10  is not limited to them and may be a given information processing device used by a user. In  FIG. 1 , for simpleness and easiness of description, only two information processing devices  10  are illustrated, but the information processing system  1  may include a given number of information processing devices  10 . 
     The specific vehicle  20  is a passenger transportation vehicle such as a bus to be used in the on-demand bus service, for example. However, the specific vehicle  20  is not limited to this and may be a given vehicle that can be shared by a plurality of users as passengers. In  FIG. 1 , for simpleness and easiness of description, only one specific vehicle  20  is illustrated, but the information processing system  1  may include a plurality of specific vehicles  20 . Further, the specific vehicle  20  may be a vehicle in which automated driving is enabled. The automated driving includes level 1 to level 5 defined by Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), for example. However, the automated driving is not limited to this and may be defined in a given manner. Further, the specific vehicle  20  may transmit, to the server  30 , given information about the specific vehicle  20  such as a position or a traveling state of the specific vehicle  20 , for example, as probe data. The transmission of probe data is performed periodically, for example. However, the transmission of probe data is not limited to this and may be performed at a given timing. 
     The server  30  includes one server device or a plurality of server devices communicable with each other. The server  30  is used by a provider of the on-demand bus service, for example, and manages a travel plan of the specific vehicle  20 . More specifically, the server  30  determines and modifies information about a travel plan of the specific vehicle  20  based on a boarding reservation received from a user. As will be described later, the information about the travel plan is information indicative of a plurality of stoppage points at which the specific vehicle  20  stops so that a passenger gets on or off the specific vehicle  20 , a travel route passing through the stoppage points, and so on, for example. The server  30  can execute a given process related to the travel plan of the specific vehicle  20  in addition to the process of determining and modifying the information about the travel plan. 
     Further, the server  30  may manage a state of the specific vehicle  20 . More specifically, the server  30  can recognize past or current position, traveling state, and so on of the specific vehicle  20  by collecting and accumulating probe data transmitted from the specific vehicle  20 . 
     First described is an outline of the present embodiment. Details of the present embodiment will be described later. Herein, the server  30  determines and stores information about a travel plan of the specific vehicle  20  based on boarding reservations received from a plurality of unspecified users in advance, for example. The information processing device  10  used by a user receives the information about the travel plan of the specific vehicle  20  from the server  30 . The information processing device  10  displays stoppage points and a travel route of the specific vehicle  20  on a screen based on the information. The information processing device  10  waits for a user operation to designate a stoppage point on the screen or a point other than the stoppage points. 
     When the stoppage point is designated, the information processing device  10  transmits, to the server  30 , a first request to modify the travel plan so that the user of the information processing device  10  gets on the specific vehicle  20  or gets off the specific vehicle  20  at the stoppage point. The server  30  thus receiving the first request makes modifications to the travel plan of the specific vehicle  20  and reflects the modifications on the travel plan in accordance with the first request. In such a configuration, as the user of the information processing device  10  designates the stoppage point on the screen, the user can make a boarding reservation of the specific vehicle  20  so that the user gets on or off the specific vehicle  20  at the stoppage point. 
     In the meantime, when the point other than the stoppage points is designated, the information processing device  10  transmits, to the server  30 , a second request to modify the travel plan so that the specific vehicle  20  goes by way of the designated point as an additional stoppage point and the user of the information processing device  10  gets on the specific vehicle  20  or gets off the specific vehicle  20  at the additional stoppage point. The server  30  thus receiving the second request can modify the travel plan of the specific vehicle  20  in accordance with the second request. Accordingly, as the user of the information processing device  10  designates the point other than the stoppage points on the screen, the user can make a boarding reservation of the specific vehicle  20  so that the user gets on or off the specific vehicle  20  at the designated point. 
     As such, in the present embodiment, for example, the user checks stoppage points and a travel route of the specific vehicle  20  at the present moment on the screen of the information processing device  10 , and in a case where a desired stoppage point is included in the stoppage points, the user can make a boarding reservation so that the user gets on or off the specific vehicle  20  at the stoppage point. Even in a case where a desired stoppage point is not included in the stoppage points, the user can make a boarding reservation so that the user gets on or off the specific vehicle  20  at a designated point (that is, an additional stoppage point) other than the stoppage points. This accordingly improves convenience of the passenger transportation service in which a travel route of a ride-sharing vehicle is determined based on a boarding reservation made by a user. 
     Next will be described each constituent of the information processing system  1  in detail. 
     Configuration of Information Processing Device 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the information processing device  10  includes a communication portion  11 , a positioning portion  12 , a display portion  13 , an operating portion  14 , a storage portion  15 , and a controlling portion  16 . 
     The communication portion  11  includes a communication module connected to the network  40 . The communication module corresponds to, for example, mobile telecommunications standards such as 4th Generation (4G) and 5th Generation (5G), wired local area network (LAN) standards, wireless LAN standards, and so on. However, the communication module is not limited to them and may correspond to a given telecommunications standard. In the present embodiment, the information processing device  10  is connected to the network  40  via the communication portion  11 . 
     The positioning portion  12  acquires a position of the information processing device  10 . For example, the positioning portion  12  may include a receiver corresponding to a satellite positioning system. The receiver corresponds to, for example, a global positioning system (GPS). However, the receiver is not limited to this and may correspond to a given satellite positioning system. Alternatively, the positioning portion  12  may acquire the position of the information processing device  10  from the network  40  via the communication portion  11 . 
     The display portion  13  includes a display configured to output information in the form of an image. In the present embodiment, to “output information in the form of an image” includes a case where information is displayed on the screen in the form of a text, a still image, a dynamic image, or the like. Further, the “display” indicates a panel display, an immersive or transmissive head mount display, or the like but is not limited to them. In a case where a transmissive head mount display is employed as the display portion  13 , the “screen” may include an actual landscape observable by a user through the transmissive head mount display. 
     The operating portion  14  includes one or more input interfaces configured to detect an input by a user operation. For example, the input interface included in the operating portion  14  is a physical key, an electrostatic capacitive key, a touch panel, a touchscreen provided integrally with the display of the display portion  13 , a microphone configured to receive a voice input, or the like. However, the input interface is not limited to them. 
     The storage portion  15  includes one or more memories. In the present embodiment, the “memory” is a semiconductor memory, a magnetic memory, an optical memory, or the like but is not limited to them. Each memory included in the storage portion  15  may function as a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory, for example. In the storage portion  15 , given information to be used for operations of the information processing device  10  is stored. For example, in the storage portion  15 , a system program, an application program, map information, and so on may be stored. The information stored in the storage portion  15  may be updatable by information acquired from the network  40  via the communication portion  11 , for example. 
     The controlling portion  16  includes one or more processors. In the present embodiment, the “processor” indicates a general purpose processor, a dedicated processor specialized in a specific process, or the like, but is not limited to them. The controlling portion  16  controls operations of the whole information processing device  10 . 
     For example, the controlling portion  16  receives information about a travel plan of the specific vehicle  20  from the server  30  via the communication portion  11 . As will be described later, the information about the travel plan includes information on a plurality of stoppage points for the specific vehicle  20 , a travel route passing through the stoppage points, and so on, for example. In the present embodiment, each of the stoppage points is selected from a plurality of candidate points (described later). However, each of the stoppage points is not limited to this and may be determined in a given manner. 
     Further, the controlling portion  16  may receive area information from the server  30  via the communication portion  11 . The area information includes, for example, information indicative of at least either one of a stopping prohibition area and a vehicle stoppable area (described later). In the present embodiment, the “area” may indicate a region having a given area on a map or may indicate a point that does not have an area on the map. 
     The stopping prohibition area indicates, for example, an area where vehicles are legally prohibited from stopping (e.g., an area near an intersection, a zebra zone, or the like, an area where vehicles are prohibited from stopping by a mark or a sign, and so on). The vehicle stoppable area indicates an area where a passenger of the specific vehicle  20  can get on and off the specific vehicle  20  other than the stopping prohibition area (e.g., an area where a sidewalk is provided beside a roadway and there is no obstacle such as a fence or a guard rail between the roadway and the sidewalk, and so on). In the present embodiment, the vehicle stoppable area includes a plurality of candidate points. The candidate point is a point as a candidate where the specific vehicle  20  is to stop. 
     Further, the controlling portion  16  determines a reference point on the map. More specifically, the controlling portion  16  determines, as the reference point, a current point based on the position of the information processing device  10  that is acquired by the positioning portion  12  or a designated point based on a user operation on the operating portion  14 . The determination of the reference point may be performed while the map is displayed on the screen of the display portion  13 , for example. 
     Further, the controlling portion  16  may display at least the reference point in a wide area map on the screen of the display portion  13 . Here, the controlling portion  16  may display, in a wide area map on the screen of the display portion  13 , all the stoppage points and the whole travel route of the specific vehicle  20  that are indicated by the information about the travel route and at least either one of the stopping prohibition area and the vehicle stoppable area indicated by the area information, in addition to the reference point. For example, in the example illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a reference point A, 12 candidate points P 01  to P 12  (among them, P 01 , P 05 , P 12 , P 09  surrounded by frames in the figure are also stoppage points), and a travel route (a continuous arrow in the figure) that passes through a departure point B of the specific vehicle  20  and four stoppage points P 01 , P 05 , P 12 , P 09  in this order are displayed in a wide area map on a screen  130 . 
     Further, for example, after the controlling portion  16  displays the wide area map on the screen of the display portion  13 , the controlling portion  16  may display the reference point, a predetermined number of stoppage points selected in an order closer to the reference point, and at least part of the travel route in a narrow area map on the screen of the display portion  13 . Here, the controlling portion  16  may display at least either one of the stopping prohibition area and the vehicle stoppable area indicated by the area information in a narrow area map on the screen of the display portion  13 , in addition to the reference point, one or more stoppage points, and at least part of the travel route. Alternatively, the controlling portion  16  may display a predetermined number of candidate points selected in an order closer to the reference point in a narrow area map on the screen of the display portion  13 , in addition to the reference point, one or more stoppage points, and at least part of the travel route. For example, in the example illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the reference point A, three candidate points P 04 , P 05 , P 07  that are placed near the reference point A (among them, P 05  surrounded by a frame in the figure is also a stoppage point), and part of the travel route (a continuous line passing through the stoppage point P 05  in the figure) are displayed in a narrow area map on the screen  130 . Here, screen transition from a wide area map to a narrow area map is performed by a technique in which the wide area map is zoomed up and changed to the narrow area map, for example. However, the screen transition is not limited to this and may be performed in a given manner. 
     Further, the controlling portion  16  waits for a user operation to designate a stoppage point on the screen or a point other than the stoppage points. 
     When the stoppage point on the screen is designated by the user operation, the controlling portion  16  transmits, to the server  30  via the communication portion  11 , the first request to modify the travel plan so that the user of the information processing device  10  gets on the specific vehicle  20  or gets off the specific vehicle  20  at the stoppage point. The first request may include, for example, a user ID of the user of the information processing device  10 , a stoppage point ID of the designated stoppage point, data indicating whether the user is to get on or get off the specific vehicle  20 , and data as identification of the first request. 
     In the meantime, when the point other than the stoppage points on the screen is designated by the user operation, the controlling portion  16  transmits, to the server  30  via the communication portion  11 , the second request to modify the travel plan so that the specific vehicle  20  goes by way of the designated point as an additional stoppage point and the user of the information processing device  10  gets on the specific vehicle  20  or gets off the specific vehicle  20  at the additional stoppage point. The second request may include, for example, the user ID of the user of the information processing device  10 , positional information of the designated point, data indicating whether the user is to get on or get off the specific vehicle  20 , and data as identification of the second request. 
     Note that, in the present embodiment, the point other than the stoppage points is selectable from one or more candidate points displayed on the screen. However, designation of the point other than the stoppage points is not limited to this example, and a given technique can be employed. For example, the point other than the stoppage points may be selectable from an area other than the stopping prohibition area on the map displayed on the screen. Further, for example, the point other than the stoppage points may be also selectable from the vehicle stoppable area on the map displayed on the screen. Further, for example, the point other than the stoppage points may be selectable from an area other than a particular area on the map displayed on the screen. Here, the “particular area” may be an area within a predetermined distance from a stoppage point or a divisional area including a stoppage point among a plurality of divisional areas divided on the map. With such a configuration, the probability that a new stoppage point is added within a distance range relatively close to an existing stoppage point is reduced. 
     Further, the controlling portion  16  waits for a response from the server  30  after the controlling portion  16  transmits the second request. As the response from the server  30  receiving the second request, the controlling portion  16  can receive, from the server  30  via the communication portion  11 , information about a travel plan modified based on the second request or a notification indicative of rejection of the second request. 
     When the controlling portion  16  receives the notification of rejection of the second request, the controlling portion  16  waits again for a user operation to designate a stoppage point on the screen or a point other than the stoppage points. Here, the controlling portion  16  may wait again for the user operation after the controlling portion  16  displays, on the screen of the display portion  13 , a message indicating that the second request having been rejected, for example. 
     In the meantime, when the controlling portion  16  receives the information about the modified travel plan, the controlling portion  16  displays, on the screen, the stoppage points, the additional stoppage point, and at least part of the modified travel route that passes through the stoppage points and the additional stoppage point, based on the information. 
     For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the reference point A, three candidate points P 04 , P 05 , P 07  that are placed near the reference point A (among them, P 05  and P 04  surrounded by frames in the figure are also a stoppage point and an additional stoppage point, respectively), part of the travel route before modification (a continuous line passing through the stoppage point P 05  in the figure), and part of the modified travel route (a broken line passing through the stoppage points P 04 , P 05  in the figure) may be displayed in a narrow area map on the screen  130 . 
     Alternatively, for example, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the reference point A, the  12  candidate points P 01  to P 12  (among them, P 01 , P 05 , P 12 , P 09  surrounded by frames in the figure are also stoppage points and P 04  is also an additional stoppage point), the travel route before modification (a continuous arrow in the figure) that passes through the departure point B of the specific vehicle  20  and four stoppage points P 01 , P 05 , P 12 , P 09  in this order, and the modified travel route (a broken arrow in the figure) that passes through the departure point B and five stoppage points P 01 , P 04 , P 05 , P 12 , P 09  including the additional stoppage point in this order may be displayed in a wide area map on the screen  130 . 
     After the controlling portion  16  displays, on the screen, the stoppage points, the additional stoppage point, and at least part of the modified travel route as described above, the controlling portion  16  waits for a user operation to select reflection or discard of modifications to the travel plan. 
     When the reflection of modifications on the travel plan is selected, the controlling portion  16  transmits, to the server  30  via the communication portion  11 , a third request to reflect the modifications on the travel plan. The third request may include, for example, the user ID of the user of the information processing device  10  and data as identification of the third request. 
     In the meantime, when the discard of modifications to the travel plan is selected by the user operation, the controlling portion  16  transmits, to the server  30  via the communication portion  11 , a fourth request to discard the modifications to the travel plan. The fourth request may include, for example, the user ID of the user of the information processing device  10  and data as identification of the fourth request. 
     With such a configuration, the user can determine whether or not to reflect the modifications on the travel plan, after the user checks the modified travel route and so on on the screen of the information processing device  10 . 
     Configuration of Server 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the server  30  includes a server communication portion  31 , a server storage portion  32 , and a server controlling portion  33 . 
     The server communication portion  31  includes a communication module connected to the network  40 . The communication module corresponds to the wired LAN standards, for example. However, the communication module is not limited to this and may correspond to given telecommunications standards. In the present embodiment, the server  30  is connected to the network  40  via the server communication portion  31 . 
     The server storage portion  32  includes one or more memories. Each memory included in the server storage portion  32  may function as a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory, for example. In the server storage portion  32 , given information to be used for operations of the server  30  is stored. For example, in the server storage portion  32 , a system program, an application program, area information, a vehicle database, a reservation database, and so on may be stored. The information stored in the server storage portion  32  may be updatable by information acquired from the network  40  via the server communication portion  31 , for example. 
     The area information includes information indicative of at least either one of the stopping prohibition area and the vehicle stoppable area as described above. Further, the vehicle stoppable area may include a plurality of candidate points. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the area information may include a candidate point ID and positional information for each of the candidate points as the information on the vehicle stoppable area. 
     In the vehicle database, probe data periodically transmitted from the specific vehicle  20  is stored and accumulated, for example. The probe data includes, for example, information on a position and a traveling state of the specific vehicle  20 . However, the probe data is not limited to this and may include given information about the specific vehicle  20 . The server  30  can recognize past or current position, traveling state, and so on of the specific vehicle  20  by referring to the vehicle database. 
     In the reservation database, given information about a boarding reservation of the on-demand bus service is stored. For example, in the reservation database, data in which a user ID of a user who makes a boarding reservation is associated with a vehicle ID of the specific vehicle  20  that the user is to board is stored. Further, in the reservation database, information about a travel plan of the specific vehicle  20  is stored. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the information about the travel plan includes a stoppage point ID of each stoppage point where the specific vehicle  20  stops, a departure time to leave a corresponding stoppage point, a get-on user ID of a user who gets on the specific vehicle  20  at a corresponding stoppage point, a get-off user ID of a user who gets off the specific vehicle  20  at a corresponding stoppage point, and a travel route that goes by way of each stoppage point. However, the information about the travel plan is not limited to this. Here, the stoppage point ID may be a candidate point ID of a candidate point determined as a stoppage point or may be positional information of a point determined as the stoppage point. Information stored in the reservation database can dynamically change each time a boarding reservation is made by a user. 
     The server controlling portion  33  includes one or more processors. The server controlling portion  33  controls operations of the whole server  30 . 
     For example, the server controlling portion  33  stores the area information in the server storage portion  32 . The area information may be acquired from the network  40  via the server communication portion  31 , for example. Further, the server controlling portion  33  determines information about a travel plan of the specific vehicle  20  and stores the information in the server storage portion  32 . The determination and storage of the information about the travel plan may be performed when the server controlling portion  33  receives boarding reservations from a given number of users, for example. 
     Further, the server controlling portion  33  transmits the information about the travel plan and the area information to the information processing device  10  via the server communication portion  31 . After the transmission of those pieces of information, the server controlling portion  33  waits for the first request or the second request from the information processing device  10 . 
     When the server controlling portion  33  receives the first request, the server controlling portion  33  makes modifications to the travel plan and reflects the modifications on the travel plan so that the user of the information processing device  10  gets on the specific vehicle  20  or gets off the specific vehicle  20  at a stoppage point designated by the first request. Note that to make modifications to the travel plan may include addition, change, or deletion of information with respect to the information about the travel plan. Further, to reflect the modifications on the travel plan may include updating the information about the travel plan stored in the reservation database of the server storage portion  32  to modified contents. More specifically, when the server controlling portion  33  receives the first request, the server controlling portion  33  adds, to the information about the travel plan, the user ID of the user of the information processing device  10  as a get-on user ID or a get-off user ID corresponding to the designated stoppage point and reflects the addition. 
     In the meantime, when the server controlling portion  33  receives the second request, the server controlling portion  33  determines whether or not to cause the specific vehicle  20  to go by way of a point designated by the second request as an additional stoppage point. A given technique can be employed for the determination. For example, in a case where a departure time of at least one of the stoppage points is delayed more than a predetermined standard when the designated point is added as a stoppage point, the server controlling portion  33  may determine not to cause the specific vehicle  20  to go by way of the designated point as the additional stoppage point, and in other cases, the server controlling portion  33  may determine to cause the specific vehicle  20  to go by way of the designated point. Alternatively, in a case where the point designated by the second request is within the stopping prohibition area or is not within the vehicle stoppable area, the server controlling portion  33  may determine not to cause the specific vehicle  20  to go by way of the designated point as the additional stoppage point, and in other cases, the server controlling portion  33  may determine to cause the specific vehicle  20  to go by way of the designated point. 
     In a case where the server controlling portion  33  determines not to cause the specific vehicle  20  to go by way of the point designated by the second request as the additional stoppage point, the server controlling portion  33  notifies the information processing device  10  of rejection of the second request via the server communication portion  31 . 
     In the meantime, in a case where the server controlling portion  33  determines to cause the specific vehicle  20  to go by way of the point designated by the second request as the additional stoppage point, the server controlling portion  33  modifies the travel plan so that the specific vehicle  20  goes by way of the point designated by the second request as the additional stoppage point and the user of the information processing device  10  gets on the specific vehicle  20  or gets off the specific vehicle  20  at the additional stoppage point. More specifically, the server controlling portion  33  adds a stoppage point ID corresponding to the designated point (that is, the additional stoppage point), a departure time, and a get-on user ID or a get-off user ID to the information about the travel plan and makes modifications to the travel route. Note that, at this time point, the modifications have not been reflected on the travel plan yet. The server controlling portion  33  transmits information about a modified travel plan to the information processing device  10  via the server communication portion  31 . After the transmission of the information, the server controlling portion  33  waits for the third request or the fourth request from the information processing device  10 . 
     When the server controlling portion  33  receives the third request, the server controlling portion  33  reflects the modifications on the travel plan. In the meantime, when the server controlling portion  33  receives the fourth request, the server controlling portion  33  discards the modifications to the travel plan. Due to the discard of the modifications, the information about the travel plan stored in the reservation database of the server storage portion  32  is maintained to have contents before modification. 
     Operation Procedure of Information Processing Device 
     With reference to  FIG. 10 , the following describes the procedure of an operation of the information processing device  10 . 
     Step S 100 : the controlling portion  16  receives information about a travel plan of the specific vehicle  20  and area information from the server  30  via the communication portion  11 . 
     Step S 101 : the controlling portion  16  determines a reference point on a map. More specifically, the controlling portion  16  determines, as the reference point, a current point based on the position of the information processing device  10  that is acquired by the positioning portion  12  or a designated point based on a user operation on the operating portion  14 . 
     Step S 102 : the controlling portion  16  displays at least the reference point in a wide area map on the screen of the display portion  13 . 
     Step S 103 : after the controlling portion  16  displays the wide area map in step S 102  on the screen of the display portion  13 , the controlling portion  16  displays the reference point, a predetermined number of stoppage points selected in an order closer to the reference point, and at least part of a travel route in a narrow area map on the screen of the display portion  13 . 
     Step S 104 : the controlling portion  16  waits for a user operation to designate a stoppage point on the screen or a point other than the stoppage points. 
     Step S 105 : the controlling portion  16  determines whether the stoppage point on the screen is designated by the user operation in step S 104  or not. When the controlling portion  16  determines that the stoppage point on the screen is designated (step S 105 —Yes), the process advances to step S 106 . In the meantime, when the controlling portion  16  determines that the stoppage point on the screen is not designated, that is, when the controlling portion  16  determines that the point other than the stoppage points on the screen is designated (step S 105 —No), the process advances to step S 107 . 
     Step S 106 : the controlling portion  16  transmits, to the server  30  via the communication portion  11 , the first request to modify the travel plan so that the user of the information processing device  10  gets on the specific vehicle  20  or gets off the specific vehicle  20  at the designated stoppage point. After that, the process is ended. 
     Step S 107 : the controlling portion  16  transmits, to the server  30  via the communication portion  11 , the second request to modify the travel plan so that the specific vehicle  20  goes by way of the designated point as an additional stoppage point and the user of the information processing device  10  gets on the specific vehicle  20  or gets off the specific vehicle  20  at the additional stoppage point. 
     Step S 108 : the controlling portion  16  waits for a response from the server  30  after the controlling portion  16  transmits the second request. As the response from the server  30  receiving the second request, the controlling portion  16  can receive, from the server  30  via the communication portion  11 , information about a travel plan modified based on the second request or a notification indicative of rejection of the second request. 
     Step S 109 : the controlling portion  16  determines whether the controlling portion  16  receives the information about the modified travel plan in step S 108  or not. When the controlling portion  16  determines that the controlling portion  16  does not receive the information about the modified travel plan, that is, when the controlling portion  16  determines that the controlling portion  16  receives the notification of rejection of the second request (step S 109 —No), the process returns to step S 104 . In the meantime, when the controlling portion  16  determines that the controlling portion  16  receives the information about the modified travel plan (step S 109 —Yes), the process advances to step S 110 . 
     Step S 110 : the controlling portion  16  displays, on the screen, the stoppage points, the additional stoppage point, and at least part of the modified travel route that passes through the stoppage points and the additional stoppage point, based on the information about the modified travel plan. 
     Step S 111 : the controlling portion  16  waits for a user operation to select reflection or discard of modifications to the travel plan. 
     Step S 112 : the controlling portion  16  determines whether the reflection of the modifications on the travel plan is selected or not. When the controlling portion  16  determines that the reflection of the modifications is selected (step S 112 —Yes), the process advances to step S 113 . In the meantime, when the reflection of the modifications is not selected, that is, when the discard of the modifications is selected (step S 112 —No), the process advances to step S 114 . 
     Step S 113 : the controlling portion  16  transmits, to the server  30  via the communication portion  11 , the third request to reflect the modifications on the travel plan. Then, the process is ended. 
     Step S 114 : the controlling portion  16  transmits, to the server  30  via the communication portion  11 , the fourth request to discard the modifications to the travel plan. After that, the process returns to step S 104 . 
     Operation Procedure of Server 
     With reference to  FIG. 11 , the following describes the procedure of an operation of the server  30 . 
     Step S 200 : the server controlling portion  33  transmits information about a travel plan and area information to the information processing device  10  via the server communication portion  31 . 
     Step S 201 : the server controlling portion  33  waits for the first request or the second request from the information processing device  10 . 
     Step S 202 : the server controlling portion  33  determines whether the server controlling portion  33  receives the first request or not. When the server controlling portion  33  determines that the server controlling portion  33  receives the first request (step S 202 —Yes), the process advances to step S 203 . In the meantime, when the server controlling portion  33  determines that the server controlling portion  33  does not receive the first request, that is, when the server controlling portion  33  determines that the server controlling portion  33  receives the second request (step S 202 —No), the process advances to step S 204 . 
     Step S 203 : the server controlling portion  33  makes modifications to the travel plan and reflects the modifications on the travel plan so that the user of the information processing device  10  gets on the specific vehicle  20  or gets off the specific vehicle  20  at a stoppage point designated by the first request. After that, the process is ended. 
     Step S 204 : the server controlling portion  33  determines whether or not to cause the specific vehicle  20  to go by way of a point designated by the second request as an additional stoppage point. When the server controlling portion  33  determines to cause the specific vehicle  20  to go by way of the additional stoppage point (step S 204 —Yes), the process advances to step S 206 . In the meantime, when the server controlling portion  33  determines not to cause the specific vehicle  20  to go by way of the additional stoppage point (step S 204 —No), the process advances to step S 205 . 
     Step S 205 : the server controlling portion  33  notifies the information processing device  10  of rejection of the second request via the server communication portion  31 . After that, the process returns to step S 201 . 
     Step S 206 : the server controlling portion  33  modifies the travel plan so that the specific vehicle  20  goes by way of the point designated by the second request as the additional stoppage point and the user of the information processing device  10  gets on the specific vehicle  20  or gets off the specific vehicle  20  at the additional stoppage point. 
     Step S 207 : the server controlling portion  33  transmits information about a modified travel plan to the information processing device  10  via the server communication portion  31 . 
     Step S 208 : the server controlling portion  33  waits for the third request or the fourth request from the information processing device  10 . 
     Step S 209 : the server controlling portion  33  determines whether the server controlling portion  33  receives the third request or not. When the server controlling portion  33  determines that the server controlling portion  33  receives the third request (step S 209 —Yes), the process advances to step S 210 . In the meantime, when the server controlling portion  33  determines that the server controlling portion  33  does not receive the third request, that is, when the server controlling portion  33  determines that the server controlling portion  33  receives the fourth request (step S 209 —No), the process advances to step S 211 . 
     Step S 210 : the server controlling portion  33  reflects modifications on the travel plan. After that, the process is ended. 
     Step S 211 : the server controlling portion  33  discards the modifications to the travel plan. After that, the process returns to step S 201 . 
     As has been described above, in the information processing system  1  according to the present embodiment, the information processing device  10  displays, on the screen, stoppage points of the specific vehicle  20  and at least part of a travel route that passes through the stoppage points, based on information about a travel plan of the specific vehicle  20 , the information being received from the server  30 . The information processing device  10  waits for a user operation to designate a stoppage point on the screen or a point other than the stoppage points. When the stoppage point on the screen is designated by the user operation, the information processing device  10  transmits, to the server  30 , the first request to modify the travel plan so that the user of the information processing device  10  gets on the specific vehicle  20  or gets off the specific vehicle  20  at the stoppage point. In the meantime, when the point other than the stoppage points is designated by the user operation, the information processing device  10  transmits, to the server  30 , the second request to modify the travel plan so that the specific vehicle  20  goes by way of the designated point as an additional stoppage point and the user of the information processing device  10  gets on the specific vehicle  20  or gets off the specific vehicle  20  at the additional stoppage point. 
     In such a configuration, for example, the user checks the stoppage points and the travel route of the specific vehicle  20  at the present moment on the screen of the information processing device  10 , and when a desired stoppage point is included in the stoppage points, the user can make a boarding reservation so that the user gets on or off the specific vehicle  20  at the stoppage point. Even when the desired stoppage point is not included in the stoppage points, the user can make a boarding reservation so that the user gets on or off the specific vehicle  20  at a designated point (that is, an additional stoppage point) other than the stoppage points. This accordingly improves convenience of passenger transportation service in which a travel route of a ride-sharing vehicle is determined based on a boarding reservation made by a user. 
     The present disclosure is described based on the drawings and the embodiment, but it should be noted that a person skilled in the art can easily make various modifications and alterations based on this disclosure. Accordingly, it should be noted that these modifications and alterations are included in the scope of the present disclosure. For example, functions and the like included in means, steps, and the like can be rearranged within a range where the rearrangement is not logically inconsistent with the above embodiment, and a plurality of means, steps, and the like may be combined into one or may be divided. 
     Further, a general-purpose information processing device such as a computer, for example, can be also functionalized as the information processing device  10  or the server  30  in the above embodiment. More specifically, a program that describes process contents to realize each function of the information processing device  10  or the server  30  in the embodiment is stored in a memory of the information processing device, and the program is read and executed by a processor of the information processing device. Accordingly, the disclosure according to the present embodiment is also achievable as a program executable by a processor.