Patent Publication Number: US-2022230110-A1

Title: Vehicle allocation system and vehicle allocation method

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a vehicle allocation system and a vehicle allocation method. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Vehicle reservation applications have been conventionally proposed that determine whether it is necessary to reserve a vehicle for a user of a vehicle allocation service on the basis of at least one of information on the user&#39;s life habit and information on the user&#39;s plan to go out and, when it is determined that a vehicle reservation is needed, a vehicle is automatically reserved (see Patent Literature 1, for example). 
     The vehicle reservation application automatically reserves a vehicle when it is determined that a user cannot reach a destination within a time period from a planned departure time to a planned target time (a planned time of arrival at the destination) of the user. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     [Patent Literature 1] 
     Japanese Translation of PCT International Application Publication No. 2018-504724 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     When a vehicle is reserved based on a schedule of a user such as the user&#39;s life information and information on plans to go out as in the case of the conventional vehicle reservation application described above, the user&#39;s schedule may be changed just before the time for which the vehicle is reserved. Such a last-minute change made to the user&#39;s schedule causes problems that the vehicle that has been allocated becomes useless and that the utilization rate of the allocated target vehicle will decrease. 
     The present invention has been achieved in view of the background described above and has an object of providing a vehicle allocation system and a vehicle allocation method that are capable of inhibiting decrease of the utilization rate of an allocated target vehicle when the vehicle allocation is planned based on a schedule of a user. 
     Solution to Problem 
     In an aspect to achieve the object described above, provided is a vehicle allocation system including: a schedule acquisition unit that acquires a schedule of a first user who uses a vehicle allocation service; a vehicle allocation plan creation unit that recognizes a travel plan of the first user in the schedule and creates a vehicle allocation plan for a target vehicle to be allocated for the first user, the vehicle allocation plan being created based on the travel plan; a vehicle allocation processing unit that executes processing for allocating the target vehicle for the first user, the target vehicle being allocated based on the vehicle allocation plan; a travel plan change recognition unit that recognizes a change of the travel plan of the first user, the change potentially occurring between when the vehicle allocation plan is created and when the first user starts using the target vehicle; and a vehicle allocation plan change unit that changes the vehicle allocation plan when the travel plan change recognition unit recognizes the change of the travel plan of the first user, the vehicle allocation plan being changed based on the change of the travel plan of the first user. 
     The vehicle allocation system described above may be configured such that the schedule acquisition unit continues to acquire the schedule at a predefined timing after the vehicle allocation plan is created by the vehicle allocation plan creation unit, and the travel plan change recognition unit recognizes the change of the travel plan of the first user, the change being recognized based on the schedule acquired by the schedule acquisition unit after the vehicle allocation plan is created by the vehicle allocation plan creation unit. 
     The vehicle allocation system described above may be configured such that the vehicle allocation plan creation unit recognizes a planned use start location and a planned use start time that are for the first user to start using the target vehicle and creates the vehicle allocation plan by including an act of waiting by the target vehicle, the planned use start location and the planned use start time being recognized based on the travel plan, the act of waiting being for the target vehicle to be caused to wait at the planned use start location for a predefined waiting time period at maximum from a wait start time that is based on the planned use start time, and the vehicle allocation plan change unit changes an execution condition of the act of waiting by the target vehicle in the vehicle allocation plan when the travel plan change recognition unit recognizes the change of the travel plan of the first user, the execution condition of the act of waiting by the target vehicle being changed based on the change of the travel plan of the first user. 
     The vehicle allocation system described above may be configured to include a planned-use-start-time notification unit that transmits planned-use-start-time information to a first user terminal used by the first user, the planned-use-start-time information indicating the planned use start time, wherein the travel plan change recognition unit recognizes a delay of the first user with respect to the planned use start time as the change of the travel plan of the first user, and the vehicle allocation plan change unit changes the execution condition of the act of waiting by the target vehicle, the execution condition being changed based on the delay of the first user, the delay being recognized by the travel plan change recognition unit. 
     The vehicle allocation system described above may be configured such that the vehicle allocation plan creation unit creates the vehicle allocation plan by including allocation of the target vehicle for a second user who is other than the first user, and when the travel plan change recognition unit recognizes the delay of the first user with respect to the planned use start time, the vehicle allocation plan change unit either changes the execution condition of the act of waiting by the target vehicle or cancels the allocation of the target vehicle for the first user in the vehicle allocation plan, the execution condition being changed or the allocation being canceled based on a situation of the delay and a situation of the allocation of the target vehicle for the second user after the allocation of the target vehicle for the first user in the vehicle allocation plan. 
     The vehicle allocation system described above may be configured such that, when the travel plan change recognition unit recognizes the delay of the first user with respect to the planned use start time and when the allocation of the target vehicle for the second user is planned after the allocation of the target vehicle for the first user in the vehicle allocation plan, the vehicle allocation plan change unit determines whether it is possible to allocate the target vehicle for the second user according to the vehicle allocation plan provided that the target vehicle is caused to wait at the planned use start location from the planned use start time for a delay time period of the first user, and when it is not possible to allocate the target vehicle for the second user according to the vehicle allocation plan, the vehicle allocation plan change unit cancels the allocation of the target vehicle for the first user by the vehicle allocation plan. 
     The vehicle allocation system described above may be configured such that, when the travel plan change recognition unit recognizes the delay of the first user with respect to the planned use start time and when the allocation of the target vehicle for the second user is planned after the allocation of the target vehicle for the first user in the vehicle allocation plan, the vehicle allocation plan change unit determines whether it is possible to cause the target vehicle to arrive at the planned use start location before an extended time that is later than the planned use start time by a delay time period of the first user provided that the allocation of the target vehicle for the second user is performed first, and when it is determined that it is possible to cause the target vehicle to arrive at the planned use start location before the extended time, the vehicle allocation plan change unit changes the vehicle allocation plan such that the target vehicle is allocated for the second user first and then the target vehicle is allocated for the first user. 
     The vehicle allocation system described above may be configured to include a travel situation recognition unit that recognizes a travel situation of the target vehicle, wherein, when the travel situation recognition unit recognizes a delay of the target vehicle with respect to the planned use start time in arriving at the planned use start location, the vehicle allocation plan change unit transmits wait possibility inquiry information to the first user terminal, the wait possibility inquiry information inquiring whether to wait for arrival of the target vehicle even in a case where the target vehicle is delayed, and when response information indicating a response to the inquiry transmitted by the first user terminal is received, the vehicle allocation plan change unit changes the vehicle allocation plan according to the response indicated by the response information. 
     The vehicle allocation system described above may be configured such that, when the first user does not start using the target vehicle within a first predefined time period from the planned use start time, the target vehicle having arrived at the planned use start location due to the processing executed by the vehicle allocation processing unit according to the vehicle allocation plan, and when no delay notification information providing a notification of a delay of the first user is received from the first user terminal, the vehicle allocation plan change unit cancels the allocation of the target vehicle for the first user in the vehicle allocation plan. 
     The vehicle allocation system described above may be configured such that, when it is difficult to achieve travel, by using the target vehicle, within a limited time period according to the travel plan of the first user, the vehicle allocation plan change unit transmits alternative means of transportation information to the first user terminal, the alternative other means of transportation information providing guidance on use of means of transportation other than the target vehicle. 
     The vehicle allocation system described above may be configured such that, when the vehicle allocation plan change unit cancels the allocation of the target vehicle for the first user in the vehicle allocation plan, the vehicle allocation plan change unit transmits alternative means of transportation information to the first user terminal, the alternative means of transportation information providing guidance on use of means of transportation other than the target vehicle. 
     The vehicle allocation system described above may be configured to include a user evaluation unit that evaluates the first user, the first user being evaluated based on a use situation of the vehicle allocation service by the first user, wherein the vehicle allocation plan change unit changes the execution condition of the act of waiting by the target vehicle, the execution condition being changed based on a result of evaluation of the first user by the user evaluation unit. 
     The vehicle allocation system described above may be configured such that the user evaluation unit evaluates the first user, the first user being evaluated based on a frequency of delays of the first user with respect to the planned use start time or a frequency of cancellation of allocation of the target vehicle by the first user. 
     The vehicle allocation system described above may be configured such that the user evaluation unit evaluates the first user, the first user being evaluated based on the frequency of delays of the first user with respect to the planned use start time, and the vehicle allocation plan creation unit creates the vehicle allocation plan by selecting for the first user an allocation vehicle as the target vehicle from among allocation vehicles to be allocated by the vehicle allocation service, the frequency of delays of the first user with respect to the planned use start time being rated by the user evaluation unit as being equal to or greater than a first predefined level, the allocation vehicle to be selected having no allocation plan for a third user after the allocation for the first user or having a time period equal to or greater than a second predefined time period available from the allocation for the first user to the allocation for the subsequent third user, the third user being other than the first user. 
     The vehicle allocation system described above may be configured to include a vehicle allocation use cost setting unit that sets a use cost of the vehicle allocation service higher for the first user than for a fourth user, the frequency of delays of the first user with respect to the planned use start time or the frequency of cancellation of allocation of the target vehicle by the first user being rated by the user evaluation unit as being equal to or greater than a second predefined level, the frequency of delays of the fourth user or the frequency of cancellation by the fourth user being less than the second predefined level. 
     In another aspect to achieve the object described above, provided is a vehicle allocation method executable by a computer, the method including: a schedule acquisition step of the computer acquiring a schedule of a first user who uses a vehicle allocation service; a vehicle allocation plan creation step of the computer recognizing a travel plan of the first user in the schedule and creating a vehicle allocation plan for a target vehicle to be allocated for the first user, the vehicle allocation plan being created based on the travel plan; a vehicle allocation processing step of the computer executing processing for allocating the target vehicle for the first user, the target vehicle being allocated based on the vehicle allocation plan; a travel plan change recognition step of the computer recognizing a change of the travel plan of the first user, the change potentially occurring between when the vehicle allocation plan is created and when the first user starts using the target vehicle; and a vehicle allocation plan change step of the computer changing the vehicle allocation plan when the change of the travel plan of the first user is recognized in the travel plan change recognition step, the vehicle allocation plan being changed based on the change of the travel plan of the first user. 
     In another aspect to achieve the object described above, provided is a vehicle allocation system including: a schedule acquisition unit that accesses a storage device to acquire a schedule of a first user who uses a vehicle allocation service, the storage device having stored the schedule in the storage device; a vehicle allocation plan creation unit that executes processing of recognizing a travel plan of the first user in the schedule and creating a vehicle allocation plan for a target vehicle to be allocated for the first user, the vehicle allocation plan being created based on the travel plan; a vehicle allocation processing unit that executes processing for allocating the target vehicle for the first user, the target vehicle being allocated based on the vehicle allocation plan; a travel plan change recognition unit that executes processing of recognizing a change of the travel plan of the first user, the change potentially occurring between when the vehicle allocation plan is created and when the first user starts using the target vehicle; and a vehicle allocation plan change unit that executes processing of changing the vehicle allocation plan when the travel plan change recognition unit recognizes the change of the travel plan of the first user, the vehicle allocation plan being changed based on the change of the travel plan of the first user. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     In the vehicle allocation system described above, the vehicle allocation plan creation unit creates a vehicle allocation plan for a target vehicle to be allocated for a user who uses a vehicle allocation service on the basis of a schedule of the user, and the vehicle allocation processing unit executes the processing for allocating the target vehicle on the basis of the vehicle allocation plan. When the travel plan change recognition unit recognizes a change of a travel plan of the user, the vehicle allocation plan change unit changes the vehicle allocation plan on the basis of the change of the travel plan. When the travel plan of the user is changed after the vehicle allocation plan is created based on the action information of the user, the vehicle allocation plan is changed according to the change of the travel plan as described above; thus, the allocation of the target vehicle can be prevented from becoming useless, and the utilization rate of the target vehicle can be inhibited from decreasing. Similar operational advantages can be obtained when the vehicle allocation method is used. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram for describing an aspect of allocation of a target vehicle by a vehicle allocation system. 
         FIG. 2  is a configuration diagram of the vehicle allocation system. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram for describing a schedule of a user and a vehicle allocation plan. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram for describing a price plan based on evaluation of the user. 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating processing of creating and changing the vehicle allocation plan. 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating processing performed when a change of a travel plan of the user is recognized. 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating processing performed when arrival of the target vehicle is delayed. 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating processing performed for cancellation by the user without notice. 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram for describing an arrival delay guidance screen for providing a notification of an arrival delay of the target vehicle and inquiring whether it is necessary to cancel the vehicle allocation. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     1. Aspect of Allocation of Target Vehicle by Vehicle Allocation System 
     An aspect of allocation of a target vehicle by a vehicle allocation system  1  according to the present embodiment is described with reference to  FIG. 1 . The vehicle allocation system  1  arranges a rideshare vehicle, as means of transportation between locations, for a user who has registered with a vehicle allocation service. The vehicle allocation system  1  includes: an allocation vehicle DB (database)  32  that has stored therein information on rideshare vehicles managed by the vehicle allocation system  1 ; a user DB  33  that has stored therein information on a user; and a vehicle allocation plan DB  34  that has stored therein a vehicle allocation plan for a rideshare vehicle. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a situation where the vehicle allocation system  1  arranges travel using a target vehicle  111  for a first user U 1  from a workplace  200  of the first user U 1  to a home  300  of the first user U 1 , and for a second user U 2  from a workplace  210  of the second user U 2  to a home  310  of the second user U 2 . The first user U 1  manages a schedule of the first user U 1  using a scheduler application executed by a first user terminal  91 , and information on the schedule of the first user U 1  is uploaded by the scheduler application to a scheduler server  500  as needed. Similarly, the second user U 2  manages a schedule of the second user U 2  using a scheduler application executed by a second user terminal  92 , and information on the schedule of the second user U 2  is uploaded by the scheduler application to the scheduler server  500  as needed. 
     The vehicle allocation system  1  accesses the scheduler server  500  and recognizes the schedules of the first user U 1  and the second user U 2  to thereby recognize travel plans of the first user U 1  and the second user U 2 . Then, the vehicle allocation system  1  creates a vehicle allocation plan for the target vehicle  111  on the basis of the travel plans of the first user U 1  and the second user U 2 , the target vehicle  111  being selected from among rideshare vehicles  110  that are on standby at an allocation vehicle station  100 . The vehicle allocation system  1  transmits vehicle allocation plan information to the target vehicle  111 . 
     The target vehicle  111  includes a vehicle controller  120  that controls an operation of the target vehicle  111 , and the vehicle controller  120  causes the target vehicle  111  to travel according to the vehicle allocation plan information received from the vehicle allocation system  1 . The target vehicle  111  may be an autonomous vehicle or a vehicle that is driven by a driver operation. 
     In an example of  FIG. 1 , the target vehicle  111  travels according to the vehicle allocation plan along a route Rt, the route Rt sequentially passing from a point P 1  where the allocation vehicle station  100  is located, to a point P 2  where the workplace  200  of the first user U 1  is located, to a point P 3  where the home  300  of the first user U 1  is located, to a point P 4  where the workplace  210  of the second user U 2  is located, to a point P 5  where the home  310  of the second user U 2  is located, and to the point P 1  where the allocation vehicle station  100  is located. The first user U 1  travels on-board the target vehicle  111  in a section from P 2  to P 3 , and the second user U 2  travels on-board the target vehicle  111  in a section from P 4  to P 5 . 
     The vehicle allocation system  1  executes processing of changing the vehicle allocation plan when the travel plan of the first user U 1  is changed during a time period from the creation of the vehicle allocation plan of the target vehicle  111  to the start of use of the target vehicle  111  by the first user U 1  and when a delay in arrival of the target vehicle  111  is predicted. The following mainly describes this processing. 
     2. Configuration of Vehicle Allocation System 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2 to 4 , a configuration of the vehicle allocation system  1  is described below. The vehicle allocation system  1  is a computer system that configures a CPU (central processing unit)  10 , a memory  30  (corresponding to a storage device of the present invention), a communication portion  40 , and the like. The vehicle allocation system  1  communicates via the communication portion  40  with the first user terminal  91  used by the first user U 1 , the second user terminal  92  used by the second user U 2 , and the vehicle controller  120  of the target vehicle  111 . The vehicle controller  120  may be an in-vehicle terminal provided in the target vehicle  111  or a communication terminal carried by a driver of the target vehicle  111 . 
     The vehicle allocation system  1  also communicates via the communication portion  40  with a traffic information server  400  and the scheduler server  500 . The traffic information server  400  collects information on traffic restrictions, traffic jams, weather, transportation delays, and the like and supplies the information to the vehicle allocation system  1 . The scheduler server  500  supplies the information on the schedules of the first user U 1  and the second user U 2  to the vehicle allocation system  1 , as described above. 
     The memory  30  has stored therein a controlling program  31  of the vehicle allocation system  1  in addition to the allocation vehicle DB  32 , the user DB  33 , and the vehicle allocation plan DB  34  described above. The CPU  10  reads and executes the controlling program  31  to thereby function as an allocation vehicle registration unit  11 , a user registration unit  12 , a schedule acquisition unit  13 , a vehicle allocation plan creation unit  14 , a vehicle allocation processing unit  15 , a travel plan change recognition unit  16 , a vehicle allocation plan change unit  17 , a planned-use-start-time notification unit  18 , a travel situation recognition unit  19 , a user evaluation unit  20 , and a vehicle allocation use cost setting unit  21 . 
     Processing executed by the schedule acquisition unit  13  corresponds to a schedule acquisition step in a vehicle allocation method according to the present invention; processing executed by the vehicle allocation plan creation unit  14  corresponds to a vehicle allocation plan creation step in the vehicle allocation method according to the present invention; and processing executed by the vehicle allocation processing unit  15  corresponds to a vehicle allocation processing step in the vehicle allocation method according to the present invention. Processing executed by the travel plan change recognition unit  16  corresponds to a travel plan change recognition step in the vehicle allocation method according to the present invention; and processing executed by the vehicle allocation plan change unit  17  corresponds to a vehicle allocation plan change step in the vehicle allocation method according to the present invention. 
     A case is described below where the first user U 1  registers with the vehicle allocation system  1  and uses a vehicle allocation service provided by the vehicle allocation system  1  in the aspect illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the vehicle allocation service allocating a rideshare vehicle. The first user U 1  executes a rideshare application on the first user terminal  91 , the rideshare application being provided by the vehicle allocation system  1 ; thus, communication between the vehicle allocation system  1  and the first user terminal  91  is enabled. 
     The allocation vehicle registration unit  11  records in the allocation vehicle DB  32  information (vehicle models, maintenance situations, service situations, and the like) on rideshare vehicles managed by the vehicle allocation system  1 . The user registration unit  12  receives registration application information transmitted from the first user terminal  91  and records information on the first user U 1  in the user DB  33 . The information is recorded in the user DB  33 , the information including: a user ID (identification) issued for the first user U 1 ; the name of the first user U 1 ; contact information; the home address; the workplace address; access information for obtaining a schedule managed by the scheduler application in use and uploaded to the scheduler server  500 . 
     The schedule acquisition unit  13  accesses the scheduler server  500  to acquire information on the schedule of the first user U 1 . The vehicle allocation plan creation unit  14  recognizes a travel plan of the first user U 1  on the basis of the schedule of the first user U 1  acquired by the schedule acquisition unit  13 . The vehicle allocation plan creation unit  14  creates a vehicle allocation plan for the target vehicle  111  on the basis of the travel plan of the first user U 1 . 
     Processing performed by the vehicle allocation plan creation unit  14  is described below with reference to  FIG. 3 . The vehicle allocation plan creation unit  14  recognizes a schedule  50  of the first user U 1  in schedule information of the first user U 1  acquired by the schedule acquisition unit  13 . In the schedule  50 , the first user U 1  plans to conduct a meeting at the workplace between 15:00 and 16:30 and meet a guest at home between 18:00 and 19:00. 
     The vehicle allocation plan creation unit  14  recognizes a travel plan of the first user U 1  in the schedule  50  of the first user U 1 , the travel plan being to go home from the workplace between 16:30 and 18:00. The vehicle allocation plan creation unit  14  creates a vehicle allocation plan  55  in which the target vehicle  111  is arranged for the first user U 1  to board from the workplace  200  to the home  300 . 
     In the vehicle allocation plan  55 , as boarding conditions for the first user U 1 , a planned boarding location (corresponding to a planned use start location in the present invention) is set to the point P 2  where the workplace  200  (XX Corporation) of the first user U 1  is located, and a planned boarding time is set to 17:15. As alighting conditions for the first user U 1 , a planned alighting location is set to the point P 3  where the home  300  of the first user U 1  is located, and a planned alighting time is set to 17:50. As an execution condition of an act of waiting by the target vehicle, the target vehicle  111  is set to wait for 10 minutes (+10 minutes) at the maximum from the planned boarding time (corresponding to a wait start time in the present invention), the act being for the target vehicle  111  to be caused to wait at the planned boarding location for the first user U 1 . 
     The vehicle allocation plan  55  arranges the allocation of the target vehicle  111  for the first user U 1  and then for the second user U 2 . As boarding conditions for the second user U 2 , a planned boarding location is set to the point P 4  where the workplace  210  (YY Corporation) of the second user U 2  is located, and a planned boarding time is set to 18:30. As alighting conditions for the second user U 2 , a planned alighting location is set to the point P 5  where the home  310  of the second user U 2  is located, and a planned alighting time is set to 19:00. As an execution condition of the act of waiting by the target vehicle, the target vehicle  111  is set to wait from five minutes before the planned boarding time until five minutes after the planned boarding time (±5 minutes), the act being to be caused to wait at the planned boarding location for the second user U 2 . In this case, five minutes before the planned boarding time corresponds to the wait start time in the present invention. 
     The vehicle allocation processing unit  15  transmits information on the vehicle allocation plan, which has been created by the vehicle allocation plan creation unit  14 , to the vehicle controller  120  of the target vehicle  111 . The vehicle controller  120  causes the target vehicle  111  to travel according to the vehicle allocation plan and provides the first user U 1  and the second user U 2  with the vehicle allocation service. 
     The travel plan change recognition unit  16  recognizes a change of the travel plan of the first user U 1 , the change potentially occurring after the creation of the vehicle allocation plan. Specifically, the travel plan change recognition unit  16  recognizes a change of the travel plan of the first user U 1  when the travel plan of the first user U 1  acquired by the schedule acquisition unit  13  is changed and when a change to the travel plan of the first user U 1  (a delay of the first user U 1  with respect to the planned boarding time or the like) is notified by the first user terminal  91 . 
     The planned-use-start-time notification unit  18  transmits planned-use-start-time notification information to the first user terminal  91 , the planned-use-start-time notification information indicating the planned boarding time (a planned use start time of the first user U 1  starting the use of the target vehicle  111  by boarding the target vehicle  111 ) set for the first user U 1  in the vehicle allocation plan. The travel situation recognition unit  19  obtains traffic information by accessing the traffic information server  400  and obtains information on real-time travel situations of the target vehicle  111  from the vehicle controller  120  of the target vehicle  111 , and thus recognizes travel situations of the target vehicle  111 . 
     The user evaluation unit  20  evaluates the first user U 1  on the basis of use situations of the vehicle allocation service by the first user U 1 . Specifically, the user evaluation unit  20  rates the first user U 1  according to the frequency of the delay of the first user U 1  with respect to the planned boarding time and the frequency of cancellation without notice and assigns the first user U 1  to one of three ranks described below. 
     Rank 1: “normal user.” The number of delays in a predefined time period (one month, for example) is equal to or less than a criterion (for example, five times, the criterion corresponding to a first predefined level in the present invention). 
     Rank 2: “user who makes many plan changes.” The number of delays in the predefined time period exceeds the criterion. 
     Rank 3: “user who makes many cancellations without notice.” The number of cancellations made without notice in the predefined time period exceeds a criterion (three times, for example). 
     The vehicle allocation use cost setting unit  21  sets a price plan for the first user U 1  on the basis of a result of evaluation by the user evaluation unit  20 . The vehicle allocation use cost setting unit  21  sets a price plan for the first user U 1  according to a price plan table  70  illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The price plan table  70  indicates conditions for a price plan name  70   a , a target user  70   b , price setting  70   c , an arrival time  70   d , a user delay waiting time period  70   e , and vehicle allocation delay action  70   f.    
     Comparison of the price setting  70   c  indicates that prices for a flexible plan and a penalty plan are higher than that for a normal plan. In this case, a user to whom the flexible plan and the penalty plan are applied corresponds to a fourth user in the present invention. Comparison of the arrival time  70   d  indicates that the normal plan assumes that a user arrives before the planned boarding time and sets the arrival time to 10 minutes before the planned boarding time. The flexible plan and the penalty plan assume that a user is not punctual and set the arrival time to five minutes before the planned boarding time until five minutes after the planned boarding time. The penalty plan also uses enhanced notification of predicted arrival time to the user. Specifically, the notification of predicted arrival time to the user is enhanced by acts such as increasing the number of times the notification of the predicted arrival time is given, by advancing notification timing, or the like. 
     Comparison of the user delay waiting time period  70   e  indicates that the normal plan assumes that the likelihood of a user being very late is low and specifies that a wait for a user delay of up to 30 minutes is free of charge and that a cancellation fee is charged for cancellation, by the user, of vehicle allocation. The flexible plan assumes that a user is likely to be late and specifies that a wait for a user delay of up to 60 minutes is free of charge and that no cancellation fee is charged for cancellation, by the user, of vehicle allocation. The penalty plan assumes that a user is likely to be late and likely to cancel and specifies that a wait for a user delay of 60 minutes at the maximum is free of charge and that a cancellation fee higher than that of the normal plan is charged for cancellation, by the user, of vehicle allocation. 
     A waiting time period of maximum 30 minutes and a waiting time period of maximum 60 minutes are specified with the intention that the vehicle allocation will be canceled for the user who is being late so that the vehicle may start for the subsequent planned location, even if 30 or 60 minutes have not elapsed. This is intended for a case when waiting for the user for up to 30 or 60 minutes will prevent the vehicle allocation for the subsequent planned location from being available in time. 
     Comparison of the vehicle allocation delay action  70   f  indicates that, when a delay of the vehicle allocation is predicted, the normal plan provides a user with guidance on alternative means of transportation and compensates the cost for the alternative means of transportation as an incentive for a good user. The flexible plan and the penalty plan provide a user with guidance on alternative means of transportation but do not compensate the cost for the alternative means of transportation. 
     3. Processing of Creating and Changing Vehicle Allocation Plan 
     Sequential processing of creating and changing a vehicle allocation plan, performed by the vehicle allocation system  1 , is described below with reference to flowcharts in  FIGS. 5 to 8 . The description is provided based on the example situation illustrated in  FIG. 1 , where the target vehicle  111  is arranged for the first user U 1 . 
     In step S 1  in  FIG. 5 , the schedule acquisition unit  13  accesses the scheduler server  500  and acquires schedule information of the first user U 1  to thereby recognize an action plan of the first user U 1 . In subsequent steps S 2  to S 4 , the vehicle allocation plan creation unit  14  recognizes a travel plan of the first user U 1  in the schedule of the first user U 1  and sets a planned boarding location and a planned boarding time for the first user U 1  to get on the target vehicle  111  and a planned alighting location and a planned alighting time for the first user U 1  to get off the target vehicle  111  as described above with reference to  FIG. 3 . The vehicle allocation plan creation unit  14  then creates a vehicle allocation plan for the target vehicle  111 , the vehicle allocation plan arranging allocation of the vehicle for the first user U 1 . 
     In subsequent step S 5 , the planned-use-start-time notification unit  18  transmits vehicle allocation condition information (including planned-use-start-time information in the present invention) to the first user terminal  91 , the vehicle allocation condition information indicating vehicle allocation conditions set for the first user U 1 . The vehicle allocation conditions include vehicle information, the planned boarding location, the planned boarding time, the planned alighting location, the planned alighting time, and the like, the vehicle information including the vehicle model, the number of passengers, and occupant information. The first user U 1  checks the vehicle allocation condition information received by the first user terminal  91  to thereby recognize that vehicle allocation has been arranged for the first user U 1  and recognize the vehicle allocation conditions that have been arranged. 
     In subsequent step S 6 , the vehicle allocation processing unit  15  transmits the vehicle allocation plan information to the vehicle controller  120  of the target vehicle  111 , the vehicle allocation plan information indicating the vehicle allocation plan. The vehicle controller  120 , which has received the vehicle allocation plan information, causes the target vehicle  111  to travel along the route Rt illustrated in  FIG. 1  according to the vehicle allocation plan recognized in the vehicle allocation plan information; thus, a travel service using the target vehicle  111  is provided for the first user U 1 . 
     Until the travel plan change recognition unit  16  recognizes in subsequent step S 7  that the target vehicle  111  has reached the planned boarding location (in this case, the planned boarding location P 2  for the first user U 1 ) from communication with the vehicle controller  120 , the travel plan change recognition unit  16  determines repeatedly in step S 100  whether the travel plan of the first user U 1  has been changed. If it is determined that the travel plan of the first user U 1  has changed, the travel plan change recognition unit  16  proceeds to step S 101  in  FIG. 6 . 
     Here, the travel plan change recognition unit  16  determines that the travel plan of the first user U 1  has changed in the case of (1) or (2) below. 
     (1) Delay notification information is received from the first user terminal  91 , the delay notification information providing a notification that the first user U 1  is late for the planned boarding time. In this case, the first user U 1  provides a notification about the degree of delay, for example, “I will be 10 minutes late,” “I will be an hour late,” “I do not know how late I will be.” 
     (2) After the creation of the vehicle allocation plan, the travel plan of the first user U 1  as of the creation of the vehicle allocation plan has been changed to a travel plan recognized in schedule information acquired by the schedule acquisition unit  13 . 
     Until it is recognized in step S 7  that the target vehicle  111  has reached the planned boarding location, the travel situation recognition unit  19  determines in step S 200  whether a delay of the target vehicle  111  in arriving at the planned boarding location will occur. When the travel situation recognition unit  19  recognizes a delay of the arrival, the travel situation recognition unit  19  proceeds to step S 201  in  FIG. 7 . The travel situation recognition unit  19  recognizes a delay of arrival of the target vehicle  111  on the basis of travel situations of the vehicle  111  transmitted in real time by the vehicle controller  120  of the target vehicle  111  and traffic information obtained from the traffic information server  400 . 
     Steps S 8  and S 300  are processing performed when the target vehicle  111  has reached the planned boarding location P 2  for the first user U 1  but the first user U 1  has not arrived at the planned boarding location P 2  within the waiting time period. The vehicle allocation plan change unit  17  determines in step S 8  whether the first user U 1  has boarded the target vehicle  111  on the basis of communication with the target vehicle  111  or the first user terminal  91 . If the vehicle allocation plan change unit  17  recognizes in step S 8  that the first user U 1  has boarded the target vehicle  111 , the vehicle allocation plan change unit  17  ends the processing for a delay of the first user U 1  and a delay of the target vehicle  111 . 
     On the other hand, if it is not recognized in step S 8  that the first user U 1  has boarded the target vehicle  111 , the vehicle allocation plan change unit  17  proceeds to step S 300 . In step S 300 , the vehicle allocation plan change unit  17  determines whether a waiting time period Tw 1  (corresponding to a first predefined time period in the present invention) has elapsed from the planned boarding time. The waiting time period Tw 1  is set according to the price plan table  70  illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
     The vehicle allocation plan change unit  17  proceeds to step S 301  in  FIG. 8  if it is determined that the waiting time period Tw 1  has elapsed from the planned boarding time, and proceeds to step S 310  if it is determined that the waiting time period Tw 1  has not elapsed from the planned boarding time. The vehicle allocation plan change unit  17  determines in step S 310  whether subsequent allocation is planned for the vehicle. The vehicle allocation plan change unit  17  proceeds to step S 311  if subsequent allocation is planned, and proceeds to step S 8  if no subsequent vehicle allocation is planned. 
     The vehicle allocation plan change unit  17  determines in step S 311  whether a travel start time has arrived for the subsequent planned allocation location. If it is determined that the travel start time has arrived for the subsequent planned allocation location, the vehicle allocation plan change unit  17  proceeds to step S 312 . In step S 312 , the vehicle allocation plan change unit  17  cancels the vehicle allocation for the first user U 1  and changes the vehicle allocation plan such that the vehicle travels to the subsequent planned allocation location. In this fashion, the vehicle allocation for the first user U 1  is canceled and the vehicle allocation is secured for the subsequent planned allocation location if waiting for the first user U 1  until the waiting time period Tw 1  elapses will prevent the vehicle allocation for the subsequent planned allocation location from being available in time. On the other hand, if it is determined that the travel start time has not arrived for the subsequent planned allocation location, the vehicle allocation plan change unit  17  proceeds from step S 311  to step S 8  so that the target vehicle  111  is caused to continue waiting for the first user U 1 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates processing performed when the travel plan change recognition unit  16  recognizes a change of the travel plan of the first user. The vehicle allocation plan change unit  17  determines in step S 101  whether the change of the travel plan is due to a delay of the first user U 1  with respect to the planned boarding time. The vehicle allocation plan change unit  17  proceeds to step S 103  if it is determined that the change of the travel plan is due to a delay of the first user U 1 , and proceeds to step S 110  if it is determined that the change of the travel plan is not due to a delay of the first user U 1 . 
     The vehicle allocation plan change unit  17  changes in step S 110  the vehicle allocation plan according to the cause for the change of the travel plan and proceeds to step S 109 , the cause being not a delay of the first user U 1  but other causes, such as the travel being not required any longer and the travel time being advanced from the plan. On the other hand, if the cause for the change of the travel plan of the first user U 1  is a delay of the first user U 1 , the user evaluation unit  20  sets in step S 103  a rank for the first user U 1 . 
     The vehicle allocation plan change unit  17  determines in the following step S 104  whether subsequent vehicle allocation is planned after the allocation for the first user U 1  or whether the time period available before subsequent planned vehicle allocation is equal to or less than a predefined time period. If it is determined that subsequent vehicle allocation is planned after the allocation for the first user U 1  or that the time available before subsequent planned vehicle allocation is equal to or less than the predefined time period, the vehicle allocation plan change unit  17  proceeds to step S 105 . On the other hand, if no subsequent vehicle allocation is planned after the first user U 1  or if the time available before subsequent planned vehicle allocation is greater than the predefined time period, the vehicle allocation plan change unit  17  proceeds to step S 120 . 
     The vehicle allocation plan change unit  17  sets in step S 120  the waiting time period to a waiting time period Tw 2  that is longer than the waiting time period Tw 1 , changes the vehicle allocation plan accordingly, transmits waiting time period change information to the first user terminal  91 , and proceeds to step S 109 , the waiting time period change information providing a notification of the waiting time period that results from the change. By extending the waiting time period when subsequent vehicle allocation is not affected, convenience can be improved for the first user U 1 . 
     The vehicle allocation plan change unit  17  determines in step S 105  whether a delay time period Td of the first user U 1  is less than a feasible waiting time period Twa. The feasible waiting time period Twa is set in a range that makes the subsequent vehicle allocation (the allocation for the second user U 2  in the example of  FIG. 1 ) available in time provided that the target vehicle  111  is caused to wait for an extended time period resulting from extension by the delay time period Td. The vehicle allocation plan change unit  17  proceeds to step S 130  if it is determined that the delay time period Td is less than the feasible waiting time period Twa, and proceeds to step S 106  if the delay time period Td is equal to or greater than the feasible waiting time period Twa. 
     The vehicle allocation plan change unit  17  extends in step S 130  the waiting time period to a waiting time period Tw 3  that is equal to or less than the feasible waiting time period Twa (≤Twa), changes the vehicle allocation plan accordingly, transmits waiting time period change information to the first user terminal  91 , and proceeds to step S 109 , the waiting time period change information providing a notification of the waiting time period that results from the change. By extending the waiting time period in a range that causes no delay to subsequent vehicle allocation arrangement, convenience can be improved for the first user U 1 . 
     The vehicle allocation plan change unit  17  determines in step S 106  whether the delay of the first user U 1  can be accommodated provided that the vehicle is allocated for the second user U 2  before the first user U 1 . Specifically, when a delay of the first user U 1  is predicted, the vehicle allocation plan change unit  17  determines that the delay of the first user U 1  can be accommodated if the target vehicle  111  can finish the allocation for the second user U 2  and then reach the planned boarding location P 2  for the first user U 1  before an extended time that is later than the planned boarding time of the first user U 1  by the delay time period. 
     The vehicle allocation plan change unit  17  proceeds to step S 140  if it is determined that the delay of the first user U 1  can be accommodated, and proceeds to step S 107  if it is determined that the delay of the first user U 1  cannot be accommodated. The vehicle allocation plan change unit  17  changes in step S 140  the vehicle allocation plan such that the vehicle is allocated for the second user U 2  before the first user U 1 , transmits predicted arrival time information to the first user terminal  91 , and proceeds to step S 109 , the predicted arrival time information providing a notification of the predicted arrival time at the planned boarding location P 2  according to the vehicle allocation plan that results from the change. 
     The vehicle allocation plan change unit  17  cancels in step S 107  the vehicle allocation for the first user U 1  and changes the vehicle allocation plan accordingly. The vehicle allocation plan change unit  17  transmits in subsequent step S 108  information on alternative means of transportation to the first user terminal  91 . The first user U 1  can check the information on alternative means of transportation received by the first user terminal  91  and travel to the home  300  using the alternative means of transportation, such as trains and buses. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates processing performed when arrival of the target vehicle  111  at the planned boarding location P 2  of the first user U 1  is delayed. The vehicle allocation plan change unit  17  transmits in step S 201  wait possibility inquiry information to the first user terminal  91 , the wait possibility inquiry information inquiring whether the first user U 1  will wait if a vehicle allocation delay time period occurs. If the vehicle allocation plan change unit  17  receives in subsequent step S 202  response information from the first user terminal  91 , the vehicle allocation plan change unit  17  proceeds to step S 203 . 
     The first user terminal  91 , which has received the wait possibility inquiry information, displays an arrival delay guidance screen  60 , illustrated in  FIG. 9 , on a touch panel  91   a . The arrival delay guidance screen  60  displays delay situation and predicted arrival guidance  61 , a continued waiting selection button  62 , a vehicle allocation cancellation selection button  63 , and alternative means of transportation guidance  64 . 
     By checking the arrival delay guidance screen  60 , the first user U 1  can decide whether to continue waiting for the arrival of the target vehicle  111  or to cancel the vehicle allocation and use the alternative means of transportation, with consideration given to the degree of the arrival delay and use of the alternative means of transportation. When detecting a touch operation on the continued waiting selection button  62 , the first user terminal  91  transmits response information to the vehicle allocation system  1 , the response information indicating a response of “waiting possible.” When detecting a touch operation on the vehicle allocation cancellation selection button  63 , the first user terminal  91  transmits response information to the vehicle allocation system  1 , the response information indicating a response of “cancel vehicle allocation.” 
     If the response from the first user U 1  recognized in the response information is “waiting possible” in step S 203 , the vehicle allocation plan change unit  17  proceeds to step S 204 . On the other hand, if the response from the first user U 1  recognized in the response information is not “waiting possible” (that is, “cancel vehicle allocation”), the vehicle allocation plan change unit  17  proceeds to step S 210 . 
     The vehicle allocation plan change unit  17  resets in step S 204  the planned boarding time and the planned alighting time for the first user U 1  according to the arrival delay time period of the target vehicle  111  and changes the vehicle allocation plan accordingly. On the other hand, the vehicle allocation plan change unit  17  cancels in step S 210  the vehicle allocation for the first user U 1  and changes the vehicle allocation plan accordingly. The vehicle allocation plan change unit  17  transmits in subsequent step S 211  alternative means of transportation information to the first user terminal  91 . The first user terminal  91 , which has received the alternative means of transportation information, displays the information on the alternative means of transportation as in the arrival delay guidance screen  60  illustrated in  FIG. 9  on the touch panel  91   a.    
       FIG. 8  illustrates processing performed when the target vehicle  111  has reached the planned boarding location P 2  for the first user U 1  but the first user U 1  has not arrived after the elapse of the waiting time period Tw 1 . The vehicle allocation plan change unit  17  cancels in step S 301  the vehicle allocation for the first user U 1  (the travel arranged from the planned boarding location P 2  to the planned alighting location P 3  using the target vehicle  111 ) and changes the vehicle allocation plan for the target vehicle  111  accordingly. 
     The vehicle allocation plan change unit  17  transmits in subsequent step S 302  alternative means of transportation information to the first user terminal  91  as in step S 211  in  FIG. 7  described above. The user evaluation unit  20  evaluates in subsequent step S 303  the first user U 1  and sets a rank for the first user U 1  as in step S 103  in  FIG. 6  described above. 
     4. Other Embodiments 
     Although the target vehicle  111 , which is a rideshare vehicle, is described as the target vehicle allocated for the first user U 1  and the second user U 2  in the embodiment described above, the present invention is applicable to a target vehicle allocated by taxi service, car sharing, vehicle allocation services by general drivers, and the like. 
     Although the travel situation recognition unit  19  is provided to perform the processing for a delay of the target vehicle  111  in the embodiment described above, the travel situation recognition unit  19  may be omitted from the configuration. 
     In the embodiment described above, the planned-use-start-time notification unit  18  transmits in step S 5  in  FIG. 5  the vehicle allocation condition information of the target vehicle  111  to the first user terminal  91 . In this case, information on alternative means of transportation, such as trains and buses, may be also transmitted so that the first user U 1  can compare the vehicle allocation service provided by the vehicle allocation system  1  to the alternative means of transportation and make a choice. Additionally, in the vehicle allocation service provided by the vehicle allocation system  1 , information on alternative means of transportation may be transmitted to the first user terminal  91  when it is difficult to achieve the travel plan recognized in the schedule of the first user U 1  within the limited travel time period. 
     In the embodiment described above, the vehicle allocation conditions are changed based on a result of user evaluation performed by the user evaluation unit  20  as illustrated in the price plan table  70  in  FIG. 4 . In other embodiments in which the user evaluation is utilized, a rideshare vehicle may be allocated as the target vehicle for a third user having a frequency of delays equal to or greater than a second predefined level (the number of delays per month is equal to or greater than 5, for example), the rideshare vehicle having no subsequent allocation plan or having a time period equal to or greater than a second predefined time period available before the subsequent allocation. 
     Although the user evaluation unit  20  is provided and conditions for the target vehicle  111  to wait for a delay of a user are changed based on evaluation performed by the user evaluation unit  20  in the embodiment described above, the user evaluation unit  20  may be omitted from the configuration. 
     Although the vehicle allocation use cost setting unit  21  is provided and prices for users to pay for the use of vehicle allocation are set based on evaluation performed by the user evaluation unit  20  in the embodiment described above, the vehicle allocation use cost setting unit  21  may be omitted from the configuration. 
     In the embodiment described above, the vehicle allocation method according to the present invention is configured to be performed by a computer that constitutes the vehicle allocation system  1 . In another configuration, a computer that constitutes the vehicle controller  120  of the target vehicle  111  may perform a method of providing information of the present invention. 
     In the embodiment described above, the vehicle allocation system  1  acquires schedule information of the first user U 1  and the second user U 2  through the scheduler server  500 . Alternatively, the schedule information of the first user U 1  and schedule information of the second user U 2  may be acquired from the first user terminal  91  and the second user terminal  92 , respectively. 
     Note that  FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram that illustrates a functional configuration of the vehicle allocation system  1  in such a manner that divides the configuration according to main processing, in order to facilitate understanding of the invention in the present application. The configuration of the vehicle allocation system  1  may be divided differently. The processing of each constituent element may be performed by one hardware unit or a plurality of hardware units. Processing of each constituent element may be performed by one program or a plurality of programs. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       1  . . . vehicle allocation system,  10  . . . CPU,  11  . . . allocation vehicle registration unit,  12  . . . user registration unit,  13  . . . schedule acquisition unit,  14  . . . vehicle allocation plan creation unit,  15  . . . vehicle allocation processing unit,  16  . . . travel plan change recognition unit,  17  . . . vehicle allocation plan change unit,  18  . . . planned-use-start-time notification unit,  19  . . . vehicle allocation situation recognition unit,  20  . . . user evaluation unit,  21  . . . vehicle allocation use cost setting unit,  30  . . . memory,  31  . . . controlling program,  32  . . . allocation vehicle DB,  33  . . . user DB,  34  . . . vehicle allocation plan DB,  40  . . . communication portion,  50  . . . action plan,  51  . . . vehicle allocation plan,  60  . . . arrival delay guidance screen,  70  . . . price plan table,  91  . . . first user terminal,  92  . . . second user terminal,  100  . . . allocation vehicle station,  110  . . . rideshare vehicle,  111  . . . target vehicle,  120  . . . vehicle controller,  400  . . . traffic information server,  500  . . . scheduler server,  900  . . . communication network