Patent Description:
<CIT> describes a technology for utilizing a storage cell of an electric vehicle as a distributed energy resource according to an operational situation of the electric vehicle. <CIT> describes an adjustment system which manages a loan of an object or a space between users. Furthermore, <CIT> describes a control apparatus which includes an acquiring unit that acquires information indicating power demand in a first power network that supplies power in a first region including a future movement destination of a first vehicle and power demand in a second power network that supplies power in a second region including a future movement destination of a second vehicle, and a control unit that makes energy accumulated in or released from a driving power source provided to the first vehicle preferentially over a driving power source provided to the second vehicle, based on the power demand in the first power network, and the power demand in the second power network.

For a selection of vehicles which perform electric power transfer, it is not preferable that too many vehicles are selected for electric power transfer in terms of functional constraints as a movable object. In addition, a selection of numerous vehicles leads to complication of vehicle management.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system.

The system includes a plurality of vehicles and an acquisition unit which acquires information indicating a required electric power amount by which transfer of electric power is required between a battery included in a vehicle and an electric power network, and information indicating a transferable electric power amount by which the battery can transfer electric power with the electric power network, characterized that the system further comprises a selection unit which selects a vehicle with a smaller difference between the transferable electric power amount and the required electric power amount than others by priority among the plurality of vehicles as a vehicle including a battery which is to perform electric power transfer with the electric power network.

The system may include a classification unit which classifies the plurality of vehicles into a plurality of groups based on a combination of a state of charge of a battery included in each of the plurality of vehicles and the transferable electric power amount. The selection unit may select the vehicle including the battery which is to perform electric power transfer with the electric power network from among vehicles classified into a group which is selected based on information indicating whether electric power supply from the battery to the electric power network is required and the required electric power amount among the plurality of groups classified by the classification unit.

Any of the above described systems may include a classification unit which classifies the plurality of vehicles into a plurality of groups based on a combination of (i) a state of charge of a battery included in each of the plurality of vehicles and (ii) a time interval between a time at end of a period in which electric power is to be supplied from the battery to the electric power network and a scheduled time at which use of each of the plurality of batteries is to be started. When electric power is to be supplied from the battery to the electric power network, the selection unit may select a vehicle classified into a group having the time interval that is longer than others among the plurality of groups classified by the classification unit by priority as the vehicle including the battery which is to perform electric power transfer with the electric power network.

Any of the above described systems may include a classification unit which classifies the plurality of vehicles into a plurality of groups based on a combination of (i) a state of charge of a battery included in each of the plurality of vehicles and (ii) a time interval between a time at end of a period in which electric power is to be supplied from the electric power network to the battery and a scheduled time at which use of each of the plurality of batteries is to be started. When electric power is to be supplied from the electric power network to the battery, the selection unit may select a vehicle classified into a group having the time interval that is shorter than others among the plurality of groups classified by the classification unit by priority as the vehicle including the battery which is to perform electric power transfer with the electric power network.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method. The method for a system comprising a plurality of vehicles includes acquiring information indicating a required electric power amount by which transfer of electric power is required between a battery included in a vehicle and an electric power network, and information indicating a transferable electric power amount by which the battery can transfer electric power with the electric power network, characterized in that the system further includes selecting a vehicle with a smaller difference between the transferable electric power amount and the required electric power amount than others by priority among the plurality of vehicles as a vehicle including a battery which is to perform electric power transfer with the electric power network.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a program is provided. The program causes a computer to function as any of the above described systems.

The summary of the present invention does not necessarily describe all necessary features of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described by way of embodiments of the invention. However, the following embodiments are not intended for limiting the invention according to the claims. In addition, not all combinations of features described in the embodiment are essential to the solution of the invention.

<FIG> conceptually illustrates a utilization form of a system <NUM> in an embodiment. The system <NUM> includes a power generation apparatus <NUM>, a plurality of vehicles including a vehicle 10a, a vehicle 10b, a vehicle 10c, a vehicle 10d, and a vehicle 10e, an electric power control apparatus <NUM> and an electric power control apparatus <NUM>, an integrated management apparatus <NUM> and an integrated management apparatus <NUM>, a vehicle management apparatus <NUM> and a vehicle management apparatus <NUM>, an electric power control apparatus <NUM>, and a server <NUM>.

An electric power consumer <NUM> and the power generation apparatus <NUM> are connected to an electric power network <NUM>. Electric power generated by the power generation apparatus <NUM> can be supplied to the electric power consumer <NUM> through the electric power network <NUM>. The electric power network <NUM> is an electric power system, for example.

The vehicle 10a, the vehicle 10b, the vehicle 10c, the vehicle 10d, and the vehicle 10e are electric vehicles respectively including a battery 12a, a battery 12b, a battery 12c, a battery 12d, and a battery 12e which store driving electric power for vehicle travelling. In the present embodiment, in particular, the vehicle 10a, the vehicle 10b, the vehicle 10c, and the vehicle 10d may be collectively referred to as a vehicle <NUM>, and the battery 12a, the battery 12b, the battery 12c, and the battery 12d may be collectively referred to as a battery <NUM>.

The vehicle <NUM> is deployed in a business establishment <NUM>. The business establishment <NUM> serves as a base for the vehicle <NUM> to park. The vehicle <NUM> may be, for example, a commercial vehicle, or may be a vehicle for transporting a package such as a commercial product to be handled by the business establishment <NUM>. Electric power is supplied to the business establishment <NUM> through the electric power network <NUM>.

The electric power control apparatus <NUM>, the integrated management apparatus <NUM>, and the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> are provided in the business establishment <NUM>. The vehicles <NUM> are provided so as to be communicable with the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> through a mobile communication network or the like. The business establishment <NUM> has a local electric power network in the business establishment, and can perform electric power transfer with the battery <NUM> included in the vehicle <NUM> through a charge and discharge apparatus provided in the business establishment <NUM>. That is, the vehicle <NUM> is usable for energy management in the business establishment <NUM>. The battery <NUM> included in the vehicle <NUM> can perform electric power transfer with the electric power network <NUM> through an electric power network in the business establishment <NUM>. The electric power control apparatus <NUM> controls charge and discharge of the vehicle <NUM> deployed in the business establishment <NUM> so as to meet at least a power demand in the business establishment <NUM>.

The electric power control apparatus <NUM>, the integrated management apparatus <NUM>, and the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> are managed in the business establishment <NUM>, for example. The electric power control apparatus <NUM> and the integrated management apparatus <NUM> are provided so as to be communicable with each other by a communication line. The integrated management apparatus <NUM> and the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> are provided so as to be communicable with each other by a communication line. The integrated management apparatus <NUM> and the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> may be provided outside the business establishment <NUM>. The integrated management apparatus <NUM> and the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> may be provided so as to be communicable with each other through a communication line such as the Internet. One or both of the integrated management apparatus <NUM> and the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> may be achieved by a server such as a cloud server.

The vehicle management apparatus <NUM> decides a time at which the vehicle <NUM> departs from the business establishment <NUM> and a time at which the vehicle <NUM> arrives back. The integrated management apparatus <NUM> adjusts the time at which the vehicle <NUM> departs from the business establishment <NUM> and the time at which the vehicle <NUM> arrives back so as to meet the power demand in the business establishment <NUM>. For example, the integrated management apparatus <NUM> adjusts the time at which the vehicle <NUM> departs from the business establishment <NUM> and the time at which the vehicle <NUM> arrives back such that peak of the power demand in the business establishment <NUM> can be cut. The vehicle management apparatus <NUM> manages the vehicle <NUM> based on a schedule of the vehicle <NUM> which has been adjusted by the integrated management apparatus <NUM>. The electric power control apparatus <NUM> controls charge and discharge of the battery <NUM> included in the vehicle <NUM> based on the schedule of the vehicle <NUM> which has been adjusted by the integrated management apparatus <NUM>.

The vehicle 10e is deployed in a business establishment <NUM>. The business establishment <NUM> serves as a base for the vehicle 10e to park. Similarly as in the vehicle <NUM>, the vehicle 10e may be a commercial vehicle, or may be a vehicle for transporting a package such as a commercial product to be handled by the business establishment <NUM>. Electric power is supplied to the business establishment <NUM> through the electric power network <NUM>. The electric power control apparatus <NUM>, the integrated management apparatus <NUM>, and the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> are provided in the business establishment <NUM>.

In the business establishment <NUM>, the electric power control apparatus <NUM>, the integrated management apparatus <NUM>, and the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> correspond to the electric power control apparatus <NUM>, the integrated management apparatus <NUM>, and the vehicle management apparatus <NUM>. The electric power control apparatus <NUM>, the integrated management apparatus <NUM>, and the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> perform similar control to that of the electric power control apparatus <NUM>, the integrated management apparatus <NUM>, and the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> except that a control target and/or a management target is the business establishment <NUM> and/or the vehicle 10e. Therefore, control related to the electric power control apparatus <NUM>, the integrated management apparatus <NUM>, the vehicle management apparatus <NUM>, and the vehicle <NUM> is not described again.

The electric power control apparatus <NUM> communicates with the electric power control apparatus <NUM> and the electric power control apparatus <NUM> through a communication network <NUM>, and governs overall electric power control in the business establishment <NUM> and the business establishment <NUM>. For example, the electric power control apparatus <NUM> collects information related to power supply and demand from the electric power control apparatus <NUM> and the electric power control apparatus <NUM>, and causes the electric power control apparatus <NUM> and the electric power control apparatus <NUM> to perform control such that a power cost as a whole of the business establishment <NUM> and the business establishment <NUM> is to be minimized by adjusting overall power supply and demand including an electric power trading with the electric power network <NUM>.

The electric power control apparatus <NUM> is connected to the server <NUM> through the communication network <NUM>. The server <NUM> is, for example, a server to be used by an electric power aggregator. The server <NUM> conducts an electric power trading in an electricity market. The electric power control apparatus <NUM> can provide the server <NUM> with electric power resources which are held by aggregating the vehicles deployed in the business establishment <NUM> and the business establishment <NUM>. The electric power control apparatuses <NUM> and <NUM> control charge and discharge of the battery of each of the vehicles deployed in the business establishment <NUM> and the business establishment <NUM>, and the electric power control apparatus <NUM> provides electric power agreed by the server <NUM>. For example, the electric power control apparatus <NUM> controls charge and discharge of the battery <NUM> by the electric power control apparatus <NUM> and the electric power control apparatus <NUM> according to a demand from the server <NUM>, and provides the electric power according to the demand.

In connection to <FIG> and the like, control in connection to the business establishment <NUM> will be mainly described. Specifically, control related to the electric power control apparatus <NUM>, the integrated management apparatus <NUM>, the vehicle management apparatus <NUM>, and the vehicle <NUM> will be described. However, the control in connection to the business establishment <NUM> can be applied to control in connection to the business establishment <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a system configuration of the vehicle management apparatus <NUM>. The vehicle management apparatus <NUM> includes a processing unit <NUM>, a storage unit <NUM>, and a communication unit <NUM>.

The processing unit <NUM> controls the communication unit <NUM>.

The communication unit <NUM> is responsible for communication between the vehicle <NUM> and the integrated management apparatus <NUM>. The processing unit <NUM> is achieved by a computing device including a processor. Each of the storage units <NUM> is achieved by including a non-volatile storage medium. The processing unit <NUM> performs processing by using information stored in the storage unit <NUM>. The processing unit <NUM> may be achieved by a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an I/O, a bus, and the like. The vehicle management apparatus <NUM> may be achieved by a computer.

In the present embodiment, the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> is set to be achieved by a single computer. However, in other embodiments, the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> may be achieved by a plurality of computers. At least some functions of the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> may be achieved by one or more servers such as a cloud server.

The processing unit <NUM> includes an acquisition unit <NUM> and a planning unit <NUM>. The planning unit <NUM> includes a selection unit <NUM>.

The acquisition unit <NUM> acquires reservation information to reserve use of the vehicle <NUM> from among a plurality of vehicles <NUM>. The reservation information includes, for example, a selection condition for a user to select the vehicle <NUM> to be used, and information to designate an importance of the selection condition. The selection condition includes, for example, at least one of a condition to select a period of use of the vehicle <NUM> or a condition to select a vehicle type. The storage unit <NUM> stores the reservation information acquired by the acquisition unit <NUM>.

The acquisition unit <NUM> further acquires information indicating a current state of charge (SOC) and a storable capacity of the battery <NUM> included in the vehicle <NUM>. The information indicating the current state of charge and the storable capacity of the battery <NUM> is stored in the storage unit <NUM>.

The planning unit <NUM> prepares a use plan of the vehicle <NUM> based on the information stored in the storage unit <NUM>. For example, the planning unit <NUM> prepares a vehicle dispatch plan indicating the vehicle <NUM> to be used by which user based on the selection condition stored in the storage unit <NUM>.

The communication unit <NUM> transmits the vehicle dispatch plan to the integrated management apparatus <NUM>. The communication unit <NUM> may further transmit at least a part of the reservation information to the integrated management apparatus <NUM>. As will be described below, when the vehicle <NUM> to be used by the user is changed by arbitrating reservations in contention, the communication unit <NUM> may transmit a notification indicating that the vehicle <NUM> has been changed to the user who has had the reservation of the changed vehicle <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a system configuration of the integrated management apparatus <NUM>. The integrated management apparatus <NUM> includes a processing unit <NUM>, a storage unit <NUM>, and a communication unit <NUM>.

The processing unit <NUM> controls the communication unit <NUM>. The communication unit <NUM> is responsible for communication between the electric power control apparatus <NUM> and the integrated management apparatus <NUM>. The processing unit <NUM> is achieved by a computing device including a processor. Each of the storage units <NUM> is achieved by including a non-volatile storage medium. The processing unit <NUM> is configured to perform processing by using information stored in the storage unit <NUM>. The processing unit <NUM> may be achieved by a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an I/O, a bus, and the like. The integrated management apparatus <NUM> may be achieved by a computer.

In the present embodiment, the integrated management apparatus <NUM> is set to be achieved by including a single computer. However, in other embodiments, the integrated management apparatus <NUM> may be achieved by a plurality of computers. At least some functions of the integrated management apparatus <NUM> may be achieved by including one or more servers such as a cloud server.

The processing unit <NUM> includes an acquisition unit <NUM>, an arbitration unit <NUM>, and a classification unit <NUM>. The arbitration unit <NUM> includes a selection unit <NUM>.

The acquisition unit <NUM> acquires information indicating a required electric power amount by which transfer of electric power is required between the battery <NUM> included in the vehicle <NUM> and the electric power network, and information indicating a transferable electric power amount by which the battery <NUM> can transfer electric power with the electric power network. The acquisition unit <NUM> may acquire the information indicating the required electric power amount from the electric power control apparatus <NUM>. The acquisition unit <NUM> may acquire the information indicating the transferable electric power amount from the vehicle management apparatus <NUM>. The information indicating the transferable electric power amount may be the state of charge and the storable capacity of the battery <NUM>, for example. The electric power network is, for example, the electric power network in the business establishment <NUM> and/or the electric power network <NUM>.

The selection unit <NUM> selects the vehicle <NUM> with a smaller difference between the transferable electric power amount and the required electric power amount than others by priority among a plurality of vehicles <NUM> as the vehicle <NUM> including the battery <NUM> which is to perform electric power transfer with the electric power network. In this manner, a number of vehicles <NUM> required to perform electric power transfer with the business establishment <NUM> can be reduced. Accordingly, a situation can be avoided where a number of vehicles <NUM> available for sales and delivery of articles does not become too low.

The classification unit <NUM> classifies a plurality of vehicles <NUM> into a plurality of groups based on a combination of the state of charge and the transferable electric power amount of the battery <NUM> included in each of the plurality of vehicles <NUM>. The selection unit <NUM> selects the vehicle <NUM> including the battery <NUM> which is to perform electric power transfer with the electric power network from among the vehicles <NUM> classified into a group which is selected based on information indicating whether electric power supply is required from the battery <NUM> to the electric power network and the required electric power amount among the plurality of groups classified by the classification unit <NUM>. By performing the management by way of the groups based on the combination of the state of charge and the transferable electric power amount of the battery <NUM>, a computational load for selecting the battery <NUM> which is to perform electric power transfer with the electric power network can be lightened. In this manner, it is possible to postpone a decision on the vehicle to a point immediately before start of electric power transfer with the electric power network. Additionally, it is possible to select the vehicle <NUM> which performs electric power transfer by also including the vehicle <NUM> which arrives back to the business establishment <NUM> immediately before the start of electric power transfer.

The classification unit <NUM> classifies a plurality of vehicles <NUM> into a plurality of groups based on a combination of (i) a state of charge of the battery <NUM> included in each of the plurality of vehicles <NUM> and (ii) a time interval between a time at end of a period in which electric power is to be supplied from the battery <NUM> to the electric power network and a scheduled time at which use of each of the plurality of batteries <NUM> is to be started. When electric power is to be supplied from the battery <NUM> to the electric power network, the selection unit <NUM> selects the vehicle <NUM> classified into a group having the longer time interval than others by priority among the plurality of groups classified by the classification unit <NUM> as the vehicle <NUM> including the battery <NUM> which is to perform electric power transfer with the electric power network. In this manner, an influence from a fall of the SOC of the battery <NUM> which is used for a lower DR can be minimized by a time at which the next use is to be started. In this manner, since rapid charge of the battery <NUM> can be suppressed, it is possible to reduce a deterioration of the battery <NUM>.

The classification unit <NUM> classifies a plurality of vehicles <NUM> into a plurality of groups based on a combination of (i) a state of charge of the battery <NUM> included in each of the plurality of vehicles <NUM> and (ii) a time interval between a time at end of a period in which electric power is to be supplied from the electric power network to the battery <NUM> and a scheduled time at which use of each of the plurality of batteries <NUM> is to be started. When electric power is to be supplied from the electric power network to the battery <NUM>, the selection unit <NUM> selects the vehicle <NUM> classified into a group having the shorter time interval than others among the plurality of groups classified by the classification unit <NUM> by priority as the vehicle <NUM> including the battery <NUM> which is to perform electric power transfer with the electric power network. In this manner, the vehicle <NUM> including the battery <NUM> having an increased state of charge by using the battery <NUM> for a higher DR can be used for travelling shortly after the higher DR is ended. Accordingly, a duration in which a full charge state is kept for a long period of time can also be reduced, and it is possible to expect for a reduction effect of the battery deterioration.

<FIG> illustrates an execution sequence of the electric power control apparatus <NUM>, the integrated management apparatus <NUM>, and the vehicle management apparatus <NUM>. Processing of <FIG> represents processing from plan preparation, which is conducted the day before, for a power plan and a vehicle dispatch plan of the next day up to execution of various types of control according to the prepared plans.

As control related to the electric power control apparatus <NUM>, in S4010, at least either one of the user of the electric power control apparatus <NUM> and the electric power control apparatus <NUM> sets a restriction condition related to the power plan in the business establishment <NUM> and notifies the electric power control apparatus <NUM> of the restriction condition. The electric power control apparatus <NUM> may set the restriction condition in the business establishment <NUM> such that an overall power cost in the business establishment <NUM> and the business establishment <NUM> is to be minimized. Note that the user is a person or system that inputs information related to power management in the business establishment <NUM> to the electric power control apparatus <NUM>. The restriction condition is a condition which becomes a restriction for the preparation of the power plan. The restriction condition may include a restriction required to meet a power demand. The restriction condition includes, for example, information related to a current situation of a generated power amount, a current situation of power consumption, and an electric utility rate. The generated power amount is a generated power amount in the power generation apparatus <NUM>, for example. The power consumption is power consumption in the business establishment <NUM>. The electric utility rate includes a power purchase price and a power selling price. The power purchase price is a condition related to a money amount charged as a consideration value for reception of power by the business establishment <NUM> from the electric power network <NUM>, for example. The power selling price is a condition related to a money amount earned as a consideration value for supply of power by the business establishment <NUM> to the electric power network <NUM>, for example.

In S4012, the electric power control apparatus <NUM> prepares a power plan of the next day in the business establishment <NUM>. The power plan includes a consumed power amount for each time slot in one day. The power plan sets how much electric power is to be consumed in each time slot in the business establishment <NUM>. The consumed power amount for each time slot of the next day may be predicted from environment information such as weather information of the next day and past performance data. The power plan may include peak shave information to perform peak shaving. The peak shave information may include information indicating how much of the amount of power consumption is to be suppressed in which time slot in the business establishment <NUM>. The peak shave information may include information indicating how much of the amount of power is to be received from the outside in which time slot in the business establishment <NUM>.

The electric power control apparatus <NUM> may prepare an optimal power plan in the business establishment <NUM>. For example, the electric power control apparatus <NUM> may prepare the power plan such that the amount of electric power received from the electric power network <NUM> in the business establishment <NUM> becomes minimal. The electric power control apparatus <NUM> may prepare the power plan such that the money amount to be charged as a consideration value for reception of power from the electric power network <NUM> in the business establishment <NUM> becomes minimal. The electric power control apparatus <NUM> may prepare the power plan such that the money amount to be earned as a consideration value for supply of power to the electric power network <NUM> in the business establishment <NUM> becomes maximum. In this manner, the electric power control apparatus <NUM> prepares the optimal power plan as the power plan of the next day in the business establishment <NUM> based on the restriction condition. This power plan sets an amount of electric power required to receive from the outside in each time slot of the next day. The amount of electric power required to receive from the outside may be supplied from the battery <NUM> included in the vehicle <NUM> parked in the business establishment <NUM>. The electric power control apparatus <NUM> transmits the prepared power plan to the integrated management apparatus <NUM>.

As control related to the vehicle management apparatus <NUM>, in S4210, the user inputs reservation information related to dispatch of the vehicle <NUM>. Content of the reservation information will be specifically described in connection to <FIG> and the like. The user of the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> is a person, system, or the like that uses the vehicle <NUM>. The reservation information includes a condition which may become a restriction upon preparation of a vehicle dispatch plan. The reservation information includes, for example, a point of departure and a destination, a departure time and an arrival time at the destination, and a type, a volume, a weight, and the like of payload in the vehicle <NUM>. From which location to which location the vehicle <NUM> is required to travel are set by the point of departure and the destination. The departure time may be, for example, a time at which the vehicle <NUM> departs from the business establishment <NUM>, and the arrival time may be, for example, a time at which the vehicle <NUM> arrives back to the business establishment <NUM>. A time adjustment allowance indicating a period of time by which a change to the departure time and the arrival time of the vehicle <NUM> can be allowed may be set for the departure time and the arrival time. The reservation information input in S4210 is transmitted to the vehicle management apparatus <NUM>, and also transmitted to the integrated management apparatus <NUM> through the vehicle management apparatus <NUM>.

In S4212, the planning unit <NUM> of the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> prepares a vehicle dispatch plan of the next day in the business establishment <NUM> based on the restriction condition notified from the user. For example, the planning unit <NUM> decides the vehicle <NUM> to be used to transport a person or payload, a travelling route of the vehicle <NUM>, and a travelling speed of the vehicle <NUM> such that a transport demand set by the reservation information is met. The vehicle management apparatus <NUM> transmits the prepared vehicle dispatch plan to the integrated management apparatus <NUM>. At this time, the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> transmits information indicating an SOC and an SOH of the battery <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM> to the integrated management apparatus <NUM> together with the vehicle dispatch plan.

In S4110, the acquisition unit <NUM> of the integrated management apparatus <NUM> acquires the power plan transmitted from the electric power control apparatus <NUM>, and the reservation information and the vehicle dispatch plan which are transmitted from the vehicle management apparatus <NUM>.

In S4112, when the vehicle <NUM> is operated according to the vehicle dispatch plan, the arbitration unit <NUM> of the integrated management apparatus <NUM> determines whether the power plan in the business establishment <NUM> is met. For example, a period in which the vehicle <NUM> is predicted to be present in the business establishment <NUM> is set from the vehicle dispatch plan. During a period in which the business establishment <NUM> requires power supply from the outside, the arbitration unit <NUM> determines that the power plan is met when it is predicted that power can be received from the battery <NUM> included in the vehicle <NUM> which is present in the business establishment <NUM> during the above described period.

When it is determined that it is not possible to meet the power plan once the vehicle is dispatched according to the vehicle dispatch plan, the arbitration unit <NUM> determines how the vehicle dispatch plan is to be amended such that the power plan can be met. For example, the arbitration unit <NUM> decides adjustment amounts of the departure time and the arrival time of the vehicle <NUM> in the vehicle dispatch plan.

The integrated management apparatus <NUM> transmits amendment information including the decide adjustment amounts of the departure time and the return time to the vehicle management apparatus <NUM>. When the amendment information is received from the integrated management apparatus <NUM>, the planning unit <NUM> of the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> amends the vehicle dispatch plan prepared in S4212 based on the amendment information (S4213). For example, the planning unit <NUM> amends the vehicle dispatch plan such that the reservation information is to be met based on the adjustment amounts of the departure time and the return time which are received from the integrated management apparatus <NUM>. The vehicle management apparatus <NUM> transmits an amendment result of the vehicle dispatch plan to the integrated management apparatus <NUM>. The integrated management apparatus <NUM> and the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> repeat the processing in S4112 and S4213 to decide a feasible vehicle dispatch plan. In S4213, the planning unit <NUM> decides an operation route of the vehicle <NUM>, and decides the feasible vehicle dispatch plan by determining whether the departure time and the arrival time which are designated by the reservation information can be kept, and also the vehicle <NUM> can arrive back to the business establishment <NUM> without running out of electric power based on the SOC and a power consumption rate of the vehicle <NUM>. In addition, in S4112, the arbitration unit <NUM> may determine that the vehicle dispatch plan is feasible under a condition that it is determined that an overall profit is to be attained by taking into account a power cost reduction amount in the business establishment <NUM> which is obtained when electric power transfer is performed between the battery <NUM> and the business establishment <NUM> according to the power plan to be decided, and an operation cost of the vehicle <NUM> and an operation rate of the vehicle <NUM> which are required when the operation of the vehicle <NUM> is performed according to the vehicle dispatch plan.

When the vehicle dispatch plan is decided, an arbitration result including the vehicle dispatch plan is transmitted to the electric power control apparatus <NUM>. When the arbitration result is received from the integrated management apparatus <NUM>, the power plan is reflected based on the arbitration result (S4014), and the electric power control apparatus <NUM> notifies the user of the power plan which has been confirmed by reflecting the arbitration result (S4015). In S4016, the user and the electric power control apparatus <NUM> execute control according to the notified power plan. In S4018, the user and the electric power control apparatus <NUM> perform performance processing related to execution of the power plan. For example, the user performs processing of collecting and inputting performance data of power management including performance data of the consumed power amount in each time slot. In S4020, the electric power control apparatus <NUM> manages the performance data input from each of the user and the electric power control apparatus <NUM> as history information. Note that the electric power control apparatus <NUM> may use the history information managed by the electric power control apparatus <NUM> when the power plan is to be prepared later.

The vehicle dispatch plan finally decided in S4213 is confirmed by the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> (S4214), and the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> notifies the user of the confirmed vehicle dispatch plan through the communication unit <NUM>. In S4216, the user executes operation control of the vehicle <NUM> according to the notified vehicle dispatch plan. In S4218, the user performs the performance processing related to execution of the vehicle dispatch plan. For example, the user performs processing of collecting and inputting travel performance data including travel data of each of the vehicles <NUM>, a remaining capacity of the battery <NUM>, and the like. In S4220, the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> manages the travel performance data input from the user as the history information. Note that the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> may use the history information managed by the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> when the vehicle dispatch plan is to be prepared later.

<FIG> schematically illustrates grouping of the vehicles <NUM> based on the SOC. First, the vehicles <NUM> are classified into the vehicle <NUM> which is capable of charging the battery <NUM> and feeding power, and the vehicle <NUM> which is capable of only charging the battery <NUM>. The vehicle <NUM> which is capable of charging and feeding is a vehicle having not only a function of charging the battery <NUM> but also a function of feeding power obtained by discharging the battery <NUM> to an external electric power network. The vehicle <NUM> which is capable of only charging is a vehicle which has a function of charging the battery <NUM> but does not have a function of feeding power obtained by discharging the battery <NUM> to the outside, or a vehicle which is not connected to a charger having a function of feeding power to the outside.

Each of the vehicles <NUM> capable of charging and feeding and the vehicles <NUM> capable of only charging is classified into Group A to Group D based on the SOC of the battery <NUM>. As an example, Group A is for a vehicle including the battery <NUM> in which the SOC is <NUM>% or more and <NUM>% or less. Group B is for a vehicle including the battery <NUM> in which the SOC is <NUM>% or more and <NUM>% or less. Group C is for a vehicle including the battery <NUM> in which the SOC is <NUM>% or more and <NUM>% or less. Group D is for a vehicle including the battery <NUM> in which the SOC is <NUM>% or more and <NUM>% or less.

The vehicle <NUM> classified into Group A represents a vehicle available for travelling, that is, a vehicle in which travel preparation has been completed. The vehicle <NUM> belonging to Group B is a vehicle including the battery <NUM> having a remaining battery level available for a lower demand response (DR). The vehicle <NUM> classified into Group C is a vehicle to which the battery <NUM> having a remaining battery level mainly available for any of the lower DR and the higher DR is mounted. The vehicle <NUM> belonging to Group D is a vehicle including the battery <NUM> having a remaining battery level mainly available for the higher DR.

<FIG> schematically illustrates grouping of the vehicles <NUM> based on a time interval until a departure time of the vehicle <NUM>. As described above, the vehicles <NUM> are classified into the vehicle <NUM> which is capable of charging the battery <NUM> and feeding power, and the vehicle <NUM> which is capable of only charging the battery <NUM>.

Each of the vehicles <NUM> capable of charging and feeding and the vehicles <NUM> capable of only charging is classified into Group A'to Group D' based on the time interval until the departure time of the vehicle <NUM>. As an example, Group A' is for a vehicle in which the time interval until the departure time is less than <NUM> minutes. Group B' is for a vehicle in which the time interval until the departure time is <NUM> minutes or more and less than <NUM> hours. Group C' is for a vehicle in which the time interval until the departure time is <NUM> hours or more and less than <NUM> hours. Group D' is for a vehicle in which the time interval until the departure time is <NUM> hours or more.

The vehicle <NUM> classified into Group A' is a vehicle scheduled to depart from the business establishment <NUM> in a time less than <NUM> minutes. When the vehicle <NUM> classified into Group A' is used for the lower DR, the remaining capacity of the battery <NUM> falls. However, since a period of time until the departure time is short, there is a possibility that the remaining capacity of the battery <NUM> cannot be sufficiently increased. Therefore, the vehicle <NUM> classified into Group A' is a vehicle available for only the higher DR.

The vehicle <NUM> classified into Group B' is a vehicle in which the time interval until the departure time is <NUM> minutes or more and less than <NUM> hours. There is a time of <NUM> minutes or more until the departure time for the vehicle <NUM> belonging to Group B'. Depending on the SOC of the battery <NUM>, even when the vehicle <NUM> is used for the lower DR, the SOC may be able to be increased by the departure time. Therefore, the vehicle <NUM> classified into Group B' is a vehicle which is available for the higher DR and is also available for the lower DR depending on the SOC.

The vehicle <NUM> classified into Group C' is a vehicle in which the time interval until the departure time is <NUM> hours or more and less than <NUM> hours. Similarly as in Group B', there is a time of <NUM> hours or more until the departure time for the vehicle <NUM> classified into Group C'. Depending on the SOC of the battery <NUM>, even when the vehicle <NUM> is used for the lower DR, the SOC may be able to be increased by the departure time. Therefore, the vehicle <NUM> classified into Group C' is a vehicle which is available for the higher DR and is also available for the lower DR depending on the SOC.

The vehicle <NUM> classified into Group D' is a vehicle in which the time interval until the departure time is <NUM> hours or more. There is a time of <NUM> hours or more until the departure time for the vehicle <NUM> classified into Group D'. Even when the vehicle <NUM> is used for the lower DR, the SOC can be increased by the departure time. Therefore, the vehicle <NUM> classified into Group D' is a vehicle which is available for the higher DR and the lower DR.

<FIG> illustrates groups to be classified based on a combination of the SOC of the battery <NUM> and the time interval until the departure time.

The classification unit <NUM> classifies the vehicles <NUM> into any of sixteen groups based on a combination of the four groups based on the SOC and the four groups based on the time interval until the departure time. For example, the vehicle <NUM> in which the SOC is in a range of Group A and the time interval until the departure time is in a range of Group B' is classified into Group AB'. The vehicle <NUM> in which the SOC is in a range of Group B and the time interval until the departure time is in a range of Group C' is classified into Group BC'. In general, when a vehicle in which the SOC is in a range of Group X and the time interval until the departure time is in a range of Group Y' is concerned, the vehicle is classified into Group XY'.

The selection unit <NUM> selects the vehicle <NUM> to be used for electric power transfer with the business establishment <NUM> from among the vehicles <NUM> classified into the groups based on a combination of the SOC and the time interval until the departure time. For example, since the vehicle <NUM> classified into Group AA' is a vehicle which is about to depart immediately, the selection unit <NUM> does not select this vehicle as the vehicle <NUM> to be used for electric power transfer with the business establishment <NUM>. When it is necessary to deal with the lower DR, the selection unit <NUM> suffices if, after the SOC of the battery <NUM> falls due to the lower DR, the SOC can be increased by the departure time. Therefore, the selection unit <NUM> may select the vehicle <NUM> which is to deal with the lower DR from among the vehicles <NUM> classified into any of Group BB', Group BC', Group BD', Group CC', and Group CD'.

On the other hand, when the vehicle <NUM> which is to deal with the higher DR is selected, the selection unit <NUM> may select the vehicle <NUM> from among the vehicles <NUM> classified into any of Group CA', Group CB', Group CC', Group CD', Group DA', Group DB', Group DC', and Group DD'.

In this manner, the selection unit <NUM> can select the vehicle <NUM> which is to deal with the higher DR or the vehicle <NUM> which is to deal with the lower DR from among the vehicles <NUM> classified into particular groups among a plurality of groups. Therefore, it is possible to mitigate a computational load to retrieve the vehicle <NUM> which matches the condition.

<FIG> illustrates groups to be classified based on a combination of the SOC of the battery <NUM> and the transferable electric power amount. The transferable electric power amount is calculated from the SOC of the battery <NUM> and a storage capacity of the battery <NUM>. When the lower DR is dealt with, the transferable electric power amount is an amount of electric power which can be supplied to the outside from the battery <NUM>. When the higher DR is dealt with, the transferable electric power amount is an amount of electric power which can be supplied to the battery <NUM> from the outside.

The classification unit <NUM> classifies the vehicles <NUM> into any of sixteen groups based on a combination of the four groups based on the SOC and the four groups based on the transferable electric power amount. For example, the vehicle <NUM> in which the SOC is in a range of Group A and the transferable electric power amount is in a range of Group B" is classified into Group AB". The vehicle <NUM> in which the SOC is in a range of Group B and the transferable electric power amount is in a range of Group C" is classified into Group BC". In general, when a vehicle in which the SOC is in a range of Group X and the transferable electric power amount is in a range of Group Y" is concerned, the vehicle is classified into Group XY". In the present embodiment, it is assumed that Group A" is a group corresponding to the highest transferable electric power amount, and Group D" is a group corresponding to the lowest transferable electric power amount.

When the vehicle <NUM> which deals with the lower DR is selected, the selection unit <NUM> selects one group which has the required electric power amount or more required to be supplied from the battery <NUM> to the business establishment <NUM> and which is associated with the transferable electric power amount closest to the required electric power amount among Group A" to Group D". The selection unit <NUM> selects the vehicle <NUM> which deals with the lower DR from among the vehicles <NUM> classified into groups with a combination of the one group which has been selected and Group B or Group C which can deal with the lower DR. For example, when Group B" is selected based on the required electric power amount and the transferable electric power amount, the selection unit <NUM> selects the vehicle <NUM> which deals with the lower DR from among the vehicles <NUM> classified into either one of Group BB" and Group CB".

Similarly when the vehicle <NUM> which deals with the higher DR is selected, the selection unit <NUM> selects one group which has the required electric power amount or more required to be received by the battery <NUM> from the business establishment <NUM> and which is associated with the transferable electric power amount closest to the required electric power amount among Group A" to Group D". The selection unit <NUM> selects the vehicle <NUM> which deals with the higher DR from among the vehicles <NUM> classified into groups with a combination of the one group which has been selected and Group B or Group C which can deal with the higher DR.

In this manner, the selection unit <NUM> can select the vehicle <NUM> which is to deal with the higher DR or the vehicle <NUM> which is to deal with the lower DR from among the vehicles <NUM> classified into particular groups among a plurality of groups. Therefore, it is possible to mitigate a computational load to retrieve the vehicle <NUM> which can deal with the higher DR.

<FIG> illustrates a list of a plurality of pieces of the reservation information stored in the integrated management apparatus <NUM> and the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> in a table format. Each piece of the reservation information includes information indicating "user", "time change", "vehicle type change", "vehicle type designation", "point of departure", "destination", "departure time", "arrival time", and "stay duration". "Vehicle type designation", "point of departure", "destination", "departure time", "arrival time", and "stay duration" among the information included in the reservation information are examples of the selection condition of the vehicle <NUM> used by the user. "Time change" and "vehicle type change" are examples of the information to designate an importance of the selection condition.

"User" is identification information of a person who uses the vehicle <NUM>.

"Time change" is information indicating whether a change to a selection condition related to the period of use is allowed. The selection condition related to the period of use is "departure time", "arrival time", and "stay duration" which will be described below. "Not allowed" for "time change" indicates that a change to the selection condition related to the period of use is not allowed. "Allowed" for "time change" indicates that a change to the selection condition related to the period of use is allowed. "Time change" is an example of information to designate an importance of the selection condition related to the period of use.

"Vehicle type change" is information indicating whether a change to the selection condition related to a type of a vehicle to be used (vehicle type) is allowed. The selection condition related to the vehicle type is "vehicle type designation" which will be described below. "Not allowed" for "vehicle type change" indicates that a change to the selection condition related to the vehicle type is not allowed. "Allowed" for "vehicle type change" indicates that a change to the selection condition related to the vehicle type is allowed. "Vehicle type change" is an example of information to designate an importance of the selection condition related to the vehicle type.

"Vehicle type designation" is designated when use of a vehicle of a particular vehicle type is desired. "Vehicle type designation" is identification information of the vehicle type.

"Point of departure" indicates a point of departure of the vehicle <NUM>. "Destination" indicates a destination of the vehicle <NUM>.

"Departure time" is a scheduled time for the vehicle <NUM> to depart from the point of departure. "Arrival time" is a scheduled time for the vehicle <NUM> to arrive at the destination. "Stay duration" indicates a length of the time for the vehicle <NUM> to stay at the destination. As an example, "stay duration" of <FIG> indicates a length of the time to stay at the destination in minutes. The reservation information in a case where the destination is the business establishment <NUM> does not include "stay duration".

In the example of <FIG>, according to reservation information of a user A, use of the vehicle <NUM> is reserved to depart from the business establishment at <NUM>:<NUM>, arrive at a location of a branch <NUM> at <NUM>:<NUM>, stay for <NUM> minutes at the location of the branch <NUM>, depart from the location of the branch <NUM> at <NUM>:<NUM>, and arrive at the business establishment <NUM> at <NUM>:<NUM>. In this reservation, it is designated that a time change and a vehicle type change are allowed.

In the example of <FIG>, according to reservation information of a user B, use of the vehicle <NUM> is reserved to depart from the business establishment at <NUM>:<NUM>, arrive at a location of a client <NUM> at <NUM>:<NUM>, stay for <NUM> minutes at the location of the client <NUM>, depart from the location of the client <NUM> at <NUM>:<NUM>, and arrive at the business establishment <NUM> at <NUM>:<NUM>. In this reservation, it is designated that a time change and a vehicle type change are allowed.

When a contention occurs in reservations, the arbitration unit <NUM> arbitrates the reservations in contention based on the reservation information. For example, the arbitration unit <NUM> adjusts the reservations in contention by adjusting the departure time and the arrival time. In addition, the selection unit <NUM> of the arbitration unit <NUM> adjusts the reservations in contention by selecting another vehicle <NUM> to be used by the user. The reservation information may further include, as the selection condition, information indicating a time adjustment allowance which indicates a period of time by which a change to the departure time and/or the arrival time can be allowed. The arbitration unit <NUM> may adjust the reservations in contention by adjusting the departure time and/or the arrival time within a range of the time adjustment allowance.

<FIG> is a diagram for describing an example of processing of selecting the vehicle <NUM> which performs electric power transfer with the business establishment <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, according to the vehicle dispatch plan prepared by the vehicle management apparatus <NUM>, as indicated by sign <NUM> and sign <NUM>, the vehicle 10a is planned to be used during a period from <NUM>:<NUM> to <NUM>:<NUM> and a period from <NUM>:<NUM> to <NUM>:<NUM>. Furthermore, as indicated by sign <NUM> and sign <NUM>, the vehicle 10b is planned to be used during a period from <NUM>:<NUM> to <NUM>:<NUM> and a period from <NUM>:<NUM> to <NUM>:<NUM>.

As indicated by sign <NUM> in <FIG>, according to the power plan prepared by the electric power control apparatus <NUM>, during a period from <NUM>:<NUM> to <NUM>:<NUM>, any of the vehicles <NUM> is planned to be used to supply power from the battery <NUM> to the business establishment <NUM> for peak cut of the business establishment <NUM>. The vehicle 10c and the vehicle 10d are not scheduled to be used during a period from <NUM>:<NUM> to <NUM>:<NUM>. The selection unit <NUM> selects a vehicle to be used to supply electric power from the battery <NUM> to the business establishment <NUM> for peak cut in the business establishment <NUM> out of the vehicle 10c and the vehicle 10d as will be described below.

First, it is assumed that the vehicle 10c and the vehicle 10d are classified into Group B based on the SOC of the battery <NUM>. In addition, it is assumed that the vehicle 10c and the vehicle 10d have <NUM> hours or more for the time interval from the finishing time, which is <NUM>:<NUM>, of the period during which power is to be supplied from the battery <NUM> until the next departure time. Accordingly, as described in connection to <FIG>, and the like, it is assumed that the vehicle 10c and the vehicle 10d are classified into Group BD' which can deal with the lower DR.

Then, it is assumed that the vehicle 10c is classified into Group C" based on the transferable electric power amount which can be supplied from the battery 12c, and the vehicle 10d is classified into Group B" based on the transferable electric power amount which can be supplied from the battery 12d. It is assumed that a supply required electric power amount which is required to be supplied from the battery <NUM> which has been designated by the power plan is in a range of the transferable electric power amount corresponding to Group B". The selection unit <NUM> selects the vehicle 10d as a vehicle to be used to supply electric power to the business establishment <NUM> from among the vehicles <NUM> classified into either one of Group BB" and Group CB". The selection unit <NUM> confirms the vehicle 10d as the vehicle to be used to supply electric power to the business establishment <NUM> by checking that the transferable electric power amount of the battery 12d is more than the supply required electric power amount.

As described above, as indicated by sign <NUM>, the vehicle 10d is reserved during a period from <NUM>:<NUM> to <NUM>:<NUM> to supply electric power to the business establishment <NUM> from the vehicle 10d. In this manner, the vehicle 10d including the battery 12d which has the transferable electric power amount close to the supply required electric power amount and which can also recover the SOC after power is supplied to the business establishment <NUM> can be selected as the vehicle to supply electric power to the business establishment <NUM>. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the number of vehicles required to supply electric power to the business establishment <NUM>. In this manner, still more vehicles <NUM> can be used as commercial vehicles or vehicles for transporting articles in the business establishment <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a computer <NUM> in which a plurality of embodiments of the present invention can be entirely or partially embodied. Programs installed in the computer <NUM> can cause the computer <NUM> to: function as the system <NUM> according to the embodiments or each unit of the system <NUM> or an apparatus such as the electric power control apparatus <NUM> and the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> or each unit of the apparatus; execute operations associated with the system or each unit of the system or the apparatus or each unit of the apparatus; and/or execute a process according to the embodiments or steps of the process. Such a program may be executed by a CPU <NUM> in order to cause the computer <NUM> to execute a specific operation associated with some or all of the processing procedures and the blocks in the block diagrams described herein.

The computer <NUM> according to the present embodiment includes the CPU <NUM> and a RAM <NUM>, which are mutually connected by a host controller <NUM>. The computer <NUM> also includes a ROM <NUM>, a flash memory <NUM>, a communication interface <NUM>, and an input/output chip <NUM>. The ROM <NUM>, the flash memory <NUM>, the communication interface <NUM>, and the input/output chip <NUM> are connected to the host controller <NUM> via an input/output controller <NUM>.

The CPU <NUM> operates according to programs stored in the ROM <NUM> and the RAM <NUM>, and thereby controls each unit.

The communication interface <NUM> communicates with other electronic devices via a network. The flash memory <NUM> stores a program and data used by the CPU <NUM> in the computer <NUM>. The ROM <NUM> stores a boot program or the like executed by the computer <NUM> during activation, and/or a program depending on hardware of the computer <NUM>. The input/output chip <NUM> may also connect various input/output units such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a monitor, to the input/output controller <NUM> via input/output ports such as a serial port, a parallel port, a keyboard port, a mouse port, a monitor port, a USB port, a HDMI (registered trademark) port.

A program is provided via a network or a computer readable storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, or a memory card. The RAM <NUM>, the ROM <NUM>, or the flash memory <NUM> is an example of the computer readable storage medium. The program is installed in the flash memory <NUM>, the RAM <NUM> or the ROM <NUM> and executed by the CPU <NUM>. Information processing written in these programs is read by the computer <NUM>, and provides cooperation between the programs and the various types of hardware resources described above. A device or a method may be actualized by executing operations or processing of information depending on a use of the computer <NUM>.

For example, when communication is executed between the computer <NUM> and an external device, the CPU <NUM> may execute a communication program loaded in the RAM <NUM>, and instruct the communication interface <NUM> to execute communication processing based on processing written in the communication program. Under the control of the CPU <NUM>, the communication interface <NUM> reads transmission data stored in a transmission buffer processing region provided in a recording medium such as the RAM <NUM> or the flash memory <NUM>, transmits the read transmission data to the network, and writes reception data received from the network into a reception buffer processing region or the like provided on the recording medium.

In addition, the CPU <NUM> may cause all or a necessary portion of a file or a database stored in a recording medium such as the flash memory <NUM> to be read into the RAM <NUM>, and execute various types of processing on the data on the RAM <NUM>. Next, the CPU <NUM> writes back the processed data into the recording medium.

Various types of information such as various types of programs, data, a table, and a database may be stored in the recording medium and may be subjected to information processing. The CPU <NUM> may execute, on the data read from the RAM <NUM>, various types of processing including various types of operations, information processing, conditional judgement, conditional branching, unconditional branching, information retrieval/replacement, or the like described in this specification and specified by instruction sequences of the programs, and write back a result into the RAM <NUM>. In addition, the CPU <NUM> may search for information in a file, a database, or the like in the recording medium. For example, when multiple entries, each having an attribute value of a first attribute associated with an attribute value of a second attribute, is stored in the recording medium, the CPU <NUM> may search for an entry having a designated attribute value of the first attribute that matches a condition from the multiple entries, and read the attribute value of the second attribute stored in the entry, thereby obtaining the attribute value of the second attribute associated with the first attribute that satisfies a predefined condition.

The programs or software modules explained above may be stored in the computer readable storage medium on the computer <NUM> or in the vicinity of the computer <NUM>. A recording medium such as a hard disk or a RAM provided in a server system connected to a dedicated communication network or the Internet can be used as the computer readable storage medium. A program stored in the computer readable storage medium may be provided to the computer <NUM> via a network.

The program installed in the computer <NUM> to cause the computer <NUM> to function as the integrated management apparatus <NUM> may work on the CPU <NUM> or the like to cause the computer <NUM> to function as each unit of the integrated management apparatus <NUM>. The information processing described in these programs is read by the computer <NUM> to function as each unit of the integrated management apparatus <NUM> which is a specific means in which software and the above described various hardware resources cooperate. Then, when calculation or processing of information according to the use purpose of the computer <NUM> in the present embodiment is realized by these specific means, the unique integrated management apparatus <NUM> according to the use purpose is constructed.

The program installed in the computer <NUM> to cause the computer <NUM> to function as the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> may work on the CPU <NUM> or the like to cause the computer <NUM> to function as each unit of the vehicle management apparatus <NUM>. The information processing described in these programs is read by the computer <NUM> to function as each unit of the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> which is a specific means in which software and the above described various hardware resources cooperate. Then, when calculation or processing of information according to the use purpose of the computer <NUM> in the present embodiment is realized by these specific means, the unique vehicle management apparatus <NUM> according to the use purpose is constructed.

Various embodiments have been explained with reference to the block diagrams and the like. In the block diagrams, each block may represent (<NUM>) a stage of a process in which an operation is executed, or (<NUM>) each unit of the device having a role in executing the operation. A specific stage and unit may be implemented by a dedicated circuit, a programmable circuit supplied with computer readable instructions stored on a computer readable storage medium, and/or a processor supplied with computer readable instructions stored on a computer readable storage medium. The dedicated circuit may include a digital and/or analog hardware circuit, or may include an integrated circuit (IC) and/or a discrete circuit. The programmable circuit may include a reconfigurable hardware circuit including logical AND, logical OR, logical XOR, logical NAND, logical NOR, and other logical operations, and a memory element such as a flip-flop, a register, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic array (PLA), or the like.

The computer readable storage medium may include any tangible device capable of storing instructions to be executed by an appropriate device. Thereby, the computer readable storage medium having instructions stored therein forms at least a part of a product including instructions which can be executed to provide means for executing processing procedures or operations specified in the block diagrams. Examples of the computer readable storage medium may include an electronic storage medium, a magnetic storage medium, an optical storage medium, an electromagnetic storage medium, a semiconductor storage medium, and the like. A more specific example of the computer readable storage medium may include a floppy disk, a diskette, a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a static random-access memory (SRAM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disc (DVD), a Blu-ray (registered trademark) disc, a memory stick, or an integrated circuit card.

The computer readable instruction may include an assembler instruction, an instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instruction, a machine instruction, a machine dependent instruction, a microcode, a firmware instruction, state-setting data, or either of source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages including an object-oriented programming language such as Smalltalk (registered trademark), JAVA (registered trademark), and C++, and a conventional procedural programming language such as a "C" programming language or a similar programming language.

Computer readable instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing device, or to programmable circuit, locally or via a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet, and a computer readable instruction may be executed to provide means for executing operations specified in the explained processing procedures or block diagrams. Examples of the processor include a computer processor, a processing unit, a microprocessor, a digital signal processor, a controller, a microcontroller, and the like.

While the present invention has been described by way of the embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above described embodiment. It is apparent to persons skilled in the art that various alterations and improvements can be added to the above described embodiments. It is also apparent from the description of the claims that the embodiments to which such alterations or improvements are made can be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

Claim 1:
A system comprising:
a plurality of vehicles (<NUM>); and
an acquisition unit (<NUM>) which acquires information indicating a required electric power amount by which transfer of electric power is required between a battery included in a vehicle (<NUM>) and an electric power network, and information indicating a transferable electric power amount by which the battery can transfer electric power with the electric power network, characterized in that the system further comprises
a selection unit (<NUM>) which selects a vehicle (<NUM>) with a smaller difference between the transferable electric power amount and the required electric power amount than others by priority among the plurality of vehicles (<NUM>) as a vehicle (<NUM>) including a battery which is to perform electric power transfer with the electric power network.