Patent ID: 12198078

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, several embodiments according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. However, these descriptions are intended to be merely illustrative of preferred embodiments of the present disclosure. In other words, these descriptions are not intended to limit the present disclosure to such specific embodiments. In the following description, similar components are given the same reference numbers.

FIG.1is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a seat management system1000according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The seat management system1000includes a mobile body100, a server200, and a passenger terminal300. The mobile body100, the server200, and the user terminal300are communicably connected to each other via a communication network such as the Internet. The mobile body100, the server200, and the user terminal300may be connected via wireless communication such as WiFi, a wireless network of a mobile phone network such as long term evolution (LTE), LTE-Advance, fourth generation (4G), and fifth generation (5G), a dedicated network such as virtual private network (VPN), and a network such as local area network (LAN).

The mobile body100is a vehicle such as an automobile that travels on the road. The mobile body100is a vehicle that allows passengers to ride on each other. In the present embodiment, a long-distance bus that travels on an expressway or the like is exemplified as the mobile body100. Note that the mobile body100is not limited to a long-distance bus, and the mobile body100may be a route bus used by a passenger during commuting or school commuting, for example. The mobile body100may be an autonomous15driving vehicle.

When a passenger uses a long-distance bus, a comfortable environment is different for each passenger. Therefore, there are various demands regarding the characteristics of the passenger's seat. For example, hot people have a desire to sit in a cool seat. There is a desire for people with cold weather to sit in a warm-up seat. There are also requests for people who want to read or fall asleep to sit in quiet seats. On the other hand, some passengers want to talk in a car.

The seat management system1000of this embodiment receives a request regarding the characteristics of the seat from the individual passengers before the passengers ride on the mobile body100. Then, the seat management system1000optimally assigns the seats to be seated by the individual passengers according to the requests of the individual passengers. The seat management system1000controls the characteristics of the seats according to the needs of individual passengers. This allows the individual passengers to sit on the desired seats. Therefore, comfortable movement according to the preference of each passenger can be realized, and an unsatisfactory experience by the mobile body can be eliminated.

FIG.2is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the mobile body100, the server200, and the user terminal300. Here, a case where the terminal300is configured from a smartphone is exemplified. However, the terminal300may be constituted by an electronic device such as a personal computer (PC) or a tablet terminal. In the example illustrated inFIG.2, the mobile body100, the server200, and the terminal300are communicably connected via a communication network400.

The mobile body100includes a control device110, a communication device120, a storage device130, an air conditioner140, and an in-vehicle environment adjusting device150. Each of the control device110, the communication device120, the storage device130, the air conditioner140, and the in-vehicle environment adjusting device150is communicably connected via an in-vehicle network compliant with standards such as a controller area network (Controller Area Network (CAN)) and Ethernet (Ethernet).

The control device110of the mobile body100includes a processor. The processor has one or more Central Processing Unit (CPUs) and its peripheral circuitry. The processor may further include other arithmetic circuits such as a logical operation unit, a numerical operation unit, or a graphic processing unit. The control device110provides functions that meet a predetermined purpose by executing a computer program executably expanded in a work area of the storage device130.

The communication device120of the mobile body100is a communication interface with the communication network400. Communication device120includes, for example, an antenna, and a signal processing circuit. The signal processing circuitry performs various processing related to wireless communication, such as modulation and demodulation of the wireless signal. For example, the communication device120receives a downlink radio signal from a radio base station connected to the communication network400. In addition, the communication device120transmits an uplink radio signal to the radio base station. The communication device120extracts a signal transmitted from the server200to the mobile body100from the received downlink radio signal, and transmits the signal to the control device110. The communication device120generates an uplink radio signal and transmits the radio signal. The uplink radio signal includes a signal received from the control device110and transmitted to the server200.

The storage device130of the mobile body100has, for example, a volatile semiconductor memory and a non-volatile semiconductor memory. The storage device130, display information received from the server200, such as a control command is stored.

Air conditioner140of the mobile body100is a device for adjusting the temperature of the vehicle cabin. Air conditioner140can adjust the temperature for each region in the vehicle cabin. The air conditioner140is controlled by the control device110based on a control command received from the server200. Air conditioner140adjusts the temperature for each region in the vehicle cabin.

The in-vehicle environment adjusting device150of the mobile body100includes a lighting device, an audio output device, a display (display device), an odor generating device, a reclining device of the seat, and the like. The mobile body100adjusts the interior environment, such as the brightness of the lighting in the vehicle cabin, the color of the lighting, the type and volume of the sound, the brightness and color tone of the display, the odor, the angle of the seat backrest, and the like. The in-vehicle environment adjusting device150can adjust the vehicle interior environment for each region of the vehicle cabin. The in-vehicle environment adjusting device150is controlled by the control device110based on a control command received from the server200. The in-vehicle environment adjusting device150adjusts the vehicle interior environment for each region of the vehicle cabin.

The display of the in-vehicle environment adjusting device150is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD). Displays are provided in individual seats. The display displays, for example, information regarding seats assigned to passengers. Specifically, the display displays display information generated by the display information generating unit210dof the control unit210of the server200, which will be described later. The display may display a variety of information in addition to information about the seat.

The server200includes a control unit210as one mode of the seat management device, a communication I/F220, and a storage unit230. The control unit210of the server200is composed of a processor, as in the control device110of the mobile body100. The communication I/F220of the server200includes a communication module connected to the communication network400. For example, the communication I/F220may include a communication module that corresponds to the wired Local Area Network (LAN) standard. The server200is connected to the communication network400via the communication I/F220.

The storage unit230of the server200has, for example, a volatile semiconductor memory and a non-volatile semiconductor memory. The storage unit230stores map information of a range including an operation route, an operation time, and an operation route of the mobile body100.

The passenger terminal300includes a control unit310, a communication I/F320, a storage unit330, a display unit340, and an input unit350. The control unit310of the terminal300includes a processor, similarly to the control unit210of the server200.

The communication I/F320of the terminal300is configured similarly to the communication device120of the mobile body100. The storage unit330of the terminal300has, for example, a volatile semiconductor memory and a non-volatile semiconductor memory. The display unit340of the terminal300is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD). The display unit340displays various types of information. The input unit350of the terminal300includes, for example, a touch sensor, a keyboard, and the like. Information corresponding to the operation of the passenger is input to the input unit350. When the input unit350is composed of a touch sensor, the display unit340and the input unit350may be configured as an integrated touch panel.

FIG.3is a schematic diagram showing a functional block of the control unit210provided on the server200. The control unit210of the server200includes a receiving unit210a, a seat assigning unit210b, a solar radiation estimating unit210c, a display information generating unit210d, a seat information transmitting unit210e, a control command generating unit210f, a control command transmitting unit210g, and a boarding ticket issuing unit210h. Each of these units included in the control unit210is, for example, a functional module realized by a computer program operating on the control unit210. That is, each of these units included in the control unit210is composed of the control unit210and a program (software) for operating the control unit210. Further, the program may be recorded in the storage unit230of the server200or a recording medium connected from the outside. Alternatively, each of these units included in the control unit210may be a dedicated arithmetic circuit provided in the control unit210.

Receiving unit210aof the control unit210receives via a communication I/F220a request regarding the properties of the seat transmitted from the terminal300of the passenger. Further, the receiving unit210areceives information necessary for purchasing the ticket transmitted from the terminal300of the passenger. Characteristics of the seat include temperature around the seat, quietness, vibration, brightness or color of the lighting, brightness or color of the display provided in the seat, per day, and/or smell.

The seat assigning unit210bof the control unit210assigns a seat to the passenger for each region in the room of the mobile body100based on a request regarding the characteristics of the seat received from the terminal300of the passenger. The seat assigning unit210bof the control unit210assigns passengers having the same request to the same region. The seat assigning unit210bis previously partitioned the region of the vehicle cabin of the mobile body100in accordance with the request of the expected passengers, may be assigned to the seats to the passengers for each region based on the received request. When the seat assigning unit210bassigns a seat to each passenger, a seat number is assigned to each passenger. Therefore, a seat on which each passenger is seated is determined by the seat number.

In the case of a bus in which the mobile body100is driven by an engine, the engine is provided at the rear of the mobile body100. Therefore, the seat assigning unit210bmay assign a seat other than the rear seat in the vehicle cabin to passengers requesting a quiet seat. Further, the region close to the position of the wheel in the vehicle cabin, noise and vibration may be larger than the other regions. Therefore, the seat assigning unit210bmay assign a seat away from the position of the wheel to a passenger requesting a quiet seat. Lower noise and vibration make it less likely to cause motion sickness. Therefore, the seat assigning unit210bmay assign a seat away from the position of the wheel to a passenger requesting a vehicle sickness-resistant seat. Also, in general, the rear seat tends to be more susceptible to motion sickness. Therefore, the seat assigning unit210bmay assign a front seat in the vehicle cabin to a passenger who desires a seat that is difficult to be sickly with a vehicle. In addition, when there is a seat reservation in the group, the seat assigning unit210bmay assign a seat away from the group to a passenger who desires a quiet seat. Further, the seat assigning unit210bmay learn a request regarding the characteristics of the seats of the individual passengers from a history of requests regarding the characteristics of the seats of the individual passengers, and assign the seats to the passengers based on the learning result.

Solar radiation estimating unit210cof the control unit210estimates the orientation of the solar radiation with respect to the mobile body100from the operation path and the operation time of the mobile body100. Specifically, the solar radiation estimating unit210cincludes a traveling direction of the mobile body100determined from the operation path, from the direction of the solar radiation corresponding to the operation time, to estimate whether the solar radiation hits from which direction with respect to the mobile body100. The traveling direction of the mobile body100determined from the traveling route is, for example, a direction connecting the departure point and the destination of the mobile body100on the map. On the other hand, the traveling direction of the mobile body100determined from the traveling route may be the traveling direction of the mobile body100that changes every moment as the mobile body100travels according to the traveling route. Solar radiation estimating unit210cobtains the traveling direction of the mobile body100at an arbitrary time from the operation path of the mobile body100, may estimate the direction of solar radiation with respect to the mobile body100at an arbitrary time.

The seat assigning unit210b, based on the request of the passenger about the day of the seat, and the direction of the solar radiation with respect to the mobile body100solar radiation estimating unit210cis estimated, to assign a seat to the passenger. Specifically, the seat assigning unit210bassigns a seat with less sunlight to a passenger who desires a seat with less sunlight, such as a passenger who wants to fall asleep, based on the direction of solar radiation with respect to the mobile body100estimated by the solar radiation estimating unit210c. As a result, a passenger who wants to sleep can sleep more comfortably. In addition, since the seat assigning unit210bwants to perform some kind of work on a seat such as a passenger who wants to read a book, a seat with less sunlight may be assigned to a passenger who desires a seat with less sunlight on the basis of the direction of solar radiation with respect to the mobile body100estimated by the solar radiation estimating unit210c. As a result, it is possible to prevent the work in the seat from being hindered by solar radiation.

The display information generating unit210dof the control unit210generates display information indicating the assignment of the seats for each region based on the assignment of the seats by the seat assigning unit210b. Further, the display information generating unit210dgenerates a display information indicating the direction of the solar radiation with respect to the mobile body100the solar radiation estimating unit210cis estimated.

The seat information transmitting unit210eof the control unit210transmits information related to the assigned seat to the terminal300of the passenger via the communication I/F220. Specifically, the seat information transmitting unit210etransmits, to the terminal300of the passenger, the number of the seat assigned to each passenger or the display information indicating the assignment of the seat for each region generated by the display information generating unit210d. Further, the seat information transmitting unit210etransmits display information indicating the direction of solar radiation generated by the display information generating unit210dto the terminal300of the passenger. The seat information transmitting unit210ealso transmits these pieces of information to the mobile body100.

Control command generating unit210fof the control unit210generates a control command for controlling the characteristics of the seat for each region in response to a request regarding the characteristics of the seat. Specifically, the control command generating unit210f, so as to meet the request regarding the characteristics of the seats of the passenger, the temperature of the vehicle cabin, the brightness of the lighting in the vehicle cabin, the color of the illumination, the type and volume of the voice, the brightness and color tone of the display, odor, the seat backrest to generate a control command for controlling such for each region. For example, the control command generating unit210fis a control command for controlling the air conditioner140, and a control command for lowering the temperature of the region R2ofFIG.6to be described later, to generate a control command for increasing the temperature of the region R3. Further, the control command generating unit210f, in the region R1ofFIG.6to be described later, generates a control command for reclining the seat.

Control command generating unit210fmay generate a control command for performing the characterization of the lighting or voice in the vehicle cabin. For example, the control command generating unit210fmay activate the passenger during the commuting time, and may control lighting or sound so as to heal the passenger during the returning time. Characterization is done, for example, by tuning the BGM songs by sound, adjusting the voices of in-car broadcasts, changing the lighting and display brightness, adjusting the color, and changing the condition of the parts in contact with the body, such as the angle of the seat backrest. These are adapted to the needs of the passenger. This provides multi-modal interaction with passengers.

The control command transmitting unit210gtransmits the Control Directive generated by the control command generating unit210fto the mobile body100via a communication I/F220.

A control command for controlling the air conditioner140or a control command for controlling the in-vehicle environment adjusting device150is received by the communication device120of the mobile body100. The control device110of the mobile body100, based on these control commands, the air conditioner140, controls the in-vehicle environment adjusting device150.

The boarding ticket issuing unit210hof the control unit210generates information representing the boarding ticket based on the information received from the terminal300of the passenger and necessary for the passenger to purchase the boarding ticket. The boarding ticket issuing unit210hissues a ticket. The display information generating unit210dgenerates display information for displaying information representing a ticket. The information representing the boarding ticket includes a boarding flight, a boarding location and a boarding time, a getting-off location and a scheduled getting-off time, and the like. The display information representing the ticket is transmitted to the passenger terminal300.

FIG.4is a schematic diagram showing a functional block of the control unit310provided in the terminal300. The control unit310of the terminal300includes an input information acquisition unit310a, a transmitting unit310b, a receiving unit310c, and a display processing unit310d. Each of these units included in the control unit310is, for example, a functional module realized by a computer program operating on the control unit310. That is, each of these units included in the control unit310is composed of the control unit310and a program (software) for operating the control unit310. Further, the program may be recorded in the storage unit330of the user terminal300or a recording medium connected from the outside. Alternatively, each of these units included in the control unit310may be a dedicated arithmetic circuit provided in the control unit310.

The input information acquisition unit310aof the control unit310of the terminal300acquires a request regarding the characteristics of the seat input by the passenger by operating the input unit350. Requests regarding the characteristics of the seat include requests such as a desire to sit in a seat with air conditioning, a desire to sit in a seat with air conditioning, a desire to sit in a quiet seat, and a desire to speak in a seat. Further, the input information acquisition unit310aacquires information necessary for the passenger to purchase the input ticket by operating the input unit350. The information for purchasing the boarding ticket includes a name, a telephone number, an email address, information indicating the boarding service, a boarding location and a boarding time, a getting-off location and a getting-off scheduled time, information for settlement such as a credit card number, and the like.

The transmitting unit310bof the control unit310performs a process of transmitting a request regarding the property of the seats to the server200via the communication I/F320. In addition, the transmitting unit310bperforms a process of transmitting information required for purchasing a ticket to the server200via the communication I/F320.

The receiving unit310cof the control unit310performs a process of receiving, via the communication I/F320, the display information indicating the number of the seat or the assignment of the seat for each region, which is transmitted from the server200. In addition, the receiving unit310cperforms a process of receiving, via the communication I/F320, display information indicating a ticket or display information indicating a direction of solar radiation transmitted from the server200.

The display processing unit310dof the control unit310performs processing for displaying, on the display unit340, the number of the seat, the display information indicating the assignment of the seat, the display information indicating the boarding ticket, the display information indicating the direction of the solar radiation, and the like received from the server200.

FIG.5is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the display screen342of the display unit340when the terminal300is a smartphone and the display unit340of the terminal300is configured of a touch panel. In the example shown inFIG.5, a screen for inputting a request regarding the characteristics of a seat is shown, and as a request regarding the characteristics of a seat, a request of a passenger can be selected from among “a seat with a lower temperature,” “a seat with a higher temperature,” “a quiet seat,” “a seat with less per day,” and “a seat capable of talking.” The display screen342shows a state in which the passenger has selected “quiet seat”.

After the passenger selects “quiet seat”, when the passenger presses the transmission button342a, “quiet seat” is input to the input unit350as a request regarding the characteristics of the seat in accordance with the operation of the passenger. The request is acquired by the input information acquisition unit310a. This request is transmitted to the server200by the transmitting unit310b. Although a screen for selecting a request is illustrated inFIG.5, the request of the passenger may be individually input.

Note that a screen for transmitting a request regarding the characteristics of the seat as illustrated inFIG.5may be displayed when the passenger authenticates the passenger's boarding of the mobile body100. More specifically, a screen for transmitting a request regarding a characteristic of a seat may be displayed when purchasing a ticket, and may be displayed, for example, after a settlement is completed when purchasing a ticket. When a request regarding the characteristics of the seat is transmitted to the server200, the number of the seat, the display information indicating the assignment of the seat, the display information indicating the direction of the solar radiation, the display information indicating the ticket, and the like are transmitted from the server200to the terminal300of the passenger before the passenger rides on the mobile body100. Accordingly, the passenger can recognize these information in advance before getting on the mobile body100.

The desire for the characteristics of the seat shown inFIG.5is an example, in addition to the desire for the characteristics of the seat shown inFIG.5, it may include “a seat with a bright illumination,” “a seat with a dark illumination,” “a seat with less sickness,” “a seat with less relaxation,” and the like. Requests regarding the characteristics of the seat may also relate to the color of the illumination, the brightness or color of the display, the odor, and the difficulty of motion sickness. In a case where the request regarding the characteristics of the seat is a seat that is less susceptible to motion sickness, the input information acquisition unit310acan determine that the request regarding the seat is a quiet seat, a seat with less vibration, or a seat on the front side of the vehicle cabin.

FIG.6is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of assignment of seats by the seat assigning unit210b. In the example illustrated inFIG.6, the vehicle cabin of the mobile body100is partitioned into four regions: a quiet region R1, a region R2having a relatively low temperature, a region R3having a higher temperature than the region R2, and a region R4capable of speaking. The seat assigning unit210bassigns passengers having a common request to the same region based on the request regarding the characteristics of the seats received from the terminal300of each passenger. The seat assigning unit210bassigns each passenger to one of the seats in the regions R1to R4.

Regions R1-R4shown inFIG.6may be partitioned by other factors such as vibration, illumination brightness or color, display brightness or color provided in the seat, per day, or odor. For example, the region R1may be a small region per day, the region R2may be a dark region of illumination, the region R3may be a region of illumination of a specific color (e.g., white, yellow, or blue), and the region R4may be a region of a specific odor.

Also, one of the regions R1-R4may be a region that heals passengers. A passenger who has transmitted a “relaxable seat” as a request regarding the characteristics of the seat may be assigned to a region to heal the passenger. In the region to heal the passenger, the brightness or color of the illumination and the brightness or color of the display are rendered suitable for healing, and the BGM suitable for healing flows and is rendered suitable for healing. Similarly, one of the regions R1-R4may be a region that activates a passenger. The regions that activate passengers are the illumination color, display color, BGM, and odor suitable for them.

The boundaries RB of the regions R1to R4are preferably partitioned by partitions, curtains, or the like. As a result, the movement of heat, sound, light, and odor between the regions is suppressed, and thus these are accurately adjusted for each region.

FIG.7is a sequence diagram illustrating processing performed by the mobile body100, the server200, and the passenger terminal300. Processing shown inFIG.7, the control device110of the mobile body100, the control unit210of the server200, and is performed by the control unit310of the terminal300of the passenger.

First, the input information acquisition unit310aof the control unit310of the terminal300acquires a request regarding the characteristics of the seat input by the passenger by operating the input unit350(step S30). Next, the transmitting unit310bof the control unit310of the terminal300transmits a request regarding the property of the seats to the server200via the communication I/F320(step S32).

Next, the receiving unit210aof the control unit210of the server200receives the request regarding the property of the seat transmitted from the terminal300of the passenger via the communication I/F220(step S20). Next, the seat assigning unit210bof the control unit210of the server200assigns a seat to each passenger for each region in the vehicle cabin based on a request regarding the characteristics of the seat, and assigns the passengers having the same request to the same region (step S22).

Next, the seat information transmitting unit210eof the control unit210of the server200transmits, to the terminal300of the passenger via the communication I/F220, the display information indicating the number of the seat assigned by the seat assigning unit210band the assignment of the seat generated by the display information generating unit210d(step S24). In step S24, the seat information transmitting unit210etransmits display information indicating the assignment of the seat generated by the display information generating unit210dto the mobile body100.

Next, in the terminal300, the receiving unit310cof the control unit310receives, via the communication I/F320, the display information indicating the assignment of the seat number and the seat number transmitted from the server200(step S34). Further, in the mobile body100, the communication device120receives the display information transmitted from the server200(Step S10).

Next, in the terminal300, the display processing unit310dof the control unit310displays, on the display unit340, display information indicating the number of the seat and the assignment of the seat received from the server200(step S36). After step S36, the processing of the control unit310of the terminal300ends.

In the server200, after step S24, the control command generating unit210fof the control unit210, the air conditioner140of the mobile body100, generates a control command for controlling the in-vehicle environment adjusting device150(step S26). Next, the control command transmitting unit210gof the control unit210transmits these control commands to the mobile body100(step S28). After step S28, the processing of the control unit210of the server200ends.

Next, the communication device120of the mobile body100receives a control command transmitted from the server200(step S12). Next, it is determined whether or not preparation for operation of the mobile body100is started (step S14). When the preparation for the operation is started, the control device110of the mobile body100causes the display to display the display information indicating the assignment of the seat received from the server200. Next, the control device110of the mobile body100, based on a control command, the air conditioner140, and controls the in-vehicle environment adjusting device150(step S18). After step S18, the processing of the control device110of the mobile body100ends.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a passenger having a common demand is assigned to the same region based on a demand regarding the characteristics of the passenger's seat. Thus, a desire for the characteristics of the seats of the individual passengers is realized. As a result, the characteristics of the seat are matched with the passenger's desire, and the occurrence of a sense of discomfort in the passenger is reduced. Therefore, comfortable movement of the passenger is realized. In addition, an optimum environment for each passenger can be realized while taking advantage of the difference in environment depending on the seat position. Therefore, the passenger can move in a relaxed manner, and the stress of the passenger is eliminated.