US 12,326,338 B2
Server apparatus, information processing system, medium, and method of operating information processing system
Yuki Tatsumoto, Nagoya (JP); Toshiki Kashiwakura, Ota-ku (JP); Manabu Ishihara, Nagoya (JP); Akira Sasaki, Miyoshi (JP); and Scott R. Meyer, Allen, TX (US)
Assigned to TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Toyota (JP)
Filed by Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota (JP)
Filed on Aug. 11, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/399,293.
Claims priority of application No. 2020-135996 (JP), filed on Aug. 11, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0049964 A1, Feb. 17, 2022
Int. Cl. G01C 21/34 (2006.01); G01C 21/36 (2006.01); G08G 1/00 (2006.01); H04W 4/021 (2018.01); H04W 4/44 (2018.01)
CPC G01C 21/3438 (2013.01) [G01C 21/3691 (2013.01); G08G 1/202 (2013.01); H04W 4/021 (2013.01); H04W 4/44 (2018.02)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A server apparatus comprising:
a communication interface; and
a controller configured to transmit/receive information to/from another apparatus via the communication interface, wherein
when a first boarding location is specified by a terminal apparatus:
the controller determines one or more second boarding locations that are within a predetermined distance range from the first boarding location and reachable by a vehicle at a time earlier than the first boarding location, wherein the controller identifies the one or more second boarding locations based on positional information of the vehicle determined by a positioner, road traffic information, direction of travel for roads, a walking speed of a passenger, and a traveling speed for the vehicle on the roads such that a time from a passenger request to boarding the vehicle is reduced compared to the first boarding location thereby improving a time efficiency of a vehicle dispatch process,
the controller transmits, via the communication interface to the terminal apparatus, alternative boarding location information for display on a display screen of the terminal apparatus, the alternative boarding location information comprising the one or more second boarding locations, respective routes from a current location of the vehicle to the one or more second boarding locations for superimposed display on a map for display on the terminal apparatus, an indication configured to display a reduced amount of time for the vehicle to arrive at the respective one or more second boarding locations, and a prompt to accept or select one of the one or more second boarding locations,
the controller receives, via the communication interface from the terminal apparatus, a response to the prompt indicting an accepted or selected one of the one or more second boarding locations, wherein the one of the one or more second boarding locations is a location that the vehicle and the passenger arrive at approximately the same time thereby reducing waiting time for both the vehicle and the passenger,
the controller generates an operation request to move the vehicle to the accepted or selected one of the one or more second boarding locations based on positional information for the accepted or selected one of the one or more second boarding locations and the vehicle, and
the controller transmits, via the communication interface to the vehicle, the operation request to move the vehicle to the accepted or selected one of the one or more second boarding locations.