JP2002074587A - Method and system for selecting passenger - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a vacant state in the return route of a taxi by matching the destination of a passenger, which is previously registered, with the return destination of the taxi. SOLUTION: In a passenger selecting method, a server receives seat information that the passenger desires boarding from a taxi terminal arranged in the taxi. The server retrieves the passenger desiring boarding based on seat information and taxi destination information of a passenger data base, which is previously registered. The server informs the taxi terminal of the result of retrieval and it is displayed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a passenger selection method and a passenger selection system for allowing a taxi driver to ride a desired passenger when the taxi driver rides the passenger.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a taxi transports a passenger to a distant place outside the business license acquisition area (for example, from Chiba to Tokyo), the passengers who can take a taxi on the return trip are the passengers traveling to the taxi business license acquisition area. Only. However, in reality, it is impossible for a taxi driver to know where the passengers are going, so a taxi that has been transported over long distances usually returns
Taxi operating efficiency is deteriorating, forcing the company to be empty.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, the inventors of the present invention have access to a passenger database that wishes to take a taxi between distant places, and to determine the destinations of the registered passengers in advance. An object of the present invention is to provide a passenger selection method and a passenger selection system useful for a taxi company that can reduce the vacant state of the taxi return route by matching the taxi return destinations.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a server receives, from a taxi terminal installed in a taxi, location information that a passenger desires to get on, and the location information and a pre-registered passenger database. And a server for searching for a passenger who wants to get on, based on the taxi destination information, and the server notifies the taxi terminal of the result of the search and displays the result.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the server notifies a result of the search to a passenger terminal of the taxi,
And a method for selecting a passenger to be displayed.

A third aspect of the present invention is a method for selecting a passenger, wherein the location information is a number, a place name or longitude and latitude assigned to a taxi terminal.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system in which a taxi terminal of a taxi driver desiring to ride a passenger, a passenger terminal of the passenger and a server are connected via an open network, The terminal has means for transmitting location information that the passenger desires to board, and the server includes means for receiving the location information, and a taxi for the passenger to be occupied by the location information and a pre-registered passenger database. A passenger selection system comprising: means for searching based on destination information; and means for notifying and displaying the result searched by the means for searching for passengers to the taxi terminal.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a passenger selection system having a taxi terminal of a taxi driver wishing to get on a passenger and a server connected to the passenger terminal of the passenger via an open network. Wherein the server is configured to receive, from the taxi terminal, location information that the passenger desires to board, and to determine which passenger to take based on the location information and taxi destination information in a pre-registered passenger database. And a means for notifying and displaying the result of the search by the means for searching for the passenger to the taxi terminal.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the server receives, from the taxi terminal, location information that the passenger desires to board, based on the location information and taxi destination information in a pre-registered passenger database. And a means for notifying the taxi terminal of the result of the search and displaying the result of the search on the taxi terminal.

[0010] The invention according to claim 7 is a passenger selection system in which the server notifies and displays a result of the search to a passenger terminal of the taxi.

The invention according to claim 8 is a passenger selection system, wherein the location information is a number, a place name or longitude and latitude assigned to a taxi terminal.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows an example of a system configuration diagram of the passenger selection system 1. The passenger selection system 1 includes a mobile phone and a PD provided in a taxi (hereinafter referred to as a user) who wants to select a passenger.
A, via a taxi terminal 3 such as a notebook computer, a passenger terminal 4 such as a mobile phone, a PDA, a notebook computer, etc., which can be used by passengers; and a taxi terminal 3, a passenger terminal 4 and an open network 5 such as the Internet. An example having at least a server 2 capable of transmitting and receiving data will be described.

When the user wants to select a passenger using the passenger selection system 1, information about the location where the user is currently located (hereinafter, location information) is input from the taxi terminal 3. At this time, as the location information, a place name, a building name, a store name, or the like may be transmitted, a location specifying service such as a mobile phone may be used, or a GPS (Glob
al Positioning System) may be used to transmit longitude and latitude.

The server 2 searches for a suitable passenger from the passenger database 8 registered in advance by a known method based on the location information input from the taxi terminal 3, and notifies the taxi terminal 3 and the passenger terminal 4 of the result. I do. Obviously, not only the passenger at the current position of the taxi but also the taxi itself may be moved from the location information and the passenger may be boarded. Therefore, when searching for passengers, it is clear that passengers at locations near the location are also searched.

The server 2 includes a taxi database 6, a location database 7, a passenger database 8, a location information transmitting means 9, an authentication means 10, a passenger search means 12, a location information receiving means 11, a passenger result notifying means 13, a taxi result. It is constituted by the notifying means 14.

The taxi database 6 includes, for example, employee numbers, taxi license plates, mobile phone numbers, IDs,
It is a database that stores unique taxi authentication information that each taxi has, such as a password, an input screen for taxi authentication information that the authentication means 10 transmits to the taxi terminal 3, and information about taxis such as the area to which the taxi belongs. .

The location database 7 stores location-related information, such as geographic information, history information of location information previously input from the taxi terminal 3, and a location information input screen transmitted by the location information transmitting means 10 to the taxi terminal 3. Database. It goes without saying that the geographic information in this case is not limited to the place name, but may be any information such as a building name, a store name, or the like that can uniquely specify the place.

The passenger database 8 is a database that stores information on passengers, such as the departure place, destination, and contact information of the passengers. The database is constructed by a known method and stored in the server.

The location information transmitting means 9 is a means for receiving location information, such as the location information, location history information, and input screens thereof, from the location database and transmitting the information to the taxi terminal 3.

The authentication means 10 transmits taxi authentication information such as the taxi authentication information and the taxi authentication information input screen, and is registered in the taxi database 6 and the taxi authentication information input from the taxi terminal 3. This is a known authentication unit that executes taxi authentication by checking with taxi authentication information. By providing such an authentication means, only a trusted taxi can be used as a user, and the reliability of passengers to the present system can be obtained.

The passenger search means 12 receives the current position of the taxi from the location information receiving means 14, and returns the taxi to the taxi from the taxi database 6 (ie, the destination of the return trip).
(Hereinafter referred to as taxi destination information), and based on the location information and the taxi destination information, the passenger database 8 is
For example, keyword search, prefix search, suffix search,
A known search means such as a search engine that searches by means such as a concept search and transmits a passenger search result to the passenger result notification means 13 and the taxi result notification means 14,
It also mediates the transmission and reception of information between the taxi terminal 3 and the passenger terminal 4. Obviously, not only the passenger at the current position of the taxi but also the taxi itself may be moved from the location information and the passenger may be boarded. Therefore, when searching for passengers, it is clear that passengers located near the location are also searched.

The location information receiving means 11 is a known means for receiving the location information of the current location of the taxi, which is input from the taxi terminal 3. As a means for receiving the location information, a place name or the like may be selected from a pull-down menu or the like as in the present embodiment, a text input may be performed, or a location specifying service of a mobile phone or a simplified mobile phone may be used. Use or GPS (Global Po
Alternatively, the longitude and latitude may be transmitted to the server 2 using a sitioning system.

The passenger result notifying means 13 is a means for notifying the passenger terminal 4 of the information of the passenger search result received from the passenger searching means 12.

The taxi result notifying means 14 is a means for notifying the taxi terminal 3 of information on the passenger search result received from the passenger search means 12.

Although transmission and reception in the present system are not shown, data is temporarily stored in a storage means such as a memory or a cache via an open network 5 such as the Internet or a public telephone line network, and the data is stored when necessary. It goes without saying that it is a draw. Also,
It goes without saying that each database and means are not provided on one server, but are connected via an open network and may be present on another server.

The input method in the present system may be any input method known in the art, such as selection input of the pull-down menu method used in the present embodiment or direct character input or voice input.

Next, the operation of the passenger selection system 1 will be described with reference to a flowchart showing an example of the process of the present system in FIG. 1 and a system configuration diagram in FIG.

When a taxi driver (hereinafter referred to as a user) accesses the server 2 from the taxi terminal 3 via the open network 5, the authentication means 10 of the server 2 uses the authentication stored in the taxi database 3 at the taxi terminal 3. Send the information input screen. FIG. 3 shows an example of the authentication information input screen.

Although not shown here, when the user newly registers, the user inputs the unique taxi authentication information possessed by each taxi terminal 3, and the authentication means 10 registers the taxi authentication information in the taxi database 6. I do. At this time, it is preferable to use an employee number, a taxi license plate, an ID, a password, and a telephone number in the case of a mobile phone as taxi authentication information.

In the case of a registered user, taxi authentication information is input to a taxi terminal. Then, by selecting a button or the like for instructing the transmission of the taxi authentication information to the server 2, the taxi authentication information is transmitted to the server 2. The server 2 receiving the taxi authentication information by the authentication means 10 stores the taxi authentication information in the taxi database 6.
To authenticate the taxi as to whether or not the user is a registered user (S100). When the taxi authentication information is not recognized in the taxi database 6, the taxi database 6 sends a notification of the authentication failure to the taxi terminal 3 via the authentication means 10.

If the taxi is authenticated, the location information transmitting means 9 inputs a new location to the taxi terminal 3 when the location information stored in the location database 7 is entered, or the location information is transmitted to the taxi terminal 3 in the past. A screen for selecting whether to use is transmitted (S110).

When the user uses a new location, the location information transmitting means 9 transmits to the taxi terminal 3 a location information input screen on which a new location can be input. (S12
0) FIG. 4 shows an example of the location information input screen. Server 2
Receives the location information input screen from the user, inputs the current location information of the user from the taxi terminal 3,
The location information is transmitted to the server 2 by, for example, selecting a button for instructing transmission to the server 2 or the like. In the present embodiment, the place name is selected, but it goes without saying that text input or voice input may be used.

When the user uses the location history information,
In S110, a button or the like provided in the screen transmitted from the server 2 and capable of acquiring location history information is selected and transmitted to the server 2. The location information receiving means 14 of the server 2 having received the location history information request searches the taxi database 6 for location history information. The taxi database 6 transmits the location history information to the location information transmitting means 9, and upon receiving the location information transmitting means 9, the location history information is described to the taxi terminal 3 so that a selection can be made. Send the screen (S
130). FIG. 5 shows an example of the location history selection screen.

The user selects and transmits location information on the location history selection screen received from the server 2 at the taxi terminal 3. At this time, a place name may be transmitted as location information, a telephone number may be transmitted by using a location specifying service such as a mobile phone, or a GPS (Global
Positioning System) may be used to transmit longitude and latitude.

The location information receiving means 11 is a taxi terminal 3
Then, the location information newly input or input from the location history information is received (S140).

The location information receiving means 1 from the taxi terminal 3
When the location information is received at 1, the location information is transmitted to the passenger search means 12. The passenger search means 12 having received the location information extracts the return destination of the user's taxi (that is, the return destination) (hereinafter, taxi destination information) from the taxi database 6. The passenger search means 12
The extracted taxi destination information and location information are transmitted to the passenger database 8, and the location information of the current location of the taxi and the taxi destination information to which the taxi returns are searched for, for example, by keyword search or forward match search. The search is performed by a known means such as backward search, concept search, etc., and the same or nearby passenger is searched (S150). Obviously, not only the passenger at the current position of the taxi but also the taxi itself may be moved from the location information and the passenger may be boarded. Therefore, when searching for passengers, it is clear that passengers near the location information are also searched.

As a matter of course, the departure place (corresponding to the user's location information), destination (corresponding to the user's taxi destination information), date and time are stored in the passenger database using a known method in advance. The data such as contact information is the passenger terminal 4.
Is registered in advance from Further, in this embodiment, only the location information and the taxi destination information are searched. However, in addition to the above, attributes of passengers and / or taxis are registered, and adding them to the search target is also required by those skilled in the art. Then you can easily guess.

The passenger search means 12 transmits the passenger search result to the taxi terminal 3 via the taxi result notification means 14 (S160). FIG. 6 shows an example of the passenger search result screen displayed on the taxi terminal 3.

The taxi terminal 3 that has received the passenger search result screen selects one passenger from the list of passengers that the user wants to get on and transmits it to the server 2 (S17).
0). The server 2 that has received the selected passenger information notifies the passenger terminal 4 via the passenger result notification means 15 that the taxi to which the passenger will board is determined (S18).
0).

In this embodiment, the case where the taxi terminal 3 and the passenger terminal 4 transmit and receive data via the server 2 has been described. However, after the taxi terminal 3 receives the passenger search result, the taxi terminal 3 The taxi terminal 3 transmits the taxi information distributed to the passenger to the passenger terminal 4, or transmits information such as the dispatch assignment from the taxi terminal 3 to the passenger terminal 4 after the taxi receives the result notification. Data may be transmitted to and received from the passenger terminal 4 via the open network 5 without passing through the server 2.

In implementing the present invention, a storage medium storing a software program for realizing the functions of the present embodiment is supplied to the system, and the computer of the system reads and executes the program stored in the storage medium. It is natural to be realized by.

In this case, the program itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the recording medium storing the program naturally constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk,
A hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the operating system running on the computer based on the instructions of the program. It goes without saying that a part or all of the processing is performed, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

Further, after the program read from the storage medium is written into a nonvolatile or volatile storage means provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program is read out. Based on the instructions, the arithmetic processing device or the like provided in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit may perform part or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments. It is.

[0046]

According to the present invention, it is possible to select a passenger suitable for the return destination of a taxi driver on the return route of a taxi that has traveled a long distance outside the business license acquisition area. In accordance with this, the vacancy rate of taxis can be reduced, and efficient taxi operations can be achieved, contributing to improved management of taxi companies.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the process of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram showing an example of the system configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a taxi authentication screen.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a location information input screen.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a location history selection screen.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a passenger search result screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Passenger selection system 2: Server 3: Taxi terminal 4: Passenger terminal 5: Open network 6: Taxi database 7: Location database 8: Passenger database 9: Location information transmission means 10: Authentication means 11: Location information reception Means 12: Passenger search means 13: Passenger result notification means 14: Taxi result notification means

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A server receives, from a taxi terminal installed in a taxi, location information of a passenger who wants to get on the taxi, and based on the location information and taxi destination information in a pre-registered passenger database, the server receives the location information. Searching for a passenger who wants to get in, and the server notifies the taxi terminal of the result of the search and displays the result. 2. The method for selecting a passenger according to claim 1, wherein the server notifies and displays the result of the search to a passenger terminal of the taxi. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the location information is a number, a place name or longitude and latitude assigned to the taxi terminal. 4. A system in which a taxi terminal of a taxi driver wishing to get on a passenger, a passenger terminal of the passenger and a server are connected via an open network, wherein the taxi terminal of the passenger is The server has means for transmitting location information desired to be boarded, and the server has a means for receiving the location information and a passenger who gets on the board, together with the location information and taxi destination information in a pre-registered passenger database. And a means for notifying and displaying the result of the search by the means for searching for the passenger to the taxi terminal and displaying the result. 5. A taxi terminal of a taxi driver wishing to ride a passenger, and a passenger terminal of the passenger,
A passenger selection system having a server connected via an open network, the server comprising: means for receiving, from a taxi terminal, location information that the passenger wants to get on; Means for searching based on taxi destination information in a pre-registered passenger database, and means for notifying the taxi terminal of a result searched by the means for searching for the passenger to the taxi terminal and displaying the result. Characterized passenger selection system. 6. A server in which a server receives location information of a passenger from a taxi terminal, the passenger who rides based on the location information and taxi destination information in a pre-registered passenger database. And a means for notifying the taxi terminal of the result of the search and displaying the result. 7. The passenger selection according to claim 4, wherein the server notifies a result of the search to a passenger terminal for boarding the taxi and displays the result. system. 8. The passenger selection system according to claim 4, wherein said location information is a number, a place name or longitude and latitude assigned to a taxi terminal.