IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,307,391
Granted Patent B2
US 12,307,391 · App. 18/217,911 · Granted May 20, 2025

Information processing apparatus and information processing system

Inventors: Ryogo Nonaka (Kawasaki, JP); Hirona Ota (Seto, JP); Yuki Tatsumoto (Seto, JP); Tsunehiro Yokomori (Toyota, JP)
Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
G06Q10/02G06Q50/40
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,307,391
App. No.
18/217,911
Granted
May 20, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An information processing apparatus comprises a controller configured to acquire first data for identifying a first user who is a user of an on-demand bus that is operated on demand, the first data being read by a signage apparatus installed at a boarding/alighting point of the on-demand bus, and make a boarding reservation for the on-demand bus based on the first data.

Claims (52)

1. An information processing apparatus comprising a controller configured to:

periodically transmit guide data to a signage apparatus,

(i) the signage apparatus being installed at a boarding/alighting point of an autonomous on-demand bus that is operated on demand and configured to read an IC card associated with a first user by means of near-field communication, the IC card being associated with a second service different from a transport service by the autonomous on-demand bus, and

(ii) the guide data causing the signage apparatus to display a first screen showing real-time bus location and arrival information and indicating acceptance of IC cards associated with the second service;

acquire first data for identifying a first user of the autonomous on-demand bus, the first data being

(i) acquired by the signage apparatus installed at a boarding/alighting point of the autonomous on-demand bus by reading the IC card associated with the first user, and

(ii) for unique identification of users, including the first user, in relation to the second service;

in response to acquiring the first data, transmit boarding selection data to the signage apparatus, the boarding selection data causing the signage apparatus to display a second screen for the first user to input a selection;

receive second data based on the selection input by the first user to the second screen;

make a boarding reservation for the autonomous on-demand bus based on the first data and the second data; and

transmit the boarding reservation to a vehicle-mounted apparatus of the autonomous on-demand bus, the boarding reservation causing the vehicle-mounted apparatus to display information about a stop where the first user is to board, wherein

in response to receiving the boarding reservation, the autonomous on-demand bus is controlled to autonomously travel to the stop where the first user is to board.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the first data further includes an identifier of the second service.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising

a storage configured to store user data for mapping the first data to user information about a user of a transport service by the autonomous on-demand bus.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein

the controller converts the first data into the user information based on the user data.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising

a storage configured to store a history on the boarding reservation, wherein,

in a case where the first data is received from the signage apparatus, the controller infers a boarding section of the first user based on a past boarding reservation associated with the first user and transmits, to the signage apparatus, the boarding selection data for suggesting the inferred boarding section to the first user.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising

a storage configured to store user data for mapping the first data to settlement-related information.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein

the settlement-related information at least includes fee payment record of the first user.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein

the controller makes the boarding reservation in a case where there is no unsettled payment of fee in relation to the first user.

9. An information processing system comprising:

at least one signage apparatus that is installed at a boarding/alighting point of an autonomous on-demand bus that is operated on demand; and

an information processing apparatus, wherein

the at least one signage apparatus includes a first controller configured to:

acquire first data for identifying a first user of the autonomous on-demand bus, and

transmit the first data to the information processing apparatus, the first data being acquired by the at least one signage apparatus reading an IC card associated with the first user by means of near-field communication, the IC card being associated with a second service different from a transport service by the autonomous on-demand bus, and

the information processing apparatus includes a second controller configured to:

periodically transmit guide data to the at least one signage apparatus, the guide data causing the at least one signage apparatus to display a first screen showing real-time bus location and arrival information and indicating acceptance of IC cards associated with the second service,

acquire the first data for identifying the first user of the autonomous on-demand bus, the first data being

(i) acquired by the at least one signage apparatus installed at a boarding/alighting point of the autonomous on-demand bus by reading the IC card associated with the first user, and

(ii) for unique identification of users, including the first user, in relation to the second service,

in response to acquiring the first data, transmit boarding selection data to the at least one signage apparatus, the boarding selection data causing the at least one signage apparatus to display a second screen for the first user to input a selection,

receive second data based on the selection input by the first user to the second screen,

make a boarding reservation for the autonomous on-demand bus based on the first data and the second data, and

transmit the boarding reservation to a vehicle-mounted apparatus of the autonomous on-demand bus, the boarding reservation causing the vehicle-mounted apparatus to display information about a stop where the first user is to board, wherein

in response to receiving the boarding reservation, the autonomous on-demand bus is controlled to autonomously travel to the stop where the first user is to board.

10. The information processing system according to claim 9 , wherein

the first data further includes an identifier of the second service.

11. The information processing system according to claim 9 , wherein

the information processing apparatus further includes a storage configured to store user data for mapping the first data to user information about a user of a transport service by the autonomous on-demand bus.

12. The information processing system according to claim 11 , wherein

the second controller converts the first data into the user information based on the user data.

13. The information processing system according to claim 9 , wherein

the information processing apparatus further includes a storage configured to store a history on the boarding reservation, and

in a case where the first data is received from the signage apparatus, the second controller infers a boarding section of the first user based on a past boarding reservation associated with the first user and transmits, to the signage apparatus, the boarding selection data for suggesting the inferred boarding section to the first user.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 3, 2023
From: NONAKA, RYOGO; OTA, HIRONA; TATSUMOTO, YUKI; YOKOMORI, TSUNEHIRO
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 064141/0482 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2022-110670 · Jul 8, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240013102A1 · Jan 11, 2024
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