IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,444,310
Granted Patent B2
US 12,444,310 · App. 17/937,577 · Granted Oct 14, 2025

Server apparatus, system, and operating method of system

Inventor: Shotaro Suzuki (Nagakute, JP)
Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
G08G5/34G05D1/102G06Q50/40G08G5/76
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,444,310
App. No.
17/937,577
Granted
Oct 14, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A server apparatus includes a communication interface and a controller configured to communicate using the communication interface. The controller instructs an aircraft to fly along a flight path for the aircraft to transport a passenger from a departure point to a final destination when a condition of the flight path is good, and instructs the aircraft to fly along an alternative flight path to an alternative destination and executes a dispatch process to dispatch a vehicle to transport the passenger from the alternative destination to the final destination when the condition of the flight path is poor.

Claims (31)

1. A server apparatus comprising:

a communication interface; and

a controller configured to communicate using the communication interface, wherein

the controller instructs an aircraft to fly along a flight path for the aircraft to transport a passenger from a departure point to a final destination when a condition of the flight path is good,

the controller instructs the aircraft to fly along an alternative flight path to an alternative destination and executes a dispatch process to dispatch a vehicle to transport the passenger from the alternative destination to the final destination when the condition of the flight path is poor, and

the controller determines the alternative destination based on information on flight skills of a pilot of the aircraft.

2. The server apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller determines the condition of the flight path based on weather information for the flight path.

3. The server apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller determines the alternative destination from among a plurality of candidate locations, based on a distance from the flight path for each candidate location and difficulty of takeoff and landing for each candidate location.

4. The server apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller transmits information on the alternative flight path to the aircraft and determines the alternative destination on a condition that information indicating that the flight along the alternative flight path is feasible for the pilot is received from the aircraft.

5. The server apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller determines the alternative destination on a condition that the vehicle is capable of arriving at the alternative destination by a time at which the aircraft arrives at the alternative destination.

6. The server apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller executes a process to grant an incentive to the passenger according to a difference between an arrival time at the final destination in a case of using the flight path and an arrival time at the final destination in a case of using the alternative flight path.

7. The server apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller receives information on the departure point and the final destination from a terminal apparatus used by the passenger and determines the flight path or determines the alternative flight path and executes the dispatch process.

8. A system comprising a server apparatus, an aircraft, and a vehicle configured to communicate with each other, wherein

the server apparatus instructs the aircraft to fly along a flight path for the aircraft to transport a passenger from a departure point to a final destination when a condition of the flight path is good, instructs the aircraft to fly along an alternative flight path to an alternative destination and executes a dispatch process to dispatch a vehicle to transport the passenger from the alternative destination to the final destination when the condition of the flight path is poor, and determines the alternative destination based on information on flight skills of a pilot of the aircraft,

the aircraft flies according to instruction from the server apparatus, and

the vehicle travels based on the dispatch process.

9. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the server apparatus determines the condition of the flight path based on weather information for the flight path.

10. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the server apparatus determines the alternative destination from among a plurality of candidate locations, based on a distance from the flight path for each candidate location and difficulty of takeoff and landing for each candidate location.

11. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the server apparatus transmits information on the alternative flight path to the aircraft and determines the alternative destination on a condition that information indicating that the flight along the alternative flight path is feasible for the pilot is received from the aircraft.

12. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the server apparatus determines the alternative destination on a condition that the vehicle is capable of arriving at the alternative destination by a time at which the aircraft arrives at the alternative destination.

13. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the server apparatus executes a process to grant an incentive to the passenger according to a difference between an arrival time at the final destination in a case of using the flight path and an arrival time at the final destination in a case of using the alternative flight path.

14. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the server apparatus receives information on the departure point and the final destination from a terminal apparatus used by the passenger and determines the flight path or determines the alternative flight path and executes the dispatch process.

15. An operating method of a system comprising a server apparatus, an aircraft, and a vehicle configured to communicate with each other, the operating method comprising:

instructing, by the server apparatus, the aircraft to fly along a flight path for the aircraft to transport a passenger from a departure point to a final destination when a condition of the flight path is good, instructing the aircraft to fly along an alternative flight path to an alternative destination and executing a dispatch process to dispatch a vehicle to transport the passenger from the alternative destination to the final destination when the condition of the flight path is poor, and determining the alternative destination based on information on flight skills of a pilot of the aircraft;

flying, by the aircraft, according to instruction from the server apparatus; and

traveling, by the vehicle, based on the dispatch process.

16. The operating method according to claim 15 , wherein the server apparatus determines the condition of the flight path based on weather information for the flight path.

17. The operating method according to claim 15 , wherein the server apparatus determines the alternative destination from among a plurality of candidate locations, based on a distance from the flight path for each candidate location and difficulty of takeoff and landing for each candidate location.

18. The operating method according to claim 15 , wherein the server apparatus transmits information on the alternative flight path to the aircraft and determines the alternative destination on a condition that information indicating that the flight along the alternative flight path is feasible for the pilot is received from the aircraft.

19. The operating method according to claim 15 , wherein the server apparatus determines the alternative destination on a condition that the vehicle is capable of arriving at the alternative destination by a time at which the aircraft arrives at the alternative destination.

20. The operating method according to claim 15 , wherein the server apparatus executes a process to grant an incentive to the passenger according to a difference between an arrival time at the final destination in a case of using the flight path and an arrival time at the final destination in a case of using the alternative flight path.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 3, 2022
From: SUZUKI, SHOTARO
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 061290/0150 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-165728 · Oct 7, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230114882A1 · Apr 13, 2023
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