Granted Patent B2

US 12,494,093 · App. 18/444,761 · Granted Dec 9, 2025

Inventors: Ryosuke Kobayashi (Nagakute, JP); Koichi Watanabe (Tokyo-to, JP); Motofumi Kamiya (Nagoya, JP); Masaki Nishino (Anjo, JP); Jean-Sebastien Boire (Yokohama, JP); Takuya Nishioka (Nagoya, JP); Yohei Nakanishi (Nagoya, JP); Masaki Makihara (Okazaki, JP)

Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA

G07C5/008H02J7/342

Abstract

Claims (14)

1 . A method performed by an information processing apparatus configured to determine an operation plan of a power supply vehicle, wherein the power supply vehicle is configured to drive automatically, in accordance with a purpose of use by a user, the method comprising:

sending a command to a terminal apparatus used by the user to display a screen for selecting a purpose of use and a starting point of use of the power supply vehicle on the terminal apparatus used by the user;

acquiring, from the terminal apparatus used by the user, a purpose of use and a starting point of use selected by the user;

determining the operation plan of the power supply vehicle so as to move the power supply vehicle to the acquired starting point of use and perform a power supply operation to supply power to a vehicle of the user in a case in which the acquired purpose of use is “power supply”;

determining the operation plan of the power supply vehicle so as to move the power supply vehicle to the acquired starting point of use in a case in which the acquired purpose of use is a purpose to transport the user, other than “power supply”;

transmitting the determined operation plan to the terminal apparatus of the user and a terminal apparatus of the power supply vehicle; and

granting extended usage time to the user in a case in which the acquired purpose of use is the purpose to transport the user and the user performs the power supply operation, as a substitute, using the power supply vehicle while the power supply vehicle is used by the user for the purpose to transport the user.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

confirming whether a different user who wishes power supply is present within a predetermined area centered on the power supply vehicle, which is rented to the user, in a case in which the acquired purpose of use is the purpose to transport the user and the user wishes to perform the power supply operation as a substitute while the power supply vehicle is used by the user for the purpose to transport the user; and

transmitting information on the different user to the terminal apparatus of the user in a case in which the different user is present.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

causing the user to further select a destination point in a case in which the acquired purpose of use is the purpose to transport the user and the user wishes to perform the power supply operation as a substitute while the power supply vehicle is used by the user for the purpose to transport the user;

confirming whether a different user who wishes power supply is present en route from the acquired starting point of use to the destination point; and

transmitting information on the different user to the terminal apparatus of the user in a case in which the different user is present.

Assignments (1)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (18)