Support server, disaster support system, and storage medium

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12496919-B2
Application number	US-202217850332-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 27, 2022
Priority date	Jul 16, 2021
Publication date	Dec 16, 2025
Grant date	Dec 16, 2025

Abstract

A support server includes a controlling portion configured to execute the followings: acquiring respective pieces of vehicle information on a plurality of vehicles present in a power outage area; specifying a power supply vehicle by which power supply is performable, from among the vehicles based on the respective pieces of vehicle information on the vehicles; and outputting, to the power supply vehicle, power supply information indicating that power supply is performable by the power supply vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A disaster support system comprising:
a plurality of vehicles, each of the plurality of vehicles including a display, a battery and an inlet receptacle through which electrical power can be supplied to the battery from outside of the vehicle and through which electrical power can be supplied from the battery to an external electric device located outside of the vehicle; and a support server communicable with the plurality of vehicles via a network, the support server including a processor configured to:
acquire respective pieces of vehicle information about the plurality of vehicles present in a power outage area;
specify, from among the plurality of vehicles, a power supply vehicle by which power supply is performable, based on the respective pieces of vehicle information acquired about the plurality of vehicles;
output, to the power supply vehicle, power supply information indicating that power supply is performable by the power supply vehicle; and
output, to the power supply vehicle, procedure information including a sequence of procedure images demonstrating how a user of the power supply vehicle is to cause the power supply vehicle to enter a mode in which the battery of the power supply vehicle is used as a power source to perform a power supply operation in which the power supply vehicle supplies power via at least the inlet receptacle to the external electric device, wherein the output of the procedure information includes:
(i) the processor transmitting, to the power supply vehicle, a first procedure image that the display of the power supply vehicle displays to the user, the first procedure image including a view of a portion of the power supply vehicle and text instructing the user to press a first power switch of the power supply vehicle twice without stepping on a brake pedal of the power supply vehicle, and
(ii) in response to the user pressing the first power switch of the power supply vehicle twice without stepping on the brake pedal of the power supply vehicle, the processor transmitting, to the power supply vehicle, a second procedure image that the display of the power supply vehicle displays to the user, the second procedure image including a view of a portion of the power supply vehicle and text instructing the user of the power supply vehicle to press a second switch that is different from the first power switch three times consecutively, wherein
the power supply vehicle enters the mode in which the battery of the power supply vehicle is used as the power source to perform the power supply operation in which the power supply vehicle supplies power via at least the inlet receptacle to the external electric device upon the user completing all instructions provided in the sequence of procedure images.

2 . The disaster support system according to claim 1 , wherein the processor outputs the power supply information to a communications device associated with the power supply vehicle or the display included in the power supply vehicle.

3 . The disaster support system according to claim 2 , wherein:
the processor determines whether or not wireless communication is established between the power supply vehicle and the communications device; in a case where the processor determines that the wireless communication is established, the processor outputs the power supply information to the communications device; and in a case where the processor determines that the wireless communication is not established, the processor outputs the power supply information to the display.

4 . The disaster support system according to claim 3 , wherein:
the processor outputs the power supply information to the communications device; and the processor outputs the procedure information to the power supply vehicle.

5 . The disaster support system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the processor acquires position information on the power supply vehicle; and the processor outputs the position information and the power supply information to a device placed within a predetermined range from the power supply vehicle.

6 . A disaster support method in which a support server communicates with a plurality of vehicles via a network, each of the plurality of vehicles including a display, a battery and an inlet receptacle through which electrical power can be supplied to the battery from outside of the vehicle and through which electrical power can be supplied from the battery to an external electric device located outside of the vehicle, the method comprising:
acquiring, by a processor of the support server, respective pieces of vehicle information about the plurality of vehicles present in a power outage area; specifying, by the processor of the support server, from among the plurality of vehicles, a power supply vehicle by which power supply is performable, based on the respective pieces of vehicle information acquired about the plurality of vehicles; the support server outputting, to the power supply vehicle, power supply information indicating that power supply is performable by the power supply vehicle; and the support server outputting, to the power supply vehicle, procedure information including a sequence of procedure images demonstrating how a user of the power supply vehicle is to cause the power supply vehicle to enter a mode in which the battery of the power supply vehicle is used as a power source to perform a power supply operation in which the power supply vehicle supplies power via at least the inlet receptacle to the external electric device, the outputting of the procedure information including:
(i) the processor transmitting, to the power supply vehicle, a first procedure image that the display of the power supply vehicle displays to the user, the first procedure image including a view of a portion of the power supply vehicle and text instructing the user to press a first power switch of the power supply vehicle twice without stepping on a brake pedal of the power supply vehicle, and
(ii) in response to the user pressing the first power switch of the power supply vehicle twice without stepping on the brake pedal of the power supply vehicle, the processor transmitting, to the power supply vehicle, a second procedure image that the display of the power supply vehicle displays to the user, the second procedure image including a view of a portion of the power supply vehicle and text instructing the user of the power supply vehicle to press a second switch that is different from the first power switch three times consecutively, wherein
the power supply vehicle enters the mode in which the battery of the power supply vehicle is used as the power source to perform the power supply operation in which the power supply vehicle supplies power via at least the inlet receptacle to the external electric device upon the user completing all instructions provided in the sequence of procedure images.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Hoki Yusuke
• Sugiyama Koseki
• Katsumata Kumiko
• Yayabe Rie
• Sakurada Shin
• Yamanaka Tomio

Classifications

• B60L53/62

  in response to charging parameters, e.g. current, voltage or electrical charge · CPC title

• B60L53/63

  in response to network capacity · CPC title

• B60L2240/622

  by satellite navigation · CPC title

• B60L53/20 Primary

  characterised by converters located in the vehicle · CPC title

• B60L2250/16

  by display · CPC title