Selection device, selection method and computer readable storage medium

Abstract

The present invention discloses a selection device, a selection method and a computer-readable storage medium for selecting a combination of multiple secondary batteries for use in a user's facility, the selection device comprising: an acquisition unit, which acquires (A) period information related to the period during which the user expects the combination to be used in the facility, (B) facility consumption information related to the power consumption of the facility, and (C) output information including information on the current maximum output of each secondary battery in a secondary battery pack that is a candidate for the combination and information related to the time change of the future maximum output; and an output unit, which selects one or more combinations from the secondary battery pack based on the period information, the facility consumption information and the output information, which are able to supply power corresponding to the power consumption of the facility for a longer period than the period and satisfy predetermined conditions corresponding to the fact that the degree of reduction in the maximum output after the period is relatively large, and outputs information on the one or more combinations.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a selection device, a selection method and a computer-readable storage medium. Background Art

[0002] A battery replacement assistance system is known that selects a reusable battery pack whose life is longer than the scheduled replacement period input by the user, and notifies the user of various cost information (replacement cost, cost savings, and actual amount incurred) when specifying the battery pack (for example, refer to patent document 1).

[0003] Patent document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-128769. Summary of the invention

[0004] According to the above-described system, although a battery pack of a replacement predetermined period reflecting a user's desire is selected, it is not possible to select a combination of a plurality of battery packs based on the user's desire and output information of the selected combination.

[0005] In one embodiment of the present invention, a selection device is provided. The selection device may also select a combination of multiple secondary batteries used in a user's facility. The selection device may also include an acquisition unit. The acquisition unit may also acquire (A) period information related to the period during which the user expects the combination to be used in the facility. The acquisition unit may also acquire (B) facility consumption information related to the power consumption of the facility. The acquisition unit may also acquire (C) output information including information on the current maximum output of each secondary battery in a secondary battery pack that is a candidate for the combination and information on the time change of the maximum output in the future. The selection device may also include an output unit. The output unit may also select one or more combinations from the secondary battery pack that can supply power corresponding to the power consumption of the facility for longer than the period and satisfy predetermined conditions corresponding to the fact that the degree of reduction in the maximum output after the period is relatively large based on the period information, the facility consumption information, and the output information, and output the information of the one or more combinations.

[0006] As a condition, the output unit may select one or more combinations including a plurality of secondary batteries in order from the secondary battery having the largest decrease in maximum output after the period has elapsed, among a plurality of secondary batteries that can supply power corresponding to the power consumption of the facility for longer than the period.

[0007] The acquisition unit may also acquire vehicle consumption information related to the power consumption of a vehicle driven by a secondary battery used by a user. The output unit may also select one or more secondary batteries from the secondary battery group as secondary batteries shared between the facility and the vehicle based on the vehicle consumption information, the one or more secondary batteries being able to supply power corresponding to the power consumption of the vehicle for longer than the period and satisfying a predetermined second condition corresponding to the fact that the degree of reduction in the maximum output after the period has passed is relatively large. As a condition, the output unit may also select one or more combinations including one or more secondary batteries satisfying the second condition.

[0008] As the second condition, the output unit may select one or more secondary batteries from among a plurality of secondary batteries capable of supplying power corresponding to the power consumption of the vehicle for longer than the period, starting from the secondary battery having the largest decrease in maximum output after the period has elapsed.

[0009] As a condition, the output unit may select a plurality of combinations that can supply power corresponding to the power consumption of the facility for longer than the period and in which the degree of reduction in maximum output after the period has elapsed is relatively large and in which the available periods in the facilities are different from each other.

[0010] The selection device may also include a calculation unit that calculates the total cost of replacing a combination of multiple secondary batteries for each of the multiple combinations based on a price determined according to time changes in at least the current maximum output and the future maximum output of each secondary battery in the secondary battery pack, and the labor required to replace the combination of multiple secondary batteries in a facility.

[0011] The output unit may also select one or more secondary combinations from the secondary battery pack that cannot supply power corresponding to the power consumption of the facility for longer than the period and that satisfy a predetermined third condition corresponding to the fact that the degree of reduction in the maximum output before the period has passed is relatively large, based on the period information, the facility consumption information, and the output information. The selection device may also include a calculation unit that calculates the total cost of replacing the combination of multiple secondary batteries for each of the one or more combinations and the one or more secondary combinations based on a price determined based on the time change of at least the current maximum output and the future maximum output of each secondary battery in the secondary battery pack and the labor cost required to replace the combination of multiple secondary batteries in the facility.

[0012] The output unit may also output information on the available period and total cost in the facility for each of the one or more combinations and the one or more secondary combinations. The output unit may also output information on rewards given to the user when at least one of the one or more secondary combinations is used in the facility.

[0013] The acquisition unit may also acquire maximum number information regarding the maximum number of secondary batteries that the user desires to be installed in the facility. The output unit may also select one or more combinations consisting of secondary batteries with a number less than the maximum number from the secondary battery group based on the maximum number information.

[0014] The acquisition unit may also acquire maximum number information related to the maximum number of secondary batteries that the user desires to be set in the facility. The output unit may also select one or more combinations consisting of secondary batteries below the maximum number from the secondary battery pack based on the maximum number information. The output unit may also select one or more second secondary combinations from the secondary battery pack based on the period information, the facility consumption information, the output information, and the maximum number information, wherein the one or more second secondary combinations are composed of secondary batteries with a number greater than the maximum number, and are capable of supplying electricity corresponding to the power consumption of the facility for longer than the period and satisfying the conditions. The selection device may also include a calculation unit, which calculates the total cost of replacing a combination of multiple secondary batteries for each of the one or more combinations and the one or more second secondary combinations based on a price determined according to the time variation of at least the current maximum output and the future maximum output of each secondary battery in the secondary battery pack and the labor cost required to replace the combination of multiple secondary batteries in the facility.

[0015] The output unit may also output information on the total cost of each of the one or more combinations and the one or more secondary combinations. The output unit may also output information on the number of secondary batteries included in the one or more second secondary combinations. The output unit may also output information on a reward given to a user when at least one of the one or more second secondary combinations is used in a facility.

[0016] The facility consumption information may also include actual measurement information related to the actual measurement value of the power consumption of the facility. The output unit may also select one or more combinations from the secondary battery pack based on the period information, the actual measurement information and the output information, and the one or more combinations can supply power corresponding to the actual measurement value longer than the period and meet the conditions.

[0017] The facility consumption information may also include actual measurement information related to the actual measurement value of the power consumption of the facility. The output unit may also newly select one or more new combinations from the secondary battery pack based on the period information, the measurement information and the output information and output information of the one or more new combinations, wherein the one or more new combinations can supply power corresponding to the actual measurement value longer than the period and satisfy the condition.

[0018] The acquisition unit may also acquire aesthetic information related to the aesthetics of each secondary battery in the combination desired by the user. The acquisition unit may also acquire evaluation information related to the evaluation of the aesthetics of each secondary battery in the secondary battery pack. The output unit may also select one or more combinations that meet the aesthetics from the secondary battery pack based on the aesthetic information and the evaluation information.

[0019] The output unit may also select one or more third secondary combinations from the secondary battery pack based on the period information, the facility consumption information, the output information, the aesthetic information, and the evaluation information, wherein the one or more third secondary combinations do not satisfy the aesthetic degree, can supply power corresponding to the power consumption of the facility for longer than the period, and satisfy the condition. The output unit may also output information on the total cost of replacing a combination of multiple secondary batteries that are different from each other according to the aesthetic degree of each of the one or more combinations and the one or more third secondary combinations. The output unit may also output information on the aesthetic degree of one or more third secondary combinations. The output unit may also output information on the reward given to the user when at least one of the one or more third secondary combinations is used in the facility.

[0020] In one embodiment of the present invention, a selection method is provided. The selection method may also select a combination of multiple secondary batteries used in a user's facility. The selection method may also include an acquisition step. In the acquisition step, (A) period information related to the period during which the combination is used in the user's desired facility may also be acquired. In the acquisition step, (B) facility consumption information related to the power consumption of the facility may also be acquired. In the acquisition step, (C) output information including information on the current maximum output of each secondary battery in a secondary battery pack that is a candidate for the combination and information on time changes in the future maximum output may also be acquired.

[0021] In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a program for causing a computer to execute the above-mentioned selection method.

[0022] In addition, the summary of the invention does not list all the necessary features of the invention. In addition, sub-combinations of these features may also be inventions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 This is a diagram for explaining a situation in which the selection device 100 according to the present embodiment selects a combination of a plurality of secondary batteries 10 used in the house 20 of the user 25 .

[0024] Figure 2 is an example of a block diagram of the selection device 100 according to the present embodiment.

[0025] Figure 3 This is an example of a flowchart of the selection method according to the present embodiment.

[0026] Figure 4 This is a table stored in the storage unit 103 as an example in the selection device 100 according to the present embodiment.

[0027] Figure 5 A graph for explaining an example of a method in which the selection device 100 according to the present embodiment selects a combination of a plurality of secondary batteries 10 used in the house 20 of the user 25 .

[0028] Figure 6 This is an example of a display screen in the user terminal 30 for displaying a plurality of combinations selected by the selection device 100 according to the present embodiment as examples to the user 25 .

[0029] Figure 7 1 is a diagram showing an example of a computer 1200 that can embody all or part of the various aspects of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The present invention is described below by way of the embodiments of the invention, but the following embodiments do not limit the claimed invention. In addition, not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessary for the solution of the present invention. In addition, in the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals are sometimes given to the same or similar parts and repeated descriptions are omitted.

[0031] Figure 1 1 is a diagram for explaining the selection of a combination of a plurality of secondary batteries 10 used in the residence 20 of the user 25 by the selection device 100 according to the present embodiment. As an example, the secondary battery 10 of the present embodiment is once used in a vehicle driven by a secondary battery such as an EV or PHEV, and then is kept by a rental company 15 that collects and lends out the once-used secondary battery 10, and then is reused as a stationary storage battery in the residence 20 of the user 25. In addition, the once-used secondary battery 10 may be collected and kept by a dealer and then sold to the user 25.

[0032] A combination of multiple secondary batteries 10 is set in the residence 20 of the user 25. The multiple secondary batteries 10 included in the combination can be connected in series with each other, can be connected in parallel, or can be partially connected in parallel in series connection. In the present embodiment, the combination of multiple secondary batteries 10 is used as a buffer in an emergency in the residence 20, but it can also be used as a supply source of electricity that is normally used in the residence 20 together with the electricity from the system, the electricity generated by the solar panel, etc. In addition, the residence 20 is an example of a facility, and other facilities such as a building or a factory can also be substituted for the residence 20.

[0033] The secondary battery 10 is, for example, an all-solid-state battery, a lithium-ion battery, etc. As an example, Figure 1N secondary batteries 10 from secondary battery 10-1 to secondary battery 10-N (N is a natural number) managed and kept by a lessor 15 are shown. The N secondary batteries 10 are assigned unique IDs such as 1 to N and managed by a selection device 100. In the secondary batteries 10 of 1-N, sometimes the current maximum output and the future degradation rate, that is, the degree of reduction in the future maximum output, are different from each other. In addition, sometimes the stains and damages in the current appearance of the secondary batteries 10 of 1-N, that is, the degree of aesthetics, are different from each other. In addition, the N secondary batteries 10 are an example of a secondary battery 10 group.

[0034] The user 25 has a user terminal 30, which is a portable communication device such as a smartphone or a tablet. The user terminal 30 may be an installed communication device such as a desktop PC configured in the residence 20 of the user 25. The user 25 inputs the period information and the facility consumption information into the user terminal 30, and transmits the period information and the facility consumption information together with the user ID for identifying the user 25 to the selection device 100 through the communication network 50.

[0035] The above-mentioned period information is information about the period during which the user 25 desires to use the combination of the plurality of secondary batteries 10 in the house 20. For example, the period information may be information indicating the frequency of replacing the combination of the plurality of secondary batteries 10 with a new combination of the plurality of secondary batteries 10, such as once every five years or once every ten years. In addition, the period information may also be information indicating a specified date for replacing the combination of the plurality of secondary batteries 10 with a new combination of the plurality of secondary batteries 10, such as the end of 2025 or April 18, 2026.

[0036] The facility consumption information is information related to the power consumption of the residence 20. For example, the facility consumption information may be information indicating the power consumed in one day by the residence 20, such as 20 kWh / day. In the present embodiment, the power consumption is, for example, a value recognized by the user 25 based on a record such as an electricity bill, but may be replaced by an actual measurement value measured by an electric meter installed in the residence 20.

[0037] In the present embodiment, the user 25 also inputs aesthetic information related to the aesthetic degree of each secondary battery 10 of the combination desired by the user 25 into the user terminal 30, and transmits the aesthetic information together with the user ID to the selection device 100 via the communication network 50. In addition, in the present embodiment, the user 25 also confirms the information of the plurality of combinations received by the user terminal 30 from the selection device 100, inputs decision information indicating that it is decided to install any one of the plurality of combinations shown in the information in the residence 20, and transmits the decision information together with the user ID to the selection device 100 via the communication network 50.

[0038] The selection device 100 selects at least one or more combinations from the secondary battery 10 groups that are candidates for the above combination, based on the period information, the facility consumption information, and the output information, which can supply power corresponding to the power consumption of the residence 20 identified by the user 25 for a longer period than the above period desired by the user 25, and satisfy a predetermined condition corresponding to the fact that the degree of reduction in the maximum output after the period has passed is relatively large. The above output information includes information on the current maximum output of each secondary battery 10 in the above secondary battery 10 group and information on time changes in the maximum output in the future.

[0039] The selection device 100 according to the present embodiment further selects one or more combinations that satisfy the above-mentioned degree of beauty desired by the user 25 from the one or more combinations selected from the group of secondary batteries 10 based on the above-mentioned beauty information and the evaluation information related to the evaluation of the degree of beauty of each secondary battery in the secondary battery group. In addition to these one or more combinations, the selection device 100 according to the present embodiment may also select one or more secondary combinations that do not satisfy at least any one of the conditions.

[0040] The selection device 100 according to the present embodiment can communicate with the user terminal 30 via the communication network 50, and can be an installed communication device such as a desktop PC or a server set up in the store of the rental company 15. The selection device 100 according to the present embodiment is connected by wire to each secondary battery 10 in the secondary battery 10 group managed by the rental company 15. The selection device 100 can also be connected wirelessly to each secondary battery 10 in the secondary battery 10 group. The selection device 100 obtains the above-mentioned output information and the secondary battery ID for identifying the secondary battery 10 from each secondary battery 10. In addition, the selection device 100 can also obtain the above-mentioned output information and the secondary battery ID from other devices connected to the secondary battery 10 group by wire or wirelessly without being connected to each secondary battery 10 in the secondary battery 10 group by wire or wireless.

[0041] Figure 2 1 is a block diagram of an example of a selection device 100 for acquiring information from a user terminal 30 and information from a plurality of secondary batteries 10 according to the present embodiment. The selection device 100 of the present embodiment includes a control unit 101, an input unit 102, a storage unit 103, and a display unit 105. The control unit 101 includes an acquisition unit 111 and an output unit 113. The control unit 101 of the present embodiment further includes a calculation unit 115. The input unit 102 is, for example, the input device, and the display unit 105 is, for example, the display.

[0042] The acquisition unit 111 acquires the above-mentioned period information, facility consumption information, and user ID from the user terminal 30. The acquisition unit 111 also acquires the above-mentioned output information and secondary battery ID from each secondary battery 10 of the secondary battery 10 group. The acquisition unit 111 of this embodiment also acquires the above-mentioned aesthetic information and user ID from the user terminal 30. The acquisition unit 111 of this embodiment also acquires the above-mentioned evaluation information and the secondary battery ID of each secondary battery 10 through input to the input unit 102 by the rental business 15, for example.

[0043] The acquisition unit 111 stores the output information and evaluation information of each secondary battery 10 together with the secondary battery ID in the storage unit 103. The acquisition unit 111 also outputs the period information, facility consumption information, and aesthetic information of the user 25 to the output unit 113 together with the user ID.

[0044] The output unit 113 selects one or more combinations from the secondary battery 10 group based on the period information, facility consumption information and output information of the user 25 input by the acquisition unit 111, and the one or more combinations can supply power corresponding to the power consumption of the residence 20 shown in the facility consumption information for a longer period than the period shown in the period information and meet the conditions.

[0045] The output unit 113 of this embodiment selects one or more combinations that satisfy the aesthetics indicated by the aesthetics information from the group of secondary batteries 10 based on the aesthetics information input by the acquisition unit 111 and the evaluation information of each secondary battery 10 stored in the storage unit 103. In other words, the output unit 113 of this embodiment selects one or more combinations that satisfy the aesthetics indicated by the aesthetics information from the one or more selected combinations. The output unit 113 also outputs information on the selected one or more combinations.

[0046] The output unit 113 of this embodiment outputs information on the selected multiple combinations to the calculation unit 115, and transmits the information together with the calculation result input from the calculation unit 115 to the user terminal 30. In addition, when receiving decision information indicating the combination decided by the user 25 from the user terminal 30, the output unit 113 of this embodiment outputs the decision information to the display unit 105.

[0047] The calculation unit 115 calculates the total cost of replacing the combination of the plurality of secondary batteries 10 for each of the plurality of combinations selected by the output unit 113 based on the price and labor cost of each secondary battery 10 in the group of secondary batteries 10. The price of each secondary battery 10 is determined based on at least the time change of the current maximum output and the future maximum output. The labor cost is the cost required to replace the combination of the plurality of secondary batteries 10 in the residence 20. The calculation unit 115 outputs the calculation result to the output unit 113.

[0048] The input unit 102 is an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse. The rental business 15 inputs information into the input unit 102 .

[0049] The storage unit 103 stores a sequence and a program for controlling each configuration of the selection device 100 and the above-mentioned various information. The storage unit 103 is referred to by the control unit 101.

[0050] The display unit 105 is, for example, a display such as a monitor of a PC. The display unit 105 displays the decision information input from the output unit 113 to the rental company 15. The display unit 105 may be, for example, a touch panel display, in which case the display unit 105 may be integrated with the input unit 102.

[0051] Figure 3 is an example of a flow chart of a selection method according to the present embodiment. Figure 4 This is a table stored in the storage unit 103 as an example in the selection device 100 according to the present embodiment. Figure 4 The table is a matrix with N+1 rows and 6 columns. Figure 4 In the first row of the table, starting from the first column, the secondary battery ID, current SOH, current maximum output [kWh], predicted life [years], aesthetics, and price [10,000 yen] are shown in order. Figure 4 In the second to the N+1th rows of the table, N secondary battery IDs 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, 10-4, 10-5, 10-6, ..., 10-N are shown. Each secondary battery ID from 10-1 to 10-N corresponds to the N secondary batteries 10 from the secondary battery 10-1 to the secondary battery 10-N. Information such as the current SOH of the secondary battery 10 having each secondary battery ID is input to Figure 4 The 2nd to 6th columns of each row from the 2nd row to the N+1th row in the table.

[0052] Below, refer to Figure 4 The table to illustrate Figure 3 As an example, Figure 3 The process in FIG. 1 is started by the rental dealer 15 turning on the power of the selection device 100 .

[0053] When the secondary battery 10 is newly connected to the selection device 100 (step S101: Yes), the acquisition unit 111 of the selection device 100 acquires output information and the secondary battery ID from the secondary battery 10, and acquires evaluation information and the secondary battery ID through the input of the rental business 15 via the input unit 102 (step S102). In addition, the display unit 105 of the selection device 100 may also display a message for the rental business 15 to input evaluation information.

[0054] As an example, in the information related to the time change of the future maximum output of the secondary battery 10 included in the output information, the degree of degradation (SOH [States of Health]) indicating the degree of degradation of the secondary battery 10 is shown. The SOH of the secondary battery 10 is represented by a capacity maintenance rate, which is a percentage of the ratio of the capacity of the secondary battery 10 in the current state to the capacity of the secondary battery 10 in the unused state. The SOH can also be defined as a value representing the ratio of the current capacity of the secondary battery 10 to the nominal capacity as a percentage. In addition, when the information does not represent the SOH of the secondary battery 10 but represents the capacity of the secondary battery 10 in the unused state and the capacity of the secondary battery 10 in the current state, the acquisition unit 111 can also calculate the current SOH based on the information of these two capacities.

[0055] In addition, as an example, information on the time change of the future maximum output of the secondary battery 10 also shows the current degradation state of the secondary battery 10. The degradation state indicates which of the multiple components constituting the secondary battery 10, such as the negative electrode and the positive electrode, is damaged.

[0056] In the present embodiment, the evaluation information of the secondary battery 10 is input by the rental company 15 as described above. For example, when the secondary battery 10 is recycled after being used once, the rental company 15 may also sort the aesthetics of the secondary battery 10 according to a predetermined evaluation standard. For example, the evaluation standard may be to evaluate the aesthetics of the secondary battery 10 as low in proportion to the degree of peeling of the coating on the surface of the secondary battery 10, the number of damages, the adhesion rate of stains that are difficult to remove, etc. For this sorting, for example, the state with the best aesthetics can be set to A, and the order of B, C, D and F is followed as the aesthetics decreases.

[0057] In addition, the evaluation information of the secondary battery 10 can also be obtained by the selection device 100 itself using a camera or the like, without relying on the judgment and input of a person such as the rental company 15. Specifically, the selection device 100 can take a picture of the appearance of each secondary battery 10 using a camera or the like, and analyze the taken image. The selection device 100 can also sort the aesthetics of the secondary batteries 10 according to the above-mentioned evaluation criteria based on the analyzed image.

[0058] The acquisition unit 111 stores the acquired output information and evaluation information in association with the secondary battery ID in the storage unit 103. The selection device 100 further uses the calculation unit 115 to refer to the secondary battery ID and output information stored in the storage unit 103 and predicts the life of the corresponding secondary battery 10 based on the output information (step S104).

[0059] In addition, the calculation unit 115 also refers to the evaluation information stored in the storage unit 103 and calculates the price of the corresponding secondary battery 10 in consideration of the output information, the evaluation information, and the prediction result (step S104). As a more specific example, the calculation unit 115 can calculate the price of the secondary battery 10 in a manner proportional to (1) the current SOH of the secondary battery 10, (2) the current maximum output of the secondary battery 10, (3) the length of the predicted life of the secondary battery 10, and (4) the quality of the aesthetics of the secondary battery 10. The calculation unit 115 can also calculate the price of the secondary battery 10 using a predetermined function that uses these (1) to (4) as input variables. In addition, the price of the secondary battery 10 can also be determined by the rental company 15 and input to the selection device 100 instead of being calculated by the selection device 100. The calculation unit 115 stores the information indicating the predicted life of each secondary battery 10 and the price information indicating the calculated price in the storage unit 103, and the process returns to step S101.

[0060] In step S101, when the secondary battery 10 is not newly connected to the selection device 100 (step S101: No), the acquisition unit 111 waits until the user ID, period information, facility consumption information, and aesthetic information are received from the user terminal 30 (step S105: No). In addition, when the secondary battery 10 is newly connected to the selection device 100 during the standby period, the acquisition unit 111 repeats the above steps S102 to S104.

[0061] By connecting N secondary batteries 10 of the secondary battery 10-1 to the secondary battery 10-N to the selection device 100 and executing the processes S102 to S104 for all the N secondary batteries 10, all information is input to the selection device 100. Figure 4 shown in the table.

[0062] When the acquisition unit 111 receives the user ID and period information, facility consumption information, and aesthetic information from the user terminal 30 (step S105: Yes), the acquisition unit 111 outputs the information to the output unit 113.

[0063] The output unit 113 selects a plurality of combinations satisfying predetermined conditions from the group of secondary batteries 10 based on the period information, the facility consumption information, the aesthetic information, and the output information and evaluation information of each secondary battery 10 stored in the storage unit 103 (step S107). The condition includes satisfying the aesthetic degree indicated by the aesthetic information. The condition also includes that the power corresponding to the power consumption of the residence 20 indicated by the facility consumption information can be supplied for a longer period than the period indicated by the period information. The condition also includes a condition corresponding to the situation that the degree of reduction in the maximum output after the period has passed is relatively large.

[0064] As one of the conditions corresponding to the above-mentioned situation where the degree of reduction in the maximum output is relatively large, the output unit 113 of the present embodiment selects a combination including a plurality of secondary batteries 10 whose degree of reduction in the maximum output after the period has elapsed is the largest from among a plurality of secondary batteries 10 that can supply power corresponding to the power consumption of the residence 20 indicated by the facility consumption information for a longer period than the period indicated by the period information. The output unit 113 of the present embodiment may select a plurality of such combinations.

[0065] As one of the conditions, the output unit 113 of the present embodiment also selects multiple combinations that are capable of supplying electricity corresponding to the electricity consumption of the residence 20 indicated by the facility consumption information for a longer period than the period indicated by the period information, the degree of reduction in the maximum output after the period has passed is relatively large, and the available periods in the residence 20 are different from each other.

[0066] The output unit 113 of this embodiment can also select one or more secondary combinations from the secondary battery 10 group based on the period information and facility consumption information input from the acquisition unit 111 and the output information of each secondary battery 10 stored in the storage unit 103, and the one or more secondary combinations cannot supply power corresponding to the power consumption of the residence 20 shown in the facility consumption information for longer than the period shown in the period information, and meet the predetermined condition corresponding to the fact that the degree of reduction in the maximum output before the period passes is relatively large.

[0067] The output unit 113 outputs the information of the plurality of combinations together with the information of the number of secondary batteries 10 included in each combination and the secondary battery ID to the calculation unit 115. When this information is input from the output unit 113, the calculation unit 115 calculates the labor cost required to exchange the combination in the residence 20 for each combination. In addition, the calculation unit 115 refers to the price information of the plurality of secondary batteries 10 included in the combination in the price information of the plurality of secondary batteries 10 stored in the storage unit 103 in step S104, and for each combination, calculates the total cost of replacing the combination by summing the prices and labor costs of the plurality of secondary batteries 10 included in the combination (step S109). In addition, the labor cost may be determined by the lessor 15, for example, and input to the selection device 100 instead of being calculated by the selection device 100.

[0068] The calculation unit 115 of the present embodiment may calculate the total cost of replacing the combination of the plurality of secondary batteries 10 based on the above-mentioned price and labor cost for each of the one or more combinations and the one or more secondary combinations selected by the output unit 113 .

[0069] The calculation unit 115 outputs information including a combination ID for identifying the combination, each price of the plurality of secondary batteries 10 included in the combination, and the labor and total cost required to replace the combination to the output unit 113. The output unit 113 refers to the storage unit 103 and sends the information of the plurality of combinations together with the user ID to the address of the user terminal 30 associated with the user ID. In the information of the plurality of combinations, as an example, for each of the plurality of combinations selected by the output unit 113, the predicted life of the combination, the number of the plurality of secondary batteries 10 included in the combination, each secondary battery ID, each aesthetic level and each price, and the labor and total cost required to replace the combination are shown together with the combination ID.

[0070] When receiving the information of the plurality of combinations together with the user ID from the selection device 100, the user terminal 30 presents the information of the plurality of combinations to the user 25. The user 25 confirms the information of the plurality of combinations, inputs decision information indicating that it is decided to install any one of the plurality of combinations shown in the information in the residence 20, and transmits the decision information together with the user ID to the selection device 100 via the communication network 50 (step S111).

[0071] When receiving the decision information indicating the combination determined by the user 25 from the user terminal 30, the output unit 113 of the selection device 100 outputs the decision information to the display unit 105. The display unit 105 displays the decision information to the rental company 15 (step S113), and the process ends. In addition, the rental company 15 may deliver the combination of multiple secondary batteries 10 determined by the user 25 shown by the decision information displayed on the display unit 105 of the selection device 100 to the residence 20 of the user 25, and when the secondary batteries 10 are not installed in the residence 20, the multiple secondary batteries 10 of the combination are newly installed in the residence 20, and when the combination of multiple secondary batteries 10 is already installed in the residence 20, replace it with a new combination holding the combination.

[0072] In the above flow, it is explained that steps S102 to S104 are performed when the secondary battery 10 is newly connected to the selection device 100. However, since the input Figure 4 All the information in the table is information that changes with time, so it is preferred that they are updated regularly or frequently. Therefore, the selection device 100 can, for example, regularly obtain output information from each secondary battery 10 in the managed secondary battery 10 group, and at the same time obtain new evaluation information input by the rental business 15 through the input unit 102, and re-save it in the storage unit 103. The selection device 100 can also, in addition or instead, regularly or frequently update the initial SOH, etc. stored in the storage unit 103 when each secondary battery 10 is initially connected to the selection device 100 using a specific algorithm that reduces each value over time.

[0073] Figure 5 This is a graph for explaining an example of a method in which the selection device 100 according to the present embodiment selects a combination of a plurality of secondary batteries 10 used in the house 20 of the user 25. The horizontal axis of the graph represents time, and the vertical axis represents maximum output [kW].

[0074] exist Figure 5 On the curve graph, for Figure 4 The maximum output of each of the six secondary batteries 10, namely, the secondary battery 10-1, the secondary battery 10-2, the secondary battery 10-3, the secondary battery 10-4, the secondary battery 10-5, and the secondary battery 10-6 shown in the table is shown with a straight solid line over time. Figure 5 In the graph of , in order to show the period during which the user 25 desires to use the combination of the plurality of secondary batteries 10 in the house 20 , the end of the period is shown by a straight dotted line and an open arrow.

[0075] exist Figure 5 The vertical axis of the curve graph is X 10-1 ~X 10-6 The solid line showing the time variation of the maximum output of the secondary batteries 10 - 1 to 10 - 6 is intercepted, and X 10-1 ~X 10-6 The value of represents the current maximum output of the secondary battery 10-1 to the secondary battery 10-6. Figure 4 As shown in the table, the current maximum output power X of the secondary battery 10-6 10-6 The maximum output is 1.2 [kW], and then the current maximum output of the secondary battery 10 - 1 is X 10-1 =1.0 [kW], the current maximum output of the secondary battery 10 - 4 is X 10-4 is 0.8 [kW], and the current maximum output of the secondary battery 10-5 is X 10-5 is 0.6 [kW], and the current maximum output of the secondary battery 10 - 2 is X 10-2 is 0.5 [kW], and the current maximum output of the secondary battery 10 - 3 is X 10-3 is 0.4[kW].

[0076] In addition, Figure 5 In the curve diagram, K 10-1 ~K 10-6 represents the slope of the solid line showing the time change of the maximum output of the secondary battery 10 - 1 to the secondary battery 10 - 6 , K 10-1 ~K 10-6 The value of K may represent an example of the degree of reduction in the maximum output of the secondary battery 10-1 to the secondary battery 10-6, that is, the smaller the value of K, which may be negative, the greater the degree of reduction in the maximum output. Figure 5 In the curve diagram, due to K 10-3 >K 10-4 =K 10-5 >K 10-2 >K 10-6 >K 10-1 Therefore, the selection device 100 can be regarded as the secondary battery 10-3 having the most difficult maximum output to reduce, and then the maximum output of the secondary battery 10-4, the secondary battery 10-5, the secondary battery 10-2, the secondary battery 10-6 and the secondary battery 10-1 is easy to reduce in this order.

[0077] exist Figure 5 On the horizontal axis of the curve graph, T 10-1 ~T 10-6 represents the intercept of the solid line showing the time change of the maximum output of the secondary battery 10 - 1 to the secondary battery 10 - 6 , T 10-1 ~T 10-6 The value of T represents the predicted life of the secondary batteries 10-1 to 10-6. 10-1 ~T 10-6 The value of may also represent an example of the degree of reduction in the maximum output of the secondary battery 10-1 to the secondary battery 10-6, that is, the smaller the value of T, the greater the degree of reduction in the maximum output. Figure 4 As shown in the table, the predicted life of the secondary battery 10-3 is T 10-3 The maximum life span is 10 years. Then, the predicted life span T of the secondary battery is 10-6. 10-6 is 9.6 [years], and the predicted life span T of the secondary battery 10-4 10-4 is 9.3 [years], and the predicted life span T of the secondary battery 10-5 10-5 The predicted life span T of the secondary battery 10-1 is 7.6 [years]. 10-1 is 7.1 [years], and the predicted life span T of the secondary battery 10-2 is 10-2 Therefore, the selection device 100 can be regarded as the secondary battery 10-3 having the most difficult maximum output to decrease, and the secondary battery 10-6, the secondary battery 10-4, the secondary battery 10-5, the secondary battery 10-1, and the secondary battery 10-2 having the most difficult maximum output to decrease.

[0078] As an example, suppose Figure 5 The six secondary battery 10 groups of secondary battery 10-1 to secondary battery 10-6 shown are candidates for a plurality of secondary batteries 10 used in the residence 20 of the user 25. When the period information acquired from the user terminal 30 indicates 7 years, that is, when Figure 5When the user 25 desired period shown on the graph is 7 years, the selection device 100 of this embodiment does not include the secondary battery 10 - 2 that cannot maintain a state of maximum output greater than 0 kW for more than 7 years in the combination of the plurality of secondary batteries 10 to be presented to the user 25 .

[0079] Furthermore, the selection device 100 selects, for example, the secondary battery 10 with the shortest life in the five secondary battery 10 groups excluding the secondary battery 10-2 among the six secondary battery 10 groups. Figure 5 When the sum of the maximum outputs of the plurality of secondary batteries 10 selected at the end of the user 25 desired period shown on the graph exceeds the power consumption of the residence 20 shown in the facility consumption information, the selection device 100 can end the selection of further secondary batteries 10 and determine a combination using the plurality of secondary batteries 10 that have been selected.

[0080] Figure 6 2 is an example of a display screen on the user terminal 30 for displaying a plurality of combinations selected by the selection device 100 of the present embodiment to the user 25 as examples. Figure 6 On the display screen, in the detailed information of the plurality of combinations selected by the selection device 100, the user is shown Figure 4 Table and Figure 5 The graph of φ describes any one of the six secondary batteries 10 of the secondary battery 10 - 1 to the secondary battery 10 - 6 .

[0081] exist Figure 6 At the top of the display screen, the screen shows "Specified power consumption: 4.0kWh / day" in order. The three messages include "maximum output expected to be 0.40 kW", "desired period: 7 years", and "desired aesthetic level: C or above". The three message contents correspond to the facility consumption information, period information, and aesthetic information input by the user 25 to the user terminal 30 before the selection device 100 sends the plurality of combination information to the user terminal 30.

[0082] exist Figure 6On the display screen, immediately below the display position of the three messages, a table containing detailed information of two combinations that meet the designation and expectations of the user 25 shown in the three messages is shown. More specifically, the table is in the form of a matrix of three rows and five columns, and in the first row of the table, details such as the combination ID, predicted life [years], the number of secondary batteries, the labor cost [10,000 yen] (travel expenses: construction costs), and the total cost [10,000 yen] are shown in sequence from the first column. The detailed information of combination A is shown in the second row of the table, and the detailed information of combination B is shown in the third row of the table. As shown in the second column of the table that the predicted lifespans are 7.1 [years] and 9.3 [years] respectively, the usable periods of combination A and combination B in residence 20 are different from each other.

[0083] In addition, Figure 6 On the display screen, a message "When the period is changed to 5 years" is shown directly below the table, and a table containing detailed information of the secondary combination accompanying the change shown in the message is shown directly below the message. More specifically, the table is in the form of a matrix with two rows and six columns, and in the first row of the table, details such as combination ID, predicted life [years], number of secondary batteries, labor costs [10,000 yen] (travel expenses: construction costs), incentives [-(negative) 10,000 yen], and total costs [10,000 yen] are shown in sequence from the first column. The second row of the table shows the detailed information of secondary combination C. As shown in the second column of the table as having a predicted life of 5.2 [years], secondary combination C does not meet the expected period of 7 years specified and expected by user 25 shown in the three messages. However, secondary combination C meets the other contents specified and expected by user 25 shown in the three messages.

[0084] In this embodiment, Figure 6 The labor costs shown in the fourth column of the two tables on the display screen of include, as examples, travel expenses for the rental company 15 to deliver the plurality of secondary batteries 10 of each combination to the residence 20 of the user 25 and construction expenses for the rental company 15 to set the plurality of secondary batteries 10 of each combination to the residence 20 of the user 25. The travel expenses may vary depending on the distance from the location of the rental company 15 to the residence 20 of the user 25. In addition, the construction expenses may vary depending on the number of secondary batteries 10 included in the combination.

[0085] In the example shown in the figure, since the delivery destination is the same for combination A, combination B, and secondary combination C, the travel expenses are the same, which is 20,000 yen. In addition, since combination A includes three secondary batteries 10, the construction fee is 3 [units] × 0.5 [million yen / unit] = 1.5 [million yen]. In addition, since combination B and secondary combination C each include two secondary batteries 10, the construction fee is 2 [units] × 0.5 [million yen / unit] = 1.0 [million yen].

[0086] In this case, for example, when a user ID and information of multiple combinations are input from the output unit 113, the calculation unit 115 of the present embodiment can calculate travel expenses and construction expenses respectively by referring to the information of the function used to perform the calculation stored in the storage unit 103 and the residence information of the residence 20 associated with the user ID, thereby calculating the labor cost.

[0087] from Figure 6 As can be understood from the two tables on the display screen, the output unit 113 in the present embodiment can also output information on the available period and total cost of each of the one or more combinations and the one or more secondary combinations in the residence 20, and information on the reward given to the user 25 when at least one of the one or more secondary combinations is used in the residence 20. The reward is not only a meter value corresponding to the difference between the period desired by the user 25 and the period changed to shorten the period, but can also be a fixed value,

[0088] Furthermore, the selection device 100 may additionally or alternatively select one or more secondary combinations that satisfy the period of time during which the combination of the plurality of secondary batteries 10 is used in the house 20 desired by the user 25 but do not satisfy the aesthetics desired by the user 25, and display them on the screen of the user terminal 30. Furthermore, the selection device 100 may additionally or alternatively select one or more secondary combinations that do not satisfy both the period of time during which the combination of the plurality of secondary batteries 10 is used in the house 20 desired by the user 25 and the aesthetics desired by the user 25, and display them on the screen of the user terminal 30.

[0089] According to the embodiment, the selection device 100 selects one or more combinations from the secondary battery 10 group that can supply power corresponding to the power consumption of the residence 20 of the user 25 for at least longer than the above-mentioned period expected by the user 25 and satisfies the predetermined condition that the degree of reduction in the maximum output after the period has passed is relatively large, based on (1) period information related to the period during which the user 25 expects the combination of multiple secondary batteries 10 to be used in the residence 20 of the user 25, (2) facility consumption information related to the power consumption of the residence 20 of the user 25, and (3) output information related to the time variation of the current maximum output and the future maximum output of each secondary battery 10 in the secondary battery 10 group that is a candidate for the above-mentioned combination, and outputs information on the selected one or more combinations.

[0090] Therefore, if Figure 6As shown in the above table in the display screen example of , the user 25 can obtain information on a combination that has a relatively large reduction in maximum output after the above period of time desired by the user 25, that is, a relatively low total cost, within a range that satisfies the user's expectations. On the other hand, the rental company 15 that rents the combination to the user 25 can efficiently rent to the user 25 the low-output and short-life secondary batteries 10 that are difficult to reuse in the secondary battery group 10 stored for reuse, and can use the plurality of secondary batteries 10 included in the secondary battery group 10 as effectively as possible.

[0091] Furthermore, the selection device 100 having the above structure can disperse the combination of secondary batteries 10 that meets the needs of each user 25 according to local conditions. Therefore, the selection device 100 can lend high-specification secondary batteries 10 to users 25 who do not need high-specification secondary batteries 10, and can lend high-specification secondary batteries 10 to users 25 who need high-specification secondary batteries 10.

[0092] Furthermore, the selection device 100 may select a plurality of combinations in which the power corresponding to the power consumption of the residence 20 indicated by the facility consumption information can be supplied for a longer period than the period indicated by the period information, the degree of reduction in the maximum output after the period has elapsed is relatively large, and the available periods in the residence 20 are different from each other, and output information of the selected plurality of combinations. In this case, as Figure 6 As shown in the above table in the display screen example of , user 25 can obtain information on multiple combinations that have a relatively large reduction in the maximum output after the above period of time that meets his or her own expectations, that is, a relatively low total cost, within the range that meets his or her own expectations, that is, the freedom to decide on a combination from multiple choices can be increased. For example, when user 25 decides to use combination B instead of Figure 6 In the case of combination A shown in the table above of the display screen example, the total cost is 20,000 yen more, but since the estimated life is 2.1 years longer, the cost can be reduced in the long run compared to the case of deciding on combination A.

[0093] In addition, the selection device 100 may select one or more combinations satisfying the aesthetics desired by the user 25 from the one or more combinations selected from the secondary battery 10 group based on the aesthetics information related to the aesthetics of each secondary battery 10 in the combination desired by the user 25 and the evaluation information related to the evaluation of the aesthetics of each secondary battery in the secondary battery group, and output information on the selected one or more combinations. In this case, Figure 6As shown in the above table of the display screen example, the user 25 can reflect his / her own expectations regarding the aesthetics of the secondary battery 10 for the combination with a relatively low total cost. For example, when the user 25 sets the combination so that it can be visually confirmed as a part of the interior of the house 20, the composition can satisfy the aesthetic satisfaction of the user 25.

[0094] In addition, the selection device 100 can select one or more secondary combinations from the secondary battery pack 10 that cannot supply power corresponding to the power consumption of the residence 20 indicated by the facility consumption information for a longer period than the period indicated by the period information, and that satisfy the predetermined condition corresponding to the fact that the degree of reduction in the maximum output before the period elapses is relatively large, based on the above-mentioned period information, facility consumption information, and output information, and output the information of the selected one or more combinations. In this case, the selection device 100 can also output information on the available period and total cost of each of the one or more combinations and the one or more secondary combinations in the residence 20, and information on a reward given to the user 25 when at least one of the one or more secondary combinations is used in the residence 20.

[0095] In this case, if Figure 6 As shown in the following table of an example of a display screen of , the user 25 can obtain information on multiple combinations that can supply power corresponding to the power consumption of the house 20 specified by the user in a period slightly shorter than the above period desired by the user, and the degree of reduction in the maximum output after the slightly shorter period is relatively large, that is, the total cost is relatively low, that is, the freedom to decide on a combination from multiple choices can be increased. For example, when the user 25 decides on the secondary combination C instead of Figure 6 In the case of combination A shown in the above table of the display screen example, the predicted life span is shortened by 1.9 [years], but in the short term, the total cost can be reduced by 80,000 [yen] compared to the case of deciding on combination A.

[0096] In the above embodiment, the selection device 100 is described as being provided in the store of the rental dealer 15. However, the selection device 100 may be provided in the residence 20 of the user 25. In this case, the selection device 100 may receive, for example, output information of the secondary battery 10 group stored and managed by the rental dealer 15 via the communication network 50. In addition, the selection device 100 may also transmit information indicating the combination determined by the user 25 from one or more combinations selected by the above selection method to the communication device of the rental dealer 15. The rental dealer 15 may deliver the combination of the plurality of secondary batteries 10 determined by the user 25 to the residence 20 of the user 25 based on the received information.

[0097] In addition, when the selection device 100 is arranged in the residence 20 of the user 25 and is connected to one or more secondary batteries 10 installed and used in the residence 20 by wire or wireless connection, the selection device 100 can additionally obtain information indicating the current SOH, degradation state, etc. of the one or more secondary batteries 10, and judge whether the one or more secondary batteries 10 should be replaced with one or more secondary batteries 10 included in the secondary battery 10 group. The acquisition of this information can be repeatedly performed by measuring the capacity of the one or more secondary batteries 10 or checking the degradation state by the selection device 100, starting from the time when the one or more secondary batteries 10 are installed in the residence 20, or starting from the time when a predetermined period has passed after the one or more secondary batteries 10 are installed in the residence 20. The period can be specified by the user 25 via the input unit 102 of the selection device 100, for example.

[0098] Furthermore, when the selection device 100 is configured in the residence 20 of the user 25, the selection device 100 may additionally or alternatively estimate the current SOH, degradation state, etc. of one or more secondary batteries 10 set and used in the residence 20, and determine whether the one or more secondary batteries 10 should be replaced with one or more secondary batteries 10 included in the secondary battery group 10. The selection device 100 may also estimate the period when the one or more secondary batteries 10 set and used in the residence 20 are to be replaced with one or more secondary batteries 10 included in the secondary battery group 10. In these cases, for example, when the one or more secondary batteries 10 are set in the residence 20 by the rental business 15, the selection device 100 may input information on the SOH, degradation state, etc. of the one or more secondary batteries 10 at the time of the setting from the input unit 102 through the rental business 15.

[0099] In these cases, when the selection device 100 determines that the one or more secondary batteries 10 included in the secondary battery 10 group should be replaced, it may notify the user 25 of this fact, so that the user 25 can input period information, etc. For example, the notification may be sending an email to the user terminal 30.

[0100] Alternatively, the user 25 may also register in advance in the selection device 100 that when the period when the one or more secondary batteries 10 should be replaced comes, the rental company 15 will automatically deliver one or more secondary batteries 10 for replacement. In this case, the user 25 also registers the period information, etc. in advance in the selection device 100. Then, when the selection device 100 determines that the one or more secondary batteries 10 should be replaced by one or more secondary batteries 10 included in the secondary battery pack 10, the selection method described above can be performed based on the pre-registered period information, etc. In addition, in this case, the selection device 100 can select a combination and send information representing the combination to the communication device of the rental company 15, thereby eliminating the need to request information input from the user 25. In addition, in this case, the user 25 can register in advance in the selection device 100, for example, to automatically deduct the replacement fee of the one or more secondary batteries 10 from a designated bank account.

[0101] In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the selection device 100 receives the period information, facility consumption information, aesthetic information, etc., and the user ID based on the input of the user 25 from the user terminal 30 via the communication network 50 is described. Alternatively, the rental business 15 may ask the user 25 for the period information, etc., and the rental business 15 may input the period information, etc. from, for example, the input unit 102 of the selection device 100 on behalf of the user 25. In addition, the rental business 15 may input the period information, etc. to the communication device of the rental business 15, the user terminal 30 temporarily borrowed from the user 25, etc. on behalf of the user 25, and transmit it to the selection device 100.

[0102] Various embodiments of the present invention may be described with reference to flowcharts and block diagrams, where a block may represent (1) a stage of a process for performing an operation or (2) a portion of a device having the function of performing an operation. Specific stages and portions may be implemented by dedicated circuits, programmable circuits supplied together with computer-readable instructions stored on a computer-readable medium, and / or processors supplied together with computer-readable instructions stored on a computer-readable medium. Dedicated circuits may include digital and / or analog hardware circuits, and may also include integrated circuits (ICs) and / or discrete circuits. Programmable circuits may include reconfigurable hardware circuits, which may include logical AND, logical OR, logical XOR, logical NAND, logical NOR, and other logical operations, flip-flops, registers, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic arrays (PLAs), and other memory elements.

[0103] The computer-readable medium may include any tangible device capable of storing instructions executed by an appropriate device, and as a result, the computer-readable medium having the instructions stored therein has an article of manufacture, which includes instructions executed to make a means for performing the operations specified in the flowchart or block diagram. As examples of computer-readable media, electronic storage media, magnetic storage media, optical storage media, electromagnetic storage media, semiconductor storage media, etc. may be included. As more specific examples of computer-readable media, floppy disks (registered trademark), magnetic disks, hard disks, random access memories (RAM), read-only memories (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memories (EPROM or flash memory), electrically erasable programmable read-only memories (EEPROM), static random access memories (SRAM), compact disc read-only memories (CD-ROM), digital versatile discs (DVD), laser (RTM) discs, memory sticks, integrated circuit cards, etc. may be included.

[0104] Computer-readable instructions may include assembly instructions, instruction set architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine-dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state setting data, or any source code or object code described in any combination of one or more programming languages ​​including target-oriented programming languages ​​such as Smalltalk, JAVA (registered trademark), C++, and conventional procedural programming languages ​​such as the "C" programming language or similar programming languages.

[0105] Computer readable instructions can be provided locally or via a wide area network (WAN) such as a local area network (LAN), the Internet, etc. to a processor or programmable circuit of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, or other programmable data processing device, and the computer readable instructions are executed to make a means for performing the operations specified by the flowchart or block diagram. Examples of processors include computer processors, processing units, microprocessors, digital signal processors, controllers, microcontrollers, etc.

[0106] Figure 7 An example of a computer 1200 that embodies multiple aspects of the present invention in whole or in part is shown. The program installed in the computer 1200 enables the computer 1200 to perform an operation associated with a device of an embodiment of the present invention or one or more "parts" of the device or to perform the operation or the one or more "parts", and / or enables the computer 1200 to perform a process of an embodiment of the present invention or the steps of the process. Such a program can be executed by the CPU 1212 in order to make the computer 1200 perform a specific operation associated with some or all of the blocks in the flowcharts and block diagrams described in this specification.

[0107] The computer 1200 of this embodiment includes a CPU 1212, a RAM 1214, a graphic controller 1216, and a display device 1218, which are connected to each other via a main controller 1210. The computer 1200 also includes an input / output unit such as a communication interface 1222, a hard disk drive 1224, a DVD-ROM drive 1226, and an IC card drive, which are connected to the main controller 1210 via an input / output controller 1220. The computer also includes a conventional input / output unit such as a ROM 1230 and a keyboard 1242, which are connected to the input / output controller 1220 via an input / output chip 1240.

[0108] The CPU 1212 controls each unit by operating according to the programs stored in the ROM 1230 and the RAM 1214. The graphic controller 1216 obtains the image data generated by the CPU 1212 from the frame buffer provided in the RAM 1214 or the graphic controller 1216 itself, and displays the image data on the display device 1218.

[0109] The communication interface 1222 communicates with other electronic devices via a network. The hard disk drive 1224 stores programs and data used by the CPU 1212 in the computer 1200. The DVD-ROM drive 1226 reads programs or data from the DVD-ROM 1201 and provides the programs or data to the hard disk drive 1224 via the RAM 1214. The IC card drive reads programs and data from an IC card and / or writes programs and data to an IC card.

[0110] The ROM 1230 internally stores a boot program executed by the computer 1200 at startup and / or a program dependent on the hardware of the computer 1200. The input / output chip 1240 can also connect various input / output units to the input / output controller 1220 via a parallel port, a serial port, a keyboard port, a mouse port, and the like.

[0111] The program is provided by a computer-readable storage medium such as DVD-ROM 1201 or an IC card. The program is read from the computer-readable storage medium, installed in the hard disk drive 1224, RAM 1214 or ROM 1230, which is also an example of a computer-readable storage medium, and executed by the CPU 1212. The information processing described in the above program is read by the computer 1200, and the program and the various types of hardware resources described above are coordinated. The device or method can be configured by implementing the operation or processing of information according to the use of the computer 1200.

[0112] For example, when the computer 1200 communicates with an external device, the CPU 1212 can execute the communication program loaded into the RAM 1214, and based on the processing described in the communication program, the communication interface 1222 commands communication processing. Under the control of the CPU 1212, the communication interface 1222 reads the transmission data stored in the transmission buffer area provided in the RAM 1214, the hard disk drive 1224, the DVD-ROM 1201, or a recording medium such as an IC card, and transmits the read transmission data to the network, or writes the reception data received from the network to the reception buffer area provided on the recording medium.

[0113] In addition, the CPU 1212 can read all or a required part of a file or database stored in an external recording medium such as the hard disk drive 1224, the DVD-ROM drive 1226 (DVD-ROM 1201), or an IC card into the RAM 1214, and perform various types of processing on the data in the RAM 1214. The CPU 1212 can then write the processed data back to the external recording medium.

[0114] In order to perform information processing, various types of information such as various types of programs, data, tables and databases can be stored in the recording medium. CPU1212 can perform various types of processing recorded in various parts of this disclosure, including various types of operations specified by the instruction scheduling of the program, information processing, conditional judgment, conditional branching, unconditional branching, information retrieval / replacement, etc., on the data read from RAM1214, and write the results back to RAM1214. In addition, CPU1212 can retrieve information from files, databases, etc. in the recording medium. For example, when multiple entries each having an attribute value of a first attribute associated with an attribute value of a second attribute are stored in the recording medium, CPU1212 retrieves an entry that is consistent with the condition specifying the attribute value of the first attribute from the multiple entries, reads the attribute value of the second attribute stored in the entry, and thereby obtains the attribute value of the second attribute associated with the first attribute that meets the predetermined condition.

[0115] The program or software module described above may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium on the computer 1200 or in the vicinity of the computer 1200. In addition, a recording medium such as a hard disk or RAM provided in a server system connected to a dedicated communication network or the Internet may be used as a computer-readable storage medium, thereby providing the program to the computer 1200 via the network.

[0116] The present invention has been described above using embodiments, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. It is self-evident to those skilled in the art that various changes or improvements can be made to the above embodiments. Moreover, within the scope of technical non-contradiction, matters described in a specific embodiment can be applied to other embodiments. Moreover, each constituent element can have the same features as other constituent elements with the same name but different reference symbols. It is clear from the records of the claims that such a method of applying changes or improvements can also be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0117] For example, the acquisition unit of the selection device may also acquire vehicle consumption information related to the power consumption of a vehicle driven by a secondary battery used by the user. In the vehicle, one or more secondary batteries used to drive the vehicle are freely removed by the user. The vehicle may be an automatic two-wheeled vehicle, an automatic three-wheeled vehicle, an automatic four-wheeled vehicle, etc. The vehicle consumption information is input by the user to the user terminal together with the period information, etc., and thus the acquisition unit of the selection device may receive it via the communication network.

[0118] In this case, the output unit of the selection device can select one or more secondary batteries from the managed secondary battery packs that can supply power corresponding to the power consumption of the vehicle represented by the vehicle consumption information for a longer period than the period represented by the period information, and that meet a predetermined condition corresponding to the fact that the degree of reduction in maximum output after the period has passed is relatively large, as secondary batteries shared by the user's facility and vehicle. The number of the one or more secondary batteries shared by the user's facility and vehicle may be less than the same number of secondary batteries that can be installed together on the vehicle. The one or more secondary batteries can be carried from the vehicle to the facility by the user and installed in the facility during the period when the user is not using it on the vehicle.

[0119] In this case, the output unit of the selection device may also select one or more combinations of one or more secondary batteries that can supply power corresponding to the power consumption of the facility for longer than the period, and the degree of reduction in the maximum output after the period has passed is relatively large, and that meet the condition from the secondary battery pack based on the period information, the facility consumption information, and the output information. In this case, as the condition, the output unit of the selection device may select one or more secondary batteries starting from the maximum degree of reduction in the maximum output after the period has passed from a plurality of secondary batteries that can supply power corresponding to the power consumption of the vehicle indicated by the vehicle consumption information for longer than the period indicated by the period information.

[0120] In addition, for example, the acquisition unit of the selection device can also obtain maximum number information related to the maximum number of secondary batteries desired by the user and installed in the user's facility. In this case, the output unit of the selection device can select one or more combinations consisting of secondary batteries below the maximum number from the secondary battery group based on the maximum number information.

[0121] In this case, the output unit of the selection device can also select one or more second secondary combinations from the secondary battery group based on the period information, facility consumption information, output information and maximum number information, which are composed of secondary batteries with a number greater than the maximum number, can supply power corresponding to the power consumption of the facility longer than the period, and meet the conditions.

[0122] In this case, the calculation unit of the selection device can calculate the total cost of replacing a combination of multiple secondary batteries for each of one or more combinations and one or more second secondary combinations based on a price determined according to the time variation of at least the current maximum output and the future maximum output of each secondary battery in the secondary battery pack and the labor required to replace the combination of multiple secondary batteries in the facility.

[0123] In this case, the output unit of the selection device can also output information on the total cost of each of the one or more combinations and one or more second secondary combinations, the number of secondary batteries included in the one or more second secondary combinations, and information on a reward given to the user when at least one of the one or more second secondary combinations is used in the facility.

[0124] In addition, for example, the facility consumption information may include actual measurement information related to the actual measurement value of the power consumption of the facility. In this case, the output unit of the selection device may select one or more combinations from the secondary battery pack that can supply power corresponding to the actual measurement value longer than the period and satisfy the condition based on the period information, the actual measurement information and the output information.

[0125] In this case, the output unit of the selection device can also newly select one or more new combinations from the secondary battery pack based on the period information, measurement information and output information that can supply power corresponding to the actual measurement value longer than the period and meet the conditions, and output information of the one or more new combinations.

[0126] In this case, the actual measurement value of the power consumption of the facility can be measured by a meter installed in the facility. In addition, in this case, a communicator for sending the actual measurement value to the selection device via a communication network can be set in the facility, and the information written on the electricity bill can be input into the user terminal by the user himself and sent to the selection device, or the information written on the electricity bill can be sent directly from the power company to the selection device without passing through the user according to the contract between the user and the power company.

[0127] In addition, for example, the output unit of the selection device can select one or more third secondary combinations from the secondary battery pack that do not satisfy the aesthetics, can supply power corresponding to the power consumption of the facility for longer than the period, and satisfy the conditions based on the period information, the facility consumption information, the output information, the aesthetics information, and the evaluation information. In this case, the output unit of the selection device can also output information on the total cost of replacing a combination of multiple secondary batteries that are different from each other according to the aesthetics of each of the one or more combinations and the one or more third secondary combinations, information on the aesthetics of the one or more third secondary combinations, and information on a reward given to the user when at least one of the one or more third secondary combinations is used in the facility.

[0128] It should be noted that the execution order of each process such as actions, sequences, steps and stages in the devices, systems, programs and methods shown in the claims, specifications and drawings can be implemented in any order as long as it is not specifically stated as "before", "prior to", etc. and the output of the previous process is not used in the subsequent process. Although the action flow in the claims, specifications and drawings is explained using "first," "next," etc. for the sake of simplicity, it is not necessary to implement it in this order.

[0129] Description of Reference Numerals

[0130] 10, 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, 10-4, 10-5, 10-6, 10-N secondary battery; 15 lessor; 20 residence; 25 user; 30 user terminal; 50 communication network; 100 selection device; 101 control unit; 102 input unit; 103 storage unit; 105 display unit; 111 acquisition unit; 113 output unit; 115 calculation unit; 1200 computer; 1201 DVD-ROM; 1210 main controller; 1212 CPU; 1214 RAM; 1216 graphic controller; 1218 display device; 1220 input-output controller; 1222 communication interface; 1224 hard disk drive; 1226 DVD-ROM drive; 1230 ROM; 1240 input-output chip; 1242 keyboard.

Claims

1. A selection device for selecting a combination of a plurality of secondary batteries used in a user's facility, wherein: have: an acquisition unit that acquires (A) period information related to a period during which the user desires to use the combination in the facility, (B) facility consumption information related to power consumption of the facility, and (C) output information including information on the current maximum output of each secondary battery in a secondary battery pack that is a candidate for the combination and information on a time change of the maximum output in the future; as well as an output unit that selects one or more combinations from the secondary battery pack based on the period information, the facility consumption information, and the output information, and outputs information of the one or more combinations, wherein the one or more combinations can supply power corresponding to the power consumption of the facility for a longer period than the period and satisfy a predetermined condition corresponding to a relatively large decrease in the maximum output after the period has passed, As the condition, the output unit selects one or more combinations of multiple secondary batteries, starting from the secondary battery whose maximum output after the period is most reduced, from among multiple secondary batteries that can supply power corresponding to the power consumption of the facility for longer than the period.

2. The selection device according to claim 1, wherein: The acquisition unit further acquires vehicle consumption information related to power consumption of a vehicle driven by a secondary battery used by the user, The output unit performs the following processing: selecting, based on the vehicle consumption information, one or more secondary batteries from the secondary battery group as secondary batteries shared between the facility and the vehicle, the one or more secondary batteries being capable of supplying power corresponding to the power consumption of the vehicle for longer than the period and satisfying a predetermined second condition corresponding to a relatively large decrease in maximum output after the period has elapsed, as the condition, selecting the one or more combinations including one or more secondary batteries satisfying the second condition, As the second condition, the output unit selects one or more secondary batteries from among a plurality of secondary batteries capable of supplying power corresponding to power consumption of the vehicle for longer than the period, starting from a secondary battery having the largest decrease in maximum output after the period.

3. The selection device according to claim 1, wherein: As the condition, the output unit sequentially selects the combinations that can supply power corresponding to the power consumption of the facility for longer than the period and whose maximum output after the period has been reduced the most, and selects multiple combinations whose available periods in the facility are different from each other.

4. The selection device according to claim 3, wherein: There is also a calculation unit that calculates the total cost of replacing a combination of multiple secondary batteries for each of the multiple combinations based on a price determined according to time changes in at least the current maximum output and future maximum output of each secondary battery in the secondary battery pack and the labor required to replace the combination of multiple secondary batteries in the facility.

5. The selection device according to claim 1, wherein: The output unit further selects, based on the period information, the facility consumption information, and the output information, one or more secondary combinations of the third condition that the secondary battery pack cannot supply power corresponding to the power consumption of the facility for longer than the period and satisfies the greatest degree of reduction in the maximum output before the period has elapsed, in order. The selection device also includes a calculation unit, which calculates the total cost of replacing a combination of multiple secondary batteries for each of the one or more combinations and the one or more secondary combinations based on a price determined according to time changes in at least the current maximum output and the future maximum output of each secondary battery in the secondary battery group, and the labor required to replace the combination of multiple secondary batteries in the facility.

6. The selection device according to claim 5, wherein: The output section also outputs information on the available period and the total cost of each of the one or more combinations and the one or more secondary combinations in the facility, and information on a reward given to the user when at least one of the one or more secondary combinations is used in the facility.

7. The selection device according to claim 1, wherein: The acquisition unit further acquires maximum number information regarding the maximum number of secondary batteries that the user desires to be installed in the facility. The output unit selects the one or more combinations consisting of secondary batteries having a number less than or equal to the maximum number from the secondary battery group based on the maximum number information.

8. The selection device according to claim 1, wherein: The acquisition unit further acquires maximum number information regarding the maximum number of secondary batteries that the user desires to be installed in the facility. The output unit selects the one or more combinations consisting of secondary batteries having a number less than the maximum number from the secondary battery group based on the maximum number information, The output unit further selects one or more second secondary combinations from the secondary battery group based on the period information, the facility consumption information, the output information and the maximum number information, the one or more second secondary combinations being composed of more secondary batteries than the maximum number, capable of supplying power corresponding to the power consumption of the facility for longer than the period, and satisfying the condition, The selection device also includes a calculation unit, which calculates the total cost of replacing a combination of multiple secondary batteries for each of the one or more combinations and the one or more second secondary combinations based on a price determined according to time changes in at least the current maximum output and the future maximum output of each secondary battery in the secondary battery group, and the labor required to replace the combination of multiple secondary batteries in the facility.

9. The selection device according to claim 8, wherein: The output unit also outputs information on the total cost of each of the one or more combinations and the one or more second secondary combinations, the number of secondary batteries included in the one or more second secondary combinations, and information on a reward given to the user when at least one of the one or more second secondary combinations is used in the facility.

10. The selection device according to claim 1, wherein: The facility consumption information includes actual measurement information regarding actual measurement values ​​of power consumption of the facility, The output unit selects the one or more combinations that can supply power corresponding to the actual measurement value longer than the period and satisfy the condition from the secondary battery pack based on the period information, the actual measurement information, and the output information.

11. The selection device according to claim 1, wherein: The facility consumption information includes actual measurement information regarding actual measurement values ​​of power consumption of the facility, The output unit also newly selects one or more new combinations from the secondary battery pack based on the period information, the actual measurement information and the output information that can supply power corresponding to the actual measurement value longer than the period and satisfy the conditions, and outputs information of the one or more new combinations.

12. The selection device according to claim 1, wherein: The acquisition unit further acquires aesthetic information related to the aesthetics of each secondary battery in the combination desired by the user and evaluation information related to the evaluation of the aesthetics of each secondary battery in the secondary battery pack. The output section selects the one or more combinations satisfying the degree of aesthetics from among the secondary battery packs based on the aesthetics information and the evaluation information.

13. The selection device according to claim 12, wherein: The output unit also performs the following processing: selecting one or more third secondary combinations from the secondary battery pack that do not satisfy the degree of beauty, can supply power corresponding to the power consumption of the facility for longer than the period, and satisfy the condition based on the period information, the facility consumption information, the output information, the aesthetic information, and the evaluation information, Output information on the total cost of replacing a combination of multiple secondary batteries that are different from each other based on the aesthetics of the one or more combinations and each of the one or more third secondary combinations, information on the aesthetics of the one or more third secondary combinations, and information on a reward given to the user when at least one of the one or more third secondary combinations is used in the facility.

14. A selection method for selecting a combination of a plurality of secondary batteries used in a user's facility, wherein: include: An acquisition step of acquiring (A) period information related to a period during which the user desires to use the combination in the facility, (B) facility consumption information related to power consumption of the facility, and (C) output information including information on the current maximum output of each secondary battery in a secondary battery pack that is a candidate for the combination and information on time changes in the future maximum output; as well as an output step of selecting one or more combinations from the secondary battery pack based on the period information, the facility consumption information and the output information, and outputting information of the one or more combinations, the one or more combinations being able to supply power corresponding to the power consumption of the facility for a longer period than the period and satisfying a predetermined condition corresponding to the fact that a reduction in the maximum output after the period has elapsed is relatively large, In the output step, as the condition, the output unit selects one or more combinations of multiple secondary batteries, starting from the secondary battery whose maximum output after the period is most reduced, from among the multiple secondary batteries that can supply power corresponding to the power consumption of the facility for longer than the period.

15. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program, wherein: The program causes a computer to execute the selection method according to claim 14.

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