Information processing apparatus

Abstract

The invention provides an information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus includes a control unit. A control unit of the information processing apparatus acquires the number of times of maintenance performed at a predetermined base during a predetermined period for a rental vehicle including maintenance. The control unit of the information processing device determines the amount of rewards provided to the user of the rented vehicle to be increased as the number of times of maintenance performed at the predetermined base during the predetermined period is reduced. A control unit of the information processing apparatus outputs information of the determined reward.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing device. Background Art

[0002] In a fuel sales method for leasing vehicles, it is known that, for a leasing vehicle whose maintenance items in the lease contract include oil change, the discount rate on fuel costs is increased compared to a leasing vehicle whose maintenance items in the lease contract do not include oil change (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Gazette No. 2020-38708). Summary of the invention

[0003] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a technology effective in correcting unfairness among a plurality of users who utilize a rental service including maintenance.

[0004] One aspect of the present disclosure is an information processing device. The information processing device in this case, for example, includes a control unit, and the control unit is configured to perform the following processing, namely:

[0005] For a rental vehicle that includes maintenance, the number of maintenance operations performed at a specified base during a specified period is obtained;

[0006] Information is outputted indicating that the smaller the number of maintenance times is, the larger the amount of reward provided to the user who rents the vehicle is.

[0007] Other aspects of the present disclosure may include an information processing method in which a computer executes the above-described processing, a program for causing a computer to execute the information processing method, or a non-transitory storage medium storing the program.

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a technology effective in correcting unfairness among a plurality of users who utilize a rental service including maintenance. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like symbols represent like elements, and in which:

[0010] Figure 1 A diagram showing the structure of a vehicle management system.

[0011] Figure 2 This is a diagram showing an example of maintenance information.

[0012] Figure 3 A diagram showing an example of information stored in the maintenance DB.

[0013] Figure 4A diagram showing an example of reward information.

[0014] Figure 5 A flowchart showing the flow of processing that is regularly executed in the server. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] There is a known rental service that grants the right to use a vehicle to a user who pays a fixed usage fee (monthly usage fee) on a regular basis (for example, every month). A rental service that includes maintenance is also known as one of the rental service methods. The so-called rental service that includes maintenance is a service that allows the user to receive maintenance (vehicle inspection, examination, and repair) of the vehicle during the rental period without additional charges, and the maintenance fee is pre-included in the rental fee (application fee and / or monthly usage fee, etc.).

[0016] Here, in the rental service including maintenance, maintenance periods are predetermined for each item. For example, for the engine oil, the maintenance period is predetermined in such a way that it is replaced at fixed driving distances or fixed periods. However, depending on the driving method of the vehicle performed by the user, there may be a situation where the predetermined maintenance period is not suitable. For example, in the vehicle of a user who drives in a way that the engine oil is not prone to deterioration, the engine oil may not deteriorate to the extent that it needs to be replaced within a predetermined fixed driving distance or fixed period. In such a case, if the oil is replaced according to the predetermined fixed driving distance or fixed period, it may lead to excessive consumption of engine oil resources.

[0017] Therefore, in rental services that include maintenance, a method of flexibly determining the maintenance period according to the vehicle status is considered. However, if such a method is adopted, the number of maintenance performed during the rental period may be different for each user. In other words, the number of maintenance may be different between multiple users who are charged the same amount of rental fees. As a result, users who have relatively fewer maintenance times may feel unfair.

[0018] In contrast, in the information processing device of the present disclosure, the control unit obtains the number of maintenance performed at a specified base during a specified period for a rental vehicle that includes maintenance. A rental vehicle that includes maintenance is a vehicle that is the subject of the rental service that includes maintenance described above. The specified base is a maintenance factory operated by a rental service provider, or a maintenance factory operated by an operator entrusted by the rental service provider, etc. The specified period may be the rental period, or may be a portion of the rental period (e.g., several months to one year).

[0019] The control unit outputs information about a reward that is provided to users who rent vehicles as the number of maintenance performed is smaller. The reward can be any reward that can suppress the situation where users who have relatively fewer maintenance performed feel unfair. In one example, the reward may be a discount on the rental fee. As another example, the reward may be a coupon, points, or a gift certificate. In addition, the control unit may be configured to further perform the following processing, namely, determining the amount of the reward based on the number of maintenance performed by item. As an example, the less the number of maintenance performed on an item that requires more man-hours for maintenance and / or an item that has a higher price for parts replaced during maintenance, the larger the amount of the reward is determined to be.

[0020] In the information processing device involved in the present disclosure, outputting the reward information may include presenting the reward information to the operator through a display provided in the information processing device and / or transmitting the reward information to the user's terminal.

[0021] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to suppress a situation in which a user who has performed maintenance relatively less frequently feels unfair.

[0022] Implementation

[0023] Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described based on the drawings. The structures of the following embodiments are examples, and the present disclosure is not limited to the structures of the embodiments.

[0024] Overview of Vehicle Management System

[0025] Regarding the system using the information processing device involved in the present disclosure, based on Figure 1 To explain. Figure 1 , which is a diagram showing an overview of the system. The system in this embodiment is configured to include a base terminal 1, a user terminal 2, and a server 3. The server 3 is connected to the base terminal 1 and the user terminal 2 via a network N1 described later. Figure 1 In the illustrated example, only one base terminal 1 and one user terminal 2 are shown respectively, but a plurality of base terminals 1 and a plurality of user terminals 2 may be included in the system.

[0026] The base terminal 1 is a terminal configured at a predetermined base. The predetermined base is a maintenance plant operated by a rental service provider or a maintenance plant commissioned by the rental service provider, etc., which performs maintenance on the vehicle 200. The user terminal 2 is a terminal used by the user of the vehicle 200. The vehicle 200 is a rental vehicle that grants the user the right to use the vehicle 200 by paying a fixed usage fee regularly (for example, every month). In the present embodiment, the rental contract of the vehicle 200 includes a contract that allows maintenance (vehicle inspection, examination, and repair, etc.) during the rental period without additional fees. The server 3 is an example of an information processing device involved in the present disclosure, and is operated by the rental service provider. The server 3 has a function of regularly collecting the driving history and diagnostic information of the vehicle 200 from the vehicle 200, and determining the maintenance period of the vehicle 200 based on the collected information. Furthermore, the server 3 also has a function of notifying the user of the determined maintenance period through the user terminal 2. As a result, for the vehicle 200 of the user who drives the vehicle so that the vehicle parts are not easily deteriorated, the number of maintenance times can be suppressed to a small number. In addition, the server 3 of the present embodiment has a function of determining a reward (award) to be provided to a user according to the number of maintenances (maintenance times) received by the vehicle 200 at a predetermined base during a predetermined period. This can prevent users who have a small number of maintenances on the vehicle 200 (users who drive in a way that vehicle parts are not easily deteriorated) from feeling unfair.

[0027] In the system of this embodiment, whenever the vehicle 200 is maintained at a predetermined base, the staff of the predetermined base will send maintenance information to the server 3 through the base terminal 1. In one example, Figure 2 As shown, the maintenance information includes an identifier (vehicle ID) of the vehicle 200, an identifier (item ID) of a maintenance item performed at a predetermined base, and a date (implementation date) when the maintenance of the vehicle 200 was performed at the predetermined base. The item ID included in the maintenance information may also be a name of a maintenance item.

[0028] Based on such maintenance information, the server 3 obtains the number of maintenance items received by the vehicle 200 during the specified period, and determines the reward according to the number of maintenance items. The reward can be any reward as long as it can suppress the situation where users with relatively few maintenance times feel unfair. As an example, the reward can also be a discount on the rental fee. As another example, the reward can also be a coupon, points, or a gift certificate. The server 3 outputs the information of the reward determined in the manner described above.

[0029] Server Structure

[0030] Here, the structure of the server 3 in this embodiment is described. Figure 1 As shown in FIG. 1 , the server 3 of the present embodiment is configured to include a processor 301, a main storage unit 302, an auxiliary storage unit 303, and a communication unit 304. In addition, the structure of the server 3 is not limited to Figure 1 In the illustrated example, in addition to the processor 301 , the main storage unit 302 , the auxiliary storage unit 303 , and the communication unit 304 , an input / output device may be provided.

[0031] The processor 301 is, for example, a Central Processing Unit (CPU) or a Digital Signal Processor (DSP). The processor 301 loads the program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 303 into the working area of ​​the main storage unit 302 and executes it, thereby realizing functions consistent with the prescribed purpose. In this embodiment, the processor 301 that executes the program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 303 is equivalent to the control unit involved in the present disclosure.

[0032] The main storage unit 302 is a computer-readable recording medium. In this embodiment, the main storage unit 302 is used as a work area for loading programs stored in the auxiliary storage unit 303, or as a buffer for temporarily storing the calculation results of the processor 301. The main storage unit 302 includes, for example, Random Access Memory (RAM) and Read Only Memory (ROM).

[0033] The auxiliary storage unit 303 is a recording medium that can be read by a computer. In the present embodiment, the auxiliary storage unit 303 stores various programs for the processor 301 to execute, and various data used when the processor 301 executes various programs. The auxiliary storage unit 303 includes, for example, an Erasable Programmable ROM (EPROM) or a Hard Disk Drive (HDD). The auxiliary storage unit 303 can include removable media, i.e., removable recording media. In addition, in addition to the Operating System (OS), the programs stored in the auxiliary storage unit 303 also include programs for determining rewards provided to users of the vehicle 200. In addition, part or all of the information stored in the auxiliary storage unit 303 can also be stored in the main storage unit 302.

[0034] In the auxiliary storage unit 303 in the present embodiment, a maintenance DB 310 and incentive data 320 are stored. The maintenance DB 310 is constructed by the processor 301 executing a program of a Database Management System (DBMS).

[0035] Maintenance DB 310 is a database that stores information on the number of maintenance operations performed on vehicle 200 at a predetermined base during a predetermined period. The predetermined period may be, for example, the rental period of vehicle 200 or a portion of the rental period (e.g., several months to a year).

[0036] Figure 3 , which is a diagram showing an example of information stored in the maintenance DB 310. Figure 3 As shown in FIG. 1 , the maintenance DB 310 has a plurality of tables (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “maintenance information tables”) corresponding to the plurality of vehicles 200 under the management of the server 3. In each maintenance information table, in addition to a field in which the vehicle ID of the corresponding vehicle 200 is registered and a field in which the end date of a prescribed period is registered, there are a plurality of records for each maintenance item appropriate for the corresponding vehicle 200. Figure 3 In the example shown, each record has an item ID field in which the identifier of the item to be maintained (item ID) is registered, and a count field in which the cumulative value of the number of times maintenance of each item has been performed at a predetermined base during a predetermined period (maintenance count) is registered. Figure 3 In the illustrated example, item names such as “engine oil,” “battery,” and “wiper” are used as information registered in the item ID field, but identifiers other than the item names may be used.

[0037] The information in the frequency field in each maintenance information table of the maintenance DB 310 is updated every time maintenance of each item of the corresponding vehicle 200 is performed at a specified base. For example, when the engine oil of the vehicle 200 is replaced at a specified base, maintenance information including the vehicle ID of the vehicle 200, the item ID corresponding to the engine oil, and the implementation date of the engine oil replacement is sent from the base terminal 1 to the server 3. In the server 3 that receives such maintenance information, the maintenance information table of the vehicle 200 is specifically specified based on the vehicle ID. Next, in the server 3, the record registered as "engine oil" in the item ID field among the records of the specifically specified maintenance information table is specifically specified, and the maintenance frequency registered in the frequency field of the specifically specified record is increased by 1.

[0038] Furthermore, when the predetermined period is a part of the rental period, the information registered in the frequency field in each maintenance information table of the maintenance DB 310 is reset to “0 times” every time the end date of the predetermined period comes.

[0039] The incentive data 320 is data that defines the amount of incentive for each maintenance item. Figure 4 , is a diagram showing an example of reward data 320. Figure 4 As shown, the reward data 320 is structured to include a plurality of tables (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "reward data tables") according to the maintenance items. In each reward data table, the amount of reward is set according to the number of maintenance times of each item. In this embodiment, the amount of reward is set such that the less the number of maintenance times of each item, the greater the amount of reward. Figure 4 For the "engine oil" illustrated in the example, the less the maintenance times (the number of times the engine oil is changed), the greater the amount of the reward. In addition, in the present embodiment, the amount of the reward is set to be different for each item. As an example, it can also be set so that the amount of the reward is further increased when the maintenance times are less for items that require more work hours for maintenance than for items that require less work hours. As another example, it can also be set so that the amount of the reward is further increased when the maintenance times are less for items that have a higher price (parts cost) of the parts replaced during maintenance than for items that have a lower price.

[0040] Next, the communication unit 304 of the server 3 is an interface for connecting the server 3 to the network N1. In one example, the communication unit 304 is configured to include a Local Area Network (LAN) interface board and a wireless communication circuit for wireless communication. In this embodiment, the communication unit 304 communicates with the base terminal 1 and the user terminal 2 through the network N1.

[0041] In the server 3 configured as described above, when the communication unit 304 receives the maintenance information transmitted from the base terminal 1, the processor 301 executes the following processing by executing the program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 303. First, the processor 301 accesses the maintenance DB 310 by using the vehicle ID included in the maintenance information as an independent variable, thereby specifying the maintenance information table corresponding to the vehicle 200. The processor 301 accesses the specified maintenance information table by using the item ID included in the maintenance information as an independent variable, thereby specifying the record in which the information consistent with the item ID is registered in the item ID field. As an example, if the item ID included in the maintenance information is "engine oil", the processor 301 specifies the record in which "engine oil" is registered in the item ID field. The processor 301 increases the number of maintenance times registered in the number field of the specified record by 1.

[0042] In the server 3 configured as described above, the processor 301 periodically executes the following processing (for example, every day) by executing the program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 303. First, the processor 301 accesses the maintenance DB 310 and determines whether there is a vehicle 200 for which the prescribed period has ended. As an example, for the processor 301, if there is a maintenance information table in which a date one day ago is registered in the end date field among the maintenance information tables registered in the maintenance DB 310, it can be determined that the prescribed period for the vehicle 200 corresponding to the maintenance information table has ended.

[0043] In the case where it is determined that there is a vehicle 200 whose prescribed period has ended, the processor 301 obtains the reward amount for each maintenance item based on the information registered in the maintenance information table of the vehicle 200 and the reward data 320. Here, if the item "engine oil" is cited as an example, the processor 301 specifically specifies the record registered as "engine oil" in the item ID field of the maintenance information table, and reads the number of maintenances registered in the number field of the specifically specified record. Next, the processor 301 accesses the reward data 320 and specifically specifies the reward data table corresponding to the engine oil. The processor 301 reads the reward amount corresponding to the number of maintenances read from the maintenance information table among the reward amounts registered in the specifically specified reward data table. The processor 301 sets the reward amount read from the reward data table as the reward amount corresponding to the item "engine oil". The same process is also performed for other items registered in the item ID field of the maintenance information table.

[0044] When the reward amount is calculated for all items registered in the item ID field of the maintenance information table, the processor 301 calculates the sum of these reward amounts. The processor 301 determines the calculated sum as the amount of reward provided to the user of the vehicle 200. The processor 301 outputs information about the determined reward amount (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "reward information"). Outputting the reward information may include a process of prompting the operator with the reward information through the input and output device of the server 3, a process of prompting the user with the reward information through the user terminal 2, a process of prompting the rental service provider with the reward information through the terminal of the rental service provider, etc.

[0045] In addition, the method for determining the amount of reward provided to the user of the vehicle 200 is not limited to the example described above, and can be flexibly changed according to the implementation. For example, the processor 301 can also determine the amount of reward provided to the user of the vehicle 200 based on the total number of maintenance times by item. In this case, for the processor 301, the smaller the total number of maintenance times by item, the larger the amount of reward provided to the user of the vehicle 200.

[0046] Processing process

[0047] Regarding the flow of processing executed in the server 3 in this embodiment, the following will be based on Figure 5 To explain. Figure 5 2 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed in the server 3 periodically (for example, every day).

[0048] exist Figure 5 In the process, the processor 301 determines whether there is a vehicle 200 whose prescribed period has ended among the vehicles 200 under the management of the server 3 (S101). Specifically, the processor 301 accesses the maintenance DB 310 and determines whether there is a maintenance information table whose date one day ago is registered in the end date field. When there is no maintenance information table whose date one day ago is registered in the end date field, the processor 301 determines that there is no vehicle 200 whose prescribed period has ended (a negative determination in S101). In this case, the processor 301 will end the execution of this processing routine. In addition, when there is a maintenance information table whose date one day ago is registered in the end date field, the processor 301 determines that the prescribed period of the vehicle 200 corresponding to the maintenance information table has ended (a positive determination in S101). In this case, the processor 301 executes the processing of S102.

[0049] In S102, the processor 301 obtains the reward amount for each item for the vehicle 200 determined in S101 to have completed the predetermined period. Specifically, the processor 301 accesses the reward data 320 using the maintenance count of each item registered in the maintenance information table of the vehicle 200 as an argument, thereby obtaining the reward amount for each maintenance item. When the reward amount is obtained for all items registered in the item ID field of the maintenance information table of the vehicle 200, the processor 301 executes the process of S103.

[0050] In S103, the processor 301 calculates the total of the incentive amounts for each item acquired in S102. When the processor 301 completes the process of S103, it executes the process of S104.

[0051] In S104, the processor 301 outputs the reward information including the sum calculated in S103. In one example, the processor 301 may also prompt the operator with the reward information through the input and output device of the server 3. In other examples, the processor 301 may also send the reward information to the user terminal 2 (prompt it to the user) or to the terminal of the rental service provider (prompt it to the rental service provider) through the communication unit 304. When the processor 301 completes the processing of S104, the process ends. Figure 5 Execution of the processing flow.

[0052] According to the above-described embodiment, among multiple users using a rental service including maintenance (multiple users charged the same rental fee), the user who performs relatively fewer maintenance times is provided with a larger reward. This can prevent users who perform relatively fewer maintenance times from feeling unfair.

[0053] Change Example

[0054] Although the example in which the server 3 is composed of one computer is described in the above-described embodiment, it can also be composed of multiple computers connected to each other via the network N1. That is, the processing of the server 3 described in the above-described embodiment can also be shared and executed by multiple computers connected to each other via the network N1.

Claims

1. An information processing device comprising a control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to execute the following processing, namely: For a rental vehicle that includes maintenance, the number of maintenance operations performed at a specified base during a specified period is obtained; Information is outputted indicating that the smaller the number of maintenance times is, the larger the amount of reward provided to the user who rents the vehicle is.

2. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein: The predetermined period is at least a portion of the lease period.

3. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein: The control unit is configured to further execute a process of determining an amount of the reward provided to the user according to the number of maintenance operations for each item.

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