Control method, device, and program

Abstract

A control method obtains first parking time information including a first parking time at which one or more first vehicles are parked at a first facility, the one or more first vehicles being respectively vehicles that are electrically driven using power of a battery (S105 and S107), and controls the parking time of the one or more first vehicles on the basis of the obtained first parking time information, the first parking time information including a first parking time at which the one or more first vehicles are parked at the first facility (S105 and S107). A first charge amount at which one or more first vehicles have been charged by a first charger provided in a first facility is estimated (S108), a first self-consumption amount of renewable energy consumed by the first facility is obtained (S113), and a second charge amount of renewable energy consumed by the first facility is calculated on the basis of the estimated first charge amount and the obtained first self-consumption amount. Information indicating whether or not the electric power of the first charge amount is electric power generated by the renewable energy source is output (S115, S116).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a control method, apparatus, and program. Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for recording information related to electricity having environmental value on a blockchain.

[0003] (Prior Art Document)

[0004] (Patent Document)

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2021-034826 Summary of the Invention

[0006] Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a control method or the like that can easily attach information indicating that the amount of charge charged with electricity generated from renewable energy has environmental value.

[0008] Means for Solving the Problems

[0009] A control method according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a control method for an apparatus. In the control method, first parking time information is obtained. The first parking time information includes the first parking time of one or more first vehicles parked at a first facility. The one or more first vehicles are vehicles that travel electrically using the power of a storage battery. Based on the obtained first parking time information, a first charge amount charged to the one or more first vehicles by a first charger provided at the first facility is estimated. A first self-consumption amount of renewable energy consumed by the first facility is obtained. Based on the estimated first charge amount and the obtained first self-consumption amount, information indicating whether the electricity of the first charge amount is electricity generated from renewable energy is output.

[0010] In addition, these general or specific aspects can be implemented by a system, apparatus, integrated circuit, computer program, or a recording medium such as a computer-readable CD-ROM, or can be implemented by any combination of a system, apparatus, integrated circuit, computer program, and recording medium.

[0011] Advantages of the Invention

[0012] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to easily attach information indicating that the amount of charge charged with electricity generated from renewable energy has environmental value. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Figure 1 It is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a control system according to an embodiment.

[0014] Figure 2 This is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the server related to the embodiment.

[0015] Figure 3 This is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of the control system related to the embodiment.

[0016] Figure 4 This is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of the control system related to the embodiment.

[0017] Figure 5 This is an explanatory diagram showing the data structure of the blockchain.

[0018] Figure 6 This is an explanatory diagram showing the data structure of the transaction data. Detailed Embodiments

[0019] (Insight underlying the present invention)

[0020] Conventionally, for example, a technique of recording power transactions that provide environmental value to a blockchain, such as Patent Document 1, has been disclosed.

[0021] Environmental value is the economic value brought about by contributing to reducing the environmental load in the production or utilization of electricity. Environmental value is, for example, the value of electricity generated in a manner that particularly uses renewable energy to suppress CO 2 emissions.

[0022] Here, currently, electric vehicles that use the electricity charged in a storage battery for electric driving are relatively popular. Electric vehicles are required to be charged regularly, and charging takes more than a certain amount of time. Therefore, for example, it can be considered to charge the electric vehicle during the period when it is parked in a parking lot, so that the parked time can be utilized for charging.

[0023] The user of an electric vehicle can charge the electric vehicle in a parking lot at any location. Moreover, the electricity provided in each parking lot is not necessarily electricity generated from renewable energy. Therefore, it is difficult for the user to always charge the electric vehicle with electricity generated from renewable energy.

[0024] Then, the inventors of the present invention found a control method that can easily attach information indicating that the charging amount charged using electricity generated from renewable energy has environmental value by associating the environmental value represented by electricity generated from renewable energy with the electricity used for charging the electric vehicle.

[0025] The control method according to the first aspect of the present disclosure is a control method for a device. In the control method, first parking time information is obtained, and the first parking time information includes the first parking time of one or more first vehicles parked at a first facility. The one or more first vehicles are vehicles that are electrically driven using the power of a storage battery. According to the obtained first parking time information, a first charging amount by which the one or more first vehicles are charged by a first charger provided at the first facility is estimated. A first self-consumption amount of renewable energy consumed by the first facility is obtained. According to the estimated first charging amount and the obtained first self-consumption amount, information indicating whether the power of the first charging amount is power generated from renewable energy is output.

[0026] Through the above, for example, when the first charging amount is less than or equal to the first self-consumption amount, the first charging amount is included in the first self-consumption amount. Therefore, the power of the first charging amount can be regarded as power generated from renewable energy. Thus, by outputting information indicating that the power of the first charging amount is power generated from renewable energy, the environmental value represented by the power generated from renewable energy can be associated with the power used for charging an electric vehicle. Therefore, it is easy for a user to show whether the power of the charging amount for charging the vehicle is power generated from renewable energy and is power having an environmental value. And, according to the control method according to the first aspect of the present disclosure, the charger does not need to have a mechanism for measuring the charging amount, and thus this mechanism may not be provided. For example, it may be an ordinary socket.

[0027] The control method according to the second aspect of the present disclosure is based on the control method according to the first aspect. The first self-consumption amount is calculated by subtracting a first sold amount sold by the first facility provided with the first generator from the first power generation amount generated by the first generator. The first generator is a generator corresponding to the first charger and is a generator that generates power using renewable energy.

[0028] The control method according to the third aspect of the present disclosure is based on the control method according to the first or second aspect. In the output, when the first charging amount is less than or equal to the first self-consumption amount, information indicating that the power of the first charging amount is power generated from renewable energy is output.

[0029] The control method according to the fourth aspect of the present disclosure, based on the control method according to any one of the first to third aspects, the first parking time is the sum of the parking times of the one or more first vehicles parked in the first facility during the first period, the first charging amount is the sum of the charging amounts by which the one or more first vehicles have been charged during the first period, and the first self-consumption amount is the sum of the self-consumption amounts consumed by the first facility during the first period.

[0030] Therefore, it is possible to easily represent whether the charging amount calculated based on the sum of the parking times during the first period has environmental value.

[0031] The control method according to the fifth aspect of the present disclosure, based on the control method according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, further obtains second parking time information, which includes the second parking times of one or more second vehicles parked in a second facility, and the one or more second vehicles are vehicles that run using the power of a storage battery. Based on the obtained second parking time information, estimates the second charging amount by which the one or more second vehicles have been charged by a second charger provided in the second facility, obtains the second self-consumption amount of renewable energy consumed by the second facility, and in the output, based on the estimated first charging amount and second charging amount and the obtained first self-consumption amount and second self-consumption amount, outputs information indicating whether the total power obtained by adding the power of the first charging amount and the power of the second charging amount is power generated from renewable energy.

[0032] The control method according to the sixth aspect of the present disclosure, based on the control method according to the fifth aspect, the second self-consumption amount is calculated by subtracting the second selling amount sold by the second facility provided with the second generator from the second self-generated amount generated by the second generator, and the second generator is a generator corresponding to the second charger and is a generator that generates electricity using renewable energy.

[0033] The control method according to the seventh aspect of the present disclosure, based on the control method according to the fifth or sixth aspect, in the output, when the sum of the first charging amount and the second charging amount, i.e., the first sum, is less than or equal to the sum of the first self-consumption amount and the second self-consumption amount, i.e., the second sum, outputs information indicating that the power of the first charging amount and the second charging amount is power generated from renewable energy.

[0034] The control method according to the eighth aspect of the present disclosure, based on the control method according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, further purchases the environmental value of the electricity generated by renewable energy representing the amount based on the difference obtained by subtracting the first charge amount from the first self-consumption amount when the first charge amount is greater than the first self-consumption amount.

[0035] The control method according to the ninth aspect of the present disclosure, based on the control method according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, further stores the information in the distributed ledger owned by the device.

[0036] The device according to the tenth aspect of the present disclosure includes: a processor; and a memory. The processor uses the memory to perform the following processing: obtaining first parking time information, which includes the first parking time of one or more first vehicles parked at a first facility, where the one or more first vehicles are vehicles that perform electric driving using the power of a battery; estimating a first charge amount that the first charger provided at the first facility has charged the one or more first vehicles based on the obtained first parking time information; obtaining a first self-consumption amount of renewable energy consumed by the first facility; and outputting information indicating whether the electricity of the first charge amount is electricity generated by renewable energy based on the estimated first charge amount and the obtained first self-consumption amount.

[0037] Through the above, for example, when the first charge amount is less than or equal to the first self-consumption amount, the first charge amount is included in the first self-consumption amount, so the electricity of the first charge amount can be regarded as electricity generated by renewable energy. Therefore, by outputting information indicating that the electricity of the first charge amount is electricity generated by renewable energy, the environmental value represented by the electricity generated by renewable energy can be associated with the electricity used for charging an electric vehicle. Thus, the user can easily show whether the electricity of the charge amount for charging the vehicle is electricity generated by renewable energy and has environmental value. And with the device according to the tenth aspect of the present disclosure, the charger does not need to have a mechanism for measuring the charge amount, so this mechanism can be omitted. For example, it can be an ordinary socket.

[0038] The program according to the eleventh aspect of the present disclosure is a program for causing a computer to execute the control method according to any one of the first to ninth aspects.

[0039] In addition, these general or specific aspects can be implemented by a system, a device, an integrated circuit, a computer program, or a recording medium such as a computer-readable CD-ROM, or can be implemented by any combination of a system, a device, an integrated circuit, a computer program, and a recording medium.

[0040] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, all the embodiments described below show a specific example of the present disclosure. That is, the numerical values, shapes, materials, constituent elements, arrangement positions of the constituent elements, connection methods, steps, order of steps, etc. shown in the following embodiments are all examples, and the gist thereof is not to limit the present disclosure. Moreover, among the constituent elements of the following embodiments, those not described in the independent technical solution showing the most general concept are not essential for achieving the object of the present disclosure and can be described as constituent elements for constituting a more preferable mode.

[0041] (Embodiment)

[0042] First, the system configuration related to the present disclosure will be described.

[0043] Hereinafter, the configuration of the management system according to the present embodiment will be described while referring to the drawings.

[0044] [Control System]

[0045] Figure 1 FIG. is an example showing the configuration of the control system according to the embodiment.

[0046] As Figure 1 shown, the control system 1 related to the present disclosure includes, for example: an information terminal 100; a charger 201, a generator 202, and a load 203 provided in a facility 200; a charger 211 and a load 212 provided in a facility 210; and a plurality of servers 300a to 300c. These are connected via a network 400. The network 400 is, for example, the Internet, a telecommunications network of a mobile phone, etc., but may be constituted by any communication line or network. The information terminal 100 is a terminal that receives operations performed by a user of a vehicle. The information terminal 100 may be a portable terminal such as a smartphone owned by the user of the vehicle, or may be an information terminal provided in the vehicle.

[0047] In facility 200, a charger 201, a generator 202, and a load 203 are provided. Also, a parking lot for parking vehicles is provided in facility 200. The charger 201 is a charger for charging the electric power generated by the generator 202 of facility 200 into the battery of a vehicle parked in the parking lot of facility 200. Here, the vehicle is a vehicle having a battery and using the electric power stored in the battery for electric driving. The vehicle can be an electric vehicle in which all the energy for driving comes from the electric power of the battery, or a hybrid vehicle (plug-in hybrid vehicle) in which a part of the energy for driving comes from the electric power of the battery. In addition, the charger 201 can also charge the electric power obtained from a commercial power source into the battery of the vehicle. The charger 201 may not have a mechanism for measuring the charging amount. The charger 201 may, for example, only have a socket.

[0048] The generator 202 is a generator that generates electric power using renewable energy. The generator 202 generates electric power, for example, by solar power generation, wind power generation, etc.

[0049] The load 203 is a device that consumes electric power in facility 200. The load 203 can consume the electric power generated by the generator 202 in facility 200, or can consume the electric power obtained from a commercial power source.

[0050] In facility 200, the electric power consumption (i.e., power consumption) of the charger 201 and the load 203, and the generated electric power (i.e., generated power) are respectively measured by electric energy meters, and the measurement results are output to the server 300. The information obtained by facility 200 can be sent by a computer (not shown) within facility 200. This computer can also obtain the measurement results measured by the electric energy meters of facility 200 from the electric energy meters, and send the obtained measurement results together with the information of facility 200 to the server 300. The information of facility 200 may include a charger ID for identifying the charger 201 provided in facility 200. And, the information of facility 200 may include a facility ID for identifying facility 200, or a parking lot ID for identifying the parking lot of facility 200.

[0051] In facility 210, a charger 211 and a load 212 are provided. Also, a parking lot for parking vehicles is provided in facility 210. The charger 211 is a charger for charging the electric power obtained from a commercial power source into the battery of a vehicle parked in the parking lot of facility 200. Here, the vehicle is a vehicle having a battery and using the electric power stored in the battery for electric driving.

[0052] The load 212 is a device that consumes electric power in facility 210. The load 212 can also consume the electric power obtained from a commercial power source in facility 210.

[0053] In facility 210, an electricity meter measures the power consumption, i.e., the power consumed by charger 211 and load 212, and outputs the measurement result to server 300. Information obtained in facility 210 can be sent by a computer (not shown) within facility 210. This computer can also obtain the measurement result measured by the electricity meter of facility 210 from the electricity meter, and send the obtained measurement result together with the information of facility 210 to server 300. The information of facility 210 may include a charger ID for identifying charger 211 installed in facility 210. Also, the information of facility 210 may include a facility ID for identifying facility 210, or a parking lot ID for identifying the parking lot of facility 210.

[0054] In addition, facilities 200 and 210 are, for example, homes that provide parking spaces as parking lots and are equipped with chargers 201 and 211 for charging vehicles parked in these spaces. In this case, the charging amounts of chargers 201 and 211 installed in the home are mostly not managed by servers 300a to 300c. Therefore, it is difficult for servers 300a to 300c to obtain the charging amount of the power charged to the vehicle by chargers 201 and 211 during the parking time (parking duration) in the parking lot. Thus, it is necessary to estimate the charging amount of the power charged to the vehicle during the parking time.

[0055] Servers 300a to 300c communicate information with information terminal 100, facilities 200, and 210. Servers 300a to 300c obtain, for example, information related to the use of the parking lot from information terminal 100. Servers 300a to 300c obtain, for example, the power consumption and power generation of facility 200 from facility 200, and the power consumption of facility 210 from facility 210.

[0056] In addition, servers 300a to 300c will be referred to as server 300 hereinafter, but there are also cases where servers 300a to 300c are referred to as servers A to C.

[0057] Control system 1 is a system for managing the parking of a user's vehicle. Control system 1 manages the power generation and power consumption in the parking lot. By managing the parking of the user's vehicle and the power generation and power consumption at the parking location of the vehicle, control system 1 manages whether the power charged to the user is renewable energy. In other words, control system 1 manages whether the power charged to the user's vehicle during the parking period in the parking lot of the facility has environmental value.

[0058] [Information Terminal 100]

[0059] The information terminal 100 receives the input of operations performed by the user. The information terminal 100 receives the start of parking and the start of charging of the user's vehicle. For example, a case where the user parks the vehicle in the parking lot of the facility 200 and charges the vehicle through the charger 201 of the facility 200 will be described. In this case, in the information terminal 100, the application for managing parking and charging is started, and the charger ID of the charger 201 is received in the application. For example, it may also be that the information terminal 100 receives the charger ID of the charger 201 by reading the QR (Quick Response) code (registered trademark) set on the charger 201 with the camera of the information terminal 100. The information terminal 100 receives the input from the user indicating the start of parking (start of charging) on the application of the information terminal 100, and then sends the information indicating the start of parking (start of charging) to the server 300. After the information terminal 100 sends the information indicating the start of parking (start of charging) to the server 300, it receives the input from the user indicating the end of parking (end of charging), and then sends the information indicating the end of parking (end of charging) to the server 300.

[0060] In this way, the information terminal 100 uses the application for managing parking and charging to send the parking time information related to the parking facility and the parking time (charging time) to the server 300. The parking time information includes, for example, the user ID, the charger ID, and the start parking time, or the user ID, the charger ID, and the end parking time. The information sent from the information terminal 100 to the server 300 can be sent as transaction data. The server 300 executes a consensus algorithm on the transaction data received from the information terminal 100, and then stores the received block containing the transaction data in the distributed ledger 306 owned by the server 300.

[0061] The communication between the information terminal 100 and the server 300 can be performed through TLS (Transport Layer Security), and the encryption key for TLS communication can also be stored in the memory of the information terminal 100.

[0062] [Server 300]

[0063] Figure 2 It is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the server according to the embodiment.

[0064] As Figure 2 shown, the server 300 includes a communication unit 301, a control unit 302, a recording unit 303, a transaction data verification unit 304, a database 305, a distributed ledger 306, and a smart contract execution unit 307.

[0065] The communication unit 301 sends information to the information terminal 100 via the network 400, or receives information from the information terminal 100. The information received from the information terminal 100 is, for example, parking time information related to the facility where the user parked the vehicle and the parking time (charging time).

[0066] In addition, the communication unit 301 sends information to the facilities 200 and 210 via the network 400, or receives information from the facilities 200 and 210. The information received from the facility 200 includes, for example, the generated power and power consumption of the facility 200. The information received from the facility 210 includes, for example, the power consumption of the facility 210.

[0067] In addition, the communication unit 301 communicates with other servers 300 via the network 400. The communication unit 301 exchanges transaction data with other servers 300.

[0068] In this way, the communication unit 301 communicates with the information terminal 100 via the network 400. Additionally, this communication can be performed through TLS (Transport Layer Security), and the encryption key for TLS communication can be held in the communication unit 301.

[0069] The control unit 302 executes a consensus algorithm on the transaction data received by the communication unit 301. Thus, the control unit 302 stores the transaction data in the distributed ledger 306. For example, the control unit 302 connects a block containing the transaction data to the blockchain of the distributed ledger 306, thereby storing the information contained in the transaction data in the blockchain.

[0070] In addition, the control unit 302 estimates the amount of charge for the vehicle of the user indicated by the user ID to be charged by the charger 201 indicated by the charger ID based on the parking time information received by the communication unit 301. Specifically, the control unit 302 estimates the charge amount assuming that charging was performed at the maximum output of the charger 201 for all parking times from the start parking time to the end parking time.

[0071] For example, the control unit 302 calculates the time from the start parking time to the end parking time, i.e., the parking time, based on the start parking time and the end parking time. And the control unit 302 estimates the amount of charge charged during the parking time by multiplying the maximum output of the charger 201 indicated by the charger ID by the parking time. The maximum output of the charger 201 can also be associated with the charger ID and recorded in the database 305 of the server 300. Additionally, since the estimated charge amount is the maximum value of the charge amount charged during the parking time, the actual charge amount for the user's vehicle is below the estimated charge amount.

[0072] In addition, the control unit 302 calculates the self-consumption amount of the facility 200 by subtracting the sold electricity amount sold by the facility 200 from the generated electricity amount generated by the generator 202 corresponding to the charger 201 indicated by the charger ID. In addition, the self-consumption amount is also referred to as the self-use consumption amount. In addition, the self-consumption amount may not be calculated by the control unit 302 but by the computer of the facility 200. In this case, the self-consumption amount of the facility 200 calculated by the computer of the facility 200 is included in the information sent from the facility 200 to the server 300. Thus, the self-consumption amount of the facility 200 may not be calculated by the server 300 but obtained by the server 300 from the computer of the facility 200. And, the self-consumption amount may not only be calculated by the computer of the facility 200 but also by other computers and sent from the other computers to the server 300.

[0073] Based on the estimated charging amount and the obtained self-consumption amount, the control unit 302 outputs information (environmental value information) indicating whether the electricity of the estimated charging amount is electricity generated from renewable energy. Specifically, the control unit 302 determines whether the charging amount is less than or equal to the self-consumption amount. When the charging amount is less than or equal to the self-consumption amount, the control unit 302 outputs information (environmental value information) indicating that the electricity of the charging amount is electricity generated from renewable energy. The control unit 302 generates transaction data including the environmental value information, causes the communication unit 301 to send the generated transaction data to other servers 300, and executes a consensus algorithm among the other servers 300, thereby storing the block including the transaction data in the distributed ledger 306 owned by the server 300.

[0074] In addition, the parking time may be the parking time of a vehicle's single parking or the total of the parking times of multiple parkings. Multiple parkings are parkings during the first period. The first period may be one week or one month. In this case, the charging amount is the total of the charging amounts for charging the user's vehicle during the first period. And, the self-consumption amount may be the total of the self-consumption amounts of the facilities where the user's vehicle is parked during the first period. Thus, during the first period, the control unit 302 determines whether the electricity equivalent to the total of the charging amounts for charging the user's vehicle is electricity generated from renewable energy based on the total of the parking times of the user's vehicle. In addition, the parking time of the user's vehicle may be the parking time in the parking lot of a specific facility 200. Thus, it is possible to determine whether the electricity of the charging amount of the user's vehicle calculated based on the total of the parking times during the first period in the specific facility 200 is electricity generated from renewable energy.

[0075] When the transaction data verification unit 304 receives transaction data in the communication unit 301, it verifies the legitimacy of the transaction data. For example, the transaction data verification unit 304 verifies whether the transaction data received by the communication unit 301 is given an electronic signature generated by a correct method or the like. In the case where the legitimacy verification is successful, the communication unit 301 sends a copy of the transaction data to multiple other servers 300, so that the verified data is recorded in the recording unit of the other servers 300. Thus, only the transaction data with successful legitimacy verification is sent to other servers, so that an increase in the power consumption of the computer can be suppressed. In addition, this verification can also be skipped.

[0076] In addition, the transaction data verification unit 304, together with multiple other servers 300, executes a consensus algorithm for reaching a consensus on the legitimacy of the transaction data.

[0077] Here, in the consensus algorithm, either PBFT (Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance) can be used, or other well-known consensus algorithms can be used. As well-known consensus algorithms, for example, there are PoW (Proof of Work) or PoS (Proof of Stake), etc. In the case where the PBFT is used in the consensus algorithm, the transaction data verification unit 304 receives reports indicating whether the verification of the transaction data is successful from multiple servers 300 respectively, and determines whether the number of the reports exceeds a specified number. And when the number of the reports exceeds the specified number, the transaction data verification unit 304 determines that the legitimacy of the transaction data is verified through the consensus algorithm.

[0078] When the transaction data verification unit 304 confirms the legitimacy of the transaction data, it causes the recording unit 303 to record the transaction data. When the legitimacy of the transaction data is not verified, the transaction data verification unit 304 discards the transaction data. Thus, the transaction data whose legitimacy is not verified is not recorded in the recording unit, so that the required amount of computer resources can be suppressed. The transaction data verification unit 304 can generate a block containing the transaction data whose legitimacy has been confirmed, and store the generated block in the distributed ledger 306.

[0079] In this embodiment, the transaction data verification unit 304 verifies the legitimacy of the transaction data received by the communication unit 301.

[0080] In addition, the recording unit 303 records the transaction data by storing the transaction data whose legitimacy has been verified by the transaction data verification unit 304 in the distributed ledger 306. Therefore, the tampering of the transaction data can be suppressed.

[0081] In addition, the recording unit 303 may be formed inside the distributed ledger 306.

[0082] The database 305 stores the information received from the facilities 200 and 210 through the communication unit 301. The database 305 is implemented by a memory.

[0083] The distributed ledger 306 stores transaction data. Since the distributed ledger 306 sequentially obtains and stores the transaction data, it stores one or more pieces of transaction data. The distributed ledger 306 is implemented by a memory.

[0084] The smart contract execution unit 307 executes the contract code and the like included in the transaction data of the blockchain stored in the distributed ledger 306, thereby executing the smart contract. The smart contract execution unit 307 can perform processes such as calculating the parking time of the control unit 302, estimating the charging amount, and determining whether the power of the user's vehicle is generated by renewable energy. The smart contract execution unit 307 can execute the smart contract for the above-mentioned processes when the transaction data is stored in the blockchain of the distributed ledger 306.

[0085] In this way, the smart contract execution unit 307 can manage various processes by the distributed ledger by executing the smart contract. In addition, the smart contract is generated, for example, by an application of the information terminal 100 according to an operation from the user, and the block including these smart contracts is pre-stored in the blockchain. In other words, the contract code of the smart contract is stored in the blockchain.

[0086] In addition, the contract code of the smart contract can be separated into multiple data units and stored separately in the blockchain, or can be stored as a single aggregated contract code in the blockchain.

[0087] [Operation]

[0088] Next, the operation of the control system 1 configured as described above will be described.

[0089] Figure 3 And Figure 4 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of the control system according to the embodiment. In addition, Figure 4 shows Figure 3 the continuation of the sequence diagram. Figure 3 And Figure 4 The facility 200 in [[ ]] represents the computer (not shown) provided in the facility 200. In other words, hereinafter, the computer provided in the facility 200 will be simply referred to as the facility 200.

[0090] First, the charger 201 and the facility 200 perform the registration of the charger 201 (S101). For example, the facility 200 accepts the input from the administrator of the facility 200 and performs a process of registering the charger ID shown in the two-dimensional code assigned to the charger 201, the maximum output of the charger 201, and the administrator ID for identifying the administrator as the information of the charger of the facility 200. Thus, registration information including the charger ID, the maximum output of the charger 201, and the administrator ID is generated.

[0091] The facility 200 sends the registration information generated by executing step S101 to the server 300 (S102). The facility 200 only needs to send the registration information to at least one of the servers 300a to 300c of the server 300.

[0092] Next, when the user parks the user's vehicle in the parking lot of the facility 200 and charges the vehicle, the user starts the application of the information terminal 100.

[0093] The information terminal 100 accepts the user's operation and obtains the charger ID of the charger 201 via the application (S103). The information terminal 100 obtains the charger ID of the charger 201 by reading the two-dimensional code (QR (Quick Response) code) set on the charger 201 with the camera equipped in the information terminal 100.

[0094] Next, the information terminal 100 accepts a registration operation (S104). Specifically, the information terminal 100 accepts an operation from the user indicating the start of parking (start of charging).

[0095] Thus, the information terminal 100 generates start parking information including the start parking time, the charger ID, and the user ID, and sends the start parking information to the server 300 (S105). In addition, the start parking time indicates the time when the registration operation was accepted in step S104. The user ID is information registered in the information terminal 100 and is information for identifying the user. The start parking information may include a parking ID for identifying a single parking. The information terminal 100 may send transaction data including the start parking information to the server 300. The transaction data including the start parking information may be stored in a blockchain.

[0096] Next, the information terminal 100 accepts an exit operation (S106). Specifically, the information terminal 100 accepts an operation from the user indicating the end of parking (end of charging).

[0097] Accordingly, the information terminal 100 generates end parking information including the end parking time, charger ID, and user ID, and sends the end parking information to the server 300 (S107). Additionally, the end parking time indicates the time when the exit operation was accepted in step S106. The user ID is information registered in the information terminal 100 and is used to identify the user. The end parking information may include a parking ID. The parking ID included in the end parking information is the same as the parking ID included in the start parking information. The information terminal 100 may send transaction data including the end parking information to the server 300. The transaction data including the end parking information may be stored in a blockchain.

[0098] When the server 300 receives the start parking information and the end parking information, it estimates the charging amount during the parking (S108). This estimation can be performed by executing a smart contract when receiving the transaction data including the end parking information. In the smart contract, first, the start parking information including the same parking ID as the parking ID included in the end parking information is determined, and the parking time is calculated based on the end parking time included in the received transaction data and the start parking time included in the determined start parking information. Moreover, based on the charger ID included in the start parking information or the end parking information, the maximum output corresponding to the charger ID is determined, and the calculated parking time is multiplied by the maximum output to estimate the charging amount.

[0099] Next, the facility 200 obtains the power generation amount of the generator 202 provided in the facility 200 from the electricity meter (S109). The power generation amount is, for example, the power generation amount generated by the generator 202 during a specified period. The specified period is, for example, one day, one week, two weeks, one month, etc.

[0100] The facility 200 sends power generation information to the server 300 (S110). The power generation information includes the power generation amount of the generator 202 provided in the facility 200 and the manager ID for identifying the manager of the facility 200. Instead of the manager ID, the generator ID for identifying the generator 202 may be included in the power generation information. The power generation information can be sent, for example, in units of a specified period. The facility 200 may send transaction data including the power generation information to the server 300. The transaction data including the power generation information may be stored in a blockchain.

[0101] The facility 200 obtains the electricity sales volume from the electricity meter (S111). The electricity sales volume is, for example, the electricity sales volume sold by the facility 200 during a specified period. The specified period is, for example, one day, one week, two weeks, one month, etc. The electricity sales volume represents the electric energy output from the facility 200 to the system. The electricity sales volume is the electric energy in the electricity generated by the generator 202 that is not completely consumed by the charger 201 and the load 203 of the facility 200. Therefore, the self-consumption of the facility 200 is calculated by subtracting the electricity sales volume from the generated electricity volume.

[0102] The facility 200 sends the electricity sales information to the server 300 (S112). The electricity sales information includes the electricity sales volume of the facility 200 and the manager ID for identifying the manager of the facility 200. Instead of the manager ID, the electricity sales information may include the generator ID for identifying the generator 202. The electricity sales information can be sent, for example, in units of a specified period. The facility 200 can send the transaction data including the electricity sales information to the server 300. The transaction data including the electricity sales information can be stored in the blockchain.

[0103] When receiving the power generation information and the electricity sales information, the server 300 calculates the self-consumption of the facility 200 (S113). Regarding this calculation, when receiving the transaction data including the power generation information and the transaction data including the electricity sales information, this calculation can be performed by executing a smart contract. In the smart contract, the power generation information including the same manager ID as the manager ID included in the electricity sales information is determined, and the electricity sales volume included in the electricity sales information of the received transaction data is subtracted from the generated electricity volume included in the determined power generation information, thereby calculating the self-consumption. In addition, the subsequent step S114 can also be executed by the smart contract.

[0104] The server 300 determines whether the charging amount estimated in step S108 is less than or equal to the self-consumption calculated in step S113 (S114).

[0105] When the charging amount is less than or equal to the self-consumption ( "Yes" in S114), the server 300 outputs environmental value information indicating that the electric power of the charging amount is generated by renewable energy (S115).

[0106] When the charging amount is greater than the self-consumption ( "No" in S114), the server 300 may also output environmental value information indicating that the electric power of the charging amount is not generated by renewable energy (S116).

[0107] The server 300 can generate transaction data including the environmental value information output in step S115 or step S116, perform a consensus algorithm on the generated transaction data, and thereby store the transaction data in the blockchain.

[0108] [Effects, etc.]

[0109] The control method according to this embodiment is a control method for one or more devices. In the control method, first parking time information is obtained, and the first parking time information includes the first parking times of one or more first vehicles parked at a first facility. Each of the one or more first vehicles is a vehicle that travels electrically using electric power from a storage battery (S105 and S107). Based on the obtained first parking time information, a first charging amount by which one or more first vehicles are charged by a first charger provided at the first facility is estimated (S108). A first self-consumption amount of the first facility is obtained. The first self-consumption amount is calculated by subtracting a first sold amount sold by the first facility provided with a first generator from a first generated amount generated by the first generator. The first generator is a generator corresponding to the first charger and is a generator that generates electric power using renewable energy (S113). Based on the estimated first charging amount and the obtained first self-consumption amount, information indicating whether the electric power of the first charging amount is electric power generated by renewable energy is output (S115, S116).

[0110] In addition, in the above output, when the first charging amount is less than or equal to the first self-consumption amount, information indicating that the electric power of the first charging amount is electric power generated by renewable energy is output.

[0111] Through the above, when the first charging amount is less than or equal to the first self-consumption amount, the first charging amount may be included in the first self-consumption amount. Therefore, the electric power of the first charging amount can be regarded as electric power generated by the first generator. Thus, by outputting information indicating that the electric power of the first charging amount is electric power generated by renewable energy, the environmental value represented by renewable energy generation can be associated with the electric power used for charging an electric vehicle. Therefore, a user can easily show whether the electric power of the charging amount for charging a vehicle is electric power generated by renewable energy and has environmental value.

[0112] Furthermore, according to the control method according to this embodiment, the charger does not need to have a mechanism (meter) for measuring the charging amount. In other words, the facilities 200 and 210 in the control system 1 may not have a mechanism (meter) for measuring the charging amounts of the chargers 201 and 211.

[0113] In addition, in the control method according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the first parking time is the sum of the parking times of the one or more first vehicles parked in the first facility during the first period. The first charging amount is the sum of the charging amounts by which the one or more first vehicles have been charged during the first period. The first self-consumption amount is the sum of the self-consumption amounts consumed by the first facility during the first period.

[0114] Therefore, regarding the charging amount calculated based on the sum of the parking times during the first period, it is possible to easily show whether it has environmental value.

[0115] [Modification Example]

[0116] (1) In the above-described embodiment, information indicating whether the power of the charging amount for charging a vehicle is power generated from renewable energy is output for one vehicle. However, information indicating whether the power of the charging amount for charging multiple vehicles is power generated from renewable energy may also be output. In this case, the server 300 obtains start parking information and end parking information for each of the multiple vehicles, and calculates the sum of the charging amounts for each vehicle. Moreover, the server 300 may compare the sum of the charging amounts with the self-consumption amount of the facility 200 where each vehicle is parked, and thereby output information indicating whether the power of the sum of the charging amounts is power generated from renewable energy.

[0117] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, although information indicating whether the power of the charging amount for a vehicle is power generated from renewable energy is output by comparing the charging amount for the vehicle with the self-consumption amount of one facility 200, the self-consumption amount that is the comparison object of the charging amount is not limited to the self-consumption amount of one facility 200, and may also be the self-consumption amounts of multiple facilities 200. In this case, the server 300 may compare the charging amount of the vehicle with the sum of the self-consumption amounts of the multiple facilities 200, and thereby output information indicating whether the power of the charging amount is power generated from renewable energy.

[0118] In other words, the server 300 further obtains second parking time information, which includes the second parking times of one or more second vehicles parked at a second facility. The one or more second vehicles are vehicles that run using electric power from a storage battery. According to the obtained second parking time information, the server 300 estimates a second charging amount by which one or more second vehicles are charged by a second charger provided at the second facility, and obtains a second self-consumption amount of the second facility. The second self-consumption amount is calculated by subtracting a second power selling amount sold by the second facility provided with a second generator from a second power generation amount generated by the second generator. The second generator is a generator corresponding to the second charger and is a generator that generates power using renewable energy. Further, in the output, according to the estimated first charging amount, the second charging amount, the obtained first self-consumption amount, and the second self-consumption amount, the server 300 outputs information indicating whether the total power obtained by adding the power of the first charging amount and the power of the second charging amount is power generated by renewable energy. In other words, in the output, when the sum of the first charging amount and the second charging amount, that is, a first sum, is less than or equal to the sum of the first self-consumption amount and the second self-consumption amount, that is, a second sum, the server 300 outputs information indicating that the power of the first charging amount and the second charging amount is power generated by renewable energy.

[0119] In this way, without being limited to one vehicle or one facility, by calculating the sum of the charging amounts and the sum of the self-consumption amounts for multiple vehicles and multiple facilities, information indicating whether the power of the sum of the charging amounts is power generated by renewable energy is output in the same manner as for one vehicle and one facility.

[0120] (2) In the above-described embodiment, when the charging amount is greater than the self-consumption amount, the server 300 generates information indicating that it is not renewable energy. However, it is not limited thereto. For example, when the charging amount is greater than the self-consumption amount, the server 300 may purchase environmental value of power generated by renewable energy corresponding to an amount equal to the difference obtained by subtracting the charging amount from the self-consumption amount. The environmental value may also be purchased from a manufacturer (generator) of power generated by renewable energy or an aggregator of power generated by renewable energy.

[0121] (3)In the above-described embodiment, it is possible to determine whether to perform step S114 for generating environmental value on the electric power that has charged the charger 211 in the facility 210 where no generator is provided. In other words, the charger 211 in the facility 210 can be treated as the charger provided in the facility 200. Thus, environmental value can also be added to the electric power that has charged the charger 211 in the facility 210 where no generator for generating electric power using renewable energy is provided. As a result, it is possible to encourage the use of the charger 211 in the facility 210 and reduce the loss of charging opportunities.

[0122] [Supplement]

[0123] A supplementary explanation is given to the distributed ledger in the above-described embodiment or modification example. Here, blockchain is described as an example of the distributed ledger, but the same applies to other distributed ledgers.

[0124] Figure 5 It is an explanatory diagram showing the data structure of the blockchain.

[0125] The blockchain is a blockchain in which blocks as its recording units are connected in a chain (chain) shape. Each block has a plurality of transaction data and the hash value of the previous block. Specifically, the hash value of the previous block B1 is included in the block B2. Then, the plurality of transaction data included in the block B2 and the hash value calculated based on the hash value of the block B1 are included in the block B3 as the hash value of the block B2. In this way, by including the content of the previous block as a hash value and connecting the blocks in a chain, it is effectively prevented that the recorded transaction data is tampered with.

[0126] Assume that the past transaction data is changed. Then, the hash value of the block becomes a value different from that before the change. To make the tampered block pretend to be a correct block, it is necessary to remake all the subsequent blocks, and this operation is very difficult in reality. Utilizing this property, it is ensured that the blockchain is not easily tampered with.

[0127] Figure 6 It is an explanatory diagram showing the data structure of the transaction data.

[0128] Figure 6The transaction data shown includes a transaction principal P1 and a digital signature P2. The transaction principal P1 is the data principal included in the transaction data. The digital signature P2 is a hash value for the transaction principal P1, which is a digital signature generated using the signature key of the producer of the transaction data. More specifically, it is a digital signature generated by encrypting the hash value using the encryption key of the producer of the transaction data. Regarding the method of digital signature, for example, there are ECDSA (Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm), CRYSTALS-Dilithium, Falcon, SPHINCS+ and so on.

[0129] Since the transaction data has the digital signature P2, it is substantially tamper-proof. Assuming that the transaction data is tampered with, the verification using the digital signature P2 will fail, thus enabling the situation where the transaction data is tampered with to be determined. Thus, it is possible to prevent the transaction principal P1 from being tampered with.

[0130] In addition, in the above-described embodiments and variations, each component may be constituted by dedicated hardware, or may be implemented by executing a software program suitable for each component. Each component may be implemented by a program execution unit such as a CPU or a processor reading and executing a software program recorded in a recording medium such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory. Here, the software of the information processing apparatus (in other words, the virtual space management server) that implements the above-described embodiments and variations is as follows.

[0131] That is, this program is a program that causes a computer to execute an information processing method executed by the information processing apparatus using a processor. In this information processing method, value information that represents the contribution to the natural environment as an environmental value and is held by the user is obtained, and according to the environmental value indicated by the obtained value information, the function to be provided to the user who uses the virtual space generated by the computer is determined, and the determined function is provided to the user.

[0132] Although the information processing apparatus (in other words, the server) and the like related to one or more modes have been described based on the embodiments above, the present disclosure is not limited by the embodiments. Modes obtained by performing various modifications that can be conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope not departing from the gist of the present disclosure on the present embodiment, and modes constructed by combining components in different embodiments can all be included within the scope of one or more modes.

[0133] Industrial Applicability

[0134] The present disclosure can be used as a control method or the like that can easily attach information indicating the environmental value of the amount of charge obtained by charging with electricity generated from renewable energy.

[0135] Description of Reference Numerals

[0136] 1 Control system

[0137] 100 Information terminal

[0138] 200, 210 Facilities

[0139] 201, 211 Chargers

[0140] 202 Generator

[0141] 203, 212 Loads

[0142] 300a - 300c Servers

[0143] 301 Communication unit

[0144] 302 Control unit

[0145] 303 Recording unit

[0146] 304 Transaction data verification unit

[0147] 305 Database

[0148] 306 Distributed ledger

[0149] 307 Smart contract execution unit

[0150] 400 Network

Claims

1. A control method, which is a control method of a device, In the said control method, Obtain first parking time information, which includes the first parking time of more than one first vehicle parked at a first facility. The more than one first vehicle are respectively vehicles that perform electric driving using the power of a storage battery. According to the obtained first parking time information, estimate the first charging amount by which the first charger provided at the first facility has charged the more than one first vehicle. Obtain the first self-consumption amount of renewable energy consumed by the first facility. According to the estimated first charging amount and the obtained first self-consumption amount, output information indicating whether the power of the first charging amount is power generated from renewable energy.

2. The control method according to claim 1, The first self-consumption amount is calculated by subtracting the first selling amount sold by the first facility provided with the first generator from the first power generation amount generated by the first generator. The first generator is a generator corresponding to the first charger and is a generator that generates electricity using renewable energy.

3. The control method according to claim 1, In the said output, when the first charging amount is less than or equal to the first self-consumption amount, output information indicating that the power of the first charging amount is power generated from renewable energy.

4. The control method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The first parking time is the sum of the parking times of the more than one first vehicle parked at the first facility during a first period. The first charging amount is the sum of the charging amounts by which the more than one first vehicle have been charged during the first period. The first self-consumption amount is the sum of the self-consumption amounts consumed by the first facility during the first period.

5. The control method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, In the said control method, further, Obtain second parking time information, which includes the second parking time of more than one second vehicle parked at a second facility. The more than one second vehicle are respectively vehicles that perform driving using the power of a storage battery. According to the obtained second parking time information, estimate the second charging amount by which the second charger provided at the second facility has charged the more than one second vehicle. Obtain the second self-consumption amount of renewable energy consumed by the second facility. In the said output, According to the estimated first charging amount and the second charging amount and the obtained first self-consumption amount and the second self-consumption amount, output information indicating whether the total power obtained by adding the power of the first charging amount and the power of the second charging amount is power generated from renewable energy.

6. The control method according to claim 5, The second self-consumption amount is calculated by subtracting the second sold electricity amount sold by the second facility provided with the second generator from the second self-generated electricity amount generated by the second generator. The second generator is a generator corresponding to the second charger and is a generator that generates electricity using renewable energy.

7. The control method according to claim 5, In the output, when the sum of the first charging amount and the second charging amount, i.e., the first sum, is less than the sum of the first self-consumption amount and the second self-consumption amount, i.e., the second sum, output information indicating that the electricity of the first charging amount and the second charging amount is electricity generated by renewable energy.

8. The control method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, In the control method, further when the first charging amount is greater than the first self-consumption amount, purchase the environmental value of the electricity generated by renewable energy representing the amount based on the difference obtained by subtracting the first charging amount from the first self-consumption amount.

9. The control method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, In the control method, further store the information in the distributed ledger owned by the device.

10. A device, comprising: a processor; and a memory, The processor uses the memory to execute the following processing: Obtain first parking time information, which includes the first parking times of one or more first vehicles parked at a first facility. The one or more first vehicles are vehicles that perform electric driving using the electricity of a storage battery. According to the obtained first parking time information, estimate the first charging amount by which the first charger provided at the first facility has charged the one or more first vehicles. Obtain the first self-consumption amount of the renewable energy consumed by the first facility. According to the estimated first charging amount and the obtained first self-consumption amount, output information indicating whether the electricity of the first charging amount is electricity generated by renewable energy.

11. A program for causing a computer to execute the control method according to claim 1.

Images