Tire management device

Abstract

To provide a tire management device that accelerates spread of a tire using sustainable material at a high ratio.SOLUTION: A tire management device (10) is a tire management device that calculates and manages the sustainable ratio of a tire, and that comprises: an acquisition unit (131) that acquires raw material information including information on the raw material of a tire and manufacturing information including information on manufacturing of the tire; a calculation unit (132) that calculates a sustainable ratio that is the ratio of the weight of the sustainable material to the weight of the tire based on the raw material information and the manufacturing information; and an information management unit (133) that manages information on the calculated sustainable ratio.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a tire management device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, tire information management has focused on information such as the tire manufacturing plant, the tire manufacturing date, the remaining tread depth and heat history during tire use. This information is used from the perspective of product tracing, tire durability, and tire replacement timing prediction. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses technology related to the use of remaining tread depth information of tires. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-047683 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] From the perspective of environmental protection, the raw materials used in tires are also being required to be sustainable, and efforts are being made to replace fossil fuel-derived materials with sustainable materials that have a low environmental impact, such as renewable materials, recycled materials, and biodegradable materials. On the other hand, information on the sustainable material usage rate of each tire and what sustainable materials are used is useful information from the perspective of information disclosure and for business development with a focus on sustainability. However, at present, this information is not managed in a way that can be easily traced or utilized in business, like the aforementioned tire manufacturing date and remaining tread depth.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, the present disclosure has an object to provide a tire management device that promotes the spread of tires with a high rate of sustainable materials. Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a device for grasping and managing the sustainability rate of tires so that it can be utilized in business, and a means for utilizing the information. Another object of the present disclosure is to popularize products with a high sustainability rate by providing the device and the means for utilizing the information, thereby contributing to reducing the environmental impact. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] (1) A tire management device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: A tire management device that calculates and manages a tire's sustainability rate, An acquisition unit that acquires raw material information including information on raw materials of the tire and manufacturing information including information on manufacturing of the tire; a calculation unit that calculates the sustainability rate, which is a ratio of a weight of sustainable materials to a weight of the tire, based on the raw material information and the manufacturing information; and an information management unit that manages information relating to the calculated sustainability rate. This configuration makes it possible to grasp and manage the sustainable material usage rate for each tire. In addition, by utilizing the grasped information, it becomes possible to provide services that utilize the sustainability rate.

[0007] (2) As an embodiment of the present disclosure, in (1), The acquisition unit acquires customer information including information of a user of the tire, The information management unit updates the customer information based on the calculated sustainability rate. This configuration makes it possible to link tire users with sustainability rates and provide information to each user.

[0008] (3) As an embodiment of the present disclosure, in (2), The information management unit provides the user with information on a monetary value based on the sustainability rate and manages the monetary value. This configuration makes users more aware of the origins of the raw materials used in their tires by linking the sustainability rate to monetary value.

[0009] (4) As an embodiment of the present disclosure, in (3), The acquisition unit acquires information regarding traveling of a vehicle equipped with the tire, The information management unit varies the monetary value according to the mileage of the vehicle. With this configuration, the sustainability rate can be correlated with frequency of use and then linked to monetary value, making users more aware of the origins of the raw materials used in their tires.

[0010] (5) As an embodiment of the present disclosure, in any one of (2) to (4), The information management unit updates the customer information when the user purchases the tire. This configuration makes it possible to manage the tire purchase history of a user without missing anything.

[0011] (6) As an embodiment of the present disclosure, in (1), The tire is provided with an indicator including an identifier, The acquisition unit acquires information indicating that the indicator has been read, the information management unit provides information of the tire corresponding to the identifier when the indicator is read, The tire information includes at least the sustainability rate. This configuration makes it possible to provide consumers with information on the sustainability rate for each tire.

[0012] (7) As an embodiment of the present disclosure, in (6), The tire information includes information regarding recycling of the tire. This configuration enables consumers to learn about the sorting method for recycling tires even before purchasing them.

[0013] (8) As an embodiment of the present disclosure, in (6) or (7), The tire information includes information on raw materials of the tire. This structure enables consumers to learn detailed information about the raw materials used in tires in conjunction with their sustainability rate.

[0014] (9) As an embodiment of the present disclosure, in any one of (1) to (8), The calculation unit calculates the sustainability rate when the tire is manufactured. This configuration makes it possible to thoroughly manage the sustainability rate of tires.

[0015] (10) As an embodiment of the present disclosure, in (1), The acquisition unit acquires information on manufacturing and / or transportation of the tire and information on running of a vehicle equipped with the tire, The calculation unit calculates a CO2 emission amount based on information on manufacturing and / or transportation of the tire and information on running of the vehicle, The information management unit manages information relating to the sustainability rate and information relating to the CO2 emission amount. This configuration makes it possible to manage not only the sustainability rate of each tire but also the CO2 emissions.

[0016] (11) As an embodiment of the present disclosure, in (10), The acquisition unit acquires customer information including information of a user of the tire, The information management unit updates the customer information based on the calculated sustainability rate and the CO2 emission amount. This configuration makes it possible to link tire users with sustainability rates and CO2 emissions, and provide information to each user.

[0017] (12) As an embodiment of the present disclosure, in (11), The information management unit provides the user with information on a monetary value based on the sustainability rate and the CO2 emission amount, and manages the monetary value. With this configuration, by linking the sustainability rate and CO2 emissions to monetary value, it is possible to make users more aware of the environmental impact of tires, including the origin of their raw materials.

[0018] (13) As an embodiment of the present disclosure, in (12), The information management unit varies the monetary value according to the mileage of the vehicle. With this configuration, the sustainability rate and CO2 emissions can be correlated with the frequency of use and then linked to a monetary value, making users more aware of the environmental impact of tires, including the origin of their raw materials.

[0019] (14) As an embodiment of the present disclosure, in (1), the calculation unit calculates an environmental score that indicates, in a numerical value, how environmentally friendly the tire is based on the calculated sustainability rate and an environmental index different from the sustainability rate; The information management unit manages information relating to the calculated environmental score. With this type of device, it is possible to grasp and manage not only the percentage of sustainable materials used in each tire, but also the overall degree of environmental consideration, including other environmental indicators.

[0020] (15) As an embodiment of the present disclosure, in (14), The information management unit provides the user with information on a monetary value based on the environmental score, and manages the monetary value. With this configuration, by linking the environmental score to a monetary value, it is possible to make the user more aware of the environmental friendliness of the tire 30. Effect of the Invention

[0021] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a tire management device that promotes the spread of tires with a high rate of sustainable materials. Also, according to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a device for grasping and managing the sustainability rate of tires so that it can be utilized in business, and a means for utilizing the information. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a tire management device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a tire management system including the tire management device of FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of raw material information. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the manufacturing information. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of customer information. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the process of the tire management method executed by the tire management device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] Hereinafter, a tire management device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the description of this embodiment, the description of the same or corresponding parts will be omitted or simplified as appropriate.

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a tire management device 10 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of a tire management system including the tire management device 10 of FIG. 1. The tire management device 10 calculates and manages the sustainability rate of the tire 30. In the present embodiment, the sustainability rate is described as a ratio of the weight of the sustainable material to the weight of the tire 30. As another example, the sustainability rate may be defined as a ratio of the blending amount of the sustainable material to other materials. The sustainable material refers to a material of the tire 30 that is not derived from a fossil resource. The sustainable material is a material that takes into consideration the natural environment, and includes, but is not limited to, a renewable material, a recycled material, and a biodegradable material. The renewable material is a renewable resource that can be the material of the tire 30, and includes a bio-derived material, i.e., an animal or plant-derived material. The recycled material is a material obtained by recycling. The recycled material may be obtained by any method, such as material recycling or chemical recycling. The biodegradable material is a material obtained from a substance decomposed by the activity of microorganisms. In addition, in this embodiment, the tire 30 is for a vehicle 20 such as a passenger car, a truck, or a bus, but may be for an aircraft, etc.

[0025] The tire management device 10 includes a communication unit 11, a storage unit 12, and a control unit 13. The control unit 13 includes an acquisition unit 131, a calculation unit 132, an information management unit 133, and an output unit 134. The tire management device 10 may be configured as a computer, for example, as a hardware configuration. The components of the tire management device 10 will be described in detail later.

[0026] The tire management device 10 may constitute a tire management system together with a first server 50 and a second server 60 connected by a network 40. The network 40 is, for example, the Internet. The network 40 may also be configured to include, for example, a local area network (LAN) in part. The tire management system may also be configured to include a terminal device 70 connected by the network 40. The tire management system may also be configured to include a computer of a product dealer (hereinafter, a shop) connected by the network 40. The product may be, for example, a tire 30, daily necessities, or gasoline or electricity supplied to the vehicle 20, but is not limited to a specific one.

[0027] Each of the first server 50 and the second server 60 is, for example, a computer separate from the tire management device 10. In this embodiment, the first server 50 is a computer of a supplier that supplies materials (raw materials) for the tire 30, and manages raw material information including information on the raw materials for the tire 30. In this embodiment, the second server 60 is a computer of a tire manufacturer that is the manufacturer of the tire 30, and manages manufacturing information including information on the manufacturing of the tire 30. The tire management device 10 can acquire or share raw material information and manufacturing information via the network 40. In the conventional management method for the tire 30, the information on the manufacturing or raw materials of the tire 30 was limited to the year of manufacture or the place of manufacture (factory), and it was difficult to utilize information on sustainable materials. In this embodiment, the tire management device 10 configures a system as shown in FIG. 2, and raw material information and manufacturing information can be utilized, thereby making it possible to utilize information on sustainable materials.

[0028] The terminal device 70 is a general-purpose mobile terminal such as a smartphone or tablet terminal, but is not limited to such mobile terminals as long as it is a device with an imaging function and a display function. The terminal device 70 may be used by a user or a consumer of the tire 30. Here, the user is the driver or owner of the vehicle 20 on which the tire 30 is mounted. The consumer is a person who wishes to purchase the tire 30.

[0029] In this embodiment, the tire 30 is provided with an indicator 31 including an identifier 32. The indicator 31 may be attached to the tire 30 or may be printed on the tire 30. The terminal device 70 may capture an image of the identifier 32 attached to the tire 30 using an imaging function, and transmit information indicating that the indicator 31 has been read to the tire management device 10 via the network 40. The information indicating that the indicator 31 has been read may include information on the model number of the tire 30 identified by the identifier 32. The imaging function is realized, for example, by a camera provided in the terminal device 70. In addition, the terminal device 70 may acquire information on the tire 30 from the tire management device 10 via the network 40 and display the information to the user or consumer using a display function. Specific examples and the contents of the information will be described later. The display function is realized, for example, by a display such as an LCD provided in the terminal device 70. Here, the terminal device 70 may include a touch panel display integrated with a touch sensor that detects contact by a user and identifies the contact position.

[0030] The components of the tire management device 10 will be described in detail below. The communication unit 11 is configured to include one or more communication modules connected to the network 40. The communication unit 11 may include a communication module compatible with mobile communication standards such as 4G (4th Generation) and 5G (5th Generation). The communication unit 11 may include a communication module compatible with a wireless LAN standard (IEEE802.11 as one example). The communication unit 11 may also include a communication module compatible with a wired LAN standard.

[0031] The storage unit 12 is one or more memories. The memory may be, for example, a semiconductor memory, a magnetic memory, an optical memory, or the like, but is not limited to these and may be any memory. The storage unit 12 is, for example, built into the tire management device 10, but may also be configured to be accessed from the outside by the tire management device 10 via any interface.

[0032] The storage unit 12 stores various data used in various calculations performed by the control unit 13. The storage unit 12 may also store results and intermediate data of various calculations performed by the control unit 13.

[0033] In the present embodiment, the storage unit 12 may store raw material information and production information acquired via the communication unit 11. The storage unit 12 may also store customer information including information on the user of the tire 30.

[0034] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating raw material information. The raw material information may be a table showing what kind of material each of the raw materials used in the manufacture of the tire 30 is. In the example of FIG. 3, a raw material named Ma (hereinafter, written as raw material Ma) is a renewable material (e.g., bio-derived). Raw material Mb is derived from recycling. Raw material Mc is derived from biodegradability. Raw material Md is derived from fossil resources. In the example of FIG. 3, raw materials Ma, raw material Mb, and raw material Mc correspond to sustainable materials. In the example of FIG. 3, the type of each raw material is shown in the type column. Polymers and carbon black are listed, but are not limited to these, and for example, zinc oxide may also be used as a type.

[0035] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of manufacturing information. The manufacturing information may be a table showing the specifications and weight of raw materials for each type (model number) of tire 30. In the example of FIG. 4, for example, a tire 30 with a model number Ta weighs 10 kg and is manufactured using 3 kg of raw materials Ma, 2 kg of raw materials Mb, and 5 kg of raw materials Md as materials. In FIG. 4, the size and weight are shown as the specifications of the tire 30, but are not limited to these items. Furthermore, the manufacturing information may be managed in a different table for each size of tire 30.

[0036] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of customer information. The customer information may be a table showing the usage history of the tire 30 for each user. In the example of FIG. 5, the user has a unique ID (IDentifier). The usage history is added when the tire 30 is purchased. Items of the usage history may include the model number of the tire 30, the usage period of the tire 30, the mileage of the vehicle 20 equipped with the tire 30, and the sustainability rate obtained by a calculation described later. The example of FIG. 5 shows that a user with ID Ua used a tire 30 with model number Ta and a sustainability rate of 50% for two years, and after the mileage reached 5000 km, exchanged it for a tire 30 with model number Td.

[0037] The control unit 13 is one or more processors. The processor may be, for example, a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor specialized for a specific process, but is not limited to these and may be any processor. The control unit 13 controls the overall operation of the tire management device 10.

[0038] Here, the tire management device 10 may have the following software configuration. One or more programs used to control the operation of the tire management device 10 are stored in the storage unit 12. When the program stored in the storage unit 12 is read by the processor of the control unit 13, it causes the processor to function as an acquisition unit 131, a calculation unit 132, an information management unit 133, and an output unit 134.

[0039] The acquisition unit 131 acquires raw material information and manufacturing information. The acquisition unit 131 may also acquire customer information. The acquisition unit 131 may further acquire information related to the traveling of the vehicle 20 equipped with the tire 30 or information indicating that the indicator 31 has been read. The information related to the traveling of the vehicle 20 includes, for example, a traveling distance (see FIG. 5 ) and the like, and may be input by a user using the terminal device 70. Furthermore, when the manufacturing information includes information on the manufacturing or transportation of the tire 30, the acquisition unit 131 may acquire the information on the manufacturing or transportation of the tire 30. The information on the manufacturing or transportation of the tire 30 may be used in calculating the CO2 emissions.

[0040] The calculation unit 132 calculates the sustainability rate, which is the ratio of the weight of the sustainable material to the weight of the tire 30, based on the raw material information and the manufacturing information. According to the manufacturing information in FIG. 4, for example, the tire 30 with the model number Ta weighs 10 kg and is manufactured using 3 kg of raw material Ma, 2 kg of raw material Mb, and 5 kg of raw material Md as materials. According to the raw material information in FIG. 3, the raw material Ma and raw material Mb are sustainable materials, and the raw material Md is derived from fossil resources (non-sustainable material). The calculation unit 132 calculates the sustainability rate, which is the ratio of the weight of the sustainable material (3 kg + 2 kg) to the weight (10 kg) of the tire 30, for the tire 30 with the model number Ta, to be 50%. The calculation unit 132 may calculate the sustainability rate when the tire 30 is manufactured so as to manage the sustainability rate of the tire 30 without omission.

[0041] Furthermore, the calculation unit 132 may calculate the amount of CO2 emissions based on information on the manufacture and / or transportation of the tire 30 and information on the running of the vehicle 20. The calculation unit 132 may calculate the amount of CO2 emissions due to the manufacture of the tire 30, for example, by summing up the amounts of CO2 emissions generated in each manufacturing process, based on the manufacture information of the tire 30. The calculation unit 132 may calculate the amount of CO2 emissions due to the transportation of the tire 30, for example, by multiplying the travel distance of the tire 30 by a coefficient previously obtained from past transportation performance data, based on information on the transportation of the tire 30. Here, the calculation unit 132 may calculate only one of the amount of CO2 emissions due to the manufacture of the tire 30 and the amount of CO2 emissions due to the transportation, or may calculate both.

[0042] The information management unit 133 manages information related to the calculated sustainability rate. The management of information includes various processes such as generating, updating, storing, and providing information. The information management unit 133 may update customer information based on the calculated sustainability rate as the management of information related to the sustainability rate. As described later, the information management unit 133 may grant an incentive according to the sustainability rate, and the customer information can be used to link the user of the tire 30 with the sustainability rate and provide information for each user. Here, the information management unit 133 may update the customer information when the user purchases the tire 30 so that the purchase history of the user's tire 30 can be managed without omission. Here, information indicating that the user has purchased the tire 30 may be transmitted from a computer of the shop to the tire management device 10, or may be input by the user using the terminal device 70.

[0043] The information management unit 133 provides the user with information on the monetary value based on the sustainability rate as the management of information on the sustainability rate, and manages the monetary value. The monetary value may be, for example, a discount when purchasing a product, provision of a special service, or the granting of points that can be treated like money. By linking the sustainability rate to a monetary value, the user can be made more aware of the origin of the raw materials of the tire 30. Here, the information management unit 133 may vary the monetary value according to the mileage of the vehicle 20. For example, the monetary value may increase as the vehicle 20 equipped with the tire 30 having a high sustainability rate travels a longer distance. In this case, the monetary value may be set so that the degree of increase in the monetary value increases as the sustainability rate of the tire 30 increases. By linking the sustainability rate to the frequency of use and then linking it to a monetary value, the user can be made more aware of the origin of the raw materials of the tire 30.

[0044] When the calculation unit 132 calculates the CO2 emissions, the information management unit 133 may manage information on the sustainability rate and information on the CO2 emissions. In this case, it is possible to manage not only the sustainability rate for each tire 30 but also the CO2 emissions. Then, the information management unit 133 may update the customer information based on the calculated sustainability rate and CO2 emissions. In this case, it is possible to link the user of the tire 30 with the sustainability rate and the CO2 emissions and provide information for each user. In addition, the information management unit 133 may provide the user with information on monetary value based on the sustainability rate and the CO2 emissions and manage the monetary value. Furthermore, the information management unit 133 may vary the monetary value according to the mileage of the vehicle 20. For example, even if the sustainability rate of the tire 30 is the same, the monetary value may increase as the CO2 emissions decrease. By linking the sustainability rate and the CO2 emissions to monetary value, the user can be made more aware of the impact on the environment, including the origin of the raw materials of the tire 30.

[0045] When the indicator 31 is read, the information management unit 133 may provide information on the tire 30 corresponding to the identifier 32 as the management of information on the sustainability rate. The information on the tire 30 includes at least the sustainability rate. In this case, it is possible to provide the consumer with information on the sustainability rate for each tire 30. The information on the tire 30 may include information on recycling of the tire 30 so that the consumer can know the sorting method at the time of recycling even before purchasing the tire 30. The information on the tire 30 may include information on the raw materials of the tire 30 so that the consumer can know detailed information on the raw materials of the tire 30 in association with the sustainability rate. In this case, since the information on the raw materials of the tire 30 can be tracked or confirmed, the visibility of the identity of the tire 30 is improved, and the consumer's reliability of the tire 30 can also be improved.

[0046] Here, in this embodiment, the information management unit 133 updates the customer information and stores it together with the update history in the storage unit 12. As another management example, the customer information may be managed in a distributed manner. For example, the customer information including the update history may be stored and managed using block chain technology. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the raw material information and the production information are managed by the first server 50 and the second server 60, respectively. As another management example, the raw material information and the production information may be managed in a distributed manner in a similar manner. Furthermore, a storage area (cloud) on the network 40 may be used to store data such as the customer information, the raw material information, and the production information.

[0047] The output unit 134 outputs the information provided by the information management unit 133 to a display device or the like. The display device includes, for example, a display provided in the terminal device 70. In addition, the displays of the first server 50, the second server 60, and the shop's computers can function as display devices that display the calculation results.

[0048] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the process of the tire management method executed by the control unit 13 of the tire management device 10.

[0049] When the tire 30 has been manufactured (Yes in step S1), the acquisition unit 131 acquires the raw material information and the manufacturing information (step S2). If the tire 30 has not been manufactured (No in step S1), the acquisition unit 131 proceeds to the process of step S5.

[0050] The calculation unit 132 calculates the sustainability rate of the tire 30 based on the raw material information and the manufacturing information (step S3).

[0051] The information management unit 133 manages information related to the sustainability rate (step S4). For example, the information management unit 133 may store in the storage unit 12 a newly manufactured tire 30 in association with the calculated sustainability rate.

[0052] If the indicator 31 is read (Yes in step S5), the information management unit 133 provides information on the tire 30 corresponding to the identifier 32 (step S6). If the indicator 31 is not read (No in step S5), the information management unit 133 proceeds to the process of step S7.

[0053] When the tire 30 has been purchased (Yes in step S7), the acquisition unit 131 acquires the customer information (step S8). If the tire 30 has not been purchased (No in step S7), the series of processes may end.

[0054] The information management unit 133 adds the user's usage history including the model number of the purchased tire 30 (see FIG. 5) and updates the customer information (step S9).

[0055] Here, the process of the tire management method in Fig. 6 is one example. As described above, the information management unit 133 can provide various information related to the sustainability rate, such as providing information of a monetary value based on the sustainability rate. An application example of the tire management method executed by the tire management device 10 will be described below.

[0056] (Application example 1) As an example of providing information about the tire 30 when the indicator 31 is read, the information management unit 133 may provide information about the first-generation tire 30 that has not been recycled so that the user can know what it will be used for next. In this case, options for what it can be used for next may be displayed, and the user may select using, for example, the terminal device 70. A user who has used a first-generation tire 30 can contribute to the environment by recycling it. In addition, an incentive may be given to the user when recycling the tire.

[0057] (Application example 2) As an example of providing information of monetary value, when it is determined based on customer information that a user has purchased a tire 30 with a high sustainability rate, the user may be given preferential treatment in the maintenance of the tire 30. The information management unit 133 may provide the user with, for example, a priority pass that allows work to be performed preferentially in the maintenance of the tire 30.

[0058] (Application example 3) When it is determined based on the customer information that the user has purchased a tire 30 with a high sustainability rate, the user may be given a special benefit that can be attached to the tire 30. The information management unit 133 provides the user with information indicating that a special benefit has been given. When the user shows the information at, for example, a tire 30 retailer, a label or the like may be attached or printed on the side of the tire 30. The label may include, for example, a notation indicating that the tire 30 has a high sustainability rate. Such notation can be used to appeal to high environmental awareness, to emphasize the importance of environmental protection, or to suit individual needs.

[0059] (Application example 4) In the above, it has been explained that information on CO2 emissions may be managed in addition to information on the sustainability rate. However, instead of or together with the CO2 emissions, environmental characteristics such as the fuel efficiency of the vehicle 20 may be used. Information on the environmental characteristics may be input by the user using the terminal device 70, and may be acquired by the acquisition unit 131. For example, by taking into consideration the fuel efficiency of the vehicle 20, it becomes possible to take environmental measures at a higher level, not just the raw materials of the tire 30. In addition, the information management unit 133 may vary the monetary value based on the sustainability rate according to such environmental characteristics. Furthermore, in calculating the amount of CO2 emissions during driving, a calculation based on the rolling performance of the tire 30 can be performed to derive a more accurate value as the environmental characteristics. For example, the amount of CO2 emissions is calculated by multiplying the amount of activity (for example, the distance traveled by the vehicle 20) by an emission coefficient. In the calculation based on the rolling performance of the tire 30, for example, the distance traveled by the vehicle 20 equipped with the target tire 30 may be corrected by the rolling performance of the tire 30, and the CO2 emissions may be calculated using the corrected distance traveled. The correction may be performed so that the higher the rolling performance, i.e., the lower the rolling resistance coefficient, the shorter the mileage.

[0060] (Application example 5) As an example of providing information of monetary value, when it is determined based on customer information that a user has purchased a tire 30 with a high sustainability rate, the user may be given preferential treatment at a shop. The information management unit 133 may provide the user with a discount coupon that enables the user to purchase products at a lower price than the general public at the shop. The products may be, for example, gasoline or electricity supplied to the vehicle 20, or general daily necessities. The information management unit 133 may also provide the user with a discount on highway tolls. The information management unit 133 may also grant the user points according to the high sustainability rate.

[0061] (Application Example 6) The information management unit 133 may utilize information (purchase information) indicating that a tire 30 with a high sustainability rate has been purchased as source information for donating to an environmental protection organization or the like. The purchase information may be transmitted to the tire management device 10 from a computer in a shop, for example, or may be input by a user using the terminal device 70. For example, when a tire manufacturer donates a portion of sales to an environmental protection organization or the like according to the sustainability rate of the tire 30, the purchase information managed by the information management unit 133 can be used.

[0062] (Application example 7) The target may be not only the vehicle 20 owned by the user, but also the use of non-purchased tires 30 such as rental cars or car sharing. The indicator 31 attached to the tire 30 of the rental car used by the user may be read using the terminal device 70. When it is determined that the user has selected a rental car equipped with a tire 30 having a high sustainability rate, the information management unit 133 may associate the sustainability rate with the user and provide an incentive to the user.

[0063] (Application example 8) The calculation unit 132 may calculate an environmental score based on the calculated sustainability rate of the tire 30 and an environmental index different from the sustainability rate. The environmental score numerically indicates how environmentally friendly the tire 30 is. For example, the higher the environmental score, the greater the degree of environmental consideration (the smaller the environmental load). The environmental index is a parameter related to environmental consideration including the sustainability rate. In addition to the sustainability rate, the environmental index may include, for example, the rolling performance of the tire 30 and the amount of substances that have a large environmental load contained in the product (amount of contained environmental load substances). The environmental score may be calculated, for example, by multiplying the sustainability rate and the quantified environmental index by a predetermined coefficient and then adding them up. In this case, the information management unit 133 may manage information related to the calculated environmental score. It becomes possible to grasp and manage not only the usage rate of sustainable materials in the tire 30 but also the overall degree of environmental consideration including other environmental indexes. Furthermore, the information management unit 133 may provide the user with information on the monetary value based on the environmental score and manage the monetary value. By linking the environmental score to the monetary value, the user can be made more aware of the environmental friendliness of the tire 30.

[0064] As described above, the tire management device 10 according to this embodiment, with the above configuration, can grasp and manage the sustainability rate, which is an index showing the usage rate of sustainable materials in the tire 30, and display it to users and consumers. Based on the sustainability rate, users and consumers can be made aware of the origin of the raw materials of the tire 30, and the spread of tires 30 with a high usage rate of sustainable materials can be promoted. In addition, the sustainability rate of the tire 30 can be utilized in business, as in the above application example. In other words, by utilizing the grasped information, it becomes possible to provide services that utilize the sustainability rate.

[0065] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described based on the drawings and examples, it should be noted that a person skilled in the art would easily be able to make various modifications or alterations based on the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these modifications or alterations are included in the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the functions included in each component can be rearranged so as not to cause logical inconsistencies, and multiple components can be combined into one or divided. The embodiments of the present disclosure can also be realized as a method, a program, and a storage medium having a program recorded thereon, executed by a processor provided in an apparatus. It should be understood that these are also included in the scope of the present disclosure. Contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) led by the United Nations

[0066] The SDGs have been proposed to realize a sustainable society. One embodiment of the present disclosure is considered to be a technology that can contribute to "No. 9 Build infrastructure for industry and technological innovation." [Explanation of symbols]

[0067] 10 Tire management device 11 Communications Department 12 Storage section 13 Control section 20 Vehicles 30 Tires 31 Indicators 32 Identifier 40 Network 50 First Server 60 Second Server 70 Terminal Equipment 131 Acquisition Department 132 Calculation section 133 Information Management Department 134 Output section

Claims

1. A tire management device that calculates and manages a tire's sustainability rate, An acquisition unit that acquires raw material information including information on raw materials of the tire and manufacturing information including information on manufacturing of the tire; a calculation unit that calculates the sustainability rate, which is a ratio of a weight of sustainable materials to a weight of the tire, based on the raw material information and the manufacturing information; an information management unit that manages information relating to the calculated sustainability rate.

2. The acquisition unit acquires customer information including information of a user of the tire, The tire management device according to claim 1 , wherein the information management unit updates the customer information based on the calculated sustainability rate.

3. The tire management device according to claim 2 , wherein the information management unit provides the user with information on a monetary value based on the sustainability rate, and manages the monetary value.

4. The acquisition unit acquires information regarding traveling of a vehicle equipped with the tire, The tire management device according to claim 3 , wherein the information management unit varies the monetary value according to a traveling distance of the vehicle.

5. The tire management device according to claim 2 , wherein the information management unit updates the customer information when the user purchases the tire.

6. The tire is provided with an indicator including an identifier, The acquisition unit acquires information indicating that the indicator has been read, the information management unit provides information of the tire corresponding to the identifier when the indicator is read, The tire management device according to claim 1 , wherein the tire information includes at least the sustainability rate.

7. The tire management device according to claim 6 , wherein the tire information includes information regarding recycling of the tire.

8. The tire management device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the information about the tire includes information about raw materials of the tire.

9. The tire management device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the calculation unit calculates the sustainability rate when the tire is manufactured.

10. The acquisition unit acquires information on manufacturing and / or transportation of the tire and information on running of a vehicle equipped with the tire, The calculation unit calculates a CO ２ Calculate emissions, The information management unit stores information on the sustainability rate and the CO ２ The tire management device according to claim 1 , further comprising: a tire management unit configured to manage information regarding emissions.

11. The acquisition unit acquires customer information including information of a user of the tire, The information management unit calculates the sustainability rate and the CO ２ The tire management device according to claim 10, further comprising: updating the customer information based on emissions.

12. The information management unit provides the user with the sustainability rate and the CO ２ The tire management device according to claim 11, further comprising: providing information of a monetary value based on the amount of emission; and managing the monetary value.

13. The tire management device according to claim 12 , wherein the information management unit varies the monetary value depending on a traveling distance of the vehicle.

14. the calculation unit calculates an environmental score that indicates, in a numerical value, how environmentally friendly the tire is based on the calculated sustainability rate and an environmental index different from the sustainability rate; The tire management device according to claim 1 , wherein the information management unit manages information related to the calculated environmental score.

15. The tire management device according to claim 14 , wherein the information management unit provides the user with information on a monetary value based on the environmental score, and manages the monetary value.

Images