Rental management apparatus and rental management method

Abstract

To improve the efficiency of rental of articles.SOLUTION: An article receiving unit 112 collectively receives designations of two or more sneakers that a first user U-1 requests for rental, from among a plurality of sneakers that can be lent to a plurality of users U-1 to U-n including the first user U-1. A determination unit 114 determines and outputs periods in which each of the two or more sneakers is to be lent to the first user U-1, based on rental schedules of two or more sneakers for a user U, who is other than the first user U-1, in the users U-1 to U-n.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a lending management device and a lending management method.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in the lending (rental) of items such as shoes, bags, and clothes, it is common for a user to specify the model number of the item they wish to rent and the desired rental date. For example, Patent Document 1 below is a technology that enables a user to efficiently make rental reservations for multiple products. A first screen showing a plurality of products to be rented is displayed on the user terminal. On the first screen, selection of some of the plurality of products is accepted, and it is shown discriminably for each date on the calendar whether all of some of the products can be rented collectively. A second screen for accepting re-selection of each of some of the products is displayed. On the second screen, when the selection of the first product among some of the products is canceled, a third screen is displayed that shows discriminably for each date on the calendar whether all of the remaining products excluding the first product from some of the products can be rented collectively.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, for example, when there are many users who wish to rent a single item, even if a user wishes to rent the single item, there may already be a rental reservation for another user, and the user may not be able to receive the rental. If the lending business operator can adjust the lending period of the item among multiple users, there is a possibility of improving the efficiency of item lending.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to improve the efficiency of item lending.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0006] A lending management device according to an aspect of the present invention includes an article reception unit that collectively receives a designation of two or more articles that the first user wishes to lend out from among a plurality of articles that can be lent to a plurality of users including the first user, and a determination unit that determines and outputs a period for lending each of the two or more articles to the first user based on a lending schedule of the two or more articles to users other than the first user among the plurality of users.

[0007] A lending management method according to an aspect of the present invention collectively receives a designation of two or more articles that the first user wishes to lend out from among a plurality of articles that can be lent to a plurality of users including the first user, and determines and outputs a period for lending each of the two or more articles to the first user based on a lending schedule of the two or more articles to users other than the first user among the plurality of users.

Advantages of the Invention

[0008] According to an aspect of the present invention, the efficiency of article lending can be improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] A. First Embodiment A-1. System Configuration FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a system 1 according to an embodiment. The system 1 includes a lending management device 10 and a plurality of user terminals 20 (20-1 to 20-n, where n is an integer of 2 or more). The user terminals 20 are used by users U (U-1 to U-n). The lending management device 10 and the user terminals 20 are connected via a network N.

[0011] The lending management device 10 is installed by a lending business operator B that conducts a lending business of articles. The lending business operator B lends articles to the user U and earns a profit by receiving a consideration for the lending from the user U. That the user U receives the lending of an article may be rephrased as the user U borrows the article. For example, “an article that the user U wishes to lend” may be rephrased as “an article that the user U wishes to borrow”.

[0012] In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the article (hereinafter referred to as “lending target article”) lent from the lending business operator B to the user U is shoes. Shoes are articles used for walking while being worn on the feet. There are various types of shoes, such as sneakers, dress shoes, pumps, sandals, slippers, geta, straw sandals, trekking shoes, hiking boots, and ski boots. In the present embodiment, the case where sneakers are mainly the lending target articles will be described.

[0013] The lending business operator B sets up a website related to the lending business (hereinafter referred to as the "lending website"). In this embodiment, the lending management device 10 has a function as a web server that provides the lending business website. Further, the lending management device 10 has a function of managing lending reservations applied from the user U through the lending website, and a function of managing the actual lending status of shoes.

[0014] In addition, separately from the lending management device 10, the lending business operator B has a storage for storing sneakers for lending, an inventory management system for managing the actual inventory in the storage, a delivery system for delivering sneakers to the user U, and a return system for accepting the return of sneakers from the user U, etc. In this embodiment, among the systems possessed by the lending business operator B, the functions of the lending management device 10 will be described.

[0015] The user terminal 20 is an information processing terminal such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or a personal computer. The user U connects to the lending management device 10 using the user terminal 20 and applies for the lending of shoes from the lending website. At the time of applying for the lending, the consideration for the lending may be paid from the user U to the lending business operator B. Also, when the user U uses the batch designated lending described later, the consideration for the lending may be paid monthly, such as "X yen per month".

[0016] In this embodiment, attention is paid to the first user U-1 who is one of the plurality of users U-1 to U-n. The first user U-1 uses the first user terminal 20-1. Also, as an example of the user U other than the first user U-1 among the plurality of users U-1 to U-n, the second user U-2 is used. The second user U-2 uses the second user terminal 20-2.

[0017] A-2. User Terminal 20 FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the user terminal 20. Since the configurations of the plurality of user terminals 20-1 to 20-n are substantially the same, in FIG. 2, the configuration of the first user terminal 20-1 will be described as an example. The first user terminal 20-1 includes a display device 201, an input device 202, a communication device 203, a storage device 204, a processing device 205, and a bus 220 that interconnects these devices.

[0018] The display device 201 is a display device that displays information to the outside (for example, various display panels such as a liquid crystal display panel or an organic EL display panel). The input device 202 is an input device that receives an input from the outside (for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, a switch, a button, or a sensor). Note that the display device 201 and the input device 202 may have an integrated configuration (for example, a touch panel). The communication device 203 includes an interface connectable to the network N and communicates with other devices connected to the network N using wireless communication or wired communication.

[0019] The storage device 204 is a recording medium readable by the processing device 205. The storage device 204 includes, for example, a non-volatile memory and a volatile memory. The non-volatile memory is, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), and an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory). The volatile memory is, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory). The storage device 204 stores a program PG2. The program PG2 is a program for operating the user terminal 20.

[0020] The processing device 205 includes one or more CPUs (Central Processing Unit). The one or more CPUs are an example of one or more processors. Each of the processor and the CPU is an example of a computer.

[0021] The processing device 205 reads the program PG1 from the storage device 204. By executing the program PG2, the processing device 205 functions as the website access unit 211. The website access unit 211 may be constituted by circuits such as a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a PLD (Programmable Logic Device), and an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

[0022] The website access unit 211 is a so-called web browser and realizes functions such as displaying web pages and following hyperlinks. The website access unit 211 mainly communicates with the server via HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) and acquires data for displaying the website. In addition, the website access unit 211 performs syntax analysis on the acquired data according to its type (HTML (HyperText Markup Language) / XHTML (Extensible HyperText Markup Language) / XML (Extensible Markup Language), document, image, etc.). Further, the website access unit 211 appropriately arranges characters and images based on the result of the syntax analysis, or adjusts the size of the characters, colors them, etc., and then performs drawing.

[0023] A-3. Lending Management Device 10 FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the lending management device 10. The lending management device 10 includes a communication device 101, a storage device 102, a processing device 103, and a bus 109 that interconnects these devices.

[0024] The communication device 101 includes an interface connectable to the network N and communicates with other terminals connected to the network N using wireless communication or wired communication.

[0025] The storage device 102 is a recording medium readable by the processing device 103. The storage device 102 includes, for example, a non-volatile memory and a volatile memory. The non-volatile memory is, for example, ROM, EPROM, and EEPROM. The volatile memory is, for example, RAM. The storage device 102 stores the program PG1. The program PG1 is a program for operating the lending management device 10.

[0026] Also, the storage device 102 stores the website data SD. The website data SD is data for displaying the lending website. The website data SD includes, for example, a photo of the sneaker which is the item to be lent, text of the explanation of the lending service, and structure data indicating the structure of the lending website.

[0027] Also, the storage device 102 stores the lending database DB. The lending database DB is a database for managing the lending schedule of the items to be lent (sneakers in this embodiment) held by the lending operator B.

[0028] FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the contents of the lending database DB. In the lending database DB, the identification number N1, the manufacturer name N2, the model name N3, the size N4, and the lending schedule N5 of the sneakers for lending are associated. For example, the sneakers with the identification number 001 have the manufacturer name: Aaa, the model name: Pp, and the size 25.0. There may be a plurality of sneakers with the same manufacturer name, model name, and size, such as the sneakers with the identification number 002 and the sneakers with the identification number 003. In this case, either the sneakers with the identification number 002 or the sneakers with the identification number 003 may be lent to the user U.

[0029] Regarding the lending schedule N5, in the example of FIG. 4, it is assumed that the lending of sneakers is carried out on a monthly basis. In the month with a lending schedule, "1" is entered, and in the month without a lending schedule, "0" is entered. For example, for the sneakers with identification number 001, there is a lending schedule in November 2023, and no new lending schedule can be entered. On the other hand, for the same sneakers, there is no lending schedule in December 2023, and a new lending schedule can be entered.

[0030] Although the illustration is omitted, a user identification number for identifying the user U who is the lending destination is associated with the lending schedule N5. In addition, a lending mode (normal lending or batch designated lending described later) for each user U is also associated with the lending schedule N5.

[0031] The processing device 103 includes one or more CPUs. The one or more CPUs are an example of one or more processors. Each of the processor and the CPU is an example of a computer. The processing device 103 functions as an access management unit 111, an article reception unit 112, a period reception unit 113, and a determination unit 114 by executing the program PG1. At least a part of these functions may be configured by circuits such as DSP, ASIC, PLD, and FPGA.

[0032] The access management unit 111 manages access to the lending website. The access management unit 111 transmits data for displaying the lending website, such as HTML, images, and scripts, to the client device in response to a request from the client device (for example, the user terminal 20). Hereinafter, the case where the first user U-1 accesses the lending website using the first user terminal 20-1 will be described.

[0033] The item reception unit 112 receives a designation of a sneaker (hereinafter referred to as the "desired sneaker") for which the first user U-1 who has accessed the lending website wishes to borrow. The first user U-1 selects the desired sneaker from among the sneakers that are the lending targets and designates the desired sneaker by performing a predetermined operation on the lending website. The item reception unit 112 receives the designation of the desired sneaker based on the operation of the first user U-1 on the lending website.

[0034] The period reception unit 113 receives from the first user U-1 a designation of the period (hereinafter referred to as the "lending period") during which the desired sneaker is to be borrowed. The first user U-1 designates the lending period by performing a predetermined operation on the lending website. The period reception unit 113 receives the designation of the lending period based on the operation of the first user U-1 on the lending website.

[0035] In the present embodiment, on the lending website, the first user U-1 can select "normal lending" and "batch designation lending". Normal lending is a general mode of lending. The first user U-1 designates the manufacturer name, model name, and size of the desired sneaker, and also designates the lending period of the desired sneaker. In the present embodiment, designating a period means specifically designating the start date and the end date of the period. By designating the start date and the end date of the period, the length of the period is inevitably determined. Specifically, for example, instead of only designating the length of the period such as "for 3 days", the start date and the end date of the period are designated such as "from November 1, 2023 to November 3, 2023 (for 3 days)".

[0036] On the one hand, batch-specified lending is a lending mode that accepts the specifications of multiple desired sneakers by the first user U-1 in a batch. The first user U-1 specifies the manufacturer name, model name, and size of the desired sneakers in multiple. That is, in batch-specified lending, the item reception unit 112 accepts, in a batch, the specifications of two or more sneakers that the first user U-1 wishes to lend out from among the multiple sneakers that can be lent to multiple users U-1 to U-n including the first user U-1. The two or more sneakers are an example of two or more items. The two or more sneakers may include a first sneaker and a second sneaker. The first sneaker is an example of the first item, and the second sneaker is an example of the second item. Note that the desired sneakers are not limited to the first sneaker and the second sneaker (i.e., two pairs of sneakers), and may be three or more.

[0037] On the other hand, in batch-specified lending, the first user U-1 cannot specify the lending period individually for multiple sneakers, and can only specify the overall period for receiving the lending of multiple sneakers. That is, in batch-specified lending, the period reception unit 113 accepts, in a batch, from the first user U-1 the specification of the lending desired period for two or more sneakers. The lending desired period is the period in which it is desired to include the entire lending period of each of the two or more sneakers. More specifically, it is the period in which it is desired to include the first period for receiving the lending of the first sneaker and the second period for receiving the lending of the second sneaker. Although details will be described later, in batch-specified lending, the first user U-1 can, for example, specify that the first sneaker and the second sneaker be "lent out between November 1, 2023 and January 31, 2024".

[0038] Figures 5 to 7 are schematic diagrams illustrating display screens of the lending website. The display screen G1 shown in FIG. 5 is a screen for the first user U-1 to select "normal lending" and "batch designated lending". On the display screen G1, a normal lending selection button B11 for selecting normal lending and a batch designated lending selection button B12 for selecting batch designated lending are displayed. As described above, normal lending is a lending mode in which the sneakers selected by the first user U-1 are lent for the lending period selected by the first user U-1. Also, batch designated lending is a lending mode in which a plurality of sneakers selected by the first user U-1 are lent for the lending period selected by the lending business operator B side (lending management device 10). In the present embodiment, in batch designated lending, it is assumed that one pair of the plurality of sneakers selected by the first user U-1 is lent for one month.

[0039] The display screen G2 shown in FIG. 6 is a display screen G2 for designating the contract start month and contract period of batch designated lending. On the display screen G2, a pull-down type input part B13 for designating the contract start month and a pull-down type input part B14 for designating the contract period are displayed. As described above, in the present embodiment, in batch designated lending, one pair of sneakers is lent per month. Therefore, it can be said that the designation of the contract period is substantially the designation of the number of sneakers that the first user U-1 receives the loan for. In the example of FIG. 6, "for 3 months from November 2023 (from November 2023 to January 2024)" is designated. Therefore, the first user U-1 can select 3 pairs of sneakers. Also, the above designation of the contract period corresponds to collectively designating the desired lending periods of the plurality of sneakers selected by the first user U-1.

[0040] Note that the first user U-1 may be able to specify the period for receiving the loan of one pair of sneakers. For example, the lending period per pair may be specified as about two weeks (half a month), and 6 loans can be received within 3 months.

[0041] The display screen G3 shown in FIG. 7 is a display screen G3 for specifying the sneakers that the first user U-1 borrows. On the display screen G3, a lending target sneaker display section B15 showing the lendable sneakers and a selected sneaker display section B16 showing the sneakers selected by the first user U-1 are displayed. In the lending target sneaker display section B15, the sneakers that can be lent during the period from November 2023 to January 2024 specified by the first user U-1 as the contract period are displayed. In the lending target sneaker display section B15, for example, the manufacturer name, model name, exterior photo of the sneakers, and a pull-down for selecting the size are displayed.

[0042] For example, in FIG. 4, among the sneakers with the manufacturer name: Aaa and the model name: Qq, the size 25.0 (the sneakers with the identification number 004) cannot be lent for three months from November 2023 (all the columns of the lending schedule in the lending database DB are "1"). In this case, for example, in the pull-down, the said size may be grayed out and made non-selectable.

[0043] The first user selects the desired sneaker size in the pull-down and performs a predetermined operation. Thereby, the selected sneakers are displayed in the lower selected sneaker display section B16. When the first user U-1 selects the specified number of sneakers, for example, it shifts to a screen for selecting the delivery destination of the sneakers and the payment method. Note that the first user U-1 may select to borrow the same sneakers, for example, for two months out of three months.

[0044] The determination unit 114 determines the order and period for lending two or more sneakers specified by the first user U-1 to the first user U-1, and outputs the result. That is, in the case of batch-specified lending, the determination unit 114 determines, based on the lending schedule of two or more sneakers to other users U-2 to U-n other than the first user U-1 among the plurality of users U-1 to U-n, the period for lending each of the two or more sneakers to the first user U-1, and outputs it. More specifically, for example, the determination unit 114 determines a first period for lending the first sneaker to the first user U-1 and a second period for lending the second sneaker to the first user U-1 based on the lending schedule of the first sneaker and the second sneaker to other users U-2 to U-n. The determination unit 114 includes the period for lending each of the two or more sneakers to the first user U-1 in the lending desired period (contract period) received by the period reception unit 113.

[0045] For example, the determination unit 114 determines the first period during a period when there is no lending schedule for the first sneaker to other users U-2 to U-n. Also, for example, the determination unit 114 determines the second period during a period when there is no lending schedule for the second sneaker to other users U-2 to U-n.

[0046] For example, assume that the first user U-1 designates the following three pairs of sneakers on the display screen G3 shown in FIG. 7. First pair: Manufacturer name: Aaa, model name: Pp, size 25.5 (sneakers with identification number 002 or 003), second pair: Manufacturer name: Bbb, model name: Ww, size 25.5 (sneakers with identification number 006), third pair: Manufacturer name: Bbb, model name: Vv, size 25.5 (sneakers with identification number 007). The sneakers with identification number 002 or 003 can be lent out in November or December 2023. The sneakers with identification number 006 can be lent out in January 2024. The sneakers with identification number 007 can be lent out in November 2023. Therefore, the determination unit 114 determines to lend the sneakers with identification number 003 to the first user U-1 in December 2023, the sneakers with identification number 006 to the first user U-1 in January 2024, and the sneakers with identification number 007 to the first user U-1 in November 2023.

[0047] In addition, the determination unit 114 outputs the lending period of each pair of sneakers determined. For example, the determination unit 114 outputs a control signal for reflecting the planned lending of sneakers to the first user U-1 (the lending period of each pair of sneakers) in the lending database DB. By displaying the lending database DB on a display device (not shown), the lending period determined by the determination unit 114 is output. Further, the determination unit 114 may output notification information for notifying the first user terminal 20-1 of the lending period of each of the first to third pairs of sneakers described above. The notification information is transmitted to the first user terminal 20-1 by the communication device 101 and is displayed (output) on the display device 201 of the first user terminal 20-1. Thereby, the first user U-1 can grasp the lending period of each pair of sneakers. Note that the notification information may be transmitted to and displayed (output) on a terminal other than the first user terminal 20-1. For example, the notification information may be transmitted to and displayed (output) on the store terminal of the store where the sneakers to be lent are displayed (the store operated by the lending business operator B). Also, the output mode of the notification information is not limited to display output, and may be, for example, voice output or the like.

[0048] In this way, in the batch-specified lending, the period for lending a specific pair of sneakers to the first user U-1 is determined from within a period with a certain width. Therefore, for example, compared to the case where the first user U-1 precisely specifies "manufacturer name: Bbb, model name: Ww, size 25.5 (sneakers with identification number 006) and wants to receive the lending in November 2023", the possibility of receiving the lending of the desired sneakers is increased. Also, for the lending business operator B, since the period for lending sneakers can be adjusted among multiple users U, the efficiency of lending is improved.

[0049] Also, in this embodiment, the user U who uses the batch-specified lending receives the lending of one pair of sneakers every month from the 1st day to the end of the month. For example, let the sneakers with identification number 007 be the first pair of sneakers and the sneakers with identification number 006 be the second pair of sneakers, and assume that the sneakers with identification number 006 will be lent to the second user U-2 in November 2023. In this case, it can be said that the determination unit 114 determines the period for lending the second pair of sneakers to the second user U-2 and the period for lending the first pair of sneakers to the first user U-1 to be the same period. In this way, by aligning the lending period (lending start date and lending end date) of one pair of sneakers for each user U, the lending of sneakers can be efficiently performed. Note that when delivering and returning the sneakers to each user U, a delivery period is required for each. Therefore, for example, each user U may be requested to return the sneakers currently on loan by Y days before the end of each month, and after the return is confirmed, the sneakers to be lent in the next month may be delivered.

[0050] Also, in this embodiment, in the batch designated lending, the number of sneakers lent to the first user U-1 at one time is one pair. That is, throughout the lending period, only one pair of the plurality of desired sneakers reaches the first user U-1, and the other sneakers are delivered for replacement with that pair. That is, the determination unit 114 does not overlap the period (first period) of lending the first pair of sneakers to the first user U-1 and the period (second period) of lending the second pair of sneakers to the first user U-1. If the first period and the second period overlap, a period will occur during which the first user U-1 has the first pair of sneakers and the second pair of sneakers in hand. When the lending destination of the sneakers is biased towards the first user U-1, the opportunity to lend to other users U-2 to U-n is reduced. Also, generally when going out wearing shoes, it is often the case that a day is spent in those shoes, and even if there are multiple pairs of shoes, it is difficult to try them on. By not overlapping the first period and the second period, the first user U-1 can use one pair of sneakers carefully.

[0051] Also, in the batch designated lending, the first user U-1 cannot specify the lending period of each pair of sneakers. Therefore, compared with the normal lending, the first user U-1 may be given an incentive. For example, the fee for the batch designated lending may be lower than the fee for the normal lending. Specifically, for example, when the contract period is specified as three months in the batch designated lending, the fee may be lower than the fee when receiving the lending of three pairs of sneakers one month at a time. Or, for example, when a point service is being carried out on the lending website, the number of points obtained from the batch designated lending may be more than that from the normal lending. Or, for example, a discount coupon for the normal lending may be obtained every Z months of the contract period of the batch designated lending.

[0052] A-4. Flowchart FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the processing device 103 of the lending management device 10. The processing device 103 waits until there is an access from the user terminal 20 to the lending website (denoted as "website" in the figure) (step S100: NO). When there is an access from the user terminal 20 to the lending website (step S100: YES), it functions as the access management unit 111 and transmits website data SD (denoted as "site data" in the figure) for displaying the lending website to the user terminal 20 (step S102).

[0053] When the user U who has viewed the lending website selects batch designated lending (step S104: YES), the processing device 103 functions as the period reception unit 113 and receives the designation of the contract period for the batch designated lending from the user U (step S106). Further, the processing device 103 functions as the article reception unit 112 and presents to the user U the sneakers that can be lent during the contract period (sneakers for which there is no lending reservation from other users U) (step S108).

[0054] The processing device 103 returns to step S108 and repeats the subsequent processing until the selection of a plurality of sneakers desired to be lent is completed (step S110: NO). When the selection of a plurality of sneakers desired to be lent is completed (step S110: YES), the processing device 103 functions as the determination unit 114 and determines the lending period of each of the plurality of sneakers based on the lending schedule of the sneakers for other users U (step S112). Then, the processing device 103 reflects the lending period determined in step S112 in the lending database DB (step S116).

[0055] Also, in step S104, when the user U who has browsed the lending website does not select batch designated lending, that is, when the user selects normal lending (step S104: NO), the processing device 103 functions as the article reception unit 112 to receive a designation of the desired sneakers from the user U, and functions as the period reception unit 113 to receive a designation of the lending period of the sneakers (step S114). After that, the processing device 103 reflects the lending period received in step S114 in the lending database DB (step S116).

[0056] Until the access from the user terminal 20 to the lending website ends (step S118: NO), the processing device 103 returns to step S102 and repeats the subsequent processing. When the access from the user terminal 20 to the lending website ends (step S118: YES), the processing device 103 ends the processing of this flowchart.

[0057] A-5. Summary of the Embodiment As described above, the lending management device 10 according to the embodiment collectively receives a designation of two or more sneakers that the first user U-1 wishes to lend out from among a plurality of sneakers that can be lent out to a plurality of users U, and determines the period for lending each of the two or more sneakers to the first user U-1 based on the planned lending of the sneakers to users U other than the first user U-1. Since the lending management device 10 does not receive a designation of the lending period of the sneakers from the first user U-1, it can efficiently lend out the sneakers to many users U.

[0058] Also, the lending management device 10 collectively receives a designation of the desired lending period (contract period) for two or more sneakers from the first user U-1. Therefore, the first user U-1 can roughly specify the period for receiving the lending of the sneakers, and thus can use the sneakers in a planned manner.

[0059] In addition, the lending management device 10 does not overlap the first period of lending the first pair of sneakers to the first user U-1 and the second period of lending the second pair of sneakers to the first user U-1. Since the first period and the second period do not overlap, only one item is lent to the first user U-1 in one period. Therefore, the opportunity to lend to other users U is ensured without the lending target of the sneakers being concentrated on the first user U-1. Also, even for the first user U-1, one pair of sneakers can be used carefully in one period.

[0060] In addition, the lending management device 10 determines the period of lending the second pair of sneakers to the second user U-2 and the first period of lending the first pair of sneakers to the first user U-1 to be the same period. Therefore, the timing of the return of the sneakers from each user U can be generally aligned, and the sneakers can be lent efficiently to a plurality of users U.

[0061] In addition, the lending management device 10 lends shoes (sneakers in this embodiment) to the user U. Unlike clothes, shoes are difficult to use if they do not fit. Instead of purchasing shoes from the beginning, the user U can easily find shoes that fit by receiving a loan.

[0062] B: Modification Example The modified modes in the above-described embodiment are shown below. Two or more modes arbitrarily selected from the following modified modes may be appropriately combined within a non-conflicting range.

[0063] B1: First Modification Example In the above-described embodiment, when the first user U-1 concludes a lump-sum designated lending contract, the lending periods of a plurality of sneakers are all determined based on the lending plan at that time. In the above example, the sneaker with identification number 007 lent out in November 2023 is the first pair, the sneaker with identification number 003 lent out in December 2023 is the second pair, and the sneaker with identification number 006 lent out in January 2024 is the third pair, which were determined at the time of the contract. This is not the only case. For example, at the time of concluding a lump-sum designated lending contract, only the first pair of sneakers may be determined, and the second pair of sneakers may be determined after the first pair is returned.

[0064] That is, when the article reception unit 112 receives the first sneaker and the second sneaker, the determination unit 114 first determines a first period for lending the first sneaker to the first user U-1. After that, after the first sneaker lent to the first user U-1 during the first period is returned, the determination unit 114 determines a second period for lending the second sneaker to the first user U-1.

[0065] According to the first modification example, since the second period is determined after the first sneaker is returned from the first user U-1, it is possible to flexibly respond, for example, when the return deadline of the first sneaker from the first user U-1 is not met.

[0066] B2: Second Modification Example In the above-described embodiment, the lending management device 10 has functions as a web server that provides a lending business website, a function of managing lending reservations applied from the user U through the lending website, and a function of managing the actual shoe lending status. However, the lending management device 10 only needs to be able to realize the functions of the article reception unit 112, the period reception unit 113, and the determination unit 114. For example, a web server that provides a lending business website may be provided separately from the lending management device 10.

[0067] C: Others (1) In the above-described embodiments, ROM, RAM, etc. were exemplified as the storage devices 102 and 204. However, the storage devices 102 and 204 may be a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk (e.g., a compact disk, a digital versatile disk, a Blu-ray (registered trademark) disk), a smart card, a flash memory device (e.g., a card, a stick, a key drive), a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-ROM), a register, a removable disk, a hard disk, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a magnetic strip, a database, a server, or other suitable storage media.

[0068] (2) In the above-described embodiments, the information, signals, etc. described may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies. For example, the data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, chips, etc. that may be referred to throughout the above description may be represented by voltage, current, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or magnetic particles, optical fields or photons, or any combination thereof.

[0069] (3) In the above-described embodiments, the input and output information, etc. may be stored in a specific location (e.g., memory) or may be managed using a management table. The input and output information, etc. may be overwritten, updated, or appended. The output information, etc. may be deleted. The input information, etc. may be transmitted to other devices.

[0070] (4) In the above-described embodiments, the determination may be made based on a value represented by 1 bit (0 or 1), a truth value (Boolean: true or false), or a numerical comparison (e.g., comparison with a predetermined value).

[0071] (5) In the above-described embodiments, the processing procedures, sequences, flowcharts, etc. exemplified may be reordered as long as there is no contradiction. For example, for the methods described in the present disclosure, the elements of the various steps are presented using an exemplary order and are not limited to the specific order presented.

[0072] (6) Each function illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 is realized by any combination of at least one of hardware and software. Also, the realization method of each functional block is not particularly limited. That is, each functional block may be realized using one physically or logically combined device, or two or more physically or logically separated devices may be directly or indirectly connected (for example, using wired, wireless, etc.), and realized using these multiple devices. The functional block may be realized by combining software with the above one device or the above multiple devices.

[0073] (7) The program exemplified in the above-described embodiments should be broadly interpreted to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program codes, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executable files, execution threads, procedures, functions, etc., whether called a software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or by another name.

[0074] Also, software, instructions, information, etc. may be transmitted and received via a transmission medium. For example, when software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using at least one of wired technologies (coaxial cable, optical fiber cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), etc.) and wireless technologies (infrared, microwave, etc.), at least one of these wired and wireless technologies is included within the definition of the transmission medium.

[0075] (8) In each of the above-described embodiments, the terms "system" and "network" are used interchangeably.

[0076] (9) The information, parameters, etc. described in this disclosure may be represented using absolute values, relative values from a predetermined value, or using other corresponding information.

[0077] (10) In the above-described embodiments, the portable device may include a case where it is a mobile station (MS: Mobile Station). A mobile station may be referred to by those skilled in the art as a subscriber station, mobile unit, subscriber unit, wireless unit, remote unit, mobile device, wireless device, wireless communication device, remote device, mobile subscriber station, access terminal, mobile terminal, wireless terminal, remote terminal, handset, user agent, mobile client, client, or some other suitable term. Also, in this disclosure, terms such as "mobile station", "user terminal", "user equipment (UE)", "terminal", etc. may be used interchangeably.

[0078] (11) In the above-described embodiments, the terms "connected" and "coupled", or any variations thereof, mean any direct or indirect connection or coupling between two or more elements, and may include the presence of one or more intermediate elements between two elements that are "connected" or "coupled" to each other. The coupling or connection between elements may be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. For example, "connected" may be read as "accessed". As used in this disclosure, two elements can be considered to be "connected" or "coupled" to each other using at least one of one or more wires, cables, and printed electrical connections, and, as some non-limiting and non-exhaustive examples, electromagnetic energy having wavelengths in the radio frequency region, microwave region, and optical (both visible and invisible) region, etc.

[0079] In the above-described embodiments, unless otherwise specified, the description "based on" does not mean "based only on". In other words, the description "based on" means both "based only on" and "based at least on".

[0080] (13) The terms "determining" and "deciding" as used in the present disclosure may encompass a wide variety of operations. "Determining" and "deciding" may include, for example, judging, calculating, computing, processing, deriving, investigating, looking up (e.g., searching in a table, database, or another data structure), ascertaining, and considering something as having "determined" or "decided" the ascertained matter. Further, "determining" and "deciding" may include receiving (e.g., receiving information), transmitting (e.g., transmitting information), inputting, outputting, accessing (e.g., accessing data in a memory), and considering something as having "determined" or "decided" the received, transmitted, input, output, or accessed matter. Additionally, "determining" and "deciding" may include resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing, comparing, etc., and considering something as having "determined" or "decided" the resolved, selected, chosen, established, or compared matter. That is, "determining" and "deciding" may include considering something as having "determined" or "decided" some operation. Also, "determining (deciding)" may be read as "assuming", "expecting", "considering", etc.

[0081] (14) In the above-described embodiments, when terms such as "include", "including" and their variants are used, these terms are intended to be inclusive, similar to the term "comprising". Further, the term "or" used in the present disclosure is not intended to be an exclusive disjunction.

[0082] (15) In the present disclosure, for example, when articles are added by translation, such as a, an and the in English, the present disclosure may include that the nouns following these articles are in the plural form.

[0083] (16) In the present disclosure, the term "A and B are different" may mean "A and B are different from each other". Note that the term may also mean "A and B are each different from C". Terms such as "separate", "coupled" and the like may be interpreted in the same way as "different".

[0084] (17) Each aspect / embodiment described in the present disclosure may be used alone, in combination, or switched during execution. Also, the notification of predetermined information (for example, the notification of "being X") is not limited to being explicitly performed, and may be performed implicitly (for example, by not performing the notification of the predetermined information).

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0085] 1... System, 10... Lending management device, 20 (20-1 to 20-n)... User terminal, 20-1... First user terminal, 20-2... Second user terminal, 101... Communication device, 102... Storage device, 103... Processing device, 111... Access management unit, 112... Article reception unit, 113... Period reception unit, 114... Decision unit, B... Lending operator, N... Network, SD... Website data, U (U-1 to U-n)... User, U-1... First user, U-2... Second user.

Claims

1. An article reception unit that collectively receives a designation of two or more articles that the first user wishes to borrow from among a plurality of articles that can be lent to a plurality of users including the first user; A determination unit that determines and outputs a period for lending each of the two or more articles to the first user based on a schedule for lending the two or more articles to users other than the first user among the plurality of users; A lending management device comprising:

2. Further comprising a period reception unit that collectively receives a designation of a desired lending period for the two or more articles from the first user, The determination unit includes a period for lending each of the two or more articles to the first user within the desired lending period, The lending management device according to claim 1.

3. The two or more articles include a first article and a second article, The determination unit does not overlap a period for lending the first article to the first user and a period for lending the second article to the first user, The lending management device according to claim 1.

4. The two or more articles include a first article and a second article, The determination unit, When the article reception unit receives a designation of the first article and the second article, determines a first period for lending the first article to the first user, After the first article lent to the first user in the first period is returned, determines a second period for lending the second article to the first user, The lending management device according to claim 1.

5. The two or more articles include a first article and a second article, The plurality of users includes a second user different from the first user, The determination unit determines that the period for lending the second item to the second user and the period for lending the first item to the first user are the same period. The lending management device according to claim 1.

6. The item is a shoe. The lending management device according to claim 1.

7. Accepts in a batch the designation of two or more items that the first user wishes to lend out from among a plurality of items that can be lent out to a plurality of users including the first user. Determines and outputs the period for lending each of the two or more items to the first user based on the schedule of lending the two or more items to users other than the first user among the plurality of users. Lending management method.

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