Charging control device and program

Abstract

To achieve both improvement of convenience for a user and prevention of unauthorized use of identification information in operations to charge an electric vehicle.SOLUTION: A charging control device comprises: a charging determination condition information acquisition unit that acquires charging determination condition information indicating a charging determination condition set by a registered user; a charging start operation detection unit that detects a charging start operation performed by a user; an authentication necessity determination unit that determines whether to perform registered user confirmation procedures to confirm whether the user is the registered user on the basis of the charging determination condition information and a charging condition in a charger for which the charging start operation is performed; a charging permission determination unit that, when the registered user confirmation procedures are determined to be performed, and as a result of the registered user confirmation procedures, when the user is determined to be the registered user, permits charging, and when the registered user confirmation procedures are determined not to be performed, permits charging without performing the registered user confirmation procedures; and a charging control unit that performs charging operations on the basis of the permission.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a charge control device and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, charging systems for charging electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs), and the like are known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-018104 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In a conventional charging device such as that described in Patent Document 1, a technology is disclosed in which, when a user uses the device, charging is initiated by sending user identification information such as a login ID and password to a charging management device using a terminal device such as a smartphone. Some of these technologies perform so-called two-step authentication, which involves a second step of identity verification in addition to the first step of authentication using a login ID and password, in case the login ID and password become known to someone else. However, there is a problem that performing two-step authentication every time a device is charged reduces user convenience, while not performing two-step authentication may lead to unauthorized use of user identification information by others.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and provides a charging control device and program that can improve user convenience when charging an electric vehicle while preventing the fraudulent use of identification information. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is a charging control device that includes a charging determination condition information acquisition unit that acquires charging determination condition information indicating charging determination conditions set by a registered user; a charging start operation detection unit that detects a charging start operation by a user; an authentication necessity determination unit that determines whether to perform a registered user confirmation procedure to confirm whether the user is the registered user based on the charging conditions in the charging device where the charging start operation was performed and the charging determination condition information; a charging permission determination unit that, if it is determined that the registered user confirmation procedure should be performed, allows charging if it is determined that the user is the registered user as a result of the registered user confirmation procedure, or allows charging without going through the registered user confirmation procedure if it is determined that the registered user confirmation procedure should not be performed; and a charging control unit that performs a charging operation based on the permission.

[0007] Another aspect of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to acquire charging determination condition information indicating charging determination conditions set by a registered user, detect a charging start operation by the user, determine whether to perform a registered user confirmation procedure to confirm whether the user is the registered user based on the charging conditions in the charging device where the charging start operation was performed and the charging determination condition information, and if it is determined that the registered user confirmation procedure should be performed, permit charging if it is determined that the user is the registered user as a result of the registered user confirmation procedure, permit charging without going through the registered user confirmation procedure if it is determined that the registered user confirmation procedure should not be performed, and perform a charging operation based on the permission. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to perform charging control that improves user convenience, does not exceed a demand value, and does not cause a charging plan to fail. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1]FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the charging system according to the present embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a charging area. [Figure 3] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of charging determination condition information according to the present embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the flow of operation of the charging system of the present embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a charging start operation screen according to the present embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an authentication notification screen according to the present embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an authentication completion screen according to the present embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a charging end screen according to the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] 1 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of a charging system 1 according to this embodiment. The charging system 1 includes a user terminal device 10, a charging control device 20, a user information management device 30, and a charging device 40.

[0011] The user terminal device 10 is, for example, a smartphone or a tablet device, and is capable of communicating with the charge control device 20. The charge control device 20 controls the charging device 40 to supply power from a commercial power source to an electric vehicle connected to the charging device 40. Note that the electric vehicle referred to in this embodiment may be any vehicle that runs on power stored in an on-board battery, and broadly includes not only so-called electric vehicles (EVs) but also plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs). Furthermore, the charging device 40 may not only charge electric vehicles, but may also charge portable battery devices, for example. The user information management device 30 stores information (that is, user information) about the user who uses the user terminal device 10. The user information management device 30 also authenticates the user.

[0012] In the charging system 1 of this embodiment, the user terminal device 10 functions as a personal authentication key for activating the charging control device 20. The charging control device 20 determines whether or not the user terminal device 10 is a terminal that has been registered in advance in the user information management device 30, and therefore whether or not the electric vehicle can be charged. For example, the user holds the user terminal device 10 over a reading device (not shown) of the charging control device 20. The charging control device 20 acquires user identification information (for example, a login ID and password for the charging system 1) from the user terminal device 10. The charging control device 20 transmits the user identification information acquired from the user terminal device 10 to the user information management device 30 to authenticate the user. The user information management device 30 determines whether the user identification information has been registered in advance in the user information management device 30, and notifies the charging control device 20 of the determination result. If the user identification information has been registered in advance in the user information management device 30, the charging control device 20 determines that charging is possible.

[0013] According to the charging system 1 configured in this manner, the user can charge the electric vehicle simply by holding the user terminal device 10 over the charging control device 20. Therefore, according to the charging system 1 of this embodiment, charging can be started with fewer steps than when the user operates the charging control device 20 to perform personal authentication, thereby improving user convenience.

[0014] On the other hand, as described above, the charging system 1 is configured to enable charging of an electric vehicle by exchanging user identification information between the user terminal device 10 and the charging control device 20. In this configuration, if the user identification information becomes known to another person, the other person may pretend to be a properly registered user and charge the vehicle. In other words, reducing the number of operation steps to increase convenience may make the system more susceptible to fraudulent use by another person.

[0015] Therefore, in addition to the authentication using the user identification information described above, i.e., the first stage authentication, the charging system 1 of this embodiment determines whether to perform the second stage authentication based on whether the user is attempting to charge at a pre-registered location or time period. For example, the charging system 1 determines whether the user is attempting to charge at a charging station C located within a charging area A registered in advance, or at a charging station C located outside the charging area A.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a charging area A. The diagram shows n charging areas A, from charging area A1 to charging area An (n is a natural number). Each charging area A includes one or more charging stations C. For example, charging area A1 includes charging station C11 and charging station C12. Charging area A2 includes charging station C21 and charging station C22. There may be cases where a user uses charging stations C in charging area A1 (e.g., charging stations C11 and C12) relatively frequently, but does not use charging stations C in charging area A2 (e.g., charging stations C21 and C22) very often. For example, this may be the case when charging area A1 is relatively close to the user's home or workplace, and charging area A2 is relatively far away. In this case, when the user attempts to charge in charging area A1, charging system 1 permits charging with only first-stage authentication (e.g., authentication using a login ID and password). On the other hand, when the user attempts to charge in a location other than charging area A1 (e.g., charging area A2), charging system 1 permits charging by performing second-stage user authentication in addition to first-stage user authentication.

[0017] According to the charging system 1 configured in this manner, charging is permitted using a simpler procedure at registered charging stations C, while identity verification is performed using a stricter procedure at unregistered charging stations C, thereby achieving both convenience and prevention of fraudulent use. The specific configuration of this charging system 1 will be described below.

[0018] [Example of functional configuration of user terminal device] Returning to FIG. 1, the user terminal device 10 includes a terminal calculation unit 110, a terminal storage unit 120, a terminal communication unit 130, a terminal display unit 140, and a terminal operation unit 150. The terminal storage unit 120 includes, for example, a semiconductor memory, and stores programs and data for the operation of the terminal calculation unit 110. As an example, the data stored in the terminal storage unit 120 includes a login ID (user identification information U) for the charging system 1. The terminal processing unit 110 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and operates based on programs and data stored in the terminal storage unit 120 to provide various functions.

[0019] The terminal communication unit 130 has a wired or wireless communication function and performs information communication with the charge control device 20. The terminal display unit 140 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays various information under the control of the terminal calculation unit 110 . The terminal operation unit 150 includes, for example, a touch panel, accepts operations by the user, and outputs information on the accepted operations to the terminal calculation unit 110.

[0020] [Example of functional configuration of charging control device] The charge control device 20 includes a calculation unit 210, a storage unit 220, a communication unit 230, and a display unit 240. The storage unit 220 includes, for example, a semiconductor memory, and stores programs and data for the operation of the calculation unit 210 . The calculation unit 210 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and operates based on programs and data stored in the storage unit 220 to provide various functions. The calculation unit 210 includes, as its functional units, a charge determination condition information acquisition unit 211, a charge start operation detection unit 212, an authentication necessity determination unit 213, a charge permission determination unit 214, and a charge control unit 215.

[0021] The communication unit 230 has a wired or wireless communication function and performs information communication with the user terminal device 10 and with the user information management device 30. The communication unit 230 has, for example, a reading unit (not shown) using a short-range wireless communication method, and acquires user identification information (for example, a login ID and password for the charging system 1) from the user terminal device 10 brought close to the reading unit. The display unit 240 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays various information based on the control of the calculation unit 210.

[0022] [Example of functional configuration of user information management device] The user information management device 30 is configured as, for example, a cloud server, and includes a user authentication unit 310 and a user information storage unit 320 as its functional units.

[0023] The user information storage unit 320 stores various types of information for user authentication and user management in the charging system 1. For example, the user information storage unit 320 stores charging determination condition information 3201.

[0024] 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of charging determination condition information 3201 according to this embodiment. The charging determination condition information 3201 is information in which user identification information is associated with registered charging area information. The registered charging area information is information indicating charging areas A in which charging is permitted for each user with only first-stage authentication (e.g., authentication using a login ID and password).

[0025] In the above example, the charging determination condition information 3201 is described as including information on the charging area A that collectively includes multiple charging stations C, but this is not limited to this. The charging determination condition information 3201 may also include information that specifies an individual charging station C. In other words, the charging determination condition information 3201 (charging determination conditions) may include charging station identification information that identifies the charging station C specified by the registered user.

[0026] Furthermore, the charging determination condition information 3201 may be information in which registered charging time period information is associated with the user identification information and the registered charging area information. The registered charging time period information is information indicating a charging time period in which charging is permitted for each user with only first-stage authentication (e.g., authentication using a login ID and password).

[0027] As an example, a certain user may use charging station C relatively frequently during a specific time period, but infrequently during other time periods. For example, if a user uses an electric vehicle to commute between home and work, the user may charge the vehicle relatively frequently between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM, which is the time when the user leaves work, but infrequently during other time periods. For such a user, it is preferable to reduce the number of user authentication procedures in charging area A where charging station C that is used relatively frequently is located, or in a time period during which the user uses the charging area A relatively frequently.

[0028] Returning to FIG. 1, the user authentication unit 310 authenticates whether the user attempting to charge is a legitimate user pre-registered in the charging system 1, based on the charging determination condition information 3201 stored in the user information storage unit 320. In the following description, a legitimate user who is registered in advance in the charging system 1 will also be simply referred to as a "registered user." Next, the details of the functions of the charging control device 20 will be described together with the flow of operations of the charging system 1.

[0029] [Charging system operation flow] 4 is a diagram showing an example of the flow of operations of the charging system 1 of this embodiment. As described above, the charging system 1 determines whether to perform two-step authentication based on the usage status of the charging station C used by the user.

[0030] [First step user authentication] (Step S110) The terminal calculation unit 110 of the user terminal device 10 transmits user identification information based on an operation by the user. The terminal calculation unit 110 displays a charging start operation screen P1 on the terminal display unit 140.

[0031] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a charging start operation screen P1 according to this embodiment. When a user arrives at a charging station C in an electric vehicle, the user operates the user terminal device 10 to display the charging start operation screen P1. The charging start operation screen P1 displays a charging start image P11 and a charging start button P12. The charging start image P11 displays the text "Do you want to start charging?" The charging start button P12 is an operation acceptance screen that accepts an operation by the user and displays the text "Start charging." The user holds the user terminal device 10 over a reading unit (not shown) of the charging control device 20 to operate the charging start button P12.

[0032] When the terminal operation unit 150 of the user terminal device 10 detects an operation of the charging start button P12 by the user, the terminal operation unit 150 outputs information that the charging start button P12 has been operated to the terminal calculation unit 110. When the charging start button P12 is operated, the terminal calculation unit 110 transmits user identification information from the terminal communication unit 130 to the communication unit 230 of the charging control device 20. As described above, the user identification information is information including, for example, a login ID and password for the charging system 1, and is information unique to a registered user. The user identification information transmitted in step S110 is also referred to as “first user identification information.” The first user identification information is information used in the first-stage user authentication process of the two-stage authentication.

[0033] (Step S210) The communication unit 230 of the charging control device 20 acquires first user identification information from the user terminal device 10. The communication unit 230 outputs the acquired first user identification information to the charging start operation detection unit 212 of the calculation unit 210. The charging start operation detection unit 212 determines that the user has performed a charging start operation by acquiring the first user identification information.

[0034] That is, the charging start operation detection unit 212 detects a charging start operation by the user.

[0035] (Step S220) The calculation unit 210 transmits a user authentication request to the user information management device 30 via the communication unit 230. This user authentication request includes the first user identification information.

[0036] (Step S310) When the user authentication unit 310 of the user information management device 30 receives the first user identification information from the charging control device 20, the user authentication unit 310 performs a first stage of user authentication. For example, the user authentication unit 310 determines whether or not the login ID included in the first user identification information exists among the user identification information stored in the user information storage unit 320.

[0037] Here, the user identification information stored in the user information storage unit 320 is the user identification information of a registered user. That is, the user authentication unit 310 determines whether or not the user identified by the first user identification information is a registered user. The user authentication unit 310 transmits the result of the first-stage user authentication (that is, whether or not the user is a registered user) to the charging control device 20.

[0038] When the user authentication unit 310 determines that the user is a registered user in the first stage of user authentication, the user authentication unit 310 transmits the charging determination condition information 3201 stored in the user information storage unit 320 to the charging control device 20. That is, the result of the first stage of user authentication includes the charging determination condition information 3201 stored in the user information storage unit 320.

[0039] (Step S230) The communication unit 230 of the charging control device 20 receives the result of the first-stage user authentication. The charging determination condition information acquisition unit 211 acquires the result of the first-stage user authentication received by the communication unit 230. As described above, the result of the first-stage user authentication includes the charging determination condition information 3201.

[0040] That is, the charge determination condition information acquisition unit 211 acquires the charge determination condition information 3201 indicating the charge determination condition set by the registered user.

[0041] The authentication necessity determination unit 213 determines whether to perform a registered user confirmation procedure to confirm whether the user is a registered user based on the charging conditions of the charging device 40 on which the charging start operation was performed and the charging determination condition information 3201.

[0042] Here, the charging conditions for the charging device 40 on which the charging start operation is performed refer to the charging area A where the charging control device 20 over which the user holds the user terminal device 10 is located, the charging stand C including the charging control device 20 over which the user holds the user terminal device 10, the elapsed time since the user last performed the charging start operation, the frequency of the charging start operation by the user, etc. In other words, the charging conditions include location conditions such as the charging area A or charging stand C over which the user attempts to charge, and time conditions such as the time interval and frequency at which the user attempts to charge.

[0043] The authentication necessity determination unit 213 determines whether or not the above-described charging conditions match the charging determination conditions indicated by the charging determination condition information 3201. As an example, the authentication necessity determination unit 213 determines whether or not the charging area A where the user attempts to charge matches the charging area A indicated by the registered charging area information of the user registered in the charging determination condition information 3201.

[0044] When the authentication necessity determination unit 213 determines that the charging condition matches the charging determination condition (step S230; YES), the processing proceeds to step S260. That is, when the calculation unit 210 determines that the charging condition matches the charging determination condition, the second-stage user authentication processing of the two-stage authentication is omitted.

[0045] The calculation unit 210 may also include a notification unit 216. This notification unit 216 issues various notifications to the user terminal device 10 via the communication unit 230. These notifications may include a notification indicating that the second-stage user authentication process of the two-stage authentication has been omitted.

[0046] That is, the notification unit 216 may be configured to notify the registered user that a charging operation will be performed when it is determined that the registered user confirmation procedure will not be performed. According to the charging system 1 configured in this manner, it is possible to prevent the user from becoming confused about which operation to perform depending on whether the second-stage user authentication process is omitted or not.

[0047] When the authentication necessity determination unit 213 determines that the charging condition does not match the charging determination condition (step S230; NO), the processing proceeds to step S240. That is, when the calculation unit 210 determines that the charging condition does not match the charging determination condition, the calculation unit 210 performs the second-stage user authentication process of the two-stage authentication.

[0048] [Second-stage user authentication] (Step S240) The calculation unit 210 requests the user terminal device 10 to input second user identification information.

[0049] (Step S120) The terminal calculation unit 110 of the user terminal device 10 transmits the user identification information based on the user's operation. The terminal calculation unit 110 displays the authentication notification screen P2 on the terminal display unit 140.

[0050] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an authentication notification screen P2 according to this embodiment. The user operates the authentication notification screen P2 displayed on the user terminal device 10 to perform the second stage of the two-stage authentication. The authentication notification screen P2 displays an authentication notification image P21 and an authentication procedure button P22. The authentication notification image P21 displays the text "Identification is required at this charging station." Note that the identification referred to here refers to the second stage of the two-stage authentication. The authentication procedure button P22 is an operation reception screen that receives an operation by the user, and displays the text "Perform authentication procedure." The user operates the authentication procedure button P22.

[0051] When the terminal operation unit 150 of the user terminal device 10 detects an operation of the authentication procedure button P22 by the user, it outputs a signal that the authentication procedure button P22 has been operated to the terminal calculation unit 110. When the authentication procedure button P22 is operated, the terminal calculation unit 110 requests the user to input second user identification information.

[0052] Here, the second user identification information is personal identification information used for the second step of the two-step authentication, and is, for example, a pre-registered password. The user inputs second user identification information by operating the user terminal device 10. When the terminal calculation unit 110 acquires the second user identification information from the user, the terminal calculation unit 110 transmits the acquired second user identification information from the terminal communication unit 130 to the user information management device 30 via a network (not shown) (for example, a public telephone line network).

[0053] (Step S320) The user authentication unit 310 of the user information management device 30 receives the second user identification information from the user terminal device 10. The user information management device 30 performs second-stage user authentication according to a known procedure.

[0054] If the user authentication unit 310 determines that the user is a registered user in the second stage of user authentication, it transmits information indicating that the user for whom the user authentication request was made is a registered user (i.e., the charging operation is being performed by a legitimate user) to the charging control device 20 as a result of the second stage of user authentication. On the other hand, if the user authentication unit 310 determines that the user is not a registered user in the second stage of user authentication, it transmits information indicating that the user for whom the user authentication request was made is not a registered user (i.e., the charging operation is being performed by someone other than the authorized user) to the charging control device 20 as the result of the second stage of user authentication.

[0055] (Step S250) The communication unit 230 of the charging control device 20 receives the result of the second-stage user authentication. The charging permission determination unit 214 acquires the result of the second-stage user authentication received by the communication unit 230. As described above, the result of the second-stage user authentication includes information indicating whether the user performing the charging operation is a registered user (i.e., a legitimate user). If the result of the second-stage user authentication indicates that the user is a registered user (that is, if the two-stage authentication is successful) (step S250; YES), charging permission determination unit 214 advances the process to step S260.

[0056] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an authentication completion screen P3 of this embodiment. The authentication completion screen P3 displays an authentication completion image P31 and a start charging button P32. The authentication completion image P31 displays the text "Your identity has been verified. Do you want to start charging?" The start charging button P32 is an operation acceptance screen that accepts an operation by the user, and displays the text "start charging." The user holds the user terminal device 10 over a reading unit (not shown) of the charge control device 20 to operate the start charging button P32.

[0057] When the terminal operation unit 150 of the user terminal device 10 detects that the user has operated the charge start button P32, it outputs information that the charge start button P32 has been operated to the terminal calculation unit 110. When the charge start button P32 is operated, the terminal calculation unit 110 transmits a charge start instruction from the terminal communication unit 130 to the communication unit 230 of the charge control device 20.

[0058] On the other hand, if the result of the second-stage user authentication indicates that the user is not a registered user (i.e., if the two-stage authentication fails) (step S250; NO), charging permission determination unit 214 proceeds to step S270.

[0059] That is, when the charging permission determination unit 214 determines that the registered user confirmation procedure should be performed, if the result of the registered user confirmation procedure indicates that the user is a registered user, charging is permitted, and when it determines that the registered user confirmation procedure should not be performed, charging is permitted without going through the registered user confirmation procedure.

[0060] [Charging operation] (Step S260) If the charging conditions and the charging determination conditions match in step S230, or if it is determined in step S250 that the operation is by a registered user, charging control unit 215 instructs charging device 40 to perform a charging operation. As a result, the electric vehicle connected to charging station C becomes ready for charging. In other words, the charging control unit 215 instructs the charging device 40 to perform a charging operation when charging is permitted by only the first stage authentication, or when charging is permitted by both the first stage authentication and the second stage authentication.

[0061] That is, the charging control unit 215 performs the charging operation based on the permission given by the charging permission determination unit 214.

[0062] (Step S410) The charging device 40 supplies charging power to the electric vehicle under the control of the charging control device 20. As a result, the electric vehicle is charged.

[0063] (Step S270) When charging of the electric vehicle is completed (or when personal authentication fails in the two-step authentication), the calculation unit 210 outputs a charging completion notification to the user terminal device 10 via the communication unit 230.

[0064] (Step S130) When the terminal calculation unit 110 of the user terminal device 10 receives a charging completion notification from the charging control device 20, it causes the terminal display unit 140 to display a screen indicating that charging has completed (or a screen indicating that personal authentication has failed in the two-step authentication).

[0065] 8 is a diagram showing an example of a charging end screen P4 according to this embodiment. In the figure, the charging end screen P4 shows an example of a screen that appears when personal authentication is successful and charging of the electric vehicle is completed. A charging result display image P41 is displayed on the charging end screen P4. The charging result display image P41 displays the text "Charging has been completed," as well as text explaining the amount of energy charged and text explaining the amount used.

[0066] As described above, the charging system 1 of this embodiment allows the user to register the charging location and charging time period in advance, and thereby omits the second step of the two-step authentication process when charging at a frequently used charging station C. Therefore, according to the charging system 1 of this embodiment, when charging under the pre-registered conditions (for example, a frequently used charging station C by the user), the user can charge the electric vehicle by, for example, simply holding the user terminal device 10 over the charging control device 20. Therefore, according to the charging system 1 of this embodiment, charging can be started with fewer steps than when the user operates the charging control device 20 to perform personal authentication, thereby improving user convenience.

[0067] Furthermore, when charging is performed under conditions other than those registered in advance (for example, charging station C that the user frequently uses), the charging system 1 of this embodiment does not skip the second stage of authentication and performs authentication processing. According to the charging system 1 configured in this manner, for example, in the case where the user identification information is known to another person or the user terminal device 10 is lost and used by another person, it is possible to prevent that other person from pretending to be a properly registered user and charging the device.

[0068] That is, the charging system 1 of this embodiment can improve the convenience for users when charging an electric vehicle while also preventing unauthorized use of identification information.

[0069] Each unit included in each device in the above-described embodiments may be realized by dedicated hardware, or may be realized by a memory and a microprocessor.

[0070] In addition, each part of each device may be composed of a memory and a CPU (central processing unit), and the functions of each part of each device may be realized by loading a program into memory and executing it.

[0071] In addition, a program for realizing the functions of each unit of each device may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium may be read into a computer system and executed to perform processing by each unit of the control unit. Note that the term "computer system" here includes hardware such as an OS and peripheral devices.

[0072] Furthermore, if a WWW system is used, the "computer system" also includes the homepage provision environment (or display environment). "Computer-readable recording media" refers to portable media such as flexible disks, optical magnetic disks, ROMs, and CD-ROMs, as well as storage devices such as hard disks built into computer systems. Furthermore, "computer-readable recording media" also includes devices that dynamically store programs for a short period of time, such as communication lines used when transmitting programs over networks like the Internet or over communication lines like telephone lines, and devices that store programs for a fixed period of time, such as volatile memory within computer systems that serve as servers or clients. Furthermore, the programs may be programs that implement some of the aforementioned functions, or may be programs that can realize the aforementioned functions in combination with programs already stored in the computer system.

[0073] One embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, but the specific configuration is not limited to that described above, and various design changes and the like are possible within the scope that does not deviate from the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0074] 1...charging system, 10...user terminal device, 110...terminal calculation unit, 120...terminal storage unit, 130...terminal communication unit, 140...terminal display unit, 150...terminal operation unit, 20...charging control device, 210...calculation unit, 211...charging determination condition information acquisition unit, 212...charging start operation detection unit, 213...authentication necessity determination unit, 214...charging permission determination unit, 215...charging control unit, 216...notification unit, 220...storage unit, 230...communication unit, 240...display unit, 30...user information management device, 310...user authentication unit, 320...user information storage unit, 3201...charging determination condition information, 40...charging device

Claims

1. a charging determination condition information acquisition unit that acquires charging determination condition information indicating charging determination conditions set by a registered user; a charge start operation detection unit that detects a charge start operation by a user; an authentication necessity determination unit that determines whether to perform a registered user confirmation procedure to confirm whether the user is the registered user based on the charging conditions of the charging device on which the charging start operation is performed and the charging determination condition information; a charging permission determination unit that, when it is determined that the registered user confirmation procedure should be performed, permits charging if it is determined that the user is the registered user as a result of the registered user confirmation procedure, and permits charging without going through the registered user confirmation procedure if it is determined that the registered user confirmation procedure should not be performed; a charging control unit that performs a charging operation based on the permission; A charging control device comprising:

2. a notification unit that notifies the registered user that the charging operation will be performed when it is determined that the registered user confirmation procedure will not be performed; The charge control device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

3. The charging determination conditions include charging station identification information that identifies the charging station designated by the registered user. The charge control device according to claim 1 .

4. On the computer, Acquiring charging determination condition information indicating charging determination conditions set by a registered user; Detecting a charging start operation by a user; determining whether to perform a registered user confirmation procedure for confirming whether the user is a registered user based on the charging conditions of the charging device on which the charging start operation has been performed and the charging determination condition information; When it is determined that the registered user confirmation procedure should be performed, if it is determined that the user is the registered user as a result of the registered user confirmation procedure, charging is permitted, and when it is determined that the registered user confirmation procedure should not be performed, charging is permitted without going through the registered user confirmation procedure. performing a charging operation based on the permission; A program to execute.

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