Information change system and application program

Abstract

To provide a system that can change usage details further smoothly and appropriately after a passenger transport has been in use.SOLUTION: A server device of an information change system manages: service content information corresponding to a passenger transport; usage authority information of a ticket for using the passenger transport; and entry / exit information of a usage facility area of the passenger transport for a user carrying the ticket, in association with each other. A terminal device can be connected to the server device, and application software which enables self-management of the usage authority information is installed therein. A ticket gate device is connected to the server device, and can provide the entry / exit information to the server device. The server device performs at least one of first information change processing which changes the usage authority information and the service content information based on a request to change the usage authority information, and second information change processing which changes the service content information based on the exit information. The terminal device reflects content of information change processing in the server device in the usage authority information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD Embodiments of the present invention relate to an information change system and an application program. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, when using public transport (passenger transport vehicles such as trains, ships, and airplanes), it is possible to reserve the passenger transport vehicle and seats to be used by purchasing a ticket (boarding ticket) and a seat reservation ticket in advance. In such cases, it is possible to use the passenger transport vehicle smoothly and reliably. Furthermore, after starting to use the passenger transport vehicle, for example, after boarding a train, there may be cases where you want to change your destination or change the reserved seat. In such cases, it is possible to have your ticket (boarding ticket, reserved seat, etc.) changed by notifying a crew member or other person of your desire to make the change. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-099826 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-050847 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-141577 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Recently, technologies such as QR digital tickets, IC cards, mobile ICs, and QR tickets have become widespread and are being used as tickets (boarding tickets and reserved seat tickets). In these cases, users can change their destination or reserved seat themselves after starting to use the passenger transport vehicle, but there are cases where the procedure for making changes is complicated, the desired appropriate seat cannot be easily found, or desired services cannot be smoothly received, leaving room for improvement in the change processing. Therefore, it would be meaningful to provide a system that allows users to change their destination or reserved seat more smoothly and appropriately after starting to use the passenger transport vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] An information change system according to an embodiment includes a server device, a terminal device, and a ticket gate device. The server device manages service content information corresponding to a passenger vehicle, usage authority information for a ticket for using the passenger vehicle, and entry / exit information for a facility area used by the passenger vehicle, in association with each other. The terminal device is connectable to the server device via a network and has application software installed thereon that enables self-management of the usage authority information. The ticket gate device is installed at an entrance / exit of the facility area used by the passenger vehicle, is connected to the server device via a network, and is capable of providing the entry / exit information to the server device. The server device performs at least one of a first information change process that changes the usage authority information and the service content information based on a request for changing the usage authority information provided via the terminal device, and a second information change process that changes the service content information based on exit information provided from the ticket gate device. The terminal device reflects the results of the information change process performed by the server device in the usage authority information. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exemplary schematic diagram showing the configuration of an information change system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2]FIG. 2 is an exemplary schematic explanatory diagram showing transmission and reception of information when changing a use ticket in the information change system according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an exemplary sequence diagram illustrating the process when changing a ticket and the process when passing through a ticket gate and exiting in the information change system according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an exemplary schematic explanatory diagram showing transmission and reception of information when passing through a ticket gate device in the information change system according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an exemplary schematic explanatory diagram showing details of transmission and reception of information when passing through a ticket gate device in the information change system according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an exemplary schematic explanatory diagram showing identification information attached to a reserved seat in the information change system according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an exemplary and schematic explanatory diagram illustrating that in the information change system according to the embodiment, the reservation of a reserved seat is maintained when the positional relationship between the carrier (user) of the terminal device and the passenger transport vehicle (train) is within a predetermined range. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is an exemplary and schematic explanatory diagram illustrating that in an information change system according to an embodiment, a reserved seat reservation is released when the positional relationship between the terminal device carrier (user) and the passenger transport vehicle (train) falls outside a specified range. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is an exemplary sequence diagram illustrating the process of changing the reservation status of a reserved seat depending on the positional relationship between the carrier (user) of the terminal device and the passenger transport vehicle (train) in the information change system of the embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an exemplary sequence diagram illustrating a process for determining whether or not payment is permitted when purchasing an item based on payment information included in usage authority information in the information change system according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The configurations of the embodiments described below, as well as the actions and results (effects) brought about by the configurations, are merely examples and are not limited to the following description.

[0008] FIG. 1 is an exemplary schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of an information change system 10 according to an embodiment. The information change system 10 of this embodiment is a system including a server device 12, a terminal device 14, a ticket gate device 16, and the like. The information change system 10 is a system that allows a user W (such as a purchaser) of a ticket T to change the usage details of the ticket T after starting to use the passenger transport vehicle M (after boarding, for example) when using a means of transport (e.g., a passenger transport vehicle M such as a train, ship, or airplane). In the embodiment described below, the passenger transport vehicle M is a railway vehicle with reserved seats, and the ticket gate device 16 is installed in a station building or the like, at an entrance / exit that separates the inside and outside areas of the ticket gate.

[0009] The server device 12 manages service content information corresponding to the passenger transport vehicle M, usage authority information of the ticket T for using the passenger transport vehicle M, and entry / exit information of the facility area used by the passenger transport vehicle M for the user W carrying the ticket T, in association with each other. In other words, the server device 12 collectively manages information on the usage section (information on the departure station and destination station), ticket type information (information on ordinary cars, reserved seat cars, green seat cars, etc.), reserved seat information (seat number information), etc., which are held by the user W as usage rights. Note that in this embodiment, the description will be given assuming that the ticket T has already undergone passage processing (entry processing) at the ticket gate device 16.

[0010] In this embodiment, the server device 12 is composed of, for example, a center server 12A and an application server 12B. The center server 12A is a device that mainly controls and manages the operation of the passenger transport vehicle M and the services provided by a transportation company or the like. The application server 12B is a device that relays and processes information between the terminal device 14 and the center server 12A. The application server 12B also has a function of sending and receiving information to and from an external server 18 that handles payments for the passenger transport vehicle M (fares, express charges, reserved seat charges, etc.). The external server 18 is, for example, a server device of a card company or the like, and performs payment processing, etc. In other embodiments, the center server 12A and the application server 12B may be integrated.

[0011] The server device 12 can be configured with computer resources such as a general PC, etc. The server device 12 is configured with, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a storage unit such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive), a communication interface, an input / output interface, etc.

[0012] The terminal device 14 can be connected to the server device 12 via a network. The terminal device 14 is a device installed with an application program that enables the user W to acquire (purchase) and manage usage authority information for receiving services (e.g., boarding services, reserved seat provision services, etc.) provided by the passenger transport entity M. The terminal device 14 executes a registration management process for registering and managing usage authority information using a dedicated application (ticket processing application) realized by executing the application program. The application also executes an input / display process for inputting and displaying the contents of a request to change the usage authority information. The application also executes a communication process for transmitting a request to change the usage authority information to the server device 12 and receiving, from the server device 12, usage authority information that reflects the changes made in response to the change request. The application also executes, as part of the registration management process, a process for updating and registering, in the terminal device 14, usage authority information that reflects the changes made in response to the change request from the terminal device 14. In addition, the application can also execute an identification information acquisition process, which will be described later. The terminal device 14 may be any device on which an application program can be installed, and may be, for example, a smartphone, a wearable device, a tablet device, a mobile phone, etc. In the present embodiment, the terminal device 14 will be described as being a smartphone.

[0013] The ticket gate device 16 is provided in a facility area used by the passenger transport vehicle M (for example, a platform area of ​​a station building, etc.), i.e., at an entrance / exit gate that separates the inside and outside areas of the ticket gate. The ticket gate device 16 is connected to the server device 12 (center server 12A) via a network, and can provide the center server 12A with information such as entry / exit information of users W passing through.

[0014] As described above, the ticket T is a ticket that can be purchased in advance by a user W who will be using the passenger transport vehicle M, and includes the usage authority information of the passenger transport vehicle M. The usage authority information includes, for example, the section of use (departure station and destination station) and fare information for the passenger transport vehicle M, as well as express ticket fare information if an express ticket is required, reserved seat fare information and reserved seat number information if a paid seat is reserved, and information such as the operating date and operating vehicle of the passenger transport vehicle M (train).

[0015] Examples of the ticket T include a QR digital ticket T1, an IC card T2, a mobile ICT3, and a QR passenger ticket T4. The QR digital ticket T1 is a passenger ticket (which may include express tickets, reserved seat tickets, etc.) that utilizes QR Code (registered trademark) and can be registered in an application implemented by an application program installed on a terminal device 14 (e.g., a smartphone). The QR digital ticket T1 can be passed through the ticket gate 16 by displaying the registered QR code on the front screen of the terminal device 14 and holding it over the recognition unit of the ticket gate 16. The train crew can also check the contents of the ticket T by reading the displayed QR code with the train crew's crew terminal. The IC card T2 is a card medium issued by a transportation facility that can store fare payment functions, ticket information, etc., and can be passed through the ticket gate 16 by holding it over the recognition unit of the ticket gate 16. The IC card T2 is a so-called transportation card, and can be registered in the terminal device 14 (for example, a smartphone) and used with the above-mentioned application implemented on the terminal device 14. The mobile ICT 3 implements the functions of the IC card T2 with an application on the terminal device 14, and allows passage through the ticket gate 16 by holding the terminal device 14 over the recognition section of the ticket gate 16. Note that when the IC card T2 is registered in the application on the terminal device 14, it can function in the same way as the mobile ICT 3. The QR passenger ticket T4 is a QR code printed on a paper medium (such as a paper passenger ticket). The QR passenger ticket T4 can be passed through the ticket gate 16 by passing it through the reading section of the ticket gate 16 or holding it over the recognition section. Note that the QR passenger ticket T4 can also be registered in the application on the terminal device 14 using the reading function (camera function, etc.) of the terminal device 14 and used.

[0016] The information change system 10 of this embodiment is a system that allows a user W to change the valid usage authorization information reserved in advance after starting to use the passenger vehicle M (e.g., after boarding). There are multiple modes of change processing. For example, there is a change processing when the user W discontinues use of the passenger vehicle M at a waypoint before the set destination within the valid reserved section specified in the usage authorization information of the ticket T, i.e., when getting off the train. Other change processing includes changing the ticket type of the ticket T while the user W is on board (e.g., changing from a reserved seat car to a green car), changing the reserved seat within the same type of car, or extending the usage section specified in the ticket T (over-riding change). Furthermore, when the user W discontinues use of the passenger vehicle M by getting off the train and exits the ticket gate device 16, there is a fare change processing in which the difference between the pre-change usage fare specified in the pre-change usage authorization information and the post-change usage fare specified in the post-change usage authorization information is settled, or the difference in the above-mentioned over-riding fare is settled. The change processing modes performed by the information change system 10 include a change processing for releasing the reserved section of a reserved seat that has become unused (unreserved) after a stopover point (station for getting off along the way) in conjunction with the change processing due to getting off along the way described above, and a change processing of service content that allows other users to use the unused reserved seat. Even if user W does not get off along the way, there are also change processing of service content such as a change processing for releasing a reserved seat that has become unused due to a change in reserved seat or ticket type, etc., and allowing other users to use it.

[0017] First, change processes that can be performed while user W is aboard passenger vehicle M in a valid reserved section defined by the usage authority information of ticket T will be described with reference to Figures 2 to 6. Note that these change processes include a reserved seat change process, a ticket type change process, an over-ride change process, and an intermediate stop change process, and all of these change processes can be realized by similar processes in that they can be performed by sending and receiving information to and from server device 12 using terminal device 14 that user W can operate. Therefore, the following explanation will focus on the intermediate stop change process as an example.

[0018] Fig. 2 is an exemplary and schematic explanatory diagram showing transmission and reception of information when changing a use ticket T in the information change system 10. Fig. 3 is an exemplary sequence diagram explaining the processing when changing a use ticket T and the processing when passing through the ticket gate device 16 and exiting in the information change system 10.

[0019] As described above, in the embodiment, the usage authority information of the usage ticket T is assumed to be registered and linked in advance to a dedicated application P (ticket processing app) that is implemented by the user W executing an application program installed on the terminal device 14, such as a smartphone. For example, if the usage ticket T is a QR code ticket T4, the usage authority information is registered in the dedicated application P and linked to the terminal device 14 by reading the QR code printed on the QR code ticket T4 with a reading unit (camera, etc.) of the terminal device 14. Also, if the usage ticket T is an IC card T2, the usage authority information is linked to the terminal device 14 by registering the IC card T2 in the dedicated application P of the terminal device 14. If the usage ticket T is a QR digital ticket T1 or a mobile ICT3 that has already been registered in the IC chip C of the terminal device 14, the usage authority information of the QR digital ticket T1 or the mobile ICT3 is read out as appropriate, registered in the dedicated application P, and linked to the terminal device 14.

[0020] 3, when a user W attempts to change a ticket T, for example, to change the ticket to allow a stopover, the user W starts the procedure by launching a dedicated application P on the terminal device 14 (S100). The user W designates the ticket T for which the change procedure is to be performed and the details of the change via the operation screen displayed by the application P. This operation causes the terminal device 14 to register the procedure information (change request) with the application server 12B (S102).

[0021] When the application server 12B acquires the procedure information (change request) from the terminal device 14 (user W), it provides the procedure information to the center server 12A and links the information (S104). When the center server 12A acquires the procedure information (change request), it executes a first information change process to change the usage authority information and the service content information in the passenger transport vehicle M based on the procedure information.

[0022] When changing the usage authority information based on a change request, the center server 12A performs, as a first information change process, a process of determining whether the disembarking station for which the change request has been made is within a valid reserved section specified in the purchased ticket T or within a section requiring an additional fee. The center server 12A also performs a process of determining whether settlement processing (refund processing or additional fee processing) is necessary, for example.

[0023] Then, the center server 12A returns the result of the first information change process to the application server 12B, and links information with the application server 12B (S106). As a result, the content of the usage authority information is changed to content corresponding to the stopover in the center server 12A and the application server 12B. Note that, if the procedure for changing the usage authority information is possible and the settlement process is possible (required), the application server 12B provides the settlement content information to an external server 18 such as a card company, and performs the settlement process (S108). For example, if the fare, express charge, etc. can be refunded due to the stopover, the external server 18 can perform the refund process. Furthermore, if the stopover station is outside the usage section before the change and an additional charge is required, the external server 18 performs the process of requesting the additional charge.

[0024] Then, the application server 12B provides the terminal device 14 with information on whether the procedure can be completed as a response to the change procedure (change request) performed by the user W in S100 (S110). In this case, this information is information on whether the stopover procedure has been completed or not. Also, if the change procedure (change request) includes a request to change the reserved seat or secure a new seat, information on whether the reserved seat can be changed is provided.

[0025] The processing of S100 to S110 described above updates the usage authority information of the usage ticket T held by the user W. In this way, the center server 12A performs the first information change processing for changing the usage authority information based on a request to change the usage authority information, so that the user W can easily change the usage authority information himself or herself, and the procedure can be carried out smoothly. As a result, the convenience for the user W can be improved.

[0026] Fig. 4 is an exemplary and schematic explanatory diagram showing the transmission and reception of information when passing through the ticket gate device 16 in the information change system 10. Fig. 5 is an exemplary and schematic explanatory diagram showing the transmission and reception of information when passing through the ticket gate device 16 in the information change system 10.

[0027] When passing through the ticket gate device 16 at an intermediate stop, the user W holds the ticket T (QR digital ticket T1, IC card T2, mobile ICT3, QR passenger ticket T4, etc.) with updated usage authority information or the terminal device 14 linked to the usage ticket T over the reading unit 16a of the ticket gate device 16 (S112), as shown in Figures 3 to 5. When the usage ticket T (terminal device 14) is held over the ticket gate device 16, the processing unit 16b of the ticket gate device 16 queries the center server 12A for the acquired receipt information (usage authority information) (S114). The center server 12A compares the usage authority information received from the ticket gate device 16 with the usage authority information changed in the first information change process described above, and returns the result of the judgment to the ticket gate device 16 (S116). If the usage authority information changed in the first information change process matches the usage authority information of the ticket T held over the ticket gate device 16, the ticket gate device 16 performs an exit process, such as opening the gate, for the user W attempting to pass through, and allows the user W to pass (exit) (S118). On the other hand, if the usage authority information changed in the first information change process does not match the usage authority information of the ticket T held over the ticket gate device 16, for example, if there is a difference in the validity date, the validity section, or the usage amount (fare) is insufficient. In this case, the ticket gate device 16 notifies the user W attempting to pass through of an abnormal judgment (such as outputting a warning sound) and performs an exit denial process, such as closing the gate, to prevent the user W from passing through (exit) (S118). In this case, the center server 12A provides information about the abnormal judgment to the application server 12B to cooperate with the application server 12B (S120), and if a surcharge is required, requests the external server 18 (the card company's server) to perform a settlement process (S122). When the external server 18 completes processing such as billing the underpayment amount, the external server 18 provides settlement completion information to the application server 12B (S124). Furthermore, the application server 12B supplies the settlement completion information to the center server 12A (S126) to share information. As a result, the center server 12A provides a new determination result to the ticket gate device 16 so as to allow the user W to pass through the ticket gate device 16 (S116). Note that, if settlement processing is required due to a change in the usage authority information of the ticket T, it may be performed at the timing of the change processing in S108 or at the timing of passing through the ticket gate device 16 in S122.

[0028] As described above, when the center server 12A performs a first information change process to change the usage authority information of the ticket T, for example, based on a stopover, the center server 12A also performs a process to change the service content information for the passenger transport vehicle M that results from the change process. For example, if user W stops at a station, the reserved seat in the reserved section after the stop becomes essentially an empty seat (unused seat), and if that remains the case, it cannot be offered to another user even if it is empty. Therefore, the center server 12A releases the reserved section of the unused reserved seat. In other words, the center server 12A performs a process to change the service content information for the passenger transport vehicle M. For example, when the center server 12A receives exit information indicating that user W, who holds the ticket T to be processed, has exited the ticket gate device 16, the center server 12A performs a second information change process to change the service content information based on the exit information. Note that even if user W has not performed a stopover change procedure, the abandonment of the reserved seat reservation can be confirmed by exiting the ticket gate device 16. Therefore, the second information change process (for example, a process for releasing a reserved seat reservation) for changing the service content information in the center server 12A can be executed regardless of whether or not the user W has performed a change procedure for getting off midway.

[0029] In this case, as shown in Fig. 3, if the center server 12A confirms, for example, from the determination result of S116, that the user W holding the ticket T to be processed is about to exit through the ticket gate device 16, it releases the reserved section of the unused reserved seat (S200). This release process makes the unused reserved seat immediately available for use by another user. In this case as well, information indicating that the reserved seat has become unused is notified to the application server 12B (S202), and if payment processing (refund processing for the green car fare, etc.) is possible, the application server 12B requests payment processing from the external server 18 (S204).

[0030] In this way, the center server 12A can easily improve the convenience of user W by performing a second information change process that changes the service content information of passenger transport vehicle M (such as information on the availability of reserved seats) based on the exit information provided by the ticket gate device 16.

[0031] As described above, when a reserved seat becomes unused due to a user W getting off midway, other users W may not be able to easily determine whether the reserved seat is actually unused. Therefore, in the case of a passenger vehicle M that is the target of use of the information change system 10 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, each reserved seat SE is provided with identification information F linked to the reserved seat SE. The identification information F may be, for example, a QR code attached to each reserved seat SE and can be acquired by a reader (e.g., a camera) of the terminal device 14. The identification information F may be provided in a position that allows identification of each reserved seat SE. For example, the identification information F may be provided on an armrest provided for each reserved seat SE or near a switch for a spotlight provided for each reserved seat SE. The identification information F may also be provided on the back of the seatback of the seat in front of the reserved seat SE that faces the target reserved seat SE. In this case, the seat orientation may be rotated depending on the direction of travel of the passenger vehicle M or the user's operation. In this case, a sensor that detects the rotation of the seat or the like can be used to match the identification information F provided on the seat back with the reserved seat SE. Note that the identification information F only needs to be able to identify the position (seat number) of the reserved seat SE, and may be an indicator other than a QR code, for example, the seat number itself.

[0032] When a user W requests the reservation of a desired reserved seat SE and acquires identification information F via a terminal device 14, the center server 12A (server device 12) performs a first information change process to determine whether the reserved seat SE is available for reservation. If the reserved seat SE is available for reservation, the center server 12A reflects the authorization to use the reserved seat SE with an open reserved section in the authorization information of the user W on the terminal device SE from which the identification information F was acquired. As a result, the user W can smoothly reserve an unused reserved seat SE. For example, even if it is difficult to determine whether the desired reserved seat SE is an unused seat that has not been reserved, the user W can quickly determine whether the seat can be reserved (reserved) simply by reading the identification information F via the terminal device 14. For example, even if the reserved seat SE has not been reserved on the ticket T, the unused reserved seat SE can be easily reserved. Furthermore, even if the reserved seat SE has already been reserved, the user can easily change to a desired unused reserved seat SE. Since the usage authority information of the ticket T also includes information on the usage section, there is no need to re-enter information such as the usage section of the reserved seat SE when reserving or changing the reserved seat SE, making it possible to reserve the reserved seat SE easily and smoothly. Also, when the identification information F is read to reserve or change the reserved seat SE, there may be other unused reserved seats SE. In such cases, the application P of the terminal device 14 may display selectable reserved seats SE on the display screen and allow the user to select from among them.

[0033] Incidentally, when a user W who has reserved a reserved seat SE in advance gets off midway, if the center server 12A (server device 12) can confirm that the user W has performed the process to change the stopover (change the use authority information) himself / herself as described above, or that he / she has exited through the ticket gate device 16 after the change, the center server 12A can quickly release the reservation of the corresponding reserved seat SE and provide it to another user W. On the other hand, if the user W does not perform the process to change the stopover or does not perform it immediately, he / she may not have yet passed through the ticket gate device 16 and exited. For example, he / she may have actually disembarked from the passenger vehicle M and waived his / her right to use the reserved seat SE, but may still be on the platform or within the station. In such a case, the reservation of the unused reserved seat SE may remain secured.

[0034] Therefore, in the information change system 10 of this embodiment, the application P installed on the terminal device 14 has a location information acquisition function that acquires terminal location information of the terminal device 14 (user W) identified by the usage authority information and operating location information of the passenger transport vehicle M.

[0035] Fig. 7 is an exemplary and schematic explanatory diagram illustrating that, in the information change system 10, the reservation of a reserved seat is maintained when the positional relationship between the carrier of the terminal device 14 (user W present at a platform PH or the like) and the passenger transport body M (train) is within a predetermined range. Fig. 8 is an exemplary and schematic explanatory diagram illustrating that, in the information change system 10, the reservation of a reserved seat is released when the positional relationship between the carrier of the terminal device 14 (user W present at a platform PH or the like) and the passenger transport body M (train) goes outside the predetermined range. Fig. 9 is an exemplary sequence diagram illustrating the process of changing the reservation status of a reserved seat SE in the information change system 10 according to the positional relationship between the carrier of the terminal device 14 (user W) and the passenger transport body M (train).

[0036] The application P of the terminal device 14 normally constantly detects the location information of the terminal device 14 via the application server 12B (S300). Furthermore, since the application P of the terminal device 14 can obtain the operating location information of the passenger vehicle M via the center server 12A, it refers to the operating location information of the passenger vehicle M (S302). That is, the terminal device 14 can detect whether the distance H between the terminal device 14 (user W) and the passenger vehicle M in the valid reserved section specified in the usage authority information of the ticket T is greater than or equal to a predetermined distance Ha. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, when the distance H between the terminal device 14 (user W) and the passenger vehicle M is greater than or equal to the predetermined distance Ha, the application P of the terminal device 14 can notify the center server 12A that the user W has disembarked the passenger vehicle M specified in the usage authority information and abandoned the reservation of the reserved seat SE. That is, a processing request to release the reserved seat SE reserved by the ticket T can be provided to the center server 12A. In this case, as a first information change process, the center server 12A changes the usage authority information of the user W who is considered to have disembarked, and also performs a process to change the service content information (vacant seat information) of the passenger transport vehicle M. In other words, the reservation of the reserved seat SE, which is considered to be unused due to disembarking, can be released. As a result, even if the user W does not immediately perform the change process to disembark midway or has not passed through the ticket gate device 16 to exit, the center server 12A can easily and quickly recognize that the reserved seat SE that was reserved has been abandoned, and can provide it to other users W. In other words, other users W who are riding on the passenger transport vehicle M from which the user W who abandoned the reserved seat SE disembarked can quickly secure the abandoned reserved seat SE, which easily improves the convenience of the other users W.

[0037] As described above, the usage authority information of the use ticket T held by the user W is managed through cooperation between the terminal device 14 and the server device 12 (center server 12A, application server 12B). Therefore, it is possible to easily expand the manner in which the use ticket T, including the right and authority information managed through cooperation between the terminal device 14 and the server device 12, can be utilized. As described above, the use ticket T has the function of performing payment processing based on the usage authority information when the fare is insufficient, when a new reserved seat is reserved, when an over-ride is made, etc. Therefore, as an additional function of the usage authority information of the use ticket T, it is easy to provide payment information that allows for payment for purchasing goods within the validity period of the usage authority information. In other words, if the usage authority information of the use ticket T is valid, for example, before boarding the passenger transport vehicle M or while on board, payment for purchasing goods at a convenience store or on-board sales can be made by presenting the use ticket T without having to take out a wallet, credit card, etc.

[0038] In this case, as mentioned above, for example, the QR digital ticket T1 is displayed as a QR code on the display screen by a dedicated application P installed on the terminal device 14. Also, the QR ticket T4 can be read by the terminal device 14 as a QR code, but it can also exist as a paper medium. Therefore, by including payment information in the QR code that is valid only during the validity period of the ticket T when purchasing the ticket T (such as a train ticket), the range of uses for the ticket T can be easily expanded.

[0039] FIG. 10 is an exemplary sequence diagram illustrating a process in the information change system 10 for determining whether or not payment is permitted when purchasing an item based on payment information included in the usage authority information.

[0040] For example, the user W presents a QR digital ticket T1 or a QR passenger ticket T4 as the use ticket T to a crew member, a salesperson, or the like, and has the QR code read by a dedicated crew terminal N (payment terminal) (S400). The crew terminal N checks whether payment is possible or not by referring to the application server 12B (server device 12) based on the payment information of the read use ticket T (S402). At this time, the application server 12B also performs payment confirmation with the purchaser of the use ticket T, i.e., the terminal device 14 used in the information change system 10, to check whether the payment function of the use ticket T has been used fraudulently (S404). Then, when the holder of the terminal device 14, i.e., the authorized holder of the use authority information, has authenticated the payment process (S406), the application server 12B requests the external server 18 (a card company's server) to execute the payment (S408). When the payment is completed, the external server 18 provides a payment completion notice to the crew terminal N (S410), thereby completing the item purchase process.

[0041] In this way, the information change system 10 of this embodiment manages the usage authority information of the use ticket T held by the user W through cooperation between the terminal device 14 and the server device 12, so that the use ticket T can be used not only for (riding on) the passenger transport vehicle M but also as an item for purchasing goods. As a result, the added value of the use ticket T can be improved.

[0042] In the information change system 10 of this embodiment, if a user wants to get off at an intermediate stop, he or she can do so without going through the change procedure, but if a system is introduced that awards bonus points or the like by completing the intermediate stop change procedure in advance, it will be possible to encourage the user W to request reservation change processing himself or herself. As a result, this can contribute to smoother operation of the information change system 10.

[0043] In the above-described embodiment, an example was shown in which the terminal device 14 owned by the passenger is used to change the usage authority information (such as stopping off midway or changing the reserved seat SE) within the passenger transport vehicle M, but this is not limiting. For example, the same effect can be obtained even if the process is performed using a dedicated terminal device installed within the passenger transport vehicle M.

[0044] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the above embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The above embodiments can be implemented in various forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The above embodiments are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as within the scope of the inventions and their equivalents as set forth in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 10 Information Change System 12 Server equipment 12A Center Server 12B Application Server 14 Terminal Equipment 16 Ticket gate device M passenger transport T ticket W User P Application

Claims

1. a server device that manages, in association with each other, service content information corresponding to a passenger transport vehicle, usage authority information of a ticket for using the passenger transport vehicle, and entry / exit information of a facility area used by the passenger transport vehicle for a user carrying the ticket; a terminal device that can be connected to the server device via a network and has installed thereon application software that enables self-management of the usage authority information; a ticket gate device that is provided at an entrance / exit of the facility area of ​​the passenger transport vehicle, that is connected to the server device via a network, and that can provide the entrance / exit information to the server device; Including, The server device performs at least one of a first information change process for changing the usage authority information and the service content information based on a change request for the usage authority information provided via the terminal device, and a second information change process for changing the service content information based on exit information provided from the ticket gate device; the terminal device reflects the content of the information change process in the server device in the usage authority information; Information change system.

2. The information change system described in claim 1, wherein when the server device detects that a reserved seat on the passenger transport vehicle that was reserved by the usage authority information has become unused based on at least one of a change in the usage authority information or the exit information, it releases the reserved section of the unused reserved seat as a process for changing the service content information.

3. 3. The information change system according to claim 2, wherein when the server device detects that the user has stopped using the passenger transport vehicle at a stopover point before the set destination within the valid reserved section specified in the usage authority information of the ticket, the server device releases the reserved section of the reserved seat that has become unused after the stopover point.

4. The terminal device acquires terminal location information of the terminal device and operation location information of the passenger transport vehicle identified by the usage authority information, When detecting that the passenger transport vehicle and the terminal device have separated by a predetermined distance or more in a valid reserved section defined by the usage authority information, notify the server device that the passenger transport vehicle has separated; 2. The information change system according to claim 1, wherein the server device changes the service content information by releasing the reserved section of the reserved seat that has been reserved based on the usage authority information.

5. Each of the reserved seats of the passenger transport vehicle is provided with identification information associated with the reserved seat and obtainable by the terminal device; An information change system as described in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the server device reflects the authority to use the reserved seat for which the reserved section has been released in the authority information of the user of the terminal device that obtained the identification information.

6. The information change system described in claim 1, wherein when the server device detects that the user carrying the ticket has stopped using the passenger transportation vehicle at a waypoint before the set destination within the valid reservation section specified in the usage authority information before the change and exited the ticket gate device, it performs a settlement process for the difference between the pre-change usage fare specified in the usage authority information before the change and the post-change usage fare specified in the usage authority information after the change.

7. The usage authority information includes payment information that allows payment for purchasing goods within the validity period of the usage authority information, The information change system according to claim 1 , wherein the server device provides payment confirmation information to the terminal device associated with the valid usage authority information before executing a payment process that uses the payment information.

8. An application program to be executed by a computer of a terminal device equipped with a display device connected via a network to a server device that associates and manages service content information corresponding to a passenger transport vehicle, usage authority information of a ticket for using the passenger transport vehicle, and entrance / exit information provided by a ticket gate device that detects entrance / exit of a facility area used by the passenger transport vehicle, a registration management process for registering and managing the usage authority information; an input / display process for inputting and displaying the content of the request to change the usage authority information; a communication process of transmitting a request to change the usage authority information to the server device and receiving the usage authority information reflecting the change result from the server device in response to the change request; causing the computer to execute The registration management process is an application program that updates and registers the usage authority information in the terminal device, reflecting at least one of the change results of a first information change process performed on the usage authority information and the service content information based on a request to change the usage authority information requested to the server device via the terminal device, and the change results of a second information change process performed on the service content information based on exit information provided from the ticket gate device.

9. moreover, causing the computer to execute an acquisition process for acquiring identification information for changing the usage authority information; The application program according to claim 8 , wherein the input / display process executes a process of accepting the identification information as the change request.

10. a location acquisition process for acquiring terminal location information of the terminal device and operation location information of the passenger transport vehicle identified by the usage authority information; When it is detected that the terminal device and the passenger transport vehicle are separated by a predetermined distance or more in a valid reserved section defined by the use authority information, the server device performs a notification process to release the reserved section of the designated seat that was reserved by the use authority information as a change process of the service content information; 9. The application program according to claim 8, wherein the application program executes the following:

11. The usage authority information includes payment information that allows payment for purchasing goods within the validity period of the usage authority information, as the communication process, a process of receiving payment confirmation information is executed before execution of a payment process using the payment information; As the input display process, if execution of the settlement process is permitted, a process for inputting authentication information is executed; As the communication process, a process of transmitting the authentication information to the server device is executed.

9. The application program according to claim 8.

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