Information processing apparatus and information processing system

Abstract

To provide a technology for appropriately tracking a battery of a vehicle.SOLUTION: A controller of an information processing device determines whether or not registration information for tracking the location of a target battery of a transaction in a used battery market is registered in a predetermined information management device. When the registration information is not registered, the control unit of the information processing device restricts at least a part of access to a system that manages transactions in the used battery market.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing device and an information processing system. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a management device that manages secondary batteries installed in vehicles. The management device stores management information for each of a plurality of vehicles indicating whether the vehicle is a target vehicle for which battery replacement timing is to be managed. The management device estimates the degree of deterioration of the secondary battery installed in the target vehicle using history information indicating the usage history of the secondary battery installed in the target vehicle. Then, when the estimated degree of deterioration of the secondary battery reaches a predetermined threshold, the management device transmits a notification signal notifying the target vehicle that it is time to replace the battery. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-191159 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present disclosure aims to provide a technology that enables appropriate tracking of vehicle batteries. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] An information processing device according to a first aspect of the present disclosure includes: Determining whether registration information for tracking the location of a battery that is the subject of a transaction in the used battery market is registered in a predetermined information management device; restricting at least a portion of access to a system managing transactions in the used battery market in the absence of registration of the registration information; The controller is configured to:

[0006] An information processing system according to a second aspect of the present disclosure includes: An information processing system including an information management device and a transaction management device, The information management device Accepting registration information for tracking the location of batteries subject to trading in the used battery market; Run The transaction management device determining whether the registration information regarding the target battery is registered in the information management device; restricting at least a portion of access to a system managing transactions in the used battery market in the absence of registration of the registration information; Execute. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The present disclosure allows for proper tracking of vehicle batteries. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an information processing system. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the information server and the market server. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a table configuration of registration information held in the registration information database. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a table configuration of transaction permission information held in the transaction permission information database. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of information processing in the information processing system. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the determination process executed by the control unit of the market server. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Batteries removed from vehicles may become the subject of trade in the used battery market. In this case, the distribution of used batteries may result in their location becoming unknown. In such cases, if used batteries of unknown origin are traded in the used battery market and malfunction, it may be difficult to identify the cause. Furthermore, if the used battery is not used or disposed of appropriately at its destination, there is a risk of harm caused by the used battery. On the other hand, if the location of a vehicle's battery can be traced, it is possible to confirm that the used battery is being used or disposed of appropriately at its destination.

[0010] Therefore, the control unit of the information processing device according to the first aspect of the present disclosure determines whether registration information for tracking the location of a battery subject to trading in the used battery market is registered in a predetermined information management device, and if the registration information is not registered, the control unit of the information processing device restricts at least a portion of access to a system that manages trading in the used battery market.

[0011] As described above, if the registration information for tracking the location of the target battery is not registered by the information processing device, access to the system managing transactions in the used battery market is at least partially restricted. Therefore, to avoid making the target battery unavailable or disadvantageous for trading in the used battery market, registration of the registration information is encouraged. As a result, it becomes possible to properly track the vehicle battery.

[0012] Specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Unless otherwise specified, the hardware configuration, module configuration, functional configuration, etc. described in each embodiment are not intended to limit the technical scope of the disclosure to only those configurations.

[0013] <Embodiment> (System Overview) An information processing system 1 in this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the information processing system 1. The information processing system 1 includes a business operator terminal 200, an information server 300, and a market server 400. In the information processing system 1, the business operator terminal 200, the information server 300, and the market server 400 are interconnected by a network N1. The network N1 may be, for example, a WAN (Wide Area Network), which is a global public communication network such as the Internet, or a telephone communication network such as a mobile phone.

[0014] (battery) The battery 100 is a battery that can be installed in the vehicle 10. The battery 100 is a drive battery for the vehicle 10. The battery 100 may also be, for example, an auxiliary battery for the vehicle 10. After being removed from the vehicle 10, the battery 100 can be reinstalled in another vehicle or reused for purposes such as a home storage battery. Therefore, after being removed from the vehicle 10, the battery 100 can be bought and sold as a trading item in the used battery market. This may be done.

[0015] (operator terminal) The business operator terminal 200 is a terminal used by a business operator (hereinafter, sometimes simply referred to as "business operator") that removes the battery. When the battery 100 is removed from the vehicle 10, the business operator terminal 200 receives input of information for tracking the vehicle 10 (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as "registration information") from the business operator. The business operator inputs the registration information into the business operator terminal 200. Here, the business operator inputs an identifier (battery ID) for identifying the battery 100, the date on which the battery 100 was removed (removal date), the previous owner of the battery 100, the purpose of the removal, etc., into the business operator terminal 200 as registration information. The business operator terminal 200 transmits the registration information to the information server 300 via the network N1.

[0016] (information server) The information server 300 is a server device that manages registration information. The information server 300 receives registration information from the business operator terminal 200 via the network N1. The information server 300 registers the registration information received from the business operator terminal 200. Here, the business operator terminal 200 is a terminal used by an authorized business operator that is permitted to perform operations such as removing a vehicle battery. Therefore, registration information for a battery that has been removed by a person other than an authorized business operator is not registered in the information server 300.

[0017] (Market Server) The market server 400 is a server device that manages transactions in the used battery market. Here, the battery 100 is an object of buying and selling in the used battery market. In this case, as the battery 100 is circulated, its location may become unknown. In this case, if a battery 100 of unknown origin is traded in the used battery market and malfunctions, it becomes difficult to identify the cause. Furthermore, if the battery 100 is not used or disposed of in an appropriate manner at its location, there is a risk of harm caused by the battery 100. On the other hand, if the location of the battery 100 can be traced, it becomes possible to confirm that the battery 100 is being used or disposed of in an appropriate manner at its location.

[0018] Therefore, if registration information about the battery 100 has not been registered, the market server 400 restricts access to a system that manages transactions in the used battery market (hereinafter, may be referred to as the "market system"). In this embodiment, if registration information about the battery 100 has not been registered, the market server 400 restricts access from a seller's terminal to put the battery 100 up for sale on the used battery market. In other words, if registration information about the battery 100 has not been registered, the seller will not be able to put the battery 100 up for sale on the used battery market.

[0019] In this embodiment, the registration information of batteries removed by parties other than authorized businesses is not registered in the information server 300. This makes it possible to prevent batteries removed by parties other than authorized businesses from being traded in the used battery market. This allows batteries that have been inspected by authorized businesses and have a certain level of quality to be distributed in the used battery market.

[0020] The market server 400 is configured to include a computer having a processor 410, a main memory 420, an auxiliary memory 430, and a communication interface (communication I / F) 440. The processor 410 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). The main memory 420 is, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory). The storage unit 430 is, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory). The auxiliary storage unit 430 is, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD) or a disk recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a DVD disk, or a Blu-ray disk. The auxiliary storage unit 430 may also be a removable medium (portable storage medium). Examples of removable media include a USB memory or an SD card. The communication I / F 440 is, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network) interface board or a wireless communication circuit for wireless communication.

[0021] In the market server 400, the auxiliary memory unit 430 stores an operating system (OS), various programs, various information tables, and the like. Furthermore, in the market server 400, the processor 410 loads the programs stored in the auxiliary memory unit 430 into the main memory unit 420 and executes them, thereby realizing various functions as described below. However, some or all of the functions of the market server 400 may be realized by hardware circuits such as ASICs or FPGAs. The market server 400 does not necessarily have to be realized by a single physical configuration, but may be composed of multiple computers that work together. Similarly to the market server 400, the business operator terminal 200 and the information server 300 also include computers.

[0022] (Functional configuration) Next, the functional configurations of the information server 300 and the market server 400 that constitute the information processing system 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 2 to Fig. 4. Fig. 2 is a block diagram that schematically shows an example of the functional configuration of the information server 300 and the market server 400.

[0023] (Information Server 300) The information server 300 is configured to include a control unit 301, a communication unit 302, and a registration information database 303 (registration information DB303). The control unit 301 has a function of performing arithmetic processing for controlling the information server 300. The control unit 301 can be realized by a processor in the information server 300. The communication unit 302 has a function of connecting the information server 300 to the network N1. The communication unit 302 can be realized by a communication I / F in the information server 300.

[0024] The control unit 301 receives registration information from the business operator terminal 200 via the communication unit 302. The control unit 301 stores the received registration information in the registration information DB 303. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a table configuration of the registration information held in the registration information DB 303. The registration information DB 303 can be realized by an auxiliary storage unit in the information server 300. As shown in FIG. 3, the registration information has a battery ID field, a battery model number field, a removal date field, a previous owner field, a removal purpose field, and a transferee field.

[0025] The battery ID field stores an identifier (battery ID) for identifying the battery. The battery model number field stores information indicating the model number of the battery with the corresponding battery ID. The removal date field stores information indicating the date on which the battery with the corresponding battery ID was removed. The previous owner field stores information indicating the original owner (former owner) of the battery with the corresponding battery ID. The removal purpose field stores information indicating the purpose for which the battery with the corresponding battery ID was removed. Here, the information regarding the battery ID, battery model number, removal date, previous owner, and removal purpose is information included in the registration information received from the business operator terminal 200.

[0026] The transferee field stores information indicating the transferee of the battery with the corresponding battery ID. When the control unit 301 receives transaction completion information from the market server 400 via the communication unit 302, the control unit 301 stores information indicating the transferee in the transferee field. Here, the transaction completion information is This information is sent from the market server 400 when a transaction for a battery with a corresponding battery ID is completed, and includes information indicating the recipient of the battery. In the example shown in Figure 3, the battery transaction has not been completed, so "----" is entered in the recipient field, indicating that the recipient has not been determined.

[0027] Here, the battery may have been removed multiple times. In this case, information is stored in the removal date field, previous owner field, removal purpose field, and transferee field for each removal. The registration information may also include information indicating the business (enterprise) that removed the battery. The control unit 301 can track the location of the battery (the previous owner, business, and transferee) by referring to the registration information held in the registration information DB 303.

[0028] After storing the registration information about the battery 100 in the registration information DB 303, the control unit 301 transmits registration completion information about the battery 100 to the market server 400 via the communication unit 302. Here, the registration completion information about the battery 100 is information including the battery ID of the battery 100 and the registration completion date and time of the registration information about the battery 100.

[0029] (Market Server 400) The market server 400 includes a control unit 401, a communication unit 402, and a transaction permission information database 403 (transaction permission information DB403). The control unit 401 has a function of performing arithmetic processing for controlling the market server 400. The control unit 401 can be realized by a processor 410 in the market server 400. The communication unit 402 has a function of connecting the market server 400 to the network N1. The communication unit 402 can be realized by a communication I / F 440 in the market server 400.

[0030] The control unit 401 receives registration completion information from the information server 300 via the communication unit 402. The control unit 401 updates the trade permission information stored in the trade permission information DB 403 in accordance with the received registration completion information. Here, the trade permission information DB 403 can be realized by the auxiliary storage unit 430 in the market server 400. The trade permission information is information indicating batteries that have been permitted to be traded in the used battery market due to the completion of registration of the registration information.

[0031] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a table configuration of transaction permission information stored in transaction permission information DB 403. As shown in FIG. 4, the transaction permission information has a battery ID field and a registration completion date and time field. The battery ID field stores an identifier (battery ID) for identifying the battery whose registration information has been registered. The registration completion date and time field stores information indicating the date and time when registration of the registration information for the battery with the corresponding battery ID was completed. Control unit 401 acquires the battery ID and registration completion date and time included in the registration completion information and stores them in the battery ID field and registration completion date field.

[0032] By referring to the transaction permission information stored in the transaction permission information DB 403, the control unit 401 can determine whether or not the registration of the registration information of the battery has been completed without accessing the information server 300. This allows the control unit 401 to determine whether or not the registration of the registration information of the battery has been completed with a smaller load than when the control unit 401 accesses the information server 300 to determine whether or not the registration of the registration information has been completed. Furthermore, even if the control unit 401 cannot access the information server 300, it can determine whether or not the registration of the registration information of the battery has been completed. Note that if the information server 300 is an accessible server, the control unit 401 may refer to the registration information DB 303 in the information server 300 to determine whether or not the registration information of the battery 100 has been registered.

[0033] The control unit 401 receives selling information about the battery 100 via the communication unit 402. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the market server 400 receives the selling information from the business operator terminal 200. That is, in this embodiment, it is assumed that the business operator puts the battery 100 up for sale. Here, the selling information is information including the battery ID of the battery 100. The selling information may also include information indicating the state of the battery 100, such as the number of times the battery 100 has been charged or the degree of deterioration. The battery 100 may also be put up for sale by someone other than the business operator. That is, the selling information does not necessarily have to be transmitted from the business operator terminal 200.

[0034] When the control unit 401 receives the selling information, it refers to the transaction permission information stored in the transaction permission information DB 403 and determines whether the battery with the battery ID included in the selling information is a battery that is permitted to be sold. Specifically, the control unit 401 determines whether a battery ID that matches the battery ID included in the selling information is stored in the battery ID field in the transaction permission information.

[0035] If the battery 100 has a battery ID included in the listing information and is not a battery that is permitted to be listed, the battery 100 is a battery for which registration information is not registered. Therefore, once the battery 100 is bought and sold in the used battery market, it becomes difficult to track its location. Therefore, the control unit 401 restricts access to the market system for the battery 100.

[0036] Furthermore, when a transaction in the used battery market for battery 100 for which registration information has been completed is completed, control unit 401 transmits transaction completion information to information server 300 via communication unit 402. As a result, information indicating the transferee of battery 100 is stored in the transferee field of the registration information.

[0037] Furthermore, the transaction permission information held in the transaction permission information DB 403 registers the battery ID of the battery 100 for which registration of registration information has been completed. However, since the transaction for the battery 100 has been completed, if the battery 100 remains registered in the transaction permission information, the next time the battery 100 is traded, it will be possible to trade without registering the registration information. Therefore, when the transaction for the battery 100 for which registration of registration information has been completed is completed, the control unit 401 deletes the information about the battery 100 from the transaction permission information held in the transaction permission information DB 403. This allows the control unit 401 to know whether or not the registration information has been registered when the battery 100 is traded again in the used battery market.

[0038] (Information processing flow) The flow of information processing in the information processing system 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of information processing in the information processing system 1. Fig. 5 shows the flow of information processing when a business operator registers registration information about the battery 100. The processes executed by the business operator terminal 200, the information server 300, and the market server 400 are executed by a control unit of the business operator terminal 200, a control unit 301 of the information server 300, and a control unit 401 of the market server 400, respectively.

[0039] In the information processing system 1, the business operator terminal 200 accepts the input of registration information by the business operator (S11). When the business operator has completed input of the registration information, the business operator terminal 200 transmits the registration information to the information server 300 (S12). Next, the information server 300 registers the registration information received from the business operator terminal 200 (S13). When the information server 300 has completed the registration of the registration information, it transmits registration completion information to the market server 400 (S14). When the market server 400 receives the registration completion information from the information server 300, it Then, the exhibition permission information stored in the trade permission information DB 403 is updated (S15).

[0040] Thereafter, the business operator attempts to put the battery 100 up for sale on a used battery market. In this case, the business operator terminal 200 accepts input of listing information related to the battery 100 (S16). Once the input of the listing information is complete, the business operator terminal 200 transmits the listing information to the market server 400 (S17). The market server 400 then executes a determination process based on the received listing information (S18). The determination process is a process for determining whether or not to restrict access to the market system when putting up for sale the battery 100. In the flow of information processing shown in FIG. 5, since the registration information for the battery 100 has already been registered, no access restriction to the market system is imposed in the determination process. Therefore, the battery 100 is put up for sale as usual (S19).

[0041] Then, when the transaction of the battery 100 is completed, the market server 400 transmits transaction completion information to the information server 300 (S20). The information server 300, which has received the transaction completion information, updates the registration information held in the registration information DB 303 (S21). Specifically, the information server 300 stores information indicating the transferee of the battery 100, which is included in the transaction completion information, in the transferee field of the registration information. Furthermore, when the transaction of the battery 100 is completed, the market server 400 updates the exhibition permission information held in the trade permission information DB 403 (S22). Specifically, the market server 400 deletes the information about the battery 100 from the exhibition permission information.

[0042] (Determination process) The determination process of S18 in Fig. 5 will now be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a flowchart of the determination process executed by the control unit 401 of the market server 400. The determination process is executed by the control unit 401 in the market server 400. As shown in Fig. 5, the determination process starts when the market server 400 receives listing information from the business operator terminal 200.

[0043] In the determination process, first, in S101, transaction permission information is acquired from the transaction permission information DB 403. Next, in S102, it is determined whether or not the battery ID of the battery 100 is registered in the acquired transaction permission information. That is, in S102, it is determined whether or not registration information for the battery 100 is registered in the information server 300. If a negative determination is made in S102, registration information for the battery 100 is not registered in the information server 300. Therefore, in S103, restriction of access to the market system is initiated. Then, execution of the determination process is terminated.

[0044] If a positive determination is made in S102, the registration information for the battery 100 has been registered. Therefore, in S104, access to the market system is permitted. That is, the battery 100 can be put up for sale as usual. Then, the determination process ends.

[0045] As described above, when registration information for tracking the location of the battery 100 is not registered, the information processing system 1 restricts access to the used battery market to put the battery 100 up for sale. This makes it impossible to trade the battery 100 in the used battery market. Therefore, to avoid this situation where trading of the battery 100 becomes impossible, businesses are urged to register the registration information. As a result, it becomes possible to properly track the battery 100.

[0046] (Variation 1) In this embodiment, the market server 400 restricts access to the market system as follows: Restricting access to the market system for listing the battery 100 on the used battery market However, the restriction on access to the market system does not necessarily have to be a restriction on access to the market system for listing the battery 100 on the used battery market.

[0047] Restricting access to the market system may be, for example, restricting access from a terminal of a user of the market system to view information about the market price of the battery 100 (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as "price information"). Here, the price information is information about the current price (current value) of the battery 100. If the current value of the battery 100 is unknown in the used battery market, for example, the highest bidder among the successful bidders may purchase the battery 100. The price information may also be historical information about the past trading prices of the battery 100 in the used battery market. In this way, restricting access to view the price information may result in information about the value of the battery 100 in the used battery market not being disclosed, which is expected to put the transaction at a disadvantage. Therefore, to avoid being at a disadvantage in the transaction of the battery 100, businesses are encouraged to register registration information. As a result, the battery 100 can be appropriately tracked.

[0048] (Variation 2) In this embodiment, the information server 300 transmits the registration completion information to the market server 400. However, the destination to which the information server 300 transmits the registration completion information does not necessarily have to be the market server 400. The information server 300 may transmit the registration completion information to, for example, the business operator terminal 200. In this case, the information server 300 issues, as registration completion information, a registration certificate to the business operator terminal 200 indicating that the registration information of the battery 100 has been registered. Then, the business operator terminal 200 transmits the registration certificate to the market server 400 together with the listing information, thereby enabling the market server 400 to determine whether the registration information of the battery 100 has been registered.

[0049] <Other embodiments> The above-described embodiment is merely an example, and the present disclosure may be modified as appropriate within the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the processes and means described in the present disclosure may be freely combined and implemented as long as no technical contradiction occurs.

[0050] Furthermore, a process described as being performed by one device may be shared and executed by multiple devices. Alternatively, a process described as being performed by different devices may be executed by a single device. In a computer system, the hardware configuration (server configuration) by which each function is realized can be flexibly changed.

[0051] The present disclosure can also be realized by providing a computer program implementing the functions described in the above embodiments to a computer, and having one or more processors in the computer read and execute the program. Such a computer program may be provided to the computer via a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium connectable to the computer's system bus or via a network. Non-transitory computer-readable storage media include any type of medium suitable for storing electronic instructions, such as a magnetic disk (e.g., a floppy disk or a hard disk drive (HDD)), an optical disk (e.g., a CD-ROM, a DVD disk, or a Blu-ray disk), a read-only memory (ROM), a random-access memory (RAM), an EPROM, an EEPROM, a magnetic card, a flash memory, or an optical card. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 1. Information Processing System 10. Vehicle 100··Battery 200··Operator terminal 300··Information Server 301 Control Unit 302··Communications Department 303··Registration Information DB 400 Market Server 401 Control section 402··Communications Department 403 Transaction Permission Information DB

Claims

1. Determining whether registration information for tracking the location of a battery that is the subject of a transaction in the used battery market is registered in a predetermined information management device; restricting at least a portion of access to a system managing transactions in the used battery market in the absence of registration of the registration information; a control unit configured to perform Information processing device.

2. The control unit permitting access to the system when registration completion information indicating that the registration information has been registered is obtained, the registration completion information being issued by the predetermined information management device; Further execute The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. restricting at least some of the access to the system includes restricting access for listing the target battery on the used battery market; 3. The information processing device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. Restricting at least a portion of the access to the system includes restricting access for viewing information on the market price of the target battery from a terminal of a user of the used battery market.

3. The information processing device according to claim 1 or 2.

5. An information processing system including an information management device and a transaction management device, The information management device Accepting registration information for tracking the location of batteries subject to trading in the used battery market; Run The transaction management device determining whether the registration information regarding the target battery is registered in the information management device; restricting at least a portion of access to a system managing transactions in the used battery market in the absence of registration of the registration information; To execute Information processing system.

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