Information processing device and program

Abstract

This could stimulate the buying and selling of vehicles. [Solution] The information processing device includes a vehicle selection unit that selects one or more vehicles based on user operations, and a display control unit that displays the life cycle costs calculated for multiple periods, based on the specifications of the vehicles selected by the vehicle selection unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and a program.

Background Art

[0002] With the spread of smartphones and the improvement of network environments, trading and brokering through e-commerce have become widely practiced. In recent years, vehicle trading has also been carried out. In vehicle trading, which tends to be high-value, customers (potential purchasers) collect various information and carefully judge whether to purchase. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for collecting highly reliable objective information regarding a vehicle to be traded and presenting it to customers.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In addition to the information presented to customers in Patent Document 1, there are numerous pieces of information that can serve as materials for judging whether to purchase. There is a desire to further activate vehicle trading by presenting such information that can serve as these judgment materials.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to present a technique that can further activate vehicle trading.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is an information processing device comprising: a vehicle selection unit that selects one or more vehicles based on user operation; and a display control unit that displays the life cycle costs calculated for multiple periods, based on the specifications of the vehicles selected by the vehicle selection unit.

[0007] Furthermore, in one embodiment of the present invention, the life cycle cost is calculated based on basic cost information that includes at least one of the following: vehicle type information, total payment amount, catalog fuel efficiency, fuel costs, taxes, subsidies, and vehicle inspection costs.

[0008] Furthermore, in one aspect of the present invention, the vehicle selection unit selects a plurality of vehicles based on the user's operation, and the display control unit displays the comparison results of the life cycle costs calculated for each of the vehicles selected by the vehicle selection unit.

[0009] Furthermore, in one aspect of the present invention, the display control unit displays ancillary life cycle costs, which are expenses incurred in relation to a vehicle and whose amount is not determined solely by the vehicle type, or displays the life cycle cost including the ancillary life cycle costs.

[0010] Furthermore, one aspect of the present invention is a program that causes a computer to perform a vehicle selection step of selecting one or more vehicles based on user operations, and a display control step of displaying the life cycle costs calculated for multiple periods, based on the specifications of the vehicles selected in the vehicle selection step. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, the buying and selling of vehicles can be made more active. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1]This is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the information processing system 1 according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 2] This flowchart illustrates an example of the processing flow using the information processing device 10 and the customer terminal 20 when displaying the first example of life cycle costs. [Figure 3] This figure shows an example of a property details page that includes the first example of displaying the Life Cycle Cost (LCC). [Figure 4] This flowchart illustrates an example of the processing flow using the information processing device 10 and the customer terminal 20 when displaying the second example of the life cycle cost (LCC). [Figure 5] This figure shows an example of a third display screen D3 that displays a second example of the life cycle cost (LCC). [Figure 6] This figure shows examples of the fourth display screen D4 and the fifth display screen D5, which display the fourth example of life cycle costs. [Figure 7] This diagram shows an overview of information processing system 1A, which provides incentives when purchasing a vehicle. [Figure 8] This is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the information processing system 1A according to Embodiment 2. [Figure 9] This flowchart illustrates an example of the processing flow between the information processing device 10 and the customer terminal 20 when displaying discount information. [Figure 10] This figure shows an example of the sixth display screen D6, which displays the first example of campaign information C. [Figure 11] This figure shows an example of the seventh display screen D7, which displays the second example of campaign information C. [Figure 12] This figure shows examples of the eighth display screen D8 and the ninth display screen D9, which display the third example of campaign information C. [Figure 13] This figure shows an example of the 10th display screen D10, which shows the discounted amount. [Figure 14]This is a diagram showing a schematic of the hardware configuration example of the information processing apparatus 90 applied to the present embodiment. [Figure 15] This is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the customer CS and the affiliated company CL2 in the past.

Embodiment for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] [Overview] In the embodiment, the customer CS (hereinafter also referred to as the user) browses a vehicle sales site or the like in order to search for a desired vehicle. The customer CS searches for vehicles of interest among a plurality of vehicles registered by the vehicle dealership CL1 on a vehicle sales site or the like. The information processing apparatus and program according to the embodiment promote the customer CS's consideration of purchase and stimulate the purchase desire by presenting materials that can be criteria for determining the feasibility of purchase for the vehicle. As a result, the vehicle sales can be activated.

[0014] In the following description, it is assumed that the customer CS is a candidate for purchasing a vehicle. The vehicle dealership CL1 may be the vehicle manufacturer. The vehicle may be a new car or a used car.

[0015] Regarding the information processing apparatus, information processing system, and program according to the present embodiment, preferred embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals. Note that the present embodiment is not limited to these embodiments, and also includes those with various modifications or improvements. That is, the components described below include those that can be easily assumed by those skilled in the art and substantially the same ones, and the components described below can be combined as appropriate. Also, the present embodiment may be configured with various omissions, substitutions, or changes of components without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0016] In all the figures used to illustrate the embodiments, components with the same function are given the same reference numerals, and repeated explanations are omitted. Furthermore, in this application, "based on XX" means "based on at least XX," and includes cases where it is based on other elements in addition to XX. Also, "based on XX" is not limited to cases where XX is used directly, but also includes cases where it is based on XX after calculations or processing have been performed on it. "XX" is any element (for example, any information). Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0017] [Displaying Lifecycle Costs] First, referring to Figures 1 through 6, we will explain how to present life cycle costs to customer service (CS). Life cycle costs are the expenses (running costs) incurred from acquiring one vehicle to acquiring another.

[0018] [Configuration of the Information Processing System] Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the information processing system 1 according to Embodiment 1. The information processing system 1 comprises an information processing device 10, a plurality of customer terminals 20, and a plurality of client terminals 30. The customer terminals 20 are terminal devices operated by customers CS. The customer terminals 20 are terminal devices operated by vehicle dealerships CL1 and affiliated companies CL2. Affiliated companies CL2 provide services related to vehicles.

[0019] The information processing device 10 and the customer terminal 20 are connected via network N1. The information processing device 10 and the client terminal 30 are connected via network N2. Both networks N1 and N2 are, for example, the Internet, and various information is exchanged between connected devices via wired or wireless communication. In the following explanation, the descriptions of networks N1 and N2 will be omitted.

[0020] [Configuration of the information processing device] The information processing device 10 implements some of the functions of a vehicle brokerage site, etc. The information processing device 10 comprises an arithmetic unit 11 and a storage unit 13. The arithmetic unit 11 is equipped with a central processing unit (CPU) and operates based on programs and data stored in the storage unit 13, providing various functions. The storage unit 13 is composed of, for example, a hard disk drive or semiconductor memory (flash memory, RAM, ROM), and stores various information such as programs and data read by the arithmetic unit 11. The storage unit 13 may be implemented by a virtual storage device such as a cloud server located outside the information processing device 10.

[0021] [Customer terminal configuration] The customer terminal 20 is, for example, an information processing device such as a personal computer, tablet, or smartphone, and comprises a customer terminal display unit 21, a customer terminal operation unit 22, a customer terminal calculation unit 23, and a customer terminal storage unit 24.

[0022] The customer terminal display unit 21 is equipped with, for example, a liquid crystal display and displays various images. In the following description, the display of an image by the customer terminal display unit 21 is also referred to as presenting an image to the customer CS. The customer terminal operation unit 22 is equipped with, for example, a touch panel and detects the operations of the customer CS. The customer terminal operation unit 22 may be an input device provided with or connected to the customer terminal 20, such as a keyboard, mouse, and microphone.

[0023] The customer terminal processing unit 23 (not shown) is equipped with a central processing unit and operates based on programs and data stored in the customer terminal storage unit 24 (not shown), providing various functions. The customer terminal storage unit 24 is composed of, for example, a hard disk drive or semiconductor memory (flash memory, RAM, ROM), and stores various information such as programs and data read by the customer terminal processing unit 23. The customer terminal storage unit 24 may be implemented by a virtual storage device such as a cloud server located outside the customer terminal 20.

[0024] [Client terminal configuration] The client terminal 30 is, for example, an information processing device such as a personal computer, tablet, or smartphone, and comprises a client terminal display unit 31, a client terminal operation unit 32, a client terminal calculation unit 33, and a client terminal storage unit 34.

[0025] The client terminal display unit 31 is equipped with, for example, a liquid crystal display and displays various images. In the following description, the display of an image by the client terminal display unit 31 is also referred to as presenting an image to the vehicle dealership CL1 or affiliated company CL2. The client terminal operation unit 32 is equipped with, for example, a touch panel and detects operations performed by the vehicle dealership CL1 or affiliated company CL2.

[0026] The client terminal processing unit 33 (not shown) is equipped with a central processing unit and operates based on programs and data stored in the client terminal storage unit 34 (not shown), providing various functions. The client terminal storage unit 34 is composed of, for example, a hard disk drive or semiconductor memory (flash memory, RAM, ROM), and stores various information such as programs and data read by the client terminal processing unit 33. The client terminal storage unit 34 may be implemented by a virtual storage device such as a cloud server located outside the client terminal 30.

[0027] [Functions of the information processing device] The calculation unit 11 of the information processing device 10 includes, as its functional units, a communication unit 110, an operation reception unit 111, a display control unit 112, a vehicle selection unit 113, a vehicle details reference unit 114, a life cycle cost calculation unit 115, a comparison unit 116, and an auxiliary life cycle cost calculation unit 117.

[0028] The communications unit 110 performs information communication with the customer terminal 20 and the client terminal 30.

[0029] The operation reception unit 111 receives various operations performed on the customer terminal 20 and client terminal 30. The calculation unit 11 functions its various components according to the received operations.

[0030] The display control unit 112 controls the display on the customer terminal 20 and the client terminal 30. Specifically, the display control unit 112 generates the screens to be displayed on the customer terminal display unit 21 and the client terminal display unit 31, and transmits them to the customer terminal 20 and the client terminal 30 via the communication unit 110. The customer terminal 20 and the client terminal 30 then display the screens generated by the display control unit 112.

[0031] [Example of life cycle cost display] Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the processing flow using the information processing device 10 and the customer terminal 20 when displaying the first example of life cycle cost. Referring to Figure 2, an example of the processing executed by the functional units of the vehicle selection unit 113 and the life cycle cost calculation unit 115 will be explained.

[0032] (Step S101) The customer CS operates the customer terminal 20 to access the top page of a vehicle brokerage site or vehicle sales site (hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as the vehicle brokerage site) that acts as an intermediary between the customer CS and the vehicle dealer CL1.

[0033] (Step S102) The customer CS views a list of vehicles by operating the customer terminal 20. The list of vehicles may be the recommended vehicles displayed on the TOP page, vehicles extracted according to the search criteria entered by the customer CS, or vehicles displayed in various ways such as the history of vehicles previously viewed by the customer CS. In the following description, vehicles will also be referred to as properties.

[0034] Vehicles presented to customer CS via customer terminal 20 are registered on a vehicle brokerage site, etc., when vehicle dealership CL1 operates client terminal 30 to output vehicle information to information processing device 10. The vehicle information broadly includes information about the vehicle. For example, the vehicle information may include the chassis number, vehicle type, body color, design, exterior panels, tires, wheels, bumpers, aero parts, and other overall vehicle appearance (exterior), interior, installed comfort equipment, exterior photos of the vehicle, year of manufacture, mileage, whether or not there is a repair history, whether or not it is a non-smoking vehicle, vehicle price, total payment amount, whether or not the price includes recycling fees, whether or not there is a vehicle inspection and when, whether or not there is a warranty, warranty expiration date, warranty details, associated campaigns and coupons, and information set by vehicle dealership CL1, such as whether or not vehicle dealership CL1 is a manufacturer-affiliated dealership. Furthermore, the vehicle information may include information on the vehicle's specifications (specs) that can be identified from the vehicle type and chassis number, such as the manufacturer, whether it is a domestic or imported vehicle, the vehicle's product name, model / grade, vehicle type, drive system, steering wheel position, transmission type, displacement, fuel efficiency, engine type, seating capacity, number of doors, installed safety devices, and vehicle weight. However, the vehicle information does not have to be information entered by the vehicle dealership CL1. The vehicle information may be information set based on the operations of the vehicle dealership CL1, or information identified based on information set by the vehicle dealership CL1 (such as the chassis number). The vehicle information is stored, for example, in the storage unit 13.

[0035] (Step S103) The customer CS selects a specific vehicle by operating the customer terminal 20 and proceeds to the detailed information page (property details). Proceeding to the detailed information page may be referred to as viewing a vehicle or property. The vehicle selection unit 113 of the information processing device 10 selects a vehicle based on the customer CS's operation. The vehicle selected by the vehicle selection unit 113 may be referred to as the selected vehicle. When the vehicle selection unit 113 selects a vehicle based on the customer CS's operation, it may mean that it simply selects the vehicle that the customer CS has selected, or it may mean that it determines the selected vehicle based on the content displayed as a result of the customer CS's operation of the customer terminal 20 (such as operation history or vehicle viewing history). The following explanation will describe the case where the vehicle selection unit 113 simply selects the vehicle that the customer CS has selected as an example. The vehicle selection unit 113 acquires selected vehicle information indicating the selected vehicle. The selected vehicle information may include, for example, identification information that identifies multiple vehicles registered on a vehicle brokerage site, etc., and information included in the vehicle information (chassis number), etc.

[0036] (Step S104) The vehicle details reference unit 114 of the information processing device 10 identifies the selected vehicle by obtaining selected vehicle information from the vehicle selection unit 113. The vehicle details reference unit 114 obtains vehicle information about the selected vehicle by referring to the storage unit 13 using the selected vehicle information. The life cycle cost calculation unit 115 calculates the life cycle cost for the selected vehicle selected by the vehicle selection unit 113 based on the vehicle information about the selected vehicle.

[0037] (Step S105) The display control unit 112 of the information processing device 10 displays the life cycle cost calculated by the life cycle cost calculation unit 115 on the property details page. By checking the life cycle cost, the customer CS can understand the costs involved until the next vehicle replacement and decide whether or not to purchase the vehicle they are viewing. According to the life cycle cost, even customers CS who do not own a vehicle or for other reasons find it difficult to estimate the costs required to maintain a vehicle can easily understand the costs involved in maintenance.

[0038] Figure 3 shows an example of a property details page, including the first example of displaying the life cycle cost (LCC). Referring to Figure 3, we will now provide a detailed explanation of the first example of displaying the life cycle cost (LCC) and the method for calculating the life cycle cost.

[0039] Figure 3(A) shows an example of the first display screen D1 that appears when a vehicle is selected from the vehicle list. The first display screen D1 has, for example, the vehicle price VP and the total payment TP, which includes the vehicle price VP plus insurance, taxes, registration fees, etc. Note that the property details page may display information other than that shown in Figure 3.

[0040] Figure 3(B) shows a second display screen D2 that displays a first example of the life cycle cost (LCC). The second display screen D2, which displays the life cycle cost (LCC), may be displayed by, for example, scrolling on the first display screen D1. The second display screen D2 has basic cost information BC and the life cycle cost (LCC) as its screen configuration. The second display screen D2 may be displayed before the first display screen D1 when a vehicle is selected from the vehicle list, or it may be displayed together with the first display screen D1.

[0041] The life cycle cost calculation unit 115 calculates the life cycle cost LCC based on the basic cost information BC. The life cycle cost LCC is the cost incurred from switching from the current vehicle to the next vehicle, and the amount is roughly determined by the type of vehicle selected. The life cycle cost LCC is the basic cost incurred when continuing to use a vehicle, and it is a cost that cannot be reduced beyond a certain amount. The life cycle cost LCC is, for example, the sum of the total payment TP for the selected vehicle and the maintenance costs incurred when continuing to use the selected vehicle for a predetermined period. Maintenance costs are the costs necessary to maintain the vehicle. For example, maintenance costs are calculated by summing the costs calculated from fuel consumption and mileage, and parking fees.

[0042] Basic cost information BC is used when calculating the costs that are certain to be incurred in maintaining a vehicle. Basic cost information BC includes, for example, vehicle specifications such as vehicle type information, engine displacement, vehicle weight, and catalog fuel efficiency [km / L], statistical information about the vehicle such as fuel cost [yen / L] and annual mileage [km], information that determines the amount to be paid or received depending on the vehicle type, such as taxes, subsidies, vehicle inspection fees, and compulsory automobile liability insurance premiums, and information that includes at least one of the vehicle price VP or total payment amount TP.

[0043] The maintenance costs for a life cycle cost (LCC) with an annual mileage of 10,000 km may include, for example, gasoline costs, taxes, subsidies, compulsory automobile liability insurance premiums, and vehicle inspection fees. Gasoline costs may be calculated, for example, by multiplying the catalog fuel efficiency [km / L], the national average fuel cost [yen / L], and the annual mileage [km]. Taxes such as "automobile tax / light vehicle tax," "automobile weight tax," "eco-car tax reduction," "greening special exemption," and "environmental performance tax" may be calculated, for example, based on the vehicle type and specification information that can be identified by the vehicle type, such as engine displacement and vehicle weight. Subsidies may be calculated based on those that individuals can apply for from the Next Generation Vehicle Promotion Center. Subsidies may also include, for example, subsidies from prefectures and local governments. Vehicle inspection fees may be calculated, for example, based on the vehicle type and the national average amount for each vehicle type.

[0044] The life cycle cost calculation unit 115 calculates the life cycle cost (LCC) for multiple periods. In Figure 4, the first life cycle cost LCC1 (2 years), the second life cycle cost LCC2 (4 years), and the third life cycle cost LCC3 (6 years) are examples of life cycle costs LCCs calculated for multiple periods. These periods may be set by the customer CS, set by the vehicle dealer CL1, or predetermined by the designer of the information processing device 10. Some customers change vehicles frequently, while others change vehicles infrequently. By calculating the life cycle cost LCC for multiple periods, each customer can understand the life cycle cost LCC that matches their own vehicle change frequency. Since the average vehicle change period is 6 or 7 years, it is preferable to calculate the life cycle cost LCC for around 6 years and present it to the customer CS. Furthermore, since some people change vehicles frequently and others infrequently, it is desirable to calculate the life cycle cost LCC for each of the multiple periods. By presenting life cycle costs (LCCs) for multiple periods, customers can easily understand their own life cycle costs (LCCs) based on their frequency of switching carriers.

[0045] [Second example of life cycle cost display] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the processing flow using the information processing device 10 and the customer terminal 20 when displaying a second example of the life cycle cost (LCC). An example of the processing performed by the comparison unit 116 will be explained with reference to Figure 4.

[0046] The second example of displaying the life cycle cost (LCC), shown in Figure 4, differs from the first example in that the calculation of the life cycle cost (LCC) (step S104) is performed for two or more selected vehicles (steps S104-1 to S104-5, etc.). The vehicle selection unit 113 selects multiple vehicles based on the customer CS's operation. The vehicle selection unit 113 may, as in the first example, simply select the vehicle selected by the customer CS using the customer terminal 20 (step S104-1). Alternatively, the vehicle selection unit 113 may select a vehicle owned by the customer CS that has been pre-registered based on the customer CS's operation (step S104-2). Furthermore, the vehicle selection unit 113 may select one of the vehicles viewed by the customer CS using the customer terminal 20 (for example, a vehicle with a long viewing time) (step S104-3). Furthermore, the vehicle selection unit 113 may select a vehicle that the customer CS has registered as a favorite by operating the customer terminal 20 (step S104-4). Alternatively, the vehicle selection unit 113 may select a vehicle that is recommended to the customer CS based on the customer CS's browsing trends and the vehicle currently being viewed, as determined by an unillustrated function of the information processing device 10 (for example, a vehicle similar to the vehicle being viewed) (step S104-5). Which of the methods from step S104-1 to step S104-5 the vehicle selection unit 113 uses may be pre-set based on the operations of the customer CS or the vehicle dealer CL1. In addition to the above, the vehicle selection unit 113 may also select a vehicle of the same model as the vehicle the customer CS is viewing, but an older model (lower total payment TP, but poorer fuel efficiency), or a gasoline or hybrid vehicle that was released around the same time as the vehicle being viewed.

[0047] The comparison unit 116 of the information processing device 10 obtains the life cycle cost (LCC) of a plurality of selected vehicles selected by the vehicle selection unit 113. The comparison unit 116 compares the life cycle costs (LCC) of the plurality of selected vehicles. The display control unit 112 displays the comparison results of the comparison unit 116 on the customer terminal 20. The comparison results may be, for example, a numerical value such as the difference in life cycle cost (LCC) of other selected vehicles based on the life cycle cost (LCC) of one selected vehicle, or they may indicate a specific selected vehicle, such as the name of the selected vehicle with the smallest life cycle cost (LCC).

[0048] Figure 5 shows an example of the third display screen D3, which displays a second example of the life cycle cost (LCC). Referring to Figure 5, we will specifically explain how the comparison unit 116 calculates the difference in life cycle costs (LCC). Matters already explained regarding life cycle costs (LCC) in Figure 3 may be omitted.

[0049] The comparison unit 116 determines one of the multiple selected vehicles as the vehicle to be compared (the first vehicle), and the other selected vehicles as the vehicle to be compared (the second vehicle). The comparison unit 116 calculates a comparative cycle cost CC, which shows how much higher or lower the life cycle cost LCC of the second vehicle is compared to the life cycle cost LCC of the first vehicle, using the life cycle cost LCC of the first vehicle as a baseline.

[0050] The third display screen D3 has a screen configuration that includes the basic cost information BC for each selected vehicle, such as the first basic cost information BC1 and the second basic cost information BC2, and the comparison cycle cost CC. In Figure 5, the second vehicle is the property that customer CS is viewing on the property details page, and the first vehicle is the same model as the second vehicle but three years older. The first basic cost information BC1 is the basic cost information BC for the first vehicle, and the second basic cost information BC2 is the basic cost information BC for the second vehicle.

[0051] The first comparative cost CC1 to the third comparative cost CC3 are comparative cycle costs CC over multiple periods. The first comparative cost CC1 shows "+33,128 yen," indicating that the vehicle being viewed has a higher life cycle cost LCC than a similar model that is three years older. On the other hand, the second comparative cost CC2 and the third comparative cost CC3 show "-3,744 yen" and "-40,616 yen," respectively, indicating that the vehicle being viewed has a lower life cycle cost LCC than a similar model that is three years older. By referring to the first comparative cost CC1 to the third comparative cost CC3, customer CS can see that because of its good fuel efficiency, continuing to drive the vehicle for more than four years is more cost-effective than purchasing a similar model that is three years older.

[0052] Furthermore, the basic cost information BC may include the trade-in reference price (residual value forecast) or the highest offer price for selling your current vehicle, which is the amount you will receive when you sell your car. By considering the trade-in or purchase price, you can more accurately calculate the costs involved from switching to your current car until you switch to your next car.

[0053] In the above description, we explained an example in which the second vehicle is the vehicle being viewed and the first vehicle is a vehicle selected based on other conditions. However, this embodiment is not limited to this example, and various combinations of selected vehicles may be used to compare each vehicle. It is preferable to combine the vehicle being viewed with an older vehicle of the same model as the vehicle being viewed, or a vehicle owned by the customer CS, with the vehicle being viewed, previously viewed items, and recommended vehicles—vehicles that we want the customer CS to purchase. This highlights the merits of the recommended vehicle and further stimulates the customer CS's desire to purchase.

[0054] [Example of life cycle cost display, third example] Figure 6 shows examples of the fourth display screen D4 and the fifth display screen D5, which display the fourth example of life cycle cost. The third display example is similar to the first and second display examples in that it displays the costs incurred from the current vehicle replacement to the next vehicle replacement for each selected vehicle. The third display example differs from the first and second display examples in that, in addition to the life cycle cost LCC, it also calculates the additional life cycle cost ALCC, which can vary significantly depending on the customer CS.

[0055] The accessory life cycle cost calculation unit 117 of the information processing device 10 calculates the accessory life cycle cost ALCC based on the accessory cost information AC. The accessory life cycle cost ALCC is an expense whose amount is not determined solely by the vehicle type selected. Furthermore, the accessory life cycle cost ALCC is an expense that may occur when using a vehicle, but is not essential.

[0056] The supplementary cost information AC is used to calculate the costs incurred in maintaining a vehicle that can be reduced. Supplementary cost information AC includes information such as parking fees, vehicle insurance premiums, repair costs for parts such as tires and batteries, maintenance costs such as checking tire pressure, car wash costs, and highway tolls, among others. These costs vary depending on the service provider and cannot be determined solely by the vehicle type. Furthermore, these costs are not incurred if the service is not received. For example, if the vehicle can be parked on the property of one's own home, parking fees are not required. The supplementary cost information AC may be amounts entered by a customer CS by operating the customer terminal 20, or it may be statistical information such as the national average amount obtained from a server, or it may be an amount pre-set by the vehicle dealer CL1 or the designer of the information processing device 10.

[0057] Figure 6(A) shows an example of a fourth display screen D4 that separately displays the life cycle cost LCC and the supplementary life cycle cost ALCC. The fourth display screen D4 has the following screen configurations: basic cost information BC, life cycle cost LCC, supplementary cost information AC, supplementary life cycle cost ALCC, and total life cycle cost TLCC. The total life cycle cost TLCC is the sum of the life cycle cost LCC and the supplementary life cycle cost ALCC. By checking the amounts of life cycle cost LCC, supplementary life cycle cost ALCC, and total life cycle cost TLCC, the customer CS can appropriately grasp the costs incurred until the next replacement. Specifically, the customer CS can grasp the minimum costs using life cycle cost LCC, the costs incurred due to options using supplementary life cycle cost ALCC, and the overall costs using total life cycle cost TLCC.

[0058] Figure 6(B) shows an example of the fifth display screen D5, which displays the supplementary life cycle cost ALCC added to the life cycle cost LCC. The fifth display screen D5 does not have the life cycle cost LCC and the supplementary life cycle cost ALCC as part of its screen configuration. By displaying them added together, the information presented to the customer CS is simplified, and the customer CS can easily grasp the overall picture of the costs required until the next change.

[0059] In the above description, the life cycle cost (LCC), comparative life cycle cost (CC), supplementary life cycle cost (ALCC), and total life cycle cost (TLCC) were shown as examples of how they are displayed on the property details page. However, this embodiment is not limited to this example, and they may be displayed on various pages within the vehicle brokerage site (hereinafter sometimes referred to as vehicle sales pages). For example, the comparative life cycle cost (CC) may be displayed in the list of viewed properties or the list of favorited properties, showing the comparison results for each viewed vehicle or favorited vehicle.

[0060] [Summary of life cycle cost display] According to Embodiment 1 described above, the information processing device 10 includes a vehicle selection unit 113 that selects one or more vehicles based on the operation of the customer CS, and a display control unit 112 that displays the life cycle cost LCC calculated for multiple periods based on the specifications of the vehicles selected by the vehicle selection unit 113. With a life cycle cost LCC that includes expenses such as taxes in addition to the expenses incurred at the vehicle dealership CL1, the customer CS can appropriately grasp the expenses that will be incurred from one vehicle replacement to the next. Furthermore, by accessing the information processing device 10 via the customer terminal 20, the customer CS can grasp the life cycle cost LCC from the stage of considering purchasing a vehicle. In addition, with a life cycle cost LCC, the customer CS can easily grasp the overall expenses without having to research the market price of each expense item. Furthermore, with a life cycle cost LCC calculated for multiple periods, the customer CS can grasp the life cycle cost LCC that matches their anticipated replacement timing. With such a life cycle cost LCC, the customer CS can easily grasp the information to consider when purchasing a vehicle, such as expenses that will be required after purchase. Furthermore, customer service representatives (CS) with little experience in purchasing vehicles tend to be less aware of costs other than the purchase price and often do not understand the expenses incurred after purchasing a vehicle. However, by using the life cycle cost (LCC), which covers the costs incurred from one vehicle replacement to the next, even customer service representatives with little experience in purchasing vehicles can easily understand the overall picture of the costs involved. Therefore, the information processing device 10 described above can stimulate vehicle sales by appropriately presenting customer service representatives with the information they need to make informed purchasing decisions.

[0061] Furthermore, according to Embodiment 1 described above, the life cycle cost (LCC) is calculated based on basic cost information BC, which includes at least one of the following: vehicle information, total payment TP, catalog fuel efficiency, fuel costs, taxes, subsidies, and vehicle inspection costs. In other words, since the life cycle cost (LCC) is an expense whose amount can be determined from the vehicle specifications such as engine displacement, the information processing device 10 does not need to receive the calculation source information in advance from the customer CS in order to display the life cycle cost (LCC). Therefore, the information processing device 10 can display the life cycle cost (LCC) of the selected vehicle when the customer CS selects any vehicle.

[0062] Furthermore, according to Embodiment 1 described above, the vehicle selection unit 113 selects multiple vehicles based on the customer CS's operation, and the display control unit 112 displays the comparison results of the life cycle cost (LCC) calculated for each vehicle selected by the vehicle selection unit 113. According to the embodiment described above, the customer CS can easily grasp the relative magnitudes of the life cycle costs (LCC) of multiple vehicles. Also, by displaying the comparison results for multiple periods, the customer CS can easily understand whether it is more advantageous to frequently switch vehicles because the initial cost is low, or whether it is more advantageous to keep driving a vehicle for a long time because it has good fuel efficiency. In addition, by using a similar model from three years ago or a vehicle owned by the customer CS as the comparison source, the advantages of the comparison vehicle can be highlighted, stimulating the customer CS's desire to purchase. Therefore, the information processing device 10 according to the embodiment can further stimulate the buying and selling of vehicles.

[0063] Furthermore, according to Embodiment 1 described above, the display control unit 112 displays the associated life cycle cost ALCC, which is an expense incurred in relation to the vehicle and whose amount is not determined solely by the vehicle type, or displays the life cycle cost LCC (i.e., total life cycle cost TLCC) with the associated life cycle cost ALCC added. In other words, the information processing device 10 also displays expenses that vary depending on the customer CS. This allows the customer CS to more accurately grasp the overall picture of the expenses incurred until the next vehicle replacement.

[0064] [Discount Information] Next, referring to Figures 7 through 13 and Figure 15, we will explain how discount information is presented to the customer (CS). The customer (CS) can receive a discount on the vehicle's base price (VP) by contracting for services provided by affiliated company CL2 at the time of vehicle purchase. Affiliated company CL2 is a company that provides services related to vehicles, such as a tire sales company or an insurance company.

[0065] Figure 15 illustrates the conventional relationship between customer CS and affiliated company CL2. Traditionally, affiliated company CL2, which is neither a subsidiary nor affiliated with vehicle dealership CL1, could only have contact with customer CS after the customer purchased a vehicle. For example, this would be when customer CS visits affiliated company CL2 to replace tires. Affiliated company CL2 would try to attract customer CS after the vehicle purchase by using advertising and flyers to attract them.

[0066] In contrast, the information processing system 1A in Embodiment 2 can provide incentives to customers CS when they purchase a vehicle. Figure 7 shows an overview of the information processing system 1A that provides incentives when purchasing a vehicle. Affiliated company CL2 shares information about the content of campaigns and coupons with vehicle dealership CL1. Vehicle dealership CL1 presents customers CS with information about the vehicle, as well as the content of the campaign and the fact that they can use the campaign when purchasing a vehicle. Customer CS enters into a sales contract for the vehicle with vehicle dealership CL1 and a contract for services with affiliated company CL2. At this time, vehicle dealership CL1 acts as an agent for customers CS to apply for the service contract. As a result, affiliated company CL2 can have contact with customers CS when they purchase a vehicle. In the following description, campaigns, coupons, etc., that allow customers CS to benefit by applying for the use of or membership in services provided by affiliated company CL2 under certain conditions may be simply referred to as "campaigns."

[0067] Figure 8 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the information processing system 1A according to Embodiment 2. The information processing system 1A comprises an information processing device 10A, a customer terminal 20, and a client terminal 30 as its components. The information processing device 10A comprises an arithmetic unit 11A and a storage unit 13.

[0068] The calculation unit 11A of the information processing device 10A replaces the vehicle selection unit 113 with the attached life cycle cost calculation unit 117 and includes a campaign information acquisition unit 121, a campaign selection unit 122, a vehicle contract acceptance unit 123, a service contract acceptance unit 124, and a discount unit 125 as its functional units.

[0069] Figure 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the processing flow between the information processing device 10 and the customer terminal 20 when displaying discount information. Referring to Figure 9, an example of the processing performed by the functional units from the campaign information acquisition unit 121 to the discount unit 125 will be explained.

[0070] (Step S201) Affiliated company CL2 outputs information about the services it provides to the information processing device 10A by operating its own client terminal 30. The information about the services includes, for example, the name of affiliated company CL2 that provides the service, the service content, the period during which the service can be provided, the service name, and the URL of the site showing the details of the service (Uniform Resource Locator), etc. The information about the services also includes information that identifies the campaign for the service, such as the campaign name, the discount amount discounted in the campaign, the campaign period, the campaign identification number, and the URL of the site showing the details of the campaign. In the following description, the information about the services may be simply referred to as campaign information C. Also, the information about the services including the discount amount (campaign information C) may be simply referred to as discount information. The campaign information acquisition unit 121 of the information processing device 10A acquires the campaign information C. The campaign information acquisition unit 121 registers the campaign information C by storing it in the storage unit 13.

[0071] (Step S202) Vehicle dealership CL1 views registered campaign information C by operating its own client terminal 30. Vehicle dealership CL1 selects the campaign information C it wants to attach to its vehicle. The campaign selection unit 122 of the information processing device 10A selects the campaign information C selected by vehicle dealership CL1 based on the operation of vehicle dealership CL1.

[0072] The information processing device 10A acquires information that identifies the vehicle to which the campaign information C will be attached (for example, the vehicle identification number). In conjunction with the listing process, the information processing device 10A associates the vehicle identification information with the campaign information C and stores it in the storage unit 13, thereby attaching the campaign information C to the vehicle.

[0073] (Step S203) The customer CS operates the information processing device 10 to view a list of vehicles, selects a specific vehicle, and proceeds to the property details page. By viewing the details page, the customer CS views the vehicle information (property information) and campaign information C.

[0074] Figure 10 shows an example of the sixth display screen D6, which displays the first example of campaign information C. The sixth display screen D6, like the life cycle cost LCC, can be displayed on the vehicle sales page, the property details page, or any other page (such as the vehicle list). The seventh display screen D7 has multiple campaign information Cs as part of its screen configuration. The first campaign information C1 to the third campaign information C3 are examples of multiple campaign information Cs, and when they are not distinguished, they may simply be referred to as campaign information C.

[0075] The campaign information C displayed in Figure 10 shows the discount amount DA that will be applied when a customer CS purchases a vehicle by contracting with affiliated company CL2. Multiple campaign information Cs may be displayed in descending order of the DA discount amount DA, for example, so that the highest discount amount is easily noticeable. In addition, a URL or other link that allows users to view the details of campaign information C may be displayed along with the campaign information C. Furthermore, interacting with the campaign information C displayed in Figure 10 may display the landing page for that campaign.

[0076] Figure 11 shows an example of the seventh display screen D7, which displays a second example of campaign information C. The seventh display screen D7 further includes a total discount amount TDA as a component. The total discount amount TDA is the sum of the discount amounts DA for each campaign information C associated with the vehicle. By checking the total discount amount TDA, the amount of the discount can be confirmed at a glance. When displaying the total discount amount TDA, the breakdown of each discount amount DA may also be displayed. For example, the display control unit 112 may display only the discount amount DA as a breakdown, or it may display various campaign information C including the discount amount DA.

[0077] Figure 12 shows examples of the eighth and ninth display screens D8 and D9, which display the third example of campaign information C. The eighth display screen D8 is an example in which some of the campaign information C is collapsed and omitted from display, and the ninth display screen D9 is an example in which the collapsed campaign information C is expanded and displayed.

[0078] The eighth display screen D8 and the ninth display screen D9 have campaign information C and a folding operation unit D80 as components. When the folding operation unit D80 is operated, it displays the content that has been omitted by folding. In the third display example of campaign information C, the display control unit 112 displays the first campaign information C1 which includes the highest discount amount DA, and folds and displays the remaining second campaign information C2 and third campaign information C3.

[0079] Furthermore, if the total discount amount TDA is displayed, the total discount amount TDA may be displayed as in the third display example, and the individual campaign information C (breakdown) may be collapsed. Also, the total discount amount TDA may be displayed in the third display example.

[0080] (Step S205) The customer CS makes an appointment to visit vehicle dealership CL1 by operating the customer terminal 20. The customer CS visits vehicle dealership CL1 and conducts business negotiations regarding the vehicle. Alternatively, the customer CS may conduct business negotiations online or by telephone instead of visiting vehicle dealership CL1 in person.

[0081] (Step S206) The customer CS inputs information related to the sales contract, such as an application for a vehicle sales contract and matters necessary for the vehicle sales contract, by operating the customer terminal 20 or the client terminal 30 of the vehicle dealership CL1. The vehicle contract reception unit 123 of the information processing device 10A accepts operations related to the vehicle sales contract based on the operations of the customer CS. Some of these operations may be performed by the vehicle dealership CL1. The customer CS also enters into a contract for services provided by affiliated company CL2, such as applying for service use, joining a service, or applying for a campaign, by operating the customer terminal 20 or the client terminal 30 of the vehicle dealership CL1. A contract for services may include inputting the intention to apply and necessary information, or requesting the vehicle dealership CL1 to act as an application agent. A request for application agent may include operations on checkboxes indicating agreement to the terms and conditions or agreement to the agent.

[0082] The discount unit 125 of the information processing device 10A applies a discount of DA (or a total discount of TDA if there are multiple campaign information Cs) when the vehicle contract reception unit 123 accepts an operation related to a vehicle sales contract, and the service contract reception unit 124 accepts an operation related to a service contract. It should be noted that customer CS enters into separate contracts with vehicle dealership CL1 and affiliated company CL2, and therefore is not the same person or affiliated with vehicle dealership CL1 or affiliated company CL2.

[0083] The display control unit 112 displays the discounted vehicle price VP and total payment amount TP on the client terminal 30 operated by the vehicle dealership CL1. When vehicle dealership CL1 uses the information processing device 10A to create a vehicle sales contract, the discounted amount is displayed in the amount of the vehicle sales contract. When vehicle dealership CL1 creates its own vehicle sales contract, vehicle dealership CL1 may create the vehicle sales contract by referring to the discounted vehicle price VP and total payment amount TP displayed by the display control unit 112.

[0084] Figure 13 shows an example of the 10th display screen D10, which displays the discounted amount. The 10th display screen D10 displays, for example, a portion of a vehicle sales contract created using the information processing device 10A. The vehicle price VP and total payment amount TP on the 10th display screen D10 are the amounts after deducting the total discount amount TDA of 18,000 yen from the vehicle price VP and total payment amount TP displayed on the property details page (Figure 3(A)). In this case, neither the amount before the discount nor the discount amount is displayed.

[0085] (Step S207) Vehicle dealership CL1 applies for use of or membership in the services provided by affiliated company CL2 on behalf of customer CS. Alternatively, customer CS may apply for use of or membership in the services provided by affiliated company CL2 instead of vehicle dealership CL1.

[0086] [Summary of discount information display] According to the above-described embodiment 2, the information processing device 10A includes a display control unit 112 that displays information about services provided by affiliated company CL2 and discount information (campaign information C) indicating the discount amount DA that will be deducted when a customer CS who contracts for the services purchases a vehicle, on the vehicle sales page, and a discount unit 125 that deducts the discount amount DA when a vehicle sales contract and a service contract are made. In other words, the information processing device 10A deducts the price of the vehicle when a vehicle sales contract and a service contract are made. With the information processing device 10A that makes a service contract at the time of vehicle purchase, affiliated company CL2 can make contact with customer CS at the time of vehicle purchase and make incentives. In addition, vehicle dealership CL1 can enhance the attractiveness of the vehicle and promote sales by attaching campaign information C to the vehicle. Customer CS's willingness to purchase is stimulated by the price discount. Therefore, the information processing device 10A can further stimulate the buying and selling of vehicles.

[0087] Furthermore, according to the embodiment described above, if there is multiple discount information associated with the vehicle, the display control unit 112 displays the discount information in descending order of the discount amount DA. This makes it easier for customers CS to notice campaign information C that offers a large discount, thereby stimulating their desire to purchase.

[0088] Furthermore, according to the embodiment described above, if there is multiple discount information associated with the vehicle, the display control unit 112 displays the total discount amount TDA, which is the sum of the multiple discount amounts DA. This allows the customer CS to easily understand the amount that will be discounted when purchasing the vehicle. In addition, a larger displayed amount can further stimulate the desire to purchase.

[0089] Furthermore, according to the embodiment described above, the display control unit 112 further displays the breakdown of the total discount amount TDA. This allows customers CS to easily check the details if they become interested in the campaign based on the total discount amount TDA.

[0090] Furthermore, according to the embodiment described above, if there are multiple discount information items associated with the vehicle, the display control unit 112 displays the discount information with the highest discount amount DA and collapses the remaining discount information. This makes it easier for the customer CS to notice campaign information C with a large discount, stimulating their desire to purchase. In addition, if the customer CS becomes interested after seeing the discount information displayed without collapsing, they can also check other discount information. Moreover, by displaying the highest discount amount DA and the collapse operation unit D80, the customer CS can feel that they are getting a good deal equivalent to the collapsed discount amount DA.

[0091] Furthermore, according to the embodiment described above, after the service contract is made, the display control unit 112 displays the vehicle price (vehicle base price VP or total payment amount TP) as the vehicle price displayed before the service contract is made minus the discount amount DA. This makes the customer CS realize that a discount has been made and gives them a sense of getting a good deal.

[0092] Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of an example hardware configuration of an information processing device 90 applied to this embodiment. The information processing device 90 comprises a processor 91, main memory 92, communication interface 93, auxiliary storage device 94, input / output interface 95, and internal bus 96. The processor 91, main memory 92, communication interface 93, auxiliary storage device 94, and input / output interface 95 are connected to each other via the internal bus 96 so as to be able to communicate with each other. The information processing device 90 may be applied to, for example, an information processing device 10, an information processing device 10A, a customer terminal 20, and a client terminal 30. In this case, for example, the communication unit 110 may be configured using the communication interface 93. For example, the storage unit 13, customer terminal storage unit 24, and client terminal storage unit 34 may be configured using the auxiliary storage device 94. Also, the arithmetic unit 11, arithmetic unit 11A, customer terminal arithmetic unit 23, and customer terminal storage unit 24 may be configured using the processor 91 and main memory 92.

[0093] Furthermore, the operation reception unit 111 of the information processing device 10, the attached lifecycle cost calculation unit 117, and the campaign information acquisition unit 121, the discount unit 125 may be implemented by the customer terminal calculation unit 23 of the customer terminal 20 or the client terminal calculation unit 33 of the client terminal 30, as needed. In this case, the functions performed by the storage unit 13 may be implemented by the customer terminal storage unit 24, the client terminal storage unit 34, a cloud server, etc. When using the information processing system 1 or information processing system 1A according to this embodiment, the customer CS, vehicle dealership CL1, and affiliated company CL2 may install applications provided by the designers of the information processing system 1 or information processing system 1A on the customer terminal 20 or client terminal 30, or they may access sites provided by the designers of the information processing system 1 or information processing system 1 from the customer terminal 20 or client terminal 30.

[0094] The information processing device 10 and the information processing device 10A may be implemented using multiple information processing devices. For example, the information processing device 10 and the information processing device 10A may be implemented using a device such as a cloud. For example, in the information processing device 10 and the information processing device 10A, the arithmetic unit 11 and the storage unit 13 may be implemented in different information processing devices. For example, the storage unit 13 may be distributed and implemented across multiple information processing devices.

[0095] Furthermore, the entirety or a part thereof of the functions of each part of the information processing device 10 and information processing device 10A in the above-described embodiment may be realized by recording a program for realizing these functions on a computer-readable recording medium, having a computer system read the program recorded on this recording medium, and executing it. The term "computer system" here includes hardware such as an operating system and peripheral devices.

[0096] Furthermore, "computer-readable recording media" refers to portable media such as flexible disks, magneto-optical disks, ROMs, and CD-ROMs, as well as recording units such as hard disks built into computer systems. In addition, "computer-readable recording media" may include those that dynamically hold programs for a short period of time, such as communication lines used when transmitting programs over networks such as the Internet or communication lines such as telephone lines, and those that hold programs for a certain period of time, such as volatile memory inside computer systems that act as servers or clients in such cases. Moreover, the above-mentioned program may be for the purpose of realizing some of the functions described above, and may also be able to realize the above-mentioned functions in combination with programs already recorded in the computer system.

[0097] Although one embodiment of this invention has been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to that described above, and various design changes can be made without departing from the spirit of this invention. Furthermore, the configurations described in each embodiment and example above may be combined. [Explanation of symbols]

[0098] 1...Information processing system, 10...Information processing device, 11...Calculation unit, 110...Communication unit, 111...Operation reception unit, 112...Display control unit, 113...Vehicle selection unit, 114...Vehicle details reference unit, 115...Life cycle cost calculation unit, 116...Comparison unit, 117...Additional life cycle cost calculation unit, 121...Campaign information acquisition unit, 122...Campaign selection unit, 123...Vehicle contract reception unit, 124...Service contract reception unit, 125...Discount unit, 13...Storage unit, 20...Customer terminal, 30...Client terminal 30, BC...Basic cost information, LCC...Life cycle cost, CC...Comparison cycle cost, AC...Additional cost information, ALCC...Additional life cycle cost, TLCC...Total life cycle cost, C...Campaign information, DA...Discount amount, TDA...Total discount amount

Claims

1. A vehicle selection unit that selects one or more vehicles based on user input, A display control unit that displays the life cycle cost calculated for each of multiple periods, based on the specifications of the vehicle selected by the vehicle selection unit, An information processing device equipped with the following features.

2. The aforementioned lifecycle cost is calculated based on basic cost information, which includes at least one of the following: vehicle information, total payment, catalog fuel efficiency, fuel costs, taxes, subsidies, and vehicle inspection costs. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

3. The vehicle selection unit selects a plurality of vehicles based on the user's operation. The display control unit displays the comparison results of the life cycle costs calculated for each of the vehicles selected by the vehicle selection unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2.

4. The display control unit displays ancillary life cycle costs that are incurred in relation to the vehicle and whose amount is not determined solely by the vehicle type, or displays the life cycle cost including the ancillary life cycle costs. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2.

5. On the computer, A vehicle selection step in which one or more vehicles are selected based on user actions, A display control step that displays the life cycle cost calculated for each of multiple periods, based on the specifications of the vehicle selected in the vehicle selection step, A program that executes the command.

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