Control device, storage device, program, and control method

Abstract

Provided is a control device for controlling a storage device that stores a plurality of energy storage devices. The control device comprises an extraction unit which extracts, from among the plurality of energy storage devices and in accordance with a request from a user, an energy storage device to be supplied to the user, and a deterioration condition acquisition unit which acquires information indicating the progression of deterioration of a storage device due to past use by a user. The extraction unit may extract the energy storage device, to be supplied to the user, on the basis of the progression of deterioration indicated by the information acquired by the deterioration condition acquisition unit.

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art There is known a charging station that stores a portable mobile battery and dispenses the mobile battery upon request from a user (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art document] [Patent documents] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-160074 A Problem to be Solved

[0003] While a mobile battery is distributed in the market, the mobile battery will become damaged or deteriorate. When the damage or deterioration of the mobile battery reaches a certain level, the mobile battery is withdrawn from the market. Conventionally, however, it has been relatively difficult to predict the number of mobile batteries to be withdrawn, and it has been difficult to adjust the number of mobile batteries to be withdrawn and the number of mobile batteries to be produced. General Disclosure

[0004] In a first aspect of the present invention, a control device is provided. The control device controls, for example, a storage device that stores a plurality of power storage devices. The control device includes an extraction unit that extracts a power storage device to be provided to a user from among a plurality of power storage devices in response to a request from the user. The control device includes, for example, a deterioration degree acquisition unit that acquires information indicating the degree of deterioration of the power storage device due to past use by the user. In the control device, the extraction unit extracts a power storage device to be provided to the user based on, for example, the degree of deterioration indicated by the information acquired by the deterioration degree acquisition unit.

[0005] In the above control device, the degree of deterioration may be (i) an amount of deterioration in a period having a predetermined length, or (ii) a rate of deterioration. In the above control device, each of the multiple power storage devices may be a portable power storage device. The above control device may include a deterioration state acquisition unit that acquires information indicating a deterioration state of each of the multiple power storage devices. In the above control device, when the degree of deterioration indicated by the information acquired by the deterioration degree acquisition unit exceeds a first standard, the extraction unit may extract, from the multiple power storage devices, a power storage device whose deterioration state indicated by the information acquired by the deterioration state acquisition unit is more deteriorated than a second standard, as a power storage device to be provided to the user.

[0006] In the above control device, the extraction unit may acquire information indicating at least one of a production plan, a current value of an inventory quantity, and a predicted value of an inventory quantity related to the power storage device. In the above control device, the extraction unit may extract a power storage device whose degradation state is more deteriorated than a second standard as a power storage device to be provided to a user when (i) at least one of the production plan, the current value of an inventory quantity, and the predicted value of an inventory quantity satisfy a predetermined condition, and (ii) the progress of degradation exceeds a first standard.

[0007] In the above control device, when the rate of deterioration indicated by the degree of deterioration exceeds a predetermined threshold, the extraction unit may extract, from among the multiple power storage devices, the most deteriorated power storage device whose deterioration state is within a range that can be provided to the user, as the power storage device to be provided to the user. In the above control device, the extraction unit may extract, from among the multiple power storage devices, the power storage device whose deterioration state is within a range that can be provided to the user.

[0008] In a second aspect of the present invention, a storage device is provided. The storage device includes, for example, the control device according to the first aspect. The storage device includes, for example, a storage unit that stores a plurality of power storage devices.

[0009] In a third aspect of the present invention, a control method is provided. The control method is, for example, a control method for controlling a storage device that stores a plurality of power storage devices. The control method has, for example, an extraction step of extracting a power storage device to be provided to a user from a plurality of power storage devices in response to a request from the user. The control method has, for example, a deterioration degree acquisition step of acquiring information indicating a degree of deterioration of the power storage device due to past use by the user. In the control method, the extraction step includes, for example, a step of extracting a power storage device to be provided to the user based on a degree of deterioration indicated by the information acquired in the deterioration degree acquisition step.

[0010] In a fourth aspect of the present invention, a program is provided. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing the above program may be provided. The above program may be a program for causing a computer to function as the control device according to the first aspect. The above program may be a program for causing a computer to execute an information processing procedure in the control device. The above program may be a program for causing a computer to execute the control method according to the third aspect.

[0011] The above summary of the invention does not list all of the necessary features of the present invention. Also, subcombinations of these features may also be inventions. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 illustrates an example of a system configuration of a battery management system 100. [Diagram 2] An example of the life cycle of a battery 20 is shown diagrammatically. [Diagram 3] 2 illustrates an example of a system configuration of a management server 120. [Figure 4] 2 shows an example of a system configuration of a battery station 140. [Diagram 5] 4 shows an example of an internal configuration of the lending management unit 446. [Figure 6] 1 illustrates an example of a management method by the battery management system 100. [Figure 7] An example of the system configuration of a computer 3000 is shown in schematic form. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] The present invention will be described below through the embodiments of the invention, but the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. In addition, not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention. In addition, in the drawings, the same reference numbers are used for the same or similar parts, and duplicate explanations may be omitted.

[0014] [Overview of the Battery Management System 100] 1 illustrates an example of a system configuration of a battery management system 100. In this embodiment, the battery management system 100 includes a management server 120 and a battery station 140. In this embodiment, the battery station 140 holds one or more (sometimes referred to as one or more) batteries 20. The battery management system 100 may include one or more battery stations 140.

[0015] In this embodiment, the management server 120 and the battery station 140 can transmit and receive information to and from each other via the communication network 10. In this embodiment, the management server 120 can transmit and receive information to and from the communication terminal 32 of the user 30 via the communication network 10.

[0016] In the present embodiment, the details of the battery management system 100 will be described taking as an example a case where the battery management system 100 provides one or more batteries 20 to a user 30. The battery management system 100 may provide one or more batteries 20 to each of the one or more users 30.

[0017] For example, the user 30 uses the communication terminal 32 to request the battery management system 100 to lend the battery 20 held in a specific battery station 140. In response to the lending request, the battery management system 100 executes a process for lending the battery 20 to the user 30. In this embodiment, the user 30 uses the battery 20 lent from the battery management system 100 as a power source for the electric motorcycle 34.

[0018] However, the battery 20 deteriorates while being used repeatedly. In this embodiment, a manager of the battery 20 (not shown) collects the battery 20 that has deteriorated more than a predetermined management standard from the battery station 140, and introduces a new battery 20 to the battery station 140. In this way, the distribution of the battery 20 can be managed so that the battery 20 having the appropriate charging and discharging performance is distributed.

[0019] In this embodiment, the battery management system 100 manages the use of each of the one or more batteries 20. For example, the battery management system 100 manages the lending status (e.g., lendable, unlendable, on loan, etc.), operating status (e.g., charging, discharging, on standby, etc.), charging status (e.g., current SOC), storage status (e.g., temperature, humidity, etc.), deterioration status, etc., of each of the one or more batteries 20. Note that the provision form of the batteries 20 is not limited to lending.

[0020] [Overview of each part of the battery management system 100] In this embodiment, the communication network 10 may be a transmission path for wired communication, a transmission path for wireless communication, or a combination of a transmission path for wireless communication and a transmission path for wired communication. The communication network 10 may include a wireless packet communication network, the Internet, a P2P network, a dedicated line, a VPN, a power line communication line, a vehicle-to-vehicle communication line, a road-to-vehicle communication line, etc. The communication network 10 may include (i) a mobile communication network such as a mobile phone line network, or (ii) a wireless communication network such as a wireless MAN (e.g., WiMAX (registered trademark)), a wireless LAN (e.g., WiFi (registered trademark)), Bluetooth (registered trademark), Zigbee (registered trademark), or NFC (Near Field Communication).

[0021] In this embodiment, the battery 20 supplies power to the electric bike 34. The battery 20 may be mounted on the electric bike 34. The battery 20 may be detachably mounted on the electric bike 34. The battery 20 may be a replaceable power storage device. The battery 20 may be a portable power storage device.

[0022] In this embodiment, the battery 20 is charged by the battery station 140. For example, when the remaining capacity of the battery 20 mounted on the electric bike 34 becomes low, the user 30 requests the battery management system 100 to lend the battery 20 held in a specific battery station 140. When the user 30 arrives at the battery station 140, the user 30 removes the battery 20 from the electric bike 34. The user 30 returns the battery 20 removed from the electric bike 34 to a return space for the battery 20 provided in the battery station 140. At this time, for example, the connector of the returned battery 20 and the connector of the battery station 140 are electrically connected. After that, the battery station 140 charges the battery 20 at an appropriate time in preparation for the next use of the battery 20.

[0023] In this embodiment, the communication terminal 32 is used by the user 30. The communication terminal 32 functions as an interface between the battery management system 100 and the user 30, for example.

[0024] In one embodiment, the communication terminal 32 accepts an input from the user 30. The communication terminal 32 transmits various requests to the management server 120 based on the input from the user 30. Examples of the requests include a search request for searching for a battery station 140 that meets a specific condition, a reservation request for reserving an arbitrary or specific battery 20 stored in a specific battery station 140, and the like.

[0025] In another embodiment, the communication terminal 32 outputs information to the user 30. For example, the communication terminal 32 outputs information received from the management server 120 to the user 30. The manner in which the information is output is not particularly limited. The communication terminal 32 may output an image or may output a sound.

[0026] The communication terminal 32 may be any device capable of transmitting and receiving information to and from each unit (e.g., the management server 120) of the battery management system 100 via the communication network 10, and the details thereof are not particularly limited. Examples of the communication terminal 32 include a personal computer and a mobile terminal. Examples of the mobile terminal include a mobile phone, a smartphone, a PDA, a tablet, a notebook computer or laptop computer, and a wearable computer.

[0027] In this embodiment, the electric bike 34 consumes power supplied by the battery 20. More specifically, the electric bike 34 moves using the power supplied by the battery 20. If the battery 20 has a storage device, the electric bike 34 may store at least one of the traveling history and the operation history of the electric bike 34 in the storage device.

[0028] In this embodiment, the management server 120 manages the use of each of the one or more batteries 20. For example, the battery management system 100 manages the lending status (e.g., lendable, unlendable, on loan, etc.), operating status (e.g., charging, discharging, on standby, etc.), charging status (e.g., current SOC), storage status (e.g., temperature, humidity, etc.), deterioration status, etc., of each of the one or more batteries 20.

[0029] In this embodiment, the management server 120 may manage the reservation of each of the one or more batteries 20. The management server 120 may transmit, to each of the one or more battery stations 140, information regarding the reservation of the battery 20 associated with the battery station.

[0030] In this embodiment, when the battery station 140 provides a battery 20 to the user 30, the management server 120 may determine a judgment criterion (sometimes referred to as a policy) for determining which battery 20 is to be preferentially provided from among the multiple batteries 20 held in the battery station 140. The management server 120 may transmit information regarding the above policy to each of the one or more battery stations 140. Details of the management server 120 will be described later.

[0031] In this embodiment, the battery station 140 holds one or more batteries 20. The battery station 140 charges each of the one or more batteries 20. For example, the battery station 140 obtains information related to the reservation of the battery 20 from the management server 120. The battery station 140 also obtains information related to the above policy from the management server 120. In accordance with the above policy, the battery station 140 determines, as batteries 20 to be lent, from among the multiple batteries 20 held by the battery station, a number of batteries 20 that matches the number reserved by the user 30. The battery station 140 may charge the batteries 20 determined to be lent, as necessary.

[0032] [Lending based on user attributes] In this embodiment, the battery station 140 determines the battery 20 to be provided to the user 30 according to the attributes of the user 30. In this embodiment, the battery station 140 determines the battery 20 to be provided to the user 30 from among a plurality of batteries 20 held by the battery station 140, based on the attributes of the user 30. The battery station 140 may determine the battery 20 to be provided to the user 30 based on the attributes of the user 30 and the deterioration state of the battery 20.

[0033] The attribute of the user 30 may be an attribute related to the usage mode of the battery 20. The attribute related to the usage mode of the battery 20 may be the progress of deterioration of the battery 20 due to past use by the user 30. Examples of the progress of deterioration include (i) the amount of deterioration in a period having a predetermined length, and (ii) the progress rate of deterioration. Examples of the amount of deterioration include the amount of decrease in full charge capacity and the amount of increase in internal resistance. Examples of the progress rate of deterioration include the rate of decrease in full charge capacity and the rate of increase in internal resistance.

[0034] In one embodiment, the battery station 140 determines to provide a battery 20 that is relatively deteriorated to a user 30 whose battery 20 deteriorates at a relatively high rate. The battery station 140 may also determine to provide a battery 20 whose battery 20 deteriorates at a relatively low rate to a user 30 whose battery 20 deteriorates at a relatively low rate. This increases the number of collected batteries 20 in a specific period.

[0035] In another embodiment, the battery station 140 determines to provide a battery 20 with a relatively low deterioration rate to a user 30 whose battery 20 deteriorates at a relatively high rate. The battery station 140 may also determine to provide a battery 20 with a relatively high deterioration rate to a user 30 whose battery 20 deteriorates at a relatively low rate. This reduces the number of collected batteries 20 in a specific period.

[0036] [Lending according to lending policy] In this embodiment, the battery station 140 determines the battery 20 to be preferentially provided to the user 30 based on a policy transmitted from the management server 120. Examples of the policy include a policy for increasing the number of collected batteries 20, a policy for decreasing the number of collected batteries 20, and a policy for prioritizing charging efficiency of the battery 20 over adjusting deterioration of the battery 20.

[0037] In one embodiment, the battery station 140 receives a policy indicating to increase the collection quantity of the batteries 20. For example, when the inventory quantity of the batteries 20 is expected to exceed the upper limit of a predetermined numerical range (sometimes referred to as an inventory standard), or when the inventory quantity of the batteries 20 exceeds the upper limit of the inventory standard, the management server 120 transmits a policy indicating to increase the collection quantity of the batteries 20.

[0038] In this case, the battery station 140 determines to give priority to lending out the batteries 20 in which deterioration is relatively advanced. The battery station 140 may also determine to give priority to lending out the batteries 20 in which deterioration is relatively advanced to the users 30 who use the batteries in a manner that accelerates the deterioration of the batteries 20. This can hasten the time when the deterioration state of the batteries 20 in which deterioration is relatively advanced reaches a predetermined threshold value (sometimes referred to as a collection standard). As a result, the number of collected batteries 20 in a specific period increases.

[0039] In another embodiment, the battery station 140 receives a policy indicating to reduce the withdrawn quantity of the batteries 20. For example, when the inventory quantity of the batteries 20 is predicted to fall below the lower limit of the inventory standard, or when the inventory quantity of the batteries 20 falls below the lower limit of the inventory standard, the management server 120 transmits a policy indicating to reduce the withdrawn quantity of the batteries 20.

[0040] In this case, the battery station 140 determines to preferentially lend out the batteries 20 other than the battery 20 in which degradation is relatively advanced. This suppresses lending out of the battery 20 in which degradation is relatively advanced. The battery station 140 may also determine to preferentially lend out the battery 20 in which degradation is relatively advanced to the user 30 who uses the battery 20 in a manner that suppresses degradation of the battery 20. This makes it possible to delay the time when the degradation state of the battery 20 in which degradation is relatively advanced reaches the collection standard. As a result, the number of collected batteries 20 in a specific period is reduced.

[0041] According to this embodiment, the collected quantity of the batteries 20 can be adjusted according to the production quantity or the stock quantity of the batteries 20. Since it is technically or economically difficult to rapidly increase or decrease the production quantity of the batteries 20, it is generally considered to respond to an increase or decrease in the collected quantity of the batteries 20 by relatively increasing the stock of the batteries 20. In contrast, according to this embodiment, when the production quantity or the stock quantity of the batteries 20 decreases, the lending of the batteries 20 is adjusted so that the deterioration of the batteries 20 whose deterioration is relatively advanced is suppressed. On the other hand, when the production quantity or the stock quantity of the batteries 20 increases, the lending of the batteries 20 is adjusted so that the deterioration of the batteries 20 whose deterioration is relatively advanced is accelerated. As a result, the stock quantity of the batteries 20 can be maintained at a relatively low level.

[0042] The battery 20 in which deterioration is relatively advanced may be the battery 20 having a predetermined deterioration state. Examples of the predetermined deterioration state include a state in which the degree of decrease in full charge capacity compared to the initial state satisfies a predetermined condition, a state in which the degree of increase in internal resistance compared to the initial state satisfies a predetermined condition, and the like.

[0043] Examples of the predetermined condition regarding the degree of decrease in the full charge capacity include a condition that the decrease in the full charge capacity is within a predetermined numerical range, a condition that the decrease in the full charge capacity is outside a predetermined numerical range, a condition that the ratio of the current value of the full charge capacity to the initial value of the full charge capacity is within a predetermined numerical range, a condition that the ratio of the current value of the full charge capacity to the initial value of the full charge capacity is outside a predetermined numerical range, etc. The above numerical range may have only an upper limit value, only a lower limit value, or both an upper limit value and a lower limit value.

[0044] Examples of the predetermined condition regarding the increase in the internal resistance include a condition that the increase in the internal resistance is within a predetermined numerical range, a condition that the increase in the internal resistance is outside a predetermined numerical range, a condition that the ratio of the current value of the internal resistance to the initial value of the internal resistance is within a predetermined numerical range, a condition that the ratio of the current value of the internal resistance to the initial value of the internal resistance is outside a predetermined numerical range, etc. The above numerical range may have only an upper limit value, only a lower limit value, or both an upper limit value and a lower limit value.

[0045] In this embodiment, the battery station 140 executes a process of lending the battery 20 in response to a request from the user 30. For example, the battery station 140 executes a process of authenticating the user 30, a process of confirming the reservation details, a process of paying out the battery 20, and the like. The details of the battery station 140 will be described later.

[0046] The battery 20 may be an example of a power storage device. The user 30 may be an example of a user of the battery 20. The battery management system 100 may be an example of a control device and a storage device. The management server 120 may be an example of a control device. The battery station 140 may be an example of a storage device. A user 30 who uses the battery 20 in a manner that accelerates the deterioration of the battery 20 may be an example of a user whose deterioration of the power storage device due to the user's past use exceeds a first standard. A battery 20 whose deterioration is relatively advanced may be an example of a power storage device whose deterioration state is deteriorated more than a second standard.

[0047] In this embodiment, the battery management system 100 has been described in detail using the example in which the battery 20 is used as a power source for the electric motorcycle 34. However, the use of the battery 20 is not limited to this embodiment. In other embodiments, the battery 20 may be used as a power source for various electrical devices. The above-mentioned electrical devices may be mobile objects powered by electric motors or stationary power storage devices.

[0048] Examples of the mobile body include automobiles, motorcycles, standing vehicles having a power unit, ships, aircraft, etc. Examples of the automobile include gasoline cars, diesel cars, electric cars, fuel cell cars, hybrid cars, small commuters, electric carts, etc. Examples of the motorcycle include motorbikes, three-wheeled bikes, electric bicycles, etc. Examples of the ship include ships, hovercraft, jet skis, submarines, submersible boats, underwater scooters, etc. Examples of the aircraft include airplanes, airships or balloons, balloons, helicopters, drones, etc.

[0049] In the present embodiment, the battery management system 100 has been described in detail by taking as an example a case in which the management server 120 manages one or more batteries 20 and one or more battery stations 140. However, the battery management system 100 is not limited to the present embodiment. In other embodiments, at least one of the one or more battery stations 140 may have at least a part of the functions of the management server 120 described above. For example, at least one of the one or more battery stations 140 manages one or more batteries 20. At least one of the one or more battery stations 140 may manage other battery stations 140. In this case, the battery management system 100 may include the management server 120 or may not include the management server 120.

[0050] In the present embodiment, the battery management system 100 has been described in detail by taking as an example a case in which the battery station 140 determines the battery 20 to be lent out from among the multiple batteries 20 held by the battery station. However, the battery management system 100 is not limited to the present embodiment. In other embodiments, the management server 120 may determine the battery 20 to be lent out from among the multiple batteries 20 held by the battery station 140. [Specific configuration of each part of the battery management system 100] Each unit of the battery management system 100 may be realized by hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. When at least a part of the components of the battery management system 100 is realized by software, the components realized by the software may be realized by starting a program that specifies the operation of the components in an information processing device of a general configuration.

[0051] The program may be stored in a computer-readable medium such as a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a memory, or a hard disk, or may be stored in a storage device connected to a network. The program may be installed in a computer constituting at least a part of the battery management system 100 from the computer-readable medium or the storage device connected to the network. Execution of the program may cause the computer to function as at least a part of each unit of the battery management system 100.

[0052] A program that causes a computer to function as at least a part of each part of the battery management system 100 may include modules that define the operation of each part of the battery management system 100. These programs or modules act on a data processing device, an input device, an output device, a storage device, etc. to cause a computer to function as each part of the battery management system 100 or to execute an information processing method in each part of the battery management system 100.

[0053] When the program is loaded into a computer, the information processing described in the program functions as a specific means in which software related to the program works in cooperation with various hardware resources of the battery management system 100. The specific means above performs calculations or processing of information according to the intended use of the computer in this embodiment, thereby constructing the battery management system 100 according to the intended use.

[0054] The information processing method in each unit of the battery management system 100 may be a control method for controlling a storage device that stores a plurality of power storage devices. The above control method includes, for example, an extraction step of extracting a power storage device to be provided to a user from among a plurality of power storage devices in response to a request from the user. The above control method includes, for example, a deterioration degree acquisition step of acquiring information indicating the degree of deterioration of the power storage device due to past use by the user. In the above control method, the extraction step includes, for example, a step of extracting a power storage device to be provided to the user based on the degree of deterioration indicated by the information acquired in the deterioration degree acquisition step.

[0055] FIG. 2 shows an example of the life cycle of a battery 20. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of batteries 20 are distributed in the market. The batteries 20 distributed in the market gradually deteriorate while being charged at a battery station 140 or used in an electric motorcycle 34. Then, a battery 240 whose deterioration state reaches a collection standard is collected from the market, and then is reused or recycled. When a battery 240 whose deterioration state reaches the collection standard is collected from the market and the number of batteries 20 distributed in the market decreases, the batteries 222 produced during a predetermined period or the stock 224 of batteries 20 are replenished.

[0056] As described above, according to the present embodiment, the collection quantity of the batteries 20 can be adjusted according to the production quantity or inventory quantity of the batteries 20. This, for example, can prevent the occurrence of a significant inventory shortage and prevent an increase in storage costs associated with an increase in surplus inventory. In addition, the amount of calculations by a computer used for production management or inventory management can be reduced. Furthermore, deterioration of the batteries 20 associated with a prolonged inventory period can be prevented.

[0057] Next, the details of each unit of the management server 120 will be described with reference to Fig. 3, Fig. 4, and Fig. 5. Fig. 3 shows an example of the system configuration of the management server 120. Fig. 4 shows an example of the system configuration of the battery station 140. Fig. 5 shows an example of the internal configuration of the lending management unit 446.

[0058] 3, in this embodiment, the management server 120 includes, for example, a state monitoring unit 310, a battery management unit 320, a reservation management unit 330, a storage unit 340, and a distribution management unit 350. In this embodiment, the storage unit 340 includes, for example, a battery information storage unit 342 and a station information storage unit 344. In this embodiment, the distribution management unit 350 includes, for example, a user attribute determination unit 352, a production management unit 354, and a policy determination unit 356. The units of the management server 120 may transmit and receive information to each other.

[0059] In this embodiment, the state monitoring unit 310 monitors each of the battery stations 140 to be managed. The state monitoring unit 310 acquires information on at least one of the operating state and the operational state of the battery station 140 from each of the battery stations 140 to be managed. For example, the state monitoring unit 310 acquires information indicating the operation rate of the battery station 140 from each of the battery stations 140 to be managed. The state monitoring unit 310 may acquire information indicating the presence or absence of an abnormality in the battery station 140 from each of the battery stations 140 to be managed. The state monitoring unit 310 may acquire information indicating the stop or scheduled stop of the battery station 140 from each of the battery stations 140 to be managed.

[0060] In this embodiment, the state monitoring unit 310 monitors each of the batteries 20 to be managed. For example, the state monitoring unit 310 acquires information on at least one of the operation state, the charging state, the storage state, and the degradation state of the battery 20 stored in the battery station 140 from each of the battery stations 140 to be managed.

[0061] The state monitoring unit 310, for example, acquires information indicating the amount of power stored in each of the one or more batteries 20 held by the battery station 140. The state monitoring unit 310 may acquire information indicating the SOC of each of the one or more batteries 20.

[0062] The state monitoring unit 310 may acquire information indicating a capacity degradation coefficient of each of one or more batteries 20 held by the battery station 140. The state monitoring unit 310 acquires the value of the capacity degradation coefficient of each battery by, for example, referring to a data table or a function in which the SOC value is associated with the value of the capacity degradation coefficient corresponding to the SOC.

[0063] In this embodiment, the state monitoring unit 310 monitors the state of the user. For example, the state monitoring unit 310 acquires various pieces of information related to the user from the communication terminal 32. The state monitoring unit 310 may acquire location information indicating the location of the communication terminal 32 from the communication terminal 32. The state monitoring unit 310 may acquire information indicating the movement history of the communication terminal 32 from the communication terminal 32. In this case, the movement history may be represented by the location indicated by a GPS signal and the time when the GPS signal was received. The state monitoring unit 310 may acquire information related to the movement history of the user stored in the memory of the battery 20 to be managed from each of the battery stations 140 to be managed.

[0064] In this embodiment, the battery management unit 320 manages one or more batteries 20. The battery management unit 320 manages, for example, at least one of the operation state, charge state, storage state, and degradation state of the battery 20 to be managed.

[0065] The battery management unit 320 may manage a charging schedule for one or more batteries 20. The battery management unit 320 may manage the charging schedule for the battery 20 for each battery station 140. The battery management unit 320 may manage the charging schedule for the battery 20 based on at least one of a reservation request from the communication terminal 32 and a demand forecast for the battery 20. The charging schedule may be information in which information indicating a time is associated with information indicating the number of batteries 20 that have been fully charged by that time and are available for lending. The charging schedule may be information in which information indicating a time is associated with information indicating the number of batteries 20 whose charging rates at that time are greater than a predetermined value.

[0066] In this embodiment, the reservation management unit 330 manages the reservation status of the battery 20 to be managed. For example, the reservation management unit 330 accepts a reservation request from the communication terminal 32 and executes a reservation process. The reservation management unit 330 stores the execution result of the reservation process (sometimes referred to as reservation information). The reservation information includes information on, for example, a user ID, a desired rental date, a desired rental time, a station ID, a battery ID, a desired charging state, a usage fee, a payment method, and the like. The reservation information may include information indicating the time when the reservation request was accepted (sometimes referred to as a reservation time), and information indicating the user's location at the reservation time.

[0067] In this embodiment, the storage unit 340 stores various types of information. The storage unit 340 may store information generated or acquired by the state monitoring unit 310, the battery management unit 320, or the reservation management unit 330.

[0068] In this embodiment, the battery information storage unit 342 stores various information related to each of the batteries 20 to be managed. In one embodiment, the battery information storage unit 342 stores, for each battery, information indicating the amount of power stored in the battery. The information indicating the amount of power stored in the battery may be the SOC value of the battery. In another embodiment, the battery information storage unit 342 stores, for each battery, information indicating the degree of deterioration of the battery. The information indicating the degree of deterioration of the battery may be the value of any index indicating the deterioration state of the battery.

[0069] In this embodiment, the station information storage unit 344 stores various information related to each of the managed battery stations 140. For example, the station information storage unit 344 stores, for each battery station, identification information of one or more batteries 20 held by the battery station.

[0070] In this embodiment, the user information storage unit 346 stores various information related to the user 30. For example, the user information storage unit 346 stores information indicating the attributes of each user. More specifically, the user information storage unit 346 may store information indicating the degree of deterioration of the battery 20 due to past use by each user.

[0071] The above-mentioned information indicating the degree of deterioration of the battery 20 due to past use by each user is not particularly limited in detail as long as it is information indicating the degree of deterioration that has progressed during the period in which each user uses any battery 20. The information indicating the degree of deterioration of the battery 20 due to past use by each user may be information indicating the difference in an index related to deterioration of the battery 20 before and after the user uses the battery 20.

[0072] In this embodiment, the distribution management unit 350 manages the distribution of the battery 20. For example, the distribution management unit 350 manages the number of batteries 20 distributed in the market. The distribution management unit 350 may manage the production of the battery 20.

[0073] In this embodiment, the user attribute determination unit 352 determines the attributes of each of the one or more users 30. The user attribute determination unit 352 may determine attributes related to the usage mode of the battery 20 for each user based on the past usage record of each user. The user attribute determination unit 352 may determine the attributes of the user 30 based on the progress of deterioration of the battery 20 due to use by the user 30. Examples of the progress of deterioration include (i) the amount of deterioration in a period having a predetermined length, and (ii) the progress rate of deterioration. Examples of the above-mentioned amount of deterioration include the amount of decrease in full charge capacity and the amount of increase in internal resistance. Examples of the above-mentioned progress rate of deterioration include the rate of decrease in full charge capacity and the rate of increase in internal resistance.

[0074] In one embodiment, the user attribute determination unit 352 determines the deterioration state before the user 30 uses the battery 20 and the deterioration state after the user 30 uses the battery 20 every time the user 30 uses the battery 20. The user attribute determination unit 352 determines the amount of change in the deterioration state of the battery 20 based on the deterioration state before the user 30 uses the battery 20 and the deterioration state after the user 30 uses the battery 20. The user attribute determination unit 352 classifies each user into a plurality of categories based on the amount of change in the deterioration state of the battery 20. In this way, an attribute related to the usage mode of the battery 20 of each user is determined.

[0075] In another embodiment, the user attribute determination unit 352 acquires, for each user 30, information on the state of the battery 20 during the rental period of the battery 20. Examples of the state of the battery 20 include the output of the battery 20, the SOC of the battery 20, and the temperature of the battery 20. The user attribute determination unit 352 may estimate a deterioration state of the battery 20 based on the state of the battery 20.

[0076] For example, when at least one of the SOC and the temperature of the battery 20 is within a predetermined numerical range, the user attribute determination unit 352 calculates the length of a period or the frequency of occurrence during which the output of the battery 20 exceeds a predetermined threshold. The user attribute determination unit 352 estimates the deterioration state of the battery 20 based on the length of the period or the frequency of occurrence.

[0077] The user attribute determination unit 352 classifies each user into a plurality of categories based on the estimated value of the degradation state of the battery 20. In this way, an attribute relating to the usage mode of the battery 20 of each user is determined.

[0078] In this embodiment, the production management unit 354 manages the production of the battery 20. The production management unit 354 may create a production plan for the battery 20. The production plan for the battery 20 may be information in which information indicating a period is associated with information indicating a production quantity of the battery 20 in the period.

[0079] The production management unit 354 may create a production plan for the battery 20 based on statistical information on the degradation state of the battery 20 circulating in the market. When the battery 240 whose degradation state has reached the collection standard is collected from the market, the distribution of the degradation state of the battery 20 circulating in the market changes. By the production management unit 354 creating a production plan for the battery 20 based on statistical information on the degradation state of the battery 20 circulating in the market, the above-mentioned change in the distribution of the degradation state of the battery 20 can be fed back to the production plan.

[0080] In this embodiment, the policy determination unit 356 determines a policy. As described above, examples of the policy include a policy for increasing the number of collected batteries 20, a policy for decreasing the number of collected batteries 20, and a policy for prioritizing charging efficiency of the batteries 20 over adjusting deterioration of the batteries 20. The policy determination unit 356 transmits the determined policy to each of the one or more battery stations 140.

[0081] The policy determination unit 356 determines a policy for a first period based on, for example, the production quantity or stock quantity of the batteries 20 in the first period. The policy determination unit 356 may determine a policy for a second period that follows the first period based on the production quantity or stock quantity of the batteries 20 in the first period. The policy determination unit 356 may determine a policy for the second period based on the production quantity or stock quantity of the batteries 20 in the first period and the second period.

[0082] For example, the policy determination unit 356 obtains information indicating a production plan for the batteries 20 from the production management unit 354. This allows the policy determination unit 356 to obtain information indicating the production quantity or inventory quantity of the batteries 20 in at least one of the first period and the second period. Furthermore, the policy determination unit 356 obtains information indicating the degradation state of the batteries 20 distributed in the market from the battery management unit 320. The policy determination unit 356 estimates the collection quantity of the batteries 20 in at least one of the first period and the second period based on the degradation state of the batteries 20 distributed in the market.

[0083] The policy determination unit 356 determines whether the inventory quantity of the batteries 20 exceeds the upper limit of the inventory standard, based on the production quantity or stock quantity of the batteries 20 and the collected quantity of the batteries 20. If it is determined that the inventory quantity of the batteries 20 exceeds the upper limit of the predetermined inventory standard, the policy determination unit 356 determines, as a policy, to increase the collected quantity of the batteries 20. If it is determined that the inventory quantity of the batteries 20 does not exceed the upper limit of the predetermined inventory standard, the policy determination unit 356 may determine, as a policy, to prioritize charging efficiency of the batteries 20.

[0084] The policy determination unit 356 determines whether the inventory quantity of the batteries 20 falls below the lower limit of the inventory standard, based on the production quantity or inventory quantity of the batteries 20 and the collected quantity of the batteries 20. If it is determined that the inventory quantity of the batteries 20 falls below the lower limit of the predetermined inventory standard, the policy determination unit 356 determines, as a policy, to reduce the collected quantity of the batteries 20. If it is determined that the inventory quantity of the batteries 20 does not fall below the lower limit of the predetermined inventory standard, the policy determination unit 356 may determine, as a policy, to prioritize charging efficiency of the batteries 20.

[0085] The state monitoring unit 310 may be an example of a degradation state acquisition unit. The battery management unit 320 may be an example of a degradation state acquisition unit. The user attribute determination unit 352 may be an example of a degradation degree acquisition unit and a degradation state acquisition unit.

[0086] 4, in this embodiment, the battery station 140 includes one or more charging units 420 and a control unit 440. In this embodiment, each of the one or more charging units 420 includes a battery storage chamber 422, a measuring device 424, and a charging circuit 426. In this embodiment, the control unit 440 includes a communication control unit 442, a charge / discharge control unit 444, a rental management unit 446, and a storage unit 448.

[0087] In this embodiment, the charging unit 420 charges the battery 20. A single charging unit 420 may charge a single battery 20, or a single charging unit 420 may charge multiple batteries 20.

[0088] In this embodiment, the battery housing chamber 422 houses the battery 20. In this embodiment, the measuring device 424 measures various physical quantities related to the battery 20 housed in the battery housing chamber 422. The measuring device 424 may transmit information indicating the measurement results to the control unit 440. For example, the measuring device 424 measures the voltage of the battery 20. The measuring device 424 may measure at least one of the charging current and discharging current of the battery 20. In this embodiment, the charging circuit 426 supplies power to the battery 20 to charge the battery 20. The charging circuit 426 may charge the battery 20 according to an instruction from the control unit 440.

[0089] In this embodiment, the control unit 440 controls the operation of the battery station 140. The control unit 440 may control the operation of the battery station 140 by using information acquired from the management server 120. The control unit 440 may control the operation of the battery station 140 based on an instruction from the management server 120. The control unit 440 may execute various information processing methods in the battery station 140.

[0090] The control unit 440 may control the lending operation of the battery 20 by the battery station 140. The control unit 440 may determine the battery 20 to be lent. The control unit 440 may control the charging operation of the battery 20 by the battery station 140. The control unit 440 may determine the battery 20 to be charged.

[0091] In this embodiment, the communication control unit 442 controls communication between the battery station 140 and an external device. Examples of the external device include at least one of the battery 20, the communication terminal 32, and the management server 120. The communication control unit 442 may be a communication interface. The communication control unit 442 may support one or more types of communication methods.

[0092] In this embodiment, the charge / discharge control unit 444 controls charging / discharging of the battery 20 by each of the one or more charging units 420. For example, the charge / discharge control unit 444 controls the charging of the battery 20 by controlling the charging circuit 426. The charge / discharge control unit 444 may control the discharging of the battery 20 by controlling a discharging circuit (not shown). The charge / discharge control unit 444 controls, for example, the timing to start charging or discharging each of the one or more batteries 20, the timing to end the charging or discharging, the charging rate or discharging rate, etc. The charge / discharge control unit 444 may control the charging operation of at least a part of the one or more charging units 420 according to an instruction from the lending management unit 446.

[0093] In this embodiment, the lending management unit 446 manages lending of the battery 20 in the battery station 140. For example, the lending management unit 446 obtains information (sometimes referred to as reservation information) related to the reservation of one or more batteries 20 held in the battery station 140 from the management server 120. The reservation information, for example, associates identification information of the user 30 who reserved the battery 20, the time at which the user 30 desires to lend the battery 20, the number of batteries 20 that the user 30 desires to lend, and the conditions desired by the user 30 regarding the charging state of the battery 20. The lending management unit 446 may manage the charging of the battery 20 so that the battery 20 is lent in accordance with the reservation information.

[0094] More specifically, the lending management unit 446 may create a charge / discharge schedule for each of the one or more batteries 20 held by the battery station 140. For example, the lending management unit 446 determines which battery 20 of the one or more batteries 20 is to be charged. The lending management unit 446 may determine which battery 20 is to be charged, by when, and to what extent, with respect to the one or more batteries 20. The lending management unit 446 may control the operation of the charge / discharge control unit 444 according to the charge / discharge schedule.

[0095] The lending management unit 446 may manage the status of one or more batteries 20 stored in the battery station 140. For example, the lending management unit 446 manages at least one of the operation status, charging status, storage status, and deterioration status of the above-mentioned batteries 20. The lending management unit 446 may manage the status of one or more batteries 20 based on the measurement results of the measuring device 424. The lending management unit 446 may detect an abnormality or defect in the battery 20. Details of the lending management unit 446 will be described later.

[0096] In this embodiment, the storage unit 448 stores various types of information used for controlling the battery station 140. For example, the storage unit 448 stores information indicating a time in association with information indicating a measurement result of the measuring device 424 at that time. The storage unit 448 may store various types of information received by the communication control unit 442 from the management server 120. The storage unit 448 may store various types of information received by the communication control unit 442 from the communication terminal 32.

[0097] The charging unit 420 may be an example of a storage section and a degradation state acquisition section. The battery storage room 422 may be an example of a storage section. The measuring device 424 may be an example of a degradation state acquisition section. The control section 440 may be an example of a control device, a degradation state acquisition section, and a degradation state acquisition section. The lending management section 446 may be an example of a control device, a degradation state acquisition section, and a degradation state acquisition section.

[0098] 5, in this embodiment, the lending management unit 446 includes a state monitoring unit 522, a priority order determination unit 524, and a lending target determination unit 528. In other embodiments, at least a part of the lending management unit 446 may be arranged in the management server 120. For example, at least one of the priority order determination unit 524 and the lending target determination unit 528 may be arranged in the management server 120.

[0099] In this embodiment, the status monitoring unit 522 monitors the status of each of the one or more batteries 20 held in the battery station 140. For example, the status monitoring unit 522 acquires various information related to each of the one or more batteries 20. The status monitoring unit 522 may acquire information related to at least one of the operation status, charging status, storage status, and degradation status related to each of the one or more batteries 20. The status monitoring unit 522 may transmit this information to the management server 120.

[0100] In one embodiment, the state monitoring unit 522 acquires information indicating the amount of power stored in each of one or more batteries 20 held by the battery station 140. For example, the state monitoring unit 522 acquires information indicating the state of charge of the battery 20 to be measured from each of the measuring devices 424 arranged in one or more charging units 420. The information indicating the state of charge may be information indicating the SOC or information for calculating the SOC. Examples of the information for calculating the SOC include information indicating the voltage and information indicating the accumulated value of the charging current.

[0101] In another embodiment, the state monitoring unit 522 acquires information indicating the capacity degradation coefficient of each of one or more batteries 20 held by the battery station 140. For example, the state monitoring unit 522 determines the value of the capacity degradation coefficient corresponding to the SOC value of each battery by referring to a data table or a function in which the SOC value and the capacity degradation coefficient value corresponding to the SOC are associated with each other.

[0102] In this embodiment, the priority order determination unit 524 determines a priority order for each of the batteries 20 held by the battery station 140 as a lending target or a charging target. The priority order determination unit 524 may transmit information indicating the above priority order to the lending target determination unit 528.

[0103] The priority order for the battery 20 to be loaned may be whether the battery 20 can be loaned or may be a priority level regarding the loan of the battery 20. The priority order for the battery 20 to be charged may be whether the battery 20 can be charged or may be a priority level regarding the charging of the battery 20. The above priority level may be indicated by a continuous numerical value or may be indicated by a stepped division. The priority order for the battery 20 to be loaned may be the same as the priority order for the battery 20 to be charged.

[0104] In this embodiment, the priority order determination unit 524 obtains information indicating the policy determined by the policy determination unit 356 from the management server 120. The priority order determination unit 524 may determine the priority order of each of the multiple batteries 20 based on the policy determined by the policy determination unit 356.

[0105] In one embodiment, when the policy determination unit 356 determines to increase the number of collected batteries 20, the priority order determination unit 524 determines to preferentially lend out, for example, batteries 20 that are relatively more deteriorated. In this case, the priorities of the multiple batteries 20 are determined such that the more deteriorated the battery 20 is, the higher the priority order is.

[0106] The priority order determination unit 524 may determine to preferentially lend a battery 20 in which deterioration is relatively advanced to a user 30 who uses the battery 20 in a manner that accelerates deterioration of the battery 20. In this case, the priority order determination unit 524 determines the priority order of the multiple batteries 20 based on the attributes of the user 30 requesting the lending of the battery 20.

[0107] When the attributes of the user 30 indicate that the user 30 accelerates the deterioration of the battery 20, the priority order determination unit 524 determines the priorities of the multiple batteries 20 such that the more deteriorated the battery 20 is, the higher the priority order is. On the other hand, when the attributes of the user 30 indicate that the user 30 suppresses the deterioration of the battery 20, the priority order determination unit 524 determines the priorities of the multiple batteries 20 such that the more deteriorated the battery 20 is, the lower the priority order is.

[0108] In another embodiment, when the policy determination unit 356 determines to reduce the number of collected batteries 20, the priority order determination unit 524 determines to preferentially lend out batteries 20 other than the battery 20 that is relatively deteriorated. In this case, the priorities of the multiple batteries 20 are determined such that the more deteriorated the battery 20 is, the lower the priority order is.

[0109] The priority order determination unit 524 may determine to preferentially lend a battery 20 in which deterioration is relatively advanced to a user 30 who uses the battery 20 in a manner that suppresses deterioration of the battery 20. In this case, the priority order determination unit 524 determines the priority order of the multiple batteries 20 based on the attributes of the user 30 requesting the lending of the battery 20.

[0110] When the attributes of the user 30 indicate that the user 30 accelerates the deterioration of the battery 20, the priority order determination unit 524 determines the priorities of the multiple batteries 20 such that the more deteriorated the battery 20 is, the lower the priority order. On the other hand, when the attributes of the user 30 indicate that the user 30 suppresses the deterioration of the battery 20, the priority order determination unit 524 determines the priorities of the multiple batteries 20 such that the more deteriorated the battery 20 is, the higher the priority order.

[0111] In another embodiment, when the policy determination unit 356 determines that charging efficiency of the battery 20 is to be prioritized over adjusting deterioration of the battery 20, or when the battery station 140 does not receive information indicating a policy for the period from the management server 120, the priority determination unit 524 may determine the priority of the battery 20 such that the charging efficiency is greater than a predetermined value. The priority determination unit 524 may determine the priority of the battery 20 such that the total charging time or charging cost is less than a predetermined value.

[0112] In this embodiment, the lending target determination unit 528 determines a battery 20 to be provided in response to a request from a specific user 30, from among one or more batteries 20 stored in the battery storage chambers 422 of one or more charging units 420. The lending target determination unit 528 may determine a battery 20 to be provided in response to a request from a specific user 30, from among the multiple batteries 20 held in the battery station 140.

[0113] For example, the lending target determination unit 528 accesses the user information storage unit 346 to obtain information indicating the attributes of the user 30. The lending target determination unit 528 extracts a battery 20 to be provided to the user 30 from among the multiple batteries 20 held by the battery station 140 based on the attributes of the user 30. This allows the lending target determination unit 528 to determine a battery 20 to be provided to the user 30 from among the multiple batteries 20 in response to a request from the user 30.

[0114] In one embodiment, when the attributes of the user 30 indicate that the rate at which the battery 20 deteriorates due to use by the user 30 exceeds a predetermined first threshold, the lending target determination unit 528 extracts the most deteriorated battery 20 from the plurality of batteries 20 as the battery 20 to be provided to the user 30. In another embodiment, when the attributes of the user 30 indicate that the rate at which the battery 20 deteriorates due to use by the user 30 falls below a predetermined second threshold, the lending target determination unit 528 extracts the most deteriorated battery 20 from the plurality of batteries 20 as the battery 20 to be provided to the user 30.

[0115] The lending target determination unit 528 may extract a battery 20 to be provided to the user 30 from among the batteries 20 whose deterioration state does not meet the collection standard. For example, the lending target determination unit 528 may access the battery information storage unit 342 to acquire information indicating the deterioration state of each of the multiple batteries 20 held by the battery station 140. The lending target determination unit 528 extracts a battery 20 to be provided to the user 30 from among the multiple batteries 20 whose deterioration state is within a range that can be provided to the user 30. This prevents a battery 20 whose deterioration state exceeds the collection standard from being extracted.

[0116] At this time, the lending target determination unit 528 may determine the battery 20 to be lent in consideration of the priority order determined by the priority order determination unit 524. The lending target determination unit 528 may preferentially select the battery 20 with the highest priority order as the lending target.

[0117] In one embodiment, when the attributes of the user 30 requesting the loan of the battery 20 indicate that the deterioration of the battery 20 due to use by the user 30 exceeds a predetermined first standard, the priority order determination unit 524 determines the priority order of the multiple batteries 20 such that the more deteriorated the battery 20 is, the higher the priority order is. In this case, when the loan target determination unit 528 extracts the batteries 20 to be provided to the user 30 according to the priority order determined by the priority order determination unit 524, the battery 20 whose deterioration state is deteriorated more than a predetermined second standard is more likely to be extracted as the battery 20 to be provided to the user 30.

[0118] In another embodiment, when the attributes of the user 30 requesting the loan of the battery 20 indicate that the deterioration of the battery 20 due to use by the user 30 exceeds the above-mentioned first criterion, the priority order determination unit 524 determines the priority order of the multiple batteries 20 such that the more deteriorated the battery 20 is, the lower the priority order is. In this case, when the loan target determination unit 528 extracts the battery 20 to be provided to the user 30 according to the priority order determined by the priority order determination unit 524, the battery 20 whose deterioration state is deteriorated beyond the predetermined second criterion is less likely to be extracted as the battery 20 to be provided to the user 30.

[0119] In this embodiment, the lending target determination unit 528, for example, accesses the production management unit 354 of the management server 120 to acquire information indicating at least one of the production plan, the current value of the inventory quantity, and the predicted value of the inventory quantity of the battery 20. When at least one of the production plan, the current value of the inventory quantity, and the predicted value of the inventory quantity of the battery 20 satisfies a predetermined condition, the lending target determination unit 528 may determine the battery 20 to be lent by taking into consideration the priority determined by the priority determination unit 524. When at least one of the production plan, the current value of the inventory quantity, and the predicted value of the inventory quantity of the battery 20 does not satisfy a predetermined condition, the lending target determination unit 528 may determine the battery 20 to be lent without taking into consideration the priority determined by the priority determination unit 524.

[0120] Examples of the predetermined condition include a condition that the value is within a predetermined numerical range, a condition that the value is outside a predetermined numerical range, etc. The above numerical range may have only an upper limit value, only a lower limit value, or both an upper limit value and a lower limit value.

[0121] According to this embodiment, for example, when (i) at least one of the production plan, the current value of the stock quantity, and the predicted value of the stock quantity of the battery 20 satisfies a predetermined condition, and (ii) the attribute of the user 30 requesting the loan of the battery 20 is such that the degree of deterioration of the battery 20 due to the use of the user 30 exceeds the above-mentioned first standard, the loan target determination unit 528 determines, as the loan target, the battery 20 whose degradation state is deteriorated more than the predetermined second standard. This realizes the loan process according to the policy.

[0122] The state monitoring unit 522 may be an example of a deterioration state acquisition unit. The lending target determination unit 528 may be an example of a control device. The attribute of the user 30 may be an example of a degree of deterioration of the battery 20 due to past use by the user 30.

[0123] In this embodiment, the battery management system 100 has been described in detail by taking as an example a case where the lending target determination unit 528 determines the battery 20 to be lent in consideration of the priority determined by the priority determination unit 524 when at least one of the production plan, the current value of the stock quantity, and the predicted value of the stock quantity of the battery 20 satisfies a predetermined condition. However, the battery management system 100 is not limited to this embodiment. In other embodiments, the battery management system 100 may determine the battery 20 to be provided to the user 30 based on at least one of the production plan, the current value of the stock quantity, and the predicted value of the stock quantity of the battery 20.

[0124] For example, the lending target determination unit 528 determines the battery 20 to be provided to the user 30 based on at least one of a production plan for the battery 20, a current value of the stock quantity, and a predicted value of the stock quantity. The priority order determination unit 524 may determine the priority order of the battery 20 to be provided to the user 30 based on at least one of a production plan for the battery 20, a current value of the stock quantity, and a predicted value of the stock quantity.

[0125] Next, an example of a management method by the battery management system 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 shows an example of a flowchart of the management method by the battery management system 100.

[0126] As shown in FIG. 6, according to this embodiment, for example, first, in step 620 (step may be abbreviated as S), the distribution management unit 350 of the management server 120 compares the quantity of batteries 20 that have deteriorated among the batteries 20 distributed in the market with the planned production quantity of the batteries 20.

[0127] If the quantity of deteriorated batteries 20 is greater than the planned production quantity of batteries 20 (Yes in S630), the policy determination unit 356 of the distribution management unit 350 determines, as a policy, to reduce the number of collected batteries 20. The policy determination unit 356 transmits information indicating the content of the above policy to the battery station 140. Furthermore, the priority determination unit 524 of the battery station 140 determines, based on the content of the above policy, the priority order for each of the multiple batteries 20 held by the battery station 140, in order for that battery to be loaned out.

[0128] In S632, the lending target determination unit 528 of the battery station 140 accesses, for example, the user information storage unit 346 to obtain information indicating the attributes of the user 30 requesting the battery 20. If the attributes of the user 30 indicate that the rate at which the battery 20 deteriorates due to use by the user 30 exceeds a predetermined threshold (Yes in S632), in S642, the lending target determination unit 528 determines the battery 20 to be provided to the user 30 according to the priority order determined by the priority order determination unit 524. As a result, the battery 20 with less deterioration is preferentially allocated to the user 30. On the other hand, if the attributes of the user 30 indicate that the rate at which the battery 20 deteriorates due to use by the user 30 falls below a predetermined threshold (No in S632), in S644, the lending target determination unit 528 determines the battery 20 to be provided to the user 30 according to the priority order determined by the priority order determination unit 524. As a result, the battery 20 with more deterioration is preferentially allocated to the user 30.

[0129] On the other hand, if the quantity of deteriorated batteries 20 is less than the planned production quantity of batteries 20 (No in S630), the policy determination unit 356 of the distribution management unit 350 determines, as a policy, to increase the number of collected batteries 20. The policy determination unit 356 transmits information indicating the content of the above policy to the battery station 140. Furthermore, the priority order determination unit 524 of the battery station 140 determines, based on the content of the above policy, the priority order for each of the multiple batteries 20 held by the battery station 140, in which the battery will be loaned.

[0130] In S634, the lending target determination unit 528 of the battery station 140 accesses, for example, the user information storage unit 346 to obtain information indicating the attributes of the user 30 requesting the battery 20. If the attributes of the user 30 indicate that the rate at which the battery 20 deteriorates due to use by the user 30 exceeds a predetermined threshold (Yes in S634), the lending target determination unit 528 determines the battery 20 to be provided to the user 30 in accordance with the priority determined by the priority determination unit 524 in S644. As a result, the battery 20 with advanced deterioration is preferentially allocated to the user 30. On the other hand, if the attributes of the user 30 indicate that the rate at which the battery 20 deteriorates due to use by the user 30 falls below a predetermined threshold (No in S632), the lending target determination unit 528 determines the battery 20 to be provided to the user 30 in accordance with the priority determined by the priority determination unit 524 in S642. As a result, the battery 20 with no advanced deterioration is preferentially allocated to the user 30.

[0131] 7 illustrates an example of a computer 3000 in which aspects of the present invention may be embodied in whole or in part. For example, the management server 120 is implemented by the computer 3000.

[0132] A program installed on the computer 3000 may cause the computer 3000 to function as or perform operations associated with an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention or one or more "parts" of the apparatus, and / or to perform a process or steps of the process according to an embodiment of the present invention. Such a program may be executed by the CPU 3012 to cause the computer 3000 to perform certain operations associated with some or all of the blocks of the flowcharts and block diagrams described herein.

[0133] The computer 3000 according to this embodiment includes a CPU 3012, a RAM 3014, a GPU 3016, and a display device 3018, which are connected to each other by a host controller 3010. The computer 3000 also includes input / output units such as a communication interface 3022, a hard disk drive 3024, a DVD-ROM drive 3026, and an IC card drive, which are connected to the host controller 3010 via an input / output controller 3020. The computer also includes legacy input / output units such as a ROM 3030 and a keyboard 3042, which are connected to the input / output controller 3020 via an input / output chip 3040.

[0134] The CPU 3012 operates according to a program stored in the ROM 3030 and the RAM 3014, thereby controlling each unit. The GPU 3016 acquires image data generated by the CPU 3012 into a frame buffer or the like provided in the RAM 3014 or into the GPU 3016 itself, and causes the image data to be displayed on the display device 3018.

[0135] The communications interface 3022 communicates with other electronic devices via a network. The hard disk drive 3024 stores programs and data used by the CPU 3012 in the computer 3000. The DVD-ROM drive 3026 reads programs or data from the DVD-ROM 3001 and provides the programs or data to the hard disk drive 3024 via the RAM 3014. The IC card drive reads programs and data from an IC card and / or writes programs and data to an IC card.

[0136] The ROM 3030 stores therein a boot program or the like executed by the computer 3000 upon activation, and / or a program that depends on the hardware of the computer 3000. The input / output chip 3040 may also connect various input / output units to the input / output controller 3020 via a parallel port, a serial port, a keyboard port, a mouse port, etc.

[0137] The programs are provided by a computer-readable storage medium such as a DVD-ROM 3001 or an IC card. The programs are read from the computer-readable storage medium, installed in the hard disk drive 3024, the RAM 3014, or the ROM 3030, which are also examples of computer-readable storage media, and executed by the CPU 3012. Information processing described in these programs is read by the computer 3000, and brings about cooperation between the programs and the various types of hardware resources described above. An apparatus or method may be constructed by realizing an operation or processing of information according to the use of the computer 3000.

[0138] For example, when communication is performed between computer 3000 and an external device, CPU 3012 may execute a communication program loaded in RAM 3014 and instruct communication interface 3022 to perform communication processing based on the processing described in the communication program. Under the control of CPU 3012, communication interface 3022 reads transmission data stored in a transmission buffer area provided in RAM 3014, hard disk drive 3024, DVD-ROM 3001, or a recording medium such as an IC card, and transmits the read transmission data to the network, or writes reception data received from the network to a reception buffer area or the like provided on the recording medium.

[0139] Furthermore, CPU 3012 may cause all or a necessary portion of a file or database stored in an external recording medium such as hard disk drive 3024, DVD-ROM drive 3026 (DVD-ROM 3001), an IC card, etc. to be read into RAM 3014, and perform various types of processing on the data on RAM 3014. CPU 3012 may then write back the processed data to the external recording medium.

[0140] Various types of information, such as various types of programs, data, tables, and databases, may be stored in the recording medium and undergo information processing. The CPU 3012 may perform various types of processing on the data read from the RAM 3014, including various types of operations, information processing, conditional judgment, conditional branching, unconditional branching, information search / replacement, etc., as described throughout this disclosure and specified by the instruction sequence of the program, and writes back the results to the RAM 3014. The CPU 3012 may also search for information in a file, database, etc. in the recording medium. For example, when a plurality of entries each having an attribute value of a first attribute associated with an attribute value of a second attribute are stored in the recording medium, the CPU 3012 may search for an entry whose attribute value of the first attribute matches a specified condition from among the plurality of entries, read the attribute value of the second attribute stored in the entry, and thereby obtain the attribute value of the second attribute associated with the first attribute that satisfies a predetermined condition.

[0141] The above-described programs or software modules may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium on the computer 3000 or in the vicinity of the computer 3000. In addition, a recording medium such as a hard disk or a RAM provided in a server system connected to a dedicated communication network or the Internet can be used as a computer-readable storage medium, thereby providing the above-described programs to the computer 3000 via the network.

[0142] Although the present invention has been described above using the embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. It is clear to those skilled in the art that various modifications or improvements can be made to the above embodiments. Furthermore, the matters described for a specific embodiment can be applied to other embodiments to the extent that they are not technically inconsistent. It is clear from the claims that such modifications or improvements can also be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0143] It should be noted that the order of execution of each process, such as operations, procedures, steps, and stages, in the devices, systems, programs, and methods shown in the claims, specifications, and drawings is not specifically indicated as "before," "prior to," etc., and may be realized in any order unless the output of a previous process is used in a later process. Even if the operational flow in the claims, specifications, and drawings is explained using "first," "next," etc. for convenience, it does not mean that it is essential to perform the process in this order. [Explanation of symbols]

[0144] 10 communication network, 20 battery, 30 user, 32 communication terminal, 34 electric motorcycle, 100 battery management system, 120 management server, 140 battery station, 222 battery, 224 inventory, 240 battery, 310 status monitoring unit, 320 battery management unit, 330 reservation management unit, 340 storage unit, 342 battery information storage unit, 344 station information storage unit, 346 user information storage unit, 350 distribution management unit, 352 user attribute determination unit, 354 production management unit, 356 policy determination unit, 420 charging unit, 422 battery storage room, 424 measuring equipment, 426 charging circuit, 440 control unit, 442 communication control unit, 444 charge / discharge control unit, 446 lending management unit, 448 storage unit, 522 status monitoring unit, 524 priority determination unit, 528 A loan target determination unit, 3000, a computer, 3001, a DVD-ROM, 3010, a host controller, 3012, a CPU, 3014, a RAM, 3016, a GPU, 3018, a display device, 3020, an input / output controller, 3022, a communication interface, 3024, a hard disk drive, 3026, a DVD-ROM drive, 3030, a ROM, 3040, an input / output chip, 3042, a keyboard

Claims

1. A control device for controlling a storage device that stores a plurality of power storage devices, an extraction unit that extracts, in response to a request from a user, a power storage device to be provided to the user from among the plurality of power storage devices; a deterioration degree acquiring unit that acquires information indicating a degree of deterioration of the power storage device due to past use by the user; Equipped with the extraction unit, in response to a request from a first user, extracts an energy storage device to be provided to the first user based on a degree of deterioration caused by past use by the first user, which is indicated by the information acquired by the deterioration degree acquisition unit, and, in response to a request from a second user, extracts an energy storage device to be provided to the second user, based on a degree of deterioration caused by past use by the second user, which is indicated by the information acquired by the deterioration degree acquisition unit. Control device.

2. The degree of deterioration is (i) an amount of deterioration in a period having a predetermined length, or (ii) a rate of deterioration. The control device according to claim 1 .

3. Each of the plurality of power storage devices is a portable power storage device. The control device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. A control device for controlling a storage device that stores a plurality of power storage devices, an extraction unit that extracts, in response to a request from a user, a power storage device to be provided to the user from among the plurality of power storage devices; a deterioration degree acquiring unit that acquires information indicating a degree of deterioration of the power storage device due to past use by the user; a degradation state acquisition unit that acquires information indicating a degradation state of each of the plurality of power storage devices; Equipped with The extraction unit is When the degree of deterioration indicated by the information acquired by the deterioration degree acquisition unit exceeds a first criterion, extracting, from among the plurality of power storage devices, a power storage device whose degradation state indicated by the information acquired by the degradation state acquisition unit is more deteriorated than a second reference value, as a power storage device to be provided to the user; Control device.

5. The extraction unit is acquiring information indicating at least one of a production plan for the power storage device, a current value of an inventory quantity, and a predicted value of an inventory quantity; (i) when at least one of the production plan, the current value of the inventory quantity, and the predicted value of the inventory quantity satisfies a predetermined condition, and (ii) when the degree of deterioration exceeds the first standard, extracting an energy storage device whose deterioration state is deteriorated more than a second standard as an energy storage device to be provided to the user; The control device according to claim 4.

6. The extraction unit is When the rate of deterioration indicated by the deterioration progress exceeds a predetermined threshold value, extracting, from among the plurality of power storage devices, a most deteriorated power storage device among the power storage devices whose deterioration states are within a range that can be provided to the user, as a power storage device to be provided to the user; The control device according to claim 4 or 5.

7. the extraction unit extracts a power storage device to be provided to the user from among the plurality of power storage devices whose degradation state is within a range that can be provided to the user; The control device according to any one of claims 4 to 6.

8. A control device according to any one of claims 1 to 7; a housing portion that houses the plurality of power storage devices; A storage device comprising:

9. A program for causing a computer to function as the control device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. A control method for controlling a storage device that stores a plurality of power storage devices, comprising: an extraction step of extracting, in response to a request from a user, a power storage device to be provided to the user from among the plurality of power storage devices; a deterioration degree acquisition step of acquiring information indicating a degree of deterioration of the power storage device due to past use by the user; having The extraction step includes a step of extracting, in response to a request from a first user, an energy storage device to be provided to the first user based on a degree of deterioration caused by past use by the first user, which is indicated by the information acquired in the deterioration degree acquisition step, and extracting, in response to a request from a second user, an energy storage device to be provided to the second user, based on a degree of deterioration caused by past use by the second user, which is indicated by the information acquired in the deterioration degree acquisition step. Control methods.

11. A control method for controlling a storage device that stores a plurality of power storage devices, comprising: an extraction step of extracting, in response to a request from a user, a power storage device to be provided to the user from among the plurality of power storage devices; a deterioration degree acquisition step of acquiring information indicating a degree of deterioration of the power storage device due to past use by the user; a degradation state acquisition step of acquiring information indicating a degradation state of each of the plurality of power storage devices; having the extraction step includes a step of extracting, when the degree of deterioration indicated by the information acquired in the deterioration degree acquisition step exceeds a first standard, an energy storage device, among the plurality of energy storage devices, whose deterioration state indicated by the information acquired in the deterioration state acquisition step is more deteriorated than a second standard, as an energy storage device to be provided to the user; Control methods.

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