Management system, management device and management method

Abstract

To provide a management system, management device and management method for favorably managing a mobile battery shared by a plurality of users.SOLUTION: A management system 16 comprises a management device 400, a portable terminal 200 held by a user, and a terminal device 300 held by a collecting / delivering person. The management device includes a position information acquisition part for acquiring deliverer position information, and an information generation part for generating collecting / delivering person information, which is the information relating to a collecting / delivering person for collecting and delivering a mobile battery to a user, based on a user position and a collecting / delivering person position. The portable terminal held by the user includes an information provision part for providing the collecting / delivering person information to the user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a management system, a management device, and a management method. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent document 1 discloses a mobile object sharing system that includes a number of bicycles for sharing, a number of bicycle parking areas capable of accommodating a specified number of bicycles, and a management device installed in each bicycle parking area. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-12291 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Recently, there has been a demand for technology that can effectively manage mobile batteries shared by multiple users.

[0005] The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A first aspect of the present invention is a management system that manages the collection of mobile batteries shared by a plurality of users, comprising a management device, a mobile terminal capable of communicating with the management device and carried by the user, and a terminal device capable of communicating with the management device and carried by a collector who collects the mobile batteries, and comprising: a location information acquisition unit that is provided in the management device and acquires collector location information that is information indicating the location of the collector, which is the location of the collector; an information generation unit that generates collector information that is information about the collector who may collect the mobile battery carried by the user based on the user location that is the location of the user and the collector location; and an information provision unit that is provided in the mobile terminal and provides the collector information generated by the information generation unit to the user.

[0007] A second aspect of the present invention is a management device that manages the collection of mobile batteries shared by a plurality of users, and comprises a location information acquisition unit that acquires user location information, which is information indicating the user's location, and collector location information, which is information indicating the collector's location, which is the location of a collector who collects the mobile battery; an information generation unit that generates collector information, which is information about a collector who may collect the mobile battery carried by the user, based on the user location information and the collector location information; and a communication unit that is capable of communicating with a mobile terminal carried by the user and with a terminal device carried by the collector, and the communication unit transmits the collector information generated by the information generation unit to the mobile terminal.

[0008] A third aspect of the present invention is a management method for managing the collection of mobile batteries shared by a plurality of users, comprising the steps of acquiring collector location information, which is information indicating a collector location that is the location of a collector who collects the mobile battery; generating collector information, which is information regarding a collector who may collect the mobile battery possessed by the user, based on information indicating a user location that is the location of the user and the collector location information; and providing the collector information to the user using a mobile terminal possessed by the user. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, a mobile battery shared by multiple users can be efficiently managed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a sharing system according to one embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a mobile battery. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a user terminal. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a delivery person terminal. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a management device. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a display on the display unit of the user terminal. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a display on a display unit of a user terminal. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system. [Figure 11]FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a display on the display unit of the delivery / collection terminal. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a display on the display unit of the collection / delivery terminal. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a display on a display unit of a user terminal. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of a display on the display unit of the collection / delivery terminal. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of a display on the display unit of the collection / delivery terminal. [Figure 21] FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system. [Figure 22] FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an example of a display on a display unit of a user terminal. [Figure 23] FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system. [Figure 24] FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system. [Diagram 25] FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system. [Figure 26] FIG. 26 is a diagram showing an example of a display on a display unit of a user terminal. [Figure 27] FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system. [Figure 28] FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an example of a display on a display unit of a user terminal. [Figure 29] FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system. [Diagram 30] FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system. [Diagram 31] FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system. [Diagram 32] FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system. [Diagram 33] FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating the flow of people arriving within a predetermined area and the installation positions of battery holders. [Diagram 34] FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system. [Diagram 35] FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system. [Diagram 36] FIG. 36 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system. [Figure 37] FIG. 37 is a block diagram showing a user terminal according to the first modification. [Figure 38] FIG. 38 is a block diagram showing a delivery person terminal according to the second modification. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] [One embodiment] FIG. 1 illustrates a sharing system 10 according to one embodiment. block FIG.

[0012] The sharing system 10 is a system for multiple users to share a mobile battery 100. The sharing system 10 may include a battery station 12. Note that a person who has completed user registration, which will be described later, may be a user in this embodiment, but is not limited to this.

[0013] The battery station 12 is a facility in which a plurality of mobile batteries 100 can be arranged. The battery station 12 is installed, for example, by an operating company that operates the sharing system 10. A plurality of battery stations 12 can be installed in a city. In other words, the sharing system 10 can include a plurality of battery stations 12. A user can borrow a mobile battery 100 arranged in the battery station 12. In addition, the user can return the borrowed mobile battery 100 to the operating company by placing the borrowed mobile battery 100 in the battery station 12. The battery station 12 can be installed in a commercial facility, a store, etc. in a city, but is not limited thereto.

[0014] The battery station 12 may be provided with a charger (charging equipment, charging device) 14. The charger 14 may charge the mobile battery 100. The charger 14 may be provided with a battery port 14a. The number of battery ports 14a may be one or more. The mobile battery 100 may be disposed in the battery port 14a. The charger 14 may charge the mobile battery 100 disposed in the battery port 14a. The battery station 12 may further be provided with a control computer (not shown). The control computer is provided in, for example, the charger 14. The control computer includes a processor, a memory, an input / output interface, and the like. The control computer is also connected to a network NW. The network NW is, for example, a communication network such as the Internet. The control computer may communicate with a management device 400 described later. Furthermore, the control computer may acquire battery information from the mobile battery 100 disposed in the battery station 12 in which the control computer is provided.

[0015] The battery information may include identification information of the mobile battery 100. The battery information may also include information indicating the SoC (State of Charge) of the mobile battery 100. In other words, the battery information may include information indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100. The control computer of the battery station 12 may transmit the acquired battery information to the management device 400 described later.

[0016] The operating company that operates the sharing system 10 may collect and deliver the mobile battery 100 to the user through a collector / deliverer. This allows the user to borrow the mobile battery 100 from the collector / deliverer without visiting the battery station 12. The user may also return the mobile battery 100 to the collector / deliverer without visiting the battery station 12. In the following description, a collector / deliverer that can deliver the mobile battery 100 to the user is also referred to as a deliverer. In the following description, a collector / deliverer that can collect the mobile battery 100 from the user is also referred to as a collector. The collector who collects the mobile battery 100 from the user may return the mobile battery 100 to the battery station 12, or may deliver the mobile battery 100 to another user as a deliverer. Note that a person who has completed the collector / deliverer registration described below may correspond to the collector / deliverer in this embodiment, but is not limited to this.

[0017] The sharing system 10 further includes a management system 16. The management system 16 is a system that manages a mobile battery 100 shared by multiple users. The management system 16 can manage collection and delivery of the mobile battery 100 shared by multiple users. In other words, the management system 16 can manage delivery of the mobile battery 100 to multiple users and collection of the mobile battery 100 from multiple users. The management system 16 includes a mobile terminal 200, a terminal device 300, and a management device 400. The mobile terminal 200, the terminal device 300, and the management device 400 can be connected to a network NW.

[0018] The mobile terminal 200 is a terminal carried by a user. The mobile terminal 200 is also referred to as a user terminal 200 in the following description. The user terminal 200 is, for example, a smartphone. Although the number of user terminals 200 illustrated in FIG. 1 is two, the number of user terminals 200 is not limited to two. A more detailed description of the user terminal 200 will be given later.

[0019] The terminal device 300 is a terminal carried by a collector / deliverer. The terminal device 300 is also referred to as a collector / deliverer terminal 300 in the following description. The collector / deliverer terminal 300 is, for example, a smartphone. Although the number of collector / deliverer terminals 300 illustrated in FIG. 1 is two, the number of collector / deliverer terminals 300 is not limited to two. A more detailed description of the collector / deliverer terminal 300 will be given later.

[0020] The management device 400 is a computer (server) for managing the mobile battery 100 shared by multiple users. The management device 400 is, for example, a management company that operates the management system 16. person The management device 400 is provided in a data center 18 managed by the company 18. The management device 400 is capable of communicating with the user terminal 200 via the network NW. The management device 400 is capable of communicating with the delivery person terminal 300 via the network NW. The management device 400 will be described in more detail later.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the mobile battery 100.

[0022] The mobile battery 100 includes a battery cell 102, a lighting unit 104, a positioning unit 106, a communication unit 108, a calculation unit 110, and a memory unit (battery memory unit) 112. The mobile battery 100 may include a speaker. A program for causing a computer to execute the management method according to this embodiment may be pre-installed in the mobile battery 100. A more detailed explanation of the management method will be given later.

[0023] An electric charge can be stored in the battery cell 102. The amount of electric charge stored in the battery cell 102 is the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100.

[0024] The lighting unit 104 includes, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) lamp. The lighting unit 104 can emit light to allow people in the vicinity of the mobile battery 100 to recognize the location of the mobile battery 100.

[0025] The positioning unit 106 may be equipped with a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) sensor. The GNSS sensor acquires location information indicating the current location of the mobile battery 100 by using a satellite positioning system.

[0026] The communication unit 108 is configured, for example, by a communication device for wireless communication. The communication unit 108 can perform wireless communication via the network NW. The communication unit 108 may perform communication using a wireless LAN (Local Area Network). The communication unit 108 may also perform communication (short-range communication) using the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard. The communication unit 108 can communicate with the user terminal 200, the delivery person terminal 300, and the management device 400. The communication unit 108 can also communicate with the control computer of the battery station 12.

[0027] The arithmetic unit 110 may be configured by a processor such as a central processing unit (CPU) or a graphics processing unit (GPU), etc. In other words, the arithmetic unit 110 may be configured by a processing circuitry.

[0028] The storage unit 112 may include a volatile memory (not shown) and a non-volatile memory (not shown). The volatile memory may include, for example, a random access memory (RAM). The non-volatile memory may include, for example, a read only memory (ROM) and a flash memory. Data and the like may be stored in, for example, the volatile memory. Programs, tables, maps, and the like may be stored in, for example, the non-volatile memory. At least a part of the storage unit 112 may be included in a processor, an integrated circuit, and the like as described above.

[0029] The calculation unit 110 may include a control unit 114, a capacity information acquisition unit 116, and a notification unit 118. The control unit 114, the capacity information acquisition unit 116, and the notification unit 118 may be realized by the calculation unit 110 executing a program stored in the storage unit 112.

[0030] At least a part of the control unit 114, the capacity information acquisition unit 116, and the notification unit 118 may be realized by an integrated circuit such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array). At least a part of the control unit 114, the capacity information acquisition unit 116, and the notification unit 118 may be configured by an electronic circuit including a discrete device.

[0031] The control unit 114 is responsible for the overall control of the mobile battery 100. For example, the control unit 114 supplies the location information acquired by the positioning unit 106 to the management device 400 via the communication unit 108.

[0032] The capacity information acquisition unit 116 acquires information indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100. The information indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 is also referred to as remaining capacity information in the following description. The capacity information acquisition unit 116 acquires the remaining capacity information based on, for example, the amount of charge stored in the battery cell 102. The remaining capacity information acquired by the capacity information acquisition unit 116 may be supplied to the management device 400 by the control unit 114 via the communication unit 108. In addition, the remaining capacity information acquired by the capacity information acquisition unit 116 may be supplied to the control computer of the above-mentioned battery station 12 as at least a part of the battery information.

[0033] When a user who is to receive the mobile battery 100 from a delivery person approaches the mobile battery 100, the notification unit 118 controls the lighting unit 104 to make the lighting unit 104 emit light. This allows the user to recognize the location of the mobile battery 100 that the user is to receive. Meanwhile, a delivery person can recognize that the user who is to receive the mobile battery 100 is nearby by visually checking the light emitted by the lighting unit 104 of the mobile battery 100 held by the delivery person. Whether or not the user has approached the mobile battery 100 can be determined based on whether or not the user position, which is the position of the user, is within a predetermined range from the position of the mobile battery 100. Information indicating the user position can be acquired by a position information acquisition unit 412 of the management device 400 described later. If the mobile battery 100 is equipped with a speaker, the notification unit 118 may output sound from the speaker when the user approaches the mobile battery 100. The user can grasp the location of the mobile battery 100 by listening to the sound output from the speaker. The delivery person can know that the user is nearby by hearing the sound output from the speaker.

[0034] In addition, the notification unit 118 may control the lighting unit 104 to emit light when a collector who is scheduled to collect the mobile battery 100 approaches the mobile battery 100. The collector may recognize the location of the mobile battery 100 by visually checking the light emission. In addition, the user may recognize that the collector who is scheduled to collect the mobile battery 100 is nearby by visually checking the light emission. Whether or not the collector has approached the mobile battery 100 may be determined based on whether or not the collector's location, which is the location of the collector, is within a predetermined range from the location of the mobile battery 100. Information indicating the collector's location may be acquired by a location information acquisition unit 412 of the management device 400 described later. In the case where the mobile battery 100 is equipped with a speaker, the notification unit 118 may output sound from the speaker when the collector approaches the mobile battery 100. The collector may understand the location of the mobile battery 100 by listening to the sound output from the speaker. By hearing the sound output from the speaker, the user can know that a collector is nearby.

[0035] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a user terminal 200.

[0036] The user terminal 200 includes an operation unit 202, a display unit 204, a positioning unit 206, a communication unit 208, a calculation unit 210, and a storage unit 212. The user terminal 200 may further include a speaker (not shown), a microphone (not shown), a camera (not shown), etc. A program for causing a computer to execute the management method according to this embodiment, etc., may be pre-installed in the user terminal 200. As described above, the user terminal 200 is a terminal carried by a user.

[0037] The operation unit 202 can be used when a user operates the user terminal 200. The display unit 204 is provided with a display element (not shown). The display element is, for example, a liquid crystal display element, an organic electroluminescence display element, or the like. At least a part of the operation unit 202 and the display unit 204 may be configured by a touch panel (not shown) provided with such a display element.

[0038] The positioning unit 206 may be equipped with a GNSS sensor. The GNSS sensor acquires information indicating the current position of the user terminal 200 using a satellite positioning system. The position of the user terminal 200 essentially indicates a user position, which is the position of the user who owns the user terminal 200. That is, the positioning unit 206 can acquire user position information, which is information indicating the user position.

[0039] The communication unit 208 is configured by, for example, a communication device for wireless communication. The communication unit 208 can perform wireless communication via the network NW. The communication unit 208 may perform communication using a wireless LAN. The communication unit 208 may also perform communication using the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard. The communication unit 208 can communicate with the management device 400. The communication unit 208 can also communicate with a control computer of the battery station 12.

[0040] The calculation unit 210 may be configured by a processor such as a CPU, a GPU, etc. In other words, the calculation unit 210 may be configured by a processing circuit.

[0041] The storage unit 212 may include a volatile memory (not shown) and a non-volatile memory (not shown). Examples of the volatile memory may include a RAM, etc. Examples of the non-volatile memory may include a ROM, a flash memory, etc. Data, etc. may be stored in the volatile memory, for example. Programs, tables, maps, etc. may be stored in the non-volatile memory, for example. At least a part of the storage unit 212 may be included in a processor, an integrated circuit, etc. as described above. For example, the storage unit 212 may store information received by the user terminal 200 from the management device 400 via the communication unit 208.

[0042] The calculation unit 210 may include a control unit 214, an information providing unit 216, and a request information generating unit 218. The control unit 214, the information providing unit 216, and the request information generating unit 218 may be realized by the calculation unit 210 executing a program stored in the storage unit 212.

[0043] At least a part of the control unit 214, the information providing unit 216, and the request information generating unit 218 may be realized by an integrated circuit such as an ASIC, an FPGA, etc. Also, at least a part of the control unit 214, the information providing unit 216, and the request information generating unit 218 may be configured by an electronic circuit including a discrete device.

[0044] The control unit 214 is responsible for the overall control of the user terminal 200. For example, the control unit 214 supplies the user position information acquired by the positioning unit 206 to the management device 400 via the communication unit 208. The control unit 214 also provides the user with a UI (User Interface) for the user to request collection and delivery of the mobile battery 100. For example, the control unit 214 controls the display unit 204 to display a GUI (Graphical User Interface) for the user to request collection and delivery of the mobile battery 100 on the display unit 204. The control unit 214 can transmit a collection and delivery request for the mobile battery 100 to the management device 400 via the communication unit 208.

[0045] The information providing unit 216 controls the display unit 204, speaker, etc. provided in the user terminal 200 to provide the user with collection / delivery information. The collection / delivery information is information about a collection / delivery person who can collect and deliver the mobile battery 100 to the user. The collection / delivery information indicates, for example, the location of a collection / delivery person within a predetermined range from the user. The collection / delivery information is generated by the information generating unit 418 described later. The collection / delivery information and the information generating unit 418 will be described in more detail later.

[0046] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the delivery person terminal 300. As shown in FIG.

[0047] The delivery / collection terminal 300 includes an operation unit 302, a display unit 304, a positioning unit 306, a communication unit 308, a calculation unit 310, and a storage unit 312. The delivery / collection terminal 300 may further include a speaker (not shown), a microphone (not shown), a camera (not shown), etc. A program for causing a computer to execute the management method according to this embodiment, etc., may be pre-installed in the delivery / collection terminal 300. As described above, the delivery / collection terminal 300 is a terminal carried by a delivery person.

[0048] The operation unit 302 can be used when a delivery person operates the delivery person terminal 300. The display unit 304 is provided with a display element (not shown). The display element is, for example, a liquid crystal display element, an organic electroluminescence display element, or the like. At least a part of the operation unit 302 and the display unit 304 may be configured by a touch panel (not shown) provided with such a display element.

[0049] The positioning unit 306 may be equipped with a GNSS sensor. The GNSS sensor acquires information indicating the current position of the collection / delivery person terminal 300 using a satellite positioning system. The position of the collection / delivery person terminal 300 essentially indicates a delivery person position, which is the position of a delivery person who possesses the collection / delivery person terminal 300. In other words, the positioning unit 306 can acquire delivery person position information, which is information indicating the delivery person position.

[0050] In addition, when the collector / deliverer is a deliverer who delivers the mobile battery 100, in the following description, the collector / deliverer location is also referred to as the deliverer location, and the collector / deliverer location information is also referred to as the deliverer location information. On the other hand, when the collector / deliverer is a collector who collects the mobile battery 100, in the following description, the collector / deliverer location is also referred to as the collector location, and the collector / deliverer location information is also referred to as the collector location information.

[0051] The communication unit 308 is configured by, for example, a communication device for wireless communication. The communication unit 308 can perform wireless communication via a network NW. The communication unit 308 may perform communication using a wireless LAN. The communication unit 308 may also perform communication using the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard. The communication unit 308 can communicate with the management device 400. The communication unit 308 can also communicate with a control computer of the battery station 12.

[0052] The calculation unit 310 may be configured by a processor such as a CPU, a GPU, etc. In other words, the calculation unit 310 may be configured by a processing circuit.

[0053] The storage unit 312 may include a volatile memory (not shown) and a non-volatile memory (not shown). Examples of the volatile memory may include a RAM, etc. Examples of the non-volatile memory may include a ROM, a flash memory, etc. Data, etc. may be stored in the volatile memory, for example. Programs, tables, maps, etc. may be stored in the non-volatile memory, for example. At least a part of the storage unit 312 may be included in a processor, an integrated circuit, etc. as described above. For example, information received by the delivery / collection terminal 300 from the management device 400 via the communication unit 308 may be stored in the storage unit 312.

[0054] The calculation unit 310 may be equipped with a control unit 314, an information providing unit 316, and a request receiving unit 318. The control unit 314, the information providing unit 316, and the request receiving unit 318 may be realized by the calculation unit 310 executing a program stored in the memory unit 312.

[0055] At least a part of the control unit 314, the information providing unit 316, and the request receiving unit 318 may be realized by an integrated circuit such as an ASIC, an FPGA, etc. Also, at least a part of the control unit 314, the information providing unit 316, and the request receiving unit 318 may be configured by an electronic circuit including a discrete device.

[0056] The control unit 314 is responsible for the overall control of the delivery person terminal 300. For example, the control unit 314 supplies the delivery person position information acquired by the positioning unit 306 to the management device 400 via the communication unit 308.

[0057] The information providing unit 316 controls the display unit 304, speaker, etc. provided in the collector / deliver terminal 300 to provide user information to the collector / deliver. The user information is information about a user who may require collection and delivery of the mobile battery 100. The user information indicates, for example, the location of a user who is within a predetermined range from the collector / deliver. The user information is generated by the information generating unit 418 (see FIG. 5), which will be described later. A more detailed explanation of the user information and the information generating unit 418 will be provided later.

[0058] FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a management device 400.

[0059] The management device 400 includes a communication unit 402, a calculation unit 404, and a storage unit 406. A program for causing a computer to execute the management method according to the present embodiment may be pre-installed in the management device 400. As described above, the management device 400 is a server computer for managing the mobile battery 100.

[0060] The communication unit 402 is configured by, for example, a communication device (not shown). The communication unit 402 can communicate with the user terminal 200 and receive user position information from the user terminal 200. The communication unit 402 can communicate with the delivery / collection terminal 300 and receive delivery / collection position information from the delivery / collection terminal 300. The communication unit 402 can communicate with the mobile battery 100 or the battery station 12 (control computer) and receive battery information.

[0061] The calculation unit 404 may be configured by a processor such as a CPU, a GPU, etc. In other words, the calculation unit 404 may be configured by a processing circuit.

[0062] The storage unit 406 may include a volatile memory (not shown) and a non-volatile memory (not shown). The volatile memory may include, for example, a RAM. The non-volatile memory may include, for example, a ROM, a flash memory. Data, etc. may be stored in, for example, the volatile memory. Programs, tables, maps, etc. may be stored in, for example, the non-volatile memory. At least a part of the storage unit 406 may be included in a processor, an integrated circuit, etc. as described above. The storage unit 406 may further include, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), etc.

[0063] The storage unit 406 may store, for example, information received by the communication unit 402 from the user terminal 200, the collector / delivery terminal 300, etc. The storage unit 406 may also store, for example, information generated by the information generation unit 418 described later. The storage unit 406 may further store map information. The storage unit 406 may also store information indicating the collection and delivery history of the mobile battery 100. The collection and delivery history of the mobile battery 100 may include, for example, information indicating the collector who collected and delivered the mobile battery 100 to the user, information indicating the user to whom the mobile battery 100 was collected, and information indicating the collected and delivered mobile battery 100. The collection and delivery history of the mobile battery 100 may further include information indicating the location (user location) where a collection and delivery request for the mobile battery 100 was made, information indicating the date and time when the collection and delivery request was made, and information indicating the meeting place between the user and the collector / delivery person described later. Information indicating the delivery person who collected the mobile battery 100 for the user, information indicating the user to whom the mobile battery 100 was collected, information indicating the collected mobile battery 100, information indicating the location where a collection and delivery request for the mobile battery 100 was made, information indicating the date and time when the collection and delivery request was made, and information indicating the meeting place between the user and the delivery person described below can be associated in the collection and delivery history.

[0064] The calculation unit 404 may include a control unit 408, a registration reception unit 410, a location information acquisition unit 412, a future location prediction unit 414, a battery information acquisition unit 416, an information generation unit 418, and a proposal unit 420. The calculation unit 404 may further include a past demand information generation unit 422, a collection and delivery demand prediction unit 424, a usage history information acquisition unit 426, a status determination unit 428, a maximum charging capacity determination unit 430, and a replacement time estimation unit 432. The calculation unit 404 may further include an inventory shortage station determination unit 434, an inventory excess station determination unit 436, a requested collection and delivery person selection unit 438, and a delivery restriction collection and delivery person selection unit 440. The calculation unit 404 may further include a low remaining capacity battery determination unit 442, a time margin determination unit 444, a benefit granting unit 446, a remaining capacity information acquisition unit 448, and a mobile battery selection unit 450. The calculation unit 404 may further include a high remaining capacity battery determination unit 452, a time series data acquisition unit 454, and a long-term high remaining capacity battery determination unit 456. The calculation unit 404 may further include an operation status information acquisition unit 458, a rest necessity determination unit 460, a provision information selection unit 462, a collection and delivery environment information acquisition unit 464, and a malfunction information acquisition unit 466. The calculation unit 404 may further include a charging status information acquisition unit 468 and a collection request information distribution unit 470. The calculation unit 404 may further include a usage demand information acquisition unit 472, an operation instruction notification unit 474, and an operation location notification unit 476. The calculation unit 404 may further include a delivery request information distribution unit 478 , a people flow data acquisition unit 480 , a holder position determination unit 482 , and a delivery destination information provision unit 484 .

[0065] The control unit 408, the registration reception unit 410, the location information acquisition unit 412, the future location prediction unit 414, the battery information acquisition unit 416, the information generation unit 418, and the proposal unit 420 can be realized by the calculation unit 404 executing a program stored in the storage unit 406. The past demand information generation unit 422, the collection and delivery demand prediction unit 424, the usage history information acquisition unit 426, the state determination unit 428, the maximum charging capacity determination unit 430, and the replacement time estimation unit 432 can be realized by the calculation unit 404 executing a program stored in the storage unit 406. The inventory shortage station determination unit 434, the inventory excess station determination unit 436, the request target collection and delivery person selection unit 438, and the delivery restriction collection and delivery person selection unit 440 can be realized by the calculation unit 404 executing a program stored in the storage unit 406. The low remaining capacity battery determination unit 442, the time margin determination unit 444, the benefit granting unit 446, the remaining capacity information acquisition unit 448, and the mobile battery selection unit 450 can be realized by the calculation unit 404 executing a program stored in the storage unit 406. The high remaining capacity battery determination unit 452, the time series data acquisition unit 454, and the long-term high remaining capacity battery determination unit 456 can be realized by the calculation unit 404 executing a program stored in the storage unit 406. The operation status information acquisition unit 458, the rest necessity determination unit 460, the provision information selection unit 462, the collection and delivery environment information acquisition unit 464, and the malfunction information acquisition unit 466 can be realized by the calculation unit 404 executing a program stored in the storage unit 406. The charging status information acquisition unit 468 and the collection request information distribution unit 470 can be realized by the calculation unit 404 executing a program stored in the storage unit 406. The utilization demand information acquisition unit 472, the operation instruction notification unit 474, and the operation location notification unit 476 can be realized by the calculation unit 404 executing the programs stored in the storage unit 406. The delivery request information distribution unit 478, the people flow data acquisition unit 480, the holder position determination unit 482, and the delivery destination information provision unit 484 can be realized by the calculation unit 404 executing the programs stored in the storage unit 406.

[0066] At least a part of the control unit 408, the registration reception unit 410, the location information acquisition unit 412, the future location prediction unit 414, the battery information acquisition unit 416, the information generation unit 418, and the proposal unit 420 may be realized by an integrated circuit such as an ASIC or an FPGA. At least a part of the past demand information generation unit 422, the collection and delivery demand prediction unit 424, the usage record information acquisition unit 426, the state determination unit 428, the maximum charging capacity determination unit 430, and the replacement time estimation unit 432 may be realized by an integrated circuit such as an ASIC or an FPGA. At least a part of the stock shortage station determination unit 434, the stock excess station determination unit 436, the request target collection and delivery person selection unit 438, and the delivery restriction collection and delivery person selection unit 440 may be realized by an integrated circuit such as an ASIC or an FPGA. At least a part of the low remaining capacity battery determination unit 442, the time margin determination unit 444, the benefit granting unit 446, the remaining capacity information acquisition unit 448, and the mobile battery selection unit 450 may be realized by an integrated circuit such as an ASIC or an FPGA. At least a part of the high remaining capacity battery determination unit 452, the time series data acquisition unit 454, and the long-term high remaining capacity battery determination unit 456 may be realized by an integrated circuit such as an ASIC or an FPGA. At least a part of the operation status information acquisition unit 458, the rest necessity determination unit 460, the provision information selection unit 462, the collection and delivery environment information acquisition unit 464, and the malfunction information acquisition unit 466 may be realized by an integrated circuit such as an ASIC or an FPGA. At least a part of the charging status information acquisition unit 468 and the collection request information distribution unit 470 may be realized by an integrated circuit such as an ASIC or an FPGA. At least a part of the utilization demand information acquisition unit 472, the operation instruction notification unit 474, and the operation location notification unit 476 may be realized by an integrated circuit such as an ASIC, an FPGA, etc. At least a part of the delivery request information distribution unit 478, the people flow data acquisition unit 480, the holder position determination unit 482, and the delivery destination information provision unit 484 may be realized by an integrated circuit such as an ASIC, an FPGA, etc.

[0067] At least a part of the control unit 408, the registration reception unit 410, the location information acquisition unit 412, the future location prediction unit 414, the battery information acquisition unit 416, the information generation unit 418, and the proposal unit 420 may be configured by an electronic circuit including a discrete device. At least a part of the past demand information generation unit 422, the collection and delivery demand prediction unit 424, the usage record information acquisition unit 426, the state determination unit 428, the maximum charge capacity determination unit 430, and the replacement time estimation unit 432 may be configured by an electronic circuit including a discrete device. At least a part of the stock shortage station determination unit 434, the stock excess station determination unit 436, the request target collection and delivery person selection unit 438, and the delivery restriction collection and delivery person selection unit 440 may be configured by an electronic circuit including a discrete device. At least a part of the low remaining capacity battery determination unit 442, the time margin determination unit 444, the benefit granting unit 446, the remaining capacity information acquisition unit 448, and the mobile battery selection unit 450 may be configured by an electronic circuit including a discrete device. At least a part of the high remaining capacity battery determination unit 452, the time series data acquisition unit 454, and the long-term high remaining capacity battery determination unit 456 may be configured by an electronic circuit including a discrete device. At least a part of the operation status information acquisition unit 458, the rest necessity determination unit 460, the provision information selection unit 462, the collection and delivery environment information acquisition unit 464, and the malfunction information acquisition unit 466 may be configured by an electronic circuit including a discrete device. At least a part of the charging status information acquisition unit 468 and the collection request information distribution unit 470 may be configured by an electronic circuit including a discrete device. At least some of the utilization demand information acquisition unit 472, the operation instruction notification unit 474, and the operation location notification unit 476 may be configured by electronic circuits including discrete devices.

[0068] The control unit 408 is responsible for the overall control of the management device 400. For example, the control unit 408 can control the communication unit 402 to transmit information stored in the storage unit 406 to the user terminal 200 and the delivery person terminal 300 as appropriate.

[0069] The registration reception unit 410 receives user registration performed by a person who wishes to use the sharing system 10 as a user. A person who wishes to use the sharing system 10 as a user may perform user registration using a specific application software that can be installed on a terminal such as a smartphone. The registration reception unit 410 may store identification information, which is information unique to a user who has completed user registration, in the storage unit 406. The user identification information is also referred to as user identification information in the following description.

[0070] The registration reception unit 410 also accepts delivery / collection registrations made by individuals who wish to act as delivery / collection personnel. Individuals who wish to act as delivery / collection personnel may register as delivery / collection personnel using a specific application software that can be installed on a terminal such as a smartphone. The registration reception unit 410 may store in the storage unit 406 identification information, which is information unique to delivery / collection personnel who have completed delivery / collection personnel registration. The identification information of a delivery / collection personnel is also referred to as delivery / collection personnel identification information in the following description.

[0071] The position information acquisition unit 412 acquires user position information received by the communication unit 402 from the user terminal 200. The position information acquisition unit 412 may sequentially acquire user position information. The position information acquisition unit 412 may acquire multiple pieces of user position information from multiple user terminals 200. The position information acquisition unit 412 may store the acquired user position information in the storage unit 406 in association with user identification information.

[0072] Furthermore, the location information acquisition unit 412 acquires delivery person location information received by the communication unit 402 from the delivery person terminal 300. The location information acquisition unit 412 may sequentially acquire delivery person location information. The location information acquisition unit 412 may acquire a plurality of pieces of delivery person location information from a plurality of delivery person terminals 300. The location information acquisition unit 412 may store the acquired delivery person location information in the storage unit 406 in association with delivery person identification information.

[0073] The future position prediction unit 414 predicts a future user position that is a future user position. In other words, the future position prediction unit 414 predicts a future position of the user. The future position prediction unit 414 predicts the future user position based on, for example, the user's action plan and the user position acquired by the position information acquisition unit 412. The future position prediction unit 414 may store the predicted future user position in the storage unit 406 in association with the user identification information.

[0074] The user's action plan is information indicating, for example, the user's destination, the user's expected arrival time at the destination, the user's means of transportation to the destination, and the like. The user may operate the user terminal 200 to transmit the user's action plan to the management device 400. The future position prediction unit 414 may predict the user's future position based on the user's current action. For example, when the user is using a train, the user's future position may be predicted based on the train's timetable, etc. Also, for example, when the user is walking on a road, the user's future position may be predicted based on map information about the road, the user's moving speed, and the user's moving direction. Also, the future position prediction unit 414 may predict the user's future position based on the user's schedule information. The schedule information may be stored in advance in the storage unit 212 provided in the user terminal 200.

[0075] The battery information acquisition unit 416 acquires battery information of the mobile battery 100 via the communication unit 402. As described above, the battery information may include identification information of the mobile battery 100 and information indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100. The battery information acquisition unit 416 may store the acquired battery information in the storage unit 406 in association with the user who possesses the mobile battery 100 indicated by the battery information. The battery information acquisition unit 416 may store the acquired battery information in the storage unit 406 in association with the delivery person who possesses the mobile battery 100 indicated by the battery information. The battery information acquisition unit 416 may store the acquired battery information in the storage unit 406 in association with the battery station 12 in which the mobile battery 100 indicated by the battery information is located.

[0076] The information generating unit 418 generates the delivery person information. As described above, the delivery person information is information about a delivery person who can deliver the mobile battery 100 to the user. The information generating unit 418 may generate the delivery person information based on the delivery person position and the user position. More specifically, the information generating unit 418 may generate the delivery person information based on the delivery person position, the user position, and map information. The information generating unit 418 may include information indicating a delivery person position within a predetermined range from the user position in the delivery person information. More specifically, for example, the information generating unit 418 may include information for displaying a figure indicating a delivery person position within a predetermined range from the user position together with the map MP on the display unit 204 of the user terminal 200 in the delivery person information. Note that the predetermined range may be a range within a predetermined distance from the user position in the future, or may be a range within a predetermined time in which the expected travel time for the delivery person to reach the user position in the future is within a predetermined time.

[0077] The control unit 408 may transmit the delivery person information generated by the information generation unit 418 to the user terminal 200 via the communication unit 402. The information provision unit 216 of the user terminal 200 may display the delivery person information received from the management device 400 on the display unit 204. In this way, the delivery person information is provided to the user.

[0078] As described above, the delivery person information may include information for displaying a graphic indicating the delivery person's location together with the map MP on the display unit 204 of the user terminal 200. In this case, the information providing unit 216 may display the map MP on the display unit 204 and also display a graphic 500 indicating the delivery person's location on the map MP (see also Figs. 8 and 9). This allows the user to easily grasp the location of a delivery person who can deliver the mobile battery 100 to the user.

[0079] The information providing unit 216 may further display on the map MP a figure indicating the position of the user who has the user terminal 200 equipped with the information providing unit 216. This allows the user to easily understand the positional relationship between the user and the delivery person. When displaying a figure indicating the user's position on the map MP, the information providing unit 216 may acquire user position information from the positioning unit 206 of the user terminal 200, but is not limited to this. The information providing unit 216 may also acquire user position information from the management device 400.

[0080] Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system 16. Fig. 6 shows an example of the case where delivery person information is provided to a user.

[0081] In step S1, the location information acquisition unit 412 of the management device 400 acquires delivery person location information. In step S2, the location information acquisition unit 412 of the management device 400 acquires user location information.

[0082] Next, the process proceeds to step S3, where the information generating unit 418 of the management device 400 generates delivery person information. The information generating unit 418 generates the delivery person information based on the future user position and the delivery person position.

[0083] Next, the process proceeds to step S 4 , where the communication unit 402 of the management device 400 transmits the delivery person information generated by the information generation unit 418 to the user terminal 200 .

[0084] Next, the process proceeds to step S5, where the information providing unit 216 of the user terminal 200 provides the delivery person information received from the management device 400 to the user. That is, the delivery person information is provided to the user using the user terminal 200. The information providing unit 216 provides the delivery person information to the user, for example, by displaying a map MP on the display unit 204 and displaying a figure indicating the delivery person's position on the map MP. In this way, the operation illustrated in FIG. 6 is completed.

[0085] The information generating unit 418 may generate the delivery person information based on the delivery person position and the future user position. More specifically, the information generating unit 418 may generate the delivery person information based on the delivery person position, the future user position, and map information. As described above, the future user position may be predicted by the future position predicting unit 414 based on the user position. In this case, the information generating unit 418 may include information indicating a delivery person position within a predetermined range from the future user position in the delivery person information. More specifically, the information generating unit 418 may include information for displaying a figure indicating a delivery person position within a predetermined range from the future user position on the display unit 204 of the user terminal 200 together with the map MP in the delivery person information.

[0086] Fig. 7 is a flow chart showing an example of the operation of the management system 16. Fig. 7 shows an example in which delivery person information is generated using a future user location.

[0087] Step S1 in Fig. 7 may be performed in the same manner as step S1 in Fig. 6. Also, step S2 in Fig. 7 may be performed in the same manner as step S2 in Fig. 6.

[0088] In the example shown in FIG. 7, step S6 may be performed after step S2. In step S6, the future position prediction unit 414 of the management device 400 predicts the future user position. The future position prediction unit 414 predicts the future user position based on, for example, the user position information and the user's action plan. The user position information is acquired in step S2 as described above. The user's action plan is appropriately transmitted to the management device 400 by the user using the user terminal 200 as described above.

[0089] According to Fig. 7, step S6 is followed by step S3. In step S3, information generation unit 418 of management device 400 generates delivery person information. In step S3 in Fig. 7, information generation unit 418 generates delivery person information based on a future user position and a delivery person position.

[0090] According to Fig. 7, after step S3, steps S4 and S5 are performed. Step S4 in Fig. 7 may be performed similarly to step S4 in Fig. 6. Also, step S5 in Fig. 7 may be performed similarly to step S5 in Fig. 6. Thus, the operation illustrated in Fig. 7 is completed.

[0091] The information generating unit 418 may vary the content of the delivery / collection information provided to the user depending on whether the user requires delivery of the mobile battery 100 or collection of the mobile battery 100. In light of this, the information generating unit 418 will be further described.

[0092] It is preferable that delivery person information on a deliverer is provided to a user who may require delivery of the mobile battery 100. The delivery person information on a deliverer is also referred to as delivery person information in the following description. The information generating unit 418 may include information indicating a deliverer position within a predetermined range from the future user position in the deliverer information based on the information indicating the future user position and the deliverer position information. The information generating unit 418 may also include information indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 possessed by the deliverer in the deliverer information based on the battery information acquired by the battery information acquiring unit 416. In this way, the information providing unit 216 of the user terminal 200 may provide the user with information indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 possessed by the deliverer. The user may easily find a deliverer who can deliver the mobile battery 100 having the remaining capacity desired by the user using the provided delivery person information.

[0093] The information generating unit 418 may include information for displaying a graphic indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 possessed by the deliverer on the display unit 204 of the user terminal 200 in the deliverer information. In this way, the information providing unit 216 can display a graphic indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 possessed by the delivery person on the display unit 204 together with the map MP. The graphic indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 possessed by the deliverer changes at least one of the shape, color, and size according to the remaining capacity, for example. By looking at the display unit 204, the user can easily grasp the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 possessed by the deliverer.

[0094] The information generating unit 418 may generate deliverer information to be provided to a user only when the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 owned by the user falls below a predetermined remaining capacity threshold. In this way, the information providing unit 216 of the user terminal 200 can provide a user whose remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 owned by the user falls below the remaining capacity threshold with deliverer information about a deliverer who can deliver another mobile battery 100 to the user. In other words, the information providing unit 216 can provide deliverer information to a user who is likely to require delivery of a mobile battery 100. The remaining capacity threshold can be stored in advance by the storage unit 406 of the management device 400.

[0095] The information generating unit 418 may include information indicating the number of mobile batteries 100 possessed by the deliverer in the deliverer information. The information generating unit 418 may acquire information indicating the number of mobile batteries 100 possessed by the deliverer based on, for example, the collection and delivery history of the mobile batteries 100. In this case, the information generating unit 418 may include information for displaying a figure indicating the number of mobile batteries 100 possessed by the deliverer on the display unit 204 of the user terminal 200 together with the map MP in the deliverer information. As a result, the information providing unit 216 may display a figure indicating the number of mobile batteries 100 possessed by the deliverer on the display unit 204 of the user terminal 200 together with the map MP. By looking at the display unit 204, the user of the mobile battery 100 may easily find a deliverer who can deliver the number of mobile batteries 100 desired by the user.

[0096] Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a display on the display unit 204 of the user terminal 200. Fig. 8 shows an example of a case where collector information is displayed on the display unit 204.

[0097] The information providing unit 216 of the user terminal 200 that has received the deliverer information may cause the display unit 204 to display, for example, the display screen 204a illustrated in Fig. 8. A map MP, a figure 500, a figure 502, and a figure 504 may be displayed on the display screen 204a. The figures 500, 502, and 504 may be displayed on the map MP. The figure 500 indicates the deliverer location (delivery person location). The figure 502 indicates the user location. That is, the figure 502 in Fig. 8 indicates the location of the user terminal 200 equipped with the display unit 204 that is displaying the display screen 204a in Fig. 8. The figure 504 indicates the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 possessed by the deliverer.

[0098] The color, size, etc. of the graphic 504 change according to the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 possessed by the deliverer. For example, the graphic 504 in FIG. 8 represents a remaining capacity meter that indicates the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100. The more colored portions (blackened portions) in the graphic 504 in FIG. 8, the greater the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100. The number of graphics 504 corresponding to the number of mobile batteries 100 possessed by the deliverer may be displayed on the display screen 204a. In other words, the number of graphics 504 indicates the number of mobile batteries 100 possessed by the deliverer.

[0099] The information providing unit 216 may display information indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile device battery on the display unit 204. The mobile device battery is, for example, a main battery provided in the user terminal 200. A more detailed description of the mobile device battery will be given later. If the user already has a mobile battery 100, the information providing unit 216 may display information indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 on the display unit 204. The information providing unit 216 may further display a figure 506 on the display screen 204a, for example, as shown in FIG. 8. The figure 506 may indicate the remaining capacity of the mobile device battery, or may indicate the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 that the user has. The display position of the figure 506 is a position on the display screen 204a that avoids the map MP in FIG. 8, but is not limited thereto.

[0100] The color, size, etc. of the figure 500 indicating the location of the deliverer may change depending on the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 possessed by the user and the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 that the deliverer can deliver. For example, the color, size, etc. of the figure 500 may change depending on whether or not it indicates a deliverer who can deliver a mobile battery 100 with a remaining capacity greater than that of the mobile battery 100 possessed by the user. This allows the user to easily find a deliverer who can deliver a mobile battery 100 with a remaining capacity greater than that of the mobile battery 100 possessed by the user. In this case, the information generating unit 418 generates the deliverer information based on the information indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 possessed by the user and the information indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 that the deliverer can deliver. The user terminal 200 (the calculation unit 210) may change the color, size, etc. of the figure 500 indicated in the deliverer information based on the information indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 possessed by the user and the information indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 that the deliverer can deliver. The color, size, etc. of the figure 504 indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 possessed by the delivery person may change according to the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 possessed by the user and the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 that the delivery person can deliver.

[0101] The explanation of Fig. 8 is as above, but the information that may be displayed on the display screen 204a for a user who may require delivery of the mobile battery 100 is not limited to the content shown in Fig. 8. This point will be explained later as necessary.

[0102] It is preferable that the collector / delivery information on the collector is provided to the user who may need the mobile battery 100 collected. The collector / delivery information on the collector is also referred to as collector information in the following description. The information generating unit 418 may include information indicating the collector position within a predetermined range from the future user position in the collector information based on the information indicating the future user position and the collector position information. The information generating unit 418 may also include information indicating the number of mobile batteries 100 that the collector can collect in the collector information. The information generating unit 418 may generate information indicating the number of mobile batteries 100 that the collector can collect based on the difference between the maximum number of mobile batteries 100 that the collector can possess and the number of mobile batteries 100 that the collector currently possesses. The information indicating the maximum number of mobile batteries 100 that the collector can possess may be transmitted in advance to the management device 400 by the collector using the collector / delivery terminal 300. The information indicating the number of mobile batteries 100 that the collector currently possesses may be acquired based on the collection and delivery history of the mobile batteries 100.

[0103] 9 is a diagram showing an example of a display on the display unit 204 of the user terminal 200. An example of a case where collector information is displayed on the display unit 204 is shown in FIG.

[0104] The information providing unit 216 of the user terminal 200 that has received the collector information may display, for example, a display screen 204b as shown in Fig. 9 on the display unit 204. A map MP, a figure 500, and a figure 502 may be displayed on the display screen 204b. The figure 500 indicates the location of the collector (location of the delivery person) on the display screen 204b. The figure 502 indicates the user location. That is, the figure 502 in Fig. 9 is displayed on the display screen 204 in Fig. 9. b 2 shows the position of the user terminal 200 equipped with the display unit 204 displaying the above.

[0105] A graphic 508 may further be displayed on the display screen 204b. The graphic 508 may be displayed on a map MP. The graphic 508 indicates that the collector is capable of collecting the mobile battery 100. In the example shown in FIG. 9, the number added to the graphic 508 indicates the number of mobile batteries 100 that the collector is capable of collecting. For example, if the number added to the graphic 508 is "3", the graphic 508 indicates that the collector is capable of collecting up to three mobile batteries 100. Note that the graphic 508 is not limited to this.

[0106] The color, size, etc. of the graphic 500 indicating the location of the collector may change according to the number of mobile batteries 100 possessed by the user and the number of mobile batteries 100 that the collector can collect. In this case, it is preferable that the color, size, etc. of the graphic 500 change according to the number of mobile batteries 100 that the user wishes to collect and the number of mobile batteries 100 that the collector can collect. For example, the color, size, etc. of the graphic 500 may change according to whether or not it indicates a collector who can collect all of the mobile batteries 100 that the user wishes to collect. This allows the user to easily find a collector who can collect all of the mobile batteries 100 possessed by the user. In this case, the information generating unit 418 generates the collector information based on the information indicating the number of mobile batteries 100 possessed by the user and the information indicating the number of mobile batteries 100 that the collector can collect. The user terminal 200 (the calculation unit 210) may change the color, size, etc. of the graphic 500 indicated in the collector information based on the information indicating the number of mobile batteries 100 possessed by the user and the information indicating the number of mobile batteries 100 that the collector can collect. The color, size, etc. of the graphic 508 may change according to the number of mobile batteries 100 possessed by the user and the number of mobile batteries 100 that the collector is able to collect.

[0107] The information providing unit 216 may display the display screen 204a shown in Fig. 8 and the display screen 204b shown in Fig. 9 together on one display screen. For example, the information providing unit 216 may further display the graphic 508 shown in Fig. 9 on the display screen 204a shown in Fig. 8. As described above, the graphic 508 is a graphic indicating that the collector is able to collect the mobile battery 100. In that case, the delivery person information and the collector information may be provided to the user at the same time (see also Fig. 16).

[0108] The explanation of Fig. 9 is as above, but the information that may be displayed on the display screen 204b for a user who may need to collect the mobile battery 100 is not limited to the content shown in Fig. 9. This point will be explained later as necessary.

[0109] The information generating unit 418 described above may generate not only the delivery person information but also the user information. As described above, the user information is information about a user who may require the delivery of the mobile battery 100. The information generating unit 418 may generate the user information based on the user position information and the delivery person position information acquired by the position information acquiring unit 412. The information generating unit 418 may include information indicating a user position within a predetermined range from the delivery person position in the user information. More specifically, the information generating unit 418 may include information for displaying a figure indicating a user position within a predetermined range from the delivery person position together with the map MP on the display unit 304 of the delivery person terminal 300 in the user information. The predetermined range may be a range within a predetermined distance from the delivery person position, or may be a range within a predetermined time for the delivery person to reach the user position.

[0110] The control unit 408 may transmit the user information generated by the information generation unit 418 to the delivery person terminal 300 via the communication unit 402. The information provision unit 316 of the delivery person terminal 300 may display the user information received from the management device 400 on the display unit 304. In this way, the user information is provided to the delivery person.

[0111] As described above, the user information may include information for displaying a graphic indicating the user's location together with the map MP on the display unit 304 of the collection / delivery terminal 300. In this case, the information providing unit 316 may display the map MP on the display unit 304 and also display a graphic 600 indicating the user's location on the map MP (see also FIG. 11). This allows the collection / delivery person to easily grasp the user's location.

[0112] The information providing unit 316 may further display on the map MP a graphic indicating the location of the delivery person who has the delivery person terminal 300 equipped with the information providing unit 316. This allows the delivery person to easily understand the positional relationship between the delivery person and the user. When displaying a graphic indicating the delivery person's location on the map MP, the information providing unit 316 may acquire delivery person location information from the positioning unit 306 of the delivery person terminal 300, but is not limited to this. The information providing unit 316 may also acquire delivery person location information from the management device 400.

[0113] Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system 16. Fig. 10 shows an example of the case where user information is provided to a delivery person.

[0114] In step S11, the location information acquisition unit 412 of the management device 400 acquires delivery person location information.

[0115] In step S12, the location information acquisition unit 412 of the management device 400 acquires user location information.

[0116] Next, the process proceeds to step S13, where the information generating unit 418 of the management device 400 generates user information. The information generating unit 418 generates the user information based on the user location and the delivery person location.

[0117] Next, the process proceeds to step S14, where the communication unit 402 of the management device 400 transmits the user information generated by the information generation unit 418 to the delivery person terminal 300.

[0118] Next, the process proceeds to step S15, where the information providing unit 316 of the collection / delivery terminal 300 provides the user information received from the management device 400 to the collection / delivery person. That is, the user information is provided to the collection / delivery person using the collection / delivery person terminal 300. The information providing unit 316 provides the user information to the collection / delivery person, for example, by displaying a map MP on the display unit 304 and displaying a figure indicating the user position on the map MP. In this way, the operation illustrated in FIG. 10 is completed.

[0119] The generation of user information by information generating unit 418 will be further described below.

[0120] The information generating unit 418 may include information indicating the number of mobile batteries 100 (including zero) owned by the user in the user information. For example, the information generating unit 418 may include information for displaying a graphic indicating the number of mobile batteries 100 owned by the user on the display unit 304 of the collector / deliverer terminal 300 in the user information. In this way, the information providing unit 316 of the collector / deliverer terminal 300 may provide the collector / deliverer with information indicating the number of mobile batteries 100 owned by the user. The collector / deliverer may use the provided user information to easily find, for example, a user who does not own a mobile battery 100. In other words, the collector / deliverer may use the provided user information to easily find a user who is likely to request delivery of the mobile battery 100. The information generating unit 418 may acquire information indicating the number of mobile batteries 100 owned by the user based on, for example, the collection and delivery history stored in the memory unit 406 of the management device 400.

[0121] The information generating unit 418 may further include information indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 already owned by the user in the user information. As a result, the information providing unit 316 of the collection / delivery terminal 300 may provide the collection / delivery person with information indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 already owned by the user. The collection / delivery person may use the provided user information to easily find a user who, for example, owns a mobile battery 100 with a low remaining capacity. In other words, the collection / delivery person may use the provided user information to easily find a user who is likely to request collection and delivery of the mobile battery 100. Information indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 already owned by the user may be acquired by the battery information acquiring unit 416.

[0122] The information generating unit 418 may include, in the user information, information for displaying a graphic indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 possessed by the user on the display unit 304 of the collection / delivery terminal 300. In this way, the information providing unit 316 can display a graphic indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 possessed by the user on the display unit 304 together with the map MP. The graphic indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 possessed by the user changes at least one of the shape, color, and size according to the remaining capacity, for example. By looking at the display unit 304, the collection / delivery person can easily grasp the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 possessed by the user.

[0123] Fig. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a display on the display unit 304 of the collection / delivery terminal 300. Fig. 11 shows an example of a case where user information is displayed on the display unit 304.

[0124] When user information is received by the communication unit 308 of the collector / delivery terminal 300, the information providing unit 316 of the collector / delivery terminal 300 may cause the display unit 304 to display, for example, a display screen 304a as shown in Fig. 11. A map MP, a figure 600, and a figure 602 may be displayed on the display screen 304a. The figures 600 and 602 may be displayed on the map MP. The figure 600 indicates the user's location. The figure 602 indicates the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 possessed by the user.

[0125] The graphic 602 changes, for example, in color, size, etc., depending on the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 possessed by the user. In the example shown in FIG. 11, the graphic 602 shows a remaining capacity meter that indicates the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100. In the example shown in FIG. 11, the more colored portions (blackened portions) in the graphic 602, the more remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100. A number of graphics 602 corresponding to the number of mobile batteries 100 possessed by the user may be displayed on the display screen 304a. In other words, the number of graphics 602 indicates the number of mobile batteries 100 possessed by the user.

[0126] The color, size, etc. of the graphic 600 indicating the user position may change according to the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 possessed by the user and the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 that can be delivered by the collector / deliver. For example, the color, size, etc. of the graphic 600 may change according to whether the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 possessed by the user, which is indicated by the graphic 600, is less than the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 that can be delivered by the collector / deliver. This allows the collector / deliver to easily find a user who is likely to request the collector / deliver to deliver the mobile battery 100. In this case, the information generating unit 418 generates user information based on information indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 possessed by the user and information indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 that can be delivered by the collector / deliver. The color, size, etc. of the graphic 600 indicated in the user information may be changed by the collector / deliver terminal 300 (the calculation unit 310) based on information indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 possessed by the user and information indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 that can be delivered by the collector / deliver. The color, size, etc. of the figure 602 indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 possessed by the user may change according to the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 possessed by the user and the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 that can be delivered by the delivery person.

[0127] The color, size, etc. of the graphic 600 indicating the user position may change according to the number of mobile batteries 100 possessed by the user and the number of mobile batteries 100 that the collector / deliver can collect. In this case, it is preferable that the color, size, etc. of the graphic 600 change according to the number of mobile batteries 100 that the user wishes to collect and the number of mobile batteries 100 that the collector / deliver can collect. For example, it is preferable that the color, size, etc. of the graphic 600 change according to whether the collector / deliver can collect all of the mobile batteries 100 that the user indicated by the graphic 600 wishes to collect. This allows the collector / deliver to easily find a user who is likely to request the collector / deliver to collect the mobile batteries 100. In this case, the information generating unit 418 may generate the collector / deliver information based on the information indicating the number of mobile batteries 100 possessed by the user and the information indicating the number of mobile batteries 100 that the collector / deliver can collect. The color, size, etc. of the graphic 600 specified in the user information may be changed by the delivery / collection terminal 300 (calculation unit 310) based on information indicating the number of mobile batteries 100 possessed by the user and information indicating the number of mobile batteries 100 collectable by the delivery / collection service. The color, size, etc. of the graphic 602 indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 possessed by the user may be changed according to the number of mobile batteries 100 possessed by the user and the number of mobile batteries 100 collectable by the delivery / collection service.

[0128] A figure 604 and a figure 606 may be further displayed on the display screen 304a. The figure 604 and the figure 606 may be displayed on a map MP. The figure 604 indicates the location of the collector / deliverer. That is, the figure 604 in FIG. 11 indicates the location of the collector / deliverer terminal 300 equipped with the display unit 304 displaying the display screen 304a in FIG. 11. The figure 606 indicates the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 possessed by the collector / deliverer. The number of figures 606 corresponding to the number of mobile batteries 100 possessed by the collector / deliverer may be displayed on the display screen 304a. That is, the number of figures 606 indicates the number of mobile batteries 100 possessed by the collector / deliverer.

[0129] The color, size, etc. of the graphic 606 change according to the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 held by the delivery person. For example, the graphic 606 in Fig. 11 represents a remaining capacity meter that indicates the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100. The more colored portions (blackened portions) of the graphic 606 in Fig. 11, the more remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100.

[0130] The explanation of Fig. 11 is as above, but the information that can be displayed on the display screen 304a for the delivery person is not limited to the contents shown in Fig. 11. This point will be explained later as necessary.

[0131] As described above, the calculation unit 210 of the user terminal 200 may be provided with a request information generation unit 218. The request information generation unit 218 generates request information. The request information is information related to a collection and delivery request for the mobile battery 100. When the user requires the delivery of the mobile battery 100, the request information may include, for example, user identification information and the number of mobile batteries 100 required by the user. When the user requires the delivery of the mobile battery 100, the request information may further include information indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 required by the user. As described above, the user identification information is information specific to the user. When the user requires the delivery of the mobile battery 100, the request information may further include information indicating the type of the mobile battery 100 required by the user. When the user requires the collection of the mobile battery 100, the request information may include, for example, user identification information and information indicating the number of mobile batteries 100 that the user wishes to collect. When the user requires the collection of the mobile battery 100, the request information may further include information indicating the type of the mobile battery 100 required by the user. The user can use the operation unit 202 of the user terminal 200 to appropriately input to the user terminal 200 information required for the request information generating unit 218 to generate request information.

[0132] The request information may include information for the user to designate a collector / deliverer to whom the user wishes to request collection and delivery of the mobile battery 100. For example, when the user selects one of a plurality of collectors / deliverers (delivery persons) displayed on the display screen 204a shown in FIG. 8, the request information may include collector / deliverer identification information indicating the selected collector / deliverer. As described above, the collector / deliverer identification information is information unique to the collector / deliverer. Also, for example, when the user selects one of a plurality of collectors / deliverers (collectors) displayed on the display screen 204b shown in FIG. 9, the request information may include collector / deliverer identification information indicating the selected collector / deliverer.

[0133] The request information input by the user to the user terminal 200 is transmitted by the control unit 214 of the user terminal 200 to the management device 400 via the communication unit 208. The request information transmitted from the user terminal 200 is received by the communication unit 402 of the management device 400.

[0134] When the communication unit 402 receives the request information, the information generation unit 418 of the management device 400 generates user information based not only on the user location information and the delivery person location information, but also on the request information. The user location information is information indicating the location of the user who requested the collection and delivery of the mobile battery 100. The delivery person location information is information indicating the location of a delivery person who can collect and deliver the mobile battery 100 to the user who requested the collection and delivery of the mobile battery 100. As described above, the request information may include information indicating the number of mobile batteries 100 that the user needs to collect and deliver, the remaining capacity, etc.

[0135] The above user information generated based on not only the user location information and the delivery person location information but also the request information is also referred to as request user information in the following description. The request user information is transmitted by the control unit 408 to the delivery person terminal 300 via the communication unit 402. The control unit 408 may transmit the request user information to the delivery person terminal 300 held by the delivery person located within a predetermined range from the user who requested the collection and delivery of the mobile battery 100. As described above, the request information may include information for the user to designate a delivery person to be requested to collect and deliver the mobile battery 100. In this case, the control unit 408 may at least transmit the request user information to the delivery person terminal 300 held by the delivery person designated by the user.

[0136] The collection / delivery terminal 300 may receive the requesting user information via the communication unit 308. When the communication unit 308 of the collection / delivery terminal 300 receives the requesting user information, the information providing unit 316 of the collection / delivery terminal 300 provides the requesting user information to the collection / delivery person. For example, the information providing unit 316 causes the display unit 304 of the collection / delivery terminal 300 to display a map MP, and also causes a figure indicating the location of the user who has requested collection and delivery of the mobile battery 100 to be displayed on the map MP.

[0137] When the requesting user information is received by the communication unit 308 of the collector / deliverer terminal 300, the information providing unit 316 may cause the display unit 304 to display a pop-up window for notifying the collector / deliverer that the requesting user information has been received. This allows the collector / deliverer to easily recognize that the user has requested the collector / deliverer to collect and deliver the mobile battery 100. Also, when the requesting user information is received by the communication unit 308, the information providing unit 316 may cause the speaker of the collector / deliverer terminal 300 to output a sound for notifying the collector / deliverer that the requesting user information has been received. In this case as well, the collector / deliverer can easily recognize that the user has requested the collector / deliverer to collect and deliver the mobile battery 100.

[0138] As described above, the request information may include information indicating the number of mobile batteries 100 that the user needs to collect and deliver. In this case, the information generating unit 418 may generate the request user information based on the information indicating the number of mobile batteries 100 that the user needs to collect and deliver, and the information indicating the number of mobile batteries 100 that the collector and deliverer can collect and deliver. For example, the information generating unit 418 selects a collector and deliverer who can deliver more than the number of mobile batteries 100 that the user requests to deliver. The information generating unit 418 generates the request user information using collector and deliverer location information indicating the location of the selected collector and deliverer. The control unit 408 transmits the request user information to the collector and deliverer terminal 300 of the selected collector and deliverer. Also, for example, the information generating unit 418 selects a collector and deliverer who can collect more than the number of mobile batteries 100 that the user requests to collect. The information generating unit 418 generates the request user information using collector and deliverer location information indicating the location of the selected collector and deliverer. The control unit 408 transmits the requesting user information to the selected delivery person's terminal 300. In this manner, the requesting user information can be provided only to delivery persons who are capable of accepting a request from the user.

[0139] As described above, the request information may include information indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 that the user needs to deliver. In this case, the information generating unit 418 may generate the requesting user information based on the information indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 that the user needs to deliver and the information indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 that the delivery person can deliver. For example, the information generating unit 418 selects a delivery person who can deliver a mobile battery 100 with a remaining capacity equal to or greater than the mobile battery 100 that the user needs to deliver. The information generating unit 418 generates the requesting user information using delivery person location information indicating the location of the selected delivery person. The control unit 408 transmits the requesting user information to the delivery person terminal 300 of the selected delivery person. In this way, the requesting user information can be provided only to delivery persons who can accept the request from the user.

[0140] As described above, the request information may include information indicating the model of the mobile battery 100 that the user requires to be collected and delivered. In this case, the information generating unit 418 may generate request user information based on information indicating the model of the mobile battery 100 that the user requires to be collected and delivered, and information indicating the model of the mobile battery 100 that can be collected and delivered by a collector / deliverer. For example, the information generating unit 418 may generate request user information based on information indicating the model of the mobile battery 100 that the user requires to be collected and delivered by a collector / deliverer. person The information generating unit 418 generates requesting user information using delivery person location information indicating the location of the selected delivery person. The control unit 408 transmits the requesting user information to the delivery person terminal 300 of the selected delivery person. In addition, for example, the information generating unit 418 may select a delivery person capable of collecting the mobile battery 100 of the type that the user requests to be collected. person The information generating unit 418 generates requesting user information using delivery person location information indicating the location of the selected delivery person. The control unit 408 transmits the requesting user information to the delivery person terminal 300 of the selected delivery person. In this way, the requesting user information can be provided only to delivery persons who are able to accept the request from the user.

[0141] As described above, the calculation unit 310 of the collection / delivery terminal 300 may be provided with a request receiving unit 318. The request receiving unit 318 causes the display unit 304 to display an operation screen for the collection / delivery person to select whether or not to receive a request from a user. For example, as described above, a figure showing the location of a user who has requested collection and delivery of the mobile battery 100 may be displayed on the display screen 304a. When the collection / delivery person taps the figure, the request receiving unit 318 causes the display unit 304 to display an operation screen for the collection / delivery person to select whether or not to receive a request from the user. The collection / delivery person may use the operation screen to answer whether or not to receive a request from a user. The request receiving unit 318 transmits a notice indicating the answer result of whether or not the collection / delivery person will receive a request from a user to the management device 400 via the communication unit 308. The notice is also referred to as an answer notice in the following description.

[0142] If the content of the reply notification sent from the delivery / collection terminal 300 is a reply to the effect that the request from the user has been accepted, the control unit 408 sends a notification indicating that the request has been accepted to the user terminal 200 of the user who sent the request information. This allows the user to know that the request from the user has been accepted by the delivery / collection service.

[0143] If there is no collector / deliverer to accept the request from the user, the control unit 408 transmits a notification to the user terminal 200 of the user who transmitted the request information indicating that the request has not been accepted. This allows the user to understand that the request from the user has not been accepted by the collector / deliverer. For example, if no operation is performed to accept the request at any of the multiple collector / deliverer terminals 300 that received the requesting user information, the control unit 408 transmits a notification to the user terminal 200 of the user who transmitted the request information indicating that the request has not been accepted. In other words, if no response to the acceptance of the request is received within a predetermined time after the requesting user information is transmitted, the control unit 408 transmits a notification to the user terminal 200 of the user who transmitted the request information indicating that the request has not been accepted.

[0144] When the management device 400 receives the request information, the information generating unit 418 of the management device 400 may generate not only the requesting user information but also route candidate information. The route candidate information is information indicating candidates for collection and delivery routes of the mobile battery 100. The route candidate information may be generated based on user location information, delivery person location information, and map information. The information generating unit 418 may generate multiple candidates for collection and delivery routes for one user. When multiple users request collection and delivery of the mobile battery 100, the information generating unit 418 may include information indicating candidates for collection and delivery routes along which the delivery person may sequentially collect and deliver the mobile battery 100 for the multiple users in the route candidate information (see also FIG. 13).

[0145] When generating route candidate information, the information generating unit 418 may select candidates for collection and delivery routes based on a predetermined condition. For example, the information generating unit 418 may select a route where the travel distance of the delivery person is within a predetermined distance as a candidate for collection and delivery route. The information generating unit 418 may also select a route where the travel time of the delivery person is within a predetermined time as a candidate for collection and delivery route.

[0146] The route candidate information generated by the information generating unit 418 can be transmitted to the collection / delivery terminal 300 via the communication unit 402. As a result, the information providing unit 316 of the collection / delivery terminal 300 can provide the collection / delivery person with the route candidate information that the collection / delivery terminal 300 has received from the management device 400. The collection / delivery person can determine whether or not to accept the request from the user based on the route candidate information provided by the information providing unit 316.

[0147] In addition, the user or the delivery person may specify a meeting place for each other. In that case, the information generating unit 418 may generate route candidate information based on the specified meeting place. A more detailed explanation of the meeting place will be given later.

[0148] Fig. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system 16. An example of receiving a request for collection and delivery of the mobile battery 100 is shown in Fig. 12.

[0149] In step S21, the user terminal 200 generates request information. More specifically, the request information generating unit 218 included in the user terminal 200 generates the request information in response to a user operation. In step S22, the generated request information is transmitted to the management device 400 via the communication unit 208.

[0150] Next, the process proceeds to step S23, where the management device 400 generates requester information using the request information. More specifically, the information generating unit 418 included in the management device 400 generates the requester information based on the user location information, the delivery person location information, and the request information. The user location information and the delivery person location information are appropriately acquired by the location information acquiring unit 412.

[0151] Next, the process proceeds to step S24, where the management device 400 generates route candidate information based on the user position information, the delivery person position information, and the map information. More specifically, the information generating unit 418 included in the management device 400 generates the route candidate information based on the user position information, the delivery person position information, and the map information. The map information may be stored in advance in the storage unit 406 of the management device 400.

[0152] Next, the process proceeds to step S25, where the requesting user information and the route candidate information are transmitted from the communication unit 402 of the management device 400 to the collection / delivery person terminal 300. The requesting user information and the route candidate information are transmitted via the communication unit 402 of the management device 400. The requesting user information and the route candidate information are received by the communication unit 308 of the collection / delivery person terminal 300. The requesting user information and the route candidate information received by the collection / delivery person terminal 300 are provided to the collection / delivery person by the information providing unit 316.

[0153] Next, the process proceeds to step S26, where the collection / delivery terminal 300 transmits a reply notice to the management device 400. More specifically, the request order receiving unit 318 of the collection / delivery terminal 300 generates a reply notice in response to the operation of the collection / delivery person, and the communication unit 308 of the collection / delivery terminal 300 transmits the reply notice to the management device 400. In this way, the operation illustrated in Fig. 12 is completed. As described above, the reply notice is a notice indicating the answer result as to whether or not the collection / delivery person will accept the request from the user.

[0154] 13 is a diagram showing an example of a display on the display unit of a collection / delivery terminal, in which route candidate information is displayed together with requesting user information.

[0155] When the delivery / collection terminal 300 receives the requesting user information, a graphic 608 may be further displayed on the display screen 304a of the display unit 304. The graphic 608 may be displayed on a map MP. The graphic 608 indicates the location of the user who requested the collection and delivery of the mobile battery 100. A plurality of graphic 608 (608A to 608E) may be displayed on the display screen 304a. A graphic indicating the number of mobile batteries 100 that the user indicated by the graphic 608 wishes to collect and deliver, the remaining capacity, etc. may be further displayed on the display screen 304a. When the delivery / collection person taps the graphic 608, the details of the request from the user indicated by the graphic 608 may be displayed on the display unit 304.

[0156] As described above, the graphic 600 may be displayed on the display screen 304a. In FIG. 13, the graphic 600 indicates the location of a user who has not requested collection and delivery of the mobile battery 100. It is preferable that the graphic 600 and the graphic 608 are different from each other in at least one of shape, color, size, etc., so that a delivery person can easily distinguish between a user who has requested collection and delivery of the mobile battery 100 and a user who has not requested collection and delivery of the mobile battery 100. The graphic 608 may be highlighted on the display screen 304a. For example, the graphic 608 may be displayed flashing without flashing the graphic 600. height This is also fine.

[0157] When the delivery / collection terminal 300 receives the route candidate information, a graphic 610 may be further displayed on the display screen 304a of the display unit 304. The graphic 610 may be displayed on a map MP. The graphic 610 indicates the above-mentioned candidate collection / delivery route. A plurality of graphic 610 (610A, 610B) may be displayed on the display screen 304a. In the example shown in FIG. 13, the combination of users who may collect and deliver the mobile battery 100 on the collection / delivery route indicated by the graphic 610A is different from the combination of users who may collect and deliver the mobile battery 100 on the collection / delivery route indicated by the graphic 610B. For example, the graphic 610A indicates a candidate collection / delivery route for collecting and delivering the mobile battery 100 to the user indicated by the graphic 608A and the user indicated by the graphic 608B. In contrast, figure 610B shows possible collection and delivery routes for collecting and delivering the mobile battery 100 to the user indicated by figure 608C, the user indicated by figure 608D, and the user indicated by figure 608E.

[0158] 13, the delivery person can confirm the location of the user who has requested collection and delivery of the mobile battery 100 and candidate collection and delivery routes for the user to collect and deliver the mobile battery 100. The delivery person can determine whether or not to accept the request from the user based on the candidate collection and delivery routes and the number of users located on the collection and delivery route.

[0159] A delivery person who has received a request from a user collects and delivers the mobile battery 100 to the user. For example, a delivery person who has received a delivery request for the mobile battery 100 travels to the location where the user is located and hands over the mobile battery 100 to the user. Also, for example, a delivery person who has received a collection request for the mobile battery 100 travels to the location where the user is located and collects the mobile battery 100 from the user.

[0160] By the way, there may be a case where the user wants to specify a meeting place with the delivery person. In consideration of this, the information providing unit 216 of the user terminal 200 may display an operation screen on the display unit 204 of the user terminal 200 for the user to specify a delivery place.

[0161] The delivery location is a location where the mobile battery 100 is delivered to the user. The operation screen for the user to specify the delivery location may be the display screen 204a shown in FIG. 8. In this case, for example, the user can tap any point on the map MP shown on the display screen 204a to specify the delivery location. Information indicating the delivery location specified by the user is transmitted to the delivery person terminal 300. The information providing unit 316 of the delivery person terminal 300 causes the delivery location specified by the user to be displayed on, for example, the display unit 304. This allows the delivery person to know the delivery location, which is the meeting place with the user.

[0162] Further, the information providing unit 216 of the user terminal 200 may display an operation screen for the user to specify a collection location on the display unit 204 of the user terminal 200. The collection location is a location where the user hands over the mobile battery 100 to the collector / deliverer. The operation screen for the user to specify the collection location may be the display screen 204b shown in FIG. 9. In this case, for example, the user may tap any point on the map MP shown on the display screen 204b to specify the collection location. Information indicating the collection location specified by the user is transmitted to the collector / deliverer terminal 300. The information providing unit 316 of the collector / deliverer terminal 300 displays the collection location specified by the user on, for example, the display unit 304. This allows the collector / deliverer to know the collection location that is the meeting place with the user.

[0163] The delivery person may specify a meeting place with the user. That is, the delivery person may specify a delivery place or a collection place. In this case, the information providing unit 316 of the delivery person terminal 300 displays an operation screen for the delivery person to specify a meeting place on the display unit 304 of the delivery person terminal 300. The operation screen may be the display screen 304a of FIG. 11. In this case, for example, the delivery person may tap an arbitrary point on the map MP shown on the display screen 304a to specify a meeting place. Information indicating the meeting place specified by the delivery person is transmitted to the user terminal 200. The information providing unit 216 of the user terminal 200 displays the meeting place specified by the delivery person on, for example, the display unit 204. This allows the user to know the meeting place with the delivery person. Note that there may be cases where the user and the delivery person specify different meeting places. In consideration of this, only one of the user and the delivery person may specify a meeting place, and the other may select whether or not to accept the specification.

[0164] As described above, the calculation unit 404 of the management device 400 may be provided with a suggestion unit 420. The suggestion unit 420 may suggest the above-mentioned candidate meeting place based on at least one of the user position information and the delivery person position information and the map information. For example, the suggestion unit 420 may suggest an intermediate point between the user position and the delivery person position as a candidate meeting place. In addition, the suggestion unit 420 may suggest, for example, a facility, a building, etc. existing in the vicinity of the user position or the delivery person position as a candidate meeting place. The facility, the building, etc. may function as a landmark when the user searches for the delivery person, and may also function as a landmark when the delivery person searches for the user. The suggestion unit 420 may use the above-mentioned future user position as the user position information. The suggestion unit 420 may suggest multiple candidates for the meeting place. When route candidate information indicating candidates for the delivery route is provided to the delivery person, the suggestion unit 420 may suggest any point on the delivery route as a candidate meeting place. The number of candidates for the meeting place may be one or more.

[0165] The information indicating the candidate meeting places proposed by the suggestion unit 420 may be transmitted by the control unit 408 of the management device 400 to the user terminal 200 via the communication unit 402. As a result, the information providing unit 216 of the user terminal 200 may provide the information indicating the candidate meeting places to the user. For example, the information providing unit 216 may cause the display unit 204 of the user terminal 200 to display a map MP, and may cause a figure indicating the candidate meeting places to be displayed on the map MP. The user may select a meeting place from among the candidates displayed on the display unit 204.

[0166] Furthermore, information indicating the candidate meeting places proposed by the suggestion unit 420 may be transmitted by the control unit 408 of the management device 400 to the delivery person terminal 300 via the communication unit 402. As a result, the information providing unit 316 of the delivery person terminal 300 may provide the information indicating the candidate meeting places to the delivery person. For example, the information providing unit 316 may cause the display unit 304 of the delivery person terminal 300 to display a map MP, and may cause a figure indicating the candidate meeting places to be displayed on the map MP. The delivery person may select the meeting place from the candidates displayed on the display unit 304.

[0167] In addition, when multiple candidates for the meeting place are provided to both the user and the delivery person, there may be cases where the user and the delivery person specify different meeting places. In consideration of this, it is possible to allow only one of the user and the delivery person to specify the meeting place, and to allow the other person to select whether or not to accept the specification.

[0168] Fig. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system 16. Fig. 14 shows an example of the case where a meeting place is proposed.

[0169] The management system 16 may execute steps S31 and S32 illustrated in Fig. 14. Steps S31 and S32 may be included in the management method according to this embodiment.

[0170] In step S31, the information generating unit 418 of the management device 400 generates information indicating candidates for meeting places. The information generating unit 418 may generate information indicating candidates for meeting places based on user location information indicating the location of the user who requested the collection and delivery of the mobile battery 100 and delivery person location information indicating the location of the delivery person who accepted the request from the user. More specifically, the information generating unit 418 may generate information indicating candidates for meeting places based on user location information indicating the location of the user who requested the collection and delivery of the mobile battery 100, delivery person location information indicating the location of the delivery person who accepted the request from the user, and map information. The user location information and delivery person location information used by the information generating unit 418 in step S31 are appropriately acquired by the location information acquiring unit 412.

[0171] Next, the process proceeds to step S32, where information indicating candidate meeting places is transmitted from the management device 400. The information indicating candidate meeting places is transmitted via the communication unit 402 of the management device 400. The information indicating candidate meeting places may be received by the communication unit 208 of the user terminal 200 carried by the user who requested collection and delivery of the mobile battery 100. The information indicating candidate meeting places may also be received by the communication unit 308 of the delivery person terminal 300 carried by the delivery person who accepted the request from the user. In this way, the operation shown in FIG. 14 is completed.

[0172] The suggestion unit 420 may suggest, as a receiving location, a predetermined facility 20 where a delivery person can place the mobile battery 100. The facility 20 is, for example, a locker (see also FIG. 1) capable of storing the mobile battery 100, but is not limited thereto. The facility 20 may be, for example, a battery holder capable of holding the mobile battery 100. The battery holder may be, for example, a small container that can be easily installed in the city. The facility 20 may be appropriately installed in the city, for example, by an operating company that operates the sharing system 10. The delivery person may place the mobile battery 100 in the facility 20 proposed by the suggestion unit 420. Meanwhile, the user may receive the mobile battery 100 placed in the facility 20. This allows the user to receive the mobile battery 100 without meeting the delivery person.

[0173] When the delivery person proposes a specific facility 20 where the mobile battery 100 can be installed as a receiving location, the suggestion unit 420 may select the facility 20 to be used to receive the mobile battery 100 based on the user location information, the delivery person location information, and information indicating the location of the facility 20. The information indicating the location of the facility 20 may be included in map information pre-stored in the storage unit 406. In addition, the suggestion unit 420 may use the above-mentioned future user location as user location information when selecting the facility 20 to be used to receive the mobile battery 100. The information indicating the location of the selected facility 20 is provided to the user by the information providing unit 216 of the user terminal 200. In addition, the information indicating the location of the selected facility 20 is provided to the delivery person by the information providing unit 316 of the delivery person terminal 300.

[0174] The suggestion unit 420 may suggest the facility 20 as a collection location where the user hands over the mobile battery 100 to a collection / delivery person. In this case, for example, the user may deliver the mobile battery 100 that needs to be collected by a collection / delivery person to the facility 20. The collection / delivery person may collect the mobile battery 100 that has been delivered to the facility 20. This allows the user to hand over the mobile battery 100 to the collection / delivery person without meeting the collection / delivery person face-to-face.

[0175] The suggestion unit 420 may suggest candidates for meeting places to the user before the user requests collection and delivery of the mobile battery 100. For example, as described above, the display screen 204a of FIG. 8 may display a figure indicating a delivery person who may collect and deliver the mobile battery 100 to the user. The suggestion unit 420 may suggest candidates for meeting places between the user and the delivery person, assuming that the user requests the delivery person to collect and deliver the mobile battery 100. In this case, the information providing unit 216 of the user terminal 200 may display a figure or the like indicating the candidate meeting places proposed by the suggestion unit 420 on the display screen 204a. This allows the user to select a delivery person to be requested to collect and deliver the mobile battery 100, taking into account the proposed candidates for meeting places.

[0176] The suggestion unit 420 may suggest candidates for a meeting place to a delivery person before the delivery person accepts a request from a user. For example, as described above, the display screen 304a shown in FIG. 11 may show the location of a user who may need the mobile battery 100 to be collected and delivered. The suggestion unit 420 may suggest candidates for a meeting place between the user and the delivery person, assuming that the delivery person accepts a request from the user. In this case, the information providing unit 316 of the delivery person terminal 300 may display a figure or the like showing the candidate meeting place suggested by the suggestion unit 420 on the display screen 304a. This allows the delivery person to decide whether or not to accept a request from a user, taking into account the proposed candidate meeting place.

[0177] The suggestion unit 420 may also suggest to a user who may require delivery of the mobile battery 100 that he or she go to the battery station 12. In this case, the suggestion unit 420 may select a battery station 12 at which the user may receive the mobile battery 100 based on the user position information, information indicating the position of the battery station 12, and information indicating the operation status of the battery station 12. More specifically, the suggestion unit 420 may select a battery station 12 at which the user may receive the mobile battery 100 based on the user position information, information indicating the position of the battery station 12, information indicating the operation status of the battery station 12, and map information. The suggestion unit 420 may select a battery station 12 that is operating within a predetermined range from the user position and suggest to the user that he or she receive the mobile battery 100 arranged at the battery station 12. The user position information may be appropriately acquired by the position information acquisition unit 412. The information indicating the position of the battery station 12 may be included in the map information stored in the storage unit 406. Information indicating the operation status of the battery station 12 may be appropriately provided from the battery station 12 to the management system 16, for example. Alternatively, information indicating the operation schedule (business schedule) of the battery station 12 may be stored in advance by the storage unit 406 of the management device 400. When selecting the battery station 12 to be used for receiving the mobile battery 100, the suggestion unit 420 may use information indicating the future user position as user position information.

[0178] Information indicating the location of the battery station 12 selected by the suggestion unit 420 is transmitted to the user terminal 200 via the communication unit 402 of the management device 400. As a result, the information providing unit 216 of the user terminal 200 can provide the user with information indicating the location of the battery station 12 selected by the suggestion unit 420. The information providing unit 216 can display a figure or the like indicating the location of the selected battery station 12 on the display screen 204a shown in FIG. 8. In addition, the information providing unit 216 can display a text message indicating that the mobile battery 100 can be received at the battery station 12 shown on the display screen 204a on the display screen 204a. The user can receive the mobile battery 100 arranged at the battery station 12 by going to the battery station 12 proposed by the suggestion unit 420. Since the user can receive the mobile battery 100 arranged at the battery station 12, the user can receive the mobile battery 100 even if there is no delivery person who accepts the request from the user.

[0179] The suggestion unit 420 may also suggest to a user who may need to collect the mobile battery 100 that he or she visits the battery station 12. In this case, the suggestion unit 420 may select the battery station 12 based on the user location information, information indicating the location of the battery station 12, and information indicating the operation status of the battery station 12. More specifically, the suggestion unit 420 may select the battery station 12 based on the user location information, information indicating the location of the battery station 12, information indicating the operation status of the battery station 12, and map information. The information providing unit 216 may display a figure or the like indicating the location of the battery station 12 selected by the suggestion unit 420 on the display screen 204b shown in FIG. 9. The user may also hand over the mobile battery 100 to the proposed battery station 12.

[0180] As described above, according to the management system 16, information regarding a delivery person who can collect and deliver the mobile battery 100 for the user can be provided to the user using the user terminal 200.

[0181] However, there may be cases where a user requires the mobile battery 100 to be collected and delivered to a location where a device managed by the user as an administrator is installed. More specifically, there may be cases where the user requires the mobile battery 100 to be delivered to a location where the device is installed. In addition, there may be cases where the user requires the mobile battery 100 connected to the device to be collected. The device may be located not at the location where the user is located, but at a location sufficiently far away from the location where the user is located. In light of this, the information generating unit 418 of the management device 400 may generate information about a collector / deliverer who can collect and deliver the mobile battery 100 to a location where a device managed by the user as an administrator is installed. In the following description, information about a collector / deliverer who can collect and deliver the mobile battery 100 to a location where the device is installed is also referred to as device collector / deliverer information.

[0182] The collection and delivery information for the device is generated based on the device location information and the collection and delivery person location information. The device location information is information indicating the device location, which is the location of the device managed by the user as an administrator. The device location information can be appropriately input by the user to the user terminal 200. The device location information input to the user terminal 200 can be transmitted to the management device 400 by the communication unit 208. The device location information transmitted to the management device 400 can be acquired by the location information acquisition unit 412 of the management device 400. The collection and delivery person location information used to generate the collection and delivery information for the device indicates the location of a collection and delivery person who can collect and deliver the mobile battery 100 to the location where the device is installed. For example, a collection and delivery person who possesses a mobile battery 100 of a type capable of supplying power to the device and is located within a predetermined range from the device location can be a collection and delivery person who can collect and deliver the mobile battery 100 to the location where the device is installed. In addition, a collection and delivery person who is located within a predetermined range from the device location, which is the location of the device, can be a collection and delivery person who can collect the mobile battery 100 connected to the device. The device delivery person information includes, for example, information for displaying a graphic showing the location of the delivery person on the display unit 204 of the user terminal 200 together with the map MP.

[0183] The delivery person information for the device is transmitted to the user terminal 200 by the communication unit 402 of the management device 400. As a result, the information providing unit 216 of the user terminal 200 receives the delivery person information for the device. information For example, the information providing unit 216 causes the display unit 204 to display a map MP, and also causes the display unit 204 to display on the map MP a figure indicating the location of a delivery person who can deliver the mobile battery 100 to the location where the device is installed.

[0184] Fig. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system 16. Fig. 15 shows an example of the case where delivery and collection information for equipment is provided to a user who is an administrator of the equipment.

[0185] In step S41, the location information acquisition unit 412 of the management device 400 acquires delivery person location information. In step S42, the location information acquisition unit 412 of the management device 400 acquires device location information.

[0186] Next, the process proceeds to step S43, where the information generating unit 418 of the management device 400 generates the equipment delivery person information. The information generating unit 418 generates the equipment delivery person information based on the equipment location information and the delivery person location information.

[0187] Next, the process proceeds to step S44, where the communication unit 402 of the management device 400 transmits to the user terminal 200 the delivery person information for the device generated in step S43.

[0188] Next, the process proceeds to step S45, where the information providing unit 216 of the user terminal 200 provides the user with the information transmitted to the user terminal 200 in step S44. The information providing unit 216 displays a map MP on the display unit 204, for example, and also displays a figure indicating the delivery person's position on the map MP. In this way, the operation illustrated in FIG. 15 is completed.

[0189] In addition, when the user requires delivery of a mobile battery 100 capable of supplying power to a device, the information providing unit 216 may further provide the user with information indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 that can be delivered by the delivery person. That is, the information providing unit 216 may further provide the user with information indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 capable of supplying power to a device. The information providing unit 216 may cause the display unit 204 to display, for example, the graphic 504 described above with reference to FIG. 8 (see also FIG. 16). The graphic 504 changes, for example, in color, size, etc., depending on the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 possessed by the delivery person.

[0190] Furthermore, when the user requires the mobile battery 100 connected to the device to be collected, the information providing unit 216 may further provide the user with information indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100. The information providing unit 216, for example, causes the display unit 204 to display a graphic 512 indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 connected to the device (see also FIG. 16). The graphic 512 changes, for example, in color, size, etc., depending on the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 connected to the device. The information indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 connected to the device can be appropriately acquired by the battery information acquiring unit 416.

[0191] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a display on the display unit 204 of the user terminal 200. As shown in FIG.

[0192] The information providing unit 216 of the user terminal 200 may display, for example, a display screen 204c illustrated in FIG. 16 on the display unit 204. A map MP, a figure 500, a figure 502, a figure 504, and a figure 508 may be displayed on the display screen 204c. The figure 500, the figure 502, the figure 504, and the figure 508 may be displayed on the map MP. The figure 500 indicates the location of the delivery person. The number of figures 500 corresponding to the number of delivery persons who can deliver the mobile battery 100 to the location where the device is installed may be displayed on the display screen 204c. The figure 502 indicates the location of the user who is the manager of the device. The figure 504 indicates the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 that can be delivered by the delivery person indicated by the figure 500. The number of figures 504 corresponding to the number of mobile batteries 100 owned by the delivery person may be displayed on the display screen 204c. A figure 508 indicates that the delivery person shown in the figure 500 can collect the mobile battery 100 as a collector.

[0193] A figure 510 and a figure 512 may further be displayed on the display screen 204c. The figure 510 and the figure 512 may be displayed on a map MP. The figure 510 indicates the above-mentioned device location. In the example shown in FIG. 16, one figure 510 is shown. The number of figures 510 corresponding to the number of devices managed by the user may be displayed on the display screen 204c. The figure 512 indicates the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 connected to the device. If the mobile battery 100 is not connected to the device, the display of the figure 512 may be omitted.

[0194] The color, size, etc. of the graphic 512 can change depending on the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 indicated by the graphic 512. The graphic 512 shown in Fig. 16 represents a remaining capacity meter that indicates the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100. The more colored portions (blackened portions) of the graphic 512 shown in Fig. 16, the more remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100.

[0195] Based on the position of the graphic 500 displayed on the display screen 204c, the user can easily find a delivery person who can collect and deliver the mobile battery 100 to the location where the device is installed. The user can request the delivery person shown on the display screen 204c to collect and deliver the mobile battery 100. The user can request the collection and delivery of the mobile battery 100 using the user terminal 200 (request information generating unit 218).

[0196] Moreover, as described above, the display screen 204c may further display a graphic 504 indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 possessed by the delivery person. Therefore, the user may determine which delivery person to request delivery of the mobile battery 100, taking into consideration the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 that each of the multiple delivery persons can deliver.

[0197] In addition, the user can easily grasp the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 connected to the device based on the graphic 512 displayed on the display screen 204c. This allows the user to determine whether or not to request collection of the mobile battery 100 based on the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100.

[0198] The display screen 204a shown in FIG. 8 and the display screen 204c shown in FIG. 16 may be displayed together on one display screen. That is, the information providing unit 216 may display on one display screen a collector who can deliver the mobile battery 100 to the location where the user is located and a collector who can deliver the mobile battery 100 to the location where the device is installed. In this case, it is preferable that the shape, color, size, etc. of the figure 500 indicating the collector's position is set depending on whether the collector can deliver the mobile battery 100 to the location where the user is located or the collector can deliver the mobile battery 100 to the location where the device is installed. This allows the user to easily distinguish between a collector who can deliver the mobile battery 100 to the location where the user is located and a collector who can deliver the mobile battery 100 to the location where the device is installed.

[0199] The display screen 204b shown in FIG. 9 and the display screen 204c shown in FIG. 16 may be displayed together on one display screen. That is, the information providing unit 216 may display on one display screen a delivery person who can collect the mobile battery 100 from the user and a delivery person who can collect the mobile battery 100 connected to the device. In this case, it is preferable that the shape, color, size, etc. of the figure 500 indicating the delivery person's position is set depending on whether the delivery person is a delivery person who can collect the mobile battery 100 from the user or a delivery person who can collect the mobile battery 100 connected to the device. This allows the user to easily distinguish between a delivery person who can collect the mobile battery 100 from the user and a delivery person who can collect the mobile battery 100 connected to the device.

[0200] As described above, according to the management system 16, information regarding a delivery person who can collect and deliver the mobile battery 100 to a location where equipment managed by the user as an administrator is located can be provided to the user using the user terminal 200.

[0201] Meanwhile, from the perspective of a delivery person, in order to receive as many requests as possible, there are cases where the delivery person wants to know the locations where requests from users can be easily received. In order to enable the delivery person to know the locations where requests from users can easily be received, the management system 16 may be configured as follows.

[0202] As described above, the calculation unit 404 of the management device 400 may be provided with a past demand information generating unit 422 (see FIG. 5). The past demand information generating unit 422 generates past demand information. The past demand information is information indicating the number of collection and delivery requests for the mobile battery 100 in the past. In other words, the past demand information is information indicating the past collection and delivery demand of the mobile battery 100. The past demand information may be generated based on the collection and delivery history of the mobile battery 100 and the conditions specified by the collector and deliverer. As described above, the information indicating the collection and delivery history of the mobile battery 100 may be stored by the storage unit 406 of the management device 400. The conditions specified by the collector and deliverer may include, for example, at least one of the area (XX Station, YY Park, etc.) specified by the collector and deliverer and the past date and time specified by the collector and deliverer. The information indicating the conditions may be appropriately input by the collector and deliverer to the collector and deliverer terminal 300. The collector and deliverer may input the information indicating the above conditions to the collector and deliverer terminal 300 using the operation unit 302. The information input to the delivery / collection terminal 300 can be transmitted to the management device 400 by the communication unit 308 and can also be acquired by the past demand information generation unit 422.

[0203] The past demand information generating unit 422 may generate past demand information indicating, for example, the collection and delivery demand (number of requests) that occurred within the specified area at the specified date and time based on the specified conditions and the collection and delivery history. In this case, the past demand information may include information for displaying a figure indicating the collection and delivery demand that occurred within the specified area at the specified date and time together with the map MP on the display unit 304 of the collection and delivery person terminal 300 (see also FIG. 18). The past demand information generating unit 422 may determine the form of the figure according to the collection and delivery demand that occurred within the specified area at the specified date and time. Specifically, the past demand information generating unit 422 may determine the color, etc. of the figure according to whether the collection and delivery demand that occurred within the specified area at the specified date and time is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold (past collection and delivery demand threshold). The past collection and delivery demand threshold may be stored in advance by the storage unit 406 of the management device 400.

[0204] The past demand information can be transmitted by the control unit 408 to the collection / delivery terminal 300 via the communication unit 402. The information providing unit 316 of the collection / delivery terminal 300 that has received the past demand information can display the past demand information on the display unit 304. In this way, the past demand information is provided to the collection / delivery person.

[0205] Fig. 17 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system 16. Fig. 17 shows an example of the case where past demand information is provided to a delivery person.

[0206] In step S51, the communication unit 308 of the delivery / collection terminal 300 transmits information indicating the conditions used to generate the past demand information (condition information) to the management device 400. The information indicating the conditions used to generate the past demand information is input by the delivery / collection person using the delivery / collection terminal 300.

[0207] Next, the process proceeds to step S52, where the past demand information generating unit 422 of the management device 400 generates past demand information based on the past collection and delivery history and the conditions specified by the collection / delivery person.

[0208] Next, the process proceeds to step S53, where the communication unit 402 of the management device 400 transmits the past demand information generated by the past demand information generating unit 422 to the collection / delivery terminal 300.

[0209] Next, the process proceeds to step S54, where the information providing unit 316 of the collection / delivery person terminal 300 provides the collection / delivery person with the past demand information received from the communication unit 402. In this manner, the operation illustrated in FIG.

[0210] 18 is a diagram showing an example of a display on the display unit of the collection / delivery terminal 300. An example of a display screen 304b displayed on the display unit 304 of the collection / delivery terminal 300 is shown in FIG.

[0211] When the past demand information is received by the collector / deliver terminal 300, the information providing unit 316 of the collector / deliver terminal 300 may display a display screen 304b as shown in FIG. 18 on the display unit 304 of the collector / deliver terminal 300. A map MP may be displayed on the display screen 304b. A figure 612 may be further displayed on the display screen 304b. The figure 612 corresponds to an area designated by the collector / deliverer as a condition. The figure 612 may be displayed in a manner corresponding to the collection / delivery demand that occurred in the designated area at the designated date and time. For example, the higher the number of collection / delivery requests that occurred on the designated date and time, the higher the display density of the figure 612 may be set. The collector / deliverer may easily grasp the past collection / delivery demand by looking at the display screen 304b. A pop-up window 614 indicating the number of collection / delivery requests that occurred in the designated date and time and area may be further displayed on the display screen 304b.

[0212] The information providing unit 316 may further display on the display screen 304b a graphic 604. As described above, the graphic 604 indicates the delivery person's location.

[0213] As described above, the calculation unit 404 of the management device 400 may be provided with a collection and delivery demand prediction unit 424. The collection and delivery demand prediction unit 424 may predict the future collection and delivery demand of the mobile battery 100. The future collection and delivery demand may be predicted, for example, based on the future user position and the collection and delivery history. As described above, the future user position is the future position of the user. Information indicating the future user position may be predicted by the future position prediction unit 414, as described above.

[0214] The collection and delivery demand prediction unit 424 predicts future collection and delivery demand, for example, on the assumption that a collection and delivery request for the mobile battery 100 will occur at a future location of a user who frequently requests collection and delivery of the mobile battery 100. Whether or not a user frequently requests collection and delivery of the mobile battery 100 can be determined based on the collection and delivery history. The collection and delivery demand prediction unit 424 can predict future collection and delivery demand based on multiple future user locations and the collection and delivery history.

[0215] The demand for the mobile battery 100 may be high in places where a large number of people gather. In light of this, the collection and delivery demand prediction unit 424 may predict future collection and delivery demand based on an event implementation schedule. An event is, for example, a gathering held in a park, a square, or the like. The collection and delivery demand prediction unit 424 may predict that the demand for collection and delivery of the mobile battery 100 in the park or the like where the gathering is held will be high during the period of the gathering. The collection and delivery demand prediction unit 424 may acquire information indicating the event implementation schedule from a website or the like via a network NW.

[0216] The control unit 408 may transmit information indicating the collection and delivery demand predicted by the collection and delivery demand prediction unit 424 to the collection and delivery person terminal 300 via the communication unit 402. As a result, the information providing unit 316 of the collection and delivery person terminal 300 may provide information indicating future collection and delivery demand to the collection and delivery person. The information indicating the collection and delivery demand predicted by the collection and delivery demand prediction unit 424 may include information for displaying a figure indicating the collection and delivery demand together with the map MP on the display unit 304 of the collection and delivery person terminal 300. In this case, the information providing unit 316 may display the map MP on the display unit 304 and display the figure on the map MP. Information for displaying a figure indicating the future collection and delivery demand together with the map MP on the display unit 304 of the collection and delivery person terminal 300 may be generated by the collection and delivery demand prediction unit 424. The collection and delivery demand prediction unit 424 may determine the form of the figure according to the predicted collection and delivery demand. Specifically, the delivery demand prediction unit 424 may determine the color of the graphic depending on whether the predicted delivery demand is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold (delivery demand threshold). The delivery demand threshold may be stored in advance in the storage unit 406 of the management device 400.

[0217] Fig. 19 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system 16. Fig. 19 shows an example of the case where information indicating future collection and delivery demand is provided to a delivery person.

[0218] In step S61, the future position prediction unit 414 of the management device 400 predicts a future user position. The future position prediction unit 414 predicts a future user position based on user position information and a user's action plan. The user position information can be appropriately acquired by the position information acquisition unit 412. The user's action plan is appropriately transmitted to the management device 400 by the user terminal 200.

[0219] Next, the process proceeds to step S62, where the collection and delivery demand prediction unit 424 of the management device 400 predicts future collection and delivery demand. The collection and delivery demand prediction unit 424 predicts future collection and delivery demand, for example, based on a future user position and a collection and delivery history. The collection and delivery demand prediction unit 424 can generate information indicating the predicted future collection and delivery demand.

[0220] Next, the process proceeds to step S 63 , where the communication unit 402 of the management device 400 transmits information indicating the future collection and delivery demand predicted by the collection and delivery demand prediction unit 424 to the collection / delivery person terminal 300 .

[0221] Next, the process proceeds to step S64, where the information providing unit 316 of the collection / delivery terminal 300 provides the collection / delivery person with the information indicating the future collection / delivery demand received from the communication unit 402. In this way, the operation illustrated in Fig. 19 is completed.

[0222] FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of a display on the display unit 304 of the collector / deliverer terminal 300. As shown in FIG.

[0223] The information providing unit 316 of the collector / delivery terminal 300 that has received the information indicating future collection / delivery demand may cause the display unit 304 of the collector / delivery terminal 300 to display, for example, a display screen 304c as shown in FIG. 20. A map MP may be displayed on the display screen 304c. A graphic 616 may further be displayed on the display screen 304c. The graphic 616 may be displayed, for example, superimposed on a predetermined area on the map MP. The graphic 616 indicates the future collection / delivery demand in that area. The color, size, etc. of the graphic 616 may be set according to the predicted collection / delivery demand. A collector / delivery person may easily grasp the future collection / delivery demand based on the graphic 616 displayed on the display screen 304c. The display screen 304 c A pop-up window 618 may further be displayed in the area indicated by the graphic 616 indicating the number of pickup and delivery requests that are expected to occur in the future.

[0224] The information providing unit 316 may further display on the display screen 304c a graphic 604. As described above, the graphic 604 indicates the delivery person's location.

[0225] As described above, according to the management system 16, the delivery person can know the location where it is easy to receive a request from the user, taking into account the past delivery demand. Also, according to the management system 16, the delivery person can know the location where it is easy to receive a request from the user, taking into account the future delivery demand.

[0226] However, from the user's perspective, there may be cases where the user wishes to charge the mobile battery 100 that he or she owns. In light of this, the information generating unit 418 of the management device 400 may generate information about charging spots where the user can charge the mobile battery 100 that he or she owns. Note that charging spots may include places equipped with public chargers and places equipped with public outlets to which the user can connect his or her personal charger. Information about charging spots where the user can charge the mobile battery 100 that he or she owns is also referred to as charging spot information in the following description.

[0227] The charging spot information may be generated based on the user position information and information indicating the position of the charging spot. The user position information and the information indicating the position of the charging spot may be acquired by the position information acquisition unit 412 of the management device 400. The information indicating the position of the charging spot may be included in the map information stored in the storage unit 406 of the management device 400. The information generation unit 418 may include information indicating the position of the charging spot located within a predetermined range from the user position in the charging spot information. When generating the charging spot information, the information generation unit 418 may use the above-mentioned future user position as the user position. The future user position may be predicted by the future position prediction unit 414 of the management device 400.

[0228] The charging spot information generated by the information generating unit 418 may be transmitted to the user terminal 200 by the communication unit 402. The information providing unit 216 of the user terminal 200 that receives the charging spot information may provide the charging spot information to the user. For example, the information providing unit 216 may cause the display unit 204 of the user terminal 200 to display a map MP, and may also cause a figure indicating the location of the charging spot to be displayed on the map MP. This allows the user to know the location of the charging spot where the mobile battery 100 can be charged.

[0229] The information generating unit 418 may generate charging spot information based not only on the user position information and the information indicating the position of the charging spot, but also on information indicating the operation status of the charging spot. For example, the information generating unit 418 generates charging spot information such that only the positions of operating charging spots among a plurality of charging spots within a predetermined range from the user position are displayed on the display unit 204. The information indicating the operation status of the charging spot may be stored by the storage unit 406 of the management device 400. The information generating unit 418 may generate charging spot information using information indicating the operation status of a facility in which the charging spot is provided, instead of the operation status of the charging spot.

[0230] The information generating unit 418 may generate charging spot information based not only on the user position information and the information indicating the positions of the charging spots, but also on information indicating the usage history of the charging spots by the user. For example, the information generating unit 418 may generate charging spot information such that only the positions of charging spots used relatively frequently by the user are displayed on the display unit 204. By providing the user with charging spot information including the positions of charging spots used relatively frequently by the user, the convenience of the user can be improved. The information indicating the usage history of the charging spots by the user may be stored by the storage unit 406 of the management device 400.

[0231] The charging spot information may include required time information. The required time information is information indicating an expected required time to fully charge the mobile battery 100 possessed by the user. The information generating unit 418 may generate the required time information using, for example, information indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 possessed by the user. The information indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 possessed by the user may be acquired by the battery information acquiring unit 416 of the management device 400.

[0232] Fig. 21 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system 16. Fig. 21 shows an example of the case where charging spot information is provided to a user.

[0233] In step S71, the position information acquisition unit 412 of the management device 400 acquires user position information. In step S72, the position information acquisition unit 412 of the management device 400 acquires information indicating the positions of the charging spots.

[0234] Next, the process proceeds to step S73, where the information generating unit 418 of the management device 400 generates charging spot information based on the user position information and the information indicating the positions of the charging spots. In step S73, the information generating unit 418 may further use information indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 possessed by the user so that the charging spot information includes required time information. Also, in step S73, the information generating unit 418 may further use information indicating the usage record of charging spots by the user so that the charging spot information includes information indicating the positions of charging spots that are used relatively frequently by the user.

[0235] Next, the process proceeds to step S74, where the communication unit 402 of the management device 400 transmits the charging spot information generated by the information generation unit 418 to the user terminal 200.

[0236] Next, the flow proceeds to step S75, in which the charging spot information transmitted from the communication unit 402 is information is provided to the user by the information providing unit 216 of the user terminal 200. In this manner, the operation illustrated in FIG.

[0237] FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an example of a display on the display unit 204 of the user terminal 200. As shown in FIG.

[0238] When the user terminal 200 receives the charging spot information, the information providing unit 216 of the user terminal 200 may display, for example, a display screen 204d illustrated in FIG. 22 on the display unit 204. A map MP may be displayed on the display screen 204d. A figure 502 indicating the user's position may be further displayed on the display screen 204d. A figure 514 indicating the position of the charging spot may be further displayed on the display screen 204d. The number of figures 514 corresponding to the number of charging spots that can be displayed on the map MP may be displayed on the display screen 204d. Based on the figure 514 displayed on the display screen 204d, the user may easily find a charging spot where the mobile battery 100 owned by the user can be charged.

[0239] The appearance of the graphic 514 may change according to the expected time required to fully charge the mobile battery 100 carried by the user at the charging spot indicated by the graphic 514. The information generating unit 418 may change the color, size, etc. of the graphic 514 according to the expected time required, for example.

[0240] The appearance of the graphic 514 may change depending on the usage history of the charging spot indicated by the graphic 514 by the user. In this case, for example, the information generating unit 418 may change the color, size, etc. of the graphic 514 depending on the frequency of usage by the user. Only charging spots that are relatively frequently used by the user may be displayed on the display screen 204d. This provides convenience to the user.

[0241] The display screen 204d may be displayed on one display screen together with at least one of the display screen 204a shown in Fig. 8, the display screen 204b shown in Fig. 9, and the display screen 204c shown in Fig. 16. In other words, the information providing unit 216 may cause the graphic 514 shown in Fig. 22 to be further displayed on at least one of the display screen 204a shown in Fig. 8, the display screen 204b shown in Fig. 9, and the display screen 204c shown in Fig. 16.

[0242] As described above, the management system 16 can provide the user with information regarding charging spots where the mobile battery 100 can be charged.

[0243] However, it is preferable that a mobile battery 100 having a certain level of quality is provided to a user. In order to improve the quality control of the mobile battery 100, the management system 16 may be configured as follows. As described above, the management device 400 may include a usage history information acquisition unit 426 and a state determination unit 428.

[0244] The usage history information acquisition unit 426 acquires usage history information. The usage history information is information that indicates the usage history of the mobile battery 100. The usage history information may be appropriately stored, for example, by the storage unit 112 of the mobile battery 100. The usage history information acquisition unit 426 may acquire the usage history information via the inspection device 700.

[0245] The inspection device 700 is a device that inspects the mobile battery 100. The inspection device 700 may be provided in, for example, the battery station 12 (see also FIG. 1). In the example shown in FIG. 1, the inspection device 700 is provided in the charger 14 installed in the battery station 12. In this case, the inspection device 700 may be connected to the mobile battery 100 via the battery port 14a of the charger 14. By being connected to the mobile battery 100, the inspection device 700 may read data from the memory unit 112 of the mobile battery 100. The data read from the memory unit 112 by the inspection device 700 may be supplied from the inspection device 700 to the management device 400 via the network NW. The data that the inspection device 700 can read from the memory unit 112 may include data related to the usage history of the mobile battery 100. Therefore, as described above, the usage history information acquisition unit 426 may acquire usage history information via the inspection device 700.

[0246] The usage history information may include at least one of total usage time information, charge / discharge count information, and warranty period information. The total usage time information is information about the total usage time of the mobile battery 100. The charge / discharge count information is information about the number of times the mobile battery 100 has been charged / discharged. The warranty period information is information about the warranty period of the mobile battery 100. The warranty period is the period during which the manufacturer / seller of the mobile battery 100 guarantees the functions, quality, etc. of the mobile battery 100.

[0247] The usage history information acquired by the usage history information acquisition unit 426 may be stored in the storage unit 406 of the management device 400. The usage history information may be stored in the storage unit 406 in association with the identification information of the mobile battery 100.

[0248] The state determination unit 428 determines whether the mobile battery 100 has reached a usage restricted state based on the usage history information. The usage restricted state is one state of the mobile battery 100. More specifically, the usage restricted state is a state of the mobile battery 100 in which usage should be restricted.

[0249] The state determination unit 428 may determine whether the mobile battery 100 has reached a usage restriction state based on the total usage time information included in the usage history information. For example, when the total usage time indicated by the total usage time information has reached a predetermined usage time threshold, the state determination unit 428 determines that the mobile battery 100 has reached a usage restriction state.

[0250] The state determination unit 428 can determine whether the mobile battery 100 has reached a usage restriction state based on the charge / discharge count information included in the usage history information. For example, when the charge / discharge count indicated by the charge / discharge count information has reached a predetermined charge / discharge count threshold, the state determination unit 428 determines that the mobile battery 100 has reached a usage restriction state.

[0251] The state determination unit 428 can determine whether the mobile battery 100 has reached a usage restriction state based on the warranty period information included in the usage history information. For example, when the warranty period indicated by the warranty period information has expired, the state determination unit 428 determines that the mobile battery 100 has reached a usage restriction state.

[0252] Information indicating the result of the determination made by the state determination unit 428 may be stored by the memory unit 406 of the management device 400. That is, information indicating whether or not the mobile battery 100 has reached a usage restriction state may be stored by the memory unit 406. Information indicating whether or not the mobile battery 100 has reached a usage restriction state may be stored in the memory unit 406 in association with the identification information of the mobile battery 100. This allows the operator of the sharing system 10 to easily check whether or not the mobile battery 100 has reached a usage restriction state. For example, the operator of the sharing system 10 can easily check whether or not the mobile battery 100 has reached a usage restriction state by accessing the management device 400 (memory unit 406) using a terminal not shown.

[0253] It is not preferable that a low-quality mobile battery 100 is provided to a user. The quality of the mobile battery 100 may decrease as the total usage time or the number of charging and discharging of the mobile battery 100 increases. In other words, it is preferable to restrict the use of the mobile battery 100 whose total usage time or the number of charging and discharging has increased to a certain extent. It is also not preferable that a mobile battery 100 whose quality is not guaranteed is provided to a user. In other words, it is preferable to restrict the use of the mobile battery 100 whose warranty period has expired. In this regard, the operator of the sharing system 10 (management system 16) can easily identify the mobile battery 100 that has reached the usage restriction state based on the result of the judgment made by the state judgment unit 428. This allows the operator to prevent the mobile battery 100 whose usage should be restricted from being provided to the user.

[0254] Fig. 23 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system 16. Fig. 23 shows an example of determining whether or not the mobile battery 100 has reached the usage restriction state.

[0255] In step S81, the usage history information acquisition unit 426 of the management device 400 acquires usage history information of the mobile battery 100. Next, in step S82, the state determination unit 428 of the management device 400 determines whether the mobile battery 100 has reached a usage restriction state based on the usage history information.

[0256] Next, the process proceeds to step S83, where the memory unit 406 of the management device 400 stores information indicating the mobile battery 100 that has reached the usage restriction state. In Fig. 23, the information indicating the mobile battery 100 that has reached the usage restriction state is information indicating the result of the determination made by the state determination unit 428 in step S82. The information indicating the result of the determination made by the state determination unit 428 in step S82 can be stored in the memory unit 406 in association with the identification information of the mobile battery 100. In this way, the operation illustrated in Fig. 23 is completed.

[0257] As described above, the calculation unit 404 of the management device 400 may be provided with a replacement time estimation unit 432. The replacement time estimation unit 432 estimates the replacement time of the mobile battery 100 based on the usage history information. The replacement time estimation unit 432 may estimate the replacement time of the mobile battery 100 based on the usage history of the mobile battery 100. Note that, as described above, the usage history information may be acquired by the usage history information acquisition unit 426.

[0258] The replacement time estimation unit 432 may estimate the replacement time of the mobile battery 100 based on, for example, the total usage time information included in the usage history information. In this case, the replacement time estimation unit 432 may estimate the replacement time of the mobile battery 100 based on the difference between a predetermined usage time threshold and the total usage time indicated by the total usage time information.

[0259] The replacement time estimation unit 432 may estimate the replacement time of the mobile battery 100 based on the charge / discharge count information included in the usage history information. In this case, the replacement time estimation unit 432 may estimate the replacement time of the mobile battery 100 based on the difference between a predetermined charge / discharge count threshold and the charge / discharge count indicated by the charge / discharge count information.

[0260] The replacement time estimation unit 432 may estimate the replacement time of the mobile battery 100 based on the warranty period information included in the usage history information. In this case, the replacement time estimation unit 432 may estimate the replacement time of the mobile battery 100 based on the warranty period indicated by the warranty period information.

[0261] The information indicating the replacement time estimated by the replacement time estimation unit 432 may be stored by the memory unit 406 of the management device 400. The information indicating the replacement time estimated by the replacement time estimation unit 432 may be stored in the memory unit 406 in association with the identification information of the mobile battery 100. The operator of the sharing system 10 may systematically manage the mobile battery 100 using the information indicating the replacement time estimated by the replacement time estimation unit 432. For example, the operator described above may create a procurement plan for a new mobile battery 100 by referring to the information indicating the replacement time estimated by the replacement time estimation unit 432.

[0262] The quality control of the mobile battery 100 will be further explained below.

[0263] As described above, the battery station 12 may be equipped with an inspection device 700. The inspection device 700 may inspect the mobile battery 100 connected to the inspection device 700. The inspection device 700 may perform inspections such as capacity measurement and resistance measurement on the mobile battery 100 connected to the inspection device 700. By performing inspections such as capacity measurement and resistance measurement, the degree of deterioration of the battery cells 102 of the mobile battery 100 may be detected. Information indicating the inspection results by the inspection device 700 may be supplied from the inspection device 700 to the management device 400 via the network NW.

[0264] Information indicating the inspection results by the inspection device 700 may be used by the maximum charge capacity determination unit 430. As described above, the maximum charge capacity determination unit 430 may be provided in the calculation unit 404 of the management device 400. The maximum charge capacity determination unit 430 may determine the maximum charge capacity of the mobile battery 100 based on the inspection results by the inspection device 700. Information indicating the maximum charge capacity determined by the maximum charge capacity determination unit 430 may be supplied from the management device 400 to the charger 14 (control computer not shown) via the network NW. As a result, the charger 14 may charge the mobile battery 100 within a range in which the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 does not exceed the maximum charge capacity.

[0265] The maximum charging capacity is the upper limit of the charging capacity permitted when the mobile battery 100 is charged. The maximum charging capacity may vary depending on the deterioration level of the battery cell 102 of the mobile battery 100. In other words, the criteria for determining whether charging the mobile battery 100 is overcharging or not may vary depending on the deterioration level of the battery cell 102. Overcharging the mobile battery 100 is not desirable. In this respect, according to the present embodiment, the maximum charging capacity determination unit 430 can determine the maximum charging capacity based on the inspection results by the inspection device 700 as described above. That is, according to the present embodiment, the maximum charging capacity determination unit 430 can determine the maximum charging capacity according to the deterioration level of the battery cell 102. Therefore, overcharging of the mobile battery 100 can be prevented.

[0266] It is preferable that the inspection by the inspection device 700 described above is performed according to the usage history of the mobile battery 100. In other words, it is preferable that the inspection by the inspection device 700 is performed according to the total usage time, the number of charge / discharge cycles, or the warranty period of the mobile battery 100.

[0267] For example, the inspection device 700 may inspect the mobile battery 100 only when the total usage time of the mobile battery 100 reaches a predetermined threshold. In this case, the predetermined threshold may be smaller than the above-mentioned predetermined total usage time threshold. A mobile battery 100 with a short total usage time is unlikely to have a problem with the degree of deterioration of the battery cells 102 provided in the mobile battery 100. In other words, inspection of a mobile battery 100 with a short total usage time is likely to be unnecessary inspection. By inspecting the mobile battery 100 only when the total usage time of the mobile battery 100 reaches a predetermined threshold, the possibility of unnecessary inspection being performed can be reduced.

[0268] Also, for example, the inspection device 700 may inspect the mobile battery 100 only when the number of times the mobile battery 100 is charged and discharged reaches a predetermined threshold. In this case, the predetermined threshold may be smaller than the above-mentioned predetermined threshold for the number of times the mobile battery 100 is charged and discharged. A mobile battery 100 with a small number of times of charging and discharging is unlikely to have a problem with the degree of deterioration of the battery cells 102 provided in the mobile battery 100. In other words, inspection of a mobile battery 100 with a small number of times of charging and discharging is likely to be an unnecessary inspection. By inspecting the mobile battery 100 only when the number of times the mobile battery 100 is charged and discharged reaches a predetermined threshold, the possibility of unnecessary inspection being performed can be reduced.

[0269] Furthermore, for example, the inspection device 700 may inspect the mobile battery 100 only when the usage period of the mobile battery 100 reaches a predetermined threshold. In this case, the predetermined threshold may be determined in advance within the range of the warranty period described above. A mobile battery 100 with a short usage period is unlikely to have a problem with the degree of deterioration of the battery cells 102 provided in the mobile battery 100. In other words, inspection of a mobile battery 100 with a short usage period is likely to be unnecessary inspection. By inspecting the mobile battery 100 only when the usage period of the mobile battery 100 reaches a predetermined threshold, the possibility of unnecessary inspection being performed can be reduced.

[0270] As described above, the management system 16 allows the operator of the sharing system 10 to appropriately manage the quality of the mobile battery 100.

[0271] From the viewpoint of managing the mobile batteries 100, it is preferable to appropriately adjust the number of mobile batteries 100 arranged in the battery station 12 according to the user's demand for the mobile batteries 100. In order to appropriately adjust the number of mobile batteries 100 arranged in the battery station 12, the management system 16 may be configured as follows. As described above, the calculation unit 404 of the management device 400 may be provided with an inventory shortage station determination unit 434, a requested delivery person selection unit 438, a low remaining capacity battery determination unit 442, and a time allowance determination unit 444.

[0272] The inventory shortage station determination unit 434 determines whether the battery station 12 is an inventory shortage station based on information on the future demand for the mobile battery 100 and inventory information of the battery station 12. The inventory information indicates the inventory of the mobile battery 100 at the battery station 12. An inventory shortage station is a battery station 12 where the inventory of the mobile battery 100 is expected to be insufficient in the future. In other words, an inventory shortage station is a battery station 12 that is likely to be unable to meet the demand of users who wish to rent the mobile battery 100. Information on the future demand for the mobile battery 100 can be generated, for example, by the above-mentioned collection and delivery demand prediction unit 424. Inventory information indicating the inventory of the mobile battery 100 at the battery station 12 can be stored, for example, by the storage unit 406.

[0273] The information generating unit 418 may generate information about the shortage station based on the result of the determination by the shortage station determining unit 434. The information about the shortage station may include, for example, information indicating the shortage station location, which is the location of the shortage station. The information generating unit 418 may further generate delivery request information. The delivery request information is information for requesting a delivery person to deliver the mobile battery 100 to the shortage station. The delivery request information may include information indicating the number of mobile batteries 100 to be delivered.

[0274] The target delivery person selection unit 438 selects a target delivery person who is a delivery person to be requested to deliver the mobile battery 100 to the stock shortage station. In other words, the target delivery person selection unit 438 selects the delivery person terminal 300 to which the delivery request information is to be sent. The target delivery person selection unit 438 selects a delivery person located within a predetermined range from the stock shortage station based on the delivery person location and the stock shortage station location. The delivery person selected in this way becomes the target delivery person. The target delivery person selection unit 438 may select multiple delivery persons to be requested.

[0275] The information regarding the stock shortage station and the delivery request information can be transmitted to the delivery person terminal 300 carried by the requested delivery person via the communication unit 402. This allows the information providing unit 316 of the delivery person terminal 300 to provide the information regarding the stock shortage station and the delivery request information to the requested delivery person.

[0276] By providing the requested collector / deliverer with information regarding the stock shortage station, the requested collector / deliverer can ascertain the location of the stock shortage station. Furthermore, by providing the requested collector / deliveryer with delivery request information, the requested collector / deliverer can deliver the mobile battery 100 to the stock shortage station. In other words, the stock shortage station can be replenished with the mobile battery 100. This prevents the stock shortage station from actually reaching a stock shortage in the future. Furthermore, the demand of users who wish to rent the mobile battery 100 located at the battery station 12 can be satisfied.

[0277] The low remaining capacity battery determination unit 442 determines whether or not the mobile battery 100 possessed by the delivery person is a low remaining capacity battery. A low remaining capacity battery is a mobile battery 100 whose remaining capacity is less than a predetermined low remaining capacity threshold. The low remaining capacity battery determination unit 442 determines whether or not the mobile battery 100 is a low remaining capacity battery based on remaining capacity information indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100. As described above, the remaining capacity information can be acquired by the battery information acquisition unit 416.

[0278] The time margin determination unit 444 determines whether the battery station 12 determined by the inventory shortage station determination unit 434 to be an inventory shortage station is a time margin station. A time margin station is an inventory shortage station in which the time margin, which is the time margin until inventory shortage occurs, is equal to or greater than a predetermined time margin threshold. The time margin can be grasped based on the future collection and delivery demand predicted by the collection and delivery demand prediction unit 424.

[0279] The information generating unit 418 generates delivery request information for requesting a collector / deliverer (requested collector / deliverer) who has a low remaining battery to deliver the battery to a time margin station. The delivery request information can be transmitted to the collector / deliverer terminal 300 of the collector / deliverer who has the low remaining battery via the communication unit 402. This allows the information providing unit 316 provided in the collector / deliverer terminal 300 to notify the collector / deliverer of a request to deliver the low remaining battery to a time margin station.

[0280] A low remaining capacity battery is a mobile battery 100 that is likely not preferred by users who wish to rent the mobile battery 100. However, a low remaining capacity battery delivered to a time margin equipped station can be charged at the time margin equipped station. Since the time margin equipped station is a battery station 12 that has time to spare before running out of stock, the time margin can be used to fully charge a low remaining capacity battery. This not only prevents the time margin equipped station from running out of stock in the future, but also satisfies the demand of users who wish to rent a mobile battery 100 with sufficient remaining capacity.

[0281] The information generating unit 418 preferably also generates information for restricting the delivery of low-capacity batteries to stock shortage stations that are not time-margin stations. The information includes, for example, a request to the collector / deliverer not to deliver low-capacity batteries to stock shortage stations that are not time-margin stations. The information for restricting the delivery of low-capacity batteries to stock shortage stations that are not time-margin stations can be transmitted to the collector / deliverer terminal 300 of the collector / deliverer who possesses the low-capacity battery via the communication unit 402. This allows the information providing unit 316 provided in the collector / deliverer terminal 300 to notify the collector / deliverer of the restriction on delivery of low-capacity batteries to stock shortage stations that are not time-margin stations. By restricting the delivery of low-capacity batteries to stock shortage stations that are not time-margin stations, it is possible to prevent stock shortage stations from being replenished with low-capacity batteries that are likely not preferred by users.

[0282] The information for restricting the delivery of low-capacity batteries to a stock shortage station that is not a time-available station may be provided to a collector / delivery party other than the above-mentioned requested collector / delivery party, thereby preventing a low-capacity battery that is likely not preferred by users from being replenished to a stock shortage station by a collector / delivery party other than the requested collector / delivery party.

[0283] As described above, according to this embodiment, inventory adjustment of the mobile battery 100 can be appropriately performed for stations with inventory shortages.

[0284] As described above, the calculation unit 404 of the management device 400 may include an excess stock station determination unit 436 and a delivery restriction courier selection unit 440 .

[0285] The overstock station determination unit 436 determines whether the battery station 12 is an overstock station based on information on future demand for the mobile battery 100 and inventory information of the battery station 12. An overstock station is a battery station 12 that is expected to have an excess inventory of the mobile battery 100 in the future. A battery station 12 that has an excess inventory cannot accept the return of the mobile battery 100. In other words, an overstock station is a battery station 12 that is likely to be unable to meet the demand of users who are trying to return the mobile battery 100 to the battery station 12.

[0286] The information generating unit 418 may generate information about the overstock station based on the result of the determination by the overstock station determining unit 436. The information about the overstock station includes, for example, information indicating an overstock station location, which is the location of the overstock station. The information generating unit 418 may further generate delivery restriction information. The delivery restriction information is information for restricting delivery of the mobile battery 100 to the overstock station. The delivery restriction information includes, for example, a request to a delivery person not to deliver the mobile battery 100 to the overstock station.

[0287] The delivery-restricted collector / deliverer selection unit 440 selects a delivery-restricted collector / deliverer who is a collector / deliverer who is subject to restrictions on delivery of the mobile battery 100 to the overstock station. In other words, the delivery-restricted collector / deliverer selection unit 440 selects the collector / deliverer terminal 300 to which the delivery restriction information is to be sent. The delivery-restricted collector / deliverer selection unit 440 selects a collector / deliverer located outside a predetermined range from the overstock station based on the collector / deliverer location and the overstock station location. The collector / deliverer selected in this manner becomes the delivery-restricted collector / deliverer. The delivery-restricted collector / deliverer selection unit 440 may select multiple delivery-restricted collectors / deliverers.

[0288] The information regarding the overstocked station and the delivery restriction information can be transmitted to the collector / delivery terminal 300 carried by the delivery-restricted collector / delivery agent via the communication unit 402. This allows the information providing unit 316 of the collector / delivery agent terminal 300 to provide the information regarding the overstocked station and the delivery restriction information to the delivery-restricted collector / delivery agent.

[0289] By providing information about overstock stations to a delivery-restricted collector, the delivery-restricted collector can ascertain the location of the overstock stations. Furthermore, by providing the delivery-restricted collector, the delivery of the mobile battery 100 to the overstock stations can be restricted. In other words, replenishing the stock of the mobile battery 100 at the overstock stations can be restricted. This prevents the overstock stations from actually reaching an overstock in the future. Furthermore, the demand of users who wish to return the mobile battery 100 to the battery station 12 can be satisfied.

[0290] In addition, according to the above-mentioned delivery restriction collector / deliverer selection unit 440, a collector / deliverer located outside a predetermined range from an overstock station may be selected as a delivery restriction collector / deliverer. Therefore, the information on the overstock station and the delivery restriction information may be provided at least to a collector / deliverer located outside a predetermined range from the overstock station. A collector / deliverer located outside a predetermined range from the overstock station takes more effort to reach the overstock station than a collector / deliverer located within a predetermined range from the overstock station. By providing the delivery restriction information to a collector / deliverer located outside a predetermined range from the overstock station, it is possible to prevent the effort of the collector / deliverer from being wasted. Note that the information on the overstock station and the delivery restriction information may be provided to a collector / deliverer located within a predetermined range from the overstock station. This can prevent the stock replenishment of the mobile battery 100 at the overstock station from being performed by a collector / deliverer located within a predetermined range from the overstock station. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably prevent the overstock station from actually reaching overstock in the future.

[0291] As described above, according to this embodiment, inventory adjustment of the mobile battery 100 can be appropriately performed for stations with excess inventory.

[0292] Fig. 24 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system 16. Fig. 24 shows an example of the case where information for appropriately deploying the mobile battery 100 is provided to a delivery person.

[0293] In step S91, the collection and delivery demand prediction unit 424 of the management device 400 predicts future demand for the mobile battery 100.

[0294] In step S92, the inventory shortage station determination unit 434 of the management device 400 determines whether or not there is a battery station 12 that corresponds to an inventory shortage station.

[0295] If there is a station with a shortage of stock, the process proceeds to step S93, where the information generating unit 418 of the management device 400 generates information regarding the station with a shortage of stock. position The information may include information indicating:

[0296] Next, the process proceeds to step S94, where the target delivery person selection unit 438 of the management device 400 selects a target delivery person.

[0297] Next, the process proceeds to step S95, where the low remaining capacity battery determination unit 442 of the management device 400 determines whether or not the mobile battery 100 possessed by the delivery person is a low remaining capacity battery. In other words, the low remaining capacity battery determination unit 442 determines whether or not the delivery person possesses a low remaining capacity battery.

[0298] If the delivery person has a battery with a low remaining capacity, the process proceeds to step S96, where the time allowance determining unit 444 of the management device 400 determines whether there is a stock shortage station that corresponds to a time allowance station.

[0299] If there is a time margin station, the process proceeds to step S97, where the information generating unit 418 of the management device 400 generates delivery request information. The information generating unit 418 generates delivery request information for requesting the requested delivery person to deliver the low remaining capacity battery to the time margin station. The information generating unit 418 may further generate information for restricting delivery of the low remaining capacity battery to a stock shortage station that is not a time margin station.

[0300] If it is determined in step S95 that the delivery person does not have a low-capacity battery, the process also proceeds to step S97, where the information generating unit 418 of the management device 400 generates delivery request information.

[0301] If it is determined in step S96 that there is no station with time margin, step S98 may be executed. In step S98, the information generating unit 418 generates information for restricting the delivery of low-capacity batteries to stations with low inventory.

[0302] The above-mentioned step S97 may also be executed when step S98 is executed. In this case, in step S97, the information generating unit 418 may generate delivery request information for requesting the requested delivery person to deliver the mobile battery 100 other than the low remaining capacity battery to the stock shortage station.

[0303] If it is determined in the above-mentioned step S92 that there is no stock shortage station, or if step S97 is completed, the process proceeds to step S99. In step S99, the overstock station determination unit 436 of the management device 400 determines whether or not there is a battery station 12 that corresponds to an overstock station.

[0304] If there is an overstock station, the process proceeds to step S100, where the information generating unit 418 generates information about the overstock station. The information about the overstock station may include information indicating the location of the overstock station.

[0305] Next, the process proceeds to step S101, where the delivery restriction collector / delivery selector 440 of the management device 400 selects a delivery restriction collector / delivery.

[0306] Next, the process proceeds to step S102, where the information providing unit 316 of the collector / deliverer terminal 300 provides the information to the collector / deliverer. In this manner, the operation illustrated in FIG. 24 is completed.

[0307] In step S102, the information provided to the delivery person varies depending on the results of the determinations in steps S91 to S101 described above. For example, depending on the result of the determination of the presence or absence of a station with a shortage of stock (step S92), whether or not information regarding the station with a shortage of stock is provided to the delivery person (request delivery person) in step S102 varies. 9 Depending on the result of the execution of step S102, information about overstocked stations may be provided to the collector (delivery-limited collector) in step S102. If neither the understocked station nor the overstocked station exists, step S102 may be skipped.

[0308] However, as described above, it is highly likely that a battery with a low remaining capacity is not preferred by users. However, from the viewpoint of suppressing deterioration of the mobile battery 100, it is preferable to suppress the number of times the mobile battery 100 is charged and discharged. Therefore, from the viewpoint of suppressing deterioration of the mobile battery 100, if the mobile battery 100 can be used by a user without charging, it is preferable that the user use the mobile battery 100 as much as possible, even if the battery has a low remaining capacity.

[0309] In order to allow a low remaining capacity battery to be utilized by a user, the management system 16 may be configured as follows. The information generating unit 418 of the management device 400 generates information also referred to as low remaining capacity battery information in this embodiment. The low remaining capacity battery information is information related to a low remaining capacity battery that can be provided to a user. The low remaining capacity battery information can be generated based on a low remaining capacity battery position, which is the position of the low remaining capacity battery, and a user position, which is the position of the user.

[0310] The low remaining capacity battery location can be acquired by the above-mentioned location information acquisition unit 412. The location information acquisition unit 412 can acquire the location of a delivery person who has a low remaining capacity battery as the low remaining capacity battery location. The location information acquisition unit 412 can also acquire the location of the battery station 12 where the low remaining capacity battery is located as the low remaining capacity battery location. Furthermore, the location information acquisition unit 412 may acquire the low remaining capacity battery location based on the positioning result by the positioning unit 106 provided in the mobile battery 100 (low remaining capacity battery).

[0311] The low remaining battery information may be transmitted to the user terminal 200 via the communication unit 402. This allows the information providing unit 216 of the user terminal 200 to provide the low remaining battery information to the user. For example, the information providing unit 216 may display a map MP on the display unit 204 of the user terminal 200, and may also display a graphic 516 indicating the location of the low remaining battery on the map MP (see also FIG. 26 ).

[0312] As described above, the calculation unit 404 of the management device 400 may be provided with a remaining capacity information acquisition unit 448 and a mobile battery selection unit 450.

[0313] The remaining capacity information acquisition unit 448 acquires information indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile device battery. The mobile device battery is a battery provided in a mobile device owned by a user. The mobile device battery may be included in the user's personal belongings. The mobile device owned by the user is, for example, a user terminal 200, but is not limited to this. The remaining capacity information acquisition unit 448 communicates with, for example, the mobile device to acquire information indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile device battery.

[0314] The mobile battery selection unit 450 selects the mobile battery 100 that can be provided to the user according to the remaining capacity of the mobile device battery. For example, when the remaining capacity of the mobile device battery is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the mobile battery selection unit 450 selects a low remaining capacity battery as the mobile battery 100 that can be provided to the user. On the other hand, when the remaining capacity of the mobile device battery is less than the predetermined threshold, the mobile battery selection unit 450 selects a mobile battery 100 other than the low remaining capacity battery as the mobile battery 100 that can be provided to the user.

[0315] The information providing unit 216 of the user terminal 200 may change the information provided to the user depending on the selection result by the mobile battery selecting unit 450. For example, when the mobile battery selecting unit 450 selects a low remaining capacity battery, the information providing unit 216 causes the display unit 204 to display the low remaining capacity battery information in preference to information other than the low remaining capacity battery information. Also, for example, when the mobile battery selecting unit 450 selects a low remaining capacity battery, the information providing unit 216 causes the display unit 204 to display the low remaining capacity battery information more prominently than information other than the low remaining capacity battery information. This can increase the possibility that the user will refer to the low remaining capacity battery information. As a result, it is possible to encourage the user to use a low remaining capacity battery.

[0316] Moreover, according to this embodiment, when the remaining capacity of the mobile device battery is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the mobile battery selection unit 450 selects a low remaining capacity battery. When the remaining capacity of the personal mobile device battery is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the user is likely not to need the mobile battery 100 to be fully charged. In this regard, according to this embodiment, the user who is likely not to need the mobile battery 100 to be fully charged can be encouraged to use a low remaining capacity battery. In addition, when the remaining capacity of the personal mobile device battery is less than a predetermined threshold, the user is likely to want the mobile battery 100 to be fully charged. In other words, the user whose personal mobile device battery has a remaining capacity less than a predetermined threshold is likely not to need a low remaining capacity battery. In this regard, according to this embodiment, encouraging the use of a low remaining capacity battery to a user who is likely not to need a low remaining capacity battery is avoided.

[0317] 25 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system. Information FIG. 25 shows an example of providing the above to the user.

[0318] In step S111, the low remaining capacity battery determination unit 442 of the management device 400 determines whether or not the mobile battery 100 corresponds to a low remaining capacity battery. For example, remaining capacity information indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 can be acquired by the above-mentioned battery information acquisition unit 416. Based on the acquisition result by the battery information acquisition unit 416, the low remaining capacity battery determination unit 442 determines that the mobile battery 100 whose remaining capacity is less than the above-mentioned low remaining capacity threshold is a low remaining capacity battery.

[0319] If the mobile battery 100 determined in step S111 is a low remaining capacity battery, the process proceeds to steps S112 and S113. In step S112, the location information acquisition unit 412 of the management device 400 acquires low remaining capacity battery location information indicating the location of the low remaining capacity battery. In step S113, the location information acquisition unit 412 acquires user location information indicating the user location.

[0320] Next, the process proceeds to step S114, where the information generating unit 418 of the management device 400 generates low remaining capacity battery information. The information generating unit 418 generates the low remaining capacity battery information based on the user position information and the low remaining capacity battery position information. The low remaining capacity battery information may include information about low remaining capacity batteries located within a predetermined range from the user position.

[0321] Next, the process proceeds to step S115, where the information providing unit 216 of the user terminal 200 provides the low remaining capacity battery information to the user. The low remaining capacity battery information can be transmitted to the user terminal 200 via the communication unit 402 of the management device 400. In this manner, the operation illustrated in Fig. 25 is completed. Note that, even if it is determined in step S111 that the mobile battery 100 is not a low remaining capacity battery, the operation illustrated in Fig. 25 is also terminated.

[0322] FIG. 26 is a diagram showing an example of a display on the display unit 204 of the user terminal 200. As shown in FIG.

[0323] The information providing unit 216 of the user terminal 200 that has received the low remaining capacity battery information may display, for example, a display screen 204e illustrated in Fig. 26 on the display unit 204. The display screen 204e may be displayed on the display unit 204 when, for example, the above-mentioned mobile battery selection unit 450 selects a low remaining capacity battery. A map MP may be displayed on the display screen 204e. A figure 502 indicating the user position may further be displayed on the display screen 204e.

[0324] A graphic 516 indicating the location of a battery with low remaining capacity may further be displayed on the display screen 204e. The graphic 516 in Fig. 26 indicates the location of a delivery person who has a battery with low remaining capacity as the location of a battery with low remaining capacity. A plurality of graphic elements 516 (516A to 516C) may be displayed on the display screen 204e.

[0325] Display data 518 based on the low remaining capacity battery information may further be displayed on the display screen 204e. The display data 518 indicates, for example, the remaining capacity of the low remaining capacity battery. However, the display data 518 is not limited to this. For example, the display data 518 may further indicate the time required for delivery when a user requests delivery of a low remaining capacity battery, the price when using the low remaining capacity battery, etc. The display data 518 may be generated by the information generating unit 418 as appropriate.

[0326] A plurality of display data 518 (518A to 518C) can be displayed on the display screen 204e. For example, in Fig. 26, the position of the low remaining capacity battery shown in the display data 518A is indicated by a graphic 516A. The position of the low remaining capacity battery shown in the display data 518B is indicated by a graphic 516B. The position of the low remaining capacity battery shown in the display data 518C is indicated by a graphic 516C.

[0327] As described above, providing a user with low remaining capacity battery information can encourage the user to use a battery with a low remaining capacity. By the user using a battery with a low remaining capacity, the number of times the battery is charged and discharged can be reduced.

[0328] As described above, the calculation unit 404 of the management device 400 may be provided with a privilege granting unit 446. The privilege granting unit 446 grants a privilege to a user who has used a low remaining capacity battery. The privilege is, for example, a special service provided only to a user who has used a low remaining capacity battery, but is not limited thereto. The display data 518 described above may include information indicating a privilege granted to the user when the low remaining capacity battery indicated in the display data 518 is used. Information regarding the privilege granted to the user by the privilege granting unit 446 may be stored in the storage unit 406 in association with user identification information that is identification information of the user.

[0329] By providing a reward to a user who has used a battery with a low remaining capacity, the user's motivation to use a battery with a low remaining capacity can be improved. In other words, the reward providing unit 446 can further encourage users to use a battery with a low remaining capacity.

[0330] However, it is not preferable for the charged mobile battery 100 to be left unused. From the viewpoint of suppressing deterioration of the mobile battery 100, it is also not preferable for the mobile battery 100 to be left in an overcharged state for a long period of time.

[0331] In order to prevent the mobile battery 100 from being overcharged for a long time, the management system 16 may be configured as follows. The information generating unit 418 of the management device 400 generates information also referred to as high remaining capacity battery information in this embodiment. The high remaining capacity battery information is information about a high remaining capacity battery that can be provided to a user. A high remaining capacity battery is a mobile battery 100 whose remaining capacity is equal to or greater than a predetermined high remaining capacity threshold. The high remaining capacity threshold is greater than the above-mentioned low remaining capacity threshold. The high remaining capacity threshold is, for example, but is not limited to, the maximum charging capacity of the mobile battery 100. The high remaining capacity battery information can be generated based on a high remaining capacity battery position, which is the position of the high remaining capacity battery, and a user position.

[0332] The high remaining capacity battery location can be acquired by the location information acquisition unit 412. The location information acquisition unit 412 can acquire the location of a delivery person who has a high remaining capacity battery as the high remaining capacity battery location. The location information acquisition unit 412 can also acquire the location of the battery station 12 in which the high remaining capacity battery is located as the high remaining capacity battery location. Furthermore, the location information acquisition unit 412 may acquire the high remaining capacity battery location based on the positioning result by the positioning unit 106 provided in the mobile battery 100 (high remaining capacity battery).

[0333] The high remaining capacity battery information may be transmitted to the user terminal 200 via the communication unit 402. As a result, the information providing unit 216 of the user terminal 200 may provide the high remaining capacity battery information to the user. For example, the information providing unit 216 may display a map MP on the display unit 204 of the user terminal 200, and may also display a graphic 520 indicating the location of the high remaining capacity battery on the map MP (see also FIG. 28).

[0334] As described above, the calculation unit 404 of the management device 400 may include a time-series data acquisition unit 454 and a long-term high remaining capacity battery determination unit 456 .

[0335] The time series data acquisition unit 454 acquires time series data regarding the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100. The time series data acquisition unit 454 may acquire time series data regarding the remaining capacity of a high remaining capacity battery. The acquired time series data may be stored by the storage unit 406.

[0336] The long-term high remaining capacity battery determination unit 456 determines whether or not a high remaining capacity battery corresponds to a long-term high remaining capacity battery. A long-term high remaining capacity battery is a high remaining capacity battery whose remaining capacity remains equal to or exceeds a high remaining capacity threshold for a period of time equal to or exceeds a predetermined long-term threshold.

[0337] The information generating unit 418 generates long-term high remaining capacity battery information based on the user position and the position of the long-term high remaining capacity battery. The long-term high remaining capacity battery information is information on the long-term high remaining capacity battery that can be provided to the user. In other words, the long-term high remaining capacity battery information is information on the long-term high remaining capacity battery among the high remaining capacity battery information. Therefore, the long-term high remaining capacity battery information can be transmitted to the user terminal 200 via the communication unit 402. Furthermore, the long-term high remaining capacity battery information can be provided to the user by the information providing unit 216.

[0338] As described above, the information providing unit 216 of the user terminal 200 may change the information provided to the user depending on the selection result by the mobile battery selecting unit 450. Based on this, the mobile battery selecting unit 450 may select a high remaining capacity battery when the remaining capacity of the mobile device battery is less than a predetermined threshold. As a result, when the remaining capacity of the mobile device battery is less than the predetermined threshold, the information providing unit 216 causes the display unit 204 to display the high remaining capacity battery information in preference to information other than the high remaining capacity battery information, for example. When the remaining capacity of the mobile device battery is less than the predetermined threshold, the information providing unit 216 may cause the display unit 204 to display the high remaining capacity battery information more prominently than information other than the high remaining capacity battery information, for example.

[0339] That is, when the remaining capacity of the mobile device battery, which is a personal property, is less than a predetermined threshold, the user is likely to need the mobile battery 100 to be fully charged. In this regard, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to encourage a user who is likely to need the mobile battery 100 to be fully charged to use a high remaining capacity battery. In addition, when the remaining capacity of the mobile device battery, which is a personal property, is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the user is likely not to need the mobile battery 100 to be fully charged. In other words, when the remaining capacity of the mobile device battery, which is a personal property, is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the user is likely not to need a high remaining capacity battery. In this regard, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to avoid encouraging a user who is likely not to need a high remaining capacity battery to use a high remaining capacity battery.

[0340] Fig. 27 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system. Fig. 27 shows an example of the case where high remaining capacity battery information and long-term high remaining capacity battery information are appropriately provided to the user.

[0341] In step S121, the high remaining capacity battery determination unit 452 of the management device 400 determines whether or not the mobile battery 100 corresponds to a high remaining capacity battery. For example, remaining capacity information indicating the remaining capacity of the mobile battery 100 can be acquired by the above-mentioned battery information acquisition unit 416. Based on the acquisition result by the battery information acquisition unit 416, the high remaining capacity battery determination unit 452 determines that the mobile battery 100 whose remaining capacity is equal to or greater than the above-mentioned high remaining capacity threshold is a high remaining capacity battery.

[0342] If the mobile battery 100 determined in step S121 is a high remaining capacity battery, the process proceeds to steps S122 and S123. In step S122, the location information acquisition unit 412 of the management device 400 acquires high remaining capacity battery location information indicating the location of the high remaining capacity battery. In step S123, the location information acquisition unit 412 acquires user location information indicating the user location.

[0343] Next, the process proceeds to step S124, where the long-term high remaining capacity battery determination unit 456 of the management device 400 determines whether or not the high remaining capacity battery is a long-term high remaining capacity battery. If the high remaining capacity battery is a long-term high remaining capacity battery, step S125 is executed. If the high remaining capacity battery is not a long-term high remaining capacity battery, step S126 is executed.

[0344] In step S125, the information generating unit 418 of the management device 400 generates long-term high remaining capacity battery information. The information generating unit 418 generates the long-term high remaining capacity battery information based on the user position information and the long-term high remaining capacity battery position information. The long-term high remaining capacity battery information may include information about long-term high remaining capacity batteries located within a predetermined range from the user position.

[0345] In step S126, the information generating unit 418 of the management device 400 generates high remaining capacity battery information. The information generating unit 418 generates the high remaining capacity battery information based on the user position information and the high remaining capacity battery position information. The high remaining capacity battery information may include information about high remaining capacity batteries located within a predetermined range from the user position.

[0346] When step S125 or step S126 is completed, step S127 is started. In step S127, the information providing unit 216 of the user terminal 200 provides information to the user. If step S125 is executed, long-term high remaining capacity battery information is provided to the user in step S127. If step S126 is executed, high remaining capacity battery information is provided to the user in step S127. The high remaining capacity battery information or the long-term high remaining capacity battery information can be transmitted to the user terminal 200 via the communication unit 402 of the management device 400. In this way, the operation illustrated in FIG. 27 is completed. Note that in step S121, if a high remaining capacity battery in If it is determined that there is no such condition, the operation illustrated in FIG. 27 also ends.

[0347] FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an example of a display on the display unit 204 of the user terminal 200. As shown in FIG.

[0348] The information providing unit 216 of the user terminal 200 that has received the high remaining capacity battery information and the long-term high remaining capacity battery information may cause the display unit 204 to display, for example, a display screen 204f as illustrated in Fig. 28. The display screen 204f may be displayed on the display unit 204 when, for example, the above-mentioned mobile battery selection unit 450 selects a high remaining capacity battery. A map MP may be displayed on the display screen 204f. A figure 502 indicating the user position may further be displayed on the display screen 204f.

[0349] A graphic 520 may further be displayed on the display screen 204f. The graphic 520 indicates the location of a battery with high remaining capacity (location of a long-term high remaining capacity battery). The graphic 520 in FIG. 28 indicates the location of a delivery person who has a battery with high remaining capacity as the location of a battery with high remaining capacity. A plurality of graphic 520 (520A to 520C) may be displayed on the display screen 204f. The graphic 520 may change depending on whether it indicates the location of a long-term high remaining capacity battery or the location of a high remaining capacity battery that is not a long-term high remaining capacity battery.

[0350] Display data 522 based on high remaining capacity battery information (long-term high remaining capacity battery information) may be further displayed on the display screen 204f. The display data 522 indicates, for example, the remaining capacity of a high remaining capacity battery (long-term high remaining capacity battery). However, the display data 522 is not limited to this. For example, the display data 522 may further indicate the required time for delivery when a user requests delivery of a high remaining capacity battery (long-term high remaining capacity battery), the price when using the high remaining capacity battery, etc. In addition, the display data 522 may further indicate whether or not the high remaining capacity battery indicated by the display data 522 corresponds to a long-term high remaining capacity battery. The display data 522 may be generated as appropriate by the information generating unit 418.

[0351] A plurality of display data 522 (522A to 522C) can be displayed on the display screen 204f. For example, in Fig. 28, the position of the high remaining capacity battery shown in the display data 522A is indicated by a graphic 520A. The position of the high remaining capacity battery shown in the display data 522B is indicated by a graphic 520B. The position of the high remaining capacity battery shown in the display data 522C is indicated by a graphic 520C.

[0352] The display screen 204e (FIG. 26) and the display screen 204f (FIG. 28) may be combined. For example, a graphic 516 indicating a low remaining capacity battery position and a graphic 520 indicating a high remaining capacity battery position (long-term high remaining capacity battery position) may be displayed together on the display unit 204. Display data 518 relating to a low remaining capacity battery and display data 522 relating to a high remaining capacity battery position (long-term high remaining capacity battery position) may be displayed together on the display unit 204.

[0353] As described above, according to this embodiment, the management system 16 can provide the user with information about a high remaining capacity battery (long-term high remaining capacity battery). This can encourage the user to use a high remaining capacity battery (long-term high remaining capacity battery). By encouraging the user to use a high remaining capacity battery (long-term high remaining capacity battery), deterioration of the mobile battery 100 can be suppressed.

[0354] Incidentally, the above-mentioned battery station 12 may be used as an activity base for the delivery person. For example, the battery station 12 may be provided with a waiting area (rest area) for the delivery person. As a result, the battery station 12 may be used by the delivery person as a rest facility. In addition, the battery station 12 may be provided with items that can be used by the delivery person. The items may be provided appropriately in the battery station 12 by, for example, an operating company that operates the sharing system 10. The items that can be provided in the battery station 12 for the delivery person are, for example, a mobile body (bicycle, etc.) that can be lent to the delivery person. The items provided in the battery station 12 for the delivery person are not limited to mobile bodies. For example, the battery station 12 may be provided with equipment, consumables, etc. that can be used by the delivery person. The equipment may be, for example, rain gear (umbrella, raincoat) that can be used by the delivery person in rainy weather. The equipment may also be communication equipment (router), etc. The equipment is not limited to these. The consumables are, for example, beverages that the delivery person can drink during a break, but are not limited to this.

[0355] As described below, the management system 16 can support the activities of delivery personnel by encouraging them to use the rest facilities, items, etc. described above.

[0356] As described above, the calculation unit 404 of the management device 400 includes the operating status information acquisition unit 458 , the rest necessity determination unit 460 , and the provision information selection unit 462 .

[0357] The operating status information acquisition unit 458 acquires operating status information. The operating status information is information related to the operating status of a delivery or collection service provider. The operating status information includes, for example, delivery or collection service provider movement information. The delivery or collection service provider movement information indicates at least one of the travel distance and travel time of the delivery or collection service provider. The content of the operating status information is not limited to delivery or collection service provider movement information. For example, the operating status information may include information related to the number of requests completed by the delivery or collection service provider.

[0358] The rest necessity determination unit 460 determines whether the delivery person needs to take a break based on the operating status information. For example, the rest necessity determination unit 460 determines whether the distance, time, etc. traveled by the delivery person without taking a break exceed a predetermined threshold based on the operating status information (delivery person movement information). In this case, the rest necessity determination unit 460 may determine that the delivery person needs to take a break if the distance, time, etc. traveled by the delivery person without taking a break exceed a predetermined threshold. In addition, for example, the rest necessity determination unit 460 may also determine that the delivery person needs to take a break if the number of cases that the delivery person has processed consecutively without taking a break exceeds a predetermined number.

[0359] When the break necessity determining unit 460 determines that it is necessary for the delivery person to take a break, the information generating unit 418 generates break taking recommendation information. The break taking recommendation information is information for recommending the delivery person to take a break. The break taking recommendation information includes, for example, information for displaying a message for encouraging the delivery person to take a break on the display unit 304 of the delivery person terminal 300.

[0360] The rest-taking recommendation information can be transmitted to the delivery person terminal 300 via the communication unit 402. As a result, the information providing unit 316 of the delivery person terminal 300 can provide the rest-taking recommendation information to the delivery person. In other words, the management system 16 can encourage the delivery person to take a break.

[0361] Fig. 29 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system. Fig. 29 shows an example of the case where rest-taking recommendation information is provided to a delivery person.

[0362] In step S131, the operation status information acquisition unit 458 of the management device 400 acquires operation status information. As described above, the operation status information is information relating to the operation status of a delivery or collection service provider.

[0363] Next, the process proceeds to step S132, where the information generating unit 418 of the management device 400 generates rest recommendation information based on the operation status information. The rest recommendation information is information that recommends the delivery person to take a break. The generated rest recommendation information can be transmitted to the delivery person terminal 300 via the communication unit 402 of the management device 400.

[0364] Next, the process proceeds to step S133, where the information provider 316 of the collection / delivery terminal 300 provides the rest-taking recommendation information to the delivery person. That is, the rest-taking recommendation information is provided to the delivery person using the collection / delivery terminal 300. In this way, the operation illustrated in FIG. 29 is completed.

[0365] In step S132 described above, it is preferable that the information generating unit 418 includes rest facility information in the rest taking recommendation information. The rest facility information is information indicating facilities that can be used by the delivery person to take a rest. An example of a facility that can be used by the delivery person to take a rest is the battery station 12 as described above, but is not limited to this. A coffee shop or the like that can be used by the delivery person to take a rest may be indicated by the rest facility information. The rest facility information may be stored in advance by the storage unit 406.

[0366] The information generating unit 418 can include rest facility information indicating facilities corresponding to the delivery person's location in the rest taking recommendation information by using the delivery person's location information. The information generating unit 418 can include rest facility information indicating facilities located within a predetermined range from the delivery person's location in the rest taking recommendation information. The delivery person's location information can be acquired by the location information acquiring unit 412 as described above.

[0367] The information generating unit 418 may include rest facility information indicating a facility corresponding to the future location of the delivery person in the rest taking recommendation information by using the future location of the delivery person. The future location of the delivery person is also referred to as the future delivery person location in the following description. The future location of the delivery person may be predicted by the future location predicting unit 414. The future location predicting unit 414 may predict the future delivery person location based on the action plan of the delivery person. The action plan of the delivery person may be appropriately transmitted to the management device 400 by the delivery person using the delivery person terminal 300. In addition, the action plan of the delivery person may be grasped based on the content of the delivery request for the mobile battery 100 that the delivery person has received. The future location predicting unit 414 may predict the future location of the delivery person based on the current action of the delivery person. For example, when the delivery person uses a train, the future location of the delivery person may be predicted based on the timetable of the train. For example, when a delivery person is walking on a road, the future location of the delivery person can be predicted based on map information about the road, the moving speed of the delivery person, and the moving direction of the delivery person. The future location prediction unit 414 may also predict the future location of the delivery person based on schedule information of the delivery person. The schedule information can be stored in advance in the storage unit 312 provided in the delivery person terminal 300.

[0368] The delivery / collection terminal 300 includes an operation unit 302. The operation unit 302 may receive an operation by the delivery / collection person to indicate to the management system 16 the intention of taking a rest. The intention may be transmitted to the management device 400 via the communication unit 308 of the delivery / collection person terminal 300. The provided information selection unit 462 may select rest facility information indicating a facility that the delivery / collection person can use for a rest in response to the intention. For example, as described above, the rest facility information is stored in the memory unit 406. The memory unit 406 may store a plurality of pieces of rest facility information. The provided information selection unit 462 may select rest facility information indicating a facility within a predetermined range from the delivery / collection person position based on the delivery / collection person position information. The rest facility information selected by the provided information selection unit 462 may be transmitted to the delivery / collection person terminal 300 via the communication unit 402. As a result, the rest facility information may be provided to the delivery / collection person in response to the operation received by the operation unit 302.

[0369] As described above, the management device 400 is also provided with a collection and delivery environment information acquisition unit 464. The collection and delivery environment information acquisition unit 464 acquires delivery person environment information. The delivery person environment information is information related to the delivery person's collection and delivery environment. More specifically, the delivery person environment information includes at least one of weather information, road surface information, and communication environment information, for example. The weather information is information related to the weather conditions when the delivery person collects and delivers the mobile battery 100. The road surface information is information related to the road surface conditions when the delivery person collects and delivers the mobile battery 100. The communication environment information is information related to the communication environment when the delivery person collects and delivers the mobile battery 100. The collection and delivery environment information acquisition unit 464 acquires delivery person environment information (weather information, road surface information, communication environment information) using, for example, the Internet.

[0370] The provided information selection unit 462 selects item information based on the collection and delivery environment information, the delivery person location information, and the item location information. The item information is information indicating items (supplies, consumables) that can be used by the delivery person. The item location information is information indicating the location where the item is provided. In other words, the item location information indicates the location of the item. The item information and the item location information may be stored in advance by the memory unit 406. The memory unit 406 may store the item information and the item location information in association with each other.

[0371] The provided information selection unit 462 may select the item information, for example, as described below. The provided information selection unit 462 determines whether the weather is rainy when the delivery person collects and delivers the mobile battery 100 based on the weather information. If the weather is rainy when the delivery person collects and delivers the mobile battery 100, the provided information selection unit 462 selects item information indicating items (e.g., rain gear) that the delivery person can use in rainy weather from among items located within a predetermined range from the delivery person's location.

[0372] The item information selected by the provided information selection unit 462 and item location information indicating the location of the item related to the item information can be transmitted to the delivery person terminal 300 via the communication unit 402. This allows the information providing unit 316 of the delivery person terminal 300 to provide the delivery person with item information corresponding to the delivery environment information. In other words, the management system 16 can encourage the delivery person to use the item corresponding to the delivery environment information.

[0373] Fig. 30 is a flow chart showing an example of the operation of the management system. Fig. 30 shows an example of the case where item information according to the collection and delivery environment is provided to a delivery person.

[0374] In step S134, the collection and delivery environment information acquisition unit 464 of the management device 400 acquires the collection and delivery environment information. As described above, the collection and delivery environment information is information related to the collection and delivery environment of the delivery person.

[0375] Next, the process proceeds to step S135, where the provision information selection unit 462 of the management device 400 selects item information based on the collection and delivery environment information. As described above, the item information is information indicating items that can be used by a delivery person. The selected item information can be transmitted to the delivery person terminal 300 via the communication unit 402 of the management device 400.

[0376] Next, the process proceeds to step S136, where the information providing unit 316 of the collection / delivery terminal 300 provides the item information to the delivery person. That is, the item information is provided to the delivery person using the collection / delivery terminal 300. In this manner, the operation illustrated in FIG. 30 is completed.

[0377] As described above, the calculation unit 404 of the management device 400 is provided with a malfunction information acquisition unit 466. The malfunction information acquisition unit 466 acquires malfunction information. The malfunction information is information related to a malfunction of a mobile object used by a delivery person. The malfunction information is appropriately transmitted to the management device 400 by the delivery person using the delivery person terminal 300.

[0378] The provided information selection unit 462 selects item information (repair item information) based on the malfunction information, the delivery person location information, and item location information (repair item location information). Repair item information is information indicating a repair item. A repair item is an item that can be used by a delivery person to repair a mobile object. Repair item location information is information indicating a location where a repair item is provided. A repair item may be provided as equipment in a battery station 12, for example. The repair item location information may indicate the location of the battery station 12 where the repair item is provided.

[0379] The provided information selection unit 462 selects, for example, repair product information indicating repair products located within a predetermined range from the delivery / collection company location.

[0380] The repair product information selected by the provided information selection unit 462 and repair product location information indicating the location of the repair product related to the repair product information can be transmitted to the delivery person terminal 300 via the communication unit 402. This allows the information providing unit 316 of the delivery person terminal 300 to provide the delivery person with the repair product information corresponding to the malfunction information. In other words, the management system 16 can encourage the delivery person to use a repair product corresponding to the malfunction state of the mobile object.

[0381] Fig. 31 is a flow chart showing an example of the operation of the management system, in which repair product information according to the breakdown state of a mobile object is provided to a delivery person.

[0382] In step S137, the malfunction information acquisition unit 466 of the management device 400 acquires the malfunction information. As described above, the malfunction information is information relating to a malfunction of a mobile object used by a delivery person.

[0383] Next, the process proceeds to step S138, where the provision information selection unit 462 of the management device 400 selects repair product information based on the malfunction information. As described above, the repair product information is information indicating repair products that are items that can be used by the delivery person. The selected repair product information can be transmitted to the delivery person terminal 300 via the communication unit 402 of the management device 400.

[0384] Next, the process proceeds to step S139, where the information providing unit 316 of the collection / delivery terminal 300 provides the repair product information to the delivery person. That is, the repair product information is provided to the delivery person using the collection / delivery terminal 300. In this manner, the operation illustrated in FIG. 31 is completed.

[0385] As described above, the management system 16 can support the activities of delivery personnel.

[0386] As described above, the user terminal 200 is provided with an operation unit 202. The user may use the operation unit 202 to notify the management device 400 that the user wishes to give a discretionary reward to the delivery person. The discretionary reward is a reward that the user may give to the delivery person at his / her discretion for the collection and delivery of the mobile battery 100. The discretionary reward may be a consumable item. As described above, the consumable item is, for example, a beverage that the delivery person may drink during a break, but is not limited to this. The user may wish to give a discretionary reward to, for example, a delivery person who has provided good service to the user.

[0387] When a user notifies a collector / deliverer using the user terminal 200 that the user wishes to give a voluntary reward, the control unit 408 of the management device 400 may transmit voluntary reward information corresponding to the content of the notification to the collector / deliverer terminal 300. The voluntary reward information is information related to the voluntary reward. The voluntary reward information indicates, for example, consumables that the user wishes to give to the collector / deliverer, but is not limited to this.

[0388] The information providing unit 316 of the collector / deliver terminal 300 that has received the optional reward information can provide the optional reward information to the collector / deliver. This allows the collector / deliver to know that a optional reward will be given to the collector / deliver. As a result, the motivation of the collector / deliver can be increased.

[0389] As described above, in the sharing system 10, the person who uses the mobile battery 100 is the user, and the person who collects and delivers the mobile battery 100 to the user is the delivery person.

[0390] However, there are cases where collection and delivery of the mobile battery 100 can be carried out more rationally if the user delivers the mobile battery 100 rather than having a collection and delivery person deliver the mobile battery 100.

[0391] Based on this, the information generating unit 418 provided in the management device 400 generates delivery request information for requesting a user to deliver the mobile battery 100. For example, when the number of users in a specified area reaches or exceeds a predetermined user number threshold, the information generating unit 418 generates delivery request information for requesting a user to deliver the mobile battery 100 to the specified area.

[0392] The determination of whether the number of users in the predetermined area is equal to or greater than the user number threshold may be performed by the calculation unit 404 (e.g., the control unit 408). The number of users in the predetermined area may be acquired based on user position information, for example. The user position information may be acquired by the position information acquisition unit 412.

[0393] The information generating unit 418 may include information indicating the location of the battery station 12 in the delivery request information. In this case, the battery station 12 is a battery station 12 in which the mobile batteries 100 that can be delivered within a specified area are arranged. The information generating unit 418 may also include information indicating, for example, the location of the delivery destination in the delivery request information. That is, the information generating unit 418 may include information indicating the location of the specified area in the delivery request information. Furthermore, the information generating unit 418 may include information indicating the number of mobile batteries 100 to be delivered to the delivery destination in the delivery request information.

[0394] As described above, the management device 400 is provided with a delivery request information distribution unit 478. When the number of users in a predetermined area becomes equal to or greater than the user number threshold, the delivery request information distribution unit 478 distributes the delivery request information to the user terminal 200 via the communication unit 402. The delivery target of the delivery request information may include at least the user terminal 200 held by a user located within a predetermined distance from the battery station 12 in which the mobile battery 100 that can be delivered to the predetermined area is located. A plurality of user terminals 200 may receive the delivery request information.

[0395] The information providing unit 216 provided in the user terminal 200 that has received the delivery request information can provide the delivery request information to the user. This allows the management system 16 to request the user to deliver the mobile battery 100 to a specified area.

[0396] As described above, the delivery request information may include information indicating the battery station 12. The delivery request information may also include information indicating the location of the delivery destination. Furthermore, the delivery request information may also include information indicating the number of mobile batteries 100 that need to be delivered to the delivery destination. Taking into account this information included in the delivery request information, the user may consider whether or not to accept the delivery request.

[0397] A user who wishes to accept the delivery request related to the delivery request information may use the user terminal 200 to respond to the management device 400 that the user can accept the delivery request. The management device 400 may formally request the delivery of the mobile battery 100 to the user who has responded that he or she can accept the delivery request related to the delivery request information.

[0398] Fig. 32 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system. Fig. 32 shows an example of a case where a user is requested to deliver the mobile battery 100.

[0399] In step S141, the location information acquisition unit 412 of the management device 400 acquires user location information.

[0400] Next, the process proceeds to step S142, where the control unit 408 of the management device 400 determines whether the number of users in the predetermined area is equal to or greater than the user number threshold. The number of users in the predetermined area can be determined, for example, based on user position information. If the number of users in the predetermined area is equal to or greater than the user number threshold, step S143 is started. If the number of users in the predetermined area is less than the user number threshold, the operation of FIG. 32 ends.

[0401] In step S143, the information generating unit 418 of the management device 400 generates delivery request information.

[0402] Next, the process proceeds to step S144, where the delivery request information distribution unit 478 of the management device 400 distributes the delivery request information to the user terminal 200. The delivery request information distribution unit 478 distributes the delivery request information to the mobile terminal 200 held by the user located within a predetermined distance from the battery station 12 in which the mobile battery 100 that can be delivered within a predetermined area is located. In this way, the operation illustrated in FIG. 32 is completed.

[0403] The determination in step S142 may be made based on the future user position predicted by the future position prediction unit 414. position The number of users in a given area may be determined based on the above.

[0404] A user may possess a mobile device. The mobile device may be connected to the mobile battery 100. A user may possess a plurality of mobile devices. That is, the number of users located within a predetermined range does not necessarily match the number of mobile devices possessed by the users located within the predetermined range. In light of this, in step S142, the control unit 408 may determine whether or not the number of mobile devices possessed by the users within the predetermined range is equal to or greater than a predetermined device number threshold. That is, in step S142, the control unit 408 may determine at least one of whether or not the number of users within the predetermined range is equal to or greater than a predetermined user number threshold and whether or not the number of mobile devices within the predetermined range is equal to or greater than a predetermined device number threshold.

[0405] In this case, in step S141, the location information acquisition unit 412 acquires mobile device location information indicating the location of the mobile device as necessary. For example, when the user possesses a mobile device other than the user terminal 200, the location information acquisition unit 412 acquires the mobile device location information separately from the information indicating the location of the user terminal 200 (user location information). For example, the location information acquisition unit 412 can track the location of the mobile device by the user (user terminal 200) providing the identification information of the mobile device to the management device 400 in advance. In this way, the location information acquisition unit 412 can acquire the mobile device location information. The storage unit 406 can store the user identification information and the identification information of the mobile device possessed by the user in association with each other.

[0406] In step S144, the delivery request information distribution unit 478 distributes the delivery request information to the user terminal 200 located within a predetermined distance from the battery station 12. A user located within the predetermined distance from the battery station 12 has a smaller burden to reach the battery station 12 than a user located outside the predetermined distance from the battery station 12. In other words, the management system 16 can request delivery of the mobile battery 100 to a user who has a relatively small burden to reach the battery station 12.

[0407] In step S144, the delivery request information distribution unit 478 may select a user (user terminal 200) to which the delivery request information is to be distributed based on the user's action plan. In this case, the delivery request information distribution unit 478 selects, for example, a user who is located within a predetermined distance from the battery station 12 and is scheduled to pass through the battery station 12. This can suppress the influence of the request for the mobile battery 100 to the user on the action plan of the user. It is more preferable that the delivery request information distribution unit 478 selects a user who is located within a predetermined distance from the battery station 12 and is scheduled to go to a predetermined area via the battery station 12. This can further suppress the influence of the request for the mobile battery 100 to the user on the action plan of the user. In this case, the information indicating the user's action plan may be transmitted in advance to the management device 400 via the user terminal 200 by the user who is willing to receive the delivery request for the mobile battery 100, but is not limited thereto.

[0408] As described above, according to this embodiment, the management system 16 can request a certain user to deliver the mobile battery 100. As a result, even if it is difficult for a delivery person to deliver the mobile battery 100, the mobile battery 100 can be delivered by the user.

[0409] The delivery request information may be delivered to the user terminal 200 regardless of whether a delivery request to the specified area has actually been made or not. This allows a user who needs the mobile battery 100 after the mobile battery 100 has been delivered to the specified area to use the mobile battery 100 that has already been delivered to the specified area.

[0410] As described above, the mobile battery 100 may be stored in a facility 20 such as a battery holder. In light of this, for example, a battery holder for storing the mobile battery 100 that can be delivered within a predetermined range may be installed in advance at a location where a person heading within a predetermined range is estimated to pass through. This allows, for example, a user heading within the predetermined range to collect the mobile battery 100 stored in the battery holder and deliver the mobile battery 100 to another user within the predetermined range. This point will be described in more detail below.

[0411] As described above, the management device 400 (the calculation unit 404) includes the people flow data acquisition unit 480, the holder position determination unit 482, and the delivery destination information provision unit 484.

[0412] The people flow data acquisition unit 480 acquires people flow data. The people flow data is data acquired based on the movement of people. The people flow data acquisition unit 480 may acquire people flow data provided by a business that provides people flow data, but is not limited to this. The people flow data acquisition unit 480 may grasp people flow based on, for example, user location information. In addition, the people flow data acquisition unit 480 may grasp people flow based on, for example, delivery person location information.

[0413] The holder position determination unit 482 detects a flow of people reaching a predetermined area based on the people flow data acquired by the people flow data acquisition unit 480. This flow of people is, for example, a flow of people along a road that reaches within a predetermined range. If there are multiple roads that reach within the predetermined range, multiple flows of people reaching within the predetermined range may occur.

[0414] The holder position determination unit 482 determines the installation position of the battery holder according to the flow of people. It is preferable that the flow of people considered for determining the installation position of the battery holder is limited to a certain degree. For example, the flow of people located within a range of a predetermined distance from a predetermined area may be considered when determining the installation position of the battery holder. Since the flow of people considered when determining the installation position of the battery holder is limited to a certain degree, the processing load when the holder position determination unit 482 determines the installation position of the battery holder may be suppressed.

[0415] Fig. 33 is a diagram illustrating a flow of people HF reaching a predetermined area and an installation position P20 of a battery holder. A map MP and a plurality of flows of people HF (HF1 to HF3) are shown in Fig. 33. The hatched portion is the predetermined area.

[0416] The holder position determination unit 482 may determine the installation position P20 of the battery holder according to the people flow HF. More specifically, the holder position determination unit 482 may determine a plurality of installation positions P20 of the battery holder according to the people flow HF. For example, the holder position determination unit 482 may determine the installation positions P20 of the battery holder on the passage paths of the plurality of people flows HF illustrated in FIG. 33. In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 33, the holder position determination unit 482 may determine the installation positions P20 of the battery holder on the passage path of the people flow HF1, on the passage path of the people flow HF2, on the passage path of the people flow HF3, and on the passage path of the people flow HF4. 1+HF2 The holder position determination unit 482 may determine a plurality of installation positions P20 on a passage path of one people flow HF.

[0417] However, in consideration of the burden on the worker who installs the mobile battery 100 at the installation position P20 described later, it is preferable that the number of installation positions P20 determined by the holder position determination unit 482 is the minimum necessary. In light of this, the installation position P20 of the battery holder may be determined according to multiple pedestrian flows HF that reach multiple predetermined areas. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 33, the pedestrian flows HF1 and HF2 merge before reaching the predetermined area. In this case, the holder position determination unit 482 may determine the location where the pedestrian flows HF1 and HF2 reach after merging with each other as the installation position P20C of the battery holder. In this case, the holder position determination unit 482 may omit the installation position P20A located on a route where only the pedestrian flow HF1 passes and the installation position P20B located on a route where only the pedestrian flow HF2 passes.

[0418] In this way, the number of installation positions P20 can be reduced. The holder position determination unit 482 may determine, as the installation position P20 of the battery holder, a location through which a pedestrian flow HF including people equal to or greater than a predetermined pedestrian flow number threshold passes among a plurality of pedestrian flows HF reaching within a predetermined range. The holder position determination unit 482 may also determine, as the installation position P20 of the battery holder, a location through which a pedestrian flow HF including the largest number of people passes among a plurality of pedestrian flows HF reaching within a predetermined range. In these cases as well, the number of installation positions P20 can be reduced.

[0419] The installation position P20 of the battery holder determined by the holder position determination unit 482 is notified to, for example, a terminal (not shown) owned by an operating company that operates the sharing system 10. This allows the operating company to perform the work of installing the battery holder at the installation position P20 determined by the holder position determination unit 482.

[0420] The battery holder installed at the installation position P20 determined by the holder position determination unit 482 may be provided with a display unit (display) (not shown), but is not limited to this. The significance of providing the battery holder with a display unit will be described later.

[0421] The battery holder installed at the installation position P20 determined by the holder position determination unit 482 accommodates the mobile battery 100 that can be delivered within a predetermined range. The task of accommodating the mobile battery 100 in the battery holder can be performed, for example, when the battery holder is installed, but is not limited to this.

[0422] The delivery destination information providing unit 484 provides delivery destination information to the battery holder. The delivery destination information is information indicating the delivery destination (predetermined area) of the mobile battery 100 housed in the battery holder. This allows the battery holder to display the delivery destination of the mobile battery 100 on a display unit (not shown) provided on the battery holder. Therefore, people included in the people flow HF passing through the installation position P20 can easily confirm the delivery destination of the mobile battery 100.

[0423] In this way, the mobile battery 100 housed in the battery holder can be collected by a person heading within a specified range, and can also be delivered to a destination.

[0424] Incidentally, the mobile battery 100 may be charged before being placed in the battery station 12. Charging of the mobile battery 100 may be performed, for example, at a power generation facility 22 (see also FIG. 1 ), but is not limited to this. The power generation facility 22 is equipped with power generation equipment for generating power using, for example, renewable energy. More specifically, the power generation facility 22 may perform, for example, solar power generation, vibration power generation, etc. The power generation facility 22 may be appropriately installed in the city. The mobile battery 100 may be charged using the power obtained by the power generation facility 22.

[0425] The mobile battery 100 charged at the power generation facility 22 is placed in the battery station 12 and can be used by a user visiting the battery station 12. The mobile battery 100 charged at the power generation facility 22 is collected, for example, by a delivery person. The mobile battery 100 collected by the delivery person is transported to the battery station 12 by the delivery person.

[0426] However, there are cases where it is reasonable for the mobile battery 100 charged by the power generation facility 22 to be collected by a user and transported to the battery station 12 by the user. In order to rationally deliver the mobile battery 100 charged by the power generation facility 22, the management system 16 may be configured as follows. As described above, the management device 400 is provided with a charging status information acquisition unit 468 and a collection request information distribution unit 470.

[0427] The charging status information acquisition unit 468 acquires charging status information. The charging status information is information indicating the status of charging in the power generation facility 22 that can generate power and charge the mobile battery 100. The charging status information is, for example, information indicating whether charging of the mobile battery 100 is complete or not. mosquito The charging status information may be provided to the management device 400 from the power generation facility 22 as appropriate.

[0428] The information generating unit 418 generates collection request information based on the charging status information acquired by the charging status information acquiring unit 468. The collection request information is information for requesting a user to collect the mobile battery 100 from the power generation facility 22. For example, the information generating unit 418 generates collection request information when the charging status information indicates that charging of all the mobile batteries 100 arranged at the power generation facility 22 has been completed.

[0429] The information generating unit 418 may include, in the collection request information, information indicating the position of the power generation facility 22. The information generating unit 418 may also include, in the collection request information, information indicating the number of mobile batteries 100 to be collected from the power generation facility 22.

[0430] The collection request information distribution unit 470 distributes the collection request information to the user terminal 200 via the communication unit 402. In this case, the collection request information may be distributed to at least the user terminal 200 located within a predetermined distance from the power generation facility 22. A plurality of user terminals 200 may receive the collection request information.

[0431] The information providing unit 216 provided in the user terminal 200 that has received the collection request information can provide the collection request information to the user. This allows the management system 16 to request the user to collect the mobile battery 100 from the power generation facility 22.

[0432] As described above, the collection request information may include information indicating the power generation facility 22. The collection request information may also include information indicating the number of mobile batteries 100 to be collected. Taking into consideration the information included in the collection request information, the user may consider whether or not to accept the collection request.

[0433] A user who wishes to accept the collection request related to the collection request information may use the user terminal 200 to respond to the management device 400 that the user can accept the collection request. The management device 400 may formally request the collection of the mobile battery 100 to the user who has responded that he or she can accept the collection request related to the collection request information.

[0434] Fig. 34 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system. Fig. 34 shows an example of the operation of the management system regarding a request for collection of the mobile battery 100 from a user.

[0435] In step S151, the position information acquisition unit 412 of the management device 400 acquires user position information. In step S152, the charging status information acquisition unit 468 of the management device 400 acquires charging status information.

[0436] Next, the process proceeds to step S153, where the information generating unit 418 of the management device 400 generates collection request information based on the charging status information.

[0437] Next, the process proceeds to step S154, where the collection request information distribution unit 470 of the management device 400 distributes the collection request information to the user terminal 200. The collection request information distribution unit 470 distributes the collection request information to the user terminal 200 (user) located within a predetermined distance from the power generation facility 22. In this manner, the operation of FIG. 34 is completed.

[0438] In step S154, the collection request information distribution unit 470 distributes collection request information to the user terminal 200 located within a predetermined distance from the power generation facility 22. A user located within the predetermined distance from the power generation facility 22 has a smaller burden to reach the power generation facility 22 than a user located outside the predetermined distance from the power generation facility 22. In other words, the management system 16 can request collection of the mobile battery 100 from a user who has a relatively small burden to reach the power generation facility 22.

[0439] In step S154, the collection request information distribution unit 470 may select a user (user terminal 200) to which collection request information is to be distributed based on the user's action plan. In this case, the collection request information distribution unit 470 selects, for example, a user who is located within a predetermined distance from the power generation facility 22 and is scheduled to pass through the power generation facility 22. This can suppress the influence of the request for the mobile battery 100 to the user on the action plan of the user. It is more preferable that the collection request information distribution unit 470 selects a user who is located within a predetermined distance from the power generation facility 22 and is scheduled to pass through the power generation facility 22 and enter a predetermined area. This can further suppress the influence of the request for the mobile battery 100 to the user on the action plan of the user. In this case, information indicating the user's action plan can be transmitted in advance to the management device 400 via the user terminal 200 by, for example, a user who is willing to receive a collection request for the mobile battery 100.

[0440] The information generating unit 418 may generate delivery request information for requesting a user to deliver the mobile battery 100 collected from the power generation facility 22 to the battery station 12. In this case, the delivery request information may include information indicating the location of the battery station 12 to which the mobile battery 100 is to be delivered. The delivery request information may be transmitted to the user terminal 200 by the delivery request information transmitting unit 478. In this case, the delivery request information transmitting unit 478 may transmit the delivery request information to the user terminal 200 of the user who accepted the collection request.

[0441] The information generating unit 418 may determine the battery station 12 to which the mobile battery 100 collected by the user is to be delivered based on the user's action plan. For example, the information generating unit 418 may identify the battery station 12 through which the user is scheduled to pass based on the user's action plan, and may set the identified battery station 12 as the delivery destination. This may reduce the impact of a request for the mobile battery 100 from the user on the user's action plan.

[0442] As described above, according to this embodiment, the management system 16 can request the user to collect the mobile battery 100. As a result, even if it is difficult for a delivery person to collect the mobile battery 100 from the power generation facility 22, the mobile battery 100 can be collected by the user.

[0443] However, there may be cases where the demand for using the mobile battery 100 increases around an out-of-operation battery station 12. In such a case, the out-of-operation battery station 12 can be operated to provide convenience to users and delivery personnel. To provide convenience to delivery personnel, the management system 16 may be configured as follows. As described above, the management device 400 includes a usage demand information acquisition unit 472 and an operation instruction notification unit 474.

[0444] The usage demand information acquisition unit 472 acquires usage demand information. The usage demand information is information indicating the usage demand of the mobile battery 100.

[0445] The usage demand information acquisition unit 472 may acquire usage demand information indicating the usage demand of the mobile battery 100 within a predetermined range from the battery station 12, for example, based on the number of users within a predetermined range from the battery station 12. That is, the more users located around the battery station 12, the higher the usage demand of the mobile battery 100 around the battery station 12. The usage demand information acquisition unit 472 may grasp the number of users within a predetermined range from the battery station 12 based on the user positions. As described above, the user position information indicating the user positions may be acquired by the position information acquisition unit 412. The usage demand information acquisition unit 472 may grasp the number of users within a predetermined range from the battery station 12 based on the future user positions. As described above, the future user positions may be predicted by the future position prediction unit 414.

[0446] The operation instruction notification unit 474 issues an operation instruction notification based on the usage demand information. The operation instruction notification is a notification for instructing the operation of the battery station 12. For example, the operation instruction notification unit 474 determines whether or not the number of users within a predetermined range from the battery station 12 is equal to or greater than a predetermined user number threshold. When the number of users within a predetermined range from the battery station 12 is equal to or greater than the predetermined user number threshold, the operation instruction notification unit 474 issues an operation instruction notification to the battery station 12. The operation instruction notification can be issued using, for example, a message, an image, a sound, or the like.

[0447] The operation instruction notification may be sent to a predetermined communication terminal via a predetermined communication line. The communication terminal may be, for example, a personal computer or a telephone provided in the battery station 12, but is not limited to these. The communication terminal may be a portable mobile terminal carried by an administrator who manages the battery station 12.

[0448] By sending an operation instruction notification to a battery station 12 that is not in operation, the battery station 12 may start operation. By a battery station 12 starting operation in an area where the demand for use is high, the convenience of users may be improved. For example, a user may visit a battery station 12 that has started operation and borrow a mobile battery 100.

[0449] The information indicating whether the battery station 12 is operating can be appropriately collected by the control unit 408 of the management device 400 via the communication unit 402, and can be appropriately stored in the storage unit 406. Furthermore, the transmission of an operation instruction notification to the operating battery station 12 can be omitted.

[0450] Fig. 35 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system 16. Fig. 35 shows an example of the case where an operation instruction is given to the battery station 12.

[0451] In step S161, the usage demand information acquisition unit 472 of the management device 400 acquires usage demand information indicating the usage demand of the mobile battery 100 within a predetermined range from the battery station 12. As described above, the usage demand information indicating the usage demand of the mobile battery 100 within a predetermined range from the battery station 12 can be acquired based on the number of users within the predetermined range from the battery station 12. In order for the usage demand information acquisition unit 472 to grasp the number of users, the location information acquisition unit 412 can appropriately acquire user location information in step S161.

[0452] Next, the process proceeds to step S162, where the operation instruction notification unit 474 of the management device 400 determines whether or not to issue an operation instruction notification. This determination may be made based on whether or not the demand for use of the mobile battery 100 within a predetermined range from the battery station 12 has increased to a certain extent. Specifically, the operation instruction notification unit 474 may determine to issue an operation instruction notification when, for example, the number of users within a predetermined range from the battery station 12 is equal to or greater than the user number threshold.

[0453] When it is determined in step S162 that the operation instruction notification is to be issued, the process proceeds to step S163, where the operation instruction notification unit 474 issues the operation instruction notification. When step S163 is completed or it is determined in step S162 that the operation instruction notification is not to be issued, the operation in FIG. 35 ends.

[0454] In step S161, the usage demand information acquisition unit 472 may acquire usage demand information based on the number of mobile devices within a predetermined range from the battery station 12. In this case, in step S161, the position information acquisition unit 412 appropriately acquires mobile device position information indicating the positions of mobile devices located within a predetermined range from the battery station 12. In this way, the usage demand information acquisition unit 472 can grasp the number of mobile devices within the predetermined range from the battery station 12.

[0455] In this case, the operation instruction notifying unit 474 may determine in step S162 whether the number of mobile devices within a predetermined range from the battery station 12 is equal to or greater than a predetermined mobile device number threshold. In such a case, if the number of mobile devices within a predetermined range from the battery station 12 is equal to or greater than the mobile device number threshold, step S163 may be started. Step S163 may be started if the number of future mobile devices within a predetermined range from the battery station 12 is equal to or greater than the mobile device number threshold. The future mobile devices may be predicted by the future position predicting unit 414 based on the user's action plan. That is, since the mobile devices are owned by the user, they necessarily move together with the user. Therefore, the future positions of the mobile devices owned by the user may be predicted based on the user's action plan.

[0456] In addition, in an area where there are many delivery persons, the demand for the use of the mobile battery 100 may be high. Therefore, the usage demand information acquisition unit 472 may acquire usage demand information based on the number of delivery persons within a predetermined range from the battery station 12 in step S161. In this case, in step S161, the position information acquisition unit 412 appropriately acquires delivery person position information indicating the position of the delivery person located within a predetermined range from the battery station 12. In this way, the usage demand information acquisition unit 472 can grasp the number of delivery persons within a predetermined range from the battery station 12. The usage demand information acquisition unit 472 may grasp the number of delivery persons within a predetermined range from the battery station 12 using the future delivery person position. The future delivery person position can be predicted by the future position prediction unit 414.

[0457] In step S162, the operation instruction notification unit 474 may determine whether the number of delivery persons within a predetermined range from the battery station 12 is equal to or greater than a predetermined delivery person number threshold. In this case, if the number of delivery persons within the predetermined range from the battery station 12 is equal to or greater than the delivery person number threshold, step S163 is started. Step S163 may also be started if the number of future delivery persons within the predetermined range from the battery station 12 is equal to or greater than the delivery person number threshold.

[0458] In step S161, the usage demand information acquisition unit 472 may acquire usage demand information based on the collection and delivery history of the mobile battery 100. As described above, the collection and delivery history of the mobile battery 100 may be stored in the storage unit 406. The collection and delivery history indicates the results of collection and delivery of the mobile battery 100 to the user. The usage demand information may be acquired based on the collection and delivery results performed within a specified area from the battery station 12.

[0459] As described above, the management system 16 of the present embodiment can manage the battery station 12 according to the usage demand of the mobile battery 100. This can provide convenience to users and delivery personnel.

[0460] Incidentally, one aspect of the battery station 12 may be a mobile station 24 (see FIG. 1). The mobile station 24 is a mobile battery station 12. The battery station 12 itself may move, which may provide convenience to a user who wishes to use the battery station 12.

[0461] The mobile station 24 may be provided with a mobile body 26 and a battery holder 28 (see also FIG. 1). The mobile body 26 is, for example, but not limited to, a vehicle such as a bicycle. The battery holder 28 holds a plurality of mobile batteries 100. The battery holder 28 may be provided with a charger for charging the mobile battery 100. The battery holder 28 has, for example, but not limited to, a box shape capable of storing a plurality of mobile batteries 100.

[0462] Regarding charging the mobile battery 100, the mobile station 24 may be provided with a generator (not shown) that generates power to charge the mobile battery 100. The generator generates power using, for example, the rotational force of the wheels of a vehicle that is the mobile body 26, but is not limited to this.

[0463] The mobile station 24 may further include a communicator 30. The communicator 30 performs communication via the network NW. The communicator 30 may include a positioning sensor such as a GNSS sensor. This allows the communicator 30 to obtain mobile station position information indicating the position of the mobile station 24. The communicator 30 may also transmit the mobile station position information to the management device 400 as appropriate. The mobile station position information transmitted to the management device 400 may be obtained by the position information acquisition unit 412. In FIG. 1, the communicator 30 is provided in the battery holder 28, but is not limited thereto.

[0464] The mobile station 24 can operate as the battery station 12 while moving. However, it is not preferable for the mobile station 24 to move randomly in an area where the demand for the mobile battery 100 is low. In this regard, as described above, the management device 400 is provided with the operating location notification unit 476.

[0465] The operation location notification unit 476 notifies the mobile station 24 of the operation location of the mobile station 24 based on the usage demand information indicating the usage demand of the mobile battery 100. More specifically, for example, the operation location notification unit 476 notifies the communication terminal carried by the staff member managing the mobile station 24 of the operation location information indicating the operation location of the mobile station 24. As a result, the operation location information can be displayed on the display screen provided on the communication terminal carried by the staff member. In the following description, the notification is also referred to as an operation location notification.

[0466] The usage demand information can be acquired by the usage demand information acquisition unit 472. When the operation location notification unit 476 is made to notify the operation location, the usage demand information acquisition unit 472 acquires usage demand information indicating the usage demand of the mobile battery 100 within a predetermined range. The predetermined range in this case is, for example, a range based on a point that is predetermined as a candidate for the installation location. However, the usage demand information acquisition unit 472 may also acquire usage demand information indicating the usage demand of the mobile battery 100 within a predetermined range from the position (current position) of the mobile station 24.

[0467] The operation location information may indicate a point where the mobile station 24 is stopped, or may indicate a movement range of the mobile station 24. When the operation location information indicates a point, the mobile station 24 may stop moving at the point and operate as a battery station 12. When the operation location information indicates a movement range, the movement of the mobile station 24 may be limited within the movement range. The movement range may be the same as or different from the predetermined range used by the usage demand information acquisition unit 472 to acquire the usage demand information.

[0468] As described above, the usage demand information acquisition unit 472 may acquire usage demand information based on the number of users, the number of delivery persons, the number of mobile devices, etc. within a predetermined range. In order to have the usage demand information acquisition unit 472 generate usage demand information, the location information acquisition unit 412 may appropriately acquire user location information, delivery person location information, and mobile device location information.

[0469] The usage demand information acquisition unit 472 may ascertain the number of future users within a predetermined range based on future user positions. The usage demand information acquisition unit 472 may ascertain the number of future delivery persons within a predetermined range based on future delivery person positions. The usage demand information acquisition unit 472 may ascertain the number of future mobile devices within a predetermined range based on future positions of the mobile devices. As described above, the future positions of the users, delivery persons, and mobile devices can be predicted by the future position prediction unit 414.

[0470] When the number of users within a predetermined range is equal to or greater than a predetermined user number threshold, the operation location notification unit 476 may notify a reference point within the predetermined range as an operation location. As described above, the reference point is a candidate installation location or the location of the mobile station 24. Note that the user number threshold used by the operation location notification unit 476 and the user number threshold used by the operation instruction notification unit 474 described above may be different.

[0471] When the number of mobile devices within a predetermined range is equal to or greater than a predetermined mobile device number threshold, the operation location notification unit 476 may notify the reference location as the operation location. The mobile device number threshold used by the operation location notification unit 476 and the mobile device number threshold used by the operation instruction notification unit 474 may be different.

[0472] When the number of delivery personnel within a predetermined range is equal to or greater than a predetermined delivery personnel number threshold, the operation location notification unit 476 may notify the reference point as the operation location. The delivery personnel number threshold used by the operation location notification unit 476 and the delivery personnel number threshold used by the operation instruction notification unit 474 may be different.

[0473] The mobile station 24 can be used by a user in the vicinity of the work location notified by the work location notifying unit 476 by moving to the work location notified by the work location notifying unit 476. That is, the mobile station 24 can be used by a user in the vicinity of the work location by operating at the work location notified by the work location notifying unit 476. As described above, the mobile station 24 is movable, and therefore can easily move to the work location notified by the work location notifying unit 476.

[0474] Fig. 36 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the management system 16. Fig. 36 shows an example of the operation of the management system 16 with respect to notifying the mobile station 24 of the operating location.

[0475] In step S171, the usage demand information acquisition unit 472 of the management device 400 acquires usage demand information indicating the usage demand of the mobile battery 100 within a predetermined range. As described above, the usage demand information indicating the usage demand of the mobile battery 100 within a predetermined range can be acquired based on the number of users within the predetermined range. In order for the usage demand information acquisition unit 472 to grasp the number of users, the location information acquisition unit 412 can appropriately acquire user location information in step S171.

[0476] Next, the process proceeds to step S172, where the operation location notification unit 476 of the management device 400 determines whether to perform operation location notification. This determination may be made based on whether the demand for use of the mobile battery 100 within a predetermined range has increased to a certain extent. Specifically, the operation location notification unit 476 may determine to perform operation location notification when, for example, the number of users within the predetermined range is equal to or greater than the user number threshold.

[0477] If it is determined in step S172 that the working location is to be notified, the process proceeds to step S173, in which the working location notifying unit 476 notifies the working location to the mobile station 24. When step S173 is completed or it is determined in step S172 that the working location is not to be notified, the operation in FIG. 36 ends.

[0478] The usage demand information acquisition unit 472 may acquire usage demand information based on the number of mobile devices within a predetermined range in step S171. In this case, the operation location notification unit 476 may determine whether the number of mobile devices within the predetermined range is equal to or greater than a predetermined mobile device number threshold in step S172. In such a case, if the number of mobile devices within the predetermined range is equal to or greater than the mobile device number threshold, step S173 may be started. Step S173 may also be started if the number of future mobile devices within the predetermined range is equal to or greater than the mobile device number threshold.

[0479] Furthermore, the usage demand information acquisition unit 472 may acquire usage demand information based on the number of delivery persons within a predetermined range in step S171. In this case, in step S171, the position information acquisition unit 412 appropriately acquires delivery person position information indicating the positions of delivery persons located within the predetermined range. This allows the usage demand information acquisition unit 472 to know the number of delivery persons within the predetermined range. The usage demand information acquisition unit 472 may use the future delivery person positions to know the number of delivery persons within the predetermined range.

[0480] In step S172, the operation location notification unit 476 may determine whether the number of delivery personnel within the predetermined range is equal to or greater than a predetermined delivery personnel number threshold. In this case, if the number of delivery personnel within the predetermined range is equal to or greater than the delivery personnel number threshold, step S173 is started. Step S173 may also be started if the number of future delivery personnel within the predetermined range is equal to or greater than the delivery personnel number threshold.

[0481] In step S171, the usage demand information acquisition unit 472 may acquire usage demand information based on the collection and delivery history of the mobile battery 100. As described above, the collection and delivery history of the mobile battery 100 may be stored in the storage unit 406. The collection and delivery history indicates the results of collection and delivery of the mobile battery 100 to the user. The usage demand information may be acquired based on the collection and delivery results performed within a specified area.

[0482] As described above, the management system 16 can manage the mobile station 24, which is the mobile battery station 12. The management system 16 can instruct the mobile battery 100 to operate in a place where there is a high demand for use. This can be convenient for users.

[0483] [Variations] Modifications of the above embodiment are described below. However, descriptions that overlap with the above embodiment are omitted as appropriate in the following description. Elements that have already been described in the above embodiment are given the same reference numerals as in the above embodiment unless otherwise specified.

[0484] (Variation 1) FIG. 37 is a block diagram showing a user terminal 200 (user terminal 2001) according to the first modification.

[0485] The user terminal 2001 is provided with an information generating unit IGU. The information generating unit IGU can generate at least a part of the various information generated by the information generating unit 418 of the management device 400 in the above embodiment. In this case, at least a part of the functions of the information generating unit 418 can be omitted.

[0486] For example, the information generating unit IGU may generate the above-mentioned delivery person information. As described above, the delivery person information may be generated based on the user position information and the delivery person position information. The information generating unit IGU of the user terminal 2001 may acquire the user position information by the positioning unit 206 of the user terminal 200. The delivery person position information may be supplied from the position information acquiring unit 412 of the management device 400 to the information generating unit IGU via the communication unit 402.

[0487] The information that the information generating unit IGU of the user terminal 2001 can generate is not limited to the delivery person information. For example, the above-mentioned charging spot information may be generated by the information generating unit IGU. In the above embodiment, all of the various information generated by the information generating unit 418 may be generated by the information generating unit IGU of the user terminal 2001. IGU In this case, the information generating unit 418 of the management device 400 may be omitted.

[0488] (Variation 2) FIG. 38 is a block diagram showing a delivery person terminal 300 (delivery person terminal 3002) according to the second modification.

[0489] The delivery / collection terminal 3002 is provided with an information generating unit IGA. The information generating unit IGA can generate at least a part of the various information generated by the information generating unit 418 of the management device 400 in the above embodiment. In this case, at least a part of the functions of the information generating unit 418 can be omitted.

[0490] For example, the information generating unit IGA may generate the above-mentioned user information. As described above, the user information may be generated based on the delivery person location information and the user location information. The information generating unit IGA of the delivery person terminal 3002 may acquire the delivery person location information by the positioning unit 306 of the delivery person terminal 300. The user location information may be supplied to the information generating unit IGA from the location information acquiring unit 412 of the management device 400 via the communication unit 402.

[0491] The information that the information generating unit IGA of the collection / delivery terminal 3002 can generate is not limited to user information. For example, the above-mentioned past demand information may be generated by the information generating unit IGA. All of the various types of information that can be generated by the information generating unit 418 in the above embodiment may be generated by the information generating unit IGA of the collection / delivery terminal 3002. In that case, the information generating unit 418 of the management device 400 may be omitted.

[0492] (Combination of multiple modifications) The above-described multiple modified examples may be combined as appropriate within a range that does not contradict each other.

[0493] [Modified embodiment] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various configurations can be adopted without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0494] The user terminal 200 is not limited to a smartphone. The user terminal 200 may be a tablet terminal or a wearable terminal. Similarly, the delivery / collection terminal 300 is not limited to a smartphone. The delivery / collection terminal 300 may be a tablet terminal or a wearable terminal.

[0495] The notification unit 118 may control the speaker of the lighting unit 104 to emit a sound from the speaker when a user who is to receive the...

Claims

1. A management system for managing the collection of a mobile battery shared by a plurality of users, A management device; a mobile terminal capable of communicating with the management device and carried by the user; A terminal device capable of communicating with the management device and carried by a collector who collects the mobile battery; Equipped with a location information acquisition unit that is provided in the management device and that acquires collector location information that is information indicating a location of the collector; an information generating unit that generates collector information, which is information about the collector who may collect the mobile battery held by the user, based on a user location that is the location of the user and the collector location; an information providing unit provided in the mobile terminal and providing the user with the collector information generated by the information generating unit; Equipped with The collector information includes information about a collector to which the user who owns the mobile battery, for which the collector who will collect the mobile battery has not yet been determined, can request collection of the mobile battery; A management system in which the collector who collects the mobile battery owned by the user is selected by the user who has been provided with the collector information.

2. 2. The management system according to claim 1, A management system, wherein the collector information is information about a collector who is located within a specified range from the user location and is capable of collecting the mobile battery.

3. A management system for managing the collection of a mobile battery shared by a plurality of users, A management device; a mobile terminal capable of communicating with the management device and carried by the user; A terminal device capable of communicating with the management device and carried by a collector who collects the mobile battery; Equipped with a location information acquisition unit that is provided in the management device and that acquires collector location information that is information indicating a location of the collector; an information generating unit that generates collector information, which is information about the collector who may collect the mobile battery held by the user, based on a user location that is the location of the user and the collector location; an information providing unit provided in the mobile terminal and providing the user with the collector information generated by the information generating unit; Equipped with A future position prediction unit that predicts a future position that is the user's position in the future, The information generation unit generates information about the collector based on the future location and the collector location.

4. 4. The management system according to claim 3, The information providing unit further provides the user with information indicating the remaining capacity of a mobile device battery, which is a battery provided in a mobile device that is charged using the mobile battery owned by the user, at the future location.

5. 2. The management system according to claim 1, The location information acquisition unit further acquires information indicating a device location, which is a location of a device to which the mobile battery is connected; the mobile terminal is owned by the user who is an administrator who manages the device; The information generation unit generates information about the collector who can collect the mobile battery connected to the device based on the device location and the collector location, A management system in which the information providing unit provides the administrator with information regarding the collector who may collect the mobile battery connected to the device.

6. 6. The management system according to claim 5, A management system, in which the information regarding the collector who can collect the mobile battery connected to the device is information regarding the collector who is located within a specified range from the device location and can collect the mobile battery.

7. 7. The management system according to claim 6, A battery information acquisition unit that acquires information indicating a remaining capacity of the mobile battery connected to the device, A management system in which the information providing unit further provides the administrator with information regarding the remaining capacity of the mobile battery connected to the device.

8. 2. The management system according to claim 1, The management system further includes a suggestion unit that suggests to the user a handover location for the mobile battery possessed by the user based on the user location and the collector location.

9. A management system for managing the collection of a mobile battery shared by a plurality of users, A management device; a mobile terminal capable of communicating with the management device and carried by the user; A terminal device capable of communicating with the management device and carried by a collector who collects the mobile battery; Equipped with a location information acquisition unit that is provided in the management device and that acquires collector location information that is information indicating a location of the collector; an information generating unit that generates collector information, which is information about the collector who may collect the mobile battery held by the user, based on a user location that is the location of the user and the collector location; an information providing unit provided in the mobile terminal and providing the user with the collector information generated by the information generating unit; Equipped with A suggestion unit that suggests to the user a place to hand over the mobile battery owned by the user based on the user location and the collector location; A future position prediction unit that predicts a future position that is the user's position in the future, The suggestion unit is a management system that suggests to the user a delivery location for the mobile battery owned by the user based on the future location and the collector location.

10. 10. The management system according to claim 8, A management system in which the suggestion unit can further suggest to the user a delivery time for the mobile battery owned by the user.

11. 2. The management system according to claim 1, The management system further includes a suggestion unit that suggests to the user a battery station where the user can hand over the mobile battery owned by the user based on the user's location.

12. A management system for managing the collection of a mobile battery shared by a plurality of users, A management device; a mobile terminal capable of communicating with the management device and carried by the user; A terminal device capable of communicating with the management device and carried by a collector who collects the mobile battery; Equipped with a location information acquisition unit that is provided in the management device and that acquires collector location information that is information indicating a location of the collector; an information generating unit that generates collector information, which is information about the collector who may collect the mobile battery held by the user, based on a user location that is the location of the user and the collector location; an information providing unit provided in the mobile terminal and providing the user with the collector information generated by the information generating unit; Equipped with A suggestion unit that suggests to the user a battery station where the user can hand over the mobile battery owned by the user based on the user location; A future position prediction unit that predicts a future position that is the user's position in the future, The suggestion unit is a management system that suggests to the user the battery station where the user can hand over the mobile battery owned by the user based on the future location.

13. 13. The management system according to claim 11, A management system in which the mobile terminal suggests to the user the battery station at which the user can hand over the mobile battery owned by the user, further based on the operating status of the battery station.

14. 2. The management system according to claim 1, The location information acquisition unit further acquires user location information which is information indicating the user location, The information generating unit is provided in the management device, and generates the collector information based on the user location information and the collector location information.

15. 2. The management system according to claim 1, The information generating unit is provided in the mobile terminal, and generates the collector information based on the user location and the collector location information supplied from the management device.

16. A management device for managing collection of a mobile battery shared by a plurality of users, A location information acquisition unit that acquires user location information that is information indicating a user location that is the location of the user, and collector location information that is information indicating a collector location that is the location of a collector that collects the mobile battery; an information generating unit that generates collector information, which is information about the collector who may collect the mobile battery held by the user, based on the user location information and the collector location information; a communication unit capable of communicating with a mobile terminal carried by the user and with a terminal device carried by the collector; Equipped with The communication unit transmits the collector information generated by the information generation unit to the mobile terminal, The collector information includes information about a collector to which the user who owns the mobile battery, for which the collector who will collect the mobile battery has not yet been determined, can request collection of the mobile battery; A management device in which the collector who collects the mobile battery owned by the user is selected by the user who has been provided with the collector information.

17. A management method for managing collection of a mobile battery shared by a plurality of users, the method being executed by a computer, comprising: Acquiring collector location information which is information indicating a collector location which is a location of a collector who collects the mobile battery; generating collector information, which is information about the collector who may collect the mobile battery held by the user, based on information indicating a user location, which is the location of the user, and the collector location information; a step of providing the collector information to the user by transmitting the collector information to a mobile terminal carried by the user by the computer; having The collector information includes information about a collector to which the user who owns the mobile battery, for which the collector who will collect the mobile battery has not yet been determined, can request collection of the mobile battery; A management method in which the collector who collects the mobile battery owned by the user is selected by the user who has been provided with the collector information.

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