Fare settlement machine and computer program

Abstract

To provide a fare adjustment machine for providing privilege data such as privilege and advertisement using boarding / alighting data of a transportation to a car-sharing user who is a holder of a transportation IC card.SOLUTION: A fare adjustment device includes: member ID receiving means for reading a car sharing ID from a member card; member ID transmitting means for transmitting the received car sharing ID to a server that manages data necessary for operation of a vehicle sharing service; privilege receiving means for receiving privilege data to a member related to the car sharing ID from the server; adjustment amount calculation means for calculating an adjustment amount of a price by using the privilege data; and advertisement data output means for outputting the privilege data to a portable information terminal related to the member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing technology for smoothly implementing travel by train, bus, airplane, etc., and car sharing or rental cars used for travel after getting off at a train or bus station or airport. [Background technology]

[0002] The IC cards issued by railway companies to simplify the payment of railway service fees are called transportation IC cards or transportation electronic money. These transportation IC cards record individual identification information, personal information linked to it, charged amount information, and a minimum (most recent) boarding and alighting record in the built-in IC chip. Past boarding history and deposit and withdrawal information are collected and managed in a dedicated management server using the individual identification information as a key.

[0003] Meanwhile, vehicle sharing services in which a plurality of users share a plurality of vehicles are provided by service management companies and are becoming widespread. Vehicle sharing services include rental car services and car sharing services. Users of car sharing services register as members of the service and then use the reservation system to reserve a car sharing vehicle (a vehicle eligible for the service) in advance using a smartphone or personal computer to inform the service owner of the time period during which they intend to use the vehicle (see Figures 1 and 2).

[0004] As shown in Figure 1, when starting to use a car sharing service, a member card with a member ID written on an internal IC chip is read by the card reader that is installed in the shared car (1). The member ID read by the card reader is checked against the member database in the car sharing server (2, 3). The unlocking determination means then determines whether or not the door should be unlocked (4), and if it is, transmits door unlocking data (5).

[0005] Reservation details data such as the time period of use are sent before using the car sharing service, and when the reservation is completed, reservation completion data is sent in advance from the car sharing server to the car-shared vehicle unit. When the member user completes the reservation, the car-shared vehicle unit often is the only unit that unlocks the door locking means (see Figure 2).

[0006] Preferential services are also becoming more common, offering cheaper prices when you book public transportation such as trains and airplanes and car sharing at the same time than if you booked them separately. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses "technology (vehicle management server) that enables users of car sharing or rental car services to smoothly receive preferential services even if they are not aware of the existence of such services when combining the service with other modes of transportation such as railroads" (see Figures 3 and 4).

[0007] Patent document 2 discloses "technology (vehicle management server) that enables the maintenance and improvement of convenience for users and rational management of preferential services available to those who use car sharing or rental car services when they combine them with other means of transportation such as trains."

[0008] Patent document 3 discloses "technology (service fee settlement terminal) that enables the maintenance and improvement of convenience for users and rational management when users of a parking lot that utilizes available time combine the use of the parking lot with other means of transportation such as trains or shopping."

[0009] Users who have registered as members of a car sharing service (car sharing users) rarely use the vehicles (shared cars) provided by the car sharing service as their sole means of transportation. They also use public transportation such as trains and buses. In other words, the majority of car sharing users are holders of transportation IC cards.

[0010] With the spread of mobile information terminals such as smartphones, there is a growing trend to substitute application software for the services provided by transportation IC cards. In other words, application software that can implement the functions of a transportation IC card is downloaded to a smartphone and the transportation IC ID is entered. Then, it can be used as follows: That is, the short-range communication chip in the smartphone transmits the ID of the transportation IC card to a device that requests it, or the transportation IC card ID is output as a two-dimensional barcode on an LCD screen and read by a two-dimensional barcode reader. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0011] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6473570 [Patent Document 2] JP 2017-199236 A [Patent Document 3] JP 2018-60530 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0012] As mentioned above, not all boarding and alighting records (boarding and alighting data) are written on transportation IC cards, but only the minimum (most recent) boarding and alighting records. This is because the memory capacity of the built-in IC chip is not large. Also, it is thought that users of transportation IC cards do not need to have all boarding and alighting data written on them.

[0013] However, for a car sharing service operator, if there is a service usage history of more transportation facilities, etc., it will be possible to provide information related to various services to member users. For example, it will be possible to transmit data on benefits, such as electronic coupons that also serve as advertisements, not only when parking fees are settled, but also when reserving a car sharing service.

[0014] If transportation service providers could obtain data on the usage history of car sharing users, they would be more likely to be able to provide data that would help promote the use of other services they offer (such as providing transportation) and improve the content of their services.

[0015] The problem that this invention aims to solve is to obtain more service usage history from car sharing users who are holders of transportation IC cards, and to provide them with data such as special offers and advertisements using the obtained boarding and disembarking data. Another object of the present invention is to enable other service providers to obtain car sharing usage history data and provide special benefits, advertisements, and other data using the obtained car sharing usage history data. [Means for solving the problem]

[0016] (First Invention) A first invention relates to a car sharing server for managing members and shared cars in order to operate a vehicle sharing service. A member database that stores attribute data of members who have registered in advance to operate the vehicle sharing service and the transportation IDs related to the transportation IC cards held by the members; A vehicle management database that accumulates data for managing the shared cars provided in the vehicle sharing service; A privilege database that accumulates privilege data to be provided to members and condition data for enjoying privilege contents related to the privilege data; Equipped with. Furthermore, a car share ID receiving means for receiving a car share ID distributed to a member who has completed membership registration from a communication terminal related to the member; a transportation ID transmission means for reading out a transportation ID linked to the car share ID received by the car share ID receiving means from the member database and transmitting the transportation ID to a transportation server that manages various data related to the transportation IC card; a data receiving means for receiving data associated with the transportation ID transmitted by the transportation ID transmitting means from the transportation server; A privilege extracting means for extracting privilege data related to the boarding and alighting data received by the boarding and alighting data receiving means from the privilege database; The car sharing server includes a benefit data transmission unit that transmits the benefit data extracted by the benefit extraction unit to the communication terminal related to the member.

[0017] (Terminology) "Vehicle sharing services" include both car sharing services and rental car services, but require membership registration. A "shared car" is a vehicle owned and rented out by a car sharing service provider and / or a vehicle owned and rented out by a car rental service provider.

[0018] A "transportation IC card" is an IC card with a built-in IC that allows data rewriting, data storage, and contactless short-distance communication and does not require a power source, regardless of whether it includes an electronic money payment function. In addition to "railway cards" issued by railway companies and "airline cards" issued by airlines, it also includes "parking cards" issued by parking management companies and "shopping cards" issued by retail and distribution companies (see Figures 3 and 14). Note that information terminals such as mobile terminals equipped with chips that have the same functions as the above-mentioned IC cards are also included in the "transportation IC card" mentioned here (see Figure 5).

[0019] "Boarding and alighting data" refers to data such as the names of boarding and alighting stations and the times in the case of railway cards, the names of boarding and alighting airports and flight names in the case of airline cards, specific information such as the name of the parking lot and the times of entry and exit in the case of parking cards, and the name of the store where purchases were made and the amount in the case of shopping cards.

[0020] "Benefits, etc." include discounts on car sharing fees, points equivalent to the discount, discounts or free use when using other services, priority reservations, advertisements, etc. (Databases that store data on benefits, etc. are shown in the diagram as the Benefits DB, Advertising DB, etc.). The "means for extracting benefits, etc." determines whether the travel time and travel distance of a vehicle (for example, train, subway, airplane, bus, etc.) related to the administrator of the transportation IC card (in the case of a parking card, parking entry and exit records, etc.) based on the boarding and alighting history in the boarding and alighting data, meets condition data related to the benefit, etc. data, and if it is determined that the condition data meets the condition data, it extracts the benefit, etc. data related to the condition data (see Figure 7).

[0021] The "means for transmitting data such as benefits" is generally a device capable of transmitting data to a mobile communication terminal related to a member in order to operate the vehicle sharing service, but is not limited to this. For example, if the member is using a shared car, it may be a data transmitting device to a communication terminal (such as a multi-function car navigation device) installed in the shared car, or a contactless wireless communication device to a member card indicating that the member is a member of the vehicle sharing service.

[0022] (action) The member database pre-stores attribute data of members who have registered in advance to operate the vehicle sharing service, as well as the transportation ID associated with the transportation IC card held by the member. The vehicle management database continually accumulates data used to manage the shared cars provided through the vehicle sharing service. The privilege data to be provided to the members and condition data for enjoying the privilege contents related to the privilege data are stored in the privilege etc. database as needed.

[0023] A car share ID distributed to a member who has completed membership registration is received by a car share ID receiving means from the member's communication terminal. A transport ID linked to the received car share ID is read from the member database, and a transport ID sending means sends the transport ID to a transport server that manages various data related to transport IC cards. Boarding and alighting data receiving means receives boarding and alighting data linked to the sent transport ID from the transport server. A benefit extraction means extracts benefit data related to the received boarding and alighting data from the benefit database. The privilege etc. data transmitting means transmits the privilege etc. data to the communication terminal related to the member.

[0024] Users of the vehicle sharing service as members no longer need to worry about conditions for receiving benefits, such as transportation IC boarding and alighting data, etc. In addition, they can receive benefits if they meet the conditions without having to perform tasks such as reading multiple cards into a card reader. For vehicle sharing service providers, this will make it easier to deliver the services and benefits they want to provide to users of the vehicle sharing service, and will also be useful in collecting data to improve services.

[0025] (Variation 1 of the first invention) The first invention is more preferably formed as follows. That is, a vehicle data receiving means is provided for receiving vehicle data of the shared car from a data processing means mounted on the shared car, The benefit etc. extraction means extracts benefit etc. data related to the vehicle data (see FIG. 8). Here, "vehicle data" includes vehicle position data using GPS, vehicle engine on / off data, and driving data such as sudden steering and sudden acceleration.

[0026] (action) The shared car is equipped with a GPS (location information acquisition system) and periodically acquires vehicle data including vehicle location data and engine on / off data. The vehicle data receiving means receives the vehicle data. The special offer etc. extraction means extracts special offer etc. data related to the acquired vehicle data. The vehicle data changes from moment to moment unless the vehicle is parked, and the special benefit data corresponding to the changes is output from the special benefit data output means.

[0027] (Variation 2 of the first invention) It is more preferable that the boarding and alighting data received by the boarding and alighting data receiving means in the first invention includes reservation data for existing reservations (see Figs. 7 and 13).

[0028] (Terminology) "Reservation data" refers to data about the date, time, and location of a reserved boarding trip for railroad and airline cards, data about specific information such as the reserved parking location and the scheduled time of entry and exit for parking cards, and data about the date, time, location, and purchase amount for purchases or services for shopping cards.

[0029] (action) The privilege etc. extraction means can extract privilege etc. data related to the reservation data. A user of the vehicle sharing service as a member can obtain information about benefits and the like related to the reservation data, or can obtain the benefits themselves.

[0030] (Second Invention) The second invention relates to a computer program for controlling the car sharing server according to the first invention. The car sharing server includes a member database that stores attribute data of members who have registered in advance to operate the car sharing service and the transportation IDs related to the transportation IC cards held by the members; A vehicle management database that accumulates data for managing the shared cars provided in the vehicle sharing service; The system further includes a privilege database for storing privilege data to be provided to members and condition data for receiving privileges related to the privilege data. The computer program is a car share ID receiving step of receiving, from a communication terminal associated with the member, a car share ID that has been distributed to the member who has completed the member registration; a transportation ID transmission procedure for reading out a transportation ID linked to the car share ID received in the car share ID reception procedure from the member database and transmitting the transportation ID to a transportation server that manages various data related to the transportation IC card; a data receiving procedure for receiving data associated with the transportation ID transmitted in the transportation ID transmission procedure from the transportation server; a privilege etc. extraction step of extracting privilege etc. data related to the boarding and alighting data received in the boarding and alighting data receiving step from the privilege etc. database; a benefit etc. data transmission step of transmitting the benefit etc. data extracted in the benefit etc. extraction step to the communication terminal related to the member; The car sharing server executes the above process.

[0031] (Variation 1 of the second invention) The second invention is more preferably formed as follows. That is, the vehicle data receiving procedure includes receiving vehicle data of the shared car from a data processing means mounted on the shared car, In the step of extracting the benefit etc., the benefit etc. data related to the vehicle data is extracted.

[0032] (Variation 2 of the second invention) In the second invention, it is more preferable that the boarding / alighting data received by the boarding / alighting data receiving procedure includes reservation data.

[0033] The computer program according to the second aspect of the invention is used by installing it in a computer (car sharing server). For example, it can be recorded on a recording medium, distributed and installed, or downloaded via a communication line such as the Internet and then installed. Recording media include CD-Rs, hard disks, and DVD-Rs.

[0034] (Third Invention) The third invention relates to a fee settlement machine (such as a parking fee settlement machine or a transportation ticket settlement machine) for settling a specified fee using the car sharing server according to the first invention. In other words, when a user has registered as a member in advance to use the vehicle sharing service, the device allows the user to pay the specified service fee using a membership card that has the user's car sharing ID stored in an IC chip. The charge settlement machine includes a member ID receiving means for reading the car share ID from the member card, A member ID transmission means for transmitting the car share ID received by the member ID receiving means to a car share server that manages data necessary for the operation of the vehicle sharing service; A privilege receiving means for receiving data on privileges etc. for a member related to the car share ID transmitted by the member ID transmitting means from the car share server; a settlement amount calculation means for calculating a settlement amount of the service fee using the benefit data received by the benefit receiving means; an advertisement data output means for outputting the benefit data to a mobile information terminal related to the member; (See Figures 10 and 11.)

[0035] (Terminology) "Specified fees" include, for example, the settlement of parking fees (see Figure 10), the purchase of tickets when using transportation services, or for entering specified facilities (see Figure 11), etc. It is not limited to fees for services, but also includes fees for vending machines selling goods. The constituent element for outputting "benefits data, etc." is set as "advertising data output means" in order to indicate that benefits data, etc. include advertisements that attract users by offering discounts, etc., and does not mean that the benefits data, etc. is to be processed.

[0036] (action) The member ID receiving means reads the car share ID from the member card. The member ID transmitting means transmits the car share ID received by the member ID receiving means to a car share server which manages data necessary for the operation of the vehicle sharing service. The benefit etc. receiving means receives data on benefits etc. for the member associated with the transmitted car share ID from the car share server. The settlement amount calculation means calculates the settlement amount for the service fee using the received benefit etc. data. The advertising data output means outputs the benefit etc. data to the mobile information terminal associated with the member.

[0037] (Fourth Invention) A fourth aspect of the present invention relates to a computer program for controlling the fee adjustment machine according to the third aspect of the present invention. The fee adjustment machine is a fee adjustment machine that allows users who have registered as a member in advance to use the vehicle sharing service to pay the specified fee using a membership card that has their car sharing ID stored in an IC chip. The computer program that controls the fare adjustment machine is a member ID receiving step of reading the car share ID from the member card; a member ID transmission procedure for transmitting the car share ID received in the member ID reception procedure to a car share server that manages data necessary for the operation of the vehicle sharing service; A procedure for receiving data on benefits, etc. for the member related to the car share ID transmitted in the member ID transmission procedure from the car share server; a settlement amount calculation step for calculating a settlement amount for the service fee using the benefit data received in the benefit reception step; an advertising data output step of outputting the benefit data to a mobile information terminal related to the member; The system was designed to have the fare adjustment machine execute the above.

[0038] The computer program according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is used by being installed in a fee adjustment machine. For example, it is possible to record the program on a recording medium, distribute it, and install it, or to download it via a communication line such as the Internet and then install it. Effect of the Invention

[0039] According to the first invention, it has become possible to provide a car sharing server that can acquire more service usage history (e.g., transportation boarding and alighting data) from car sharing users who are holders of transportation IC cards, and can provide them with special offers and advertising data using the acquired boarding and alighting data. According to the second invention, it has become possible to provide a control program for controlling a car sharing server that can acquire more service usage history (e.g., transportation boarding and alighting data) from car sharing users who are holders of transportation IC cards, and provide them with special offers and advertising data using the acquired boarding and alighting data.

[0040] According to the third invention, it is possible to provide a fare adjustment machine for car sharing users who are holders of transportation IC cards, which can acquire more service usage history (e.g., transportation boarding and alighting data) and provide data such as special offers and advertisements using the acquired boarding and alighting data. According to the fourth invention, it is possible to provide a control program for controlling a fare adjustment machine that can acquire more service usage history (e.g., transportation boarding and alighting data) from car sharing users who are holders of transportation IC cards, and provide them with special offers and advertising data using the acquired boarding and alighting data. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0041] [Figure 1]This is a conceptual diagram showing the hardware and procedures that execute data processing when a member user begins using a shared car in a general car sharing system. [Diagram 2] This is a conceptual diagram showing the hardware and procedures that execute data processing when a member user reserves a shared car and begins using it. [Diagram 3] 13 is a flowchart showing a data processing procedure for discounting parking fees based on boarding history data recorded in a transportation IC card. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a data processing procedure and hardware configuration for discounting parking fees based on boarding history data recorded on a transportation IC card. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the pre-registration of a transportation IC card required to implement an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 is a block diagram showing the relationship between car sharing users, a car sharing server, and a transportation server in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] A conceptual diagram showing the data processing function of the benefits etc. extraction means, which is the main part of the present invention, when using car sharing reservation completion data. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the data processing function of the benefit extraction means, which is the main part of the present invention, when using location data of a car sharing shared car. [Figure 9] This is a conceptual diagram showing the hardware and procedures that execute data processing when a member user finishes using a shared car in a general car sharing service. [Figure 10] A block diagram showing the relationship between car sharing users who use a parking lot, a car sharing server, a transportation server, and a parking fee payment machine. [Figure 11] 1 is a block diagram showing the relationship between a car sharing server, a transportation server, and a transportation ticket vending machine when a transportation user with a transportation ID purchases a transportation ticket. [Figure 12]13 is a conceptual diagram showing the data processing function of the benefit etc. extraction means in the transportation ticket vending machine and the transportation server. FIG. [Figure 13] This is a conceptual diagram showing the data processing function of the benefits etc. extraction means, which is the main part of the present invention, when using location data of shared cars in a car sharing service and reservation data for parking spaces. [Figure 14] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the data processing function of the benefit etc. extraction means as the main part of the present invention when using location data of a car sharing car and shopping data (history). [Figure 15] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the data processing function of the benefit extraction means, which is the main part of the present invention, when using location data of a car sharing car, shopping data (history), and parking lot usage history. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0042] (Overall explanation) The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the embodiments and drawings. The drawings used here are Figures 5 to 15. However, Figures 1 to 4 will also be referred to as necessary.

[0043] (Figure 5) Figure 5 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the pre-registration of a transportation IC card, which is necessary to execute the following embodiment, and the registration of a car sharing ID obtained when a transportation IC card user becomes a car sharing member to a transportation server.

[0044] Figure 5(a) shows a car sharing user who has already completed membership registration to use the car sharing service pre-registering the transportation IC identification information (ID) of a separately acquired transportation IC card in the car sharing server.

[0045] Application software that enables the use of transportation IC card functions is installed on the mobile information terminal (smartphone shown) of the car sharing user, The transport ICID, which is the ID assigned to the user, is recorded. A procedure is carried out to register this transport ICID with the car sharing server. That is, the transport ICID transmission means transmits the transport ICID to the transport ICID receiving means of the car sharing server. The received transport ICID is linked to the member data of this car sharing user and stored in the member database.

[0046] Figure 5(b) shows how a transportation IC card user registers the car share ID printed on the membership card they obtained when they became a car sharing member to the transportation server. The transportation IC card user uses their own communication terminal (a laptop computer is shown) as a car share ID sending means to send the car share ID to the transportation server. In the transportation server, the car share ID is received by the car share ID receiving means, and is stored in the member database, linked to the transportation IC card user's transportation ICID.

[0047] When the car share user and the transportation user shown in FIG. 5 are the same person, the car share server and the transportation server register each other in their respective member databases.

[0048] (Figure 6) FIG. 6 shows the process from when a car share user uses his / her mobile communication terminal (a smartphone in the figure) to make a car sharing reservation with the car share server to when the user receives data on benefits, etc. The mobile communication device has a function as a car sharing member card pre-installed, and the car sharing ID is also recorded. The member card is shown in phantom as being included in the mobile communication device.

[0049] A car share user transmits reservation data, including the time period when the user wishes to use the shared car, the pick-up location, the return location, etc., and a car share ID that indicates that the user is a member to the car share server. The transmitted reservation data and car share ID are received by a car share ID receiving means.

[0050] The car share ID is checked against a member database to determine whether it is reservation data from a legitimate member, and then the transportation ID linked to that car share ID is extracted from the member database. In addition, if the reservation data is from a legitimate member, a vehicle management database that stores management data for shared cars determines whether or not the reservation related to the reservation data is possible, and if the reservation is possible, reservation completion data is returned from the reservation completion data output means.

[0051] The extracted transportation ID is transmitted from the transportation ID transmission means to the transportation server, and is received by the transportation ID reception means in the transportation server. Then, the boarding and alighting data linked to the transportation ID is extracted from the boarding and alighting database, and the extracted boarding and alighting data is returned to the car sharing server.

[0052] The boarding and alighting data transmitted from the transportation server is received by the boarding and alighting data receiving means in the car sharing server. Then, the bonus etc. data appropriate for the boarding and alighting data and the reservation completion data is extracted from the bonus database and the advertisement database by the bonus etc. extraction means. An example of the extraction will be described later with reference to FIG. 7. The extracted bonus etc. data is transmitted from the bonus etc. data output means to the portable communication terminal.

[0053] For the sake of convenience, the above-mentioned benefit database and advertisement database are illustrated as one database. The benefit data is the benefit content that can be obtained when a certain condition (condition data) is met, and the benefit database is a collection of the condition data and benefit data. The advertisement data is data for identifying a certain target customer and data showing the contents of products and services to that target customer, and the advertisement database is a collection of that advertisement data.

[0054] (Figure 7) 7 shows an example of how the benefit etc. extraction means extracts benefit etc. data. The benefit etc. extraction means in the car sharing server is the focus of the illustration, and the benefit etc. database, advertisement database, reservation completion data output means, boarding and alighting data receiving means, and benefit etc. output means are also shown, with other configurations omitted.

[0055] The rewards database and advertising database contain data that doubles as sales promotion information, such as "If you ride Railway Company A five or more times during November, you will receive a 10% off coupon." The reservation completion data includes the reservation date (December 8th), start time of use (3:00 p.m.), end time of use (5:30 p.m.), reservation location (Toyosu), and return location (Toyosu). The boarding and alighting data includes boarding history for several weeks and boarding and alighting reservation data.

[0056] The means for extracting benefits etc. determined that the above-mentioned car sharing reservation completion data met the conditions that the reservation location and return location were Toyosu, and that the boarding and alighting history included use of a specified railway company a specified number of times or for a specified amount, and extracted the discount coupon for "a" as the data for benefits etc. The "a" discount coupon is for a 20% discount at a fresh fish restaurant in Toyosu, and its purpose is to show gratitude for using the train instead of a taxi.

[0057] In addition, the means for extracting benefits etc. uses the boarding and alighting reservation data from the boarding and alighting data to extract the discount coupon "a" as the data on benefits etc. The "b" coupon is a coupon that uses the reservation data to identify when a person plans to get off at Fukushima, and offers a 15% discount on rental cars in Fukushima. A deadline for applications is also set to solidify reservations for the Christmas season.

[0058] As described above, the benefit etc. extraction means compares the applicable period, applicable area, applicable conditions, etc. in the advertisement data and benefit data with the reservation completion data and boarding and alighting data to extract optimal advertisements and coupons. An upper limit (e.g., 5) is set for the number of optimal coupons. It is also preferable to assign priorities within the upper limit.

[0059] Although not shown in the figure, the above-mentioned prioritization may be performed by using the member's usage history data in a member database. For example, if there is a history of rental car usage in a regional city, the above-mentioned "b" is given priority over "a."

[0060] (Figure 8) 8 also shows an example of how the benefit etc. extraction means extracts benefit etc. data. Here, the benefit etc. extraction means extracts predetermined benefit etc. data by using the location data of the shared car (or a combination with off data indicating that the engine is stopped). In addition, while FIG. 8 illustrates a clock installed in the car sharing server, in other embodiments the server also has a built-in clock, which is used appropriately as an extraction condition in the bonus etc. extraction means.

[0061] The shared car constantly acquires vehicle location data by receiving radio waves from GPS satellites. The location data is transmitted to the car sharing server at a predetermined interval. The transmitted location data is received by the location data receiving means of the car sharing server, stored in the vehicle management database, and can be used by the benefit etc. extraction means to extract benefit etc. data.

[0062] Assume that the vehicle location data indicates Gotanda-ku, Tokyo, the return location of the shared car is Gotanda, and the scheduled return time (15:30) is approaching. In this case, the means for extracting data on benefits, etc. judges that advertising data "c" is optimal and extracts it. "c" is a campaign offering free drinks and half-price cakes for today only at a newly opened cafe in Gotanda.

[0063] The extracted data on benefits, etc. as advertising data is transmitted from the benefit output means to the shared car and communicated to the shared car user via a multi-function car navigation device installed in the shared car. It is assumed that the shared car user will visit the cafe after returning the shared car, and this data on benefits, etc. is also transmitted from the benefit output means to the mobile information terminal of the shared car user (not shown). In addition, the vehicle data receiving means may receive engine-off data as vehicle data, and transmit data such as bonuses to the mobile information terminal of the car-sharing user only when the location data close to the time when the engine-off data was received is within Gotanda-ku, Tokyo. This reduces the total amount of data transmission, thereby saving on communication fees, or suppresses the transmission of unnecessary data to the car-sharing user.

[0064] (Fig. 9) FIG. 9 shows the actions taken by a member user at the end of using a shared car, and the relationship between the shared car data processing device and the car sharing server. The multi-function car navigation device of the shared car acquires the vehicle's position data and transmits it to the car sharing server via the data transmission means. Therefore, the car sharing server knows that the shared car is near the return location. In addition, the data transmission means acquires engine off data from the vehicle indicating that the engine has been stopped and transmits it to the car sharing server. Therefore, the car sharing server receives the vehicle data including the engine off data.

[0065] After parking the shared car at the return location, the member user gets off the shared car, touches the car sharing membership card to the vehicle unlocking sensor to transmit the car sharing ID via short-range wireless communication, and locks the shared car. The car sharing ID transmitted to the vehicle unlocking sensor is transmitted to the car sharing server via the data transmission means, and is stored in the vehicle management database.

[0066] In the car sharing server, the discount data stored in the advertisement database and the benefit database are extracted using the usage data in the vehicle management database, such as the usage start time and end time, and various historical data stored in the member database, and the fee calculation means calculates the usage fee for the shared car. The calculated usage fee is then sent to the mobile information terminal associated with the member user. Information from the benefit database and the advertisement database, such as the benefit for the next use, is sent together with the usage fee.

[0067] (Figure 10) Figure 10 shows the data processing that takes place between the parking fee payment machine, the car sharing server, and the transportation server when a car sharing user who has already registered a transportation ID uses a parking lot.

[0068] When a car share user parks a shared car in a parking lot and pays the parking fee, the parking fee payment machine requests the user to insert the parking ticket and touch the membership card. The car share user has the parking ticket data reading means read the parking ticket they received when they started using the parking lot. The car share user also touches the membership card (including cases where the membership card is installed as data on a mobile information terminal, as shown by the dashed line in the figure) to the member ID receiving means (card reader). When touched, the member ID receiving means reads the car share ID stored in the IC chip in the membership card via short-range wireless communication.

[0069] The member ID sending means sends the read car share ID to the car share server. The car share ID receiving means receives the sent car share ID and checks it against the member database. Then, the transportation ID linked to the car share ID is sent to the transportation server.

[0070] In the transportation server, a transportation ID receiving means receives the transportation ID, accesses a boarding and alighting database in which boarding and alighting data is accumulated, and extracts the boarding and alighting data linked to the transportation ID. Then, a boarding and alighting data transmitting means transmits the extracted boarding and alighting data to the car sharing server.

[0071] In the car sharing server, the boarding and alighting data receiving means receives the boarding and alighting data, and extracts bonus data and advertisement data appropriate for the boarding and alighting data from a bonus database and an advertisement database, and transmits the extracted bonus data and advertisement data to the parking fee payment machine.

[0072] In the parking fee payment machine, the privilege data receiving means receives the privilege data, and the parking fee calculation means calculates the parking fee using the parking entry time data and the like read from the parking ticket. For example, if the benefit data includes a discount on parking fees, the settlement amount will be calculated taking that discount into account. The calculated settlement amount is communicated to the car sharing user via a settlement amount output means (e.g., an electronic display or a speaker). The car sharing user who sees the settlement amount output means settles the settlement amount (see FIG. 4). The settlement of this parking fee may be added up when the car sharing use ends (payment at this stage may be omitted).

[0073] In addition, if the parking fee payment machine is equipped with an advertising data output means capable of wireless communication with a mobile information terminal, advertising data that is not used for payment among the above-mentioned benefit data is transmitted. In the figure, the advertising data is shown to be transmitted by wireless communication, but this is not limited to this. For example, a two-dimensional barcode may be output to a liquid crystal panel, and the two-dimensional barcode may be read by the camera function of the mobile information terminal of the car sharing user.

[0074] (Fig. 11) Fig. 11 shows the data processing that takes place between the transportation ticket vending machine, the car share server, and the transportation server when a transportation user (a user who carries a transportation ID issued by a company that provides rail services) who has registered a car share ID in advance purchases a transportation ticket to use the transportation service. The transportation ticket vending machine is not limited to rail tickets, but also includes buses, ferries, etc.

[0075] When the transportation user pays the fare for the transportation ticket, the transportation ticket vending machine requests the user to touch the transportation card. The transportation user touches the transportation card to the member ID receiving means (card reader). When touched, the member ID receiving means reads the transportation ID stored in the IC chip in the member card by short-range wireless communication.

[0076] The transportation ID read by the transportation ticket vending machine is transmitted to the transportation server by the member ID transmission means. The transmitted transportation ID is received by the transportation ID reception means and compared with the member database. Then, the car share ID linked to the transportation ID is transmitted to the car share server.

[0077] In the car sharing server, the car sharing ID receiving means receives the car sharing ID linked to the transportation ID, accesses the member database in which the car sharing usage history data is stored, and extracts the usage history data linked to the car sharing ID. Then, the usage history sending means sends the extracted usage history data to the transportation server.

[0078] In the transportation server, the usage history data is received by the usage history receiving means, and the privilege data and advertisement data appropriate for the usage history data are extracted from the privilege database and advertisement database, and the extracted privilege data and advertisement data are transmitted to the transportation ticket vending machine.

[0079] In the transportation ticket vending machine, the benefit data receiving means receives the benefit data, etc. Then, the settlement amount calculation means calculates the settlement amount using the destination data and the like input by the transportation user. For example, if the benefit data includes a discount based on the car sharing usage history, the settlement amount will be calculated taking that discount into account. The calculated fare amount is transmitted to the transportation user via a fare amount output means (for example, an electronic display or a speaker). The transportation user who watches the fare amount output means pays the fare amount.

[0080] If the transportation ticket vending machine is equipped with an advertising data output means capable of wireless communication with a mobile information terminal, advertising data that is not used for settlement among the above-mentioned benefit data is transmitted. In the figure, the advertising data is shown to be transmitted by wireless communication, but this is not limited to this. For example, a two-dimensional barcode may be output to a liquid crystal panel, and the two-dimensional barcode may be read by the camera function of the mobile information terminal of the car sharing user.

[0081] (Fig. 12) FIG. 12 shows an example of what kind of privilege data is extracted by the privilege etc. extraction means shown in FIG.

[0082] A transportation user inputs destination data using a touch panel as a destination data input means in a transportation ticket vending machine. The destination data indicates that the sale date is December 8, the boarding date is December 24, the boarding station is Omiya, the disembarking station is Kitakata, the determined departure time is 13:00, and the arrival time is 17:30, and the passenger is able to purchase the ticket.

[0083] Based on the boarding date and destination of this ticket, the benefit extraction means extracts the benefit data, such as a 20% discount coupon for car sharing in Fukushima Prefecture, and outputs it to the transportation ticket vending machine. The benefit output means of the transportation ticket vending machine outputs the benefit data on a screen as characters or a pattern, or outputs it as a two-dimensional barcode that the user making the payment can easily obtain using their own mobile information terminal (not shown).

[0084] The car sharing usage history received from the car sharing server includes reservation data in addition to the usage history. The reservation data is for December 4th from 17:30 to 19:30 and December 5th from 12:30 to 14:30. Although a specific example will be omitted, the benefit etc. extraction means can extract appropriate advertisements and benefits using not only the usage history but also the reservation data.

[0085] (Fig. 13) FIG. 13 shows the procedure for extracting benefit and other data using parking history and reservation data in the parking lot management server. The location data receiving means receives the location data, and receives parking history and reservation data from the parking lot management server. Suppose that the parking history and reservation data includes a parking reservation for December 11th from 12:00 to 15:00 in Higashi-ku, Nagoya. If the vehicle location received by the location data receiving means is near Nagoya city, the benefit etc. extraction means extracts a coupon for lunch in an underground mall in Nagoya city, which is "d."

[0086] In the above example, it is assumed that a car sharing member user is using a shared car, but the above "d" can also be extracted if the member user reserves the car for use in Nagoya when reserving the car.

[0087] (Fig. 14) FIG. 14 shows a procedure for extracting benefit and other data using shopping data in a retail server. A retail server is a server that manages shopping history data, reward points, and the like based on membership cards issued by retailers such as convenience stores and shopping centers.

[0088] Suppose that the shopping data receiving means receives shopping history data from a retail server, and that the total amount in November in the shopping history data is 34,500 yen. Also, suppose that the location data receiving means receives the location data of the shared car is Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo. In this case, the benefit etc. extraction means extracts a member-only discount coupon for the year-end sale at the Shinagawa shopping mall of "e", as it matches the condition data of "customers whose total shopping amount in November is 20,000 yen or more excluding tax". Then, it transmits the coupon to the mobile information terminal of the shared car user.

[0089] (Fig. 15) Fig. 15 shows the shopping data in the retail server and the procedure for extracting the benefit data using the parking lot management server. It is assumed that a car sharing member user uses a parking lot near the store where he / she goes shopping using a shared car. The procedure of the car sharing server acquiring the retail ID and parking ID related to the shared member user in advance and transmitting the retail ID and parking ID to the retail server and the parking lot management server is omitted.

[0090] The means for extracting benefits, etc. uses location data, shopping history data, parking history / reservation data, etc. to extract optimal benefit, etc. data. The present invention can extract data on benefits and the like by acquiring IDs related to multiple services other than the car sharing service, as in the embodiment shown in Fig. 15. Users do not need to present multiple membership cards at the time of payment.

[0091] (Combined use of discount services) As described in the explanation of Fig. 7, the bonus data and advertisement data extracted by the bonus etc. extraction means are not limited to one, but may be multiple. In addition, a discount coupon used by the user may be used in combination. For example, if a car sharing trip record results in a 200 yen discount and a 400 yen discount for shopping, even if the standard parking fee is 1,000 yen, the settlement will be made with a 600 yen discount, and the user will only have to pay the 400 yen parking fee.

[0092] According to the embodiment described above, the provider of the vehicle sharing service can use data on the usage history and reservations of member users of the vehicle sharing service with other service providers (transportation, parking, retail stores, etc.) to select from a wide range of advertisements and special offer information and deliver it to the member users. Other service providers can also use the member users' usage history and reservation data for the vehicle sharing service to select from a large number of advertisements and special offer information and deliver it to the member users. [Industrial Applicability]

[0093] The present invention has applicability in car sharing or rental car businesses, transportation services, parking management services, retail, data communications businesses that manage data for car sharing, rental cars, parking lots, etc., and software development businesses related to data communications.

Claims

1. A fee settlement machine for settling a predetermined fee using a membership card having a car share ID stored in an IC chip when a member has registered in advance to use a vehicle sharing service, A member ID receiving means for reading the car share ID from the member card; A member ID transmission means for transmitting the car share ID received by the member ID receiving means to a car share server that manages data necessary for the operation of the vehicle sharing service; A benefit receiving means for receiving, from the car sharing server, benefit data, which is a benefit and advertisement for the member related to the car sharing ID transmitted by the member ID transmitting means; a settlement amount calculation means for calculating a settlement amount of the fee using the benefit data received by the benefit receiving means; an advertisement data output means for outputting the benefit data to a mobile information terminal related to the member; a destination data input means for transmitting the destination data input by the member to the car sharing server; In the car sharing server, a fee settlement machine extracts benefit data related to the destination data from a benefit database that accumulates the benefit data and transmits it to the benefit receiving means to provide the member with the benefit data.

2. a transportation ID transmission means for transmitting the transportation ID linked to the car share ID transmitted by the member ID transmission means from a member database that stores attribute data of a member who has registered in advance to operate a vehicle sharing service and a transportation ID related to a transportation IC card held by the member, and transmits the transportation ID to a transportation server that manages various data related to the transportation IC card; and a data receiving means for receiving boarding and alighting data linked to the transportation ID transmitted by the transportation ID transmitting means from the transportation server. The charge settlement machine according to claim 1.

3. A computer program for controlling a fee settlement machine, The fee settlement machine is a fee settlement machine for settling a predetermined fee using a membership card having a car share ID stored in an IC chip when a user has registered as a member in advance to use the vehicle sharing service, The computer program that controls the fare adjustment machine is a member ID receiving step of reading the car share ID from the member card; a member ID transmission procedure for transmitting the car share ID received in the member ID reception procedure to a car share server that manages data necessary for the operation of the vehicle sharing service; A benefit receiving procedure for receiving, from the car sharing server, benefit data, which is a benefit and advertisement for the member related to the car sharing ID transmitted in the member ID transmission procedure; a settlement amount calculation step for calculating a settlement amount of the fee using the benefit data received in the benefit reception step; an advertising data output step of outputting the benefit data to a mobile information terminal related to the member; a destination data input step of transmitting the destination data input by the member to the car share server; In the car sharing server, in order to provide the member with the benefit data related to the destination data, the benefit data is extracted from a benefit database that accumulates the benefit data and transmitted to the benefit receiving procedure. Computer program.

4. a transportation ID transmission means for transmitting the transportation ID, the transportation ID being linked to the car share ID transmitted by the member ID transmission procedure, from a member database that stores attribute data of a member who has registered in advance to operate the vehicle sharing service and a transportation ID related to a transportation IC card held by the member, and transmitting the transportation ID to a transportation server that manages various data related to the transportation IC card; and a data receiving means for receiving boarding and alighting data linked to the transportation ID transmitted by the transportation ID transmitting means from the transportation server.

4. A computer program according to claim 3.

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