Space management systems and programs

Abstract

To provide a technique for managing a space using a short-range wireless communication unit installed in the space and a user's mobile terminal.SOLUTION: A space management system 10 includes: a short-range wireless communication unit 30 arranged in a predetermined space 22 and having a function of transmitting a predetermined signal to a mobile terminal 90 of a user in short-range wireless communication; and a management server 50 which manages the use of the predetermined space used by the user. The mobile terminal and / or the management server includes: an entry determination unit which determines that the user has entered the predetermined space when a first transition appears, the first transition indicating that the mobile terminal which has not been effectively received the predetermined signal from the short-range wireless communication unit makes a transition to effectively receive the signal; and an exit determination unit which determines that the user has exited from the predetermined space when a second transition appears, the second transition indicating that the mobile terminal which has been effectively received the predetermined signal from the short-range wireless communication unit makes a transition not to effectively receive the signal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technique for managing a space, and more particularly to a technique for managing the space using a short-range wireless communication unit installed in the space and a mobile terminal of a user. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, services that allow users to lend and return rental items are becoming more common. These rental items include movable property and even real estate. Specifically, an example of a rental item as real estate is a rental space such as a rental seat or parking lot, and an example of a rental item as movable property is a means of transportation such as a rental bicycle or rental car.

[0003] More specifically, examples of rental real estate include accommodation facilities where users can stay on a short-term basis (e.g., rooms in a hotel, rooms in a private home or apartment building that is temporarily rented to others) or rooms in accommodation facilities where users can stay on a long-term basis (e.g., individual homes, apartment buildings, etc.), coin lockers, parking lots (e.g., parking lots with one or more parking spaces), individual parking spaces (e.g., each of multiple parking spaces in a parking lot), etc.

[0004] Examples of movable property that can be rented include land, water or air vehicles (e.g., rental cars, rental bicycles, etc.), rental furniture, rental clothing, rental electrical appliances (including the audio guide devices described below), rental accessories that can be detachably attached to electrical appliances (e.g., batteries or chargers), and rental recording media (e.g., CDs) on which audiovisual content is recorded that can be played by the user.

[0005] Patent Document 1 discloses a rental space management support system that can reduce the workload of managers of rental spaces and promote labor saving in rental businesses (such as seat rental businesses, room rental businesses) that rent out rooms such as karaoke rooms and rental conference rooms, and places such as tennis courts and ball fields to users. Patent Document 2 also discloses a similar technology.

[0006] Patent Document 3 discloses technology that facilitates reducing the cost of equipment that needs to be installed in each rental space in a business that rents out real estate such as rooms (e.g., working rooms), seats, and parking spaces (hourly parking, monthly parking, etc.) to users. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] JP 2002-007913 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2003-281310 A [Patent Document 3] Patent No. 5957624 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] According to the technology disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, in order for a user to use a desired rental space, the user can reserve the desired rental space prior to the use. The user can make the reservation wirelessly online using his / her mobile terminal at a location away from the desired rental space.

[0009] Specifically, according to the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, a user reserves a rental space by transmitting information from his / her mobile information terminal (mobile terminal) to a system host (server). An electronic key (a key device that electronically unlocks and locks) is installed for each rental space.

[0010] When the reservation is made, the system host transmits a password (a type of encryption) to the user's mobile information terminal associated with the rental space selected by the user. The user enters the password into a room terminal individually installed in the selected rental space to unlock the corresponding electronic key.

[0011] If the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 is adopted, the party managing the rental space will be burdened with having to install a special device called an electronic key for each rental space, and the user will be burdened with obtaining a password and using that password to unlock the electronic key.

[0012] Furthermore, when the technology disclosed in Patent Document 2 is adopted, a user can reserve a private room by transmitting a reservation request from his / her mobile terminal to a theater system management unit (server) 11. A plurality of private rooms that can be rented to a plurality of users are centrally managed by the theater system management unit.

[0013] When the reservation is made, the theater system management unit transmits barcode information (a type of encryption) to the user's mobile device. The user presents the barcode information received by his / her mobile device from the theater system management unit at the reception desk of the reserved private room. The barcode information is captured at the reception desk, and by exchanging information with the theater system management unit, it is possible to confirm whether the reservation is genuine.

[0014] When the technology disclosed in Patent Document 2 is adopted, the party managing the rental space is burdened with having to verify the authenticity of the reservation by having an employee at the reception desk, for example, scan the barcode information and have that employee exchange information with the theater system management department, and the user is burdened with obtaining the barcode information and using that barcode information to obtain permission to enter the private room.

[0015] In contrast, the technology disclosed in Patent Document 3 imposes the burden of installing a transmitter in each rental space on the party managing the rental space.

[0016] Here, the "transmitter" is a communication device that performs short-distance communication with the user's mobile terminal, and is used to accurately identify the rental space in which the user is actually currently staying, in other words, to authenticate the user's location, by linking with the user's mobile terminal. This type of transmitter has become widespread in recent years, and is therefore becoming cheaper and easier to obtain.

[0017] Therefore, purchasing a transmitter and installing it individually for each rental space to adopt the technology disclosed in Patent Document 3 is at least a less economical burden than installing an electronic key individually for each rental space to adopt the technology described in Patent Document 1. Furthermore, if location authentication is performed using a transmitter individually installed for each rental space, the user is relieved from the burden of obtaining a password and using that password to unlock the electronic key.

[0018] Therefore, by adopting the technology disclosed in Patent Document 3, the party managing the rental space can easily reduce the costs and labor required to operate and manage the rental space (for example, by making it unmanned), and the user can be freed from the hassle of having to obtain passwords and barcode information and use it on-site.

[0019] However, through research to date, the inventor has realized that when adopting the technology disclosed in Patent Document 3, there are new matters that need to be taken into consideration regarding communication between a transmitter and a mobile terminal.

[0020] That is, in an environment where multiple rental spaces are installed adjacent to one another within the same facility, such as in a library where multiple rental seats (examples of rental spaces) are placed close together, multiple transmitters will also be placed spatially close to one another.

[0021] In such an environment where multiple transmitters are densely arranged, even if a user is staying in a rental space that he or she has selected, there is a possibility that the user's mobile terminal may be closer to another transmitter (an unauthorized transmitter from the user's perspective) installed in an adjacent rental space than to a transmitter installed in the selected rental space (a legitimate transmitter from the user's perspective).

[0022] In such a case, the user's mobile device will receive a signal from an unauthorized transmitter at a stronger strength than from a legitimate transmitter, and when it estimates the rental space in which the user is currently staying based on the received signal, it will mistakenly estimate that the rental space next door is the user's current rental space.

[0023] In other words, if the technology disclosed in Patent Document 3 is adopted, there is a possibility that it will not be possible to correctly determine which rental space the user is actually currently staying in.

[0024] Based on the above findings, the present invention has been made with the objective of providing a technology for managing a space using a short-range wireless communication unit installed in the space and a user's mobile terminal. [Means for solving the problem]

[0025] In order to solve the problem, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a space management system, comprising: a short-range wireless communication unit provided in a predetermined space and having a function of transmitting a predetermined signal to a user's mobile terminal by short-range wireless communication; a management server capable of communicating with a mobile terminal of a user and managing the use of the predetermined space by the user; Including, The mobile terminal and / or the management server, When a first transition occurs in which the mobile terminal transitions from a state in which the mobile terminal does not effectively receive the predetermined signal from the short-range wireless communication unit to a state in which the mobile terminal effectively receives the predetermined signal, the user enters the predetermined space. and then determining whether the user has started using the specified space. An entry determination unit; a stay determination unit which repeatedly determines whether the portable terminal is in a state where it can effectively receive the predetermined signal from the short-range wireless communication unit after the start of use determination has been made, and thereby performs a stay determination that the user is staying in the predetermined space when the portable terminal is in a state where it can effectively receive the predetermined signal from the short-range wireless communication unit during the period when the predetermined space is being used, and performs an absence determination that the user is not present in the predetermined space when the portable terminal is not in a state where it can effectively receive the predetermined signal from the short-range wireless communication unit; The determination result by the stay determination unit is changed from the stay determination to the non-presence determination. When a second transition occurs, the user exits the predetermined space. and then determining whether the user has finished using the specified space. Exit judgment unit and Including fruit, The management server permits the user to start using the specified space when the user inputs a use start request to the mobile terminal after the use start determination has been made, and permits the user to end use of the specified space when the user inputs a use end request to the mobile terminal after the use end determination has been made. A space management system is provided.

[0026] According to a second aspect of the present invention, The space management system manages the Designated space Use User's mobile device of A program executed by a computer, The mobile terminal has a plurality of functions, The portable terminal transitions from a state in which the predetermined signal is not effectively received from the short-range wireless communication unit to a state in which the predetermined signal is effectively received. did When the user enters the predetermined space, and then determining whether the user has started using the specified space. Entry judgment function; The portable terminal transitions from a state in which the predetermined signal is effectively received from the short-range wireless communication unit to a state in which the predetermined signal is not effectively received. did When the user exits the specified space, and then determining whether the user has finished using the specified space. Exit judgment function and Including, A program is provided that is executed to realize the above-mentioned functions.

[0044] The present invention provides the following embodiments. Each embodiment is divided into clauses, each clause is numbered, and other clause numbers are cited as necessary. This is to facilitate understanding of some of the technical features that the present invention may employ and their combinations, and should not be construed as limiting the technical features and combinations that the present invention may employ to the following embodiments. In other words, it should be construed that technical features that are not described in the following embodiments but are described in this specification may be appropriately extracted and employed as technical features of the present invention.

[0045] Furthermore, describing each section in a form that refers to the number of other sections does not necessarily mean that the technical features described in each section are prevented from being separated and made independent from the technical features described in other sections, and it should be interpreted that the technical features described in each section can be made independent as appropriate depending on their nature.

[0046] (1) A method for centrally managing a plurality of rental objects, which are real property or movable property that can be rented to a user, comprising: The method comprises: a transmitter for transmitting a signal representing a unique transmitter code for each rental object; A mobile terminal of a user who selects one of the rental items and wishes to use the selected rental item, capable of receiving signals from one or more transmitters via a short-range communication method. This is carried out using The method comprises: an input support step of supporting a user to select any one of the rental objects as a selected rental object by the mobile terminal prior to reception from one or more transmitters; a determination step in which the mobile terminal and / or a management server capable of communicating with the mobile terminal determines a transmitter code corresponding to the selected rental object as a regular transmitter code according to a correspondence relationship between the plurality of rental objects and a plurality of transmitter codes; a determination step in which the mobile terminal and / or the management server determines whether or not a user is present in the selected rental object depending on whether or not the mobile terminal receives a signal representing the regular transmitter code; A rental object management method including:

[0047] Here, "multiple rental items" typically refer to multiple real estate (e.g., multiple rental seats in a seat rental facility, multiple parking spaces in a parking lot) or personal property (e.g., multiple rental bicycles in the same bicycle rental facility) that are located so close to one another that they cannot be spatially distinguished (resolved) from one another with any practical accuracy using the GPS function of the user's mobile device, but in theory they may also refer to multiple real estate (e.g., multiple seat rental facilities, multiple parking lots) or personal property (e.g., multiple rental bicycles in the same bicycle rental facility) that are located far enough apart from one another that they can be spatially distinguished (resolved) from one another with any practical accuracy using the GPS function of the user's mobile device.

[0048] (2) the mobile terminal repeatedly performs reception attempts to receive signals from one or more transmitters; The determination step includes: a step of recognizing, by the mobile terminal and / or the management server, the start of use of the selected rental object by the user based on the timing of a first transition occurring in which the mobile terminal transitions from a state in which it does not receive a signal representing the regular transmitter code to a state in which it receives the signal, or based on the timing of a predetermined first event occurring as a result of the first transition; a step of recognizing, by the mobile terminal and / or the management server, the end of use of the selected rental object by the user based on the timing of occurrence of a second transition in which the mobile terminal transitions from a state in which it receives a signal representing the regular transmitter code to a state in which it does not receive the signal, or based on the timing of occurrence of a predetermined second event which occurs in response to the second transition; The rental object management method according to claim 1, comprising at least one of the following:

[0049] (3) the mobile terminal repeatedly performs reception attempts to receive signals from one or more transmitters; The determination step includes: a step of recognizing a start of use by a user in response to a combination of an appearance of a pair of a first transition in which the mobile terminal transitions from a state in which the mobile terminal does not receive a signal representing the authorized transmitter code to a state in which the mobile terminal receives the signal, and a second transition in which the mobile terminal transitions from a state in which the mobile terminal receives a signal representing the authorized transmitter code to a state in which the mobile terminal does not receive the signal, and an expression of an intention to request start of use by the user, by the mobile terminal and / or the management server; a step of recognizing the end of use by the user in response to a combination of the appearance of one or both of a pair of a first transition and a second transition and an expression of the user's intention to request the end of use by the mobile terminal and / or the management server; A rental object management method according to paragraph (2).

[0050] (4) The input support step includes: facilitating a user to reserve the selected rental object at a location remote from the selected rental object; assisting a user in inputting said rental selection at or near the same location as said rental selection immediately prior to the user's use of said rental selection; A rental object management method according to any one of (1) to (3), comprising at least one of the following:

[0051] (5) A rental object management method described in any of (1) to (4), in which each transmitter operates in cooperation with the signal processing characteristics of the portable terminal so that, as long as a user is present at the corresponding rental object, the signal transmitted from each transmitter is received by the portable terminal without the user holding the portable terminal in his / her hand and holding it over or touching it to the transmitter.

[0052] (6) A rental object management method described in any of (1) to (4), in which each transmitter operates in cooperation with the signal processing characteristics of the portable terminal so that when a user present at the corresponding rental object holds the portable terminal in his / her hand and holds it over or touches it to the transmitter, the signal transmitted from each transmitter is received by the portable terminal.

[0053] (7) The rental object management method described in any one of (1) to (6) further includes a step in which, when the actual transmitter code represented by the signal received by the mobile terminal from each transmitter does not match the genuine transmitter code, the mobile terminal prompts the user to retry receiving the transmitter by the mobile terminal.

[0054] (8) The rental object management method described in any of (1) to (7) further includes a step of allowing the user to start using the selected rental object when the mobile terminal and / or the management server determines that the user has arrived at the selected rental object at a first time and, within a first time limit from that time, the user inputs a start-of-use request into the mobile terminal.

[0055] (9) The rental object management method described in any of (1) to (8) further includes a step of allowing the user to end use of the selected space when the mobile terminal and / or the management server determines that the user has left the selected rental object at a second time and the user inputs an end use request into the mobile terminal within a second time limit from that time.

[0056] (10) A program executed by a computer of a mobile terminal to implement the mobile terminal according to any one of (1) to (9).

[0057] (11) A program executed by a computer of a management server to implement the management server according to any one of (1) to (9).

[0058] A program in this and other sections may be interpreted, for example, as meaning a combination of instructions executed by a computer to perform its functions, or may be interpreted to include not only the combination of instructions, but also the files and data processed in accordance with each instruction, but is not limited thereto.

[0059] Furthermore, this program may be executed by a computer alone to achieve the intended purpose, or may be executed by a computer together with other programs to achieve the intended purpose, but is not limited thereto. In the latter case, the program according to this section may be, but is not limited to, one that mainly consists of data.

[0060] (12) A recording medium having the program described in (10) or (11) recorded thereon in a computer-readable manner.

[0061] This recording medium may take various forms, including, but not limited to, magnetic recording media such as flexible disks, optical recording media such as CDs and CD-ROMs, magneto-optical recording media such as MOs, and non-removable storage such as ROMs.

[0062] (13) A rental item management method described in any of (1) to (9) having the characteristic that the user's mobile terminal is located within a distance allowing short-range communication with the transmitter of the rental item throughout substantially the entire period of each usage of the rental item from the start time of use by the user to the end time of use.

[0063] (14) A rental object management method as described in (13), wherein the multiple rental objects include multiple rental seats in a seat rental facility (including a library, a school, a training room, and a lecture hall), or multiple rooms in an apartment building.

[0064] (15) A rental item management method described in any of (1) to (9), having the characteristic that the user's mobile terminal is positioned within a distance allowing short-range communication with the transmitter of the rental item at least during the start and end stages of each usage period from the start time of use by the user to the end time of use of the rental item.

[0065] (16) A rental item management method as described in (15), wherein the multiple rental items include multiple parking spaces in a parking lot (including a bicycle parking area), multiple rental locker rooms, multiple rental warehouses, or multiple safe deposit boxes.

[0066] (17) The method is implemented to manage multiple rental objects located in multiple geographically distinct facilities (e.g., multiple rental objects that are so close to each other that they cannot be spatially resolved by a GPS function of a mobile device), The input assistance process is a rental item management method described in any one of items (1) to (9), in which the mobile terminal measures the current location of the mobile terminal and displays on the screen, together with map data, a small number of candidate facilities among the plurality of facilities that are located near the measured current location, in a state in which the user can select one of the facilities, thereby assisting the user in selecting one of the facilities.

[0067] (18) The method is performed to manage a plurality of rental objects located in a plurality of geographically distinct facilities; The input assistance process of the rental item management method according to any one of items (1) to (9) includes the step of displaying on the mobile terminal at least a portion of the plurality of facilities in list form on the screen, with the user being able to select any one of the facilities, thereby assisting the user in selecting any one of the facilities.

[0068] (19) The input assistance step includes a step of assisting a user in inputting, into the portable terminal, information for identifying the selected rental object and information for specifying a planned time period for using the selected rental object in order to reserve the selected rental object at a location away from the selected rental object; The method further comprises: the management server creates a reservation status table based on the information for chronologically displaying the time periods during which the reservations are made for each rental object, updates the reservation status table each time a new reservation is made and each time the use of any rental object is completed to reflect these facts, and transmits the latest reservation status table to the mobile terminal; The input assistance process further comprises the step of: the mobile terminal displays the transmitted reservation status table on a screen, and assists the user in inputting the information into the mobile terminal to reserve the selected rental item while referring to the reservation status table. The rental item management method described in any one of items (1) to (9).

[0069] (20) The plurality of transmitters and the portable terminal are operated so that the portable terminal continuously receives a signal from a transmitter installed in the selected rental object while the user is present in the selected rental object; The rental object management method described in any of claims (1) to (9) further includes a step of repeatedly determining whether or not the user is actually staying at the selected rental object based on whether or not the mobile terminal receives a signal from a transmitter installed at the selected rental object.

[0070] (21) A system for centrally managing a plurality of rental objects, which are real property or movable property that can be rented to a user, comprising: a transmitter for transmitting a signal representing a unique transmitter code for each rental object; A mobile terminal of a user who selects one of the rental items and wishes to use the selected rental item, capable of receiving signals from one or more transmitters via a short-range communication method. Including, the mobile terminal includes an input support unit that supports a user in selecting any one of the rental objects as a selected rental object prior to receiving from one or more transmitters; The mobile terminal and / or a management server capable of communicating with the mobile terminal, a determination unit that determines a transmitter code corresponding to the selected rental object as a regular transmitter code according to a correspondence relationship between the plurality of rental objects and a plurality of transmitter codes; a determination unit that determines whether or not a user is present among the selected rental objects depending on whether or not the mobile terminal has received a signal representing the regular transmitter code; A rental object management system including:

[0071] (22) A rental item management system as described in paragraph (21) having the characteristic that the user's mobile terminal is positioned within a distance enabling short-range communication with the transmitter of the rental item throughout substantially the entire period of each usage of the rental item from the start time of use by the user to the end time of use.

[0072] (23) A rental object management system as described in (22), wherein each rental object is a voice guide device (e.g., a device that receives a signal wirelessly from the outside and converts it into voice data in real time, or that reads voice data from an internal memory in response to an external trigger signal to provide a voice description of the object being viewed) that is rented to a visitor or tourist at an art gallery, museum, or tourist spot and carried by the visitor or tourist during the tour.

[0073] (24) A rental item management system as described in paragraph (21) having the characteristic that the user's mobile terminal is positioned within a distance enabling short-range communication with the transmitter of the rental item at least during the start and end stages of each usage period from the start time of use by the user to the end time of use of the rental item.

[0074] (25) A method for managing rental items as described in paragraph (24), wherein each rental item includes a rental car or a rental bicycle.

[0075] (26) A method for centrally managing a plurality of rental objects, which are real property or movable property that can be rented to a user, comprising: The method comprises: a transmitter for transmitting a signal representing a unique transmitter code for each rental object; A mobile terminal of a user who selects one of the rental items and wishes to use the selected rental item, capable of receiving signals from one or more transmitters via a short-range communication method. This is carried out using The method comprises: the mobile terminal repeatedly performs reception attempts to receive signals from one or more transmitters; a step of supporting a user in selecting, by the mobile terminal, one of the plurality of rental objects as a selected rental object; Including, The method further comprises: a step of the mobile terminal and / or a management server capable of communicating with the mobile terminal recognizing that a user has started using the selected rental object based on the timing of a first transition occurring in which the mobile terminal transitions from an unauthorized reception state in which the mobile terminal does not receive a signal from any transmitter or the signal received from one or more transmitters does not represent a genuine transmitter code specific to a transmitter that should be installed in the selected rental object to a genuine reception state in which the mobile terminal receives a signal from one or more transmitters or the signal received from one or more transmitters represents the genuine transmitter code, or based on the timing of a predetermined first event occurring as a result of the first transition; a step of recognizing, by the mobile terminal and / or the management server, the end of use of the selected rental object by the user based on the timing of the occurrence of a second transition from the authorized reception state to the unauthorized reception state or the timing of the occurrence of a predetermined second event triggered by the second transition; A rental object management method comprising at least one of the above.

[0076] (27) A method for centrally managing a plurality of rental objects, which are real property or movable property that can be rented to a user, comprising: The method comprises: a transmitter for transmitting a signal representing a unique transmitter code for each rental object; A mobile terminal of a user who selects one of the rental items and wishes to use the selected rental item, capable of receiving signals from one or more transmitters via a short-range communication method. This is carried out using The method comprises: the mobile terminal repeatedly performs reception attempts to receive signals from one or more transmitters; a step of supporting a user in selecting, by the mobile terminal, one of the plurality of rental objects as a selected rental object on the mobile terminal; a step in which the mobile terminal and / or a management server capable of communicating with the mobile terminal monitors a time-series change in a user's approach to or distance from the selected rental object based on a time-series change in a received signal indicating whether the mobile terminal receives a signal from one or more transmitters; A rental object management method including:

[0077] (28) A rental object management method according to claim 26 or 27, wherein each of the rental objects includes a parking lot.

[0078] (29) A rental object management method as described in (26) or (27), wherein each of the rental objects includes a vehicle space installed in a parking lot.

[0079] (30) A method for controlling a reception range of a transmitter received by a user's mobile terminal, comprising: a plurality of transmitters, each of which is attached to movable or immovable property and which continuously transmits a unique identification signal; A user's mobile terminal capable of receiving one or more transmitters via a short-range communication method. The method is carried out using a system including The method comprises: a wide-area reception process in which the mobile terminal receives signals from one or more transmitters in a wide-area reception mode in which reception is performed in a first effective reception area, and determines whether the mobile terminal is present within the first effective reception area for each transmitter, thereby determining whether the mobile terminal has detected each transmitter in the wide-area reception mode; a simultaneous reception determination step of determining whether the mobile terminal has detected a plurality of transmitters simultaneously in the wide-area reception mode; a narrow-area reception step of receiving signals from one or more transmitters in a narrow-area reception mode in which reception is performed in a second effective reception area that is smaller than the first effective reception area, and determining whether the mobile terminal is present within the second effective reception area for each transmitter, when at least one condition including a condition that the mobile terminal has determined that it has simultaneously detected a plurality of transmitters in the wide-area reception mode is satisfied, thereby determining whether the mobile terminal has detected each transmitter in the narrow-area reception mode; The method includes:

[0080] (31) The method according to claim 30, wherein the real estate includes a plurality of rental spaces (e.g., a plurality of rental seats, a plurality of parking lots, a plurality of parking spaces within a single parking lot, a plurality of stations, each of which stores a plurality of rental bicycles available for rental to users), each of which is equipped with a transmitter.

[0081] (32) The method according to claim 30, wherein the movable property includes a plurality of rental bicycles or rental cars, each of which is equipped with a transmitter.

[0082] (33) The wide-area receiving step includes: the mobile terminal attempting to receive signals from each of one or more transmitters in the wide area reception mode; a step in which the mobile terminal and / or a server capable of communicating with the mobile terminal measures, when the mobile terminal receives signals from one or more transmitters in the wide area reception mode, a distance between each transmitter and the mobile terminal based on the received signals as a first distance; determining, by the mobile terminal and / or the server, if a first distance measured for each transmitter is shorter than the first effective reception radius, that each transmitter has been detected by the mobile terminal, and if the first distance is longer than the first effective reception radius, that each transmitter has not been detected by the mobile terminal; Including, The narrow band receiving step includes: the mobile terminal attempting to receive signals from each of one or more transmitters in the short range reception mode; When the mobile terminal and / or the server receives a signal from one or more transmitters in the narrow band reception mode, the mobile terminal measures a distance between each transmitter and the mobile terminal as a second distance based on the received signal; determining, by the mobile terminal and / or the server, if a second distance measured for each transmitter is shorter than the second effective reception radius, that each transmitter has been detected by the mobile terminal, and, if the second distance is longer than the second effective reception radius, that each transmitter has not been detected by the mobile terminal; The method includes:

[0083] The technology described in the above items (30) to (33) relates to an improvement of the reception mode of a user's mobile terminal when the mobile terminal detects a transmitter. According to this technology, the reception mode, i.e., the effective reception radius (a value set in the mobile terminal) is made variable and is switched between a wide-area reception mode and a narrow-area reception mode. According to this technology, when there is a low possibility of interference (false detection of a transmitter by the mobile terminal) occurring between multiple transmitters, the wide-area reception mode is selected, and when there is a high possibility of interference occurring, the narrow-area reception mode is automatically switched to. Therefore, according to this technology, even when multiple transmitters are close to each other, it becomes easy for the mobile terminal to normally detect only the appropriate transmitter.

[0084] In addition, the technology described in the above items (30) to (33) (technology for automatically switching the reception mode from wide-area reception mode to narrow-area reception mode when a mobile terminal detects multiple transmitters simultaneously in wide-area reception mode) can be combined with the technology described in the above items (1) to (29) (filtering technology for filtering, in a software manner, signals received from transmitters other than the authorized transmitter when a mobile terminal detects multiple transmitters simultaneously, provided that the identity of the only transmitter that the mobile terminal should originally receive is known prior to reception from the multiple transmitters), an example of which will be described in detail later with reference to FIG. 25. Effect of the Invention

[0085] According to one aspect of the present invention, any object is selected by the user before the user's mobile terminal receives a transmitter.

[0086] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, based on the identity of the selected space (e.g., the reserved rental object) selected by the user, multiple transmitters installed in multiple spaces are classified into legitimate transmitters (target transmitters) that should be installed in one selected space and other illegitimate transmitters (non-target transmitters).

[0087] As a result, according to one aspect of the present invention, even if a user's mobile terminal receives a signal from an unauthorized transmitter in the selected space, the signal is not referenced, and only signals from authorized transmitters are referenced, thereby estimating the user's current location, i.e., whether the user is truly located at the same location as the selected space or in its vicinity.

[0088] The idea behind this estimation is that if the location of the user is known, then the mobile terminal only needs to pay attention to signals that are expected to be transmitted by a transmitter that is expected to be installed in that known location.

[0089] Therefore, according to one aspect of the present invention, even in an environment in which the effective receiving area at least partially overlaps between a genuine transmitter and another transmitter, for reasons such as the necessity to place a genuine transmitter spatially close to other transmitters, or the necessity to expand the effective receiving area of ​​the genuine transmitter (see, for example, Figs. 5 and 20) in order to improve the convenience of a user receiving a genuine transmitter using his or her mobile terminal (for example, to eliminate the need for the user to go out of his or her way to approach the genuine transmitter from a normal position), only the signal from the genuine transmitter is enabled in the mobile terminal by a software filtering function (noise removal function) rather than a hardware filtering function (noise removal function). As a result, according to one aspect of the present invention, it becomes easy to accurately estimate the user's current location without being affected by other transmitters.

[0090] The effect of being able to easily expand the effective receiving area of ​​each transmitter is realized, for example, when the present invention is applied to a technology for selecting any parking space in a parking lot or a similar technology, as the effect that, during the entry sequence and / or exit sequence, the user can remain in the vehicle parked in the selected parking space in the parking lot, i.e., without getting out of the vehicle and approaching the transmitter, and can easily receive signals from a legitimate transmitter and communicate with the management server for entry and exit processing. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0091] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is an oblique view showing an example of how multiple transmitters installed at multiple rental seats, a mobile terminal of a user when staying at any of the rental seats and when staying at home as an example location away from any of the rental seats, and a management server in a management center located remotely communicate with each other in an unmanned seat rental system according to an exemplary first embodiment of the present invention.

[0092] [Diagram 2]Figure 2 is a conceptual diagram showing short-distance one-way communication between each transmitter installed in each rental seat shown in Figure 1 and a user's mobile terminal, and long-distance two-way communication between the mobile terminal and the management server shown in Figure 1.

[0093] [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram conceptually showing the transmitter shown in FIG.

[0094] [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart conceptually illustrating an example of a program executed by the computer of the transmitter shown in FIG.

[0095] [Diagram 5] Figure 5 is an enlarged plan view showing some of the rental seats shown in Figure 2 along with the transmitters installed at each rental seat, and conceptually showing the effective receiving area assigned to each transmitter.

[0096] [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram conceptually showing the mobile terminal shown in FIG.

[0097] [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram conceptually showing, in a table format, the facility data files stored in the facility data memory appearing in FIG.

[0098] [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram conceptually showing, in a table format, the seat rental data file stored in the seat rental data memory in FIG.

[0099] [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram conceptually showing the management server shown in FIG.

[0100] [Figure 10]Figure 10(a) shows a list showing multiple modules of a seat rental service program executed by the mobile terminal computer shown in Figure 6, and Figure 10(b) shows a list showing multiple modules of a seat rental service program executed by the management server computer shown in Figure 9.

[0101] [Figure 11] Figure 11(a) is a diagram showing an example of a reservation status table used in a reservation sequence to explain the reservation sequence of the unmanned seat rental method executed in the unmanned seat rental system, and Figure 11(b) is a diagram showing an example of a user-specific reservation content file used in the reservation sequence.

[0102] [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a plurality of time charts for illustratively explaining the overall sequence (the entire main sequence) of the unmanned seat rental method.

[0103] [Figure 13] FIG. 13 shows a reservation sequence flow achieved by the execution of the reservation module shown in FIG. 10(a) by the mobile terminal and the execution of the reservation module shown in FIG. 10(b) by the management server.

[0104] [Figure 14] 14(a), (b) and (c) are reservation sequence diagrams for illustrating the reservation sequence flow shown in FIG. 13 in a time-series manner.

[0105] [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a start-of-use sequence flow achieved by the execution by the mobile terminal of the start-of-use processing module shown in FIG. 10(a) and the execution by the management server of the start-of-use processing module shown in FIG. 10(b).

[0106] [Figure 16]FIG. 16 is a stay determination sequence flow achieved by the execution by the mobile terminal of the stay determination module shown in FIG. 10(a) and the execution by the management server of the stay determination module shown in FIG. 10(b).

[0107] [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a sequence flow of a termination process achieved by the execution of the termination process module shown in FIG. 10(a) by a mobile terminal and the execution of the termination process module shown in FIG. 10(b) by a management server.

[0108] [Figure 18] FIG. 18 shows a reservation change sequence flow achieved by the execution of the reservation change module shown in FIG. 10(a) by the mobile terminal and the execution of the reservation change module shown in FIG. 10(b) by the management server.

[0109] [Figure 19] Figure 19 is an oblique view showing an example of communication between multiple transmitters installed in multiple parking spaces in each parking lot, a mobile terminal of a user when staying in one of the parking spaces and a mobile terminal of a user when staying in a location away from any of the parking spaces, and a management server in a remote management center in a parking lot management system according to an exemplary second embodiment of the present invention.

[0110] [Figure 20] Figure 20 is an enlarged plan view showing a portion of several vehicle compartments installed in one of the parking lots shown in Figure 19, and conceptually showing the transmitters installed in each vehicle compartment along with the effective receiving area assigned to that transmitter.

[0111] [Figure 21] FIG. 21 is a plurality of time charts for illustratively explaining the overall sequence of the parking lot management system shown in FIG.

[0112] [Figure 22]FIG. 22 is a time chart for illustrating an example of a reservation sequence executed in the parking lot management system.

[0113] [Figure 23] FIG. 23 is a time chart for illustrating an example of the entrance sequence executed in the parking lot management system.

[0114] [Figure 24] FIG. 24 is a time chart for illustrating the leaving sequence executed in the parking lot management system.

[0115] [Diagram 25] Figure 25 is a flowchart representing a program for detecting when a user in the unmanned seat rental system has mistakenly sat in an unreserved rental seat and instructing the user to sit in the correct rental seat. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0116] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, some exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0117] <First embodiment>

[0118] 1 shows an unmanned seat rental system (an example of a "rental system management system" and an example of a "rental object management system", hereinafter simply referred to as "the system") 10 according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. This system 10 is, in outline, an example of a rental object management system that uses an individual transmitter to authenticate the location of a rental object, on condition that a user reserves the rental object.

[0119] This system 10 is a system for centrally managing a plurality of seat rental facilities 20 (only a representative seat rental facility A among the seat rental facilities 20 is shown in FIG. 1). Each seat rental facility 20 has a plurality of rental seats 22, and each rental seat 22 is a rental space that is an individual space temporarily rented to one user.

[0120] The seats 22 are generally arranged close together in one seat rental facility 20. The seats 22 are an example of a plurality of rental objects that are so close to each other that they cannot be spatially distinguished (resolved) from each other by, for example, the GPS function (described later) of the mobile terminal 90.

[0121] In contrast, the multiple seat rental facilities 20 are an example of multiple facilities that are sufficiently distant from each other that they can be spatially distinguished (resolved) from one another by the GPS function (described later) of the mobile terminal 90.

[0122] Here, to explain the classification of the rental seats 22, each rental seat 22 belongs to a first type of rental space, which has the characteristic that the user's mobile terminal 90 is located within a distance capable of short-distance communication with the transmitter 30 of the rental space throughout substantially the entire period of each use by the user from the start time of use to the end time of use. Other rental spaces that belong to the same first type include multiple rooms in the accommodation facility.

[0123] There is also a second type of rental space, which has the characteristic that the user's mobile terminal 90 is located within a short-distance communication range between the transmitter 30 and the rental space's transmitter 30 at least during the start and end stages of each usage period from the user's start time of use to the end time of use of the rental space. Examples of rental spaces that belong to this second type include multiple car spaces in a parking lot (including a bicycle parking lot), multiple rental locker rooms, multiple rental warehouses, and multiple safe deposit boxes.

[0124] This system 10 is configured to execute an unmanned seat rental method according to this embodiment and a user terminal interference prevention method according to this embodiment. The unmanned seat rental method is an example of a rental space management method that centrally manages multiple rental spaces that can be rented to users, and the rental space management method is an example of a rental object management method that centrally manages multiple rental objects that are real estate that can be rented to users. Another example of the rental object management method is a rental object management method that centrally manages multiple rental objects that are movable property that can be rented to users (e.g., rental cars and rental bicycles).

[0125] Each seat rental facility 20 is unmanned. Furthermore, in order to reduce and simplify equipment, each seat rental facility 20 is not equipped with a device (e.g., an electronic key) that opens and closes appropriately to prevent unauthorized entry and exit from each rental seat 22, a device for reading a code (e.g., a password or barcode information) presented by a user, a payment machine for users to pay rental fees, or a ticket issuing machine for issuing tickets to users.

[0126] The term "code" means "a string of numbers and / or symbols" throughout the specification, and specifically refers to a numerical representation (e.g., a binary representation) that digitizes and expresses the state of an analog signal, and is a numerical representation unique to each analog signal. When used for identification, the term "code" is called, for example, an ID, or identifier.

[0127] By the way, there are two types of management methods for the seat rental facilities 20: an independent management method in which each seat rental facility 20 is managed independently (individually or self-contained) using only the equipment installed in that facility 20, and a centralized management method in which multiple seat rental facilities 20 are managed centrally by communicating with a remote management server 50 (see FIG. 1). The system 10 according to this embodiment employs the above-mentioned centralized management method as its seat rental facility management method.

[0128] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the system 10 includes a transmitter 30 installed at each rental seat 22 in each seat rental facility 20, a management server 50 installed in a management center 40 that centrally manages multiple seat rental facilities 20 and multiple rental seats 22, and a user's mobile terminal 90.

[0129] <Transmitter>

[0130] In this embodiment, multiple rental seats 22 are installed in the same seat rental facility 20, and one transmitter 30 is used for each rental seat 22.

[0131] Each transmitter 30 is configured to transmit an identification signal that indicates a transmitter ID (an example of the aforementioned "transmitter code") that is unique to itself. Since one transmitter ID is also unique to one rental seat 22, as described below, it is associated one-to-one with one rental seat ID (an example of the aforementioned "seat rental code").

[0132] As shown in Figure 2, in this system 10, a user uses his or her own mobile terminal 90 to receive the above-mentioned identification signal from a transmitter 30 installed in the rental seat 22 where the user is currently staying, either in contact with the transmitter 30 or in a non-contact state (when the mobile terminal 90 is held over the transmitter 30 or when the mobile terminal 90 is slightly away from the transmitter 30, as illustrated in multiple places in Figure 5), via a short-range one-way wireless communication method, and also performs long-range two-way wireless communication with a management server 50 at the management center 40.

[0133] The user's mobile terminal 90 is a device that is carried by the user and has a wireless communication function, such as a mobile phone, a smartphone, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, or a PDA.

[0134] Here, the hardware configuration (see FIG. 3) and software configuration (see FIG. 4) of one transmitter 30 representative of the multiple transmitters 30 in FIG. 1 will be described.

[0135] First, conceptually, the transmitter 30 is a contactless or contact communication device that is installed at least one for each corresponding rental seat 22 and transmits an identification signal that can identify the seat rental facility ID unique to the corresponding rental seat 22. The transmitter 30 is sufficient if it has at least a transmission function, but may also be configured to have a receiving function as well, if necessary.

[0136] Next, the operation method will be described. The transmitter 30 actively transmits a unique identification signal without requiring an external trigger signal, and continuously so long as there is no shortage of power supply.

[0137] The transmitter 30 is generally a device that transmits a beacon signal as an identification signal and is also known as a beacon device, a radio beacon, etc. In one example, the transmitter 30 generates an identification signal representing the corresponding seat rental facility ID by modulating an original signal, and transmits the generated identification signal as an IR signal, a Bluetooth (registered trademark) signal, an NFC (near field communication) signal, etc.

[0138] Next, the hardware configuration will be explained with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG. 3. The transmitter 30 is mainly composed of a computer 104 having a processor 100 and a memory 102 that stores a plurality of applications executed by the processor 100.

[0139] The transmitter 30 further has a replaceable disposable battery 106 as a power source. Instead of the battery 106, it is possible to use a rechargeable battery, a commercial power source as an external power source, or a generator that generates power by utilizing an external magnetic field (for example, a transponder).

[0140] The transmitter 30 further includes a transmitter unit 108 that generates and transmits an identification signal. The transmitter unit 108 is powered by a battery 106 and controlled by a controller 110. The controller 110 is controlled by the computer 100.

[0141] Next, the software configuration of the transmitter 30 will be explained with reference to FIG. 4. The processor 100 of the transmitter 30 repeatedly executes a program conceptually shown in the flow chart of FIG.

[0142] When this program is executed each time, first, in step S1, a transmitter ID is read from the memory 102. The transmitter ID has a one-to-one correspondence with a rental seat ID assigned to one rental seat 22 in which the transmitter 30 is installed.

[0143] Next, in step S2, a signal for modulating an original signal (e.g., a carrier signal) is output to controller 110 so that the read transmitter ID is reflected. The controller 110 controls transmitting unit 108, so that transmitting unit 108 generates an identification signal to be transmitted this time. After that, in step S3, transmitting unit 108 transmits the generated identification signal. Then, the process returns to step S1.

[0144] Here, to explain one function of the user's mobile terminal 90 in relation to this transmitter 30, when the mobile terminal 90 receives an identification signal from the transmitter 30, and starts a certain program pre-installed in the computer 134 (see Figure 6) of the mobile terminal 90, the received identification signal is demodulated in real time, thereby decrypting the transmitter ID in real time.

[0145] Furthermore, while receiving an identification signal from transmitter 30, mobile terminal 90 also measures, based on the received identification signal, the distance between the position of transmitter 30 when the identification signal was transmitted and the position of mobile terminal 90 when the identification signal was received.

[0146] That is, based on the identification signal received from the transmitter 30, the mobile terminal 90 acquires both the transmitter ID corresponding to that transmitter 30 and the distance to the transmitter 30 at that time.

[0147] When a user of the mobile terminal 90 approaches the transmitter 30 while holding the mobile terminal 90, or brings the mobile terminal 90 into complete or near contact with the transmitting section 108 of the transmitter 30, the mobile terminal 90 can receive an identification signal from the transmitter 30 in a contactless or contact manner.

[0148] In contrast, when a user of the portable terminal 90 enters a specific reception area while holding the portable terminal 90, the portable terminal 90 can receive an identification signal from the transmitter 30 in a non-contact manner.

[0149] 5, each transmitter 30 is assigned two types of reception areas: a coverage area (not shown) and an effective reception area. Both areas are generally defined as a circle originating from each transmitter 30, with the coverage area having a maximum reception radius, whereas the effective reception area has an effective reception radius.

[0150] However, specifically, the reception area means an area within which the identification signal from each transmitter 30 can reach when the power supply to that transmitter 30 is normal, i.e., an area within which the mobile terminal 90 can receive the identification signal as long as it is within that area.

[0151] In contrast, the effective reception area has an effective reception radius smaller than the maximum reception radius of the coverage area. While the maximum reception radius cannot be set arbitrarily, the effective reception radius can be set arbitrarily depending on, for example, the settings of the signal processing characteristics of the mobile terminal 90.

[0152] The effective reception radius is, for example, within a range of 50 cm to 3 m, or within a range of 1 m to 2 m, as will be apparent from the standard dimensions and geometry of the rental seat 22 described in detail later with reference to Figure 5. The maximum reception radius is, for example, within a range of 50 m to 70 m.

[0153] That is, it is possible to say that the maximum reception radius refers to the reception limits determined by the hardware, whereas the effective reception radius refers to the reception limits determined by the software.

[0154] As described above, the mobile terminal 90 measures the distance to the transmitter 30 when it transmits the received identification signal. The measured distance value may or may not exceed the effective reception radius. When the measured distance value does not exceed the effective reception radius, the mobile terminal 90 is present within the effective reception area (see FIG. 5), whereas when the measured distance value exceeds the effective reception radius, the mobile terminal 90 is present within the receivable area but not within the effective reception area.

[0155] After receiving an identification signal from transmitter 30, mobile terminal 90 determines whether the distance measurement value is equal to or less than the set value of the effective reception radius, and if it determines that the distance measurement value is equal to or less than the set value, then mobile terminal 90 determines that it has "validly received the identification signal from transmitter 30 (hereinafter also simply referred to as 'received the identification signal')" since mobile terminal 90 is currently located within the effective reception area. Here, "validly received" means that mobile terminal 90 has detected, specified, or identified any of the transmitters 30.

[0156] In contrast, if the mobile terminal 90 determines that the distance measurement value is greater than the set value, then since the mobile terminal 90 is currently located outside the effective receiving area, the mobile terminal 90 determines that it is "not effectively receiving the identification signal from the transmitter 30 (hereinafter also simply referred to as 'not receiving the identification signal')."

[0157] In other words, in this embodiment, when the mobile terminal 90 is located outside the effective reception area, even though the mobile terminal 90 is actually receiving the identification signal, the mobile terminal 90 will be treated in software as if it is not receiving the identification signal.

[0158] 5 shows a front view of a rental seat 22 (rented seat P) that is rented to one user (user X). The rental seat 22 has a desk 24 with a top panel 23, and a chair 26 on which the user can sit. In one example, a transmitter 30 is installed on the top panel 23.

[0159] In another example, the transmitter 30 is installed near the distal edge 28 away from the user's seating position, of the proximal edge 27 and the distal edge 28 of the tabletop 23 that face each other in the front-to-rear direction.

[0160] In yet another example, the transmitter 30 is installed at a position offset to the left (or right) from the center position in the width direction of the distal edge 28 of the tabletop 23. As a result, even if a user places an item such as a document on the tabletop 23, a situation in which the item blocks the transmitter 30 and the signal is interrupted is avoided as much as possible.

[0161] 5 shows in plan view an example of an effective receiving area assigned to transmitter 30. In this example, the transmission characteristics of transmitter 30 and the signal processing characteristics of mobile terminal 90 are set so that, when user X is seated in chair 26 and mobile terminal 90 is carried by user X or placed at any position on top plate 27 of desk 23, mobile terminal 90 is present within an effective receiving area with a large effective receiving radius centered on transmitter 30.

[0162] In this example, there is an advantage that the user X is not forced to hold his / her mobile terminal 90 over his / her own transmitter 30 or place it near his / her own transmitter 30. On the other hand, the mobile terminal 90 is present not only within the effective reception area of ​​his / her own transmitter 30 but also within the effective reception area of ​​the adjacent transmitter 30.

[0163] However, according to this embodiment, based on the reservation information of the rental seat 22 (identification information of the rental seat 22 selected by the user prior to the initial reception of the mobile terminal 90 from any of the transmitters 30), the multiple transmitters 30 are classified into genuine transmitters 30 (target transmitters) that should be installed at the reserved rental seat 22 and other non-genuine transmitters 30 (non-target transmitters). Even if the user's mobile terminal 90 receives a signal from a non-genuine transmitter 30 at the selected rental seat 22, the signal is invalidated and not referenced, and only signals from genuine transmitters 30 are enabled and referenced, thereby estimating the user's current location, i.e., whether the user is truly located at the same location as the selected rental seat 22 or in the vicinity thereof.

[0164] 5 also shows an effective reception area with a small effective reception radius. By adopting this effective reception area, there is no overlap between the effective reception area of ​​the regular transmitter 30 and the effective reception area of ​​the adjacent transmitter 30. However, in this embodiment, the user is forced to take the trouble of bringing the mobile terminal 90 close to the transmitter 30 and holding it over or touching it each time in order for the mobile terminal 90 to detect the transmitter 30.

[0165] <Mobile device>

[0166] Next, the hardware configuration of a user's mobile terminal 90 will be described with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG. 6. Mobile terminal 90 is mainly composed of a computer 134 having a processor 130 and a memory 132 that stores a plurality of applications executed by processor 130.

[0167] The mobile terminal 90 further has a display unit (e.g., a liquid crystal display) 136 that displays information, for example, on a screen indicated by the symbol "135" in FIG. 14 (having a window of finite area that is variable or fixed), a receiving unit 138 that receives signals from the transmitter 30 and the management server 50, and a transmitting unit 140 that generates a signal and transmits the signal to the management server 50.

[0168] The mobile terminal 90 further includes an input unit 150 for inputting data and commands from the user. The input unit 150 includes, for example, an operation unit operable by the user to input desired information (e.g., commands, data, etc.) to the mobile terminal 90. The operation unit may be, but is not limited to, a touch screen that displays icons (e.g., virtual buttons) operable by the user, a physical operation unit (e.g., a keyboard, keypad, buttons, etc.) operable by the user, a microphone that detects voice, etc.

[0169] The mobile terminal 90 further includes a GPS (Satellite Positioning System) receiver 152. As is well known, the GPS receiver 152 receives a plurality of GPS signals from a plurality of GPS satellites, and measures the position (latitude, longitude, and altitude) of the GPS receiver 152 on the earth by triangulation based on the GPS signals. In other words, the mobile terminal 90 has a positioning function that uses satellites.

[0170] As shown in FIG. 7, the memory 132 has a number of data memories including a map data memory 161, a seat rental facility data memory 163, a seat rental data memory 165, and a reservation status table memory 167.

[0171] Map data memory 161 temporarily stores map data downloaded by the user's mobile terminal 90 from management server 50 or another map database (not shown) according to the user's current location. Based on the map data, a map (an example of a "partial map") is displayed on screen 135 (see FIG. 14) of display unit 136. The map displayed on screen 135 changes from moment to moment as the user moves.

[0172] As conceptually shown in Fig. 7, the seat rental facility data memory 163 can store correspondence between a plurality of seat rental facility IDs and a plurality of seat rental facility position data downloaded from the management server 50. The plurality of seat rental facility IDs correspond to a plurality of seat rental facilities 20 centrally managed by the system 10. In addition, the plurality of seat rental facility position data each indicate the longitude and latitude (latitude X, longitude Y) of the ground position of the corresponding seat rental facility 20.

[0173] The seat rental facility data memory 163 temporarily stores, at each moment, a plurality of seat rental facility position data corresponding to a plurality of seat rental facilities 20 geographically present on a map displayed on a screen 135, together with a plurality of corresponding seat rental facility IDs.

[0174] In the mobile terminal 90, a map based on the map data is displayed on the screen 135, and furthermore, on the map, the locations of a small number of candidate seat rental facilities 20 located near the current location of the mobile terminal 90 among the downloaded seat rental facilities 20 are overlaid at each moment based on the multiple seat rental facility location data stored in the seat rental facility data memory 163 at that time (see Figure 14).

[0175] Here, the "small number of candidate seat rental facilities 20" refers to a plurality of seat rental facilities 20 that are displayed on the screen 135 among the plurality of downloaded seat rental facilities 20 for geographical reasons that they are close to the current location of the mobile terminal 90, and seat rental facilities 20 that are off the screen 135 for geographical reasons that they are far from the current location of the mobile terminal 90 are excluded.

[0176] As conceptually shown in Fig. 8, the correspondence between a plurality of seat rental facility IDs, a plurality of rental seat IDs, and a plurality of authorized transmitter IDs can be downloaded from the management server 50 and stored in the seat rental data memory 165 in Fig. 6. When any one of the plurality of rental seats 22 is selected by a user, a single rental seat ID corresponding thereto is determined, and thus a single authorized transmitter ID corresponding thereto is determined.

[0177] A reservation status table, which will be described later, is downloaded from the management server 50 as appropriate and stored in the reservation status table memory 167.

[0178] As shown in FIG. 10(a), a seat rental service program for the mobile terminal 90 is stored in the memory 132 of the mobile terminal 90, and the seat rental service program has the following multiple modules.

[0179] 1) Reservation module As will be described in detail later with reference to Fig. 13, this is a module that assists a user in reserving any of the rental seats 22 before arriving at the seat rental facility 20. Here, "reserving" is equivalent to the user inputting location information regarding the location of the desired seat rental facility 20 and the location of the desired rental seat 22, as well as time information such as the scheduled start time and scheduled end time.

[0180] 2) Reservation change module As will be described in more detail later with reference to Figure 18, this is a module that assists a user in changing a reservation to delay the scheduled end time included in the reservation details at the location of the reserved rental seat 22 after the user has started using the reserved rental seat 22 but before the user finishes using the seat (while staying at the reserved rental seat 22).

[0181] 3) Pre-use warning module Although not shown, if there is another user who has reserved the same rental seat 22 after the scheduled end time included in the reservation details of each user, this is a module that individually sends a message to the current user's mobile terminal 90 to alert the user that ``because another user is planning to use the same rental seat after the current user has finished using it and before the scheduled start time included in the reservation details, the reservation cannot be changed to delay the scheduled end time, and therefore we ask that you leave the rental seat 22 by the scheduled end time'' during the period after the reservation is made and before the scheduled start time included in the reservation details.

[0182] 4) Start-of-use processing module As will be described in more detail later with reference to Figure 15, this is a module that assists a user in starting to use a rental seat 22 in accordance with his or her reservation, and also assists the user in changing the reservation to effectively advance the scheduled start time included in the reservation details prior to starting to use the reserved rental seat 22.

[0183] 5) Stay Judgment Module As will be described in more detail later with reference to Figure 16, this is a module that repeatedly determines from moment to moment whether a user is actually present in the rental seat 22 or not (non-existent) while the rental seat 22 is in use.

[0184] 6) End of Use Processing Module This is a module that assists a user in completing the use of a rental seat 22 in accordance with his / her reservation and in electronically paying the rental fee, as will be described in more detail below with reference to FIG.

[0185] <Management Server>

[0186] Next, the hardware configuration of the management server 50 will be explained with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG. 9. The management server 50 is mainly composed of a computer 164 having a processor 160 and a memory 162 that stores a plurality of applications executed by the processor 160.

[0187] This management server 50 further has a display unit (e.g., a liquid crystal display) 166 that displays information, a receiving unit 168 that receives signals from the mobile terminal 90, a transmitting unit 170 that generates signals and transmits them to the mobile terminal 90, and a clock 172 that measures the current time. This management server 50 does not directly receive information from the transmitter 30, but in effect receives information via the mobile terminal 90.

[0188] As shown in FIG. 10(b), the memory 162 of the management server 50 stores a seat rental service program for the management server 50, and the seat rental service program has the following multiple modules.

[0189] 1) Reservation module This is a module that has the same functions as the reservation module of the mobile terminal 90, as will be described in detail later with reference to FIG.

[0190] 2) Reservation change module This is a module that has the same functions as the reservation change module of the mobile terminal 90, as will be described later in detail with reference to FIG.

[0191] 3) Pre-use warning module Although not shown, this is a module that has the same function as the pre-use warning module of the mobile terminal 90 .

[0192] 4) Start-of-use processing module This is a module having the same functions as the start-of-use processing module of the mobile terminal 90, as will be described in detail later with reference to FIG.

[0193] 5) Stay Judgment Module This is a module that has the same function as the stay determination module of the mobile terminal 90, as will be described later in detail with reference to FIG.

[0194] 6) End of Use Processing Module This is a module that has the same functions as the end-of-use processing module of the mobile terminal 90, as will be described in detail later with reference to FIG.

[0195] <Reservation sequence overview>

[0196] FIG. 11(a) shows an example of a reservation status table for managing the reservation status of a plurality of rental seats 22 by a plurality of users by execution of the reservation module by the mobile terminal 90 and the management server 50.

[0197] This reservation status table is created and updated in the management server 50, and the latest version is shared with the mobile terminal 90. This reservation status table displays whether or not a reservation has been made and the planned time period for use (including date and time) for each seat rental facility 20 and for each seat rental 22. The user visually checks this reservation status table on the screen 135 of their mobile terminal 90, refers to it, searches for a seat rental facility 20 with vacant seats, searches for one of the multiple seats 22 in that seat rental facility 20 that has available time, and specifies the desired date and time period.

[0198] In Figure 11 (a), on the time axis (from 00:00 to 23:59) for each rental seat 22 in the reservation status table, at the time when the reservation status table was last updated, a time period with a horizontal bar hatched with diagonal lines indicates a time period where a reservation already exists, i.e., a time period with a prior reservation, while a time period without such a bar indicates a time period where no reservation yet exists, i.e., a time period without a prior reservation.

[0199] The user inputs into his / her mobile terminal 90 the identification information of the selected seat rental facility 20, the identification information of the selected seat rental 22, the start date and time of use, and the end date and time of use, as illustrated in Figure 14(c), thereby reserving the corresponding seat rental 22.

[0200] FIG. 11(b) shows an example of a user-specific reservation content file for managing reservation contents of a plurality of users by execution of the reservation module by the mobile terminal 90 and the management server 50.

[0201] This user-specific reservation content file is created and updated in the management server 50. This user-specific reservation content file indicates, for each user, personal authentication information (user ID, password, etc.), location information for identifying the location of the selected seat rental facility 20 (ID unique to the selected facility 20), location information for identifying the location of the selected seat rental 22 (ID unique to the selected seat rental 22), time information for defining the planned time period of use for the selected seat rental 22 (planned start time, planned end time, planned duration of use, etc.), and the type of penalty imposed on the user for violating the rules that the user is required to follow in order to receive the current seat rental service.

[0202] <Overall sequence overview>

[0203] FIG. 12 illustrates an outline of the main sequences using multiple time charts, taking as an example a case where a user makes a reservation for rental seat 22 (rental seat P) with a scheduled start time of 15:00 and a scheduled end time of 18:00.

[0204] In the same figure (as in Figure 21), the time chart labeled "reception" represents, for ease of explanation, whether or not the mobile terminal 90 is receiving the legitimate transmitter ID at each moment with a pulse signal that is at a low level when the mobile terminal 90 is not receiving the legitimate transmitter ID and at a high level when it is receiving it.

[0205] 1) Start using

[0206] Assuming that a user sits down at the rental seat 22 at 15:30 on a certain day, the user's mobile terminal 90 will inevitably enter the effective reception area of ​​the authorized transmitter 30. At this time, the mobile terminal 90 starts receiving signals from the transmitter 30, either by the user carrying the mobile terminal 90 with him / her or by holding the mobile terminal 90 over the transmitter 30. It is assumed that the start-of-use module is activated before the user arrives at the seat rental facility 20.

[0207] As a result, assuming that an event occurs at 15:30 in which the mobile terminal 90 transitions from a state in which it does not receive a legitimate transmitter ID (including both a non-legitimate ID reception state in which the mobile terminal 90 receives a signal from one of the transmitters 30, but the signal represents an actual transmitter ID different from the legitimate transmitter ID, and a completely non-reception state in which the mobile terminal 90 does not receive a signal from any of the transmitters 30) to a state in which it does receive a legitimate transmitter ID (this is an example of the aforementioned "first transition"; in Figure 12, this is the rising edge of one received pulse signal corresponding to the period of use of the rental seat 22 by the user), the mobile terminal 90 (or the management server 50) determines that the user has actually sat down at the rental seat 22, i.e., has started using the rental seat 22.

[0208] This is because, in this embodiment, the event of the mobile terminal 90 transitioning from a state in which it does not receive a genuine transmitter ID to a state in which it does receive one (i.e., the initial determination that the actual transmitter ID matches the genuine transmitter ID) is an exclusive event that does not occur unless the user is seated in a genuine rental seat 22.

[0209] Next, the user inputs a start-of-use request (an example of the above-mentioned "first event") to the mobile terminal 90 within a first time limit, for example, five minutes from the time the event occurs.

[0210] In response to the request to start using the seat 22, the management server 50 allows the user to start using the seat 22. This time is the actual start time of use, but in principle, the user is charged from the scheduled start time of 15:00. Specifically, the total usage time (rental time, loaned time) that is referenced for calculating the final rental fee for the user starts to be counted from the scheduled start time.

[0211] 2) In use

[0212] After starting to use the rental seat 22, a user normally does not leave the rental seat 22 for an extended period of time (although they may leave temporarily), and therefore, while the rental seat 22 is in use, the mobile terminal 90 continues to receive a signal from the transmitter 30 (in Figure 12, the high-level continuing portion of the single received pulse signal), thereby allowing the mobile terminal 90 (or management server 50) to continue to determine that the user is staying in the rental seat 22.

[0213] 3) Termination of use

[0214] Assuming that the user leaves the rental seat 22 at 17:30 on the same day, the user's mobile terminal 90 leaves the effective reception area of ​​the authorized transmitter 30. At this time, the user's mobile terminal 90 ends reception from the authorized transmitter 30 while still carrying the mobile terminal 90 with the user.

[0215] As a result, assuming that an event occurs in which the mobile terminal 90 transitions from a state in which it receives the legitimate transmitter ID to a state in which it does not receive it (this is an example of the aforementioned "second transition"; in Figure 12, this is the falling edge of the one received pulse signal), the mobile terminal 90 (or management server 50) determines that the user has actually left the rental seat 22, i.e., has finished using the rental seat 22.

[0216] This is because, in this embodiment, the event of the mobile terminal 90 transitioning from a state in which it receives the regular transmitter ID to a state in which it does not receive it is an exclusive event that does not occur unless the user leaves the regular rental seat 22.

[0217] Next, the user inputs a usage end request (an example of the above-mentioned "second event") to the mobile terminal 90 within a second time limit of, for example, five minutes from the time the event occurred.

[0218] In response to the end-of-use request, the management server 50 permits the user to end use of the rental seat 22. This time is the actual end time of use, but in principle, the user will continue to be charged until 18:00, which is the scheduled end time. Specifically, at the scheduled end time, the count of the total usage time (rental time, loaned time) that is referenced for calculating the final rental fee for the user ends.

[0219] Once the calculation of the rental fee has been completed, the user electronically pays the rental fee via the mobile terminal 90.

[0220] <Reservation sequence>

[0221] Figure 13 shows a chronological sequence flow of an example of communication between a mobile terminal 90 and a management server 50 located in a remote location in order for a user to connect the mobile terminal 90 to a management server 90 at a location away from the seat rental facility 20 that the user wishes to reserve (for example, at home, as shown in Figure 1) and reserve any of the seats 22 within the seat rental facility 20.

[0222] When the user launches the seat rental service program (which has already been downloaded from the management server 50 and installed in 132 of the mobile terminal 90) on the mobile terminal 90, multiple buttons (display targets selectable by the user), namely "Reservation," "Start use," "Request to start use," "Request to end use," and "Change reservation," are displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal 90.

[0223] This time, when the "Reserve" button is selected by the user, the reservation module of the seat rental service program for the mobile terminal 90 is executed by the processor 130 of the mobile terminal 90, and the reservation module of the seat rental service program for the management server 50 is executed by the processor 160 of the management server 50.

[0224] When the reservation module for the mobile terminal 90 is executed by the processor 130 of the mobile terminal 90, first, in step 101, the mobile terminal 90 operates to measure the user's current location (longitude and latitude) based on a GPS signal received from the outside by the GPS receiver 152.

[0225] Next, in step S102, the measured current position of the user is set as a reference position (position (longitude and latitude) of the display reference point) referred to by processor 130 in order to display the map on screen 135 of display unit 136. Furthermore, a portion of the overall map that has a size that can be displayed at one time within a window on screen 135 and in which the reference position exists is determined to be the display range of the map (i.e., the area of ​​the overall map that is displayed in the window at each moment).

[0226] 14(a), when the user moves on the ground over time, the reference position 202 (shown by a black triangle in the figure) also moves over time to follow the user's movement. As a result, the display range of the map also moves over time on the entire map as the user moves, and the image of the map displayed in the window also changes over time.

[0227] Next, in step S103, a login request (an example of a "service start signal") for logging in to the management server 50 is transmitted to the management server 50 together with a user ID and password for identifying the current user.

[0228] In contrast, when the reservation module for the management server 50 is executed by the processor 160 of the management server 50, in step S201, the management server 50 receives the login request along with the user ID and password, and then, in step S202, searches for facility data for the multiple seat rental facilities 20 (see Figure 7 for multiple components of the facility data), seat rental data for the multiple rental seats 22 belonging to those seat rental facilities 20 (see Figure 8 for multiple components of the seat rental data), and the reservation status table (see Figure 11(a)) in the memory 162 (or another memory) of the management server 50.

[0229] Thereafter, in step S203, the retrieved facility data, seat rental data, and reservation status table are transmitted to the mobile terminal 90.

[0230] In response, the mobile terminal 90 receives the facility data, seat rental data, and reservation status table in step S104. The received facility data is stored in seat rental facility data memory 163 shown in Fig. 7, and as a result, the table shown in Fig. 7 is constructed. The received seat rental data is stored in seat rental data memory 165 shown in Fig. 8, and as a result, the table shown in Fig. 8 is constructed. The received reservation status table (see Fig. 11(a)) is stored in reservation status table memory 167.

[0231] Next, in step S105, based on the stored facility data, of the multiple seat rental facilities 20, those located near the current location are overlaid on the map displayed on the screen 135 as a small number of candidate facilities 20.

[0232] In this step 105, not all of the seat rental facilities 20 represented by the received facility data (all seat rental facilities 20 stored in the memory 162 of the management server 50) are displayed on the screen 135. Only a smaller number of seat rental facilities 20 than the above-mentioned seat rental facilities 20, determined by the user's current location and the size of the screen 135, are displayed on the screen 135. In other words, the seat rental facilities 20 received from the management server 50 are further narrowed down to a smaller number of candidate facilities 20 based on the user's current location and the size of the screen 135.

[0233] 14(a), the user's current location is overlaid on a map displayed on the screen 135 using a black triangle 202, and multiple candidate facilities 20 are overlaid using multiple facility icons 204. In this example, the three facility icons 204 are configured as figures in which the letters "A," "B," and "C" are surrounded by a rectangular frame.

[0234] Next, in step S106, the user touches with his / her finger a display position of any one of the candidate facilities 20 on the screen 135, thereby selecting any one of the seat rental facilities 20 as the currently selected facility 20.

[0235] Specifically, when a user touches with his / her finger a display position of one of the candidate facilities 20 on the screen 135, the touch position is detected by the touch screen of the display unit 136, and the touch position is converted into map coordinate information (position information), which is, for example, longitude and latitude on a map (defined by a global coordinate system, which is an absolute coordinate system) or corresponding XY coordinate information (defined by a device coordinate system, which is a relative coordinate system). Based on the map coordinate information, one of the candidate facilities 20 is identified.

[0236] After that, in step S107, as shown in Fig. 14(b), the reservation status table is displayed on the screen 135. Next, in step S108, as shown in Fig. 14(c), the user inputs the identification information (e.g., name) of the seat rental facility 20 to be reserved, the identification information (e.g., number) of the seat rental 20 to be reserved, the start date and time of use, and the end date and time of use.

[0237] Thereafter, in step S109, the mobile terminal 90 transmits the input reservation details to the management server 50.

[0238] In response to this, the management server 50 receives the reservation details in step S204. Next, in step S205, the management server 50 registers the received reservation details in one of the multiple user-specific reservation details files (see FIG. 11(b)) associated with the current user, and further updates the reservation status table stored in the memory 162 so that the received reservation details are reflected.

[0239] Thereafter, in step S206, the management server 50 transmits a message to the mobile terminal 90 indicating that the reservation has been completed.

[0240] In response to this, the mobile terminal 90 displays the received message on the screen 135 or outputs it by voice. This display notifies the user that his / her reservation has been made.

[0241] <Start-up sequence>

[0242] FIG. 15 shows a chronological sequence flow of an example of communication that takes place between a transmitter 30 located at a reserved seat 22 (hereinafter simply referred to as "rented seat 22") in a seat rental facility 20, the user's mobile terminal 90, and the management server 50, in order to obtain permission to start using the reserved seat 22 immediately after the user arrives at and sits down at the reserved seat 22.

[0243] The transmitter 30 spontaneously and continuously transmits an identification signal unique to itself. When the user sits down at the reserved seat 22, the mobile terminal 90 is present within the effective reception area of ​​the transmitter 30 (see FIG. 5), and therefore the mobile terminal 90 effectively receives the identification signal from the transmitter 30.

[0244] This time, when the user selects a button "Start using" on the screen of the mobile terminal 90, a start-of-use processing module for the mobile terminal 90 is executed by the mobile terminal 90. As a result of this execution, first, in step 151, the mobile terminal 90 transmits a login request for logging in to the management server 50 to the management server 50 together with a user ID and password for identifying the current user.

[0245] In response to this, when the start-of-use processing module for the management server 50 is executed by the management server 50, the management server 50 receives the login request together with the user ID and password in step S251, and then in step S252, one of the multiple user-specific reservation content files associated with the current user is searched in the memory 162. Furthermore, in the searched user-specific reservation content file, information on the reserved seat rental facility 20 (selected facility) among the multiple seat rental facilities 20 and information on the reserved seat rental 22 (selected seat) among the multiple seats 22 in the seat rental facility 20 are searched for as current user reservation related information.

[0246] Thereafter, in step S253, the retrieved current user reservation related information is transmitted to the mobile terminal 90.

[0247] In response to this, the mobile terminal 90 receives the current user reservation related information in step S152. Next, in step S153, the current user reservation related information is searched for a transmitter code that is pre-assigned to a genuine transmitter 30 that should be installed in the reserved rental seat 22 as a genuine transmitter code. The genuine transmitter code for the user is obtained.

[0248] Next, in step S154, the mobile terminal 90 performs a reception attempt to receive a signal from any of the transmitters 30.

[0249] On the other hand, as described above, when the mobile terminal 90 is currently located outside the coverage area, the mobile terminal 90 cannot receive any identification signal from the transmitter 30. In contrast, when the mobile terminal 90 is currently located within the coverage area, the mobile terminal 90 can receive the identification signal from the transmitter 30.

[0250] Furthermore, even if the mobile terminal 90 receives an identification signal from any of the transmitters 30, the mobile terminal 90 may currently be located outside the effective reception area for that transmitter 30, or it may be located within the effective reception area.

[0251] Therefore, following step S154, in step S154a, the mobile terminal 90 determines whether or not the mobile terminal 90 has validly received an identification signal from any of the transmitters 30.

[0252] Specifically, the mobile terminal 90 first determines whether or not it is within the coverage area by determining whether or not it has received any identification signal. If it is determined that it is within the coverage area, the mobile terminal 90 then determines whether or not it has validly received an identification signal from any of the transmitters 30.

[0253] Specifically, based on the received identification signal, the mobile terminal 90 measures the current distance between the transmitter 30 and the mobile terminal 90. Furthermore, the mobile terminal 90 determines whether or not the measured distance value is smaller than the set value, i.e., whether or not the mobile terminal 90 is currently located within the effective reception area.

[0254] If the distance measurement value is smaller than the set value, the judgment in step S154a becomes YES, and then the process proceeds to step S155. If not, the judgment in step S154a becomes NO, and then the process returns to step S154, and the reception attempt by the mobile terminal 90 is repeated.

[0255] In step S155, the mobile terminal 90 demodulates the received identification signal, and then in step S156, the mobile terminal 90 decodes the transmitter ID represented by the demodulated identification signal as the actual transmitter ID.

[0256] When the demodulated identification signal is a code represented by a multi-digit binary number, for example, the code is converted into a transmitter ID using a conversion table prepared in advance (for example, one downloaded in advance from the management server 50). However, in terms of usage, the difference between "code" and "ID" is not important since the purpose is identification.

[0257] Next, in step S157, the mobile terminal 90 determines whether or not the real transmitter ID thus decoded matches the one genuine transmitter ID acquired this time by executing step S153. That is, ID matching is performed.

[0258] Here, "actual transmitter ID" means a transmitter ID corresponding to a transmitter (selected actual transmitter) 30 that is actually installed in one of the multiple rental seats 22 that is actually selected and seated by the user, while "regular transmitter ID" means a transmitter ID corresponding to a transmitter (selected virtual transmitter) 30 that should be installed in one of the multiple rental seats 22 that is virtually selected by the user by operating the mobile terminal 90.

[0259] After that, in step S158, the mobile terminal 90 judges whether or not the real transmitter ID and the authorized transmitter ID match each other, i.e., whether or not the ID matching has been successful. In other words, it judges whether or not the first transition, in which the mobile terminal 90 transitions from a state in which it does not receive a signal representing a authorized transmitter ID to a state in which it receives the signal, has occurred for the first time since the start-of-use processing module was activated by the user.

[0260] If the ID matching is not successful, the determination in step S158 becomes NO, and then in step S159, the mobile terminal 90 prompts the user to retry detecting the transmitter 30 by the mobile terminal 90 again, for example, by displaying an appropriate message on the screen 135 or outputting it by voice, etc. Then, the process returns to step S154.

[0261] On the other hand, if the ID matching is successful, the determination in step S158 becomes YES, and then in step S160, the mobile terminal 90 determines that the user has started using the current rental seat 22 at the current time.

[0262] In one example, after the user activates the start-of-use processing module, the user arrives at the seat rental facility 20, but the determination in step S154a is NO until the user arrives at the reserved seat 22. When the user eventually arrives at the seat 22 and sits down, the determination in step S154a transitions from NO to YES.

[0263] At this time, if the mobile terminal 90 receives a signal representing a legitimate transmitter ID, the ID matching is successful, and the determination in step S158 becomes YES. After that, in step S160, it is determined that the first transition has occurred for the first time at the current time.

[0264] Here, the timing at which the determination in step S158 becomes YES coincides with the timing at which the mobile terminal 90 transitions from a state in which it does not receive the legitimate transmitter ID to a state in which it does receive it (corresponding to the time position of the “rising edge” in the example of FIG. 12).

[0265] Thereafter, in step S161, it is determined whether or not a start-of-use request has been input from the user to the mobile terminal 90 (for example, the above-mentioned button for requesting start-of-use has been selected by the user). If a start-of-use request has been input, the determination in step S161 becomes YES, and in step S162 it is determined whether or not the time specified by the user is earlier than the scheduled start time. It is determined whether or not the user actually arrived at the current rental seat 22 and started using it earlier than the scheduled start time.

[0266] If it is assumed that the user's actual use start time is not earlier than the scheduled start time this time, the determination in step S162 is NO, and then in step S163, the normal billing condition (billing starts from the scheduled start time) is selected as the current billing condition. On the other hand, if it is assumed that the user's actual use start time is earlier than the scheduled start time this time, the determination in step S162 is YES, and then in step S164, the special billing condition (billing starts from the actual start time) is selected as the current billing condition.

[0267] In either case, thereafter, in step S165, the determination result that the user is actually using the reserved rental seat 22 and the current billing conditions are transmitted to the management server 50 in association with the user.

[0268] The above describes a case where the user normally issues a start-of-use request immediately after the mobile terminal 90 has validly received the legitimate transmitter 30. If the request is not issued, the determination in step S161 becomes NO, and then in step S166 it is determined whether or not the time elapsed since the execution time of step S160 is currently within a first time limit (e.g., 5 minutes). If it is within the first time limit, the determination in step S166 becomes YES, and in step S167 the user is prompted to input a start-of-use request, for example, by an appropriate message being displayed on the screen 135 or being output by voice. Then, the process returns to step S161.

[0269] On the other hand, if the time that has elapsed since step S160 was executed currently exceeds the first time limit, the determination in step S166 becomes NO, and thereafter, in step S168, it is determined that the user has committed a first violation.

[0270] Next, in step S165, a notification that the user has committed a first violation is transmitted to the management server 50. After the execution of step S165 is completed, the process automatically proceeds to the stay determination sequence described above without waiting for an instruction from the user.

[0271] In response to this, in step S254, the management server 50 receives the information transmitted by the mobile terminal 90 by executing step S165.

[0272] Then, in step S255, the violation received from the mobile terminal 90 is associated with the user and recorded in the memory 162. Then, in step S256, the current time is measured using the clock 172. Then, in step S257, the current time is recognized as the actual use start time. Then, in step S258, the user is permitted to start using the seat 22 this time.

[0273] Then, in step S259, the charging start time is determined for the user. In principle, charging starts from the scheduled start time, and an amount corresponding to the length of time elapsed from the scheduled start time (usage time, rental time) is calculated as the rental fee.

[0274] As an exception to this, when the actual use start time is earlier than the scheduled use start time but the use start request is normally issued within the first time limit, the issuance time of the use start request is determined as the billing start time.

[0275] If the actual start time of use is earlier than the scheduled start time of use and the request to start use is not issued normally within the first time limit, the current reservation will be forcibly cancelled and penalties such as a violation fee will be imposed on the user.

[0276] Then, in step S260, the content of the warning regarding charging and usage conditions is determined for each user to reflect the individually determined charging start time and a notice to be given to all users in common, which states that the transmitter 30 should be received by the mobile terminal 90 at all times while the rental seat 22 is in use.

[0277] Next, in step S261, a warning regarding the charges and usage conditions is transmitted to the mobile terminal 90 and notified to the user. After that, the flow automatically shifts to the stay determination sequence described above.

[0278] <Stay Judgment Sequence>

[0279] FIG. 16 shows an example of communication between a transmitter 30 located at a reserved seat 22, a user's mobile terminal 90, and a management server 50 in the form of a sequence flow in chronological order, in order to repeatedly determine from moment to moment whether a user is actually present (seated) in the seat 22 after the user has started using the seat 22.

[0280] The transmitter 30 spontaneously and continuously transmits an identification signal unique to itself. As long as the user is seated in the reserved seat 22, the user does not have to take the trouble of holding the mobile terminal 90 over the transmitter 30, and the mobile terminal 90 is present within the effective reception area of ​​the transmitter 30 (see FIG. 5), and the mobile terminal 90 effectively receives the identification signal from the transmitter 30.

[0281] Next, in step S181, in the same manner as in step S154, it is determined whether or not the portable terminal 90 has validly received an identification signal from any of the transmitters 30.

[0282] If it is determined that the mobile terminal 90 has validly received an identification signal from any of the transmitters 30, then in step S182, the received identification signal is demodulated, and then in step S183, the transmitter ID represented by the demodulated identification signal is decoded as the actual transmitter ID.

[0283] Next, in step S184, it is determined whether the real transmitter ID thus decoded and the current one genuine transmitter ID acquired by executing step S153 match each other. That is, ID matching is performed.

[0284] On the other hand, if the actual transmitter ID and the regular transmitter ID match each other, i.e., if the ID matching is successful, the judgment in step S185 is YES, and then in step S186 it is determined that the user is actually currently staying (present) in the regular rental seat 22.

[0285] On the other hand, if the actual transmitter ID and the regular transmitter ID do not match each other, that is, if the ID matching is not successful, the determination in step S185 becomes NO, and then in step S187 it is determined that the user is actually not currently present (not staying) in the regular rented seat 22. If this non-presence determination is made immediately after the determination in step S186 that the user is staying, it is detected that the user has just left the rented seat 22.

[0286] In either case, thereafter, in step S188, the result of the determination that the user is actually staying at the reserved rental seat 22 or the result of the determination that the user is not present is transmitted to the management server 50 in association with the user. Then, the process returns to step S181.

[0287] The step group consisting of steps S181-S188 is repeatedly executed during execution of the seat rental service program.

[0288] In response to this, in step S271, the management server 50 receives from the mobile terminal 90 the result of the determination that the user is actually staying at the reserved rental seat 22 or the result of the determination that the user is not present therein. The management server 50 stores the received determination result in the memory 162 as stay determination result information in association with the user.

[0289] <End of use sequence>

[0290] FIG. 17 shows an example of communication between a user's mobile terminal 90 and the management server 50 in a chronological order, as a sequence flow, for the user to request permission to end use of a reserved seat 22.

[0291] When the mobile terminal 90 determines that the user may have left the rental seat 22, the mobile terminal 90 automatically (or manually) starts an end-of-use processing module for the mobile terminal 90. Upon starting up, first, in step 301, the mobile terminal 90 determines whether the result of the determination as to whether the user is actually currently staying in the reserved rental seat 22 has switched from "staying" to "not present."

[0292] Here, the timing when the determination in step S301 becomes YES corresponds to the timing when the mobile terminal 90 transitions from a state in which it receives the regular transmitter ID (i.e., a state in which the user is staying in the rental seat 22) to a state in which it does not receive the regular transmitter ID (i.e., a state in which the user is not present in the rental seat 22) (corresponding to the time position of the "falling edge" in the example of FIG. 12). Therefore, strictly speaking, the determination in step S301 is a determination of whether or not it is immediately after the user has left the rental seat 22.

[0293] This time, assuming that the judgment in step S301 is YES, it is determined in step S302 that the user has just left the rental seat 22, i.e., the user has finished using the rental seat 22.

[0294] Next, in step S302, it is determined whether or not a usage termination request has been issued by the user (for example, the above-mentioned button for requesting usage termination has been selected by the user). If a usage termination request has been issued, the determination in step S302 becomes YES, and then, in step S303, the fact that a usage termination request has been issued by the user is transmitted to management server 50.

[0295] On the other hand, if the user does not issue a request to end use, it is determined that the user is staying in the rental seat 22, the determination in step S302 is NO, and then in step S304, it is determined whether the time that has elapsed since the timing of the YES determination in step S301 is currently within a second time limit (e.g., 5 minutes). If it is within the second time limit, the determination in step S304 is YES, and in step S305, the user is prompted to input a request to end use, for example, by an appropriate message being displayed on the screen 135 or output by voice. Then, the process returns to step S302.

[0296] On the other hand, if the time elapsed since the YES determination timing in step S301 has now exceeded the second time limit, the determination in step S304 becomes NO, and then in step S306 it is determined that the user has committed a second violation.

[0297] Next, in step S307, a notification is sent to the management server 50 that the user has committed a second violation.

[0298] In contrast, when the end-of-use processing module for the management server 50 is executed by the management server 50, the management server 50 receives, in step S401, the information transmitted by the mobile terminal 90 by execution of step S303 and the information transmitted by the mobile terminal 90 by execution of step S307.

[0299] Then, in step S402, the current time is measured using the clock 172. Then, in step S403, the current time is recognized as the actual use end time. Then, in step S404, the user allows the end of the use of the seat 22 for rental this time.

[0300] Then, in step S405, the time from the charging start time to the charging end time determined for each user individually as described above is calculated as the total rental time. Here, the "charging end time" normally coincides with the scheduled end time, but when the second violation is notified from the mobile terminal 90, the charging end time is determined to coincide with the actual use end time, and the rental amount for the extended rental time from the scheduled use end time to the actual use end time is calculated using a fee rate higher than the normal rate.

[0301] Next, in step S406, the rental fee is calculated based on the calculated total rental time and the fee rate (increase rate) in accordance with a fee table (not shown) and the type of violation that has occurred. The fee rate may be changed to a premium rate as a result of execution of a reservation change module (described later).

[0302] Thereafter, in step S407, the reservation status table is updated so that the reservation for the rental seat 22 is deleted from the reservation status table. Subsequently, in step S408, information such as the calculated rental amount is transmitted to the mobile terminal 90.

[0303] In response, the mobile terminal 90 receives information such as the rental amount from the management server 50 in step S308, and then displays the rental amount on the screen in step S309. Thereafter, in step S310, the user makes an electronic payment.

[0304] Next, in step S311, the mobile terminal 90 transmits a logout request to the management server 50, requesting logout from the management server 50.

[0305] In response to this, the management server 50 receives the logout request in step S409. Then, in step S410, an acknowledgement signal ACK indicating that the logout request has been received successfully is transmitted to the mobile terminal 90.

[0306] In response to this, the mobile terminal 90 receives the acknowledgement signal ACK from the management server 50 in step S312.

[0307] Incidentally, a scenario may also be envisaged in which the user leaves the rental seat 22 for some reason during the period of use, and then returns to the same rental seat 22. In this scenario as well, the mobile terminal 90 transitions from a state in which it receives a legitimate transmitter ID to a state in which it does not receive the legitimate transmitter ID (a second transition occurs), so that the determination in step S301 in FIG. 17 becomes YES.

[0308] If it is necessary for the mobile terminal 900 to distinguish this scenario from a scenario in which the user has left the rental seat 22, this embodiment can be improved, for example, as follows.

[0309] In other words, when the mobile terminal 90 detects a second transition after a user has started using the rental seat 22, it does not immediately proceed to step S302 and request the user to input a request to end use, but rather prior to that, in step S301a (not shown), it displays a confirmation message on the screen of the mobile terminal 90 or outputs it by voice to the user to confirm whether he or she plans to return to the rental seat 22 or leave the seat.

[0310] Then, in step S301b (not shown), when the user responds to the confirmation message by inputting into the mobile terminal 90 that he or she "plans to return," in step S301c (not shown), the mobile terminal 90 repeatedly determines whether or not the mobile terminal 90 has received the legitimate transmitter ID, in preparation for the first transition that occurs thereafter, i.e., the transition from a state in which the mobile terminal 90 does not receive the legitimate transmitter ID to a state in which it does receive it.

[0311] If it is determined in step S301c that the mobile terminal 90 has received the authorized transmitter ID, this means that a new first transition has occurred, and the process then returns to step S301. As a result, the transition to step S302 is temporarily suspended.

[0312] On the other hand, in step S301b, when the user responds to the confirmation message by inputting to the mobile terminal 90 that he or she "plans to leave," the process proceeds to step S302.

[0313] <Reservation change sequence>

[0314] FIG. 18 shows a chronological sequence flow of an example of communication between a user's mobile terminal 90 and the management server 50 in order for the user to change the details of a reservation while in the middle of using a rental seat 22.

[0315] In this case, when the user selects a button "change reservation" on the screen of the mobile terminal 90, a reservation change module for the mobile terminal 90 is executed by the mobile terminal 90. By this execution, first, in step 401, the mobile terminal 90 receives the stay determination result information from the management server 50, and further, based on the stay determination result information, it is determined whether or not the user is actually currently staying at the reserved rental seat 22.

[0316] If it is determined that the user is currently staying, the determination in step S401 becomes YES, and then in step S402, it is determined whether or not the user has input an extension request to the mobile terminal 90. If it is determined that the user has input the extension request this time (for example, the user has selected the button for the extension request described above), then in step S403, the mobile terminal 90 receives the latest reservation status table from the management server 50, and further updates the reservation status table stored in the memory 132 of the mobile terminal 90 so that the reservation status table is reflected.

[0317] Next, in step S404, the mobile terminal 90 displays the updated reservation status table on the screen. After that, in step S405, the user inputs to the mobile terminal 90 to delay the scheduled end time of the user's reservation so as not to overlap with another reservation. Furthermore, the mobile terminal 90 transmits the reservation change contents to the management server 50, and the management server 50 updates the reservation status table to reflect the reservation change contents.

[0318] Thereafter, in step S406, the mobile terminal 90 judges whether the current reservation change was made before the scheduled end time of use, i.e., whether it was made within the time range of the original reservation. If it is assumed that the current reservation change was made before the scheduled end time of use, the charging rate is set to the normal rate in step S407. On the other hand, if it is assumed that the current reservation change was made after the scheduled end time of use, the charging rate is set to the premium rate in step S408.

[0319] In either case, thereafter, in step S409, the mobile terminal 90 transmits the charge rate set as described above to the management server 50.

[0320] As is clear from the above explanation, in this embodiment, the start of use by the user is recognized in response to a combination of the appearance of a first transition, which is one of a pair of a first transition and a second transition (the rising edge and the falling edge of one received pulse signal in FIG. 12), and the user's expression of intent to request to start use.

[0321] Furthermore, in this embodiment, termination of use by the user is recognized in response to a combination of the appearance of a second transition, which is one of a pair of a first transition and a second transition, and an expression of the user's intention to request termination of use.

[0322] Here, the term "a pair of a first transition and a second transition" refers to a combination of two events that occur at the start and end timings of one action performed by the user on the transmitter 30.

[0323] In this embodiment, a scenario is also assumed in which user X inadvertently sits at another rented seat Q when he or she should be seated at rented seat P. In this scenario, there is a possibility that user X's mobile terminal 90 may nevertheless receive the regular transmitter ID of the transmitter 30 installed at rented seat P. In this case, the mobile terminal 90 and management server 50 will recognize that user X is seated at rented seat P, contrary to the fact.

[0324] If it is necessary to avoid such erroneous recognition, this embodiment can be improved as follows.

[0325] First, to give a brief overview, this improved example corresponds to a combination of the first technology adopted in this embodiment, i.e., a filtering technology that, when a mobile terminal 90 detects multiple transmitters 30 simultaneously, software filters out signals received from transmitters 30 other than the legitimate transmitter 30, provided that the transmitter ID of the only transmitter 90 that the mobile terminal 90 should originally receive is known prior to reception from the multiple transmitters 30 (the corresponding rental seat 22 is reserved), and the second technology, i.e., a technology that automatically switches the reception mode from wide area reception mode to narrow area reception mode when the mobile terminal 90 detects multiple transmitters 30 simultaneously in wide area reception mode.

[0326] Next, to explain more specifically, in this example, the mobile terminal 90 is designed to be switchable between a normal effective receiving area (shown in FIG. 5 as a large-diameter circle and broken line; an example of the aforementioned "first effective receiving area") and a reduced effective receiving area (shown in FIG. 5 as a small-diameter circle and broken line; an example of the aforementioned "second effective receiving area") having an effective receiving radius smaller than the effective receiving radius of the normal effective receiving area.

[0327] That is, in this example, the effective reception radius is a variable value, and when it is a large value, a wide-area reception mode or a defocused reception mode is realized, while when it is a small value, a narrow-area reception mode or a focused reception mode is realized.

[0328] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 25, in step S700, the mobile terminal 90 attempts to effectively receive signals from one or more transmitters 30 within the normal effective reception area setting value (effective reception radius in wide area reception mode).

[0329] Next, in step S701, the mobile terminal 90 determines whether or not it has effectively received an actual transmitter ID-P (the genuine transmitter ID of the transmitter 30 of the rental seat P) that matches the genuine transmitter ID in the wide area reception mode (whether or not the mobile terminal 90 is present within the normal valid reception area centered on the transmitter ID-P). If it is determined that the actual transmitter ID-P has not been received, the process returns to step S700.

[0330] When the mobile terminal 90 determines that it has received the real transmitter ID-P in the wide area reception mode, in step S702, the mobile terminal 90 determines whether or not it has also validly received another real transmitter ID-Q (the regular transmitter ID of the transmitter 30 of the rental seat Q) in the wide area reception mode (whether or not the mobile terminal 90 is also present within the valid reception area of ​​the other transmitter ID-Q). If it determines that it has not validly received the other real transmitter ID-Q, it proceeds to step S710 described below.

[0331] If it is determined that another real transmitter ID-Q is also being validly received in the wide area reception mode, in step S703, the mobile terminal 90 measures the distance DQ to the transmitter 30 transmitting that real transmitter ID-Q and the distance DP to the transmitter 30 transmitting the real transmitter ID-P.

[0332] Furthermore, in step S704, the mobile terminal 90 determines whether the distance DQ is shorter than the distance DP. If it is determined that the distance DQ is shorter, it determines that the user X may be seated in the wrong rented seat Q. If it is determined that the distance DQ is not shorter than the distance DP, it proceeds to step S710.

[0333] If it is determined that the distance DQ is shorter than the distance DP, then in step S705, the portable terminal 90 switches the effective receiving area from the normal effective receiving area to the reduced effective receiving area (effective receiving radius of the narrow band receiving mode). Furthermore, in step S706, the portable terminal 90 displays on the screen or outputs by voice a message requesting the user X to then touch or hold the portable terminal 90 over the transmitter 30 of the rental seat Q where the user X is seated.

[0334] Thereafter, in step S707, the mobile terminal 90 attempts to effectively receive one or more transmitters 30, this time in the narrow-area reception mode.

[0335] Next, in step S708, the mobile terminal 90 determines in narrow area reception mode whether or not it has validly received an actual transmitter ID-P (the legitimate transmitter ID of transmitter 30 at rental seat P) that matches the legitimate transmitter ID (whether or not the mobile terminal 90 is located within the reduced effective reception area centered on transmitter ID-P).

[0336] In this case, in the above-mentioned scenario, the mobile terminal 90 will receive the actual transmitter ID-Q of the transmitter 30 at the rental seat Q, which does not match the original legitimate transmitter ID-P, so the judgment in step S708 will be NO.

[0337] In this case, in step S709, the mobile terminal 90 displays a message on the screen or outputs a message by voice to the user X to confirm whether the user X is currently seated in the correct seat 22. As a result, the user moves from seat Q to seat P.

[0338] Then, returning to step S707, the mobile terminal 90 receives the transmitter 30 of the rental seat P in the narrow-area reception mode. Then, the determination in step S708 is YES this time. Then, in step S710, the mobile terminal 90 determines that the user is seated in the correct rental seat P.

[0339] The step group consisting of steps S700-710 shown in FIG. 25 can replace the step group consisting of steps S154-S157 in FIG. 15 and / or the step group consisting of steps S181-S184 in FIG.

[0340] The technology shown in FIG. 25 can be applied to the second embodiment described later, and to support this, FIG. 20 shows a large-diameter normal effective reception area (wide-area reception mode) and a small-diameter reduced effective reception area (narrow-area reception mode) as the effective reception areas of each transmitter 30.

[0341] As is clear from the above explanation, according to this embodiment, the mobile terminal 90 and / or the management server 50 monitors the time changes (the user's dynamic posture, changes in movement, changes in posture, etc., rather than a static posture) of the user sitting / leaving (approaching / leaving, arriving / leaving) the selected seat 22 based on the time changes in the received signal that indicates whether the mobile terminal 90 has received a signal from one or more transmitters 30 over time (see, for example, Figures 12 and 21).

[0342] Therefore, according to this embodiment, it becomes easy to accurately detect the timing when a user actually sits at the rented seat 22 and the timing when a user actually leaves the rented seat 22.

[0343] It should be noted that this embodiment can be implemented with various modifications, and can be improved, for example, so that at least a part of the data processing by the mobile terminal 90 is executed by the management server 50, or conversely, so that at least a part of the data processing by the management server 50 is executed by the mobile terminal 90. This also applies to the following second embodiment.

[0344] As is clear from the above description, according to this embodiment, any of the rental objects is selected by the user before the user's mobile terminal receives a transmitter.

[0345] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, based on the identity of the rental object, that is, which rental object the selected rental object (e.g., the reserved rental object) is, multiple transmitters installed on multiple rental objects are classified into genuine transmitters (target transmitters) that should be installed on one selected rental object and other non-genuine transmitters (non-target transmitters).

[0346] As a result, according to this embodiment, even if the user's mobile terminal receives a signal from an unauthorized transmitter at the selected rental item, that signal is not referenced, and only signals from authorized transmitters are referenced, thereby estimating the user's current location, i.e., whether the user is truly located at the same location as the selected rental item or in its vicinity.

[0347] The idea behind this estimation is that if the location of the user is known, then the mobile terminal only needs to pay attention to signals that are expected to be transmitted by a transmitter that is expected to be installed in that known location.

[0348] Therefore, according to this embodiment, even in an environment in which the effective receiving area at least partially overlaps between a genuine transmitter and other transmitters due to reasons such as the need to place a genuine transmitter spatially close to other transmitters, or the need to expand the effective receiving area of ​​the genuine transmitter (see, for example, Figs. 5 and 20) to improve the convenience of a user receiving a genuine transmitter using his / her mobile terminal (for example, to eliminate the need for the user to go out of his / her way to approach the genuine transmitter from his / her usual position), only the signal from the genuine transmitter is enabled in the mobile terminal by a software filtering function (noise removal function) rather than a hardware filtering function (noise removal function). As a result, according to this embodiment, it becomes easy to accurately estimate the user's current location without being affected by other transmitters.

[0349] The effect of being able to easily expand the effective receiving area of ​​each transmitter is realized, for example, when the present invention is applied to a technology for selecting any parking space in a parking lot or a similar technology, as the effect that, during the entry sequence and / or exit sequence, the user can remain in the vehicle parked in the selected parking space in the parking lot, i.e., without getting out of the vehicle and approaching the transmitter, and can easily receive signals from a legitimate transmitter and communicate with the management server for entry and exit processing.

[0350] <Second embodiment>

[0351] Next, an unmanned parking management system 300 (hereinafter simply referred to as "system 300") according to an exemplary second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 19-24. However, for parts common to the unmanned seat rental system according to the first embodiment, the same reference numerals and names are used to cite the same parts, and duplicated explanations are omitted, and only the different parts are described in detail.

[0352] This system 300 is a system for centrally managing a plurality of parking lots 20 (only three representative parking lots A, B, and C among the parking lots 20 are shown in FIG. 19). Each parking lot 20 has a plurality of vehicle compartments 22, and each vehicle compartment 22 is a rental space, which is an individual space temporarily rented to one vehicle (car, bicycle, motorcycle, etc.) of one user.

[0353] In comparison with the first embodiment, the multiple parking lots 20 correspond to the multiple seat rental facilities 20 in the first embodiment, and the multiple vehicle compartments 22 correspond to the multiple rental seats 22 in one seat rental facility 20.

[0354] In this embodiment, the multiple vehicle compartments 22 in one parking lot 20 are generally arranged close to each other. The vehicle compartments 22 are an example of multiple rental objects that are so close to each other that they cannot be spatially distinguished (resolved) from each other by, for example, the GPS function (described above) of the mobile terminal 90.

[0355] In contrast, the multiple parking lots 20 are an example of multiple facilities that are sufficiently distant from one another that they can be spatially distinguished (resolved) from one another by the GPS function (described later) of the mobile terminal 90.

[0356] The system 300 is generally an example of a rental object management system that uses individual transmitters to authenticate the location of a rental object, contingent on a user reserving the rental object.

[0357] This system 300 is configured to execute a parking lot management method according to this embodiment. The parking lot management method is an example of a rental space management method that centrally manages a plurality of parking lots that can be rented to users, and the rental space management method is an example of a rental object management method that centrally manages a plurality of rental objects that are real estate that can be rented to users. Another example of the rental object management method is a rental object management method that centrally manages a plurality of rental objects that are movable property that can be rented to users (e.g., rental cars and rental bicycles).

[0358] Each parking lot 20 is unmanned. Furthermore, in order to reduce and simplify facilities, each parking lot 20 is not provided with a device for preventing unauthorized entry and exit to each vehicle space 22 (for example, a gate device that selectively prevents the passage of a vehicle, or a lift-up / flap-type vehicle exit prevention device that protrudes from the surface of each parking lot 20 and selectively prevents the wheels of a vehicle from going over), a device for reading a code presented by a user (for example, a password or barcode information), a payment machine for users to pay rental fees, or a ticket issuing machine for issuing tickets to users.

[0359] As shown in FIG. 19, in each parking lot 20, one transmitter 30 is installed for each vehicle compartment 22.

[0360] Specifically, to explain the installation position, each transmitter 30 is positioned within the area of ​​the corresponding vehicle cabin 22 when viewed from the top, and when viewed from the side, although not shown, is positioned at the same height as, higher than, or lower than the surface of the corresponding vehicle cabin 22 (e.g., the ground, pavement, etc.).

[0361] Next, regarding the installation method, each transmitter 30 can be attached, for example, inside or outside a wheel chock installed in the corresponding passenger compartment 22, attached to a vertically extending structure such as a pole or pillar installed in the corresponding passenger compartment 22 at a position elevated from the surface, or buried under the surface of the corresponding passenger compartment 22.

[0362] 20, the user first selects one of a plurality of parking lots 20, then selects one of a plurality of vehicle compartments 22 in the selected parking lot 20, and drives his / her vehicle 400 (or 402) into the selected vehicle compartment 22. In this example, a vehicle 400 is parked facing forward in one vehicle compartment 22, while another vehicle 402 is parked facing backward in the adjacent vehicle compartment 22.

[0363] When the user is in his / her vehicle 400 or 402, the user's mobile terminal 90 may receive a transmitter 30 (authorized transmitter) installed in the selected compartment 22. In addition, the user may receive a transmitter 30 (unauthorized transmitter) installed in the adjacent compartment 22.

[0364] 20, the effective receiving area of ​​each transmitter 30 is set to cover the mobile terminal 90 of the user in the vehicle parked in the corresponding vehicle compartment 22. As a result, the user can receive the transmitter 30 without getting out of his / her vehicle and approaching the transmitter 30, which is convenient for the user, especially when the weather is bad.

[0365] However, this inevitably leads to the possibility that the same effective receiving area may unnecessarily cover the mobile terminal 90 of a user in a vehicle parked in the adjacent compartment 22. Therefore, also in this embodiment, it is determined whether or not the user is staying in the selected compartment 22 by determining whether or not the mobile terminal 90 has received a genuine transmitter ID (more precisely, an identification signal representing the genuine transmitter ID).

[0366] In the first embodiment, during one use of the rental seat 22 by a user, the mobile terminal 90 receives one reception pulse signal, as shown in Fig. 12, and the timing of the rising edge of the signal is recognized as the start time of use, while the timing of the falling edge of the signal is recognized as the end time of use. This is because the user stays in the same rental room 22 from the time he sits down at the rental seat 22 until he leaves it, and during that time, the mobile terminal 90 is in a communication environment where it continues to receive the regular transmitter ID.

[0367] In contrast, in this embodiment, the user stays in the selected compartment 22 when entering and leaving the parking lot, but the user is usually not in the selected compartment 22 during substantially the entire period during which the vehicle is parked in the selected compartment 22. Therefore, a signal processing different from that in the first embodiment is required.

[0368] Therefore, in this embodiment, as conceptually shown in the time chart of Figure 21, at the entry stage, a first transition (rising edge of the entry pulse signal, which is a single received pulse signal at the time of entry) occurs in which the mobile terminal 90 transitions from a state in which it does not receive the genuine transmitter ID (more precisely, an identification signal representing the genuine transmitter ID) to a state in which it does receive it, and shortly thereafter, a second transition (falling edge of the entry pulse signal) occurs in which the mobile terminal 90 transitions from a state in which it receives the genuine transmitter ID to a state in which it does not receive it.

[0369] Then, in order to confirm the entry, the user is requested to indicate his / her intention to make a warehousing request (an example of the above-mentioned "first event") to the mobile terminal 90. When the user actually makes a warehousing request, the timing of the first transition (or the timing of the second transition) is recognized as the entry time.

[0370] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as conceptually shown in the time chart of FIG. 21, in the leaving stage, a first transition (rising edge of the leaving pulse signal, which is one received pulse signal at the time of leaving) occurs, and shortly thereafter, a second transition (falling edge of the leaving pulse signal) occurs.

[0371] Then, in order to confirm the leaving, the user is requested to indicate his / her intention to make a leaving request (an example of the above-mentioned "second event") to the mobile terminal 90. When the leaving request is actually made by the user, the timing of the second transition (or the timing of the first transition) is recognized as the leaving time.

[0372] Figure 22 conceptually illustrates in a flowchart an example of a reservation sequence executed by a mobile terminal 90 and a management server 50 for a user to reserve any parking space 22 in any parking lot 20, as part of a parking lot management program for managing multiple parking lots 20.

[0373] First, when the parking lot management program is started by the user's mobile terminal 90, the user selects a reservation mode in step S500. Next, in step S601, the management server 50 reads out from the memory 162 parking lot data (corresponding to the seat rental facility data shown in FIG. 7) indicating the positions on the map of each of the multiple parking lots 20, vehicle compartment data (corresponding to the seat rental data shown in FIG. 8) indicating the correspondence between the IDs of the multiple parking lots 20, the IDs of the multiple vehicle compartments 22, and the multiple authorized transmitter IDs, and a reservation status table (corresponding to the reservation status table shown in FIG. 11(a)), and transmits them to the mobile terminal 90.

[0374] Next, in step S501, the mobile terminal 90 receives the data and the table from the management server 50 and stores them in the memory 132. Next, in step S502, the mobile terminal 90 narrows down the multiple parking lots 20 to a small number of candidate parking lots 20 located near the user's current location based on the parking lot data and the GPS positioning results of the mobile terminal 90, and displays the small number of candidate parking lots 20 on the screen.

[0375] Furthermore, in step S502, the user operates the mobile terminal 90 to select one of the multiple candidate parking lots 20 displayed on the screen as the currently selected parking lot 20. In response, the mobile terminal 90 displays the reservation status table on the screen, thereby enabling the user to know the time periods during which each of the multiple parking spaces 22 in the selected parking lot 20 is vacant.

[0376] Thereafter, in step S503, the user selects one of the compartments 22 using the mobile terminal 90, and then, in step S504, the user inputs into the mobile terminal 90 the planned time period during which the selected compartment 22 will be used.

[0377] Thereafter, in step S505, the mobile terminal 90 transmits the reservation details (parking lot 20, parking space 22, and time period of use) designated by the user to the management server 50 together with personal authentication information for identifying the user.

[0378] In response to this, the management server 50 receives the reservation details in association with the user in step S602, and updates the user-specific reservation details file so that the reservation details are reflected.

[0379] FIG. 23 conceptually illustrates, in a flow chart, an example of an entry sequence executed by the mobile terminal 90 and the management server 50 in order for the user to enter the selected parking space 22, out of the parking lot management program.

[0380] First, when the parking lot management program is started by the user's mobile terminal 90, the user selects the parking mode in step S520. Next, in step S521, the mobile terminal 90 acquires the regular transmitter ID corresponding to the currently selected vehicle compartment 22 based on the vehicle compartment data.

[0381] Next, in step S522, the mobile terminal 90 determines whether or not the mobile terminal 90 has validly received an identification signal from any of the transmitters 30 (whether or not the first transition has occurred), and if the identification signal has been validly received, in step S523, it determines whether or not the real transmitter ID represented by the received identification signal matches the genuine transmitter ID.

[0382] If the real transmitter ID and the authorized transmitter ID match, it is determined that the user is actually currently staying in the selected compartment 22. Thereafter, in step S524, the mobile terminal 90 waits for the mobile terminal 90 to finish receiving the authorized transmitter ID, i.e., for the falling edge (the second transition) of the entry-time pulse signal to appear. When this occurs, in step S525, it waits for an entry request to be input by the user to the mobile terminal 90. When the entry is made, in step S526, the mobile terminal 90 associates the entry request with the user and transmits it to the management server 50.

[0383] In response to this, in step S621, the management server 50 receives the entry request, and as a result, permits the user to enter the selected compartment 22. Next, in step S622, the current time is stored in the memory 162 as the entry time.

[0384] FIG. 24 conceptually illustrates, in a flowchart, an example of a parking lot management program, a parking exit sequence executed by the mobile terminal 90 and the management server 50 in order for the user to exit the selected parking space 22.

[0385] First, when the parking lot management program is started by the user's mobile terminal 90, the user selects the exit mode in step S540. Next, in step S541, the mobile terminal 90 acquires the regular transmitter ID corresponding to the currently selected vehicle compartment 22 based on the vehicle compartment data.

[0386] Next, in step S542, the mobile terminal 90 determines whether or not the mobile terminal 90 has validly received an identification signal from any of the transmitters 30 (whether or not the first transition has occurred), and if the identification signal has been validly received, in step S543, it determines whether or not the real transmitter ID represented by the received identification signal matches the genuine transmitter ID.

[0387] If the real transmitter ID and the authorized transmitter ID match, it is determined that the user is actually currently staying in the selected compartment 22. Then, in step S544, the mobile terminal 90 waits for the mobile terminal 90 to finish receiving the authorized transmitter ID, that is, for the falling edge (the second transition) of the leaving pulse signal to appear. When this occurs, in step S545, it waits for an leaving request to be input by the user to the mobile terminal 90. When the request is input, in step S546, the mobile terminal 90 associates the leaving request with the user and transmits it to the management server 50.

[0388] In response, in step S641, the management server 50 receives the exit request, and as a result, permits the user to exit from the selected parking space 22. Next, in step S642, the current time is set as the exit time. After that, in step S643, the parking time is calculated as the elapsed time from the entry time to the exit time. Next, in step S644, the parking fee is calculated based on the calculated parking time. The calculated parking fee is transmitted to the mobile terminal 90.

[0389] In response to this, in step S547, the mobile terminal 90 displays the received parking fee amount on the screen, and then the user makes an electronic payment for the parking fee.

[0390] As is clear from the above explanation, in this embodiment, the action of a user entering the warehouse is recognized in response to the combination of the appearance of both the paired first and second transitions (the rising edge and the falling edge of one pulse signal at the time of entering the warehouse in Figure 21) and the user's expression of his / her intention to request entering the warehouse, and the action of a user leaving the warehouse is recognized in response to the combination of the appearance of both the paired first and second transitions (the rising edge and the falling edge of one pulse signal at the time of leaving the warehouse in Figure 21) and the user's expression of his / her intention to request leaving the warehouse.

[0391] In contrast to this, the present invention may be implemented in such a manner that the action of a user entering the warehouse is recognized in response to a combination of the appearance of one of the pair of the first and second transitions (the rising edge and falling edge of one pulse signal at the time of entering the warehouse in Figure 21) and the user's expression of his / her intention to request entering the warehouse, and that the action of a user leaving the warehouse is recognized in response to a combination of the appearance of one of the pair of the first and second transitions (the rising edge and falling edge of one pulse signal at the time of leaving the warehouse in Figure 21) and the user's expression of his / her intention to request leaving the warehouse.

[0392] According to this embodiment, when the user leaves the garage, it is determined that the leaving is complete when the mobile terminal 90 no longer receives the regular transmitter ID. On the other hand, the user may be contractually forced to perform the entry and exit operations from within the vehicle parked in the selected vehicle compartment 22, or the mobile terminal 90 may be designed to disable reception of the transmitter 30 on the software unless the user receives it on the mobile terminal 90 from within the vehicle.

[0393] In this way, the user, the mobile terminal 90, and the vehicle will share the same spatial position, so that the mobile terminal 90 detecting that the user has entered the selected compartment 22 is equivalent to the mobile terminal 90 detecting that the vehicle has entered the selected compartment 22, and similarly, the mobile terminal 90 detecting that the user has exited the selected compartment 22 is equivalent to the mobile terminal 90 detecting that the vehicle has left the selected compartment 22.

[0394] It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments are specific examples of the application of the present invention to a rental service in which real estate such as seat rental facilities and parking lots are rented, but instead of this, the present invention can be applied to, for example, a rental service in which other real estate such as a rental warehouse or rental room is rented, or to a rental service in which movable property such as vehicles (automobiles, bicycles, motorcycles, etc.) is rented. Furthermore, the present invention can be applied to applications other than rental services.

[0395] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, these are merely examples, and the present invention can be embodied in other forms that incorporate various modifications and improvements based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, including the aspects described in the "Summary of the Invention" section above.

Claims

1. A space management system, comprising: a short-range wireless communication unit provided in a predetermined space and having a function of transmitting a predetermined signal to a user's mobile terminal by short-range wireless communication; a management server capable of communicating with a mobile terminal of a user and managing the use of the predetermined space by the user; Including, The mobile terminal and / or the management server, an entry determination unit that performs a use start determination that the user has entered the specified space and started using the specified space when a first transition occurs in which the portable terminal transitions from a state in which the portable terminal does not effectively receive the specified signal from the short-range wireless communication unit to a state in which the portable terminal effectively receives the specified signal; a stay determination unit which repeatedly determines whether the portable terminal is in a state where it can effectively receive the predetermined signal from the short-range wireless communication unit after the start of use determination has been made, and thereby performs a stay determination that the user is staying in the predetermined space when the portable terminal is in a state where it can effectively receive the predetermined signal from the short-range wireless communication unit during the period when the predetermined space is being used, and performs an absence determination that the user is not present in the predetermined space when the portable terminal is not in a state where it can effectively receive the predetermined signal from the short-range wireless communication unit; an exit determination unit that performs a use end determination that the user has exited the specified space and finished using the specified space when a second transition occurs in which the determination result by the stay determination unit transitions from the stay determination to the absence determination; Including, The space management system allows the user to start using the specified space when the user inputs a start-of-use request into the mobile terminal after the start-of-use determination has been made, and allows the user to end use of the specified space when the user inputs an end-of-use request into the mobile terminal after the end-of-use determination has been made.

2. A space management system as described in claim 1, wherein the specified space includes multiple rental seats installed in a seat rental facility or multiple rooms in an apartment building.

3. The management server includes: A space management system as described in claim 1, including an entry / exit management unit that manages the entry / exit of the user to the specified space in relation to time based on temporal changes in the state in which the mobile terminal receives the specified signal from the short-range wireless communication unit.

4. The mobile terminal and / or the management server, A space management system as described in claim 1, including a space identification unit that, when a comparison is successful between an actual code represented by the specified signal received by the mobile terminal from the short-range wireless communication unit and a genuine code pre-assigned to a genuine short-range wireless communication unit that should be installed in a reserved space reserved by the user, identifies the specified space as a staying space that matches the reserved space and in which the user is staying.

5. A program executed by a computer of a mobile terminal of a user who uses the specified space managed by the space management system according to claim 1, The mobile terminal has a plurality of functions, an entry determination function that performs a use start determination that the user has entered the specified space and started using the specified space when the portable terminal transitions from a state in which the portable terminal does not effectively receive the specified signal from the short-range wireless communication unit to a state in which the portable terminal effectively receives the specified signal; an exit determination function that performs an end-of-use determination that the user has exited the specified space and finished using the specified space when the portable terminal transitions from a state in which the portable terminal effectively receives the specified signal from the short-range wireless communication unit to a state in which the portable terminal does not effectively receive the signal; Including, A program executed to realize the functions.

6. The mobile terminal further includes, as the plurality of functions, a stay determination function for repeatedly determining whether or not the mobile terminal is in a state in which it can effectively receive the predetermined signal from the short-range wireless communication unit after the use start determination is made, thereby making a stay determination that the user is staying in the predetermined space when the mobile terminal is in a state in which it can effectively receive the predetermined signal from the short-range wireless communication unit during the period in which the predetermined space is being used, and making an absence determination that the user is not present in the predetermined space when the mobile terminal is not in a state in which it can effectively receive the predetermined signal from the short-range wireless communication unit; The program according to claim 5 , wherein the exit determination function performs the use end determination when a determination result by the stay determination function transitions from the stay determination to the absence determination.

7. 5. A program for causing a computer to function as the management server according to claim 1.

8. 7. A recording medium on which the program according to claim 5 or 6 is recorded so as to be readable by a computer.

9. A recording medium on which the program according to claim 7 is recorded so as to be readable by a computer.

Images