Information processing device, program, and information processing method

Abstract

Provided is an information processing device including a prediction unit for predicting a first user who uses a storage device storing a power storage device in a first period after the present. The prediction unit may predict the first user according to usage information that indicates a usage history of a second user who uses the storage device in a second period before the first period. The usage information may include information about a time period in which the second user uses the storage device in the second period. The prediction unit may predict, in the second period, that at least some of second users who use the storage device in a time period to which the first period belongs will use the storage device in the first period.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device, a program, and an information processing method. [Background technology]

[0002] There is known a charging station that stores a portable mobile battery and dispenses the mobile battery upon request from a user (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3). A plurality of charging stations are arranged in an area where the mobile battery can be used. [Prior art document] [Patent documents] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-160072 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2018-160073 A [Patent Document 3] JP 2018-072241 A Problem to be Solved

[0003] However, among the multiple charging stations, some are used frequently and others are used infrequently. Therefore, depending on the charging station, it may not be possible to provide a mobile battery to a user. Therefore, there is a need to develop a technology that can level out the demand for mobile batteries among multiple charging stations and provide mobile batteries efficiently. General Disclosure

[0004] In a first aspect of the present invention, an information processing device is provided. The information processing device includes, for example, a prediction unit. The prediction unit predicts, for example, a first user who uses a storage device that stores a power storage device during a first period. The first period may be a period ahead of the present.

[0005] In the above information processing device, the prediction unit may predict the first user based on usage information indicating a usage history of a second user who used the storage device in a second period prior to the first period. In the above information processing device, the usage information may include information regarding a time period in which the second user used the storage device in the second period. The prediction unit may predict that at least a part of the second users who used the storage device in a time period to which the first period belongs in the second period will use the storage device in the first period. In the above information processing device, the prediction unit may include a first extraction unit that extracts second users whose number or frequency of using the storage device in a time period to which the first period belongs in the second period based on the usage information satisfies a first extraction condition. The prediction unit may include a first selection unit that selects a second user who satisfies a first selection condition from among the second users extracted by the first extraction unit as a first user.

[0006] In the above information processing device, the usage information may include information regarding the days of the week on which the second user used the storage device in the second period. In the above information processing device, the prediction unit may predict that at least a part of the second users who used the storage device on a day of the week to which the first period belongs in the second period will use the storage device in the first period. In the above information processing device, the prediction unit may have a second extraction unit that extracts second users whose number or frequency of using the storage device on a day of the week to which the first period belongs in the second period based on the usage information satisfies a second extraction condition. The prediction unit may have a second selection unit that selects, as the first user, a second user who satisfies a second selection condition from among the second users extracted by the second extraction unit.

[0007] In the above information processing device, the first selection condition may be a condition that the length of time that has elapsed since the time when any of the one or more storage devices was last used is greater than a first threshold value. In the above information processing device, the second selection condition may be a condition that the length of time that has elapsed since the time when any of the one or more storage devices was last used is greater than a second threshold value.

[0008] In the above information processing device, the prediction unit may predict whether a second user who used a storage device in a second period prior to the first period will use the storage device in the first period based on the length of a period that has elapsed since the second user last used any of the one or more storage devices. In the above information processing device, the prediction unit may predict that at least a part of second users whose elapsed period is greater than a third threshold will use the storage device in the first period. In the above information processing device, the third threshold may be determined based on a usage history of one or more storage devices by the second user in the second period. The above information processing device may include a notification unit that notifies the communication terminal of the first user of information related to the use of the storage device in the first period.

[0009] In a second aspect of the present invention, an information processing device is provided. The information processing device includes, for example, a notification unit. The notification unit notifies, for example, a first user, who is a user of a storage device storing an electricity storage device and has a probability of using the storage device in a first period ahead of the present that is greater than a predetermined threshold, of information regarding the use of the storage device in the first period.

[0010] In a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing method. The information processing method includes, for example, a prediction step. The prediction step includes, for example, a step of predicting a first user who uses a storage device that stores an electricity storage device in a first period ahead of the present.

[0011] In a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing method. The information processing method has, for example, a notification step. The notification step includes a step of notifying a first user, who is a user of a storage device storing an electricity storage device and has a probability of using the storage device in a first period ahead of the present that is greater than a predetermined threshold, of information regarding the use of the storage device in the first period.

[0012] In a fifth aspect of the present invention, a program is provided. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing the program may be provided. The program may be a program for causing a computer to function as the information processing device according to the first or second aspect. The program may be a program for causing a computer to execute the information processing method according to the first or second aspect.

[0013] The above summary of the invention does not list all of the necessary features of the present invention. Also, subcombinations of these features may also be inventions. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 illustrates an example of a system configuration of a battery management system 100. [Diagram 2] 10 illustrates an example of a usage state of a battery station 140. [Diagram 3] 2 illustrates an example of a system configuration of a management server 120. [Figure 4] 2 shows an example of a system configuration of a battery station 140. [Diagram 5] 1 illustrates an example of a management method by the battery management system 100. [Figure 6] 6 shows a schematic diagram of an example of a data table 600. [Figure 7] An example of a data table 700 is shown diagrammatically. [Figure 8] An example of the system configuration of a computer 3000 is shown in schematic form. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] The present invention will be described below through the embodiments of the invention, but the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. In addition, not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention. In addition, in the drawings, the same reference numbers are used for the same or similar parts, and duplicate explanations may be omitted.

[0016] [Overview of the Battery Management System 100] 1 illustrates an example of a system configuration of a battery management system 100. In this embodiment, the battery management system 100 includes a management server 120 and a battery station 140. In this embodiment, the battery station 140 holds one or more batteries 20 (sometimes referred to as one or more). The battery management system 100 may include one or more battery stations 140.

[0017] In this embodiment, the management server 120 and the battery station 140 can transmit and receive information to and from each other via the communication network 10. In this embodiment, the management server 120 can transmit and receive information to and from the communication terminal 32 of the user 30 via the communication network 10.

[0018] In the present embodiment, the details of the battery management system 100 will be described taking as an example a case where the battery management system 100 provides one or more batteries 20 to a user 30. The battery management system 100 may provide one or more batteries 20 to each of the one or more users 30.

[0019] For example, the user 30 uses the communication terminal 32 to request the battery management system 100 to lend the battery 20 held in a specific battery station 140. In response to the lending request, the battery management system 100 executes a process for lending the battery 20 to the user 30. In this embodiment, the user 30 uses the battery 20 lent from the battery management system 100 as a power source for the electric motorcycle 34.

[0020] However, the battery 20 deteriorates while being used repeatedly. In this embodiment, a manager of the battery 20 (not shown) collects the battery 20 that has deteriorated more than a predetermined management standard from the battery station 140, and introduces a new battery 20 to the battery station 140. In this way, the distribution of the battery 20 can be managed so that the battery 20 having the appropriate charging and discharging performance is distributed.

[0021] In this embodiment, the battery management system 100 manages the use of each of the one or more batteries 20. For example, the battery management system 100 manages the lending status (e.g., lendable, unlendable, on loan, etc.), operating status (e.g., charging, discharging, on standby, etc.), charging status (e.g., current SOC), storage status (e.g., temperature, humidity, etc.), deterioration status, etc., of each of the one or more batteries 20. Note that the provision form of the batteries 20 is not limited to lending.

[0022] [Overview of each part of the battery management system 100] In this embodiment, the communication network 10 may be a transmission path for wired communication, a transmission path for wireless communication, or a combination of a transmission path for wireless communication and a transmission path for wired communication. The communication network 10 may include a wireless packet communication network, the Internet, a P2P network, a dedicated line, a VPN, a power line communication line, a vehicle-to-vehicle communication line, a road-to-vehicle communication line, etc. The communication network 10 may include (i) a mobile communication network such as a mobile phone line network, or (ii) a wireless communication network such as a wireless MAN (e.g., WiMAX (registered trademark)), a wireless LAN (e.g., WiFi (registered trademark)), Bluetooth (registered trademark), Zigbee (registered trademark), or NFC (Near Field Communication).

[0023] In this embodiment, the battery 20 supplies power to the electric bike 34. The battery 20 may be mounted on the electric bike 34. The battery 20 may be detachably mounted on the electric bike 34. The battery 20 may be a replaceable power storage device. The battery 20 may be a portable power storage device.

[0024] According to this embodiment, for example, when the remaining capacity of the battery 20 mounted on the electric bike 34 becomes low, the user 30 moves the electric bike 34 to the nearest battery station 140. When the electric bike 34 arrives at the battery station 140, the user 30 requests the battery station 140 to lend the battery 20, for example. If the battery station 140 has a battery 20 available for lending, the lending request of the user 30 is accepted. As a result, the user 30 becomes able to remove the charged battery 20 stored in the battery station 140.

[0025] In one embodiment, the user 30 may operate an input device (not shown) arranged in the battery station 140 to request the battery station 140 to lend the battery 20. In another embodiment, the user 30 may request the battery station 140 to lend the battery 20 via the communication terminal 32.

[0026] In these embodiments, whether or not the battery 20 can be rented out may be determined by the battery station 140, may be determined by the management server 120, or may be determined by cooperation between the management server 120 and the battery station 140. When whether or not the battery 20 can be rented out is determined by the battery station 140, the battery station 140 may transmit information indicating the determination result, identification information of the battery 20 to be rented out, etc. to the management server 120.

[0027] In still another embodiment, the user 30 may request the management server 120 to lend the battery 20 via the communication terminal 32. The management server 120 identifies the battery station 140 and determines whether or not the battery 20 can be lent. For example, the management server 120 acquires, from the communication terminal 32, location information of the communication terminal 32 or identification information of the battery station 140, and identifies the battery station 140 using the information. If a battery 20 that can be lent out is present in the battery station 140, the management server 120 accepts the lending request from the user 30. The management server 120 may transmit information indicating that the lending request from the user 30 has been accepted to the battery station 140.

[0028] Next, the user 30 removes the battery 20 from the electric bike 34. The user 30 returns the battery 20 removed from the electric bike 34, for example, to a return space for the battery 20 provided in the battery station 140. For example, at this time, the connector of the returned battery 20 and the connector of the battery station 140 are electrically connected. Thereafter, the battery station 140 charges the returned battery 20 at an appropriate time in preparation for the next use of the battery 20. The battery station 140 may charge the battery 20 according to instructions from the management server 120.

[0029] Next, the user 30 receives the charged battery 20 from the battery station 140. The user 30 may receive a single battery 20, or multiple batteries 20. For example, if the minimum number of batteries 20 to be rented is multiple, the user 30 receives multiple batteries 20. The user 30 then mounts the charged battery 20 on the electric bike 34. As a result, the battery 20 with low remaining capacity is replaced with the charged battery 20.

[0030] In another embodiment, for example, when the electric bike 34 is configured to be able to carry N batteries 20 (N is an integer equal to or greater than 2), the electric bike 34 may be carrying N-1 or fewer batteries 20 when the electric bike 34 arrives at the battery station 140. In this case, the user 30 may mount the charged battery 20 dispensed from the battery station 140 on the electric bike 34 without returning the battery 20 to the battery station 140.

[0031] In still another embodiment, for example, if the electric bike 34 is configured to be able to carry N batteries 20 (N is an integer equal to or greater than 2), the electric bike 34 can move even if the number of batteries 20 carried by the electric bike 34 is N-1 or less. Therefore, the user 30 does not need to receive a charged battery 20 from the battery station 140 after returning the battery 20 with low remaining capacity to the battery station 140.

[0032] In this embodiment, the communication terminal 32 is used by the user 30. The communication terminal 32 functions as an interface between the battery management system 100 and the user 30, for example.

[0033] In one embodiment, the communication terminal 32 accepts an input from the user 30. The communication terminal 32 transmits various requests to the management server 120 based on the input from the user 30. Examples of the requests include a search request for searching for a battery station 140 that meets a specific condition, a reservation request for reserving an arbitrary or specific battery 20 stored in a specific battery station 140, and the like.

[0034] In another embodiment, the communication terminal 32 outputs information to the user 30. For example, the communication terminal 32 outputs information received from the management server 120 to the user 30. The manner in which the information is output is not particularly limited. The communication terminal 32 may output an image or may output a sound.

[0035] In still another embodiment, the communication terminal 32 functions as, for example, an interface between the management server 120 and the battery station 140. For example, the communication terminal 32 acquires a specific type of information from the battery station 140 by short-range wireless communication or wired communication. The communication terminal 32 transmits the information acquired from the battery station 140 to the management server 120. Examples of the specific type of information include identification information of the battery station 140, information on the battery 20 stored in the battery station 140, and the like.

[0036] The communication terminal 32 may be any device capable of transmitting and receiving information to and from each unit (e.g., the management server 120) of the battery management system 100 via the communication network 10, and the details thereof are not particularly limited. Examples of the communication terminal 32 include a personal computer and a mobile terminal. Examples of the mobile terminal include a mobile phone, a smartphone, a PDA, a tablet, a notebook computer or laptop computer, and a wearable computer.

[0037] In this embodiment, the electric bike 34 consumes power supplied by the battery 20. More specifically, the electric bike 34 moves using the power supplied by the battery 20. If the battery 20 has a storage device, the electric bike 34 may store at least one of the traveling history and the operation history of the electric bike 34 in the storage device.

[0038] In this embodiment, the management server 120 manages the use of each of the one or more batteries 20. For example, the battery management system 100 manages the lending status (e.g., lendable, unlendable, on loan, etc.), operating status (e.g., charging, discharging, on standby, etc.), charging status (e.g., current SOC), storage status (e.g., temperature, humidity, etc.), deterioration status, etc., of each of the one or more batteries 20.

[0039] In this embodiment, the management server 120 may manage the use of each of the one or more battery stations 140. For example, the management server 120 monitors the supply and demand state of each of the one or more battery stations 140. When it is expected that the supply and demand of the battery 20 will be tight in at least one battery station 140, or when the supply and demand of the battery 20 is actually tight in at least one battery station 140, the management server 120 may guide one or more users 30 so that the supply and demand balance of the battery 20 in the battery station 140 is improved.

[0040] The management server 120 may select at least a portion of the users 30 whose degree of association with a battery station 140 where supply and demand of batteries 20 is expected to be tight, or a battery station 140 where supply and demand of batteries 20 is actually tight (these may be collectively referred to as battery stations 140 with tight supply and demand, or battery stations 140 with tight supply and demand), exceeds a predetermined degree, as targets for the above-mentioned guidance process. Examples of users 30 whose degree of association with a battery station 140 with tight supply and demand exceeds a predetermined level include (i) users 30 whose frequency of use of the battery station 140 is greater than a predetermined value, (ii) users 30 whose distance from the battery station 140 is less than a predetermined value and whose frequency of use of a battery station 140 with a surplus in supply and demand is greater than a predetermined value during times when supply and demand at the battery station 140 is tight, (iii) users 30 whose currently used battery 20 has a surplus in remaining capacity and can bring the battery 20 replacement period forward or postpone it by a few hours, and (iv) users 30 whose schedules are flexible and who can bring the battery 20 replacement period forward or postpone it by a few hours.

[0041] In one embodiment, the management server 120 guides one or more users 30 to suppress use of the battery station 140 where the supply and demand of the battery 20 is tight. In another embodiment, the management server 120 may guide one or more users 30 to promote use of the battery station 140 where the supply and demand of the battery 20 is in an excess.

[0042] For example, when the supply and demand of the battery station A is tight in the period P1, the management server 120 guides the users 30 who are likely to use the battery station A in the period P1 to use any battery station 140 (for example, battery station A or battery station B) in the period P2 different from the period P1. This reduces the number of users 30 who use the battery station 140 in the period P1.

[0043] When the supply and demand of the battery station A is tight in the period P1, the management server 120 may guide the users 30 who are likely to use the battery station A in the period P1 to use a battery station B different from the battery station A. This reduces the number of users 30 who use the battery station 140 in the period P1.

[0044] When the supply and demand of the battery station A is tight in the period P1, the management server 120 may guide the users 30 who are likely to use the battery station B in the period P1 to use the battery station B in the period P1. This suppresses an increase in the number of users 30 who use the battery station 140 in the period P1.

[0045] When the supply and demand of the battery station A is tight in the period P1, the management server 120 may guide the users 30 who are likely to use any battery station 140 (for example, battery station A or battery station B) in the period P2 to use the battery station 140 in the period P2. Details of the management server 120 will be described later.

[0046] This suppresses an increase in the number of users 30 who use the battery station 140 during the period P1. Also, for example, even if the user 30 cannot reserve the rental of the battery 20 stored in the battery station 140 or cannot predict the time when the battery station 140 will be able to rent out the battery 20, the user 30 can avoid using the battery station 140 when supply and demand are expected to be tight, or can avoid using the battery station 140 during a time period when supply and demand are expected to be tight.

[0047] In this embodiment, the battery station 140 holds one or more batteries 20. The battery station 140 charges each of the one or more batteries 20. In this embodiment, the battery station 140 executes a lending process for the battery 20 in response to a request from the user 30. For example, an authentication process for the user 30, a disbursement process for the battery 20, etc. are executed. The details of the battery station 140 will be described later.

[0048] The battery 20 may be an example of a power storage device. The user 30 may be an example of a user, a first user, and a second user. The user 30 who is likely to use the battery station A in the period P1 may be an example of a first user. The battery management system 100 may be an example of an information processing device. The management server 120 may be an example of an information processing device. The battery station 140 may be an example of a storage device. The lending of the battery 20 may be an example of a manner in which the battery management system 100 provides the battery 20.

[0049] In this embodiment, the battery management system 100 has been described in detail using the example in which the battery 20 is used as a power source for the electric motorcycle 34. However, the use of the battery 20 is not limited to this embodiment. In other embodiments, the battery 20 may be used as a power source for various electrical devices. The above-mentioned electrical devices may be mobile objects powered by electric motors or stationary power storage devices.

[0050] Examples of the mobile body include automobiles, motorcycles, standing vehicles having a power unit, ships, aircraft, etc. Examples of the automobile include gasoline cars, diesel cars, electric cars, fuel cell cars, hybrid cars, small commuters, electric carts, etc. Examples of the motorcycle include motorbikes, three-wheeled bikes, electric bicycles, etc. Examples of the ship include ships, hovercraft, jet skis, submarines, submersible boats, underwater scooters, etc. Examples of the aircraft include airplanes, airships or balloons, balloons, helicopters, drones, etc.

[0051] In the present embodiment, the battery management system 100 has been described in detail by taking as an example a case in which the management server 120 manages one or more batteries 20 and one or more battery stations 140. However, the battery management system 100 is not limited to the present embodiment. In other embodiments, at least one of the one or more battery stations 140 may have at least a part of the functions of the management server 120 described above. For example, at least one of the one or more battery stations 140 manages one or more batteries 20. At least one of the one or more battery stations 140 may manage other battery stations 140. In this case, the battery management system 100 may include the management server 120 or may not include the management server 120.

[0052] In this embodiment, the battery management system 100 has been described in detail using as an example a case where the user 30 requests rental of the battery 20 after the electric motorcycle 34 arrives at the battery station 140. However, the battery management system 100 is not limited to this embodiment. In other embodiments, the battery management system 100 may accept a reservation for rental of the battery 20. The management server 120 may manage the above reservations. All the batteries 20 managed by the management server 120 may be subject to reservation, or only some of the batteries 20 may be subject to reservation.

[0053] For example, the management server 120 manages conditions regarding the number or ratio of batteries 20 not subject to the above reservation, or conditions regarding the number or ratio of batteries 20 subject to the above reservation, for at least some of the one or more battery stations 140 in each battery station 140. The above ratio may be determined based on the current value or maximum value of the number of batteries 20 stored in each battery station 140.

[0054] If all the batteries 20 housed in a battery station 140 are subject to reservation, when a user 30 arrives at a specific battery station 140, all the batteries 20 housed in the specific battery station 140 may have been reserved by other users 30, and the user 30 may not be able to receive the batteries 20. On the other hand, according to the above embodiment, the probability that the user 30 will be able to receive the batteries 20 when he or she arrives at the specific battery station 140 increases compared to when all the batteries 20 are subject to reservation.

[0055] The condition regarding the number or ratio of batteries 20 not subject to reservation may be a condition regarding a lower limit of the number or ratio of batteries 20 not subject to reservation. Examples of the condition include (i) a condition that the number of batteries 20 not subject to reservation is equal to or greater than Nmin, and (ii) a condition that the ratio of the number of batteries 20 not subject to reservation to the number of batteries 20 that can be accommodated in the battery station 140 is equal to or greater than Rmin. Nmin may be an integer of 1 or greater, and Rmin may be a number greater than 0 and less than 1.

[0056] The condition regarding the number or ratio of the batteries 20 to be reserved may be a condition regarding an upper limit of the number or ratio of the batteries 20 to be reserved. Examples of the condition include (i) a condition that the number of the batteries 20 to be reserved is equal to or less than Nmax, and (ii) a condition that the ratio of the number of the batteries 20 to be reserved to the number of the batteries 20 that can be accommodated in the battery station 140 is equal to or less than Rmax. Nmax may be an integer of 1 or more, and Rmax may be a number greater than 0 and less than 1.

[0057] The management server 120 may manage a plurality of battery stations 140 as one group. The management server 120 may classify the plurality of battery stations 140 into a plurality of groups based on the installation positions of the plurality of battery stations 140. For example, the management server 120 manages, for at least a portion of the plurality of battery stations 140 included in each group, a condition regarding the number or ratio of the batteries 20 that are not subject to the reservation, or a condition regarding the number or ratio of the batteries 20 that are subject to the reservation, in each battery station 140, by a procedure similar to that of the embodiment described above. This can achieve both an improvement in convenience by allowing the user 30 to reserve the battery 20 in advance and an improvement in convenience by allowing the user 30 to receive the battery 20 without making a reservation. [Specific configuration of each part of the battery management system 100] Each unit of the battery management system 100 may be realized by hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. When at least a part of the components of the battery management system 100 is realized by software, the components realized by the software may be realized by starting a program that specifies the operation of the components in an information processing device of a general configuration.

[0058] The program may be stored in a computer-readable medium such as a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a memory, or a hard disk, or may be stored in a storage device connected to a network. The program may be installed in a computer constituting at least a part of the battery management system 100 from the computer-readable medium or the storage device connected to the network. Execution of the program may cause the computer to function as at least a part of each unit of the battery management system 100.

[0059] A program that causes a computer to function as at least a part of each part of the battery management system 100 may include modules that define the operation of each part of the battery management system 100. These programs or modules act on a data processing device, an input device, an output device, a storage device, etc. to cause a computer to function as each part of the battery management system 100 or to execute an information processing method in each part of the battery management system 100.

[0060] When the program is loaded into a computer, the information processing described in the program functions as a specific means in which software related to the program works in cooperation with various hardware resources of the battery management system 100. The specific means above performs calculations or processing of information according to the intended use of the computer in this embodiment, thereby constructing the battery management system 100 according to the intended use.

[0061] The information processing method in each unit of the battery management system 100 includes, for example, a prediction step of predicting a first user who will use a storage device that stores a power storage device in a first period ahead of the present.The information processing method in each unit of the battery management system 100 includes, for example, a notification step of notifying a user of the storage device that stores a power storage device, who has a higher probability of using the storage device in a first period ahead of the present than a predetermined threshold, of information regarding the use of the storage device in the first period.

[0062] Fig. 2 shows a schematic example of the usage of the battery station 140. In Fig. 2, histogram 222 shows the frequency distribution of the number of times the battery station 242 is used for each time period during a certain period. Histogram 224 shows the frequency distribution of the number of times the battery station 244 is used for each time period during the above period. Histogram 226 shows the frequency distribution of the number of times the battery station 246 is used for each time period during the above period. Histogram 232 shows the frequency distribution of the number of times the battery station 242 is used for each day of the week during the above period.

[0063] 2, the degree of tightness of supply and demand of the battery 20 in a particular period may differ for each battery station 140. In addition, the period when the supply and demand of the battery 20 is tight (sometimes referred to as a busy period) may differ for each battery station 140. Similarly, the period when the supply and demand of the battery 20 is in a surplus (sometimes referred to as an off-season) may differ for each battery station 140.

[0064] Note that at least a portion of a busy season of one battery station 140 may overlap with at least a portion of a busy season of another battery station 140. At least a portion of an off-season of one battery station 140 may overlap with at least a portion of an off-season of another battery station 140. At least a portion of a busy season of one battery station 140 may overlap with at least a portion of an off-season of another battery station 140.

[0065] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a system configuration of the management server 120. As shown in FIG. 3, in this embodiment, the management server 120 includes, for example, a state monitoring unit 310, a battery management unit 320, a user management unit 330, and a storage unit 340. In this embodiment, the storage unit 340 includes, for example, a battery information storage unit 342, a station information storage unit 344, and a user information storage unit 346. In addition, in this embodiment, the management server 120 includes a supply and demand management unit 350. In this embodiment, the supply and demand management unit 350 includes, for example, a supply and demand prediction unit 352, a message transmission unit 354, and a stamp transmission unit 356. Each unit of the management server 120 may transmit and receive information to and from each other.

[0066] In this embodiment, the state monitoring unit 310 monitors each of the battery stations 140 to be managed. The state monitoring unit 310 acquires information on at least one of the operating state and the operational state of the battery station 140 from each of the battery stations 140 to be managed. For example, the state monitoring unit 310 acquires information indicating the operation rate of the battery station 140 from each of the battery stations 140 to be managed. The state monitoring unit 310 may acquire information indicating the presence or absence of an abnormality in the battery station 140 from each of the battery stations 140 to be managed. The state monitoring unit 310 may acquire information indicating the stop or scheduled stop of the battery station 140 from each of the battery stations 140 to be managed.

[0067] In this embodiment, the state monitoring unit 310 monitors each of the batteries 20 to be managed. For example, the state monitoring unit 310 acquires information on at least one of the operation state, the charging state, the storage state, and the degradation state of the battery 20 stored in the battery station 140 from each of the battery stations 140 to be managed.

[0068] The state monitoring unit 310, for example, acquires information indicating the amount of power stored in each of the one or more batteries 20 held by the battery station 140. The state monitoring unit 310 may acquire information indicating the SOC of each of the one or more batteries 20.

[0069] In this embodiment, the battery management unit 320 manages one or more batteries 20. The battery management unit 320 manages, for example, at least one of the operation state, charge state, storage state, and degradation state of the battery 20 to be managed.

[0070] The battery management unit 320 may manage a charging schedule for one or more batteries 20. The battery management unit 320 may manage a charging schedule for the battery 20 for each battery station 140. The charging schedule may be information in which information indicating a time is associated with information indicating the number of batteries 20 that have been fully charged and are available for lending by that time. Charging may be determined to be complete when the charging rate is 100%, or may be determined to be complete when the charging rate is greater than a predetermined value.

[0071] In this embodiment, the user management unit 330 manages various types of information related to the user 30. The user management unit 330 may store the various types of information in the user information storage unit 346 in association with the identification information of the user 30.

[0072] The user management unit 330 may manage, for each battery station 140, the users 30 who used the battery station during a specific period. The user management unit 330 may manage the users 30 by day of the week or by time period. The specific period may be any year, any month, any week, or any day.

[0073] The user management unit 330 may manage, for each battery station 140, the total number of users 30 who have used the battery station in a specific period. The total number of users 30 may be managed by day of the week or by time period. The specific period may be any year, any month, any week, or any day.

[0074] The user management unit 330 may manage the usage status of the battery station 140 for each of one or more users 30. For example, every time a user uses the battery station 140, the user management unit 330 stores information indicating the date and time when the user uses the battery station 140 in association with the identification information of the battery station 140 in the user information storage unit 346.

[0075] The user management unit 330 may manage, for each of one or more users 30, statistics of the interval during which the user uses one or more battery stations 140. The user management unit 330 may manage, for each of one or more users 30, statistics of the interval during which the user uses a specific battery station 140. Examples of the statistics include the mean, mode, percentile, range, variance, unbiased variance, standard deviation, skewness, and kurtosis. Examples of the percentile include the first quartile (25th percentile), median (50th percentile), and third quartile (75th percentile).

[0076] The user management unit 330 may monitor the state of the user 30. For example, the state monitoring unit 310 acquires various information related to the user 30 from the communication terminal 32. The state monitoring unit 310 may acquire location information indicating the location of the communication terminal 32 from the communication terminal 32. The state monitoring unit 310 may acquire information indicating the movement history of the communication terminal 32 from the communication terminal 32. In this case, the movement history may be represented by the location indicated by a GPS signal and the time when the GPS signal was received. The state monitoring unit 310 may acquire information related to the movement history of the user 30 stored in the memory of the battery 20 to be managed from each of the battery stations 140 to be managed.

[0077] In this embodiment, the storage unit 340 stores various types of information. The storage unit 340 may store information generated or acquired by the state monitoring unit 310, the battery management unit 320, or the user management unit 330.

[0078] In this embodiment, the battery information storage unit 342 stores various information related to each of the batteries 20 to be managed. In one embodiment, the battery information storage unit 342 stores, for each battery, information indicating the amount of power stored in the battery. The information indicating the amount of power stored in the battery may be the SOC value of the battery. In another embodiment, the battery information storage unit 342 stores, for each battery, information indicating the degree of deterioration of the battery. The information indicating the degree of deterioration of the battery may be the value of any index indicating the deterioration state of the battery.

[0079] In this embodiment, the station information storage unit 344 stores various information related to each of the managed battery stations 140. For example, the station information storage unit 344 stores, for each battery station, identification information of one or more batteries 20 held by the battery station.

[0080] In this embodiment, the user information storage unit 346 stores various information related to the user 30. For example, the user information storage unit 346 stores, for each user 30, information generated or updated by the user management unit 330.

[0081] In this embodiment, the supply and demand management unit 350 manages the supply and demand of the battery 20 in each of the one or more battery stations 140. For example, when the supply and demand of the battery 20 is expected to become tight in at least one battery station 140, or when the supply and demand of the battery 20 is actually tight in at least one battery station 140, the supply and demand management unit 350 causes the management server 120 to guide one or more users 30 so that the supply and demand balance of the battery 20 in the battery station 140 is improved.

[0082] In this embodiment, the supply and demand prediction unit 352 predicts the supply and demand of the battery 20 in each of the one or more battery stations 140. For example, the supply and demand prediction unit 352 predicts the users 30 who will use the battery station 140 in an arbitrary future period (which may be referred to as a first period). The above-mentioned first period may be a period ahead of the present (i.e., the time of prediction by the demand prediction unit 352).

[0083] For example, the supply and demand prediction unit 352 predicts users 30 who use a specific battery station 140 (e.g., battery station A) during the busy season of the battery station 140. The supply and demand prediction unit 352 may predict users who use a battery station 140 other than battery station A (e.g., battery station B) during the busy season of battery station A. Furthermore, the supply and demand prediction unit 352 may predict users 30 who use any of one or more battery stations 140 (e.g., battery station A or battery station B) during the off-season of battery station A.

[0084] [First concrete example of User 30's prediction method] In one embodiment, the supply and demand prediction unit 352 acquires information indicating the usage history (sometimes referred to as usage information) of one or more users 30 who used one or more battery stations 140 in a period prior to the first period (sometimes referred to as a second period). For example, the supply and demand prediction unit 352 accesses the user information storage unit 346 to acquire the usage information. The second period may be any period in the past. The supply and demand prediction unit 352 predicts the users 30 who will use at least a portion of the one or more battery stations 140 in the first period, based on the usage history indicated by the usage information.

[0085] The supply and demand prediction unit 352 may predict users 30 who will use a specific battery station 140 in a first period, based on usage information of one or more users 30 who used the specific battery station 140 in a second period. The supply and demand prediction unit 352 may predict users 30 who will use a specific battery station 140 in a first period, based on usage information of one or more users 30 who used multiple battery stations 140 in a second period.

[0086] [When the usage information includes information about the time period] In this embodiment, the usage information includes information regarding the time period during which each user used the battery station 140 in the second period. In this case, the supply and demand prediction unit 352 predicts that at least some of the users 30 who used a specific battery station 140 in the time period that belongs to the first period in the second period will use the specific battery station 140 in the first period.

[0087] For example, if the first period is from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on November 1, 2019, and the second period is from October 1 to October 31, 2019, the supply and demand prediction unit 352 predicts that at least some of the users 30 who used the specific battery station 140 between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. from October 1 to October 31, 2019, will use the specific battery station 140 between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on November 1, 2019.

[0088] The duration of the time period to which the first period belongs may be the same as the duration of the time period of the first period, or may be longer than the time period of the first period. For example, the time period of the first period may be from 17:00 to 18:00, and the time period to which the first period belongs may be from 16:00 to 19:00.

[0089] More specifically, the supply and demand prediction unit 352 extracts users 30 whose number or frequency of using a specific battery station 140 during a time period that includes the first period in the second period satisfies a first extraction condition based on the usage information. The supply and demand prediction unit 352 selects, from among the extracted users 30, users 30 who satisfy the first selection condition as users 30 who will use the specific battery station 140 in the first period.

[0090] The first extraction condition may include a condition that, in the second period, the number or frequency of use of a specific battery station 140 in a time period to which the first period belongs is greater than a predetermined lower limit value. The first extraction condition may include a condition that, in the second period, the number or frequency of use of a specific battery station 140 in a time period to which the first period belongs is less than a predetermined upper limit value. The first extraction condition may include a condition that is a combination of these conditions.

[0091] The first selection condition may include a condition related to an interval for using any of the one or more battery stations 140. The first selection condition may include a condition that a statistical amount of an interval for using any of the one or more battery stations 140 is greater than a predetermined lower limit value. The first selection condition may include a condition that a statistical amount of an interval for using any of the one or more battery stations 140 is smaller than a predetermined upper limit value. The first selection condition may include a combination of these conditions.

[0092] The first selection condition may include a condition regarding the length of the period that has elapsed since the time when any of the one or more battery stations 140 was last used. The first selection condition may include a condition that the length of the period that has elapsed since the time when any of the one or more battery stations 140 was last used is greater than a first threshold value. Thereby, for example, when the period between the prediction time by the supply and demand prediction unit 352 and the start of the first period is relatively short, the supply and demand prediction unit 352 can exclude from the prediction target the user 30 who replaced the battery 20 immediately before the prediction time. As a result, the prediction accuracy is improved.

[0093] The first selection condition may include a condition that the length of the elapsed period from the last time any of the one or more battery stations 140 was used is smaller than a first threshold value. Thereby, for example, when the period between the time predicted by the supply and demand prediction unit 352 and the start of the first period is relatively long, the supply and demand prediction unit 352 may exclude from prediction targets users 30 who are likely to replace the battery 20 immediately before the start of the first period.

[0094] In a case where the first selection condition includes a condition that the length of the elapsed period is smaller than the first threshold, for example, when the first threshold is a value determined based on statistics of the usage interval of the battery station 140 (for example, when the statistics is a 25th percentile value), the supply and demand prediction unit 352 can predict users 30 who are likely to not have replaced the battery 20 immediately before the start of the first period, or users 30 who are likely to replace the battery 20 during the first period. Similarly, the supply and demand prediction unit 352 can predict users 30 who are likely to replace the battery 20 immediately before the start of the first period (i.e., users 30 who are unlikely to replace the battery 20 during the first period). As a result, the prediction accuracy can be improved.

[0095] The first threshold may be any numeric value independent of the user 30, or may be a numeric value determined for each user 30. For example, the first threshold is determined based on a usage history of one or more battery stations 140 by the user 30 during the second period. The first threshold may be determined based on statistics of intervals at which each user uses the battery station 140 during the second period. The first selection condition may include a condition that combines at least two of the above multiple conditions.

[0096] The first selection condition is not limited to the above embodiment. In other embodiments, the first selection condition may include a condition related to the remaining capacity of the battery 20 currently being used. The first selection condition may include a condition that the remaining capacity is greater than a predetermined lower limit. The first selection condition may include a condition that the remaining capacity is less than a predetermined upper limit. The first selection condition may include a combination of these conditions.

[0097] In another embodiment, the first selection condition may include a condition regarding the length of the period between the end of the last event of the user 30 in the period before the first period and the start of the first period. The first selection condition may include a condition that the length of the period is greater than a predetermined lower limit. The first selection condition may include a condition that the length of the period is less than a predetermined upper limit. The first selection condition may include a combination of these conditions.

[0098] In another embodiment, the first selection condition may include a condition regarding the length of the period between the end of the first period and the start of the first event of the user 30 in the period after the first period. The first selection condition may include a condition that the length of the period is greater than a predetermined lower limit. The first selection condition may include a condition that the length of the period is less than a predetermined upper limit. The first selection condition may include a combination of these conditions.

[0099] [When the usage information includes information about the day of the week] In this embodiment, the usage information includes information regarding the day of the week during the second period on which each user used the battery station 140. In this case, the supply and demand prediction unit 352 predicts that at least some of the users 30 who used a specific battery station 140 during the second period on a day of the week to which the first period belongs will use the specific battery station 140 during the first period.

[0100] For example, if the first period is from 17:00 to 18:00 on Friday, November 1, 2019, and the second period is from October 1 to October 31, 2019, the supply and demand prediction unit 352 predicts that at least some of the users 30 who used the specific battery station 140 on a Friday from October 1 to October 31, 2019, will use the specific battery station 140 between 17:00 and 18:00 on November 1, 2019. The length of the first period may be less than one day, may be one day or less, or may exceed one day.

[0101] More specifically, the supply and demand prediction unit 352 extracts users 30 whose number or frequency of using a specific battery station 140 on a day of the week to which the first period belongs during the second period satisfies a second extraction condition based on the usage information. The supply and demand prediction unit 352 selects, from among the extracted users 30, users 30 who satisfy the second selection condition as users 30 who will use the specific battery station 140 during the first period.

[0102] The second extraction condition may include a condition that, in the second period, the number or frequency of use of a specific battery station 140 on a day of the week to which the first period belongs is greater than a predetermined lower limit. The second extraction condition may include a condition that, in the second period, the number or frequency of use of a specific battery station 140 on a day of the week to which the first period belongs is less than a predetermined upper limit. The second extraction condition may include a combination of these conditions.

[0103] The second selection condition may include a condition regarding the length of time that has elapsed since the time when any of the one or more battery stations 140 was last used. The second selection condition may include a condition that the length of time that has elapsed since the time when any of the one or more battery stations 140 was last used is greater than a second threshold. The second selection condition may include a condition that the length of time that has elapsed since the time when any of the one or more battery stations 140 was last used is less than a second threshold. The second selection condition may include a combination of these conditions.

[0104] The second threshold may be any numeric value independent of the user 30, or may be a numeric value determined for each user 30. For example, the second threshold is determined based on the usage history of one or more battery stations 140 by the user 30 during the second period. The second threshold may be determined based on statistics of the intervals at which each user uses the battery station 140 during the second period.

[0105] The second selection condition is not limited to the above embodiment. In other embodiments, the second selection condition may include a condition related to the remaining capacity of the battery 20 currently being used. The second selection condition may include a condition that the remaining capacity is greater than a predetermined lower limit. The second selection condition may include a condition that the remaining capacity is less than a predetermined upper limit. The second selection condition may include a combination of these conditions.

[0106] In another embodiment, the second selection condition may include a condition regarding the length of the period between the end of the last event of the user 30 in the period before the first period and the start of the first period. The second selection condition may include a condition that the length of the period is greater than a predetermined lower limit. The second selection condition may include a condition that the length of the period is less than a predetermined upper limit. The second selection condition may include a combination of these conditions.

[0107] In another embodiment, the second selection condition may include a condition regarding the length of the period between the end of the first period and the start of the first event of the user 30 in the period after the first period. The second selection condition may include a condition that the length of the period is greater than a predetermined lower limit. The second selection condition may include a condition that the length of the period is less than a predetermined upper limit. The second selection condition may include a combination of these conditions.

[0108] [Second concrete example of User 30's prediction method] In another embodiment, the supply and demand prediction unit 352 predicts whether or not a user 30 who has used a specific battery station 140 in a second period will use the specific battery station 140 in a first period, based on the length of the elapsed period from the time the user 30 last used any of one or more battery stations 140. For example, the supply and demand prediction unit 352 predicts that at least some of the users 30 whose elapsed period is greater than a third threshold will use the specific battery station 140 in the first period. The supply and demand prediction unit 352 may predict that at least some of the users 30 whose elapsed period is less than the third threshold will use the specific battery station 140 in the first period.

[0109] The third threshold may be any numeric value independent of the user 30, or may be a numeric value determined for each user 30. For example, the third threshold is determined based on the usage history of one or more battery stations 140 by the user 30 during the second period. The third threshold may be determined based on statistics of the intervals at which each user uses the battery station 140 during the second period.

[0110] [Other concrete examples of User 30's prediction methods] The prediction method of the user 30 is not limited to the above specific example. In another embodiment, the supply and demand prediction unit 352 predicts the user 30 who will use the specific 140 in the first period based on the statistics of the interval at which each user uses the battery station 140 in the second period. In another embodiment, the supply and demand prediction unit 352 predicts the user 30 who will use the specific 140 in the first period based on the remaining capacity of the battery 20 currently being used. In another embodiment, the supply and demand prediction unit 352 predicts the user 30 who will use the specific 140 in the first period based on the schedule of each user. The supply and demand prediction unit 352 may predict the user 30 who will use the specific 140 in the first period by combining the various embodiments described above.

[0111] In this embodiment, the message sending unit 354 notifies a user 30 who has a probability of using the battery station 140 in the first period that is greater than a predetermined threshold of a message regarding the use of the battery station 140 in the first period. The message sending unit 354 may notify the communication terminal 32 of the user 30 of a message regarding the use of the battery station 140 in the first period. For example, the message sending unit 354 transmits the above message to the communication terminal 32 of the user 30 predicted by the supply and demand prediction unit 352. The message sending unit 354 may transmit the above message during a predetermined period before the start of the first period.

[0112] The above message may include information indicating a supply and demand situation of a specific battery station 140. The above message may include information indicating a supply and demand situation of battery stations 140 arranged in the vicinity of the above specific battery station 140. The above message may include information indicating the content of an action expected of the user 30. The above message may include information indicating the content of an incentive for the action expected of the user 30.

[0113] In this embodiment, the stamp transmitting unit 356 transmits stamp data to the battery station 140. The stamp functions as the above-mentioned incentive.

[0114] The stamp sending unit 356 may determine the type of stamp to be sent to the battery station 140 so that the value of the stamp provided to the user 30 who used the battery station 140 with a surplus in supply and demand during the period specified by the management server 120 is greater than the value of the stamp provided to the user 30 who used the battery station 140 with a tight supply and demand during the period specified by the management server 120. The stamp sending unit 356 may determine the type of stamp to be sent to the battery station 140 so that the value of the stamp provided to the user 30 who used any of one or more battery stations 140 during the period specified by the management server 120 is greater than the value of the stamp provided to the user 30 who used the battery station 140 outside the above-mentioned period.

[0115] The demand and supply management unit 350 may be an example of an information processing device. The demand and supply prediction unit 352 may be an example of a prediction unit, a first extraction unit, a first selection unit, a second extraction unit, and a second selection unit. The message sending unit 354 may be an example of a notification unit. The stamp sending unit 356 may be an example of a notification unit.

[0116] A user 30 who uses the battery station 140 in a first period may be an example of a first user. A user 30 who uses the battery station 140 in a second period may be an example of a second user. The first user and the second user may be the same user 30 or different users 30. A busy period of the battery station A may be an example of a first period. A user 30 who uses the battery station A in a busy period of the battery station A may be an example of a first user. A slow period of the battery station A may be an example of a first period. A user 30 who uses any of one or more battery stations in a slow period of the battery station A may be an example of a first user.

[0117] The message may be an example of information regarding usage of the storage device in the first period of time. The stamp may be an example of information regarding usage of the storage device in the first period of time.

[0118] In this embodiment, the battery management system 100 has been described in detail by taking as an example a case where stamps are used as an incentive for the behavior expected of the user 30. However, the incentive is not limited to stamps. In other embodiments, any electronic value may be used as the incentive. Examples of electronic value include points and game items.

[0119] 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a system configuration of the battery station 140. In this embodiment, the battery station 140 includes one or more charging units 420, a stamp output unit 430, and a control unit 440. In this embodiment, each of the one or more charging units 420 includes a battery storage chamber 422, a measuring device 424, and a charging circuit 426. In this embodiment, the stamp output unit 430 includes a receiving unit 432, a short-range communication unit 434, and a printer 436. In this embodiment, the control unit 440 includes a communication control unit 442, a charge / discharge control unit 444, a lending management unit 446, and a storage unit 448.

[0120] In this embodiment, the charging unit 420 charges the battery 20. A single charging unit 420 may charge a single battery 20, or a single charging unit 420 may charge multiple batteries 20.

[0121] In this embodiment, the battery housing chamber 422 houses the battery 20. In this embodiment, the measuring device 424 measures various physical quantities related to the battery 20 housed in the battery housing chamber 422. The measuring device 424 may transmit information indicating the measurement results to the control unit 440. For example, the measuring device 424 measures the voltage of the battery 20. The measuring device 424 may measure at least one of the charging current and discharging current of the battery 20. In this embodiment, the charging circuit 426 supplies power to the battery 20 to charge the battery 20. The charging circuit 426 may charge the battery 20 according to an instruction from the control unit 440.

[0122] The stamp output unit 430 outputs a stamp in response to a request from the user 30. The form of output of the stamp is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, the stamp output unit 430 outputs the stamp as electronic data, an image, or a three-dimensional object.

[0123] In this embodiment, the receiving unit 432 obtains the stamp data from the management server 120. The receiving unit 432 may transmit the stamp data to at least one of the short-range communication unit 434 and the printer 436.

[0124] In this embodiment, the short-range communication unit 434 outputs a stamp in response to a request from the user 30. The short-range communication unit 434 may transmit data of the stamp received by the receiving unit 432 to the communication terminal 32 of the user 30. Note that the short-range communication unit 434 may select any data or specific data from the stamp data stored in advance in the battery station 140, and transmit the selected data to the communication terminal 32 of the user 30.

[0125] In this embodiment, the printer 436 outputs a stamp in response to a request from the user 30. The printer 436 may output a stamp based on stamp data received by the receiving unit 432. The printer 436 may be a two-dimensional printer that outputs a two-dimensional image, or a three-dimensional printer that outputs a three-dimensional object. The printer 436 may select any data or specific data from the stamp data stored in advance in the battery station 140, and output a stamp based on the selected data.

[0126] In the present embodiment, the battery management system 100 has been described in detail using as examples a case where the short-range communication unit 434 arranged in the battery station 140 transmits stamp data to the communication terminal 32 of the user 30, or a case where the printer 436 arranged in the battery station 140 outputs an image of a stamp, etc. However, the manner in which the stamp is provided is not limited to this embodiment.

[0127] In another embodiment, the management server 120 transmits the stamp data to the communication terminal 32 of the user 30. In this case, the management server 120 may transmit the stamp data to the communication terminal 32 of the user 30 after confirming that the user 30 has used a specific battery station 140. For example, the management server 120 acquires the location information of the communication terminal 32 from the communication terminal 32 of the user 30. The management server 120 determines that the user 30 has used the specific battery station 140 when the distance between the location of the communication terminal 32 and the location of the battery station 140 is smaller than a predetermined value. The management server 120 may determine that the user 30 has used the specific battery station 140 by acquiring information indicating that the user 30 has used the battery station 140 from the battery station 140.

[0128] In this embodiment, the control unit 440 controls the operation of the battery station 140. The control unit 440 may control the operation of the battery station 140 by using information acquired from the management server 120. The control unit 440 may control the operation of the battery station 140 based on an instruction from the management server 120. The control unit 440 may execute various information processing methods in the battery station 140.

[0129] The control unit 440 may control the lending operation of the battery 20 by the battery station 140. The control unit 440 may determine the battery 20 to be lent. The control unit 440 may control the charging operation of the battery 20 by the battery station 140. The control unit 440 may determine the battery 20 to be charged.

[0130] In this embodiment, the communication control unit 442 controls communication between the battery station 140 and an external device. Examples of the external device include at least one of the battery 20, the communication terminal 32, and the management server 120. The communication control unit 442 may be a communication interface. The communication control unit 442 may support one or more types of communication methods.

[0131] In this embodiment, the charge / discharge control unit 444 controls charging / discharging of the battery 20 by each of the one or more charging units 420. For example, the charge / discharge control unit 444 controls the charging of the battery 20 by controlling the charging circuit 426. The charge / discharge control unit 444 may control the discharging of the battery 20 by controlling a discharging circuit (not shown). The charge / discharge control unit 444 controls, for example, the timing to start charging or discharging each of the one or more batteries 20, the timing to end the charging or discharging, the charging rate or discharging rate, etc. The charge / discharge control unit 444 may control the charging operation of at least a part of the one or more charging units 420 according to an instruction from the lending management unit 446.

[0132] In this embodiment, the lending management unit 446 manages the lending of the battery 20 in the battery station 140. The lending management unit 446 may manage the charging of the battery 20 so that the battery 20 is lent out smoothly.

[0133] More specifically, the lending management unit 446 may create a charge / discharge schedule for each of the one or more batteries 20 held by the battery station 140. For example, the lending management unit 446 determines which battery 20 of the one or more batteries 20 is to be charged. The lending management unit 446 may determine which battery 20 is to be charged, by when, and to what extent, with respect to the one or more batteries 20. The lending management unit 446 may control the operation of the charge / discharge control unit 444 according to the charge / discharge schedule.

[0134] The lending management unit 446 may manage the status of one or more batteries 20 stored in the battery station 140. For example, the lending management unit 446 manages at least one of the operation status, charging status, storage status, and deterioration status of the above-mentioned batteries 20. The lending management unit 446 may manage the status of one or more batteries 20 based on the measurement results of the measuring device 424. The lending management unit 446 may detect an abnormality or defect in the battery 20.

[0135] In this embodiment, the storage unit 448 stores various types of information used for controlling the battery station 140. For example, the storage unit 448 stores information indicating a time in association with information indicating a measurement result of the measuring device 424 at that time. The storage unit 448 may store various types of information received by the communication control unit 442 from the management server 120. The storage unit 448 may store various types of information received by the communication control unit 442 from the communication terminal 32.

[0136] The stamp output unit 430 may be an example of a notification unit. The short-range communication unit 434 may be an example of a notification unit. The printer 436 may be an example of a notification unit.

[0137] Next, an example of a management method by the battery management system 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 shows an example of a flowchart of the management method by the battery management system 100. According to this embodiment, first, in step 522 (step may be abbreviated as S), the supply and demand prediction unit 352 determines battery stations 140 where tightness in supply and demand is expected in the future, and the date and time when tightness in supply and demand is expected.

[0138] Next, in S524, the supply and demand prediction unit 352 extracts users 30 who used the battery station 140 during a predetermined period in the past for each battery station 140 where tight supply and demand is predicted. In addition, in S526, the supply and demand prediction unit 352 determines at least one of a statistic of the usage interval of the battery station 140 and the most recent usage date and time for each extracted user 30.

[0139] For example, the supply and demand prediction unit 352 refers to the user information storage unit 346 to acquire information indicating a 25th percentile value of the usage interval of the battery station 140 for each of the one or more extracted users 30. In addition, the supply and demand prediction unit 352 refers to the user information storage unit 346 to acquire information indicating the most recent usage date and time for each of the one or more extracted users 30.

[0140] Next, in S528, the supply and demand prediction unit 352 predicts, for each battery station 140 where tight supply and demand is predicted, users 30 who are likely to use the battery station on the date and time when tight supply and demand is predicted. For example, when the supply and demand prediction unit 352 predicts, at 15:00 on April 5, users 30 who are likely to use a specific battery station 140 from 16:00 to 19:00 on April 5, in one embodiment, the supply and demand prediction unit 352 may specify, among the users 30 who have used the battery station in a predetermined past period, users 30 whose elapsed period from the most recent use date and time to 16:00 on April 5 is greater than the 25th percentile value of the usage interval of the battery station 140, as users 30 who are likely to use the specific battery station 140 from 16:00 to 19:00 on April 5.

[0141] In another embodiment, the supply and demand prediction unit 352 may identify users 30 who are likely to use a specific battery station 140 between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on April 5th, by excluding users 30 who have used the battery station during a specified period in the past, and whose elapsed period from their most recent usage date and time to 3:00 p.m. on April 5th is shorter than a predetermined value.

[0142] Using a similar procedure, for each station where tight supply and demand is predicted, users who are less likely to use the station on the date and time when tight supply and demand is predicted may be identified. For example, for each station where tight supply and demand is predicted, the supply and demand prediction unit 352 identifies users who are more likely to use the station on the date and time other than the date and time when tight supply and demand is predicted. For each station where tight supply and demand is predicted, the supply and demand prediction unit 352 may identify users who are more likely to use other nearby stations on the date and time when tight supply and demand is predicted.

[0143] Thereafter, in S530, the supply and demand management unit 350 executes a process for adjusting the supply and demand balance. For example, the message sending unit 354 sends a message. Also, the stamp sending unit 356 provides a stamp.

[0144] In the above example, in one embodiment, the supply and demand management unit 350 transmits a message to users 30 who are likely to use the specific battery station 140 from 16:00 to 19:00 on April 5. In this case, the content of the message may be content that encourages these users 30 to behave differently from usual. Examples of the message include a message for notifying the user of a forecast regarding the degree of congestion at the specific battery station 140 from 16:00 to 19:00 on April 5, a message for notifying the user of a forecast regarding the degree of congestion at the specific battery station 140 and battery stations 140 disposed in the vicinity thereof from 16:00 to 19:00 on April 5, and a message for notifying the user that an incentive will be provided if the user does not use the specific battery station 140 from 16:00 to 19:00 on April 5.

[0145] In another embodiment, the supply and demand management unit 350 may transmit a message to users 30 who are unlikely to use a specific battery station 140 between 16:00 and 19:00 on April 5. In this case, the content of the message may be such that these users 30 are encouraged to behave as usual.

[0146] Examples of such messages include a message to inform the user of the predicted level of congestion at the specific battery station 140 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on April 5th, a message to inform the user of the predicted level of congestion at the specific battery station 140 and battery stations 140 located in the vicinity from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on April 5th, and a message to inform the user that an incentive will be provided if the specific battery station 140 is not used between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on April 5th.

[0147] 6 illustrates an example of a data table 600. The data table 600 may be an example of information about the user 30 or the battery station 140 managed by the user management unit 330. The data table 600 may be an example of information about the usage status of the battery station 140 by the user 30. The data table 600 is stored in the user information storage unit 346, for example.

[0148] In this embodiment, the data table 600 stores identification information 620 of one or more battery stations 140 in association with identification information 640 of users 30 who used each battery station 140 within a predetermined period. Also, in this embodiment, the data table 600 stores identification information 620 of one or more battery stations 140 in association with information 650 indicating usage status by day of the week.

[0149] The information 650 indicating the usage status by day of the week may include identification information of one or more users who used each battery station on each day of the week within a predetermined period. The information 650 indicating the usage status by day of the week may include information 652 indicating the usage status by time period for each day of the week. The information 652 indicating the usage status by time period may include identification information of one or more users who used each battery station in each time period on each day of the week.

[0150] 7 illustrates an example of a data table 700. The data table 700 may be an example of information about the user 30 or the battery station 140 managed by the user management unit 330. The data table 700 may be an example of information about the usage status of the battery station 140 by the user 30. The data table 700 is stored in the user information storage unit 346, for example.

[0151] In this embodiment, the data table 700 stores, in association with each other, identification information 720 of one or more users 30, information 730 indicating the most recent usage status of each user 30, and information 740 indicating the 25th percentile of the usage interval of the battery station 140 by each user 30. The information 730 indicating the most recent usage status of each user 30 may include identification information 732 of the battery station 140 used by each user 30, and information 734 indicating the time when each user 30 used the battery station 140.

[0152] 8 illustrates an example of a computer 3000 in which aspects of the present invention may be embodied in whole or in part. For example, the management server 120 is implemented by the computer 3000.

[0153] A program installed on the computer 3000 may cause the computer 3000 to function as or perform operations associated with an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention or one or more "parts" of the apparatus, and / or to perform a process or steps of the process according to an embodiment of the present invention. Such a program may be executed by the CPU 3012 to cause the computer 3000 to perform certain operations associated with some or all of the blocks of the flowcharts and block diagrams described herein.

[0154] The computer 3000 according to this embodiment includes a CPU 3012, a RAM 3014, a GPU 3016, and a display device 3018, which are connected to each other by a host controller 3010. The computer 3000 also includes input / output units such as a communication interface 3022, a hard disk drive 3024, a DVD-ROM drive 3026, and an IC card drive, which are connected to the host controller 3010 via an input / output controller 3020. The computer also includes legacy input / output units such as a ROM 3030 and a keyboard 3042, which are connected to the input / output controller 3020 via an input / output chip 3040.

[0155] The CPU 3012 operates according to a program stored in the ROM 3030 and the RAM 3014, thereby controlling each unit. The GPU 3016 acquires image data generated by the CPU 3012 into a frame buffer or the like provided in the RAM 3014 or into the GPU 3016 itself, and causes the image data to be displayed on the display device 3018.

[0156] The communications interface 3022 communicates with other electronic devices via a network. The hard disk drive 3024 stores programs and data used by the CPU 3012 in the computer 3000. The DVD-ROM drive 3026 reads programs or data from the DVD-ROM 3001 and provides the programs or data to the hard disk drive 3024 via the RAM 3014. The IC card drive reads programs and data from an IC card and / or writes programs and data to an IC card.

[0157] The ROM 3030 stores therein a boot program or the like executed by the computer 3000 upon activation, and / or a program that depends on the hardware of the computer 3000. The input / output chip 3040 may also connect various input / output units to the input / output controller 3020 via a parallel port, a serial port, a keyboard port, a mouse port, etc.

[0158] The programs are provided by a computer-readable storage medium such as a DVD-ROM 3001 or an IC card. The programs are read from the computer-readable storage medium, installed in the hard disk drive 3024, the RAM 3014, or the ROM 3030, which are also examples of computer-readable storage media, and executed by the CPU 3012. Information processing described in these programs is read by the computer 3000, and brings about cooperation between the programs and the various types of hardware resources described above. An apparatus or method may be constructed by realizing an operation or processing of information according to the use of the computer 3000.

[0159] For example, when communication is performed between computer 3000 and an external device, CPU 3012 may execute a communication program loaded in RAM 3014 and instruct communication interface 3022 to perform communication processing based on the processing described in the communication program. Under the control of CPU 3012, communication interface 3022 reads transmission data stored in a transmission buffer area provided in RAM 3014, hard disk drive 3024, DVD-ROM 3001, or a recording medium such as an IC card, and transmits the read transmission data to the network, or writes reception data received from the network to a reception buffer area or the like provided on the recording medium.

[0160] Furthermore, CPU 3012 may cause all or a necessary portion of a file or database stored in an external recording medium such as hard disk drive 3024, DVD-ROM drive 3026 (DVD-ROM 3001), an IC card, etc. to be read into RAM 3014, and perform various types of processing on the data on RAM 3014. CPU 3012 may then write back the processed data to the external recording medium.

[0161] Various types of information, such as various types of programs, data, tables, and databases, may be stored in the recording medium and undergo information processing. The CPU 3012 may perform various types of processing on the data read from the RAM 3014, including various types of operations, information processing, conditional judgment, conditional branching, unconditional branching, information search / replacement, etc., as described throughout this disclosure and specified by the instruction sequence of the program, and writes back the results to the RAM 3014. The CPU 3012 may also search for information in a file, database, etc. in the recording medium. For example, when a plurality of entries each having an attribute value of a first attribute associated with an attribute value of a second attribute are stored in the recording medium, the CPU 3012 may search for an entry whose attribute value of the first attribute matches a specified condition from among the plurality of entries, read the attribute value of the second attribute stored in the entry, and thereby obtain the attribute value of the second attribute associated with the first attribute that satisfies a predetermined condition.

[0162] The above-described programs or software modules may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium on the computer 3000 or in the vicinity of the computer 3000. In addition, a recording medium such as a hard disk or a RAM provided in a server system connected to a dedicated communication network or the Internet can be used as a computer-readable storage medium, thereby providing the above-described programs to the computer 3000 via the network.

[0163] Although the present invention has been described above using the embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. It is clear to those skilled in the art that various modifications or improvements can be made to the above embodiments. Furthermore, the matters described for a specific embodiment can be applied to other embodiments to the extent that they are not technically inconsistent. It is clear from the claims that such modifications or improvements can also be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0164] It should be noted that the order of execution of each process, such as operations, procedures, steps, and stages, in the devices, systems, programs, and methods shown in the claims, specifications, and drawings is not specifically indicated as "before," "prior to," etc., and may be realized in any order unless the output of a previous process is used in a later process. Even if the operational flow in the claims, specifications, and drawings is explained using "first," "next," etc. for convenience, it does not mean that it is essential to perform the process in this order.

[0165] Although the present invention has been described above using the embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. It is clear to those skilled in the art that various modifications or improvements can be made to the above embodiments. Furthermore, the matters described for a specific embodiment can be applied to other embodiments to the extent that they are not technically inconsistent. It is clear from the claims that such modifications or improvements can also be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0166] It should be noted that the order of execution of each process, such as operations, procedures, steps, and stages, in the devices, systems, programs, and methods shown in the claims, specifications, and drawings is not specifically indicated as "before," "prior to," etc., and may be realized in any order unless the output of a previous process is used in a later process. Even if the operational flow in the claims, specifications, and drawings is explained using "first," "next," etc. for convenience, it does not mean that it is essential to perform the process in this order. [Explanation of symbols]

[0167] 10 communication network, 20 battery, 30 user, 32 communication terminal, 34 electric motorcycle, 100 battery management system, 120 management server, 140 battery station, 222 histogram, 224 histogram, 226 histogram, 232 histogram, 242 battery station, 244 battery station, 246 battery station, 310 status monitoring unit, 320 battery management unit, 330 user management unit, 340 storage unit, 342 battery information storage unit, 344 station information storage unit, 346 user information storage unit, 350 supply and demand management unit, 352 supply and demand forecast unit, 354 message transmission unit, 356 stamp transmission unit, 420 charging unit, 422 battery storage room, 424 measuring equipment, 426 charging circuit, 430 stamp output unit, 432 receiving unit, 434 Near field communication unit, 436 printer, 440 control unit, 442 communication control unit, 444 charge / discharge control unit, 446 rental management unit, 448 storage unit, 600 data table, 620 identification information, 640 identification information, 650 information, 652 information, 700 data table, 720 identification information, 730 information, 732 identification information, 734 information, 740 information, 3000 computer, 3001 DVD-ROM, 3010 host controller, 3012 CPU, 3014 RAM, 3016 GPU, 3018 display device, 3020 input / output controller, 3022 communication interface, 3024 hard disk drive, 3026 DVD-ROM drive, 3030 ROM, 3040 input / output chip, 3042 keyboard

Claims

1. a CPU that predicts a first user who will use a storage device that stores an electricity storage device during a first period from the present based on usage information indicating a usage history of a second user who used the storage device during a second period prior to the first period; a communication interface that notifies a communication terminal of the first user of information regarding the use of the storage device during the first period via a communication network; Equipped with The usage information includes information regarding a time period during which the second user used the storage device during the second period, The CPU includes: extracting the second user whose number or frequency of using the storage device during the second period in a time period to which the first period belongs satisfies a first extraction condition based on the usage information; selecting, from the extracted second users, the second users that satisfy a first selection condition as the first users; Information processing device.

2. the usage information includes information regarding the day of the week on which the second user used the storage device during the second period, The CPU predicts that at least a part of the second users who have used the storage device on a day of the week to which the first period belongs during the second period will use the storage device during the first period. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. The CPU includes: extracting the second user whose number of times or frequency of using the storage device on a day of the week that corresponds to the first period during the second period satisfies a second extraction condition based on the usage information; selecting, from the extracted second users, the second users that satisfy a second selection condition as the first users; The information processing device according to claim 2 .

4. The first selection condition is that a length of time that has elapsed since the last time any one of the one or more storage devices was used is greater than a first threshold value. The information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. A CPU that predicts a first user who will use a storage device that stores an energy storage device in a first period from the present based on usage information indicating a usage history of a second user who used the storage device in a second period prior to the first period; a communication interface that notifies a communication terminal of the first user of information regarding the use of the storage device during the first period via a communication network; Equipped with the usage information includes information regarding the day of the week on which the second user used the storage device during the second period, The CPU includes: extracting the second user whose number of times or frequency of using the storage device on a day of the week that corresponds to the first period during the second period satisfies a second extraction condition based on the usage information; selecting, from the extracted second users, the second users that satisfy a second selection condition as the first users; Information processing device.

6. The second selection condition is that a length of time that has elapsed since the last time any of the one or more storage devices was used is greater than a second threshold value.

6. The information processing device according to claim 3 or 5.

7. A program for causing a computer to function as the information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. A prediction step in which a CPU provided in an information processing device predicts a first user who will use a storage device that stores an energy storage device in a first period from the present based on usage information indicating a usage history of a second user who used the storage device in a second period prior to the first period; A notification step in which a communication interface of the information processing device notifies a communication terminal of the first user of information regarding the use of the storage device during the first period via a communication network; having The usage information includes information regarding a time period during which the second user used the storage device during the second period, The prediction step comprises: a first extraction step of extracting the second user whose number or frequency of using the storage device during the second period in a time period to which the first period belongs satisfies a first extraction condition based on the usage information; a first selection step of selecting, as the first user, the second user that satisfies a first selection condition from among the second users extracted in the first extraction step; having Information processing methods.

9. A prediction step in which a CPU provided in an information processing device predicts a first user who will use a storage device that stores an energy storage device in a first period from the present based on usage information indicating a usage history of a second user who used the storage device in a second period prior to the first period; A notification step in which a communication interface of the information processing device notifies a communication terminal of the first user of information regarding the use of the storage device during the first period via a communication network; having the usage information includes information regarding the day of the week on which the second user used the storage device during the second period, The prediction step comprises: a second extraction step of extracting the second user whose number or frequency of using the storage device on a day of the week to which the first period belongs during the second period satisfies a second extraction condition based on the usage information; a second selection step of selecting, as the first user, the second users that satisfy a second selection condition from among the second users extracted in the second extraction step; having Information processing methods.

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