Rental vehicle management system

Abstract

To provide a technology that allows a user to rent out a rental object using a mobile terminal of the user.SOLUTION: A rental object management system 10 includes a management server 50. The management server 50 includes a lending permission unit that when a mobile terminal 90 of a user acquires a code corresponding to any one of a plurality of rental objects 12 voluntarily selected at a site without prior reservation of the rental objects in any one of a plurality of stations 300 selected by the user, acquires the acquired code or the code to be converted as a rental object ID corresponding to any one of the rental objects by communication with the mobile terminal, and when the user inputs a lending request to the mobile terminal and the rental object ID is acquired, permits the lending of the any one of the rental object to the user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 25

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technique for managing rental items, and more particularly to a technique for managing rental items using a mobile terminal of a user to whom the rental items are rented. [Background technology]

[0002] There is already a technology that allows a rental object, which is an example of movable property present in a station, which is real estate, to be managed using a mobile terminal carried by a user of the rental object.

[0003] One example is a service that allows users to rent and return movable rental objects at any location or station (or port), which is real property. The rental objects include vehicles for transporting people and goods, and the types of vehicles include automobiles, bicycles, motorcycles, etc.

[0004] Vehicle rental services, such as the rental and return of a vehicle, are classified into a round-trip system, in which the vehicle must be returned to the same station where it was rented, and a one-way system, in which the vehicle is permitted to be returned at a location other than the one where it was rented.

[0005] By the way, when it comes to naming a rental vehicle, for example, a bicycle may be called a "rental bicycle" or a "shared bicycle," but there is no substantial difference in meaning between the two. For the sake of convenience, in this specification, a bicycle as a rental vehicle will be called a "rental bicycle" or a "rented bicycle."

[0006] Similarly, automobiles are sometimes called "rental cars" and sometimes called "share cars," but there is no substantial difference in meaning between the two. For the sake of convenience, in this specification, bicycles as rental vehicles will be referred to as "rental cars."

[0007] Furthermore, one-way vehicle rental services are classified into station type, in which rental and return must each be carried out at a station (or port), and free-floating type, in which rental and return are permitted to be carried out at any location.

[0008] Incidentally, when a vehicle rental service is implemented in a manner in which rental vehicles are stored at a station (whether on a round-trip basis or a one-way basis), the rented vehicle is, in principle, to be returned to a station by the user after use.

[0009] However, if for some reason a user forgets or neglects to return the rented vehicle to one of the stations, the rented vehicle may end up being left (abandoned) at a location other than the station.

[0010] Therefore, the rental company is required to perform the additional task of searching for the abandoned rental vehicle and returning it to one of the stations.

[0011] In contrast, when a vehicle rental service is implemented using the free-floating one-way system described above, the rented vehicle is not returned by the user to any station, i.e., to a fixed location.

[0012] Therefore, rental companies that operate vehicle rental services using a free-floating one-way system need to locate the location where the user actually returns the rented vehicle (here, the act of "returning" does not correspond to the act of collecting the rental vehicle at a station, so from the perspective of the station-type one-way system, it is also possible to express it as the act of "leaving" the vehicle).

[0013] Thanks to this search, a rental company that operates a free-floating, one-way vehicle rental service can guide multiple other potential users to the location where the return actually took place (apparent return station) as a location where the returned rental vehicle can then be rented out to another user (apparent rental station).

[0014] In light of the circumstances described above, several techniques have already been proposed for searching for abandoned rental vehicles.

[0015] For example, in the system described in Patent Document 1, an abandoned rental bicycle is searched for as an abandoned bicycle, and the location where the abandoned bicycle is left is assigned to a virtual station that is different from the real station. Route guidance is provided to another potential user so that the user can arrive at the virtual station and use the abandoned bicycle as a rental bicycle. The virtual station is deleted from the computer when the abandoned bicycle is rented out to a user. The abandoned bicycle is then collected by a user other than the original user at one of the real stations.

[0016] Furthermore, in the system described in Patent Document 1, an on-board device is installed on the rental bicycle. The on-board device has a position acquisition unit (GPS (Global Positioning System)) that acquires the position of the rental bicycle. The user uses a terminal device. The terminal device also has a position acquisition unit, just like the rental bicycle.

[0017] In the system described in Patent Document 2, an IC chip (an example of a transmitter) is installed on a bicycle. Data from the IC chip is read by a terminal (an example of a mobile terminal, but not a user's mobile terminal) carried by an administrator.

[0018] The terminal has a GPS. When the terminal reads the data from the IC chip, it acquires the location information by the GPS of the terminal. The terminal communicates with the bicycle parking management device (an example of a management server) via a terminal installed in the manager's management room.

[0019] According to the system described in Patent Document 2, if the location information sent from the terminal to the parked bicycle management device indicates the same location over a long period of time, the manager can confirm that the bicycle is an abandoned bicycle.

[0020] In the system described in Patent Document 3, a location acquisition unit (PHS or GPS) is installed on the bicycle, and the bicycle location acquired by the location acquisition unit is sent directly to a server without going through the user's mobile terminal.

[0021] In the system described in Patent Document 4, in the field of car sharing in which automobiles, rather than bicycles, are shared among multiple users, a first transmitter that transmits a unique identification signal is installed at a station where the automobile is rented and / or returned to the user, and a second transmitter that transmits a unique identification signal is installed in the automobile. In this system, the user is permitted to rent and / or return the automobile based on the signal received by the user's mobile terminal from the first transmitter and the signal received from the second transmitter.

[0022] Furthermore, in the system described in Patent Document 4, when the user's mobile terminal receives a signal from the second transmitter but does not receive a signal from the first transmitter, it is determined that the user is about to get off the car midway. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0023] [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-181773 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2005-352867 A [Patent Document 3] JP 2003-232152 A [Patent Document 4] JP 2017-068449 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0024] According to the system described in Patent Document 1, the presence and location of an abandoned rental vehicle is detected, and the detected abandoned rental vehicle is rented out to another user, thereby allowing the abandoned rental vehicle to be recovered without bothering the rental company.

[0025] However, in the system described in Patent Document 1, in order to detect the location of an abandoned rental vehicle, it is necessary to install a GPS in the rental vehicle. In this system, a GPS is also installed in the user's terminal device, but this system cannot detect the abandoned location of the rental vehicle using the GPS installed in the terminal device.

[0026] Similarly, the system described in Patent Document 3 cannot detect the position of the bicycle using the GPS installed in the user's mobile terminal.

[0027] In contrast, the system described in Patent Document 2 uses a GPS mounted on a terminal carried by the caretaker to detect the location of an abandoned rental vehicle. As a result, it is not necessary to mount a GPS on the rental vehicle.

[0028] However, in the system described in Patent Document 2, it is not possible to use the mobile terminal of the user of the rental vehicle or the GPS of the mobile terminal to detect the location of the abandoned rental vehicle. Therefore, in this system, even if an abandoned rental vehicle appears, the manager will not notice the presence of the abandoned rental vehicle until the manager, not the user, approaches the abandoned rental vehicle.

[0029] Furthermore, in the system described in Patent Document 4, the management server can detect the possibility that the car will be left unattended, i.e., dismounted, based on the state of the signals received by the user's mobile terminal from the two transmitters described above. However, in this system, when the management server detects that there is a possibility that the car will be left unattended, the management server remotely locks the car's doors forcibly, preventing the user from unlocking them at will, thereby preventing the user from leaving the car unattended.

[0030] Therefore, since Patent Document 4 employs technology to prevent cars from being left unattended, it does not even mention the need to detect the location of an abandoned car. In other words, this document does not mention or suggest anything about using the GPS of a user's mobile device to measure the location of an abandoned car.

[0031] On the other hand, if the location of a rental vehicle can be detected using a user's mobile terminal, for example, in a free-floating one-way rental business, it will be possible to use the user's mobile terminal to detect the location of a rental vehicle when the user rents it at a location of their choice, and the location of the rental vehicle when the user returns it to a location of their choice.

[0032] Based on the above findings, the present invention has been made with the objective of providing a new technology that enables a rental item to be rented to a user using at least the user's mobile terminal to which the rental item is rented and a short-range wireless communication unit installed in the rental item. [Means for solving the problem]

[0033] In order to solve the problem, according to a first aspect of the present invention, multiple Rental vehicle Manage your rental vehicle 1. A management system comprising: Each rental vehicle Installed in each rental vehicle a short-range wireless communication unit having a function of transmitting a signal specific to the Each rental vehicle A management server capable of communicating with a mobile terminal of a user of the Including, The management server is a display unit that enables the mobile terminal to display, on a screen, among the plurality of stations, those that are located near a current position determined by a positioning unit of the mobile terminal as a plurality of candidate stations; Among the plurality of candidate stations The user selects one of the following on the screen of the mobile terminal: As a rental station choice A lending station that allows choice Department and At the rental station, the plurality of rental vehicle When the user approaches any of the following locations, the mobile terminal Corresponding to any of the above rental vehicles When the signal is received from the short-range wireless communication unit, signal Based on the above, any of the rental vehicle Lending vehicle Loans to be specified as vehicle A specific part; When the user inputs a rental request to the mobile terminal, vehicle to said user lending The loan permission department and Including fruit, The management server and / or the mobile terminal includes a rental vehicle position determining unit that determines the position of the rental vehicle based on the current position determined by the positioning unit. rental vehicle A management system is provided.

[0034] According to a second aspect of the present invention, A rental vehicle management system for managing a plurality of rental vehicles at a plurality of stations, A short-range wireless communication unit installed in each rental vehicle and having a function of transmitting a signal unique to each rental vehicle; A management server capable of communicating with a mobile terminal of each rental vehicle user; Including, The management server is a display unit that enables the mobile terminal to display, on a screen, among the plurality of stations, those that are located near a current position determined by a positioning unit of the mobile terminal as a plurality of candidate stations; a rental station selection unit that enables the user to select one of the plurality of candidate stations as a rental station on a screen of the mobile terminal; a rental vehicle identification unit that, when the user approaches any one of the plurality of rental vehicles at the rental station and the mobile terminal receives the signal from the short-range wireless communication unit corresponding to the rental vehicle, identifies the rental vehicle as a rental vehicle based on the received signal; a rental permission unit that permits rental of the rental vehicle to the user when the user inputs a rental request to the mobile terminal; a code acquisition unit that enables the portable terminal to receive the signal from the short-range wireless communication unit corresponding to the rental station at the rental station and acquire a code corresponding to the rental station based on the received signal; a rental station ID acquisition unit that acquires the acquired code or a converted version of the code as a rental station ID through communication with the mobile terminal; Rental vehicle management system including is provided.

[0045] The present invention provides the following embodiments. Each embodiment is divided into clauses, each clause is numbered, and other clause numbers are cited as necessary. This is to facilitate understanding of some of the technical features that the present invention may employ and their combinations, and should not be construed as limiting the technical features and combinations that the present invention may employ to the following embodiments. In other words, it should be construed that technical features that are not described in the following embodiments but are described in this specification may be appropriately extracted and employed as technical features of the present invention.

[0046] Furthermore, describing each section in a form that refers to the number of other sections does not necessarily mean that the technical features described in each section are prevented from being separated and made independent from the technical features described in other sections, and it should be interpreted that the technical features described in each section can be made independent as appropriate depending on their nature.

[0047] (1) A rental vehicle management method in which, when a user's mobile terminal transitions from a receiving state in which it effectively receives a signal specific to a transmitter installed in a rental vehicle being rented using a short-range communication method to a non-receiving state in which it does not effectively receive the signal, the current location measured by the mobile terminal at the start time of the non-receiving state is recognized as the location where the rental vehicle was left.

[0048] In one example, the rental vehicle identified by the signal received by the mobile terminal from the transmitter before the transition is recognized as an abandoned vehicle, and the measured current location is recognized as the abandoned location of the abandoned vehicle.

[0049] The invention related to the above item (1) is particularly useful when a vehicle rental business is carried out as a station-type one-way system, in which the concept of leaving a rental vehicle unattended is more easily recognized than in the free-floating type.

[0050] (2) A method of managing rental vehicles, comprising: The user who rents the rental vehicle carries his / her mobile terminal while using the rental vehicle, The rental vehicle is equipped with a transmitter that emits a signal that can identify a unique vehicle identification code, the mobile terminal is capable of receiving the transmitter by a short-distance communication method and has a positioning function for successively measuring its own current location; The method comprises: a vehicle identification step in which the mobile terminal and / or a management server capable of communicating with the mobile terminal acquires a vehicle identification code specified by a signal received by the mobile terminal from the transmitter, thereby identifying the rental vehicle; an abandoned location recognition step in which, when the mobile terminal and / or the management server transitions from a receiving state in which the mobile terminal effectively receives a signal from the transmitter to a non-receiving state in which the mobile terminal does not effectively receive the signal, the mobile terminal and / or the management server store in memory its own current location measured by the mobile terminal at the start time of the non-receiving state as a temporary abandoned location of the identified rental vehicle, and when the duration of the non-receiving state exceeds a predetermined time, the temporary abandoned location stored in the memory is recognized as the final abandoned location of the identified rental vehicle; A rental vehicle management method including:

[0051] (3) A method for managing rental vehicles that are rented to and returned from users at the same station or at different stations, comprising: The user who rents the rental vehicle carries his / her mobile terminal while using the rental vehicle, The station is provided with a first transmitter for transmitting a signal capable of identifying a unique station identification code; The rental vehicle is equipped with a second transmitter that transmits a signal that can identify a unique vehicle identification code, the mobile terminal is capable of receiving the first and second transmitters by a short-distance communication method and has a positioning function for successively measuring its own current location; The method comprises: a vehicle identification step in which the mobile terminal and / or a management server capable of communicating with the mobile terminal receives a signal from the second transmitter and acquires a vehicle identification code specified by the received signal, thereby identifying the rental vehicle; an abandoned location recognition step in which, when the mobile terminal transitions from a reception state in which the mobile terminal effectively receives a signal from the second transmitter to a non-reception state in which the mobile terminal does not effectively receive a signal from the first transmitter, the mobile terminal and / or the management server stores in memory its own current location measured by the mobile terminal at the start time of the non-reception state as a temporary abandoned location of the identified rental vehicle, and when the duration of the non-reception state exceeds a predetermined time, recognizes the temporary abandoned location stored in the memory as the final abandoned location of the identified rental vehicle; A rental vehicle management method including:

[0052] (4) Furthermore, an abandoned vehicle recognition step of, when the mobile terminal and / or the management server transitions from the receiving state to the non-receiving state, recognizing the identified rental vehicle as an abandoned vehicle; The abandoned vehicle recognition process is as follows: a step of recognizing the rental vehicle as an abandoned vehicle when a predetermined time has elapsed since the start time of the non-reception state; a step of recognizing the rental vehicle as an abandoned vehicle when the rental vehicle is not returned to any station even after the permitted rental time of the rental vehicle permitted by the user has elapsed; After the non-reception state is started, the mobile terminal prompts the user to return the rental vehicle to any one of the stations by visually, audibly or tactilely stimulating the user, and if the user does not respond to the prompting via the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal recognizes the rental vehicle as an abandoned vehicle. The rental vehicle management method according to claim 3, comprising at least one of the following:

[0053] (5) Furthermore, The rental vehicle management method described in (3) or (4) includes a recovery promotion step in which the mobile terminal and / or the management server simultaneously transmits requests to the mobile terminals of multiple other potential users to go to the abandoned location, rent the abandoned vehicle, and return the abandoned vehicle to one of the stations, thereby promoting the recovery of the abandoned vehicle.

[0054] (6) A rental vehicle management method in which, when a user's mobile terminal transitions from a non-receiving state in which it does not effectively receive a signal specific to a transmitter installed in a rental vehicle before rental using a short-range communication method to a receiving state in which it effectively receives the signal, the current location measured by the mobile terminal at the start time of the receiving state is recognized as the rental location of the rental vehicle.

[0055] According to this method, a vehicle rental business that allows a user to rent a rental vehicle at any station or a vehicle rental business that allows a user to rent a rental vehicle at any location can be realized.

[0056] In one example of this method, the receiving range of the transmitter is set to a short range, which will be described later, so that when a user holds a mobile terminal over the transmitter, a transition from the non-receiving state to the receiving state occurs.

[0057] In another example, the reception range of the transmitter is set to the medium range described below (a range in which the mobile terminal can receive the transmitter without the user having to take the trouble of holding the mobile terminal over the transmitter as long as the user is in the rental vehicle), and thereby, a transition from the non-reception state to the reception state occurs when the user approaches the rental vehicle and the transmitter together with his or her mobile terminal.

[0058] (7) A rental vehicle management method in which, when a user's mobile terminal transitions from a reception state in which it effectively receives a signal unique to a transmitter installed in a rental vehicle being rented using a short-range communication method to a non-reception state in which it does not effectively receive the signal, the current location measured by the mobile terminal at the start time of the non-reception state is recognized as the return location of the rental vehicle.

[0059] In this manner, a vehicle rental business can be realized that allows a user to return a rental vehicle to any station, and a vehicle rental business can be realized that allows a user to return a rental vehicle to any location.

[0060] In one example of this method, the reception range of the transmitter is set to the medium range, whereby a transition from the reception state to the non-reception state occurs when the user moves away or retreats from the rental vehicle and the transmitter together with the mobile terminal.

[0061] (8) A rental vehicle management method in which, when a user's mobile terminal transitions from a non-receiving state in which it does not receive a signal specific to a transmitter installed in a rental vehicle being rented using a short-range communication method to a receiving state in which it receives the signal, the current location measured by the mobile terminal within a reference time from the transition is recognized as the return location of the rental vehicle.

[0062] In this manner, a vehicle rental business can be realized that allows a user to return a rental vehicle to any station, and a vehicle rental business can be realized that allows a user to return a rental vehicle to any location.

[0063] In one example of this method, the reception range of the transmitter is set to the short range, whereby a transition from the non-reception state to the reception state occurs when a user approaches the rental vehicle and the transmitter with a mobile terminal.

[0064] (9) A rental vehicle management method according to any one of (1) to (7), wherein the rental vehicles include at least one of a bicycle, a car, and a motorcycle.

[0065] (10) A program executed by a computer of a mobile terminal to implement the mobile terminal according to any one of (1) to (9).

[0066] A program in this and other sections may be interpreted, for example, as meaning a combination of instructions executed by a computer to perform its functions, or may be interpreted to include not only the combination of instructions, but also the files and data processed in accordance with each instruction, but is not limited thereto.

[0067] Furthermore, this program may be executed by a computer alone to achieve the intended purpose, or may be executed by a computer together with other programs to achieve the intended purpose, but is not limited thereto. In the latter case, the program according to this section may be, but is not limited to, one that mainly consists of data.

[0068] (11) A program executed by a computer of a management server to implement the management server according to any one of (2) to (5).

[0069] (12) A recording medium having the program described in (10) or (11) recorded thereon in a computer-readable manner.

[0070] This recording medium may take various forms, including, but not limited to, magnetic recording media such as flexible disks, optical recording media such as CDs and CD-ROMs, magneto-optical recording media such as MOs, and non-removable storage such as ROMs.

[0071] (13) A system for managing rental items, comprising: A transmitter mounted on the rental object and emitting a unique signal; A portable terminal carried by a user of the rental item while using the rental item, the portable terminal being capable of determining the user's current location and receiving the signal from the transmitter by a short-distance communication method. Including, The mobile terminal and / or a management server capable of communicating with the mobile terminal, A rental item management system that includes an abandoned location recognition unit that, when the portable terminal transitions from a receiving state in which the portable terminal effectively receives a signal from the transmitter because the user is approaching the rental item being borrowed to a non-receiving state in which the portable terminal does not effectively receive a signal from the transmitter because the user has moved away from the rental item, recognizes the current location measured by the portable terminal at the start time of the non-receiving state as the abandoned location of the rental item.

[0072] In one example, the mobile terminal further includes an abandoned object recognition unit that recognizes a rental object identified by a signal received by the mobile terminal from the transmitter before the transition as an abandoned object.

[0073] (14) A system for managing rental items, comprising: A transmitter mounted on the rental object and emitting a unique signal; A portable terminal carried by a user of the rental item while using the rental item, the portable terminal being capable of determining the user's current location and receiving the signal from the transmitter by a short-distance communication method. Including, The mobile terminal and / or a management server capable of communicating with the mobile terminal, a rental object recognition unit that recognizes the rental object identified by the signal received by the portable terminal from the transmitter as a rental object to be rented to the user when the portable terminal transitions from a non-receiving state in which the portable terminal does not effectively receive a signal from the transmitter because the user is away from the waiting rental object to a receiving state in which the portable terminal effectively receives a signal from the transmitter because the user approaches the rental object; a rental location recognition unit that recognizes a current location measured by the portable terminal at the start time of the receiving state as a rental location of the rental object; A rental object management system including:

[0074] (15) Furthermore, a rental permission unit that permits a user to rent the rental object on condition that a predetermined condition is satisfied; an unlock command unit that, when the rental is permitted, transmits an unlock signal to a lock device that is in a locked state that prohibits the user from using the rental object, thereby automatically switching the lock device to an unlocked state that permits the user to use the rental object; A rental object management system according to claim 14, comprising:

[0075] (16) A system for managing rental items, comprising: A transmitter mounted on the rental object and emitting a unique signal; A portable terminal carried by a user of the rental item while using the rental item, the portable terminal being capable of determining the user's current location and receiving the signal from the transmitter by a short-distance communication method. Including, The mobile terminal and / or a management server capable of communicating with the mobile terminal, a return object recognition unit that, when the portable terminal transitions from a receiving state in which the portable terminal effectively receives a signal from the transmitter because the user is approaching the rental object being borrowed to a non-receiving state in which the portable terminal does not effectively receive a signal from the transmitter because the user has moved away from the rental object, recognizes the rental object identified by the identification signal received by the portable terminal from the transmitter at the time of the transition as the rental object to be returned by the user; a return location recognition unit that recognizes a current location measured by the portable terminal at the start time of the non-reception state as a return location of the rental item; A rental object management system including:

[0076] (17) Furthermore, a return permission unit that permits a user to return the rental item on condition that a predetermined condition is satisfied; a lock confirmation unit for confirming that a user has manually switched a lock device from a state permitting use of the rental object to a lock state prohibiting use of the rental object; A rental object management system according to claim 16, comprising:

[0077] (18) A rental object management system according to any one of (13) to (17), wherein the rental object includes movable property or real estate.

[0078] (19) The rental object management system according to claim 18, wherein the movable property includes a mobile object.

[0079] (20) A rental object management system as described in paragraph (19), wherein the mobile object includes a bicycle, a car, a motorcycle, a recreational or racing go-kart, a shopping cart, a stroller, a pushchair, a wheelchair or a golf cart.

[0080] (21) The rental object management system described in (18) above, wherein the movable property includes furniture, clothing, electrical appliances, accessories that can be detachably attached to electrical appliances (e.g., batteries or chargers), or recording media (e.g., CDs) on which audiovisual content is recorded and which can be played by the user.

[0081] (22) The rental object management system described in (18) includes real estate, including a room in an accommodation facility (e.g., a hotel) where a user can stay on a short-term basis, a room in an accommodation facility (e.g., an apartment) where a user can stay on a long-term basis, a room in an accommodation facility where an individual resides (e.g., a detached house, an apartment building, etc.) that is temporarily rented to another person (e.g., a room for private lodging), a coin locker, a public or private parking lot, or a parking lot in a private home that is temporarily rented to another person (a privately owned parking lot for rent, or a parking lot that allows parking lot sharing, where a privately owned parking lot is temporarily shared with another person).

[0082] (23) A rental item management method, comprising installing a first transmitter that emits a unique identification signal in a station, installing a second transmitter that emits a unique identification signal in a rental item to be rented and / or returned to a user at the station, and permitting the user to rent and / or return the rental item based on the signal received by the user's mobile terminal from the first transmitter and the signal received from the second transmitter.

[0083] (24) A rental item management method as described in (23), which permits a user to rent and / or return the rental item on condition that it detects a state in which the user's mobile terminal is receiving both a signal from the first transmitter and a signal from the second transmitter.

[0084] (25) A rental object management method as described in (23) or (24), in which the effective reception radius of the effective reception area of ​​the second transmitter is variably controlled according to the behavior of the user.

[0085] (26) A rental item management method which permits a user to rent and / or return a rental item to a user based on a signal received by the user's mobile terminal from a transmitter installed in the rental item which transmits a unique identification signal, and which variably controls the reception range of the transmitter depending on the user's behavior.

[0086] (27) The rental object management method according to (26), further comprising controlling the reception range so as to be longer when a rental process for a user is completed.

[0087] (28) The rental object management method according to (26) or (27), further comprising controlling the reception range so as to be shortened when the user has completed the return process.

[0088] (29) A rental vehicle management method in which, in a reception state in which a user's mobile terminal is effectively receiving a signal specific to a transmitter installed in a rental vehicle being rented using a short-range communication method, if the absolute value of the speed and / or acceleration measured by the mobile terminal is equal to or greater than a reference value, it is determined that the user is in the rental vehicle and moving, and when the mobile terminal transitions from the reception state to a non-reception state in which it is not effectively receiving a signal from the transmitter, it is determined that the user has disembarked from the rental vehicle, and in that state, if the absolute value of the speed and / or acceleration measured by the mobile terminal is equal to or greater than a reference value, it is determined that the user has moved away from the rental vehicle.

[0089] This method makes it possible to relatively easily and accurately determine whether the user is in a rental vehicle or away from the rental vehicle, and makes it easy to manage the rental vehicle in different ways depending on the result.

[0090] (30) A method for managing rental vehicles that are rented to and returned from users at the same or different stations, comprising: The user who rents the rental vehicle carries his / her mobile terminal while using the rental vehicle, The rental vehicle is equipped with a transmitter that emits a signal that can identify a unique vehicle identification code, the mobile terminal is capable of receiving the transmitter by a short-distance communication method and has a positioning function for successively measuring its own current location; The method comprises: a vehicle identification step in which the mobile terminal and / or a management server capable of communicating with the mobile terminal receives a signal from the transmitter and acquires a vehicle identification code specified by the received signal, thereby identifying the rental vehicle; an abandoned location recognition step in which, when the mobile terminal and / or the management server transitions from a receiving state in which the mobile terminal effectively receives a signal from the transmitter to a non-receiving state in which the mobile terminal does not effectively receive the signal, the mobile terminal and / or the management server recognizes the current location measured by the mobile terminal within a reference time from the transition as the abandoned location of the identified rental vehicle, when the user, the mobile terminal, and the rental vehicle are not present at any station; A rental vehicle management method including: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0091] [Figure 1] FIG. 1(a) is an oblique view showing equipment installed at a station in a bicycle rental system according to an exemplary first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1(b) is an enlarged side view showing a portion of the rental bicycle shown in FIG. 1(a).

[0092] [Diagram 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing an example of communication between a first transmitter installed at a station, a second transmitter installed on a bicycle at the same station, a mobile terminal of a user at the same station, and a management server operated by a management center in a remote location in the bicycle rental system shown in Figure 1(a).

[0093] [Diagram 3]FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing short-distance one-way communication between the first and second transmitters and a mobile terminal shown in FIG. 2, and long-distance two-way communication between the mobile terminal and a management server shown in the same figure.

[0094] [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram conceptually showing the first and second transmitters shown in FIG.

[0095] [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart conceptually illustrating an example of a program (hereinafter also referred to as an "application"; the same applies to other programs) executed by the computers of the first and second transmitters shown in FIG.

[0096] [Figure 6] Figure 6(a) is a plan view showing an enlarged view of the first and second transmitters shown in Figure 1(a) together with the station in which the first and second transmitters are installed, and this plan view further conceptually shows examples of first and second effective receiving areas assigned to the first and second transmitters, respectively. Figure 6(b) is a plan view conceptually showing a first variant of the first effective receiving area, and Figure 6(c) is a plan view conceptually showing a second variant of the first effective receiving area.

[0097] [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram conceptually showing the mobile terminal shown in FIG.

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

[0099] [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram conceptually showing, in a table format, the bicycle data file stored in the bicycle data memory in FIG.

[0100] [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram conceptually showing the management server shown in FIG.

[0101] [Figure 11] Figure 11(a) shows a list showing multiple modules of a bicycle rental program executed by the mobile terminal computer shown in Figure 7, and Figure 11(b) shows a list showing multiple modules of a bicycle rental program executed by the management server computer shown in Figure 10.

[0102] [Figure 12] Figure 12(a) is an exemplary diagram showing a reservation status table used in a reservation sequence to explain the reservation sequence of the bicycle rental method executed in the bicycle rental system, and Figure 12(b) is an exemplary diagram showing a user-specific reservation content file used in the reservation sequence.

[0103] [Figure 13] FIG. 13(a) shows a number of time charts for illustratively explaining the main sequences realized in the bicycle rental method when a reservation is made, and FIG. 13(b) shows a number of time charts for illustratively explaining the main sequences realized in the bicycle rental method when a reservation is not made.

[0104] [Figure 14] FIG. 14 shows a reservation sequence flow achieved by the execution of the reservation module shown in FIG. 11(a) by the mobile terminal and the execution of the reservation module shown in FIG. 11(b) by the management server.

[0105] [Figure 15] 15(a), (b) and (c) are reservation sequence diagrams for illustrating the reservation sequence flow shown in FIG. 14 in a time-series manner.

[0106] [Figure 16] Figure 16 shows a sequence flow of rental when a reservation is made that is achieved by the execution by a mobile terminal of the rental when a reservation is made processing module shown in Figure 11(a) and the execution by a management server of the rental when a reservation is made processing module shown in Figure 10(b).

[0107] [Figure 17] Figure 17 shows a sequence flow for processing loans without reservations, which is achieved by execution by a mobile terminal of the loan processing module for processing loans without reservations shown in Figure 11(a) and execution by a management server of the loan processing module for processing loans without reservations shown in Figure 11(b).

[0108] [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a sequence flow of the return process achieved by the execution of the return process module shown in FIG. 11(a) by the mobile terminal and the execution of the return process module shown in FIG. 11(b) by the management server.

[0109] [Figure 19] FIG. 19 shows an abandoned bicycle search sequence flow achieved by execution of the abandoned bicycle search module shown in FIG. 11(a) by a mobile terminal and execution of the abandoned bicycle search module shown in FIG. 11(b) by a management server.

[0110] [Figure 20] FIG. 20 shows a sequence flow for collecting an abandoned bicycle which is achieved by the execution of the abandoned bicycle collection module shown in FIG. 11(a) by a mobile terminal and the execution of the abandoned bicycle collection module shown in FIG. 11(b) by a management server.

[0111] [Figure 21]FIG. 21(a) shows an example of a user X riding a rental bicycle to explain the process by which abandoned bicycles are searched for and retrieved in the bicycle rental system shown in FIG. 1(a). FIG. 21(b) shows an example of the user X abandoning the rental bicycle and leaving it there. FIG. 21(c) shows an example of another user Y approaching to borrow the abandoned bicycle. FIG. 21(d) shows an example of the user Y borrowing the abandoned bicycle and starting to ride it.

[0112] [Figure 22] FIG. 22 shows a number of time charts for illustrating an example of an abandoned bicycle search and recovery sequence in which an abandoned bicycle is searched for and recovered in the bicycle rental system shown in FIG. 1(a).

[0113] [Diagram 23] FIG. 23 shows an example of an abandoned bicycle list registered by the management server executing the abandoned bicycle search module shown in FIG. 11(b).

[0114] [Figure 24] FIG. 24 is a plan view showing an example of the abandoned bicycle location being displayed on the screen of another user's mobile terminal as a result of execution by the management server of the abandoned bicycle recovery module shown in FIG. 11(b).

[0115] [Diagram 25] FIG. 25 is a perspective view conceptually illustrating an example of how a bicycle is rented and returned in a bicycle rental system according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0116] [Figure 26] FIG. 26 shows a sequence flow of a rental process achieved by execution of a rental process module, one of the multiple modules in the bicycle rental system shown in FIG. 25, by a mobile terminal and execution of the rental process module by the management server.

[0117] [Figure 27] FIG. 27 shows a sequence flow of a return process that is achieved by execution of a return process module, one of the multiple modules in the bicycle rental system shown in FIG. 25, by a mobile terminal and execution of the return process module by a management server.

[0118] [Figure 28] FIG. 28 shows a number of time charts for explaining the relationship between changes in the signal reception level of the second transmitter and changes in user behavior in the bicycle rental system shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0119] Hereinafter, some exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0120] <First embodiment>

[0121] 1(a) and 2 show a bicycle rental system (hereinafter simply referred to as the "system") 10 according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. This system 10 is an example of a rental vehicle management system according to the present invention, and in this system 10, a bicycle rental management method, which is an example of a rental vehicle management method according to the present invention, is implemented.

[0122] According to this system 10, a rental business is provided in which rental bicycles 12, which are an example of a rental vehicle, are rented to users for a fee.

[0123] The rental business employs a one-way system in which a user is permitted to return a bicycle 20 to a station 20 other than the station 20 from which the bicycle 20 was rented.

[0124] Furthermore, the rental business adopts a station-type one-way system, so that users are prohibited from abandoning bicycles 12 rented at any station 20 at any location.

[0125] However, according to this rental business, bicycles 12 that have been abandoned in any location, i.e., abandoned bicycles, are automatically searched for, and when an abandoned bicycle 12 is discovered as a result of the search, the location where the abandoned bicycle 12 has been left is simultaneously announced (distributed or broadcast) to multiple potential other users as a location where it is possible for them to rent the abandoned bicycle 12 and start riding it.

[0126] This encourages another user to return the abandoned bicycle 12 to one of the stations 20 for collection. As a result, the rental company is at least partially relieved from the additional trouble of traveling to the bicycle rental company to collect the abandoned bicycle 12 and return it to one of the stations 20.

[0127] According to this rental business, if the management server 50 finds that a user has abandoned a rented bicycle 12, the bicycle 12 is deemed to have been returned, although a penalty is imposed. Therefore, in light of this, this rental business can be considered to be partially adopting a free-floating one-way system.

[0128] In summary, this rental business can be thought of as adopting a hybrid one-way system that combines the station type and free-floating types.

[0129] In this embodiment, if a user who rents bicycle 12 gets off and parks bicycle 12 at any location other than station 20, this action is expressed by the term "abandoned." However, if bicycle 12 is left abandoned, the location functions as if it were a new station 20, and another user may borrow the abandoned bicycle as if it were a properly returned bicycle.

[0130] In this embodiment, the term "abandoned" is interpreted as a term whose meaning changes depending on the situation; that is, if another user rents an abandoned bicycle and returns it to one of the stations 20, it is synonymous with "return," which is a legitimate act, whereas if no such user exists and the rental company collects the abandoned bicycle, it means "abandoned" as an illegal act.

[0131] Therefore, in this embodiment, the term "abandoned" may be interpreted as being synonymous with "returned."

[0132] As shown in Figures 1(a) and 2, this system 10 is a system for providing a service of renting and returning bicycles 12 to users at a number of stations 20 (only representative stations 20 among the stations 20 are shown in Figure 1(a)), each of which is capable of storing a number of bicycles 12. Each station 20 is assigned to a corresponding bicycle parking lot 22. The bicycle parking lot 22 is a site for storing rental bicycles, and in the example shown, is rectangular in plan view.

[0133] There are two types of management methods for the stations 20: an autonomous management method in which each station 20 is managed autonomously (individually or self-containedly) using only the equipment installed in that station 20, and a centralized management method in which multiple stations 20 communicate with a management server in a remote location to centrally manage those stations 20. The system 10 according to the present embodiment employs the latter centralized management method.

[0134] To realize this centralized management system, the system 10 comprises a plurality of first transmitters 30 installed at the plurality of stations 20, a plurality of second transmitters (vehicle-mounted devices) 32 mounted on the plurality of bicycles 12, and a management server 50 installed in a management center 40 that centrally manages the plurality of stations 20. The management center 40 is operated by the owner of the land on which the stations 20 are installed, or by the aforementioned rental company or bicycle parking lot management company that acts on the owner's behalf.

[0135] Here, the first transmitter 30 is called a station-side transmitter when focusing on its installation location, and is called a fixed transmitter, stationary transmitter, or position-unchanging transmitter when focusing on its movement characteristics. Similarly, the second transmitter 32 is called a bicycle-side transmitter or vehicle-mounted transmitter when focusing on its installation location, and is called a movable transmitter, mobile transmitter, or position-variable transmitter when focusing on its movement characteristics.

[0136] Each of the multiple stations 20 is assigned a unique station ID in advance. Similarly, each of the multiple bicycles 12 is assigned a unique bicycle ID in advance. The first transmitter 30 installed in each station 20 and the management server 50 do not communicate directly, but communicate via the user's mobile terminal 90. Similarly, the second transmitter 32 installed in each bicycle 12 and the management server 50 do not communicate directly, but communicate via the user's mobile terminal 90.

[0137] In this embodiment, each first transmitter 30 is configured to transmit a local identification signal capable of identifying a station ID unique to the corresponding station 20. Also, each second transmitter 32 is configured to transmit a local identification signal capable of identifying a bicycle ID unique to the corresponding bicycle 12. The same station ID is commonly used for multiple bicycles 12 stored in the same station 20.

[0138] The number and type of bicycles 12 to be stored at the same station 20 may be predetermined and do not change from day to day, but in this embodiment they are not predetermined and can change from day to day.

[0139] Therefore, in the former case, the same bicycle ID always corresponds to the same station ID, whereas in this embodiment, the same bicycle ID corresponds to multiple different station IDs.

[0140] Specifically, in this embodiment, the same bicycle ID corresponds to the station ID of station A when renting, but corresponds to the station ID of station B when returning. In this way, each of the user's actions of renting and returning bicycle 12 is defined by a combination of the station ID and the bicycle ID.

[0141] 1(b), a corresponding second transmitter 32 is attached to a specific portion of each bicycle 12. Examples of the specific portion include the front portion (e.g., basket portion), rear portion (e.g., luggage rack), and center portion (e.g., saddle 62 of bicycle 12, triangular frame 64 of bicycle 12 that supports saddle 62 from below) of each bicycle 12.

[0142] In addition, the portion of each bicycle 12 to which the second transmitter 32 is attached is selected to be a portion (e.g., the basket portion, the luggage rack, etc.) where the mobile terminal 90 carried by the user is likely to receive the signal transmitted from the second transmitter 32 without obstacles when the user is riding the bicycle 12 (including a state in which the user begins to sit on the saddle 62 of the bicycle 12 (also referred to as the "riding state") and a state in which the user is sitting on the saddle 62 of the bicycle 12 and driving the bicycle 12 (also referred to as the "riding state," "while riding," or "riding and moving state").

[0143] As shown in FIG. 1(a), the system 10 includes, at each station 20, the above-mentioned first transmitter 30 as a fixed object installed in the corresponding bicycle parking area 22, and a bicycle rack (bicycle storage device) 70 for storing multiple bicycles 12.

[0144] In the example shown in FIG. 1(a), one first transmitter 30 is installed in one station 20, but multiple first transmitters 30 may be installed in one station 20, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 6(c).

[0145] 1(a), bicycle rack 70 includes multiple bicycle stalls (small compartments) 72 for accommodating bicycles 12. In one example, bicycle rack 70 is divided into multiple bicycle stalls 72 by frames 74 installed in bicycle parking area 22. Each bicycle 12 is stored in each bicycle stall 72 prior to being rented to a user.

[0146] In one example, not shown, each bicycle 12 is equipped with a lock capable of selectively locking its wheels (front and / or rear) or handlebars to the bicycle frame. In another example, not shown, each bicycle stall 72 is equipped with a lock capable of selectively locking a bicycle 12 to the respective bicycle stall 72.

[0147] In both examples, the locks may be, for example, a PIN type (dial lock, push button lock, etc.) that the user unlocks by entering a PIN, or a remote type that is unlocked by a signal from the user's mobile terminal 90 or management server 50, or may be a mechanical lock that operates without using a power source (electricity), or an electronic lock that operates using a power source (electricity).

[0148] 2 and 3, in this system 10, a user uses his / her mobile terminal 90 to simultaneously receive an identification signal from a first transmitter 30 installed in the station 20 where the user is currently staying, and an identification signal from a second transmitter 32 installed on a bicycle 12 reserved by the user or selected locally from among multiple bicycles 12 stored in the current station 20 at that time, in a contact or non-contact state with the first and second transmitters 30, 32 (performing short-range one-way wireless communication). The mobile terminal 90 also performs long-range two-way wireless communication with a management server 50 in the management center 40.

[0149] The user's mobile terminal 90 is a device that is carried by the user and has a wireless communication function, such as a mobile phone, a smartphone, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, or a PDA.

[0150] <First and second transmitters>

[0151] The first transmitter 30 installed at each station 20 and the second transmitter 32 mounted on each bicycle 12 have a common hardware configuration (see Figure 4) and software configuration (see Figure 5). Therefore, for ease of explanation, the configurations of the first and second transmitters 30 and 32 will be explained as if they were the same transmitter.

[0152] Each of the transmitters 30, 32 actively transmits a unique identification signal locally without the need for an external trigger signal, and continuously so long as the power supply is sufficient.

[0153] Each of the transmitters 30 and 32 is generally a device that transmits a beacon signal as an identification signal and is also known as a beacon device, a radio beacon, etc. In one example, each of the transmitters 30 and 32 generates an identification signal representing a corresponding station ID by modulating an original signal, and transmits the generated identification signal locally as an IR signal, a Bluetooth (registered trademark) signal, an NFC (near field communication) signal, etc.

[0154] Next, the hardware configuration will be explained with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG. 4. Each of the transmitters 30, 32 is mainly composed of a computer 104 having a processor 100 and a memory 102 that stores a plurality of applications executed by the processor 100.

[0155] Each of the transmitters 30, 32 further has a replaceable disposable battery 106 as a power source. Instead of the battery 106, a rechargeable battery may be used, or a commercial power source may be used as an external power source, or alternatively or in addition to these, a solar cell may be used as renewable energy.

[0156] Each of the transmitters 30, 32 further has a transmitter unit 108 that generates and transmits an identification signal representing a genuine transmitter ID (an example of a "transmitter code") unique to itself. Each of the first transmitters 30 transmits an identification signal representing a unique genuine first transmitter ID, whereas each of the second transmitters 32 transmits an identification signal representing a unique genuine second transmitter ID.

[0157] The transmitter 108 is powered by a battery 106 and is controlled by a controller 110. The controller 110 is controlled by the computer 100.

[0158] Next, the software configuration of each of the transmitters 30, 32 will be explained with reference to FIG. 5. The processor 100 of each of the transmitters 30, 32 repeatedly executes a program conceptually shown in the flow chart of FIG.

[0159] When the program is executed each time, first, in step S1, the genuine transmitter ID corresponding to each transmitter 30, 32 (i.e., the genuine first transmitter ID corresponding to the first transmitter 30 and the genuine second transmitter ID corresponding to the second transmitter 32 that corresponds to the program being explained) is read from memory 102. The genuine first transmitter ID has a one-to-one correspondence with one station ID, and the genuine second transmitter ID has a one-to-one correspondence with one bicycle ID.

[0160] Next, in step S2, the remaining capacity of the battery 106 is estimated.

[0161] Next, in step S3, a signal for modulating an original signal (e.g., a carrier signal) so as to reflect the read authorized transmitter ID and the estimated remaining battery level is output to the controller 110. The controller 110 controls the transmitting unit 108, so that the transmitting unit 108 generates an identification signal to be transmitted this time.

[0162] Thereafter, in step S4, the generated identification signal is transmitted from the transmitting unit 108. Then, the process returns to step S1.

[0163] It should be noted that in each transmitter 30, 32, the algorithm or procedure for generating an identification signal so as to reflect at least the relevant ID among the station ID and bicycle ID (relevant ID) and the remaining battery charge can be different from the algorithm or procedure shown in FIG. 5.

[0164] <Hardware configuration of user's mobile device>

[0165] Here, to explain one function of the user's portable terminal 90 in relation to each transmitter 30, 32, when the portable terminal 90 receives an identification signal from each transmitter 30, 32, the portable terminal 90 starts (logs in) a certain program pre-installed in the computer of the portable terminal 90, i.e., a dedicated application for transmitter processing (hereinafter referred to as the "transmitter application"), and demodulates the received identification signal, thereby deciphering the station ID and bicycle ID.

[0166] Specifically, the mobile terminal 90 acquires the station ID from the identification signal received from the first transmitter 30, and acquires the bicycle ID from the identification signal received from the second transmitter 32.

[0167] The mobile terminal 90 further transmits the decrypted station ID and bicycle ID to the management server 50.

[0168] Furthermore, when the mobile terminal 90 starts the transmitter application while receiving an identification signal from each of the transmitters 30, 32, the mobile terminal 90 also measures the distance between the position of each of the transmitters 30, 32 when the identification signal was transmitted and the position of the mobile terminal 90 when the identification signal was received, based on the received identification signal. The distance is measured based on the strength of the signal received by the mobile terminal 90 from each of the transmitters 30, 32, for example.

[0169] In other words, based on the identification signals received from each transmitter 30, 32, the mobile terminal 90 acquires both the station ID unique to the station 20 in which the first transmitter 30 is actually installed, the bicycle ID unique to the bicycle 12 selected by the user in which the second transmitter 32 is installed, and the distance to each transmitter 30, 32 at that time.

[0170] <Setting the reception range of each transmitter>

[0171] As conceptually shown in a plan view in Fig. 6(a), two types of reception areas are assigned to each transmitter 30, 32. These are a receivable area (not shown) and an effective reception area (hereinafter also referred to as a "reception range").

[0172] Both of these areas are generally defined as circles originating from each transmitter 30, 32. The coverage area has a maximum reception radius (e.g., about 50 m), whereas the effective reception area has an effective reception radius (e.g., ranging from a radius of 0 m to a radius of about 50 m or less). The maximum reception radius is a fixed value, whereas the effective reception radius is a variable value that can be changed at any time by the mobile terminal 90, as described below.

[0173] The reception area means an area in which the identification signal from each transmitter 30, 32 can reach when the power supply of each transmitter 30, 32 is normal, that is, an area in which the mobile terminal 90 can receive the identification signal as long as it is within that area.

[0174] In contrast, the effective reception area has an effective reception radius that is smaller than the maximum reception radius of the coverage area. The maximum reception radius cannot be set arbitrarily, whereas the effective reception radius can be set arbitrarily by the mobile terminal 90.

[0175] That is, it is possible to say that the maximum reception radius refers to the reception limits determined by the hardware, whereas the effective reception radius refers to the reception limits determined by the software.

[0176] As described above, the mobile terminal 90 measures the distance to each of the transmitters 30, 32 when it transmits the identification signal it receives. The measured distance value may or may not exceed the effective reception radius. When the measured distance value does not exceed the effective reception radius, the mobile terminal 90 is present within the effective reception area, whereas when the measured distance value exceeds the effective reception radius, the mobile terminal 90 is present within the coverage area but not within the effective reception area.

[0177] By launching the transmitter processing application, the mobile terminal 90 determines whether the distance measurement value is equal to or less than the set value of the effective reception radius, and if it determines that the distance measurement value is equal to or less than the set value, the mobile terminal 90 determines that the mobile terminal 90 is currently located within the effective reception area (reception range) and therefore "has validly received the identification signal from each transmitter 30, 32 (hereinafter also simply referred to as "has received the identification signal").

[0178] In contrast, if the mobile terminal 90 determines that the distance measurement value is greater than the set value, then since the mobile terminal 90 is currently located outside the effective receiving area of ​​each transmitter 30, 32, the mobile terminal 90 determines that it is "not effectively receiving the identification signal from each transmitter 30, 32 (hereinafter also simply referred to as "not receiving the identification signal").

[0179] In other words, in this embodiment, when the mobile terminal 90 is located outside the effective reception area, even though the mobile terminal 90 is actually receiving the identification signal, the mobile terminal 90 will be treated in software as if it is not receiving the identification signal.

[0180] Here, the geometric relationship of the effective receiving areas between the first transmitter 30 and the second transmitter 32 will be described.

[0181] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 6(a), one first transmitter 30 is installed in one station 20, and the first receiving radius of the first effective receiving area and the second receiving radius of the second effective receiving area are set relatively so that the first effective receiving area (first receiving range) of the first transmitter 30 is located inside the second effective receiving area (second receiving range) of the second transmitter 32 as long as the corresponding bicycle 12 is present within the premises of the station 20 (inside the boundary line).

[0182] Specifically, the second reception radius is set to be shorter than the first reception radius, so that the second effective reception area is a short range or medium range, and the first effective reception area is a long range.

[0183] Here, specific examples of these three reception ranges will be described.

[0184] 1) Short range

[0185] A reception range in which the mobile terminal 90 cannot effectively receive the transmitter unless the user touches the mobile terminal 90 to a transmitting unit of the transmitter or holds it over the transmitter in a non-contact state (the set value is, for example, within a range of about 0 cm to about 30 cm).

[0186] 2) Medium range

[0187] As long as the user is riding on the bicycle 12 or pushing the bicycle 12, the mobile terminal 90 can effectively receive the transmitter without the user having to touch the mobile terminal 90 to a transmitting unit of the transmitter or hold it over the transmitting unit (non-contact / close state) (the set value is, for example, within a range of about 0 m to about 2 m).

[0188] 3) Long range

[0189] As long as the user is present at any position within the station 20, the mobile terminal 90 can effectively receive the transmitter without the user having to touch or hold the mobile terminal 90 over a transmitting unit of the transmitter (the set value is, for example, within a range of about 0 m to about 10 m).

[0190] In the example shown in Fig. 6(a), the first effective receiving area is set so as to completely cover the entire area of ​​the station 20 in a plan view and to have a region that partially deviates from the boundary line of the station 20. Alternatively, in another example, as shown in Fig. 6(b), the first effective receiving area may be set so as not to have a region that deviates from the boundary line of the station 20 in a plan view.

[0191] In the two examples shown in Figures 6(a) and (b), one first transmitter 30 is installed in one station 20, but instead, it is also possible to implement the present invention in an embodiment in which multiple first transmitters 30 are installed in one station 20, as illustrated in Figure 6(c).

[0192] In this embodiment, the site of the station 20 is rectangular. In contrast, the first effective receiving area is spherical in three dimensions and circular in two dimensions. Therefore, if one first effective receiving area is assigned to the station 20, a gap (a missed reception area) will remain between the boundary line of the site of the station 20 and the boundary line of the first effective receiving area, as shown in FIG. 6(b).

[0193] In contrast, in yet another example, as shown in FIG. 6(c), if multiple first effective receiving areas are assigned to station 20, the combined effective receiving areas become the apparent effective receiving area, reducing the gap between the boundary of this area and the boundary of station 20.

[0194] As a result, a so-called reception failure, in which portable terminal 90 cannot effectively receive a signal from first transmitter 30 even though a user carrying portable terminal 90 is present within station 20, is prevented.

[0195] 6(c), the second transmitters 30 are assigned different transmitter IDs, but are assigned a common station ID. Therefore, when the mobile terminal 90 receives the signal from at least one of the first transmitters 30, the transmitter ID represented by the received signal is associated (converted) with the corresponding station ID, and as a result, the mobile terminal 90 can identify the current station 20.

[0196] Here, when the mobile terminal 90 identifies (recognizes) the current station 20, this is equivalent to the mobile terminal 90 and the transmitter 30 detecting, in cooperation with each other, that the user carrying the mobile terminal 90 is present within the station 20.

[0197] <Software configuration of user's mobile device>

[0198] Next, the hardware configuration of a user's mobile terminal 90 will be described with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG. 7. Mobile terminal 90 is mainly composed of a computer 134 having a processor 130 and a memory 132 that stores a plurality of applications executed by processor 130.

[0199] This mobile terminal 90 further has a display unit (e.g., a liquid crystal display) 136 that displays information, for example, on a screen indicated by the symbol "135" in FIG. 15 (having a window of finite area that is variable or fixed), a receiving unit 138 that receives signals from the first transmitter 30, the second transmitter 32 and the management server 50, and a transmitting unit 140 that generates a signal and transmits the signal to the management server 50.

[0200] The mobile terminal 90 further includes an input unit 150 for inputting data and commands from the user. The input unit 150 includes, for example, an operation unit that can be operated by the user to input desired information (for example, commands, data, etc.) to the mobile terminal 90.

[0201] The operation unit may include, but is not limited to, a touch screen that displays icons (e.g., virtual buttons) that can be operated by the user, a physical operation unit (e.g., a keyboard, keypad, buttons, etc.) that can be operated by the user, and a microphone that detects voice.

[0202] The mobile terminal 90 further includes a GPS (Satellite Positioning System) receiver 152. As is well known, the GPS receiver 152 receives a plurality of GPS signals from a plurality of GPS satellites, and measures the position (latitude, longitude, and altitude) of the GPS receiver 152 on the earth by triangulation based on the GPS signals. In other words, the mobile terminal 90 has a positioning function that uses satellites.

[0203] As shown in FIG. 7, the memory 132 has a number of data memories including a map data memory 161, a station data memory 163, a bicycle data memory 165, and a reservation status table memory 167.

[0204] Map data memory 161 temporarily stores map data downloaded by the user's mobile terminal 90 from management server 50 or another map database (not shown) according to the user's current location. Based on the map data, a map (an example of a "partial map") is displayed on screen 135 (see FIG. 15) of display unit 136. The map displayed on screen 135 changes from moment to moment as the user moves.

[0205] 8, the correspondence between a plurality of station IDs, a plurality of regular first transmitter IDs, and a plurality of station position data can be downloaded from the management server 50 and stored in the station data memory 163. The plurality of station IDs correspond to the plurality of stations 20 managed in a centralized manner by the system 10. Moreover, each of the plurality of station position data indicates the longitude and latitude (latitude x, longitude y) of the ground position of the corresponding station 20.

[0206] The station data memory 163 temporarily stores a plurality of station position data corresponding to a plurality of stations 20 together with a plurality of corresponding station IDs and a plurality of regular first transmitter IDs.

[0207] In the mobile terminal 90, a map based on the map data is displayed on the screen 135, and furthermore, the positions of a small number of candidate stations 20 located near the current position of the mobile terminal 90 among the multiple downloaded stations 20 are overlaid on the map at each moment based on the multiple station position data stored in the station data memory 163 at that time (see Figure 15).

[0208] Here, the "small number of candidate stations 20" refers to a plurality of stations 20 among the plurality of downloaded stations 20 that are displayed on the screen 135 for geographical reasons that they are close to the current location of the mobile terminal 90, and stations 20 that are off the screen 135 for geographical reasons that they are far from the current location of the mobile terminal 90 are excluded.

[0209] As conceptually shown in Figure 9, the bicycle data memory 165 of Figure 7 can store correspondences between multiple station IDs, multiple bicycle IDs (for example, "2001", which in Figure 1(b) is displayed in immovable characters on the bicycle 12 by printing, painting, stickers, etc.), and multiple genuine second transmitter IDs, which are downloaded from the management server 50. When any one of the multiple bicycles 12 is selected by the user, a single bicycle ID corresponding to it is determined, and thus a single genuine second transmitter ID corresponding to it is determined.

[0210] A reservation status table, which will be described later, is downloaded from the management server 50 as appropriate and stored in the reservation status table memory 167.

[0211] As shown in FIG. 11(a), a bicycle rental program for the mobile terminal 90 is stored in the memory 132 of the mobile terminal 90, and the bicycle rental program has the following multiple modules:

[0212] 1) Reservation module

[0213] As will be described in detail later with reference to Fig. 14, this is a module that assists a user in reserving any bicycle 12 before arriving at a station 20. Here, "making a reservation" is equivalent to the user inputting location information of the desired station 20, identification information of the desired bicycle 12 (an example of rental item identification information), and time information such as the planned rental time and planned return time.

[0214] 2) Reservation-based rental processing module

[0215] This is a module that assists a user in receiving a reserved bicycle 12 at a reserved station 20 according to his / her reservation, as will be described in detail later with reference to FIG.

[0216] 3) No-reservation rental processing module

[0217] This is a module that assists a user in selecting any available bicycle 12 at any station 20 and receiving rental of the selected bicycle 12 without making a reservation, as will be described in more detail later with reference to FIG. 17.

[0218] 4) Return Processing Module

[0219] This is a module that assists a user in returning a rented bicycle 12 at the same or a different station 20 from where the bicycle 12 was rented, as will be described in more detail later with reference to FIG. 18.

[0220] 5) Abandoned bicycle detection module

[0221] As will be described in more detail later with reference to FIG. 19, this is a module that determines whether, after lending a bicycle 12 to a user, the user has left the bicycle 12 in any location (leaving location) to which no station 20 is assigned.

[0222] More specifically, in this abandoned bicycle search module, when the user's portable terminal 90 transitions from a receiving state in which it effectively receives an identification signal from the second transmitter 32 via a short-range communication method to a non-receiving state in which it does not effectively receive the signal, the bicycle 12 identified by the signal received by the portable terminal 90 from the second transmitter 32 prior to the transition is recognized as an abandoned bicycle.

[0223] Furthermore, the current location measured by the mobile terminal 90 within a reference time from the transition (for example, substantially simultaneously with the transition, immediately after the transition, or within a predetermined time (for example, 1 minute, 2 minutes, 5 minutes, etc.) from the transition) is recognized as the abandoned location of the abandoned bicycle.

[0224] Here, "a receiving state in which the mobile terminal 90 effectively receives an identification signal from the second transmitter 32 using a short-range communication method" means a state in which, when the effective receiving area of ​​the second transmitter 32 is set narrower than the receivable area, the mobile terminal 90 is receiving an identification signal from the second transmitter 32 because the mobile terminal 90 is within the effective receiving area of ​​the second transmitter 32.

[0225] In contrast, the above-mentioned "reception state" means a state in which, when the effective reception area of ​​the second transmitter 32 is set to be the same as the reception area, the mobile terminal 90 is receiving an identification signal from the second transmitter 32 because the mobile terminal 90 is within the reception area of ​​the second transmitter 32.

[0226] In addition, when the effective receiving area of ​​the second transmitter 32 is set narrower than the receivable area, the "non-receiving state" means a state in which the mobile terminal 90 is receiving an identification signal from the second transmitter 32 because the mobile terminal 90 is within the receivable area of ​​the second transmitter 32 but outside the effective receiving area, or a state in which the mobile terminal 90 cannot receive an identification signal from the second transmitter 32 because the mobile terminal 90 is outside the receivable area of ​​the second transmitter 32.

[0227] In contrast, the above-mentioned "non-reception state" means a state in which, when the effective reception area of ​​the second transmitter 32 is set to be the same as the reception area, the mobile terminal 90 cannot receive an identification signal from the second transmitter 32 because the mobile terminal 90 is outside the reception area of ​​the second transmitter 32.

[0228] 6) Abandoned bicycle collection module

[0229] As will be described in more detail later with reference to Figure 20, when an abandoned bicycle 12 is discovered, this is a module that simultaneously sends a request to the mobile terminals 90 of multiple potential other users to go to the location where the bicycle 12 is left, borrow the abandoned bicycle 12, and return it to one of the stations 20, thereby assisting users in retrieving the abandoned bicycle 12.

[0230] <Management Server>

[0231] Next, the hardware configuration of the management server 50 will be explained with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG. 10. The management server 50 is mainly composed of a computer 164 having a processor 160 and a memory 162 that stores a plurality of applications executed by the processor 160.

[0232] This management server 50 further has a display unit (e.g., a liquid crystal display) 166 that displays information, a receiving unit 168 that receives signals from the mobile terminal 90, a transmitting unit 170 that generates signals and transmits them to the mobile terminal 90, and a clock 172 that measures the current time. This management server 50 does not directly receive information from the transmitter 30, but in effect receives information via the mobile terminal 90.

[0233] As shown in FIG. 11(b), a bicycle rental program for the management server 50 is stored in the memory 162 of the management server 50, and this bicycle rental program has the following multiple modules.

[0234] 1) Reservation module

[0235] This is a module that has the same functions as the reservation module of the mobile terminal 90, as will be described in detail later with reference to FIG.

[0236] 2) Reservation-based rental processing module

[0237] This is a module having the same functions as the reservation-time lending processing module of the mobile terminal 90, as will be described later in detail with reference to FIG.

[0238] 3) No-reservation rental processing module

[0239] This is a module having the same functions as the no-reservation rental processing module of the mobile terminal 90, as will be described in detail later with reference to FIG.

[0240] 4) Return Processing Module

[0241] This is a module that has the same functions as the return processing module of the mobile terminal 90, as will be described in detail later with reference to FIG.

[0242] 5) Abandoned bicycle detection module

[0243] This is a module that has the same functions as the abandoned bicycle search module of the mobile terminal 90, as will be described in detail later with reference to FIG.

[0244] 6) Abandoned bicycle collection module

[0245] This is a module that has the same functions as the abandoned bicycle recovery module of the mobile terminal 90, as will be described in detail later with reference to FIG.

[0246] <Reservation sequence overview>

[0247] FIG. 12(a) shows an example of a reservation status table for managing the reservation status of multiple bicycles 12 by multiple users for each station 20 by execution of the reservation module by the mobile terminal 90 and the management server 50.

[0248] This reservation status table is created and updated in the management server 50, and the latest version is shared with the mobile terminal 90. This reservation status table indicates, for each station 20 and for each bicycle 12, whether or not a reservation has been made and the planned rental time period (including date and time).

[0249] The user visually checks this reservation status table on the screen 135 of his / her mobile terminal 90, and by referring to it, searches for a station 20 where there is at least one waiting bicycle 12, searches for at least one waiting bicycle 12 at that station 20 that has available time, and specifies the desired date, time and time zone.

[0250] In FIG. 12(a), on the time axis (from 00:00 to 23:59) for each bicycle 12 in the reservation status table, at the time when the reservation status table was last updated, a time period where a horizontal bar hatched with diagonal lines exists indicates a time period where a reservation already exists, i.e., a time period with a prior reservation, while a time period where no such bar exists indicates a time period where no reservation yet exists, i.e., a time period without a prior reservation.

[0251] The user inputs into his / her mobile terminal 90 the identification information of the selected station 20, the identification information of the selected bicycle 12, the rental date and time, and the return date and time, as illustrated in Figure 15 (c), thereby reserving both the relevant station 20 and bicycle 12.

[0252] FIG. 11(b) shows an example of a user-specific reservation content file for managing reservation contents of a plurality of users by execution of the reservation module by the mobile terminal 90 and the management server 50.

[0253] This user-specific reservation details file is created and updated in management server 50. This user-specific reservation details file indicates, for each user, personal authentication information (user ID, password, etc.), location information for identifying the location of the selected station 20 (ID unique to the selected station 20), location information for identifying the location of the selected bicycle 12 (ID unique to the selected bicycle 12), time information for defining the planned time period of use for the selected bicycle 12 (planned start time, planned end time, planned length of use, etc.), and the type of penalty that will be imposed on the user for violating the rules that the user is required to follow in order to receive the current bicycle rental service.

[0254] <Outline of main sequences>

[0255] The main sequence performed by the system 10 following the reservation sequence described above will now be outlined with reference to FIG.

[0256] In Figure 13, the time chart labeled "Station Recognition Reception" represents, for ease of explanation, whether or not the mobile terminal 90 is receiving the genuine first transmitter ID from the first transmitter 30 at each moment using a pulse signal that is at a low level when the mobile terminal 90 is not receiving the genuine first transmitter ID and at a high level when it is receiving the genuine first transmitter ID.

[0257] Similarly, in the same figure, the time chart labeled "Bicycle Recognition Reception" represents, for ease of explanation, whether or not the mobile terminal 90 is receiving the genuine second transmitter ID from the second transmitter 32 at each moment in time using a pulse signal that is at a low level when the mobile terminal 90 is not receiving the genuine second transmitter ID and at a high level when it is receiving it.

[0258] <Outline of the main sequence when there is a reservation>

[0259] Figure 13(a) shows an example in which a user reserves a bicycle 12 at a reserved station 20 with a scheduled rental start time (rental time) of 15:00 and a scheduled rental end time (return time) of 18:00, and the main sequence is outlined using multiple time charts.

[0260] 1) Loan Processing

[0261] First, assume that a user enters the reserved station (rental station) 20 at 15:30 on a certain day to rent the reserved bicycle 12, and thus the mobile terminal 90 enters the first effective reception area. Then, the mobile terminal 90 begins to effectively receive the first transmitter 30 (the "station recognition reception signal" in the figure is activated).

[0262] Next, assuming that the user approaches the reserved bicycle 12 that is within the current station 20 and holds the mobile terminal 90 over the second transmitter 32 installed on the bicycle 12, causing the mobile terminal 90 to enter the second effective reception area, the mobile terminal 90 begins to effectively receive the second transmitter 32 (the ``bicycle recognition reception signal'' in the figure is activated).

[0263] As a result, at 15:30, the mobile terminal 90 transitions to a state in which it is simultaneously receiving signals from the first transmitter 30 and the second transmitter 32. That is, the mobile terminal 90 transitions from a non-simultaneous reception state in which it does not effectively receive signals from either transmitter 30, 32 or effectively receives signals only from either transmitter 30, 32 to a simultaneous reception state in which it effectively receives signals from both transmitters 30, 32.

[0264] Here, "a state in which the mobile terminal 90 is simultaneously receiving signals from the first transmitter 30 and the second transmitter 32" means a dual reception state in which the mobile terminal 90 is receiving both a signal from the first transmitter 30 and a signal from the second transmitter 32, and it is not necessarily required that the timing at which the mobile terminal 90 starts receiving a signal from the first transmitter 30 and the timing at which the mobile terminal 90 starts receiving a signal from the second transmitter 32 are mutually consistent.

[0265] At this time, the mobile terminal 90 (or management server 50) determines that the user has actually started using the bicycle 12 (rental has been performed).

[0266] Next, the user inputs a rental request into the mobile terminal 90 within a first time limit, for example, five minutes from the start time of use.

[0267] In response to the rental request, the management server 50 allows the user to rent the bicycle 12. That time is the start time of the actual rental time, but in principle, charging to the user begins from the scheduled rental time of 15:00. Specifically, the total rental time, which is referenced for calculating the final rental fee for the user, begins to be counted from the scheduled rental time.

[0268] Thereafter, the user leaves the rental station 20 while still on the bicycle 12, and at that time the mobile terminal 90 leaves the first effective reception area, transitioning to a state in which it cannot effectively receive the first transmitter 30 (the station recognition reception signal falls).

[0269] In contrast, as long as the user is riding the bicycle 12, the mobile terminal 90 effectively receives the second transmitter 32, and the bicycle recognition reception signal is maintained at a high level.

[0270] 2) Return process

[0271] If we assume that the user enters the same or a different station (return station) 20 as the current rental station 20 at 17:30 on the same day to return the bicycle 12 that he or she is using, and thus the mobile terminal 90 enters the first effective reception area, the station recognition reception signal is activated. Since the user has been riding the bicycle 12 since before that, the mobile terminal 90 continues to be in a state in which it can effectively receive the second transmitter 32.

[0272] As a result, at 17:30, the mobile terminal 90 transitions to a state (dual reception state) in which it is simultaneously receiving signals from the first transmitter 30 and the second transmitter 32. That is, the mobile terminal 90 transitions from a non-simultaneous reception state in which it effectively receives signals only from the second transmitter 32 to a simultaneous reception state in which it receives signals from both transmitters 30, 32.

[0273] At this time, the mobile terminal 90 (or the management server 50) determines that the user has actually finished using the bicycle 12.

[0274] Next, the user inputs a return request into the mobile terminal 90 within a second time limit, for example, five minutes, from the end of the usage.

[0275] In response to the return request, the management server 50 allows the user to return the bicycle 12. This time is the end of the actual rental time, but in principle, the user will continue to be charged until the scheduled return time of 18:00. Specifically, the count of the total rental time ends at the scheduled return time.

[0276] If we assume that the user subsequently dismounts from the bicycle 12 and the mobile terminal 90 exits the second effective reception area, the mobile terminal 90 transitions to a state in which it cannot effectively receive the second transmitter 32, and the bicycle recognition reception signal falls. This bicycle recognition reception signal is then maintained at a low level because the user is no longer riding the bicycle 12.

[0277] Next, assuming that the user moves away from the bicycle 12 and exits the current return station 20, causing the mobile terminal 90 to exit the first effective reception area, the mobile terminal 90 transitions to a state in which it cannot effectively receive the second transmitter 32 (the station recognition reception signal falls).

[0278] When the management server 50 has finished calculating the rental fee based on the length of the total rental time, the user electronically pays the rental fee via the mobile terminal 90.

[0279] <Outline of the main sequence when there is no reservation>

[0280] In Fig. 13(b), multiple time charts are used to illustrate an outline of the main sequence when a user enters any station 20, selects any bicycle 12 in that station 20, and starts the rental service. These time charts are basically the same as those shown in Fig. 13(a) except for the billing process, so common elements will only be explained briefly.

[0281] 1) Loan Processing

[0282] First, assume that a user enters a station (rental station) 20 at 15:30 on a certain day to rent a bicycle 12, and thus the mobile terminal 90 enters the first effective reception area, and the mobile terminal 90 begins to effectively receive the first transmitter 30.

[0283] Next, assuming that the user approaches one of the bicycles 12 and holds the mobile terminal 90 over the second transmitter 32 installed on that bicycle 12, causing the mobile terminal 90 to enter the second effective reception area, the mobile terminal 90 begins to effectively receive the second transmitter 32.

[0284] As a result, at 15:30, the mobile terminal 90 transitions to a state in which it receives signals from the first transmitter 30 and the second transmitter 32 simultaneously (a dual reception state).

[0285] At this time, the mobile terminal 90 (or management server 50) determines that the user has actually started using the bicycle 12 (rental has been performed).

[0286] Next, the user inputs a rental request into the mobile terminal 90 within the first time limit from the usage start time.

[0287] In response to the rental request, the management server 50 allows the user to rent the bicycle 12. That time is the start time of the actual rental time, and in this example, the user is charged from 15:30, which is the actual rental time. Specifically, the total rental time starts to be counted from the actual rental time.

[0288] Thereafter, the user leaves the rental station 20 while still on the bicycle 12, and at that time the mobile terminal 90 leaves the first effective reception area, transitioning to a state in which it cannot effectively receive the first transmitter 30.

[0289] In contrast, as long as the user is riding the bicycle 12, the mobile terminal 90 effectively receives the second transmitter 32, and the bicycle recognition reception signal is maintained at a high level.

[0290] 2) Return process

[0291] If we assume that the user enters the same or a different station (return station) 20 as the current rental station 20 at 17:30 on the same day to return the bicycle 12 that he or she is using, and thus the mobile terminal 90 enters the first effective reception area, the station recognition reception signal is activated. Since the user has been riding the bicycle 12 since before that, the mobile terminal 90 continues to be in a state in which it can effectively receive the second transmitter 32.

[0292] As a result, at 17:30, the mobile terminal 90 transitions to a state in which it receives signals from the first transmitter 30 and the second transmitter 32 simultaneously (a dual reception state).

[0293] At this time, the mobile terminal 90 (or the management server 50) determines that the user has actually finished using the bicycle 12.

[0294] Next, the user inputs a return request into the mobile terminal 90 within the second time limit from the end of use.

[0295] In response to the return request, the management server 50 allows the user to return the bicycle 12. That time is the end of the actual rental time, and the user will continue to be charged until the actual return time of 17:30. Specifically, the count of the total rental time ends at the actual return time.

[0296] If we assume that the user subsequently dismounts from the bicycle 12 and the mobile terminal 90 exits the second effective reception area, the mobile terminal 90 transitions to a state in which it cannot effectively receive the second transmitter 32, and the bicycle recognition reception signal falls. This bicycle recognition reception signal is then maintained at a low level because the user is no longer riding the bicycle 12.

[0297] Next, assuming that the user moves away from the bicycle 12 and exits the current return station 20, causing the mobile terminal 90 to exit the first effective reception area, the mobile terminal 90 transitions to a state in which it cannot effectively receive the second transmitter 32.

[0298] When the management server 50 has finished calculating the rental fee based on the length of the total rental time, the user electronically pays the rental fee via the mobile terminal 90.

[0299] <Reservation sequence>

[0300] Figure 14 shows a chronological sequence flow of an example of communication between a mobile terminal 90 and a management server 50 located at a remote location, in order for a user to connect the mobile terminal 90 to a management server 90 at a location away from the station 20 that the user wishes to reserve (for example, at home as shown in Figure 1) and reserve any of the bicycles 12 in that station 20.

[0301] When the user launches the bicycle rental program (which has already been downloaded from the management server 50 and installed in the memory 132 of the mobile terminal 90) on the mobile terminal 90, a number of buttons (display objects selectable by the user) that the user can operate to issue a number of modes and a number of requests are displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal 90.

[0302] The modes and requests include the following:

[0303] 1) Reservation mode

[0304] The execution mode selected by the user to reserve the station 20 and bicycle 12

[0305] 2) Rental processing mode when there is a reservation

[0306] An execution mode selected by a user to activate the reservation-based rental processing module in order for the user to rent a bicycle 12 at a station 20 with a reservation.

[0307] 3) Rental processing mode when no reservation is made

[0308] An execution mode selected by a user to activate the walk-in rental processing module in order for the user to rent a bicycle 12 at a station 20 without a reservation.

[0309] 4) Return processing mode

[0310] An execution mode selected by the user to activate the return processing module to return the bicycle 12 to the station 20.

[0311] 5) Borrowing Request

[0312] A request issued by a user to request permission to rent a bicycle 12 to the user after the reservation rental processing module or the reservationless rental processing module is started.

[0313] 6) Return Request

[0314] After the return processing module is started, a request is issued by the user to allow the user to return the bicycle 12.

[0315] This time, when the "reservation mode" button is selected by the user, the reservation module of the bicycle rental program for the mobile terminal 90 is executed by the processor 130 of the mobile terminal 90, and the reservation module of the bicycle rental program for the management server 50 is executed by the processor 160 of the management server 50.

[0316] When the reservation module for the mobile terminal 90 is executed by the processor 130 of the mobile terminal 90, first, in step 101, the mobile terminal 90 operates to measure the user's current location (longitude and latitude) based on a GPS signal received from the outside by the GPS receiver 152.

[0317] Next, in step S102, the measured current position of the user is set as a reference position (position (longitude and latitude) of the display reference point) referred to by processor 130 in order to display the map on screen 135 of display unit 136. Furthermore, a portion of the overall map that has a size that can be displayed at one time within a window on screen 135 and in which the reference position exists is determined to be the display range of the map (i.e., the area of ​​the overall map that is displayed in the window at each moment).

[0318] 15(a), when the user moves over time on the ground, the reference position 202 (shown by a black triangle in the figure) also moves over time to follow the user's movement. As a result, the display range of the map also moves over time on the entire map as the user moves, and the image of the map displayed in the window also changes over time.

[0319] Next, in step S103, a login request (an example of a "service start signal") for logging in to the management server 50 is transmitted to the management server 50 together with a user ID and password for identifying the current user.

[0320] In contrast, when the reservation module for the management server 50 is executed by the processor 160 of the management server 50, in step S201, the management server 50 receives the login request along with the user ID and password, and then, in step S202, searches for station data for the multiple stations 20 (see Figure 8 for multiple components of the station data), bicycle data for the multiple bicycles 12 belonging to those stations 20 (see Figure 9 for multiple components of the bicycle data), and the reservation status table (see Figure 12(a)) in the memory 162 (or another memory) of the management server 50.

[0321] Then, in step S203, the searched station data, bicycle data, and reservation status table are transmitted to the mobile terminal 90.

[0322] In response, the mobile terminal 90 receives the station data, bicycle data and reservation status table in step S104. The received station data is stored in station data memory 163 shown in Figure 7, resulting in the construction of the table shown in Figure 8. The received bicycle data is stored in bicycle data memory 165 shown in Figure 7, resulting in the construction of the table shown in Figure 9. The received reservation status table (see Figure 12(a)) is stored in reservation status table memory 167.

[0323] Next, in step S105, based on the stored station data, among the multiple stations 20, those located near the current location are overlaid on the map displayed on the screen 135 as a small number of candidate stations 20.

[0324] This step S In 105, not all of the stations 20 represented by the received station data (all stations 20 stored in the memory 162 of the management server 50) are displayed on the screen 135. Only a smaller number of stations 20 than the above-mentioned stations 20, determined by the user's current location and the size of the screen 135, are displayed on the screen 135. In other words, the stations 20 received from the management server 50 are further narrowed down to a smaller number of candidate stations 20 depending on the user's current location and the size of the screen 135.

[0325] 15(a), the user's current location is overlaid on a map displayed on the screen 135 using a black triangle 202, and multiple candidate stations 20 are overlaid using multiple station display icons 204. In this example, the three station display icons 204 are configured as figures in which the letters "A," "B," and "C" are surrounded by a rectangular frame.

[0326] In this embodiment, for ease of explanation, it is possible to consider that the part of system 10 that executes this step S105 constitutes an example of the "candidate station display unit" and an example of the "candidate station display process" in section (8) above.

[0327] Note that step S105 can be used in the return process sequence flow described later in detail with reference to FIG. 18 so that the user can use prior information to select one of multiple candidates for the return destination of the bicycle 12, taking into consideration, for example, the distance from the user's current location or the distance from the user's nearest station.

[0328] Next, in step S106, the user touches the display position of any one of the candidate stations 20 on the screen 135 with his / her finger, thereby selecting any one of the stations 20 as the currently selected station 20.

[0329] Specifically, when a user touches with a finger a display position of any of the candidate stations 20 on the screen 135, the touch position is detected by the touch screen of the display unit 136, and the touch position is converted into map coordinate information (position information), which is, for example, longitude and latitude on a map (defined by a global coordinate system, which is an absolute coordinate system) or corresponding xy coordinate information (defined by a device coordinate system, which is a relative coordinate system). Based on the map coordinate information, any of the candidate stations 20 is identified.

[0330] After that, in step S107, the reservation status table is displayed on the screen 135 as shown in FIG. 15(b).

[0331] Next, in step S108, the user inputs the identification information (e.g., name) of the station (rental station) 20 that the user wishes to reserve, the identification information (e.g., number) of the bicycle (rental bicycle) 12 that the user wishes to reserve, the rental date and time (planned), and the return date and time (planned), as shown in Fig. 15(c). Here, the user's input of the identification information of the bicycle 12 that the user wishes to reserve into the mobile terminal 90 is equivalent to the user performing an operation on the mobile terminal 90 to select one of the bicycles 12.

[0332] After that, in step S109, the mobile terminal 90 transmits the input reservation details to the management server 50 in association with the user (eg, together with the user ID).

[0333] As a result, the identification information of the rental station 20 and the identification information of the rental bicycle 12 are paired (linked), and the pair is associated with the identification information of the current user, and this information is transmitted from the mobile terminal 90 to the management server 50.

[0334] In response to this, the management server 50 receives the reservation details in association with the user (e.g., together with the user ID) in step S204. Next, in step S205, the management server 50 registers the received reservation details in one of the multiple user-specific reservation details files (see FIG. 12(b)) associated with the current user, and further updates the reservation status table stored in the memory 162 so that the received reservation details are reflected.

[0335] Thereafter, in step S206, the management server 50 transmits a message to the mobile terminal 90 indicating that the reservation has been completed.

[0336] In response to this, the mobile terminal 90 displays the received message on the screen 135 or outputs it by voice. This display notifies the user that his / her reservation has been made.

[0337] <Rental processing sequence when reservation exists>

[0338] FIG. 16 shows an example of a chronological sequence flow of communications that take place between a first transmitter 30 located at the station 20, a second transmitter 32 installed on the bicycle 12, the user's mobile terminal 90, and the management server 50 when a user enters the reserved station 20, then approaches the reserved bicycle 12, and receives permission to rent the bicycle 12.

[0339] The first and second transmitters 30 and 32 each spontaneously and continuously transmit an identification signal unique to itself. When the user enters the reserved station 20, the mobile terminal 90 is present within the first effective reception area of ​​the first transmitter 30 (see FIG. 6), and the mobile terminal 90 effectively receives the identification signal from the first transmitter 30. Eventually, when the user holds the mobile terminal 90 over the second transmitter 32 of the reserved bicycle 12, the mobile terminal 90 is present within the second effective reception area of ​​the second transmitter 32 (see FIG. 6).

[0340] In this embodiment, regardless of whether a reservation is made or not, the reception range of the first effective reception area of ​​the first transmitter 30 is set to the long range, while the reception range of the second effective reception area of ​​the second transmitter 32 is set to the short range. This setting is valid regardless of whether the process is a rental process or a return process.

[0341] This time, the user selects a button labeled "rental processing mode when reservation is available" on the screen of the mobile terminal 90. In response to this, a rental processing module when reservation is available for the mobile terminal 90 is executed by the mobile terminal 90. As a result of this execution, first, in step 151, a login request for logging in to the management server 50 is transmitted to the management server 50 from the mobile terminal 90 together with a user ID and password for identifying the current user.

[0342] In response to this, when the reservation-enabled rental processing module for the management server 50 is executed by the management server 50, the management server 50 receives the login request together with the user ID and password in step S251.

[0343] Next, in step S252, the one associated with the current user among the plurality of user-specific reservation content files is searched in memory 162. Furthermore, in the searched user-specific reservation content file, information regarding the reserved station 20 (rental station) among the plurality of stations 20 and information regarding the reserved bicycle 12 (rental bicycle) among the plurality of bicycles 12 at that station 20 are searched for as current user reservation related information.

[0344] Thereafter, in step S253, the retrieved current user reservation related information is transmitted to the mobile terminal 90.

[0345] In response, the mobile terminal 90 receives the current user reservation related information in step S152. Next, in step S153, in the current user reservation related information, the transmitter code pre-assigned to the genuine first transmitter 30 that should be installed in the reserved station 20 is searched for as the genuine first transmitter code, and the transmitter code pre-assigned to the genuine second transmitter 32 that should be installed in the reserved bicycle 12 is searched for as the genuine second transmitter code. The genuine first and second transmitter codes for the user are obtained.

[0346] Next, in step S154, the mobile terminal 90 receives a signal from at least one of the at least one first transmitter 30 and the at least one second transmitter 32 present in the current station 20.

[0347] On the other hand, as described above, when the mobile terminal 90 is currently located outside the first receivable area of ​​the first transmitter 30, the mobile terminal 90 cannot receive any identification signal from the first transmitter 30. In contrast, when the mobile terminal 90 is currently located within the first receivable area of ​​the first transmitter 30, the mobile terminal 90 can receive the identification signal from the first transmitter 30.

[0348] Furthermore, even if the mobile terminal 90 receives an identification signal from the first transmitter 30, the mobile terminal 90 may currently be located outside the first effective reception area of ​​the first transmitter 30, or it may be located within the effective reception area.

[0349] The same applies to the second transmitter 32.

[0350] The mobile terminal 90 is capable of receiving multiple signals from multiple transmitters simultaneously and in a manner that allows them to be distinguished from one another. Each transmitter transmits a unique signal, and for example, the source address (corresponding to a transmitter ID) in the header of each packet of the signal is different from that of other transmitters. By focusing on this, the mobile terminal 90 is able to individually handle multiple signals received simultaneously.

[0351] Therefore, following step S154, in step S155, the mobile terminal 90 performs the following three types of determination.

[0352] 1) A first valid reception determination as to whether or not the mobile terminal 90 has validly received an identification signal from the first transmitter 30, i.e., a determination as to whether or not the measured value of the distance between the mobile terminal 90 and the first transmitter 30 is smaller than the effective reception radius (long range) of the first effective reception area.

[0353] 2) A second valid reception determination as to whether or not the portable terminal 90 has validly received an identification signal from the second transmitter 32, i.e., a determination as to whether or not the measured value of the distance between the portable terminal 90 and the second transmitter 32 is smaller than the effective reception radius (short range) of the second effective reception area.

[0354] 3) A simultaneous reception determination as to whether the mobile terminal 90 received signals from the first transmitter 30 and the second transmitter 32 simultaneously, i.e., a determination as to whether the timing at which the first valid reception determination of the first transmitter 30 was made positive and the timing at which the first valid reception determination of the second transmitter 32 was made positive were made substantially at the same time.

[0355] The mobile terminal 90 can refer to already stored station data (FIG. 8) to determine which transmitter corresponds to the first transmitter 30 (station side transmitter), and can also refer to already stored bicycle data (FIG. 9) to determine which transmitter corresponds to the second transmitter 32 (bicycle side transmitter). Thus, the mobile terminal 90 can determine which transmitter to apply the effective reception radius of the first effective reception area (e.g., the long range) to for the effective reception determination, and which transmitter to apply the effective reception radius of the second effective reception area (e.g., the short range) to for the effective reception determination.

[0356] When step 155 is executed, if any of the first valid reception determination, second valid reception determination, and simultaneous reception determination is negative, the determination in step 155 becomes NO and the process returns to step S154. On the other hand, if any of the first valid reception determination, second valid reception determination, and simultaneous reception determination is positive, the determination in step 155 becomes YES and the process moves to step S156.

[0357] In step S156, the mobile terminal 90 demodulates the received identification signal, and then in step S157, the mobile terminal 90 decodes the transmitter ID represented by the demodulated identification signal as the real transmitter ID. Specifically, the mobile terminal 90 acquires the real first transmitter ID represented by the signal received from the first transmitter 30 and the real second transmitter ID represented by the signal received from the second transmitter 32.

[0358] When the demodulated identification signal is a code represented by a multi-digit binary number, for example, the code is converted into a transmitter ID using a conversion table prepared in advance (for example, one downloaded in advance from the management server 50). However, in terms of usage, the difference between "code" and "ID" is not important since the purpose is identification.

[0359] Next, in step S158, the mobile terminal 90 determines whether the real first and second real transmitter IDs thus decoded match the genuine first and second transmitter IDs acquired by executing step S153. That is, ID matching is performed.

[0360] Here, the "actual first transmitter ID" means a first transmitter ID corresponding to a first transmitter (selected actual first transmitter) 30 that is actually installed in one of the multiple stations 20 that is actually selected and visited by the user, while the "regular first transmitter ID" means a first transmitter ID corresponding to a first transmitter (selected virtual first transmitter) 30 that should be installed in one of the multiple stations 20 that is virtually selected by the user by operating the mobile terminal 90.

[0361] Similarly, the "actual second transmitter ID" refers to the second transmitter ID corresponding to the second transmitter (selected actual second transmitter) 32 that is actually installed on one of the multiple bicycles 12 that is actually selected by the user, while the "regular second transmitter ID" refers to the transmitter ID corresponding to the second transmitter (selected virtual second transmitter) 32 that should be installed on one of the multiple bicycles 12 that is virtually selected by the user by operating the mobile terminal 90.

[0362] After that, in step S159, the mobile terminal 90 determines whether or not each real transmitter ID and each genuine transmitter ID match each other, that is, whether or not the ID matching has been successful.

[0363] If the ID matching is not successful, the determination in step S159 becomes NO, and then in step S160, the mobile terminal 90 prompts the user to retry detecting the first transmitter 30 and the second transmitter 32 by, for example, displaying an appropriate message on the screen 135 or outputting it by voice, etc. Then, the process returns to step S154.

[0364] On the other hand, if the ID matching is successful, the determination in step S159 becomes YES, and then in step S161, the mobile terminal 90 determines that, at the current time, the unrented bicycle 12 is present in the current station 20. This determination is equivalent to determining that the user has started using the current bicycle 12 (rental has occurred) in the current station 20.

[0365] In one example, after the user activates the rental processing module, the determination in step S155 is NO until the user arrives at the current station 20 but has not yet arrived at the reserved bicycle 12. When the user eventually arrives at the bicycle 12, the determination in step S155 changes from NO to YES.

[0366] At this time, if the mobile terminal 90 receives a signal representing a genuine second transmitter ID, the ID matching is successful, and the determination in step S159 is YES. After that, in step S161, it is determined that the first transition has occurred for the first time at the current time.

[0367] Here, the timing at which the judgment in step S159 becomes YES coincides with the timing at which the mobile terminal 90 transitions from a state in which it does not receive the genuine second transmitter ID to a state in which it does receive it (which coincides with the time position of the “rising edge” of the “received signal for bicycle recognition” in the example of Figure 13(a)).

[0368] Thereafter, in step S162, it is determined whether or not a lending request has been input from the user to the mobile terminal 90 (for example, whether or not a virtual button (for example, a "lending button") operated to command the "lending request" has been operated by the user). If a lending request has been input, the determination in step S162 is YES.

[0369] Next, in step S163, the fact that a rental request has been issued by the user and the determination result that the user has actually begun using the reserved bicycle 12 at the currently reserved station 20 are associated with the user (e.g., together with the user ID) and transmitted to the management server 50.

[0370] In response to this, in step S254, the management server 50 receives the information transmitted by the mobile terminal 90 by executing step S163.

[0371] After that, in step S255, the current time is measured using the clock 172. Then, in step S256, the current time is recognized as the actual rental time. Then, in step S257, the user is permitted to rent the bicycle 12 this time.

[0372] Then, in step S258, the charging start time is determined for the user. In principle, charging starts from the scheduled lending time, and the rental fee is calculated based on the amount of time that has elapsed since the scheduled lending time (usage time, lending time, rental time).

[0373] The above describes the case where a loan request is normally issued by the user immediately after the mobile terminal 90 effectively receives two genuine transmitters 30 and 32 simultaneously (a bilateral reception state is established). However, if a request is not issued, the determination in step S162 becomes NO, and then in step S164, it is determined whether the time that has elapsed since the execution time of step S161 is currently within a first time limit (e.g., 5 minutes).

[0374] If it is within the first time limit, the determination in step S164 becomes YES, and in step S165, the user is prompted to input a lending request, for example, by an appropriate message being displayed on the screen 135 or output by voice. Then, the process returns to step S162.

[0375] On the other hand, if the time that has elapsed since the execution time of step S161 currently exceeds the first time limit, the determination in step S164 becomes NO, and thereafter, in step S166, it is determined that the user has committed a first violation.

[0376] Next, in step S167, a message is sent to the management server 50 indicating that the user has committed a first violation. The message is received by the management server 50 in step S254, and rental of the bicycle 12 is prohibited this time.

[0377] <Rental processing sequence when no reservation is made>

[0378] 17 shows an example of a chronological sequence flow of communications that take place between a first transmitter 30 located at a station 20, a second transmitter 32 installed on a bicycle 12, the user's mobile terminal 90, and the management server 50, in order for a user to enter any station 20 without making a reservation, and then approach any bicycle 12 and receive permission to rent that bicycle 12. This flow has many elements in common with the flow shown in FIG. 16, so only the different elements will be described in detail.

[0379] This time, the user selects a button labeled "Rental Processing Mode When No Reservation Is Present" on the screen of the mobile terminal 90. In response to this, the mobile terminal 90 executes a rental processing module when no reservation is present for the mobile terminal 90.

[0380] By this execution, first, in step 201, similar to the above-mentioned step S151, a login request for logging in to the management server 50 is sent to the management server 50 together with a user ID and password for identifying the current user.

[0381] In response to this, when the no-reservation rental processing module for the management server 50 is executed by the management server 50, in step S271, the management server 50 receives the login request together with the user ID and password, similar to step S251 described above.

[0382] Then, in step S272, the reservation status table (FIG. 12(a)) is searched for in the memory 162. After that, in step S273, the searched reservation status table is transmitted to the mobile terminal 90.

[0383] In response to this, the mobile terminal 90 receives the reservation status table in step S202, and then displays the received reservation status table on the screen 135 in step S203.

[0384] Next, in step S204, similar to the above-mentioned step S154, the mobile terminal 90 receives a signal from at least one of the at least one first transmitter 30 and at least one second transmitter 32 present in the current station 20.

[0385] After that, in step S205, similarly to the above-mentioned step S155, the mobile terminal 90 performs the first valid reception determination, the second valid reception determination, and the simultaneous reception determination.

[0386] If the determination in step 205 is NO, the process returns to step S204, but if the determination in step 205 is YES, the process proceeds to step S206.

[0387] In this step S206, similar to the aforementioned step S156, the mobile terminal 90 demodulates the received identification signal, and then, in step S207, similar to the aforementioned step S157, the mobile terminal 90 obtains the actual first transmitter ID of the first transmitter 30 and the actual second transmitter ID of the second transmitter 32 from the demodulated identification signal.

[0388] Next, in step S208, the fact that the user has selected the current station (rental station) 20 and the current bicycle (rental bicycle) 12 as a result of reception from the first transmitter 30 and the second transmitter 32 is displayed on screen 135 together with the reservation status table. This allows the user to confirm the station 20 and bicycle 12 that he or she has selected.

[0389] Furthermore, in step S208, the user inputs the planned return time for the current bicycle 12 into the mobile terminal 90.

[0390] Then, in step S209, the mobile terminal 90 extracts from the reservation status table the individual reservation status corresponding to the current station 20 and the current bicycle 12, and determines whether or not the reserved time period in the individual reservation status overlaps with the scheduled use time period from the current actual rental time to the scheduled return time, i.e., whether or not there is a prior reservation.

[0391] If there is a prior appointment, the determination in step S209 becomes NO, and then, in step S210, similar to step S160, the mobile terminal 90 prompts the user to retry detecting the first transmitter 30 and the second transmitter 32 with the mobile terminal 90. Then, the process returns to step S204.

[0392] On the other hand, if there is no prior reservation, the determination in step S209 becomes YES, and then in step S211, the mobile terminal 90 determines that at the current time, an unrented bicycle 12 is present at the current station 20. This determination is equivalent to determining that the user has started using the current bicycle 12 at the current station 20 (rental has occurred).

[0393] Thereafter, in step S212, similarly to step S162 described above, it is determined whether or not a lending request has been input from the user to the mobile terminal 90. If a lending request has been input, the determination in step S212 is YES.

[0394] Next, in step S213, similar to step S163 described above, the determination result that the user has actually started using the current bicycle 12 at the current station 20 (rental has been performed) is associated with the user (e.g., together with the user ID) and transmitted to the management server 50.

[0395] As a result, the identification information of the rental station 20 and the identification information of the rental bicycle 12 are paired (linked), and the pair is associated with the identification information of the current user, and this information is transmitted from the mobile terminal 90 to the management server 50.

[0396] In response to this, in step S274, the management server 50 receives the information transmitted by the mobile terminal 90 by executing the above-mentioned step S213, similarly to the above-mentioned step S254.

[0397] Next, in step S275, the current time is measured using clock 172, as in step S255 described above. Next, in step S276, the current time is recognized as the actual rental time, as in step S256 described above. Next, in step S277, the user is permitted to rent bicycle 12 this time, as in step S257 described above.

[0398] Thereafter, in step S278, the charging start time is determined for the user, as in step S258. Next, in step S279, the current rental details, including the identification information of the rental station 20, the identification information of the rental bicycle 12, the actual rental time, and the planned return time, are registered in one of the multiple user-specific reservation details files (see FIG. 12(b)) associated with the current user.

[0399] Furthermore, in step S278, the reservation status table stored in memory 162 is updated to reflect the current rental details.

[0400] The above describes the case where the determination in step S212 is YES. If the determination is NO, then in step S214, similar to step S164 described above, it is determined whether the time that has elapsed since the execution time of step S211 is currently within the first time limit.

[0401] If it is within the first time limit, the determination in step S214 becomes YES, and in step S215, the user is prompted to input a lending request, similar to step S165. Then, the process returns to step S212.

[0402] On the other hand, if the time that has elapsed since the execution time of step S211 currently exceeds the first time limit, the determination in step S214 is NO, and then, in step S216, it is determined that the user has committed a first violation, similar to step S166 described above.

[0403] Next, in step S217, similar to step S167 described above, a message is sent to management server 50 this time indicating that the user has committed a first violation. In step S274, the message is received by management server 50 in step S254 described above, and this time rental of bicycle 12 is prohibited.

[0404] <Return processing sequence>

[0405] Figure 18 shows an example of a chronological sequence flow of communication that takes place between a first transmitter 30 located at the station 20 and a second transmitter 32 installed on the bicycle 12, and between the user's mobile terminal 90 and the management server 50 when a user is riding and driving a borrowed bicycle 12 or pushing the borrowed bicycle 12 and enters the same or a different station (return station) 20 as the rental station, and then, in order to obtain permission to return the bicycle 12, to obtain permission to process the return of the reserved bicycle 12.

[0406] This time, the user selects a button labeled "return processing mode" on the screen of the mobile terminal 90. In response to this, the return processing module for the mobile terminal 90 is executed by the mobile terminal 90.

[0407] By executing it, first, step S In 300, similar to step S151 described above, a login request for logging in to the management server 50 is sent to the management server 50 together with a user ID and password for identifying the current user.

[0408] In response to this, when the return processing module for the management server 50 is executed by the management server 50, the management server 50 receives the login request together with the user ID and password in step S400, similar to step S251 described above.

[0409] In response to this, in step S302, the mobile terminal 90 performs the first valid reception determination, the second valid reception determination, and the simultaneous reception determination, similarly to the above-mentioned step S155.

[0410] If the determination in step 302 is NO, the process returns to step S301, whereas if the determination in step 302 is YES, the process proceeds to step S303.

[0411] In this step S303, similar to the aforementioned step S156, the mobile terminal 90 demodulates the received identification signal, and then, in step S304, similar to the aforementioned step S157, the mobile terminal 90 obtains the actual first transmitter ID of the first transmitter 30 and the actual second transmitter ID of the second transmitter 32 from the demodulated identification signal.

[0412] Next, in step S305, the fact that the user has selected the current station (return station) 20 and the current bicycle (return bicycle) 12 as a result of reception from the first transmitter 30 and the second transmitter 32 is displayed on the screen 135. This allows the user to confirm the station 20 and bicycle 12 that he or she has selected.

[0413] Furthermore, in step S305, the mobile terminal 90 determines that, at the current time, a returned bicycle 12 (the bicycle that the user is about to return) is present at the current station 20. This determination is equivalent to determining that the user has finished using the current bicycle 12 (returned) at the current station 20.

[0414] Thereafter, in step S306, it is determined whether or not a return request has been input from the user to the mobile terminal 90 (for example, whether a virtual button (for example, a "return button") operated to issue the "return request" command has been operated), in accordance with step S162 described above. If a return request has been input, the determination in step S306 is YES.

[0415] Next, in step S307, in accordance with step S163 described above, the fact that a return request has been issued by the user and the determination result that the user has actually finished using the current bicycle 12 at the current station 20 (return has been made) (identification information of the current return station 20 and identification information of the current returned bicycle 12) are associated with the user and transmitted to the management server 50 (e.g., together with the user ID).

[0416] As a result, the identification information of the return station 20 and the identification information of the returned bicycle 12 are paired (linked), and the pair is associated with the identification information of the current user, and this information is transmitted from the mobile terminal 90 to the management server 50.

[0417] In response to this, in step S401, the management server 50 receives the information transmitted by the mobile terminal 90 by executing the above-mentioned step S307, similarly to the above-mentioned step S254.

[0418] After that, in step S402, the current time is measured using the clock 172. Then, in step S403, the current time is recognized as the actual return time. After that, in step S404, the user is permitted to return the bicycle 12 this time.

[0419] Then, in step S405, the total rental time for the user is calculated as the time from the charging start time to the charging end time (the planned return time if there is a reservation, or the actual return time if there is no reservation) which is determined individually for each user as described above.

[0420] Next, in step S406, the current rental fee is calculated based on the calculated total rental time and the fee rate (increase rate) in accordance with a fee table (not shown).

[0421] Thereafter, in step S407, the reservation status table is updated so that the rental information for the current bicycle 12 is deleted from the reservation status table. Next, in step S408, information such as the calculated rental amount is transmitted to the mobile terminal 90.

[0422] In response, the mobile terminal 90 receives information such as the rental amount from the management server 50 in step S308, and then displays the rental amount on the screen in step S309. Thereafter, in step S310, the user makes an electronic payment.

[0423] Next, in step S311, the mobile terminal 90 transmits a logout request to the management server 50, requesting logout from the management server 50.

[0424] In response to this, the management server 50 receives the logout request in step S409. Then, in step S410, an acknowledgement signal ACK indicating that the logout request has been received successfully is transmitted to the mobile terminal 90.

[0425] In response to this, the mobile terminal 90 receives the acknowledgement signal ACK from the management server 50 in step S312.

[0426] The above describes the case where the determination in step S306 is YES. If the determination is NO, then in step S313, it is determined whether the time that has elapsed since the execution time of step S305 is currently within the second time limit, in accordance with the above-described step S164.

[0427] If it is within the second time limit, the determination in step S313 becomes YES, and in step S314, the user is prompted to input a return request similar to step S165. Then, the process returns to step S306.

[0428] On the other hand, if the time elapsed since the execution time of step S305 currently exceeds the second time limit, the determination in step S313 becomes NO, and then in step S315 it is determined that the user has committed a second violation. Then, in step S316, the fact that the user has committed the second violation is transmitted to the management server 50.

[0429] <Abandoned bicycle search sequence>

[0430] Figure 19 shows a chronological sequence flow of an example of communication between a second transmitter 32 installed on a borrowed bicycle 12, the user's mobile terminal 90, and the management server 50 to determine whether a user, after riding and driving a borrowed bicycle 12, for some reason dismounts from the bicycle 12 and abandons it somewhere other than the station 20.

[0431] This abandoned bicycle search sequence begins when a user rents a bicycle 12 and the rental process is completed.

[0432] First, in step S1901, the user's mobile terminal 90 attempts to receive from the first and / or second transmitters 30, 32. Next, in step S1902, it is determined whether or not a valid reception has been received from any of the first transmitters 30 (for example, the mobile terminal 90 is located within a first reception range (for example, a distance of about 10 m from any of the first transmitters 30)).

[0433] If the mobile terminal 90 is validly receiving from any of the first transmitters 30, it means that the user is staying in any of the stations 20 with the bicycle 12, in which case there is no need to execute this abandoned bicycle search sequence.

[0434] If the mobile terminal 90 is effectively receiving from any of the first transmitters 30, the judgment in step S1902 is YES and the process returns to step S1901. However, as shown in FIG. 22(a), if the mobile terminal 90 is not effectively receiving from any of the first transmitters 30, the judgment in step S1902 is NO.

[0435] For ease of explanation, in the time chart shown in Fig. 22(a), the fact that the mobile terminal 90 is not effectively receiving from any of the first transmitters 30 is represented as the level of the received signal from the first transmitter 30 being low level L. This notation method is also used for the other time charts for the second transmitters.

[0436] Next, in step S1903, the mobile terminal 90 attempts to receive from the first and / or second transmitters 30, 32. Then, in step S1904, it is determined whether or not a valid reception has been received from any of the second transmitters 32 (for example, the mobile terminal 90 is located within a second reception range that is shorter than the first reception range (for example, the mobile terminal 90 is located within about 5 m from any of the second transmitters 32)).

[0437] If the mobile terminal 90 is validly receiving from any of the second transmitters 32, this means that there is a high possibility that the user is riding the bicycle 12, as illustrated in Figure 21 (a), and in this case too, there is no need to execute this abandoned bicycle search sequence.

[0438] If the mobile terminal 90 is not effectively receiving from any of the second transmitters 32, the judgment in step S1904 is NO and the process returns to step S1903, but if the mobile terminal 90 is effectively receiving from any of the second transmitters 32, the judgment in step S1904 is YES.

[0439] The determination in step S1904 being YES is equivalent to a determination that the current user is currently riding the current bicycle 12.

[0440] However, it is possible to determine whether the user is moving or not based on the time derivative value (value equivalent to speed) of the GPS measurement position of the mobile terminal 90 and / or the detection value of an acceleration sensor (not shown) mounted on the mobile terminal 90 (for example, by determining whether the absolute value is greater than or equal to a reference value), and if it is determined that the user is moving, when the determination in step S1904 is YES, it is possible to determine that the current user is moving on the current bicycle 12.

[0441] Next, in step S1905, the mobile terminal 90 acquires the real second transmitter ID represented by the identification signal validly received from any of the second transmitters 32, and converts the acquired real second transmitter ID into a bicycle ID corresponding to the real second transmitter ID in accordance with the correspondence relationship shown in Fig. 9. This identifies the bicycle 12 detected by the mobile terminal 90, i.e., the bicycle 12 borrowed by the user.

[0442] Thereafter, in step S1906, the mobile terminal 90 attempts to receive from the first and / or second transmitter 30, 32. Next, in step S1907, it is determined whether or not a signal has been validly received from the same second transmitter 32 as the second transmitter 32 determined to have been validly received in step S1904 (for example, whether the mobile terminal 90 is located within the second reception range of the same transmitter 32 as the previous time).

[0443] That is, in this step S1907, the mobile terminal 90 determines whether or not the mobile terminal 90 is validly receiving a signal from the second transmitter 32 (the same transmitter as last time) representing the same bicycle ID as the bicycle ID represented by the signal that the mobile terminal 90 validly received from the second transmitter 32 in step S1904.

[0444] 21(b), if the user abandons the current bicycle 12, the user's mobile terminal 90 moves away from or retreats from the second transmitter 32 mounted on the bicycle 12, and as a result, the mobile terminal 90 deviates from the second reception range. This causes the mobile terminal 90 to transition from a reception state in which it was able to effectively receive signals from the same second transmitter 32 as the previous time to a non-reception state in which it is unable to effectively receive signals.

[0445] If the mobile terminal 90 is still validly receiving from the same second transmitter 32 as the previous time, the determination in step S1907 becomes YES, and the process returns to step S1906. The determination in step S1907 being YES is equivalent to determining that the current user is currently riding the current bicycle 12 (i.e., the user is sitting in the saddle 62 of the bicycle 12, or is riding the bicycle 12 and driving / moving).

[0446] On the other hand, if the mobile terminal 90 is not currently receiving a valid signal from the same second transmitter 32 as the previous time, the determination in step S1907 is NO.

[0447] This judgment result is equivalent to a judgment that the mobile terminal 90 has transitioned from a receiving state in which it effectively receives a signal from the second transmitter 32, the same as the previous time, to a non-receiving state in which it does not effectively receive a signal, while in a state (period) in which it is not effectively receiving a signal from the first transmitter 30, as shown in Figures 22 (a) and (b).

[0448] This determination result is further equivalent to a determination that the user has transitioned from a state in which they are riding the bicycle 12 to a state in which they have dismounted from the bicycle 12 (e.g., a state in which they have moved away from the bicycle 12) during a period in which the user, the mobile terminal 90, and the bicycle 12 are not present at any of the stations 20.

[0449] In this embodiment, the determination as to whether the user, the mobile terminal 90, and the bicycle 12 are not present at any of the stations 20 is made using the first transmitter 30 installed at each station 20. Alternatively, the present invention may be implemented in a manner that uses the GPS of the mobile terminal 90 to determine whether the current positions of the user and the mobile terminal 90 measured by the GPS do not match the map positions of any of the stations 20.

[0450] After that, in step S1908, the portable terminal 90 measures the current position by GPS. Then, in step S1909, as shown in Fig. 22(c), the measured current position (x, y) (x: longitude, y: latitude) is stored in the memory 132 as a temporary abandoned position.

[0451] Then, in step S1910, the mobile terminal 90 displays an icon and / or a message on the screen 135 to urge the user who has moved away from the bicycle 12 not to leave the bicycle 12 behind, but to ride the bicycle 12 to one of the stations 20 and return it there.

[0452] Next, in step S1911, the mobile terminal 90 determines whether or not the user has once again ridden the current bicycle 12 and the mobile terminal 90 has started valid reception from the current second transmitter 32. If valid reception from the current second transmitter 32 has started, this determination becomes YES, and then the process returns to step S1901.

[0453] In contrast, if valid reception from the second transmitter 32 has not started this time, the determination in step S1911 becomes NO, and the mobile terminal 90 determines in step S1912 whether or not a predetermined time limit (for example, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, or 1 hour) has elapsed, as shown in Fig. 22(d). That is, it determines whether or not the time during which the same determination result has continued since the time when the determination result in step S1911 first became NO has reached a threshold time.

[0454] If the determination in step S1912 is NO, the process returns to step S1910, but if the determination in step S1912 is YES, the mobile terminal 90 determines in step S1913 that the current bicycle 12 is an abandoned bicycle, as shown in Fig. 22(e). As a result, the abandoned bicycle is discovered.

[0455] Thus, in this embodiment, when the elapsed time from the start of the non-reception state of the second transmitter 32 exceeds the time limit (the "predetermined time" in the above section (4)), the mobile terminal 90 recognizes the current bicycle 12 as an abandoned bicycle.

[0456] The length of the "time limit" here may be set according to the convenience of the rental company, but may also be set to suit one's own convenience or schedule as the length of waiting time from the time the user stops bicycle 12, dismounts, and begins waiting for bicycle 12 (the time the reception state transitions from non-reception state) to the time the user returns to bicycle 12, rides it, and begins using bicycle 12 again (the time the non-reception state transitions from reception state).

[0457] To prevent another person from starting to use the bicycle 12 without permission during that waiting time, the original user may lock the electronic lock of the bicycle 12 before leaving the bicycle 12, and when use of the bicycle 12 is resumed, the mobile terminal 90 or the management server 50 may send an unlocking signal to the electronic lock to unlock the electronic lock.

[0458] Alternatively or in addition to such an abandoned bicycle determination method, the mobile terminal 90 may recognize the current bicycle 12 as an abandoned bicycle when the permitted rental time for the rental vehicle permitted by the user has elapsed, i.e., the scheduled return time has passed, but the current bicycle 12 has not been returned to any station 20.

[0459] Alternatively or in addition to these abandoned bicycle determination methods, the mobile terminal 90 may, after the non-reception state of the second transmitter 32 begins, prompt the user to return the current bicycle 12 to one of the stations by providing visual, auditory or tactile stimulation to the mobile terminal 90, and if the user does not respond to the prompting by the mobile terminal 90, recognize the current bicycle 12 as an abandoned bicycle.

[0460] Next, in step S1914, the mobile terminal 90 treats the provisional abandoned location (x, y) stored in memory 132 as the final abandoned location (x, y) as shown in Figure 22 (f). After that, in step S1915, the current user's personal authentication information, the current bicycle ID representing the abandoned bicycle, and the final abandoned location (x, y) are transmitted to the management server 50 as abandoned bicycle information.

[0461] In response, in step S1951, the management server 50 receives the abandoned bicycle information transmitted by the mobile terminal 90 in execution of step S1915.

[0462] Thereafter, in step S1952, management server 50 regards the presence of an abandoned bicycle 12 as meaning that the bicycle 12 has been returned, because although the bicycle 12 has not actually been returned to any station 20, the location where the bicycle 12 was left is in fact treated as a rental station 20 that appears temporarily and the same bicycle 12 will be rented out to another user. In other words, the act of leaving the bicycle abandoned is treated as a deemed return.

[0463] Next, in step S1953, management server 50 measures the current time using clock 172. Next, in step S1954, the current time is recognized as the deemed return time. After that, in step S1955, the time from the charging start time to the charging end time (in this case, the deemed return time) determined individually for each user as described above is calculated as the total rental time for the user.

[0464] Next, in step S1956, the management server 50 calculates the current rental fee based on the calculated total rental time length and the fee rate (increase rate) in accordance with a fee table (not shown).

[0465] Thereafter, in step S1957, the management server 50 calculates a surcharge as a penalty to be imposed on the user for not returning the bicycle 12 to any of the stations 20.

[0466] 23, the management server 50 then stores in memory 162 in association with each other the identification information of the user who left the bicycle 12, the bicycle ID identifying the bicycle 12, the location (x, y) where the bicycle 12 was left, the start time of the leaving (i.e., for example, the deemed return time or the transition time from a receiving state to a non-receiving state of the second transmitter 32), information indicating whether or not the work of retrieving the bicycle 12 by another user has begun, and information indicating whether or not the work has been completed. As a result, an abandoned bicycle list is registered in memory 162.

[0467] Furthermore, in step S1958, the management server 50 updates the reservation status table so that the current rental information for the bicycle 12 is deleted from the reservation status table.

[0468] Next, in step S1959, the management server 50 transmits to the mobile terminal 90 information such as the calculated total value of the rental amount and the surcharge, that is, the total rental amount to be paid by the user.

[0469] In response, in step S1916, the mobile terminal 90 receives information such as the total rental amount from the management server 50, and then in step S1917 displays the total rental amount on the screen 135. Thereafter, in step S1918, electronic payment by the user is made possible.

[0470] <Abandoned bicycle collection sequence>

[0471] Figure 20 shows a chronological sequence flow of an example of communication that takes place between the second transmitter 32 installed on the bicycle 12, the other user's mobile terminal 90, and the management server 50 when an abandoned bicycle 12 is discovered, in order to lend the abandoned bicycle 12 to another user at the abandoned location and have the user return it to one of the stations 20.

[0472] This abandoned bicycle collection sequence is started when an abandoned bicycle 12 is discovered by the abandoned bicycle search sequence described above.

[0473] First, in step S2051, the management server 50 reads the bicycle ID of each abandoned bicycle 12 before collection and the abandoned location of that abandoned bicycle 12 from the aforementioned abandoned bicycle list shown in Figure 23. Next, in step S2052, abandoned bicycle data in which the bicycle ID and the abandoned location are associated with each other for each abandoned bicycle 12 is transmitted simultaneously to the mobile devices 90 of multiple other potential users. The abandoned bicycle data is saved in the memory 132 of the mobile devices 90 of each of the other users.

[0474] In response, in step S2001, the mobile terminals 90 of the other users receive the abandoned bicycle data transmitted from the management server 50. Next, in step S2002, the mobile terminals 90 measure their own current positions using GPS. After that, in step S2003, a map of the area around the current position (indicated by a black triangle 202 in the figure) is displayed on the screen 135, as shown in FIG.

[0475] Next, in step S2004, the mobile terminal 90 of each of the other users displays the abandoned locations of each abandoned bicycle 12 represented by the abandoned bicycle data (indicated in the figure by a rectangular shape with a "D" inside it) on the screen 135, overlaying it on the map, as shown in the same figure.

[0476] Thereafter, in step S2005, the mobile terminal 90 of each of the other users attempts to effectively receive from the first and / or second transmitters 30, 32. Then, in step S2006, it is determined whether or not there has been effective reception from any of the second transmitters 32 (whether the mobile terminal 90 is within the second reception range).

[0477] If the portable terminals 90 of the other users do not effectively receive any signal from any of the second transmitters 32, the determination in step S2006 becomes NO, and the process returns to step S2005.

[0478] In contrast, as illustrated in FIG. 21(c), assume that one of the multiple other potential users (hereinafter referred to as the "other user") approaches one of the abandoned bicycles 12 in order to rent it, relying on the above-mentioned guidance information displayed on the screen 135 of the other user's mobile terminal 90.

[0479] 21(d), it is assumed that another user soon rides the abandoned bicycle 12, and as a result, the other user's mobile terminal 90 effectively receives a signal from one of the second transmitters 32. In this case, the determination in step S2006 is YES.

[0480] Then, in step S2007, the mobile terminal 90 of the other user obtains the bicycle ID of the abandoned bicycle 12 on which the second transmitter 32 is supposed to be mounted from the identification signal validly received from one of the second transmitters 32.

[0481] Next, in step S2008, the mobile terminal 90 of the other user determines whether or not the acquired bicycle ID matches any of the bicycle IDs of at least one abandoned bicycle 12 stored in memory 132. If it does not match any of the bicycle IDs of the abandoned bicycles 12, the determination in step S2008 is NO and the process returns to step S2005, but if it matches the bicycle ID of any of the abandoned bicycles 12, the determination in step S2008 is YES.

[0482] Thereafter, in step S2009, the mobile terminal 90 of the other user assists that user in inputting the time at which the user plans to return the current bicycle 12, i.e., an abandoned bicycle 12, to one of the stations 20 after renting and using it.

[0483] Next, in step S2010, the mobile terminal 90 of the other user determines whether the user has input a rental request for the bicycle 12 (for example, whether the user has operated a virtual button (e.g., a "rental button") that is operated to command a "rental request")). If a rental request has been input, the determination in step S2010 is YES.

[0484] Thereafter, in step S2011, the mobile terminal 90 of the other user transmits to the management server 50 information that a rental request has been issued by that user and that the user has started using the bicycle 12, associated with the user (e.g., together with the user ID).

[0485] In response to this, in step S2053, the management server 50 receives the information transmitted by the mobile terminals 90 of the other users by executing step S2011. Then, in step S2054, the abandoned bicycle table shown in Fig. 23 is updated so that the information about the current bicycle 12 is deleted from the table.

[0486] Next, in step S2055, management server 50 measures the current time using clock 172, similar to step S255 described above. Next, in step S2056, management server 50 recognizes the current time as the actual rental time, similar to step S256 described above. Next, in step S2057, management server 50 permits rental of this bicycle 12 (this time, an abandoned bicycle) to the user, similar to step S257 described above.

[0487] Thereafter, in step S2058, the management server 50 determines the billing start time for the user, similar to step S258 described above. Next, the management server 50 transmits necessary information to the mobile terminals 90 of the other users, so that the users can know that the bicycle 12 has been rented out at the parking location and that billing has begun.

[0488] As described below, the present invention can be implemented in a form in which the first transmitter 30 is not installed in each station 20, but in this embodiment, the first transmitter 30 is installed in each station 20, and therefore the effects resulting from this are obtained.

[0489] That is, in this embodiment, when the bicycle 12 is rented out or returned at each station 20, each bicycle 12 is linked to the station 20 in which the bicycle 12 is actually present. This allows the management server 50, i.e., the rental company, to remotely monitor in real time the number of bicycles 12 actually present at each station 20.

[0490] Therefore, the rental company can remotely monitor in real time whether the number of bicycles 12 stored at each station 20 is excessive or insufficient, and can guide potential users in a way that discourages users from using stations 20 that tend to have a shortage of bicycles 12, while encouraging users to use stations 20 that tend to have an excess of bicycles 12.

[0491] In this way, multiple users will be able to optimally distribute the stored bicycles 12 among multiple stations 20 on behalf of the rental company, reducing the need for the rental company to go to each station 20 and carry out the work of resolving any excess or shortage of stored bicycles 12 at each station 20.

[0492] In this embodiment, a first transmitter 30 is installed in each station 20, so that it is possible to determine whether the user is currently staying at any station 20 or at a location other than station 20 (i.e., whether the user is not staying at any station 20), and it is also possible to know which station 20 the user is currently staying at.

[0493] However, instead of the first transmitter 30, the present invention may also be implemented in a manner in which a display object (a fixed display object or a variable display object) that displays a visualized graphic of a code (e.g., a barcode or QR code (registered trademark)) that can identify each station 20 is installed at each station 20.

[0494] <Second embodiment>

[0495] Next, a system 10 according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 25 to 28. However, parts common to the system 10 according to the first embodiment will be referred to using the same reference numerals and names, and duplicated explanations will be omitted, and only different parts will be described in detail.

[0496] In the first embodiment described above, in order to implement a one-way bicycle rental business that is essentially station-based, multiple bicycles 12 are temporarily parked at multiple stations 20 that are assigned to a plot of land with their positions invariably changed, and the bicycles 12 are rented out and returned at each station 20. Furthermore, a first transmitter 30 is installed at each station 20.

[0497] In contrast, in this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 25, in order to implement a free-floating, one-way bicycle rental business, bicycles 12 are rented and returned at any location. Of course, the first transmitter 30 is not installed at such any location.

[0498] In the example shown in Fig. 25, a user X selects one of a number of on-street bicycle parking lots (bicycle parking lots exclusively for rental bicycles) allocated on both sides of a public road, a road bicycle parking lot 300, and rents a bicycle 12 there. After completing his / her purpose, the user X selects another on-street bicycle parking lot 300 and returns the bicycle 12 there.

[0499] Therefore, in this embodiment, there is no concept of leaving the bicycle 12 unattended, whereas in the first embodiment described above, as mentioned above, the term "unattended" could be synonymous with the term "returned."

[0500] Therefore, the term "return" in this embodiment means the latter of the terms "return (return by the person to any station 20, a preparatory act for lending the bicycle 12 to another person at that station 20)" and "abandonment (a preparatory act for lending the bicycle 12 to another person at the parking location)" in the first embodiment.

[0501] <Lending sequence>

[0502] In Figure 26, a lending processing module executed by a user's mobile terminal 90 to execute lending processing, and a lending processing module executed by the management server 50 to execute lending processing are represented as a lending sequence flow.

[0503] Specifically, in step S2601, the mobile terminal 90 transmits a request to log in to the website of the management server 50 to the management server 50.

[0504] In response, the management server 50 receives the login request in step S2651. Then, in step S2652, the management server 50 searches in the memory 162 for storage location data indicating the locations of the multiple storage locations 300 where the bicycle 12 is currently stored.

[0505] The storage locations 300 in effect function as temporary stations (any location where the bicycle 12 can be temporarily rented and returned) for the user. Then, in step S2653, the management server 50 transmits storage location data representing the map positions (x, y) of the storage locations 300 to the mobile terminal 90 in association with each temporary station ID.

[0506] In response to this, in step S2602, the portable terminal 90 receives the transmitted storage location data and stores it in the memory 132. Next, in step S2603, the portable terminal 90 measures its own current location, that is, the user's current location, by GPS.

[0507] Then, in step S2604, the mobile terminal 90 displays a map of the vicinity of the current location on the screen 135, and further overlays those of the stored storage locations 300 (i.e., temporary stations 300) that are in the vicinity of the current location on the displayed map.

[0508] This allows the user to know several temporary stations 300 that exist near the user's current location. The user then selects one of the temporary stations 300 and moves toward that location, eventually approaching the temporary station 300 and the bicycle 12 located there.

[0509] Next, in step S2605, the mobile terminal 90 attempts to receive from the second transmitter 32 mounted on one of the bicycles 12 under the short range, which requires the user to touch or hold the mobile terminal 90 over the second transmitter 32 (or under the medium range, which requires the mobile terminal 90 to be brought close to the second transmitter 32 but not over it (or, if the user is riding the bicycle 12, the mobile terminal 90 will be able to effectively receive from the second transmitter 32 without having to hold the mobile terminal 90 over the second transmitter 32)).

[0510] Thereafter, in step S2606, the portable terminal 90 determines whether or not a transition has occurred from a non-reception state in which a signal is not effectively received from any of the second transmitters 32 to a reception state in which a signal is effectively received. If there is no such transition, the determination in step S2606 becomes NO and the process returns to step S2605, but if there is such a transition and the determination in step S2606 becomes YES, the process proceeds to step S2607.

[0511] 28, before the user gets on the bicycle 12 and is moving away from the second transmitter 32, the mobile terminal 90 cannot effectively receive signals from the second transmitter 32. The received signal at this time is conceptually at low level L. Eventually, when the user approaches the second transmitter 32 or gets on the bicycle 12, the mobile terminal 90 begins to effectively receive signals from the second transmitter 32. The received signal at this time is conceptually at high level H.

[0512] In step S2607, the mobile terminal 90 determines that "rental has started." Next, in step S2608, the mobile terminal 90 measures its own current location using GPS. This location is the user's current location, the location of one temporary station 300 where the user is currently located (functioning as a rental station in this case), and the location of one bicycle 12 stopped (parked) at that temporary station 300.

[0513] Thereafter, in step S2609, the mobile terminal 90 acquires the bicycle ID corresponding to the current bicycle 12 from the validly received signal. That bicycle ID is stored in memory 132 as a rental bicycle ID. Next, in step S2610, that rental bicycle ID is displayed on screen 135, and further, a "rental button" is displayed on screen 135, which is an icon that the user operates to indicate that he or she wishes to rent that bicycle 12.

[0514] Then, in step S2611, the mobile terminal 90 determines whether the user has operated the "rent button" because the bicycle ID displayed on the bicycle 12 actually selected by the user (e.g., "2001" in the example shown in Figure 1(b)) matches the bicycle ID displayed on the screen 135.

[0515] If the user does not operate the "rental button", the judgment in step S2611 will be NO and the process will return to the same step S2611. However, if the "rental button" is operated, the judgment in step S2611 will be YES and in step S2612, a rental request from the user to rent the current bicycle 12 is transmitted to the management server 50 in association with the current bicycle ID, the position on the map of the current temporary station 300 (in this case, the rental station position), and the user ID.

[0516] In response, management server 50 receives the rental request in step S2654, and then measures the current time using clock 172 in step S2655. Then, in step S2656, the current time is recognized as the actual rental time. Then, in step S2657, permission is given to rent bicycle 12 to the user.

[0517] Thereafter, management server 50 determines the actual lending time as the charging start time for the user in step S2658, and then in step S2659 transmits to mobile terminal 90 data indicating that lending has been permitted and the charging start time.

[0518] In response to this, the mobile terminal 90 receives the transmitted data in step S2613.

[0519] In response to this, the mobile terminal 90 can transmit an unlocking signal to an electronic lock (e.g., a wheel lock, a handlebar lock) mounted on the current bicycle 12 by a short-range communication method, thereby unlocking the electronic lock. After unlocking, the user can use the current bicycle 12. Alternatively, the management server 50 can transmit the same unlocking signal by a long-range communication method.

[0520] Thereafter, in step S2614, the mobile terminal 90 displays on the screen 135 the data received in the preceding step S2613.

[0521] 28, once rental of the bicycle 12 to a user is permitted as described above and the necessary unlocking has been completed, the user can ride the bicycle 12. In this case, strictly speaking, the rental time is calculated from the actual rental time, but in practice, it is calculated from the time the user rides the bicycle 12.

[0522] <Return sequence>

[0523] In FIG. 27, a return processing module executed by the user's mobile terminal 90 to execute the return process, and a return processing module executed by the management server 50 to execute the return process are represented as a return sequence flow.

[0524] This return sequence flow is executed following the end of the rental sequence flow described above. Furthermore, in this return sequence flow, an attempt is made to receive from the second transmitter 32 under the medium range in which the mobile terminal 90 can effectively receive from the second transmitter 32 without holding the mobile terminal 90 over the second transmitter 32 as long as the user is riding the bicycle 12.

[0525] Specifically, in step S2701, the mobile terminal 90 attempts to receive a signal from the second transmitter 32 mounted on any of the bicycles 12 in the medium range.

[0526] Thereafter, in step S2702, the mobile terminal 90 determines whether or not a transition has occurred from a receiving state in which a signal is effectively received from any of the second transmitters 32 to a non-receiving state in which a signal is not effectively received. If there is no such transition, the determination in step S2702 becomes NO and the process returns to step S2701, but if there is such a transition and the determination in step S2702 becomes YES, the process proceeds to step S2703.

[0527] 28, when the user is riding the bicycle 12 and is close to the second transmitter 32, the mobile terminal 90 effectively receives signals from the second transmitter 32. The received signal at this time is conceptually at high level H. When the user eventually gets off the bicycle 12 and moves away from the second transmitter 32, the mobile terminal 90 starts to not effectively receive signals from the second transmitter 32. The received signal at this time is conceptually at low level L.

[0528] In step S2703 described above, the mobile terminal 90 determines to "start return." Next, in step S2704, the mobile terminal 90 measures its own current location using GPS. This location is the user's current location, the location of one temporary station 300 where the user is currently located (functioning as a return station in this case), and the location of one bicycle 12 stopped (parked) at that temporary station 300.

[0529] Thereafter, in step S2705, the mobile terminal 90 acquires the bicycle ID corresponding to the current bicycle 12 from the signal that was validly received when step S2701 was executed. Next, in step S2706, it is determined whether or not the bicycle ID matches the rental bicycle ID stored in memory 132. If they do not match, the determination in step S2706 is NO and the process returns to step S2701, but if they do match, the determination in step S2706 is YES and the process proceeds to step S2707.

[0530] In step S2707, the mobile terminal 90 displays on the screen 135 a "return button," which is an icon that the user operates to indicate that he or she wishes to return the bicycle 12. Furthermore, it is determined whether or not the user has operated the "return button."

[0531] If the user does not operate the "return button", the judgment is NO and the process returns to step S2707. However, if the "return button" is operated, the judgment is YES and in step S2708, a return request from the user to return the current bicycle 12 is transmitted to the management server 50 in association with the current bicycle ID, the location on the map of the current temporary station 300 (in this case, the return station location), and the user ID.

[0532] In response, the management server 50 receives the return request in step S2751 and then, in step S2752, updates the list of storage locations where available bicycles 12 are stored, stored in memory 162, to reflect the fact that the current bicycle 12 has been returned to the map location of the current temporary station 300.

[0533] After that, in step S2753, management server 50 measures the current time using clock 172. Then, in step S2754, management server 50 recognizes the current time as the actual return time. After that, in step S2755, management server 50 permits the user to return bicycle 12 this time.

[0534] Next, in step S2756, management server 50 calculates the total rental time for the user from the charging start time to the charging end time (actual return time) determined as described above. After that, in step S2757, the current rental amount is calculated based on the calculated total rental time and the fee rate (increase rate) in accordance with a fee table (not shown). Next, in step S2758, information such as the calculated rental amount is transmitted to mobile terminal 90.

[0535] In response, in step S2709, the mobile terminal 90 receives information such as the rental amount from the management server 50, and then in step S2710, displays the rental amount on the screen 135. After that, in step S2711, the user makes an electronic payment.

[0536] For example, in step S2710, the mobile terminal 90 may display a message on the screen 135 to instruct the user to manually lock the electronic lock installed on the current bicycle 12. When the user actually locks the bicycle, this is confirmed by the electronic lock, and this is received by the mobile terminal 90 or the management server 50, it may be determined that the return stage is complete.

[0537] 28, when the user stops the bicycle 12 at a location as described above, gets off there, and then moves away from the bicycle 12, the mobile terminal 90 is in a state where it cannot effectively receive a signal from the second transmitter 32. At that time, the user is permitted to return the bicycle 12, and if the user performs the necessary locking, the return stage is completed. In this case, strictly speaking, the rental time is added up to the actual return time, but in reality, it is added up to the time when the user gets off the bicycle 12.

[0538] In this embodiment, the reception range of the second transmitter 32 is set so that the mobile terminal 90 is within the reception range of the second transmitter 32 as long as the user is riding the bicycle 12, and when the user moves away from the bicycle 12 and the mobile terminal 90 thereby deviates from the reception range of the second transmitter 32, causing the second transmitter 32 to transition from a reception state to a non-reception state, it is presumed that the user may return the bicycle 12.

[0539] Alternatively, the present invention may be implemented in a manner in which the reception range of the second transmitter 32 is set so that the mobile terminal 90 will not enter the reception range of the second transmitter 32 unless the user intentionally approaches the mobile terminal 90 by holding it over the second transmitter 32, rather than simply being on the bicycle 12, and when the user approaches the mobile terminal 90 by holding it over the second transmitter 32, for example, and the mobile terminal 90 enters the reception range of the second transmitter 32, causing the second transmitter 32 to transition from a non-receiving state to a receiving state, it is estimated that the user may return the bicycle 12.

[0540] <Some other variations>

[0541] In some of the embodiments described above, a user ID is used as an example of identification information for a user, so that the behavior of the user is monitored over time.

[0542] Alternatively or in addition, other examples of user identification information (personal authentication information) may include a phone number, an email address, a unique device address such as a MAC address of the mobile terminal 90, and the like.

[0543] In addition, some of the above-mentioned embodiments can be improved so that the management server 50 performs data processing that is the same as at least a portion of the data processing performed by the mobile terminal 90, or conversely, can be improved so that the mobile terminal 90 performs data processing that is the same as at least a portion of the data processing performed by the management server 50.

[0544] In addition, although some of the above-described embodiments are configured to implement a rental business in which bicycles 12 are rented to users for a fee, with the payment being deferred, it is possible to improve the present invention so as to implement a rental business in which bicycles are rented to users on a prepayment basis, or a rental business in which bicycles are rented to users free of charge, for example.

[0545] Although the above-described embodiments are exemplary embodiments in which the present invention is applied to a rental bicycle as a rental vehicle, the present invention may be applied to other moving objects that are rented to a user for a fee or free of charge and move with the user. Examples of such moving objects include motorcycles, automobiles (rental cars, etc.), engine-powered boats or jet skis, recreational or competitive go-karts, shopping carts, baby strollers, pushcarts, wheelchairs, and golf carts.

[0546] Although a "bicycle" is usually a type having two wheels, the number of wheels is not limited to this, and it may be, for example, a type having three wheels or a type having four wheels.

[0547] Furthermore, the present invention can also be applied when the rental item is furniture, an electrical appliance, an accessory that can be removably attached to an electrical appliance, or a recording medium on which audiovisual content is recorded (e.g., a rental CD) that can be played by the user.

[0548] Additionally, the present invention may be applied when the rental item is a hotel or apartment room in which the user can reside, an individual storage space in a coin locker, or an individual parking space in a parking garage.

[0549] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, these are merely examples, and the present invention can be embodied in other forms that incorporate various modifications and improvements based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, including the aspects described in the "Summary of the Invention" section above.

Claims

1. A rental vehicle management system for managing a plurality of rental vehicles at a plurality of stations, A short-range wireless communication unit installed in each rental vehicle and having a function of transmitting a signal unique to each rental vehicle; A management server capable of communicating with a mobile terminal of each rental vehicle user; Including, The management server is a display unit that enables the mobile terminal to display, on a screen, among the plurality of stations, those that are located near a current position determined by a positioning unit of the mobile terminal as a plurality of candidate stations; a rental station selection unit that enables the user to select one of the plurality of candidate stations as a rental station on a screen of the mobile terminal; a rental vehicle identification unit that, when the user approaches any one of the plurality of rental vehicles at the rental station and the mobile terminal receives the signal from the short-range wireless communication unit corresponding to the rental vehicle, identifies the rental vehicle as a rental vehicle based on the received signal; a rental permission unit that permits rental of the rental vehicle to the user when the user inputs a rental request to the mobile terminal; Including, A rental vehicle management system in which the management server and / or the mobile terminal includes a rental vehicle position determination unit that determines the position of the rental vehicle based on the current position determined by the positioning unit.

2. A rental vehicle management system for managing a plurality of rental vehicles at a plurality of stations, comprising: A short-range wireless communication unit installed in each rental vehicle and having a function of transmitting a signal unique to each rental vehicle; A management server capable of communicating with a mobile terminal of each rental vehicle user; Including, The management server is a display unit that enables the mobile terminal to display, on a screen, among the plurality of stations, those that are located near a current position determined by a positioning unit of the mobile terminal as a plurality of candidate stations; a rental station selection unit that enables the user to select one of the plurality of candidate stations as a rental station on a screen of the mobile terminal; a rental vehicle identification unit that, when the user approaches any one of the plurality of rental vehicles at the rental station and the mobile terminal receives the signal from the short-range wireless communication unit corresponding to the rental vehicle, identifies the rental vehicle as a rental vehicle based on the received signal; a rental permission unit that permits rental of the rental vehicle to the user when the user inputs a rental request to the mobile terminal; a code acquisition unit that enables the portable terminal to receive the signal from the short-range wireless communication unit corresponding to the rental station at the rental station and acquire a code corresponding to the rental station based on the received signal; a rental station ID acquisition unit that acquires the acquired code or a converted version of the code as a rental station ID through communication with the mobile terminal; Rental vehicle management system including:

3. A rental vehicle management system as described in claim 1, wherein the management server and / or the mobile terminal includes a separation determination unit that enables determination as to whether or not the user has disembarked from and separated from the rented vehicle by determining whether or not the mobile terminal has transitioned from a state in which it effectively receives the signal from the short-range wireless communication unit corresponding to the rented vehicle to a state in which it does not effectively receive the signal after the rental is permitted.

4. The management server further comprises: A rental vehicle management system as described in claim 1, including an unlock command unit which, when the rental is permitted, sends an unlock signal to a locking device that is in a locked state prohibiting the user from using the rental vehicle, thereby switching the locking device to an permitted state that permits use of the rental vehicle.

5. A rental vehicle management system as described in Claim 4, wherein the unlocking command unit includes a transmitting unit that transmits the unlocking signal to the locking device with or without passing through the mobile terminal.

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

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

Images