Information processing systems, information processing methods, and programs

Abstract

To enable accurate calculation of emissions. [Solution] An information processing system comprising: a version storage unit that stores versions of emission factors used to create reports in association with the types of reports relating to greenhouse gases; an activity amount acquisition unit that acquires activity amounts; a report designation unit that accepts the designation of the type of report; and an emission calculation unit that calculates greenhouse gas emissions by multiplying the acquired activity amounts by the version of emission factors corresponding to the accepted type of report.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Emission amounts such as carbon dioxide have been calculated (see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Depending on the report, an emission factor to be used may be specified.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such a background, and an object thereof is to provide a technology capable of correctly calculating an emission amount.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A main invention of the present invention for solving the above problems is an information processing system including: a use version storage unit that stores a version of an emission factor used for creating the report in association with a type of report on greenhouse gases; an activity amount acquisition unit that acquires an activity amount; a report specification unit that receives a specification of the type of the report; and an emission amount calculation unit that calculates an emission amount of the greenhouse gas by multiplying the acquired activity amount by the emission factor of the version corresponding to the received type of the report.

[0007] Regarding other problems disclosed in the present application and solutions therefor, they will be clarified by the embodiments of the invention and the drawings.

Effects of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, emissions can be calculated accurately. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This figure shows an example of the overall configuration of an information processing system. [Figure 2] This figure shows an example of the hardware configuration of management server 2. [Figure 3] This figure shows an example of the software configuration for management server 2. [Figure 4] This diagram illustrates the operation of management server 2. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] <System Overview> The following describes an information processing system according to one embodiment of the present invention. The information processing system of this embodiment is a system for calculating greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions are calculated by multiplying the amount of greenhouse gas activity by an emission factor. Emission factors are updated periodically or irregularly, and the version of the emission factor to be used may be specified depending on the type of report reporting greenhouse gas emissions. The information processing system of this embodiment manages the versions of the emission factor, as well as the version required for the report, and calculates emissions using the required version of the emission factor.

[0011] Figure 1 shows an example of the overall configuration of an information processing system. The information processing system in this embodiment includes a management server 2. The management server 2 is connected to the user terminal 1 via a communication network. The communication network is, for example, the internet and is constructed using public telephone networks, mobile phone networks, wireless communication channels, Ethernet (registered trademark), etc.

[0012] User terminal 1 is a computer operated by the user. User terminal 1 can be, for example, a smartphone, a tablet computer, or a personal computer.

[0013] The management server 2 may be a general-purpose computer such as a workstation or personal computer, or it may be logically implemented through cloud computing.

[0014] <Management Server> Figure 2 shows an example of the hardware configuration of the management server 2. Note that the illustrated configuration is just one example, and other configurations are also possible. The management server 2 includes a CPU 201, memory 202, storage device 203, communication interface 204, input device 205, and output device 206. The storage device 203 stores various data and programs, such as a hard disk drive, solid-state drive, or flash memory. The communication interface 204 is an interface for connecting to a communication network, such as an adapter for connecting to Ethernet®, a modem for connecting to a public telephone network, a wireless communication device for wireless communication, or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) connector or RS232C connector for serial communication. The input device 205 is for inputting data, such as a keyboard, mouse, touch panel, button, or microphone. The output device 206 is for outputting data, such as a display, printer, or speaker. Furthermore, each functional unit of the management server 2, as described later, is realized by the CPU 201 reading programs stored in the storage device 203 into memory 202 and executing them, and each storage unit of the management server 2 is realized as part of the storage area provided by memory 202 and storage device 203.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the software configuration of the management server 2. The management server 2 includes an emission factor storage unit 231, a used version storage unit 232, a used activity amount storage unit 233, an activity amount acquisition unit 211, a report specification unit 212, an identification unit 213, an emission amount calculation unit 214, and a report creation unit 215.

[0016] <Storage Unit> The emission factor storage unit 231 manages the version of the emission factor for calculating the emission amount of greenhouse gases. The emission factor storage unit 231 stores the emission factor of the corresponding version for the activity amount in association with the information and version for identifying the activity amount.

[0017] The used version storage unit 232 manages which version of the emission factor is used in the report. The used version storage unit 232 stores the version of the emission factor used for creating the report in association with the type of the report regarding greenhouse gases. The used version storage unit 232 stores the version of the emission factor used for creating the report in association with the type of the report and the information for identifying the activity amount (for example, the name of the activity, etc.).

[0018] The used activity amount storage unit 233 manages which activity amount-related emission amount is included in the report. The used activity amount storage unit 233 stores the information for identifying the activity amount necessary for creating the report in association with the type of the report.

[0019] <Functional Unit> The activity amount acquisition unit 211 acquires the activity amount. The activity amount acquisition unit 211 can, for example, receive the input of the activity amount from the user terminal 1. The activity amount acquisition unit 211 may acquire the data including the activity amount from the system that manages the activity amount (for example, the accounting data managed by the accounting system or the sales data managed by the sales management system). The activity amount acquisition unit 211 can acquire the activity amount for each activity amount corresponding to the type of the report received by the report specification unit 212 described later.

[0020] The report specification unit 212 receives the specification of the type of report. The report specification unit 212 can receive the specification of the type of report from the user terminal 1.

[0021] The specifying unit 213 specifies the version of the emission factor used for creating the report. The specifying unit 213 can specify from the used version storage unit 232 the version corresponding to the type of report received by the report specification unit 212.

[0022] The specifying unit 213 can also specify the activity amount used for creating the report. The specifying unit 213 can specify from the used activity amount storage unit 233 the activity amount corresponding to the type of report received by the report specification unit 212.

[0023] The emission amount calculation unit 214 calculates the emission amount by multiplying the activity amount by the emission factor. The emission amount calculation unit 214 can calculate the emission amount by multiplying the activity amount acquired by the activity amount acquisition unit 211 by the emission factor of the version (the version corresponding to the type of report received by the report specification unit 212) specified by the specifying unit 213. The emission amount calculation unit 214 specifies from the used version storage unit 232 the version corresponding to the type of report received by the report specification unit 212 and the information specifying the activity amount acquired by the activity amount acquisition unit 211, specifies from the emission factor storage unit 231 the emission factor corresponding to the specified version and the activity amount, and can calculate the emission amount by multiplying the specified emission factor by the activity amount acquired by the activity amount acquisition unit 211. The emission amount calculation unit 214 can calculate the emission amount for each type of activity amount corresponding to the type of report. The emission amount calculation unit 214 can totalize the emission amounts calculated for each activity amount and calculate it as the emission amount used in the report.

[0024] The report creation unit 215 creates a report on greenhouse gases. The report creation unit 215 can create a report describing the emission amount (or its total value) calculated by the emission amount calculation unit 214.

[0025] <Operation> Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the management server 2.

[0026] The management server 2 receives the type of report to be created (S301), identifies the amount of activity to be used for the received type (S302), identifies the version of the emission factor corresponding to the type and the amount of activity (S303), calculates the emissions according to the activity amount using the identified version of the emission factor (S304), and creates a report including the calculated emissions (S305).

[0027] As described above, the information processing system of this embodiment can calculate emissions using the correct emission factor set for each report and create a report.

[0028] Although these embodiments have been described above, they are intended to facilitate understanding of the present invention and are not intended to limit its interpretation. The present invention can be modified and improved without departing from its spirit, and equivalents thereof are also included.

[0029] For example, the processing performed by each functional unit of the management server 2 described above may be executed by any of the functional units. Furthermore, different functional units may be added to perform some of the processing performed by each of the functional units described above. Also, the functional units of the management server 2 may be distributed across multiple computers.

[0030] Furthermore, the information stored in each memory unit of the management server 2 may be stored in any of the memory units. That is, the information stored in the multiple memory units mentioned above may be stored in a single memory unit, or a portion of the information stored in one memory unit may be stored in another memory unit.

[0031] <Example 1>

[0032] In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the emission factor version is stored in advance in the emission factor storage unit 231 of the management server 2. However, the management server 2 may also obtain the emission factor version from an external system.

[0033] For example, management server 2 may be connected via a communication network to a server that publishes emission factors (emission factor publishing server). The emission factor publishing server can be a server computer that operates a website that publishes emission factors. The emission factor publishing server has an emission factor database. The emission factor database stores emission factors and their versions.

[0034] The emission factor acquisition unit 216 of the management server 2 accesses the emission factor publication server to obtain emission factors and their versions from the emission factor database. The emission factor acquisition unit 216 periodically accesses the emission factor publication server to check if a new version of the emission factor has been registered in the emission factor database, and if a new version of the emission factor has been registered, it can acquire that new version of the emission factor. The emission factors and their versions acquired by the emission factor acquisition unit 216 can be stored in the emission factor storage unit 231.

[0035] The emission factor acquisition unit 216 may also know in advance when a new version of the emission factor will be registered in the emission factor database of the emission factor publication server, and access the emission factor publication server at that time to acquire the new version of the emission factor. Alternatively, the emission factor acquisition unit 216 may acquire update information on the emission factor from the emission factor publication server and access the emission factor publication server based on that update information.

[0036] <Modification 2>

[0037] In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the version of the emission factor used is changed depending on the type of report. However, the method of calculating emissions may also be changed depending on the type of report.

[0038] For example, the management server 2 may be equipped with a report format storage unit, which may store calculation method information that defines how emissions are calculated in a report, associated with the type of report. The calculation method information may include, for example, whether emissions are calculated as a total value or broken down by component, the unit of emissions, the number of decimal places, and the method of rounding.

[0039] The emissions calculation unit 214 can obtain calculation method information corresponding to the type of report received by the report designation unit 212 from the report format storage unit, and calculate emissions according to the obtained calculation method information.

[0040] For example, one type of report may require a breakdown of emissions by fuel type, while another type of report may only require the total emissions per business establishment. In such cases, the emissions calculation unit 214 can calculate emissions for each fuel type according to the calculation method information corresponding to the former type of report, while simultaneously calculating the total emissions per business establishment according to the calculation method information corresponding to the latter type of report.

[0041] Furthermore, some report types may require emission values ​​in tons, while other report types may require emission values ​​in kilograms. In such cases, the emission calculation unit 214 can calculate emission values ​​in tons according to the calculation method information corresponding to the former report type, while simultaneously calculating emission values ​​in kilograms according to the calculation method information corresponding to the latter report type.

[0042] <Variation 3>

[0043] In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the activity level acquisition unit 211 of the management server 2 acquires the activity level based on user input. However, the management server 2 may also automatically acquire the activity level from other systems.

[0044] For example, management server 2 may be connected to the accounting system and the sales management system via a communication network. The accounting system is a system that manages the company's accounting information, for example, it manages accounting data. The sales management system is a system that manages the company's sales information, for example, it manages sales quantity data.

[0045] The activity level acquisition unit 211 of the management server 2 can acquire data from the accounting system and the sales management system, and extract activity levels from the acquired data. For example, the activity level acquisition unit 211 can acquire accounting data related to fuel purchases from the accounting system and extract the amount of fuel purchased included in the acquired accounting data as activity levels for each type of fuel. In addition, the activity level acquisition unit 211 can acquire product sales quantity data from the sales management system and extract the acquired sales quantity data as activity levels for each type of product.

[0046] The activity data acquisition unit 211 periodically accesses the accounting system and the sales management system to check if any new data has been registered in these systems, and if new data has been registered, it can acquire that new data.

[0047] Furthermore, while the above describes an example in which the activity level acquisition unit 211 extracts activity levels from the accounting system and the sales management system, it is not limited to this example. The accounting system and the sales management system may calculate the activity levels in advance, and the activity level acquisition unit 211 may acquire the calculated activity levels.

[0048] <Disclosure Items> Furthermore, this disclosure also includes the following configurations. [Item 1] A version storage unit that stores the version of the emission factor used to prepare the report, corresponding to the type of report on greenhouse gases, Activity level acquisition unit that acquires activity level, A report designation department that accepts designations for the type of report mentioned above, An emissions calculation unit calculates the greenhouse gas emissions by multiplying the acquired activity amount by the emission factor of the version corresponding to the type of report received, An information processing system characterized by comprising the following features. [Item 2] The information processing system described in item 1, The aforementioned version storage unit stores information identifying the activity level and the version of the emission coefficient used to create the report, in association with the type of report. The emissions calculation unit calculates the emissions by multiplying the acquired activity amount by the emission coefficient of the version corresponding to the type of report received and the acquired activity amount. An information processing system characterized by the following. [Item 3] The information processing system described in item 2, The facility includes an activity usage storage unit that stores information identifying the amount of activity necessary for creating the report, corresponding to the type of report, The activity level acquisition unit acquires the activity level for each piece of information that identifies the activity level corresponding to the type of report received. The emissions calculation unit calculates the emissions for each piece of information that identifies the activity amount corresponding to the type of report received. An information processing system characterized by the following. [Item 4] The information processing system described in item 1, An emission factor storage unit that stores the emission factor and the version, A selection unit that identifies the version corresponding to the type of report received from the version storage unit, Equipped with, The emission calculation unit calculates the emission by multiplying the emission coefficient of the version identified by the identification unit by the acquired activity amount. An information processing system characterized by the following. [Item 5] A step of storing the version of the emission factor used to prepare the report, in association with the type of report on greenhouse gases, Steps to obtain activity levels, The steps include accepting the designation of the type of report, The steps include: calculating the emissions by multiplying the acquired activity amount by the emission factor of the version corresponding to the type of report received; An information processing method characterized by a computer executing the following. [Item 6] A step of storing the version of the emission factor used to prepare the report, in association with the type of report on greenhouse gases, Steps to obtain activity levels, The steps include accepting the designation of the type of report, The steps include: calculating the emissions by multiplying the acquired activity amount by the emission factor of the version corresponding to the type of report received; A program that causes a computer to execute something. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0049] 1 User terminal 2 Management Server

Claims

1. A version storage unit that stores the version of the emission factor used to prepare the report, corresponding to the type of report on greenhouse gases, Activity level acquisition unit that acquires activity level, A report designation department that accepts designations for the type of report mentioned above, An emissions calculation unit calculates the greenhouse gas emissions by multiplying the acquired activity amount by the emission factor of the version corresponding to the type of report received, An information processing system characterized by comprising the following features.

2. The information processing system according to claim 1, The aforementioned version storage unit stores information identifying the activity level and the version of the emission coefficient used to create the report, in association with the type of report. The emissions calculation unit calculates the emissions by multiplying the acquired activity amount by the emission coefficient of the version corresponding to the type of report received and the acquired activity amount. An information processing system characterized by the following.

3. The information processing system according to claim 2, The facility includes an activity usage storage unit that stores information identifying the amount of activity necessary for creating the report, corresponding to the type of report, The activity level acquisition unit acquires the activity level for each piece of information that identifies the activity level corresponding to the type of report received. The emissions calculation unit calculates the emissions for each piece of information that identifies the activity amount corresponding to the type of report received. An information processing system characterized by the following.

4. The information processing system according to claim 1, An emission factor storage unit that stores the emission factor and the version, A selection unit that identifies the version corresponding to the type of report received from the version storage unit, Equipped with, The emission calculation unit calculates the emission by multiplying the emission coefficient of the version identified by the identification unit by the acquired activity amount. An information processing system characterized by the following.

5. A step of storing the version of the emission factor used to prepare the report, in association with the type of report on greenhouse gases, Steps to obtain activity levels, The steps include accepting the designation of the type of report, The steps include: calculating the greenhouse gas emissions by multiplying the acquired activity amount by the emission factor of the version corresponding to the type of report received; An information processing method characterized by a computer executing the following.

6. A step of storing the version of the emission factor used to prepare the report, in association with the type of report on greenhouse gases, Steps to obtain activity levels, The steps include accepting the designation of the type of report, The steps include: calculating the greenhouse gas emissions by multiplying the acquired activity amount by the emission factor of the version corresponding to the type of report received; A program that causes a computer to execute something.

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