Method and information processing device

Abstract

To improve a technique to supply power using a power supply vehicle.SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus 20 receives a notification that reservations are made by a user using one place of one or more places, for the use of a charging service in which a power supply vehicle charges a user vehicle at the place. When entry to the place is restricted, the information processing apparatus 20 temporarily provides the power supply vehicle with the authority to enter the place.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a method and an information processing apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a technique of supplying power by a power supply vehicle when, for example, an electric vehicle runs out of power. For example, in Patent Document 1, when a vehicle that has run out of power transmits information including its current position to a server, and each of a plurality of power supply vehicles transmits information including its position to the server, the server selects a power supply vehicle that supplies power to the vehicle that has run out of power.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] There was room for improvement in the technique of supplying power by a power supply vehicle.

[0005] In view of such circumstances, an object of the present disclosure is to improve the technique of supplying power by a power supply vehicle.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is a method executed by an information processing apparatus that manages the right of entry to one or more locations, receiving a notification that a user who uses one of the one or more locations has reserved the use of a charging service in which a power supply vehicle charges a user vehicle at the location, when there is a restriction on entry to the location, temporarily granting a first right of entry to the location to the power supply vehicle, Includes. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to one embodiment of this disclosure, the technology for supplying power by a power supply vehicle is improved. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This block diagram shows a schematic configuration of a system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] This is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of the terminal device. [Figure 3] This is a block diagram illustrating the schematic configuration of an information processing device. [Figure 4] This is a flowchart showing the operation of an information processing device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described below.

[0010] (Summary of the embodiment) Referring to Figure 1, an overview of System 1 according to the embodiment of this disclosure will be described. System 1 comprises a plurality of terminal devices 10 and an information processing device 20. Each terminal device 10 and the information processing device 20 is connected to a network 30, including, for example, the Internet and a mobile communication network.

[0011] The terminal device 10 is a computer such as a PC (Personal Computer), smartphone, or tablet device. In this embodiment, the terminal device 10 is used by a user who utilizes a service (hereinafter also referred to as the "on-demand charging service") that dispatches a power supply vehicle to a location specified by the user and supplies power to the user's vehicle at that location. The terminal device 10 may also be a computer installed in the vehicle.

[0012] The information processing device 20 is, for example, a computer such as a server. The information processing device 20 can communicate with multiple terminal devices 10 via the network 30. In this embodiment, the information processing device 20 may be, for example, a server for a parking lot operator that manages access rights to one or more locations.

[0013] First, an overview of this embodiment will be described, and details will be described later. The information processing device 20 receives notification from a user using one of the one or more locations that a reservation has been made for a charging service in which a power supply vehicle will charge the user's vehicle at that location. If there are restrictions on entry to the location, the information processing device 20 temporarily grants the power supply vehicle first authority to enter the location.

[0014] Thus, according to this embodiment, when a power supply vehicle provides power in a location where entry is restricted, the information processing device 20 temporarily grants the power supply vehicle the authority to enter the location. This simplifies the procedure for the power supply vehicle to acquire the authority to enter the location. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the procedure for providing on-site charging services by a power supply vehicle is simplified, thus improving the technology of power supply by a power supply vehicle.

[0015] Next, we will describe each component of System 1 in detail.

[0016] (Terminal device configuration) As shown in Figure 2, the terminal device 10 includes a communication unit 11, an output unit 12, an input unit 13, a storage unit 14, and a control unit 15.

[0017] The communication unit 11 includes one or more communication interfaces connected to the network 30. These communication interfaces are compatible with, but are not limited to, mobile communication standards such as 4G (4th Generation) or 5G (5th Generation). In this embodiment, the terminal device 10 communicates with the information processing device 20 via the communication unit 11 and the network 30.

[0018] The output unit 12 includes one or more output devices that output information. The output device is, for example, a display that outputs information as video, or a speaker that outputs information as sound, but is not limited thereto. Alternatively, the output unit 12 may include an interface for connecting an external output device.

[0019] The input unit 13 includes one or more input devices that detect input operations by the user. The input device is, for example, a physical key, a capacitance key, a mouse, a touch panel, a touch screen provided integrally with the display of the output unit 12, or a microphone, but is not limited thereto. Alternatively, the input unit 13 may include an interface for connecting an external input device.

[0020] The storage unit 14 includes one or more memories. The memory is, for example, a semiconductor memory, a magnetic memory, or an optical memory, but is not limited thereto. Each memory included in the storage unit 14 may function as, for example, a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory. The storage unit 14 stores any information used for the operation of the terminal device 10. For example, the storage unit 14 may store a system program, an application program, and embedded software. The information stored in the storage unit 14 may be updated, for example, with information obtained from the network 30 via the communication unit 11.

[0021] The control unit 15 includes one or more processors, one or more programmable circuits, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination thereof. The processor is, for example, a general-purpose processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or a dedicated processor specialized for a specific process, but is not limited to these. The programmable circuit is, for example, an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), but is not limited to this. The dedicated circuit is, for example, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), but is not limited to this. The control unit 15 controls the operation of the entire terminal device 10.

[0022] (Configuration of information processing device) As shown in Figure 3, the information processing device 20 comprises a communication unit 21, a storage unit 22, and a control unit 23.

[0023] The communication unit 21 includes one or more communication interfaces connected to the network 30. These communication interfaces may, for example, support mobile communication standards, wired LAN (Local Area Network) standards, or wireless LAN standards, but are not limited to these, and may support any communication standard. In this embodiment, the information processing device 20 communicates with a plurality of terminal devices 10 via the communication unit 21 and the network 30.

[0024] The storage unit 22 includes one or more memories. Each memory included in the storage unit 22 may function as, for example, a main memory, an auxiliary memory, or a cache memory. The storage unit 22 stores any information used in the operation of the information processing device 20. For example, the storage unit 22 may store system programs, application programs, embedded software, and databases. The information stored in the storage unit 22 may be updatable with information obtained from the network 30 via, for example, the communication unit 21.

[0025] The control unit 23 includes one or more processors, one or more programmable circuits, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination thereof. The processor is a general-purpose processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or a dedicated processor specialized for a specific process, but is not limited to these. The programmable circuit is an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), but is not limited to this. The dedicated circuit is an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), but is not limited to this. The control unit 23 controls the operation of the entire information processing device 20.

[0026] (Operation flow of the information processing device) Referring to Figure 4, the operation of the information processing device 20 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0027] Step S100: The control unit 23 of the information processing device 20 receives notification that a user has made a reservation to use a charging service at one of the one or more locations for which the information processing device 20 manages access rights, in which a power supply vehicle will charge the user's vehicle.

[0028] For example, a user who has made a reservation for an on-demand charging service uses terminal device 10 to input first reservation information for the charging service, which is information regarding the reservation of the on-demand charging service, when the information processing device 20 reserves a location (e.g., a parking lot) for which entry rights are managed. For example, the first reservation information for the charging service may be entered on a screen for inputting second reservation information for a location, which is information regarding the reservation of that location, displayed on terminal device 10. Terminal device 10 transmits the first reservation information for the charging service along with the second reservation information for the location to the information processing device 20. The control unit 23 of the information processing device 20 receives the first reservation information for the charging service and the second reservation information for the location from terminal device 10 via the communication unit 21 as notification that a reservation has been made for a charging service in which a power supply vehicle will charge the user's vehicle at that location. However, any method is possible, not limited to this example, in which the input of the first reservation information for the charging service is performed independently, rather than together with the second reservation information for the location.

[0029] The "first reservation information for charging services" includes, but is not limited to, the reserved time slot for the charging service and the identification information of the charging service provider (such as an ID or provider name). It may also include any information related to the reservation, such as location information (such as an address, latitude and longitude, or facility name). If location information is included in the first reservation information for charging services, the control unit 23 may use only the first reservation information for charging services to notify that a reservation has been made for a charging service in which a power supply vehicle will charge the user vehicle at that location.

[0030] The "Second Reservation Information for the Location" includes, but is not limited to, the reservation time slot for the location and information indicating the location (e.g., address, latitude and longitude, or facility name), and may also include any information related to the reservation of the location.

[0031] Step S101: The control unit 23 determines whether or not there are restrictions on entry to the location. If it is determined that there are restrictions on entry to the location (Step S101-Yes), the process proceeds to Step S102; if it is determined that there are no restrictions (Step S101-No), the process terminates.

[0032] Specifically, the memory unit 22 stores information regarding entry to each location in advance. "Information regarding entry to a location" includes, for example, information indicating that there are restrictions on entry to the location, and information indicating the entry fee for the location, but is not limited to these and may include any information regarding entry to the location. The control unit 23 determines whether or not there are restrictions on entry to the location based on the information stored in the memory unit 22 of the information processing device 20. If it is determined that there are restrictions on entry to the location (step S102-Yes), the process proceeds to step S103; if it is determined that there are no restrictions (step S102-No), the process terminates.

[0033] Step S102: If it is determined in Step S101 that there are restrictions on entry to the location (Step S101-Yes), the control unit 23 temporarily grants the power supply vehicle first authority to enter the location.

[0034] Specifically, if it is determined in step S101 that there are restrictions on entry to the location (step S101-Yes), the control unit 23 temporarily grants the power supply vehicle first authority to enter the location by, for example, issuing first identification information to be used when the power supply vehicle enters the location. The control unit 23 may also notify the driver of the power supply vehicle of the first identification information.

[0035] The "first identification information" may include any information that allows the control unit 23 to determine, based on the first identification information, that the power supply vehicle has been granted first authority to enter the location, such as a unique ID and / or password assigned to the power supply vehicle or the on-demand charging service provider.

[0036] The first identification information may be used when the power supply vehicle enters the location. For example, when the power supply vehicle enters the location, the control unit 23 receives the first identification information from the power supply vehicle and, based on the first identification information, permits the power supply vehicle to enter the location.

[0037] Any method can be used to receive the first identification information. For example, the control unit 23 may receive the first identification information read by a device equipped with an IC card reader installed at the entrance of the location via the communication unit 21 and the network 30, or it may receive the first identification information input by the driver of the power supply vehicle using the terminal device 10 via the communication unit 21 and the network 30.

[0038] As described above, the information processing device 20 receives notification from a user using one of the one or more locations that a reservation has been made for a charging service at that location in which a power supply vehicle will charge the user's vehicle. If there are restrictions on entry to that location, the information processing device 20 temporarily grants the power supply vehicle first authority to enter that location.

[0039] With this configuration, when a power supply vehicle provides power in a location where entry is restricted, the information processing device 20 temporarily grants the power supply vehicle the authority to enter that location. This simplifies the procedure for the power supply vehicle to acquire the authority to enter that location. Therefore, the technology of power supply by a power supply vehicle is improved in that the procedure for providing on-site charging services by a power supply vehicle can be simplified.

[0040] While this disclosure has been described based on the drawings and embodiments, it should be noted that those skilled in the art may make various modifications and alterations based on this disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these modifications and alterations are within the scope of this disclosure. For example, the functions, etc., included in each component or step can be rearranged in a logically consistent manner, and multiple components or steps can be combined into one or divided into two.

[0041] For example, in the embodiment described above, it is also possible to distribute the configuration and operation of the information processing device 20 across multiple computers that can communicate with each other. Alternatively, for example, it is also possible to provide some or all of the components of the information processing device 20 on a terminal device 10 or on another information processing device (for example, a server of a mobile charging service provider) that can communicate with the information processing device 20 via the network 30. For example, the terminal device 10 may comprise some or all of the components of the information processing device 20, or the server of a mobile charging service provider may comprise some or all of the components of the information processing device 20.

[0042] Furthermore, for example, in the embodiment described above, a modified version is possible in which step S101 is omitted. For example, the control unit 23 may proceed to step S102 after executing step S100.

[0043] Furthermore, for example, in the embodiment described above, the control unit 23 may determine whether or not the user vehicle has entered the location, and if it is determined that the user vehicle has not entered the location, it may temporarily grant the user vehicle a second authority to enter the location. Specifically, for example, the control unit 23 may use GPS to determine whether or not the user vehicle has entered the location. Alternatively, when the control unit 23 receives notification that a reservation has been made for a charging service in which a power supply vehicle charges the user vehicle at the location, it may also receive information on whether or not the user vehicle has entered the location, thereby determining whether or not the user vehicle has entered the location. If it is determined that the user's vehicle has not entered the location, the control unit 23 may, for example, issue a second identification information to be used when the user's vehicle enters the location, thereby temporarily granting the user vehicle a second authority to enter the location. The control unit 23 may also notify the user of the second identification information. The second authority to enter the location granted to the user vehicle may be the same as or different from the first authority.

[0044] The "second identification information" may include any information that allows the control unit 23 to determine, based on the second identification information, that the user vehicle has been granted the second authority to enter the location, such as a unique ID and / or password assigned to the user vehicle.

[0045] The second identification information may be used when the user's vehicle enters the location. For example, when the user's vehicle enters the location, the control unit 23 receives the second identification information from the user's vehicle and, based on the second identification information, permits the user's vehicle to enter the location. The method for receiving the second identification information can be any method, similar to the method for receiving the first identification information.

[0046] Furthermore, for example, in the embodiment described above, if the location requires payment of a fee upon entry or exit, the control unit 23 may charge the power supply vehicle a second fee that is lower than the first fee charged to the user vehicle.

[0047] Furthermore, for example, in the embodiment described above, if the location requires payment of a fee upon entry or exit, the control unit 23 may be configured to charge only the user vehicle and not the power supply vehicle. Specifically, if the location requires payment of a fee upon entry or exit, the control unit 23 may, for example, charge the user vehicle so that the user pays the fee charged to the power supply vehicle together with the fee charged to the user vehicle.

[0048] Furthermore, it is also possible to implement an embodiment in which a general-purpose computer functions as the information processing device 20 according to the above embodiment. Specifically, a program describing the processing content that realizes each function of the information processing device 20 according to the above embodiment is stored in the memory of the general-purpose computer, and the processor reads and executes the program. Therefore, this disclosure can also be implemented as a program that can be executed by a processor, or as a non-temporary computer-readable medium that stores said program. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0049] 1 System 10 Information Processing Devices 11 Communications Department 12 Output section 13 Input section 14 Storage section 15 Control Unit 20 Information Processing Devices 21 Communications Department 22 Memory section 23 Control Unit 30 Networks

Claims

1. A method performed by an information processing device that manages access rights to one or more locations, The user who uses one of the aforementioned locations receives notification that a reservation has been made for a charging service at the aforementioned location in which a power supply vehicle will charge the user's vehicle. If there are restrictions on entry to the aforementioned location, the first identification information used when the power supply vehicle temporarily enters the aforementioned location shall be issued to at least one of the terminal devices held by the power supply vehicle or the occupant of the power supply vehicle, If the aforementioned location requires payment of a fee upon entry or exit, a second fee, which is lower than the first fee charged to the user vehicle, shall be charged to the power supply vehicle. Methods that include...

2. The method according to claim 1, When the power supply vehicle enters the location, the first identification information is received from the power supply vehicle or the terminal device. Based on the first identification information, permission is granted for the power supply vehicle to enter the location, Methods that further include the above.

3. The method according to claim 2, If the user vehicle has not entered the aforementioned location, a second identification information to be used when temporarily entering the aforementioned location will be issued to the user vehicle. When the user vehicle enters the location, the second identification information is received from the user vehicle. Based on the second identification information, permission is granted for the user vehicle to enter the location, Methods that further include the above.

4. A method to be performed by an information processing device that manages access rights to one or more locations, The user who uses one of the aforementioned locations receives notification that a reservation has been made for a charging service at the aforementioned location in which a power supply vehicle will charge the user's vehicle. If there are restrictions on entry to the aforementioned location, the first identification information used when the power supply vehicle temporarily enters the aforementioned location shall be issued to at least one of the terminal devices held by the power supply vehicle or the occupant of the power supply vehicle, If the aforementioned location requires payment of a fee upon entry or exit, the fee will be charged only to the user vehicle and not to the power supply vehicle. Methods that include...

5. The method according to claim 4, When the power supply vehicle enters the aforementioned location, it receives the first identification information, Based on the first identification information, permission is granted for the power supply vehicle to enter the location, Methods that further include the above.

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