Management system, management method, and management program

Abstract

An estimate (100A) is created by specifying vehicle information and work to be performed on a vehicle indicated by the vehicle information, with an instruction issued by another worker different from a user of the vehicle being used as a trigger. User information and the vehicle information are acquired, the work type of the work to be performed on the vehicle is designated, standard work in which the work for the work type is specified is outputted, and an estimate (200B) is created by using the work specified from the standard work and the vehicle information. Information is confirmed by comparing these estimates (100A, 200B).

Description

Management system, management method and management program

[0001] The present invention relates to a management system, a management method, and a management program.

[0002] When purchasing a product or receiving a service, the parties typically confirm the details of the purchase or service, as well as the associated costs and expenses, in advance. This confirmation prevents misunderstandings between the parties and ensures a smooth transaction. Examples of methods for this confirmation include creating and sharing an estimate or verbally explaining the details. For example, Patent Document 1 (Patent Document 1) describes a computational model for estimating vehicle damage repairs, as shown in paragraph

[0018] . Furthermore, paragraph

[0019] of the same document describes that the computational model identifies one or more damaged areas from an image, determines whether the damaged areas are repairable or suitable for replacement, and calculates an estimated repair cost for the vehicle damage. Patent Document 1 thus discloses a method for quickly processing insurance claims for vehicle damage.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2022-91875

[0004] These confirmations are generally carried out by the purchaser of the product or the recipient of the service accepting an estimate or other document provided by the seller (service provider). In particular, when receiving a service, the service provider may prepare an estimate or other document after confirming certain items, which the recipient of the service may then accept. In other words, recipients of services often accept the information confirmed by the service provider based on their trust. Of course, it is desirable for recipients to confirm the authenticity of the confirmations made by the service provider, but in cases where highly specialized services are being received, it is difficult to check the details of the estimate and request minor corrections or changes.

[0005] In Patent Document 1, too, a process for identifying a damaged part is performed, and then a process for determining whether the damaged part can be repaired or whether replacement is appropriate is performed, and an estimate is calculated based on the process. In other words, the "process for identifying a damaged part and then determining whether the damaged part can be repaired or whether replacement is appropriate" described in Patent Document 1 is a matter to be confirmed by the service provider, and therefore the recipient of the service must trust this and decide whether or not to accept the service. In this way, it is common for the recipient of the service to trust the confirmation items confirmed by the service provider and accept the contents of the estimate prepared based on them.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a management system, a management method, and a management program that enable objective confirmation of information related to the services provided.

[0007] A management system according to one aspect of the present invention is a control device including: a first vehicle information acquisition unit that acquires vehicle information about the vehicle in response to an instruction from another worker different from the user of the vehicle; a work identification unit that identifies work to be performed on the vehicle of the vehicle information based on the vehicle information acquired by the vehicle information acquisition unit; a first creation unit that creates first work content information about the work using the work information for the work identified by the work identification unit; and a first work content information storage unit that stores the first work content information created by the first creation unit; a user information acquisition unit that acquires user information about the user; a second vehicle information acquisition unit that acquires vehicle information about the vehicle in response to an instruction from the user; and a work specification unit that specifies work to be performed on the vehicle of the vehicle information based on the vehicle information acquired by the vehicle information acquisition unit. The system comprises an instruction device having a work type designation unit that designates a type, a type standard work output unit that outputs standard work that has been identified as work for the work type designated by the work type designation unit, a second creation unit that creates second work content information using the work identified from the standard work for the work type output by the type standard work output unit and vehicle information acquired by the second vehicle information acquisition unit, and a second work content information storage unit that stores the second work content information created by the second creation unit, and at least one of the control device and the instruction device has a comparison result output unit that outputs a comparison result between the first work content information created by the first creation unit and the second work content information created by the second creation unit.

[0008] Another aspect of the present invention is a management method in which a first computer, which is a control device, acquires vehicle information about the vehicle in response to an instruction from another worker other than the user of the vehicle, identifies work to be performed on the vehicle of the vehicle information based on the acquired vehicle information, creates first work content information for the work using the work information for the identified work, and stores the created first work content information; a second computer, which is an instruction device, acquires user information about the user, acquires vehicle information about the vehicle in response to an instruction from the user, specifies a work type for the work on the vehicle, outputs standard work for the specified work type, creates second work content information using the work specified from the output standard work for the work type and the acquired vehicle information, and stores the created second work content information; and at least one of the first computer and the second computer outputs a comparison result between the created first work content information and the created second work content information.

[0009] A management program according to another aspect of the present invention causes a first computer as a control device to execute the following processes: acquire vehicle information about the vehicle in response to an instruction from another worker other than the vehicle user; identify work to be performed on the vehicle of the vehicle information based on the acquired vehicle information; create first work content information about the work using the work information for the identified work; and store the created first work content information; causes a second computer as an instruction device to execute the following processes: acquire user information about the user; acquire vehicle information about the vehicle in response to an instruction from the user; specify a work type for the vehicle; output standard work for the specified work type, where the work is identified from the output standard work for the work type, and create second work content information using the acquired vehicle information; and store the created second work content information; causes at least one of the first computer and the second computer to output a comparison result between the created first work content information and the created second work content information.

[0010] a first creation unit that creates first work content information for the work using the work information for the work identified by the work identification unit; a first work content information storage unit that stores the first work content information created by the first creation unit in association with the vehicle; and a work record information storage unit that saves work record information including work content and work result information for the work performed on the vehicle; a user information acquisition unit that acquires user information for the user; a second vehicle information acquisition unit that acquires vehicle information for the vehicle in response to an instruction from the user; a work type designation unit that designates a work type for the work on the vehicle; The system includes an instruction device having a second creation unit that creates second work content information using work identified from the standard work for the work type output by the other standard work output unit and vehicle information acquired by the second vehicle information acquisition unit, and a second work content information storage unit that stores the second work content information created by the second creation unit, and a management device that can be connected to the control device and the instruction device, and the work record information storage unit stores first work content information or second work content information that was the basis of the work content of the work performed on the vehicle in association with the work record information, and the instruction device or the management device further includes a verification unit that verifies whether the work record information regarding the work performed on the vehicle is based on the first work content information or second work content information stored in association with the work record information, and a verification result output unit that outputs verification result information verified by the verification unit.In one aspect of the present invention, the management system further includes an appropriateness judgment information storage unit for storing appropriateness judgment information used to judge the appropriateness of work based on the work information used to create the first work content information, and the verification unit verifies whether the work record information matches the appropriateness judgment information.If the work record information matches the appropriateness judgment information, the verification result output unit outputs that the work is based on the first work content information or the second work content information, and if the work record information does not match the appropriateness judgment information, the verification result output unit outputs that the work is not based on the first work content information or the second work content information. In a management method according to one aspect of the present invention, a first computer acquires vehicle information relating to a vehicle, identifies work to be performed on the vehicle of the vehicle information based on the acquired vehicle information, creates first work content information relating to the work using the work information for the identified work, stores the created first work content information in association with the vehicle, and saves work record information including work content and work result information for the work performed on the vehicle; and a second computer acquires user information relating to the user, acquires vehicle information relating to the vehicle in response to an instruction from the user, specifies a work type for the work on the vehicle, and stores the work for the specified work type when work for the specified work type is identified. The system outputs standard work, creates second work content information using work identified from the output standard work for the work type and the acquired vehicle information, and stores the created second work content information, and a first computer associates the first work content information or the second work content information that was the basis of the work content of the work performed on the vehicle with the work record information and stores it, and the first computer or a computer connectable to the first computer and the second computer verifies whether the work record information related to the work performed on the vehicle is based on the first work content information or the second work content information that is stored in association with the work record information, and outputs verification result information.A management program according to one aspect of the present invention causes a first computer to execute the following processes: acquiring vehicle information about a vehicle; identifying work to be performed on the vehicle of the vehicle information based on the acquired vehicle information; creating first work content information about the work using the work information for the identified work; storing the created first work content information in association with the vehicle; and saving work record information including work content and work result information for the work performed on the vehicle; and causes a second computer to execute the following processes: acquiring user information about the user; acquiring vehicle information about the vehicle in response to an instruction from the user; specifying a work type for the work on the vehicle; and saving work record information including work for the specified work type when work for the specified work type is performed. The system executes a process of outputting standard work, a process of creating second work content information using work identified from the output standard work for the work type and the acquired vehicle information, and a process of storing the created second work content information, and causes a first computer to store the first work content information or the second work content information that was the basis of the work content of the work performed on the vehicle in association with the work record information, and causes the first computer or a computer connectable to the first computer and the second computer to execute a process of verifying whether the work record information related to the work performed on the vehicle is based on the first work content information or the second work content information stored in association with the work record information, and a process of outputting verification result information.

[0011] The present invention has the effect of enabling information about the services provided to be objectively confirmed.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing detailed configurations of a control device, an instruction device, and a management device that constitute the management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an example of a hardware configuration in which the control device, the instruction device, and the management device that constitute the management system according to an embodiment of the present invention are each realized by a computer. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing a process transition performed in the management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing a process transition performed in the management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing a process transition performed in the management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing a process transition performed in the management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram showing a process transition performed in the management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on an instruction device that constitutes the management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on an instruction device that constitutes the management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on an instruction device that constitutes the management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on an instruction device that constitutes the management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on an instruction device that constitutes the management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a diagnostic result displayed on a diagnostic machine and a display unit of the diagnostic machine. Fig. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a user information table and a vehicle information table used in a management system in an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a vehicle image information table, a work history information table, and a work site list information table used in a management system in an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 17 is a diagram showing an example of an estimate information table and a unit price information table used in a management system in an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 18 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing performed in a management system in an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 19 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing performed in a management system in an embodiment of the present invention.Fig. 20 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing performed in a management system in an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 21 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing performed in a management system in an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 22 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing performed in a management system in an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 23 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing performed in a management system in an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 24 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing performed in a management system in an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 25 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing performed in a management system in an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 26 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing performed in a management system in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments, including modified examples, can apply the techniques of each other. Furthermore, the following embodiments do not limit the content of the present invention, and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the claims.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] The management system 1 shown in Figure 1 is configured to include a control device 100, an instruction device 200, a management device 300, and an external device 400. Although Figure 1 shows only one of each of these devices, this is merely for convenience of explanation, and it is of course possible to configure the system with multiple devices of each type. Note that this management system may not only exist independently, but also be part of another system. In other words, it may be realized as part of a function in another system.

[0016] 2 is a block diagram showing the detailed configuration of the control device 100, instruction device 200, and management device 300 that make up the management system 1 in the embodiment of the present invention. The control device 100 is configured to include a transmission / reception unit 101, an information processing unit 102, an acquisition unit 103, a memory unit 104, a diagnosis unit 105, a work information identification unit 106, an estimate creation unit 107, an estimate comparison unit 108, a work site judgment unit 109, an authentication information determination unit 110, a work instruction information creation unit 111, and an output processing unit 112. The instruction device 200 is configured to include a transmission / reception unit 201, an information processing unit 202, a setting registration unit 203, an acquisition unit 204, a memory unit 205, an operation unit 206, a display unit 207, a type designation unit 208, a work output unit 209, an information update unit 210, an estimate creation unit 211, a diagnosis unit 212, a work judgment unit 213, an estimate comparison unit 214, a work site extraction unit 215, and a work site setting unit 216. The management device 300 is configured to include a transmission / reception unit 301, a verification unit 302, an output unit 303, a comparison processing unit 304, an output processing unit 305, a memory unit 306, an authentication information setting unit 307, and an information registration unit 308. The following description will be made using FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0017] <Control device 100> The control device 100 is configured by a computer having the configuration shown in Fig. 3, and is a device installed at a provider that provides a predetermined service, and is also called a "provider device." Furthermore, this control device 100 is a device associated with a workshop where work related to the predetermined service is performed, and is often installed at the workshop, and is also called a "workshop device." In other words, the way it is expressed varies depending on the type of service provided.

[0018] These specified services are not limited in type, but may include maintenance services such as inspection and repair of vehicles, small aircraft, and other moving objects, insurance services such as vehicle insurance and personal insurance, facility services that use specific facilities or residences, nursing care services, communication services, data storage services, legal information services, food and beverage services, logistics services, and goods storage services, as long as a direct or indirect relationship is established between the service provider and the service recipient (recipient).

[0019] The control device 100 can provide a predetermined service itself, as well as provide a predetermined service in response to information received from the connected service providing device 120 through communication with the service providing device 120. In the following, a predetermined service will be described using a maintenance service for a mobile object as an example. The mobile object in this case refers to an object for which a service is provided, and is also referred to as a "service providing object." An example of such an object will be described below, using a vehicle as an example.

[0020] When a user (also referred to as a user, owner, or possessor) of a vehicle, which is an example of a target of the service, brings the vehicle to a workshop such as a maintenance shop that is the provider of the service to receive maintenance service, the control device 100 performs an acceptance process to accept the maintenance service, and the service providing device 120 performs a diagnosis process of the vehicle (diagnosis unit 105).

[0021] In the reception process, in response to an instruction from the service provider (operator), an acquisition process (first user information acquisition process) for identifying the user is performed, and an acquisition process (first vehicle information acquisition process) for acquiring vehicle information of the vehicle to which the service is to be provided from the storage unit 104 or the management device 300 is performed (acquisition unit 103). The user information is information about the user and is composed of information configured in a table such as that shown in FIG. 15(a). For example, the information includes user identification information (user ID) for identifying the user, the user name, the address, etc. The vehicle information is information about the vehicle and is composed of information configured in a table such as that shown in FIG. 15(b). This vehicle information is composed of (includes) vehicle identification information that uniquely identifies the vehicle and vehicle status information that indicates the vehicle status. The former vehicle identification information includes vehicle identification information (vehicle ID) for identifying the vehicle, the model, vehicle specifications, equipment, etc. The latter vehicle condition information includes the model year, mileage, registration year, user ID, vehicle images, maintenance history, whether or not the vehicle has been inspected, and information obtained from various sensors (e.g., information obtained from an atmospheric pressure sensor, intake pressure sensor, throttle opening sensor, oxygen sensor, air-fuel ratio sensor, etc.).

[0022] This user information and vehicle information can be obtained from the management device 300 or based on information provided by the user. This diagnostic process is also referred to as a "first diagnostic process" or "service provider diagnostic process," and includes a process of acquiring vehicle information about the vehicle from the vehicle and checking specific values ​​for each specified diagnostic item among the vehicle information items to see if they are normal, and a process of checking the condition of the vehicle by a worker performing diagnostic work. In addition to acquiring vehicle information about the vehicle from the vehicle, the diagnostic process can also acquire vehicle information registered in advance in DB 320 (described later) by requesting the management device 300, and is performed using at least the vehicle information acquired by one of the vehicle information acquisition processes (diagnosis unit 105).

[0023] The control device 100, which receives the diagnostic results (diagnosis result information) of the diagnostic process from the service providing device 120, performs a work identification process (work information identification unit 106) to identify work to be performed on the vehicle based on the diagnostic results and vehicle information. The work identified by this work identification process includes preventive and preliminary work based on the diagnostic results and vehicle information. The work in this case refers to the service content of a maintenance service performed on a vehicle, which is an example of a service target, and is intended to maintain, improve, and normalize the condition of the vehicle so that the benefits (services) available to the vehicle can be received as usual. In the case of a vehicle, an example of this benefit is moving the vehicle to another location.

[0024] When a task is identified by this task identification process, the control device 100 selects task information for that task. This task information includes information on the parts, tools, and equipment required to perform the task, the task difficulty, the task time, etc., and is used to create information (task content information) that indicates the task content required to perform the task and is presented to the user.

[0025] In this way, the control device 100 performs diagnostic processing, and once the corresponding work and work information are identified and selected, it then creates work content information to be presented to the user for vehicle maintenance service (estimate creation unit 107). This work content information includes work items indicating the specific work to be performed on the vehicle, the work man-hours required for the work, the necessary parts and quantities, and the work labor cost (work cost) per unit time. In particular, the control device 100 acquires unit price information such as a basic work fee and basic work man-hours for the work information from the management device 300 and includes the work man-hours and work labor cost in the work content information. This basic work fee is a predetermined basic fee (labor rate) for the corresponding work, and the basic work man-hours is a predetermined standard work man-hours for performing the corresponding work.

[0026] This work content information, also commonly referred to as estimate information (also simply as "estimate") or pre-work confirmation, is information that allows the user to confirm the content and cost of the maintenance service to be performed on the vehicle, and includes user information and vehicle information. Presenting this estimate to the user before the maintenance service prevents misunderstandings between the maintenance service provider and the user. The work content information created using the control device 100 is also referred to as "first work content information" and will be referred to as "work content information A" or "estimate A" for simplicity below. Estimate A is created by the control device 100 that provides the maintenance service, and the user will trust and approve this estimate A to a certain extent. More specifically, the control device 100 simply creates estimate A using the work information for the work specified by the workshop, and therefore estimate A is created depending on the specified work and its work information.

[0027] The control device 100 then stores this estimate A in a storage device (not shown) in association with the creation date, user information, and vehicle information. Additionally, the control device 100 stores the estimate A associated with the creation date, user information, and vehicle information in the storage unit 104, and transmits it to the management device 300 together with control device identification information that identifies the control device 100 that created it, and the management device 300 saves and stores it in the DB 320 as estimate information. The estimate A may also be transmitted to the instruction device 200 used by the requested user. In this way, the control device 100 creates the estimate A and accepts a work request based on the estimate A.

[0028] The control device 100 can also receive from the instruction device 200 a request for maintenance service for a vehicle for which estimate A has not been created. In this case, first, a workshop determination process is performed to determine whether the destination (request recipient) set in the second work content information (estimate B or estimate C) (details will be described later) received as the service request is the control device's own workshop. In addition to this workshop determination process, it is also possible to perform an authentication confirmation process to confirm whether the second work content information has been authenticated, specifically, whether authentication information has been assigned (set) to the second work content information.

[0029] In this work site determination process, the control device 100 sends an error to the sender if the destination is not the user's own work site. On the other hand, if the destination is the user's own work site, the control device 100 performs an implementation confirmation process (information processing unit 102) to confirm whether the work content of the received second work content information (Estimate B or Estimate C) can be performed. Alternatively, an authentication confirmation process to determine whether the second work content information is authenticated may be performed, whereby an error is sent to the sender if the information is not authenticated, and the above implementation confirmation process may be performed if the information is authenticated. This implementation confirmation process verifies that the work is not in a state where it cannot be performed due to a temporary equipment failure, a shortage of workers, or the like. If the implementation confirmation process is successful, the control device 100 performs a work instruction information creation process (work instruction information creation unit 111) to create work instruction information for the work based on the second work content information (Estimate B or Estimate C) in order to perform the work content of the second work content information.

[0030] This work instruction information is a document (document data) that is given to workers who will perform the work, and is different for each work site. For example, it is a document (document data) that instructs information related to the work, such as the worker, work equipment, work date and time, and work order.

[0031] The workshop information extracted by such workshop extraction processing and the workshop information with the set priority are stored in the storage unit.

[0032] In the above authentication confirmation process, the control device 100 requests the management device 300 whether the authentication information is correct, and the management device 300 performs the authentication information confirmation process. Details of this confirmation process are shown in S2314 to S2316 of Fig. 23 (authentication information determination unit 110). Alternatively, the management device 300 may inquire of the external device 400, which is the certificate authority, whether the authentication information is correct, and if the external device 400 responds to this inquiry by saying that the authentication information is correct, the management device 300 may authenticate and confirm the second work content information to which the authentication information has been assigned (set) (information processing unit 102).

[0033] In addition to the above, the control device 100 may check whether authentication information is set in the first work content information created in the control device 100's own workshop, and may accept a request for maintenance service for the first work content information for which authentication information is set (authentication information determination unit 110). That is, when the control device 100 transmits the first work content information to the instruction device 200, it determines whether the request is based on the first work content information using the authentication information. In this case, the control device 100 requests the management device 300 to confirm whether the authentication information set in the first work content information is correct, and makes a determination based on the response. If the response indicates that the authentication information is correct, the control device 100 accepts the request for maintenance service and performs a work instruction information creation process to create work instruction information based on the first work content information for which the authentication information is set.

[0034] When work is performed based on work instructions created by the work instruction information creation process described above, the control device 100 stores the work history information of the performed work in the storage unit 104 and also in the management device 300. An example of this work history information is shown in the work history information table in FIG. 16(d). Furthermore, when the work is completed, the control device 100 creates work record information as part of the work history information and stores it in association with the estimate (the estimate (first work content information or second work content information) that was the basis for the work content performed on the vehicle). This work record information is also referred to as a "work record book," "confirmation," "service execution certificate," or "delivery note," and records the actual work itself, such as whether the work specified in the estimate (maintenance such as inspection or repair) was actually performed, what kind of work was performed, who performed it, and when it was performed. This work record book is included in work history information, and in a broad sense, it encompasses the same information despite its different format. This work log is provided to the vehicle user when the work is completed, or is output (transmitted) to the instruction device 200 used by the user (output processing unit 112). This allows the user and the work site to each have their own work log. This document makes it possible to understand the specific work that was performed.

[0035] Furthermore, upon completion of the work, the control device 100 transmits the work log to the management device 300 and stores it in association with the user information and vehicle information in the DB 320 of the management device 300. Furthermore, in response to a request from the instruction device 200 or the management device 300, the control device 100 outputs (transmits) the work log (output processing unit 112).

[0036] <Instruction device 200> The instruction device 200 is configured by a computer having the configuration shown in Fig. 3, is a device operated by a user (vehicle user) who uses a vehicle maintenance service, is also called a user terminal, and is an electronic device owned by the user. This instruction device 200 can also be realized as one function of the electronic device owned by the user, in which case it is realized as an application or software installed on the electronic device.

[0037] The instruction device 200 is a device that gives instructions, makes contact, and communicates to receive predetermined services provided by the control device 100, and is capable of switching between and using not only a single service provided by the control device 100 but also any predetermined service provided by the control device 100. For example, it is possible to switch between and use a maintenance service and an insurance service.

[0038] An imaging device 220 and a diagnostic machine 230 can be connected to the instruction device 200. The imaging device 220 is a device that can capture an image of a service provision target as an imaging target and record the captured image, and the diagnostic machine 230 is a device that can perform a diagnostic process on the service provision target as a diagnostic target and record the diagnostic result as diagnostic result information. An example is shown in Fig. 14. Of course, the instruction device 200 may be equipped with the functions of the imaging device 220 and the diagnostic machine 230.

[0039] When the instruction device 200 receives an instruction operation from a user using the operation unit 206, it triggers a user information acquisition process (second user information acquisition process) to acquire user information about the user from the management device 300, and a vehicle information acquisition process (second vehicle information acquisition process) to acquire vehicle information about the vehicle that is the target of the maintenance service (acquisition unit 204).

[0040] Alternatively, the vehicle information may be acquired by connecting a vehicle information reader to the vehicle. The vehicle information reader is a device that reads vehicle information by connecting to an information transmission / reception connector provided in the vehicle or by wireless connection to the vehicle. The diagnostic machine 230, which will be described later, can also be used as the vehicle information reader.

[0041] Next, the instruction device 200 performs a process for specifying the service type to be provided in the maintenance service, which is a predetermined service. This service type is also referred to as a "work type." That is, a process for specifying the work type to be performed on the vehicle for which the maintenance service is being provided is performed. This process is not only a process for specifying the work type based on the type selected by the user, but also a process for specifying a recommended work type by learning information about the user's past usage status (usage history) of the same service (maintenance service) as learning source information (type specifying unit 208).

[0042] This work type is type information that identifies a specific service to be performed in the maintenance service, and specifically indicates specific maintenance items such as (1) inspection and maintenance, (2) repair and maintenance, and (3) specific item check (also referred to as "specific maintenance"). In addition, there are types such as (1) "6-month inspection, 12-month inspection, statutory vehicle inspection (also simply referred to as "vehicle inspection"), pre-drive inspection, pre-long-distance drive inspection, post-drive inspection, and post-long-distance drive inspection" that show more detailed inspection and maintenance, (2) "body repair, paint repair" that show more detailed repair and maintenance, and (3) "disassembly and maintenance, electronic control unit maintenance" that show more detailed check of specific items.

[0043] As an example, when specifying the type of work, the instruction device 200 may specify "12-month inspection" as the learning result if the vehicle usage status (usage history) indicates that approximately 12 months have passed since the last inspection date, and may also specify "body repair" as the learning result if the instruction device 200 receives an image of the vehicle and analyzes the image to detect damage.

[0044] Next, the instruction device 200 extracts standard work identified as work for the specified work type (maintenance in the above example) for that work type. The instruction device 200 then performs an output process for this standard work (the work output unit 209). This extracted standard work is a standard work (standard work) that has been pre-specified as work to be performed for the specified work type, and can also be referred to as "standard work identified based on the specified work type." In other words, when a work type is specified, standard work to be performed for that work type is identified. Work that differs from this standard work indicates that it is work that is not directly related to work in the work type (work that differs from the standard work). For example, when a "12-month inspection" is specified as the work type, various tasks, such as steering check and battery check, are extracted as standard (pre-specified) standard work to be performed in maintenance, which is work for the "12-month inspection" work type. Information about this standard work can be pre-stored in the instruction device 200 in association with the work type, or information pre-stored in the management device 300 in association with the work type can be acquired and stored. The output processing of the standard work also includes communication output to an external device, display output on the display unit 207 of the instruction device 200, and the like.

[0045] When the information regarding the standard work is output in this manner, the instruction device 200 creates work content information for performing maintenance services on a vehicle based on (using) the work specified in the standard work for the output work type and the acquired vehicle information (estimate creation unit 211). That is, a work content information creation process is performed to create work content information for performing the work specified in the standard work on the vehicle indicated in the vehicle information. As described above, this vehicle information includes vehicle condition information indicating the vehicle's condition. In the work content information creation process, work content information may be created by identifying work related to maintenance services performed using vehicle condition information of other vehicles based on the vehicle condition information (vehicle information). That is, the vehicle condition information of other vehicles may be learned as learning source information, and the work content of maintenance services to be performed on the vehicle to be serviced may be created.

[0046] Furthermore, in this work content information creation process, one or more diagnostic results stored in the storage unit 205 (described below) are used as learning source information to create work content information appropriate for the vehicle in the vehicle information and the user in the user information (estimate creation unit 211). This makes it possible to create optimal work content information based on the work performed on the related vehicle and the work performed by that user in the past. In addition, this work content information creation process can also identify the vehicle information of the vehicle on which work specified by the standard work for the work type was performed, and create work content information using the work history information of the vehicle in the identified vehicle information. This work history information is managed in association with the vehicle in DB 320 connected to the management device 300, and the instruction device 200 acquires this work history information from the management device 300 to create the work history information.

[0047] This work content information includes work items that indicate the specific work to be performed on the vehicle, the work man-hours required for the work, the necessary parts and quantities, and the work labor cost (work cost) for the work per unit time. In particular, the instruction device 200 acquires unit price information such as the basic work fee and basic work man-hours for the work information from the management device 300 and includes the work man-hours and work labor cost in the work content information. This basic work fee is determined in advance and is the basic fee (labor rate) for the corresponding work, and the basic work man-hours is determined in advance and is the standard work time for performing the corresponding work.

[0048] This work content information is generally referred to as estimate information (also simply referred to as "estimate") or pre-work confirmation, and is information that allows the user to confirm the content and cost of the maintenance service to be performed on the vehicle, and also includes user information and vehicle information. The work content information created using this instruction device 200 is also referred to as "second work content information," and hereinafter will be referred to simply as "work content information B" or "estimate B." This estimate B was created by the instruction device 200 based on the standard work identified based on the specified work type and vehicle information.

[0049] This estimate B is created based on at least the standard work identified based on the specified work type and vehicle information, and is therefore based on objective information (information that is factual). It is also possible to create estimate B by learning from work history information based on vehicle condition information (vehicle information) of other vehicles on which the identified standard work has been performed. Estimate B created using this history information is an objectively more reliable (trustworthy) estimate. Furthermore, when creating estimate B, it is possible to analyze images of the vehicle to detect the presence or absence of damage and the state (level) of the damage, and based on this detection, it is also possible to include details of work to repair (repair) the damage, resulting in an even more reliable (trustworthy) estimate.

[0050] The instruction device 200 then stores this estimate B in the storage unit 205 in association with the creation date, user information, and vehicle information. Furthermore, the instruction device 200 outputs (transmits) (transmitting / receiving unit 201) the estimate B associated with the creation date, user information, and vehicle information to the management device 300 along with instruction device identification information identifying the instruction device 200 that created the estimate, and the management device 300 stores and memorizes the estimate in a DB as estimate information. Furthermore, the instruction device 200 stores the estimate A received from the control device 100 in the storage device. Of course, it is also possible to store estimates B and C created under the same or similar conditions in association with this estimate A.

[0051] When a standard work is extracted, this instruction device 200 not only creates work content information based on the standard work itself, but also creates work content information by adding a specified additional work to the standard work or by replacing it with another work. Based on this standard work, a user can add or replace desired work, thereby creating work content information related to the maintenance service desired by the user. A specific example of this is the selection of an arbitrary plan (also called a "group") as shown in Figures 10(a) and 10(c), etc.

[0052] This plan is a list of tasks to be performed for each specified type, allowing the user to specify the desired tasks all at once rather than specifying them one by one. This plan is recommended based on historical information about services previously provided to the user and services provided to the same or similar type of vehicle as the vehicle to be serviced. Of course, it is also possible to select plans other than the recommended plan.

[0053] The instruction device 200 also performs an estimate comparison process (also referred to as a "verification process" or "estimate verification process") to compare the estimate B with the estimate A created by the control device 100 (the estimate comparison unit 214). Then, a comparison result output process is performed to output information on the comparison result. In this output process, the comparison result information can be output to the display device (display unit) of the instruction device 200, or can be output (transmitted) to an external device, including the management device 300.

[0054] This comparison process verifies whether the first work content information (Estimate A) is based on the second work content information (Estimate B or Estimate C) corresponding to the first work content information by comparing each item of the estimate with a pre-associated item. Alternatively, this can be expressed as a verification process that verifies whether the first work content information is included in the second work content information, or further, as a verification process that verifies whether the first work content information is appropriate based on the second work content information.

[0055] More specifically, when the values ​​of items included in estimate A (work result information) correspond to the values ​​(quantity, etc.) of items included in estimate B or estimate C (i.e., are the same or within a certain margin of error) by comparing the values ​​of items and setting values, the verification result is that estimate A is based on estimate B or estimate C stored in association with estimate A. On the other hand, when the values ​​of items included in estimate A do not correspond to the values ​​(quantity, etc.) of items included in estimate B or estimate C (i.e., are the same or within a certain margin of error), the verification result is that estimate A is not based on estimate B or estimate C stored in association with estimate A. More specifically, the instruction device 200 obtains from the management device 300 appropriateness judgment information used to judge whether the work was performed appropriately (appropriateness judgment) by comparing the items, and verifies whether the results of the comparison between the items match the appropriateness judgment information. That is, a process is performed to verify whether estimate A and estimate B or estimate C stored in association with estimate A match the appropriateness determination information.

[0056] If the comparison result matches the appropriateness judgment information, the verification result is that estimate A is an appropriate estimate. On the other hand, if the comparison result does not match the appropriateness judgment information, the verification result is that estimate A is not an appropriate estimate, but is likely to have problems with unnecessary items, quantities, amounts, etc., and is not an appropriate estimate.

[0057] As described above, the indicator device 200 can be connected to a diagnostic device 230 such as that shown in FIG. 14. The diagnostic device 230 is connected to a vehicle to read vehicle information and perform diagnostic processing of the vehicle condition information contained in the vehicle information (diagnosis unit 212).

[0058] This diagnostic process is also referred to as "second diagnostic process," "service receiver diagnostic process," or "service demander diagnostic process." Using the vehicle status information described above as diagnostic items, this process determines whether the diagnostic items satisfy predetermined thresholds, whether predetermined operations are performed, and whether any breaks have occurred in electrical circuits, etc. This diagnostic process can also diagnose other diagnostic items, such as catalyst deterioration, engine misfire, exhaust gas recirculation system malfunction, and evaporative system malfunction, by making the above-mentioned three determinations. The diagnostic machine 230 then outputs the diagnostic results of this diagnostic process to the indicator 200. The diagnostic results include whether each diagnostic item is normal or whether it cannot be determined that no malfunction has occurred.

[0059] The instruction device 200 then performs an information update process (information update unit 210) to update the contents of estimate B based on the diagnostic results from the diagnostic device 230. This information update process involves referring to the diagnostic results and identifying the work content to be performed on the vehicle condition information including diagnostic items for which it is not possible to determine that no malfunctions have occurred (work determination unit 213). The information update process then determines whether the work content identified by this identification process is included in estimate B. If not, estimate B is updated using the identified work content. More specifically, an information update is performed to add the identified work content to estimate B, creating new work content information (hereinafter referred to as "estimate C"). Furthermore, if the work content identified by the identification process is included in estimate B, a new estimate C with the same content as estimate B is created. That is, after the diagnostic process is performed, the instruction device 200 creates estimate C as new work content information based on estimate B and reflects the diagnostic results. As a result, it can be said that estimate B represents the work content information before reflecting the diagnostic process content, and estimate C represents the work content information after reflecting the diagnostic process content.

[0060] It is also possible for the instruction device 200 to perform a diagnostic process similar to that performed by the diagnostic machine 230. That is, the instruction device 200 performs the diagnostic process (diagnosis unit 212). Then, the instruction device 200 updates the estimate B using the diagnostic results to create a new estimate C. In this case, the information update involves updating the estimate B using work related to vehicle condition information that cannot be determined to be free of defects in the diagnostic results obtained by the diagnostic process.

[0061] The instruction device 200 then associates the diagnosis result with the estimate B before the information update and the estimate C after the information update, and stores the diagnosis result in the storage unit 205, as well as in the management device 300. Of course, the estimate B before the information update may be overwritten with the estimate C after the information update and saved.

[0062] Next, in order to receive maintenance services based on the work content information of estimate B or estimate C, the instruction device 200 performs a work site extraction process (work site extraction unit 215) to extract one or more pieces of work site information related to work sites that will perform the work content of estimate B or estimate C based on instructions from the user. The work site list information related to work sites performed by this work site extraction process can be stored in advance in the storage unit 205, for example, or can be obtained from the management device 300. Then, from this work site list information, one or more pieces of work site information related to work sites that will perform the work content included in estimate B or estimate C is extracted. This work site list information is information that allows a work site to be selected based on the work content, user information, and vehicle information, an example of which is shown in FIG. 16( e).

[0063] In this workshop information extraction process, the second work content information, which is estimate B or estimate C, includes user information and vehicle information in addition to the work content, and one or more workshop information is extracted based on at least one of the work content, user information, and vehicle information. As shown in the user information table in Figure 15(a), the user information includes information on the address (area). As shown in the vehicle information table in Figure 15(b), the vehicle information includes vehicle identification information that uniquely identifies the vehicle, such as the vehicle ID and model, and vehicle condition information that indicates the vehicle condition, such as the year and mileage, as well as a history of work performed on the vehicle. Therefore, in the workshop extraction process, these pieces of information are used as learning source information to learn and extract one or more optimal workshop information.

[0064] More specifically, in the work site extraction process, for extraction conditions such as the work content included in the work content information, work sites are extracted based on information on the work equipment used for the work content and the number of workers performing the work, and for extraction conditions such as the address (area) of the user information, work sites near that address (area) are extracted, and further for extraction conditions such as the model and vehicle model ID of the vehicle information, work sites are extracted based on information on the work equipment and workers who can work on the vehicle. The work site extraction process extracts one or more pieces of work site information based on at least one of these extraction conditions.

[0065] Once a workshop is extracted by this workshop extraction process, the instruction device 200 performs a priority setting process to assign a priority to the extracted workshop based on the past work history of the user (user requesting work) who uses the maintenance service. This priority setting process assigns priorities to workshops according to an extraction condition or a combination of extraction conditions. For example, if the extraction condition is the work content included in the work content information, higher priorities are assigned to workshops with a higher availability rate for that work content. Also, if the extraction condition is the address (area) of the user information, higher priorities are assigned to workshops that are closer to that address (area). Furthermore, if the extraction condition is the vehicle model or model ID, higher priorities are assigned to workshops with a higher availability rate for work on vehicles of that model or model ID. Furthermore, even when these extraction conditions are combined, an AND operation is performed to assign priorities.

[0066] The instruction device 200 designates a workshop that is permitted to perform work on a vehicle as part of a maintenance service, based on the work list information for which a priority has been set. For example, the instruction device 200 designates the workshop with the highest priority, or designates a workshop by accepting an operation by the user. Then, the instruction device 200 performs a process of setting workshop identification information that can identify the designated workshop in an estimate (second work content information) for requesting work from that workshop (setting and registration unit 203). In other words, the estimate (second work content information) is associated with the designated workshop, and this second work content information is stored. Of course, it is also possible to set multiple workshop identification information.

[0067] This work site identification information is made up of information specified in a work site list information table such as that shown in FIG. 16(e), and is information that can uniquely identify a work site.

[0068] The workshop information extracted by this workshop extraction process and the prioritized workshop information are stored in the storage unit 205. The instruction device 200 also stores the estimate B or the updated estimate C, which are stored in the storage unit 205 or the management device 300 in association with the creation date, user information, and vehicle information, in association with the work type and standard work used to create the estimate, as well as the workshop information. In other words, the instruction device 200 can identify the vehicle that performed the standard work, and identify and learn the work history information (work history information) for that vehicle. The instruction device 200 then transmits the second work content information (estimate B or estimate C) to the management device 300 at a predetermined timing to request authentication. In response to this authentication request, the instruction device 200 receives (set) authentication information from the management device 300, and stores the information in the storage unit 205.

[0069] Next, when the instruction device 200 receives a user's operation to designate a workshop via the operation unit 206 or the like, or when a single workshop is extracted, it transmits second workshop information (estimate B or estimate C) as a request for maintenance service to the control device 100 for that workshop (information processing unit 202). Receiving this, the control device 100 performs the workshop determination process and the process of creating work instruction information based on the work content as described above, and the work related to the maintenance service is performed.

[0070] This allows the instruction device 200 to specify the most suitable workshop (such as a maintenance factory) for receiving maintenance services based on the created work content information, without having to specify the workshop in advance.

[0071] In the above example, workshops are extracted by the workshop extraction process, and maintenance services can be received from any of these workshops, but the present invention is not limited to this. The created work content information may be made publicly available (on a public website), and one or more workshops that wish to provide maintenance services for the published work content information may request to perform maintenance services and specify the workshop by lottery or auction. The detailed flow of this process is shown in the flowchart of Figure 26.

[0072] Furthermore, when the instruction device 200 receives or inputs work record information related to the work performed through user operation, it breaks down the work record information into individual items and analyzes the values ​​set for each item (information processing unit 202). The instruction device 200 also receives estimates (first work content information, second work content information) stored in the control device 100 and associated with the work record book (acquisition unit 204). The instruction device 200 compares each estimate item with the associated work record information items to verify whether the work record book is based on the estimates (first work content information, second work content information) stored in association with the work record book (estimate comparison unit 214).

[0073] More specifically, by comparing the values ​​of items and setting values, if the value of an item in the work log (work result information) corresponds to the value of an item in the estimate (quantity, etc.), the system verifies that the work log is based on the estimate (first work content information, second work content information) stored in association with the work log. If the value of an item in the work log does not correspond to the value of an item in the estimate (quantity, etc.), the system verifies that the work log is not based on the estimate (first work content information, second work content information) stored in association with the work log. Specifically, the instruction device 200 acquires from the management device 300 appropriateness judgment information used to determine whether the work was performed appropriately (appropriateness judgment) by comparing the items, and verifies whether the comparison result between the items matches the appropriateness judgment information. That is, a process is performed to verify whether the work log and the estimate (first work content information or second work content information) stored in association with the work log match the appropriateness judgment information.

[0074] The former indicates that work was performed based on estimates, and that it was confirmed after the fact that the work was appropriate. On the other hand, the latter indicates that it is highly likely that work was not performed based on estimates, and that it was confirmed after the fact that unintended or fraudulent work was performed.

[0075] The instruction device 200 then performs an output process of the verification results. This output process includes displaying the results on the instruction device 200 and transmitting them to the management device 300. In this output process, if the comparison between the items matches the appropriateness judgment information, information indicating that work based on the estimate has been performed is output, and if the comparison between the items does not match the appropriateness judgment information, information indicating that work based on the estimate has not been performed is output.

[0076] From the above, the second work content information (Estimate B or Estimate C) created in the instruction device 200 is information used to determine whether the first work content information created in the control device 100 is valid or invalid (including invalid), and is also used as information indicating the work content to be requested from the workshop to receive maintenance service.

[0077] 3, and is connectable to a control device 100 provided at a provider of a predetermined service and an instruction device 200 that issues instructions, contacts, and communicates to receive the predetermined service, and is a device that manages information required by the control device 100 and the instruction device 200 and provides the information. As an example, the management device 300 is realized by a server or a cloud device.

[0078] A DB 320 that stores and manages various information is connected to this management device 300. This DB 320 stores user information, vehicle information, work history information for work related to various services, estimate item information indicating items constituting work content information, unit price information including basic work fees, basic work man-hours, and appropriateness judgment information, workshop information indicating the provider of the maintenance service, work content information (estimate information) created by the control device 100 or the instruction device 200, format information for work instruction information created for each workshop based on the work content information at that workshop, the created work instruction information, work record information (work maintenance log) indicating a record of work performed at the workshop based on the work instruction information, verification result information indicating the result of verifying whether work based on the work content information was performed based on the work content information and the work record information, standard work information specifying standard work specified for each work type, etc.

[0079] The management device 300 receives work content information (first work content information) from the control device 100. The management device 300 also receives work content information (second work content information) from the instruction device 200. This work content information includes user information and vehicle information in addition to the work content, and pieces of work content information to be compared are identified based on this user information and vehicle information. For example, if the user ID of the user information and the vehicle ID of the vehicle information included in the first work content information are the same as the user ID of the user information and the vehicle ID of the vehicle information included in the second work content information, and if the creation dates of the first work content information and the second work content information are within a certain period of time, they are identified as pieces of work content to be compared.

[0080] Alternatively, the management device 300 may be configured to receive first work content information and second work content information from the instruction device 200. That is, the control device 100 transmits the first work content information created in the control device 100 to the instruction device 200, and the instruction device 200, upon receiving the first work content information, transmits the first work content information and the second work content information created in the instruction device 200 to the management device 300.

[0081] Next, the management device 300 performs a comparison process to compare the first work content information with the second work content information. The comparison result of this comparison process verifies whether the first work content information is included in the second work content information. If the first work content information is included, the verification result indicates that the first work content information (estimate A) is an appropriate estimate. On the other hand, if the first work content information is not included, the verification result indicates that the first work content information (estimate A) is not an appropriate estimate and is likely to have problems with unnecessary items, quantities, amounts, etc. The management device 300 then performs an output process of the verification result (comparison result) from this comparison process. The management device 300 outputs (transmits) information indicating the comparison result (comparison result information) to the control device 100 and the instruction device 200, and also outputs (transmits) it only to the instruction device 200 that received the first work content information and the second work content information.

[0082] In this comparison process, the work content items constituting the first work content information and the second work content information, and the unit price information for each work content item (basic work fee, basic work man-hours, etc.) are extracted, and these items, the unit price information, the total amounts for each item, and the total amounts of the work content information are compared. Details of this comparison process are shown in Figure 24 and will be described later.

[0083] This comparison process determines whether the first work content information is included in the second work content information, and if it is determined that the first work content information is included, a comparison result that the first work content information is valid is output.If it is determined that the first work content information is not included, a comparison result that the first work content information is invalid or not valid is output.In other words, the first work content information is verified, authenticated, and evaluated based on the second work content information.

[0084] The management device 300 then performs a process of recording the first work content information and the second work content information in association with each other. The comparison results may also be stored in association with these.

[0085] Furthermore, for the first work content information for which a comparison result is determined to be valid, the management device 300 creates a hash value of the first work content information and sets the hash value as authentication information. Alternatively, it is possible to obtain the time information when the hash value was created, create a timestamp including the hash value and the time information, and set this as authentication information. The hash value is a fixed value determined according to the second work content information, and this fixed value changes when the second work content information is changed.

[0086] In this way, by comparing the first work content information created by the control device 100 with the second work content information created by the instruction device 200 based on different information, it becomes possible to confirm the validity and reliability of the first work content information. In other words, it becomes possible to objectively evaluate estimate A created using work information for the work specified by the work site, and it becomes possible to support the user in making a judgment on whether or not to accept the estimate.

[0087] Furthermore, when the management device 300 receives an authentication request including second work content information (Estimate B or Estimate C) from the instruction device 200, it creates a hash value of the received second work content information and sets this hash value and the instruction device 200 that made the request as authentication information. This sets authentication information indicating that the information was created by the instruction device 200 that made the request. In addition, it is also possible to obtain time information when the hash value was created, create a timestamp including the hash value and the time information, and set this as authentication information. Alternatively, the management device 300 may request authentication from the external device 400, which is an authentication authority, and the external device 400 may perform the above-mentioned authentication information setting process and respond with that information.

[0088] The management device 300 then transmits the second work content information in which the authentication information has been set to the instruction device 200 that has requested the authentication. The management device 300 also stores the second work content information in which the authentication information has been set in a storage device in association with the instruction device 200 that has requested the authentication.

[0089] 3 illustrates an example of a hardware configuration in which the control device 100, instruction device 200, and management device 300 are each implemented by a computer. Of course, the functions of each device can also be implemented by multiple devices.

[0090] As shown in FIG. 3, the computers 100, 200, and 300 include a processor 901, a storage device 902, an I / F 903, and a display device 904.

[0091] The processor 901 controls processing in the computers 100, 200, and 300 by executing programs stored in the storage device 902. For example, the respective functional units and processing units provided in the control device, instruction device, and management device are realized by the processor 901 executing the programs stored in the storage device 902. The programs are executed by the computers 100, 200, and 300.

[0092] The storage device 902 temporarily stores the source code of the programs executed by the processor 901 and data required for executing the programs, and is a volatile or non-volatile storage medium such as RAM, ROM, a hard disk drive (HDD), or flash memory. The storage device 902 also serves as a database that stores the operating system (OS) and various programs, setting information, tables, etc. for implementing the above-mentioned configurations. The processor 901 realizes various functions by reading and executing these programs, setting information, table information, etc.

[0093] I / F 903 is an input / output interface for receiving input from the user via a keyboard, mouse, touch panel, various sensors, wearable devices, etc., an interface for inputting and outputting data from external devices of computers 100, 200, and 300, and a communication interface for performing data communication with external devices of computers 100, 200, and 300 via a communication network, either wired or wireless.

[0094] The display device 904 is a device that displays various types of information. Specific examples include a liquid crystal display, an organic EL (Electro-Luminescent) display, or the like, and may be a wearable device. It may also be a touch panel or touch operation input device that combines an input / output interface and the display device 904.

[0095] Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 are sequence diagrams showing the process transitions performed in a management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. These diagrams show the process sequences performed by the control device 100, instruction device 200, and management device 300 that make up the management system. Figures 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 are diagrams showing examples of screens displayed on the instruction device that makes up the management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The following description will be made with reference to Figures 4 to 13.

[0096] The sequence diagram shown in Figure 4 is a processing transition in which a user specifies a workshop where a specified service will be used, and includes processing performed in the control device 100 corresponding to that workshop, and processing in which the results of the processing performed in the control device 100 are confirmed in the instruction device 200 used by the user, and work is performed at the workshop where the control device 100 is located based on the processing performed in the control device 100.

[0097] A login process is performed by a user operation on the control device 100 associated with the work site where the work will be performed (S401). When this login process is performed, the management device 300 communicates with the management device 300, and in conjunction with the login process on the management device 300 (S402), the management device 300 identifies and transmits user information and vehicle information (S403, S404), which are then received and identified by the control device 100 (S405). The control device 100 performs a vehicle diagnosis process and a process to check the vehicle condition using the service providing device 120, etc. (S406).

[0098] At this time, the control device 100 identifies the necessary work based on the vehicle condition information resulting from the vehicle diagnosis process and the vehicle condition confirmation process, and the service content desired by the user (specifically, the inspection content and repair content for the maintenance service), and creates and saves first work content information (estimate A) related to the identified work (S407). Note that the process of creating this estimate A is performed in cooperation between the control device 100 and the management device 300, with the management device 300 providing information necessary for creating the estimate A (list information of work corresponding to the vehicle condition information, unit price information for the work, etc.), and a save process of saving the estimate A is performed in the control device 100 and the management device 300.

[0099] At this point, the created estimate A is provided to the user by the workshop. This can be provided via various social networking services, electronic communication media such as email, or via a storage medium, and the method is not critical.

[0100] The instruction device 200 operated by the user also performs a login process (S408), receives and identifies user information and vehicle information from the management device 300 (S409), and specifies the type of service content desired by the user for the service (S410). The instruction device 200 also selects a service plan corresponding to the type of service content desired by the user (S411). Specifically, when a user ID and password are entered on the login screen shown in FIG. 9( a), the user ID and password are transmitted from the instruction device 200 to the management device 300 to authenticate the user. Subsequently, when the "Create Estimate" button is operated on the process selection screen shown in FIG. 9( b), the instruction screen shown in FIG. 9( c) is displayed.

[0101] The instruction screen shown in FIG. 9( c) displays the user information of the authenticated user and the vehicle information associated with the user information, allowing the user to select a work type. Selecting "Repair" as the work type and pressing the "OK" button displays a repair content selection screen as shown in FIG. 9( d) . Selecting "Inspection" as the work type and pressing the "OK" button displays an inspection type selection screen as shown in FIG. 9( e) . The repair content selection screen shown in FIG. 9( d) allows the user to specify the type of repair to be performed as the repair content, and an example is shown in which the "Body Repair" repair type is selected. Pressing the "Next" button on the screen shown in FIG. 9( d) displays a screen for selecting a plan for the body repair type as shown in FIG. 10( a) . Furthermore, the inspection type selection screen shown in FIG. 9( e) allows the user to specify the type of inspection to be performed as the inspection content, and an example is shown in which "Vehicle Inspection" and "3-year" are selected. Pressing the "Next" button on the screen shown in FIG. 9( e) displays a screen for selecting a plan for the inspection repair type as shown in FIG. 10( c) .

[0102] The instruction device 200 then uses the user information, vehicle information, and type and plan information to create work content information (estimate B) for the work related to the service the user desires for the vehicle (S412). Note that in the process of creating this estimate B, the instruction device 200 and the management device 300 work together, with the management device 300 providing the information necessary for creating estimate B (list information on the work related to the vehicle status information, unit price information for the work, etc.), and a storage process is performed in which the instruction device 200 and the management device 300 save estimate B.

[0103] More specifically, when the repair content is specified and one of the plans displayed on the plan selection screen shown in FIG. 10( a) is selected, the selected content is displayed as shown in FIG. 10( b), and the confirmation screen shown in FIG. 10( b) also allows the user to register (input) an image of the vehicle for which repair work is requested. Furthermore, the confirmation screen shown in FIG. 10( b) also allows the user to perform a damage diagnosis process, which diagnoses the vehicle from the registered image, identifies damaged areas on the vehicle, and measures the degree of damage by comparing the identified areas with images of the vehicle in a normal state. Then, when the "Create" button shown in FIG. 10( b) is operated, a creation process is performed to create second work content information (estimate B) based on the user information, vehicle information, work type, work plan for the work type, vehicle image, and simple diagnosis results.

[0104] Furthermore, when the inspection content is specified and one of the plans displayed on the plan selection screen shown in FIG. 10( c) is selected, the selected plan is displayed as shown in FIG. 10( d). The confirmation screen shown in FIG. 10( d) also allows the user to register (input) an image of the vehicle for which repair work is requested. Furthermore, the confirmation screen shown in FIG. 10( d) also allows the user to perform a damage diagnosis process, which diagnoses the vehicle from the registered image, identifies damaged areas on the vehicle, and measures the degree of damage by comparing the identified areas with images of the vehicle in a normal state. Then, when the "Create" button shown in FIG. 10( d) is operated, a creation process is performed to create second work content information (estimate B) based on the user information, vehicle information, work type, work plan for the work type, vehicle image, and simple diagnosis results.

[0105] Once the second work content information (Estimate B) is created through the above operations, an estimate result screen such as that shown in FIG. 11(a) is displayed. This FIG. 11(a) is a screen that is displayed when the "Create" button is pressed on the inspection work confirmation screen shown in FIG. 10(d). Note that a screen similar to FIG. 11(a) is also displayed on the bodywork work confirmation screen shown in FIG. 10(b), and a description thereof will be omitted. The estimate result screen shown in FIG. 11(a) displays the estimate details in addition to user information, vehicle information, selected vehicle type, and selected plan. The screen shown in FIG. 11(a) also displays a two-dimensional code containing these details. Pressing the "Save Estimate" button on the screen shown in FIG. 11(a) saves the second work content information (Estimate B) containing the above information.

[0106] Next, when the instruction device 200 performs a diagnostic process on itself and obtains the diagnostic results, or obtains the diagnostic results of a diagnostic process performed by an external diagnostic machine (S413), the instruction device 200 and the control device 100 work together to identify a task based on the diagnostic results, update the estimate B based on the work content of the task, and create an estimate C as new work content information. The instruction device 200 also performs a process to save the estimate C in the instruction device 200 and the management device 300 (S414). When the estimate C is created, the estimate B has been updated, so the estimate B is overwritten and saved. Note that the above diagnostic process is optional; if the diagnostic process is not performed, the estimate B is saved; if the diagnostic process is performed, the estimate C is saved instead of the estimate B.

[0107] As a result, the control device 100 stores the estimate A created by the control device 100, the instruction device 200 stores the estimate B or estimate C created by the instruction device 200, and the management device 300 stores the estimate A created by the control device 100 and the instruction device 200, and the estimate B or estimate C.

[0108] More specifically, when the "Perform diagnostic processing" button is operated on the estimate display screen shown in Fig. 11(a), if a diagnostic machine is connected to the instruction device 200, the results of the diagnostic processing performed by the diagnostic machine are obtained. Also, if a diagnostic machine is not connected to the instruction device 200, the results of the diagnostic processing performed by the instruction device 200 are obtained. The results of the diagnostic processing are displayed on the diagnostic result display screen of Fig. 11(b).

[0109] The diagnostic result display screen shown in FIG. 11B displays, as examples of the results of the vehicle diagnostic process, a "poor purge" error in the "evaporative system diagnosis" and an "NG" error in the "vehicle speed sensor" diagnosis. When the "Reflect" button is pressed on the diagnostic result display screen shown in FIG. 11B, the instruction device 200 determines whether the second work content information (estimate B) created by the above process includes work to be performed based on these diagnostic results. If the result of this determination process shows that the work is not included in estimate B, the instruction device 200 performs an information update process to include the work in estimate B, and creates and saves a new estimate C for estimate B. If the result of this determination process shows that the work is included in estimate B, the instruction device 200 creates and saves a new estimate C with the same content as estimate B. Regardless of the determination result, when the diagnostic process is performed, a new estimate C is created in place of estimate B.

[0110] The estimate display screen shown in Figure 11(c) is a screen showing the contents of estimate C in the former case (when the work is not included in estimate B). That is, in addition to the contents of estimate B, estimate C reflecting the work resulting from the diagnosis process is displayed. When the "Save" button on the estimate display screen shown in Figure 11(c) is operated, the instruction device 200 associates and saves the user information, vehicle information, work type, work plan, and estimate contents.

[0111] In this manner, when estimate A created by the control device 100 and estimate B or estimate C created by the instruction device 200 are each saved, and an instruction to confirm the estimates is given using the instruction device 200, the instruction device 200 reads estimate A from the control device 100 or the management device 300 (S415). When the "Confirm Estimate" button is operated on the processing selection screen shown in FIG. 9(b), a screen such as that shown in FIG. 12(a) is displayed. The screen shown in FIG. 12(a) displays estimate B or estimate C most recently created by the instruction device 200, and allows the user to specify estimate A to be compared. Methods of specification include reading a two-dimensional code containing the details of estimate A attached to estimate A, and uploading the data for estimate A.

[0112] When the instruction device 200 designates the estimates A and C to be compared (here, estimate C is used as an example), it compares estimates A and C (S416). The instruction device 200 then outputs the comparison results (S417) and saves them (S418). Specifically, when the "Compare" button on the screen shown in FIG. 12(a) is pressed, the comparison is performed, and a screen showing the comparison results, such as that shown in FIG. 12(b), is displayed. In FIG. 12(b), information identifying each of the compared estimates and the comparison results, including the percentage match for each item constituting the estimate, the percentage match for the quantity set for each item, the percentage match for the unit price set for each item, and the percentage match for the amount of each item, are displayed. A ranking of the overall results, taking these into consideration, and a comment indicating the comparison results are also displayed.

[0113] Based on this, the user can confirm whether estimate A prepared by the workshop is credible and valid, taking into account the objective estimate C based on the vehicle information and historical information based on this vehicle information. In other words, even a user with little or no specialized knowledge of a given service can objectively evaluate estimate A prepared by the workshop and can request the work only after being satisfied. Conversely, even for specialized work, the workshop can prove that the estimate is objectively guaranteed.

[0114]

[0063] After the estimate comparison process has been performed in this manner, the instruction device 200 accepts a user operation (S419) and issues a request (instruction) to the control device 100 via the management device 300 to perform work based on estimate A. At this time, the management device 300 associates and saves the requester, the requested recipient, and the details of the requested estimate A (S420). Specifically, when the user operates the "Work Request" button on the processing selection screen shown in Fig. 9(b), a request recipient selection screen such as that shown in Fig. 13(a) is displayed. This request recipient selection screen shows the details of the requested estimate A and also displays only the workshop that prepared estimate A as the request recipient.

[0115] The control device 100 checks whether the requested estimate A was created by its own control device 100 (S421), and if it was created by its own control device 100, creates work instruction information to be used for work at the work site based on the requested estimate A (S422), and performs the work based on the work instruction information (S423). Furthermore, when the work is completed, the control device 100 creates and saves a work logbook recording the details of the work.

[0116] The sequence diagram shown in Figure 5 is a processing transition in which a user specifies a workshop where a specified service will be used, and includes processing performed in the control device 100 corresponding to that workshop, and processing in which the management device 300 confirms the results of the processing performed in the control device 100 based on instructions from the instruction device 200 used by the user, and work is performed at the workshop where the control device 100 is located based on the results of the processing performed in the control device 100.

[0117] The processes shown in S401 to S414 in Fig. 5 are the same as those shown in Fig. 4, and therefore will not be described further. That is, as a result of these processes, estimate A and either estimate B or estimate C are saved in the management device 300.

[0118] In this state, when the user uses the instruction device 200 to specify estimate A and the corresponding estimate B or estimate C, the management device 300 performs a comparison process between estimate A and estimate C (here, estimate C is used as an example) (S501).The management device 300 then outputs the comparison result to the instruction device 200 (S502) and stores it (S503).

[0119] At this time, the instruction device 200 performs a process of outputting the comparison result received from the management device 300 (S504). For example, the comparison result is displayed on a display device (display unit) of the instruction device 200.

[0120] If the comparison result of the comparison process indicates that the first work content information (estimate A) is included in the second work content information (estimate B or estimate C), i.e., if the verification result indicates that estimate A is a valid estimate, the management device 300 sets the created authentication information for estimate A (S505) and associates estimate A with estimate B or estimate C and stores them (S506). The management device 300 also transmits estimate A with the authentication information set to the instruction device 200, and the instruction device 200 associates estimate A with estimate B or estimate C and stores them (S507). Note that the process of setting the authentication information shown in S505 is optional and does not necessarily need to be performed. In this case, the management device 300 simply transmits the comparison result to the instruction device 200. Upon receiving the comparison result, the instruction device 200 stores the results for the requested estimate C.

[0121] Next, when the instruction device 200 accepts a request operation by the user (when it accepts an operation of the "Work Request" button on the processing selection screen shown in FIG. 9(b)), it sends the estimate A with the authentication information set therein to the control device 100 corresponding to the work site to which the work is to be requested via the management device 300, thereby making a work request (S508). At this time, the management device 300 stores the request information, including the requester, the requested destination, the request date, and the estimate A with the authentication information set therein, in association with each other.

[0122] Furthermore, the control device 100 checks whether the requested estimate A was created by itself (S509), and if it was created by itself, creates work instruction information to be used for work at the work site based on the requested estimate A (S510), and performs the work based on the work instruction information (S511). Furthermore, when the work is completed, the control device 100 creates and saves a work logbook that records the details of the work.

[0123] The sequence diagram shown in Figure 6 is a processing transition in which a user specifies a workshop where a specified service will be used, and includes processing performed in the control device 100 corresponding to that workshop, and processing in which the management device 300 confirms the results of the processing performed in the control device 100 based on instructions from the instruction device 200 used by the user, and work is performed at the workshop where the control device 100 is located based on the results of the processing performed in the instruction device 200.

[0124] The processes shown in S401 to S414 in Fig. 6 are the same as S401 to S414 in Fig. 4, and therefore their explanations will be omitted, and the processes shown in S501 to S504 are the same as S501 to S504 in Fig. 5, and therefore their explanations will be omitted. That is, through these processes, the management device 300 stores estimate A and estimate B or estimate C, and performs a comparison process between estimate A and estimate C and stores the results.

[0125] In this state, if estimate A is included in estimate C, the management device 300 sets the created authentication information in estimate C (S601), associates estimate C with estimate A, and stores the estimate C with the authentication information set (S603).The management device 300 then transmits the estimate C to the instruction device 200.As a result, the instruction device 200 stores the estimate C with the authentication information set (S602).

[0126] Next, when the instruction device 200 accepts a request operation by the user (when it accepts an operation of the "Work Request" button on the process selection screen shown in FIG. 9(b)), it transmits the estimate C with the authentication information set therein to the control device 100 corresponding to the work site to be requested via the management device 300, thereby making a work request (S604). At this time, the management device 300 converts the estimate C with the authentication information set therein into a format specified by the control device 100 to which the work is to be requested (S605), and transmits the estimate C to the control device 100 corresponding to the work site to which the work is to be requested.

[0127] The control device 100 receives a work request and determines the type of estimate for the work request. If it determines that the estimate type is not based on estimate A created by its own control device but is a work request based on estimate C, it checks whether authentication information is set for estimate C. If authentication information is set for estimate C, the control device 100 inquires of the management device 300 whether the authentication information is correct, and makes a determination (S606) based on the result of the determination process (S607) performed by the management device 300.

[0128] If it is determined that the authentication information is correct, the control device 100 creates work instruction information to be used for work at the work site based on the requested estimate C (S608), and performs the work based on the work instruction information (S609). Furthermore, when the work is completed, the control device 100 creates and saves a work logbook that records the details of the work.

[0129] The sequence diagram shown in Figure 7 shows the process transition for verifying whether the work record book (work record information) that records the work content of work performed at the work site is based on the work content information (estimate) regarding the work performed when recording the work record book.

[0130] 7 (excluding S405, S406, and S407) are the same as S402 to S414 (excluding S405, S406, and S407) shown in Fig. 4, and therefore will not be described further. In other words, as a result of these processes, estimate B or estimate C is saved in the management device 300.

[0131] In this state, when the user operates the "Work Request" button on the processing selection screen shown in Figure 9(b), the instruction device 200 acquires candidate information of the work site to which the request will be made from the management device 300 (S701). From the candidate information, based on the user information and vehicle information, search for and display information of the work site to which the work will be requested based on estimate B or estimate C for the vehicle (S702). Furthermore, the instruction device 200, upon receiving the user's operation and making a request to the control device 100 corresponding to the work site to make the work request, transmits estimate C and information of the work site to which the request will be made to the management device 300 (S703). Furthermore, the instruction device 200 saves estimate C associated with the work site information to which the request will be made (S704).

[0132] In the process of searching for information on the workshop to which the above work is to be requested (S702), the work history information stored in the management device 300 is learned as learning source information, and information on the workshop that can perform the work included in the estimate is extracted.

[0133] The instruction device 200 displays the received candidate destinations for the work request on a screen (FIG. 13(b)), and issues a work request to the destination specified by the user. At this time, the management device 300 associates and saves the requester, the destination, and the contents of the requested estimate C, and identifies the work site to which the request will be made and the contents of the estimate C (S705). Then, the estimate C is converted into a format appropriate for the specified destination site (S706).

[0134] Specifically, when the user operates the "Work Request" button on the processing selection screen shown in Figure 9(b), a request destination selection screen such as that shown in Figure 13(b) is displayed. This request destination selection screen shows the details of the requested estimate C, and also displays three candidate workshops as the request destination.

[0135] The management device 300 performs a request confirmation process with the control device 100 corresponding to the requested work site (S707). This request confirmation process involves transmitting the estimate C converted into the format of the work site to the control device 100, confirming whether the work site corresponding to the control device 100 is capable of performing the work based on the estimate C, and responding with the result to the management device 300. If the work is possible, the control device 100 creates work instruction information to be used at the work site based on the requested estimate C (S708) and performs the work based on the work instruction information (S709). Furthermore, upon completion of the work, the control device 100 creates and saves a work log recording the details of the work. On the other hand, if the work is not possible, the control device 100 responds to that effect to the management device 300, and the management device 300 responds to that effect to the instruction device 200. At this time, the instruction device 200 selects another request site and makes a work request again.

[0136] Instead of the above steps S701 and S702, an auction for estimates may be held, and the work may be requested from the successful bidder. A detailed flow of this case is shown in the flowchart of FIG. 26, and will be described later.

[0137] The sequence diagram shown in FIG. 8 shows the process transitions that are performed after the work-related processes (S423, S511, S609, S709) that are performed in the control device 100 in the sequence diagrams shown in FIGS.

[0138] When a process related to work is performed in the control device 100, the control device 100 creates work record information related to the work and stores this work record information in association with the estimate that was the basis for the work (first work content information or second work content information) (S801). As a result, the control device 100 associates the work record information that records the content of the work actually performed at the corresponding work site with the estimate that became the work. In other words, the estimate is instruction information that indicates what work needs to be performed, and the work record information is record information that records what work was actually performed.

[0139] Next, the control device 100 transmits the work record information and the estimate to the management device 300, and the management device 300 performs a verification process to verify whether the work record information for the vehicle on which the work was performed is based on the estimate (S803).The verification result of the verification process is then output to at least one of the control device 100 and the instruction device 200 (S804).In response to this, the control device 100 and the instruction device 200 output the verification result (S805, S806).

[0140] The details of the verification process (S803) and output process (S804) performed by the management device 300 are as follows. With work record information and estimates associated and stored, the management device 300 verifies whether the work record information matches appropriateness judgment information based on the work content information. This appropriateness judgment information is information set for each vehicle model, and a value or range deemed appropriate is set for each item of the work record information. If the work matches the appropriateness judgment information, the management device 300 outputs information indicating that work was performed based on the estimate (first work content information or second work content information). Conversely, if the work does not match the appropriateness judgment information, the management device 300 outputs information indicating that work was not performed based on the estimate (first work content information or second work content information). For example, this process verifies whether a value within an appropriate range of error (e.g., + / - 100 ml) from a value specified in a work content information item (e.g., oil volume 5,000 ml) is recorded as the work record information. In this case, if the amount of oil changed as part of the work is within the range of 4,900 ml to 5,100 ml, it is judged to be appropriate (an output is generated indicating that the work was performed based on an estimate), and if it is outside this range, it is not judged to be appropriate (an output is generated indicating that the work was not performed based on an estimate (first work content information or second work content information)).

[0141] 15A and 15B are diagrams showing examples of a user information table and a vehicle information table used in a management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The user information table is shown in Fig. 15A, which includes items such as a user ID, a user name, an address (area), family information, and a user rank, and these items are stored in correspondence with each other.

[0142] The user ID is information that identifies the user, and the user rank is ranking information that is set according to the number of times the user has used the service, etc. Generally, the more the user uses the service, the higher the rank is set. This ranking information is used to calculate the order of work at the work site and the cost of estimates, and the higher the rank, the more priority the order of work will be set and the greater the discount you can receive.

[0143] Figure 15(b) shows a vehicle information table, which is composed of the following items: vehicle ID, model, vehicle model ID, year, mileage, manufacturer, registration year, vehicle image ID, user ID, and work history ID, and shows that these items are stored in correspondence with each other.

[0144] The vehicle image ID is information that identifies an image file related to the vehicle identified by the vehicle ID, the user ID is information that identifies the user (owner) of the vehicle identified by the vehicle ID, and the work history ID indicates history information of work performed on the vehicle identified by the vehicle ID.

[0145] 16A and 16B are diagrams showing examples of a vehicle image information table, a work history information table, and a work site list information table used in a management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 16C shows the vehicle image information table, which is a user information table consisting of the vehicle image ID, name, shooting date and time, photographer, shooting location, and storage location, and shows that these items are stored in correspondence with each other.

[0146] The vehicle image ID is information for identifying the image of a file of a vehicle, and the name of the file indicates the corresponding file name. The storage location indicates access information (URL) that allows access to the image.

[0147] Figure 16 (d) shows a work history information table, which is composed of the following items: work history ID, work content, worker, work date, estimate ID, vehicle ID, work status, next recommended work date, and next recommended work content, and shows that these items are stored in correspondence with each other.

[0148] The work history ID is information that identifies the work history, and corresponds to the worker who performed the work identified by this work ID and the work date, and the estimate ID indicates the identification information of the estimate that was the basis for performing the work. Furthermore, the vehicle ID indicates the identification information of the vehicle on which the work is to be performed, and the work status indicates the work status. Furthermore, the next recommended work date is the next date on which the work is recommended to be performed, calculated based on the work date information, and the next recommended work content indicates the content of the work recommended to be performed on the next recommended date.

[0149] Figure 16 (e) shows a work site list information table, which is composed of the following items: work site ID, name, address (area), worker information, work equipment information, and reservation information ID, and shows that these items are stored in correspondence with each other.

[0150] The work site ID is information that identifies a work site, and the location of the work site is indicated in the address (area). Furthermore, the worker information indicates the worker who will be working at the work site, and the work equipment information indicates the work equipment (lift-up device, tire change device, etc.) installed at the work site. Furthermore, the work site ID is associated with the reservation information ID of the work site, and this reservation information ID is identification information that links reservation information with other reservation systems.

[0151] 17(f) shows an example of an estimate information table and a unit price information table used in the management system according to the embodiment of the present invention. The estimate information table is shown in FIG. 17(f), and is composed of the following items: estimate ID, creator, creation date, vehicle ID, estimate content, and user desired conditions and specified items, and these items are stored in correspondence with each other.

[0152] The estimate ID is information that identifies the estimate, and indicates the vehicle for which the estimate is made in the vehicle ID, and the specific details of the estimate in the estimate details. In addition, the desired conditions specified by the user when creating the estimate are indicated in the user desired conditions / specified items.

[0153] Figure 17(g) shows a unit price information table, which is composed of the following items: vehicle type ID, work content ID, work content, basic work fee, special work fee, basic work man-hours, related work, and appropriateness judgment information, and shows that these items are stored in correspondence with each other.

[0154] Each vehicle model ID is associated with a work content ID, work content, basic work fee, special work fee, basic work man-hours, related work, and appropriateness judgment information, and the appropriateness judgment information is used to verify whether the work record book is based on an estimate, based on the unit price information of basic work fee, special work fee, and basic work man-hours.

[0155] 18 to 26 are flowcharts showing the flow of processing performed in the management system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0156] 18 shows the estimate creation process performed by the control device 100, in which user information and vehicle information for the target of estimate creation are input, and after login processing to the control device 100 (S1801), user information and vehicle information for the user ID and vehicle ID (including model and chassis number) are acquired (S1802). This results in a state in which the vehicle for which the specified service is to be provided and the user of that vehicle are identified.

[0157] Next, the control device 100 acquires vehicle state information as a diagnosis result of the process of diagnosing the vehicle state of the vehicle (S1803). This vehicle state information includes information acquired from a diagnostic device (diagnostic machine) that diagnoses the vehicle in a workshop corresponding to the control device 100, as well as measurement values ​​measured by a worker performing the work.

[0158] The control device 100 identifies work required for the vehicle based on at least one of the vehicle condition information, the work history for the vehicle, and the user's request (request items) (S1804), and creates first work content information (estimate A) for the work using the work information indicating the work content for the identified work (S1805). In this case, the work history information for the vehicle may be the work history information for the vehicle stored in the management device 300, or it may be possible to use previously recorded work record information (work record book).

[0159] Then, the control device 100 associates the first work content information with the vehicle information and the user information, and stores the information in the control device 100 and the management device 300 (S1806).

[0160] 19 shows the process of work based on estimates from the company and other companies, which is performed by the control device 100. The process starts when a work request for work based on the estimate and other information (verification result information, etc.) are received. It is determined whether the estimate included in the work request is an estimate prepared at another work site (other work site) different from the work site (the company's own work site) corresponding to the control device 100 (S1901).

[0161] The following describes the processing performed when a work request is made based on an estimate created at another work site. If the work request is based on an estimate created at another work site (YES in S1901), the control device 100 then determines whether the work site information set in the estimate that will perform the work is the current work site (S1902). That is, this is the processing performed when the work request is based on estimate B or estimate C. Below, as an example, a work request based on estimate C (an estimate that reflects the diagnosis results of the diagnosis processing) will be described. Note that if the work site information that will perform the work is not the current work site (NO in S1902), an error notification is sent to the sender because it is assumed that the transmission destination is incorrect, and the processing proceeds to verification of the estimate based on the work record information in S1915.

[0162] If the information about the work site where the work will be performed is the own work site (YES in S1902), the control device 100 then determines whether the estimate for the work request is an authenticated estimate in which authentication information has been set (S1903). If the estimate is authenticated (YES in S1903), the control device 100 performs a confirmation process to confirm whether the authentication information is correct through mutual communication with the management device 300 (S1904). If this confirmation process does not confirm that the authentication information is correct, the control device 100 responds to the sender with an error indicating that the work content of the requested work cannot be performed, and ends the process.

[0163] If the verification process confirms that the authentication information is correct, or if the estimate is not an authenticated estimate, the control device 100 then checks the work content included in the estimate and determines whether to accept the work based on the work content (S1905). If the control device 100 determines not to accept the work (NO in S1905), it proceeds to a process of verifying the estimate based on the work record information in S1915. If the control device 100 determines to accept the work (YES in S1905), it creates work instruction information based on the requested estimate C (S1906) and saves it (S1907).

[0164] Next, the control device 100 performs work management of the work based on the created work instruction information (S1908). This work management is a work management method that differs depending on the work environment of the work site corresponding to the control device 100, and sets the work environment and procedures required for the work, such as the work process, worker, work location, and tools required for the work. Then, when the work is performed based on this estimate C, the control device 100 associates the work record information of this work with the estimate C and stores them (S1909).

[0165] Next, the following describes the process when a work request is made based on an estimate prepared by the local workshop. In the process of determining whether the work request is based on an estimate prepared by the local workshop (S1910), if it is not determined that the estimate was prepared by the local workshop (NO in S1910), this means that the workshop that prepared the estimate is unknown, and the control device 100 notifies the sender of an error and proceeds to the process of verifying the estimate based on the work record information in S1915.

[0166] If it is determined that the estimate was created by the own workshop (YES in S1910), the control device 100 creates work instruction information based on the requested estimate C (S1911) and saves it (S1912). Next, the control device 100 performs work management of the work based on the created work instruction information (S1913). Then, when work is performed based on this estimate C, the control device 100 associates the work record information of this work with the estimate C and saves it (S1914). If the estimate was created by the own workshop, it is not necessarily necessary to perform the processes of determining whether or not authentication is required as shown in S1903 and whether or not the work can be accepted as shown in S1905, and of course these processes may be performed.

[0167] Next, the control device 100 determines whether or not estimate verification result information based on the work record information has been received from the management device 300 (S1915). This information on the estimate verification result based on the work record information is information received by the management device 300 when processing such as that shown in Fig. 23 is performed. If the estimate verification result based on the work record information has been received from the management device 300 (YES in S1915), the control device 100 saves and outputs (displays) the verification result information (S1916). If the estimate verification result based on the work record information has not been received from the management device 300 (NO in S1916), the processing ends.

[0168] 20 shows the estimate creation process performed by the instruction device 200. In addition to inputting user information and vehicle information for the target of estimate creation, the instruction device 200 also logs in (S2001) to acquire user information and vehicle information for the user ID and vehicle ID (including model and chassis number) (S2002). This identifies the vehicle for which the specified service is to be provided and the user of that vehicle.

[0169] Next, the instruction device 200 receives the task type (S2003), and specifies the standard tasks for the task type (S2004).The instruction device 200 also displays task plans that the user can select based on the standard tasks for each task type (S2005).

[0170] Then, the instruction device 200 creates an estimate B using the work in the selected work plan and the vehicle information (S2006), and stores the estimate B in association with the user information and the vehicle information (S2007).

[0171] FIG. 21 shows a diagnostic process performed by the indicator 200. There are two methods for obtaining the diagnostic results of the diagnostic process performed by the indicator 200, and a method for the indicator 200 to receive the diagnostic process performed by a diagnostic machine.

[0172] The instruction device 200 determines whether a diagnosis request (diagnostic operation) has been received (S2101). The instruction device 200 waits until a diagnosis request is received (NO in S2101), and upon receiving a diagnosis request (YES in S2101), the instruction device 200 subsequently determines whether the diagnosis request is a request from a diagnostic machine (S2102).

[0173] If the diagnosis request is from a diagnostic machine (YES in S2102), the instruction device 200 checks the connection with the diagnostic machine (S2103) and issues a diagnosis instruction to the diagnostic machine (S2104). The instruction device 200 then determines whether or not a diagnosis result has been received from the diagnostic machine (S2105) and waits until the diagnosis result is received (NO in S2105). Furthermore, if the instruction device 200 receives the diagnosis result from the diagnostic machine (YES in S2105), the instruction device 200 stores the received diagnosis result information (diagnosis result information) in association with the user information and vehicle information (S2108).

[0174] If the diagnosis request is not from a diagnostic machine (NO in S2102), it is assumed to be from the instruction device 200, and the instruction device 200 is connected to the vehicle to confirm communication (S2106), and diagnostic processing is performed (S2107). The results of the diagnostic processing (diagnosis result information) are stored in association with the user information and vehicle information (S2108). Of course, the management device 300 may store the diagnosis result information for the vehicle.

[0175] As described above, this diagnostic process is a process of obtaining measured values ​​and suitability as diagnostic results for pre-specified diagnostic items, as well as a process of obtaining measured values ​​and suitability for diagnostic items specified by the operator.

[0176] 22 shows the estimate creation, estimate comparison, and work request processing performed by the instruction device 200. The processing shown in S2201 to S2208 is the estimate creation processing, the processing shown in S2209 to S2211 is the estimate comparison processing, and the processing shown in S2212 to S2216 is the work request processing.

[0177] In the instruction device 200, processing is started when an instruction operation for creating an estimate is performed after an estimate B has been created in the flowchart shown in Fig. 20. First, a diagnosis process as shown in Fig. 21 is performed, and it is determined whether or not diagnosis result information for the vehicle to be worked on is stored in the instruction device 200 or the management device 300 (S2201).

[0178] If it is determined that the diagnostic result information has been saved (YES in S2202), the instruction device 200 extracts "vehicle configuration information for which it cannot be determined that no malfunction has occurred" from the diagnostic result information (S2202). Whether or not the vehicle configuration information was extracted is determined through this process (S2203). If it was not extracted (NO in S2203), the instruction device 200 creates and saves an estimate C with the same content as estimate B, since there is no need to reflect the diagnostic process results in estimate B (S2204).

[0179] Furthermore, if the vehicle configuration information can be extracted (YES in S2203), the instruction device 200 saves the vehicle information and the diagnosis result information including the "vehicle configuration information for which it cannot be determined that no malfunction has occurred" (S2205). Next, the instruction device 200 determines whether the work required for this vehicle configuration information (the work to be performed) is included in estimate B (S2206). If it is included (YES in S2206), there is no need to perform an estimate for the additional work required for that vehicle configuration information, so estimate C with the same content as estimate B is created and saved (S2204).

[0180] Furthermore, if the work required (work to be done) for the vehicle configuration information is not included in estimate B (NO in S2206), the instruction device 200 identifies the work required (work to be done) for this vehicle configuration information, and creates and saves a new estimate C based on estimate B, adding the work content for that work (S2207).

[0181] In this way, when estimate C, which is second work content information based on the diagnostic result information, is created based on the contents of the diagnostic result information, the identification information of estimate B and the created estimate C are sent to management device 300 (S2208). As a result, management device 300 identifies the estimate B it is managing based on the identification information of the received estimate B, updates that estimate B with the received estimate C, and saves it.

[0182] Next, the instruction device 200 determines whether it has received a request to confirm estimate A, which is the first work content information created by the control device 100 (S2209). Upon receiving the confirmation request, the instruction device 200 performs a comparison process (verification process) of the requested estimate A with estimate B or estimate C created and stored by the instruction device 200 (S2210). At this time, estimate B or estimate C is the most recent estimate created and stored in the instruction device 200. In other words, comparison is possible even if the creation conditions of estimate A and estimate B or estimate C are different or identical. Of course, estimates may be compared by specifying estimate B or estimate C to be compared with estimate A using identification information. Furthermore, estimate B or estimate C to be compared with estimate A may be searched for based on the estimate creation conditions, and the searched estimate B or estimate C may be compared.

[0183] Then, the instruction device 200 outputs and saves the results of this comparison process (S2211).

[0184] Next, the instruction device 200 determines whether a request to designate a work site has been made by an operation by the user (S2212). For example, an operation to designate a work site on a screen displayed on the instruction device 200 as shown in FIG. 13(b) is one example of such an operation.

[0185] When a work site is designated (YES in S2212), the instruction device 200 extracts candidate work sites to be requested to perform work based on estimate C from the list of work sites based on at least one of the user information and vehicle information (S2213). The instruction device 200 also assigns priorities to the extracted candidate work sites based on the past work history included in the user information (S2214), and outputs the prioritized work site candidates (S2215). Furthermore, the instruction device 200 requests the work site designated by the user to confirm the work, and when the confirmation response from the work site indicates that the work has been accepted, the instruction device 200 requests the work based on estimate C (S2216).

[0186] 23 shows the management process performed by the management device 300. When a login request is made from the control device 100 or the instruction device 200 (S2301), the management device 300 performs authentication based on the login ID and password received in the login request and transmits information based on the login ID (S2302). When authentication is performed from the control device 100, information associated with that control device 100 is transmitted. When authentication is performed from the instruction device 200, user information and vehicle information are transmitted. After authentication is performed, a determination process is performed (S2303) to determine whether an estimate creation request (quote request) has been received from the instruction device 200 or the control device 100. If this request is received (YES in S2303), the management device 300 transmits information and setting information necessary for creating an estimate according to the request source to the request source (S2304). If the request is from the control device 100, the management device 300 transmits vehicle information for the vehicle for which an estimate is being made, user information for the vehicle's user, estimate item information, unit price information, and the like. Furthermore, if a request is made by the instruction device 200, the management device 300 transmits information similar to that transmitted from the control device 100, as well as information such as standard work information for the work type.

[0187] Next, the management device 300 determines whether or not an estimate comparison request has been received (S2305). If it is not an estimate comparison request (NO in S2305), the processing proceeds to S2313. If an estimate comparison request is received from the instruction device 200 (YES in S2305), the management device 300 performs estimate comparison processing (S2306). The detailed flow of this comparison processing is shown in FIG. 24 and will be described later.

[0188] Based on the results of this comparison process, each of the compared estimates and the comparison result information are saved (S2307). Next, based on this comparison result information, it is determined whether estimate A is set as valid, indicating that the content of estimate A is included in estimate C and is an appropriate estimate A (S2308). If estimate A is not set as valid (NO in S2308), the authentication information setting process described below is not performed, and therefore authentication information is not set for estimate A. Of course, information indicating that authentication information has not been set for estimate A may also be set.

[0189] If estimate A is valid (YES in S2308), the management device 300 calculates a hash value for estimate A (S2309), acquires current time information (S2310), and assigns a timestamp including the hash value and the current time information to estimate A as authentication information (S2311). Then, estimate A with this authentication information set is saved (S2312). This authentication information may also include an authentication expiration date, etc.

[0190] Next, the management device 300 determines whether or not an authentication request for estimate A has been received from the instruction device 200 (S2313). If an authentication request has not been received (NO in S2313), the process ends.

[0191] If an authentication request is received (YES in S2313), the management device 300 calculates the hash value of the estimate A for which authentication is requested (S2314), compares this hash value with the hash value included in the authentication information set for estimate A (S2315), and stores the authentication success or failure result and the hash value itself in association with estimate A (S2316).

[0192] 24 shows the comparison process (verification process) of estimates performed by the instruction device 200 or the management device 300. This comparison process (verification process) shows the process performed by either the instruction device 200 or the management device 300, but will be described below using the management device 300 as an example. This comparison process (verification process) determines whether the first work content information (estimate A) created by the control device 100 is appropriate by comparing it with (verifying it based on) the second work content information (estimate B or estimate C) created by the instruction device 200, and if it is not appropriate, identifies the information that is determined to be inappropriate.

[0193] The management device 300 receives first work content information (Estimate A) from the control device 100 and second work content information (Estimate B or Estimate C (hereinafter, Estimate C)) from the instruction device 200 and stores each estimate. The management device 300 then extracts the estimate items (hereinafter, "items") that make up each estimate (Estimate A and Estimate C) (S2401). The management device 300 then performs a process of matching the extracted items of Estimate A with the extracted items of Estimate C (S2402), and stores the matched items separately from the unmatched items (S2403). This item matching process matches items with the same or similar names, as well as pre-specified items.

[0194] The management device 300 then performs an analysis process for the items that could not be associated (S2404). The detailed flow of this analysis process (first analysis process) is shown in the flowchart of Fig. 25 and will be described below. That is, the analysis process in S2404 results in a verification result for estimate A based on the items that could not be associated.

[0195] On the other hand, the following processing shown in S2405 to S2418 is an analysis processing (second analysis processing) of the matched items, and this analysis processing becomes the verification result of estimate A based on the matched items. First, for each matched item, the management device 300 extracts the basic work fee, which is the unit price information for that item (S2405), and extracts the work man-hours, which are the man-hours required to perform the work for that item (S2406).

[0196] Next, the management device 300 calculates the total amount for each item using the basic labor fee and labor hours for each item (S2407), and reads the tolerance range information for the extracted items (basic labor fee and labor hours) and the calculated value (total amount) from the storage device (S2408).

[0197] The management device 300 then compares the extracted items (basic labor fee and labor hours) and the calculated values ​​(total amount) with the corresponding tolerance information (S2409), and determines whether the value of each item exceeds the value (threshold) of the tolerance information (S2410). This tolerance information consists of information or a threshold that indicates a certain range that is determined to be appropriate, and items (basic labor fee, labor hours, total amount) that are included in this tolerance information are determined to be appropriate, but items (basic labor fee, labor hours, total amount) that are not included in this tolerance information are not determined to be appropriate.

[0198] If the value of each item does not exceed the value (threshold) of the tolerance information (NO in S2410), the management device 300 sets the estimate A to be verified as being included in the tolerance information of estimate C (S2411), and stores the estimate A, estimate C, and the comparison result in correspondence with each other (S2412).

[0199] If the value of each item exceeds the value (threshold) of the tolerance information (YES in S2410), the management device 300 compares the total sum of all items (S2413) and determines whether the total sum exceeds the value (threshold) of the tolerance information (S2414). If the total sum does not exceed the value (threshold) of the tolerance information (NO in S2414), the management device 300 sets the estimate A to be verified as being included in the tolerance information of estimate C (S2411), and stores the estimate A, estimate C, and the comparison result in association with each other (S2412).

[0200] On the other hand, if the total amount exceeds the value (threshold) of the tolerance information (YES in S2414), the management device 300 sets estimate A as being outside the range not included in the tolerance information of estimate C (S2415), and identifies the item that exceeds the tolerance value of the tolerance information and the excess amount that exceeds the tolerance value for that item (S2416).The management device 300 also associates estimate A, estimate C, the comparison result, the item that exceeds the tolerance value, and the excess amount and saves them (S2417).

[0201] Then, in the management device 300, since the amount of the associated item exceeds the tolerance information, this needs to be raised as an issue with the user, and therefore the management device 300 sets "Confirmation Required" to indicate that Estimate A is invalid, and sets the confirmation level (in the example shown in FIG. 24, the confirmation level is set to "Level 5," which is higher than S2502 in FIG. 25 described later, but lower than S2506 in the same figure) (S2418).

[0202] Through the above process, the management device 300 determines whether the estimate is valid or invalid (invalid) for each of the items that can be matched and those that cannot be matched among the estimate items that make up the estimate in the process of comparing estimates (verification process), and then sets the estimate as valid or invalid as a comparison result based on these. Note that by setting it as "needs confirmation," the estimate is deemed invalid.

[0203] More specifically, the determination is made as follows: 1. If the analysis process for items that cannot be matched (first analysis process) determines that estimate A is valid, and the analysis process for items that can be matched (second analysis process) determines that the item information does not exceed the tolerance information and the total amount does not exceed the tolerance range, estimate A is determined to be valid. 2. If the analysis process for items that cannot be matched (first analysis process) determines that estimate A is valid, and the analysis process for items that can be matched (second analysis process) determines that the item information exceeds the tolerance information or the total amount exceeds the tolerance range, at least one of these conditions is met: "Confirmation required" is set, and estimate A is determined to be invalid. 3. If the analysis process for items that cannot be matched (first analysis process) does not determine that estimate A is valid, regardless of the results of the first analysis process and the second analysis process, estimate A is set to "Confirmation required" and is determined to be invalid.

[0204] Then, the management device 300 outputs the result of the determination to at least one of the control device 100 and the instruction device 200 (S2419).

[0205] FIG. 25 shows details of the analysis process shown in FIG. 24 . This process is performed when there is an item that cannot be matched by the process of matching estimate items in the first work content information and the second work content information. The management device 300 determines whether the unmatched item is an item specified based on the standard work and is included in estimate C but not in estimate A (S2501). If the item is included in estimate C but not in estimate A (YES in S2501), the management device 300 determines that the item is a standard work item and that it is simply an item that was omitted or deliberately deleted. The management device 300 then considers the lack of matching to be a minor issue and sets the "Confirmation Required" setting, indicating that estimate A is invalid, along with the confirmation level (in the example shown in FIG. 25 , a lower confirmation level "Level 2" is set compared to S2506, described below) (S2502).

[0206] On the other hand, if the item is included in estimate C but not in estimate A (NO in S2501), the management device 300 then determines whether estimate A includes any other items that are included in estimate C but are different from the items specified based on the standard work (S2503). If estimate A does not include any other items (NO in S2503), the management device 300 verifies estimate A based on estimate C and determines that there are no particular problems with the estimate, and sets estimate A as valid (S2505). On the other hand, if "other items" are included in estimate A (YES in S2503), the management device 300 determines that estimate A includes items other than those specified based on the standard work, and therefore determines that unnecessary items or items requested by the user have been added.

[0207] In this case, the management device 300 then determines whether the "other items" are items designated by the user as additional work (S2504). This determination may involve displaying a message to the user asking whether the items are designated as additional work, or determining whether a "user-added items" category is set in the process of creating estimate A. If the management device 300 determines that the "other items" are items designated by the user as additional work (YES in S2504), the management device 300 determines that estimate A is valid because the items are related to work that the user intended (S2505).

[0208] On the other hand, if the management device 300 does not determine that the "other items" are items designated by the user as additional work (NO in S2504), the management device 300 determines that estimate A is an estimate that has a problem for some reason based on the results of verifying estimate C, since the "other items" are different from the items designated based on the standard work and are not work items that the user intended. It then determines (verifies) that the inability to match the items is due to some problem. Since this is an issue that needs to be raised with the user, estimate A is set to "requires confirmation," indicating that it is invalid, and the confirmation level is set (in the example shown in FIG. 25, a confirmation level of "level 10," which is higher than that of S2502, which will be described later, is set) (S2506).

[0209] By performing the above-described analysis process, the instruction device 200 or the management device 300 can set the result of analyzing the estimate A (first work content information) based on the estimate C (second work content information).

[0210] 26 shows an auction process performed by the management device 300. This auction process accepts bids from applicants to undertake work based on estimates, and selects the person who has specified the most advantageous bidding conditions from among the work acceptors who have submitted bids.

[0211] The management device 300 opens an online auction site and accepts registrations of estimator registrants who register estimates and work acceptors who accept work based on those estimates (S2601). One or more auction sites can be established and are identified by a site ID. While accepting registrations of estimator registrants and work acceptors, the management device 300 determines whether the estimator has registered an estimate (S2602). If the estimate registration process is completed (YES in S2602), the management device 300 checks the format of the registered estimate and confirms the conditions (work conditions) specified for performing the work based on that estimate (S2603). In other words, the estimator can set the work conditions when requesting work based on that estimate. The work conditions consist of general conditions and special conditions. The special conditions are used to immediately and uniquely determine the work recipient, and the general conditions are other conditions than the special conditions.

[0212] If the estimate format and work conditions are confirmed and the correct information is set, the estimate with the set work conditions is disclosed at the auction site (S2604). At this time, it is possible to disclose the entire estimate, or to disclose only part of the estimate. Examples of information that will not be disclosed include personal information of the person who registered the estimate.

[0213] With the estimate disclosed at the auction site in this way, it is determined whether or not a bid satisfying the special conditions has been made within the bidding period (S2605), and if a bid has been made (YES in S2605), the work acceptor who processed the bid under those special conditions is confirmed as the work assignee (S2612), and the work site information of that work assignee is associated with the estimate and saved (S2613). Furthermore, until a bid satisfying the special conditions is made within the bidding period (NO in S2605), it is next determined whether or not the bidding period has expired (S2606), and bids remain accepted until the bidding period has expired (NO in S2606).

[0214] When the bidding period has expired (YES in S2606), the management device 300 determines whether bidding is currently underway (S2607). If there are no bids at this point (NO in S2607), the management device 300 saves the bidding history and terminates the process. This indicates that no task assignee has been found to undertake the work based on the estimate in the auction process. In this case, it is possible to hold the auction again at a different auction venue.

[0215] On the other hand, when the bidding period has expired (YES in S2606), if the management device 300 is processing a bid (YES in S2607), the management device 300 then determines whether there are multiple bids being processed (S2609). If there are multiple bids (YES in S2609), the management device 300 sets a priority for each bid based on the bidding conditions (S2610). In this priority setting process, priorities are set in consideration of multiple conditions, such as the shortest delivery time specified as a bidding condition, the lowest estimated amount, or the fastest bid. Note that in this setting, priorities may also be set based on conditions (general conditions) set by the estimate registrant.

[0216] The priority is then notified to the work acceptor (bidder) who has processed the bidding (S2611). Of course, it is also possible to notify the bidders in descending order of priority. If there are no multiple bids (NO in S2609) and only one bid, the bidder is notified of the priority (first place) (S2611). The bidder's acceptance (permission) of the notification determines the work assignee (S2612). Once the work assignee has been determined in this way, the management device 300 stores the work assignee's information (information about the requested work site) and the estimate in association with each other (S2613).

[0217] The above-mentioned learning refers to a method in which data patterns are input into a computer based on data known as training data, which is a set of information and correct judgments, and the computer then uses these patterns to discover new characteristics and associations, or to discover commonalities and characteristic data in the input data. Another example of learning is a method known as deep learning, in which a computer builds a neural network to analyze, extract, and output local or characteristic data. Of course, this learning also includes preprocessing, which consists of processes such as supplementing missing data, eliminating unnecessary data, and standardizing data formats, as well as postprocessing, which stores the learning results so that they can be used for other learning.

[0218] The terms "unit," "means," "device," and "system" used in the above-described embodiments and claims do not simply mean physical means, but also include cases where the functions they possess are realized by software or software services. Furthermore, the functions of a single "unit," "means," "device," or "system" may be realized not only by a single physical means, software, software module, or device, but also by multiple physical means, software, software modules, devices, or a combination thereof.

[0219] The terms used in the above embodiments and claims should be interpreted as open-ended terms. For example, the term "including" should be interpreted as "not limited to what is described as including." The term "containing" should be interpreted as "not limited to what is described as containing." The term "comprising" should be interpreted as "not limited to what is described as comprising." The term "having" should be interpreted as "not limited to what is described as having." The term "comprising" should be interpreted as "not limited to what is described as comprising."

[0220] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-176486 filed on October 12, 2023, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0221] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 control device 120 service providing device 200 instruction device 220 imaging device 230 diagnostic device 300 management device 320 DB 400 external device

Claims

1. A control device comprising: a first vehicle information acquisition unit which acquires vehicle information related to the vehicle in response to an instruction from another worker different from the user of the vehicle; a work identification unit which identifies work to be performed on the vehicle of the vehicle information based on the vehicle information acquired by the vehicle information acquisition unit; a first creation unit which creates first work content information related to the work using work information for the work identified by the work identification unit; and a first work content information storage unit which stores the first work content information created by the first creation unit; a user information acquisition unit which acquires user information related to the user; a second vehicle information acquisition unit which acquires vehicle information related to the vehicle in response to an instruction from the user; a work type designation unit which designates a work type for the vehicle; a type standard work output unit which outputs standard work for the work type designated by the work type designation unit; and a second creation unit which creates second work content information using the work identified from the standard work for the work type output by the type standard work output unit and the vehicle information acquired by the second vehicle information acquisition unit; and an instruction device having a second work content information storage unit that stores second work content information created by the second creation unit, wherein at least one of the control device and the instruction device has a comparison result output unit that outputs a comparison result of comparing the first work content information created by the first creation unit and the second work content information created by the second creation unit.

2. The management system as described in claim 1, further comprising a management device connectable to the control device and the instruction device, wherein the management device receives first work content information from the control device, receives second work content information from the instruction device, has a comparison processing unit which compares the first work content information with the second work content information, and transmits a comparison result compared by the comparison processing unit to at least one of the control device and the instruction device.

3. A management system as described in claim 2, wherein the management device manages a basic work fee per unit time for each task, and the comparison processing unit compares the basic work fee for the task included in the second work content information with the basic work fee for the task included in the first work content information.

4. The management system as described in claim 1, further comprising a vehicle information reading device capable of reading vehicle information stored in the vehicle, wherein the second vehicle information acquisition unit acquires the vehicle information read by the vehicle information reading device, and the second creation unit creates second work content information using work identified from the standard work for the work type output by the type standard work output unit and the vehicle information acquired by the second vehicle information acquisition unit.

5. The management system described in claim 1, wherein the second creation unit identifies vehicle information on which work identified from the standard work was performed, and creates the second work content information using vehicle work history information performed on the vehicle of the vehicle information.

6. A management method in which a first computer, which is a control device, executes the following: acquiring vehicle information about the vehicle in response to an instruction from a worker other than the user of the vehicle; identifying work to be performed on the vehicle of the vehicle information based on the acquired vehicle information; using the work information for the identified work to create first work content information for the work; and storing the created first work content information; and a second computer, which is an instruction device, executes the following: acquiring user information about the user; acquiring vehicle information about the vehicle in response to an instruction from the user; specifying a work type for the work on the vehicle; outputting standard work for the specified work type, in which work is identified from the output standard work for the work type; creating second work content information using the acquired vehicle information; and storing the created second work content information, wherein at least one of the first computer and the second computer outputs a comparison result between the created first work content information and the created second work content information.

7. A management program which causes a first computer as a control device to execute a process of acquiring vehicle information regarding the vehicle in response to an instruction from a worker other than the user of the vehicle, a process of identifying work to be performed on the vehicle of the vehicle information based on the acquired vehicle information, a process of creating first work content information for the work using the work information for the identified work, and a process of storing the created first work content information, and causes a second computer as an instruction device to execute a process of acquiring user information regarding the user, a process of acquiring vehicle information regarding the vehicle in response to an instruction from the user, a process of specifying a work type for the work on the vehicle, a process of outputting standard work for the specified work type, a process of creating second work content information using the work identified from the output standard work for the work type and the acquired vehicle information, and a process of storing the created second work content information, and causes at least one of the first computer and the second computer to output a comparison result between the created first work content information and the created second work content information.