Information processing equipment and information processing methods.

Abstract

Invention details;

Description

Information processing device and information processing method

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing device.

[0002] In recent years, as automobiles have become increasingly connected, services have emerged that allow for the upgrade of on-board computers via networks, etc. As an invention related to this, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a system that calculates the appraised value of a used car by taking into account the value of upgraded vehicle components.

[0003] JP 2010-146446 A

[0004] With the development of machine learning, it is expected that the demand for calculating appropriate prices for vehicles and vehicle components will continue to increase in the future.

[0005] The present disclosure aims to facilitate the purchase of vehicle components that can be retrofitted to a vehicle.

[0006] A first aspect of the present disclosure is an information processing device having a control unit that extracts information regarding a first vehicle component that is subsequently added to a first vehicle in response to a user request, and outputs the extracted information regarding the first vehicle component together with a sales price of the first vehicle component, wherein the sales price is determined by deducting from the list price of the first vehicle component an amount up to the increase in the assessed value of the first vehicle that is increased by adding the first vehicle component.

[0007] A second aspect of the present disclosure is an information processing device that determines the selling price of a first vehicle component that is subsequently added to a first vehicle, the information processing device having a control unit that performs the following operations: obtaining the increase in the assessed value of the first vehicle that occurs due to the addition of the first vehicle component; and determining the selling price of the first vehicle component by deducting an amount up to the increase in assessed value from the list price of the first vehicle component.

[0008] A third aspect of the present disclosure is an information processing method for determining a sales price of a first vehicle component that is subsequently added to a first vehicle, the information processing method including: obtaining an increase in the assessed value of the first vehicle due to the addition of the first vehicle component; and determining the sales price of the first vehicle component by deducting an amount up to the increase in assessed value from the list price of the first vehicle component.

[0009] Another aspect of the present disclosure is a program for causing a computer to execute the above-described information processing method, or a computer-readable storage medium that non-temporarily stores the program.

[0010] The present disclosure can encourage the purchase of vehicle components that can be retrofitted to a vehicle.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of a sales system in a first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a sales server and a user terminal. Example of vehicle data stored in a sales server. Example of valuation data stored in a sales server. Example of component data stored in a sales server. A diagram for explaining the valuation of a vehicle. A flowchart of processing executed by a sales server. An example of a user interface provided by a sales server. An example of a user interface provided by a sales server. An example of a user interface provided by a sales server. Example of valuation data in a second embodiment. An example of a sales price of a vehicle component calculated by a sales server. A diagram illustrating an overview of a sales system in a third embodiment. Example of work data in the third embodiment. A diagram illustrating the configuration of a sales server in the third embodiment. A flowchart of processing for refunding the difference.

[0012] In recent years, an environment has been developed that makes it easy to upgrade the components of automobiles (hereinafter referred to as vehicle components). For example, by replacing the onboard computer (onboard terminal or electronic control unit), functions can be easily added to the vehicle. Furthermore, functions can be added not only by replacing hardware but also by updating software. In this way, the value of a vehicle can be improved by replacing or adding hardware or software components after the fact.

[0013] The selling price (list price) of vehicle components related to upgrades is generally determined by the vehicle manufacturer, parts manufacturer, etc. However, depending on the vehicle owner, it may not be desirable to set a uniform selling price for vehicle components.

[0014] Consider a case where the target vehicle component cannot be separated from the vehicle, such as when upgrading by rewriting the software of a vehicle's electronic control unit. In such a case, if the target vehicle is owned and leased by a leasing company or the like, the vehicle user will have to return the vehicle, including the upgraded vehicle component, to the company in the future. Therefore, if the target vehicle component is sold at a fixed price, the vehicle user may have to pay the same amount as if the vehicle component were purchased outright, even though the vehicle component will eventually be removed from their possession. The information processing device according to the present disclosure solves this problem.

[0015] An information processing device according to a first aspect of the present disclosure has a control unit that, in response to a user request, extracts information regarding a first vehicle component that is to be subsequently added to a first vehicle, and outputs the extracted information regarding the first vehicle component together with the selling price of the first vehicle component, wherein the selling price is determined by deducting an amount up to the increase in the assessed value of the first vehicle due to the addition of the first vehicle component from the list price of the first vehicle component.

[0016] The information processing device is a device that outputs information about vehicle components that are to be added to a specified vehicle later. The device may be a device that orders vehicle components, or a device that outputs product information about the vehicle components along with their sales prices. The subsequent addition of a vehicle component refers to adding the vehicle component at a time after the target vehicle is manufactured. Note that removing an existing vehicle component and replacing it with a new vehicle component is also included in the category of "addition."

[0017] The first vehicle component does not necessarily have to be a hardware component. For example, the first vehicle component may be software executed on an on-board computer. In this case, the first vehicle component may be new software or a newer version of software than the previously installed software. In other words, "the first vehicle component is added later" may mean "software that has been released or upgraded after the vehicle is manufactured is installed later."

[0018] The first vehicle component may also be a functional module included in the software. In this case, "the first vehicle component is subsequently added" may mean that a functional restriction on the software is lifted, making a new function available. For example, there is software that allows a locked function to become available by subsequent activation. In this case, activation can be considered to have newly added a functional module.

[0019] When a first vehicle component is newly added to a first vehicle, the assessed value of the first vehicle increases. The control unit outputs a price obtained by deducting the list price of the first vehicle component based on the increase in the assessed value of the first vehicle due to the addition of the first vehicle component, i.e., the amount by which the assessed value of the entire vehicle increases due to the addition of the first vehicle component, as the sales price of the first vehicle component. If the owner of the first vehicle is a leasing company, the vehicle will be returned to the leasing company in the future, and the increase in the assessed value can become profit for the leasing company. Therefore, the control unit outputs a discounted price that incorporates this profit as the sales price of the first vehicle component. This configuration enables appropriate pricing of the first vehicle component.

[0020] The control unit may execute a process of acquiring the increase in the assessed value of the first vehicle that is increased by adding the first vehicle component.

[0021] For example, the control unit may determine the difference between a first valuation amount, which is the estimated valuation amount of a first vehicle with a first vehicle component added, and a second valuation amount, which is the estimated valuation amount of a first vehicle without the first vehicle component added, as the increase in the valuation amount of the first vehicle.

[0022] The first valuation amount and the second valuation amount may be obtained from a database that records expected valuations. The database may store the first valuation amount and the second valuation amount at a predetermined time in the future. The control unit may also search the database to obtain the first valuation amount and the second valuation amount at the predetermined time.

[0023] The control unit may also treat the valuation value of the first vehicle component alone as an increase in the valuation value of the first vehicle. In other words, the valuation value of the first vehicle component alone may be considered as an increase in the valuation value of the entire vehicle that is increased by adding the vehicle component. The valuation value of the first vehicle component alone may be obtained from a database that records the valuation values. The database may store the valuation value of the first vehicle component at a predetermined time in the future. The database may also store changes in the valuation value of the first vehicle component over time. The control unit may also search the database to obtain the valuation value of the first vehicle component at a predetermined time.

[0024] In addition, the timing for evaluating a vehicle can be when the lease contract for the vehicle expires. In other words, the aforementioned "predetermined point in time" can be when the lease contract period expires. This is because the value of the vehicle is evaluated at the end of the lease period.

[0025] Specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Unless otherwise specified, the hardware configuration, module configuration, functional configuration, etc. described in each embodiment are not intended to limit the technical scope of the disclosure to those configurations.

[0026] First Embodiment An overview of a sales system according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. The sales system according to this embodiment includes a device (sales server 100) that sells online vehicle components that can be added to a specified vehicle, and a user terminal 200 for accessing the sales server 100. In the following description, "adding a vehicle component (to a vehicle)" refers to adding the vehicle component to the vehicle after it has been delivered.

[0027] The sales server 100 is a server device that concludes a sales contract with a user for vehicle components that can be installed in a specified vehicle (automobile). The vehicle components may be, for example, hardware such as a seat or an on-board device, or software executed by an electronic control unit or an on-board device. Furthermore, the vehicle components to be sold may be newly installed in the target vehicle or may replace existing vehicle components. If the target vehicle component is software, the sales server 100 may sell new software or an upgrade (upgrade) version of existing software. Furthermore, the sales server 100 may sell functional modules to be added to existing software or licenses to unlock locked functions. The sales server 100 concludes a sales contract for the vehicle components specified by the user by interacting with the user terminal 200.

[0028] When a sales contract for a vehicle component is concluded, the sales server 100 transmits order instruction data to a vehicle base. A vehicle base is a base where work related to a vehicle component (such as installation, replacement, or software update) is performed, such as a vehicle repair shop or a car dealership. A user brings a vehicle to the vehicle base and has the work related to the purchased vehicle component performed.

[0029] The user terminal 200 is a computer used by a user who purchases a vehicle component. The user can access the sales server 100 via the user terminal 200 and apply to purchase the vehicle component. Here, it is assumed that the sales contract is concluded online, but the sales contract may also be concluded at a store (e.g., a car dealership). In this case, the user terminal 200 may be a computer installed in the store.

[0030] 2 is a diagram showing in more detail the components of the sales server 100 and the user terminal 200 included in the sales system according to this embodiment. First, the user terminal 200 will be described. The user terminal 200 is a computer used by an individual, such as a personal computer, smartphone, mobile phone, tablet computer, or personal information terminal. The user terminal 200 includes a control unit 201, a storage unit 202, a communication unit 203, and an input / output unit 204.

[0031] The control unit 201 is a computing device that controls the user terminal 200. The control unit 201 can be realized by a computing device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control unit 201 executes a function of accessing the sales server 100 and performing an interaction. This function may be realized by a web browser running on the user terminal 200 or dedicated application software.

[0032] The storage unit 202 is configured to include a main storage device and an auxiliary storage device. The main storage device is a memory in which programs executed by the control unit 201 and data used by the control programs are expanded. The auxiliary storage device is a device in which programs executed by the control unit 201 and data used by the control programs are stored. The auxiliary storage device may store programs executed by the control unit 201 packaged as applications. It may also store an operating system for executing these applications. The programs stored in the auxiliary storage device are loaded into the main storage device and executed by the control unit 201, thereby performing the processing described below.

[0033] The primary storage device may include a random access memory (RAM) or a read-only memory (ROM). The secondary storage device may include an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM) or a hard disk drive (HDD). The secondary storage device may also include removable media, i.e., portable recording media.

[0034] The communication unit 203 is a wireless communication interface for connecting the user terminal 200 to a network. The communication unit 203 is configured to be able to communicate with the sales server 100 via, for example, a wireless LAN or a mobile communication service such as 3G, 4G, or 5G. The input / output unit 204 is a unit that accepts input operations performed by the user and presents information to the user. In this embodiment, it is made up of a single touch panel display. That is, it is made up of a liquid crystal display and its control means, and a touch panel and its control means.

[0035] Next, a description will be given of the sales server 100. The sales server 100 is a server device that provides an online vehicle component sales system and concludes a sales contract for the vehicle component based on the results of interactions with the user terminal 200.

[0036] In this embodiment, the sales server 100 may be configured to be able to execute a web server for interacting with the user terminal 200. In this case, for example, the user terminal 200 can access a web service using a browser to perform procedures related to a sales contract. Note that the sales server 100 may provide a service by means other than a web server. For example, the sales server 100 may execute a service that interacts with dedicated application software installed on the user terminal 200 using a predetermined protocol.

[0037] The sales server 100 can be configured as a computer having a processor such as a CPU or GPU, a main memory such as a RAM or ROM, and an auxiliary memory such as an EPROM, a hard disk drive, or removable media. The auxiliary memory stores an operating system (OS), various programs, various tables, etc., and the programs stored therein are loaded into the working area of ​​the main memory and executed. By controlling each component through the execution of the programs, various functions consistent with predetermined purposes, as described below, can be realized. However, some or all of the functions may be realized by hardware circuits such as ASICs or FPGAs.

[0038] The sales server 100 is configured to include a control unit 101, a memory unit 102, and a communication unit 103. The control unit 101 is an arithmetic unit that manages the control performed by the sales server 100. The control unit 101 can be realized by an arithmetic processing device such as a CPU. The control unit 101 is configured to include two functional modules: an order receiving unit 1011 and an ordering unit 1012. Each functional module may be realized by the CPU executing a stored program.

[0039] The order receiving unit 1011 interacts with the user terminal 200 to receive an order for a vehicle component from a user. Specifically, the order receiving unit 1011 obtains, from the user terminal 200, information about the vehicle component the user wishes to purchase and information about the vehicle (hereinafter, the target vehicle) on which the vehicle component will be installed. The order receiving unit 1011 also determines the sales price of the vehicle component to be purchased based on the following information: (1) Whether the owner of the target vehicle is a leasing company; (2) If the target vehicle is a leased vehicle, the lease contract period; and (3) How much the assessed value of the target vehicle will increase by installing the target vehicle component. Specific methods for determining the sales price of a vehicle component will be described later. In the following description, the term "equipment" is used to include not only physical installation, but also software installation and updates, the addition of functions (by removing function restrictions), and the like.

[0040] The order receiving unit 1011 generates and outputs a sales page for the vehicle component including the sales price, and receives orders from users.

[0041] The ordering unit 1012 generates data (order instruction data) instructing the ordering of vehicle components based on the order received by the order receiving unit 1011, and transmits the data to the vehicle base. The order instruction data includes data on the purchased vehicle components, data on the target vehicle on which the vehicle components will be installed, etc.

[0042] The storage unit 102 includes a main storage device and an auxiliary storage device. The main storage device is a memory in which the programs executed by the control unit 101 and the data used by the control programs are expanded. The auxiliary storage device is a device in which the programs executed by the control unit 101 and the data used by the control programs are stored.

[0043] The storage unit 102 also stores vehicle data 102A, appraisal value data 102B, and component data 102C.

[0044] The vehicle data 102A includes information about multiple vehicles managed by the system. In this embodiment, the sales server 100 stores data about multiple vehicles that can be equipped with vehicle components later (in other words, that can be upgraded later). FIG. 3 shows an example of the vehicle data 102A. As shown, the vehicle data 102A includes a user ID field, a vehicle ID field, a model ID field, an owner ID field, and a type field. The user ID field stores an identifier for the person who normally uses the vehicle. The owner ID field stores an identifier for the vehicle owner. In cases where the target vehicle is a leased vehicle, the user of the vehicle may be different from the owner. For example, the user may be an individual and the owner may be a leasing company. The vehicle ID field stores an identifier that uniquely identifies the vehicle (e.g., chassis number or Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)). The model ID field stores an identifier for identifying the vehicle model and grade. The vehicle data may be periodically updated by the sales server 100 based on data acquired from a server device that manages information about vehicles.

[0045] The valuation data 102B is data relating to the valuation of the vehicle. In the following description, the valuation of the vehicle represents the valuation amount of the target vehicle if it is sold as a used vehicle at a predetermined time in the future (e.g., after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since manufacture or delivery).

[0046] The valuation price when selling a vehicle as a used car can vary depending on the model and age. Furthermore, even for the same model and age, the valuation price can vary depending on the vehicle components installed. For example, even for the same model and grade, if vehicle components are added later to improve vehicle functionality, the valuation price tends to be higher than for vehicles without such components. The valuation price data 102B stores the expected valuation price at a predetermined future point for each combination of vehicle and vehicle component. The order receiving unit 1011 can determine the selling price of the vehicle component by referencing the valuation price data 102B.

[0047] FIG. 4 shows an example of the valuation data 102B. The valuation data 102B is data describing the estimated valuation of a vehicle at a predetermined future point in time for each equipped vehicle component. As shown in the figure, the valuation data includes a model ID field, a component ID field, a valuation month field, and an valuation value field. The model ID field stores an identifier of the corresponding vehicle model. The component ID field stores an identifier of the equipped vehicle component. The valuation month field stores data indicating the year and month. For example, if the valuation month is January 2025, this means that the associated valuation value is the valuation value if the vehicle is sold in January 2025. The valuation value field stores the estimated valuation value of the vehicle in the valuation month. The valuation value may vary depending on the vehicle model, the vehicle components subsequently equipped, and the valuation month. The valuation value may be a purchase price guaranteed in advance by a business operator. The valuation value may also be a predicted price based on transaction records in the used car market.

[0048] In the illustrated example, if a vehicle whose model is M001 is sold in January 2025, the valuation amount will be 1.45 million yen. If a vehicle component with an identifier C001 is added to the same model, the valuation amount will be 1.5 million yen. The valuation amount may be defined for multiple valuation months. In other words, the valuation amount data may represent the change in valuation amount over time. The valuation amount data 102B is updated as appropriate based on, for example, transaction results in the used car market.

[0049] The storage unit 202 also stores component data 102C. The component data 102C is data related to a plurality of vehicle components sold by the sales server 100. An example of the component data 102C is shown in FIG. 5. As shown in the figure, the component data 102C includes a model ID field, a component ID field, and a sales price field. The component ID field stores an identifier of the vehicle component. The model ID field stores an identifier of a vehicle model that can be equipped with the associated vehicle component. The sales price field stores the price (list price) at which the target vehicle component is normally sold.

[0050] The above-mentioned data may be constructed by a database management system (DBMS) program executed by a processor that manages data stored in a storage device. In this case, the data may be, for example, a relational database.

[0051] The communication unit 103 is a communication interface for connecting the sales server 100 to a network. The communication unit 103 includes, for example, a network interface board and a wireless communication interface for wireless communication.

[0052] 2 is an example, and all or part of the illustrated functions may be performed using a dedicated circuit. Also, programs may be stored or executed using a combination of a main memory device and an auxiliary memory device other than those illustrated.

[0053] Next, a method for setting a sales price when selling a vehicle component will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the appraised value of the entire vehicle at a predetermined time in the future. As shown in the figure, the appraised value of the entire vehicle consists of the appraised value of the vehicle itself and an additional appraised value resulting from the subsequent addition of vehicle components. The additional appraised value is, for example, the appraised value of the vehicle components added later. Here, if the subject vehicle is a leased vehicle, the vehicle including the vehicle components will be returned after the contract period expires, and the amount indicated by reference numeral 601 will be the profit of the leasing company. In other words, the selling price when selling the vehicle components can be reduced by this amount.

[0054] For example, if the regular selling price of a vehicle component is 100,000 yen and adding the vehicle component will increase the value of the vehicle by 50,000 yen in the future (at a specified point in time), the 50,000 yen can be used as a source of funds to provide a discount of up to 50,000 yen when selling the vehicle component. Note that if the seller of the vehicle component is separate from the leasing company, the leasing company may shoulder the discount amount. In this case, the leasing company may subsidize the seller with an amount equivalent to the discount amount.

[0055] If the subject vehicle is a leased vehicle, the predetermined time may be the time when the lease contract expires, because the value of the vehicle is assessed at the time of expiration of the lease term.

[0056] When the target vehicle is a leased vehicle, the order receiving unit 1011 references the valuation data 102B to obtain the valuation value of the vehicle at a predetermined time in the future. Specifically, the order receiving unit 1011 obtains both the "valuation value of a vehicle that has the vehicle component that the user wishes to purchase" and the "valuation value of a vehicle that does not have the vehicle component," and calculates the difference between them to obtain the increase in the valuation value that will be achieved by equipping the vehicle component. The discounted sales price is then determined by subtracting the obtained amount from the regular sales price of the target vehicle component. The discount amount can be set within the range of the increase in the valuation value. For example, if adding a certain vehicle component will increase the vehicle's valuation value by 50,000 yen in the future, the discount amount for the vehicle component can be set to a range of 0 to 50,000 yen.

[0057] Returning to the explanation of the sales server 100, Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing executed by the sales server 100. The processing shown in Fig. 7 is started, for example, when a user logs in to the sales server 100. It is assumed that the sales server 100 has already identified the user at the time the processing starts.

[0058] The illustrated process is executed by the order receiving unit 1011. First, in step S11, a vehicle (target vehicle) to be equipped with the vehicle component is determined. In this step, a vehicle identifier (e.g., chassis number or VIN) may be obtained from the user. FIG. 8 shows an example of a user interface for inputting the chassis number. Note that, for example, if data associating a user with a vehicle used by the user is available, the vehicle used by the user logged in to the system may be determined based on the data. Furthermore, if a user uses multiple vehicles, the user may be prompted to select which vehicle to target from a list.

[0059] In step S12, the owner of the target vehicle determined in step S11 is determined. The vehicle owner can obtain the vehicle data 102A stored in the storage unit 102, for example, by searching using the vehicle ID as a key. Alternatively, if the vehicle data 102A does not exist, an inquiry may be made to an external device that manages information about the vehicle to obtain information about the owner of the target vehicle. In this embodiment, the owner determined in step S12 is either the "leasing company" or the "user himself / herself."

[0060] In step S13, the vehicle component that the user is attempting to purchase is determined. The vehicle component that the user is attempting to purchase may be determined, for example, based on the part number entered by the user, or based on the results of a selection from a list. When using a list, a list of vehicle components that can be installed on the vehicle determined in step S11 may be generated, and the user may be allowed to select the desired component from that list. A list of vehicle components that can be installed on a vehicle with a specific model ID may be generated based on component data 102C. Figure 9 shows an example of a display screen on the user terminal 200 that lists vehicle components that are compatible with a vehicle with an input identifier.

[0061] In step S14, it is determined whether the owner determined in step S12 is a leasing company or the user himself / herself. If the owner is a leasing company, the process proceeds to step S16. If the owner is the user himself / herself, the process proceeds to step S15.

[0062] In step S15, a page (product page) for accepting orders for the target vehicle component is generated. The product page includes a description of the target vehicle component, a sales price, and an interface for placing an order. If the owner of the vehicle is the same person who uses the vehicle, the owner of the vehicle component will also be the same person. In this case, the sales price will be the list price.

[0063] If the vehicle owner is a leasing company, steps S16 and S17 execute predetermined processing to discount the selling price of the target vehicle component.

[0064] First, in step S16, the amount by which the assessed value of the target vehicle will increase by equipping the target vehicle with the target vehicle component is calculated. In this step, the following two types of assessed values ​​are obtained at the time of lease contract expiration based on the assessed value data 102B: (1) The assessed value of a vehicle that does not have the target vehicle component; (2) The assessed value of a vehicle that has the target vehicle component. Then, (1) is subtracted from (2). The amount obtained as a result is the increase in the assessed value of the target vehicle that will be achieved by equipping the target vehicle component.

[0065] Next, in step S17, the amount calculated in step S16 is subtracted from the list price of the target vehicle component, and a product page is generated that displays the resulting amount as the sales price. FIG. 10 is an example of the product page generated in step S17. As shown, the product page includes the discounted sales price. Note that the product page may also include the pre-discount sales price. In this case, the reason for the discount on the sales price may be clearly stated. For example, the product page may explain that the vehicle component being purchased will be returned to the leasing company upon expiration of the lease contract, and that the discount is being applied for this reason.

[0066] In step S18, the generated product page is output. The product page includes a sales price and an interface for placing an order. The user can order the target vehicle component by operating the interface. In step S19, payment for the vehicle component to be purchased is executed. In this step, payment is made at the discounted sales price.

[0067] As described above, in the sales system according to the first embodiment, the sales server that accepts orders for vehicle components determines whether to sell the vehicle components at the list price or at a discounted price depending on the owner of the target vehicle. The discounted sales price is determined based on the increase in the assessed value of the target vehicle due to the installation of the target vehicle component. This configuration makes it possible to provide vehicle components at an appropriate price even when the target vehicle is a leased vehicle.

[0068] In this embodiment, the owner of the target vehicle is determined in step S14, but if the service for selling vehicle components is for leased vehicles, the processing of steps S15 to S16 may be executed without making this determination.

[0069] In addition, in this embodiment, the owner of the target vehicle is automatically determined in step S14, but the owner of the target vehicle may be determined by other methods. For example, the user may be prompted to input information indicating whether the target vehicle is a leased vehicle, and the processing of step S14 may be branched based on that information. Furthermore, if there are separate sales services for leased vehicles and sales services for other vehicles, the processing of step S14 may be branched depending on which sales service the user is logged into.

[0070] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the user specifies the vehicle component to be purchased in step S13. However, a list of vehicle components that can be installed on the target vehicle may be generated, and a process of calculating the selling price for each vehicle component included in the list may be executed. In this case, the list may be sorted by list price, discounted selling price, popularity (e.g., sales volume), or the like. Furthermore, the list may be sorted by the largest increase in assessed value. Furthermore, only vehicle components whose increased assessed value is greater than a predetermined value may be listed. This configuration makes it easier for the user to select vehicle components with larger increases in assessed value, thereby promoting the purchase of vehicle components.

[0071] Second Embodiment In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the valuation value of a vehicle at any given time is defined by a combination of a vehicle model and vehicle components. However, the valuation value of a vehicle does not necessarily have to be defined by a combination of a vehicle model and vehicle components. For example, the valuation value of a single vehicle component may be treated as an increase in the valuation value of the entire vehicle. For example, if a vehicle component with an valuation value of 50,000 yen is installed, the valuation value of the entire vehicle can be considered to increase by 50,000 yen.

[0072] 11 shows an example of the evaluation amount data 102B in the second embodiment. In this embodiment, the evaluation amount data 102B defines the evaluation amount of a single vehicle component.

[0073] In the second embodiment, in the process of step S16, the order receiving unit 1011 refers to the valuation data 102B shown in FIG. 11 and calculates the valuation value of the vehicle component at a predetermined time in the future. In addition, in step S17, the calculated valuation value of the vehicle component is regarded as an increase in the valuation value of the target vehicle that will be increased by equipping the target vehicle with the vehicle component. This method also makes it possible to determine an appropriate selling price for the vehicle component.

[0074] In the first and second embodiments, the valuation value of the target vehicle at a predetermined time in the future is obtained using information stored in a database. However, the valuation value of the vehicle does not necessarily have to be defined by a database. For example, a machine learning model for predicting the valuation value of used cars may be used to calculate the valuation value of a specific vehicle model at a certain time in the future.

[0075] For example, a machine learning model may be generated that learns the relationship between input data including any of (1) attributes of a target vehicle (e.g., vehicle type, brand name, model name, size, performance, new car price, etc.), (2) attributes of vehicle components equipped on the target vehicle (e.g., brand name, model name, type, performance, price, etc.), and (3) elapsed time (e.g., time elapsed since the vehicle was manufactured), and output data including values ​​related to the target vehicle's expected future valuation (e.g., expected valuation at a predetermined point in time, expected rate of decline in valuation from new car price, etc.), and the machine learning model may be used to calculate the valuation of a "specific vehicle equipped with a certain vehicle component" at a specific point in time in the future. In this case, information about the target vehicle (e.g., vehicle type, brand name, model name, size, performance, new car price, etc.), information about the vehicle components equipped on the target vehicle, time elapsed since the vehicle was manufactured, etc., are explanatory variables. The value related to the expected future valuation of the target vehicle is the target variable.

[0076] Third Embodiment In the first and second embodiments, when the target vehicle is a leased vehicle, the sales price of the vehicle component is discounted. On the other hand, if the sold vehicle component is not installed in the target vehicle, the value of the target vehicle does not increase, which may cause a disadvantage to the leasing company. In order to address this, the third embodiment is an embodiment in which the sales server 100 confirms that the sold vehicle component has been installed in the target vehicle, and based on this, returns the discount amount to the user.

[0077] 13 is a diagram showing an outline of a sales system according to the third embodiment. As shown in the diagram, the sales system according to the third embodiment further includes a base server 300 corresponding to a vehicle base.

[0078] The base server 300 is a server device associated with a vehicle base. As described above, a vehicle base is a base where work related to vehicle components (such as installation work, replacement work, or software update work) is performed. The base server 300 may be a computer similar to the user terminal 200. That is, the base server 300 may be a computer such as a personal computer, a smartphone, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, or a personal information terminal. Like the user terminal 200, the base server 300 is configured to include a control unit, a storage unit, a communication unit, and an input / output unit.

[0079] When the base server 300 performs work to install a vehicle component on a specific vehicle, it generates data (hereinafter, work data) indicating details of the work and transmits it to the sales server 100. FIG. 14 shows an example of work data. As shown in the figure, the work data includes fields for a vehicle ID, a work date, a vehicle base, a work type, and a component ID. The vehicle ID is an identifier that uniquely identifies the target vehicle (e.g., a chassis number or a VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)). The work date is the date on which the work was performed, and the vehicle base is an identifier that uniquely identifies the vehicle base where the work was performed. The work type stores one of "installation of a vehicle component," "replacement of a vehicle component," or "removal of a vehicle component." The component ID stores the identifier of the vehicle component involved in the work. The work data may also include other detailed information related to the work. The work data transmitted from the base server 300 is stored by the sales server 100.

[0080] 15 is a diagram showing the components of the sales server 100 according to the third embodiment. As shown in the figure, in the third embodiment, the control unit 101 of the sales server 100 is configured to further include a confirmation unit 1013. The storage unit 102 is also configured to be able to further store work data 102D. The confirmation unit 1013 executes a process of receiving work data from the base server 300 and a process of refunding the discount amount of the target vehicle component to the user based on the work data. The work data 102D is a collection of work data received from multiple base servers 300.

[0081] In the third embodiment, in step S18, the sales server 100 outputs a product page informing the customer of the discounted sales price, but payment for the product is made at the regular price, and the difference is refunded after the target vehicle component is installed in the target vehicle.

[0082] FIG. 16 is a flowchart of the process for refunding the difference. The illustrated process is executed by the confirmation unit 1013. It is assumed that work data is transmitted from the base server 300 each time work is performed and stored in the storage unit 102. It is also assumed that the sales server 100 stores the sales history of vehicle components. It is also assumed that the illustrated process is executed only for leased vehicles.

[0083] First, in step S21, the operation data stored in the memory unit 102 is acquired. Next, in step S22, the purchase history of the vehicle component is compared with the operation data to determine whether the previously purchased vehicle component (the vehicle component subject to the discount) has been properly installed in the target vehicle. If the target vehicle component has been properly installed in the target vehicle, the process proceeds to step S23, where a process is executed to refund the difference between the list price and the discount amount. For example, if the user has made an electronic payment, the confirmation unit 1013 may instruct a server managing the payment to perform the refund. Note that if the leasing company and the distributor of the vehicle component are different companies, the leasing company may pay the distributor an amount equivalent to the discount amount in this step. If the installation of the target vehicle component in the target vehicle cannot be confirmed in step S22, the process ends.

[0084] As described above, in the third embodiment, it is possible to confirm that the purchased vehicle component has actually been installed in the target vehicle.

[0085] In this embodiment, the fact that the target vehicle component is installed in the target vehicle is determined by communicating with the base server 300, but this determination may be made based on other information. For example, if the target vehicle component is connected to the target vehicle's in-vehicle network, the sales server 100 may confirm that the target vehicle component is installed in the target vehicle by communicating with the electronic control unit of the target vehicle. In addition, in this embodiment, the discount amount is refunded after the fact. However, in step S19, if payment is made at the discounted price and it is not confirmed that the purchased vehicle component is installed in the target vehicle even after a predetermined period has passed, the difference may be charged to the user.

[0086] (Example) A specific example of calculating the price of a vehicle component will be given. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the prices of two vehicle components. Here, it is assumed that there is a vehicle component A with a list price of 30,000 yen and a vehicle component B with a list price of 50,000 yen. If the target vehicle is not a leased vehicle, the price at which the user purchases each vehicle component will be 30,000 yen for vehicle component A and 50,000 yen for vehicle component B. In other words, the selling price of vehicle component B is higher than that of vehicle component A.

[0087] Next, consider the case where the target vehicle is a leased vehicle. In this example, the assessed value at a predetermined time in the future is assumed to be 5,000 yen for vehicle component A and 40,000 yen for vehicle component B. In other words, the assessed value in the future is higher for vehicle component B than for vehicle component A, contrary to the list price. In this example, vehicle component A can be discounted by up to 5,000 yen from the list price, and vehicle component B can be discounted by up to 40,000 yen from the list price. As a result, the selling price for vehicle component A as a leased vehicle will be 25,000 yen, and the selling price for vehicle component B as a leased vehicle will be 10,000 yen.

[0088] In this way, there is a relationship between vehicle component A and vehicle component B: [List price] vehicle component A < vehicle component B [Evaluated value at a specified point in time] vehicle component A > vehicle component B [Decrease in the above evaluated value from the list price] vehicle component A > vehicle component B. If the owner of the subject vehicle is a leasing company, there may be cases where the selling price of vehicle component B is lower than the selling price of vehicle component A, contrary to the list price.

[0089] (Modifications) The above-described embodiment is merely an example, and the present disclosure may be modified as appropriate within the scope of the gist thereof. For example, the processes and means described in the present disclosure may be freely combined and implemented as long as no technical contradiction occurs.

[0090] In addition, in the description of the embodiment, the device that calculates the sales price of a vehicle component and outputs it together with product information is exemplified as sales server 100, but sales server 100 may be divided into a first server device that calculates the sales price of a vehicle component and a second server device that outputs the calculated sales price. The first server device may calculate the sales price for multiple vehicle components and store the results in a storage device, and the second server device that places an order for the vehicle components may output a product page based on the stored information.

[0091] In the description of the embodiment, the price (list price) at which the target vehicle component is normally sold is predefined in the component data 102C, but the list price of the vehicle component may be specified by a business selling the vehicle component. In this case, for example, the sales business may access the sales server 100 and generate a record of the component data 102C or set the list price prior to the start of sales of the vehicle component.

[0092] Furthermore, a process described as being performed by one device may be shared and executed by multiple devices. Alternatively, a process described as being performed by different devices may be executed by a single device. In a computer system, the hardware configuration (server configuration) by which each function is realized can be flexibly changed.

[0093] The present disclosure can also be realized by supplying a computer program that implements the functions described in the above embodiments to a computer, and having one or more processors in the computer read and execute the program. Such a computer program may be provided to the computer on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium connectable to the computer's system bus or via a network. Non-transitory computer-readable storage media include, for example, any type of disk, such as a magnetic disk (e.g., a floppy disk, a hard disk drive (HDD), etc.), an optical disk (e.g., a CD-ROM, a DVD disk, a Blu-ray disk), a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), an EPROM, an EEPROM, a magnetic card, a flash memory, an optical card, or any type of medium suitable for storing electronic instructions.

[0094] 100... Sales server 101, 201... Control unit 102, 202... Storage unit 103, 203... Communication unit 200... User terminal 204... Input / output unit

Claims

DEPCT681. An information processing suite comprising a controller configured to: extract information about the first vehicle component subsequently added to the first vehicle in response to a user request and output the extracted information relating to the first vehicle component along with the selling price of the first vehicle component, where the selling price is determined by reducing the amount by no more than the increment of the estimated price of the first vehicle added to the listing price of the first vehicle component due to the addition of the first vehicle component.

2. An information processing suite under claim 1 where the controller provides the increment of the estimated price of the first vehicle.

3. An information processing suite under claim 2 where the controller provides the difference between the first estimated price, which is the expected estimated price of the first vehicle with the added first vehicle component, and the second estimated price, which is the expected estimated price of the first vehicle without the added first vehicle component, as an increment of the estimated price of the first vehicle. 4.

5. An information processing unit under claim 4, which includes an valuation database recording information relating to the first and second valuations at a predetermined future time.

6. An information processing unit under claim 2, which includes an valuation database recording information about the valuations for each of more than one component of the first vehicle at a predetermined future time.

7. An information processing unit under claim 6, where the controller uses the valuation of the first vehicle component at a predetermined time as an addition to the valuation of the first vehicle.

8. Any one of claims 4 through 6, where the owner of the first vehicle is a leasing company and the predetermined time is when the lease term of the first vehicle expires. 9.

10. An information processing unit under Claim 2 provides an incremental estimate of the price of the first vehicle at a predetermined future time using a machine learning model that learns the relationship between the first and second data points, where the first data point includes at least one characteristic of the first vehicle, a characteristic of the first vehicle component, and the time elapsed since the production of the first vehicle, and the second data point relates to the expected estimate of the price of the first vehicle at a predetermined future time.The information processing unit that determines the selling price of the first vehicle component subsequently added to the first vehicle, comprising a controller configured to: provide the increment of the estimated price of the first vehicle which increases due to the addition of the first vehicle component, and determine the selling price of the first vehicle component by deducting the amount from the listing price of the first vehicle component by no more than the increment of the estimated price of the first vehicle.

12. The information processing unit under claim 11, where the controller provides the difference between the first estimated price, which is the expected estimated price of the first vehicle with the addition of the first vehicle component, and the second estimated price, which is the expected estimated price of the first vehicle without the addition of the first vehicle component, as an increment of the estimated price of the first vehicle.

13. The information processing unit under claim 12, where the controller provides the first and second estimated prices at a predetermined future time.14.

15. An information processing unit under claim 11, which includes an appraisal database recording information relating to the first and second appraisals at a predetermined time.

16. An information processing unit under claim 15, where the controller uses the appraisal of the first vehicle component at a predetermined time as an addition to the appraisal of the first vehicle.

17. An information processing unit under any of claims 13 through 15, where the owner of the first vehicle is a leasing company and the predetermined time is when the lease term of the first vehicle expires. 18.

19. An information processing unit pursuant to one of Claims 11 through 16 whereby the controller provides information indicating that the first vehicle component has been added to the first vehicle from a predetermined external device.

20. An information processing unit pursuant to Claim 11 provides an incremental estimate of the price of the first vehicle at a predetermined future time using a machine learning model that learns the relationship between the first and second data points, where the first data point includes at least one characteristic of the first vehicle, the characteristic of the first vehicle component, and the time elapsed since the production of the first vehicle, and the second data point is related to the expected estimate of the price of the first vehicle at a predetermined future time.The information processing method for determining the selling price of a first vehicle component subsequently added to a first vehicle includes: providing the incremental increase in the estimated price of the first vehicle due to the addition of the first vehicle component, and determining the selling price of the first vehicle component by reducing the amount from the list price of the first vehicle component by no more than the incremental increase in the estimated price of the first vehicle.

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