Battery information management method, battery information management device, and computer program

Abstract

A computer according to the present invention stores a battery identifier and battery information in association with each other in a storage unit, sets a browsing restriction on the battery information stored in the storage unit, lifts the browsing restriction when having received a predetermined registration related to the battery, reads the battery information from the storage unit and outputs the battery information when the battery identifier is received in a state in which the browsing restriction is lifted, and restricts reading of the battery information when the battery identifier is received in a state in which the browsing restriction is not lifted.

Description

Battery information management method, battery information management device, and computer program

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a battery information management method, a battery information management device, and a computer program.

[0002] Secondary batteries such as lithium-ion batteries are widely used in vehicles such as automobiles, and are used to supply power to starters when starting the engine and to supply power to various electrical components.

[0003] In recent years, social demands such as legal regulations have led to a demand for secondary use of secondary batteries, such as reuse and recycling. Information on secondary batteries eligible for secondary use is managed on a server and provided to businesses as needed (see Patent Document 1).

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-99726

[0005] The technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 provides battery information with varying degrees of information disclosure depending on the user's level of demand, and does not determine the condition of the battery and then impose or lift the viewing restrictions.

[0006] The present disclosure aims to provide a battery information management method, a battery information management device, and a computer program that determine the state of a battery and restrict or remove the restriction on viewing.

[0007] The battery information management method of the present disclosure associates a battery identifier with battery information and stores them in a memory unit, sets a viewing restriction on the battery information stored in the memory unit, and when a specified registration related to the battery is received, lifts the viewing restriction, reads and outputs the battery information from the memory unit when the battery identifier is received with the viewing restriction lifted, and restricts reading of the battery information when the battery identifier is received with the viewing restriction not lifted, by a computer.

[0008] According to the above aspect, it is possible to determine the state of the battery and then restrict or remove the restriction on viewing.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of an information providing system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of an information providing server. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a battery information database. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of a user terminal. FIG. 5 is a flowchart explaining the procedure of processing executed by the information providing server regarding restrictions on viewing of battery information. FIG. 6 is a flowchart explaining the procedure of processing executed by the information providing server regarding the provision of battery information. FIG. 7 is a flowchart explaining the procedure of processing executed by the information providing server according to embodiment 2 regarding restrictions on viewing of battery information.

[0010] (1) The battery information management method disclosed herein associates a battery identifier with battery information and stores them in a memory unit, sets a viewing restriction on the battery information stored in the memory unit, and when a specified registration related to the battery is received, lifts the viewing restriction. When a battery identifier is received with the viewing restriction lifted, the battery information is read out from the memory unit and output. When a battery identifier is received with the viewing restriction not lifted, the computer executes a process to restrict the reading of the battery information.

[0011] The term "battery" in this disclosure refers to a rechargeable secondary battery, such as a lithium-ion secondary battery. The battery information for such batteries may contain highly confidential information, and it is undesirable for such batteries to be managed in a manner that allows any user to freely access it. However, since secondary uses such as reuse and recycling are required, such batteries may be collected or handed over to businesses such as battery recyclers and battery collection businesses. It is preferable for such businesses to have easy access to information such as the battery's usage history and disassembly method in order to determine whether the collected or handed-over batteries are reusable or recyclable.

[0012] In the management method (1) above, battery information is stored with a viewing restriction set, and the viewing restriction is lifted only when a predetermined registration regarding the battery is received. Therefore, when a registration regarding the collection, delivery, or replacement of the battery is received, the viewing restriction can be lifted so that the information necessary for the battery reuse, recycling, replacement, etc. can be viewed.

[0013] (2) In the management method described in (1) above, the computer may execute a process of changing the range of the battery information for which the viewing restriction is lifted depending on the type of registration.

[0014] According to the management method (2) above, the range of battery information for which viewing restrictions are lifted varies depending on the type of registration. Therefore, if the battery is to be reused or recycled, battery information including the battery's usage history, health status, and dismantling method may be disclosed, and if the battery is scheduled to be replaced, battery information excluding the battery's usage history, health status, and dismantling method may be disclosed.

[0015] (3) In the management method described in (1) or (2) above, the predetermined registration may include registration of information indicating that the battery or the product in which the battery is installed has been collected, registration of information indicating that the battery or the product in which the battery is installed has been handed over, and registration of information indicating that the battery has been replaced.

[0016] According to the management method (3) above, the predetermined registrations for which the access restriction is lifted include the registration of information indicating that the battery or the product equipped with the battery has been collected, and the registration of information indicating that the battery has been replaced. Therefore, the access restriction can be lifted for businesses that require battery information for the purpose of reusing, recycling, replacing, etc., of batteries.

[0017] (4) In the management method described in any one of (1) to (3) above, the battery information may include at least one of the capacity of the battery, upper and lower limit voltages of the battery, the type of active material of the battery, the usage history of the battery, the health of the battery, and a method of dismantling the battery.

[0018] According to the management method (4) above, the battery information includes the battery capacity, upper and lower voltage limits, active material type, battery usage history, battery health, and battery disassembly method, so that the dealer can refer to this information to determine whether the battery can be reused, recycled, or replaced.

[0019] (5) In the management method described in (4) above, a vendor ID may be accepted when accepting the specified registration, and the accepted vendor ID may be compared with a pre-registered ID. If the vendor ID matches the pre-registered ID, the viewing restrictions on at least one of the battery information, including the battery usage history, the battery health, and the battery disassembly method, may be lifted.

[0020] According to the management method (5) above, the restriction on viewing battery information including at least one of the battery usage history, health, and dismantling method can be lifted for pre-registered vendors, while the restriction on viewing can be maintained for users including other vendors, thereby controlling the confidentiality of battery information.

[0021] (6) In the management method according to any one of (1) to (5) above, when the access restriction is lifted, the computer may execute a process of permitting copying of the battery information.

[0022] According to the management method (6) above, when the viewing restriction is lifted, not only viewing of the battery information but also copying of the battery information is permitted, so that the dealer can make effective use of the battery information.

[0023] (7) The battery information management device of the present disclosure includes a memory unit that stores a battery identifier and battery information in association with each other, and a control unit that reads out and outputs the battery information stored in the memory unit in association with the identifier in response to input of the battery identifier, and the control unit sets a viewing restriction on the battery information stored in the memory unit, and lifts the viewing restriction when a specified registration regarding the battery is received.

[0024] According to the management device of (7) above, battery information is stored with a viewing restriction set, and the viewing restriction is lifted only when a predetermined registration related to the battery is received. Therefore, when a registration related to the collection, delivery, or replacement of the battery is received, the viewing restriction can be lifted so that the information necessary for the battery reuse, recycling, replacement, etc. can be viewed.

[0025] (8) The computer program disclosed herein is a computer program that causes a computer to execute a process of associating a battery identifier with battery information and storing them in a memory unit, setting a viewing restriction on the battery information stored in the memory unit, lifting the viewing restriction when a specified registration related to the battery is received, reading and outputting the battery information from the memory unit when a battery identifier is received with the viewing restriction lifted, and restricting the reading of the battery information when a battery identifier is received with the viewing restriction not lifted.

[0026] According to the computer program of (8) above, battery information is stored with a viewing restriction set, and the viewing restriction is lifted only when a predetermined registration regarding the battery is received. Therefore, when a registration regarding the collection, delivery, or replacement of the battery is received, the viewing restriction can be lifted so that the information necessary for the reuse, recycling, replacement, etc. of the battery can be viewed.

[0027] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings illustrating embodiments thereof. (Embodiment 1) Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the overall configuration of an information providing system according to an embodiment. The information providing system according to the embodiment includes an information providing server 1 and a user terminal 2. The information providing server 1 and the user terminal 2 are communicatively connected via a communication network NW. The user terminal 2 is a terminal device used by any user, including a battery recycler, a battery collection company, etc. The information providing server 1 is a server for providing information (battery information) about a battery 31 to the user terminal 2, and includes a battery information database DB that stores the battery information about the battery 31 in association with the identifier of the battery 31.

[0028] The battery 31 of the present disclosure is a secondary battery that can be charged and discharged. The battery 31 is installed in vehicles such as engine vehicles, electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). Alternatively, the battery 31 is installed in various electrical appliances or various information devices. The battery 31 may also be installed in a power storage facility that stores power supplied from a power generation facility such as a solar power generation facility or a wind power generation facility. In the embodiments, the vehicle, electrical appliance, information device, power storage facility, etc., in which the battery 31 is installed, will be simply referred to as a product 30.

[0029] An example of the battery 31 is a lithium-ion secondary battery. Alternatively, the battery 31 may be a battery such as an all-solid-state battery, a lead battery, a redox flow battery, a zinc-air battery, an alkaline manganese battery, a lithium-sulfur battery, a sodium-sulfur battery, a silver-zinc oxide battery, or a nickel-metal hydride battery. The battery 31 may be mounted in the product 30 as a battery cell, or may be mounted in the product 30 as a battery module, battery pack, bank, or domain composed of a plurality of battery cells.

[0030] The battery 31 has an identifier (information unique to each battery, such as a manufacturing number or serial number) for identifying itself from others. The identifier is a string of alphanumeric characters. The identifier of the battery 31 is attached to the housing of the battery 31 so that it is visible from the outside. The identifier may be coded and attached to the housing of the battery 31 as a one-dimensional or two-dimensional code. Alternatively, the identifier of the battery 31 may be stored as electronic information in the memory of the battery 31 or the product.

[0031] The battery information database DB stores battery information including at least one of battery capacity, upper and lower limit voltages, active material type, usage history, health status, and disassembly method in association with the identifier of the battery 31.

[0032] In this embodiment, a viewing restriction is set for the battery information stored in the battery information database DB. The viewing restriction is lifted when a predetermined registration is received regarding the battery 31. The predetermined registration includes registration of information regarding the collection, delivery, or replacement of the battery 31. The predetermined registration may also include registration of information regarding the collection or delivery of a product in which the battery 31 is installed.

[0033] When the information providing server 1 receives an identifier of the battery 31 from the user terminal 2 while the access restriction is not lifted, the information providing server 1 restricts the reading of battery information from the battery information database DB. In this case, the information providing server 1 does not provide the battery information to the user terminal 2. On the other hand, when the information providing server 1 receives an identifier of the battery 31 from the user terminal 2 while the access restriction is lifted, the information providing server 1 reads the battery information corresponding to the identifier from the battery information database DB and provides it to the user terminal 2.

[0034] 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the information providing server 1. The information providing server 1 is a dedicated or general-purpose server computer, and includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, a communication unit 13, an operation unit 14, a display unit 15, and the like.

[0035] The control unit 11 is a processing circuit or arithmetic circuit including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. The CPU included in the control unit 11 reads and executes various computer programs stored in the ROM or the storage unit 12, thereby controlling each hardware unit and causing the entire device to function as the information providing server 1 of the present disclosure.

[0036] Alternatively, the control unit 11 may be any arithmetic circuit including multiple CPUs, a multi-core CPU, a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), a microcomputer, a volatile or non-volatile memory, etc. The control unit 11 may also include functions such as a timer that measures the elapsed time from when an instruction to start measurement is given until when an instruction to end measurement is given, a counter that counts numbers, and a clock that outputs date and time information.

[0037] The storage unit 12 includes a storage device such as a hard disk or flash memory. Various computer programs and data are stored in the storage unit 12. The computer programs stored in the storage unit 12 include a viewing management program PG that manages viewing restrictions on battery information stored in the battery information database DB. The data stored in the storage unit 12 includes various data used in the viewing management program PG and data generated by the control unit 11.

[0038] A computer program including the browsing management program PG is provided by a non-transitory recording medium RM on which the computer program is readably recorded. The recording medium RM is a portable memory such as a CD-ROM, a USB memory, or an SD (Secure Digital) card. The control unit 11 reads the desired computer program from the recording medium RM using a reading device (not shown) and stores the read computer program in the memory unit 12. Alternatively, the computer program including the browsing management program PG may be provided via communication.

[0039] The storage unit 12 includes a battery information database DB. The configuration of the battery information database DB will be described in detail later.

[0040] The communication unit 13 includes a communication interface that connects to the communication network NW. The communication interface included in the communication unit 13 is a wireless communication interface such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark), 3G, 4G, 5G, or LTE (Long Term Evolution), or a wired communication interface such as Ethernet (registered trademark). The communication unit 13 transmits and receives various types of data through the communication network NW.

[0041] The operation unit 14 is equipped with input devices such as various switches and buttons, and accepts operations by the administrator, etc. The display unit 15 is equipped with a display device such as a liquid crystal display device, and displays information to be notified to the administrator, etc. Alternatively, the information providing server 1 may be configured to accept necessary operations via an external computer and transmit information to be notified to the administrator, etc. to the external computer. An example of an external computer is a terminal such as a personal computer used by the administrator, etc. In this case, the information providing server 1 does not need to be equipped with the operation unit 14 and the display unit 15.

[0042] In the embodiment, the information providing server 1 may be a single computer, or may be a computer system configured with multiple computers and peripheral devices, etc. Alternatively, the information providing server 1 may be a virtual machine whose entity is virtualized, or may be a cloud.

[0043] The browsing management program PG may be a single computer program or a group of programs consisting of multiple computer programs. Alternatively, the browsing management program PG may partially use an existing library. Furthermore, the browsing management program PG may be executed by a single computer or may be executed by multiple computers working together.

[0044] FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a battery information database DB. The battery information database DB stores battery information, associated with a battery identifier, including at least one of battery capacity, upper and lower voltage limits, active material type, battery 31 usage history, battery 31 health, and battery 31 disassembly method. The battery capacity, upper and lower voltage limits, active material type, and battery 31 disassembly method among the battery information are provided by the battery 31 manufacturer or the like and registered in the battery information database DB by an administrator or the like of the providing server 1. The battery 31 usage history includes information such as the number of days since use began, charge / discharge time, and number of charge / discharge cycles, and is managed by the battery 31 or the product 30. The battery 31 state of health (SOH) is measured by the battery 31 or the product 30, and the latest state of health value is stored in the battery 31 or the product 30. The information providing server 1 periodically acquires usage history and health information from the battery 31 or the product 30 and registers the information in the battery information database DB.

[0045] The battery information database DB includes the status of the battery 31. The status of the battery 31 includes the following statuses A to E. If the status of the battery 31 does not correspond to any of statuses A to E, the status is not registered and the field remains blank.

[0046] Status A: The battery 31 has been removed from the product 30 and is being collected by a dealer (battery collection in progress). Status B: The battery 31 has not been removed from the product 30 and is being collected by a dealer together with the product (product collection in progress). Status C: The battery 31 has been removed from the product 30 and is being handed over to a dealer (battery being handed over). Status D: The battery 31 has not been removed from the product 30 and is being handed over to a dealer together with the product (product being handed over). Status E: The battery 31 has been removed from the product 30 and is scheduled to be replaced with another battery (scheduled for replacement).

[0047] The status of the battery 31 is registered as appropriate by the owner of the battery 31 or the product 30, or by a business (such as a reuse business, a recycling business, an exchange business, or a repair business). If the status of the battery 31 is blank in the battery information database DB, the information providing server 1 restricts access to the battery information of that battery 31. On the other hand, if any one of statuses A to E is registered as the status of the battery 31 in the battery information database DB, the information providing server 1 lifts the restriction on access to the battery information of that battery 31.

[0048] In the present embodiment, the information providing server 1 is configured to include the battery information database DB, but the information providing server 1 may be provided outside the information providing server 1. In this case, the information providing server 1 accesses the battery information database DB via the communication unit 13 and acquires the necessary information.

[0049] 4 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the user terminal 2. The user terminal 2 is a terminal device such as a smartphone or tablet terminal, and includes a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, a reading unit 23, a communication unit 24, an operation unit 25, a display unit 26, etc.

[0050] The control unit 21 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, etc. The CPU of the control unit 21 controls the operation of the various hardware components described above by expanding various programs stored in advance in the ROM or the storage unit 22 into the RAM and executing them, causing the entire device to function as the user terminal 2 of the present disclosure.

[0051] The control unit 21 is not limited to the above configuration, and may be configured as a single piece of hardware (SoC: System On a Chip) that integrates a processor, memory, storage, communication interface, etc. The control unit 21 may also have functions such as a clock that outputs date and time information, a timer that measures the elapsed time from when an instruction to start measurement is given until when an instruction to end measurement is given, and a counter that counts numbers.

[0052] The storage unit 22 includes a storage such as a flash memory, and stores various computer programs executed by the control unit 21, data required for executing the computer programs, and the like.

[0053] The reading unit 23 includes an imaging element and an arithmetic circuit. The reading unit 23 acquires an image of the identifier of the battery 31 captured by the imaging element and analyzes the image using the arithmetic circuit to recognize the identifier contained in the image as a character string. An existing method is used to read the identifier. If the identifier is given as alphanumeric characters, OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology can be used, and if the identifier is given as a one-dimensional or two-dimensional code, an existing decoding method can be used to recognize the character string indicated by the code. The reading unit 23 does not need to be dedicated hardware; the control unit 21 may be configured to read the identifier using software.

[0054] The communication unit 24 includes a communication interface for transmitting and receiving various data to and from an external device. The communication interface may be a wireless communication interface such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark), 3G, 4G, 5G, or LTE (Long Term Evolution), or a wired communication interface such as Ethernet (registered trademark). When data to be transmitted is input from the control unit 21, the communication unit 24 transmits the data to the destination external device, and when data transmitted from the external device is received, the communication unit 24 outputs the received data to the control unit 21. In this embodiment, the external device is the information providing server 1.

[0055] The operation unit 25 includes operation devices such as a touch panel, a keyboard, and switches, and receives various operations and settings from the user. The control unit 21 performs appropriate control based on various pieces of operation information provided by the operation unit 25, and stores setting information in the storage unit 22 as necessary.

[0056] The display unit 26 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display, and displays information to be presented in response to an instruction from the control unit 21 .

[0057] The processing steps executed by the information providing server 1 are described below. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the processing steps executed by the information providing server 1 regarding the restriction on viewing of battery information. The control unit 11 of the information providing server 1 acquires battery information together with the identifier of the battery 31 to be newly registered in the battery information database DB (step S101). The control unit 11 acquires battery information from the battery manufacturer when the battery 31 is manufactured or shipped. Alternatively, the control unit 11 may acquire battery information from the product manufacturer when the battery 31 is installed in the product 30, when the product 30 is shipped, etc. The battery information may be acquired from an external server via the communication unit 13, or may be input directly via the operation unit 14.

[0058] The control unit 11 associates the acquired battery information of the battery 31 with the identifier of the battery 31 and registers it in the battery information database DB (step S102). The control unit 11 sets a viewing restriction on the registered battery information (step S103). When the control unit 11 sets a viewing restriction on the battery information of the battery 31, it restricts (prohibits) reading of the battery information of the battery 31.

[0059] The control unit 11 determines whether a predetermined registration has been received for the battery 31 whose battery information is registered in the battery information database DB (step S104). The predetermined registration includes registration of information regarding the collection, delivery, or replacement of the battery 31. The predetermined registration may also include registration of information regarding the collection or delivery of a product in which the battery 31 is installed.

[0060] If it is determined in step S104 that the predetermined registration has not been accepted (S104: NO), the control unit 11 maintains the restriction on viewing the battery information (step S105).

[0061] If it is determined in step S104 that the specified registration has been accepted (S104: YES), the control unit 11 records the status in the battery information database DB according to the type of registration (step S106) and lifts the restriction on viewing the battery information (step S107).

[0062] The control unit 11 may execute the processing of steps S106 to S107 when a predetermined registration is received for a battery registered in the battery information database DB, regardless of the timing at which the control unit 11 receives battery information to be registered in the battery information database DB.

[0063] 6 is a flowchart illustrating the processing steps executed by the information providing server 1 regarding the provision of battery information. Assume that the battery information of the battery 31 has been collected in advance and already registered in the battery information database DB. A user who wishes to check the battery information reads the identifier attached to the battery 31 using the reading unit 23 of the user terminal 2 and transmits the read identifier to the information providing server 1.

[0064] The control unit 11 of the information providing server 1 receives the identifier of the battery 31 transmitted from the user terminal 2 via the communication unit 13 (step S121).

[0065] The control unit 11 searches the battery information database DB using the received identifier of the battery 31 as a search key, and determines whether or not there is battery information for the corresponding battery 31 (step S122). If there is no battery information for the corresponding battery 31 (S122: NO), the control unit 11 notifies the user terminal 2 that there is no battery information (step S123), and ends the processing according to this flowchart.

[0066] If battery information for the corresponding battery 31 exists (S122: YES), the control unit 11 checks the status of the battery 31 and determines whether or not access to the battery information is restricted (step S124). If the status is blank, the control unit 11 determines that access to the battery information is restricted because a predetermined registration has not been accepted for the battery 31. On the other hand, if the status is one of statuses A to E, the control unit 11 determines that access to the battery information for the battery 31 is not restricted because a predetermined registration has been accepted for the battery 31.

[0067] If the control unit 11 determines that viewing of the battery information is restricted (S124: YES), it notifies the user terminal 2 that viewing of the battery information is restricted (step S125), and terminates the processing according to this flowchart.

[0068] If the control unit 11 determines that viewing of the battery information is not restricted (S124: NO), it reads the battery information searched for in step S122 from the battery information database DB (step S126) and transmits the read battery information to the user terminal 2 (step S127). At this time, the control unit 11 may permit copying of the battery information to be transmitted. Alternatively, the control unit 11 may display the battery information on the display unit 26 of the user terminal 2 in a state where copying of the battery information is prohibited, in order to permit only viewing of the battery information.

[0069] As described above, in the first embodiment, battery information is normally registered in the battery information database DB in a state where access is restricted, thereby protecting highly confidential battery information including the usage history, soundness, and disassembly method of the battery 31. On the other hand, when the battery 31 or product 30 is collected or handed over to a dealer or the like for the purpose of reuse, recycling, etc., or when the battery 31 is scheduled to be replaced, the access restriction is lifted, so that the dealer can refer to the battery information to determine whether the battery 31 can be reused, recycled, replaced, etc., and obtain information necessary for the recycling work, replacement work, etc.

[0070] In the second embodiment, a configuration will be described in which the range of battery information for which viewing restrictions are lifted varies depending on the type of registration. The overall configuration of the system, the internal configuration of the information providing server 1 and the user terminal 2, etc. are the same as those in the first embodiment, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0071] 7 is a flowchart illustrating the steps of a process executed by the information providing server 1 according to the second embodiment regarding the restriction on viewing of battery information. The control unit 11 of the information providing server 1 acquires battery information together with the identifier of the battery 31 to be newly registered in the battery information database DB (step S201). The control unit 11 acquires the battery information from the battery manufacturer when the battery 31 is manufactured or shipped. Alternatively, the control unit 11 may acquire the battery information from the product manufacturer when the battery 31 is installed in the product 30, when the product 30 is shipped, etc. The battery information may be acquired from an external server via the communication unit 13, or may be input directly via the operation unit 14.

[0072] The control unit 11 associates the acquired battery information of the battery 31 with the identifier of the battery 31 and registers the information in the battery information database DB (step S202). The control unit 11 sets a viewing restriction on the registered battery information (step S203). When the control unit 11 sets a viewing restriction on the battery information of the battery 31, it restricts (prohibits) reading of the battery information of the battery 31.

[0073] The control unit 11 determines whether a predetermined registration has been received for the battery 31 whose battery information is registered in the battery information database DB (step S204). The predetermined registration includes registration of information regarding the collection, delivery, or replacement of the battery 31. The predetermined registration may also include registration of information regarding the collection or delivery of a product in which the battery 31 is installed.

[0074] If it is determined in step S204 that the predetermined registration has not been accepted (S204: NO), the control unit 11 maintains the restriction on viewing the battery information (step S205).

[0075] If it is determined in step S204 that a predetermined registration has been received (S204: YES), the control unit 11 records the status in the battery information database DB according to the type of registration (step S206) and sets the range of viewing restrictions to be lifted according to the status (step S207). When the control unit 11 receives registration of statuses A to D, which indicate that the battery 31 is expected to be reused or recycled, the control unit 11 lifts the viewing restrictions on all battery information, including the battery's usage history, health status, and disassembly method. On the other hand, when the control unit 11 receives registration of status E, which indicates that the battery 31 is expected to be replaced, the control unit 11 lifts the viewing restrictions on battery information except for the battery's usage history, health status, and disassembly method, which are highly confidential.

[0076] The control unit 11 may execute the processing of steps S206 to S207 when a predetermined registration is received for a battery registered in the battery information database DB, regardless of the timing at which the control unit 11 receives battery information to be registered in the battery information database DB.

[0077] The operation of the information providing server 1 when receiving the identifier of the battery 31 from the user terminal 2 is the same as in embodiment 1. That is, when the information providing server 1 receives the identifier of the battery 31 from the user terminal 2, it checks the battery information database DB and provides the battery information to the user terminal 2 within the range for which viewing restrictions have been lifted, depending on the status of the battery 31.

[0078] As described above, the information providing server 1 according to the second embodiment can vary the range of battery information for which viewing restrictions are lifted depending on the type of registration (status) related to the battery 31. The information providing server 1 provides battery information including the usage history, soundness, and disassembly method required for recycling work, etc., to recycling companies and the like that may disassemble the battery 31. The information providing server 1 may provide battery information including the usage history and soundness to companies that determine the suitability of reuse. The information providing server 1 provides battery information excluding the usage history, soundness, and disassembly method to companies that do not disassemble the battery. In this way, the information providing server 1 can vary the range of battery information disclosure depending on the company, thereby preventing the leakage of highly confidential information.

[0079] The information providing server 1 may accept a vendor ID when accepting the specified registration in step S204, and may vary the scope of the lifting of the viewing restriction depending on whether the accepted vendor ID matches a pre-registered ID. The IDs of vendors that collect or repair batteries 31 or products 30 may be registered in advance, and if a vendor ID that matches a pre-registered ID is accepted during the specified registration, the information providing server 1 may lift the viewing restriction on battery information including at least one of the usage history, soundness, and disassembly method, and if a vendor ID other than this is accepted, the information providing server 1 may lift the viewing restriction on battery information except for the usage history, soundness, and disassembly method, which are highly confidential.

[0080] The disclosed embodiments are illustrative in all respects and are not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, and includes all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0081] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Information providing server (management device) 2 User terminal 11 Control unit 12 Storage unit 13 Communication unit 14 Operation unit 15 Display unit PG Viewing management program DB Battery information database 30 Product 31 Battery

Claims

1. A battery information management method in which a computer executes the following processes: storing a battery identifier and battery information in a storage unit in association with each other; setting a viewing restriction on the battery information stored in the storage unit; lifting the viewing restriction when a predetermined registration related to the battery is received; reading and outputting the battery information from the storage unit when a battery identifier is received with the viewing restriction lifted; and restricting reading of the battery information when a battery identifier is received with the viewing restriction not lifted.

2. The management method according to claim 1, wherein the computer executes a process of changing the range of the battery information for which the viewing restriction is lifted depending on the type of registration.

3. The management method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined registration includes the registration of information indicating that the battery or the product in which the battery is installed has been collected, the registration of information indicating that the battery or the product in which the battery is installed has been handed over, and the registration of information indicating that the battery has been replaced.

4. The management method according to claim 1, wherein the battery information includes at least one of the capacity of the battery, the upper and lower voltage limits of the battery, the type of active material of the battery, the usage history of the battery, the health of the battery, and the method of dismantling the battery.

5. The management method according to claim 4, wherein the computer executes the following process: when accepting the specified registration, a vendor ID is accepted; the accepted vendor ID is compared with a pre-registered ID; and if the vendor ID matches the pre-registered ID, the viewing restriction on at least one of the battery information, the battery usage history, the battery health, and the battery disassembly method is lifted.

6. The management method according to claim 1, wherein the computer executes a process to permit copying of the battery information when the viewing restriction is lifted.

7. A battery information management device comprising: a storage unit that stores a battery identifier and battery information in association with each other; and a control unit that, in response to input of the battery identifier, reads out and outputs the battery information stored in the storage unit in association with the identifier, wherein the control unit sets a viewing restriction on the battery information stored in the storage unit, and when a specified registration regarding the battery is received, lifts the viewing restriction.

8. A computer program for causing a computer to execute the following processes: storing a battery identifier and battery information in a storage unit in association with each other; setting a viewing restriction on the battery information stored in the storage unit; lifting the viewing restriction when a specified registration related to the battery is received; reading and outputting the battery information from the storage unit when the battery identifier is received with the viewing restriction lifted; and restricting reading of the battery information when the battery identifier is received with the viewing restriction not lifted.

Images