Portable Generator Usage Monitoring for Fair Rental Billing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable electric generator rental systems struggle to accurately calculate rental fees based on usage, as they cannot ascertain the amount of electricity generated or the usage circumstances, leading to inefficient fee setting and potential component deterioration.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus that acquires and estimates usage data from a portable electric generator, including voltage and current measurements, to calculate rental fees using billing coefficients corresponding to connected devices, and provides real-time feedback to users on usage and potential surcharges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If rental fees are calculated based on residual amount of storage battery or fuel, then fee calculation is simple, but actual usage amount cannot be ascertained when charging is performed with external electric generator or when fuel is refilled
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors voltage and current values during power supply operations and feeds this data back to calculate actual usage amounts. This feedback mechanism enables accurate measurement of electricity generated by external generators and fuel consumption even when refilling occurs, resolving the contradiction between simple calculation and precise measurement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces physical measurement methods (checking residual battery amount or fuel level) with electrical measurement methods (monitoring voltage and current). This substitution allows for continuous, accurate tracking of actual usage through electrical parameters rather than relying on before-and-after physical state comparisons
2Device complexity
If rental fees are calculated without considering usage circumstances, then fee setting is simple, but component deterioration cannot be accounted for leading to unfair pricing
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces multiple parameters including voltage, current, power supply time, and connected device type to comprehensively characterize usage circumstances. By changing from a single parameter (residual amount) to multiple parameters, the system can assess both usage quantity and usage intensity, enabling fair pricing that reflects actual component stress and wear
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary classification of connected devices and usage patterns before final fee calculation. By pre-categorizing usage types and their associated deterioration risks, the system can apply appropriate pricing multipliers in advance, ensuring fair compensation for component wear while maintaining calculation simplicity
3Device complexity
If users are not provided with real-time usage feedback, then system operation is simple, but users cannot make informed decisions about energy consumption and potential charges
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides real-time feedback to users about their usage amounts and associated costs by continuously monitoring voltage and current values and displaying this information during power supply operations. This feedback loop enables users to make informed decisions about their energy consumption while the system maintains relatively simple operation through automated monitoring and calculation
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus comprises an acquisition unit configured to acquire information according to the usage circumstances of the portable electric generator; an estimation unit configured to estimate a type of an electrical device that is connected, based on a measurement result with respect to a voltage and a current when the portable electric generator supplied electric power that is included in the information according to the usage circumstances; and a calculation unit configured to calculate a rental fee associated with an electric power amount supplied by the portable electric generator at the rental destination, using a billing coefficient corresponding to an electrical device estimated by the estimation unit, and the measurement result.