Ride-Sharing Incentive Calculation for General Vehicles

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Ride-sharing in general vehicles faces challenges such as low participation from first users due to lack of incentive calculation functions, difficulty in cash settlements, and limited acceptance of non-monetary incentives, leading to inconvenience for second users and inadequate spread of ride-sharing services.

Innovation Solution

An information management device with a ride-sharing detection unit, path recognition unit, and benefit information recognition unit determines benefits based on move costs, specifying charging facilities, periods, and time slots to incentivize first users of general vehicles, reducing potential disputes and increasing participation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If ride-sharing is left to the good will of the first user, then the system remains simple without incentive calculation functions, but the probability that the second user can use ride-sharing when desired is lowered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of ride-sharing systemVSAvoidavailability of ride-sharing service

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an information management device as an intermediary that automatically calculates incentives and manages settlements between first users and second users. This mediator handles the complex incentive calculations and payment processing, allowing the ride-sharing system to function effectively without requiring the first user's vehicle to have built-in incentive calculation capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If incentive calculation function is added to general vehicles, then first users can be actively engaged in ride-sharing, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveparticipation rate of first usersVSAvoidcomplexity of general vehicle system

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The information management device serves as an external intermediary that performs all incentive calculations and management functions. The general vehicle itself does not need built-in incentive calculation capabilities, as these functions are handled by the separate information management device that communicates with the vehicle and manages settlements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the need for mechanical/inherent incentive calculation systems within general vehicles with an information-based system. The information management device uses data communication and processing to calculate incentives based on ride-sharing information, eliminating the need for complex hardware modifications to general vehicles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If cash settlement is used for incentives, then the system works without credit card infrastructure, but difficulty in cash settlement arises when first user does not have change

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility of payment methodVSAvoidconvenience of incentive settlement

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces physical cash settlement with electronic information-based settlement. The information management device calculates incentives and manages payments electronically, eliminating the need for physical cash transactions and change-making. This can be integrated with various payment systems including credit cards, mobile payments, or other electronic payment methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Adaptability or versatility

If non-monetary incentive is offered, then cash payment issues are avoided, but the incentive may not attract interest from the first user of general vehicle

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevariety of incentive typesVSAvoideffectiveness of incentive

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The information management device enables flexible adjustment of incentive parameters, allowing the incentive type and amount to be dynamically changed based on user preferences and ride-sharing conditions. The system can offer monetary incentives calculated based on various parameters such as distance, time, and frequency of ride-sharing, providing both adaptability and effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11669854B2Information management device and information management method

Publication Date: 2023.06.06 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

Provided is an information management device capable of prompting a first user of a general vehicle to be engaged in ride-sharing. An information management device (a server (4)) includes a ride-sharing detection unit (402), a ride-sharing path recognition unit (403), and a benefit information recognition unit (406). The benefit information recognition unit (406) recognizes benefit information for providing a benefit related to charging to the first user A of a moving body (a vehicle X) based on a move cost of a path including at least an entire ride-sharing path that is recognized by the ride-sharing path recognition unit (403).