Work Machine Sharing Control Device for Rental Scheduling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rental services require equipment to be returned to the provider before it can be rented to another user, which is inefficient, and sharing services for equipment among multiple users are gaining popularity, eliminating the need for equipment transportation to rental providers.

Innovation Solution

A control device for providing a work machine sharing service that includes request acquisition, schedule management, specifying available machines based on requests and schedules, determining rental fees, and providing map information to optimize equipment usage and transportation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If equipment is rented out through traditional rental services, then the equipment can be reliably managed and tracked, but the equipment must be transported back to the provider before being rented to another user, reducing service efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice efficiencyVSAvoidequipment unavailability time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a sharing service system where equipment is directly shared between users without requiring return to the provider. The system automatically manages equipment status, location tracking, and rental transactions, enabling users to rent equipment at various locations without the provider needing to physically collect and redistribute the equipment. This self-service model eliminates the transportation and redistribution time that would otherwise make equipment unavailable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a multi-functional sharing service platform that combines equipment rental, location tracking, user management, and automated billing into a single system. This universal platform handles multiple functions that would otherwise require separate processes, including the ability to manage equipment across multiple locations and users simultaneously, thereby improving service efficiency and reducing equipment unavailability time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If a sharing service system manages multiple work machines with different schedules and locations, then resource utilization is improved, but the complexity of managing and tracking each machine increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource utilizationVSAvoidsystem management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the sharing service system into modular functional components: a request acquisition module that handles rental requests, a schedule management module that tracks work machine schedules, a location tracking module that monitors equipment positions, and a fee determination module that calculates rental costs. Each module handles specific aspects of machine management independently, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high resource utilization through coordinated operation of these segmented functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Loss of energy

If rental fees are determined based on demand during specific time periods, then revenue optimization is achieved, but the complexity of fee calculation and management increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverevenue optimizationVSAvoidfee determination complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback-based fee determination system where the fee calculation module continuously monitors rental requests, equipment utilization rates, and time period demand patterns. Based on this feedback, the system automatically adjusts rental fees to optimize revenue during high-demand periods while offering competitive rates during low-demand periods. This automated feedback loop simplifies fee management complexity by using real-time data to drive pricing decisions rather than requiring manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3757929B1Control device for sharing service, control method, and program
Publication Date: 2023.12.06 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3757929B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3757929B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3757929B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A control device for providing a work machine sharing service comprises a request acquiring unit for acquiring a work machine rental request that specifies a desired date and time and a desired location, a schedule acquiring unit for acquiring a scheduled date and time of work of each of a plurality of work machines, and a specifying unit for specifying a work machine that can be rented out from among the plurality of work machines, based at least on the request and the scheduled date and time.