阅读说明：本技术 车辆租赁管理装置 (Vehicle rental management device ) 是由 松元真纪子 横山浩纪 大久保谕 藤泽滉树 益田卓朗 于 2020-01-03 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供一种车辆租赁管理装置(101),具有：预约管理部(431),其对使用车辆(1)的用户的车辆预约信息进行管理、以及管理者使用决定部(432),其决定对站点(2)进行管理的站点管理者可否使用车辆(1),当存在未包含于由预约管理部(431)管理的车辆预约信息中的可预约车辆的规定长短的时间时,管理者使用决定部(432)允许站点管理者在该时间内使用车辆(1)。(The present invention provides a vehicle rental management device (101), comprising: the reservation management unit (431) manages vehicle reservation information of a user who uses the vehicle (1), and the manager use determination unit (432) determines whether or not the vehicle (1) can be used by a site manager who manages the site (2), and when there is a predetermined length of time for which the vehicle (1) can be reserved, which is not included in the vehicle reservation information managed by the reservation management unit (431), the manager use determination unit (432) allows the site manager to use the vehicle (1) within the time.)

1. A vehicle rental management apparatus (101) that sets an empty parking lot as a station (2) for a vehicle (1) for vehicle rental service and manages rental of the vehicle (1), comprising;

a reservation management unit (431) that manages vehicle reservation information of a user who uses the vehicle (1); and

an administrator use determination unit (432) that determines whether or not a station administrator who manages the station (2) can use the vehicle (1),

when there is a reserved vehicle available time of a predetermined length that is not included in the vehicle reservation information managed by the reservation management unit (431), the manager use determination unit (432) allows the site manager to use the vehicle (1) within the time.

2. The vehicle rental management apparatus of claim 1,

when a request for use of the vehicle (1) is issued from a site manager, and when there is a time of the predetermined length that can be reserved by the vehicle that is not included in the vehicle reservation information managed by the reservation management unit (431), the manager use determination unit (432) permits use of the vehicle (1) within the time.

3. The vehicle rental management apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a fee calculation portion (434), the fee calculation portion (434) calculating a use fee generated for the rental of the vehicle (1),

the fee calculation unit (434) calculates the usage fee of the vehicle (1) so that the usage fee per unit time for the user to use the vehicle (1) is different from the usage fee per unit time for the site manager to use the vehicle (1).

4. The vehicle rental management apparatus of claim 3,

the fee calculation unit (434) calculates the usage fee of the vehicle (1) such that the usage fee per unit time for the site manager to use the vehicle (1) is lower than the usage fee per unit time for the user to use the vehicle (1).

5. The vehicle rental management apparatus of claim 3 or 4,

when the usage time of the vehicle (1) by the user during a predetermined period is equal to or longer than a predetermined time (T1), the fee calculation unit (434) sets an incentive to the site manager in accordance with the usage time of the vehicle (1) by the user.

6. The vehicle rental management apparatus of claim 5,

when the usage time of the vehicle (1) by the user within a predetermined period exceeds a predetermined time (T1), the fee calculation unit (434) calculates the incentive in such a manner that the incentive increases in proportion to the time that has elapsed.

7. The vehicle rental management apparatus of claim 6,

the incentive is a reward to the site administrator.

8. The vehicle rental management apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7,

when there is a 1 st predetermined time (Δ ta) during which the vehicle can be reserved, which is not included in the vehicle reservation information managed by the reservation management unit (431), the manager use determination unit (432) allows the site manager to use the vehicle (1) for a 2 nd predetermined time (Δ tb) shorter than the 1 st predetermined time (Δ ta).

9. The vehicle rental management apparatus of claim 8,

when the 1 st predetermined time (delta ta) for which the vehicle can be reserved, which is not included in the vehicle reservation information managed by the reservation management unit (431), exists, the manager use determination unit (432) allows the site manager to use the vehicle (1) within the 2 nd predetermined time (delta tb) from the start time of the 1 st predetermined time (delta ta).

10. A vehicle rental management method that sets an idle parking lot as a station (2) for a vehicle (1) for vehicle rental service and manages rental of the vehicle (1), comprising;

a step of managing vehicle reservation information of a user who uses the vehicle (1); and

a step of deciding whether or not a station manager who manages the station (2) can use the vehicle (1),

the step of determining includes, when there is a predetermined length of time that the vehicle can reserve, which is not included in the vehicle reservation information managed in the step of managing, allowing the site manager to use the vehicle (1) within the time.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a vehicle rental management apparatus that manages rental of a vehicle.

Background

In the past, in a single residence and the like, a private car is often parked in a parking lot at home. On the other hand, recently, due to the advanced age of the homeowner, the spread of the vehicle rental service, and the like, the number of private vehicles transferred by the homeowner increases, and the parking lot is left unused. In this case, the following devices are known: a common billboard and a communication means are arranged in a self-owned idle parking lot, and the idle parking lot is used as a timing rental parking device. This device is described in patent document 1, for example.

However, the device described in patent document 1 can only receive a charge when the device is used as a time rental car park, and cannot sufficiently and effectively use the parking space. In addition, in the vehicle rental service, it is difficult to secure a site in a highly convenient place such as a residential area.

Disclosure of Invention

A vehicle rental management apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is a vehicle rental management apparatus that sets an idle parking lot as a station of a vehicle used in a vehicle rental service and manages rental of the vehicle, including: a reservation management unit that manages vehicle reservation information of a user who uses a vehicle; and a manager use determination unit that determines whether or not the vehicle can be used by a site manager who manages the site. When there is a predetermined length of time that the vehicle can reserve, which is not included in the vehicle reservation information managed by the reservation management unit, the manager use determination unit allows the site manager to use the vehicle within the time.

Drawings

The objects, features and advantages of the present invention are further clarified by the following description of the embodiments in relation to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a vehicle rental management system including a vehicle rental management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a main part configuration of a vehicle rental management system including a vehicle rental management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing a main part configuration of the server apparatus of fig. 2.

Fig. 4A is a diagram showing an example of vehicle reservation information.

Fig. 4B is a diagram showing another example of the vehicle reservation information.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a relationship between the excitation calculated by the excitation calculation unit of the server device in fig. 2 and the monthly usage time of the vehicle.

Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a process for determining whether or not a vehicle can be used by a station manager, which is executed by the calculation unit of the server device shown in fig. 2.

Detailed Description

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to fig. 1 to 6. A vehicle rental management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle rental management apparatus in which, for example, a company engaged in a vehicle rental service such as the automobile sharing industry uses an unused parking lot (vacant parking lot) in a house as a site of a vehicle (shared vehicle) that can be used by a plurality of users. A service is provided for a site manager who manages an empty parking lot to be a site, the service allowing use of a shared vehicle parked at the site when a predetermined condition is satisfied. That is, the vehicle rental management apparatus according to the present embodiment is configured to effectively utilize an unused parking lot and improve convenience of the vehicle rental service.

As an enterprise engaged in the vehicle rental service, there are an automobile sharing industry, a vehicle rental industry, and the like. For example, in the automobile sharing industry, an unmanned vehicle (shared vehicle) is rented using a pre-registered IC card or the like, and a user is charged for the vehicle according to the use time and the use distance (travel distance) of the vehicle when returning the vehicle. The car rental industry differs from the car sharing industry in that a car (shared car) rental is performed face-to-face with a clerk. The vehicle rental management apparatus according to the present embodiment can be applied to an enterprise engaged in the vehicle rental industry, but an example in which the vehicle rental management apparatus is applied to an enterprise engaged in the vehicle sharing industry will be described below.

Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a vehicle rental management system 100 including a vehicle rental management apparatus 101 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 1, the vehicle rental management system 100 is a system in which a company engaged in the automobile sharing industry owns a plurality of vehicles 1 (for example, vehicles 1A, 1B, 1C) used in the automobile sharing industry, and uses an idle parking lot located in a residential area such as a single residence or a collective residence as a site 2 (for example, sites 2A, 2B, 2C) of the vehicles 1(1A, 1B, 1C). The in-vehicle terminals 10 (for example, the in-vehicle terminals 10A, 10B, and 10C) are mounted on the respective vehicles 1, and the respective in-vehicle terminals 10 can communicate with the server device 40.

The vehicle 1 includes various types of four-wheeled vehicles having different vehicle shapes (body size, trunk capacity, and the like) such as a sedan, a minibus, a one-box vehicle, a wagon, and a truck. In addition, the vehicle 1 used in the automobile sharing industry may be a dedicated vehicle type for the automobile sharing industry. By preparing various types of vehicles, options of users are increased, and the convenience of automobile sharing is improved. In fig. 1, the vehicle 1A is a sedan type, the vehicle 1B is a wagon type, and the vehicle 1C is a one-car type.

The station 2 is a rental location and a return location of the vehicle 1 used in the automobile sharing industry, and when the user uses the vehicle 1, for example, the same station 2 is the rental location and the return location of the vehicle 1. In fig. 1, a station 2A is a rental location and a return location of the vehicle 1A, a station 2B is a rental location and a return location of the vehicle 1B, and a station 2C is a rental location and a return location of the vehicle 1C.

The station 2 is an idle parking lot located in a residential area such as a single residence or a collective residence. The vacant parking lot is a parking lot in which a private car parking lot (for example, a self parking lot) used as a parking lot for a private car is vacant by transfer of the private car. In fig. 1, sites 2A, 2B are vacant parking lots of individual residences, and site 2C is a vacant parking lot of a collective residence. In addition, the manager may rent a parking lot or the like in a good place as an idle parking lot or may use it as the station 2 of the vehicle 1.

The site manager who manages the site 2 includes not only the owner of the vacant parking lot used as the site but also a manager who manages the vacant parking lot. The station manager can use the vehicle 1 when the vehicle 1 parked at the station 2 managed by the station manager is not used, for example, when there is a reserved time for the vehicle 1 at the station 2 managed by the station manager. The site manager has a site manager terminal 20 (e.g., 20A, 20B, 20C) that can communicate with the server device 40, and can output a request for using the vehicle 1 using the site manager terminal 20.

User information using the automobile sharing service is registered in advance with an enterprise engaged in the automobile sharing industry. The registration is performed using the user terminal 30 that can communicate with the server apparatus 40. When the user uses the vehicle 1 of the station 2 managed by the station manager, since the station 2 may be owned by an individual person, the reliability described later can be considered.

However, in a site where a company engaged in the automobile sharing industry configures vehicles, it is necessary to secure various places by the company itself by using a part of a slot car park, a part of a car park of a rental shopping mall, a convenience store, or the like. However, it is difficult to secure such a station, and particularly, it is very difficult to secure a station in a highly convenient place such as a station vicinity or a dense house because the number of parking lots to be supplied is small. On the other hand, in a single residence, a collective residence, and the like, the number of cases of transferring a private car parked in a parking lot of a house is increasing due to independence of children and self-aging.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, a parking lot, in which a private car is assigned as an idle parking lot, is used as a site for a vehicle owned by an enterprise engaged in the automobile sharing industry. This makes it easy to secure a site at a location with high convenience, and improves the convenience of the vehicle sharing service. When a station manager who is an idle parking lot of a station has a reserved time for a vehicle at the station managed by the station manager, the vehicle can be used for a short time within the reserved time. Therefore, the unused parking lot can be effectively utilized. In order to realize such an operation satisfactorily, the vehicle rental management apparatus according to the present embodiment is configured as follows.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a main part configuration of a vehicle rental management system 100 including a vehicle rental management apparatus 101 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and fig. 3 is a block diagram showing a main part configuration of a server apparatus 40 of fig. 2. As shown in fig. 2, the vehicle rental management system 100 is the same as that of fig. 1, having; the vehicle-mounted terminal 10, the site manager terminal 20, the user terminal 30, and the server device 40. The vehicle rental management apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment is mainly configured by the server apparatus 40.

The in-vehicle terminal 10, the site manager terminal 20, the user terminal 30, and the server device 40 are connected to a communication network 5 such as a wireless communication network, the internet, and a telephone network. For convenience, although one vehicle-mounted terminal 10, one site manager terminal 20, and one user terminal 30 are shown in fig. 2, a plurality of these terminals 10, 20, and 30 are actually provided (see fig. 1, for example). In fig. 2 and 3, a single server device 40 is shown, but the functions of the server device 40 shown in fig. 2 and 3 may be distributed among a plurality of server devices. At least a portion of the communication path may not be wireless but wired.

The in-vehicle terminal 10 is configured to include, for example, a car navigation device. The in-vehicle terminal 10 includes a communication unit 11, an input/output unit 12, a calculation unit 13, and a storage unit 14. The in-vehicle terminal 10 is connected to a sensor group 15 and an actuator 16.

The sensor group 15 includes various sensors that detect the vehicle state. The sensor group 15 includes, for example, a GPS sensor 151 that receives signals from GPS satellites to detect the position of the vehicle 1 and a vehicle speed sensor 152 that detects the vehicle speed. Although not shown, an acceleration sensor for detecting acceleration acting on the vehicle 1, a gyro sensor for detecting an angular velocity, a travel distance sensor for detecting a travel distance, a remaining fuel detection sensor for detecting a remaining amount of fuel, a remaining battery capacity detection sensor for detecting a remaining battery capacity, a door opening/closing sensor for detecting opening/closing of a door, and the like are included in the sensor group 15.

The actuator 16 drives various devices mounted on the vehicle 1 in accordance with a command from the in-vehicle terminal 10 (computing unit 13). The actuator 16 includes, for example, a door lock actuator 161 that unlocks or locks a door lock. When the unlock signal is output from the arithmetic unit 13, the door lock actuator 161 unlocks the door lock, and when the lock signal is output, the door lock actuator 161 locks the door lock. Further, an engine driving actuator, a transmission driving actuator, a brake driving actuator, a steering actuator, and the like are also included in the actuator 16.

The communication unit 11 is configured to be capable of performing wireless communication with the server apparatus 40 via the communication network 5. The communication unit 11 transmits a part of the signal from the sensor group 15 to the server device 40 at predetermined time intervals together with the vehicle ID for identifying the vehicle 1.

The input/output unit 12 includes various switches and buttons that can be operated by a user, a microphone, a speaker, a monitor, and the like. The input/output unit 12 also includes a card reader 121 that reads user information from an authentication card held by the user. For example, a driver's license (IC card license) in which an Integrated Circuit (IC) is incorporated and personal information of a user is stored is used as the authentication card. The card reader 121 is provided at a predetermined position (for example, below the rear window) of the vehicle 1 so as to be able to recognize an authentication card approaching from the outside of the vehicle.

The arithmetic unit 13 includes a CPU, executes predetermined processing based on a signal input from the input/output unit 12, a signal detected by the sensor group 15, a signal received from the outside of the in-vehicle terminal 10 via the communication unit 11, and data stored in the storage unit 14, and outputs a control signal to the actuator 16, the input/output unit 12, and the storage unit 14 of each part of the vehicle 1.

The computing unit 13 also outputs a control signal to the communication unit 11 to control transmission and reception of signals between the in-vehicle terminal 10 and the server device 40. For example, when the user approaches the card reader 121 at the start of using the vehicle, the computing unit 13 transmits the user information read by the card reader 121 to the server device 40 through the communication unit 11. The server device 40 determines whether or not there is reservation information corresponding to the received user information, and transmits an unlock command to the arithmetic unit 13 if there is corresponding vehicle reservation information, and transmits a lock signal if there is no corresponding vehicle reservation information. The arithmetic unit 13 outputs an unlock signal to the door lock actuator 161 when receiving an unlock command, and outputs a lock signal to the door lock actuator 161 when receiving a lock command.

The storage unit 14 includes a volatile or nonvolatile memory not shown. The storage unit 14 stores various programs and various data executed by the arithmetic unit 13. For example, the detection data of the sensor group 15 is temporarily stored. The stored detection data is transmitted to the server device 40 through the communication unit 11 at predetermined intervals by processing in the operation unit 13.

The site manager terminal 20 is configured by a personal computer operated by a site manager, a portable wireless terminal typified by a smartphone, or the like. The station manager terminal 20 includes a communication unit 21, an input/output unit 22, a calculation unit 23, and a storage unit 24.

The communication unit 21 is configured to be capable of performing wireless communication with the server apparatus 40 via the communication network 5. The communication unit 21 transmits a signal indicating a request for use of the vehicle 1 parked at the station 2 managed by itself to the server device 40 together with the station manager ID identifying the station manager. Further, when the site manager makes a reservation or cancellation of the vehicle 1 in the same manner as the other users, the communication unit 21 transmits a signal indicating the reservation or cancellation or the like of the vehicle 1 to the server device 40 together with the site manager ID.

Further, the communication unit 21 receives information on whether or not the vehicle 1 can be used in response to a use request from the site manager from the server device 40. Further, the communication unit 21 receives, from the server device 40, incentive information for a time of using the vehicle 1 parked at the station 2 managed by the station manager, for example, incentive information received by the station manager based on a monthly usage time of the vehicle 1.

The input/output unit 22 includes, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a monitor, a touch panel, and the like. The site manager inputs a use request, a reservation application, cancellation, and the like for the vehicle 1 through the input/output unit 22. In addition, information of a site manager (site manager information) is registered in advance in a company engaged in the automobile sharing service. The site manager information includes: the site manager's residence, name, contact address, license number, information required for settlement (e.g., credit card number), etc. After inputting the site manager information and performing the manager registration, the site manager can use its own vacant parking lot as the site 2 of the vehicle 1.

When the station manager issues a request for use of the vehicle 1 parked at the station 2, the server device 40 searches for a reservation status of the vehicle 1, and when there is a time when the user does not reserve the vehicle, transmits information that the station manager can use the vehicle 1 during the time. The availability information includes a time when the vehicle 1 is available, and the time is displayed on the input/output portion 22. The use permission is determined when the site manager selects a desired time from the displayed times or accepts the displayed time.

The request for using the vehicle 1 may also be made by the site manager inputting the time at which the vehicle 1 is desired to be used through the input/output section 22. In this case, when the site manager inputs the usage time (usage start time and usage end time) of the vehicle 1, the server apparatus 40 retrieves the reservation availability time and transmits reservation availability information to the site manager terminal 20. The information on the reservation availability is displayed on the input/output unit 22. In the case where the displayed use time is displayed to be available for reservation, when the site manager accepts the displayed reservation time, the vehicle reservation is determined.

When a reservation request for the vehicle is made, the use fee of the vehicle 1 is displayed as vehicle information on the input/output unit 22. The displayed fee includes a fee per a prescribed time or per a prescribed distance (reference fee) and a total use fee, which is calculated by multiplying the reference fee by the use time or the use distance. The fee displayed when the reservation application is made is an estimated fee, and when the use time and the travel distance of the vehicle 1 are determined at the time of returning the vehicle 1, the use fee is also determined. The determined usage fee is displayed by the input/output unit 22, and the site manager can grasp the usage fee. The usage cost (for example, usage cost per unit time) when the site manager uses the vehicle 1 is set to be lower than the usage cost when the user uses the vehicle 1.

The arithmetic unit 23 has a CPU, executes predetermined processing based on a signal input from the input/output unit 22, a signal received from the outside of the site manager terminal 20 via the communication unit 21, and data stored in the storage unit 24, and outputs a control signal to the communication unit 21, the input/output unit 22, and the storage unit 24, respectively. Through the processing executed by the computing unit 23, the site manager can confirm the permission of use of the vehicle 1, change or confirm the reserved vehicle, and the like, through the input/output unit 22 (monitor or the like).

The storage unit 24 includes a volatile or nonvolatile memory not shown. The storage unit 24 stores various programs and various data executed by the arithmetic unit 23.

The user terminal 30 is configured by a personal computer operated by a user, a portable wireless terminal typified by a smart phone, or the like. The user terminal 30 includes: a communication unit 31, an input/output unit 32, an arithmetic unit 33, and a storage unit 34.

The communication unit 31 is configured to be capable of wireless communication with the server apparatus 40 via the communication network 5. The communication unit 31 transmits a signal indicating a reservation application, cancellation, or the like to the vehicle 1 to the server device 40 together with a user ID for identifying the user.

The input/output unit 32 includes, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a monitor, a touch panel, and the like. The user inputs user information through the input/output section 32. The user information includes an address, a name, a contact address, a license number, information required for settlement (e.g., a credit card number), and the like of the user. The user can use the vehicle 1 after inputting the user information and performing member registration.

When a vehicle reservation request is made, vehicle reservation information is input by a user. For example, the user makes an instruction of the type of the vehicle 1 that he wants to use, the rental place of the vehicle 1 (the area of the station 2 that he wants to use), and the use time (the use start time and the use end time) of the vehicle 1. At this time, the server device 40 searches for a vehicle 1 that can be reserved and satisfies any or all of the indicated type of the vehicle 1, the stop 2, and the time of use, and transmits the information of the searched vehicle 1 and stop 2 to the user terminal 30.

The vehicle information and the station information are displayed on the input/output section 32. When the user selects a desired vehicle 1 and station 2 from the displayed vehicles 1 and stations 2 through the input/output section 32, or the user accepts the displayed vehicles 1 and stations 2, the vehicle reservation is determined.

When the vehicle 1 reservation request is made, the use fee of the vehicle 1 is displayed as the vehicle information on the input/output unit 32. The displayed fee includes a fee per a prescribed time or per a prescribed distance (reference fee) and a total use fee, which is calculated by multiplying the reference fee by the use time or the use distance. The fee displayed at the time of the reservation request is an estimated fee, and when the use time and the travel distance of the vehicle 1 are determined at the time of returning the vehicle 1, the use fee is also determined. The determined usage fee is displayed by the input/output unit 32, so that the user can grasp the usage fee.

The arithmetic unit 33 includes a CPU, executes predetermined processing based on a signal input through the input/output unit 32, a signal received from the outside of the user terminal 30 through the communication unit 31, and data stored in the storage unit 34, and outputs a control signal to the communication unit 31, the input/output unit 32, and the storage unit 34, respectively. The user can change and confirm the reserved vehicle through the input/output unit 32 (such as a monitor) by the processing executed by the calculation unit 33.

The storage unit 34 includes a volatile or nonvolatile memory not shown. The storage unit 34 stores various programs and various data executed by the arithmetic unit 33.

The server device 40 is installed in, for example, a company engaged in an automobile sharing service. The server device 40 can also be configured using a virtual server function on the cloud. As shown in fig. 3, the server device 40 includes: a communication unit 41, an input/output unit 42, a calculation unit 43, and a storage unit 44.

The communication unit 41 is configured to be capable of wireless communication with each of the in-vehicle terminal 10, the site manager terminal 20, and the user terminal 30 via the communication network 5. The input/output unit 42 includes, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a monitor, a touch panel, and the like. The arithmetic unit 43 includes a CPU, executes predetermined processing based on a signal input from the input/output unit 42, a signal received from the outside of the server apparatus 40 via the communication unit 41, and data stored in the storage unit 44, and outputs a control signal to the input/output unit 42 and the storage unit 44. The functional configuration of the arithmetic unit 43 will be described later.

The storage unit 44 includes a volatile or nonvolatile memory not shown. The storage unit 44 stores various programs and various data executed by the arithmetic unit 43. The storage unit 44 has a functional configuration in which the vehicle database 441, the user database 442, the site database 443, and the site manager database 444 are implemented as memories.

The vehicle database 441 stores vehicle information of each of the plurality of vehicles 1 used by the vehicle sharing service, that is, vehicle information indicating a vehicle state, a vehicle characteristic, and a plan of use of each vehicle 1, such as a vehicle type, a vehicle model year, a vehicle identification number, a vehicle number, a travel distance, a maintenance history, and a utilization rate of each vehicle 1. The usage plan includes the actual usage results of the time series of each vehicle 1, the reservation information of the current and future time series, and the maintenance plan of the vehicle 1 to be implemented in the space of the reservation information.

The user database 442 stores user information such as a user ID, an address, a name, a contact address, and a license number of each user, which are input through the user terminal 30 (input/output unit 32), and information (credit information) indicating the degree of credit of the user, such as a usage history of the vehicle 1 of each user, a payment status of usage fees, an accident history, and a traffic violation history. That is, the user database 442 stores user information and credit information of each user in association with the user ID. The credit decreases for each occurrence of an accident history, traffic violation, for example, and increases as the degree of traffic violation decreases.

The station database 443 stores station information of each of the plurality of stations 2 used for the vehicle sharing service, that is, an address of each station 2, an ID and a name of a station manager who manages each station 2, and vehicle information of the vehicle 1 parked at each station 2.

The site manager database 444 stores site manager information such as site manager ID, address, name, contact address, license number, and the like of each site manager, fee information such as unit price of the usage fee when the use of the vehicle 1 is permitted, usage history of the vehicle 1 of each site manager, payment status of the fee, accident history, history of traffic violation, and the like, which are input through the site manager terminal 20 (input/output unit 22), and information (credit information) indicating the credit degree of the site manager. That is, the site manager database 444 stores site manager information, fee information, and credit information of each site manager in association with the site manager ID.

The calculation unit 43 has a functional configuration in which a reservation management unit 431, a manager use determination unit 432, a vehicle information acquisition unit 433, a fee calculation unit 434, a violation determination unit 435, and an output unit 436 are implemented as a processor.

The reservation management unit 431 receives a use request of the vehicle 1 input by the user through the user terminal 30 (input/output unit 32). For example, the reservation management unit 431 receives, via the communication unit 41, information of the vehicle 1 that can be reserved, which matches the vehicle reservation information input by the user, such as the type of the vehicle 1 that is desired to be used, the rental location of the vehicle 1 (the area of the station 2 that is desired to be used), and the use time of the vehicle 1. Further, the reservation management part 431 retrieves from the vehicle database 441 a reservable vehicle 1 that satisfies any or all of the conditions of the indicated type of vehicle 1, the station 2, and the time of use.

At this time, the reservation management unit 431 extracts information of the reliability of the user who has submitted the vehicle reservation application from the user database 442, and when the reliability of the user is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, the site 2 managed by the site manager is included in the retrievable range. In other words, when the reliability of the user who proposed the vehicle reservation is lower than the predetermined value, the server apparatus 40 does not set the site 2 managed by the site manager as the rental location. By limiting the use conditions of the vehicle 1 at the site 2 managed by the site manager as a rental lot to users with high reliability, the site manager can be free from anxiety when the user uses his parking lot. The reservation management unit 431 transmits the information of the searched vehicle 1 and station 2 to the user terminal 30, and accepts the application of the usage reservation with the selected or accepted vehicle 1 as the reserved vehicle.

The reservation management unit 431 creates a present and future use plan for each vehicle 1, and registers the use plan in the vehicle database 441. More specifically, in addition to the usage plan of the reserved vehicle received by the user terminal 30 (input/output unit 32), a usage plan of the vehicle used by the site manager, which is determined by the rental permission unit 432b described later, is created and registered in the vehicle database 441. The usage plan includes a usage start time and a usage end time of the reserved vehicle, a time when the site manager uses the vehicle, and a maintenance plan to be regularly implemented.

The manager use determination unit 432 determines whether or not the site manager can use the vehicle 1, based on the use plan created by the reservation management unit 431. More specifically, when there is a reserved time of the vehicle that is not included in the created usage plan, the manager usage determination unit 432 determines to allow the site manager to use the vehicle 1 within the reserved time. The manager use determination unit 432 determines whether or not to use the vehicle 1 in response to a request for use of the vehicle input by the site manager through the site manager terminal 20. The manager use determination section 432 has a request acquisition section 432a and a lease permission section 432b as functional configurations.

The request acquisition unit 432a receives a request for use of the vehicle 1 input by the site manager through the site manager terminal 20 (input/output unit 22). For example, the request acquisition unit 432a acquires information related to a usage request of the site manager via the communication unit 41.

When the request acquisition unit 432a acquires the information relating to the use request, it searches for a vehicle reserving available time that is not included in the use time of the reserved vehicle from the use plan created by the reservation management unit 431, and when the searched time is within the 1 st predetermined time Δ ta (for example, one hour) and is equal to or more than the 2 nd predetermined time Δ tb (for example, 30 minutes), the rental allowance unit 432b allows the use of the 2 nd predetermined time Δ tb within the time of the vehicle 1. That is, if the unreserved time is one hour, the time that the site manager can use the vehicle 1 is a predetermined time (for example, 30 minutes) within one hour. Thus, if there is an unreserved time, the site manager can use the vehicle 1 in a short time within the time, and therefore, even if the site manager does not own a private car, it is possible to make a purchase, to get to a station, or the like, for example, and effectively use the vehicle 1 even though the frequency is low.

Fig. 4A and 4B are views each showing an example of vehicle reservation information, and rental permission unit 432B determines whether or not the site manager can use the vehicle based on the vehicle reservation information. As shown in fig. 4A, for example, when the request acquisition unit 432a acquires the use request from the site manager at time t0, there are reserved vehicle times (reservation 1, reservation 2) included in the use plan from time t1 to time t2 and after time t3 at time t 0. On the other hand, the time from the time t0 to the time t1 and the time from the time t2 to the time t3 are the vehicle bookable times that are not included in the use plan. Of these times, the time from time t0 to time t1 is within the 1 st predetermined time Δ ta (one hour). Therefore, it is difficult to make a reservation from the user later in the time period from time t0 to time t 1. On the other hand, since the time from the time t2 to the time t3 is longer than the 1 st predetermined time Δ ta, there is a possibility that a reservation from the user will follow the time from the time t2 to the time t 3. Therefore, in response to the request for use of the vehicle 1 from the site manager, the rental allowing part 432b transmits the information that the vehicle 1 is allowed to be used for the 2 nd predetermined time Δ tb from the time t0 to the time t1 (more specifically, the information that the vehicle 1 is allowed to be used for 30 minutes from the time t 0) to the site manager terminal 20 through the communication part 41. Then, when accepted by the site manager, it is decided to permit the use of the vehicle 1 for 30 minutes from the time t 0.

As shown in fig. 4B, after time t0 to time t1 and time t4, reservations (reservation 1 and reservation 3) for the user to use the vehicle are received, and when the time from time t2 to time t4 is within the 1 st predetermined time Δ ta, it is difficult for the user to make a reservation thereafter at the time from t2 to t 4. In this case, the rental license section 432b transmits, to the site manager terminal 20, information that allows the use for 30 minutes from the time t0 and the use for 30 minutes from the time t2 in response to the use request for the vehicle 1 from the site manager. Then, the use of the vehicle 1 at the time selected by the site manager is permitted. When the rental permission section 432b decides to permit the site manager to use the vehicle 1, information of the time at which the use is decided is transmitted to the reservation management section 431. When the reservation management unit receives the time information from the rental permission unit 432b, the reservation management unit performs a process of adding the time to the usage plan.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the vehicle reserving-able time that is not included in the use plan is the vehicle reserving-able time that is not included in the use plan at the time when the request acquiring unit 432 receives the information on the use request, and it is difficult for the vehicle to reserve within the 1 st predetermined time Δ ta and not less than the 2 nd predetermined time Δ tb. The difference between the 1 st predetermined time Δ ta and the 2 nd predetermined time Δ tb may be set to be shorter than 30 minutes. For example, the 2 nd predetermined time Δ tb may be the same time (one hour) as the 1 st predetermined time Δ ta. Thus, the time for which the site manager can use the vehicle 1 can be set to a time shorter than the 2 nd predetermined time Δ tb by a predetermined time or more.

The vehicle information acquiring unit 433 acquires vehicle information including the use record of each vehicle 1 that can be rented to the user from the vehicle database 441. The acquired vehicle information includes the use time and the use distance per predetermined period (for example, one month) of each vehicle 1.

The fee calculation unit 434 calculates the usage fee of the vehicle 1 and calculates an incentive to the site manager when a predetermined condition is satisfied. The fee calculation unit 434 has a fee setting unit 434a and an incentive calculation unit 434b as functional configurations.

The fee setting portion 434a sets a use fee in the case where the site manager is permitted to use the vehicle 1 and the site manager uses the vehicle 1. The fee setting unit 434a sets the usage fee so that the usage fee per unit time when the site manager uses the vehicle 1 is different from the usage fee per unit time when the user uses the vehicle 1. For example, the usage charge is set so that the usage charge per unit time when the site manager uses the vehicle 1 is lower than the usage charge per unit time when the user uses the vehicle 1. The fee setting unit 434a may set the usage fee per unit time for the site manager to use the vehicle 1 to free. The set usage fees are stored in the site manager database 444.

The fee calculation unit 434 calculates the usage fee by multiplying the usage time or the usage distance by the reference fee for the user and by multiplying the usage time by the reference fee for the site manager, based on the usage fee (reference fee) per unit time set by the fee setting unit 434 a.

When the usage time of the vehicle 1 by the user is equal to or longer than the predetermined time within the predetermined period, the incentive calculation unit 434b sets an incentive to the site manager (for example, a reward to the site manager) according to the usage time of the vehicle 1 by the user. For example, when the monthly usage time of the vehicle 1 at the site 2 managed by the site manager is equal to or longer than T1 time, the opportunity that the site manager can use is significantly reduced. Thus, the benefits available to the site manager are reduced, losing the incentive to provide an idle parking lot as site 2. In view of this, when the usage time of the user using the vehicle 1 is equal to or longer than the predetermined time T1 within the predetermined period, the incentive calculation unit 434b sets an incentive to the site manager according to the usage time of the user using the vehicle 1. In addition, the predetermined time T1 can be set to 0 or more as appropriate for the company engaged in the vehicle rental service. For example, the time period can be set shorter than usual in a region where competition with other companies in the same industry is strong, or in a campaign for soliciting site managers.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a specific example of the relationship between the incentive (reward) calculated by the incentive calculating unit 434b and the monthly usage time of the vehicle 1. For example, as shown in fig. 5, when the monthly usage time of the user using the vehicle 1 exceeds a predetermined time T1, the incentive calculation unit 434b calculates the amount of reward so that the incentive increases in proportion to the usage time.

The violation determination unit 435 determines whether or not a traffic violation is present for the user using the vehicle 1 based on the signal acquired by the sensor group 15 of the in-vehicle terminal 10. The current location of the vehicle 1 is determined, for example, from the signal from the GPS sensor 151, and the magnitude of the speed limit of the vehicle 1 at that location and the vehicle speed derived from the signal from the vehicle speed sensor 152 is determined, thereby determining whether the user has a speed violation. It is also possible to determine the presence or absence of a parking violation by determining whether the vehicle 1 is parked at a place where parking is prohibited based on a signal from the GPS sensor 151. When a speed violation is determined, the credit rating of the user stored in the user database 442 is lowered and the credit information is updated.

The output unit 436 outputs the information of the vehicle 1 permitted to be used for the predetermined time period permitted by the rental permission unit 432b to the reservation management unit 431, and transmits the information to the site manager terminal 20 through the communication unit 41. This enables the station manager to grasp the information of the permitted use of the vehicle 1.

The output unit 436 stores the information of the usage charge of the user calculated by the charge calculation unit 434 in the vehicle database 441 and the user database 442, and transmits the information to the user terminal 3 through the communication unit 41. This enables the user to grasp the usage charge. Similarly, the output unit 436 stores the information of the usage charge of the site manager and the information of the incentive calculated by the charge calculation unit 434 in the vehicle database 441 and the site manager database 444, and transmits the information to the site manager terminal 20 via the communication unit 41. Thus, the site manager can grasp the usage cost and incentive.

Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed by the arithmetic unit 43 according to a program stored in advance in the storage unit 44 of the server device 40, and particularly an example of a request for use of the vehicle 1 made by a site manager. The processing shown in the flowchart is started when the server device 40 receives a signal indicating a request for use of the vehicle 1 from the site manager terminal 20, for example, and is repeatedly executed every predetermined time.

First, at S1 (S: processing step), the request acquisition unit 432a acquires the request for use of the vehicle 1 transmitted from the site manager terminal 20, and acquires the information of the usage plan of the reserved vehicle 1 created by the reservation management unit 431. Next, at S2, the processing of the rental approval unit 432b determines whether or not there is a reserved time of the vehicle within a predetermined range not included in the vehicle reservation information of the user within a predetermined time (for example, 24 hours or 48 hours) from the present, that is, whether or not there is a reserved time within the 1 st predetermined time Δ ta and not less than the 2 nd predetermined time Δ tb. If S2 is negative (S2: no), the process proceeds to step S4, and the use request for vehicle 1 is rejected by the process at rental authorization unit 432b, whereby the process ends.

On the other hand, when S2 is affirmative (S2; YES), the routine proceeds to S3, information that the use of the vehicle 1 is permitted is transmitted to the site manager terminal 20, and the usable information of the vehicle 1 is output to the input/output section 22 of the site manager terminal 20. When there are a plurality of time slots which can be reserved by the vehicle and which are not included in the vehicle reservation information of the user, the plurality of time slots are output.

Next, at S5, it is determined whether or not the information (manager information) of the reception usable information or the selection usable time transmitted from the site manager is acquired. When S5 is negated (S5: NO), the process is ended. When S5 is affirmative (S5: YES), the process proceeds to S6. At step S6, it is determined by the processing at the rental permission part 432b that the site manager is permitted to use the vehicle 1, and the information of permitted use is transmitted to the site manager terminal 20 through the communication part 41 together with the use fee information, and then the processing is ended.

The present embodiment can provide the following effects.

(1) The vehicle rental management apparatus 101 sets the vacant parking lot as the station 2 of the vehicle 1 for the vehicle rental service, and manages the rental of the vehicle 1. The vehicle rental management apparatus 101 includes: a reservation management unit 431 that manages a usage plan of the vehicle; and an administrator use determination unit 432 that determines whether or not the site administrator who manages the site 2 can use the vehicle 1 (fig. 3). When there is a predetermined length of time (a time within the 1 st predetermined time Δ ta and not less than the 2 nd predetermined time Δ tb) for which the vehicle can be reserved, which is not included in the usage plan of the vehicle managed by the reservation management unit 431, the manager usage determination unit 432 allows the site manager to use the vehicle 1 within the time (within the 2 nd predetermined time Δ tb).

With this configuration, the site manager can use the vehicle 1 for a predetermined time (for example, 30 minutes) when there is a predetermined length of time (for example, one hour) that the vehicle can reserve, which is not included in the use plan of the vehicle 1. Thus, since the site manager can use the vehicle 1 for a short time if there is no vehicle reservation, the vehicle 1 can be used effectively even if there is no private car, for example, the frequency of shopping nearby, delivery to a station, and the like is low. Since the rental location of the vehicle 1 in the car sharing service is a parking lot, the travel time to reach the vehicle 1 is short, and the convenience is high compared to the use of a general car sharing service. Since the company engaged in the automobile sharing industry owns the vehicle 1, the company regularly checks and cleans the vehicle under the management of the company, and the site manager is not obligated to pay a tax to the vehicle 1.

(2) When there is a reserved available time within the 1 st predetermined time Δ ta (for example, one hour) when a request for use of the vehicle 1 is issued from the site manager, the manager use determination unit 432 permits use of the vehicle 1 for the 2 nd predetermined time Δ tb (for example, 30 minutes) shorter than the 1 st predetermined time Δ ta. This makes it possible to determine the permission to use the vehicle within a time period desired by the site manager, and thus to efficiently create a plan for using the vehicle 1.

(3) The vehicle rental management apparatus 101 further includes a fee calculation unit 434, and the fee calculation unit 434 calculates a usage fee for rental of the vehicle 1 (fig. 3). The fee calculation unit 434 calculates the usage fee of the vehicle 1 so that the usage fee per unit time of the vehicle 1 used by the user is different from the usage fee per unit time of the vehicle 1 used by the site manager. This makes it possible to make the use fee for the vehicle by the site manager free of charge or at a low cost. Therefore, the benefit of the site manager providing an idle parking lot of his own home as the site of the vehicle 1 of the automobile sharing service increases.

(4) The fee calculation unit 434 calculates the usage fee of the vehicle 1 so that the usage fee per unit time for the site manager to use the vehicle 1 is lower than the usage fee per unit time for the user to use the vehicle 1. Thus, the site manager is economical and convenient when using the vehicle 1 of the automobile sharing service.

(5) When the usage time of the vehicle used by the user in the predetermined period is equal to or longer than the predetermined time T1, the fee calculation unit 434 sets an incentive to the site manager according to the usage time of the vehicle 1 used by the user (fig. 5). Thus, the station 2 managed by the station manager becomes the human station 2 for reasons such as convenience, and the use and reservation of the vehicle 1 parked at the station 2 increase, and even if the opportunity for use by the station manager decreases, the station manager is encouraged. Therefore, the site manager can be motivated to actively provide his own vacant parking lot.

(6) When the usage time of the user using the vehicle 1 within the predetermined period exceeds the predetermined time T1, the fee calculation unit 434 calculates the reward amount as the incentive such that the incentive increases in proportion to the time that has elapsed. Thus, the motivation for the site manager to actively provide an idle parking lot is expected to be further increased.

In the above embodiment, when there is the 1 st predetermined time Δ ta for which the vehicle can be reserved, which is not included in the vehicle reservation information managed by the reservation management unit 431, the manager use determination unit 432 allows the site manager to use the vehicle 1 for the 2 nd predetermined time Δ tb, which is shorter than the 1 st predetermined time Δ ta. More specifically, the site manager is permitted to use the vehicle 1 for the 2 nd predetermined time Δ tb from the start time of the 1 st predetermined time Δ ta (t0 in fig. 4A, t0 in fig. 4B, t 2). However, when there is a predetermined length of time that can be reserved by a vehicle that is not included in the vehicle reservation information managed by the reservation management unit 431, the configuration of the manager use determination unit may be any configuration as long as the site manager is allowed to use the vehicle 1 within the time. For example, the setting of the 2 nd predetermined time Δ tb may be omitted, and the site manager may be permitted to use the vehicle 1 within the 1 st predetermined time Δ ta. The 1 st prescribed time Δ ta may also be set according to the length of the remaining time from the current time (time before t0, t2) to the time (t0, t2) at which the vehicle 1 can be used. For example, the 1 st predetermined time Δ ta can be set longer because the remaining time is shorter and the possibility of receiving a reservation from the user is low. In this case, the 2 nd predetermined time Δ tb may be changed according to the length of the 1 st predetermined time Δ ta. That is, the 1 st predetermined time Δ ta may be longer and the 2 nd predetermined time Δ tb may be longer.

In the above embodiment, the vehicle rental management system 100 is configured by the in-vehicle terminal 10, the site manager terminal 20, the user terminal 30, and the server device 40 has the main functions of the vehicle rental management system 100 that are possessed by the reservation management unit 431, the manager use determination unit 432, the vehicle information acquisition unit 433, the fee calculation unit 434, and the violation determination unit 435, but some or all of these functions may be possessed by a device (for example, a corporate terminal) other than the server device.

In the above embodiment, the server apparatus 40 is configured to include the reservation management unit 431, the administrator use determination unit 432, the vehicle information acquisition unit 433, the fee calculation unit 434, and the violation determination unit 435, but the vehicle rental management apparatus 101 may omit the vehicle information acquisition unit 433, the fee calculation unit 434, and the violation determination unit 435 as long as the reservation management unit 431 and the administrator use determination unit 432 are included.

The above-described embodiment applies the vehicle rental management apparatus to an enterprise engaged in the automobile sharing industry, for example, an enterprise operating a sales shop such as sales and maintenance of vehicles, but the vehicle rental management apparatus of the present invention can be applied not only to such an enterprise but also to other enterprises such as an enterprise engaged in the automobile rental industry.

The present invention can also be used as a vehicle rental management method that sets an idle parking lot as the station 2 of the vehicle 1 for the vehicle rental service and manages the rental of the vehicle 1.

One or more of the above embodiments and modifications may be arbitrarily combined, or modifications may be combined with each other.

By adopting the invention, the idle parking lot can be effectively utilized, and the convenience of the vehicle leasing service can be improved.

While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the following claims.