FR3041802A1 - AUTOPARTAGE SYSTEM AND METHOD OF BORROWING AND RETRIEVING VEHICLE - Google Patents

Abstract

Car-sharing system, which includes first beacons (20) installed in car-sharing stations, second beacons (32) installed on vehicles (30) to be used in the stations, a server device (40) which stores the information for reserving and managing vehicle loans, and user terminals (10) held by the users, and wherein the user terminals (10) transmit to the server device (40), based on information received from the first tags (20). ), first data identifying the stations, and transmitting to the server device (40), based on information received from the second beacons (32), second data identifying the vehicles (30), and the server device (40) executes , on the basis of the first data and the second data, the loan processing and return of the vehicles considered.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a car-sharing system.

[0002] State of the art The shared use of vehicles between several users, so-called carsharing, is a formula that tends to develop in recent years. In most carsharing systems, the user must be authenticated at the time of the vehicle loan and return procedures. Concretely, the user presents a smart card in front of a card reader equipping the vehicle, which vehicle communicates with a center and, once verified that the user is duly registered and that he has reserved, the doors of the vehicle are according to the case unlocked or locked.

[0003] In addition to car-sharing systems known as "back-and-forth" vehicles, where the vehicle is returned to the departure station, "one-way" systems that allow one-way use are beginning to appear. However these one-way systems require to determine, when returning the vehicle, whether it is returned or not in the station provided at the time of booking.

As an invention in this respect, for example, the vehicle recovery system described in published Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. 2011-128987 can be mentioned. In this system, a vehicle equipment acquires position information by means of a GPS module, and the return of the vehicle is accepted if the current position of the vehicle matches the restitution location set in advance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004]

Thus, in carsharing systems, when one wants to characterize the station where a vehicle is parked, it is necessary to acquire the position of the vehicle by a means such as GPS, which poses a problem of cost. To counter this, for example, we have devised the method of installing card readers respectively on the vehicle and in the station and having the user present a smart card in front of the two readers, but such a method has the disadvantage of putting the user to greater use.

[0005]

The present invention is part of this problem, and aims to enable to achieve low cost the association between vehicles and stations in carsharing systems.

[0006]

The car-sharing system according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises first beacons installed in car-sharing stations, second beacons installed on vehicles to be used in the stations, a server device configured to store the information of the car. reservation and management of the vehicle loans and user terminals held by the users, and is such that the user terminals are configured to transmit to the server device, on the basis of information received from the first tags, first data identifying the stations, and transmitting to the server device, on the basis of information received from the second beacons, second data identifying the vehicles, and the server device is configured to execute, on the basis of the first data and the second data, the borrowed and the return of the vehicles concerned.

[0007]

A beacon is a device that wirelessly transmits predefined information. The first tags are installed in the carsharing stations, the second beacons on the vehicles to borrow.

In the invention, the user terminals held by the users receive the information emitted respectively by the first tags and by the second tags. It suffices for a user terminal to receive information transmitted from a first beacon so that it is known that the user stands in the corresponding station, and that he receives information transmitted from a second beacon so that it is known that user stands near the corresponding vehicle. Also, on simple transmission of this information from the user terminal to the server device, said server device is able to determine that the vehicle and the user are present together in the corresponding station. In other words, it becomes possible to associate the vehicle to be used by the user and the station where the vehicle is parked, without having to present a map to a card reader or acquire GPS position information.

It should be noted that it is not necessary for the first data and the second data to be transmitted simultaneously. For example, one can as well make sure to transmit them in a staggered manner one by one, and in the case of such a staggered transmission, one can make sure to execute in the interval actions on the user terminal to from the server device.

[0008]

The car-sharing system according to the invention may further be characterized in that the user terminals have a function of detecting the distance to the beacons based on the intensity of the radio signals, and a user terminal is configured for, in the case of where it has received information from a first beacon located in the same station, transmit to the server device the first data, and in the case where it has received information from a second beacon present near the terminal itself, for transmitting the second data to the server device.

[0009]

Thus, it is possible to make it possible to detect the distance to the beacons by making the user terminal acquire the intensity of the radio signals. Concretely, we adopt, as the threshold of the first beacons, a distance of an order of magnitude which makes it possible to understand that we are standing in the same station (for example a few meters to a few tens of meters), and as threshold of the second beacons , the distance that prevails when approaching the terminal of the beacon (for example a few centimeters to a few tens of centimeters). In this way, the management server is able to recognize, in the first case, that the user is standing in the station, and in the second case, that he is preparing to initiate an action on the vehicle (for example, getting on or off the car, returning the vehicle, locking or unlocking the doors, etc.).

[0010]

The car-sharing system according to the invention may furthermore be characterized in that a user terminal is configured for, in the case where it has received information concomitantly with a first beacon and a second beacon, while is credited with a vehicle loan (a vehicle loan has therefore been provided for this user terminal), transmit to the server device the first data and the second data, and the server device is configured to determine, on the basis of the received data and booking information, if the vehicle is returned to the correct station.

[0011]

If the user terminal receives information concomitantly with a first beacon and a second beacon while it is credited with a vehicle loan, we are entitled to assume that the user is preparing to return the vehicle. The server device is then able, by comparing the station and vehicle identified by the tags with the stored reservation information, to judge whether the vehicle is returned to the station according to the reservation.

Note that it is not necessary for the user terminal to receive the information of the first beacon and the second beacon simultaneously. For example, the vehicle restitution diagnosis can be done as well if information is received from a second beacon within a specified time after information has been received from a first beacon.

[0012]

The car-sharing system according to the invention may furthermore be characterized in that a user terminal is configured for, in the case where it has received information from a first beacon, while it is not credited with a vehicle loan, acquire from the user the destination station and transmit to the server device the first data and data identifying the destination station, and the server device is configured to operate the reservation of a vehicle on the basis of received data.

[0013]

If the user terminal receives information from a first tag while it is not credited with a vehicle loan, it is reasonable to assume that the user holding the user terminal has arrived at a station, c. that is, he is preparing to ride in a vehicle now. The user terminal then invites, in this case, the user to enter the destination station, and transmits it to the server device with the first data (that is to say the data identifying the station where the user stands) . In doing so, the booking of the vehicle (creation of booking information) can be carried out smoothly. It should be noted that it is not necessary for the first data and the data identifying the destination station to be transmitted simultaneously. For example, it is possible to make sure to transmit the first data first and then to acquire from the user the destination station in response to an instruction issued by the server device, or vice versa.

[0014]

The car-sharing system according to the invention may furthermore be characterized in that a user terminal is configured for, in the case where it has received information from a first beacon, while it is not credited with a vehicle loan, transmit the first data to the server device, and the server device is configured to, in the case where it has received the first data, pre-reserve a vehicle parked in the corresponding station.

[0015]

It is possible to ensure that upon receipt of information from a first beacon, the user terminal is content to transmit only the first data to the server device. With such a constitution, it is possible to pre-reserve a vehicle (that is, to create reservation information for temporarily holding a vehicle) before proceeding with the actual reservation by means of the entry of the place. destination by the user. This prevents the vehicle that the user has in front of the eyes is retained by another user via the network, and thus increase the convenience of the system.

[0016]

The car-sharing system according to the invention may furthermore be characterized in that the server device is configured, in the case where it has pre-booked a vehicle, to presume or determine the destination station and to pre-book an additional one. parking space in the considered station.

[0017]

In the case of pre-booking, it is preferable to retain, at the same time as the vehicle, the parking space in the destination station. For this purpose, it is possible to ensure that the server device presumes the station to which the user will go and pre-reserve the parking space. The destination station can for example be presumed based in particular on the history of the uses of the user.

[0018]

The car-sharing system according to the invention may further be characterized in that a user terminal is configured for, in the case where it has received information from a second beacon without having received information from a first beacon transmitting to the server device a data item meaning that the user moves up or down from the car outside the stations, and the server device is configured to transmit, according to the data considered, the instruction to lock or unlock the doors of the vehicle.

[0019]

If the user terminal does not receive information from a first beacon in the timing where it has received information from a second beacon, the user is presumed to be prepared to perform an off-station action on the vehicle (for example). example lock or unlock the doors). In this case, the user terminal transmits to the server device data meaning that the user goes up or down from the car outside the stations, and the server device transmits to the vehicle an instruction for locking / unlocking the doors. With such a constitution, we can take care of the descents of car intervening on the way out of the stations.

[0020]

The car-sharing system according to the invention may further be characterized in that the first beacons are configured to transmit the identifier of the corresponding station by broadcasting in a short-range wireless communication mode, and the second beacons are configured. to transmit the corresponding vehicle identifier by broadcasting in a short-range wireless communication mode.

With such a constitution, it is possible to achieve the association between vehicles and stations reliably.

The invention may be specified in the form of a car-sharing system including at least a part of the aforementioned means. It can also be specified in the form of a method of borrowing and returning vehicle implemented by said car-sharing system. The invention particularly relates to a method of borrowing and returning a vehicle, which is implemented, in a car-sharing scheme, by a server device managing the vehicle loans and user terminals held by the users, and wherein the user terminals transmit to the server device, on the basis of information received from first beacons installed in stations, first data identifying said stations, and transmit to the server device, on the basis of information received from second beacons installed on vehicles to borrow in the stations, second data identifying said vehicles, and the server device executes, on the basis of the first data and second data, the borrowing and return processing of the vehicles in question.

The aforementioned treatments and means are freely combinable as long as they do not give rise to technical contradictions.

[0022]

In addition, it is also possible, starting from a system of the prior art already embodied by means of smart card readers, to install station beacons according to the invention, to add beacon receivers on vehicles, and to make them cooperate with the smart card readers equipping the vehicles. In doing so, there is no longer a need to install smart card readers in the stations or to use user terminals. In other words, it becomes possible to achieve at low cost the association between vehicles and stations by means of smart cards.

The invention makes it possible to achieve at low cost the association between vehicles and stations in carsharing systems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024]

FIG. 1 represents the system configuration of a car-sharing system according to a first embodiment.

Figure 2 schematizes the zone of emission of the beacons of station.

Figure 3 shows the location of vehicle tags.

Figure 4 shows an example of a reservation information table.

FIG. 5 represents a sequence executed during a vehicle loan according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 represents a sequence executed during a vehicle loan according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 represents a sequence executed during a vehicle restitution according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 represents a sequence executed during a car descent on the road according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 represents a sequence executed during a vehicle loan according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 10 represents a sequence executed during a vehicle loan according to a second embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0025]

First embodiment

We now describe a car-sharing system according to a first embodiment, with reference to Figure 1 illustrating its system configuration. This car sharing system according to the first embodiment is a system for managing a one-way car-sharing service (thus a service that allows the vehicles to be returned to a station other than the one where they were taken).

[0026]

The car-sharing system according to the first embodiment consists of portable terminals held by the users (user terminals 10), radio beacons arranged in the stations (station beacons 20), vehicles concerned with sharing (vehicles 30). ) and a management server 40. The system according to the invention may comprise a. or several copies respectively of user terminals 10, station beacons 20 and vehicles 30.

[0027]

The user terminals 10 and the management server 40 may each be constituted as a computing device comprising a central unit, a main memory and a secondary memory. The operation of their various means shown in Figure 1 is based on the main memory loading of a program stored in secondary memory and its execution by the central unit. All or some of the functions shown in the diagram can also be executed by specifically designed circuits [0028]

Let us start with the user terminals 10. These are portable computers held by the users, which support communication functions with the management server 40, as well as reception functions of the information transmitted by wireless broadcast. at short range from the beacons (described later) on vehicles and stations. These are for example small computers such as smartphones, mobile phones, tablets, personal assistants, computers (smart watches, etc.), and so on. The system according to the invention may comprise one or more of these user terminals 10.

[0029]

The communication part or communication part 11 is a means that communicates with the management server 40 by accessing the network via a telecommunication line (for example mobile telephony).

The communication part or the short-range communication part 12 is a means which ensures the reception of the information transmitted by wireless communication from the vehicle beacons and station beacons described below. In the present embodiment, the short-range communication part 12 transmits the data according to the Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy standard (hereinafter referred to as "BLE"). The BLE standard is a Bluetooth-based low-power transmission standard that has the characteristic of enabling immediate communication immediately upon detection of the partner device and without the need for device pairing. It has another feature to allow the sending of push notifications to the destination terminal.

[0030]

The control part or control part 13 is a means for generating the user interface screens based on the data received from the vehicle beacons, station beacons and the management server, as well as the implementation of the interactions. with the user via the input / output part 14 described later. The concrete content is described below.

The functions of the control part 13 are performed by an application program executed on the user terminal 10 (program dedicated to the present car-sharing system, developed for the user terminal, hereinafter simply called "application").

The input / output or input / output part 14 is a means that accommodates the input operations performed by the user and the presentation of information to the user. In the present embodiment, it consists of a touch panel display. In other words, it consists of a liquid crystal display, provided with its control means, and a touch panel, provided with its control means.

[0031]

Let's move on to station beacons 20.

The station beacons are radio beacons that transmit the information according to the aforementioned BLE standard. One is installed per station. In the present embodiment, they are battery powered and transmit by broadcasting the identifier of their own station (hereinafter referred to as "station identifier").

[0032]

In the present embodiment, their emission zone is indicated by the notation 201 in FIG. 2. This emission zone can be established either by adjusting the power and the opening angle of the station beacon, or again by adjusting the sensitivity of the user terminals 10. In the latter case, it suffices, for example, to make the user terminal 10 pick up from the moment when the power of the received radio signal exceeds a determined value (ie ie where the distance to the beacon can be judged as less than a certain distance). Note that the transmission area is not reduced to the example shown and can take any other form as far as it allows the user terminal worn by a user who goes to the station to receive the station identifier .

[0033]

Let's move on to vehicles 30.

Vehicles 30 are the vehicles involved in sharing. The system according to the invention may comprise one or more of these vehicles 30.

The communication part 31 is a means that communicates with the management server 40 by accessing the network via a telecommunication line (for example mobile telephony). The protocol and the mode of transmission implemented may be different from those of the communication part 11.

The vehicle tags 32 are radio beacons that transmit the information according to the aforementioned BLE standard. One is installed per vehicle. In the present embodiment, they are battery-powered and transmit by broadcasting the identifier of their own vehicle (hereinafter referred to as "vehicle identifier").

In the present embodiment, the vehicle tags 32 emit the vehicle identifier in their immediate proximity (for example at a distance of the order of a few centimeters). Their emission zone can be established either by adjusting the power of the vehicle beacon, or by adjusting the sensitivity of the user terminals 10. In the latter case, it is sufficient, for example, to make the user terminal 10 pick up from the moment when the power of the received radio signal exceeds a determined value (ie where the distance to the beacon can be judged as less than a determined distance).

As shown in Figure 3, the vehicle tag 32 is installed on the inside of a window of the vehicle. With such a constitution, the user can acquire the information from the vehicle beacon by touching with the user terminal 10 the window of the vehicle.

[0034]

The control part or control part 33 is a means that ensures the control of the vehicle on the basis of instructions acquired from the management server 40. In practice, it operates the locking and unlocking of the ignition switch, the start and the ignition. shutting down the engine, locking and unlocking the doors, etc.

[0035]

Let's go to the management server 40.

The management server 40 is the computer that manages the borrowing and the return of shared vehicles. It is installed in a single copy in the system according to the invention. It is not required to take the form of a single device and may as well perform the treatments in a mode distributed between several devices.

[0036]

The management server 40 performs mainly two processes. One of them is the welcome treatment of vehicle reservations from users. The vehicle reservation can be made both in advance via the Internet or otherwise, than just prior to use by means of a communication between a user terminal 10 and the management server 40. In the first mode of realization, the description will be entered in the event that a vehicle reservation has been made beforehand and the management server 40 has stored reservation information.

[0037]

The communication part or communication part 41 is a means that communicates with the user terminals 10 and the vehicles 30 by accessing the network via a telecommunication line. The protocol and the mode of transmission implemented may be the same as those of the communication part 11 and the communication part 31.

The control part or control part 42 is a means that performs the borrowing and return vehicle processing. The detailed content of the treatments is described below.

The memory part or memory part 43 is a means that stores the reservation information (reservation information according to the invention, in the present embodiment it is in the form of a reservation information table ). In the present embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, the user's identifier (hereinafter referred to as "user identifier"), the date and time of borrowing, the date and time of return, the the borrow station (and the parking place number), the restitution station (and the parking space number), the vehicle identifier and the date and time of reservation are thus stored in a table format.

[0038]

Although the management server 40 according to the first embodiment does not support the reception processing of reservations, the reservation information is described here. During the reservation, the user transmits to the management server 40 information representing (1) the date and time of borrowing, (2) the date and time of return, (3) the borrowing station and (4) the rendering station, and the management server 40 creates new reservation information (a reservation information table sheet). The vehicle to be borrowed and the parking place number are decided automatically by the management server 40. When booking, a parking space is at the same time held in the restitution station. This means that the booking is impossible if there is no free parking space in the restitution station (ie if it would not be possible to park the vehicle on arrival) .

[0039]

Treatment during a vehicle loan

Referring now to FIG. 5, the interactions between the user terminal 10, the station beacon 20, the vehicle 30 and the management server 40, the processing implemented when a vehicle is borrowed, are described below. at the moment the user gets in the car and starts up. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the management server 40 has had to previously know a vehicle reservation by the user and that reservation information has been created.

[0040]

Initially, the user arrives, carrying the user terminal 10, at the station where the vehicle is parked. As soon as the user enters the zone marked 201 in FIG. 2, the station identifier transmitted from the station beacon 20 is received by the user terminal 10 (SU). As soon as it receives the station identifier, the user terminal 10 delivers a notification indicating that the application must be launched, and the user starts the application. The received station identifier is notified to the application (S12). Knowing that it itself maintains a user ID programmed in advance, the application, as soon as it starts, transmits to the management server 40 the acquired station identifier and the user identifier ( S13). At this time, the management server 40 is able to determine that the user considered is in the station in question. Following this, the management server 40 searches the reservation information table if there is reservation information related to the user concerned (S14). It is assumed here that such reservation information exists.

[0041]

The description continues with reference to FIG.

The management server 40 then transmits to the user terminal 10 the information of the reserved vehicle (for example the license plate data, etc.) (S15), and the user terminal 10 generates a screen inviting to touch with the terminal the beacon the vehicle in question and presents it to the user.

As soon as the user touches with the user terminal 10 the vehicle tag of the vehicle considered, the vehicle identifier is transmitted from the vehicle tag (S16). At this time, the user terminal 10 is in the state of having received information concomitant with a station beacon and a vehicle beacon.

The user terminal 10 in turn transmits to the management server 40, (1) the station identifier, (2) the vehicle identifier and (3) the user identifier (S17), and the control part. 42 confronts the received information with the reservation information stored in the memory part 43 (S18). At this time, the management server 40 is able to recognize that the user stands in the reserved station and in front of the reserved vehicle.

[0043]

The management server 40 then transmits to the vehicle 30 a vehicle door release signal, whereby the control part 33 unlocks the vehicle doors (S19). In addition, it notifies the user terminal 10 that it has unlocked the doors of the vehicle, and the application in turn notifies the user. The ignition switch ON / OFF control is provided by a physical key placed inside the vehicle.

[0044]

Treatment during a vehicle return

Then, with reference to FIG. 7, the processing implemented during a vehicle restitution is described.

Initially, the user arrives, carrier of the user terminal 10, to the station provided for the return. As soon as the user enters the zone marked 201 in FIG. 2, the station identifier transmitted from the station beacon 20 is received by the user terminal 10 (S21). As soon as it receives the station identifier while a vehicle is in use, the application executed on the user terminal 10 generates a screen comprising an invitation message such as for example "In case of restitution, touch with the terminal the vehicle tag ", and presents it to the user (S22). As soon as the user touches with the user terminal 10 the vehicle tag of the vehicle in question, the identifier of the vehicle is transmitted from the vehicle tag (S23). At this time, the user terminal 10 is in the state where it has received information concomitantly with a station beacon and a vehicle beacon.

The user terminal 10 in turn transmits to the management server 40, (1) the station identifier, (2) the vehicle identifier and (3) the user identifier (S24), and the control part. 42 compares the received information with the reservation information stored in the memory portion 43 (S25). At this time, the management server 40 is able to determine that the user stands in the station provided for the return and in front of the borrowed vehicle.

[0045]

The management server 40 then transmits to the vehicle 30 a vehicle door lock signal, whereby the control portion 33 locks the doors of the vehicle (S26). In addition, it notifies the user terminal 10 that it has locked the doors of the vehicle, and the application notifies the user in turn. At the same time, you can make sure to send a detailed statement of usage, etc.

[0046]

Treatment during a car descent en route

Then, with reference to FIG. 8, the processing implemented in the case where the user gets off the car at a place outside the stations is described.

If it comes down from the vehicle at a place outside the stations, the user touches with the user terminal 10 the vehicle tag of the vehicle on which it is mounted. Following this, the vehicle identifier is transmitted to the user terminal 10 from the vehicle tag (S31). At this time, the user terminal 10 is in the state where it has picked up the information on the single vehicle tag, without having received a station beacon that would be in the immediate vicinity. In this state, the user terminal 10 transmits to the management server 40 (1) information indicating that it has not received a station identifier, (2) the vehicle identifier and (3) the identifier of the station. user (S32).

[0048]

In addition, if the user terminal has received the only vehicle identifier without receiving a station identifier, the management server 40 determines that the user is preparing to get off the vehicle on the way (S33). In which case it generates a temporary locking / unlocking signal of the vehicle doors and transmits it to the vehicle 30 (S34). On the other hand, in the case where the doors had already been locked, it operates their unlocking.

Thus, in the first embodiment, the management server 40 recognizes that the user is preparing to get off the car on the way based on the nature of the tags captured.

[0049]

Effects of the embodiment

In the first embodiment, the procedures for borrowing and returning vehicle are implemented by the treatments just described. As explained, in the car-sharing system according to the present embodiment, it is the user terminal which, having received a station beacon and a vehicle beacon, notifies the management server. Thanks to which the management server is able to ensure that the user stands in the station (borrowing or return) and in front of the vehicle that have been reserved. In other words, the station and the vehicle can be associated by means only of tags and a user terminal, and therefore the borrowing and restitution procedures can be implemented without having to check the position of the vehicle by a means such as GPS.

In addition, since the transmission of information from the station beacons to the user terminals is automatic, there is no superfluous use of the user, other than touching the terminal with the vehicle beacon. It is thus possible to provide a very convenient service to use.

[0050]

Finally, the system is able to choose between the restitution procedure and the car descent procedure en route based on the fact that information relating to a station beacon and a vehicle beacon have been acquired concomitantly or not. . Thus, it offers the possibility of restoring the vehicle elsewhere than in the stations, which further increases the convenience for the user.

[0051]

Second embodiment Unlike the first embodiment, where the user had to have reserved the vehicle in advance, the second embodiment is an embodiment in which the reservation information is created at the time of the arrival of the user in the station (that is to say without prior reservation). The system configuration of the car-sharing system according to the second embodiment is identical to that of the first embodiment and will not be repeated in detail here.

[0052]

In the second embodiment, when looking for the existence of a reservation by the management server 40 (S14) in the sequence of FIG. 5, if there is no reservation information or they do not match (for example the user went to a station other than that of the reservation), we go to the sequence shown in Figure 9.

[0053]

To begin, the control part 42 checks, by consulting the reservation information table stored in the memory part 43, if the station where the user stands has a free vehicle (S14-1). If this is the case, a pre-reservation is made (S14-2). Pre-booking is the treatment of temporarily holding a non-reserved vehicle. Specifically, as shown in the 401 sheet of Figure 4, it creates and adds a sheet not specifying a date and time of restitution or restitution station. The vehicle is here chosen arbitrarily among the free vehicles, and the current date and time are adopted as the date and time of borrowing. The chosen vehicle is then held temporarily. In Figure 4, underlining is indicative of a pre-booking hold.

[0054]

Then, the management server 40 notifies the user terminal 10 that it has carried out the pre-reservation, and the user terminal 10 generates a screen intended to confirm by the user his desire to use (S14-3). The user responds by entering on the screen his acceptance of the pre-reservation, the date and time of return and the destination station. As a result of this (1) the pre-reservation acceptance data, (2) the date and time of restitution and (3) the identifier of the destination station are transmitted to the management server 40 (S14- 4). As soon as it receives the acceptance of the pre-booking, the management server 40 completes the fields "Date-time of restitution" and "Restitution station" in the added card. The pre-reservation is then converted into a firm booking (S14-5). If the user does not accept the pre-reservation, the user terminal 10 transmits to the management server 40 information that signifies this fact, and the management server 40 deletes the added file. In addition, it is also possible, in the case where the user has visited a separate station booking information and it makes a new reservation, to delete the initial reservation.

On the other hand, in the case where no free vehicle was found in step S14-1, as shown in FIG. 10, information meaning this fact is transmitted to the user terminal 10, and the application in turn notifies the user (S14-6). In this case, and if the user had visited a station other than that indicated in the reservation information, it is possible to send a notification inviting the user to move to the station where he had made his reservation.

[0056]

The second embodiment makes possible the use of shared vehicles even without prior reservation. In addition, because it operates the pre-reservation of the vehicle by simply launching the application by the user in the station, it prevents the vehicle is reserved by another user during the procedure and that the vehicle is no longer usable.

[0057]

Variant 1

When pre-booking a vehicle, it is also possible to pre-book a parking space at the destination station at the same time. The management server 40 presumes the restitution station based for example on the history of past uses of the user and, in step S14-2, retains at the same time the vehicle and the parking space in the restitution station, as shown in sheet 402 of Figure 4. In this way, it is possible to avoid that the parking space in the restitution station is reserved by another user before the confirmation of the reservation and that the vehicle be more usable.

[0058]

In the case where the restitution station entered by the user is distinct from the presumed restitution station, the record is corrected in the reservation information table in step S14-5.

In addition, it is also possible to presume the date and time of restitution at the same time as the restitution station. In this case, it is possible to check the availability of a parking space in the restitution station at the presumed date and time of restitution and to initiate the pre-reservation if said parking space can be effectively retained.

[0059]

Variant 2

In addition, it is also possible to ensure that if the user intends to return the vehicle in a station separate from the reserved restitution station, the restitution station entered in the reservation information is corrected. For example, it can be made, in step S25, that in the case where the station identifier transmitted from the user terminal 10 does not match the restitution station recorded in the reservation information, the reservation information be corrected and the refund accepted. However, if the parking spaces in the restitution station have already been reserved by other users, these other users may no longer be able to come. The management server 40 therefore makes sure to check whether there is a free parking space and to correct the reservation information and accept the refund only if this is the case. Finally, it is also possible, before accepting the return, to notify a parking space number to the user terminal 10 and to urge the user to park the vehicle in the designated parking space.

[0060]

Other variants

The embodiments described above are presented solely by way of example and can accommodate any variations that may be envisaged provided that they do not deviate from the spirit of the invention.

For example, in the inventions according to the embodiments described, it is proceeded to a locking / unlocking of the vehicle doors from the management server, but it is also possible to make sure to order from the same management server the Locking and unlocking the ignition switch, starting and stopping the engine, etc.

In addition, in the inventions according to the embodiments, the reservation is made by specifying in advance the parking place numbers in the stations, but it is also possible to make sure to make the reservation based solely on the capacity stations (number of vehicles that can be parked) and without specifying parking spaces.

Moreover, the car-sharing system according to the invention can be applied equally well to an electric car loan system. In this case, it is possible to arrange additional restrictions for the reservation, for example on the existence or not of electric recharging stations in the stations or on the residual capacity of the battery of the vehicles.

On the other hand, in the description that has been made of the previous embodiments, it is the user terminals that capture or acquire the information transmitted by the station beacons and communicate with the management server, but it is also Vehicles may be equipped with the function of receiving information transmitted by station beacons. For example, it is possible to ensure that it is the vehicles that receive the information transmitted by the station beacons and that communicate with the management server so as to make the association between stations and vehicles. In this case, since no user terminals are used, it is necessary to associate the users with the vehicles. One can then make sure to achieve this association between the three elements, namely the user, the station and the vehicle, by arranging a smart card reader (or the like) on the vehicle and by communicating it with a smart card (or similar equipment) owned by the user.

[0062]

Notations 10: user terminal 11, 31, 41: communication part 12: short-range communication part 13, 33, 42: control part 14: input / output part 20: station beacon 30: vehicle 32: vehicle beacon 40: server management 43: memory part

Claims (9)

A car-sharing system, which includes first tags (20) installed in car-sharing stations, second tags (32) installed on vehicles (30) to be borrowed in the stations, a server device (40) configured to storing the reservation information and managing the vehicle loans, and the user terminals (10) held by the users; and wherein the user terminals (10) are configured to transmit to the server device, based on information received from the first tags, first data identifying the stations, and transmit to the server device, based on information received from the second tags, second data identifying the vehicles, and the server device (40) is configured to execute, on the basis of the first data and the second data, the borrowing and return processing of the vehicles in question. Car-sharing system according to claim 1, wherein the user terminals (10) have a function of detecting the distance to beacons based on the intensity of the radio signals, and a user terminal (10) is configured for, in the case where it has received information from a first beacon (20) located in the same station, transmitting to the server device (40) the first data, and in the case where it has received information from a second beacon (32) ) present near the terminal itself, to transmit the second data to the server device. A car-sharing system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a user terminal (10) is configured for, in the case where it has received information simultaneously from a first beacon (20) and a second beacon ( 32) while being credited with a vehicle loan, transmitting to the server device the first data and the second data, and the server device is configured to determine, based on the received data and the reservation information, whether the vehicle is returned to the right station. A car-sharing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a user terminal (10) is configured to, in the event that it has received information from a first beacon (20) while is not credited with a vehicle loan, acquire from the user the destination station and transmit to the server device the first data and data identifying the destination station, and the server device (40) is configured to operate the reservation of a vehicle on the basis of the received data. A car-sharing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a user terminal (10) is configured to, in the event that it has received information from a first beacon (20) while is not credited with a vehicle loan, transmit to the server device (40) the first data, and the server device (40) is configured to, in the case where it has received the first data, pre-reserve a vehicle parked in the corresponding station. 6. car-sharing system according to claim 5, wherein the server device (40) is configured to, in the case where it has pre-booked a vehicle, presume the destination station and pre-book moreover a parking space in the station under consideration. A car-sharing system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a user terminal (10) is configured to, in the event that it has received information from a second beacon (32) without having received any information of a first beacon (20), transmitting to the server device (40) data indicating that the user is driving up or down from the stations, and the server device (40) is configured to transmit, depending on the data considered, the instruction to lock or unlock the doors of the vehicle. A car-sharing system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first beacons (20) are configured to transmit the corresponding station identifier by broadcasting in a short-range wireless communication mode, and the second beacons (32) are configured to transmit the corresponding vehicle identifier by broadcasting in a short-range wireless communication mode. 9. A method of borrowing and returning a vehicle, which is implemented, in a car-sharing scheme, by a server device (40) managing the vehicle loans (30) and user terminals (10) held by the users, and in which the user terminals (10) transmit to the server device (40), based on information received from first beacons (20) installed in stations, first data identifying said stations, and transmit to the server device ( 40), on the basis of information received from second beacons (32) installed on vehicles to be taken in the stations, second data identifying said vehicles (30), and the server device (40) executes, on the basis of the first data and second data, the loan processing and return of vehicles (30) considered.