JP2001195683A - Method and system for managing rent-a-car - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a user surely return an automobile without remodeling. SOLUTION: The operating and reserving states of whole rent-a-cars are managed by a central management device 11 and reservation is performed by the device 11 from a terminal arranged in a hotel or a station, etc., or a user portable terminal 15. The device 11 transmits reservation information to the each of lending and returning devices 16 of a reserved rental parking lot and a reserved return parking lot, each device 16 registers tag ID information in reservation information in each parking lot gate terminal 21, a user receives an ID tag 17 and a key 18 at the lending parking lot to move a vehicle, tag ID information is transmitted from the tag 17 to the terminal 21 and the gate is opened by the terminal 21 when received ID information is registered.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rent-a-car management method and a rent-a-car management method capable of managing a rent-a-car even if the rent-a-car parking lot is different from the returning parking lot, or even if there are a plurality of rent-a-car parking lots. Regarding the system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A system of this type is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
1993 "Car rental transportation system" has been proposed. In this system, the center manages the operation status of the rent-a-car in each parking lot, calls the center from a public landline phone, names, system user ID (number), departure parking lot, return parking lot, desired car type, date and time to rent , Return date and time, etc., the center examines the user qualification and, if the reservation conditions are satisfied, approves the reservation and associates the user's certificate with the reservation condition and stores it. The user goes to the departure parking lot on the date and time of borrowing, and causes the automatic parking lot machine to read the user ID card. The automatic parking lot machine sends the user ID data to the center via a telephone line. The center selects a rental car that matches the reservation conditions corresponding to the user ID and returns a chip card issue signal corresponding to the rental car to the departure parking automatic machine. The departure parking automatic machine issues the driving qualification rental car chip card and reports this to the center.

[0003] A user receives the chip card and puts it into a card reader provided at the driver's seat side door of the corresponding rental car, whereby the car door can be opened and the vehicle can be driven. The user gets on the rental car and passes through an exit barrier that operates through a guidance loop.
Upon reaching the return parking lot, the entrance barrier is activated by inserting a chip card into the barrier side card reader,
After stopping the rental car at the empty parking position, getting off and locking the rental car door with the chip card, insert the chip card into the card insertion machine of the return parking automatic machine,
The card is collected. At this time, the automatic parking lot machine transmits the data read from the chip card, the parking lot name, and the return time to the center. The center receives this and calculates its usage fee.

[0004]

In the above prior art, if the data of the chip card is read by a reader attached to the rental car, the door of the rental car cannot be opened.
The car must be retrofitted with a chip card reader, and ordinary cars cannot be used for car rental. Furthermore, if the reading by such a card reader does not operate properly, the rented car cannot be boarded.

[0005] In addition, if the rental car is dropped off on the way and only the chip card is returned to the automatic parking lot machine, the rental car is returned, which is very inconvenient for the rental car management company. Become.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a rental car management method and a rental car management method which can be used as a rental car without modifying a normal automobile and in which return processing is not completed unless the rental car is returned to a return parking lot.

[0007]

According to the method of the present invention, an ID tag capable of transmitting ID information corresponding to the identification information of a rental car in a parking lot and a key of the rental car are handed to a user, and the vicinity of the parking gate is provided. To the parking gate terminal provided in
The ID information is transmitted from the ID tag, and the parking lot gate terminal checks the validity of the received ID information, that is, whether or not the ID information has been registered. If the ID information is valid, the parking gate terminal controls opening and closing of the corresponding gate.

That is, the central management device manages the operation / reservation status of each rental car in each parking lot, accepts a reservation for a rental car from a user, and the central management device registers the reserved rental parking lot and return parking lot. Information is sent, and in both parking lots, the tag ID information in the received reservation information is sent to the corresponding parking lot gate terminal and registered. This registration at the rental parking lot may be performed after confirming that the user has made a reservation, and further confirming that the ID information of the ID tag passed to the user matches the one in the reservation information It may be performed after doing.

[0009] The entrance / exit information of the gate of the parking lot and the tag ID information are sent to the central management device to manage the operation status of the rental car.

[0010] The user sends the driver's license and information for specifying the payment card together with the name and address to the central management device,
Register as a member and have them issue a membership card that records information identifying the user. At the time of reservation, a user provided at a station, a hotel, a travel agency, or the like or a user's portable terminal sends the user identification information of the membership card to the central management device, and then inputs reservation conditions to make a reservation.

[0011] Payment is made to a card settlement company in a prepaid manner or in a postpaid manner at a rate according to the usage time, using information for specifying a settlement card when a rental car is rented or returned. Is possible.

[0012]

FIG. 1 shows an example of the overall system configuration to which the method of the present invention is applied. Car rental management company 1
The parking lot for each of the parking management company 2 ₁ can be connected via a ~2 _n and communication network, it receives a notification of the operating status of each of its rental car from the parking management company 2 ₁ ~2 _n, each car rental The operation / reservation status is managed for each, and the reservation office is 3 _{1 to} 3 _m
And makes a reservation for the rental car from the user, and transmits the reservation information to each parking lot management company of the rental parking lot and the return parking lot. The user goes to the parking lot management company of the rental parking lot where the reserved rental car is parked, and the parking lot management company gives the user the key of the reserved rental car and an ID tag described later. The user sends ID information from the ID tag when leaving the parking lot gate by the rental car, and the gate terminal receiving this judges whether the ID information is valid and if it is valid, controls the opening and closing of the gate I do.
Even in the return parking lot, send ID information from the ID tag,
If the gate terminal determines that it is valid, the gate is opened and closed.
This gate information is sent to the rental car management company 1, and the rental car management company 1 can confirm that the rented rental car has been correctly returned. You can also use a rental car to receive the key. The rent-a-car management company 1 sends the fee information to the settlement service company 4, and the settlement service company 4 receives the payment from the credit company 5 and makes payment corresponding to the rent-a-car management company 1, the corresponding reservation office, and the corresponding parking lot management company.

In this example, a member card is first issued from the rental car management company 1, and a reservation or rental of a rental car is performed using the member card. A request for issuing a member card, that is, a member registration can be performed, for example, from a reservation office.

Next, in order to perform the above processing, an apparatus provided in each section will be proved with reference to FIG.

The rental car management company 1 has a central management unit 11
The central management apparatus 11 is mainly composed of, for example, a computer. The central management apparatus 11 receives membership registration, assigns user identification information, manages the reservation and operation status of a rental car, and receives a reservation in response to a reservation request. Further, processing such as issuing a settlement processing request is performed, and information necessary for these processing is transmitted and received.

Hotels and travel information offices are used as member registration offices, and card reader / writer 12 and central management unit 1 are used.
1 can transmit and receive at least character information, and in some cases, can transmit and receive voice signals and image signals. A communication terminal 13 is provided, and a member registration request can be made to the central management device 11. Assigned user identification information, for example, a membership card 14 recording a user number
Can be issued. The communication terminal 13 may be a mobile terminal or a fixed terminal such as a personal computer. A rental car reservation can also be made to the central management device 11 at the member registration office. Reservation of a rental car may be performed from a mobile terminal or a fixed terminal provided at a reservation office dedicated to reservation, or may be performed using the mobile terminal 15 carried by the user. Mobile terminal 1 in this case
Reference numeral 5 also has a function capable of interfacing with the lending / returning device 16 by infrared data communication or the like.

Each parking lot management company is provided with a lending / returning device 16. The lending / returning device 16 is mainly composed of, for example, a computer and manages the operation status of each rental car in the parking lot, reports the status to the central management device 11, manages the reservation information sent from the central management device 11, and manages the ID tag. ID information can be received.

The user receives the ID tag 17 and the reserved car key 18 from the parking lot management company.
Reference numeral 7 denotes an ID tag capable of transmitting ID information unique to the ID tag 17 by infrared rays or electromagnetic waves, and is associated with the key 18 on a one-to-one basis, and is carried by the user. The user may receive the portable terminal 19 together with the ID tag 17 and the key 18,
The mobile terminal 19 preferably has a GPS (Positioning System) function in addition to having almost the same functions as a normal mobile phone, and further includes a drunkenness sensor and a vibration impact sensor as necessary.

A parking gate terminal 21 is provided near a parking gate of a parking management company, and a user ID tag 17 is provided.
Receives the ID information transmitted from and judges the validity of the ID information, and if it is valid, that is, if the ID information is registered as participation, the gate can be opened and closed to allow the car to enter And Also, it transmits to the lending / returning device 16 gate information indicating that the gate has been opened and closed.

The settlement service company 4 has a settlement management device 22
The settlement management device 22 receives the charge information from the central management device 11, charges the credit company 5, and transmits the price information from the credit company 5 to the central management device 11. Note that the lending return device 16 and the parking gate terminal 21 constitute a parking lot device. Hereinafter, a series of processes from member registration to fee settlement will be specifically described. Member registration (FIG. 3) The user sets up the telephone line 23 between the communication terminal 13 and the central management device 11 and applies for membership registration (S1). According to the instruction from the central management device 11, the driver's license and the settlement are settled. The card reader / writer 14 reads the recorded data of the card (credit card, debit card, cash card, etc.) (S2), sends these from the communication terminal 13 to the central management device 11, and in accordance with the instruction of the central management device 11,
The user's name, address, age, etc. are input by operating the communication terminal 13 and transmitted to the central management apparatus 11 (S3).

The central management unit 11 verifies the data received from the communication terminal 13 and compares, for example, the data input by operating the terminal 13 with the data read from the driver's license or the payment card. (S4). At this time, it is also verified whether the validity period has expired and whether there is an authorization. In the case of rejection, the user is re-entered.

When the input data passes the verification, the central management unit 11 is assigned user information, for example, a user number,
The data is transmitted to the communication terminal 13 (S5). The communication terminal 13 issues the membership card 14 in which the received user number and, if necessary, the driver's license and the payment card number are recorded in characters or images from the card reader / writer 12 (S6). As the member card 14, a magnetic card, an IC card, or the like is used.
The central management device 11 associates the assigned user number with the driver's license, payment card number, name, postal code, address, telephone number, age, etc., and associates the member information storage unit 24 (FIG. 4).
A), it is stored and managed with characters and images.

When the user assigns the user number,
Receive an explanation of the membership agreement and the rental car usage guide. Reservation (FIG. 5) The communication terminal 13 of the reservation office is connected to the central management unit 11 via the telephone line 23 (S1), and the data of the membership card 14 is read by the card reader / writer 12, and the communication terminal 1
3 to the central management unit 11 (S2). In the central management device 11, the received user number is stored in the member information storage unit 24.
(S3), and if it is stored, that is, registered, a reservation input guide is sent to the communication terminal 13 (S4), and the user follows the input guide to check out the rental parking lot, The return parking lot, desired vehicle type, required time, and the like are input and transmitted to the central management device 11 (S5). For inputting information necessary for these reservations, for example, each item is sequentially displayed like a homepage on the Internet, and data for each item is input. At this time, a map in which the parking lot is entered is displayed on the communication terminal 13 so that the user can conveniently select the rental parking lot and the return parking lot and understand the directions to the rental parking lot. Can also. In addition, for selection of a vehicle type, an appearance image of each rentable vehicle can be sequentially displayed on the communication terminal 13.

[0024] A mobile terminal 15 carried by the user personally
When making a reservation, a telephone line 25 is set between the portable terminal 15 and the central management unit 11 via a communication network, and data is stored on an Internet homepage or a mobile phone i-mode (a mode in which characters and images can be displayed). And displays various characters and images on the display surface of the mobile terminal 15 and inputs data necessary for reservation.

In any case, whether or not each of the input reservation contents (items) can be accepted, for example, whether a rental car of a desired vehicle type is in a desired rental parking lot, or whether the rental car is available at a desired date and time (non-operation, reservation (S6), and if the request can be accepted, it is determined that the reservation can be made. The user confirms the reservation contents (S7), and if the user consents, the reservation is made. The information is stored in the information storage unit (S8), and the contents of the reservation are recorded on the membership card 14 by the card reader / writer 12 in the case of the communication terminal 13 (S9), and are stored in the storage unit in the case of the portable terminal 15. If the central management apparatus 11 cannot accept the item that the user first desires, the user is notified of the unacceptable item, and the process returns to step S5 so as to have another content changed (S10). ).

The central management unit 11 stores each parking lot in the operation / reservation status storage unit 26 as shown in FIG. 4B, for example, as shown in FIG. 4B so as to determine whether or not it is possible to accept a reservation for a desired car type at the desired parking lot. (Lending / returning device) For each car model and its car key number, the operating status of whether the car is currently in or out of the parking lot, and the date and time of exiting the parking lot if a reservation has been made, The date and time of entry to the parking lot is stored, and the operation / reservation status is managed. The ID information of the ID tag 17 lent to the user together with the key for each rental car is also stored in the operation / reservation status storage unit 26.

The central management unit 11 stores the reservation information for each user as shown in FIG. 6A in the user's reservation information storage unit 27, the reserved user number, the rented parking lot number, the returned parking lot number, and the rent date and time. , The ID information of the ID tag 17 passed to the user along with the car type, the rental car key, and the key number of the rental car are stored. Each time there is a reservation, the reservation information is stored in the reservation information storage unit 27, and each of the lending / returning devices 16 of the rental parking lot and the return parking lot in the reservation information.
The telephone line 28 is set and transmitted (S11, FIG. 5).

When the reservation is accepted, the central management unit 11 sends the reservation fee and the settlement card number of the user (obtained by reading out the column of the user number in the member information recording unit 24) to the settlement management unit 22. Notify and collect the deposit. The surface layer of the member card 14 may be configured so that characters can be erased and rewritten so that the member card 14 can be used for receipts, provision of services / incentives, and the like.
The charge storage unit of the central management device 11 stores a reservation charge, a trip charge (a charge according to a period from a rental parking lot to a return parking lot), a time charge (a charge according to a time during lending), and the like.

The lending / returning device 16 stores the reservation information received from the central management device 11 in a reservation information storage 29 substantially similar to that shown in FIG. 6A. In addition, information indicating whether each rental car in the parking lot is present or present is stored in an operation status storage unit similar to that shown in FIG. 4B. ID tag 17
The correspondence between the ID information (for example, the number) and the key number of the rent-a-car (the car number is identification information) used at the same time is shown in FIG.
A is stored in the tag-key storage unit 31 shown in FIG. The correspondence with the rental car key number used simultaneously with the ID tag 17 due to a failure of the ID tag 17 or the like can be changed. Lending (Fig. 7) The user goes to the lending (departure) parking lot and the member card 14
To the parking custodian. The manager makes the card reader / writer of the lending / returning device 16 read the data of the member card 14 and inputs the data to the lending / returning device 16 (S1). For this input, at least the user number in the reservation information stored in the portable terminal 15 carried by the individual may be received and input to the lending / returning device 16 via the communication medium 32 such as infrared data communication.

The lending / returning device 16 checks whether the user number and the key number of the inputted membership card data or reservation information are registered in the reservation information storage unit 29 (FIG. 6B) (S
2). Other data, such as a rental parking lot and a return parking lot, may be checked to see if they match. When it is confirmed that the reservation is made (registered), for example, the fact is displayed on the display unit of the lending / returning device 16, or when the sound is notified, the manager sends the lending / returning device 16 to the lending / returning device 16. From the displayed tag information or key number in the reservation information, the integrated ID tag 17 linked to the key 18 of the rental car is taken out, and the ID information of the ID tag 17 is transmitted to the lending / returning device 16 (S3). .

The lending / returning device 16 compares the received tag ID information with the tag ID information in the corresponding reservation information (S4), and if they match, arranges them in the storage column of the corresponding reservation information in the reservation information storage unit 29. The date and time (lending information) at that time is stored to store that there was a lending (S5). Further, at least the user number in the reservation information and the date and time of lending are transmitted to the central management apparatus 11 as sales information (S6). The lending / returning device 16 transmits the ID information of the tag in which the lending has been recorded to the parking gate terminal 21, and the parking gate terminal 21 transmits the received tag ID information to the entrance gate ID shown in FIG. 3B. The information is stored and registered in the information storage unit 33 (S7).
When receiving the sales information, the central management apparatus 11 stores the lending date and time in the column of the corresponding user number in the reservation information storage unit 27.

The manager hands over the ID tag 17 and the key 18 and, if necessary, the portable terminal 19 equipped with the GPS function, the drunkenness sensor and the vibration / shock sensor to the user (S8). The user goes to the corresponding rental car, opens the door of the rental car with the key 18, gets on the car, activates the rental car, moves the rental car to the entrance gate, and enters the ID from the ID tag 17
The information is transmitted to the parking gate terminal 21 (S9). The parking lot gate terminal 21 checks whether the received ID information is valid, that is, whether the ID information is stored in the participation gate tag ID information storage unit 33 (S10). The gate is opened, and when the rental car enters, the gate is closed and entry processing such as erasing the ID information from the entry gate ID information storage unit 33 is performed as necessary (S11). The entry information such as the entry gate number is transmitted to the lending / returning device 16 (S12). Lending return device 1 that has received this entry information
6 stores the entry information from the ID information in the column of the corresponding user number in the reservation information storage unit 29 (FIG. 6B), and stores the entry operation information including the user number, the parking lot name, the entry date and time, and the like. The information is transmitted to the central management device 11 (S13). Also, the corresponding rental car in the operation status storage unit is rewritten to the entry status. The parking gate terminal 21 may set the telephone line 34 to the central management device 11 as necessary to transmit entry information including ID information, date and time, entry, parking lot name, and the like (S14). The central management apparatus 11 sets the entry of the corresponding rental car in the operation / reservation status storage unit 26 from the received entry operation information or entry information. The entry operation date and time are stored in the corresponding user number column of the reservation information storage unit 27 as necessary. Return (Fig. 9) In the return parking lot, the rental / return device 16 is the central management device 1
When the reservation information is received from No. 1, the tag information stored in the reservation information storage section and the tag ID information in the reception reservation information are stored and registered in the entry tag information storage section of the parking lot gate terminal.

To return the rental car, bring the rental car closer to the entrance gate of the return parking lot, and transmit ID information from the ID tag 17 to the parking gate terminal 21 (S1). The parking gate terminal 21 uses the received tag ID information as the entry tag ID.
It is checked whether it is stored in the information storage unit. If it is stored, it is determined that it is valid (S2). The entrance gate is opened and the gate is closed when the rent-a-car enters, and the entry tag ID information storage unit is applicable. Entrance processing such as erasing ID information is performed (S3). If necessary, the tag ID information and the entry operation information such as the entry date and time are set to a telephone line and transmitted to the central management apparatus 11 (S4). The user who gets off the rental car returns the ID tag 17, the key 18, and the portable terminal 19 to the manager (S5). The manager sends the ID information from the ID tag 17 to the lending / returning device 16 (S6). The lending / returning device 16 checks whether the received tag ID information is stored in the reservation information storage unit. If the tag ID information is stored, it is determined to be valid (S7).
The date and time at that time are stored as entry information in the user information reservation information column in which the tag ID information is stored (S
8) Further, return information including the user number, parking lot name, date and time is set to the telephone line and transmitted to the central management apparatus 11 (S9). Further, the lending / returning device 16 sets the operation status of the column (provided if none) corresponding to the rental car in the operation status storage unit to the occupied state.

Upon receiving the return information, the central management unit 11 stores the return date and time in the column of the user number in the reservation information storage unit 27, and stores the operation status of the corresponding rental car in the operation / reservation status storage unit 26. Make the column resident. When the central management apparatus 11 directly receives the entrance operation information from the parking gate terminal 21, the return date and time are stored in the column of the user number of the reservation information storage unit 27 from the tag ID information, and the return date is obtained from the reservation information. Operate from the rental car identification information
The operation status column of the corresponding rental car in the reservation status storage unit 26 is set to the resident status. The sales processing central management device 11 displays a reservation fee, a rental car rental fee, etc. when a reservation is received from a user, a company involved in generating the fee, a handling place, etc., and a payment card number required for payment. Settlement management device 2 of settlement service company
2, the settlement management device 22 sends information necessary for card settlement to the credit company 5 and requests payment. When the information on which the corresponding payment has been processed is transmitted from the credit company 5 to the payment management device 22, the payment management device 22 rents a car based on the settled information and the information previously received from the central management device 11. Payment is made to the management company 1, each reservation office, and each parking lot management company.

As the rental car rental fee, when the central management device 11 receives the sales information from the rental return device 16,
When you receive sales information or participate, so that you will have to pay in advance of the trip unit system fee determined from the rental parking lot, return parking lot, vehicle type, if necessary, rental time etc. in the contract information for that user number At the time of receiving the information or the entry operation information, a settlement request may be made to the settlement management device 22, or when the return information is received from the lending / returning device 16, or when the entrance operation information is received from the gate terminal 21. At the time, the payment management device 22 determines the time from the receipt of the sales information to the return information of the rental car, or the time from the reception of the entry operation information to the reception of the entry operation information, and the fee according to the vehicle type.
The settlement request may be made to the user. In this case, for example, the fee can be determined in units of one minute, and an appropriate fee according to the use can be charged.

In a parking lot, a gate (usually called a flap) may be provided at a parking position for each vehicle. In that case, the sensor detects whether or not there is a car at the gate position, and the sensor output is the tag I registered in the entry information storage unit of the tag information storage unit 33 (FIG. 8A).
Stored with D information. The tag ID information is transmitted from the ID tag 17, the tag ID information received by the parking lot gate terminal 21 is stored in the tag information storage unit 33, and if the entry information is present (there is a car), the entry Then, the gate (flap) is lowered so that the rent-a-car can enter, and if the entry information is the entry (there is no car), it is determined that the entry is made and the gate (flap) is raised when the rent-a-car enters.

As a rent-a-car parking lot, a gate (flap) for each parking space can be provided in a normal garage such as a hotel or a station, without using a rent-a-car special parking lot.
By providing the parking gate terminal 21 and the lending / returning device 16, a part of the parking lot can be used for a rental car.

In the above description, the reservation may be made by voice communication, or may be inputted by voice, converted into character data, and transmitted / received. The user may go directly to each parking company and rent a car. In this case, the member card 1
The central management unit 11 is inquired about the validity of the reservation information 4, and the reservation information corresponding to the reservation information is created by the lending / returning unit 16, transmitted to the central management unit 11, and stored in the reservation information storage unit. The other steps may be performed in substantially the same manner as described above. Alternatively, the rental service management company may perform the function of the settlement service company.

Further, in the above description, a payment card may be used instead of the ID tag 17. The payment card number is included in the reservation information, and the payment card number is associated with the identification information (key number of the rental car) of the reserved rental car. Instead of using the payment card number instead of the tag ID information and transmitting the ID information from the ID tag 17 at the parking lot gate terminal 21, the data of the payment card may be read by a card reader / writer.

The tag ID information may be the rental car identification information, that is, the key identification information, unless a failure of the ID tag 17 or a rental car failure is taken into account. In any case, the tag ID information corresponds to the identification information of the rental car (its key). ID tag 1 when lending in the above
Before handing over the user 7 and the key 18 to the user, it was checked whether the ID information of the ID tag 17 and the ID information in the reservation information matched. The tag 17 and the key 18 may be given to the user, and the rental information may be stored, the sales information may be transmitted to the central management device 11, and the tag ID information may be transmitted to the parking gate terminal 21. That is, the reservation may be performed only by these users.

In the above description, the reservation information includes the ID information of the ID tag and the information of the key (or the rental car). However, only the information for specifying the reserved rental car may be included, and the tag ID information may be omitted. In this case, the lending / returning device obtains an ID tag having the corresponding ID information from the information for specifying the rental car in the reservation information, and registers the ID information and the information for specifying the rental car in the parking gate terminal. When the gate information is transmitted directly from the gate terminal to the central management apparatus, the central management apparatus manages the operation status by transmitting the information for specifying the registered rental car and using the information for specifying the rental car.

A car rental parking space is provided in at least a part of a parking space where general cars such as hotels, inns, train stations, sightseeing spots and the like can be parked, and the car is parked there.
If the rental car is to be centrally managed and the user is not allowed to select a car type, the presence or refusal of a rental car parked in the parking lot or the number of parked rental cars is centrally determined from the parking equipment. The management device may be notified, and the central management device may manage the rental cars in all the parking lots based on this information. When the gate is controlled by an ID tag or a payment card, a gate (flap) is provided at least for each car parking space at least in a rental car parking space.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention, the ID
Make the tag or payment card correspond to the rental car key, and
Passing the ID tag to the user or passing only the key, having the payment card used, judging the validity of the ID tag or the payment card at the parking gate terminal, and controlling the opening and closing of the gate, There is no need to attach a reader such as an IC card to the rent-a-car, that is, there is no need to make any modifications to the rent-a-car, and no problem occurs because the reader such as the IC card of the rent-a-car does not operate properly. Cars of any manufacturing company can be adopted as a rental car and can be managed by the same system.

If the user goes to the return parking lot and does not return the rental car, the information indicating that the rental car has been returned from the parking lot gate terminal or the rental return device is not sent to the central management device 11, so the rental car must be returned. For example, it is not possible to drop the data on the way and return the data in the central management device to the returned information.

If the data of the license and the settlement card are recorded on the member card, not only at the time of member registration but also at the time of reservation or lending, the data of the member card matches with the name, the expiration date, the authorization, etc. Examining will increase safety.

If the reservation is transmitted and received as voice, text, image (map, rent-a-car appearance, etc.) data on the Internet homepage or mobile phone by the communication terminal, it is possible to apply for the reservation whenever necessary from anywhere, and to be a member of the user. You can make a reservation while considering each other.

When payment is made with a payment card such as a credit card, the payment becomes cashless and payment can be made easily in a short time at the same time as the reservation or after the return. When the entrance operation information and the entrance operation information are transmitted directly from the parking gate terminal to the central management device 11,
Even if the lending / returning device 16 becomes inoperable or the manager forgets to input tag information or payment card data, the central management device 11 can manage the operation status of the rental car and provide information for payment. Can be transmitted to the settlement management device 22.

If the user borrows the portable terminal 19 with the GPS function, the position information of the portable terminal 19 is periodically transmitted to the central management device 11, and the central management device 11 can check the operation status of the rental car in more detail. I can understand.

Further, if the portable terminal 19 is provided with a drunkenness sensor, when the user uses the portable terminal 19, if the user is drunk, an alarm is issued and an accident can be prevented beforehand.

Further, if the portable terminal 19 is provided with a vibration / shock sensor, upon return, the detected vibration / shock is read out from the memory and detected, and if the data differs from the vibration / shock based on normal running, For example, it is sufficient to check whether the rental car has collided or rubbed with another object, and the inspection of the vehicle body after returning can be reliably performed in a short time.

When renting the portable terminal 19, the user can get the next reservation and the corresponding information while away from the rented car, for example, while sightseeing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a system to which a method of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a member registration processing procedure.

FIG. 4A is a diagram showing an example of contents stored in a member information storage unit;
B is a diagram showing an example of the storage contents of an operation / reservation status storage unit.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a reservation processing procedure.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the contents stored in each reservation information storage unit of the central management device and the lending return device.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a lending processing procedure.

FIG. 8A is a diagram showing an example of contents stored in a tag-key storage unit;
B is a diagram illustrating an example of storage contents of a storage unit of the tag information storage unit.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a return processing procedure.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Koji Ishikawa 1-21-2 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Fusao Mori 1-21-2 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo No. Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yoshihiro Fujimori 229-2 Icho, Ikawakami L, Karasuma-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto F-term in the Optimization Laboratory Co., Ltd. 3E027 EA03 EC06 EC10 5H180 AA01 BB05 BB12 EE10 KK01 KK08

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. An ID tag capable of transmitting ID information corresponding to the identification information of a rental car in a parking lot and a key of the rental car are handed to a user, and the ID is transmitted to a parking gate terminal provided near the parking gate.
The ID information is transmitted from the ID tag, and the parking lot gate terminal checks the validity of the received ID information by comparing it with the registered ID information, and if it is valid, performs opening / closing control for the corresponding gate. A car rental management method. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the central management device manages the operation / reservation status of each rental car in each parking lot, wherein the central management device accepts a rental car reservation from a user and transmits the reservation information. And transmitting the tag ID information in the received reservation information to the corresponding parking gate terminal to register the rental car and the return parking lot. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein in the rental parking lot, the tag ID information is transmitted to a parking gate terminal after confirming that a user has reserved the reservation information. A car rental management method characterized by the above-mentioned. 4. The method according to claim 2, wherein after confirming that the ID tag transmits the same ID information as the tag ID information in the reservation information, the tag ID information is transmitted to the parking gate terminal. A car rental management method characterized by transmitting a car. 5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the rental car is rented when an ID tag and a key are passed to a user at the rental parking lot or when the ID information is determined to be valid. The above-mentioned ID information is transmitted to the central management device as information indicating that the rental car has been returned when the above-mentioned ID information and the ID tag and the key are returned from the user at the return parking lot, or when the above-mentioned ID information is determined to be valid. Transmitting the ID information to the central management apparatus as information indicating that the rental car has been operated, and using the ID information to manage the operation status of the rental car. 6. The method according to claim 2, wherein information for specifying a payment card for each user is stored in the central management device, and a rental car usage fee is stored in the stored payment card. Car management method characterized by performing cashless using information for specifying a rental car. 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the central management device transmits the name of the company involved in the generation of the usage fee, the usage fee, and information for specifying the payment card to the payment management device. The device sends the information required for settlement to the credit company, and upon receiving payment information from the credit company,
A rent-a-car management method characterized by making a payment to a rent-a-car management company, a reservation office, and a parking lot management company based on the payment information. 8. The rent-a-car management method according to claim 2, wherein the reservation is inputted from a portable terminal based on net information such as voice, text, and image. 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein a function of transmitting the ID tag and the key to a user and periodically transmitting the position information to the user is provided. A rental car management method, wherein a portable terminal having at least one impact sensor is also provided to the user. 10. A central management apparatus manages reservation and use status of a rental car. When a user requests a reservation to the central management apparatus, the central management apparatus transmits reservation information including information for specifying a payment card of the user. Send the reserved rental parking lot and return parking lot to each lending / returning device, each lending / returning device sends the information identifying the payment card in the received reservation information to the gate terminal, and the lending parking lot manager to the user Pass the key of the reserved rent-a-car in the reservation information, the user enters the payment card data into each gate terminal of the rental parking lot and the return parking lot, and the gate terminal sends the entered payment card data and the above transmitted If the information coincides with the information that specifies the payment card, the gate is opened and closed, and information about entry and exit of the rental car is transmitted to the central management device. Taka management method. 11. A means for managing the reservation / operation status of a rental car, accepting a rental car reservation from a user, and assigning the reservation / rental car ID information in the reservation information with reference to the reservation / operation status to make a reservation. A central management device comprising: means for generating information; and means for transmitting the reservation information to each of the rental parking lots and the return parking lots; and a rental car, which is lent to a user when using a rental car, and An ID tag capable of transmitting the corresponding ID information, and the ID information provided at each parking lot, receiving the ID information transmitted from the ID tag and determining the validity thereof, and the reservation information transmitted from the central management device. A rent-a-car management system consisting of a parking lot device that controls the opening and closing of the gate if it determines and compares it with the ID information inside. 12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the parking lot device manages the reservation information sent from the central management device, and stores the input reservation information and the managed reservation information. Means for comparing and determining whether a reservation has been made, and means for comparing the ID information transmitted from the ID tag with the ID information in the reservation information determined to have been made as a reservation. A lending / returning device comprising means for transmitting the ID information to the parking lot gate terminal; a storage means provided near the parking lot gate for storing the ID information transmitted from the lending / returning device; and Means for comparing the validity of the transmitted ID information with the ID information stored in the storage means, and outputting a gate opening / closing control signal when the validity is determined to be valid Means to Obtain car rental management system characterized in further comprising that the said parking gate terminal. 13. A rent-a-car parking space is provided in at least a part of a parking lot where general cars such as hotels, inns, train stations, sightseeing spots and the like can be parked, and the rent-a-car is parked there. The parking lot device manages whether the rent-a-car of the parking space for the rent-a-car in the parking lot is parked or departs, notifies the management status to the central management device, and the central management device rents the car in each parking lot. The user manages the operation and reservation status of the car, and the user communicates with the above-mentioned central management device using a communication terminal provided at a station, a hotel, a travel agency, a tourist information center, or the user's portable terminal to make a reservation for a rental car. The management device transmits the reservation information to the reserved rental parking lot and the return parking lot, and the user rents a car at the reserved rental parking lot and rents a car at the reserved return parking lot. Car rental management method, characterized in that the return.