JP3206803B2 - Shared vehicle management system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system in which a plurality of rental vehicles are used by a plurality of users. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system in which users who set usage times in different time zones share a common vehicle. In a system based on alternate lending, it is possible to efficiently lend a limited number of vehicles efficiently and manage the vehicle so that a fixed amount of vehicles is always kept in a port. The present invention relates to a vehicle sharing system and a vehicle management method capable of smoothly renting a vehicle to a user of the vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is a rental car as a form in which a plurality of users use an automobile. Generally, the rental procedure of a rental car is complicated, and it is desired to simplify and speed up the rental procedure. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1-100671 discloses a terminal card installed at a place where a user inserts a user-specific IC card into a reservation device, makes a rental car rental reservation automatically, and rents a car on the day of use. When the IC card is inserted into the reader, the identification information of the car assigned to the user is displayed on the display panel in accordance with a reservation procedure in advance, and a predetermined protocol is written on the IC card. . The IC card on which this protocol is written serves as an opening / closing key of a car door to which the IC card is assigned and also serves as a starting key of the car. In this system, reservation and lending procedures are performed by automated self-service, but lending must be performed after making reservation procedures, and is not suitable for daily use such as daily commuting.

As a method of renting a car by self-service using an IC card, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
No. 0 describes that an IC card is issued to a contract user, and the IC card is used as a key for a gate of a storage place of a construction machine, a vehicle, and the like, and as a key of a power switch for a rental vehicle and the like. ing. Although this system allows users to select and use any machine or vehicle at any time with complete self-service, even if such a system can be configured for a small number of users, many users can use it. In order to lend any machine or vehicle to a person at any time by self-service, it is necessary to prepare a large parking lot and make many machines or vehicles stand by.

To further improve the efficiency of a rental car lending procedure, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 8-101993 discloses a computerized dispatch center in which a user inserts a user identification card into a card reader at a stop. A rent-a-car system is described in which a rental car is reserved by communication and a user card for which a reservation is completed is inserted into an automatic machine at a stop, and a chip card coded to be rented for the rental car is issued. In this system, the chip card serves as a vehicle door key and a release key for an anti-theft device. The maximum rental use time is stored in the chip card, and after the use time is exceeded, management using the chip card is performed such that the vehicle is not opened with the chip card. This system, like other conventional rental car systems, is merely a system for temporarily using the rental car for a special occasion such as traveling.

[0005]

The above prior art rental car system is intended to use the rental car as a temporary or temporary transportation for traveling or other special occasions. Rent-a-car was not used as a means of transportation in everyday life. As a daily use form of the vehicle, there is a use as a part of a means of commuting. Especially for office workers who live in suburban residential areas and commute to the city, it is convenient to use a car to get to and from a transportation terminal such as a railway, but the number of parking lots near the transportation terminal is limited. Often cannot be used. Also, even if parking is available, commuter cars occupy the parking space from morning to evening, and those who go out to the vicinity of the daytime traffic terminal for shopping or other business purposes will find that there is a shortage of parking space. You will be bothered.

[0006] Therefore, it is desired to realize a shared vehicle system in which a user can use a vehicle in a daily life on a regular basis and the vehicle does not occupy a space in a parking lot for a long time. Further, in consideration of the environment, it is desired to increase the use of electric vehicles that use a battery as at least a part of power.

[0007] The present invention provides a vehicle sharing system that allows a plurality of users to use a plurality of shared vehicles on a regular basis, and allows a user to efficiently select a vehicle according to the purpose of use. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a system that can be lent.

The present invention also relates to a vehicle sharing system for efficiently renting a vehicle by matching a morning rent pattern and an evening rent pattern in a vehicle sharing system. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle sharing system that always keeps a stock level of a vehicle at a constant level so as not to cause a vehicle, and a vehicle management method therefor.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a vehicle sharing system for renting and returning a plurality of vehicles at a port by an automatic procedure using a terminal device. Lending recording means for recording the time and the return time in the vehicle database, inventory amount detecting means for detecting the inventory status of the rented vehicle from the rental record information in the vehicle database, and information of the inventory amount detecting means are accumulated, and the accumulated data is stored. Means for predicting a change in the stock amount for each time zone of the stock amount.

The vehicle lending in the vehicle sharing system according to the present invention is basically constituted by a combination of a daytime use pattern and a nighttime use pattern, and is common to a user of the daytime use pattern and a user of the nighttime use pattern. A system for renting a vehicle, wherein the inventory amount detecting means is:
It is characterized in that the stock status of the rented vehicle is detected from the record of the vehicle return time and the rental time of both the daytime use pattern and the nighttime use pattern.

[0011] In addition, the inventory amount detecting means in the vehicle sharing system of the present invention includes: a record of the number of returned vehicles for each predetermined time period recorded in the rental recording means;
And detecting the stock amount for each time zone based on the difference between the actual number of rentals and the actual number of rentals.

According to the present invention, in a vehicle management method in a vehicle sharing system for renting and returning a plurality of vehicles in a port by an automatic procedure, a step of recording a rent time and a return time for each vehicle in a vehicle database. And an inventory amount detecting step of detecting the inventory status of the rented vehicle from the rental record information recorded in the vehicle database, and accumulating information of the inventory amount detecting means. Predicting, and a vehicle management method.

[0013] In the vehicle management method according to the present invention, the inventory amount detecting step may include the step of:
The method includes a step of detecting a stock amount for each time zone based on a difference between the actual number of returned vehicles and the actual number of rented vehicles for each predetermined time zone.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First, an overall configuration of a vehicle sharing system according to the present invention will be described below. 1. System concept 2. System configuration Membership management 4. 4. Vehicle rental and return management Vehicle allocation 6. 6. Inspection after return 7. Billing method The outline will be explained in the order of electric vehicles.

1. System Concept In the vehicle sharing system of the present invention, a plurality of registered users jointly use a plurality of vehicles according to their respective use time zones. FIG. 1 shows the general concept of the system of the present invention. In the morning, the user uses a rental vehicle from the house 3 to the parking lot 1 near the transportation terminal used for commuting by rail, etc., and returns to the house 3 from the evening parking lot 1 to the house 3, ie, a regular user, In the morning, the vehicle is rented out of the parking lot 1 near the traffic terminal and goes to the work location 5, and is returned to the parking lot 1 near the traffic terminal from the work location 5 in the evening. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Regular users in the daytime and apparent users who use the system temporarily and irregularly can use this system. A typical example of a reverse user is a company in the area, who uses the rented vehicle as a means of transportation from the employee's transportation terminal and uses it for business in the daytime.

As the parking lot, it is preferable to use a parking lot near a traffic terminal, such as a shopping center or a shopping mall. Such facilities have large parking lots for shoppers, but are usually closed and unused during morning and evening commutes. A contract is made with such a facility so that the terminal can be used during the morning and evening commuting hours, and a port terminal of the system of the present invention is installed. In this system, typically, rental cars are parked in these parking lots only after the regular pattern user uses the car for morning work and returns the car at the port terminal of the parking lot, and then reverses the pattern. It is time until the user rents a car. In addition, in the daytime, a parking space is required for a user who borrows and uses a rental vehicle in the daytime.

As an example, a regular user A who lives in a residential area on the outskirts of the small city X and works for a company in the city center Y has to get on the train at 8:00 in the morning to arrive at the office at 9:00 in the morning. . The user A arrives at the parking lot of the shopping center near the station at 7:45 every morning, parks the car at a predetermined position, and performs an automatic return procedure at the port terminal device.
Head to the station. The user B who works in the company of the small city X and commutes by train from a distance arrives at the station of the small city X at 8:30 in the morning to arrive at the office at 9:00 in the morning, and stops at the shopping center. Car rental procedures are performed at the port terminal at the parking lot, and the car is rented out at 8:40 and heads to the office. Assuming that the vehicle returned by the user A is rented by the user B, the time when the vehicle is stopped in the parking lot is 55 minutes from 7:45 to 8:40.

In this system, it is preferable that the number of users of the normal pattern and the number of users of the reverse pattern are approximately the same, but it is usually predicted that the number of users of the normal pattern will exceed the number of reverse users. Is done. In that case, the difference in the number of vehicles remains in the parking lot during the day and is provided for use by daytime regular users and seemingly patrons. Therefore, the space of the parking lot occupied by vehicles of this system in the daytime is less than or equal to the number of vehicles corresponding to the difference between the number of normal pattern users and the number of reverse pattern users.

The rental vehicle to be used is preferably an electric vehicle that uses a battery as at least a part of the power in consideration of the environment, but is not limited to this, and may be an ordinary gasoline vehicle. . When an electric vehicle is used, it is economical to charge the battery by the charger 4 using the nighttime electricity bill in the garage of the regular user. A regular user uses a fully charged car at night to go to work in the morning, and gets up to the parking lot 1 near a transportation terminal such as a train used for commuting. Here, the regular user returns this car by an automatic procedure using the port terminal device 2 of the parking lot. In the following description, the rental vehicle is an electric vehicle that uses a battery as at least a part of power. Vehicles powered by batteries are not limited to vehicles that run entirely on batteries, but also include vehicles that have gasoline engines and motors and switch between engines and motors depending on the situation. Means a car. Hereinafter, such a vehicle is referred to as an electric vehicle or an electric vehicle.

As described above, most of the rented vehicles used in this system are merely placed in the parking lot 1 for a relatively short period of time in the morning and evening, and most of the time, the regular user or the reverse user and the daytime user Or is placed in the garage of a regular user, so it does not occupy the parking lot for a long time. In addition, the parking hours of the parking lot 1 by the regular user and the reverse user are commuting hours, which is different from the time zone of the parking lot 1 by shopping customers. The need to do so is low. Thus, according to this system, the available time of the parking lot can be effectively used.

One form of reverse user is daytime business use by a company in the area. In this case, the company uses a corporate IC card to rent a car at a parking lot 1 near a transportation terminal using a corporate IC card and provides the car for business use by a plurality of employees. Is returned to the parking lot 1 when returning home.

2. System Configuration FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration of the system of the present invention. The system includes a plurality of port terminal devices 2, 2 ′ server 21, server 22, office terminal devices 23, 24, and maintenance terminal devices 26, 2 installed in a plurality of parking lots 1.
7 as a local area network. The servers 21 and 22 store database files developed using, for example, an Oracle (trademark) database program running on Windows NT (trademark) in a disk storage device. Office terminal device 23, 2
4. Port terminal device 2, 2 'Maintenance staff terminal device 26, 27
Can access this database via a network, and can print the output on a printer 25 connected to the server 21. Router 28
Is the local LAN of the business base and the wide area communication network 2
This is a device that controls connection between a plurality of port terminal devices connected to the “0” terminal and a plurality of maintenance terminal devices.

Each of the port terminals 2, 2 ', the maintenance personnel terminals 26, 27, and the office terminals 23, 24 functions as a terminal of the database system. Can access files. Access is performed by clicking a mouse button on a macro button that has been set in advance as a menu, or by touching a button displayed on a panel in the case of a port terminal device using a touch panel, and the answer is set in advance. Output in form.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of the relational database system 10 of the present invention. The system 10 includes a member management subsystem 30 that manages member information and usage status, a member performance subsystem 50 that manages the results of lending / returning of members' vehicles and various results for billing, It comprises a vehicle management subsystem 40 for managing information and its use status, and a vehicle performance subsystem 60 for managing vehicle maintenance information and usage results.

The system 10 holds a member master table 31 for holding information on members and maintenance staff, a member result table 32 for holding the use results of cars for each member, and the number of members who can join for each business use pattern. Capacity table 33, a vehicle master table 41 for storing basic information of the vehicle, a vehicle performance table 42 for storing the use performance of the vehicle for each vehicle, a maintenance performance table 43 for storing the maintenance information of the vehicle, rules for charging Is stored in the storage area of the disk storage device, a billing table 44 for storing the billing information on a monthly basis, and a general table 46 for storing the meaning of various codes. In addition, although not shown in the figure,
There is also a billing statement table that holds billing statements for each member. Relations are set between these tables and various tables described later. When data in one table is changed, related data in another table is also changed. The table configuration in which information is stored in the storage device is a matter to be designed according to the purpose of the system, and the present invention is not limited to the table configuration exemplified here. Table 1 shows a part of the member master table.

[0026]

[Table 1] Name Birth date Gender Address User ID Card ID 0001 AAAA…………… 0002 0003 0004 0005 0006 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・

The first line of Table 1 shows the names of fields (columns) indicating information on members, and 0001, 00 in the second and subsequent lines.
Each line of 02,... Is an area for recording a record corresponding to each member. Information about the member with the member number 0004 is recorded in the “Name” field, the “Date of birth” field, the “Gender” field,. Although only six fields are shown in Table 1, "business entity", "kanji name", "kana name", "home address", "home TEL", "license N
o. , "Account number,""debit financial institution code,"
"Business name", "Business TEL", "FLEX classification", "Holiday pattern", "Usage pattern (declaration)",
There are fields for "usage pattern (actual)", "usage time zone (borrowing)", "usage time zone (return)", "recitation number", and other items necessary for system operation management.
Information recorded in a plurality of fields in one line is collectively called a record. Similarly, a part of the vehicle master table is shown in Table 2.

[0028]

[Table 2] Vehicle key No. Affiliated entity Available status Remaining battery capacity 0001 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ 0002 0003 0004 0005 0006 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・

The first line of Table 2 shows a field for recording information about the vehicle. 001, 0002, ... in the first column
Is the serial number on the database of each vehicle. Information for each vehicle is recorded in a field of each row. Although only four fields are shown in Table 2, “vehicle status”, “start date of use”, “total number of uses”, “total mileage”, “mileage after final periodic inspection”, “Latest battery replacement date”, “Latest body replacement date”, “Battery No.”, “Vehicle diagnostic information”,
Fields for “full battery capacity”, “charged battery ratio”, “maintenance category”, and other items necessary for vehicle operation and management are provided.

The "remaining battery capacity" and "full battery capacity" are indicated by AH (ampere hour) or a travel distance (km) corresponding to the battery capacity. Electricity consumption (distance that can be traveled per unit charge capacity) depending on the type of car
However, if displayed using the mileage, it becomes a common index.

The database system 10 has an object called a query (query expression) that accesses one or more tables and retrieves necessary information according to set extraction conditions. Also, the system 10
Has form objects for entering, modifying, and displaying data in its own layout. Forms are used to display and print records on the screen. The system 10 also has report objects that are used to print the data in its own layout, which is used to divide the records into groups and display the totals for each group and the totals for the entire record. Will be A query can perform arithmetic or logical operation between fields, such as multiplying a value extracted from a predetermined field of a table by a predetermined count, and output the result to a report.

The database system 10 has multiple query objects created according to required work, multiple form objects created according to required input work, and created according to required output. Contains multiple report objects. The system 10 is built by integrating these objects utilizing macros embedded in the database program or using the programming language of the database program.

The member management subsystem 30 is a database system 10 that is used to grasp the membership status of members, register an application for membership, perform a membership process such as issuing a card to a member who has joined, refer to member information, Unsubscribe processing such as correction of member information, deletion of member information, judgment of availability
It is a part that manages basic data about members such as output of a member list.

The vehicle management subsystem 40 rents out of the database system 10, such as registration of vehicles for each business entity, registration and revocation of vehicles such as scrapped vehicles, inspection and maintenance of vehicles, and updating of service information such as inspection of operations. This part manages basic data about the vehicle. The subsystem 40 uses a vehicle master table 41 for storing vehicle information, a vehicle performance table 42 for storing vehicle usage results, and a maintenance performance table 43 for storing vehicle maintenance information stored in the magnetic disk storage device. I do.

The member record management subsystem 50 records and updates member use record information, lends processing including car allocation, returns processing, inquires about member records, creates billing statements, This part manages member data generated with the use of the vehicle sharing system, such as output, summary calculation and inquiry of billing details, and output of a deposit management book. The subsystem 50
The above-mentioned member master table 31 and vehicle master table 41 stored in the disk storage device, a member record table 32 for storing the record of vehicle use for each member, and a vehicle record table for storing the record of vehicle use for each vehicle 42, using a bill summary table 45 for holding billing detail information on a monthly basis and a billing table 44 for holding billing rules, extracting necessary information from these tables, calculating, and updating. .

The vehicle performance management subsystem 60 records and updates the charging status of the vehicle, records and updates the usage information of the vehicle, inquires of the vehicle performance, records the charge amount and the mileage of the database system 10. , Which manages vehicle data generated with the use of the vehicle.

Access to the management data is performed by selecting necessary items on a menu screen from the office terminal device and proceeding according to menu options or by inputting parameters in response to an input request. 10 is set. As an example, to access the data of a specific vehicle, from the menu screen of FIG.
Choose The vehicle performance management subsystem 60 executes the vehicle performance table 42 according to a query set in advance in response to the query.
Then, necessary field data is extracted from the vehicle master table 41 and entered into a preset form. In response, the “vehicle information list screen” of FIG. 5 is displayed. From this list, the vehicle management No. When mouse 835 is clicked on with a mouse, subsystem 60 responds by clicking on vehicle performance table 42 and vehicle master table 4.
The data of the required fields are extracted from No. 1 and put into a predetermined form and displayed as the "vehicle information detail screen" in FIG.

Instead of such a process, in response to the selection of the "vehicle information screen" from the menu screen of FIG. 4, a prompt for inputting the "vehicle management No." is displayed, and the vehicle management No. is displayed. Subsystem 6 in response to the input of
0 is the vehicle management No. With reference to the vehicle record table 42 and the vehicle master table 41 using the key as a key, the vehicle management No. The data shown in FIG. 6 can be displayed by extracting data from a predetermined field of the record and entering the data in a predetermined form.

3. Enrollment management A person who wishes to join the vehicle sharing system of the present invention fills in an enrollment application form and makes an application. The application form contains general management information such as the person's name, address, and workplace, as well as holiday patterns such as weekends and holidays, usage patterns such as regular use and reverse use, and port terminal devices. The time zone in which the vehicle is scheduled to be rented, the time zone in which the vehicle is to be returned by the port terminal device, and the like are entered.

The operator who has received the application form selects the member information screen from the menu screen (FIG. 4) displayed on the display device of the office terminal 23 shown in FIG. 2, and displays the member information list screen displayed accordingly. Is selected, the member management subsystem 30 sends the object of the membership reception form to the office terminal device 23, and the membership reception screen shown in FIG. 7 is displayed. The operator enters this membership acceptance screen based on the description of the membership application form. In the usage pattern fields, regular usage / 10k, reverse usage / 20k, daytime / 2
Enter the usage pattern of the shared vehicle and the expected mileage, such as 0k. If the applicant is a corporation, the usage pattern is entered as, for example, company / 10k,
In the case of individual daytime use, the input is like daytime / 20k. When the user completes the input and presses the execution key, the input content is recorded in the member master table of FIG. 2 as the applicant.

The operator returns the display of the display device of the terminal 23 to the menu screen (FIG. 4), and displays the "member registration number confirmation screen".
Select and enter or click parameters such as the name of the entity. Referring to FIG. 8, in response to this input, the query means 34 of the member management subsystem 30 uses the "usage pattern" field as a key to set the member master table 3
1 is retrieved, and the number of registered members for each usage pattern is entered into the counting means 35. The member management subsystem 30 accesses the capacity table 32 at the same time, reads out the capacity number for each usage pattern, and calculates the difference calculation means 36 and the display control means 37.
Put in. The difference calculating means 36 calculates a difference between the number of registered members for each usage pattern totalized by the usage pattern totaling means and the capacity for each usage pattern read from the capacity table 32. The number of seats for each usage pattern read from the seat table 32, the number of registered members for each usage pattern counted by the counting means, and the value of the difference calculated by the difference calculation means 36 are sent to the display control means 37. Display control means 3
7 puts the data in a predetermined form and displays it on the display device 38 in a format as shown in FIG.

The counting, difference calculation and display control described above are performed by the query (question formula) of the member management subsystem 30.
Objects, form objects, and report objects can be integrated and realized.

In the above description, as shown in FIG. 9, the total of all the usage patterns is displayed on the screen in accordance with the input by the operator. It is also possible to search the member master table 31, access the capacity table 32 using a specific usage pattern as a key, and display such information.

4. Vehicle Lending and Return Management After completing the membership application procedure, an IC card with a member-specific identification code recorded in memory is issued. An IC card is a plastic card about the same size as a credit card incorporating semiconductor memory.
Various kinds of information can be written or read using the writing device. The IC card records the identification code of the member and information described later.

When the IC card is inserted into the insertion slot of the IC card of the port terminal device 2 (FIG. 2), information on the rented vehicle is read from the IC card, and it is first determined whether or not the vehicle is being rented. . If the vehicle is not being rented, a prompt asking whether to proceed with the vehicle lending procedure, for example, a message of "Are you ready to borrow?" And options of "Yes" and "No" are displayed on the display screen of the port terminal device . This display screen is preferably a touch panel. In this case, if the user touches "Yes", the vehicle lending procedure proceeds, and if the user touches "No", the vehicle responds to a signal generated accordingly. Then, the terminal device ends the operation and sends out the IC card.
Alternatively, instead of ending the operation, a menu for contacting services such as a cumulative inquiry of the usage fee may be displayed. The display screen does not necessarily have to be a touch panel, but may be a combination of a normal CRT display device and a key input device. The port terminal device 2 has a structure similar to that of an automatic transaction device such as a bank, but may be constituted by a general computer terminal device.

When the user touches "Yes", the port terminal device 2 responds to a signal generated in response thereto, and the numeric keypad and "Enter password" are displayed on the display screen.
Display the message of Referring to FIG. 10, when a user inputs a password, the port terminal device 2
Sends the password to the member management subsystem 30, and the subsystem 30 checks the password against the password recorded in the member master table 31. If the collation matches, the vehicle performance management subsystem 60
Extracts vehicles suitable for the use pattern from the vehicle master table 41 and the vehicle record table 42 using the member use pattern information read from the IC card as an extraction condition, and when there are a plurality of vehicles suitable for lending, One vehicle is selected by a vehicle allocation logic described later, and its vehicle number and information associated with this vehicle are entered into a preset form and sent to the port terminal device 2. The port terminal device 2 displays the vehicle number on the display screen of the port terminal device 2 according to the form object and writes the vehicle number on the IC card. In that case, in addition to the vehicle number, information accompanying the rented vehicle such as vehicle key number, lending date, lending time, lending business entity, lending port, use starting mileage, lending time, charge amount, whether there is damage, etc. Is also written on the IC card.

The user stores the vehicle number displayed on the display screen of the port terminal device 2, goes to the parking position of the vehicle, starts the vehicle, and starts using the vehicle. Or,
A tape printer may be provided in the port terminal device 2, and the vehicle number may be printed and held by the user. Even when a printer is not used, the user can display the information of the IC card on a portable IC card reader and see it, so that there is no problem even if the vehicle number is forgotten. As described above, the vehicle lending procedure is automatically performed by a simple operation of the port terminal device 2 by the user without the intervention of the staff of the lending business entity, so that a speedy lending operation is realized.

The vehicle is also equipped with an IC card read / write device, and when specific information recorded on the IC card inserted by the user, for example, the vehicle number and the vehicle key number match with the self, Turn on the engine or motor start circuit. In this way, a mechanical key can be omitted. Of course, a mechanical key and an IC card may be used in combination.

The in-vehicle read / write device writes the use start time, use end time, remaining charge before use, mileage before use, mileage after use, mileage, and the like as vehicle operation information in the IC card. Depending on the design of the system, only part of this information may be written to the IC card, or additional information may be written.

The return of the vehicle is quickly and automatically performed by the user operating the port terminal device 2 as in the case of lending. That is, the user stops the vehicle to be returned at a predetermined position in the parking lot 1 where the port terminal device 2 is located, removes the IC card from the vehicle-mounted read / write device, and inserts the IC card into the IC card read / write device of the port terminal device 2. I do. The port terminal device 2 determines that this user is renting a vehicle based on the member information and the vehicle information read from the IC card, and displays a message "I'm ready for a return procedure" on the display screen. Display with "Yes" and "No" prompts. When “Yes” is selected, the port terminal device 2 transfers the member information and the vehicle information read from the IC card to the database system 10 via the communication network 20. Referring to FIG.
The member performance management subsystem 50 and the vehicle performance management subsystem 60 of the system 10 respond to this, and store the information in the member performance table 32 and the vehicle performance table 4.
2 and a predetermined query is executed to calculate a usage fee, which is transferred to the port terminal device 2 in a predetermined form or report object. Port terminal device 2
Displays the usage fee on the display screen accordingly.

5. Vehicle allocation When renting a vehicle, the database system 10
Using the member information read from the IC card inserted into the port terminal device 2 as a key, the member use pattern information is extracted from the member master table 31 and the travel distance information per lending included in the use pattern is extracted. As a key, a vehicle having a remaining charge corresponding to the traveling distance is extracted from the vehicle record table 42. The database program may be set so that the member's mileage information, which is a key at the time of vehicle allocation, is obtained by adding a margin to the average mileage of the member in the past fixed period. Also,
When renting to a reverse or daytime user, the mileage is calculated by adding the mileage equivalent to the average home return distance of the regular user so that the same vehicle can be lent to the regular member after returning the vehicle. You can set the database system to use as a key.

In the member record table 32, a record is created for each member for each lending return. FIG. 11 shows the meanings and attributes of some fields included in this table. The underlined fields in this figure record the results of each use (trip), that is, each time an IC card is inserted into and removed from the IC card read / write device of the vehicle. Such data is stored in vehicle-mounted ICs.
The data is recorded on the IC card by the card read / write device and read by the port terminal device 2. "Total mileage"
The field indicates the mileage per lending.
Although not shown in the figure, an “average mileage” field can be provided to record the average value of the total mileage of one loan per fixed period in the past, for example, one month. This field is a function of the “Total mileage” field and the return date. The “Return date” field date is calculated by the system clock. Divided by the number of records. That is, the “average mileage” field is automatically updated by executing this function each time a record record of the member is added.

Referring to FIG. 12, in response to the vehicle allocation request (101), the system refers to the member record table of the member and extracts the value of the "average mileage" field (102). A value D obtained by adding the minute a is calculated (103), and using the D as a key, the "remaining mileage" field of the vehicle table is searched to extract vehicle information of a record having a value larger than the search key (104).

In the above description, the member record table 3
2 is provided with an "average mileage" field, which is a function field, and it has been described that the average mileage is automatically calculated and recorded in the "average mileage" field each time a record is added. An arithmetic command may be incorporated in a query (question formula) for accessing 32, and the average mileage of the member may be calculated when executing the query.

When there are a plurality of vehicles that meet such an extraction condition, the database selects one of them according to predetermined selection logic (105) and outputs the information to the port terminal device 2 as a rented vehicle. Yes (10
6). This selection logic 1) gives priority to the vehicle whose expiration date is the farthest next, 2) gives priority to the vehicle with the remaining charge corresponding to the mileage closest to the mileage which is the extraction key, 3) total mileage Any logic may be used, such as giving priority to a vehicle with a shorter battery, 4) giving priority to a vehicle with a new battery, or a plurality of these logics may be used to further prioritize the logic. For example,
First priority is to equalize the total mileage of vehicles, and select vehicles in ascending order of total mileage.If there are multiple vehicles with the same total mileage, give priority to the effect on the inspection schedule. It is possible to select a vehicle whose inspection date is farthest next time. Such settings are made in the database system 1
0 can be set at the design stage, and can be changed as needed.

6. Inspection after Return The returned vehicle is inspected immediately after returning by the vehicle maintenance staff standing by at the parking lot 1 where the port terminal device 2 is installed. The maintenance person carries the maintenance person terminal devices 26 and 27 which are portable PCs that communicate with the database system in the system of the present invention. When the vehicle number is input to this PC and vehicle inspection is selected from the menu screen,
The inspection data of the vehicle is transmitted from the database system 10 and displayed on the screen. This data also displays vehicle information read from the IC card at the time of return, for example, a water temperature abnormality.

The maintenance person judges whether the vehicle can be used by referring to these data, furthermore, visually observes the vehicle to check for the presence or absence of a flaw, and inputs the type and location of the flaw. This input data is recorded in the vehicle performance table 42 and used for repair management. In addition, since it is possible to specify which member has the damage by comparing it with the member use record table, the member can be used for managing the billing of the repair cost.

7. Billing Method In the system of the present invention, it is desired that the use of the normal pattern and the use of the reverse pattern be properly balanced. Further, it is desired that the use by the member be performed in the registered use time zone. For smooth operation, the system is naturally operated with a considerable margin built in, but use outside the registered use time zone is not preferable. For this reason, in order to recommend the use in the registered use time zone, the usage charge outside the hours is set higher than the use charge in the registered use time zone. When an electric vehicle is used as a rental vehicle, the same can be said for the traveling distance of the vehicle due to the charge amount of the battery. If there are many uses that greatly exceed the registered mileage, the operation of the system may be difficult. Therefore, for the usage fee within the registered traveling distance, an extra fee is set for the traveling distance exceeding the registered traveling distance, and the use within the registered traveling distance can be recommended.

For this reason, the database system 10
Has fields for storing “time-based unit price”, “distance-based unit price”, “time-based unit price (out of hours)”, and “distance-based unit price (not registered)” in the charging table 44. When “Billing statement” is selected from the menu screen of the office terminal device, the member record management subsystem 50 uses the record of use of each member during the period set from the field of the member record table 32 within the registration time. The total is divided into time, mileage within registration, usage time outside of time, and mileage outside registration, and the total is calculated by multiplying each by the unit price stored in the above field of the billing table 44. Or output to a report. A charge is made based on this output, and if an automatic debit procedure has been performed, the automatic debit is performed.

As an example, the member performance management subsystem 50
Prints a monthly billing statement as follows (FIG. 1)
4). When "Billing statement screen" is selected from the menu screen (FIG. 4) of the office terminal device 23, an extraction condition setting screen is displayed. When the user's ID number is input in response (201), the subsystem 50 extracts data from necessary fields of the member master table 31, the member record table 32, and the billing table 44 using the user ID as a key. (202, 203, 204), "Departure time difference" and "Return time difference" for each borrow and return are calculated using the "Declaration use time zone" field value in the member master table and the "Borrow time" in the member record table. This is calculated by taking the difference between the values in the “Return Time” field and the “Return Time” field (207), and put into the “Lending Time Difference” field and the “Return Time Difference” field of the billing report (FIG. 13). Further, the system takes out the value of the “unit price outside the hours” field of the charging table, calculates the difference fee by multiplying the value of the “rental time difference” field of the billing report (208), and compares the result with the “differential fee” of the billing report. (Borrowing time difference). Similarly, the result is multiplied by the value of the “return time difference” field and put into the “difference charge (return time difference)” field of the billing report (20).
9). FIG. 13 shows the types of the fields of the billing report and their attributes.

Similarly, the occupancy time of the vehicle by the member is calculated as the difference between the value of the “borrow time” and the value of the “return time” in the member record table (205), and this value is used in the “occupancy time” field of the billing report. Put in. The system accesses the billing table, retrieves the value of the "hourly charge unit price" field, calculates the hourly charge by multiplying the value of the "exclusive use time" field of the billing report (206), and puts it in the "exclusive use fee" field. By the same processing, the mileage and the distance fee are obtained, and are entered in the “mileage” field and the “distance fee” field of the billing report.

In the above description, the calculation is performed using the fields of the billing report for convenience. However, a query (question formula) for extracting necessary information from the member master table 31, the member record table 32, and the billing table 44 is used. In addition, an operation command can be incorporated into the program to execute the various operations described above simultaneously with the execution of the query. Therefore, the calculation sequence as described above is for explanation, and it is not always necessary to execute the operation in this sequence. The member report management system may be set so that the billing report is automatically created for all members on the closing day of the month. The printed fee details are shown in FIG.
Shown in

When an electric vehicle is used as a rental vehicle, it is important that a member who is a regular user charge the electric vehicle at home at night, or there is a risk that the vehicle cannot be used the next day if neglected. is there. The in-vehicle computer monitors the charge amount of the battery and records the value on the IC card. When the regular user returns the vehicle in the morning, the port terminal device 2 reads the remaining charge of the battery from the IC card. The database system compares the value obtained by subtracting the battery consumption equivalent to the one-way mileage of the member from the full charge of the vehicle with the remaining charge at the time of return. Add 1 to the field of "Number of Cooperation". At the same time, a charge flag may be set on the member record. At the time of calculating the billing fee, based on the "number of times of charging cooperation", for example, for members who have been fully charged every day, a charge promotion discount such as a one-time charge discount is provided to achieve smooth system operation. Can guide members.

8. Electric Vehicle FIG. 16 shows a system configuration of an electric vehicle that can be used in the vehicle sharing system of the present invention. The management ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 81 is a control unit that manages the electric vehicle system. The IC card read / write device 80 sends data read from the inserted IC card to the ECU 81 and writes data sent from the ECU 81 to the IC card. The management ECU 81 is connected to an integrating wattmeter (not shown), detects the power consumption and remaining capacity of the battery, which is power, and displays the detected power on the console panel of the driver's seat 70. The data on the battery consumption and the remaining capacity is also sent to the IC card read / write device 80 and recorded on the IC card when the IC card is removed.

The battery box 63 stores a battery 64 for powering the electric vehicle. The battery is configured by connecting a plurality of 12V nickel metal halide batteries to obtain a voltage of 288V, for example. Battery 64
The connection between the motor controller 72 and the motor controller 72 is made by a main contactor 67 in the contactor box. The precharge 68 includes a battery 64 (not shown).
And to the line to the controller 72 to charge the line before connecting the main contactor 67 and to prevent arcing of the switch when the main contactor closes. is there. I
When an IC card is inserted into the C card read / write device 80 and the ignition is turned on in a so-called (internal combustion engine) gasoline vehicle, first, the precharge switch 68 is closed to precharge the line, Subsequently, the main contactor 67 closes and the battery 82
Connected to.

The inertia switch 61 is activated when the vehicle receives a large impact, such as in the event of a collision of the vehicle, to turn off the main contactor 67 to ensure the safety of the vehicle. The terrain detection device 62 is for detecting that the high voltage line has contacted the vehicle body.

The motor 73 is controlled by the controller 72 based on a command from the motor ECU 71. The motor ECU 71 receives accelerator information, selector position information, and brake information from the driver's seat 70 and motor rotation information from the motor 73, and issues a torque command to the controller 72. The rotation of the motor 73 is transmitted to the axle via the gearbox to drive the wheels.

The on-board charger 76 is a charger for charging the battery 82 by connecting to an external power supply.
In an environment where the battery 64 can always be charged from a charger outside the vehicle, the on-board charger 76 may not be provided, and a connector for connecting to the charger outside the vehicle is provided instead. The 12V battery 77 corresponds to a battery of a normal gasoline engine vehicle, and has a corresponding EC.
U, power supply for control devices such as IC card read / write devices. The battery 77 is charged according to the driving state of the vehicle. The air conditioner 79 constitutes the air conditioner of the electric vehicle.

FIG. 17 shows a console of this electric vehicle.
The panel 83 is shown. The remaining capacity meter 84 indicates the remaining capacity of the battery. The power consumption meter 85 indicates power consumption during traveling. The remaining travelable distance meter 86 displays a travelable distance that indicates how long the vehicle can run with the remaining battery capacity at that time, based on the relationship between the power consumption during travel and the remaining battery capacity. The charge request lamp 87 blinks and lights up when the remaining capacity of the battery becomes small to notify the driver that the battery needs to be charged. The multi information 88 displays the content of the warning display when the warning display is lit. The warning display 89 displays warning about a half door, a side brake, a seat belt, and the like. The speedometer 90 digitally displays the traveling speed. These configurations are only examples,
Various changes are possible.

Table 3 shows items of information that the port terminal device 2 writes in the IC card when renting and returning the vehicle.

[0071]

[Table 3] Vehicle No. Vehicle key No. Lending date Lending time Lending entity Lending port Return date Return time Return entity Return port Usage starting mileage Ending mileage Total mileage Lending time Usage time Number of charge times Charge amount Damage vehicle diagnostic information Usable / Not available

The IC card read / write device mounted on the vehicle is
The vehicle key number is read from the IC card, and the management ECU 81 checks the value with the vehicle key number stored in the memory of the ECU 81. When the values match, the circuit for activating the main connector 67 can be turned on. Activate the main connector 67 by turning on. At this time, the main connector 67 operates after the precharge 68 operates as described above. If the vehicle key numbers do not match, the IC card is rejected, and the state in which the main connector 67 cannot operate, that is, the state in which the circuit for operating the main connector 67 does not operate even when the ignition is turned on is maintained.

The following Table 4 shows the IC card / read /
5 shows items of information written to an IC card by the writing device.

[0074]

[Table 4] Usage start date Usage start time Usage end date Usage end time Charge remaining before use Charge remaining after use Charge after use Travel distance before use Travel distance after use Travel distance Average power consumption at the end of use Battery temperature at the start of use Radiator temperature at start of use Outside temperature at start of use Vehicle diagnostic information Discharge amount

When the vehicle is returned, the port terminal device 2
Reads this information from the IC card and adds it as a new record to the relevant table. These data are used for the above-mentioned vehicle allocation management, charging management, maintenance management, and the like.

The above is the overall configuration of the vehicle sharing system to which the present invention is applied. In the vehicle sharing system of the present invention, it is necessary to set a time zone for a plurality of vehicles to a plurality of members and to efficiently allocate the vehicles. In particular, it is possible to efficiently lend a limited number of vehicles to more members by configuring a lending pattern in which the morning lending and evening return patterns are matched with the evening lending and morning return patterns. . In the evening lending morning return pattern, as described above, the main user is generally the individual who uses the vehicle for commuting between home and the vicinity of the station where the port is located, and the reverse pattern user, that is, morning lending, evening return It is mainly used by companies. A problem in operation in the two different lending patterns is that the vehicle is not returned even after a predetermined contract time has elapsed. In such a case, the vehicle lending member waits until the vehicle is returned and maintenance is completed. In order to avoid such a waiting time, it is desirable that a certain amount of vehicles is always in stock at a port that is parked. However, for members,
It is impossible to expect a 100% return according to the contract time, and it is necessary to perform a lending process based on some prediction. Described below are a vehicle sharing system and a vehicle management method for maintaining a constant inventory at a port.

FIG. 18 and FIG. 19 are diagrams for explaining the inventory amount adjustment flow and the inventory amount transition detection and prediction method in the vehicle sharing system. Step 1 shown in FIG.
01 is a step of creating a stock amount prediction graph after the daytime use restriction time. The vehicle rental and return times are recorded in the vehicle performance table in the vehicle database as described above. The stock amount is detected based on the vehicle rental and return times recorded in the vehicle performance table.
The stock amount transition graph created in step 101 of FIG. 18 is shown in FIG. 19B. FIG. 19 (b)
Is created based on the graph of FIG.

In FIG. 19A, the vertical axis scale indicates the number of customers, and the horizontal axis indicates time (time elapses from left to right). This graph is created based on the records in the vehicle performance table of the vehicle database. A vertical broken line drawn at the center of the horizontal axis indicates the contract time of the return. A plurality of bar graphs extending from the left end line toward the right indicate the return time as the daytime user's lending status, the width (vertical direction) indicates the number of members, and the length (the length of each bar graph) (Right end) indicates the return time. On the other hand, a bar graph extending leftward from the right end line of the graph indicates the lending time and the number of lending members in the evening lending morning return pattern as a regular user. This indicates that the vehicle was lent from the port at the time indicated by the left end in the length direction of the bar graph. The width of the bar graph indicates the number of members. This graph is a graph obtained by dividing the time into predetermined time ranges, for example, every 15 minutes, counting the number of members returning vehicles and the number of renting members during that period, and is therefore a graph on the stairs. ing. Further, a dashed line is further drawn at the tip of the bar graph extending from the left end, and this is a graph obtained by adding the maintenance time after returning the vehicle. Therefore, the vehicle cannot be lent unless the time on the right side of the broken line is reached.

From the graph of FIG. 19A, the number of rentable vehicles, which is the stock amount at each time, is derived. This stock amount is indicated by the vertical width of the gap between the bar graphs extending from the left and right sides of the graph (the portion represented by the arrow at both ends ← →). FIG. 19 is a graph showing changes in return and lending in the evening time period from daytime use to nighttime use, and the reverse return and lending in the morning after the reverse of nighttime use to daytime use. A similar graph can be created for the transition.

FIG. 19 (b) shows the time transition of the stock quantity (both arrows ← →) of FIG. 19 (a) (FIG. 1).
8 step 101). Here, X vehicles are set as the specified minimum stock quantity, and the goal is to always maintain X or more vehicle stocks. Here, it can be seen that the portion indicated by the arrow A in the substantially central portion of FIG. 19B is lower than X, and the vehicle inventory is less than or equal to the specified number X in the rectangular region, box B portion. The height of the rectangle of the box B indicates the number of missing vehicles, and the width indicates the shortage time zone (step 102 in FIG. 18).

In order to eliminate the shortage of vehicles in the time zone indicated by the box B, a countermeasure may be taken so that the returning member after the time zone has a shorter return time. FIG.
(C) is a graph in the case where the countermeasure is executed in the time zone C and the box B indicating the shortage of the stock vehicle is adjusted. The shortage B in FIG. 19 (b) is solved by taking a countermeasure so that the returnee in the time zone C after that time zone hastens the return. Specifically, the number of missing units indicated by box B in FIG. 19B is, for example, five (the height of box B), and the shortage time is 30 from 17:00 to 17:30.
Minutes (width of box B), 17: 3
Adjustment is made so that at least 5 units are returned to returners after 0 before 17:00, so that the shortage of stock (box B) is resolved (step 103 in FIG. 18). In this way, pick up the returning member in the predetermined time zone,
By taking a return promotion measure as shown in FIG. 18 and step 104 with emphasis on the picked-up members, the shortage of inventory can be resolved more effectively.

In particular, the shortage of stock in the evening return pattern shown in FIG. 19 is often caused by the lack of management of the company that is returning the evening, and the logic to solve this is a procedure shown in FIG. Becomes effective. Based on the graph of FIG. 19, the time period during which the stock vehicle shortage occurs and the number of vehicles in shortage are derived. Is displayed (step 201). The display on the company terminal is performed via an IC card provided to the company. That is, the time slot and the number of times when the stock shortage is predicted from the past return performance are recorded on the corporate IC card given to the company from the system providing side. This record
This is performed by writing from a port terminal when a company rents a vehicle from a port. By inserting the IC card with the vehicle shortage information recorded in the corporate terminal,
This stock shortage information is displayed.

In the above embodiment, stock shortage information predicted based on past results is input to the company terminal device via the IC card. However, the vehicle shared database system of the business entity communicates with the company terminal device. It is also possible to connect online via a line and display on the company terminal device the vehicle shortage information of the day predicted by the vehicle sharing system based on the rental return data of the day.

If the corporate member who has received the vehicle shortage information in these forms has a plan to return the vehicle early, the member notifies the port of the business entity or the vehicle sharing system administrator of the return ( Step 202), the business entity accepts the return promise of the number obtained by adding the surplus α to the shortage number (step 203), and eliminates the shortage number by giving points to the member who executed the return reservation (step 204). Efficiently.

By using the stock shortage prediction graph of FIG. 19, the shortage time zone and the shortage number can be easily specified. Can be promoted,
It can also be used as a reference when changing the lending pattern itself.

The inventory forecast graph shown in FIG. 19 counts returning members and lending members by dividing the time zone into, for example, every 15 minutes, as described above. However, a graph is created according to the number of vehicles handled and the number of members. Can be changed. For example, it is also possible to create a graph having no time width by inputting information sequentially as time elapses and forming a graph.

[0087]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the use of a vehicle sharing system, it is possible to ascertain the amount of inventory at a port of a vehicle and to determine the time period during which the amount of inventory is insufficient and the number of units that are insufficient. In addition, a smooth vehicle sharing system can be realized by preventing a vehicle stagnation caused by a shortage of vehicles.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the concept of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a system configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a database system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a menu screen on the office terminal device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a vehicle information list screen displayed on the office terminal device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a vehicle detail screen displayed on the office terminal device.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an enrollment reception screen displayed on the office terminal device.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a system for performing membership management.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a member registration confirmation screen displayed on the office terminal device.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a system for managing lending and returning of vehicles.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing some fields and attributes of a member record table.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a flow of vehicle allocation.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing types of fields of a form for printing monthly billing statements and attributes thereof.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a process for creating a monthly billing statement.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a monthly billing statement.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a system configuration of an electric vehicle.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a console panel of the electric vehicle.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a vehicle inventory amount confirmation flow according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a vehicle inventory amount prediction graph according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a view for explaining a return promotion flow to a company according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 parking lot 2 port terminal device 20 INS network 21, 22 server 23, 24 office terminal device 26, 27 maintenance terminal device 28 router

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-8-44801 (JP, A) JP-A-6-173480 (JP, A) JP-A-5-242394 (JP, A) JP-A-8-48 110997 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 17/60 G06F 19/00 G08G 1/00 JICST file (JOIS)

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A parking lot near a traffic terminal
By automatic procedure using terminal for rental and return ,
A pipe so that shared vehicles can be rented and returned
Vehicle management system that returns vehicles to the parking lot in the morning and rents vehicles in the evening
Regular users of the first pattern and vehicles in the parking lot in the morning
Registration of regular users in the second pattern of renting out and returning in the evening
A database for storing recording information, and a network connected to the terminal device,
And a computer that manages the rental of the first pattern according to the time period for the regular user and the return prediction of the second pattern according to the time period by the regular user. Predict the inventory amount of the common vehicle in the parking lot for each time zone, and when a time zone in which the inventory quantity falls below a certain value occurs, at least one of the companies to which a plurality of the second pattern users belong. A request to return the shared vehicle is transmitted, and in response to receiving the request, performing a display urging the return of the shared vehicle to the parking lot near the traffic terminal by a time zone related to the request. A shared vehicle management system comprising: a display device arranged in the company. 2. The shared vehicle management system according to claim 1, wherein the display device is a company terminal device installed in the company and lending the shared vehicle to users belonging to the company.