JP7324606B2 - Information processing device, server device, information processing method, and program - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus or the like that obtains and outputs a cost according to the amount of LPG used.

In the past, a business operator entrusted with the sale of LPG was charged for each LPG gas cylinder.

In addition, conventionally, there was a technology that could contribute to reducing the labor and costs involved in these tasks by efficiently supporting maintenance and management of propane gas meters, aggregation of meter reading data, and sales tasks at LPG dealers (patented Reference 1).

Such a technology comprises a first step of wirelessly collecting gas meter readings of consumers in a portable terminal owned by a meter reader, a second step of transmitting the collected meter readings to a collection center via a network, a third step of summarizing consumer meter readings for each store at a summation center, creating sales data, and sending the sales data to the store via a network, via a communication line, or by mail; and a fourth step of performing processing relating to charge collection such as separate billing and receipt issuance, and sending sales record data to the store.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-310645

However, conventionally, as described above, the business operator entrusted with the sale of LP is billed for each LPG gas cylinder, and there is no technology for billing according to the amount of LPG used.

The information processing apparatus of the first invention stores two or more pieces of LPG information including gas usage information relating to gas usage in an LPG cylinder in association with time information specifying time and a customer identifier identifying a customer. an LPG information storage unit that receives the LPG information associated with the customer identifier; an LPG information storage unit that associates the LPG information received by the LPG information reception unit with the time information and the customer identifier; and a cost information acquisition unit that acquires cost information that specifies the cost according to the LPG usage amount of one or more customers by using two or more LPG information in the LPG information storage unit. and a cost information output unit for outputting the cost information acquired by the cost information acquisition unit.

With this configuration, it becomes possible for the customer to whom the LPG cylinder is delivered to calculate the cost for each customer according to the amount of LPG used.

Further, the information processing device of the second invention is, in contrast to the first invention, one or more identifiers associated with a business identifier that identifies a business and one or more customer identifiers of one or more customers that the business is in charge of. The cost information acquisition unit acquires one or more customer identifiers corresponding to one business identifier from the business information storage unit, and stores the one or more customer identifiers. An information processing device that acquires gas usage information associated with a customer identifier from an LPG information storage unit, and uses one or more pieces of gas usage information to acquire cost information that specifies the cost corresponding to one business operator identifier. is.

With this configuration, it is possible to calculate the cost to the business operator, which is the cost corresponding to the amount of LPG used by one or more customers for whom the business operator is in charge. In addition, the information processing device of the third invention, in contrast to the first or second invention, includes raw material cost information specifying the raw material cost of the LPG cylinder and delivery cost information specifying the delivery cost of the LPG cylinder. A cost calculation source information storage unit that stores calculation source information, and a price information acquisition unit that acquires price information specifying a unit price, which is a cost corresponding to a unit usage amount of LPG, using the cost calculation source information. The cost information acquisition unit is an information processing device that acquires cost information using the unit price and the amount of LPG used specified by the price information acquired by the price information acquisition unit.

With such a configuration, it is possible to properly obtain the cost according to the amount of LPG used for each customer.

Further, in the information processing apparatus of the fourth invention, in any one of the first to third inventions, the two or more pieces of LPG information are associated with an LPG gas medium identifier that is an identifier for specifying LPG gas. A medium information storage that includes an LPG information storage unit and stores one or more pieces of medium information including medium usage information related to the use of the energy medium in association with a medium identifier that identifies the type of energy medium and a customer identifier. a conversion information storage unit that stores conversion information for converting energy medium units into common energy units in association with medium identifiers; Using the medium usage information and conversion information associated with the medium identifier to convert the medium usage information into a common energy unit and acquire common unit usage information specifying the amount of energy usage in the common energy unit Common unit usage Integrating the information acquisition unit and two or more pieces of common unit usage information for each energy medium acquired by the common unit usage information acquisition unit to calculate total usage information for specifying the total amount of energy usage for each customer identifier The information processing apparatus further includes a usage information calculation unit and a comprehensive usage information output unit that outputs the comprehensive usage information acquired by the comprehensive usage information calculation unit in association with the customer identifier.

With such a configuration, it is possible to acquire the total amount of usage of two or more types of energy media including LPG.

Further, an information processing apparatus of a fifth aspect of the present invention is, in contrast to the fourth aspect of the invention, a common unit price information storage unit storing common unit price information specifying a unit price of energy corresponding to a common energy unit; Total cost information for acquiring total cost information specifying the total cost for the total use of a plurality of energies by one or more customers by using the total use information output by the total use information output unit and the common unit price information The information processing apparatus further includes an acquisition unit and a total cost information output unit that outputs total cost information.

With such a configuration, it is possible to obtain a cost corresponding to the overall usage of two or more types of energy media including LPG.

Further, in the information processing apparatus of the sixth invention, in any one of the first to third inventions, the two or more pieces of LPG information are an LPG gas medium identifier that is an identifier for specifying LPG gas as a medium. One or more medium information including medium usage information relating to the use of the energy medium is stored in association with a medium identifier specifying the type of energy medium and a customer identifier, including an LPG information storage unit. a medium information storage unit; a conversion information storage unit that stores conversion information for converting energy medium units into common energy units in association with medium identifiers; The medium usage information is shared by using the usage right information storage unit storing the usage right information specifying the usable amount of the energy medium and the conversion information associated with the medium usage information and the medium identifier for each medium identifier. and a common unit usage information acquisition unit that acquires common unit usage information by converting the energy unit into energy units, and difference information that acquires difference information that specifies the difference between the usage right information corresponding to one medium identifier and the common unit usage information. The information processing apparatus further includes an acquisition unit and a transaction processing unit that performs transaction processing for giving or receiving the right to use the amount of energy of the difference specified by the difference information.

Such an arrangement allows the trading of rights to use energy between different energy carriers.

Further, the information processing device of the seventh invention, in contrast to the sixth invention, further comprises a weather information reception unit that receives weather information associated with the time information specifying the time, and the transaction processing unit comprises: 2 Price information acquisition means for acquiring price information that specifies the unit price of energy for the unit amount of time specified by the time information, using the above household gas usage information and weather information, and the amount of energy indicated by the difference information. and a right output means for outputting the price information acquired by the price information acquisition means.

With such a configuration, the weather information can be used to automatically determine the price of energy.

Further, the information processing device of the eighth invention is information including gas usage information relating to the use of gas in the LPG cylinder, in relation to any one of the first to seventh inventions, and the cylinder identifier for identifying the LPG cylinder and a terminal transmission unit for transmitting the LPG information acquired by the terminal acquisition unit to the information processing device. and an LPG information storage unit that associates the LPG information received by the LPG information reception unit with the customer identifier associated with the cylinder identifier and stores it in the LPG information storage unit. It is an information processing apparatus further comprising.

With such a configuration, customer LPG information can be easily collected.

Further, the server apparatus of the ninth invention comprises: a server storage unit for storing the usage right information and the price information output by the right output means of the information processing apparatus according to the seventh invention in association with each other; a server output unit for outputting usage right information and price information stored in a server receiving unit for receiving a purchase instruction having a user identifier and amount information specifying an amount of energy; The server device further includes a server processing unit that performs futures transaction processing for making a purchase reservation for the right to use the amount of energy specified by the amount information at the unit price specified by the price information.

With such a configuration, energy futures trading can be performed more appropriately.

Further, in the server device of the tenth invention, in contrast to the ninth invention, the server processing unit stores the quantity information at the unit price specified by the price information stored in the server storage unit in response to the purchase instruction. A futures transaction means for performing futures transaction processing for reserving purchase of a specified amount of energy; in the server storage unit, and the server output unit is a server device that outputs the price information changed by the price change unit.

With such a configuration, energy futures trading can be performed more appropriately.

According to the information processing apparatus of the present invention, billing can be performed according to the amount of LPG used.

Conceptual diagram of information system A in Embodiment 1 Block diagram of the same information system A Block diagram of the information processing device A2 Flowchart explaining an operation example of the same gas information transmitting device A1 Flowchart for explaining an operation example of the information processing device A2 Flowchart explaining an operation example of the same delivery person terminal A3 Flowchart explaining an operation example of the same facility terminal A4 Conceptual diagram of the processing of the information system A Conceptual diagram of information system H in Embodiment 2 Block diagram of the same information system H Block diagram of the same information processing device H2 Flowchart explaining an operation example of the terminal device H1 Flowchart for explaining an operation example of the information processing device H2 Flowchart for explaining an operation example of the information processing device H2 Flowchart explaining an example of the comprehensive usage information acquisition process Flowchart for explaining an example of same difference information acquisition processing Flowchart for explaining an example of the usage information acquisition process Flowchart explaining an example of same price information acquisition processing Flowchart explaining an example of the same demand forecast processing Flowchart for explaining an operation example of the server device H3 Schematic diagram of a computer system in the above embodiment Block diagram of the same computer system

Hereinafter, embodiments of an information processing apparatus and the like will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that, since components denoted by the same reference numerals in the embodiments perform similar operations, repetitive description may be omitted.

(Embodiment 1)
In the present embodiment, an information system including one or more gas information transmitters and an information processor for acquiring and transmitting gas information including information on gas usage in one or more LPG cylinders will be described.

Further, in the present embodiment, an information system including a gas information transmitting device that collectively transmits two or more pieces of gas information at once will be described. The gas information transmitting device acquires gas usage information, which will be described later, once an hour, for example, and transmits the gas usage information for one day to the information processing device once a day. Further, the gas information transmitting device acquires gas usage information, which will be described later, once an hour, for example, and transmits the gas usage information for one day to the information processing device twice or more times a day. Also good.

Further, in the present embodiment, an information system including an information processing device that also receives delivery cylinder information (to be described later), delivery vehicle position information (to be described later), weather information (to be described later), and cylinder exchange information (to be described later) will be described.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of an information system A according to this embodiment. The information system A includes one or more gas information transmitters A1, an information processor A2, one or more distributor terminals A3, and one or more facility terminals A4.

The gas information transmission device A1 is a device that acquires gas information including gas usage information and transmits it to the information processing device A2. The gas information transmitting device A1 may be of any type as long as it has a communication function.

The information processing device A2 is a server device that receives and accumulates information such as gas information, which will be described later. The gas information and the like may be only gas information, or in addition to gas information, one or more of delivery cylinder information (to be described later), delivery vehicle position information (to be described later), cylinder replacement information (to be described later), and weather information. The information processing apparatus A2 can be realized by a so-called cloud server or ASP server, but the type thereof does not matter.

The deliverer terminal A3 is a terminal used by the deliverer. However, the terminal A3 of the delivery person may be a terminal mounted on the delivery vehicle. The delivery person terminal A3 is, for example, a smart phone, a tablet terminal, a so-called personal computer, or the like, but the type is not limited. The deliverer terminal A3 has a communication function.

The facility terminal A4 is a terminal existing in the facility. The facility terminal A4 is, for example, a smart phone, a tablet terminal, a so-called personal computer, or the like, but the type is not limited. Facility terminal A4 has a communication function. The facilities are, for example, factories and depot stations. A factory is a facility for filling gas cylinders with gas. A depot station is a facility where gas cylinders are placed.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the information system A according to this embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the information processing device A2 that constitutes the information system A. As shown in FIG.

The gas information transmission device A1 includes a terminal storage unit A10, a terminal processing unit A11, and a terminal transmission unit A12. The terminal processing unit A11 includes a terminal acquisition unit A111 and a terminal storage unit A112.

The information processing device A2 includes a storage unit A21, a reception unit A22, a processing unit A23, and an output unit A24. The storage unit A21 includes a customer information storage unit A211, a gas information storage unit A212, a delivery cylinder information storage unit A213, a delivery vehicle position information storage unit A214, and a weather information storage unit A215. The receiver A22 includes a gas information receiver A221, a delivery cylinder information receiver A222, a delivery vehicle position information receiver A223, a weather information receiver A224, and a cylinder replacement information receiver A225. The processing unit A23 includes a gas information storage unit A231, a delivery cylinder information storage unit A232, a delivery vehicle position information storage unit A233, a weather information storage unit A234, and a cylinder replacement information storage unit A235. The output unit A24 includes a processing result output unit A241.

The deliverer terminal A3 includes a deliverer storage unit A31, a deliverer reception unit A32, a deliverer processing unit A33, a deliverer transmission unit A34, a deliverer reception unit A35, and a deliverer output unit A36.

The facility terminal A4 includes a facility storage section A41, a facility reception section A42, a facility processing section A43, a facility transmission section A44, a facility reception section A45, and a facility output section A46.

Various types of information are stored in the terminal storage unit A10 that constitutes the gas information transmitter A1. The various types of information are, for example, gas information to be described later, customer identifiers for identifying customers, cylinder identifiers for identifying cylinders, and time information for specifying times. The time information is, for example, date information specifying the date, time information specifying the date and time, and time zone information specifying the time zone. If the time information is time information, it may be considered that the time information includes date information.

The terminal storage unit A10 stores gas information at two or more points in time. Gas information is, for example, information associated with cylinder identifiers, customer identifiers for identifying customers, and date information indicating dates. Gas information, for example, is associated with time information.
Gas information includes, for example, gas usage information. The gas usage information is information about the used gas. The gas usage information includes, for example, one or more of gas usage information per unit time and gas meter reading information. The unit time gas usage information is information specifying the amount of gas usage per unit time. The unit time gas usage information is, for example, information specifying the amount of gas usage for each hour. The gas meter reading value information is, for example, information specifying a gas meter reading value. The gas meter reading value information is, for example, information specifying the gas meter reading value for each hour.

The gas information in the terminal storage unit A10 is normally information accumulated in the terminal storage unit A112.

The terminal processing unit A11 performs various types of processing. Various processes are, for example, processes performed by the terminal acquisition unit A111 and the terminal storage unit A112. The various processes are, for example, processes for deleting transmitted gas information from the terminal storage unit A10.

The terminal acquisition unit A111 acquires gas information, which is information including gas usage information related to the use of gas in an LPG cylinder, and which is information corresponding to a cylinder identifier that identifies the LPG cylinder. The terminal acquisition unit A111 acquires information from, for example, a gas meter. The terminal acquisition unit A111 acquires, for example, a meter reading from a gas meter, and calculates gas usage information specifying the gas usage amount per unit time, which is the difference between the previous meter reading and the current meter reading.

It is preferable that the terminal acquisition unit A111 acquires the gas usage information n (n is 2 or more) times per day per unit time. Further, it is preferable that the terminal acquisition unit A111 acquires the gas usage information every hour.

It is preferable that the terminal acquisition unit A111 acquires hour information from a clock (not shown) and associates the hour information with the acquired gas usage information. The clock (not shown) may exist in the gas information transmitting device A1, or may be a clock of an external device such as an NTP server.

The terminal storage unit A112 stores the gas information acquired by the terminal acquisition unit A111 in the terminal storage unit A10. It is preferable that the terminal storage unit A112 stores the gas information acquired by the terminal acquisition unit A111 in the terminal storage unit A10 every unit time. Note that the unit time is, for example, 1 hour, 30 minutes, 2 hours, or the like. Also, the terminal storage unit A112 preferably stores the gas information acquired by the terminal acquisition unit A111 in the terminal storage unit A10 in association with one or more of the customer identifier, the cylinder identifier, and the time information. is.

The terminal transmission unit A12 transmits the gas information acquired by the terminal acquisition unit A111 to the information processing device A2. The gas information acquired by the terminal acquisition unit A111 may be gas information stored in the terminal storage unit A10.

The terminal transmission unit A12, for example, associates the gas information acquired by the terminal acquisition unit A111 with one or more identifiers and transmits the information to the information processing device A2. The one or more identifiers are, for example, one or more of a customer identifier and a cylinder identifier.

It is preferable that the terminal transmission unit A12 transmits the gas information of the terminal storage unit A10 at two or more points in time to the information processing device A2 when a predetermined condition is satisfied. The predetermined conditions are, for example, that a predetermined time has come, that a predetermined number of pieces of gas information have been stored in the terminal storage unit A10, and the like. Also, transmitting in association with a cylinder identifier or the like means, for example, transmitting together with the cylinder identifier or the like, but the method of associating the information does not matter. Incidentally, the cylinder identifier is normally stored in the terminal storage section A10. Also, when the cylinder to be used is changed, it is preferable that the cylinder identifier of the cylinder is automatically stored in the terminal storage unit A10.

Here, transmission of gas information at two or more points in time may be transmission of two or more pairs of gas information and time information, or transmission of two or more pieces of gas information arranged in chronological order. .

The transmission of gas information for one day may be performed by transmitting 24 pairs of gas information and time information, or by transmitting 24 pieces of gas information arranged in chronological order.

Note that the one gas information is information including one gas usage information, but the one gas information may be information including a plurality of gas usage information.

It is preferable that the terminal transmission unit A12 transmits two or more pieces of gas information in the terminal storage unit A10 to the information processing device A2 less than n times a day.

It is preferable that the terminal transmission unit A12 transmits the gas information to the information processing device A2 once a day. Note that the transmission time does not matter.

The terminal transmission unit A12 may transmit gas information at different timings depending on conditions. That is, for example, the terminal transmission unit A12 normally transmits a plurality of pieces of gas information to the information processing device A2 at a low frequency (first frequency), and when a predetermined condition is satisfied, the terminal transmission unit A12 transmits more than usual. The gas information may be transmitted to the information processing device A2 at high frequency (second frequency). The predetermined condition here is determined by the terminal processing unit A11, for example, that a large amount of gas has been used to satisfy the predetermined condition (for example, the amount of gas used is equal to or greater than the threshold value or greater than the threshold value). is the case. Further, the predetermined condition is, for example, the amount of gas used is small for a long period of time so that the predetermined condition is satisfied (for example, the amount of gas used is greater than or equal to the first threshold, less than or equal to the threshold, or less than the threshold). ) is determined by the terminal processing unit A11.

After the terminal transmission unit A12 transmits the gas information to the information processing device A2, the terminal processing unit A11 preferably deletes the transmitted gas information from the terminal storage unit A10.

Various types of information are stored in the storage unit A21 that constitutes the information processing apparatus A2. The various types of information are, for example, customer information, gas information, delivery cylinder information, delivery vehicle position information, and weather information, which will be described later.

The customer information storage unit A211 stores one or more pieces of customer information in association with customer identifiers. Customer information is information about customers. Customer information includes, for example, name, customer location information, and contact information. The customer location information is information specifying the location of the customer. The customer location information is, for example, (latitude, longitude), address, and the like. The contact information is information that identifies the contact, such as an email address and phone number. The customer information has, for example, date information specifying the date when the gas cylinder was replaced. The customer information includes, for example, cylinder type information, cylinder number information, and remaining gas amount information. The cylinder type information is information specifying the type of cylinder used by the customer. The cylinder number information is information specifying the number of cylinders installed in the customer's home. The remaining amount of gas information is information specifying the remaining amount of gas in the customer's gas cylinder. The customer information includes, for example, one or more medium identifiers (eg, "LPG", "electricity") that identify media used by the customer, one or more appliance identifiers of energy appliances owned by the customer (eg, "gas appliance A", "Electrical Appliance B", "Appliance C"), and one or more company identifiers (eg, "Company A") that identify the energy company with which the customer has a contract. The customer information may include, for example, LPG cylinder information having cylinder volume information regarding the amount of LPG cylinders used by the customer. The LPG cylinder information may be cylinder type information.

Two or more pieces of gas information are stored in the gas information storage unit A212. The gas information storage unit A212 usually stores two or more pieces of gas information associated with a customer identifier. It is preferable that the gas information is associated with one or more of the time information specifying the time and the cylinder identifier. Further, the correspondence between the hour information and the cylinder identifier may be achieved as long as the gas information is stored in such a manner that the hour information and the cylinder identifier can be recognized.

The delivery cylinder information storage unit A213 stores information on one or more delivery cylinders. The delivery cylinder information is information relating to the cylinder to be delivered. The delivery cylinder information includes, for example, cylinder type information and cylinder status information. The delivery cylinder information is usually information from which the number of cylinders can be grasped. That is, the delivery cylinder information may include number information specifying the number of cylinders, or the number of delivery cylinder information received may indicate the number of cylinders. Cylinder type information is information specifying the type of cylinder, for example, 20 Kg, 30 Kg, 50 Kg, and the like. The cylinder status information is information indicating whether or not the cylinder is full. The delivery cylinder information is associated with, for example, one or more information among cylinder identifiers, delivery vehicle identifiers, delivery person identifiers, and time information specifying entry/exit dates and times. The entry/exit date/time means the entry/exit date/time to the factory where the cylinder is filled with gas, the entry/exit date/time to the depot station where the cylinder is placed, or the exit date/time.

The delivery vehicle position information storage unit A214 stores delivery vehicle position information. The delivery vehicle position information is information specifying the position of the delivery vehicle. The delivery vehicle location information is, for example, (latitude, longitude), but may be a facility identifier or the like that identifies the nearest facility. A facility is, for example, a factory or a depot station. The delivery vehicle position information is associated with, for example, a delivery vehicle identifier that identifies a cylinder delivery vehicle or a delivery person identifier.

The weather information storage unit A215 stores weather information related to weather. Weather information is, for example, information on one or more of weather, temperature, humidity, and the like. Weather information is preferably associated with hour information. Time information is, for example, date information and time information.

The receiving unit A22 receives various kinds of information. The various types of information are, for example, gas information, delivery cylinder information, delivery vehicle position information, weather information, and cylinder replacement information.

The gas information receiver A221 receives gas information from the gas information transmitter A1. The gas information receiving unit A221 receives gas information associated with one or more identifiers, for example, a customer identifier or a cylinder identifier, from the gas information transmitter A1.

The delivery cylinder information receiving unit A222 receives delivery cylinder information. The delivery cylinder information receiving unit A222 receives delivery cylinder information in association with, for example, one or more information among a cylinder identifier, a delivery vehicle identifier, and a delivery person identifier. The delivery cylinder information receiving unit A222 receives delivery cylinder information in association with, for example, a carrier identifier. The carrier identifier is information for identifying the carrier on which the cylinder is placed. The delivery cylinder information receiving unit A222 receives the delivery cylinder information in association with, for example, the time information specifying the entry/exit date and time. The date and time of entry/exit is the date and time of entry/exit from the facility. The delivery cylinder information receiving unit A222 receives delivery cylinder information from the facility terminal A4, for example. The delivery cylinder information receiving unit A222 receives the delivery cylinder information from the deliverer terminal A3, for example. Note that the transmission source of the delivery cylinder information does not matter. Also, the cylinder identifier is information that is stored, for example, in a communication means (for example, an RFID tag) installed on the delivered cylinder and received indirectly or directly from such communication means. The cylinder identifier may be, for example, information input to the facility terminal A4 by the user and transmitted from the facility terminal A4. The delivery vehicle identifier is, for example, information stored in a communication means (e.g. RFID tag) installed on the delivery vehicle itself (e.g. trailer head) and received indirectly or directly from such communication means. be. In this case, the delivery vehicle identifier can be said to be a trailer head identifier. Also, the delivery vehicle identifier and the trailer head identifier may be separate information, and in such a case, the delivery cylinder information receiving section A222 may receive the delivery cylinder information in association with the trailer head identifier as well. Also, the deliverer identifier is, for example, information received indirectly or directly from the deliverer terminal A3 held by the deliverer. The deliverer identifier may also be information received, for example, indirectly or directly, stored in a communication means installed on the delivery vehicle itself (eg, a trailer head). Furthermore, the carrier identifier is information that is stored, for example, in a communication means (for example, an RFID tag) installed on the carrier of the delivery vehicle and received indirectly or directly from such communication means.

The delivery vehicle position information receiving unit A223 receives the delivery vehicle position information. The delivery vehicle position information receiving unit A223 normally receives the delivery vehicle position information from the delivery vehicle terminal A3, which is the terminal of the delivery vehicle. Note that the terminal A3 of the deliverer is a terminal different from the terminal held by the deliverer, and may be a terminal mounted on a delivery vehicle.

The delivery vehicle position information receiving unit A223 normally receives the delivery vehicle position information in association with the delivery vehicle identifier that identifies the delivery vehicle. However, the delivery vehicle position information receiving unit A223 may receive the delivery vehicle position information in association with the delivery person identifier.

The weather information reception unit A224 receives weather information. Here, the reception is, for example, reception from a server device (not shown), reception of information input from an input device such as a keyboard, mouse, or touch panel, and reading from a recording medium such as an optical disk, magnetic disk, or semiconductor memory. You may think that it is a concept including reception of issued information. A server device (not shown) is a device that stores weather information.

The cylinder replacement information receiving section A225 receives cylinder replacement information indicating that the cylinder has been replaced. The cylinder exchange information receiving section A225 receives cylinder exchange information paired with, for example, one or more of the customer identifier and the cylinder identifier. The cylinder exchange information receiving section A225 receives cylinder exchange information from the deliverer terminal A, for example. However, the transmission source of the cylinder replacement information does not matter.

The processing unit A23 performs predetermined processing using two or more pieces of gas information in the gas information storage unit A212. Predetermined processing includes, for example, a delivery date prediction process described later, a delivery control process described later, a futures transaction process described later, a residential stay process described later, an energy optimum plan presentation process described later, a household credit acquisition process described later, Statistical processing, etc. Statistical processing is statistical processing for a plurality of gas information. Statistical processing is the process of calculating the average amount of gas used by a household over a period of time from multiple pieces of gas information, the process of calculating the cumulative amount of gas used over a period of time, and the transition of the amount of gas used. , and the like. The delivery date prediction process, the delivery control process, the futures transaction process, the residence stay process, the energy optimum plan presentation process, and the household credit acquisition process will be described in the second and subsequent embodiments. The delivery date prediction process is a process of predicting the delivery date of gas cylinders to households. Delivery control processing is processing for delivering gas cylinders to households that have run out of gas. A futures transaction process is a process for determining the price of gas and supporting futures trading. The process of staying at a residence is a process of outputting information regarding whether or not there is a resident at the residence. The optimal energy plan presentation process is a process of presenting an appropriate energy plan. The household credibility acquisition process is a process of acquiring and outputting the credibility of a household.

The processing unit A23 performs a predetermined process using, for example, the delivery cylinder information stored in the delivery cylinder information storage unit A213. The predetermined processing is, for example, delivery control processing.

The processing unit A23 performs predetermined processing using, for example, the delivery vehicle position information stored in the delivery vehicle position information storage unit A214. The predetermined processing is, for example, delivery control processing.

The processing unit A23 performs predetermined processing using the weather information stored in the weather information storage unit A215. The predetermined processing is, for example, delivery date prediction processing, futures transaction processing, and energy optimum plan presentation processing.

The gas information storage unit A231 stores the gas information received by the gas information reception unit A221 in the gas information storage unit A212. The gas information storage unit A231 stores the gas information received by the gas information reception unit A221 in the gas information storage unit A212 in association with, for example, one or more of the time information, the customer identifier, and the cylinder identifier. The time information may be information received from the gas information transmitter A1, or may be information acquired from a clock (not shown).

The delivery cylinder information storage unit A232 stores the delivery cylinder information received by the delivery cylinder information reception unit A222 in the delivery cylinder information storage unit A213. The delivery cylinder information storage unit A232 stores delivery cylinder information in the delivery cylinder information storage unit A213 in association with, for example, one or more information among a cylinder identifier, a delivery vehicle identifier, and a delivery person identifier.

The delivery vehicle position information storage unit A233 stores the delivery vehicle position information received by the delivery vehicle position information reception unit A223 in the delivery vehicle position information storage unit A214. The delivery vehicle position information storage unit A233 stores the delivery vehicle position information in the delivery vehicle position information storage unit A214 in association with the delivery vehicle identifier or the deliverer identifier.

The weather information storage unit A234 stores weather information in the weather information storage unit A215. The weather information storage unit A234 normally stores weather information in the weather information storage unit A215 in association with time information. The hour information may be information received by the reception unit A22, or may be obtained from a clock (not shown). Also, the time information may be date information or time information.

When the cylinder replacement information receiving unit A225 receives the cylinder replacement information, the cylinder replacement information storage unit A235 stores the remaining amount of gas information contained in the gas information paired with one or more of the customer identifier and the cylinder identifier. Update the information to identify that the remaining amount of gas is full.

Various types of information are stored in the deliverer storage unit A31 that constitutes the deliverer terminal A3. Various information is, for example, a deliverer identifier that identifies a deliverer. Various information is, for example, a delivery vehicle identifier that identifies a delivery vehicle. The delivery person identifier and the delivery vehicle identifier may be the same information. Various types of information are, for example, cylinder replacement information. Cylinder replacement information is information indicating that the cylinder has been replaced. The cylinder replacement information is associated with, for example, one or more of a customer identifier and a cylinder identifier.

The delivery person reception part A32 receives various instructions and information. Various instructions and information are, for example, cylinder replacement information. The various instructions and information are, for example, cylinder replacement information and one or more of a customer identifier and a cylinder identifier. It should be noted that when a cylinder of a certain household is exchanged or exchanged, the deliverer inputs cylinder exchange information to the deliverer terminal A3. Further, the cylinder replacement information may be input by, for example, pressing a button, or may be input by inputting information into a field.

The shipper preferably enters one or more of a customer identifier and a cylinder identifier along with the cylinder replacement information. In such a case, the deliverer reception part A32 receives the cylinder replacement information and one or more of the customer identifier and the cylinder identifier.

Any input means such as a touch panel, a keyboard, a mouse, a menu screen, or the like may be used for inputting information such as cylinder replacement information. The delivery person reception part A32 can be realized by a device driver for input means such as a touch panel or a keyboard, control software for a menu screen, or the like.

The delivery person processing unit A33 performs various types of processing. The various processes are, for example, processes for converting the information received by the delivery person receiving part A32 into a data structure for information to be transmitted. For example, when the deliverer reception unit A32 receives cylinder exchange information, the various processes include the cylinder exchange information, the deliverer identifier in the deliverer storage unit A31, and the input customer identifier and cylinder identifier. This is a process of forming information in which one or more identifiers are associated with each other. Various types of processing are, for example, processing for converting information received by the delivery person receiving unit A35 into a data structure for outputting information.

The deliverer transmission unit A34 transmits cylinder replacement information to the information processing device A2. The deliverer transmission unit A34 normally transmits to the information processing apparatus A2 cylinder replacement information in which the customer identifier and one or more of the cylinder identifiers are associated with each other. It is preferable that the deliverer transmission unit A34 also transmits the deliverer identifier together with the cylinder replacement information.

The delivery person receiving part A35 receives various kinds of information. The delivery person receiving unit A35 receives various kinds of information from the information processing device A2, for example. The delivery person receiving unit A35 receives customer information, which will be described later, from the information processing device A2, for example. The customer information is information about the customer, and is information paired with the customer identifier. The customer information received by the delivery person receiving unit A35 is, for example, information about the customer to whom the gas cylinder is delivered.

The deliverer output unit A36 outputs various information. Various information is, for example, information configured by the delivery person processing unit A33. Various information is, for example, customer information. This customer information is information about the customer to whom the gas cylinder is delivered. This customer information preferably includes one or more of the following: customer identifier, customer location information, information on gas cylinders to be delivered (for example, cylinder type information specifying the type of gas cylinder, number of gas cylinders, etc.) Customer The location information is information specifying the location of the customer, such as (latitude, longitude), address, and the like.

Here, the output usually means display on a display, but projection using a projector, printing on a printer, sound output, transmission to an external device, storage on a recording medium, other processing devices or other It may be considered that the concept includes delivery of processing results to other programs.

Various types of information are stored in the facility storage unit A41 that constitutes the facility terminal A4. Various types of information are, for example, facility identifiers that identify facilities. It is preferable that the facility storage section A41 stores information received from a terminal (for example, RFID) of the delivery vehicle, and delivery cylinder information relating to the cylinders mounted on the delivery vehicle. The delivery cylinder information is associated with the cylinder identifier. It is preferable that the delivery cylinder information is associated with, for example, the carrier identifier and the entry/exit date and time. The delivery cylinder information includes, for example, cylinder type information and cylinder status information. The delivery cylinder information preferably has information specifying the number of cylinders to be delivered.

The facility reception part A42 receives various instructions and information.

The facility processing unit A43 performs various types of processing. Various processes are, for example, processes for accumulating information received by the facility reception unit A45. The facility processing unit A43 at least temporarily stores the delivery cylinder information and the identifier received by the facility receiving unit A45 in the facility storage unit A41. The identifier is, for example, one or more of a cylinder identifier, a carrier identifier, a delivery vehicle identifier, and a delivery person identifier.

The facility transmission unit A44 transmits various types of information. The facility transmission unit A44, for example, transmits various kinds of information to the information processing device A2. The facility transmission unit A44 transmits, for example, the delivery cylinder information in association with the identifier. The identifier is, for example, one or more of a cylinder identifier, a carrier identifier, a delivery vehicle identifier, and a delivery person identifier.

The facility reception unit A45 receives various types of information. The facility reception unit A45, for example, receives various information from a terminal (for example, RFID) of the delivery vehicle. The facility reception unit A45 receives, for example, the delivery cylinder information in association with the identifier. The identifier is, for example, one or more of a cylinder identifier, a carrier identifier, a delivery vehicle identifier, and a delivery person identifier.

The facility output unit A46 outputs various information.

Terminal storage unit A10, storage unit A21, customer information storage unit A211, gas information storage unit A212, delivery cylinder information storage unit A213, delivery vehicle position information storage unit A214, weather information storage unit A215, delivery person storage unit A31, and facility The storage unit A41 is preferably a non-volatile recording medium, but can also be realized with a volatile recording medium.

It does not matter how the information is stored in the terminal storage unit A10 or the like. For example, information may be stored in the terminal storage unit A10 or the like via a recording medium, or information transmitted via a communication line or the like may be stored in the terminal storage unit A10 or the like. Alternatively, information input via an input device may be stored in the terminal storage section A10 or the like.

Terminal processing unit A11, terminal acquisition unit A111, terminal storage unit A112, processing unit A23, gas information storage unit A231, delivery cylinder information storage unit A232, delivery vehicle position information storage unit A233, weather information storage unit A234, cylinder replacement information storage The part A235, the delivery person processing part A33, and the facility processing part A43 can usually be implemented by an MPU, memory, or the like. The processing procedures of the terminal processing unit A11 and the like are usually realized by software, and the software is recorded in a recording medium such as a ROM. However, it may be realized by hardware (dedicated circuit).

The terminal transmission unit A12, the output unit A24, the processing result output unit A241, the delivery person transmission unit A34, and the facility transmission unit A44 are usually realized by wireless or wired communication means, but may be realized by broadcasting means. .

Reception unit A22, gas information reception unit A221, delivery cylinder information reception unit A222, delivery vehicle position information reception unit A223, weather information reception unit A224, cylinder exchange information reception unit A225, delivery person reception unit A35, and facility reception unit A45 , is usually implemented by wireless or wired communication means, but may be implemented by means of receiving broadcast.

The delivery person reception part A32 and the facility reception part A42 can be realized by a touch panel, a keyboard, a mouse, a menu screen, or the like.

The deliverer output unit A36 and the facility output unit A46 may or may not include output devices such as displays and speakers. The deliverer output unit A36 and the like can be realized by output device driver software, or output device driver software and output device.

Next, the operation of the information system A will be explained. First, an operation example of the gas information transmitting device A1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

(Step S401) The terminal processing unit A11 determines whether it is time to acquire gas usage information. If it is the time to acquire the gas usage information, the process goes to step S402, and if it is not the time to acquire the gas usage information, the process goes to step S407. For example, when acquiring gas usage information every hour, the terminal processing unit A11 acquires time information from a clock (not shown), and the time indicated by the time information is "X:00" (X is from 1 to 24 natural number up to), it is determined that it is time to acquire the gas usage information.

(Step S402) The terminal acquisition unit A111 acquires gas meter reading information from a gas meter (not shown). This technique is a known technique. Note that the gas meter is generally an LP gas meter, and is a device that holds a gas reading value that indicates the integrated flow rate from installation.

(Step S403) The terminal acquisition unit A111 calculates gas usage amount information per unit time, which is the difference between the gas meter reading value information acquired last time and the gas meter reading value information acquired this time in step S402. The terminal acquisition unit A111 acquires the gas usage amount information per unit time by, for example, "gas usage amount information per unit time = gas meter reading value information acquired last time - gas meter reading value information acquired in step S402". .

(Step S404) The terminal acquisition unit A111 acquires time information indicating the current time from a clock (not shown).

(Step S405) The terminal acquisition unit A111 configures accumulated gas usage information.

(Step S406) The terminal accumulation unit A112 associates and accumulates the time information acquired in step S404 with the gas usage information configured in step S405. Return to step S401. Note that the storage destination of gas usage information and the like is usually the terminal storage unit A10. Note that the terminal storage unit A112 may store the gas usage information in association with the cylinder identifier. In such a case, the terminal acquisition unit A111 also acquires the cylinder identifier.

(Step S407) The terminal processing unit A11 determines whether it is time to transmit gas information. If it is the time to transmit the gas information, the process goes to step S408, and if it is not the time to transmit the gas information, the process returns to step S401. For example, when transmitting gas information once a day, the terminal processing unit A11 acquires time information from a clock (not shown), and the time indicated by the time information is a predetermined time (for example, "24:00 01 minute”), it is determined that it is time to transmit the gas information. Even if it is determined that the predetermined time has passed, the gas information that has already been transmitted is not normally transmitted again. Further, even if the terminal processing unit A11 determines that the predetermined time has passed, the terminal processing unit A11 normally does not determine that it is time to transmit the gas information until a predetermined period (for example, one day) has passed. do not.

(Step S408) The terminal processing unit A11 acquires gas usage information and the like to be transmitted from the terminal storage unit A10. The gas usage information, etc. is, for example, a set of gas usage information and time information, only gas usage information, gas usage information and a cylinder identifier, or a set of gas usage information, a cylinder identifier, and time information. is.

(Step S409) The terminal processing unit A11 acquires the customer identifier from the terminal storage unit A10.

(Step S410) The terminal processing unit A11 configures gas information and the like to be transmitted. The gas information or the like has one or more identifiers, such as a plurality of gas usage information, for example. The one or more identifiers are, for example, information on one or more of a customer identifier and a cylinder identifier.

(Step S411) The terminal transmission unit A12 transmits the gas information and the like configured in step S410 to the information processing device A2.

(Step S412) The terminal processing unit A11 deletes the transmitted gas usage information and the like. Here, a flag indicating that the information has been transmitted may be stored in association with the transmitted gas usage information or the like. Adding such flags may be captured in the same way as removing them. Return to step S401.

In the flow chart of FIG. 4, the number of times the gas usage information is accumulated is greater than the number of times the gas information is transmitted. That is, in the flow chart of FIG. 4, a plurality of pieces of gas usage information are collectively transmitted to the information processing device A2. As a result, the power consumption of the gas information transmitting device A1 is reduced, and the frequency of battery replacement of the gas information transmitting device A1 can be reduced. However, in the flowchart of FIG. 4, gas information may be transmitted each time gas usage information is obtained.

In addition, in the flowchart of FIG. 4, the processing ends when the power is turned off or an interrupt for processing end occurs.

Next, the operation of the information processing device A2 will be described using the flowchart of FIG.

(Step S501) The gas information receiver A221 determines whether or not the gas information and the like transmitted from the gas information transmitter A1 have been received. If the gas information or the like has been received, the process goes to step S502, and if the gas information or the like has not been received, the process goes to step S504. The gas information and the like are, for example, gas information and one or more identifiers. The one or more identifiers are, for example, information on one or more of a customer identifier and a cylinder identifier.

(Step S502) The gas information storage unit A231 uses the gas information and the like received in step S501 to configure stored gas information and the like.

(Step S503) The gas information storage unit A231 stores the gas information and the like configured in step S502 in the gas information storage unit A212. Return to step S501.

(Step S504) The delivery cylinder information receiving part A222 determines whether or not the delivery cylinder information or the like has been received. If the delivery cylinder information or the like is received, the process goes to step S505, and if the delivery cylinder information or the like is not received, the process goes to step S507. The delivery cylinder information and the like are, for example, delivery cylinder information and one or more identifiers. The one or more identifiers are, for example, information on one or more of cylinder identifiers, delivery person identifiers, and delivery vehicle identifiers.

(Step S505) The delivery cylinder information accumulation unit A232 uses the delivery cylinder information and the like received in step S504 to configure the stored delivery cylinder information and the like.

(Step S506) The delivery cylinder information storage unit A232 stores the delivery cylinder information and the like configured in step S505 in the delivery cylinder information storage unit A213. Return to step S501.

(Step S507) The delivery vehicle position information receiving unit A223 determines whether or not delivery vehicle position information or the like has been received. If the delivery vehicle position information or the like has been received, the process proceeds to step S508, and if the delivery vehicle position information or the like has not been received, the process proceeds to step S510. Note that the delivery vehicle position information and the like are, for example, delivery vehicle position information and one or more identifiers. The one or more identifiers are, for example, information on one or more of a delivery person identifier and a delivery vehicle identifier.

(Step S508) The delivery vehicle position information accumulation unit A233 uses the delivery vehicle position information and the like received in step S507 to configure the accumulated delivery vehicle position information and the like.

(Step S509) The delivery vehicle position information storage unit A233 stores the delivery vehicle position information and the like configured in step S508 in the delivery vehicle position information storage unit A214. Return to step S501.

(Step S510) The cylinder replacement information receiving section A225 determines whether or not the cylinder replacement information or the like has been received. If the cylinder replacement information or the like has been received, the process proceeds to step S511, and if the cylinder replacement information or the like has not been received, the process proceeds to step S513. Note that the cylinder replacement information and the like are, for example, cylinder replacement information and one or more identifiers. The one or more identifiers are, for example, information on one or more of a customer identifier and a cylinder identifier.

(Step S511) The cylinder replacement information storage unit A235 uses the cylinder replacement information and the like received in step S510 to configure stored cylinder replacement information and the like.

(Step S512) The cylinder replacement information storage unit A235 updates the remaining amount of gas information in the customer information storage unit A211 using the cylinder replacement information configured in step S511. Return to step S501.

(Step S513) The processing unit A23 determines whether or not it is time to acquire weather information. If it is the time to acquire the weather information, the process goes to step S514, and if it is not the time to acquire the weather information, the process goes to step S516. Note that the timing for acquiring the weather information is, for example, every hour, every day, or the like.

(Step S514) The weather information reception unit A224 acquires weather information and the like from a server (not shown).

(Step S515) The weather information storage unit A234 stores the weather information and the like acquired in step S514 in the weather information storage unit A215 in association with the time information. Return to step S501. The weather information and the like are, for example, weather information and time information.

(Step S516) Using the gas information, the processing unit A23 determines whether or not it is time to perform processing. If it is time to perform the process, the process goes to step S517, and if it is not the time to perform the process, the process returns to step S501.

(Step S517) The processing unit A23 performs predetermined processing. Predetermined processing includes, for example, delivery date prediction processing, delivery control processing, futures transaction processing, residence stay processing, energy optimum plan presentation processing, household credit acquisition processing, statistical processing, and the like.

(Step S518) The processing unit A23 acquires a processing result, which is information specifying the processing result in step S517.

(Step S519) The processing result output unit A241 outputs the processing result obtained in step S518. Return to step S501.

Note that in the flowchart of FIG. 5, the process ends when the power is turned off or an interrupt to end the process occurs.

Next, an operation example of the delivery person terminal A3 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

(Step S601) The deliverer reception part A32 determines whether or not information has been received. If the information has been received, the process goes to step S602, and if the information has not been received, the process goes to step S603. The information is, for example, a customer identifier and a cylinder identifier.

(Step S602) The deliverer processing unit A33 at least temporarily stores the information accepted in step S601 in the deliverer storage unit A31. Return to step S601.

(Step S603) The deliverer reception part A32 determines whether or not cylinder exchange information has been received. If the cylinder replacement information has been received, the process goes to step S604, and if the cylinder replacement information has not been received, the process goes to step S606.

(Step S604) The deliverer processing unit A33 configures cylinder exchange information and the like to be transmitted. The cylinder replacement information and the like have, for example, a customer identifier and a cylinder identifier.

(Step S605) The deliverer transmission unit A34 transmits the cylinder exchange information and the like configured in step S604 to the information processing device A2. Return to step S601.

(Step S606) The deliverer reception unit A35 determines whether information has been received. If the information has been received, the process goes to step S607, and if the information has not been received, the process goes to step S609. The information is, for example, customer information and delivery list. A delivery list is information of a list of customers to whom the delivery person should deliver gas cylinders.

(Step S607) The deliverer processing unit A33 uses the information received in step S606 to construct information to be output. The information to be output includes, for example, customer information, a delivery list, a map clearly indicating the position specified by the customer position information possessed by the customer information, and the position specified by the customer position information from the position specified by the delivery vehicle position information. This is the route information as a result of the route search up to. Note that the delivery person processing unit A33 may have a function of acquiring delivery vehicle position information (for example, a function of a GPS receiver) and a route search function.

(Step S608) The deliverer output unit A36 outputs the information configured in step S607. Return to step S601.

(Step S609) The deliverer processing part A33 acquires the position information of the delivery vehicle.

(Step S610) The deliverer processing unit A33 acquires the delivery vehicle identifier from the deliverer storage unit A31.

(Step S611) The deliverer processing unit A33 uses the delivery vehicle position information acquired in step S609 and the delivery vehicle identifier acquired in step S610 to configure delivery vehicle position information and the like to be transmitted.

(Step S612) The delivery person transmission unit A34 transmits the delivery vehicle position information and the like configured in step S611 to the information processing device A2. Return to step S601.

In addition, in the flowchart of FIG. 6, the timing of transmitting the delivery vehicle position information does not matter.

In addition, in the flowchart of FIG. 6, the processing ends when the power is turned off or an interrupt for processing end occurs.

Next, an operation example of the facility terminal A4 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

(Step S701) The facility reception unit A45 determines whether or not delivery cylinder information or the like has been received. If the delivery cylinder information or the like is received, the process goes to step S702, and if the delivery cylinder information or the like is not received, the process returns to step S701.

(Step S702) The facility processing unit A43 acquires time information from a clock (not shown).

(Step S703) The facility processing unit A43 uses the delivery cylinder information and the like received in step S701 and the time information acquired in step S702 to construct delivery cylinder information and the like to be transmitted.

(Step S704) The facility transmission unit A44 transmits the delivery cylinder information and the like configured in step S703 to the information processing device A2. Return to step S701.

Note that in the flowchart of FIG. 7, the processing ends when the power is turned off or an interrupt for processing end occurs.

A specific operation example of the information system A according to the present embodiment will be described below using a conceptual diagram (FIG. 8) of the processing of the information system A. FIG. A conceptual diagram of the system structure of the information system A is shown in FIG.

In the information system A, as described above, the gas information is transmitted from the gas information transmitting device A1 to the information processing device A2 at appropriate timings and stored in the information processing device A2. Further, delivery vehicle position information is transmitted from the delivery person terminal A3 to the information processing device A2, and is accumulated in the information processing device A2. In addition, the delivery cylinder information is transmitted from the facility terminal A4 to the information processing device A2, and is accumulated in the information processing device A2. In addition, cylinder replacement information is transmitted from the delivery person's terminal A3 to the information processing device A2, and is accumulated in the information processing device A2. The information processing device A2 also receives and accumulates weather information from a weather server (not shown).

The deliverer terminal A3 that transmits the delivery vehicle position information and the deliverer terminal A3 that transmits the deliverer terminal A3 are terminals used by the deliverer, but needless to say, they may be different terminals.

In the information processing device A2, the processing unit A23 performs various processes using various information accumulated in the DB (A21). Various types of processing are, for example, delivery date prediction processing, delivery control processing, futures transaction processing, residential stay processing, energy optimum plan presentation processing, and household credit acquisition processing. Also, the various types of processing may be, for example, processing of simply outputting the results of the above-described statistical processing and various types of accumulated information.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to collect and use gas information including gas usage information related to the use of LPG cylinders.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the power consumption of the power source of the gas information transmitting device A1 can be suppressed by efficiently transmitting the gas information.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to collect and use delivery cylinder information about cylinders to be delivered.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to collect and use the information of delivery cylinder information including cylinder type information.

Moreover, according to the present embodiment, weather information can also be obtained and used.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, when the cylinder is replaced, the cylinder replacement information can be received and used.

Note that the processing in this embodiment may be realized by software. Then, this software may be distributed by software download or the like. Also, this software may be recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM and distributed. Note that this also applies to other embodiments in this specification. The software that realizes the gas information transmitting device A1 in this embodiment is the following program. In other words, the program provides a computer capable of accessing a terminal storage unit storing gas information at two or more points in time, information including gas usage information relating to the use of gas in an LPG cylinder, and a cylinder identifier that identifies the LPG cylinder. a terminal acquisition unit that acquires gas information that is information corresponding to a customer A program that functions as a terminal transmission unit that transmits gas information in the terminal storage unit at two or more points in time to the information processing device in association with an identifier.

Further, the software that implements the information processing apparatus A2 in the present embodiment is the following program. In other words, this program associates the time information specifying the time and the customer identifier with a computer capable of accessing a gas information storage section in which information on two or more gases is stored. A terminal acquisition unit for acquiring gas information, which is information including usage information and corresponds to a customer identifier, and a terminal transmission unit for transmitting the gas information acquired by the terminal acquisition unit to the information processing device. a gas information receiving unit that receives gas information associated with a customer identifier from a gas information transmitting device; and a gas information storage unit that associates the gas information received by the gas information receiving unit with the time information and the customer identifier. and a processing unit that performs predetermined processing using two or more pieces of gas information stored in the gas information storage unit.

(Embodiment 2)
In the present embodiment, an information system including an information processing device that acquires and outputs costs according to the amount of LPG used for each customer will be described. In the present embodiment, using the unit price per unit usage calculated using the total charge including the LPG raw material cost and the delivery cost of the LPG cylinder by the delivery person, the cost according to the amount of LPG used is calculated. Get and output. Considering the overall cost of delivery of LPG cylinders by the deliverer, by obtaining price information, which is the unit price of LPG, it is possible to determine the charge according to the customer's unique environment such as the customer's region and the location of the LPG cylinder. Avoid inequality.

Further, in the present embodiment, an information system equipped with an information processing device capable of converting the usage amounts of two or more types of energy media including LPG into a common unit amount and acquiring the total usage amount of a plurality of energies explain. Note that the common unit is, for example, JOULE, but it does not matter.

Further, in the present embodiment, an information system including an information processing device that calculates and outputs the total amount and cost for the total use of a plurality of energy media for each customer will be described.

In addition, in the present embodiment, of two or more types of energy media including LPG and electricity, right-of-use information regarding the usable amount of each energy medium is stored for each energy medium, and the actual use of the energy medium is stored. Capturing the difference between the quantity and usage rights information and using the difference to help process transactions to sell the right to consume the remaining amount of energy and/or buy the right to consume the deficient amount of energy An information system equipped with an information processing device that

Further, in the present embodiment, an information system including a server device that supports futures trading will be described.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, an information system having a server device that changes prices according to the results of futures trading will be described.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram of the information system H in this embodiment. The information system H includes one or more terminal devices H1, information processing devices H2, and server devices H3.

The terminal device H1 is, for example, a terminal that instructs the information processing device H2 to start operation. Further, the terminal device H1 is, for example, a terminal that transmits a purchase instruction for LPG futures trading to the server device H3. The terminal device H1 is, for example, a smart phone, a tablet terminal, a so-called personal computer, or the like, but the type is not limited.

The information processing device H2 acquires the cost according to the amount of LPG used by the customer, acquires the total cost according to the amount of energy used by the customer, and acquires the rights related to consumption between energy media. It is a device that

The information processing device H2 can be realized by a so-called cloud server or an ASP server, but the type thereof does not matter. The information processing device H2 may have all or part of the functions of the information processing device A2. In other words, the information processing device H2 may be the information processing device A2 that performs futures transaction processing and the like.

The server device H3 is a device that supports futures trading. The server device H3 can be realized by a so-called cloud server or an ASP server, but any type of server can be used.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of information system H in this embodiment. FIG. 11 is a block diagram of the information processing device H2 that constitutes the information system H. As shown in FIG.

The terminal device H1 includes a terminal storage unit H11, a terminal reception unit H12, a terminal processing unit H13, a terminal transmission unit H14, a terminal reception unit H15, and a terminal output unit H16.

The information processing device H2 includes a storage unit H21, a reception unit H22, a processing unit H23, and an output unit H24.

The storage unit H21 includes a medium information storage unit H211, a cost calculation source information storage unit H212, a conversion information storage unit H213, a common unit price information storage unit H214, a usage right information storage unit H215, a business operator information storage unit H216, and weather information. A storage unit A215 is provided. The medium information storage unit H211 includes an LPG information storage unit H2111, an LNG information storage unit H2112, and an electrical information storage unit H2113. Note that the LPG information storage unit H2111 may be the same as the gas information storage unit A212.

The receiver H22 includes a gas information receiver A221, a weather information receiver A224, and a purchase instruction receiver H221. The gas information receiving section A221 may be called the LPG information receiving section A221.

The processing unit H23 includes a gas information storage unit A231, a weather information storage unit A234, a cost information acquisition unit H231, a price information acquisition unit H232, a common unit usage information acquisition unit H233, a comprehensive usage information calculation unit H234, and a comprehensive cost information acquisition unit H235. , a difference information acquisition unit H236, and a transaction processing unit H237. The gas information storage unit A231 may also be called the LPG information storage unit A231. The price information acquisition unit H232 includes demand prediction means H2321 and price information acquisition means H2322. The transaction processing unit H237 includes price information acquisition means H2371 and right output means H2372.

The output unit H24 includes a comprehensive usage information output unit H241, a cost information output unit H242, and a comprehensive cost information output unit H243.

The server device H3 includes a server storage unit H31, a server output unit H32, a server reception unit H33, a server processing unit H34, and a server transmission unit H35. The server processing unit H34 includes futures trading means H341 and price changing means H342.

Various types of information are stored in the terminal storage unit H11 that constitutes the terminal device H1. Various types of information are, for example, a user identifier and a terminal identifier for identifying the terminal device H1. This user identifier is identification information of a user who inputs a purchase instruction, which will be described later. A user identifier is, for example, an ID, an e-mail address, a telephone number, or the like. The user identifier may be the same as the customer identifier.

The terminal reception unit H12 receives various information and instructions. Various information and instructions are, for example, purchase instructions and operation start instructions, which will be described later. Note that the operation start instruction is an instruction to start the operation for the information processing device H2. The operation start instruction is, for example, an instruction to acquire a charge according to the amount of LPG used by each customer. Moreover, it is preferable that the terminal device H1 that accepts the purchase instruction and the terminal device H1 that accepts the operation start instruction are different. A terminal device H1 that receives a purchase instruction is a terminal of a user who conducts futures trading. The terminal device H1 that receives the operation start instruction is, for example, the terminal of the operator of the information processing device H2.

Any means such as a touch panel, a keyboard, a mouse, or a menu screen may be used as input means for various information and instructions. The terminal reception unit H12 can be realized by a device driver for input means such as a touch panel or a keyboard, control software for a menu screen, or the like.

The terminal processing unit H13 performs various types of processing. The various types of processing are, for example, processing for converting various types of information, instructions, etc. received by the terminal receiving unit H12 into a data structure of various types of information, instructions, etc. to be transmitted. Further, various kinds of processing are, for example, processing for converting information received by the terminal reception unit H15 into a data structure for output.

The terminal transmission unit H14 transmits various kinds of information to the information processing device H2 or the server device H3. Various types of information are, for example, a purchase instruction and an operation start instruction, which will be described later.

The terminal receiver H15 receives various information. The various types of information include, for example, futures transaction processing results, web page screen information for futures transactions, operation completion notification, cost information to be described later, general usage information to be described later, transaction processing results to be described later, futures to be described later. Result of transaction processing. Note that the operation completion notification is information indicating that transaction processing has been completed in the information processing device H2, for example, in response to transmission of an operation start instruction.

The terminal output unit H16 outputs various information. Various types of information are, for example, information configured by the terminal processing unit H13. Various types of information are, for example, web pages for futures trading, cost information.

Here, output means display on a display, projection using a projector, printing on a printer, sound output, transmission to an external device, storage in a recording medium, transfer to another processing device or other program, etc. This is a concept that includes delivery of processing results.

Various kinds of information are stored in the storage unit H21 of the information processing device H2. The various types of information include, for example, gas information, weather information, media information described later, cost calculation source information described later, conversion information described later, common unit price information described later, usage right information described later, business operator information described later, They are LPG information, which will be described later, LNG information, which will be described later, electrical information, which will be described later, one or more arithmetic expressions (which may also be called functions), which will be described later, a learning device, which will be described later, and a correspondence table, which will be described later. The gas information may be called LPG information.

Various types of information are related information, for example. Relevant information is information that can influence the determination of the price of LPG. Related information is, for example, gas price information, exchange information, and flight status information.

Gas price information is information about the price of gas. The gas price information is, for example, one or more of Middle East gas price information specifying Middle East gas prices and MB gas price information specifying MB (mont belvieu) gas prices. Middle East gas prices refer to gas prices in Middle East oil-producing countries. Also, the MB gas price is the propane trading price at the LPG base in Mont Bellevue, Texas.

Exchange information is information about exchange. The exchange information is, for example, the price of one dollar in yen.

The operational status information is information about the operational status of the gas tanker. The flight status information includes, for example, information indicating that there were troubles, information indicating that there were no troubles, information indicating that there were troubles during a period within the threshold (for example, the last month), and information indicating that there were troubles within the period within the threshold ( For example, information indicating that there have been no troubles in the last month, information specifying the details or types of troubles, and information specifying the number of troubles.

One or more medium information is stored in the medium information storage unit H211. Medium information is information about an energy medium. The energy medium is, for example, LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), LNG (liquefied natural gas), electricity, hydrogen, or the like. Media information is usually associated with a media identifier and a customer identifier. The media information includes media usage information regarding the use of energy media. Medium usage information is typically information that can identify the amount of energy medium used. Examples of medium information are LPG information, which will be described later, LNG information, which will be described later, and electrical information, which will be described later. Also, the medium identifier is information specifying the type of energy medium. The medium identifier is, for example, an LPG gas medium identifier, an LNG gas medium identifier, an electric medium identifier. The LPG gas medium identifier is, for example, "LPG", "1". The LNG gas medium identifier is, for example, "LPG", "2". The electrical medium identifier is, for example, "electricity" and "3".

Two or more pieces of LPG information are stored in the LPG information storage unit H2111. LPG information is information about LPG. The LPG information is usually associated with time information specifying time and a customer identifier. The LPG information includes gas usage information regarding gas usage in the LPG cylinder. Incidentally, the gas usage information is appropriately referred to as LPG usage information. Also, it is preferable that the two or more pieces of LPG information are associated with an LPG gas medium identifier that is an identifier for specifying LPG gas.

Two or more pieces of LNG information are stored in the LNG information storage unit H2112. LNG information is information about LNG. LNG information is usually associated with time information specifying time and a customer identifier. The LNG information includes LNG usage information regarding LNG usage. Also, it is preferable that the two or more pieces of LNG information are associated with an LNG gas medium identifier that is an identifier for specifying LNG gas.

Two or more pieces of electrical information are stored in the electrical information storage unit H2113. Electrical information is information about electricity. The electrical information is usually associated with time information specifying time and a customer identifier. The electricity information includes electricity usage information related to electricity usage. Moreover, it is preferable that the two or more pieces of electrical information are associated with an electrical medium identifier that is an identifier that specifies electricity.

The cost calculation source information storage unit H212 stores cost calculation source information. The cost calculation source information is information that serves as a basis for calculating the cost necessary for the LPG business. The cost calculation source information includes raw material cost information specifying the raw material cost of the LPG cylinder and delivery cost information specifying the delivery cost of the LPG cylinder. The cost calculation source information may include, for example, one or more of filling cost information specifying the cost of filling the LPG cylinder with gas, lorry delivery cost information specifying the lorry delivery cost, and the like.

One or more pieces of conversion information are stored in the conversion information storage unit H213. Conversion information is information for converting certain energy medium units (eg, m ³ for LPG, m ³ for LNG, kW/h for electricity) into common energy units (eg, JOULE). The conversion information is, for example, a coefficient or an arithmetic expression for multiplication. Conversion information is associated with a medium identifier.

The common unit price information storage part H214 stores common unit price information. The common unit price information is information specifying the unit price of energy corresponding to a common energy unit (for example, JOULE).

The usage right information storage unit H215 stores two or more pieces of usage right information. Usage right information is information that specifies the amount of each energy medium that can be used. It can be said that the usage right information is information specifying the consumable amount of each energy medium. Each piece of right-of-use information of two or more is associated with a medium identifier. Usage rights information is information that typically specifies a quantity in a common unit (eg, JOULE). However, the right-to-use information may be information that specifies the amount in units unique to each medium.

The business information storage unit H216 stores one or more business information. The business information is information about customers managed by the business. The business information is information that associates business identifiers with customer identifiers of one or more customers. The business information may comprise a business identifier and one or more customer customer identifiers. A business identifier is information that identifies a business. The business identifier is, for example, a business name, ID, or the like. A business is a business that sells energy (for example, LPG) to a customer (it may be called a consumer). One or more customer identifiers that are paired with the business identifier are customer identifiers of customers that the business identified by the business identifier is in charge of. A customer for whom the business is in charge is a customer to whom the business sells energy.

The receiver H22 receives various information. Various types of information are, for example, gas information, weather information, purchase instructions, and operation start instructions.

The purchase instruction receiving unit H221 receives a purchase instruction from the terminal device H1. A purchase order is an order to purchase the right to use energy. The purchase instruction may be an instruction for futures trading. The purchase order typically has a user identifier and quantity information specifying the quantity of energy.

The processing unit H23 performs various types of processing. The various processes include, for example, a gas information storage unit A231, a weather information storage unit A234, a cost information acquisition unit H231, a price information acquisition unit H232, a common unit usage information acquisition unit H233, a comprehensive usage information calculation unit H234, and comprehensive usage information. This is a process performed by the output unit H241, total cost information acquisition unit H235, difference information acquisition unit H236, transaction processing unit H237, demand prediction means H2321, price information acquisition means H2322, price information acquisition means H2371, and rights output means H2372.

The cost information acquisition unit H231 uses two or more pieces of LPG information in the LPG information storage unit H2111 to acquire cost information specifying the cost according to the amount of LPG used by one or more customers.

The cost information acquisition unit H231 acquires, for example, cost information that specifies costs for each business operator.

Also, the cost information acquisition unit H231 acquires, for example, cost information specifying the cost for each customer.

For example, for each of the one or more business identifiers, the cost information acquisition unit H231 uses the gas usage information associated with one or more customer identifiers paired with each business identifier to obtain calculating the total amount of LPG used by one or more customers, and obtaining cost information specifying the cost corresponding to the calculated total amount.

The cost information acquisition unit H231 acquires, for example, one or more customer identifiers corresponding to one business operator identifier from the business operator information storage unit H216, and obtains gas usage information associated with each of the one or more customer identifiers. Acquired from the LPG information storage unit H2111, and using the one or more gas usage information, acquires cost information specifying the cost corresponding to one business identifier.

The cost information acquisition unit H231 uses, for example, two or more pieces of LPG information in the LPG information storage unit H2111 to acquire cost information that specifies costs according to the amount of LPG used for each customer.

The cost information acquisition unit H231 acquires cost information, for example, using the unit price and the amount of LPG used specified by the price information acquired by the price information acquisition unit H232.

The cost information acquisition unit H231 acquires, for example, gas usage information included in two or more pieces of LPG information for each customer identifier from the LPG information storage unit H2111, adds the two or more pieces of gas usage information, and obtains a total for each customer identifier. Get typical LPG usage. The cost information acquisition unit H231, for example, is gas usage information possessed by each of two or more pieces of LPG information for each customer identifier, subtracts the last meter reading value from the latest meter reading value of this time, and calculates the total LPG usage Get quantity per customer. Note that the overall LPG usage amount is the LPG usage amount during the cost calculation period.

Then, the cost information acquisition unit H231 multiplies the price information acquired by the price information acquisition unit H232 by the total amount of LPG used, for example, to acquire cost information. The cost information acquisition unit H231 may, for example, acquire cost information paired with the overall LPG consumption from a correspondence table. In such a case, the correspondence table has two or more correspondence information, which are records having comprehensive LPG usage range information and cost information. Also, in such a case, the correspondence table can be said to be price information.

The price information acquisition unit H232 acquires price information specifying a unit price, which is the cost corresponding to the unit usage amount of LPG.

The price information acquisition unit H232 may acquire price information, for example, according to the actual amount of LPG used. This method is the first price information acquisition method.

Also, the price information acquisition unit H232 may acquire price information, for example, based on a demand forecast for the amount of LPG used. This method is the second price information acquisition method.
(1) About the first price information acquisition method

The price information acquisition unit H232 acquires price information specifying a unit price, which is the cost corresponding to the unit usage amount of LPG, using the cost calculation source information.

More specifically, for example, the price information acquisition unit H232 acquires gas usage information of two or more households for a predetermined period from the LPG information storage unit H2111. Next, the price information acquisition unit H232 acquires the total amount of LPG used, which is the sum of the gas usage information for the period. Then, for example, the price information acquisition unit H232 acquires total expense information specifying all expenses using one or more expense calculation source information. The price information acquisition unit H232 acquires total expense information by, for example, adding two or more pieces of expense calculation source information. Also, the predetermined period is a period considered for determining price information, and is a period during which gas usage information is acquired. The total expense information also includes, for example, personnel expenses, facility expenses, and the like.

Next, for example, the price information acquisition unit H232 acquires price information using total expense information, profit information, and total usage. The price information acquisition unit H232 acquires price information by, for example, an arithmetic expression “price information=(total expense information+profit information)/total amount used”. In such cases, the profit information is the amount of profit. Also, the price information acquisition unit H232 acquires price information by, for example, a calculation formula “price information=(total expense information×(1+profit information))/total usage amount”. In such cases, the profit information is the profit rate. It is also assumed that the profit information is stored in the storage unit H21.
(2) Second method of obtaining price information

The price information acquisition unit H232 may acquire price information by means of a demand prediction means H2321 and a price information acquisition means H2322, which will be described later.

The demand forecasting means H2321 acquires the predicted demand amount, which is the future LPG demand amount, using the gas usage information of two or more households. Note that the predicted demand amount is the future demand amount of LPG, for example, the total amount of use for a year, but the period is irrelevant.

The price information acquisition means H2322 acquires price information that specifies the unit price of energy for a unit amount of time specified by the hour information, using the gas usage information and weather information of two or more households. The price information is the price per unit quantity (eg, 1 m ³ , 1 kg, 1 JOULE). The price information acquisition means H2322 normally acquires price information at the time specified by the hour information using the predicted demand quantity and the weather information acquired by the demand forecasting means H2321.

Details of a processing example of the price information acquisition unit H232 will be described below. Here, a case where price information is acquired by the demand forecasting means H2321 and the price information acquiring means H2322 will be described.
(1) Demand forecast by demand forecasting means H2321

The demand forecasting means H2321 acquires the predicted demand amount, which is the future LPG demand amount, using the gas usage information of two or more households. Note that the predicted demand amount is the future demand amount of LPG, for example, the total amount of use for a year, but the period is irrelevant.

Then, for example, the following three methods are possible as methods of acquiring the predicted demand amount.
(1-1) Method by calculation

The demand forecasting means H2321 acquires past gas usage information of two or more households from the LPG information storage unit H2111, for example. Then, the demand prediction means H2321, for example, acquires the total amount of gas usage of the two or more households from the gas usage information of the two or more households. Next, the demand forecasting means H2321 acquires the predicted demand amount by, for example, an increasing function with the total amount as a parameter.
(1-2) Method using correspondence table

The demand forecasting means H2321 acquires, for example, the total amount of gas usage of two or more households from the gas usage information of two or more households, and acquires the predicted demand amount corresponding to the total amount from the correspondence table. This correspondence table is a table having two or more pieces of correspondence information including information on the range of the total amount of gas usage (the total amount of past usage) and the predicted demand amount.
(1-3) Method by machine learning

The demand forecasting means H2321 acquires forecast demand by, for example, machine learning. An example of an algorithm for obtaining predicted demand using machine learning will be described below.

The processing for configuring the learning device and the processing for acquiring the predicted demand amount will be described below.
(1-3-1) Processing for configuring learning device

The demand forecasting means H2321 acquires past gas usage information of two or more households from the LPG information storage unit H2111, for example. The past gas usage information is, for example, gas usage information for January of each of two or more years (eg, 2010, 2011, . . . , 2018).

In addition, the demand forecasting means H2321 calculates the total amount of annual gas usage by, for example, adding the usage amounts indicated by the past gas usage information of two or more households in each of two or more years.

Next, the demand forecasting means H2321 has a learning device that receives short-term (eg, January, January-March, January-June) gas usage information as input and outputs the total amount of annual gas usage. , obtained by a machine learning algorithm. The short period is preferably a period included in the year for which the total amount of gas usage is obtained, but may be a period not included in the year for which the total amount of gas usage is obtained.

In other words, the demand forecasting means H2321 acquires pairs of short-term gas usage information and annual total gas usage for each year, and forms learning source information having a plurality of pairs. Next, the demand forecasting means H2321 supplies the learning source information to a module for configuring a learning device for machine learning, executes the module, configures the learning device, and stores it in the storage unit H21. Machine learning algorithms may be, for example, deep learning, random forest, SVR, or the like. Any machine learning module, such as TensorFlow module, fasttext, tiny_svm, various randomForest functions, etc., can be used. Also, the learner may be called a classifier.

Furthermore, in the above description, the demand forecasting means H2321 may use gas usage information for one month, or may use gas usage information for a period of two months or more, in order to configure a learning device. Gas usage information for a predetermined period of the previous year (eg, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, etc.) may be used.
(1-3-2) Processing for acquiring predicted demand

For example, the demand forecasting means H2321 obtains a period corresponding to the amount of demand to be predicted (for example, , January to February of this year) is acquired from the LPG information storage unit H2111.

Next, the demand forecasting means H2321 acquires an annual forecast demand amount by a machine learning algorithm using the acquired gas usage information and the learning device of the storage unit H21. In other words, the demand prediction means H2321, for example, constructs a vector whose elements are each usage amount of the acquired gas usage information, provides the vector and the learner in the storage unit H21 to a module that performs machine learning prediction, A learning algorithm obtains, for example, annual forecast demand. Machine learning algorithms for such prediction may be deep learning, random forest, SVR, or the like. Also, any machine learning prediction module, such as TensorFlow module, fasttext, tiny_svm, various randomForest functions, etc., can be used. It should be noted that the prediction here is a process of acquiring the annual predicted demand amount.
(2) Price information determination processing by price information acquisition means H2322

The price information acquiring means H2322 acquires LPG price information for one or more days by using the predicted demand amount and the weather information acquired by the demand forecasting means H2321.

There are, for example, the following three methods for obtaining price information using the predicted demand.
(2-1) Method by calculation

The price information obtaining means H2322 obtains, for example, one or more pieces of related information from the storage unit H21. Then, the price information obtaining means H2322 substitutes the predicted demand amount and one or more related information as parameters into an arithmetic expression, executes the arithmetic expression, and obtains price information as a reference.

Next, the price information acquisition means H2322 corrects the reference price information using, for example, one or more of the temperature information and the weather information included in the weather information for each day of price determination. Get pricing information.

For example, when the temperature information is high enough to satisfy a predetermined first condition, the price information acquisition means H2322 lowers the price information by a predetermined amount or according to the temperature information. Also, if the temperature information is low enough to satisfy the second condition, the price information obtaining means H2322 raises the price information by a predetermined amount or according to the temperature information. Note that the first condition is, for example, "higher than the average temperature of the day stored in the storage unit H21 by a threshold or more" or "higher than the average temperature of the day stored in the storage unit H21 by a threshold ” etc. The second condition is, for example, "lower than the average temperature of the day stored in the storage unit H21 by a threshold or more" or "lower than the average temperature of the day stored in the storage unit H21 by a threshold ” etc.

Also, the price information obtaining means H2322 corrects the reference price information according to, for example, weather information, and obtains corrected price information. For example, if the weather information indicates "rain", the price information acquisition means H2322 raises the price information by a predetermined amount. In addition, the price information acquisition means H2322 lowers the price information by a predetermined amount, for example, when the weather information indicates "clear".
(2-2) Method using correspondence table

The storage unit H21 stores a correspondence table consisting of two or more pieces of correspondence information having "conditions regarding predicted demand" or "conditions regarding predicted demand and one or more related information" and "price information". Suppose there is. In addition, the "condition regarding the predicted demand amount" is, for example, the width of the predicted demand amount (for example, "y1<=predicted demand amount<y2"). ``Conditions related to predicted demand and one or more related information'' are, for example, the range of predicted demand (for example, ``y1 <= predicted demand <y2'') and the range of exchange rates (for example, ``z1 < = Yen/$1<z2”).

Then, the price information obtaining means H2322 obtains, for example, one or more pieces of related information from the storage unit H21. Then, the price information obtaining means H2322 obtains, for example, price information corresponding to the predicted demand amount and one or more pieces of related information from the correspondence table, and obtains price information as a reference.

Next, as in (2-1), the price information acquisition means H2322 uses one or more of the temperature information and weather information included in the weather information for each day of price determination to obtain a reference price. Correct the information and obtain the corrected price information.
(2-3) Method by machine learning (2-3-1) Processing to configure learning device

The price information acquisition means H2322 performs machine learning using, for example, a plurality of sets of past predicted demand, one or more past related information, past weather information, and past price information as learning source information. acquire a learner by the algorithm of This learning device is a learning device that inputs predicted demand, one or more related information, and weather information, and outputs price information.

More specifically, the price information acquisition means H2322, for example, provides the above learning source information to a module for configuring a machine learning learning device, executes the module, configures the learning device, stores Accumulates in H21. Machine learning algorithms may be, for example, deep learning, random forest, SVR, or the like. Any machine learning module, such as TensorFlow module, fasttext, tiny_svm, various randomForest functions, etc., can be used. Also, the learner may be called a classifier.
(2-3-2) Processing to acquire price information

The price information obtaining means H2322 obtains, for example, one or more pieces of related information from the storage unit H21. The price information acquisition means H2322 also acquires, for example, the weather information for the date for which price information is to be acquired from the weather information storage unit A215. Then, the price information acquisition means H2322 acquires price information by a machine learning algorithm using the predicted demand amount, one or more related information, weather information, and the learning device in the storage unit H21. That is, for example, the price information acquisition means H2322 constructs a vector from the acquired predicted demand amount, one or more related information, and weather information, and predicts the vector and the learning device in the storage unit H21 by machine learning. and get price information by machine learning algorithm. Machine learning algorithms for such prediction may be deep learning, random forest, SVR, or the like. Also, any machine learning prediction module, such as TensorFlow module, fasttext, tiny_svm, various randomForest functions, etc., can be used. It should be noted that prediction here is a process of acquiring price information.

The common unit use information acquisition part H233 acquires common unit use information for each customer identifier and for each medium identifier. The common unit usage information is information specifying the amount of energy usage in a common energy unit (for example, JOULE). The common unit usage information is information specifying the usage amount converted into a common energy unit (for example, JOULE).
It is preferable that the common unit use information acquisition part H233 acquires common unit use information for each of two or more medium identifiers.

The common unit use information acquisition part H233 acquires common unit use information using, for example, the medium use information corresponding to the customer identifier and the conversion information corresponding to the medium identifier. The common unit usage information acquisition unit H233, for example, multiplies “medium usage information corresponding to the customer identifier×conversion information associated with the medium identifier” so that the customer identified by the customer identifier is identified by the medium identifier. Acquire common unit usage information, which is the amount of energy medium consumed and specifies the amount converted into the common unit.

For example, for each medium identifier, the common unit usage information acquisition unit H233 converts the medium usage information into a common energy unit using the medium usage information and the conversion information associated with the medium identifier, and acquires the common unit usage information. do. The common unit use information acquisition unit H233, for example, refers to a correspondence table paired with the medium identifier, searches for correspondence information that matches the medium use information, and acquires common unit use information included in the correspondence information from the correspondence table. . In such a case, the correspondence table has two or more pieces of correspondence information. Also, the correspondence information has information on the width of the medium usage information and common unit usage information.

The total usage information calculation unit H234 adds two or more pieces of common unit usage information for each energy medium acquired by the common unit usage information acquisition unit H233, and calculates the total usage information specifying the total energy usage for each customer identifier. Calculate to

The total cost information acquisition unit H235 uses the total usage information and the common unit price information output by the total usage information output unit H241 to specify the total cost for the total use of a plurality of energies by one or more customers. Get total cost information.

The total cost information acquisition unit H235 acquires total cost information specifying the total cost for each business, for example.

Also, the total cost information acquisition unit H235 acquires total cost information specifying the total cost for each customer, for example.

The total cost information acquisition unit H235, for example, uses the total usage information and the common unit price information output by the total usage information output unit H241 to obtain one or more customer identifiers paired with one business identifier as business operator information. The total usage information obtained from the storage unit H216 and corresponding to the one or more customer identifiers is added to obtain the total usage amount corresponding to the one business operator identifier. Then, the total cost information acquisition unit H235, for example, uses the total amount of use and the common unit price information to specify the total cost for the business operator identified by the one business identifier. Get information.

The total cost information acquisition unit H235 uses the total use information and the common unit price information output by the total use information output unit H241, for example, to specify the total cost for the total use of a plurality of energies for each customer identifier. Get total cost information for

The total cost information acquisition unit H235, for example, multiplies the total usage information and the common unit price information to acquire total cost information.

The comprehensive cost information acquisition unit H235, for example, refers to a correspondence table that is common unit price information, and acquires common unit price information included in correspondence information that matches the comprehensive use information from the correspondence table. In such a case, the correspondence table, which is common unit price information, has two or more pieces of correspondence information. Corresponding information has information indicating the range of comprehensive usage information and common unit price information.

The difference information acquisition unit H236 acquires difference information indicating the difference between the used amount and the amount specified by the usage right information for each medium. The difference information is information indicating how much is left over or how much is exceeded within the consumable amount range.

The difference information acquisition unit H236 acquires, for example, difference information that identifies the difference between the usage right information associated with one medium identifier and the common unit usage information associated with the one medium identifier.

The difference information acquisition unit H236 acquires, for example, difference information specifying a difference between the usage right information associated with one medium identifier and the usage amount obtained from the usage information associated with the one medium identifier.

It is preferable that the difference information acquisition unit H236 acquires difference information for each of two or more medium identifiers.

The transaction processing unit H237 performs transaction processing for transferring the right to use the amount of energy of the difference specified by the difference information. A transaction process is a process for giving or accepting such rights. Transaction processing includes, for example, transmission of difference information, output of difference information, and transmission to server device H3, which is a platform for futures trading. The transaction processing unit H237 may output price information and difference information, for example.

The price information acquisition means H2371 acquires price information specifying the unit price of energy for the time specified by the time information, using gas usage information and weather information of two or more households. The price information acquisition means H2371 may perform the same processing as the price information acquisition section H232. In other words, the price information acquisition means H2371 may not exist, and the right output means H2372, which will be described later, may perform processing using the price information acquired by the price information acquisition section H232.

The right output means H2372 outputs usage right information specifying the right to use the amount of energy indicated by the difference information and the price information acquired by the price information acquisition means H2322. The usage right information may be a medium identifier of a medium with positive difference information. A medium with positive difference information is a transferable energy medium. Also, the output here is, for example, transmission to the server device H3. Also, the output is, for example, accumulation in the storage unit H21.

The output unit H24 outputs various information. Various types of information are, for example, comprehensive usage information, cost information, and price information. The output here is normally transmission to the terminal device H1. Also, here, the output is, for example, accumulation in the storage unit H21.

The comprehensive usage information output unit H241 outputs the comprehensive usage information acquired by the comprehensive usage information calculation unit H234 in association with the customer identifier. The output here means, for example, transmission to the terminal device H1, accumulation in the storage unit H21, and the like.

The cost information output unit H242 outputs the cost information acquired by the cost information acquisition unit H231. The output here means, for example, transmission to the terminal device H1, accumulation in the storage unit H21, and the like.

The cost information output unit H242 outputs the cost information acquired by the cost information acquisition unit H231 in association with the company identifier.

The cost information output unit H242 outputs, for example, the cost information acquired by the cost information acquisition unit H231 in association with the customer identifier.

The total cost information output unit H243 outputs total cost information. The total cost information output unit H243 outputs total cost information in association with, for example, a business operator identifier. The total cost information output unit H243 outputs the total cost information in association with the customer identifier. The output here means, for example, transmission to the terminal device H1, accumulation in the storage unit H21, and the like.

The server storage unit H31 constituting the server device H3 stores the use right information and the price information output by the right output means H2372 of the information processing device H2 in association with each other. One or more pieces of price information are associated with, for example, date information.

The server output unit H32 outputs usage right information and price information stored in the server storage unit H31. The server output unit H32 outputs usage right information and price information, for example, upon receiving a user's instruction. The output here is usually sending to a user's terminal (not shown), but may include the concept of display. The usage right information and price information stored in the server storage unit H31 are, for example, information received from the information processing device H2.

The server output unit H32 outputs the price information changed by the price changing means H342. The output here is, for example, accumulation in the server storage unit H31 and transmission to the terminal device H1.

The server reception unit H33 receives the purchase instruction having the user identifier and amount information specifying the amount of energy.

In response to the purchase instruction, the server processing unit H34 performs futures transaction processing for making a purchase reservation for the right to use the amount of energy specified by the amount information at the unit price specified by the price information.

The futures transaction means H341 performs futures transaction processing for making a purchase reservation for the amount of energy specified by the quantity information at the unit price specified by the price information stored in the server storage unit H31 in response to the server purchase instruction. The futures trading process is a process for making a purchase reservation for the quantity of energy specified by the quantity information at the price specified by the price information. The purchase instruction includes, for example, date information, quantity information, and price information. The purchase order also has, for example, a medium identifier. Also, the purchase instruction is associated with, for example, a user identifier.

Any futures transaction processing may be used as long as it is processing for a purchase reservation of energy. The futures transaction process is a process of composing futures transaction information having, for example, a user identifier for identifying a purchaser, price information, quantity information, and date information, and storing it in the server storage unit H31. Further, the futures trading process is, for example, a process of transmitting futures trading information to the terminal that transmitted the purchase instruction.

The price changing means H342 obtains price information obtained by changing the price information stored in the server storage unit H31 and accumulates the price information in the server storage unit H31 when the purchase instruction is received.

For example, in response to a purchase instruction, the price change means H342 raises the price specified by the price information paired with the date information included in the purchase instruction, acquires updated price information, and converts the updated price information to the Stored in pairs with date information.

It is preferable that the price change means H342 change the price information according to, for example, the trading volume. The price change means H342 obtains information on an increasing price by, for example, an increasing function with the transaction volume of the relevant day as a parameter, adds the information on the price to the price information, and obtains price information to be updated. Also, the price changing means H342 obtains price information to be updated by, for example, adding a fixed price to the price information in response to the acceptance of the purchase instruction. Also, the price changing means H342 obtains updated price information by subtracting a fixed amount from the price information, for example, when there is no transaction or the number of transactions is equal to or less than a threshold for a predetermined period.

The server transmission unit H35 transmits various kinds of information. Various types of information are, for example, futures transaction information, notification of completion of futures transaction processing, and the like. The futures transaction processing completion notice is information to the effect that the futures transaction processing has been completed. In addition, the server transmission unit H35 transmits various kinds of information to the terminal device H1, for example.

Terminal storage unit H11, storage unit H21, medium information storage unit H211, cost calculation source information storage unit H212, conversion information storage unit H213, common unit price information storage unit H214, usage right information storage unit H215, business operator information storage unit H216 , the weather information storage unit A215, the LPG information storage unit H2111, the LNG information storage unit H2112, the electrical information storage unit H2113, and the server storage unit H31 are preferably nonvolatile recording media, but can also be realized with volatile recording media. It is possible.

It does not matter how the information is stored in the terminal storage unit H11 or the like. For example, information may be stored in the terminal storage section H11 or the like via a recording medium, or information transmitted via a communication line or the like may be stored in the terminal storage section H11 or the like. Alternatively, information input via an input device may be stored in the terminal storage unit H11 or the like.

Terminal processing unit H13, processing unit H23, gas information storage unit A231, weather information storage unit A234, cost information acquisition unit H231, price information acquisition unit H232, common unit usage information acquisition unit H233, comprehensive usage information calculation unit H234, comprehensive usage Information output unit H241, comprehensive cost information acquisition unit H235, difference information acquisition unit H236, transaction processing unit H237, demand prediction unit H2321, price information acquisition unit H2322, price information acquisition unit H2371, server processing unit H34, futures trading unit H341, And the price changing means H342 can usually be implemented by an MPU, memory, or the like. The processing procedure of the terminal processing unit H13 is usually realized by software, and the software is recorded in a recording medium such as a ROM. However, it may be realized by hardware (dedicated circuit).

The terminal transmission unit H14, right output means H2372, output unit H24, cost information output unit H242, total cost information output unit H243, and server transmission unit H35 are usually realized by wireless or wired communication means. It may be realized by

The terminal receiver H15, receiver H22, gas information receiver A221, weather information receiver A224, purchase instruction receiver H221, and server receiver H33 are usually realized by wireless or wired communication means, but they do not broadcast. It may be realized by means of receiving.

The terminal output unit H16 and the server output unit H32 may or may not include output devices such as displays and speakers. The terminal output unit H16 can be realized by output device driver software, or by output device driver software and an output device.

Next, an operation example of the information system H will be described. First, an operation example of the terminal device H1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

(Step S1201) The terminal reception unit H12 determines whether or not a purchase instruction has been received. If the purchase instruction is received, the process goes to step S1202, and if the purchase instruction is not received, the process goes to step S1205.

(Step S1202) The terminal processing unit H13 converts the purchase instruction received in step S1201 into the structure of the purchase instruction to be transmitted. Next, the terminal transmission unit H14 transmits a purchase instruction to the server device H3.

(Step S1203) The terminal reception unit H15 determines whether or not a futures transaction processing completion notification has been received. If the futures transaction processing completion notification is received, the process goes to step S1204, and if the futures transaction processing completion notification is not received, the process returns to step S1203.

(Step S1204) The terminal processing unit H13 converts the futures transaction processing completion notification received in step S1203 into the structure of information to be output. The terminal output unit H16 outputs the futures transaction processing completion notification. Return to step S1201.

(Step S1205) The terminal reception unit H12 determines whether or not an operation start instruction has been received. If the operation start instruction has been received, the process goes to step S1206, and if the operation start instruction has not been received, the process returns to step S1201.

(Step S1206) The terminal processing unit H13 converts the operation start instruction received in step S1205 into the structure of the operation start instruction to be transmitted. Next, the terminal transmission unit H14 transmits an operation start instruction to the information processing device H2.

(Step S1207) The terminal reception unit H15 determines whether or not an operation completion notification has been received from the information processing device H2. If the operation completion notification has been received, the process goes to step S1208, and if the operation completion notification has not been received, the process returns to step S1207.

(Step S1208) The terminal processing unit H13 is configured to output the operation completion notification received in step S1207. The terminal output unit H16 outputs the operation completion notification. Return to step S1201.

Note that in the flowchart of FIG. 12, the process ends when the power is turned off or an interrupt to end the process occurs.

Next, an operation example of the information processing device H2 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 13 and 14. FIG.

(Step S1301) The receiver H22 determines whether or not an operation start instruction has been received. If the operation start instruction has been received, the process goes to step S1302, and if the operation start instruction has not been received, the process goes to step S1309.

(Step S1302) The cost information acquisition unit H231 substitutes 1 for the counter i.

(Step S1303) The cost information acquisition section H231 determines whether or not the i-th customer identifier exists in the LPG information storage section H2111. If the i-th customer identifier exists, the process goes to step S1304, and if the i-th customer identifier does not exist, the process returns to step S1301.

(Step S1304) The cost information acquisition unit H231 acquires from the LPG information storage unit H2111 the gas usage information paired with the i-th customer identifier for the period for which the cost is to be calculated. Note that the period for which the cost is calculated is, for example, a specific month (eg March 2019) or a specific three months (eg April to June 2019). Also, here, it is assumed that the period for which the cost is to be calculated is predetermined, and the information specifying the period is stored in the storage unit H21. Then, the cost information acquisition unit H231 stores one or more gas usage information paired with the date information corresponding to the period information stored in the storage unit H21 and paired with the i-th customer identifier into the LPG information storage unit H231. Obtained from H2111.

(Step S1305) The cost information acquisition unit H231 reads the price information from the storage unit H21. The price information in the storage unit H21 is information acquired by the price information acquisition unit H232 and stored in the storage unit H21.

(Step S1306) The cost information acquisition unit H231 uses the gas usage information acquired in step S1304 and the price information acquired in step S1305 to calculate the cost of the customer identified by the i-th customer identifier, to get This cost is the cost for the period for which the above cost is calculated.

(Step S1307) The cost information acquisition unit H231 outputs the cost information acquired in step S1306 in association with the i-th customer identifier. The output here is, for example, transmission to the terminal device H1 and accumulation in a buffer (not shown) or storage unit H21. Here, the output unit H24 may transmit the operation completion notification to the terminal device H1.

(Step S1308) The cost information acquisition unit H231 increments the counter i by 1. Return to step S1303.

(Step S1309) The price information acquisition unit H232 determines whether it is time to calculate the price. If it is the time to calculate the price, go to step S1310, and if not the time to calculate the price, go to step S1314. The timing for calculating the price is, for example, when an instruction to calculate the price is received from the terminal device H1, or at a predetermined time (for example, every month, every year, etc.).

(Step S1310) The price information acquisition unit H232 acquires cost calculation source information stored in the cost calculation source information storage unit H212. The cost calculation source information includes, for example, raw material cost information and delivery cost information.

(Step S1311) The price information acquisition unit H232 acquires gas usage information of two or more households during a predetermined period for price determination. Then, the price information acquisition unit H232 adds the gas usage information of the two or more households and acquires the total amount of LPG usage. Here, it is assumed that the gas usage information is information specifying the usage amount of LPG. Information specifying a predetermined period for price determination is stored, for example, in the storage unit H21.

(Step S1312) The price information acquisition unit H232 calculates price information using the cost calculation source information acquired in step S1310, the total amount of LPG used acquired in step S1311, and the profit information in the storage unit H21.

(Step S1313) The price information acquisition unit H232 accumulates the price information calculated in step S1312 in the storage unit H21. Return to step S1301.

(Step S1314) Comprehensive usage information calculation unit H234 determines whether it is time to acquire comprehensive usage information for each business operator. If it is the time to acquire comprehensive usage information, the process goes to step S1315, and if it is not the time to acquire comprehensive usage information, the process goes to step S1322. The timing for acquiring the comprehensive use information for each business is, for example, when an instruction to acquire the comprehensive use information for each business is received from the terminal device H1, or at a predetermined time (for example, once a month, once every six months, once yearly etc.).

(Step S1315) The comprehensive usage information calculation unit H234 substitutes 1 for the counter i.

(Step S1316) The comprehensive usage information calculation unit H234 determines whether or not the i-th business operator identifier exists in the storage unit H21 (for example, the business information storage unit H216). If the i-th business identifier exists, the process goes to step S1317, and if the i-th business identifier does not exist, the process returns to step S1301.

(Step S1317) The comprehensive usage information calculation unit H234 performs comprehensive usage information acquisition processing. An example of general usage information acquisition processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 15 .

(Step S1318) The total cost information acquisition section H235 reads common unit price information from the common unit price information storage section H214.

(Step S1319) The total cost information acquisition unit H235 calculates total cost information using the total use information acquired in step S1317 and the common unit price information read out in step S1318.

(Step S1320) The total cost information output unit H241 stores the total cost information acquired in step S1319 in the storage unit H21 in association with the i-th business operator identifier.

(Step S1321) The comprehensive usage information calculation unit H234 increments the counter i by 1. Return to step S1316.

(Step S1322) The difference information acquisition unit H236 determines whether or not it is time to acquire difference information. If it is the time to acquire the difference information, the process goes to step S1323, and if it is not the time to acquire the difference information, the process goes to step S1328. The timing of acquiring the difference information is, for example, the reception of an instruction to acquire the difference information from the terminal device H1, or a predetermined time (for example, every day, every month, every half year, every year, etc.). .

(Step S1323) The difference information acquisition unit H236 substitutes 1 for the counter i.

(Step S1324) The difference information acquisition unit H236 determines whether or not the i-th medium identifier exists in the storage unit H21 (for example, the usage right information storage unit H215). If the i-th medium identifier exists, the process goes to step S1325, and if the i-th medium identifier does not exist, the process returns to step S1301.

(Step S1325) The difference information acquisition unit H236 performs difference information acquisition processing. An example of the difference information acquisition process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 16 .

(Step S1326) The difference information acquisition unit H236 stores the difference information acquired in step S1325 in the storage unit H21 in association with the i-th medium identifier.

(Step S1327) The difference information acquisition unit H236 increments the counter i by 1. Return to step S1324.

(Step S1328) The transaction processing unit H237 determines whether or not it is time to configure the futures trading market. If it is time to configure the futures trading market, the process goes to step S1329, and if it is not the time to configure the futures trading market, the process returns to step S1301. The timing of configuring the futures trading market is, for example, the receipt of an instruction to configure the futures trading market from the terminal device H1, or a predetermined time (for example, every day, every month, every half year, every year, etc.). is.

(Step S1329) The transaction processing unit H237 substitutes 1 for the counter i.

(Step S1330) The transaction processing unit H237 determines whether or not there is an i-th day that constitutes the futures trading market. Return to step S1301. It is assumed that one or more pieces of date information specifying one or more days that constitute the futures trading market are stored in advance in the storage unit H21.

(Step S1331) The transaction processing unit H237 performs a usage information acquisition process, and acquires usage information indicating the sum total of comprehensive energy usage used for demand prediction. An example of usage information acquisition processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 17 .

(Step S1332) The transaction processing unit H237 acquires weather information corresponding to date information for one or more days used for futures transactions from the weather information storage unit A215. Note that the date information for one or more days is, for example, date information for a period from a predetermined start date (for example, today, tomorrow, one month before the i-th day) to the i-th day. . The weather information is preferably weather forecast information, but may be weather record information.

(Step S1333) The transaction processing unit H237 performs price information acquisition processing. An example of price information acquisition processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

(Step S1334) The transaction processing unit H237 outputs the price information acquired in step S1333 in association with date information of one or more days. Note that the output here means, for example, accumulation in the storage unit H21, transmission to the server device H3, transmission to the terminal device H1, and the like.

(Step S1335) The transaction processing unit H237 increments the counter i by 1. Return to step S1330.

In addition, in the flow charts of FIGS. 13 and 14, comprehensive usage information and comprehensive cost information for businesses are acquired and accumulated. However, comprehensive use information and comprehensive cost information for each customer may be acquired and stored.

In addition, in the flowcharts of FIGS. 13 and 14, the processing ends when the power is turned off or an interrupt for processing end occurs.

Next, an example of general use information acquisition processing in step S1337 will be described using the flowchart of FIG.

(Step S1501) The comprehensive usage information calculation unit H234 acquires one or more customer identifiers paired with the business identifier of interest (i-th business identifier) from the business business information storage unit H216.

(Step S1502) The comprehensive usage information calculation unit H234 substitutes 1 for the counter j.

(Step S1503) Comprehensive use information calculation unit H234 determines whether or not the j-th customer identifier exists among the one or more customer identifiers acquired in step S1501. If the j-th customer identifier exists, the process goes to step S1504, and if the j-th customer identifier does not exist, the process goes to step S1513.

(Step S1504) The comprehensive usage information calculation unit H234 substitutes 1 for the counter k.

(Step S1505) The comprehensive usage information calculation unit H234 determines whether or not the k-th medium identifier exists in the conversion information storage unit H213. If the k-th medium identifier exists, the process goes to step S1506, and if the k-th medium identifier does not exist, the process goes to step S1511.

(Step S1506) The comprehensive use information calculation unit H234 acquires one or more pieces of medium use information paired with the date information of the predetermined period and the k-th medium identifier from the medium information storage unit H211. Note that the predetermined period is the period for which comprehensive usage information is to be acquired.

(Step S1507) The general use information calculation unit H234 acquires the conversion information paired with the k-th medium identifier from the conversion information storage unit H213.

(Step S1508) The comprehensive usage information calculation unit H234 uses the one or more medium usage information acquired in Step S1506 and the conversion information acquired in Step S1507 to calculate the usage amount of the energy medium identified by the k-th medium identifier. is converted into common unit usage information.

Note that, for example, the total usage information calculation unit H234 acquires the total usage amount of the energy medium identified by the k-th medium identifier from the one or more pieces of medium usage information acquired in step S1506. Then, the total usage information calculation unit H234 acquires common unit usage information using the total usage amount and the conversion information.

Note that the total usage information calculation unit H234 acquires common unit usage information by, for example, multiplying the total usage amount by the conversion information. Note that in such a case, the conversion information is a coefficient for converting the unit of energy medium quantity (e.g., m ³ , kW) identified by the k-th medium identifier into a common energy medium (e.g., JOULE). .

(Step S1509) The general usage information calculation unit H234 associates the common unit usage information acquired in step S1508 with the k-th medium identifier and stores it in the storage unit H21.

(Step S1510) The comprehensive use information calculation unit H234 increments the counter k by 1. Return to step S1505.

(Step S1511) Comprehensive usage information calculation unit H234 adds usage amounts of common units specified by two or more pieces of common unit usage information accumulated in step S1509, acquires comprehensive usage information, and stores it in storage unit H21 at least temporarily. accumulate.

(Step S1512) The comprehensive usage information calculation unit H234 increments the counter j by 1. Return to step S1503.

(Step S1513) The general use information calculation unit H234 adds one or more pieces of general use information accumulated in step S1511 to acquire general use information for the business operator. Return to upper process.

Next, an example of the difference information acquisition process in step S1325 will be described using the flowchart of FIG.

(Step S1601) The difference information acquisition unit H236 acquires from the medium information storage unit H211 one or more pieces of medium use information paired with the date information of a predetermined period and paired with the i-th medium identifier. Note that the predetermined period is a period used for acquiring difference information. Information specifying the predetermined period is stored, for example, in the storage unit H21.

(Step S1602) The difference information acquisition unit H236 acquires conversion information paired with the i-th medium identifier from the conversion information storage unit H213.

(Step S1603) The difference information acquisition unit H236 acquires common unit usage information using the one or more media usage information acquired in step S1601 and the conversion information acquired in step S1602.

(Step S1604) The difference information acquisition unit H236 acquires usage right information paired with the i-th medium identifier from the usage right information storage unit H215.

(Step S1605) The difference information acquisition unit H236 acquires difference information using the common unit usage information acquired in step S1603 and the usage right information acquired in step S1604. Return to upper process.

The difference information acquisition unit H236 acquires difference information by, for example, the arithmetic expression “difference information=usage right information−common unit use information”. It is assumed that such an arithmetic expression is stored in the storage unit H21.

Next, an example of the usage information acquisition process in step S1331 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

(Step S1701) The transaction processing unit H237 substitutes 1 for the counter j.

(Step S1702) The transaction processing unit H237 determines whether or not the j-th medium identifier exists in the storage unit H21 (for example, the conversion information storage unit H213). If the j-th medium identifier exists, go to step S1703, and if the j-th medium identifier does not exist, go to step S1708.

(Step S1703) The transaction processing unit H237 acquires from the medium information storage unit H211 one or more pieces of medium usage information paired with the date information of the predetermined period and the j-th medium identifier. Note that the predetermined period is a period for which usage information for futures trading is acquired.

(Step S1704) The transaction processing unit H237 acquires conversion information paired with the j-th medium identifier from the conversion information storage unit H213.

(Step S1705) The transaction processing unit H237 acquires common unit usage information using the one or more media usage information acquired in step S1703 and the conversion information acquired in step S1704.

Note that, for example, the transaction processing unit H237 acquires the total usage amount of the energy medium identified by the j-th medium identifier from the one or more pieces of medium usage information acquired in step S1703. Then, the transaction processing unit H237 multiplies the total amount used and the conversion information to acquire common unit usage information. Note that in such a case, the conversion information is a coefficient for converting the unit of energy medium quantity (e.g., m ³ , kW) identified by the j-th medium identifier into a common energy medium (e.g., JOULE). .

(Step S1706) The transaction processing unit H237 associates the common unit usage information acquired in step S1705 with the j-th medium identifier and accumulates it in the storage unit H21.

(Step S1707) The transaction processing unit H237 increments the counter j by 1. Return to step S1702.

(Step S1708) The transaction processing unit H237 adds the usage amount of the common unit specified by the two or more pieces of common unit usage information accumulated in Step S1706 to obtain comprehensive usage information. Return to upper process.

Next, an example of price information acquisition processing in step S1333 will be described using the flowchart of FIG.

(Step S1801) The demand forecasting means H2321 performs demand forecasting processing. An example of demand prediction processing will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 19 .

(Step S1802) The price information acquisition means H2322 acquires price information that serves as a reference using the predicted quantity demanded, which is the result of the demand prediction processing in step S1801. The price information acquiring means H2322, for example, substitutes the predicted demand quantity into an increasing function with the predicted demand quantity as a parameter, executes the function, and obtains price information. Also, the price information obtaining means H2322 obtains, for example, price information paired with the predicted demand amount from the correspondence table. In such a case, the correspondence table has, for example, two or more pieces of correspondence information having a predicted demand amount range and price information.

(Step S1803) Price information acquisition means H2322 determines whether the acquired weather information is information that requires correction of price information. If the weather information is such information (for example, if the temperature is higher than the standard by the threshold or more, or if the temperature is lower than the standard by the threshold or more), go to step S1804, otherwise go to step S1805.

(Step S1804) Price information acquisition means H2322 corrects the price information. It is preferable that the price information acquisition means H2322 corrects the price information to a different value according to the weather information.

(Step S1805) The price information acquisition means H2322 substitutes 1 for the counter i.

(Step S1806) The price information acquisition means H2322 determines whether or not the i-th related information exists in the related information in the storage unit H21. If the i-th related information exists, the process goes to step S1807, and if the i-th related information does not exist, the process returns to the upper process.

(Step S1807) The price information acquisition means H2322 acquires the i-th related information from the storage unit H21, and determines whether or not the i-th related information is information requiring price information correction. If the price information requires correction, the process goes to step S1808. If the price information does not need correction, the process goes to step S1809.

(Step S1808) Price information acquisition means H2322 corrects the price information. It is preferable that the price information acquisition means H2322 corrects the price information to a different value according to the related information.

(Step S1809) The price information acquisition means H2322 increments the counter i by 1. Return to step S1806.

Next, an example of demand prediction processing in step S1801 will be described using the flowchart of FIG.

(Step S1901) The demand forecasting means H2321 acquires usage information used for demand forecasting. This usage information is the usage information acquired in step S1331.

(Step S1902) The demand forecasting means H2321 acquires the stored learners from the storage unit H21.

(Step S1903) The demand forecasting means H2321 acquires the predicted demand amount by a machine learning algorithm using the usage information acquired in step S1901 and the learner acquired in step S1902. Return to upper process.

Although a machine learning algorithm is used in the flowchart of FIG. 19, the predicted demand may be acquired without using a machine learning algorithm as described above.

Also, in the flow chart of FIG. 19, the process of configuring the learning device has been described above, so the description thereof will be omitted here.

Next, an operation example of the server device H3 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

(Step S2001) The server reception unit H33 determines whether or not a purchase instruction has been received from the terminal device H1. When the purchase instruction is received, the process goes to step S2002, and when the purchase instruction is not received, the process returns to step S2001.

(Step S2002) The futures transaction means H341 acquires date information, quantity information, etc. included in the purchase instruction. Date information, quantity information, etc. are, for example, date information, quantity information, and user identifiers.

(Step S2003) The futures trading means H341 acquires price information paired with the date information acquired in step S2002 from the server storage unit H31.

(Step S2004) The futures trading means H341 constructs futures trading information having a user identifier, price information, quantity information, and date information. Then, the server processing unit H34 accumulates the futures transaction information in the server storage unit H31. In addition, for example, using the accumulated product transaction information, processing for transactions is performed at a later date.

(Step S2005) The price changing means H342 determines whether or not to change the price information stored in the server storage unit H31. If it is determined to change the price information, the process goes to step S2006, and if it is determined not to change the price information, the process goes to step S2008.

In addition, the price change means H342 acquires the transaction volume of the relevant day, for example, using one or more quantity information paired with the date information of the relevant day, and determines that the transaction volume is equal to or greater than the threshold value. If so, it is determined that the price information is to be changed. The price changing means H342, for example, determines to change the price information each time a purchase instruction is received. The price changing means H342, for example, determines to change the price information on days when there is no transaction for a period equal to or longer than the threshold.

(Step S2006) The price changing means H342 acquires price information to be changed. It is preferable that the price changing means H342 changes the price information so that the higher the trading volume on the corresponding day, the higher the price.

(Step S2007) The price changing means H342 accumulates the updated price information in association with the date information.

(Step S2008) The server transmission unit H35 transmits a notification of completion of the futures trading process to the terminal device H1. Return to step S2001.

Note that in the flowchart of FIG. 20, the process ends when the power is turned off or an interrupt for ending the process occurs.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to calculate the cost according to the amount of LPG used. More specifically, according to the present embodiment, the cost corresponds to the amount of LPG used by one or more customers for whom the business is in charge, and it is possible to calculate the cost to the business.

Further, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to appropriately acquire the cost according to the amount of LPG used.

Further, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to acquire the total amount of usage of two or more types of energy media including LPG.

Moreover, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to obtain a cost corresponding to the overall usage of two or more types of energy media including LPG.

Moreover, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to trade rights to use energy between different energy media.

Moreover, according to this embodiment, the price of energy can be automatically determined using weather information.

Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, energy futures trading can be performed more appropriately.

Note that the processing in this embodiment may be realized by software. Then, this software may be distributed by software download or the like. Also, this software may be recorded in a recording medium such as a CH-ROM and distributed. Note that this also applies to other embodiments in this specification. The software that implements the information processing device H2 in this embodiment is the following program. That is, this program stores two or more pieces of LPG information including gas usage information relating to gas usage in LPG cylinders in association with time information specifying time and customer identifiers for identifying customers. an LPG information receiving unit for receiving LPG information associated with a customer identifier; An LPG information storage unit that is stored in a storage unit, and a cost information acquisition unit that acquires cost information that specifies the cost according to the amount of LPG used for each customer by using two or more pieces of LPG information in the LPG information storage unit. and a cost information output unit that outputs the cost information acquired by the cost information acquisition unit in association with the customer identifier.

Also, the software that implements the server device H3 in the present embodiment is the following program. In other words, this program stores a computer that can access the server storage section in which the usage right information output by the information processing device H2 and the price information are stored in association with each other. a server output unit for outputting usage right information and price information; a server receiving unit for receiving a purchase instruction having a user identifier and amount information specifying an amount of energy; is a program for functioning as a server processing unit that performs futures transaction processing for making a purchase reservation for the right to use the amount of energy specified by the price information at the unit price specified by the price information.

Also, FIG. 21 shows the appearance of a computer that executes the programs described in this specification and implements the information processing apparatus H2 and the like of the various embodiments described above. The embodiments described above may be implemented in computer hardware and computer programs running thereon. FIG. 21 is an overview diagram of this computer system 300, and FIG. 22 is a block diagram of the system 300. As shown in FIG.

In FIG. 21, computer system 300 includes computer 301 including a CD-ROM drive, keyboard 302 , mouse 303 and monitor 304 .

22, a computer 301 includes a CD-ROM drive 3012, an MPU 3013, a bus 3014 connected to the CD-ROM drive 3012, a ROM 3015 for storing programs such as a boot-up program, It includes a RAM 3016 connected and for temporarily storing application program instructions and providing temporary storage space, and a hard disk 3017 for storing application programs, system programs and data. Although not shown here, computer 301 may also include a network card that provides connection to a LAN.

A program that causes the computer system 300 to execute the functions of the information processing apparatus H2 of the embodiment described above may be stored in the CD-ROM 3101, inserted into the CD-ROM drive 3012, and further transferred to the hard disk 3017. . Alternatively, the program may be transmitted to computer 301 via a network (not shown) and stored in hard disk 3017 . Programs are loaded into RAM 3016 during execution. The program may be loaded directly from CD-ROM 3101 or network.

The program does not necessarily include an operating system (OS) or a third party program that causes the computer 301 to execute the functions of the information processing apparatus H2 of the embodiment described above. A program need only contain those parts of instructions that call the appropriate functions (modules) in a controlled manner to produce the desired result. How the computer system 300 operates is well known and will not be described in detail.

Also, the number of computers that execute the above programs may be singular or plural. That is, centralized processing may be performed, or distributed processing may be performed.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, it goes without saying that two or more communication means existing in one device may be physically realized by one medium.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, each process may be implemented by centralized processing by a single device, or may be implemented by distributed processing by a plurality of devices.

It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and that various modifications are possible and are also included within the scope of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY As described above, the information processing apparatus according to the present invention has the effect that a customer to whom an LPG cylinder is delivered is billed according to the amount of LPG used, and is useful as a server apparatus or the like.

A1 gas information transmitting device A2 information processing device A3 delivery person terminal A4 facility terminal A10 terminal storage unit A11 terminal processing unit A12 terminal transmission unit A21 storage unit A22 reception unit A23 processing unit A24 output unit A31 delivery person storage unit A32 delivery person reception unit A33 Distributor processing unit A34 Distributor transmission unit A35 Distributor reception unit A36 Distributor output unit A41 Facility storage unit A42 Facility reception unit A43 Facility processing unit A44 Facility transmission unit A45 Facility reception unit A46 Facility output unit A111 Terminal acquisition unit A112 Terminal Storage unit A211 Customer information storage unit A212 Gas information storage unit A213 Delivery cylinder information storage unit A214 Delivery vehicle position information storage unit A215 Weather information storage unit A221 Gas information reception unit A222 Delivery cylinder information reception unit A223 Delivery vehicle position information reception unit A224 Weather Information reception unit A225 Cylinder replacement information reception unit A231 Gas information storage unit A232 Delivery cylinder information storage unit A233 Delivery vehicle position information storage unit A234 Weather information storage unit A235 Cylinder replacement information storage unit A241 Processing result output unit H1 Terminal device H2 Information processing device H3 Server device H11 Terminal storage unit H12 Terminal reception unit H13 Terminal processing unit H14 Terminal transmission unit H15 Terminal reception unit H16 Terminal output unit H21 Storage unit H22 Reception unit H23 Processing unit H24 Output unit H31 Server storage unit H32 Server output unit H33 Server reception Part H34 Server processing part H35 Server transmission part H211 Medium information storage part H212 Cost calculation source information storage part H213 Conversion information storage part H214 Common unit price information storage part H215 Usage right information storage part H221 Purchase instruction reception part H231 Cost information acquisition part H232 Price information acquisition unit H233 Common unit usage information acquisition unit H234 Comprehensive usage information calculation unit H235 Comprehensive cost information acquisition unit H236 Difference information acquisition unit H237 Transaction processing unit H241 Comprehensive usage information output unit H242 Cost information output unit H243 Comprehensive cost information output unit H341 Futures transaction means H342 Price change means H2111 LPG information storage part H2112 LNG information storage part H2113 Electricity information storage part H2321 Demand prediction means H2322, H2371 Price information acquisition means H2372 Right output means

Claims (17)

an LPG information storage unit that stores two or more pieces of LPG information including gas usage information related to the use of gas in an LPG cylinder in association with time information that identifies the time and a customer identifier that identifies the customer;
a business operator information storage unit that stores one or more business information associated with a business identifier that identifies a business and one or more customer identifiers of one or more customers that the business is in charge of ;
an LPG information receiving unit that receives LPG information associated with the customer identifier;
an LPG information storage unit that associates the LPG information received by the LPG information reception unit with the time information and the customer identifier and stores the LPG information in the LPG information storage unit;
a cost information acquisition unit that acquires cost information specifying a cost according to the amount of use of one or more LPGs, using two or more pieces of LPG information in the LPG information storage unit;
a cost information output unit that outputs the cost information acquired by the cost information acquisition unit;
The cost information acquisition unit
Acquiring one or more customer identifiers corresponding to one business identifier from the business operator information storage unit, and acquiring gas usage information associated with each of the one or more customer identifiers from the LPG information storage unit; An information processing device that acquires cost information specifying a cost corresponding to one business operator identifier using the one or more pieces of gas usage information. a cost calculation source information storage unit storing cost calculation source information including raw material cost information specifying the raw material cost of the LPG cylinder and delivery cost information specifying the delivery cost of the LPG cylinder;
a price information acquisition unit that acquires price information that specifies a unit price, which is the cost corresponding to the unit usage amount of LPG, using the cost calculation source information;
The cost information acquisition unit
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the cost information is obtained by using the unit price specified by the price information obtained by the price information obtaining unit and the amount of the LPG used. an LPG information storage unit that stores two or more pieces of LPG information including gas usage information related to the use of gas in an LPG cylinder in association with time information that identifies the time and a customer identifier that identifies the customer;
an LPG information receiving unit that receives LPG information associated with the customer identifier;
an LPG information storage unit that associates the LPG information received by the LPG information reception unit with the time information and the customer identifier and stores the LPG information in the LPG information storage unit;
a cost information acquisition unit that acquires cost information specifying a cost according to the amount of use of one or more LPGs, using two or more pieces of LPG information in the LPG information storage unit;
a cost information output unit that outputs the cost information acquired by the cost information acquisition unit;
The two or more pieces of LPG information are associated with an LPG gas medium identifier that is an identifier that identifies LPG gas,
A medium information storage unit that includes the LPG information storage unit and stores one or more pieces of medium information including medium usage information related to the use of the energy medium in association with a medium identifier that identifies the type of energy medium and a customer identifier. and,
a conversion information storage unit that stores conversion information for converting the unit of the energy medium into a common energy unit in association with the medium identifier;
For each customer identifier and each medium identifier, using medium usage information corresponding to the customer identifier and conversion information associated with the medium identifier, the medium usage information is converted into a common energy unit, and the common energy unit is obtained. a common unit usage information acquisition unit that acquires common unit usage information that specifies energy usage in
A total usage information calculation unit that adds two or more pieces of common unit usage information for each energy medium acquired by the common unit usage information acquisition unit, and calculates for each customer identifier total usage information that specifies a total amount of energy usage. and,
The information processing apparatus , further comprising a comprehensive use information output unit that outputs the comprehensive use information acquired by the comprehensive use information calculation unit in association with the customer identifier. a common unit price information storage unit storing common unit price information specifying a unit price of energy corresponding to a common energy unit;
Synthesis for acquiring total cost information specifying a total cost for the total use of a plurality of energies of one or more customers by using the total usage information output by the total usage information output unit and the common unit price information a cost information acquisition unit;
4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising a total cost information output unit that outputs the total cost information. an LPG information storage unit that stores two or more pieces of LPG information including gas usage information related to the use of gas in an LPG cylinder in association with time information that identifies the time and a customer identifier that identifies the customer;
an LPG information receiving unit that receives LPG information associated with the customer identifier;
an LPG information storage unit that associates the LPG information received by the LPG information reception unit with the time information and the customer identifier and stores the LPG information in the LPG information storage unit;
a cost information acquisition unit that acquires cost information specifying a cost according to the amount of use of one or more LPGs, using two or more pieces of LPG information in the LPG information storage unit;
a cost information output unit that outputs the cost information acquired by the cost information acquisition unit;
The two or more pieces of LPG information are associated with an LPG gas medium identifier that is an identifier that identifies the LPG gas medium,
A medium information storage unit that includes the LPG information storage unit and stores one or more pieces of medium information including medium usage information related to the use of the energy medium in association with a medium identifier that identifies the type of energy medium and a customer identifier. and,
a conversion information storage unit that stores conversion information for converting the unit of the energy medium into a common energy unit in association with the medium identifier;
a usage right information storage unit that stores usage right information specifying the usable amount of each energy medium in association with each of the two or more medium identifiers;
a common unit usage information acquisition unit that acquires common unit usage information by converting medium usage information into a common energy unit using medium usage information and conversion information associated with the medium identifier for each medium identifier;
a difference information acquisition unit for acquiring difference information specifying a difference between usage right information associated with one medium identifier and common unit usage information;
The information processing apparatus, further comprising a transaction processing unit that performs transaction processing , which is processing for giving or receiving the right to use the amount of energy of the difference specified by the difference information. further comprising a weather information reception unit that receives weather information associated with time information specifying time,
The transaction processing unit
price information acquisition means for acquiring price information specifying a unit price of energy for a unit amount of time specified by the time information, using the gas usage information of the two or more households and the weather information;
6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising right output means for outputting usage right information specifying a right to use the amount of energy indicated by said difference information and price information acquired by said price information acquisition means. A terminal acquiring unit for acquiring LPG information, which is information including gas usage information related to gas usage in an LPG cylinder and is information corresponding to a cylinder identifier that identifies an LPG cylinder; an LPG information receiving unit for receiving LPG information associated with a cylinder identifier from a gas information transmitting device comprising a terminal transmitting unit for transmitting to an information processing device;
An LPG information storage unit for storing the LPG information received by the LPG information reception unit in the LPG information storage unit in association with the customer identifier associated with the cylinder identifier. 6. The information processing apparatus according to any one of items. a server storage unit that stores usage right information and price information output by the right output means of the information processing apparatus according to claim 6 in association with each other;
a server output unit that outputs usage right information and price information stored in the server storage unit;
a server receiver for receiving a purchase order having a user identifier and quantity information specifying a quantity of energy;
A server device further comprising a server processing unit that performs futures transaction processing for making a purchase reservation for the right to use the amount of energy specified by the quantity information at the unit price specified by the price information in response to the purchase instruction. The server processing unit
futures trading means for performing a futures trading process for making a purchase reservation for the amount of energy specified by the quantity information at the unit price specified by the price information stored in the server storage unit in accordance with the purchase instruction;
price changing means for obtaining price information obtained by changing the price information stored in the server storage unit when the purchase instruction is received, and storing the price information in the server storage unit;
The server output unit
9. The server device according to claim 8 , wherein said price changing means outputs changed price information. an LPG information storage unit storing two or more pieces of LPG information including gas usage information related to gas usage in LPG cylinders in association with time information specifying time and customer identifiers identifying customers; a business operator information storage unit for storing one or more business information associated with a business identifier to be identified and one or more customer identifiers of one or more customers in charge of the business, an LPG information receiving unit, and an LPG information storage unit An information processing method realized by a unit, a cost information acquisition unit, and a cost information output unit,
an LPG information receiving step in which the LPG information receiving unit receives LPG information associated with a customer identifier;
an LPG information storage step in which the LPG information storage unit stores the LPG information received in the LPG information reception step in the LPG information storage unit in association with time information and a customer identifier;
a cost information acquisition step in which the cost information acquisition unit acquires cost information specifying costs according to the amount of LPG used by one or more customers using two or more pieces of LPG information in the LPG information storage unit; ,
a cost information output step in which the cost information output unit outputs the cost information acquired in the cost information acquisition step ;
In the cost information acquisition step,
Acquiring one or more customer identifiers corresponding to one business identifier from the business operator information storage unit, and acquiring gas usage information associated with each of the one or more customer identifiers from the LPG information storage unit; An information processing method for obtaining cost information specifying a cost corresponding to one business operator identifier using the one or more pieces of gas usage information . An energy medium comprising an LPG information storage unit storing two or more pieces of LPG information including gas usage information relating to the use of gas in an LPG cylinder in association with time information specifying time and a customer identifier identifying a customer; a medium information storage unit that stores one or more pieces of medium information including medium use information related to the use of the energy medium in association with a medium identifier and a customer identifier that specify the type of the energy medium; Common to a conversion information storage unit storing conversion information for converting energy medium units into common energy units, an LPG information receiving unit, an LPG information storage unit, a cost information acquisition unit, and a cost information output unit An information processing method realized by a unit usage information acquisition unit, a comprehensive usage information calculation unit, and a comprehensive usage information output unit,
an LPG information receiving step in which the LPG information receiving unit receives LPG information associated with a customer identifier;
an LPG information storage step in which the LPG information storage unit stores the LPG information received in the LPG information reception step in the LPG information storage unit in association with time information and a customer identifier;
a cost information acquisition step in which the cost information acquisition unit acquires cost information specifying costs according to the amount of LPG used by one or more customers using two or more pieces of LPG information in the LPG information storage unit; ,
a cost information output step in which the cost information output unit outputs the cost information acquired in the cost information acquisition step;
The two or more pieces of LPG information are associated with an LPG gas medium identifier that is an identifier that identifies LPG gas,
The common unit usage information acquisition unit converts the medium usage information into a common energy for each customer identifier and each medium identifier using medium usage information corresponding to the customer identifier and conversion information associated with the medium identifier. a common unit usage information obtaining step of obtaining common unit usage information that converts to units and specifies energy usage in the common energy unit;
The total usage information calculation unit adds the two or more pieces of common unit usage information for each energy medium acquired in the common unit usage information acquisition step, and calculates the total usage information specifying the total energy usage as a customer identifier. a comprehensive usage information calculation step calculated for each
The information processing method, further comprising: a comprehensive usage information output step in which the comprehensive usage information output unit outputs the comprehensive usage information acquired in the comprehensive usage information calculation step in association with the customer identifier. An energy medium comprising an LPG information storage unit storing two or more pieces of LPG information including gas usage information relating to the use of gas in an LPG cylinder in association with time information specifying time and a customer identifier identifying a customer; a medium information storage unit that stores one or more pieces of medium information including medium use information related to the use of the energy medium in association with a medium identifier and a customer identifier that specify the type of the energy medium; A conversion information storage unit storing conversion information for converting the unit of energy medium into a common energy unit, and usage right information specifying the amount of each energy medium that can be used in association with each of the two or more medium identifiers. an LPG information receiving unit, an LPG information storage unit, a cost information acquisition unit, a cost information output unit, a common unit usage information acquisition unit, a difference information acquisition unit, and a transaction An information processing method realized by a processing unit,
an LPG information receiving step in which the LPG information receiving unit receives LPG information associated with a customer identifier;
an LPG information storage step in which the LPG information storage unit stores the LPG information received in the LPG information reception step in the LPG information storage unit in association with time information and a customer identifier;
a cost information acquisition step in which the cost information acquisition unit acquires cost information specifying costs according to the amount of LPG used by one or more customers using two or more pieces of LPG information in the LPG information storage unit; ,
a cost information output step in which the cost information output unit outputs the cost information acquired in the cost information acquisition step;
The two or more pieces of LPG information are associated with an LPG gas medium identifier that is an identifier that identifies the LPG gas medium,
The common unit use information acquisition unit converts the medium use information into a common energy unit for each medium identifier using the medium use information and the conversion information associated with the medium identifier, and acquires the common unit use information. a common unit usage information acquisition step;
a difference information obtaining step in which the difference information obtaining unit obtains difference information specifying a difference between the usage right information associated with one medium identifier and the common unit usage information;
The information processing method, further comprising: a transaction processing step in which the transaction processing unit performs transaction processing, which is processing for giving or receiving the right to use the amount of energy of the difference specified by the difference information. Realized by a server storage unit for storing the use right information output by the right output means of the information processing apparatus according to claim 6 in association with the price information, a server output unit, a server reception unit, and a server processing unit. An information processing method for
a server output step in which the server output unit outputs usage right information and price information stored in the server storage unit;
a server receiving step in which the server receiving unit receives a purchase instruction having a user identifier and amount information specifying an amount of energy;
a server processing step in which, in response to the purchase instruction, the server processing unit performs futures transaction processing for making a purchase reservation for the right to use the amount of energy specified by the quantity information at the unit price specified by the price information; Information processing method provided. an LPG information storage unit storing two or more pieces of LPG information including gas usage information related to gas usage in LPG cylinders in association with time information specifying time and customer identifiers identifying customers; A computer that can access a business information storage unit that stores one or more business information associated with an identifying business identifier and one or more customer identifiers of one or more customers in charge of the business,
an LPG information receiving unit that receives LPG information associated with the customer identifier;
an LPG information storage unit that associates the LPG information received by the LPG information reception unit with the time information and the customer identifier and stores the LPG information in the LPG information storage unit;
a cost information acquisition unit that acquires cost information that specifies costs according to the amount of LPG used by one or more customers using two or more pieces of LPG information in the LPG information storage unit;
A program for functioning as a cost information output unit that outputs the cost information acquired by the cost information acquisition unit,
The cost information acquisition unit
Acquiring one or more customer identifiers corresponding to one business identifier from the business operator information storage unit, and acquiring gas usage information associated with each of the one or more customer identifiers from the LPG information storage unit; A program for causing the computer to function as one that acquires cost information specifying a cost corresponding to one business identifier using the one or more gas usage information. An energy medium comprising an LPG information storage unit storing two or more pieces of LPG information including gas usage information relating to the use of gas in an LPG cylinder in association with time information specifying time and a customer identifier identifying a customer; a medium information storage unit that stores one or more pieces of medium information including medium use information related to the use of the energy medium in association with a medium identifier and a customer identifier that specify the type of the energy medium; a computer accessible to a conversion information store in which conversion information for converting units of energy media to common energy units is stored;
an LPG information receiving unit that receives LPG information associated with the customer identifier;
an LPG information storage unit that associates the LPG information received by the LPG information reception unit with the time information and the customer identifier and stores the LPG information in the LPG information storage unit;
a cost information acquisition unit that acquires cost information that specifies costs according to the amount of LPG used by one or more customers using two or more pieces of LPG information in the LPG information storage unit;
A program for functioning as a cost information output unit that outputs the cost information acquired by the cost information acquisition unit,
The two or more pieces of LPG information are associated with an LPG gas medium identifier that is an identifier that identifies LPG gas,
said computer,
For each customer identifier and each medium identifier, using medium usage information corresponding to the customer identifier and conversion information associated with the medium identifier, the medium usage information is converted into a common energy unit, and the common energy unit is obtained. a common unit usage information acquisition unit that acquires common unit usage information that specifies energy usage in
A total usage information calculation unit that adds two or more pieces of common unit usage information for each energy medium acquired by the common unit usage information acquisition unit, and calculates for each customer identifier total usage information that specifies a total amount of energy usage. and,
A program for further functioning as a comprehensive usage information output unit that outputs the comprehensive usage information acquired by the comprehensive usage information calculation unit in association with a customer identifier. An energy medium comprising an LPG information storage unit storing two or more pieces of LPG information including gas usage information relating to the use of gas in an LPG cylinder in association with time information specifying time and a customer identifier identifying a customer; a medium information storage unit that stores one or more pieces of medium information including medium use information related to the use of the energy medium in association with a medium identifier and a customer identifier that specify the type of the energy medium; A conversion information storage unit storing conversion information for converting the unit of energy medium into a common energy unit, and usage right information specifying the amount of each energy medium that can be used in association with each of the two or more medium identifiers. a computer accessible to the right-of-use information storage unit in which
an LPG information receiving unit that receives LPG information associated with the customer identifier;
an LPG information storage unit that associates the LPG information received by the LPG information reception unit with the time information and the customer identifier and stores the LPG information in the LPG information storage unit;
a cost information acquisition unit that acquires cost information specifying a cost according to the amount of use of one or more LPGs, using two or more pieces of LPG information in the LPG information storage unit;
A program for functioning as a cost information output unit that outputs the cost information acquired by the cost information acquisition unit,
The two or more pieces of LPG information are associated with an LPG gas medium identifier that is an identifier that identifies the LPG gas medium,
said computer,
a common unit usage information acquisition unit that acquires common unit usage information by converting medium usage information into a common energy unit using medium usage information and conversion information associated with the medium identifier for each medium identifier;
a difference information acquisition unit for acquiring difference information specifying a difference between usage right information associated with one medium identifier and common unit usage information;
A program for further functioning as a transaction processing unit that performs transaction processing, which is processing for giving or receiving the right to use the amount of energy of the difference specified by the difference information. A computer capable of accessing a server storage section in which usage right information and price information output by the right output means of the information processing apparatus according to claim 6 are stored in association with each other,
a server output unit that outputs usage right information and price information stored in the server storage unit;
a server receiver for receiving a purchase order having a user identifier and quantity information specifying a quantity of energy;
A program for functioning as a server processing unit that performs futures transaction processing for making a purchase reservation for the right to use the amount of energy specified by the amount information at the unit price specified by the price information in response to the purchase instruction.

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