WO2018016148A1 - Information processing device, information processing system, control method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

The information processing device (2000) has a commodity-equivalent power amount acquisition unit (2020) and a settlement unit (2040). The commodity-equivalent power amount acquisition unit (2020) acquires a commodity-equivalent power amount for a commodity to be settled. The commodity-equivalent power amount of a certain commodity indicates the amount of electric power equivalent to the value of the commodity. The settlement unit (2040) transmits an instruction to a customer-side controller (104) to cause the controller to perform an operation "to discharge to a power system (300) the electric power equivalent to the commodity-equivalent power amount of the commodity item." In addition, the settlement unit (2040) transmits to a seller-side controller (204) settlement information representing information regarding the settlement.

Description

Information processing apparatus, information processing system, control method, and program

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing system, a control method, and a program.

Technology has been developed in which power is stored in a storage battery and the stored power is used in a home or office. In the storage battery, for example, electric power generated using renewable energy is stored. The electric power stored in this way can be used as electric power used in various loads such as lighting and electronic equipment. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for storing electric power generated by a solar power generation device in a storage battery and providing the stored electric power to a load facility.

JP 2016-082676 A

In the above patent document, the electric power stored in the storage battery can be used only for the electric power used in the load facility in the home or office where the storage battery is installed. For this reason, there is a problem that the electric power stored in the storage battery may not be used efficiently.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for efficiently using power stored in a storage battery.

The information processing apparatus according to the present invention uses (1) product power amount acquisition means for acquiring a product power amount that is the amount of power to be paid for the product, and (2) power stored in the customer's first storage battery. And settlement means for settlement of the product.
The settlement means transmits (1) a discharge instruction to discharge power corresponding to the amount of commodity power of the commodity to a first controller that controls the first storage battery, and (2) sells the commodity to the customer. Settlement information indicating the amount of merchandise power of the merchandise is transmitted to a second controller that manages the load facility of the seller.

The information processing system of the present invention includes the information processing apparatus of the present invention and the first controller and the second controller described above.

The control method of the present invention is executed by a computer. The control method includes: (1) a product power amount acquisition step for acquiring a product power amount that is an amount of power to be paid for the product; and (2) the product using the power stored in the first storage battery of the customer. A settlement step for performing the settlement.
In the settlement step, (1) a discharge instruction for discharging electric power corresponding to the amount of commodity power of the commodity is transmitted to a first controller that controls the first storage battery, and (2) the commodity is sold to the customer. Settlement information indicating the amount of merchandise power of the merchandise is transmitted to a second controller that manages the load facility of the seller.

The program of the present invention causes a computer to execute each step of the control method of the present invention.

According to the present invention, a technique for efficiently using the electric power stored in the storage battery is provided.

The above-described object and other objects, features, and advantages will be further clarified by a preferred embodiment described below and the following drawings attached thereto.

It is a block diagram which illustrates the information processor concerning Embodiment 1 with a use environment. It is a figure which illustrates notionally buying and selling of goods performed using an information processor. It is a figure which illustrates the computer for implement | achieving information processing apparatus. It is a figure which illustrates the scene where an information processor is used. It is a figure which illustrates the case where an information processor is realized as a server installed in the exterior of a store. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing executed by the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment. It is a figure which illustrates the information memorized by the merchandise information storage device. It is a figure which illustrates merchandise electric energy which shows merchandise electric energy about each of a plurality of time zones. It is a block diagram which illustrates the information processor concerning Embodiment 2 with a use environment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an information processing apparatus according to a third embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing executed by a product power amount calculation unit according to the third embodiment. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow of a determination method 1. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process flow of a determination method 2. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a determination method 3-1. It is a flowchart which illustrates the flow of the determination method 3-2. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an information processing apparatus according to a fifth embodiment. It is a figure which illustrates a mode that reference information is displayed on a display apparatus. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an information processing apparatus according to a sixth embodiment together with a use environment. It is a figure which illustrates notionally buying and selling of goods using the information processor of Embodiment 6. It is a figure which illustrates the screen which makes a customer select a privilege. It is a figure which illustrates the screen which selects whether to perform power sale.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In all the drawings, the same reference numerals are given to the same components, and the description will be omitted as appropriate.

[Embodiment 1]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an information processing apparatus 2000 according to the first embodiment together with a use environment. In FIG. 1, each block represents a functional unit configuration, not a hardware unit configuration.

The information processing device 2000 is a device that is used to realize settlement of a product using electric power in the sale and sale of a product between a product buyer (customer) and a product seller (seller). FIG. 2 is a diagram conceptually illustrating the sale and sale of merchandise performed using the information processing apparatus 2000. The customer provides power to the seller as consideration for the product to be purchased. Conversely, a seller provides a product as a consideration for power received from a customer.

Customer side power system 100 is a system having customer side storage battery 102 and customer side controller 104. The customer-side storage battery 102 is a storage battery that stores electric power that can be used by the customer. For example, the customer-side storage battery 102 is a household storage battery installed in a customer's house. The customer-side storage battery 102 may be a storage battery owned by a customer or a storage battery owned by a person other than the customer. In the latter case, for example, the owner of the customer-side storage battery 102 is a rental company that rents the customer-side storage battery 102 to the customer. The customer-side controller 104 is a control device that controls the discharge of the customer-side storage battery 102 to the power system 300.

The seller-side power system 200 is a system having a load facility 202 and a seller-side controller 204. The load facility 202 is an arbitrary electrical facility used by the seller. For example, the load facility 202 is a personal computer, a server, lighting, a refrigerator, a storage battery, or the like on the premises of the seller. The load facility 202 is connected to a power receiving facility (distribution panel or the like) at a power receiving point (a point at which the seller receives power from the power system) in a power supply and demand contract in which the seller is connected to the power company. The role of the seller-side controller 204 will be described later.

In order to realize the settlement shown in FIG. 2, the information processing apparatus 2000 includes a product power amount acquisition unit 2020 and a settlement unit 2040. The product power amount acquisition unit 2020 acquires the product power amount for the product to be settled. The merchandise power amount of a certain product represents the amount of power that is the price of the product.

The settlement unit 2040 controls the customer-side power system 100 and the seller-side power system 200 to perform settlement for the product to be settled using the power stored in the customer-side storage battery 102. More specifically, the settlement unit 2040 instructs the customer-side controller 104 to perform an operation of “discharging the amount of power corresponding to the amount of merchandise power of the product to be settled to the power system 300” (hereinafter, Discharge instruction) is transmitted. Further, the settlement unit 2040 transmits settlement information indicating information related to settlement to the seller-side controller 204. The seller-side controller 204 stores the received payment information in the payment history storage unit 208. The settlement history storage unit 208 is an arbitrary storage device such as a hard disk drive or SSD (Solid State Drive).

<Action and effect>
According to the information processing apparatus 2000 of the present embodiment, the power stored in the customer-side storage battery 102 can be used for product settlement. By doing so, it is possible to effectively use the power stored in the customer-side storage battery 102 for new purposes other than the method of consuming the load on electronic devices and lighting equipment used by the customer. Therefore, the electric power stored in the customer side storage battery 102 can be used efficiently.

Here, the customer-side storage battery 102 stores power generated by a power generation device that uses renewable energy and power supplied from the power system 300. In the latter case, the customer-side storage battery 102 stores the purchased power in a time zone where the power can be purchased at a low cost (such as midnight). Thus, by making it possible to use the electric power stored in the customer-side storage battery 102 for the settlement of goods, it is possible to bring economic benefits to the customer.

Furthermore, the settlement of merchandise using the information processing apparatus 2000 of this embodiment can bring economic benefits to the seller. Specifically, the seller can procure the power consumed by the load facility 202 from the customer at a low price. The reason is as follows. First, the unit price of power sold by a power company may be higher than the unit price of power purchased by the power company. In such a case, the unit price of power used for settlement by the information processing apparatus 2000 can be set between the unit price of power sold by the power company and the unit price of power purchased by the power company. By making such a setting, it is possible to bring economic benefits to both customers and sellers. For these reasons, when determining the amount of power for each product, the unit price of power is a value between the unit price of power sold by the power company and the unit price of power purchased by the power company. It is preferable.

Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described in more detail.

<Hardware configuration example of information processing apparatus 2000>
Each functional component of the information processing apparatus 2000 may be realized by hardware (eg, a hard-wired electronic circuit) that implements each functional component, or a combination of hardware and software (eg: It may be realized by a combination of an electronic circuit and a program for controlling it). Hereinafter, the case where each functional component of the information processing apparatus 2000 is realized by a combination of hardware and software will be further described.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a computer 1000 for realizing the information processing apparatus 2000. The computer 1000 is an arbitrary computer. For example, the computer 1000 is a server machine, a personal computer (PC), a tablet terminal, or a smartphone. The computer 1000 may be a dedicated computer designed for realizing the information processing apparatus 2000 or a general-purpose computer.

The computer 1000 includes a bus 1020, a processor 1040, a memory 1060, a storage 1080, an input / output interface 1100, and a network interface 1120. The bus 1020 is a data transmission path through which the processor 1040, the memory 1060, the storage 1080, the input / output interface 1100, and the network interface 1120 transmit / receive data to / from each other. However, the method of connecting the processors 1040 and the like is not limited to bus connection. The processor 1040 is an arithmetic processing device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). The memory 1060 is a memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a ROM (Read Only Memory). The storage 1080 is a storage device such as a hard disk, an SSD, or a memory card. Further, the storage 1080 may be a memory such as a RAM or a “ROM”.

The input / output interface 1100 is an interface for connecting the computer 1000 and an input / output device. For example, a keyboard and a mouse are connected to the input / output interface 1100.

The network interface 1120 is an interface for connecting the computer 1000 to an external device so as to be communicable. The network interface 1120 may be a network interface for connecting to a wired line or a network interface for connecting to a wireless line.

The computer 1000 is communicably connected to the customer-side controller 104 and the seller-side controller 204 by an arbitrary method. For example, the customer side power system 100 is connected to the customer side controller 104 and the seller side controller 204 via the network interface 1120.

The storage 1080 stores a program module that implements each functional component of the information processing apparatus 2000. The processor 1040 reads each program module into the memory 1060 and executes it, thereby realizing each function corresponding to the program module.

The hardware configuration of the computer 1000 is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. For example, each program module may be stored in the memory 1060. In this case, the computer 1000 may not include the storage 1080.

<Implementation Example of Information Processing Device 2000>
The information processing apparatus 2000 can be used for settlement of merchandise in various situations. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a scene where the information processing apparatus 2000 is used. FIG. 4A illustrates a case where the information processing apparatus 2000 is used for settlement of merchandise at a store such as a convenience store or a supermarket. Specifically, the information processing apparatus 2000 is a cash register terminal 700 that is used for settlement of merchandise. The cash register terminal 700 is a product registration device used to register a product as a payment target. The store clerk uses the cash register terminal 700 to acquire information related to the payment target product. For example, the store clerk reads information related to the product from the product to be settled using a bar code reader connected to the cash register terminal 700. Then, the cash register terminal 700 executes settlement of the product by transmitting a discharge instruction to the customer-side controller 104 and transmitting settlement information to the seller-side controller 204 based on the acquired product information. .

Note that a method of using the information processing apparatus 2000 in the store is not limited to a method of realizing the information processing apparatus 2000 as the cash register terminal 700. For example, the information processing apparatus 2000 may be a store server used for store management. In this case, the store server is communicably connected to one or more cash register terminals. Then, the store server acquires information related to the product to be settled from the cash register terminal, and based on the information, transmits a discharge instruction to the customer-side controller 104 and transmits settlement information to the seller-side controller 204. .

FIG. 4B illustrates a case where the information processing apparatus 2000 is used for settlement of goods in online shopping. The server 800 is a server that accepts a purchase request for a product from a terminal (customer terminal 810) used by a customer. Based on the request received from the customer, the server 800 performs settlement of the product by transmitting a discharge instruction to the customer-side controller 104 and transmitting settlement information to the seller-side controller 204.

Further, the information processing apparatus 2000 may be realized as an external server that executes settlement at a plurality of stores and settlement at a plurality of shopping sites. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a case where the information processing apparatus 2000 is realized as a server installed outside a store. In FIG. 5, the information processing apparatus 2000 is realized as a server 900. The server 900 acquires the product power amount of the product to be settled from the cash register terminal 700 or the store server of each store. The server 900 transmits a discharge instruction to the customer-side controller 104 based on the acquired product power amount. Further, the server 900 transmits settlement information to the seller-side controller 204 based on the acquired product power amount. In this case, the server 900 only needs to have the function of communicating with the customer-side controller 104 and the seller-side controller 204, and the cashier terminal 700 and the store server installed in each store individually There is an advantage that there is no need to communicate with the merchant controller 204.

<Process flow>
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of processing executed by the information processing apparatus 2000 according to the first embodiment. The product power amount acquisition unit 2020 acquires the product power amount for the settlement target product (S102). The settlement unit 2040 uses the power stored in the customer-side storage battery 102 to make a settlement for the product to be settled (S104).

<Acquisition of product electric energy: S102>
The product power amount acquisition unit 2020 acquires the product power amount of the product to be settled (S102). There are various methods for the product power amount acquisition unit 2020 to acquire the product power amount. Hereinafter, an example of the method will be shown. Methods other than those exemplified here will be described in the embodiments described later.

The product power amount acquisition unit 2020 acquires the product power amount stored in association with the identifier of the product to be settled (hereinafter, product ID (identifier)). In this case, the product power amount is stored in a storage device (hereinafter, product information storage device) that stores various information related to the product.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating information stored in the product information storage device. The table shown in FIG. 7 is referred to as a product information table 500. The product information table 500 has a product ID 502 and product information 504. A product ID 502 indicates a product ID. The merchandise information 504 indicates various information related to the merchandise.

The product information shown in the product information 504 is various. For example, the product information 504 includes a product name 506, a price 508, and a product power amount 510 as shown in FIG. These indicate the name of the product, the price of the product, and the amount of product power described above.

When the merchandise information table 500 is stored in the merchandise information storage device, the merchandise power amount acquisition unit 2020 uses the merchandise power amount 510 of the record in which the merchandise ID 502 indicates the merchandise ID targeted for settlement as the merchandise of the merchandise targeted for settlement. Obtained as electric energy.

Here, the product power amount 510 may indicate the product power amount for each time zone. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a product power amount 510 indicating a product power amount for each of a plurality of time zones. For example, when the amount of merchandise power 510 is determined for each seller, the seller decreases the value of the amount of merchandise power 510 in a time zone in which the amount of power consumption in the seller's store or the like is large. By doing so, customers can actively make payments using electric power in a time zone when the amount of electric power consumption is large. As a result, the seller can supplement the power that tends to be insufficient with the power obtained by the payment using the information processing apparatus 2000. However, the seller may set the merchandise power amount 510 to a larger value in a time zone where the amount of power consumption in the store or the like is larger. As a result, the amount of electric power obtained as consideration for the product to be sold is increased.

The opportunity for the product power amount acquisition unit 2020 to acquire the product power amount is arbitrary. Here, in general, when a product is purchased at a store, the store clerk reads the product ID from the product, thereby acquiring various information about the product to be purchased (such as the product information 504 described above). The product ID is read, for example, by scanning the product barcode with a barcode reader of a cash register terminal.

Therefore, when the information processing apparatus 2000 is used for settlement at a store (see FIG. 4A), the product power amount acquisition unit 2020 is triggered by, for example, reading the settlement target product ID into the cash register terminal 700. The amount of product power corresponding to the product ID is acquired. In addition, when the product ID of the product to be settled is manually input by the store clerk, the product power amount acquisition unit 2020 is triggered by the input of the product ID of the product to be settled, and the product corresponding to the product ID. You may acquire electric energy.

Also, in general, in online shopping, a web server that provides a website for online shopping has received a request for providing a web page containing product information from a terminal operated by a customer. Get information. The Web server transmits the Web page including the acquired information to the terminal operated by the customer.

Therefore, when the information processing apparatus 2000 is used for payment in online shopping (see FIG. 4B), the product power amount acquisition unit 2020 provides, for example, a customer web page that includes product information from the customer terminal 810. When the request to be requested is received, the product power amount corresponding to the product ID of the product is acquired.

<Settlement: S104>
The settlement unit 2040 uses the power stored in the customer-side storage battery 102 to make a settlement for the product to be settled (S104). Specifically, settlement is performed by (1) discharging the customer-side storage battery 102 to the power system and (2) transmitting settlement information to the seller-side controller 204. Each will be described in detail below.

<< Discharge to power system by customer-side storage battery 102 >>
The settlement unit 2040 sends an instruction to the customer-side controller 104 that controls the customer-side storage battery 102 so as to discharge an amount of power corresponding to the amount of merchandise power to the power system (transmits a discharge instruction). The discharge instruction transmitted by the settlement unit 2040 indicates the amount of power to be discharged. The customer-side controller 104 controls the customer-side storage battery 102 so as to discharge the amount of power indicated in the discharge instruction received from the settlement unit 2040 to the system power. Note that the customer-side storage battery 102 is controlled by the customer-side controller 104 using an existing control technology that “a controller that controls the storage battery controls the storage battery to discharge a specific amount of power to the power system”. be able to.

Customer-side storage battery 102 is an arbitrary storage battery that can discharge a specific amount of power in accordance with control by customer-side controller 104. The electric power stored in the customer-side storage battery 102 may be received from the power system, or may be received from various power generation devices (such as a solar power generation device or a wind power generation device). Good. For example, when a power generation device is included in the customer-side power system 100, the power generated by the power generation device is stored in the customer-side storage battery 102, and payment is made with the power (purchase a product). Then, there is an advantage for the customer that the electric power generated by the power generation device can be effectively used.

<< Transmission of payment information >>
The settlement unit 2040 transmits settlement information to the seller-side controller 204. The seller-side controller 204 stores the received payment information in the payment history storage unit 208.

In the payment information, information related to payment is shown. The settlement information indicates, for example, the time when settlement is executed and the amount of product power of the product to be settled. Further, the payment information may indicate an electricity charge corresponding to the amount of power for the product in addition to or instead of the amount of power for the product to be settled. When the electricity price is indicated in the payment information, the payment unit 2040 obtains the electric power unit price at the time of payment from the electric power company with which the seller has a power supply and demand contract, for example, and multiplies the electric power amount by the product electric energy. Calculate the fee.

The settlement information stored in the settlement history storage unit 208 is used to realize a settlement that “a seller receives power supply from a customer as a consideration for a product”. Examples of the utilization method include the following.

Usually, the seller needs to pay the electricity charge related to the power consumed by the load facility 202 to the power company that has a power supply and demand contract with the seller. However, the power consumed by the load facility 202 includes power to be provided from the customer along with the payment using the information processing apparatus 2000. Therefore, the seller calculates the electricity fee to be paid to the power company so that the electricity fee corresponding to the power to be provided from the customer need not be paid to the power company. By doing so, it is not necessary to pay an electricity fee for the power to be provided from the customer, so that the power is practically interchanged from the customer to the seller. Note that the price of power to be provided by the customer in connection with the payment using the information processing apparatus 2000 is provided as a product to the customer, not to the power company.

When the product power amount is shown in the payment information, for example, the product power amount shown in the payment information is subtracted from the power consumption used for calculating the electricity bill that the seller should pay to the power company. To do. More specifically, the electricity charge for the most recent month is calculated by subtracting the total value of the product electricity amount indicated in the payment information for the most recent month from the power consumption of the load facility 202 for the most recent month.

When the electricity charge corresponding to the product power amount is shown in the payment information, for example, it corresponds to the product power amount shown in the payment information from the electricity fee calculated based on the power consumption of the load facility 202. Try to deduct electricity bills. More specifically, the electricity charge corresponding to “the amount of electricity obtained by subtracting the total amount of the product electricity amount indicated in the settlement information for the most recent month from the electricity consumption amount of the load facility 202 for the most recent month” is the most recent month. Calculated as the electricity bill.

The method for realizing the above-described calculation of the electricity bill is, for example, as follows. Here, it is assumed that a computer (hereinafter referred to as an electricity bill calculation device) that calculates an electricity bill acquires the power consumption of the load facility 202 from the seller-side controller 204 and calculates the electricity bill. The electricity rate calculation device is, for example, a computer owned by a power company with which the seller has a power supply / demand contract.

The seller-side controller 204 transmits, for example, a value obtained by subtracting the total power amount indicated in the settlement information for the most recent month from the power consumption amount of the load facility 202 for the most recent month to the electricity rate calculation device. The electricity bill calculation device calculates the electricity bill charged to the seller based on the received power consumption of the load facility 202.

<< Timing of settlement >>
The timing at which settlement is executed by the settlement unit 2040 (the timing at which the discharge instruction and the settlement information are transmitted) is arbitrary. For example, the settlement unit 2040 accepts an operation instructing execution of settlement, and executes settlement at the timing when the operation is accepted.

For example, in a general payment in a store, a payment is executed by applying a predetermined operation to a cashier terminal, and a discharge of a change, an output of a receipt, and the like are performed. This predetermined operation is, for example, an operation of pressing a predetermined button provided on the cash register terminal, an operation of pressing a predetermined button displayed on the touch panel of the cash register terminal, or the like.

Therefore, when the information processing apparatus 2000 is used for payment at a store (see FIG. 4A), the payment unit 2040 is set to take a trigger when a predetermined operation is applied to the cash register terminal 700 by a customer or a store clerk, for example. Execute.

In addition, general settlement in online shopping is executed when a Web server that provides an online shopping site receives a predetermined request from a terminal operated by a customer. For example, the predetermined request is a request transmitted when a predetermined button such as “confirm purchase” is pressed.

Therefore, when the information processing apparatus 2000 is used for payment in the online shopping (see FIG. 4B), the payment unit 2040 executes payment on the occasion of receiving a predetermined request from the customer terminal 810, for example.

[Embodiment 2]
FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an information processing apparatus 2000 according to the second embodiment together with a use environment. Except as described below, the information processing apparatus 2000 of the second embodiment has the same functions as the information processing apparatus 2000 of the first embodiment.

The seller-side power system 200 of the second embodiment includes a seller-side storage battery 206 as the load facility 202. The seller-side storage battery 206 is an arbitrary storage battery that can charge a specific amount of power in accordance with control by the seller-side controller 204. Note that the electric power stored by the seller-side storage battery 206 may include only the electric power received from the power system 300, or the electric power received from various power generators (such as a solar power generator and a wind power generator). May be included.

The seller-side controller 204 according to the second embodiment receives the amount of power corresponding to the amount of product power indicated in the payment information received from the payment unit 2040 from the power system 300 and stores it in the seller-side storage battery 206. The seller side storage battery 206 is controlled. For the control of the seller-side storage battery 206 by the seller-side controller 204, an existing control technology that “the controller that controls the storage battery controls the storage battery so as to charge a specific amount of power” can be used. .

<Example of hardware configuration>
The information processing apparatus 2000 according to the second embodiment is realized using the computer 1000 as in the first embodiment (see FIG. 3). In the present embodiment, each program module stored in the storage 1080 described above includes a program that realizes each function of the information processing apparatus 2000 of the present embodiment.

<Action and effect>
In the present embodiment, the seller-side storage battery 206 is charged based on the payment information transmitted by the information processing apparatus 2000. Therefore, the seller can store the electric power provided as the consideration for the product from the customer, and can use the electric power at any timing. Therefore, for example, even when the seller-side power system 200 does not have insufficient power at the time of payment, payment using the information processing apparatus 2000 can be performed. For this reason, according to the present embodiment, there are more opportunities to make a payment using the information processing apparatus 2000 than in the first embodiment.

[Embodiment 3]
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an information processing apparatus 2000 according to the third embodiment. Except as described below, the information processing apparatus 2000 of the third embodiment has the same functions as the information processing apparatus 2000 of the first embodiment.

The information processing apparatus 2000 according to the third embodiment includes a product power amount calculation unit 2060. The product power amount calculation unit 2060 calculates the product power amount based on the product price and the power unit price. The product power amount acquisition unit 2020 of the third embodiment acquires the product power amount calculated by the product power amount calculation unit 2060.

<Process flow>
FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of processing executed by the commodity power amount calculation unit 2060 according to the third embodiment. The product power amount calculation unit 2060 acquires the price of the product to be settled (S202). The product power amount calculation unit 2060 acquires the power unit price (S204). The product power amount calculation unit 2060 calculates a product power amount based on the product price and the power unit price (S206). Note that the timing at which S202 and S204 are executed may be opposite to the timing shown in FIG. 11 or may be simultaneous.

<Acquisition of product price: S202>
The product power amount calculation unit 2060 acquires the price of the product to be settled in order to calculate the product power amount. There are various methods for the product power amount calculation unit 2060 to acquire the price of the product. For example, the product power amount calculation unit 2060 acquires the price (price 508 in the product information table 500) corresponding to the ID of the product to be settled from the product information storage device described in the first embodiment. Further, for example, the product power amount calculation unit 2060 may acquire a price manually input by a store clerk. In the case of the present embodiment, the product power amount is calculated by the product power amount calculation unit 2060, and thus the product information table 500 does not need to have the product power amount 510.

The timing at which the product power amount calculation unit 2060 acquires the price of the product varies. When the information processing apparatus 2000 is used for settlement at a store (see FIG. 4A), the product power amount calculation unit 2060 is triggered by, for example, the store's cash register terminal 700 reading the product ID to be settled. The price of the product corresponding to the product ID is acquired. In addition, when the ID of the product to be settled is manually input by the store clerk, the product power amount calculation unit 2060 is triggered by the input of the product ID of the product to be settled, and the product ID corresponding to the product ID. You may get a price.

When the information processing apparatus 2000 is used for online shopping (see FIG. 4B), the product power amount calculation unit 2060 requests, for example, the customer terminal 810 to provide a Web page on which product information is listed. When the request is received, the price of the product corresponding to the product ID of the product is acquired.

<Acquisition of unit price of electricity: S204>
The product power amount calculation unit 2060 acquires a power unit price for calculation of the product power amount. There are various methods for the product power amount calculation unit 2060 to acquire the power unit price. For example, the product power amount calculation unit 2060 acquires a power unit price from an apparatus that manages the power unit price. The device that manages the unit price of power is, for example, a server that manages a store, a server that manages an online shopping site, or the like. In this case, the power unit price is determined for each seller. Further, for example, the merchandise power amount calculation unit 2060 may acquire a power unit price manually input by a store clerk.

Note that the power unit price does not necessarily have to be determined for each seller. For example, the power unit price may be determined for each region. In this case, the merchandise power amount calculation unit 2060 acquires the power unit price from the device that manages the power unit price of the district where the store where the settlement is performed exists.

Note that the method for accessing the device managing the power unit price may be set in advance in the product power amount calculation unit 2060 or may be set in a storage device accessible from the product power amount calculation unit 2060. Alternatively, it may be manually input by a user (such as a store clerk) who operates the information processing apparatus 2000.

Here, the unit price of electric power may be different for each time zone. For example, the seller gives the customer an incentive to actively use the information processing apparatus 2000 by setting the unit price of power during a time period in which power tends to be insufficient at a relatively low price. However, it is possible to increase the amount of power obtained as a price for a product by setting the unit price of power during a time period in which power tends to be insufficient.

The timing at which the product power amount calculation unit 2060 acquires the power unit price varies. The product power amount calculation unit 2060 acquires the power unit price, for example, when the price of the product to be settled is acquired. Further, for example, the merchandise power amount calculation unit 2060 may acquire the power unit price in advance prior to the settlement. In the latter case, the product power amount calculation unit 2060 acquires the power unit price at the timing when the power unit price is updated, for example.

<Calculation of product electric energy: S206>
The product power amount calculation unit 2060 calculates the product power amount based on the product price and the power unit price (S206). For example, the product power amount calculation unit 2060 calculates the product power amount of the product i based on the following formula (1).

Ei represents the product electric energy of the product i. Pi is the price of product i. V represents the unit price of electricity (price per unit energy). α and β are predetermined coefficients.

留 can be set to any positive real number, and 硫 can be set to any real number. For example, when “α = 1 and β = 0” is set, the product power amount is obtained by multiplying the product price by the power unit price. Hereinafter, the product power amount in this case is referred to as a reference power amount.

∙ By setting α to a value less than 1 or setting β to a negative value, the product power amount can be made smaller than the reference power amount. In this way, when the product power amount is smaller than the reference power amount, when the customer's electricity unit price in the time zone charged in the customer-side storage battery 102 and the seller's electricity unit price in the settlement time period are the same amount, cash or credit It is cheaper to purchase products with electricity than to purchase products with cards. Therefore, an incentive to use the information processing apparatus 2000 can be given to the customer.

On the other hand, by setting a value larger than 1 for α or setting a positive value for β, the product power amount can be made larger than the reference power amount. In this way, by setting the product power amount to be larger than the reference power amount, for example, the seller can collect various expenses generated by using the information processing apparatus 2000 on the product power amount and collect it from the customer. For example, this cost includes a cost required for introducing equipment for using the information processing apparatus 2000.

Furthermore, the values of α and β take into account both incentives given to customers (factors that increase α and β) and costs that sellers want to collect from customers (factors that reduce α and β). May be set.

Information indicating the values of α and β may be set in advance in the product power amount calculation unit 2060, may be stored in a storage device accessible from the product power amount calculation unit 2060, It may be manually input by a user (such as a store clerk) who operates the device 2000.

Further, the product power amount calculation unit 2060 may calculate the product power amount based on the price of the product and the unit price of power, and the method is not limited to the method represented by the formula (1).

Note that when the information processing apparatus 2000 according to the present embodiment is realized as a server 900 used for settlement of a plurality of stores (see FIG. 5), the cashier terminal 700 and the store server may be subject to settlement instead of the amount of merchandise power. The price of the product is transmitted to the server 900. However, among the functions of the information processing apparatus 2000, the product power amount acquisition unit 2020 and the settlement unit 2040 may be mounted on the server 900, and the product power amount calculation unit 2060 may be mounted on each cash register terminal 700 or store server. In this case, the product power amount is calculated by the cashier terminal 700 or the store server, and the calculated product power amount is transmitted to the server 900 as shown in FIG.

<Hardware configuration>
The information processing apparatus 2000 according to the third embodiment is realized using the computer 1000 as in the first embodiment (see FIG. 3). In the present embodiment, each program module stored in the storage 1080 described above further includes a program that realizes each function described in the present embodiment.

<Action and effect>
According to the information processing apparatus 2000 of the present embodiment, the product power amount, which is the amount of power to be paid for the product, is calculated based on the price of the product and the power unit price. By doing so, it is possible to easily set the power amount of each product according to the price of the product.

Furthermore, the seller can give the customer an incentive to purchase products from the seller by appropriately setting the unit price of electricity. For example, the seller can set a unit price of electricity lower than that of other sellers, thereby making a difference with other sellers and attracting customers.

<Modification>
In the settlement using the information processing apparatus 2000 of the present embodiment, all the consideration for the product is paid with power. However, the payment using the information processing apparatus 2000 according to the third embodiment may be a payment in which only a part of the consideration of the product is paid with electric power, instead of a payment in which the entire consideration of the product is paid with electric power. In this case, about the part except the price paid by electric power among the price of goods, payment is performed by other arbitrary methods, such as cash and a credit card.

Here, when only a part of the consideration of the product is settled with electricity, (a) the amount of power used for settlement after the amount to be paid by means other than electricity (the power corresponding to the remaining amount) is determined. (B), or (b) the amount of power used for payment may be determined first, and then the amount corresponding to the remaining consideration may be determined. In the former case, the amount of power used for settlement (the power to be discharged to the customer-side storage battery 102 and the power to be received by the load facility 202) is calculated by, for example, the following formula (2).

x represents the amount of consideration paid by means other than electric power among the consideration of goods. The value of x is manually input to the cash register terminal 700 by a customer or a store clerk, for example.

On the other hand, in the case of (b), the amount of consideration paid by means other than electric power is calculated by, for example, the following formula (3).

P represents the amount of consideration paid by means other than electricity. E represents the amount of power used for payment.

The value of E may be manually input by a customer or a store clerk, or may be automatically determined by the information processing apparatus 2000. For example, when the remaining amount of power stored in the customer-side storage battery 102 is less than the amount of merchandise power, the payment unit 2040 uses the amount of power stored in the customer-side storage battery 102 as the amount of power used for payment. The value of E. In this case, the settlement unit 2040 acquires information regarding the remaining amount of power stored in the customer-side storage battery 102 from the customer-side controller 104. The customer-side controller 104 has a function of grasping the remaining amount of power stored in the customer-side storage battery 102.

[Embodiment 4]
The information processing apparatus 2000 according to the fourth embodiment has the same configuration as the information processing apparatus 2000 according to the first embodiment or the information processing apparatus 2000 according to the second embodiment. Except as described below, the information processing apparatus 2000 according to the fourth embodiment has the same functions as the information processing apparatus 2000 according to the first or second embodiment.

The settlement unit 2040 according to the fourth embodiment determines whether settlement is possible, and executes settlement when it is determined that settlement is possible. Hereinafter, a plurality of methods for determining whether payment is possible will be exemplified. The settlement unit 2040 uses any one or more of a plurality of determination methods described below.

<Determination method 1: Determination based on whether discharge is possible>
The settlement unit 2040 makes a determination based on whether or not the customer-side storage battery 102 can be discharged. Specifically, the settlement unit 2040 acquires the amount of power that can be discharged by the customer-side storage battery 102 from the customer-side controller 104. Then, the settlement unit 2040 determines that settlement is possible when the amount of power that can be discharged by the customer-side storage battery 102 is equal to or greater than the amount of merchandise power of the product to be settled. On the other hand, the settlement unit 2040 determines that the settlement is not possible when the amount of power that can be discharged by the customer-side storage battery 102 is less than the amount of product power of the commodity to be settled.

There are various methods for determining the amount of power that can be discharged by the customer-side storage battery 102. For example, the amount of power that can be discharged by the customer-side storage battery 102 is the remaining amount of power stored in the customer-side storage battery 102. The settlement unit 2040 acquires information regarding the remaining amount of power stored in the customer storage battery 102 from the customer controller 104.

Further, for example, the amount of power that can be discharged by the customer-side storage battery 102 may be an estimated value calculated based on the remaining amount of power stored in the customer-side storage battery 102. For example, this estimated value is calculated using the following formula (4).

In Equation (4), the estimated dischargeable amount is an estimated value of the amount of power that can be discharged by the customer-side storage battery 102. The amount of stored electricity is the remaining amount of electric power currently stored in the customer-side storage battery 102. The rated output is the rated output power of the customer side storage battery 102. The power consumption is the power consumed by the load that consumes the power stored in the customer storage battery 102.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the process flow of the determination method 1. The settlement unit 2040 acquires the amount of power that can be discharged by the customer-side storage battery 102 (S302). If the amount of power that can be discharged by the customer-side storage battery 102 is equal to or greater than the amount of merchandise power of the product to be settled (S304: YES), the settlement unit 2040 performs settlement (S306).

Note that the settlement unit 2040 may acquire information indicating whether or not the customer-side storage battery 102 can be discharged from the customer-side controller 104. When this information indicates that the customer-side storage battery 102 can be discharged, the settlement unit 2040 determines that settlement is possible. On the other hand, when this information indicates that the customer-side storage battery 102 cannot be discharged, the settlement unit 2040 determines that settlement is not possible. It should be noted that in situations where the customer-side storage battery 102 cannot be discharged, the customer-side storage battery 102 is out of order, or the customer-side storage battery 102 is stopped (the customer-side storage battery 102 is being maintained. Situation).

<Determination method 2: Determination based on whether or not charging is possible>
In this case, it is assumed that the load facility 202 is the seller-side storage battery 206. Therefore, in this embodiment of this case, the seller-side power system 200 and the information processing device 2000 have the same functions as the seller-side power system 200 and the information processing device 2000 of the second embodiment.

The settlement unit 2040 makes a determination based on whether the seller side storage battery 206 can be charged. Specifically, the settlement unit 2040 acquires the free capacity of the seller-side storage battery 206 from the seller-side controller 204. The settlement unit 2040 determines that settlement is possible when the free capacity of the seller-side storage battery 206 is equal to or greater than the amount of merchandise power to be settled. On the other hand, if the free capacity of the seller-side storage battery 206 is less than the amount of merchandise power to be settled, the settlement unit 2040 determines that settlement is not possible.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating the processing flow of the determination method 2. The settlement unit 2040 acquires the free capacity of the seller side storage battery 206 (S402). When the free capacity of the seller-side storage battery 206 is equal to or greater than the amount of merchandise power of the merchandise to be settled (S404: YES), the settlement unit 2040 performs settlement (S406).

Note that the settlement unit 2040 may acquire information indicating whether or not the seller-side storage battery 206 can be charged from the seller-side controller 204. When this information indicates that charging by the seller-side storage battery 206 cannot be performed, the settlement unit 2040 determines that settlement cannot be performed. On the other hand, in other cases, the payment unit 2040 determines that payment can be made.

In addition, in the situation where charging by the seller-side storage battery 206 cannot be performed, the situation where the seller-side storage battery 206 is out of order or the operation of the seller-side storage battery 206 is stopped (maintenance of the seller-side storage battery 206). Etc.).

<Determination method 3: Determination based on required time>
The settlement unit 2040 makes a determination based on an estimated value of the required time for discharging by the customer-side storage battery 102 (hereinafter referred to as required discharge time) and an estimated value of the required time for receiving power by the load facility 202 (hereinafter referred to as required power receiving time). . When the load facility 202 is the seller-side storage battery 206, the power reception required time means an estimated value of the required time for charging by the seller-side storage battery 206. Here, the required discharge time can be calculated based on the amount of product power and the rated output of the customer-side storage battery 102. Similarly, the time required for receiving power can be calculated based on the amount of product power and the rated input power of the load facility 202 (hereinafter, rated input). Hereinafter, the method of determining whether or not settlement is possible using the required discharge time and the required power reception time will be illustrated in more detail.

<< Judgment Method 3-1 >>
The settlement unit 2040 determines whether or not the required discharge time and the required power reception time match. If the required discharge time and the required power reception time match, the settlement unit 2040 determines that settlement is possible. On the other hand, when the required discharge time and the required power reception time do not match, the settlement unit 2040 determines that the settlement is not possible.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of the determination method 3-1. The settlement unit 2040 acquires the required discharge time (S502). The settlement unit 2040 acquires the time required for power reception (S504). The settlement unit 2040 determines whether or not the required discharge time matches the required power reception time (S506). If the required discharge time and the required power reception time match (S506: YES), the settlement unit 2040 makes a settlement (S508). On the other hand, when the discharge required time and the power reception required time do not match (S506: NO), the settlement unit 2040 does not perform settlement.

By determining whether or not settlement is possible using the determination method 3-1, it is possible to match the timing when the discharge from the customer-side power system 100 is completed with the timing when the power reception by the seller-side power system 200 is completed. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the power system 300 from being affected by the difference between the timing when the discharge by the customer-side power system 100 is completed and the timing when the power reception by the seller-side power system 200 is completed.

When the determination method 3-1 is employed, the load facility 202 is desirably a facility (for example, the seller-side storage battery 206) that can control the amount of power received by the seller-side controller 204.

<< Judgment Method 3-2 >>
In this method, when it is determined in the determination method 3-1 that the required discharge time and the required power reception time do not coincide with each other, the longer one of the required discharge time and the required power reception time (hereinafter referred to as the required settlement time). ) Is less than or equal to a predetermined time. If the settlement required time is equal to or shorter than the predetermined time, the settlement unit 2040 determines that settlement is possible. On the other hand, if the settlement required time is not less than or equal to the predetermined value, the settlement unit 2040 determines that settlement cannot be performed. The predetermined time is, for example, 30 minutes. The predetermined time may be set in advance in the settlement unit 2040 or may be stored in a storage device accessible from the settlement unit 2040.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of the determination method 3-2. The processing from S502 to S506 is the same as that in FIG. If the required discharge time does not match the required power reception time (S506: NO), the settlement unit 2040 determines whether the required settlement time is equal to or less than a predetermined value (S602). When the settlement required time is equal to or less than the predetermined value (S602: YES), the settlement unit 2040 performs settlement (S508). When the settlement required time is not less than the predetermined value (S602: NO), the settlement unit 2040 does not perform settlement.

Even if there is a difference between the timing when the customer-side power system 100 completes the discharge and the time when the seller-side power system 200 completes the power reception, the time until both the discharge and the power reception are completed (the time required for settlement) ) Is somewhat short, it is considered that the effect of the deviation on the power system 300 is small. Therefore, if the payment required time is equal to or shorter than the predetermined time, the payment is executed, so that the difference between the timing at which the discharge by the customer side power system 100 is completed and the timing at which the power reception by the seller side power system 200 is completed. When the influence on the power system 300 is small, the settlement can be executed.

<Timing when judgment is executed>
For the various determinations described above, the amount of merchandise power of the merchandise to be settled is used. Accordingly, the settlement unit 2040 performs the above-described various determinations after the product power amount of the product to be settled is acquired. The timing at which the amount of merchandise power is acquired is as described in the first and second embodiments.

<Hardware configuration example>
The information processing apparatus 2000 according to the fourth embodiment is realized using the computer 1000 as in the first embodiment (see FIG. 3). In the present embodiment, each program module stored in the storage 1080 described above further includes a program that realizes each function described in the present embodiment.

According to the information processing apparatus 2000 of the present embodiment, the amount of power that can be discharged by the customer-side storage battery 102, the free capacity of the seller-side storage battery 206, the time required for discharging by the customer-side storage battery 102 and receiving power by the load facility 202, and the like. Whether or not to make a settlement is determined according to the condition based on the above element. In this way, payment can be made under appropriate conditions.

[Embodiment 5]
FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an information processing apparatus 2000 according to the fifth embodiment. Except as described below, the information processing apparatus 2000 according to the fifth embodiment has the same functions as those of the information processing apparatus 2000 according to the first or second embodiment.

The information processing apparatus 2000 according to the fifth embodiment includes a reference information output unit 2080 and an input reception unit 2100. The reference information output unit 2080 outputs reference information. The reference information is information that a customer or a salesclerk of the seller refers to determine whether or not to execute settlement. The reference information includes, for example, the rated output of the customer side storage battery 102, the required discharge time, the rated input of the load facility 202, the required power reception time, or the required payment time. The rated output of the customer side storage battery 102 can be acquired from the customer side controller 104, for example. The rated input of the load facility 202 can be acquired from the seller-side controller 204, for example. The method by which the reference information output unit 2080 acquires various required times is the same as the method by which the settlement unit 2040 acquires various required times in the fourth embodiment.

The input reception unit 2100 receives an input indicating selection of whether or not to execute settlement. If payment is selected to be executed, the payment unit 2040 executes payment. On the other hand, when it is selected not to execute the settlement, the settlement unit 2040 does not perform the settlement.

Input via the input reception unit 2100 is performed by a customer, a store clerk, or the like. A customer or a store clerk can determine whether or not to make a payment in consideration of the reference information output by the reference information output unit 2080.

There are various methods for the reference information output unit 2080 to output the reference information. For example, the reference information output unit 2080 displays the reference information on the display device. Further, for example, the reference information output unit 2080 may cause the speaker to output a sound representing the reference information.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the reference information is displayed on the display device. The settlement screen 600 is a screen displayed on the display device. The settlement screen 600 includes reference information 602, a button 604, and a button 606. The reference information 602 includes various information related to payment. In FIG. 17, the reference information 602 includes the name of the product to be settled (ABC), the amount of product power of the product to be settled (x kWh), the time required for settlement (b1), the rated output (a1 kW) of the customer-side storage battery 102 ), Required discharge time (b1), rated input (a2 kW) of load equipment 202, and required power reception time (b2). Here, in the example of FIG. 17, since the required discharge time is longer than the required power reception time, the required settlement time is equal to b1 as the required discharge time. A button 604 is a button for selecting execution of settlement. A button 606 is a button for selecting not to execute settlement.

The customer or the clerk looks at the reference information 602 and determines whether or not to execute the settlement. When executing settlement, the customer or the store clerk presses a button 604. On the other hand, when the settlement is not executed, the customer or the store clerk presses the button 606.

<Timing of output by reference information output unit 2080>
The reference information output unit 2080 outputs the reference information at an arbitrary timing after obtaining various information included in the reference information. For example, since the product power amount of the product to be settled is used to calculate the settlement required time, when the reference information includes the settlement required time, the reference information output unit 2080 outputs the reference information to the product power amount acquisition unit. This is performed at the timing when the product power amount of the product to be settled is acquired by 2020. Note that the timing at which the product power amount acquisition unit 2020 acquires the product power amount of the product to be settled is as described in the first embodiment and the second embodiment.

<Hardware configuration example>
The information processing apparatus 2000 according to the fifth embodiment is realized using the computer 1000 as in the first embodiment (see FIG. 3). In the present embodiment, each program module stored in the storage 1080 described above further includes a program that realizes each function described in the present embodiment.

<Action and effect>
According to the information processing apparatus 2000 of the present embodiment, after various information such as the time required for settlement is presented, whether or not to perform settlement is selected. By doing so, it is possible to decide whether or not to execute the payment after the customer or the store clerk checks whether or not the time required for the payment is within an allowable range. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the payment from being executed in a situation that the customer or store clerk does not want (such as a situation where the time required for the payment is long).

[Embodiment 6]
FIG. 18 is a block diagram illustrating an information processing apparatus 2000 according to the sixth embodiment together with a use environment. Except for the points described below, each functional component shown in FIG. 18 has the same function as the functional component having the same reference numerals described in other embodiments.

The information processing apparatus 2000 of the sixth embodiment is used for buying and selling merchandise between customers and sellers, similarly to the information processing apparatus 2000 of the first to fifth embodiments. However, in the payment using the information processing apparatus 2000 of the sixth embodiment, power is provided from the customer to the seller as a precondition. The seller gives various benefits to the customer according to the electric power. The customer uses this privilege to make a payment for the product. FIG. 19 is a diagram conceptually illustrating the buying and selling of products using the information processing apparatus 2000 according to the sixth embodiment.

In order to realize the above-described payment, the information processing apparatus 2000 includes a power sale control unit 2120, a privilege granting unit 2140, and a second settlement unit 2160. The power sale control unit 2120 controls power sale from the customer to the seller. Specifically, the power sale control unit 2120 acquires the amount of power that the seller receives from the customer (hereinafter, the amount of power sold). Further, the power sale control unit 2120 transmits a discharge instruction for instructing the customer-side storage battery 102 to discharge the electric power sold. In addition, the power sale control unit 2120 transmits power sale information indicating the amount of power sale to the seller-side controller 204. The seller-side controller 204 stores the power sale information in the power sale information storage unit 210.

The privilege granting unit 2140 grants a privilege to the customer after the power storage amount 102 has been discharged and the load facility 202 has received the power sale amount. Completion of discharge by the customer side storage battery 102 can be grasped by using the customer side controller 104. For example, the privilege granting unit 2140 receives a notification from the customer-side controller 104 at the timing when the discharge by the customer-side storage battery 102 is completed, or periodically inquires of the customer-side controller 104 whether or not the discharge by the customer-side storage battery 102 has been completed. As a result, it is understood that the discharging by the customer-side storage battery 102 has been completed. Completion of power reception by the load facility 202 can be grasped by using the seller-side controller 204 in the same manner as the customer-side controller 104.

Privileges given to customers vary. For example, a privilege is a point that can be used to purchase a product. Further, for example, the privilege is a right to acquire a predetermined product.

There are various ways to grant benefits to customers. For example, the privilege granting unit 2140 gives a privilege to the customer by storing the privilege in association with the customer ID in the customer database storing the customer information. Further, for example, the privilege grant unit 2140 may issue various tickets (such as cash vouchers) representing the privilege.

The second settlement unit 2160 executes the settlement of the product using the privilege. For example, when the privilege is a point, the second settlement unit 2160 controls the settlement so that all or part of the consideration of the product is paid with the point. Here, an existing technique can be used for controlling the payment for paying a part or all of the consideration of the product with points.

Also, for example, when the privilege is the right to acquire the product, the second settlement unit 2160 performs processing for delivering the product to the customer in exchange for the privilege. For example, the second settlement unit 2160 controls a system for managing the inventory of products and changes information related to products purchased using the privilege (for example, reduces the number of inventory by one).

<Flow of electricity sales>
A flow of power sale using the information processing apparatus 2000 will be described. As described above, the power sale control unit 2120 acquires the power sale amount. There are various methods by which the power sale control unit 2120 acquires the amount of power sold. For example, the power sale control unit 2120 acquires a power sale amount manually input by a customer or a store clerk. The method for manually inputting the power sale amount is the same as the method for manually inputting the product power amount.

Further, for example, the cash register terminal 700 of the store or the server 800 in the online shopping may present the privilege associated with the power sale amount to the customer, and the customer may select the privilege. In this case, the power sale control unit 2120 acquires the amount of power sold corresponding to the privilege selected by the customer.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a screen (privilege selection screen 610) that allows the customer to select a privilege. The privilege selection screen 610 includes a privilege list 612. The privilege list 612 shows a list of privileges that the customer can select. Each privilege is associated with the amount of power sold. For example, if a product A is desired, the customer needs to sell power of c3 kWh.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a screen (power selling screen 620) for selecting whether or not to execute power selling. When the customer selects a privilege, the privilege selection screen 610 transitions to the power sale screen 620. The power sale screen 620 shows reference information 622. The reference information 622 shows various information related to power sale. For example, the reference information 622 includes the selected privilege and the amount of power sold corresponding to the privilege. Further, the reference information 622 includes various information included in the reference information 602 in FIG.

When executing power sale, the customer or the store clerk presses the button 624. On the other hand, when not selling power, the customer or the store clerk presses the button 626.

When the button 624 is pressed, the power sale control unit 2120 acquires the power sale amount associated with the privilege selected by the customer. The power sale control unit 2120 that has acquired the power sale amount performs power sale by sending a discharge instruction to the customer-side controller 104 and sending power sale information to the seller-side controller 204.

Here, when the amount of electric power stored in the customer-side storage battery 102 is smaller than the amount of power sold, the discharge by the customer-side storage battery 102 may be executed in a plurality of times. Specifically, after the electric power stored in the customer-side storage battery 102 is discharged, the customer-side storage battery 102 is charged. Charging the customer-side storage battery 102 may be performed using electric power generated by a power generation device such as a solar power generation device, or may be performed using electric power received from the power system 300. In the latter case, it is preferable that charging of the customer-side storage battery 102 is performed in a time zone where the power unit price is low, such as at night. After charging, discharging from the customer-side storage battery 102 to the power system 300 is further performed. Until the total amount of discharge of the customer-side storage battery 102 reaches the amount of power sold, the above-described discharge by the customer-side storage battery 102 and charging of the customer-side storage battery 102 are repeated. By doing so, it is possible to sell a larger amount of power than the rated capacity of the customer-side storage battery 102, so that the customer can obtain a privilege that the required power sales amount exceeds the rated capacity of the customer-side storage battery 102.

Note that the discharge by the customer-side storage battery 102 does not have to be immediately after the customer-side controller 104 receives a discharge instruction from the power sale control unit 2120. For example, the timing of discharging by the customer side storage battery 102 is set by the customer or the seller. For example, the seller sets the discharge timing so that the customer-side storage battery 102 is discharged during a time period when the amount of power consumed by the load facility 202 is large. The set timing is included in the discharge instruction and transmitted to the customer-side controller 104. The customer-side controller 104 that has received the discharge instruction including the discharge timing causes the customer-side storage battery 102 to discharge according to the timing. By doing so, the customer-side storage battery 102 is discharged at a timing desired by the seller.

When the timing of power reception by the load facility 202 can be controlled by the seller-side controller 204 (for example, when the load facility 202 is the seller-side storage battery 206), the timing of power reception by the load facility 202 is the timing of discharge by the customer-side storage battery 102. It may be controlled in the same way. In this case, the power reception timing of the load facility 202 is included in the power sale information and transmitted to the seller-side controller 204. The seller-side controller 204 that has received the power sale information including the power reception timing causes the load facility 202 to receive power according to the timing.

<Use of electricity sales information>
The power sale information is used in the same manner as the payment information described in the first embodiment. For example, the electricity fee charged from the power company to the seller is calculated so that the seller does not have to pay the electricity fee corresponding to the amount of power sold indicated in the power sale information. Consideration for the power provided by the customer along with the power sale using the information processing apparatus 2000 is provided as a privilege to the customer, not to the power company. As described above, when the load facility 202 is the seller-side storage battery 206, the seller-side controller 204 sells the seller-side storage battery 206 so that the seller-side storage battery 206 is charged with the amount of power sold indicated in the power sale information. The person side storage battery 206 is controlled.

<Hardware configuration>
The information processing apparatus 2000 of the sixth embodiment is realized using the computer 1000 as in the first embodiment (see FIG. 3). In the present embodiment, each program module stored in the storage 1080 includes a program that realizes each function described in the present embodiment.

<Action and effect>
According to the information processing apparatus 2000 in the present embodiment, a privilege is given to the customer as a price for selling power. Then, the customer can use the privilege for the settlement of the product. By doing so, the customer can use the consideration for power sale at any timing after the completion of power sale. Therefore, the customer has a higher degree of freedom in settlement of merchandise using power sales.

特 典 The ability to use the benefits obtained for the power sale after the completion of the power sale is particularly useful when a long time is required for the power sale. From the standpoint of the seller, it is preferable that the product can be provided after the provision of power from the customer is completed, as in the general settlement in which the product is delivered after receiving cash from the customer. However, if it takes time to discharge from the customer-side storage battery 102 or receive power from the load facility 202 (for example, when the amount of power received from the customer is large), the product is provided after the supply of power from the customer is completed. It can be difficult to pass.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the price of power sale is given to the customer as a privilege after the power sale is completed, and the customer can use the privilege to purchase a product so that the customer can provide power. While satisfying the demand of the seller who wants to give the price after the completion, the demand of the customer who wants to obtain a product etc. with the price of the power sale can be satisfied.

As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described with reference to drawings, these are illustrations of this invention, The combination of said each embodiment or various structures other than the above can also be employ | adopted.

This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-141112 filed on July 19, 2016, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein.

Claims (44)

1. Product power amount acquisition means for acquiring a product power amount that is the amount of power to be paid for the product;
   A settlement means for performing settlement of the product using the power stored in the first storage battery of the customer,
   The settlement means is
   Transmitting a discharge instruction to discharge power corresponding to the amount of power of the product to the first controller that controls the first storage battery;
   An information processing apparatus that transmits payment information indicating a product power amount of the product to a second controller that manages a load facility of a seller who sells the product to the customer.
2. The product power amount calculating means for calculating the product power amount of the product by acquiring the price of the product and dividing the acquired price by the power unit price determined by the seller,
   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the product power amount acquisition unit acquires the product power amount calculated by the product power amount calculation unit.
3. The power unit price is determined for each of a plurality of time zones,
   The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the merchandise power amount calculation unit calculates the merchandise power amount of the merchandise using the power unit price in a time zone in which the settlement is performed.
4. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the unit price of power for each time zone is determined based on an amount of power consumed by the load facility in the time zone.
5. The product power amount acquisition unit acquires the product power amount associated with the product to be settled from the product power amount storage unit that stores the product and the product power amount of the product in association with each other. Item 4. The information processing apparatus according to Item 1.
6. In the commodity power storage means, the commodity is associated with the commodity power of the commodity for each of a plurality of time zones,
   6. The information processing according to claim 5, wherein the product power amount acquisition unit acquires the product power amount associated with a product to be settled and a time zone in which the settlement is performed in the product power amount storage unit. apparatus.
7. The product power amount for each time zone, which is associated with the product in the product power amount storage unit, is determined based on the amount of power consumed by the load facility in the time zone. 6. The information processing apparatus according to 6.
8. When the purchase of the product is performed at the seller's store, the product power amount acquisition means, in response to the identifier of the product being read by the product registration device installed at the store, Get product power,
   The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the product registration device is a device that registers the product as a payment target.
9. The seller's first computer and the customer's second computer are connected via a communication line;
   The first computer transmits information about the product to the first computer in response to a request from the second computer,
   The said merchandise electric energy acquisition means acquires the merchandise electric energy of the said merchandise according to the said 1st computer receiving the said request | requirement from the said 2nd computer. Information processing device.
10. The settlement means is
    From the first controller, obtain the amount of power that can be discharged by the first storage battery,
    The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein when the amount of power that can be discharged by the first storage battery is equal to or greater than the amount of commodity power of the commodity, the commodity is settled.
11. The load facility is a second storage battery,
    The second controller charges the second storage battery with the amount of power indicated in the payment information,
    The settlement means is
    From the second controller, obtain the free capacity of the storage battery owned by the seller,
    The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the product is settled when the free capacity is equal to or greater than a product power amount of the product.
12. In the settlement means, the required discharge time required for the first storage battery to discharge the electric power of the commercial power amount matches the required power reception time required for the load facility to receive the electric power of the commercial power amount. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the product is settled in a case.
13. The settlement means includes a required discharge time required for the first storage battery to discharge the electric power of the commodity power and a required power reception time required for the load facility to receive the electric power of the commodity electric power. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the product is settled when the longer one is equal to or less than a predetermined value.
14. The rated output power of the first storage battery, the discharge time required for the first storage battery to discharge the power of the commodity power, the rated input power of the load facility, and the load facility receiving the power of the commodity power A reference information output means for outputting reference information including any one or more of a required power reception time required to perform and a settlement required time representing a longer one of the required discharge time and the required power reception time;
    Input accepting means for accepting an input indicating selection of whether or not to settle the product,
    The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the settlement unit performs settlement of the product when the received input represents selection of settlement of the product.
15. An information processing system having an information processing device, a first controller, and a second controller,
    The information processing apparatus includes:
    Product power amount acquisition means for acquiring a product power amount that is the amount of power to be paid for the product;
    A settlement means for performing settlement of the product using the power stored in the first storage battery of the customer,
    The settlement means is
    Sending a discharge instruction to discharge power corresponding to the product power amount of the product to the first controller;
    Settlement information indicating the amount of merchandise power of the merchandise is transmitted to the second controller,
    The first controller causes the first storage battery to discharge the amount of power indicated in the transmitted discharge instruction,
    The information processing system, wherein the second controller stores the transmitted payment information in a payment information storage unit.
16. The information processing apparatus has a product power amount calculation unit that calculates the product power amount of the product by acquiring the price of the product and dividing the acquired price by a power unit price determined by a seller.
    The information processing system according to claim 15, wherein the product power amount acquisition unit acquires the product power amount calculated by the product power amount calculation unit.
17. The power unit price is determined for each of a plurality of time zones,
    The information processing system according to claim 16, wherein the commodity power amount calculation unit calculates the commodity power amount of the commodity using the power unit price in a time zone in which the settlement is performed.
18. The information processing system according to claim 17, wherein the unit price of power for each time zone is determined based on an amount of power consumed by the load facility in the time zone.
19. The product power amount acquisition unit acquires the product power amount associated with the product to be settled from the product power amount storage unit that stores the product and the product power amount of the product in association with each other. Item 16. The information processing system according to Item 15.
20. In the commodity power storage means, the commodity is associated with the commodity power of the commodity for each of a plurality of time zones,
    20. The information processing according to claim 19, wherein the product power amount acquisition unit acquires the product power amount associated with a product to be settled and a time zone in which the settlement is performed in the product power amount storage unit. system.
21. 21. The product power amount for each time zone, which is associated with the product in the product power amount storage unit, is determined based on the amount of power consumed by the load facility in the time zone. Information processing system described in 1.
22. When the purchase of the product is performed at the seller's store, the product power amount acquisition means, in response to the identifier of the product being read by the product registration device installed at the store, Get product power,
    The information processing system according to any one of claims 15 to 21, wherein the product registration device is a device that registers the product as a payment target.
23. The seller's first computer and the customer's second computer are connected via a communication line;
    The first computer transmits information about the product to the first computer in response to a request from the second computer,
    The said merchandise electric energy acquisition means acquires the merchandise electric energy of the said goods according to the said 1st computer receiving the said request | requirement from the said 2nd computer. Information processing system.
24. The settlement means is
    From the first controller, obtain the amount of power that can be discharged by the first storage battery,
    The information processing system according to any one of claims 15 to 23, wherein when the amount of electric power that can be discharged by the first storage battery is equal to or greater than the amount of commodity power of the commodity, the commodity is settled.
25. The second controller charges the second storage battery with the amount of power indicated in the payment information,
    The settlement means is
    From the second controller, obtain the free capacity of the storage battery owned by the seller,
    The information processing system according to any one of claims 15 to 23, wherein the product is settled when the free capacity is equal to or greater than the product power amount of the product.
26. In the case where the settlement means has a required discharge time required for the first storage battery to discharge the electric power of the commodity power and a required power reception time required for the load facility to receive the electric power of the commodity electric power. The information processing system according to claim 15, wherein the product is settled.
27. The settlement means has a longer required discharge time required for the first storage battery to discharge the electric power of the commercial power amount and a required power reception time required for the load facility to receive the electric power of the commercial power amount. The information processing system according to any one of claims 15 to 23, wherein the product is settled when the value is equal to or less than a predetermined value.
28. The information processing apparatus includes:
    The rated output power of the first storage battery, the discharge required time required for the first storage battery to discharge the power of the commodity power, the rated input power of the load facility, and the load facility for receiving the power of the commodity power A reference information output means for outputting reference information including any one or more of a required power reception time required for payment and a settlement required time representing the longer one of the required discharge time and the required power reception time;
    Input accepting means for accepting an input indicating selection of whether or not to settle the product,
    The information processing system according to any one of claims 15 to 23, wherein the settlement unit performs settlement of the product when the received input represents selection of settlement of the product.
29. The information processing system according to any one of claims 15 to 28, wherein the second controller causes the second storage battery to be charged with the amount of power indicated by the payment information.
30. A control method executed by a computer,
    A product power amount acquisition step for acquiring a product power amount that is the amount of power to be paid for the product,
    A settlement step for performing settlement of the product using electric power stored in the customer's first storage battery,
    In the settlement step,
    Transmitting a discharge instruction to discharge power corresponding to the amount of power of the product to the first controller that controls the first storage battery;
    The control method of transmitting the payment information which shows the merchandise electric energy of the said goods to the 2nd controller which manages the load facility of the seller who sells the said goods to the said customer.
31. A product power amount calculating step of calculating a product power amount of the product by acquiring the price of the product and dividing the acquired price by a power unit price determined by the seller;
    The control method according to claim 30, wherein in the product power amount acquisition step, the product power amount calculated in the product power amount calculation step is acquired.
32. The power unit price is determined for each of a plurality of time zones,
    32. The control method according to claim 31, wherein, in the product power amount calculation step, the product power amount of the product is calculated using the power unit price in a time zone in which the settlement is performed.
33. The control method according to claim 32, wherein the power unit price for each time zone is determined based on an amount of power consumed by the load facility in the time zone.
34. In the product power amount acquisition step, the product power amount associated with the product to be settled is acquired from the product power amount storage means that stores the product and the product power amount of the product in association with each other. Item 30. The control method according to Item 30.
35. In the commodity power storage means, the commodity is associated with the commodity power of the commodity for each of a plurality of time zones,
    35. The control method according to claim 34, wherein, in the product power amount acquisition step, the product power amount associated with a product to be settled and a time zone in which the settlement is performed is acquired in the product power amount storage unit. .
36. The product power amount for each time zone, which is associated with the product in the product power amount storage unit, is determined based on the amount of power consumed by the load facility in the time zone. 35. The control method according to 35.
37. When the purchase of the product is performed at the store of the seller, in the product power amount acquisition step, in response to the identifier of the product being read by the product registration device installed at the store, Get product power,
    37. The control method according to claim 30, wherein the product registration device is a device that registers the product as a settlement target.
38. The seller's first computer and the customer's second computer are connected via a communication line;
    The first computer transmits information about the product to the first computer in response to a request from the second computer,
    37. The product power amount acquisition step according to any one of claims 30 to 36, wherein in the product power amount acquisition step, the first computer acquires a product power amount of the product in response to receiving the request from the second computer. Control method.
39. In the settlement step,
    From the first controller, obtain the amount of power that can be discharged by the first storage battery,
    The control method according to any one of claims 30 to 38, wherein when the amount of power that can be discharged by the first storage battery is equal to or greater than the amount of merchandise power of the merchandise, the merchandise is settled.
40. The load facility is a second storage battery,
    The second controller charges the second storage battery with the amount of power indicated in the payment information,
    In the settlement step,
    From the second controller, obtain the free capacity of the storage battery owned by the seller,
    The control method according to any one of claims 30 to 38, wherein the product is settled when the free capacity is equal to or greater than the product power amount of the product.
41. In the payment step, the required discharge time required for the first storage battery to discharge the electric power of the commercial power amount matches the required power reception time required for the load facility to receive the electric power of the commercial power amount. 39. The control method according to any one of claims 30 to 38, wherein settlement of the product is performed in a case.
42. In the settlement step, a discharge required time required for the first storage battery to discharge the power of the commodity power amount and a power reception required time required for the load facility to receive the power of the commodity power amount The control method according to any one of claims 30 to 38, wherein the product is settled when the longer one is equal to or less than a predetermined value.
43. The rated output power of the first storage battery, the discharge time required for the first storage battery to discharge the power of the commodity power, the rated input power of the load facility, and the load facility receiving the power of the commodity power A reference information output step for outputting reference information including any one or more of a required power reception time required to perform and a settlement required time representing the longer one of the required discharge time and the required power reception time;
    An input receiving step for receiving an input indicating selection of whether or not to settle the product,
    39. The control method according to any one of claims 30 to 38, wherein in the settlement step, the product is settled when the received input represents a selection to settle the product.
44. A program for causing a computer to execute each step of the control method according to any one of claims 30 to 43.

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