EP3143903A1 - Method and system for detecting the condition of a leisure furniture item, in particular a sun bed, a sun shade or a beach basket - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for detecting a state of at least one piece of recreational furniture (12, 14, 16), in particular a sun bed (14, 16), a parasol (12) or a beach chair, comprising the steps of: - Receiving at least one of a busy or unoccupied state of the piece of leisure furniture (12, 14, 16) characterizing signal (28) by means of at least one receiving unit (22); and - In response to the received signal (28): storing at least one of the occupied or unoccupied state characterizing value in at least one memory device (24).

Description

The invention relates to a method and a system for detecting a state of at least one piece of leisure furniture, in particular a sun bed, a parasol or a beach chair.

The DE 196 49 951 A1 discloses a chair, in particular a deck chair, having a seat to be locked by a locking means cooperating with a lock against unauthorized use. The lock releases the blocking by means of a means of authorization. Furthermore, it is provided that the lock has a reservation function, which interacts with the authorization means.

In addition, it is well known that in areas such as beach sections, a variety of recreational furniture such as sun umbrellas, sun loungers and / or beach chairs are commonly installed. These pieces of recreational furniture are provided by an operator and may be rented and used for a fee by respective users. Usually, the process of reserving and paying the remuneration of the respective piece of leisure furniture is very complicated and uncomfortable for the respective user. Moreover, it can be very confusing and costly for the particular operator - especially if this operator provides a particularly high number of pieces of leisure furniture - to determine which of the Leisure furniture already rented and thus occupied and which of the pieces of leisure furniture are still free or unoccupied.

Object of the present invention is therefore to provide a method and a system by means of which a state of at least one piece of leisure furniture can be detected in a particularly simple manner.

This object is achieved by a method having the features of patent claim 1 and by a system having the features of patent claim 14. Advantageous embodiments with expedient developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims, wherein advantageous embodiments of the method are to be regarded as advantageous embodiments of the system.

The method according to the invention for detecting a condition of at least one piece of leisure furniture, in particular a sun bed, a parasol, a beach chair or a table, comprises a first step in which at least one signal characterizes a occupied or unoccupied state of the piece of leisure furniture, in particular an electric one Signal, is received. If the piece of recreational furniture occupied, for example, by a user, for example, paid by the user, ie paid and thus the piece of furniture reserved, for example, the at least one characterizing the occupied state signal is transmitted to the receiving unit and received by the receiving unit.

The inventive method further comprises a second step in which, depending on the received signal, at least one value characterizing the occupied or unoccupied state is stored in at least one memory device, in particular electrically stored. The memory device designed in particular as an electrical or electronic memory device is connected to the receiving unit, for example, so that the receiving unit can transmit to the memory device at least one further signal, in particular a further electrical signal, in response to receiving the signal. Depending on the further signal, the value can then be stored in the memory device.

By means of the method according to the invention, for example, it is possible for a user providing a plurality of pieces of recreational furniture in a simple manner on the basis of the respective stored value to detect and check which of the pieces of leisure furniture is already occupied and which of the pieces of leisure furniture is not yet occupied, that is to say unoccupied or vacant , Since the documenting and thus the storing of the characterizing the occupied state value, for example, depending on the previously described payment (payment of remuneration) can take place, for example, the operator can easily check whether and for which of the pieces of leisure furniture a user different from the operator already paid a corresponding fee. By paying or paying such a fee, the user makes it possible for himself to rent the leisure furniture for which the user has paid the fee for a predefinable period of time and thus to use.

In addition, the method according to the invention enables the respective user to occupy or reserve the respective piece of leisure furniture in a particularly simple and comfortable manner and to pay for the piece of leisure furniture or its use. The method according to the invention makes it possible for the operator providing the at least one piece of leisure furniture, which can also be referred to as a landlord, to always have an overview of whether the piece of leisure furniture is occupied or rented or not. In particular, it is possible for the operator to have online access to the storage device in order to be able to quickly and easily recognize whether the leisure furniture piece is occupied or rented. Thus, the inventive method allows a particularly simple and rapid management of leisure furniture pieces, the provider provides, for example, in a certain area, especially in a beach section.

In particular, the inventive method allows a particularly simple and fast data acquisition and a correct and electronic billing of a respective amount, which is to be paid by a respective user, so that the user occupy the respective piece of leisure furniture for a predetermined period of time or rent and thus can use. Furthermore, it is possible that the The service provider always has an overview of the current utilization and the leasing status of his leisure furniture. The inventive method thus enables a particularly simple detection and registration in the provision and rental of leisure furniture pieces such as umbrellas, loungers, beach chairs etc ..

If, for example, the user terminates the use and thus the occupancy of the piece of leisure furniture, the piece of leisure furniture changes from an occupied state to an unoccupied or free state, so that the piece of leisure furniture can be leased to another user, for example. This embodiment now allows the operator to quickly and easily obtain an overview of the current state of the piece of leisure furniture, even if the occupancy or use of the piece of leisure furniture is terminated.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one display element, in particular electrical display element is provided, which is operated in response to the signal to visually indicate the occupied or unoccupied state of the piece of leisure furniture. For example, the display element is activated in response to the signal and / or the display element is switched in response to the signal from a first state to a second state. In the first state, the display element emits, for example, light perceivable by the human eye with green color, wherein the display element in the second state emits, for example, light perceptible by the human eye with red color. By means of the display element, it is thus possible for the operator and / or a user of the piece of recreational furniture in a simple way, visually recognize on the basis of the display element, in particular based on the state of the display element, whether the piece of leisure furniture already occupied or rented or unoccupied, that is free ,

The green light signals, for example, that the leisure furniture is still empty and therefore free, so that the piece of leisure furniture can still be rented by a user. For example, the red light indicates that the piece of recreational furniture is already occupied and thus rented out. In particular, it indicates to the operator that a user has already paid for the piece of recreational furniture. By paying is to be understood that a user has paid a fee to the operator, and this Payment of the fee allows the user to use the piece of leisure furniture for a predetermined period of time. The green light, on the other hand, indicates that no user has yet paid the fee for the piece of leisure furniture. If, for example, a person uses the leisure piece of furniture and the operator recognizes the display element in a particularly simple manner that no user has yet paid for the piece of leisure furniture or that no user has yet paid the fee for the piece of leisure furniture, the operator can operate in a particularly simple and fast manner recognize that the person has not yet paid the fee and therefore may not even use the piece of leisure furniture. Following this, the operator may request the person to pay the fee or to terminate the use of the piece of leisure furniture.

It has been found to be particularly advantageous if a display element is used as the display element, which is held on the piece of leisure furniture. As a result, the display element is clearly associated with the leisure piece of furniture, so that both the operator and a potential user can quickly and clearly see if the piece of furniture is already occupied or if a user has already paid the fee for the piece of furniture or whether the piece of furniture is still free or unoccupied is. But it is also possible that the display element is formed separately from the leisure piece of furniture.

In particular, the display element is a light source which emits light in response to the signal. In this case, the receiving unit is connected to the display element, for example, so that the display element can be operated as a function of the signal received by the receiving unit. The display element can be designed in particular as a light-emitting diode (LED). Through the use of the display element, a particularly simple management of the piece of leisure furniture or several pieces of leisure furniture can be realized.

Another embodiment is characterized in that a photovoltaic device is provided, by means of which the display element is supplied with electric current. The display element is designed, for example, to emit light in order to use the light to determine the occupied state of the light To display leisure furniture. It is necessary to provide the display element with electric current, so that the display element can emit the light. Through the use of the photovoltaic device, which is also referred to as a solar system or solar power system, it is possible to provide the display element in a cost-effective manner and without expensive wiring with electricity, so that the display element can emit light by means of the provided by the photovoltaic device electrical current light , Thereby, the state of the leisure furniture can be detected in a particularly simple manner, both by the operator and by a potential user of the leisure furniture.

Another embodiment is characterized in that the signal from at least one transmitting element, in particular an electrical or electronic transmitting element, is transmitted to the at least one receiving unit. In this case, the transmitting element can be connected to the receiving unit by means of at least one physical line, in particular electrically connected, so that the signal can be transmitted via this line. In this embodiment, it can be provided, in particular, that the transmitting element and the receiving unit are components of a common device and / or, for example, arranged in a common housing. This device is, for example, a computer such as a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a smartphone or other terminal, in particular a mobile terminal.

However, it has proven particularly advantageous if the signal is transmitted wirelessly from the transmitting element to the receiving unit. As a result, excessive cabling can be avoided. Furthermore, it is thereby possible that the transmitting element and the receiving unit do not have to form a common unit, but rather are arranged, for example, at mutually different locations and thus are spaced apart from one another. In particular, it can be provided that the transmitting element is a held on the leisure furniture piece transmitting element such as a transmitter and / or transponder, which may be an active or passive transmitter or transponder, which is programmable, for example. The receiving unit is for example a central receiving unit. Furthermore, the transmitting element can be a mobile terminal or a component of a mobile terminal. As a result, for example, a person can carry the mobile terminal or transmitting element with him, while the receiving unit remains stationary. In particular, it is thereby possible that the person with the transmitting element - in the case of several pieces of leisure furniture - goes from piece of leisure furniture to piece of leisure furniture and, depending on the condition of the respective piece of leisure furniture, sends a corresponding signal via the transmitting element to the receiving unit.

A further embodiment is characterized in that a photovoltaic device is provided, by means of which the transmitting element is supplied with electric current. For transmitting, in particular wireless transmission, of the signal, for example, electrical power is required, it being possible to supply the transmitting element with electric current in a particularly simple manner by using the photovoltaic device. With the aid of this electrical current, the transmitting element can then transmit the signal to the receiving unit. Through the use of such a photovoltaic device, a particularly simple power supply of the transmitting element can be represented, since excessive cabling can be avoided.

In addition, there is the possibility that the transmitting element can be activated and deactivated by means of an authorization device. This makes it possible to activate or deactivate the transmitting element in interaction with the authorization device, for example manually by means of a chip card, a key, a mobile terminal or the like. In this case, the transmitting element can be designed such that when it is activated and / or during a deactivation process, a corresponding signal is automatically sent to the receiving unit. An activation can for example characterize the occupied, reserved and / or paid state of the leisure furniture, a deactivation of the unoccupied state of the leisure furniture. Advantageously, in this embodiment of the method according to the invention the activation or deactivation of the transmitting element by means of the authorization device for marking and passing on the occupied or unoccupied state of Leisure furniture. The activation or deactivation can of course also be wireless, for example by radio.

In order to detect the state of the piece of leisure furniture particularly simple and thus to manage a particularly large number of leisure furniture pieces in a particularly simple manner, it is provided in a further embodiment that the receiving unit, the signal due to at least one interaction between a held on the piece of leisure furniture identification and a mobile terminal. For example, a person moves, in particular carries, the mobile terminal from piece of leisure furniture to piece of leisure furniture and brings the mobile terminal in cooperation, that is, in interaction with the respective identification element of the respective piece of leisure furniture. As a result of this respective interaction, the respective signal is transmitted to the receiving unit, wherein the receiving unit receives the signal. This also allows a particularly simple documents, that is reserving or renting the piece of leisure furniture for a user. If, for example, the user pays the fee required for the use of the piece of leisure furniture, the interaction of the mobile terminal with the identification element takes place as a function of this. As a result, the leisure furniture piece is occupied or reserved for this user in a particularly simple and comfortable manner. Furthermore, the operator can detect this occupancy of the piece of leisure furniture in a simple manner.

In order to realize a particularly simple detection of the state of the leisure furniture piece, it is provided in a further embodiment of the invention that the identification element interacts or interacts with the mobile terminal without contact. By this non-contact interaction is meant that the mobile terminal does not have to touch or touch the identification element in order to interact with the identification element. The non-contact interaction takes place for example via radio technology or via electromagnetic waves, so that, for example, in the context of non-contact interaction, the mobile terminal and the identification element exchange data via radio or electromagnetic waves. In response to this interaction, the signal is then transmitted to the receiving unit and the receiving unit receives the signal.

It has proven to be particularly advantageous if an optical code, in particular a bar code or a QR code, is used as the identification element. The barcode is commonly referred to as barcode. In particular, the bar code may be a so-called EAN code (EAN - European Article Number). The QR code is also called a quick response code. For interaction with the identification element, the mobile terminal has, for example, a detection means, in particular an optical sensor. By means of the detection means, in particular the optical sensor, the mobile terminal can detect the optical code, that is, scan, whereby the code can be decrypted. The optical code contains information on the basis of which, for example, the piece of leisure furniture can be clearly identified among several pieces of recreational furniture. As a result, it is possible to allocate the amount paid by the user exactly to the piece of leisure furniture with whose identification element the mobile terminal interacts.

Furthermore, it has proven to be advantageous if an RFID element (RFID radio-frequency identification) is used as the identification element. Here, a non-contact interaction between the identification element and the mobile terminal via electromagnetic waves, wherein the associated leisure furniture piece can be clearly identified by means of the identification element.

For example, if the operator provides a plurality of different pieces of recreational furniture, the operator can easily detect and recognize which of the pieces of recreational furniture has already been occupied or rented, and which one is not, based on the interaction of the mobile terminal with the respective identification element.

Furthermore, it is conceivable that the above-mentioned display element is a screen, by means of which a leisure furniture piece characterizing each leisure furniture piece is displayed. With the help of the symbol can also be displayed whether the piece of leisure furniture is already occupied or rented or is still free or unoccupied. Based This screen can then recognize the operator in a particularly simple manner, the respective states of the respective leisure furniture pieces.

A second aspect of the invention relates to a system for detecting a condition of at least one piece of leisure furniture, in particular a sun bed, a parasol or a beach chair. The system comprises at least one receiving unit, which is designed to receive at least one signal indicating a busy or unoccupied state of the piece of leisure furniture. Furthermore, the system comprises at least one memory device, which is designed to store at least one value characterizing the occupied or unoccupied state as a function of the received signal. Advantages and embodiments of the method according to the invention are to be regarded as advantages and embodiments of the system according to the invention and vice versa.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the system according to the invention, a plurality of leisure furniture pieces is provided, wherein the receiving unit is adapted to receive for each of the leisure furniture pieces at least one respective, an occupied or unoccupied state of the respective piece of furniture characterizing signal. Furthermore, the memory device is designed to store in each case at least one value characterizing the occupied or unoccupied state as a function of the respective received signal.

Thus, it is easily possible for an operator providing the plurality of pieces of recreational furniture to easily manage the leisure furniture pieces provided in an area such as a beach section, for example, since the operator can easily recognize which of the leisure furniture is already occupied by the system and which not. Under the occupied state or the occupancy of the respective piece of leisure furniture is to be understood that a user who wants to use the respective piece of leisure furniture, has paid a fee required for the use of the operator. By paying this fee, the user rents the respective piece of leisure furniture for a predefinable amount Period of time. Based on the system, the operator can thus easily recognize which of the leisure furniture is already rented and which is not.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment and from the drawing. The features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the figure description and / or alone in the single figure can be used not only in the respectively indicated combination but also in other combinations or alone, without the frame to leave the invention.

The drawing shows in the sole FIGURE a schematic representation of a system for detecting a respective state of pieces of recreational furniture, the system comprising at least one receiving unit adapted to receive at least one signal indicating a busy or unoccupied state of the respective piece of recreational furniture, and wherein the system comprises at least one memory device which is designed to store at least one value characterizing the respective occupied or unoccupied state as a function of the received signal.

The single FIGURE shows a schematic representation of a generally designated 10 system for detecting respective states of respective leisure furniture pieces that are provided for example by an operator in a predetermined area, especially in a beach section. One of these pieces of recreational furniture is a shade in the form of a parasol 12. A second of the pieces of leisure furniture is a couch 14 on which a person can sit and, in particular, lay. A third of the leisure furniture pieces is another couch 16, on which also a person can put or set. The operator provides the pieces of leisure furniture for a fee, so that the pieces of leisure furniture can be rented by at least one person and thereby occupied. The person is a user of the respective piece of leisure furniture. By renting the user can use the leisure furniture pieces for a predetermined period of time. For this purpose, the user pays a stipulated fee per piece of leisure furniture to the operator. By paying the respective fee, the user rents and occupies the respective piece of leisure furniture.

If the sunshade 12 is set up, for example, at a certain point in the beach section, the sunshade 12 provides shade in which the sunbeds 14 and 16 can be arranged. By renting the pieces of leisure furniture, the user can spend the predetermined period of time on the loungers 14 and 16 under the sunshade 12. In the present case, the sunshade 12 and the loungers 14 and 16 form a first set of leisure furniture pieces. In this case, the operator provides a plurality of such sets, wherein the respective set can be rented by a respective user and thereby occupied.

The system 10 comprises a display in the form of a screen 18 on which a plurality of symbols 1 to 9 are displayed. Each of the symbols 1 to 9 is associated with one of the trimmings, so that the respective symbol 1 to 9 images or symbolizes one of the trimmings. As will be explained in more detail below, the operator can use the symbols 1 to 9 and thus on the screen 18 in a particularly simple way to recognize which of the sets is rented and which not.

At least one identification element 20 is arranged on the respective piece of leisure furniture. The identification element 20 is thus associated with the respective piece of leisure furniture. The identification element 20 of the parasol 12 and the identification element 20 of the couch 16 is, for example, a transponder, which may be designed as an active or passive transponder. Alternatively or additionally, the respective identification element 20 may be designed as a transmitter. For example, the identification element 20 is a programmable identification element. The identification element 20 of the couch 14 is, for example, an optical code, which may be formed as a bar code or bar code or as a QR code or EAN code. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the identification element 20 is designed as an RFID element or RFID chip.

In addition, the screen 18 is part of a generally designated 22 receiving unit of the system 10. As part of a method for detecting the respective state of the respective piece of recreational furniture, the receiving unit 22 receives at least one a occupied or unoccupied state of the respective piece of furniture characterizing signal, in particular an electrical Signal. The system 10 further comprises a memory device 24 in which, depending on the received signal, at least one value characterizing the occupied or unoccupied state of the respective piece of leisure furniture is stored, in particular electrically stored. For example, the receiving unit 22 may receive at least one signal for each of the sets and thus store for each of the sets at least one value in the storage device 24, each of the stored values associated with one of the symbols 1-9. As a result, the respective symbol 1 to 9 can be displayed as a function of the respectively assigned, stored value. As a result, the operator can recognize on the basis of the symbols 1 to 9 in a particularly simple manner which of the sets is occupied or rented and which not. In particular, the operator can recognize whether and which of the leisure furniture pieces occupied and is therefore rented and which not.

The system 10 further comprises a mobile terminal 26, which is used both as a receiving element in the form of a so-called scanner and as a transmitting element. In other words, the mobile terminal 26 comprises a detecting means in the form of a scanner and a transmitter. A person who is, for example, an employee or an employee of the operator moves the mobile terminal 26 to the respective piece of leisure furniture and brings the mobile terminal 26 in the present non-contact interaction with the respective identification element 20. The scanner is for example an optical scanner, that is optical detection element, by means of which the optical code, that is, for example, the identification element 20 of the bed 14, can be optically detected. As part of the optical detection of the optical code, the identification element 20 of the couch 14 and the mobile terminal 26 interact without contact. Depending on this interaction, the mobile terminal 26 transmits the above-mentioned signal, indicated at 28 in the figure, to the receiving unit 22, which receives the signal 28. It can be seen from the FIG. the state-characterizing signal 28 is transmitted wirelessly from the mobile terminal 26 to the receiving unit 22, in particular electrical transmitted, and is received by the receiving unit 22. Based on the identification element 20 associated with the respective identification element 20 and the respective identification element 20 associated leisure furniture piece is clearly identified, so that the stored value, for example, not only the occupied state, but also the occupied leisure furniture piece characterizes itself.

The mobile terminal 26 can also interact or interact with the identification elements 20 of the sunshade 12 and the couch 16, in particular contactlessly. For this purpose, the respective identification element 20 of the parasol 12 or the couch 16 transmits signals, for example, which can be active or passive. For example, the respective identification element 20 of the parasol 12 or the couch 16 sends signals by means of electric current. In order to supply the identification element 20 of the parasol 12 or the couch 16 in a particularly simple manner with electric current, at least one photovoltaic device in the form of a solar cell 30 is provided in each case. The respective solar cell 30 is held on the respective piece of leisure furniture and connected via at least one physical line 32 to the respective identification element 20, so that electrical current, which is provided by the solar cell 30, can be transmitted via the line 32 to the respective identification element 20. As a result, the respective identification element 20 can be supplied with the electrical current provided by the respective solar cell 30, so that the identification element 20 can emit signals with the aid of the electrical current provided. As a result of this transmission of the signals, the mobile terminal 26 can interact with the respective identification element 20 of the sunshade 12 or the couch 16, in particular without contact, so that the respective signal 28 is transmitted from the mobile terminal 26 to the reception unit 22 as a result of this contactless interaction Receiving unit 22 can be received. By means of the respective value, for example, the occupied state of the respective piece of leisure furniture is then stored in the memory device 24, wherein this respective occupied state can be displayed by means of the respective symbol 1 to 9. Overall, it can be seen that the respective identification element 20 is associated with the respective piece of leisure furniture, on which the respective identification element 20 is attached or held. This makes it possible to store in the storage device 24, the occupied or unoccupied state of the respective assigned leisure furniture piece, so that the operator can recognize particularly well based on the symbols 1 to 9, which of the leisure furniture is already rented and which not. In particular, it is conceivable to activate the respective identification element 20, in particular the respective transmitter or transponder, by means of the scanner so that the scanner or the mobile terminal 26 functions as an active actuator for the respective transmitter or transponder.

Alternatively or in addition to the transmission of the signal 28 from the mobile terminal 26 to the receiving unit 22, it is conceivable that the respective, activated and designed in particular as a transmitter or transponder identification element 20 sends at least a corresponding and, for example coded signal to the receiving unit 22. In the present case, however, it is provided that the respective signal 28 is transmitted from the mobile terminal 26 to the receiving unit 22 as a result of the respective interaction between the mobile terminal 26 and the respective identification element 20.

Furthermore, it is possible for the receiving unit 22 to be part of the mobile terminal 26, the signal 28 not being transmitted, for example wirelessly, but for example via a line to the receiving unit 22 and received by the receiving unit 22. If the receiving unit 22 is part of the mobile terminal 26, then the mobile terminal 26 and the receiving unit 22 form, for example, a common device, in particular in the form of a mobile terminal, this common device comprising a housing in which the receiving unit 22 and the transmitting element or the Scanner and the transmitter are arranged.

In the present case, it is provided that the receiving unit 22 and the mobile terminal 26 are separate units, wherein the receiving unit 22, for example, is stationary, while a person carry the mobile terminal 26 and thus can move relative to the receiving unit 22. Due to the thereby provided, wireless transmission of the signal 28, the person can carry around the mobile terminal 26 particularly simple, and a cabling effort between the mobile terminal 26 and the receiving unit 22 can be avoided. In particular, the mobile terminal 26 or the named device may be a PC, a tablet PC, a smartphone, a mobile phone or the like.

Furthermore, the parasol 12 or the couch 16 is associated with a display element 34. The respective display element 34 is arranged on the respective leisure furniture piece, that is in the present case on the parasol 12 or on the couch 16, and thus held. The respective display element 34 is a light source which is designed, for example, as an LED (LED light-emitting diode). It is preferably provided that the respective display element 34 is designed to emit light perceptible by the human eye with a first color and light perceptible by the human eye with a second color different from the first color, the first color being for example green and the second one For example, color is red. For this purpose, it can be provided that the respective display element 34 comprises a plurality of light sources, in particular LEDs.

As part of the method, it is provided that the display element 34 is operated in response to the signal 28 and / or in dependence on the interaction and thus in dependence on the detected state to visually display the occupied or unoccupied state of the piece of leisure furniture. If the respective piece of leisure furniture is, for example, unoccupied, that is to say free, then the display element 34 emits green light, for example. This indicates to both the operator and potential users that the particular piece of recreational furniture is still free and, accordingly, that can still be rented. As a result of the interaction between the mobile terminal 26 and the respective identification element 20, not only the occupied state characterizing value is stored in the memory device 24, but the respective display element 34, for example, from a first state in which the display element 34 emits green light, in a second state in which the display element 34 emits red light is switched. By emitting the red light can Both the operator and potential users are easily communicated visually that the respective piece of leisure furniture already rented and thus occupied. In particular, the operator can already remotely and thus without the screen 18 determine which of the pieces of leisure furniture or which of the sets are rented and which are still free.

In particular, it is possible to display on the screen 18 a number assigned to the respective piece of leisure furniture of the leisure furniture piece assigned to the activated identification element 20.

Alternatively, or in addition to the interaction previously described and dependent on the interaction between the mobile terminal 26 and the identification element 20, receiving the signal 28 and storing the value in the memory means 24 may receive the signal 28 and store the value in the following manner For example, by means of the system 10 at least one input made by a person is received, this input characterizing, for example, the occupied state of the respective piece of leisure furniture. Depending on the received input, the receiving unit 22 receives the signal characterizing the occupied state of the piece of leisure furniture so that the value characterizing the occupied state is then stored in the memory device 24 as a function of the received signal. This input can be detected, for example, by means of an operating element of the system 10 and thus received. This operating element is, for example, a touch-sensitive screen of the system 10, wherein the screen 18 can be designed as this touch-sensitive screen. The touch-sensitive screen is also referred to as a touch screen. If, for example, a person, in particular the operator, touches at least a subarea of the touch-sensitive screen, he thereby effects the said input.

If the user terminates the use and thus the occupancy of the respective piece of leisure furniture, then the respective piece of leisure furniture can be individually or the set in the collective be resetted. For this purpose, for example, at least one unoccupied or free state of the respective piece of leisure furniture characterizing, further signal received by the receiving unit 22. Depending on the received further signal, for example, at least one value characterizing the unoccupied state is stored in the memory device 24. As a result, the operator can be optically displayed on the basis of the respective symbol 1 to 9, whether and which of the pieces of leisure furniture or whether and which of the sets are free.

In particular, the system allows a cashless payment or payment of the fee, in particular by means of a card reader and a transmission to a network or a receiving part. This cashless payment can take place, for example, in the context of the interaction of the mobile terminal 26 with the identification element 20. Furthermore, it is conceivable to display in the system 10 statistics 36 about the current rental situation as well as archive functions. In other words, the operator can for example use the statistics 36 to recognize the number of leased sets and / or individual pieces of leisure furniture. Overall, the system is a detection and registration system, with the help of which leisure furniture pieces such as umbrellas, chairs, beach chairs, etc. can be easily managed and rented.

Moreover, it is possible for a user to make, for example, reservations or rentals, that is, assignments of the respective piece of leisure furniture online in advance. For example, via a network, in particular via the Internet, the user can select the desired leisure furniture pieces and thus occupy or rent. Here, too, the receiving unit 22 receives, via the network, a signal characterizing the occupied state of the respective piece of leisure furniture so that the at least one value characterizing the occupied state is stored in the memory device 24 as a function of the received signal. This occupancy or reservation or rental of the respective piece of leisure furniture is linked in particular with the payment of the fee, so that the user can rent the respective piece of leisure furniture over the network, especially the Internet, in a simple way and thus reserve and occupy. Even such assignments can be easily recognized by the operator on the basis of the stored values and in particular on the screen 18.

Claims (15)

Method for detecting a condition of at least one piece of recreational furniture (12, 14, 16), in particular a sun bed (14, 16), a parasol (12) or a beach chair, with the steps: - Receiving at least one of a busy or unoccupied state of the piece of leisure furniture (12, 14, 16) characterizing signal (28) by means of at least one receiving unit (22); and - In dependence on the received signal (28): storing at least one of the occupied or unoccupied state characterizing value in at least one memory device (24). Method according to claim 1,
wherein at least one display element (34) is provided, which is operated in response to the signal to visually indicate the occupied or unoccupied state of the leisure furniture piece (12, 14, 16). Method according to claim 2,
wherein as the display element (34) a display element (34) is used, which is held on the leisure furniture piece (12, 14, 16). Method according to claim 2 or 3,
wherein a photovoltaic device (30) is provided, by means of which the display element (34) is supplied with electric current. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the signal (28) is transmitted from at least one transmitting element (26) to the at least one receiving unit (22). Method according to claim 5,
wherein the signal (28) from the transmitting element (20, 26) to the receiving unit (22) is transmitted wirelessly. Method according to claim 5 or 6,
wherein as a transmitting element (26) on the leisure furniture piece (12, 14, 16) held transmitting element (20) is used. Method according to one of claims 5 to 7,
wherein a photovoltaic device is provided, by means of which the transmitting element (20, 26) is supplied with electric current. Method according to one of claims 5 to 8,
wherein the transmitting element (20, 26) can be activated and deactivated by means of an authorization device. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the receiving unit (22) receives the signal (28) due to at least one interaction between an identification element (20) held on the piece of leisure furniture (12, 14, 26) and a mobile terminal (26). Method according to claim 9,
wherein the identification element (20) interacts with the mobile terminal (26) without contact. A method according to claim 9 or 10, when referred back to any one of claims 5 to 9;
wherein as the transmitting element (20, 26) the mobile terminal (26) is used. Method according to one of claims 9 to 11,
wherein as the identification element (20) an optical code, in particular a bar code or a QR code, or an RFID element is used. System (10) for detecting a condition of at least one piece of recreational furniture (12, 14, 16), in particular a sunbed (14, 16), a parasol (12) or a beach chair, comprising: - At least one receiving unit (22) which is adapted to receive at least one a occupied or unoccupied state of the piece of leisure furniture (12, 14, 16) characterizing signal (28); and - At least one memory device (24) which is adapted to store depending on the received signal (28) at least one of the occupied or unoccupied state characterizing value. System according to claim 14,
wherein a plurality of leisure furniture pieces (12, 14, 16) is provided, wherein the receiving unit (22) is adapted for each of the leisure furniture pieces (12, 14, 16) at least one respective, an occupied or unoccupied state of the respective piece of leisure furniture (12 , 14, 16), and wherein the memory device (24) is configured to store at least one value characterizing the occupied or unoccupied state, depending on the respective received signal (28).

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