JP2002007521A - System and method for utility supply management and recording medium with recorded program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently supply and manage utilities. SOLUTION: This system is equipped with a supply condition acquisition means 4 which acquires respective supply conditions of utilities presented by respective utility supply sides 17 supplying the utilities, a supply condition display means 5 which displays the respective supply conditions acquired by the supply condition acquisition means 4 while relating them to the utility supply sides 17 as presentation sources, a utility selecting means 7 which receives a selection input for selecting supply conditions out of the respective supply conditions displayed by the display means 5, and a utility supply means 8 which supplies utilities from the utility supply sides 17 to the selection side 20 having selected the supply conditions according to the supply conditions selected by the means 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a case where there are a plurality of supply sides for supplying utilities such as electric power.
Specify the supply side according to the fee and service content,
The present invention relates to a utility supply management system and method suitable for reserving a supply time, and a recording medium recording a program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, utilities such as electric power, gas, and water are provided on the demand side of general households and corporations, and on the supply side (electric power company, gas company, water bureau) determined for each region where the demand side is located. Supplied from

[0003] On the demand side, predetermined meters (power meter, gas meter, water meter) are provided by each supply side, and each meter (power consumption, gas consumption, water consumption) is provided by this meter. Cumulative. The accumulated consumption is periodically (for example, monthly) measured by a meter reader on the supply side, and the consumption during the period is calculated.
Then, based on the consumption amount, a fee is calculated by each supply side and charged to the demand side under a contract determined every month.

As described above, conventionally, when a demand side receives a supply of utilities such as electric power, gas, and water, the demand side (a power company, a gas company, and a water company) is determined for each region where the demand side is located. Department), and the demand side cannot specify the supply side without permission.

[0005]

However, such a conventional technique has the following problems.

That is, as described above, conventionally, the demand side has been provided with a utility supply from a predetermined supply side designated regionally. It is also assumed that the demand side can specify the desired supply side from among the supply sides.

[0007] In such a case, the demand side, for example, supplies a utility with excellent supply conditions, for example, a utility at the lowest rate, from a plurality of supply sides that supply the same utility. It is also possible to contract with the supply side.

On the other hand, it is assumed that the supply side will provide all kinds of services in order to secure a contract with the demand side. That is, it is expected that not only the rate will be reduced by rationalization and the like, but also optional services according to the usage time and usage method will be provided. For example, if you lower nightly rates when demand is low, or if the demand side reserves usage hours and usage in advance,
It is also conceivable for the supply side to make a discount according to the contents in order to make it easier to make a supply plan.

[0009] However, information on various supply conditions and their rate plans that will be provided by a plurality of suppliers is described below.
There is a problem that it is very difficult for the demand side to collect one by one. In addition, there is a problem that it is inconvenient if a contract is made with a supply side that provides the service by examining the collected information and a utility is not supplied until a certain time.

Further, on the demand side for cost reduction,
If the contract contents are frequently changed with the supply side in accordance with the service contents, the contract procedure, fee calculation and payment method may be complicated.

[0011] Accordingly, the latest information on the supply conditions of utilities provided by a plurality of supply sides and their charge plans is collected and displayed on the demand side in a list. A utility supply management system is desired in which a contract is completed by inputting contract information necessary for the contract online, a utility is supplied based on the contract information, and a payment is automatically processed. ing.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and displays supply conditions provided by a plurality of supply sides that supply utilities, processes contracts between demand and supply sides, and supplies utilities based on contracts. To provide a utility supply management system and method, and a recording medium on which a program is recorded, which can perform a charge settlement and a payment process in accordance with the supply amount, thereby enabling efficient utility supply management. Aim.

[0013]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention takes the following measures.

That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, supply condition acquisition means for acquiring supply conditions of utilities presented from a plurality of utility supply sides for supplying utilities, and supply condition acquisition means for acquiring the supply conditions acquired by the supply condition acquisition means. , A supply condition display means for displaying the supply condition in association with the utility supply side of the presentation source, a utility selection means for receiving a selection input for selecting a supply condition from among the supply conditions displayed by the supply condition display means, and a utility selection. A utility supply unit that supplies a utility from the utility supply side that is the source of the supply condition to the selected side based on the supply condition selected by the unit.

Therefore, in the utility supply management system according to the first aspect of the present invention, supply conditions such as charge information of a plurality of utility supply sides are displayed in a list, and a desired utility service is selected from the list and the corresponding condition is selected. Utility supply can be received from the utility supply side.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the supply condition acquisition means for acquiring each supply condition of the utility presented from a plurality of utility supply sides for supplying the utility, and the supply conditions acquired by the supply condition acquisition means, A supply condition is selected from supply condition display means displayed in association with the utility supply side of the presentation source and each supply condition displayed by the supply condition display means, and utility supply is received based on the supply condition. Based on the utility reservation means for reserving the time zone, and the supply condition selected by the utility reservation means and the time zone reserved by the utility reservation means, the utility supply side presenting the supply condition issues the reservation from the utility supply side. Utility to supply utilities to the selected side And a I supply means.

Accordingly, in the utility supply management system according to the second aspect of the present invention, supply conditions such as charge information of a plurality of utility supply sides are displayed in a list, and a desired utility service is reserved from the list, and the contents of the reservation are reserved. , The utility can be supplied from the utility supply side.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the utility supply management system according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, a utility supply amount measuring means for measuring a supply amount of the utility supplied to each selected side is provided.

Therefore, in the utility supply management system according to the third aspect of the present invention, the supply amount of the utility can be measured for each selected side.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the utility supply management system according to the third aspect of the present invention, the utility supply amount measuring means is provided on each selection side, and the utility supply amount measured by each utility supply amount measuring means is provided. And a utility supply amount receiving unit that receives the utility supply amount data transmitted by each utility supply amount transmission unit.

Therefore, in the utility supply management system according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to receive the supply amount data of the utility supplied to each selection side.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the utility supply management system according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a utility usage fee is calculated for each selected side based on the utility supply amount data received by the utility supply amount receiving means. Charge calculating means, and charge notifying means for notifying each selected side and the utility supply side that has supplied the utility to each selected side of the calculation result calculated by the charge calculating means.

Therefore, in the utility supply management system according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to calculate the usage fee of the utility for each selection side and notify the result to both the utility supply side and the selection side. .

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the utility supply management system according to the fourth or fifth aspect, the utility supply for each selected side is based on the utility supply data received by the utility supply receiving means. Make a graph of the amount of time,
Graph generation means for outputting the generated graph to each selected side is provided.

Therefore, in the utility supply management system according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, a graph of the amount of supplied utility with respect to time can be created for each selected side.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the utility supply management system according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the usage fee calculated by the fee calculation means is deducted from the financial account designated by the selection side to which the utility has been supplied and debited. Account transfer means for transferring the usage fee to the financial account designated by the utility supply side.

Therefore, in the utility supply management system according to the present invention, the usage fee can be settled according to the supply amount of the utility.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the utility supply management system according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, the utility supply side periodically updates information relating to supply conditions, and supplies the supply condition acquisition means. Acquires information about supply conditions periodically updated by the utility supply side from the utility supply side via the transmission path.

Therefore, in the utility supply management system according to the present invention, even if the supply conditions are changed, the information can be obtained almost in real time.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the utility supply management system according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, the utility is any one of electric power, gas, and water.

Therefore, in the utility supply management system according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the invention according to any one of the first to eighth aspects is realized for any one of electric power, gas and water. be able to.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the supply condition is selected from the displayed supply conditions on the basis of the display content on the mediation side that displays the supply conditions presented from the plurality of utility supply sides that supply the utility. The selection request to be selected is sent to the intermediary side, and the utility is supplied from the utility supply side that is the presentation source of the selected supply condition, based on the utility supply instruction issued by the intermediary side according to the selection request.

Therefore, in the utility supply management method according to the tenth aspect of the present invention, a desired utility supply side is selected based on supply condition display information such as charge display information, and utility supply from the selected utility supply side. Can receive.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the supply condition is selected from the displayed supply conditions based on the display contents on the mediation side that displays the supply conditions presented from the plurality of utility supply sides that supply the utility. Selected,
A reservation request for reserving a time zone to receive the supply of the utility is made to the intermediary side based on the selected supply condition, and based on the utility supply instruction made by the intermediary side in accordance with the reservation request, the selected utility supply side issues a reservation time. Obi receives a supply of utilities.

Therefore, in the utility supply management method according to the eleventh aspect, it is possible to reserve a desired utility supply side based on the supply condition information and to receive the supply of the utility from the utility supply side based on the reservation contents. it can.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the utility supply management method according to the tenth or eleventh aspect, the supply amount of the utility supplied from the utility supply side is measured, and the result is transmitted to the mediation side.

Therefore, in the utility supply management method according to the twelfth aspect, the mediation side can grasp the supply amount of the utility supplied to each selected side.

According to the thirteenth aspect, in the tenth to the first aspects,
In the utility supply management method according to any one of the two aspects, the utility is any one of electric power, gas, and water.

Therefore, in the utility supply management method according to the thirteenth aspect, the invention according to any one of the tenth to twelfth aspects can be realized for any one of electric power, gas and water. it can.

According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, means for acquiring each supply condition of the utility presented from a plurality of utility supply sides that supply the utility, and associating each acquired supply condition with the utility supply side of the presentation source. Means for displaying, from among the displayed supply conditions, means for receiving a selection input for selecting the supply condition, based on the supply condition selected by the selection input, from the utility supply side which is a presentation source of the supply condition, A computer-readable recording medium that records a program for causing a computer to function as a means for supplying a utility to the selection side that has made the selection.

Therefore, in the computer-readable recording medium according to the fourteenth aspect, supply conditions such as charge information of a plurality of utility supply sides are displayed in a list, and further, the utility supply side selected from the utility supply side is selected. Utility can be supplied to the side.

[0042]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an example of a utility supply management system to which a utility supply management method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

The utility supply management system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention comprises a computer such as a workstation, and has an interface unit 3 and a supply information acquisition unit 4.
, Supply information display unit 5, interface unit 6, utility selection unit 7, utility supply instruction unit 8
, A utility supply amount receiving unit 10 and a charge calculating unit 1
1, a charge notification unit 12, a graph creation unit 13, and an account transfer processing unit 14, and a utility supply side 17 via a transmission line 16 by the interface unit 3;
The interface unit 6 is connected to a user 20 via a transmission line 18.

The utility supply management system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is realized by a computer which reads a program recorded on a recording medium such as a magnetic disk and the operation of which is controlled by the program.

The interface unit 3 is connected to the transmission path 16, and supply information (utility type, fee, payment method information, etc., of the supplied utility) from the plurality of utility supply sides 17 via the transmission path 16. ) Or outputs information (supply request, charge notification, etc.) from the utility supply management system 1 to the utility supply side 17.

The supply information acquired by the interface unit 3 from the plurality of utility supply sides 17 via the transmission path 16 may include supply reservation information of the utility.

The supply reservation information is information that reserves a supply amount in the future in advance. For example, if the utility to be supplied is gas, a reservation is made to the utility supply side 17 so that 10,000 m ³ of gas is supplied every day for one month from one month later.

The utility supply side 17 has a merit that it is easier to make a utility supply plan if the user 20 declares the utility supply amount in advance from the user 20.

Further, the utility supply side 17 determines the supply amount as soon as possible and as much as possible, so that the uncertainty factor concerning the supply is reduced, and the supply plan of the utility becomes easier to make. From this point, it is also possible to reduce the price according to the timing and supply amount, and the utility supply side 1
Not only 7 but also the user 20 has an advantage.

The utility supply reservation information is a charge plan when the supply of the utility and the supply amount are reserved in advance.

The supply information acquisition unit 4 is provided with the interface unit 3
Of supply information (type of utility to be supplied, charge plan, payment method information, supply reservation information, etc.) from various types of information presented from the utility supply side 17 acquired by the above, and outputs it to the supply information display unit 5. .

The supply information display unit 5 arranges and displays the supply information presented by the utility supply units 17 acquired by the supply information acquisition unit 4 in a predetermined display format, and displays the interface unit 6 and the utility selection unit 7. ,
Output to the charge calculation unit 11. Each supply information output to the interface unit 6 is further output from the interface unit 6 to each user 20 via the transmission line 18. On the other hand, each supply information output to the utility selection unit 7 is referred to in a utility selection process performed by the utility selection unit 7. The supply information output to the charge calculation unit 11 is referred to in charge calculation performed by the charge calculation unit 11.

The interface unit 6 is connected to the transmission line 18, and a plurality of users 20
Side to output each supply information, or
(Information on selection of the utility supply side 17, type of utility to be requested, supply time zone, supply amount, fee payment method, supply reservation information, etc.).

The utility selection unit 7 acquires this request information from the user 20 via the interface unit 6. Further, the utility selection unit 7 refers to each supply information displayed by the supply information display unit 5 and
The validity of the content of the request information input from the side is confirmed, and if the input request information is valid without contradiction with the supply information presented from the utility selection unit 7, the utility supply instruction unit 8 Output leverage request information.

The utility supply instruction section 8 outputs the request information to the corresponding utility supply side 17 via the interface section 3 based on the request information input from the utility selection section 7.

The utility supply side 17 receiving the request information supplies the utility to the requesting user 20 via the utility supply line 30 based on the contents of the request information.

The utility supply line 30
Corresponds to an electric wire when the utility is electric power, a gas pipe when the utility is gas, and a water pipe when the utility is water.

The user 20 is provided with a supply amount measuring unit 21.
And a supply amount transmission unit 22.
1 measures the supply amount of the utility supplied from the utility supply side 17 via the utility supply line 30, and supplies the measured supply amount information to the supply amount transmitting unit 22 by the user who recognizes the supply destination user. The information is wirelessly transmitted to the utility supply amount receiving unit 10 of the utility supply management system 1 together with the information.

The transmission method from the supply amount transmitting section 22 to the utility supply amount receiving section 10 is not limited to the wireless method, but may be, for example, a wired method via the transmission line 18.

The utility supply amount receiving unit 10 receives supply amount information wirelessly transmitted from the supply amount transmission unit 22 provided for each user 20 together with the user information, and sends it to the charge calculation unit 11 and the graph creation unit 13. Output each. When these pieces of information are transmitted from the supply amount transmitting unit 22 by wire, for example, via the transmission line 18, the interface unit 6 receives the information, and the utility supply amount receiving unit 10 6 to receive this information.

Based on the supply amount information output from the utility supply amount receiving unit 10 and the supply information output from the supply information display unit 5, the charge calculation unit 11 gives the user 20 who has received the supply of this utility. Calculate the charges to be charged, combine the calculation results with the utility supply,
Output to the charge notification unit 12 and the account transfer processing unit 14.

The charge notification unit 12 sends the calculation result calculated by the charge calculation unit 11 to the utility supply side 17 that has supplied this utility and the user 20 that has received this utility, to the interface units 3 and 6, respectively. To output and notify. The user 20
Alternatively, a postcard on which the usage fee is printed may be mailed in addition to the notification of the calculation result via the transmission path 18 via the interface unit 6.

Further, the charge notifying section 12 indicates that the user 20
When the utility is supplied based on the supply reservation contract with the utility supply side 17, the supply information is acquired from the charge calculation unit 11 and is compared with the supply amount information output from the utility supply amount reception unit 10. . If the already supplied amount is likely to exceed the reserved amount, the reserved supply amount and the already supplied amount are supplied to the personal computer 23 of the user 20 via the interface unit 6 and the transmission line 18. , And the available supply amount obtained by subtracting the already supplied amount from the reserved supply amount. Alternatively, this warning information may be sent by postcard or telephone.

When the user 20 determines that the utility supply side 17
When the supply of the utility is received based on the supply reservation contract with, and the already supplied amount reaches the reserved supply amount, the supply of the utility is stopped.
However, as described above, by sending the warning information in advance and notifying the user 20 of the available supply amount,
The user 20 is encouraged to renew the contract.

Based on the supply information output from the utility supply receiver 10, the graph creator 13 determines whether the user 20 has received the utility.
A graph of the supply amount of the utility with respect to time is created. Further, based on the user information output from the utility supply amount receiving unit 10, the generated graph data is output to the corresponding user 20 via the interface unit 6 and the transmission path 18.

The user 20 has a personal computer 23 connected to the transmission line 18. By installing separately supplied software, input of utility request information to the utility selection unit 7 of the utility supply management system 1 and acquisition of charge calculation results output from the charge notification unit 12 can be performed. Screen display,
Further, acquisition and graph display of graph data output by the graph creation unit 13 are enabled.

Note that the user 20 does not necessarily need to have the personal computer 23 at the site where the utility is supplied, such as at home or at work, but the personal computer 23 is provided at a location different from the location where the utility is supplied. Is also good. For example, a personal computer 23 may be provided in a convenience store or a gas station, and contract processing with the utility supply side 17 may be performed from here.

The account transfer processing unit 14 debits the usage fee calculated by the fee calculation unit 11 from the account of the financial institution designated by the user 20, and transfers the deducted usage fee to the account designated by the utility supply side 17. Transfer.

Next, the operation of the utility supply management system to which the utility supply management method according to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above is applied will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

Here, the utility supply management system 1 and the user 20, the utility supply management system 1
An example in which the utility supply side 17 and the utility supply side 17 are connected via the Internet will be described.

The service supply information (type of utility to be supplied, fee, payment method information, etc.) provided by the plurality of utility supply sides 17 is supplied via the transmission path 16 and the interface section 3 of the utility supply management system 1. It is acquired by the acquisition unit 4 (S1).

The supply information obtained by the supply information obtaining unit 4 is arranged and displayed in a predetermined display format by the supply information display unit 5, and further output to the interface unit 6, the utility selection unit 7, and the charge calculation unit 11. You. User 2
0 requests the display of the supply information via the personal computer 23, the supply information output to the interface unit 6 is output from the interface unit 6 to the user 20 requesting via the transmission path 18. (S2).

As described above, the user 20 accesses the utility supply management system 1 via the personal computer 23 and requests display of the supply information, so that the supply information of the service provided by each utility supply side 17 is transmitted to the personal computer. Listed and displayed on 23 screens. The user 20 refers to the contents such as the charge unit price,
The cheapest utility supply side 17 can be selected.

When the user 20 inputs, from the personal computer 23, request information of the service contents to be received, the request information is output to the interface unit 6 via the transmission line 18 (S3). The request information includes the ID of the user 20, the designation input of the utility supply side 17 concluding the utility supply contract, the type of utility, the contents of the fee, the payment method (if necessary, a bank account, etc.), and the like.

User 2 input to interface section 6
The request information from 0 is further output to the utility selection unit 7. Then, here, each supply information displayed by the supply information display unit 5 is referred to, and the validity of the content of the request information input from the user 20 is confirmed (S).
4).

If the input request information is valid (S5: Yes), the request information is output from the utility selection unit 7 to the utility supply instruction unit 8, and the request information is The data is output to the request destination utility supply side 17 via the interface unit 3 (S6).

On the other hand, if the input request information is inconsistent with the content presented from the utility supply side 17 (S5: No), the process returns to step S3, and the input of the request information is prompted again.

In step S6, when the request information from the user 20 is output to the utility supply side 17 of the request destination, the utility supply side 17 receiving this request information supplies the utility supply information based on the contents of the request information. The utility is supplied to the requesting user 20 via the line 30 (S7).

The supply amount of the utility supplied to the user 20 is determined by a supply amount measurement unit 21 provided on the user 20 side.
Is measured (S8). Further, the measurement result information is transmitted by the supply amount transmitting unit 22 to the utility supply amount receiving unit 10 of the utility supply management system 1 together with the ID of the user 20.

The measurement result information output from the supply amount transmitting unit 22 is received by the utility supply amount receiving unit 10 together with the user ID, and the fee calculating unit 11 calculates the usage fee of the user 20 based on the user ID. .
Further, the graph creation unit 13 creates a graph of the supply amount of the utility with respect to time, and outputs the result to the user 20 (S9).

The usage charge calculated by the charge calculation unit 11 is output to the charge notification unit 12, and further, the charge notification unit 12
Is output and notified to both the utility supply side 17 of the supply source and the user 20 of the supply destination (S10).

The usage fee calculated by the fee calculation unit 11 is also output to the account transfer processing unit 14. Then, the account transfer processing unit 14 performs a withdrawal of the usage fee from the account of the financial institution designated by the user 20 and a process of transferring the withdrawn usage fee to the account designated by the utility supply side 17 (S11).

On the other hand, in step S3, the user 20
Makes a utility supply reservation request to the utility supply side 17, the operation is as shown in the flowchart of FIG.

The processing contents at the step numbers in the flow chart of FIG. 3 are the same as the processing contents of the same step numbers in the flow chart of FIG.

If the user 20 makes a supply reservation request to the utility supply side 17 in step S3, the reservation supply information is acquired from the charge calculation unit 11 by the charge notification unit 12 after step S10, and the utility The comparison with the supply amount information output from the supply amount receiving unit 10 is performed (S12).

If there is a possibility that the already supplied supply amount exceeds the reserved supply amount (S13: Yes), the charge notification unit 12 sends the user's 20 The PC 23 is sent warning information describing the reserved supply amount, the already supplied amount, and the available supply amount obtained by subtracting the already supplied amount from the reserved supply amount (S14).

If the user 20 makes a service addition request with reference to the warning information (S15: No), the process returns to step S3, and if the user 20 does not make a service addition request (S15: Yes). Proceeds to step S11.

In step S11, either when no service addition request is made (S15: Yes), or when there is no possibility that the already supplied supply amount exceeds the reserved supply amount (S13: No), either case is satisfied. However, similarly to step S11 in FIG. 2, the account transfer processing unit 14
Withdrawal of the usage fee from the account of the financial institution designated by the user 20 and transfer of the withdrawn usage fee to the account designated by the utility supply side 17 are performed (S11).

The utility supply management system 1 described in the embodiment of the present invention can be realized by causing a computer to read a program stored in a recording medium.

Here, as the recording medium in the present invention,
Magnetic disk, floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk (CD-ROM, DVD, etc.),
As long as the program can be recorded and a computer-readable recording medium such as a magneto-optical disk (MO or the like) or a semiconductor memory can be used, the recording format thereof may be any.

Also, an OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on instructions of a program installed in the computer from the recording medium,
MW for database management software, network software, etc.
(Middleware) or the like may execute a part of each process for implementing the present embodiment.

Further, the recording medium in the present invention is not limited to a medium independent of a computer, but also includes a recording medium in which a program transmitted via a LAN, the Internet or the like is downloaded and recorded or temporarily recorded.

Further, the number of recording media is not limited to one, and the case where the processing in the present embodiment is executed from a plurality of media is also included in the recording medium of the present invention, and the medium may have any configuration. .

The computer according to the present invention executes each process in the present embodiment based on a program recorded on a recording medium. An apparatus such as a personal computer and a plurality of apparatuses are connected to a network. Any configuration such as a connected system may be used.

The computer according to the present invention is:
It is not limited to a personal computer, but also includes a processing device, a microcomputer, and the like included in an information processing device, and generically refers to a device and a device capable of implementing the functions of the present invention by a program.

As described above, in the utility supply management system to which the utility supply management method according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied, a plurality of utility supply sides 17 transmit via the transmission line 16 by the above operation. The latest service supply information can always be obtained, and the user 20 can list and display the information.

Since the display to the user 20 can be made directly on the screen of the personal computer 23 provided by the user 20 using the Internet or the like, the user 20 makes a desired request based on the displayed list information. Select a service
It can be done at home or on site.

Further, a contract with the utility supply side 17 based on the desired service can be made by inputting necessary information from the personal computer 23 of the user 20 side. In addition, the calculation of the fee based on the supply amount, the notification of the fee, the payment process of the fee, and the like are also performed based on the contents of the input information.

Further, the user 20 can make a utility supply reservation to the utility supply side 17. By such a supply reservation, the utility supply side 17 can make a supply plan of the utility, and can reduce the cost. As a result, the user 20 can receive the supply of the utility at a low price.

That is, the utility supply management system to which the utility supply management method according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied allows a plurality of utility supply sides 1 to be provided.
It is possible to easily perform a series of processes such as comparison of service contents, contract processing, utility supply, and fee payment processing.

As a result, the user 20 can always receive the supply of the utility from the utility supply side 17 which provides the utility at the lowest cost by a simple procedure.

As described above, the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to such configurations. Within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims, those skilled in the art can come up with various modified examples and modified examples, and these modified examples and modified examples are also within the technical scope of the present invention. It is understood that it belongs to.

[0105]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to perform display of supply conditions provided by a plurality of supply sides that supply the utility, contract processing between the demand side and the supply side, supply of the utility based on the contract, charge settlement and payment processing according to the supply amount.

As described above, it is possible to realize a utility supply management system and method capable of efficiently managing utility supply, and a recording medium on which a program is recorded.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an example of a utility supply management system to which a utility supply management method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary flowchart showing the operation of the utility supply management system to which the utility supply management method according to the embodiment is applied.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary flowchart showing the operation of the utility supply management system to which the utility supply management method according to the embodiment is applied (when the supply of the utility is reserved);

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Utility supply management system 3, 6 ... Interface part, 4 ... Supply information acquisition part, 5 ... Supply information display part, 7 ... Utility selection part, 8 ... Utility supply instruction part, 10 ... Utility supply amount receiving part, 11 ... Charge calculation part, 12 ... Charge notification part, 13 ... Graph creation part, 14 ... Account transfer processing part, 16, 18 ... Transmission path, 17 ... Utility supply side, 20 ... User, 21 ... Supply amount measurement part, 22 ... Supply amount transmission unit, 23 ... PC, 30 ... Utility supply line.

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A supply condition acquisition unit that acquires supply conditions of the utility presented from a plurality of utility supply sides that supply a utility, and supplies supply conditions acquired by the supply condition acquisition unit with a supply source of the supply source. Supply condition display means for displaying in association with the utility supply side; utility selection means for receiving a selection input for selecting a supply condition from among the supply conditions displayed by the supply condition display means; selection by the utility selection means Utility supply means for supplying the utility from the utility supply side, which is the source of the supply conditions, to the selected side based on the supplied supply conditions. system. 2. A supply condition acquisition unit for acquiring supply conditions of the utility presented from a plurality of utility supply sides that supply utilities, and a supply condition acquired by the supply condition acquisition unit, Supply condition display means for displaying the supply condition in association with the utility supply side; and a supply time period for selecting a supply condition from among the supply conditions displayed by the supply condition display means and receiving a utility supply based on the supply condition. Based on the supply conditions selected by the utility reservation unit and the time zone reserved by the utility reservation unit, the utility supply side presenting the supply conditions, Supply the utility to the selected side A utility supply management system comprising utility supply means. 3. The utility supply management system according to claim 1, further comprising: a utility supply amount measuring unit that measures a supply amount of the utility supplied to each of the selection sides. Utility supply management system. 4. The utility supply management system according to claim 3, wherein the utility supply amount measuring means is provided on each of the selection sides, and the utility supply amounts measured by the utility supply amount measuring means are used as utilities. A utility supply management system comprising: a utility supply amount transmitting unit that transmits as supply amount data; and a utility supply amount receiving unit that receives the utility supply amount data transmitted by each of the utility supply amount transmission units. . 5. The utility supply management system according to claim 4, wherein the utility usage fee is calculated for each of the selected sides based on the utility supply amount data received by the utility supply amount receiving unit. Charge calculating means, and charge notifying means for notifying the calculation result calculated by the charge calculating means to each of the selection sides and the utility supply side that supplies the utility to each of the selection sides, Utility supply management system. 6. The utility supply management system according to claim 4, wherein the utility supply amount time for each of the selected sides is based on the utility supply amount data received by the utility supply amount receiving unit. A utility supply management system, comprising: a graph creating unit that creates a graph for the selected data and outputs the created graph to each of the selection sides. 7. The utility supply management system according to claim 5, wherein the usage fee calculated by said fee calculation means is deducted from a financial account designated by a selection side to which said utility has been supplied, and said deducted usage. A utility supply management system comprising an account transfer means for transferring a fee to a financial account designated by the utility supply side. 8. The utility supply management system according to claim 1, wherein the utility supply side periodically updates information on the supply condition, and the supply condition acquisition unit includes: A utility supply management system, wherein information on the supply condition periodically updated by the utility supply side is obtained from the utility supply side via a transmission path. 9. The utility supply management system according to claim 1, wherein the utility is any one of electric power, gas, and water supply. 10. A selection request for selecting a supply condition from the displayed supply conditions based on display contents on an intermediary side that displays supply conditions presented from a plurality of utility supply sides that supply utilities. Performed to the mediation side, based on a utility supply instruction issued by the mediation side according to the selection request, to receive the supply of the utility from the utility supply side that is the presentation source of the selected supply conditions, Utility supply management method to do. 11. A supply condition is selected from the displayed supply conditions based on display contents on an intermediary side that displays supply conditions presented from a plurality of utility supply sides that supply utilities, and the selection is performed. Make a reservation request to reserve the time zone to receive the supply of the utility based on the supply conditions to the intermediary side, based on the utility supply instruction made by the intermediary side according to the reservation request, from the selected utility supply side, A utility supply management method, wherein the utility is supplied during the reserved time period. 12. The utility supply management method according to claim 10, wherein a supply amount of the utility supplied from the utility supply side is measured, and a result is transmitted to the mediation side. A utility supply management method, comprising: 13. The method according to claim 10, wherein:
The utility supply management method according to claim 1, wherein the utility is any one of electric power, gas, and water supply. 14. A means for acquiring each supply condition of the utility presented from a plurality of utility supply sides that supply the utility, and a means for displaying the acquired supply conditions in association with the utility supply side of the presentation source. Means for receiving a selection input for selecting a supply condition from among the displayed supply conditions, based on the supply condition selected by the selection input, from a utility supply side that is a presentation source of the supply condition, A computer-readable recording medium in which a program for causing a computer to function as means for supplying the utility to the selected side is selected.