JP2005179997A - Lock with ic card reader and vehicle rental system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lock using an IC card, and also using an IC tag; and to provide a vehicle rental system using this lock. <P>SOLUTION: This lock with an IC card reader is used as a lock of a bicycle. The lock with the IC card reader is characterized by having a reading means for reading IC card information composed of at least user ID, lock ID and validity period of an IC card stored in the IC card, a correctness confirming means for confirming correctness of the IC card information, a lock instruction means for instructing unlocking only when the correctness confirming means confirms the correctness, and an unlocking means capable of unlocking in response to the instruction of the lock instruction means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle rental system for renting vehicles such as locks controlled by IC cards and motorcycles (bicycles).

  Conventionally, there are many systems for renting a vehicle such as a bicycle that is a two-wheeled vehicle (hereinafter referred to as a bicycle). For example, in a bicycle rental system, a user enters a bicycle rental company with personal information such as the user's name, address, and telephone number, and the necessary information such as the rental time in documents such as an application form. Generally, after borrowing a desired bicycle and using it for a predetermined time, it is returned to the rental company. In that case, the rental contract, the key delivery process, and the settlement process at the time of return are considerably complicated for the user and the operator of the rental company.

  In addition, the place where the bicycle rented by the user is returned to the company that rented the bicycle. Therefore, for example, even if there is a bicycle parking lot operated by a company that rented a bicycle near the place where the user no longer needs the bicycle, the bicycle borrowed cannot be returned to the bicycle parking lot and the bicycle can be borrowed. I had to go back to the company.

  Also, by setting a unique ID when renting a bicycle to a user, for example, by giving the user an ID card and using the ID card at the time of use, the user's situation can be confirmed, Bicycle parking systems such as identifying were also constructed and implemented.

  In addition, a bicycle parking lot system has been constructed in which a unique ID is set for each bicycle, and a system for centrally managing each bicycle's usage status and failure status, etc., is used to effectively operate this bicycle parking lot. Had been implemented.

  In addition, a system for creating a database by combining the user ID set for each user and the bicycle ID set for each bicycle is constructed, and a bicycle parking system for effectively using this system for the operation of a bicycle parking lot is also constructed. Has been implemented.

  The key (lock) used on the bicycle is given by the rental company when the bicycle is rented. For example, when the bicycle is rented by the user, the key is locked. I was locked. And the user returned the key along with the rental bicycle.

Now, since the bicycle key is smaller than the car key, the key is often lost, and in particular, many users lose the rental bicycle key. And if all the bicycle keys to be rented have different shapes, it will be necessary to replace the keys themselves, and the economic loss of the user and the economic loss of the bicycle rental company and the replacement of the key. There were problems such as taking time and effort. For this reason, companies that rent bicycles have attached large key holders and large straps to the keys to prevent the keys from being lost. Alternatively, all the bicycle keys to be rented are the same or the number of keys attached to a predetermined number is the same, and even if the user loses a bicycle key, it is possible to respond immediately It was.
JP-A-11-259663 JP-A-11-259710 JP-A-11-259709 JP-A-11-255046

  In the above-described prior art, when a large key holder or a large strap is attached to the key to prevent the key used in the rental bicycle from being lost, the convenience of the user who uses the rental bicycle is poor.

  In addition, when using a rental bicycle, the key is usually poured into the lock. As a result, there was a problem that the bicycle was in danger of running, such as breaking a large strap.

  In addition, the conventional system for renting a vehicle such as a bicycle as described above has been operated by constructing a system by setting an ID for a rental bicycle or setting an ID for a rental bicycle user. A large-scale system was necessary. Moreover, since only two IDs, one or both of the ID set for the bicycle and the ID set for the user, were used, the system could not be operated sufficiently or the usability was poor.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a lock using an IC card and further using an IC tag, and a vehicle rental system using the lock.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a lock with an IC card reader used as a lock for a bicycle, and includes IC card information including at least a user ID, a lock ID, a validity period of the IC card, etc. stored in the IC card. Reading means for reading; correct / incorrect check means for checking the correctness of the IC card information; lock instructing means for instructing unlocking only when the correct / incorrect check means confirms correctness; and instructions for the lock instructing means The lock with IC card reader is provided with an unlocking means that can be unlocked according to the above.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the lock with an IC card reader according to claim 1, further comprising a transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving information via wireless or / and wired.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the lock with IC card reader according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising IC tag means comprising an IC tag.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bicycle parking lot information control server for transmitting and receiving information from the lock with the IC card reader according to the first to third aspects, and exchange of information from the bicycle parking lot control server via a network. A bicycle rental system comprising a bicycle parking lot management server, wherein the bicycle parking lot control server is a first information transmission / reception means for exchanging information between the inside and outside of the bicycle parking lot via radio or / and wire, and the bicycle parking lot control server is a bicycle parking lot A first information transmission / reception means for exchanging information between the inside and outside via radio or / and wire; and a control means for controlling each device in the bicycle parking area according to the received information, wherein the bicycle parking management server is configured to rent a vehicle Vehicle status storage means that stores vehicle status such as information, and usage status of users who can use the vehicle User status storage means for storing status, second information transmission / reception means for exchanging information with the bicycle parking lot control server via the network, vehicle information stored in the vehicle information storage means, and the user Vehicle control means for changing the vehicle information and the user information based on the user information stored in the situation storage means and the information received from the bicycle parking control server, and for controlling and setting the use of the vehicle. This is a vehicle rental system.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the bicycle parking control server exchanges information with vehicle gate means through which the vehicle passes when the vehicle is taken in and out of the bicycle parking lot. System.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the bicycle parking lot control server has an IC card issuing means for issuing an IC card manufactured based on information disclosed to the user, and an IC for setting data stored in the IC tag. 6. The vehicle rental system according to claim 4, further comprising tag information setting means.

  As described above, according to the present invention in which the reader for reading the C card is combined with the lock of the rented vehicle, the user can be identified and the vehicle can be rented, and the vehicle can be rented while checking the state of the vehicle. Security can be improved because it can be done.

  Furthermore, since the IC tag is joined to the lock, the bicycle to be rented can be easily specified.

  Further, as described above, the vehicle rental system of the present invention can efficiently rent a rental vehicle by exchanging information using the lock and the network, and reliably collect a rental fee. Can be done.

  Hereinafter, a lock with an IC card reader and a vehicle rental system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a lock 1 with an IC card reader according to an embodiment of the present invention. Although the frame of the bicycle which is a vehicle is not shown in FIG. 1, the lock 1 with the IC card reader is used to fix the frame of the bicycle. This attachment method can be attached to the frame as a single unit when the bicycle is manufactured, or it can be attached later, and neither method causes a problem.

  Reference numeral 2 denotes a lock / unlock lamp, which can be used to check whether the lock / unlock operation is normal, and is set so that this lamp will illuminate when this data is processed normally. The same setting can be made when the IC card slot 7 is inserted.

  3 is an exclusive button. When used as a lock for a rental bicycle, it can be set so that the bicycle can be reserved for a certain period of time after the bicycle is parked and the IC card, which is a common key, is removed. Is used to set For example, a self-illuminating function and a timer function can be provided, and a timer operation can be performed for the time related to the reservation. In order to have such a function, it is possible to specify the timer setting time by setting the lock 1 with the IC card reader by a program. If the built-in timer of the lock 1 with the IC card reader is operated within the set fixed time, even if an IC card with a different ID is inserted into the IC card slot 7 when the timer is activated, the lock is not Do not unlock. If the timer function is set so as not to operate, it is natural that the lock 1 with the IC card reader can be used not as a rental but as a private lock.

  Reference numeral 4 denotes a two-dimensional bar code. For example, when the bicycle is lost due to theft or the like, the two-dimensional bar code 4 in which the lost bicycle is found is photographed by a portable terminal with a camera such as a mobile phone. It is set so that the e-mail function can be easily operated using a telephone so that a contact can be made based on the e-mail address set in the two-dimensional barcode 4. If a function for measuring position information such as GPS is added to the mobile phone, it can be set to transmit the discovery position information of the stolen lost bicycle at the time of transmission. In place of the two-dimensional barcode 4, a serial number such as a barcode, a micro barcode, and alphanumeric characters can be used.

  Reference numeral 5 denotes a built-in IC tag which can be set on the surface of the lock 1 with an IC card reader, can be embedded, and can store the status of use, such as unlocking and locking with the IC card before the lock, over time. If the ID of the parking rack where the bicycle is parked is set, this ID can also be recorded. In the case of a lock equipped with a GPS function, the position information before the lock is locked and opened. If the position information is set to be stored at the time of locking or every certain time, the position information can be recorded, and thus the user's action situation can be investigated. The built-in IC tag 5 has a sufficient user memory area so that a plurality of usage status data can be stored. In addition, when the data held by the reader / writer installed in the bicycle parking rack or the handy reader / writer is stored in the built-in IC tag 5, the data held by the reader / writer or the handy reader / writer is erased. You can make it happen.

  Reference numeral 6 denotes a locking / unlocking knob. By using the locking / unlocking knob, the lock of the bicycle is locked and unlocked. Since the lock / unlock knob 6 is not removed from the lock unlike a normal key body, a rental bicycle user does not lose the key.

  Reference numeral 7 denotes an IC card slot which is used as an insertion / extraction opening for the IC card 11. For example, when the IC card is inserted into the IC card throttle and the lock is unlocked, the IC card 11 is used as a stopper. Thus, the structure can be set so that the IC card 11 is not physically dropped and the IC card 11 is not dropped when the bicycle is used. In addition, it can be set not to leave the IC card 11 inserted when the bicycle is used.

  Reference numeral 8 denotes an IC card eject button which is used when the IC card 11 is removed from the IC card slot 7. It can also be used when the IC card 11 is forcibly removed when an error occurs after the IC card 11 is inserted into the IC card slot 7.

  Reference numeral 9 denotes a lock casing which is an outer casing of the lock with an IC card reader according to the present invention, and is manufactured from a material such as plastic. The lock casing need not be made entirely of plastic, and the lock material is not limited to plastic, but the place used when the built-in IC tag 5 exchanges information needs to be made of a material such as plastic. A built-in battery and a capacitor are housed in the lock housing 9, and the battery and the capacitor can be used for a bicycle to which a charger is attached. The lock housing 9 is configured to incorporate the above-described components.

  Reference numeral 10 denotes a registration sticker, which is a space for affixing a bicycle parking lot ticket and a security registration card. The position in the lock housing 9 can be set at a common location with the built-in IC tag.

  Reference numeral 11 denotes an IC card.

  Further, although not shown in this drawing, a charging cable for a battery or a capacitor for operating the IC card 11 or the lock may be necessary.

  Next, the locking and unlocking processing of the lock 1 with the IC card reader of the present invention will be described.

  The lock 1 with an IC card reader set for rental bicycles and the lock 1 with an IC card reader set for general bicycles other than rental will be described. When the IC card 11 is inserted into the IC card slot 7 for a lock with an IC card reader set for a bicycle set as a general bicycle, the usage conditions stored in the IC card 11 can be read and used. In this case, the locking / unlocking knob 6 is turned to unlock, and when the key is locked, the locking / unlocking knob 6 is similarly turned to lock. The determination of whether or not it can be used is made by checking the lock ID against the user ID stored in the IC card and the validity period. If the lock is available, the lock / unlock knob 6 rotates. Locking / unlocking knob 6 does not rotate. Information used for this process is stored in the lock 1 with the IC card reader, and information is normally transmitted and received.

  Further, the lock 1 with the IC card reader set for the rental car is similar to the lock 1 with the IC card reader set for a general bicycle other than the rental described above, together with the user IC card ID, the opening. The lock time, the lock time, and the bicycle parking lot ID are sequentially stored and saved, and the recording timing is when the IC card 11 is inserted into the IC card slot 7, when the lock is unlocked, and when the lock is locked. At the time of locking, the ID of the bicycle parking lot is stored by a reader / writer such as a parking lot.

  In the above-described processing, when the IC card 11 is inserted into the IC card slot 7, the IC card 11 is physically locked and cannot be taken out when unlocked, and the IC card 11 can be pulled out when locked. . The above process is driven by a battery. The IC card 11 for exchanging information with the lock 1 with the IC card reader attached to the rental bicycle is issued by depositing with an IC card issuing machine.

  Next, a method for taking in and out a rental bicycle in a bicycle parking lot will be described below with reference to FIG.

  Reference numeral 20 denotes a bicycle rack used when parking a bicycle. Reference numeral 21 denotes a reader / writer that transmits and receives information to and from the built-in IC tag 5 of the lock 1 with an IC card reader.

  The reader / writer 21 can store bicycle parking information in a built-in IC tag. For example, when a rental bicycle is put in a bicycle parking lot with a complete network, the stored information is read out and exchanged through the network. That is, if the reader / writer 21 is installed in a small / medium-scale bicycle parking lot that is not connected to the network in this way, a bicycle bicycle parking system can be constructed efficiently and without cost.

Moreover, although this series can install the apparatus which has the said function in a motor vehicle rack (vehicle rack: 36), the said function is then followed by the gate 31 and the reader / writer 33 which are shown in FIG. The configuration will be described with reference to the drawings.

  This vehicle rental system includes a bicycle parking control server 32 that transmits / receives information to / from the IC or the padlock 1 with a reader, and a bicycle parking management server 34 that exchanges information with the bicycle parking control server via a network. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the bicycle parking lot may have different devices such as a server set according to the size of the bicycle parking lot, such as the first bicycle parking lot, the second bicycle parking lot, and the third bicycle parking lot. This is because the size of the bicycle parking lot is different. A bicycle parking lot that is not connected to the network, such as the third bicycle parking lot, is set up and implemented as described in paragraph [0036]. The processing at this bicycle parking lot is not described below because the processing described in the paragraph [0036] is performed.

  The bicycle parking lot control server 32 includes first information transmission / reception means for exchanging information with the inside and outside of the bicycle parking lot via radio or / and wire, and control means for controlling each device in the bicycle parking lot according to the received information. This configuration can be set as described in the first to third bicycle parking lots described in FIG. The reader / writer 33, the gate 31, and the vehicle rack 36 transmit / receive information stored in the built-in IC tag 5 as is accomplished, rewrite information stored in the built-in IC tag 5, It can be set so that information stored in the lock with the attached lock can be transmitted and received, or information stored in the lock with the IC card reader can be rewritten. A device for setting such a function can be freely set according to the size (scale) of a bicycle parking lot, the number of rental bicycles used, the number of users, and the like.

  The bicycle parking management server 34 stores a vehicle status database that stores rental information and the like of a bicycle that is a vehicle, and a user that stores a user status such as a usage status of a user who can use a bicycle that is a vehicle. Store or change the vehicle information and the user information based on the situation database, the second information transmission / reception device that exchanges information with the bicycle parking control server via the network, and the information received from the bicycle parking control server And a vehicle control device that controls and sets the use of the vehicle.

  In addition, in FIG. 3, the rental bicycle use reception server 35 issues the IC card required when the user applies for the first rental bicycle and uses the rental bicycle. However, this processing is not limited to the bicycle use reception server 35, but it is natural that the bicycle parking management server 34 can issue an IC card. This means that the bicycle parking management server 34 and the car use reception server 35 are processed sufficiently even if they are the same or different servers.

  The information stored in the IC tag 11 and the information stored in the lock 1 with the IC card reader including the built-in IC tag 5 are set or changed by the bicycle parking management server 34. It will be memorized.

  Next, the concept of processing of the vehicle rental system will be described with reference to FIG.

Process 1: Figure 4a: Bicycle parking management by gate
Prerequisite: Bicycle parking lot users purchase a built-in IC tag in another place in advance,
Attach to the bicycle ・ All bicycles in the bicycle parking lot ・ Read the built-in IC tag at the gate and control the opening and closing Process 2: Figure 4b: Bicycle rental and bicycle parking management
Prerequisite: Rental bicycle users must register in advance at another location.
・ Reading the built-in IC tag at the gate and opening / closing control ・ Granting permission to rent out the rental bicycle tag by the IC card Processing 3: FIG. 4c: Bicycle parking management-rental bicycle / general bicycle
Precondition: Process 1, Process 2
・ Rental bicycles and general bicycles in bicycle parking lots ・ Built-in IC tag is read at gate and open / close control ・ Vehicle rack with lock is installed ・ Vehicle rack key is unlocked to IC card and bicycle rented from this vehicle rack Next, the flow of processing of the vehicle rental system of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to FIGS.
Figure 5: Locking operation with IC card reader (initial: unlocking)
Step 501: Insert the IC card into the lock.
Step 502: The lock is turned on.
Step 503: If there is no exclusive time specified on the lock,
The process proceeds to 504, and if there is, the process proceeds to 512.
Step 504: The ID of the bicycle parking rack is read and stored in the IC tag together with the time.
Repeat if not memorized, 50 if the specified number of retry errors
Move to 5.
Step 505: Record the default ID.
Step 506: The ID of the IC card is read and collated with the lock ID.
If the verification is not possible, the process proceeds to 512.
Step 507: Read and check the IC card usage validity period.
If the verification is not possible, the process proceeds to 512.
Step 508: The ID data in the IC card is shared with the time in the memory in the IC tag on the lock.
To record.
Step 509: Turn on the unlocking OK lamp of the lock.
Step 510: Turn the knob to unlock it. At the same time IC card can not be locked and removed
Like that.
Step 511: When the car is taken out, the power of the lock is turned off.
finish.
Step 512: The unlocking lamp on the lock remains off, the lock remains locked,
I can't turn the knob.
Step 513: Press the IC card eject button on the lock and take out the IC card.
Step 514: Since the power of the lock is turned off, this process ends.
For example, an IC card ID is composed of a parent number and a child number. By collating only the parent number, a plurality of rental cars can be shared by a plurality of people. Also, by using the child number, it is possible to identify an individual who uses a specific bicycle. Also, by having a child number, it is possible to restrict the use of the parent number by referring to the child number of the lost IC card when the IC card is reissued.

Fig. 6: Locking operation with IC card reader (parking: locking)
Step 601: Stop the bicycle.
Step 602: Turn and lock the lock knob Step 603: Read the parking rack ID and store it in the IC tag along with the time.
Repeat if you can't remember.
If there is an expected number of retry errors, the process proceeds to step 607.
Step 607: Record the default ID and go to step 604.
Step 604: Read the ID of the IC card and store the time in the memory in the IC tag of the lock.
Record both.
If there is a specified number of retry errors, the process proceeds to 608. .
Step 605: The lock lamp of the lock is turned on and the IC card pops out.
Step 606: The card is pulled out and the process ends.
Step 608: Push the push button and the IC card pops out a little.
Step 609: The card is pulled out and the process ends.
For example, since there is no bicycle parking rack ID in a bicycle parking lot at a place other than the bicycle parking rack ID, a predetermined number of retries are performed and the process automatically proceeds to the next step. This is because the bicycle parking rack remembers only the default.

Figure 7: Bicycle rack operation (parking: locked)
Step 701: The ID in the IC tag on the lock is compared with the ID of the parking rack, and the verification is successful.
If YES in step 701, the process proceeds to step 701. If collation cannot be performed, the process ends.
Step 702: All the usage history data in the memory in the IC tag of the lock is read. If it is read, the process proceeds to Step 703. If it cannot be read, the reading process is performed again and the specified number of retries is performed. If an error occurs, processing ends.
Step 703: The read usage history is transferred to the server.
If the transfer is not possible, transfer again and transfer the specified number of times.
If a lie error occurs, the process ends.
Step 704: The memory in the IC tag on the lock is erased.
If it cannot be erased, erase it again and retry the specified number of retries.
If an error occurs, the process ends.

  The term “IC tag” described above is a term in a broad sense, and it is sufficient that an IC is used as a tag, and it naturally includes an RFID tag.

  Further, the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings, but the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes design and the like within a scope not departing from the gist of the present invention.

It is drawing which shows one Example of the lock with an IC card reader of this invention. It is a simple drawing of the bicycle parking lot of the vehicle rental system of the present invention. It is a simple drawing of the bicycle parking lot of the vehicle rental system of the present invention. It is a simple drawing of the bicycle parking lot of the vehicle rental system of the present invention. It is a flowchart showing the flow of a process of the vehicle rental system of this invention. It is a flowchart showing the flow of a process of the vehicle rental system of this invention. It is a flowchart showing the flow of a process of the vehicle rental system of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Lock with IC card reader 5 ... Built-in IC tag 11, IC tag 20, Vehicle (bicycle parking) rack 21, Reader / writer 32, Bicycle parking control server 34, Bicycle parking management server

Claims (6)

  The invention according to claim 1 is a lock with an IC card reader used as a lock of a vehicle, and includes IC card information including at least a user ID, a lock ID, a validity period of the IC card, etc. stored in the IC card. Reading means for reading; correct / incorrect check means for checking the correctness of the IC card information; lock instructing means for instructing unlocking only when the correct / incorrect check means confirms correctness; and instructions for the lock instructing means A lock with an IC card reader, characterized by comprising unlocking means that can be unlocked according to the above.   2. The lock with an IC card reader according to claim 1, further comprising transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving information via wireless or / and wired.   The lock with IC card reader according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising IC tag means comprising an IC tag. A vehicle rental comprising a bicycle parking information control server that transmits and receives information from a lock with an IC card reader according to claim 1 and a bicycle parking management server that exchanges information from the bicycle parking control server via a network. A system,
The bicycle parking lot control server includes first information transmission / reception means for exchanging information with the inside and outside of the bicycle parking lot via radio or / and wired, and control means for controlling each device in the bicycle parking lot according to the received information.
The bicycle parking management server stores vehicle status storage means storing vehicle status such as vehicle rental status information, and user status storing user status such as usage status of users who can use the vehicle. Storage means, second information transmission / reception means for exchanging information with the bicycle parking lot control server via the network, vehicle information stored in the vehicle information storage means, and user stored in the user status storage means A vehicle rental system comprising: vehicle control means for controlling and setting the use of a vehicle while changing the vehicle information and the user information based on information and information received from the bicycle parking lot control server.   5. The vehicle rental system according to claim 4, wherein the bicycle parking control server exchanges information with vehicle gate means through which the vehicle passes when the vehicle is taken in and out of the bicycle parking lot.   The bicycle parking lot control server comprises IC card issuing means for issuing an IC card manufactured based on information disclosed to the user, and IC tag information setting means for setting data stored in the IC tag. 6. The vehicle rental system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein:

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