JP2005346135A - Data processor and its method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that when a photovoltaic power generation system is introduced by installment payment, it is necessary for a customer pay a fixed sum per month regardless of the output, and it is difficult for the customer to feel the introduction merits, and that when the customer suppresses a payment sum per month, his interest payment burdens are increased, and utility bill reduction effects are canceled, and the introduction merits are reduced. <P>SOLUTION: The setting scheduled place of a photovoltaic power generation system, the conditions of the photovoltaic power generation system, the balance of the photovoltaic power generation system and the number of times of divided payment of the balance are inputted (S110), and weather data corresponding to the setting scheduled place are acquired (S120), and standard photovoltaic energy is calculated by monthly units from the weather data and conditions (S130), and a standard payment sum corresponding to the balance and the number of times of payment frequency is acquired (S140), and monthly payment sum is calculated from the standard payment sum and the monthly photovoltaic power (S160). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a data processing apparatus and method, for example, data processing for promoting sales of a power generation system using natural energy.

  Although a power generation system using natural energy such as a solar power generation system has a great merit in terms of energy saving and the suppression of global warming, it is currently not being introduced to ordinary households. Therefore, if you introduce a power generation system that uses natural energy, such as the “solar power generation device sales support system” described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-63415, how much can you contribute to the environment? A system that raises the customer's willingness to purchase by providing information such as whether it can be suppressed to the customer is considered.

  FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the processing of the sales support system for a photovoltaic power generator disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-63415.

  This sales support system tells the customer how much carbon dioxide is emitted in relation to the usage of electricity, gas, water, kerosene, and gasoline when a solar power generation system is not used (S1). Show customers how much carbon dioxide emissions are reduced and how much they save on electricity bills when using a photovoltaic system (S2), and show customers what utilities they are currently spending (S3), presenting to the customer how much utility costs will be saved when adopting the contracts by time period adopted by each power company (S4), and the cost of purchasing a solar power generation system Is presented to the customer (S5), and when the customer has a mortgage, the customer is presented with how much the repayment of the mortgage is reduced by adopting the solar power generation system (S6).

  However, even if the solar power generation device can reduce the utility cost, customers often hesitate to introduce it due to the high introduction cost. In reality, it is expected to be a sales support system for solar power generation devices. The effect of is not obtained. Eventually, sales companies that handle solar power generation equipment promote sales by making payments in installments in partnership with credit sales companies, etc., and reducing the initial investment burden on customers.

  Furthermore, when the installment payment as described above is selected, there are the following problems. First, regardless of the output of the solar power generation device, a fixed amount must be paid every month, and the customer hardly feels the merit of introducing the solar power generation device. Secondly, if the monthly payment is kept low, the interest burden will increase, offsetting the effect of reducing utility costs, and reducing the merit of introducing solar power generation equipment.

JP 2002-63415 A

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems individually or collectively, and an object thereof is to calculate an installment payment amount according to the amount of generated power for each predetermined period.

  The present invention has the following configuration as one means for achieving the above object.

  In the data processing for supporting the sales of the power generation system using natural energy according to the present invention, data indicating the planned installation location of the power generation system, the conditions of the power generation system, the balance of the power generation system, and the number of split payments of the balance are input. The weather data corresponding to the planned installation location is acquired from the database, the generated power data indicating the standard generated power amount is calculated from the weather data and the data indicating the conditions for each predetermined period, and the balance and the number of divided payments are handled. Data indicating the standard payment amount is obtained from the database, and data indicating the payment amount for each predetermined period is calculated from the data indicating the standard payment amount and the generated power data in units of a predetermined period.

  Further, the data processing for determining the installment payment amount of the power generation system by communicating with the power generation system using the natural energy of the present invention through the computer network is a predetermined data indicating the amount of generated power from the power generation system via the computer network. It receives data for each period, reads the data indicating the provisional installment payment amount corresponding to the power generation system from the memory, and calculates the installment payment amount for a predetermined period from the data indicating the amount of generated power and the provisional installment payment amount .

  According to the present invention, it is possible to calculate an installment payment amount corresponding to the amount of generated power for each predetermined period. Therefore, it is possible to provide a payment method that suppresses the burden on the customer as much as possible and makes it easier to feel the merits of introducing a power generation system that uses natural energy, and promotes sales of the power generation system that uses natural energy.

  Hereinafter, a sales support system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[Overview]
The sales support system that solves the above-mentioned problems estimates the standard amount of generated power at a place where a power generation system using natural energy is installed in a certain period, and part or all of the price of the power generation system is in a certain period. When the customer pays a contract that is divided into two, the payment amount is predicted by calculating the standard payment amount and the standard power generation amount for a certain period, and the predicted payment amount is presented to the customer.

  Alternatively, a sales support system that integrates the amount of generated power generated using natural energy at regular intervals and transmits the integrated value and an ID unique to the power generation system to a host computer via a communication line. Furthermore, when the customer pays a part or all of the price of the power generation system divided into fixed period units, the temporary payment amount for each fixed period unit for each ID is stored in the database, and the host computer stores the power generation system. When the integrated value and ID of the generated power amount are received from, based on the received ID, the temporary payment amount for the relevant period of the customer stored in the database is extracted, and the actual payment amount is calculated from the received integrated amount and temporary payment amount. Calculate and notify the customer of the payment amount obtained.

  The above sales support system is usually provided as a form such as a computer-readable recording medium in which a sales support program is recorded or a form including hardware as shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. Is done.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the sales support system.

  The computer 1 that runs the sales support program displays various information such as a database 2 that stores data used by the sales support system, a keyboard 3 and a mouse 4 that input information such as the location where the power generation system is installed and the number of payments. A monitor 5 is connected, and a printer 6 that outputs a printed matter such as a contract or various slips is connected.

  When a customer desires an installment payment contract, first, a sales support program is executed on the computer 1. Next, parameters such as customer information using the keyboard 3 and mouse 4, customer's power generation system, planned installation location, power generation system conditions, power generation system balance excluding down payment, and desired number of payments, etc. input. The sales support program, on the other hand, stores the planned installation location, power generation system conditions, balance, amount of payment, etc. in the database (or memory such as hard disk) 2 in association with customer information. The meteorological data of the area close to is read, and the amount of generated power is estimated based on the conditions of the power generation system. Next, the sales support program calculates the standard monthly installment amount calculated from the balance and the number of payments and the monthly estimated power generation amount, calculates the monthly payment amount, and displays it on the monitor 5. If the customer confirms the display of the payment amount and approves the conditions of the power generation system and the number of payments, the contract including the calculated monthly payment amount is printed on the printer 6.

  In other words, the sales support system creates a non-uniform payment contract that increases the monthly installment amount in the month when the amount of generated power is estimated to be large, and reduces the monthly installment amount in the month where the amount of generated power is estimated to be small. By doing this, the month with a large amount of generated power and a low burden of utility costs (hereinafter referred to as “low burden month”) will pay a larger monthly installment amount, and the month with a small amount of generated power and a large burden of utility costs (hereinafter “high burden month”). ”) Sets a smaller monthly installment payment.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a second configuration example of the sales support system, which is different from the configuration shown in FIG. 2 in that the computer 1 is connected to a computer network 7 such as the Internet and receives data from the customer's power generation system 10. Or transmitting information to the power generation system 10. Note that the photovoltaic power generation system 10 has a unique ID (IP address or NIC (Network Interface Card) MAC (Media Access Control) address may be used if the Internet is used). Of course, this ID is stored in the database 2 in association with the customer information. Although not shown in the figure, the CPU of the power generation system 10 executes data processing and data communication described later by executing a program stored in a memory, which is a part of the sales support program.

  After the installment payment contract is concluded with the customer, the computer 1 stores the normal monthly payment amount in the database 2 in association with the ID of the power generation system 10 as a temporary payment amount. When the power generation system 10 is installed and starts operation, the power generation system 10 transmits an integrated value of the monthly power generation amount to the computer 1 via the network 7 every month. At that time, an ID unique to the power generation system 10 is also transmitted to the computer 1. The date on which the integrated value is transmitted is set according to, for example, the beginning of the month, the end of the month, or the monthly payment date.

  The computer 1 receiving the integrated value of the ID and the generated electric energy extracts the temporary payment amount for the month corresponding to the received ID from the database 2, and calculates the actual payment amount from the temporary payment amount and the received integrated value. The calculated payment amount is transmitted to the power generation system 10 via the network 7.

  The customer pays the sales company, etc., the amount (the payment amount) notified from the computer 1 to the power generation system 10, and the temporary payment amount, the actual payment amount, and the integrated value of the generated power amount are printed at that time. It is desirable for the power generation system 10 to have a printed billing function. In addition, a function of printing a receipt can be added to the power generation system 10 based on information notified from the computer 1 to the power generation system 10 after payment. Of course, instead of notifying the power generation system 10 of the payment amount from the computer 1, the computer 1 may send an e-mail describing the payment amount to an e-mail address designated by the customer.

  As described above, the sales support system shown in FIG. 3 employs a method in which the monthly installment payment amount is increased in the low-load month, and the customer is repaid more when there is less financial burden on the customer and when there is a financial allowance. Therefore, if the amount of generated power is greater than expected, repayment will be completed in a short time, and the interest rate burden will be reduced accordingly.

  The payment interval for installment payments is not limited to a monthly unit, but may be a multi-week unit, a multi-month unit, a semi-annual unit, an annual unit, etc. It is difficult to distinguish between periods when the cost burden is low and periods where the amount of generated power is small and the utility cost is high. Accordingly, the payment interval is preferably any of a plurality of weeks, a month, or a plurality of months. Of course, the period for estimating the amount of generated power or the period for integrating the amount of generated power is also set according to the payment interval.

  In the following, embodiments will be described in more detail.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining processing by the sales support program executed by the computer 1 of the sales support system according to the first embodiment.

  The sales support program first requests input of parameters such as a customer's planned installation location of the power generation system, conditions of the power generation system (output values under standard conditions, orientation / tilt of the installation surface, etc.), and the desired number of payments. When necessary parameters are input (S110), the parameters are stored in the database 2 and the weather data is read from the database 2 (S120). The read-in weather data is standard monthly weather data in an area close to the planned installation location. Such meteorological data is obtained by using data of a normal value or a quasi-normal value issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency, or data secondarily processed therefrom.

  Next, the sales support program estimates the monthly power generation amount based on the weather data and the conditions of the power generation system (S130). As a method for estimating the amount of generated power, it is possible to use a method such as “a method and an apparatus for predicting the amount of power generated by a solar cell” described in JP-A-11-54776. When predicting the amount of generated power, the monthly average estimated amount of generated power is also calculated. The monthly average estimated power generation amount is obtained by dividing the total estimated power generation amount during the payment period by the number of payments (number of months).

Next, the sales support program reads the standard payment amount every month from the database 2 from the balance other than the down payment of the power generation system and the number of payments (S140), and determines the payment amount (S150). First, the power generation strength K is determined using the following equation. The power generation strength K in the month in which the estimated power generation amount P exceeds the monthly average estimated power generation amount Pa is greater than 1, and the month in which the power generation strength K is lower is less than 1.
Ki = Pi / Pa (1)
Where ki is the power generation intensity per month
Pi is the estimated power generation amount per month

  Then, the monthly payment amount is determined by multiplying the standard payment amount by using the monthly power generation intensity Ki as a coefficient. Note that if the total amount does not match due to the rounding of the monthly payment amount, the payment amount for the down payment or the final payment month may be corrected as appropriate.

  The sales support program displays the determined monthly payment amount on the monitor 5, presents it to the customer, salesperson, etc. (S160), and waits for a confirmation input as to whether or not this payment amount is acceptable (S170). If the customer expresses his / her intention, or the salesperson confirms the customer's intention and inputs “OK” with the keyboard 3 or mouse 4, the monthly payment amount by the printer 6 (monthly if necessary) A contract is printed that includes estimated power generation amount Pi, monthly average estimated power generation amount Pa), and the like (S180). If “NG” is input, the process returns to step S110 to prompt parameter correction.

  Thus, according to the sales support system of the first embodiment, it is estimated that the amount of generated power is large with the ratio (power generation strength K) of the monthly estimated power generation amount Pi and the monthly average estimated power generation amount Pa as a coefficient. Increase the monthly payment amount and reduce the monthly payment amount that is estimated to generate less electricity, thereby leveling the customer's burden by increasing the amount in low-load months and lower in high-load months be able to.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining processing by the sales support program executed by the computer 1 and the power generation system 10 of the sales support system according to the second embodiment.

  Example 2 determines the monthly minimum payment amount without determining the monthly monthly payment amount when contracting with the customer, and associates the minimum payment amount as a temporary payment amount with the ID of the power generation system 10 to be installed. And save it in database 2. In addition, the minimum payment amount is an amount obtained by equally dividing the balance other than the down payment of the power generation system by the number of payments. The computer 1 of the sales support system is normally in a state of waiting for reception of information transmitted from the customer's power generation system 10.

  The processing described below is realized by the cooperation of both the sales support program that runs on the computer 1 and the sales support program that runs on the power generation system 10, but in order to avoid complicated explanations, It is assumed that the system 10 executes.

  When the installation is completed and the operation is started, the power generation system 10 first transmits information indicating the operation start together with the ID to the computer 1 (S310). Receiving this operation start information transmission (signal), the computer 1 recognizes that the operation of the power generation system 10 has started, and starts installment payment processing. Thereafter, the power generation system 10 repeatedly determines whether or not it is the information transmission date and time (S320), and continues the normal power generation operation until the transmission date and time is reached. When the transmission date / time is reached, the power generation system 10 transmits the integrated value of the amount of generated power during the period from the start of operation to the transmission date / time to the computer 1 together with the ID (S330).

On the other hand, the computer 1 waits to receive the integrated value of the ID and the generated electric energy from the power generation system 10 (S210), and when receiving the ID and the integrated value, extracts the temporary payment Am corresponding to the received ID from the database 2. Then, the additional payment amount Aa and the current month payment amount Ai are calculated using the following formula (S230).
Aa = Ps × Ka
Ai = Am + Aa… (2)
Where Ps is the integrated value received
Ka: Payment conversion factor
Am: Temporary payment (minimum payment)

  The payment amount conversion coefficient ka may be determined for each customer, or may be determined uniformly according to the scale of the power generation system 10, and is an item to be determined in a contract with the customer.

  In this way, by adding the additional payment amount Aa to the temporary payment amount Am, the actual payment amount Ai for the month is determined. As a result, when the payment amount Ai for the month exceeds the balance, the balance becomes the payment amount for the month, which is the final payment.

  If network 7 or the communication equipment connecting power generation system 10 and network 7 is malfunctioning and computer 1 cannot receive the integrated value of power generation by power generation system 10 by the payment deadline, computer 1 Let the amount Am be the amount of payment Ai for the month. Of course, also in this case, when the payment amount Ai for the month exceeds the balance, the balance is the payment amount for the month, and this is the final payment.

  Then, the computer 1 transmits the determined payment amount Ai to the power generation system 10 (S240), and returns to the reception waiting state (S210) again. Of course, the computer 1 can transmit the temporary payment amount (minimum payment amount) Am, the additional payment amount Aa, and the integrated value Ps of the generated electric energy as required.

  When the power generation system 10 receives the payment amount Ai and the like from the computer 1 (S340), it displays (or prints) the received payment amount Ai and the like (S350), and then returns to the determination of the transmission date and time (S320), Continue normal power generation operation. Note that the power generation system 10 can be provided with a function of printing out a bill including the received payment amount Ai. Further, when the second and subsequent transmission date / time is reached, the power generation system 10 transmits the integrated value of the generated electric energy during the period from the previous transmission date / time to the current transmission date / time together with the ID to the computer 1 (S330).

  The customer can know the actual payment amount Ai for the month by viewing the display of the power generation system 10 and the like.

  Hereinafter, the sales support system according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the third embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to substantially the same configurations as those in the second embodiment, and the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining processing by the sales support program executed by the computer 1 and the power generation system 10 of the sales support system of the third embodiment.

  In the same way as in Example 2, the monthly installment payment amount is not determined at the time of contract with the customer, but the minimum payment amount is determined as the temporary payment amount. The data is stored in the database 2 in association with the ID of the power generation system 10. In addition, the minimum payment amount is an amount obtained by equally dividing the balance other than the down payment of the power generation system by the number of payments. The computer 1 of the sales support system is normally in a state of waiting for reception of information transmitted from the customer's power generation system 10.

  The processing described below is realized by the cooperation of both the sales support program that runs on the computer 1 and the sales support program that runs on the power generation system 10, but in order to avoid complicated explanations, It is assumed that the system 10 executes.

  When the installation is completed and the operation is started, the power generation system 10 first transmits information indicating the operation start together with the ID to the computer 1 (S310). Receiving this operation start information transmission (signal), the computer 1 recognizes that the operation of the power generation system 10 has started, and starts installment payment processing. Thereafter, the power generation system 10 repeatedly determines whether or not it is the information transmission date and time (S320), and continues the normal power generation operation until the transmission date and time is reached. When the transmission date / time is reached, the power generation system 10 transmits the integrated value of the amount of generated power during the period from the start of operation to the transmission date / time to the computer 1 together with the ID (S330).

  On the other hand, the computer 1 waits to receive the integrated value of the ID and the generated electric energy from the power generation system 10 (S210), and when receiving the ID and the integrated value, extracts the temporary payment amount Am corresponding to the received ID from the database 2. Then, the additional payment amount Aa and the current month payment amount Ai are calculated using the above-described equation (2) (S230).

  Then, the e-mail address (customer e-mail address) corresponding to the received ID is extracted from the database (S250), an e-mail describing the determined payment amount Ai is sent to the e-mail address (S260), and again waiting for reception. Return to the state (S210). Of course, the computer 1 can describe the temporary payment amount (minimum payment amount) Am, the additional payment amount Aa, and the integrated value Ps of the amount of generated power in the e-mail as necessary. Further, the computer 1 may transmit a PDF file of an invoice including the payment amount Ai attached to an e-mail.

  The customer who has received this e-mail can know the actual payment amount Ai of the month, etc. by displaying or printing the e-mail text or attached document.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, instead of notifying the payment amount Ai and the like by e-mail (S250), an invoice including the payment amount Ai and the like can be printed (S260). This invoice is delivered to the customer by mail or the like, and the payment amount Ai or the like can be notified to the customer who does not use the e-mail.

  Of course, if the customer has a bank withdrawal or an automatic payment contract using a credit sales company, it is possible to omit the issuance of the invoice and issue the receipt by notifying the payment amount Ai after confirming the withdrawal. Both invoices and receipts may be issued.

The flowchart which shows the process of the sales support system of the conventional solar power generation device, A block diagram showing a configuration example of a sales support system, Block diagram showing a second configuration example of the sales support system, A flowchart for explaining processing by a sales support program executed by a computer of the sales support system of Embodiment 1, Flowchart explaining the processing by the sales support program executed by the computer and the power generation system of the sales support system of Example 2, Flowchart explaining the processing by the sales support program executed by the computer and the power generation system of the sales support system of Example 3, 12 is a flowchart illustrating another process by the sales support program executed by the computer and the power generation system of the sales support system according to the third embodiment.

Claims (8)

A data processing method executed by a data processing device that supports sales of a power generation system using natural energy,
Input data indicating the planned installation location of the power generation system, the conditions of the power generation system, the balance of the power generation system, and the number of installments of the balance,
Acquire weather data corresponding to the planned installation location from the database,
Calculate generated power data indicating a standard amount of generated power from the weather data and data indicating the conditions in units of a predetermined period,
Obtaining data indicating the standard payment amount corresponding to the balance and the number of installments from the database,
A data processing method comprising: calculating each data indicating a payment amount for each predetermined period from the data indicating the standard payment amount and the generated power data of the predetermined period unit. A data processing method executed by a data processing apparatus that communicates with a power generation system using natural energy via a computer network and determines an installment payment amount of the power generation system,
Receiving data indicating the amount of generated power from the power generation system via the computer network in units of a predetermined period;
Read data indicating the provisional installment payment amount corresponding to the power generation system from the memory,
A data processing method comprising: calculating each installment payment amount for a predetermined period from data indicating the generated power amount and the provisional installment payment amount.   3. The data processing method according to claim 2, wherein the installment payment amount is calculated by adding a result obtained by multiplying the generated power amount by a predetermined number to the provisional installment payment amount.   4. The data processing method according to claim 2, wherein when the data indicating the amount of generated power is not received, the provisional installment payment amount is set as the installment payment amount for the predetermined period.   5. A program that controls a data processing device to realize the data processing according to claim 1.   6. A recording medium on which the program according to claim 5 is recorded. A data processing device that supports sales of power generation systems using natural energy,
An input means for inputting data indicating the planned installation location of the power generation system, the conditions of the power generation system, the balance of the power generation system, and the number of installments of the balance;
Weather data acquisition means for acquiring weather data corresponding to the planned installation location from a database;
Generated power amount prediction means for calculating generated power data indicating a standard generated power amount from the weather data and the data indicating the conditions in units of a predetermined period;
Standard payment amount acquisition means for acquiring data indicating the standard payment amount corresponding to the balance and the number of installment payments from the database;
A data processing apparatus comprising: a payment amount determining means for calculating data indicating a payment amount for each predetermined period from the data indicating the standard payment amount and the generated power data of the predetermined period unit. A data processing apparatus that communicates with a power generation system using natural energy via a computer network and determines an installment payment amount of the power generation system,
Receiving means for receiving data indicating the amount of generated power from the power generation system via the computer network in units of a predetermined period;
Reading means for reading data indicating a provisional installment payment amount corresponding to the power generation system from a memory;
A data processing apparatus comprising: calculation means for calculating the installment payment amount for a predetermined period from the data indicating the generated power amount and the provisional installment payment amount.

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