JP2023040993A - parking area management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique for remotely managing rental or return of a plurality of parking areas to/from users for each parking area.

MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM: A system 10 for managing a plurality of parking areas 20 has a management server 50 that communicates with a communication apparatus 90 of a user who desires to use any one parking area and manages the plurality of parking areas. The user transmits parking area information for specifying the any one parking area to the management server via the communication apparatus 90. The management server identifies the any one parking area based on the parking area information received from the communication apparatus 90, permits the user to rent out the parking area, and transmits a password to be associated with the parking area to the communication apparatus 90. The user associates the password with the parking area and enters it into the system.

SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

COPYRIGHT: (C)2023,JPO&INPIT

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a technology for remotely managing rentals or returns to users in a plurality of parking areas for each parking area.

In recent years, services for lending and returning rental objects to users are becoming popular. Various items already exist as the rental objects, and new ones may exist in the future. Existing rental objects range from tangible property and real estate to intangible audiovisual content (for example, content represented by data that is not fixed on a recording medium).

Rental objects as movable property include, for example, land, water or flying vehicles (for example, for movement or entertainment), furniture, clothing, electrical appliances, and accessories detachably attached to electrical appliances (for example, batteries or a charger), and a recording medium (for example, a CD) on which audiovisual content is recorded that can be played by a user. In addition, rental properties as real estate include, for example, accommodation facilities (e.g., hotels) where users can stay for a short period of time, or accommodation facilities (e.g., apartments) for which users can stay for a long period of time, coin lockers, There are individual parking spaces in the parking lot.

For example, there is a bicycle as a rental object as a land vehicle. For example, in tourist areas, there are services that rent bicycles to travelers as a means of getting to their destinations. There are services available for rent.

Specific techniques have already been proposed for providing services for renting and returning bicycles to users.

For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique for managing each station by communicating with an external management center in order to rent a bicycle. This technology assigns a two-dimensional code to each bicycle and displays it on a first print medium, and assigns a two-dimensional code to each station and displays it on a second print medium. , each bicycle is locked with a combination lock to store each bicycle, and the user reads the two-dimensional code of the bicycle he/she wants to borrow, and manages the information via the user's portable communication device. to a center so that the management center recognizes the current bicycle.

This technology further allows the user to read the two-dimensional code of the station in which he or she is currently located and transmit the information to the management center via the user's portable communication device, so that the management center can the management center transmits the unlocking number of the key to the user's portable communication device when the bicycle is rented; and unlocking the key using

Patent document 2 also discloses a technique for managing each station by communicating with an external management center in order to rent a bicycle. This technology uses a key for each bicycle, and when the management center receives the vehicle number of the bicycle that the user wants to borrow from the user's mobile communication device, it unlocks the bicycle for unlocking the lock. It is characterized by sending a signal to the key, and upon receiving said unlocking signal, said key is automatically unlocked.

Further, Patent Document 3 discloses a technique for independently managing each station for renting a bicycle. This technology consists of installing, in the same station, a numerical input unit and bicycle parking management unit (having a storage device) common to multiple bicycles, a bicycle lock control unit for each bicycle, and each bicycle lock control unit. unit uses a key, each bicycle lock control unit is assigned a unique device number, and the bicycle parking management unit inputs the device number and the personal identification number ( and a personal identification number registered in advance by the user to identify the person himself/herself is received, the bicycle lock control section is controlled to unlock the key.

Patent document 4 also discloses a technique for managing each station by communicating with an external management center in order to rent a bicycle. This technology is based on the following points: a stand is installed for each bicycle in the same station; the stand uses a key; When an operation message representing a stand is received, an unlocking signal for unlocking the key is transmitted to the specific stand; and when the unlocking signal is received, the key is unlocked. and

Further, Patent Literature 5 discloses a technique of encrypting the current time and displaying it every moment on a display of a ticket issuing machine installed in a parking lot.

JP 2011-248813 A Japanese Patent No. 5008108 Japanese Patent No. 5507916 U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0196631 Japanese Patent No. 5340466

In the bicycle rental service described above, there are cases where it is important for the management center to correctly grasp at which of a plurality of stations a certain user rents or returns a bicycle.

An example of such a case would be if a user returned a bicycle at the same station from which it was rented, per the billing rules employed by the management center to calculate the amount of rental fees charged to the user. This is an example of adopting a billing rule so that the amount of the rental fee charged to the user differs depending on whether the user performs the operation or when the user returns the device at a different station.

Another example is knowing exactly which station each time a bicycle is rented and to which station it was returned each time it was returned. Calculate the balance of the number of bicycles at each station (for example, estimate the number of bicycles that can be rented from time to time), and based on the results, multiple bicycles are deployed at each station This is a case where bicycles are appropriately distributed among stations.

However, if the user stores information for specifying the rented station and communicates the same information as that information to the management center at the time of returning, the returning station and the renting station will be different. In fact, the management center will perceive that the user returned at the same station from which the user rented, whether the same or different.

Therefore, the user exploits this reality and deliberately uses information to identify the station from which the rental was made, even though the return is actually made at a different station from the one from which the rental was made. The same information may be fraudulently communicated to the management center upon return.

In the above, taking the case where the rental object is a bicycle as an example, the problem that the user may commit fraud when the user inputs the data necessary for renting and returning the rental object has been explained. A similar problem exists when lending and returning other rental objects to the user.

Against the background of the above findings, the present invention aims to provide a technique for remotely managing rental or return of a vehicle to a user in a plurality of parking areas for each parking area.

In order to solve the problem, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a parking area management system that manages lending or returning a plurality of parking areas to users for each parking area,
a management server that remotely and centrally manages the rental or return of the plurality of parking areas to the user by communicating with the communication device of the user who desires to use one of the parking areas;
including
The communication device of the user transmits parking area information for specifying one of the parking areas to the management server,
The management server is
a parking area identification unit that, when receiving the parking area information from the communication device of the user, identifies one of the parking areas based on the received parking area information;
a transmitting unit that permits the specified parking area to be rented to the user, and that transmits a personal identification number associated with the specified parking area as visualization data to the communication device of the user;
including
A parking area management system is provided in which the PIN number is entered by the user in association with the identified parking area.

Further, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a parking area management system that manages lending or returning to users of a plurality of parking areas for each parking area,
a parking area information display unit installed in each parking area and displaying parking area information for specifying the parking area;
a management server that remotely and centrally manages rental or return of the plurality of parking areas to users by communicating with communication devices of users who wish to use any of the parking areas;
The communication device of the user transmits the parking area information displayed on the parking area information display unit installed in one of the parking areas to the management server,
The management server is
a receiving unit that receives the parking area information from the user's communication device;
a parking area identification unit that identifies one of the parking areas based on the received parking area information;
a transmission unit that permits the specified parking area to be rented to the user and transmits a personal identification number associated with the specified parking area as visualization data to the communication device of the user;
A parking area management system is provided in which the PIN number is entered by the user in association with the identified parking area.

Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a parking lot management system for managing lending or returning to users of a plurality of parking lots each having a plurality of individual parking spaces for each individual parking space,
a parking lot information display unit that is installed in each parking lot and displays parking lot information for specifying the parking lot that cannot be deciphered by the user;
Management that centrally manages lending or returning to users of a plurality of parking spaces for each individual parking space by communicating with a mobile terminal of a user who desires to use any of the individual parking spaces in any of the parking lots contains a server and
The user, while actually in one of the parking lots, decodes the parking lot information displayed on the parking lot information display section installed in the one of the parking lots, using the user's portable terminal. without sending to the management server via the mobile terminal,
The management server is
a receiving unit that receives the parking lot information from the mobile terminal of the user;
a parking lot identification unit that identifies the parking lot where the user actually stays by decoding the received parking lot information;
a transmission unit that permits the user to rent out any individual parking space in the specified parking lot, and that transmits a personal identification number associated with any of the individual parking spaces to the mobile terminal of the user; including
A parking lot management system is provided in which the received personal identification number is input by the user in association with one of the individual parking spaces.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rental system that rents or returns a rental object to a user at a plurality of stations each storing the rental object, comprising:
a station information output device installed at the position of each station for outputting station information for specifying the station in a state that cannot be deciphered by the user;
a management server that centrally manages the plurality of stations by communicating with a mobile terminal of a user who desires to rent or return the rental object at the position of one of the stations;
The user, while actually at any station, can use the mobile terminal to read the station information output from the station information output device installed at the station without having the mobile terminal decode the station information. and send it to the management server,
The management server is
a receiving unit that receives the station information from the mobile terminal;
a station identifying unit that identifies the station where the user is actually located by decoding the received station information;
When the user returns the rental object to the specified station, the determination result as to whether or not the rental object was also rented out at the specified station and the length of time the user has used the rental object. a rental fee calculation unit that calculates the rental fee amount for the user based on the
a payment processing unit that performs processing for paying the rental fee by a payment method including at least one of bank payment, credit card payment, and prepaid payment, in order to collect the rental fee from the user;
and a transmitting unit that transmits a signal indicating completion of return of the rental object and a signal indicating completion of payment of the rental fee to a user's portable terminal when payment of the rental fee is completed.

Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rental system that lends or returns a rental object to a user at a plurality of stations each storing the rental object, comprising:
a station information output device installed at the position of each station for outputting encrypted station information for specifying the station;
a management server that centrally manages the plurality of stations by communicating with a mobile terminal of a user who desires to rent or return the rental object at the position of one of the stations;
A user acquires station information generated for any station at the position of any station where the user is actually located, and the portable terminal does not decode the acquired station information. to the management server via
The management server is
a receiving unit that receives the station information from the mobile terminal;
a station identifying unit that identifies the station where the user is actually located by decoding the received station information;
When the user returns the rental object to the specified station, the determination result as to whether or not the rental object was also rented out at the specified station and the length of time the user has used the rental object. a rental fee calculation unit that calculates the rental fee amount for the user based on the
a payment processing unit that performs processing for paying the rental fee by a payment method including at least one of bank payment, credit card payment, and prepaid payment, in order to collect the rental fee from the user;
and a transmitting unit that transmits a signal indicating completion of return of the rental object and a signal indicating completion of payment of the rental fee to a user's portable terminal when payment of the rental fee is completed.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rental system for renting or returning a rental object to a user at a plurality of stations each storing the rental object, comprising:
a station information output device installed at the position of each station for outputting station information for specifying the station, which is encrypted together with the time;
a management server that centrally manages the plurality of stations by communicating with a mobile terminal of a user who desires to rent or return any rental object at the location of any station;
At the position of any station where the user is actually located, the user can enter the station information generated for any station and any rental object that the user wishes to rent or return at any station. acquiring rental target information for identification, and transmitting the acquired station information and rental target information to the management server via the mobile terminal;
The management server is
a receiving unit that receives the station information and the rental target information from the mobile terminal;
a station identification unit that identifies the station where the user is actually located by decryption based on the received station information;
a time restoration unit that decodes the encrypted time so as to restore the rental time when the device is lent to the user and the return time when the device is returned from the user;
a rental object identification unit that identifies a rental object that the user wishes to rent or return based on the received rental object information;
and a usage time calculation unit that calculates the length of usage time of the specified rental object as the elapsed time from the rental time to the return time.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rental system that rents or returns a rental object to a user at a plurality of stations each storing the rental object, comprising:
a station information output device installed at the position of each station for outputting station information for specifying the station, which is encrypted together with the time;
a rental object information display medium installed at the position of each rental object and displaying rental object information for specifying the rental object;
a management server that centrally manages the plurality of stations by communicating with a mobile terminal of a user who desires to rent or return any rental object at the location of any station;
At the location of any station where the user is actually located, the user can obtain station information generated for any station and any rental object that the user wishes to rent or return at any station. acquiring the generated rental target information, and transmitting the acquired station information and rental target information to the management server via the portable terminal;
The management server is
a receiving unit that receives the station information and the rental target information from the mobile terminal;
A station identification unit that identifies the station where the user actually resides by decryption based on the received station information, and further converts the encrypted time into the rental time when the device is lent to the user, and the encrypted time when the device is returned from the user. Sometimes the encryption is deciphered at the time of return,
a rental object identification unit that identifies a rental object that the user wishes to rent or return based on the received rental object information;
A permitting unit that permits the user to rent or return the specified rental object at the specified station on condition that the difference between the rental time or the return time and the current time is equal to or less than an allowable value. A rental system is provided that includes and .

Further, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rental system for lending and returning a movable rental object to a user,
a plurality of stations each storing at least one rental object;
A management server that lends and returns any rental object to the user by communicating with the user who desires to use any station for renting any rental object via a communication device. including and
The management server is
Upon receiving a rental request and first information for identifying any station from which any rental object is desired to be rented as a rental station from the user via the communication device, the apparatus is associated with the user. a rental processing unit that stores the rental time and the rental station of any of the rental objects in a memory;
A return request from a user via the communication device, and a station at which the rented item is to be returned and which is the same as or different from the station at which the rental is made. as a return station, the user is notified of the return time of the rented object as the elapsed time from the rental time read from the memory. calculating a length of rental time for an object, determining whether the return station matches the renting station read from the memory, and adding a rental fee for the rental object to the calculated rental time; a return processing unit that increases the amount based on the length, and based on the result of the match/mismatch determination, if the return station does not match the lending station, the amount is increased more than if the return station matches; A rental system is provided that includes:

Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rental method for lending and returning a movable rental object to a user, comprising:
In order to carry out the rental method,
a plurality of stations each storing at least one rental object;
A management server that lends and returns any rental object to the user by communicating with the user who desires to use any station for renting any rental object via a communication device. and are used and
The rental method is
A rental processing step executed by the management server, wherein a rental request is sent from a user via the communication device, and any station desired to rent out any rental object is specified as a rental station. when receiving the first information for the rental, storing in a memory the rental time and the rental station of any of the rental objects in association with the user;
A return processing step executed by the management server, wherein a user requests a return via the communication device and the rental object is returned at any station that wishes to return the rented object. and second information identifying a return station that is the same as or different from the station at which the rental was made, and a time at which the rented item was returned to the user. The length of the rental time of the rental object is calculated as the elapsed time from the rental time read from the memory, and it is determined whether the return station matches the rental station read from the memory. and increasing the rental fee of the rental object based on the length of the rental time calculated, and matching if the return station does not match the rental station based on the match/mismatch determination result. A rental method is provided that includes a return processing step that calculates to pay more than if you do.

Further, according to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rental method for lending and returning a movable rental object to a user,
In order to carry out the rental method,
a plurality of stations each storing at least one rental object;
A management server that lends and returns any rental object to the user by communicating with the user who desires to use any station for renting any rental object via a communication device. and are used and
The rental method is
a determination step of determining, by the management server, whether or not, when any of the rental objects is returned, the return station to which the rental object is returned matches the lending station where the rental object is rented;
a rental time calculation step of calculating, by the management server, the rental time as the elapsed time from the time at which the rental is performed at the time at which the return is performed;
a rental fee calculator for calculating a rental fee for the rental object to be increased based on the length of the rental time calculated and increased if the return station does not match the lending station than if it matches A rental method is provided that includes steps and .

Further, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a rental system for lending and returning a rental object to a user, comprising:
a plurality of stations each storing at least one rental object;
A management server that lends and returns any rental object to the user by communicating with the user who desires to use any station for renting any rental object via a communication device. and commonly used by the plurality of stations,
The management server is
A rental request from a user via the communication device, first information for specifying a station at which one of the rental objects is desired to be rented as a rental station, and a rental object to be rented. When the second information for specifying is received, on the condition that both the first information and the second information are authentic, the personal identification number unique to the current rental object is read from the memory and sent to the user. a rental permitting unit that permits the user to rent out the specified rental object at the specified rental station and stores the rental time and the rental station in the memory;
A return request from a user via the communication device, and a station at which the rented item is to be returned and which is the same as or different from the station at which the rental is made. as the return station and the fourth information for identifying the rented item, provided that both the third information and the fourth information are authentic. a return permitting unit that permits the user to return the specified rental object at the specified return station;
The length of the rental time of the rental object is calculated as the elapsed time from the rental time read out from the memory of the return time, and the return station and the rental station read out from the memory. determining whether or not there is a match, increasing the rental fee for the rental object based on the calculated length of the rental time, and based on the result of the match/mismatch determination, the return station and a rental fee calculator that calculates a higher charge if there is no match with the station than if there is a match.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bicycle rental system for renting and returning rental bicycles to users at a plurality of stations for storing rental bicycles,
an encryption unit that generates a cipher by encrypting a station ID unique to each station;
a display unit for displaying the generated cipher at the position of each station;
a management server that centrally manages the plurality of stations by communicating with communication equipment of users using any of the stations;
The management server is
a receiver for receiving the cipher from a communication device of a user at any station;
a decryption unit that decrypts the received encryption, thereby recovering the corresponding station ID, thereby identifying the station where the user is actually located;
A bicycle rental system is provided wherein the plurality of ciphers displayed respectively at the plurality of station locations are dynamic ciphers that are dynamic with respect to station location.

Further, according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bicycle rental method for renting and returning a rental bicycle to a user at a plurality of stations each storing the rental bicycle, comprising:
an encryption step of generating a cipher by encrypting a station ID unique to each station;
a display step of displaying the generated cipher on a screen at the position of each station;
a receiving step in which a management server centrally managing the plurality of stations receives the ciphertext from the user's communication equipment at any station by communicating with the communication equipment of the user using any of the stations; ,
a decryption step in which the management server decrypts the received encryption, thereby recovering the corresponding station ID, thereby identifying the station where the user is actually located;
A bicycle rental method is provided wherein the plurality of ciphers respectively displayed at the plurality of station locations are dynamic ciphers that are dynamic with respect to station location.

Further, according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bicycle rental method for renting and returning a rental bicycle to a user at a plurality of stations each storing the rental bicycle, comprising:
an encryption step for generating a cipher so that it is dynamic with respect to station position;
a display step of displaying the generated cipher on a screen at each station location;
A user at one of the stations uses available communication equipment to transmit the cipher displayed on the screen to a management center that centrally manages the plurality of stations,
The method further comprises:
a receiving step of receiving said encryption from a user's communication device;
a measuring step of measuring the time when the reception was performed as the reception time;
a decrypting step of decrypting the received code, thereby recovering the corresponding station ID, thereby identifying the station where the user is actually located.

Further, according to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rental system for lending and returning a movable rental object to a user,
a plurality of stations each storing at least one rental object;
A management server that lends and returns any rental object to the user by communicating with the user who desires to use any station for renting any rental object via a communication device. and commonly used by the plurality of stations,
The management server is
A rental request from a user via the communication device, first information for specifying a station at which one of the rental objects is desired to be rented as a rental station, and a rental object to be rented. When the second information for specifying is received, on the condition that both the first information and the second information are authentic, the personal identification number unique to the current rental object is read from the memory and sent to the user. a rental permitting unit that permits the user to rent out the specified rental object at the specified rental station and stores the rental time and the rental station in the memory;
A return request from a user via the communication device, and a station at which the rented item is to be returned and which is the same as or different from the station at which the rental is made. as the return station and the fourth information for identifying the rented item, provided that both the third information and the fourth information are authentic. a return permitting unit that permits the user to return the specified rental object at the specified return station;
The length of the rental time of the rental object is calculated as the elapsed time from the rental time read out from the memory of the return time, and the return station and the rental station read out from the memory. determining whether or not there is a match, increasing the rental fee for the rental object based on the calculated length of the rental time, and based on the result of the match/mismatch determination, the return station and a rental fee calculator that calculates a higher charge if there is no match with the station than if there is a match.

In one example, the rental object is a rental vehicle including a rental bicycle, a rental motorcycle, or a rental car,
The personal identification number is a personal identification number for unlocking the rental vehicle.

In another example, the rental object is rental furniture,
The password is a password applied to the door key of the closed space where the rental furniture is stored.

In still another example, the rental object is a rental CD,
The password is a password applied to the door key of the closed space where the rental CD is stored.

The present invention provides the following aspects. Each aspect is divided into sections, each section is numbered, and the numbers of other sections are referred to as necessary. This is to facilitate understanding of some of the technical features that can be employed by the present invention and combinations thereof, and the technical features that can be employed by the present invention and combinations thereof are limited to the following aspects. should not be interpreted as That is, it should be construed that the technical features described in the present specification, which are not described in the following aspects, are appropriately extracted and employed as the technical features of the present invention.

Furthermore, it should be noted that stating each paragraph in a format that refers to the numbers of other paragraphs does not necessarily prevent the technical features described in each paragraph from being separated and independent from the technical features described in other paragraphs. It should be construed that the technical features described in each section can be made independent as appropriate according to their nature.

(1) A rental device installed in each of a plurality of stations capable of storing at least one rental object for lending and returning the at least one rental object to a user,
at each station location, a display that momentarily displays a cipher that is dynamic both with respect to time of day and with respect to station location;
Said encryption is transmitted by a user via a communication device to a management center that remotely manages said plurality of stations.

(2) The at least one rental object includes a vehicle, furniture, clothes, electrical appliances, batteries, chargers, recording media on which audiovisual contents are recorded, rooms where you can stay, individual storage spaces in coin lockers, and parking lots. (1) including at least one of the individual parking spaces.

(3) further comprising an encryption unit that generates the cipher from time to time by encrypting the information before encryption using an encryption algorithm;
Is the combination of the pre-encrypted information and the encryption algorithm such that one of the pre-encrypted information and the encryption algorithm is dynamic at least with respect to time and the other is dynamic at least with respect to station location? or at least one of the pre-encrypted information and the encryption algorithm is configured to be dynamic both with respect to time of day and station position,
The cipher is
The property that the user cannot decipher, and
the property that if a user is actually present or has been at any station, he or she cannot obtain a genuine cipher unless he is actually present or past at that very station;
the management center can decipher the cipher and deduce that the user is actually present or has been in the very station;
The trusted center decrypts the cipher received from the user by using the same encryption algorithm for decryption, thereby inferring the station where the user is actually present or has been. The rental device according to item (1) or (2).

(4) A bicycle rental device installed at each of a plurality of stations each capable of storing a plurality of bicycles for renting and returning the bicycles to a user,
at each station location, a display that momentarily displays a cipher that is dynamic both with respect to time of day and with respect to station location;
The bicycle rental apparatus, wherein the encryption is transmitted by a user via a communication device to a management center that remotely manages the plurality of stations.

(5) further comprising an encryption unit that generates the cipher from time to time by encrypting the information before encryption using an encryption algorithm;
the pre-encrypted information includes information about at least one of time and station location;
Is the combination of the pre-encrypted information and the encryption algorithm such that one of the pre-encrypted information and the encryption algorithm is dynamic at least with respect to time and the other is dynamic at least with respect to station location? or at least one of the pre-encrypted information and the encryption algorithm is configured to be dynamic both with respect to time of day and station position,
The cipher is
The property that the user cannot decipher, and
the property that if the user is actually at some station at any time, he/she cannot get it unless he/she is actually at that very station at that very time;
the management center can decipher the code and deduce that the user is actually at the station at the exact time,
The Trusted Center decrypts the cipher received from the user by using the same encryption algorithm for decryption, thereby determining the station the user is actually at and the time he is actually at that station. The bicycle rental device according to item (4) for estimating .

(6) A bicycle rental system for renting and returning a plurality of bicycles to a user at a plurality of stations each storing a plurality of bicycles, comprising:
a display unit installed in each of the plurality of stations and displaying a cipher that is dynamic both in terms of time and station position from time to time;
When the cipher currently displayed on the display unit is transmitted to the center-side unit by using a communication device installed in a management center that remotely manages the plurality of stations and is available to the user, the cipher is received. and an analysis unit for estimating the station where the user is actually present and the time when the user is actually present at the station by analyzing the received code.

(7) A bicycle rental system for renting and returning a plurality of bicycles to a user at a plurality of stations each storing a plurality of bicycles,
a plurality of station-side units respectively installed in the plurality of stations;
a center-side unit installed in a management center that centrally manages the plurality of stations;
each of the plurality of stations is pre-assigned a unique station ID;
Each station side unit
a clock that measures the current time moment by moment;
An encryption unit for encrypting the current time measured by the clock and the station ID unique to the corresponding station, wherein the station ID is a cipher that changes from moment to moment even though it is for the same station. and encrypting to
a display that displays information including the encrypted current time and station ID as two codes,
Using an available communication device, the user transmits the two ciphers displayed on the display unit to the center unit,
The center side unit is
a decryption unit that decrypts the two ciphers upon receiving the two ciphers from a user;
Recognizing that the user is actually at the station having the station ID restored by decrypting the encrypted station ID at the time restored by decrypting the encrypted current time. and a bicycle rental system comprising:

(8) each station ID is a station ID that is dynamic with respect to station location but static with respect to time;
The encryption unit uses a station ID unique to the corresponding station and an encryption algorithm that is static with respect to station location but dynamic with respect to time and that is common to the plurality of stations. The bicycle rental system according to item (7), which encrypts the information in a code that changes from moment to moment.

(9) each station ID is a station ID that is dynamic with respect to station location and time;
The encryption unit changes the station ID unique to the corresponding station from moment to moment by using an encryption algorithm that is static with respect to station location and time and that is common to the plurality of stations. (7) The bicycle rental system according to paragraph (7), which encrypts to a cipher that

(10) The center side unit further includes:
including memory from which information can be read and stored;
When the user rents out a bicycle, the user uses the communication device to transmit the rental ciphers, which are the two ciphers obtained from the display unit, to the center unit,
Upon receiving the two rental codes from the user at the time of rental, the decryption unit recognizes the rental information including the rental time and the rental station by decoding the rental codes, and transmits the rental information to the user. or stored in the memory in association with the bicycle rented to the user;
When returning the bicycle, the user uses the communication device to transmit the return code, which is the two codes obtained from the display unit, to the center unit,
Upon receiving the two return codes from the user at the time of return, the decryption unit recognizes the return information including the return time and the return station by decrypting the return codes,
The information processing unit reads from the memory the rental time and the rental station stored in association with the user or the bicycle rented to the user, and calculates the bicycle usage time as the elapsed time from the rental time to the return time. The bicycle rental system according to any one of paragraphs (7) to (9), which calculates the length of , and determines match/mismatch between the rental station and the return station.

(11) When the user rents out a bicycle, the user uses the communication device to transmit the rental ciphers, which are the two ciphers acquired from the display unit, to the center unit,
When the decryption unit receives the two rental encryptions from the user at the time of rental, the decryption unit recognizes the rental information including the rental time and the rental station by decrypting the rental encryptions,
When the user returns the bicycle, the user uses the communication device to transmit the return code, which is the two codes acquired from the display unit, to the center unit together with the two rental codes already sent,
Upon receiving the two rental ciphers and the two return ciphers from the user at the time of the return, the decryption unit decodes the received two rental ciphers to identify the rental time and the rental station. while recognizing the rental information including the return information including the return time and the return station by decoding the two returned codes received,
The information processing unit calculates the length of bicycle use time as the elapsed time from the rental time to the return time, and determines whether the rental station and the return station match or disagree (7). (10) A bicycle rental system according to any one of items.

(12) A bicycle rental system for renting and returning a plurality of bicycles to a user at a plurality of stations each storing a plurality of bicycles,
a plurality of station-side units respectively installed in the plurality of stations;
a center-side unit installed in a management center that centrally manages the plurality of stations;
Each station side unit
a first clock for measuring the current time from moment to moment;
By using an encryption algorithm that corresponds to each station-side unit and is different from the encryption algorithm used in other stations, the current time measured by the first clock is the same current time, but an encryption unit that encrypts to a cipher different from ciphers obtained at other stations;
a display for displaying information including the cipher;
The plurality of encryption algorithms used by the plurality of stations in their respective encryption units are different from each other, and the correspondence between the stations and the encryption algorithms is known,
Using an available communication device, the user transmits the cipher displayed on the display unit to the center unit,
The center side unit is
a second clock that, when receiving the cipher from the user, measures the time when the cipher was received as the reception time;
decrypting the received cipher, thereby recovering the time; comparing the recovered time and the received time to each other, thereby using one of the plurality of encryption algorithms to use the received a decryption section that selects an encryption algorithm whose difference between the time restored by the decryption and the received time is equal to or less than a reference value as a true encryption algorithm corresponding to the station where the user actually resides. and,
an information processing unit that recognizes that the user is actually at the station corresponding to the selected authentic encryption algorithm at the time restored by decryption using the selected authentic encryption algorithm. ·system.

(13) A rental method for lending and returning at least one rental object to a user at a plurality of stations storing at least one rental object,
a displaying step, at each station location, momentarily displaying a cipher that is dynamic both with respect to time of day and with respect to station location;
The rental method wherein the encryption is transmitted by a user via a communication device to a management center that remotely manages the plurality of stations.

(14) A bicycle rental method for renting and returning a plurality of bicycles to a user at a plurality of stations each storing a plurality of bicycles,
each of the plurality of stations is pre-assigned a unique station ID;
The method includes a plurality of steps performed at each station,
Those processes are
a clocking step of measuring the current time moment by moment;
An encryption step for respectively encrypting the measured current time and a station ID unique to the corresponding station, wherein the station ID is encrypted with a code that changes from time to time even though it is for the same station. and
displaying the information including the encrypted current time and station ID as two ciphers;
Using available communication equipment, the user transmits the displayed two ciphers to a management center that centrally manages the plurality of stations,
The method includes a plurality of steps performed at the control center;
Those processes are
a decryption step of decrypting the two ciphers upon receiving the two ciphers from a user;
Recognizing that the user is actually at the station having the station ID restored by decrypting the encrypted station ID at the time restored by decrypting the encrypted current time. and a bicycle rental method.

(15) A bicycle rental method for renting and returning a plurality of bicycles to a user at a plurality of stations each storing a plurality of bicycles,
The method includes a plurality of steps performed at each station,
Those processes are
a first timing step of measuring the current time moment by moment;
By using an encryption algorithm that is dynamic with respect to station position but static with respect to time, the measured current time is different from encryption obtained at other stations while having the same current time. an encryption step of encrypting into a cipher;
a displaying step of displaying information including the code;
The plurality of encryption algorithms used by the plurality of stations in their respective encryption units are different from each other, and the correspondence between the stations and the encryption algorithms is known,
using an available communication device, the user transmits the cipher displayed on the display unit to a management center that centrally manages the plurality of stations;
The method includes a plurality of steps performed at the control center;
Those processes are
a second timing step of measuring the time when the cipher is received from the user as the reception time;
decrypting the received cipher, thereby recovering the time; comparing the recovered time and the received time to each other, thereby using one of the plurality of encryption algorithms to use the received a decryption step of selecting an encryption algorithm whose difference between the time restored by the decryption and the reception time is equal to or less than a reference value as the authentic encryption algorithm corresponding to the station where the user actually resides. and,
and recognizing that the user is actually at the station corresponding to the selected authentic encryption algorithm at the time restored by decryption using the selected authentic encryption algorithm. Method.

(16) A program executed by a computer to carry out the method according to any one of (13) to (15).

A program under this paragraph shall be construed to mean, for example, the combination of instructions executed by a computer to perform its function, and the combination of those instructions as well as the files and data processed in accordance with each instruction. can also be interpreted to include, but not be limited to.

In addition, this program may achieve its intended purpose by being executed by a computer by itself, or may achieve its intended purpose by being executed by a computer together with other programs. They can, but are not limited to. In the latter case, the programs under this section may be data-based, but are not so limited.

(17) A recording medium in which the program according to (16) is computer-readable.

Various formats can be adopted for this recording medium, for example, magnetic recording media such as flexible disks, optical recording media such as CDs and CD-ROMs, magneto-optical recording media such as MOs, and non-removable storages such as ROMs. etc., but not limited to them.

FIG. 1(a) is a perspective view showing station-side equipment installed at a certain station in the bicycle rental system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 1C is a side view showing an enlarged part of the rental bicycle shown in FIG. 1A, and FIG. FIG. 1(d) is a front view showing an example of how the code changes from moment to moment on the screen of FIG. 1 is a front view showing an enlarged combination-type wire lock that is used. FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of communication between a user at a certain station and a management center at a remote location in the bicycle rental system shown in FIG. 1(a). FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing the station-side unit shown in FIG. 1(a). FIG. 4 is a flowchart conceptually representing an encryption/display program executed by the computer of the station-side unit shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing a portion of the center-side unit shown in FIG. 2 that operates when renting out a bicycle. FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing a portion of the center-side unit shown in FIG. 2 that operates when the bicycle is returned. FIG. 7 is a flow chart conceptually representing a part of the lending/returning program executed by the computer of the center-side unit shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a flow chart conceptually representing the rest of the lending/returning program shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram showing the portion of the center-side unit of the bicycle rental system according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention that operates during bicycle rental. FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram showing a portion of the center-side unit of the bicycle rental system according to the second embodiment that operates when the bicycle is returned. FIG. 11 is a flow chart conceptually showing the part corresponding to FIG. 8 of the rent/return program executed by the computer of the bicycle rental system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram showing a station-side unit installed at a certain station in the bicycle rental system according to the third exemplary embodiment of the invention. FIG. 13 is a flow chart conceptually representing an encryption/display program executed by the computer of the station-side unit shown in FIG. FIG. 14 is a functional block diagram showing a portion of the center-side unit of the bicycle rental system according to the third embodiment that operates during bicycle rental. FIG. 15 is a functional block diagram showing a portion of the center-side unit of the bicycle rental system according to the third embodiment that operates when the bicycle is returned. FIG. 16 is a flow chart conceptually representing part of the rent/return program executed by the computer of the center-side unit of the bicycle rental system according to the third embodiment. FIG. 17 is a flow chart conceptually representing the rest of the lending/returning program shown in FIG.

Several exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

<First embodiment of the present invention>

1(a) and 2, a bicycle rental system 10 according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of stations 20 (FIG. 1) each storing a plurality of bicycles 12. (a) shows only a representative station 20 of those stations 20), and provides a service for renting and returning the bicycles 12 to the user. Each station 20 is assigned to a corresponding bicycle parking lot 22 .

This bicycle rental system (hereinafter simply referred to as "system") 20 includes a plurality of station-side units (one example of each of the above-mentioned "rental device" and "bicycle rental device") respectively installed in a plurality of stations 20. ) 30 and a center-side unit 50 installed in a management center 40 that remotely and centrally manages a plurality of stations 20 . Each of the plurality of stations 20 is pre-assigned a unique station ID. Each station-side unit 30 is used in common by a plurality of bicycles 12 stored at the corresponding station 20 .

As shown in FIG. 1(b), a unique chassis number 60 pre-assigned to each bicycle 12 is displayed on a specific portion of each bicycle 12. As shown in FIG. In some examples, the chassis number 60 is immutably printed by printing in the form of a character/number string directly visible to the user or a computer-readable display (e.g., barcode, two-dimensional code). It is displayed on a specific portion of each bicycle 12 (for example, a panel attached near the top of the triangular frame 64 that supports the saddle 62 from below on the bicycle 12).

As will be described in detail later, the station-side unit 30 measures the current time moment by moment, and stores the measured current time and a station ID unique to the corresponding station. However, it is encrypted so as to change from moment to moment, and the encrypted current time and station ID are displayed as two codes regardless of whether they are visually distinguishable from each other or not.

As a result, as in the example shown in FIG. 1(c), the two ciphers are merged into a series of ciphers 66 ("dynamic both with respect to time of day and station location") so as not to be visually distinguished from each other. As an example of "data"), at predetermined time intervals (15 minute intervals in the illustrated example), of the encryption 66, the part where the current time is encrypted and the part where the station ID is encrypted is also displayed on the screen 68 so as to change dynamically with respect to time. Here, "encrypted" means visualized data that cannot be deciphered by a user but can be deciphered by a specific authorized person.

As shown in FIG. 1(a), in each station 20, the system 10 stores the above-mentioned station-side unit 30 and a plurality of bicycles 12 as fixed objects installed in one bicycle parking lot 22. and a bicycle rack (bicycle storage device) 70 for storing bicycles. The bicycle rack 70 includes a plurality of bicycle stalls (parcels) 72 for accommodating one bicycle 12 . In one example, the bicycle rack 70 is partitioned into a plurality of bicycle stalls 72 by frames 74 installed in the bicycle parking lot 22 .

Prior to lending to a user, each bicycle 12 is stored in its respective bicycle stall 72. In this stored state, the bicycle 12 is attached to the individual frame of the bicycle stall 72 with a dial lock wire lock shown in FIG. 1(d). It is anchored using a lock 80 . The combination wire lock 80 is constructed by connecting both ends of one flexible wire 82 to each other via a combination lock 84, as is well known.

A plurality of bicycles 12 accommodated in a plurality of stations 20 managed by the management center 40 are assigned combination locks 84 that are unlocked by passwords different from each other. Therefore, only one bicycle 12 can be unlocked with one personal identification number.

As shown in FIG. 2, in this system 10, as will be described in detail later, communication devices usable by users (for example, mobile phones that users can carry or devices with communication functions (for example, mobile phones, smart phones, A laptop computer, a tablet computer, a PDA), a fixed telephone installed at the station 20, a public telephone installed near the station 20, etc.) 90 is used to read the code 66 displayed on the screen 68. to the management center 40.

If the cipher 66 is expressed as a user-identifiable (for example, pronounceable) figure, as in the illustrated example, the user can manually enter the cipher 66 into the communication device 90 or voice it. can be entered with On the other hand, if the cipher 66 is expressed as a figure that cannot be identified by the user, the user can read the cipher 66 with the scanner of the communication device 90 and enter it.

When the center-side unit 50 in the management center 40 receives the cipher 66 from the user, it decrypts the cipher 66. As a result, the user can access the time restored by decrypting the encrypted current time. , recognize that they are actually at the station 20 having the restored station ID by decrypting the encrypted station ID.

FIG. 3 shows one station-side unit 30 installed in one station 20 in a functional block diagram.

The station-side unit 30 is mainly composed of a computer 104 having a processor 100 and a memory 102 storing programs executed by the processor 100 . Specifically, this station-side unit 30 includes a clock 110 , an encryption section 112 , and a display section 114 .

The clock 110 keeps track of the current time. The encryption unit 112 encrypts the current time measured by the clock 110 and the unique station ID of the station 20 corresponding to this station-side unit 30 . The encryption unit 112 encrypts the station ID to a code that changes from moment to moment, even though it is for the same station 20 . The display unit 114 displays the encrypted current time and station ID as the code 66 on the screen 68 so as to change from moment to moment.

In this embodiment, the cipher 66 is composed of a string of characters and numbers of multiple digits (for example, a string of characters, a string of numbers, and a string of letters and numbers). The upper digits of are the encrypted portion of the current time, and the lower digits are the encrypted portion of the station ID.

In this embodiment, the data displayed on the screen 68 that the user needs to send to the management center 40 consists of the cipher 66, ie the current time encrypted portion, and the station Although the ID is the combination with the encrypted part, the data may contain other information added to the combination, eg other encryption.

In this embodiment, the station ID is a station ID that is dynamic in terms of station location (different for each station 20) but static in terms of time (does not change over time), and the encryption unit 112 By using an encryption algorithm that is common to multiple stations 20 and that is static with respect to station location but dynamic with respect to time, the station ID is encrypted (more precisely, , of the cipher 66, which is related to the station ID, and is hereinafter referred to as "station ID related partial cipher").

In this system 10, each station 20 is assigned a different station ID. Each station ID is a station ID that is static with respect to time, but this station ID is encrypted from time to time by an encryption algorithm that is dynamic with respect to time so that the station ID associated partial encryption is a station It is obtained as a dynamic cipher that is dynamic both with respect to location and time.

Specifically, in this system 10, the station ID to be encrypted is dynamic with respect to the location of the station 20, but static with respect to time. The encryption algorithm is static with respect to station 20 location (the encryption algorithm for station ID is common to multiple stations 20), but dynamic with respect to time. As a result, the station ID associated partial cipher that is the result of the encryption is dynamic both with respect to the location of station 20 and with respect to time.

That is, this station ID-related partial cipher was generated by encrypting a station ID that is dynamic with respect to station location into a cipher that is dynamic with respect to time (ie, transforms with time).

Therefore, if the time and the station ID-related partial cipher at that time are specified, the station from which the station ID-related partial cipher was obtained can be identified. In addition, since the station ID-related partial encryption is dynamic with respect to time, the user can use the same encryption 66 (partially including the station ID-related partial encryption) as the encryption 66 used when renting the bicycle 12 when returning the bicycle 12. This prevents impersonation of the user who returned the device at the same station 20 as when it was rented, thereby deterring fraud.

Of the ciphers 66, the current time-related partial encryption related to the current time is the current time, which is temporally dynamic information. Those skilled in the art can easily conceive that cryptography is temporally dynamic. Therefore, this point does not deserve special mention. However, the station ID-related partial cipher among the ciphers 66 is the location of the station 20, which is temporally static information. Even a person skilled in the art cannot easily conceive of making it dynamic.

Also, in this embodiment, the station ID-related partial cipher and the current time-related partial cipher are combined to generate one cipher 66 . As a result, as far as the same cipher 66 is concerned, the information on the station ID and the information on the current time are linked, so that the user can use any time (for example, the current time or any time in the past) It becomes possible to presume that the user is at any station 20 .

In addition, in the present embodiment, the cipher 66 is visually recognized as a meaningless character/number string cipher 66 for the user, so that the user is deterred from trying to decipher and abuse the cipher 66. There is expected. Furthermore, the cipher 66 is a combination of a string of letters and numbers that is a partial cipher related to the current time (in the example shown in FIG. 1, a string of lower four digits) and a string of letters and digits that is a partial cipher related to the station ID. Since the two related partial ciphers are displayed on the screen 68 so as to be visually separated from each other, it is more difficult for the user to attempt to abuse the cipher 66. It is also expected to be strongly discouraged.

FIG. 4 conceptually shows an encryption/display program executed by the computer 104 of the station-side unit (the station-side unit installed in the station of interest this time among the plurality of stations 20) 30 shown in FIG. is represented by a flow chart. This encryption/display program is pre-stored in the memory 102 in the same manner as other programs described later, and is read out from the memory 102 and executed by the processor 100 as required.

The execution of this encryption/display program is repeated at time intervals of, for example, 15 minutes. Each execution of this encryption/display program is started in step S401, and the current time is measured using the clock 110 in this step S401. Next, in step S402, an encryption algorithm for the time of day that is static with respect to the location of station 20 and time is read from memory 102, and using that static encryption algorithm, The measured current time is encrypted.

Subsequently, in step S403, the station ID assigned to the station 20 corresponding to the current station-side unit 30 is read out from the memory 102. FIG. Thereafter, in step S404, the encryption algorithm for the station ID, which is static with respect to station 20's location but dynamic with respect to time, is read from memory 102. FIG.

As described above, the encryption algorithm for the station ID is dynamic with respect to time, and specifically, is configured as a collection of multiple individual algorithms that are selectively used for each time. In the memory 202, these individual algorithms are stored in association with times (for example, a plurality of times that pass every 15 minutes). time) is selected in the memory 202 and read out.

Subsequently, in step S405, the retrieved station ID is encrypted using the selected individual algorithm.

Thereafter, in step S406, the encrypted current time and the encrypted station ID are combined to generate a cipher 66, and the generated cipher 66 is displayed on the screen 68. FIG. This completes one execution of the encryption/display program.

5 and 6 show functional block diagrams of the center-side unit 50 installed in the management center 40. FIG. However, FIG. 5 shows the center side unit 50 by focusing on the portion that functions when the bicycle is rented, while FIG. 6 shows the center side unit 50 by focusing on the portion that functions when returning the bicycle. It is

The center side unit 50 is mainly composed of a computer 204 having a processor 200 and a memory 202 for storing programs executed by the processor 200 . The hardware configuration implemented by the computer 204 is represented by functional block diagrams in FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG.

5, the center-side unit 50 includes a receiving section 210, a decryption section 212, a lending permitting section 214, and a clock. 216, PIN acquisition unit 220, and transmission unit 222 are activated.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, the center side unit 50 includes a receiving section 210, a decryption section 212, a clock 216, a return permitting section 230, a reading section 232, and a rental fee for returning the bicycle. The calculation unit 234, the payment processing unit 236, and the transmission unit 222 are operated.

Therefore, in the center unit 50, the receiving section 210, the decryption section 212, the clock 216, and the transmitting section 222 are operated both for lending the bicycle and for returning the bicycle.

With the hardware configuration configured in this way, a lending/returning method represented by a lending/returning program described later, that is, a bicycle rental method (an example of the above-mentioned "rental method") is executed.

Focusing on the process of renting out a bicycle, the hardware configuration will be explained more specifically. As shown in FIG. It receives the code 66 and the chassis number 60 of the bicycle 12 that the user intends to borrow.

The decryption unit 212 converts the upper digits of the received encrypted code 66 at the time of rental to the current time (more precisely, the user sent the encrypted code 66 to the management center 40) by using the time encryption algorithm. the time sent to the destination) and treat it as the rental time.

Rather, the encryption algorithm might be called a decryption algorithm, noting that this time it is used for decryption and not for encryption. However, since the encryption algorithm has the property of a table that shows the correspondence between the information before encryption and the information after encryption, it is possible to distinguish between encryption and decryption. Regardless, for convenience of explanation, it will be referred to as an encryption algorithm.

Further, the deciphering unit 212 restores the station ID by deciphering the lower digits of the received encryption 66 at the time of rental using the encryption algorithm for the station ID, and stores it in the rental station. Handled as an ID.

The rental permitting unit 214 determines that the difference between the rental time and the current time measured by the clock 216 is an allowable value (as long as the difference between the rental time and the current time is normal and the user's operation is normal, Statistically impossible length) or less, the rental station ID is authentic, and the received chassis number 60 is authentic, the bicycle 12 is provided to the current user. Allow to rent.

In order to determine whether or not the rental station ID is genuine, a plurality of station IDs assigned to the plurality of stations 20 are pre-stored in the memory 202 as a first table. When the ID matches any of the plurality of station IDs in the first table, it is determined that the current lending station ID is authentic.

Similarly, a plurality of chassis numbers 60 assigned to the plurality of bicycles 12 respectively stored at the plurality of stations 20 are stored in a second table to determine whether the chassis number 60 is authentic. is stored in the memory 202 in advance, and when the current chassis number 60 matches any one of the plurality of chassis numbers 60 in the second table, the current chassis number 60 is determined to be authentic.

The storage unit 218 stores the rental time and the rental station ID in the memory 202 in association with the chassis number 60 for later use.

When the lending permission is issued from the lending permitting unit 214, the personal identification number acquiring unit 220 receives the personal identification number for unlocking the combination lock 84 used for the bicycle 12 corresponding to the current chassis number 60 from the third table. read out. In the third table, a plurality of chassis numbers 60 and a plurality of personal identification numbers are pre-stored in association with each other.

The transmission unit 222 transmits a message notifying that lending has started to the user's communication device 90 together with the read personal identification number. By using the PIN number, the user can unlock the combination lock 84 of the bicycle 12 to be borrowed and release the bicycle 12 from the bicycle stall 72 .

Focusing on the process of returning the bicycle, the hardware configuration will be explained more specifically. As shown in FIG. It receives the code 66 and the chassis number 60 of the bicycle that the user is about to return.

The decryption unit 212 decrypts the upper digits of the received code 66 at the time of return using the encryption algorithm for time to obtain the current time (more precisely, the user manages the code 66). The time sent to the center 40) is restored and treated as the return time. Further, the deciphering unit 212 restores the station ID by deciphering the lower digits of the received code 66 at the time of return using the encryption algorithm for the station ID, and returns it to the returning station. Handled as an ID.

The return permitting unit 230 confirms that the difference between the return time and the current time measured by the clock 216 is equal to or less than the allowable value, that the return station ID is authentic, and that the received chassis number is 60. is genuine, the user is permitted to return the bicycle 12 this time.

The return permitting unit 230 determines that the current return station ID is authentic when the current return station ID matches one of the plurality of station IDs in the first table. The return permitting unit 230 determines that the current chassis number 60 is authentic when the current chassis number 60 matches any one of the plurality of chassis numbers 60 in the second table.

The reading unit 232 reads from the memory 202 the rental time and the rental station ID stored in association with the current chassis number 60 .

The rental fee calculation unit 234 calculates the length of the elapsed time from the rental time to the return time as the usage time (rental time) during which the user has used the bicycle 12 . The amount of the rental fee is set to increase according to the length of the usage time, and if the return station ID and the lending station ID do not match, the amount is set to increase more than if they match. are pre-stored in the memory 202 as a fourth table. The rental fee calculation unit 234 determines whether or not the return station ID matches the rental station ID, and refers to the fourth table based on the determination result and the calculated length of usage time. Thus, the amount of the current rental fee is calculated.

The settlement processing unit 236 collects the current rental fee from the current user by performing bank settlement, credit settlement, prepaid settlement, or the like for the current user.

The transmitting unit 222 transmits a message indicating that the return has been completed to the communication device 90 of the user together with the payment details for the current rental fee. The user then tethers the bicycle 12 to be returned to any unused bicycle stall 72 with the wire lock 80 and then locks the combination lock 84 of the wire lock 80.

FIGS. 7 and 8 conceptually show flow charts of the lending/returning program executed by the processor 200 of the center unit 50 and stored in the memory 202 in advance.

Execution of this lending/returning program each time is started at step S701 shown in FIG. Information for specifying whether it is rental or return, the chassis number 60, and the code 66 are received together with the member ID and password assigned in advance to the current user.

In order to enjoy the bicycle rental service provided by this system 10, the user is required to register as a member in advance, and at that time, also registers a password required for personal authentication afterwards. is required.

Next, in step S702, it is determined whether or not the personal authentication of the current user has succeeded based on the result of matching the received member ID and password with the registered information. If the personal authentication succeeds, it is determined in step S703 whether or not the current request from the user is a lending request. If the request this time is a return request, the determination is NO, and then the process proceeds to the step group shown in FIG. transition to

In this step S704, the upper digits of the received ciphertext 66 are decrypted using the encryption algorithm for the time, thereby restoring the rental time. Subsequently, in step S705, it is determined whether or not the difference between the rental time and the current time measured by the clock 216 is equal to or less than the allowable value. If the difference is greater than the allowable value, it is assumed that there is some abnormality in the data received this time from the user, and the current service is not provided to the user, and execution of this lending/returning program ends.

On the other hand, if the difference between the rental time and the current time is equal to or less than the allowable value, the determination in step S705 becomes YES. (same as the multiple individual algorithms stored in the memory 102 of the station-side unit 30) that corresponds to the current time (restored rental time is also acceptable) is selected. and it is read from memory 202 .

Subsequently, in step S707, the lower digits of the received cipher 66 are decrypted using the read individual algorithm, thereby restoring the renting station ID.

Subsequently, in step S708, it is determined whether or not the lending station ID matches any of the plurality of station IDs in the first table, thereby determining whether or not the current lending station ID is authentic. be done. If the rental station ID of this time is not genuine, the data received this time from the user is considered to be abnormal, and the execution of this rental/return program is terminated without providing the service of this time to the user.

On the other hand, if the current lending station ID is authentic, the determination in step S708 becomes YES, and in step S709, the current chassis number 60 is any of the plurality of chassis numbers in the second table. It is determined whether or not the chassis number 60 of this time is genuine by determining whether or not they match with . If the chassis number 60 of this time is not genuine, the data received this time from the user is regarded as having some kind of abnormality, and the service of this time is not provided to the user, and the execution of this lending/returning program ends.

On the other hand, if the current chassis number 60 is authentic, the determination in step S709 becomes YES, and then in step S710, the bicycle 12 having the chassis number 60 is permitted to be rented to the user. As a premise, it is recognized that the user is actually at the station 20 having the restored station ID at the restored rental time. Thereafter, in step S711, the current rental time and rental station are stored in the memory 202 in association with the current chassis number 60 for future use.

Subsequently, in step S712, by referring to the third table, the personal identification number corresponding to the current chassis number 60, that is, for the user to unlock the dial lock 84 locked on the current bicycle 12 by himself/herself. , a number (for example, a multi-digit number) to be assigned to the combination lock 84 is acquired.

After that, in step S713, the obtained personal identification number and a message indicating that the rental of the bicycle 12 has started are transmitted to the communication device 90 of the user. With this, the execution of the portion for renting the bicycle 12 out of the rent/return program is completed.

On the other hand, if the current request issued by the user is a return request, the determination in step S703 is NO, and the process proceeds to step S801 shown in FIG. In this step S801, the upper digits of the code 66 received at the time of return are decrypted using the time encryption algorithm, thereby restoring the return time.

Subsequently, in step S802, it is determined whether or not the difference between the return time and the current time is equal to or less than the allowable value. If the difference is greater than the allowable value, it is assumed that there is some abnormality in the data received this time from the user, and the current service is not provided to the user, and execution of this lending/returning program ends.

On the other hand, if the difference between the return time and the current time is equal to or less than the allowable value, the determination in step S802 becomes YES, and then in step S803, the encryption algorithm for the station ID is selected in memory 202. and it is read from memory 202 . Specifically, as described above, among the plurality of individual algorithms that make up the encryption algorithm for the station ID, the algorithm corresponding to the current time (restored return time is also acceptable) is selected in memory 202. read out.

Subsequently, in step S804, the lower digits of the code 66 received at the time of return are decrypted using the read encryption algorithm (individual algorithm), thereby restoring the return station ID.

Subsequently, in step S804, it is determined whether or not the current return station ID is authentic by determining whether or not the return station ID matches any of the plurality of station IDs in the first table. be done. If the return station ID of this time is not genuine, the data received this time from the user is considered to have some abnormality, and the current service is not provided to the user, and the execution of this lending/returning program ends.

On the other hand, if the current return station ID is authentic, the determination in step S805 becomes YES, and in step S806, the current chassis number 60 is any of the plurality of chassis numbers in the second table. It is determined whether or not the chassis number 60 of this time is genuine by determining whether or not they match with . If the chassis number 60 of this time is not genuine, the data received this time from the user is regarded as having some kind of abnormality, and the service of this time is not provided to the user, and the execution of this lending/returning program ends.

On the other hand, if the current chassis number 60 is authentic, the determination in step S806 becomes YES, and in step S807, the user returns the bicycle 12 having the chassis number 60 to the current station 20. is allowed. The premise is that the user is actually at the station 20 having the restored station ID at the restored return time. Thereafter, in step S808, the rental time and rental station of the bicycle 12 to be returned this time are read from the memory 202 in association with the chassis number 60 of this time.

Subsequently, in step S809, the length of the elapsed time from the rental time to the return time is calculated as the usage time of the bicycle 12 used by the user. Thereafter, in step S810, it is determined whether the return station ID matches the rental station ID.

Subsequently, in step S811, based on the calculated length of usage time and the determination result as to whether or not the return station ID matches the rental station ID, the current is calculated. Thereafter, in step S812, payment is made to the current user for the calculated rental fee, whereby the current rental fee is collected from the user.

Subsequently, in step S813, a message indicating that the return has been completed and payment details for the current rental fee are sent to the communication device 90 of the user. With this, the execution of the portion of the rental/return program for returning the bicycle 12 is completed.

In this embodiment, as described above, the station ID is a station ID that is dynamic with respect to the location of the station 20 but static with respect to time, and the encryption unit 112 shown in FIG. By using an encryption algorithm that is common to multiple stations 20 and that is static with respect to the location of the station 20 but dynamic with respect to time, the station ID can also be time-stamped with respect to the location of the station 20. Encrypt to a cipher that is also dynamic with respect to

In one variant, however, each station ID is a station ID that is dynamic both with respect to the position of station 20 and with respect to time. The encryption unit 112 encrypts the station ID from time to time with an encryption algorithm that is static with respect to both the location and time of the station 20, thereby creating an encryption that is dynamic both with respect to the location of the station 20 and time. 66 is obtained.

Specifically, in order to achieve a station ID that is dynamic both with respect to the position of station 20 and with respect to time, a plurality of individual station IDs are stored in memory 202 in association with different times. The collection of individual station IDs for one day differs from station 20 to station 20 . The encryption unit 112 selects the individual station ID corresponding to the current time from the individual station IDs, reads the selected individual station ID from the memory 202, and stores the read individual station ID of this time as the current time. Encrypt using an encryption algorithm that is static with respect to location and time.

Specifically, in this variant, the station ID to be encrypted is dynamic both with respect to the location of the station 20 and with respect to time, whereas the encryption algorithm is dynamic with respect to the location of the station 20 as well. It is also static with respect to time. As a result, the encryption result, cipher 66, is dynamic both with respect to the location of station 20 and with respect to time.

Therefore, if the time and the cipher 66 at that time are specified, the station 20 from which the cipher 66 was obtained can be identified. In addition, since the cipher 66 is dynamic with respect to time, the user uses the same cipher 66 when returning the bicycle 12 as the cipher 66 when renting the bicycle 12, thereby impersonating the user who returned the bicycle 12 at the same station 20 as when renting it. is discouraged, thereby deterring fraud.

As is clear from the above description, in the system 10 according to this embodiment, the unique information for specifying the station 20, that is, the station ID (whether static or dynamic) is the same. It is about the station 20, but is encrypted in a cipher 66 that changes from time to time.

However, of the ciphers 66, the station-id-related partial cipher is the only cipher that is dynamic both with respect to the location of the station 20 and with respect to time, whereas the current-time-related partial cipher is the only cipher that is dynamic with respect to the location of the station 20. It is a cipher that is static with respect to , but dynamic with respect to time.

Therefore, unique information for specifying the same station 20 is encrypted with a plurality of different ciphers 66 at a plurality of times different from each other. Therefore, the code 66 at the time of return does not actually match the code 66 at the time of rental, even if the code is for the same station 20, as long as the return time is different from the rental time.

Nevertheless, since the encryption scheme is kept secret from the user, the user may easily enter the same cipher 66 displayed on the screen 68 at the time of rental as the cipher 66 at another station 20. If the return code is used at the time of return, the code at the time of return is an illegal code that cannot exist at that time. Unreadable.

If the control center 40 reports to the user that the code at the time of return is illegal when the code at the time of return cannot be deciphered, the user who receives the report will be able to check whether or not there has been any wrongdoing. Know that you have been monitored and that your wrongdoing has been discovered. Therefore, the user is conscious that he/she does not want to repeat the same fraudulent act, and thereby the effect of deterring the user's fraudulent act is obtained.

On the other hand, the management center 40, thanks to the method of receiving the dynamic encryption 66 from the user via the mobile communication device 90, provides the user with a positioning function (for example, a GPS function) that measures the current position of the user from moment to moment. It is possible to recognize the station 20 where the user is truly located at the time of rental and return without activating the mobile communication device 90 .

Furthermore, thanks to the technique of receiving the dynamic code 66 from the user via the portable communication device 90, the station 20 sends a signal to the management center 40 to identify the station 20 where the loan or return is to be made. It is possible to recognize the station 20 where the user is really located at the time of rental and return without requiring installation of a communication facility in each station 20 for doing so. As a result, the equipment cost of each station 20 can be reduced, and the maintenance and management cost of the equipment can also be reduced.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, when returning the borrowed bicycle 12, the user is not required to transmit the rental information including the rental time and the rental station to the management center 40. It is possible to calculate the consistency and determine the match/mismatch between the check-out station and the return station. Therefore, the burden imposed on the user is reduced.

<Second embodiment of the present invention>

A bicycle rental system 300 according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 9-11. However, since this bicycle rental system 300 has many elements in common with the bicycle rental system 10 according to the above-described first embodiment, only different elements will be described in detail, and common elements will be denoted by the same names or Duplicate descriptions are omitted by quoting with reference numerals.

First of all, this bicycle rental system (hereinafter simply referred to as "system") 300 is different from the bicycle rental system 10 according to the above-described first embodiment in that the station-side unit 30 is generally , but the center side unit 50 is common except that it does not have a storage section 218 and a reading section 232, as shown in the functional block diagrams of FIGS. In addition, in this system 300, instead of having the storage unit 218 and the reading unit 232, when the user returns the rented bicycle 12, the code 66 at the time of return and the code 66 at the time of rental are sent to the management center 40. required to send.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the receiving unit 210 receives both the code 66 at the time of return and the code 66 at the time of lending from the user at the time of return. As in the first embodiment, the decryption unit 212 restores the rental time and rental station ID from the rental code 66 by using a dynamic encryption algorithm, and further restores the rental code 66 at the time of return. , the rental time and rental station ID are restored. In this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the unique station ID assigned to each station is static and does not change over time.

Therefore, the lending/returning program executed by the computer 204 of the center-side unit 50 is basically the same as the lending/returning program shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 for the first embodiment.

Specifically, the flowchart representing the lending/returning program in this embodiment does not store the lending time and the lending station ID in the memory 202 in association with the chassis number 60 in the lending process. , are common to the flowchart shown in FIG. 7 for the first embodiment.

Furthermore, the flowchart representing the lending/returning program in this embodiment does not relate the lending time and the lending station ID to the chassis number 60 and reads them out from the memory 202 in the process for returning. The first embodiment is similar to that shown in FIG. 8 except that the user who is about to return the bicycle 12 is required to enter the code 66 at the time of rental, but is not required to enter the chassis number 60. It is common with the flow chart shown.

Of the flow chart representing the loan/return program in this embodiment, the portion corresponding to the flow chart shown in FIG. will be described in comparison with the flow chart of FIG.

If the request issued by the user is a return request, the determination in the step (not shown) corresponding to step S703 shown in FIG. 7 is NO, and the process proceeds to step S1101 shown in FIG. In this step S1101, similarly to step S704 shown in FIG. 7, the upper digits of the cipher 66 at the time of rental are decrypted using the time encryption algorithm, thereby restoring the rental time. be.

Thereafter, in step S1102, similarly to step S801 shown in FIG. 8, the upper digits of the code 66 at the time of return are decrypted using the time encryption algorithm, thereby restoring the return time. be.

Subsequently, in step S1103, similarly to step S802, it is determined whether or not the difference between the return time and the current time is equal to or less than the allowable value. If the difference is greater than the allowable value, execution of this lending/returning program is terminated immediately.

On the other hand, if the difference between the return time and the current time is equal to or less than the allowable value, the determination in step S1103 is YES.

Subsequently, in step S1104, as in step S803 shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of individual algorithms constituting the encryption algorithm for the station ID (stored in memory 102 of station-side unit 30 to generate encryption 66) ), the one corresponding to the rental time (same as the individual algorithm used in the station-side unit 30 to generate the cipher 66 at the time of rental) is selected in the memory 202. is read out.

Subsequently, in step S1105, the lower digits of the cipher 66 at the time of rental are decrypted using the read individual algorithm, thereby restoring the rental station ID.

After that, in step S1106, among the plurality of individual algorithms constituting the encryption algorithm for the station ID, the algorithm corresponding to the current time (restored return time is also acceptable) is selected and read out from the memory 202.

Subsequently, in step S1107, the lower digits of the return code 66 are decrypted using the retrieved individual algorithm, thereby restoring the return station ID.

Thereafter, in step S1108, it is determined whether or not the current return station ID is authentic by determining whether or not the return station ID matches any of the plurality of station IDs in the first table. be. If the current return station ID is not authentic, the rental/return program immediately terminates.

On the other hand, if the current return station ID is authentic, the determination in step S1108 becomes YES, and then in step S1109, the length of the elapsed time from the rental time to the return time is determined by the user. It is calculated as the length of time the bicycle 12 is used. Thereafter, in step S1110, it is determined whether the return station ID matches the rental station ID.

Subsequently, in step S1111, the fourth table is referred to based on the calculated length of usage time and the determination result as to whether or not the return station ID matches the rental station ID. is calculated. Thereafter, in step S1112, the calculated rental fee is paid to the current user, and the current rental fee is collected from the user.

Subsequently, in step S1113, a message indicating that the return has been completed and payment details for the current rental fee are sent to the communication device 90 of the user. With this, the execution of the portion of the rental/return program for returning the bicycle 12 is completed.

As is clear from the above description, according to the present embodiment, the center unit 50 can also request that the rental information, including the rental time and the rental station, be stored in the memory 202 in association with the chassis number 60. , calculation of the length of bicycle usage time and matching/disagreement between the rental station and the return station without requiring the rental information to be read from the memory 202 in association with the chassis number 60 at the time of return. can be determined. Therefore, the burden imposed on the center side unit 50 is reduced.

<Third embodiment of the present invention>

A bicycle rental system 400 according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 12-17. However, since this bicycle rental system 400 has many elements in common with the bicycle rental system 10 according to the above-described first embodiment, only different elements will be described in detail, and common elements will be referred to by the same names or Duplicate descriptions are omitted by quoting with reference numerals.

First of all, this bicycle rental system (hereinafter simply referred to as "system") 400 is different from the bicycle rental system 10 according to the above-described first embodiment in that the station-side unit 30 is shown in FIG. 13 is a functional block diagram and FIG. 13 is a flowchart, respectively, that the encryption algorithm used to encrypt the current time is different for each station 20, i.e. it is dynamic with respect to the position of the station 20. , and that the station ID is not encrypted.

14 and 15 are functional block diagrams, and FIGS. 16 and 17 are flow charts. They are common except that they do not perform decryption.

FIG. 13 conceptually shows a flow chart of the encryption/display program executed by the computer 104 of the station-side unit 30 shown in FIG.

Each execution of this encryption/display program is started in step S1301, and the current time is measured using the clock 110 in this step S1301. Next, in step S1302, an encryption algorithm for the time, which is different for each station 20, is read from the memory 102, and the measured current time is encrypted by using the encryption algorithm. .

Subsequently, in step S1303, the encrypted current time is displayed on the screen 68 as the cipher 66. FIG. This completes one execution of the encryption/display program.

FIGS. 16 and 17 conceptually show flow charts of the lending/returning program pre-stored in the memory 202 which is executed by the processor 200 of the center unit 50 shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. ing.

By the way, when encrypting the current time moment by moment, even if the current time is encrypted using a static encryption algorithm with respect to time, the target of encryption is dynamic with respect to time. The resulting cipher is a dynamic cipher with respect to time.

On the other hand, at the same time, if a number string representing that time is encrypted using a plurality of mutually different encryption algorithms, a plurality of mutually different ciphertexts are obtained.

Also, if a different encryption algorithm is assigned to each station 20 to perform time encryption, each station 20 obtains a different encryption from the other stations 20 at the same time. The cipher eventually becomes a dynamic cipher not only with respect to time, but also with respect to station 20's position.

Therefore, if the time is made common, there is a known relationship between the type of encryption algorithm and the cipher, and this relationship is associated with the time. Further, there is a one-to-one correspondence between the type of encryption algorithm and the position of the station 20 .

Therefore, if the time and the cipher at that time are known, the type of encryption algorithm used to obtain the cipher can be estimated, and the position of the station 20 from which the cipher was obtained can be estimated.

Based on such knowledge, first, in this system 400, the user uses the communication device 90 to read the cipher displayed on the screen 68 of the display unit 114 installed in the station 20. 66 to the center-side unit 50 of the management center 40 .

Upon receiving the cipher 66 from the user, the center-side unit 50 measures the reception time as the reception time, decodes the received cipher, and restores the time.

The center-side unit 50 further compares the restored time and the reception time, thereby determining the plurality of encryption algorithms (hereinafter referred to as "multiple candidate encryption algorithms" that are different for each station 20). When the received ciphertext is decrypted using the EA, the user selects a candidate encryption algorithm EA whose difference between the time restored by the decryption and the received time is equal to or less than a reference value. chooses as the authentic encryption algorithm corresponding to the station in which it is actually located.

The center-side unit 50 further recognizes that the user is actually at the station corresponding to the selected authentic encryption algorithm at the time restored by decryption using the selected authentic encryption algorithm. do.

Thus, according to this system 400, the type of encryption algorithm for the time, i.e., the encryption method, is changed for each station 20; This makes it possible to identify the current station 20 from the cipher 66 without using a unique station ID assigned to each station 20 or encrypting the station ID with a broad dynamic cipher. can.

In addition, since the cipher 66 is dynamic with respect to time, the user can impersonate the user who returned the bicycle at the same station 20 as when renting the bicycle by using the same cipher 66 when returning the bicycle as when renting the bicycle. is discouraged, thereby deterring fraud.

Each execution of the lending/returning program in this embodiment is started at step S1601 shown in FIG. Information for identifying whether the type of the vehicle is rental or return, chassis number 60, and code 66 are received together with the member ID and password assigned in advance to the current user.

Next, in step S1602, it is determined whether or not the personal authentication of the current user has succeeded based on the result of matching the received member ID and password with the registered information. If personal authentication succeeds, it is determined in step S1603 whether or not the current request from the user is a lending request. If the request this time is a return request, the determination is NO, and then the process proceeds to the step group shown in FIG. transition to

In this step S1604, the number i for specifying the candidate encryption algorithm EA to be selected this time is set to 1. Subsequently, in step S1605, one of the plurality of candidate encryption algorithms EA to which the current value of number i is assigned is selected in memory 202 .

Thereafter, in step S1606, the selected candidate encryption algorithm EAi is read from memory 202 and the received cipher 66 is decrypted using the read candidate encryption algorithm EAi, thereby The candidate check-out times are restored.

Subsequently, in step S1607, it is determined whether or not the difference between the candidate rental time and the current time is equal to or less than the reference value. If the difference is greater than the reference value, the determination is NO, and then the number i is incremented by 1 in step S1608. Then, the process returns to step S1605.

On the other hand, if the difference between the candidate lending time and the current time is equal to or less than the reference value, the determination in step S1607 becomes YES, and then in step S1609, the current candidate encryption algorithm EAi is changed to the current It is selected as the authentic encryption algorithm suitable for decrypting the cipher 66 .

Thereafter, in step S1610, the current candidate rental time is selected as the true rental time. Subsequently, in step S1611, according to the predetermined relationship between the station ID and the authentic encryption algorithm number i, which is stored in advance in the memory 202, the current authentic encryption algorithm number i A corresponding renting station ID is determined.

After that, in step S1612, it is determined whether or not the current lending station ID is authentic by determining whether or not the lending station ID matches any of the plurality of station IDs in the first table. be. If the lending station ID of this time is not genuine, execution of this lending/returning program is terminated immediately.

On the other hand, if the current rental station ID is authentic, the determination in step S1612 becomes YES, and then in step S1613, the current chassis number 60 is any of the plurality of chassis numbers in the second table. It is determined whether or not the chassis number 60 of this time is genuine by determining whether or not they match with . If the chassis number 60 of this time is not genuine, the execution of this lending/returning program is terminated immediately.

On the other hand, if the current chassis number 60 is authentic, the determination in step S1613 becomes YES, and then in step S1614, the bicycle 12 having the chassis number 60 is permitted to be rented to the user. Thereafter, in step S1615, the current rental time and rental station are stored in memory 202 in association with the current chassis number 60 for future use.

Subsequently, in step S1616, by referring to the third table, the personal identification number corresponding to the chassis number 60 of this time, that is, the combination lock 84 locked on the bicycle 12 of this time is unlocked by the user himself/herself. , a number (for example, a multi-digit number) to be assigned to the combination lock 84 is acquired.

After that, in step S1617, the acquired personal identification number and a message indicating that the rental of the bicycle 12 has started are transmitted to the communication device 90 of the user. With this, the execution of the portion for renting the bicycle 12 out of the rent/return program is completed.

On the other hand, if the current request issued by the user is a return request, the determination in step S1603 is NO, and the process proceeds to step S1701 shown in FIG.

In this step S1701, a number j is set to 1 for specifying the candidate encryption algorithm EA to be selected this time. Subsequently, in step S1702, one of the plurality of candidate encryption algorithms EA to which the current value of number j is assigned is selected in memory 202 .

Thereafter, in step S1703, the selected candidate encryption algorithm EAj is read from memory 202 and the received cipher 66 is decrypted using the read candidate encryption algorithm EAj, thereby: Candidate return times are restored.

Subsequently, in step S1704, it is determined whether or not the difference between the candidate return time and the current time is equal to or less than the reference value. If the difference is greater than the reference value, the determination is NO, and then the number j is incremented by 1 in step S11705. Then, the process returns to step S1702.

On the other hand, if the difference between the candidate return time and the current time is equal to or less than the reference value, the determination in step S1704 becomes YES. It is selected as the authentic encryption algorithm suitable for decrypting the cipher 66 .

Thereafter, in step S1707, the current candidate return time is selected as the true return time. Subsequently, in step S1708, according to the predetermined relationship between the station ID and the authentic encryption algorithm number j, which is stored in advance in the memory 202, the current authentic encryption algorithm number j is determined. A corresponding return station ID is determined.

Thereafter, in step S1709, it is determined whether or not the current return station ID is authentic by determining whether or not the return station ID matches any of the plurality of station IDs in the first table. be. If the current return station ID is not authentic, the rental/return program immediately terminates.

On the other hand, if the current return station ID is authentic, the determination in step S1709 becomes YES, and in step S1710, the current chassis number 60 is any of the plurality of chassis numbers in the second table. It is determined whether or not the chassis number 60 of this time is genuine by determining whether or not they match with . If the chassis number 60 of this time is not genuine, the execution of this lending/returning program is terminated immediately.

On the other hand, if the current chassis number 60 is genuine, the determination in step S1710 becomes YES, and in step S1711, the user returns the bicycle 12 having the chassis number 60 to the current station 20. is allowed. Thereafter, in step S1712, the rental time and rental station of the bicycle 12 to be returned this time are read out from the memory 202 in association with the chassis number 60 of this time.

Subsequently, in step S1713, the length of the elapsed time from the rental time to the return time is calculated as the usage time of the bicycle 12 used by the user. Thereafter, in step S1714, it is determined whether the return station ID matches the rental station ID.

Subsequently, in step S1715, the fourth table is referred to based on the calculated length of usage time and the determination result as to whether or not the return station ID matches the rental station ID. is calculated. Thereafter, in step S1716, payment is made to the current user for the calculated rental fee, whereby the current rental fee is collected from the user.

Subsequently, in step S1717, a message indicating that the return has been completed and payment details for the current rental fee are sent to the communication device 90 of the user. With this, the execution of the portion of the rental/return program for returning the bicycle 12 is completed.

As is clear from the specific descriptions of the several embodiments described above, in these embodiments, the encryption section 112 of the station-side unit 30 installed in each station 20 is A cipher 66 is generated moment by moment by encrypting information (eg station ID, current time) using an encryption algorithm.

Here, the process of encryption can be likened to a process of multiplying information before encryption by an encryption algorithm for the sake of simplicity of explanation. Then, in order for the cipher that is the result of the multiplication to be dynamic both with respect to time and with respect to station position, at least one of the pre-encryption information and the encryption algorithm is dynamic with respect to time. The other is required to be dynamic at least with respect to station location, or at least one of the pre-encryption information and the encryption algorithm is dynamic with respect to both time of day and station location.

Thus, the pre-encryption information includes information on at least one of time and station location. Is the combination of the pre-encrypted information and the encryption algorithm such that one of the pre-encrypted information and the encryption algorithm is dynamic at least with respect to time and the other is dynamic at least with respect to station location? or at least one of the pre-encrypted information and the encryption algorithm are configured to be dynamic both with respect to time of day and station location.

The cipher 66 has the property that it cannot be deciphered by the user. This cipher 66 is also configured to be dynamic both with respect to time of day and with respect to station location, so that if a user is physically at any station 20 at any time, then at that very time. If the center side unit 50 of the management center 40 has the property that the user cannot obtain the genuine code 66 unless he is actually at the station 20, and the fact that the user is actually at the station 20 at the exact time. It has the property that the cipher 66 can be deciphered and estimated.

When the type of encryption algorithm is common to a plurality of stations 20, the center-side unit 50 stores a plurality of ciphers that can be generated, a plurality of decryption results, and the locations of a plurality of stations 20 (for example, a plurality of station 20 ), or if the type of encryption algorithm is unique to each station 20, a plurality of ciphers that can be generated and a plurality of from the user according to a predetermined relationship between the decryption result of the , the types of encryption algorithms, and the locations of the stations 20 (e.g., unique station IDs pre-assigned to the stations 20). The received cipher 66 is deciphered, thereby estimating the station 20 where the user is actually at and the time at which that station 20 is actually at.

Focusing on the station ID-related partial cipher of the cipher 66, the station ID-related partial cipher is dynamic both in terms of time and station ID. This means that the station ID related partial ciphers change with time, even for the same station. However, for each station, the digits taken by the station-id-related partial cipher at each time are known, so the time at which the station-id-related partial cipher is valid (e.g., the time displayed on screen 68) is known. Then the corresponding station ID can be deduced.

If the time at which the management center 40 received the station ID-related partial cipher is known without the aid of the current time-related partial cipher (for example, in the rental scene, the rental time is determined by the management center 40 receiving the station ID (substantially the same time as the time when the related partial cipher was received), the station ID related partial cipher can be decrypted in association with the determined time without the aid of the current time related partial cipher. , the corresponding station ID can be deduced.

On the other hand, if the time at which the management center 40 received the station ID-related partial cipher cannot be determined without the help of the current time-related partial cipher (for example, in the case of the return, the rental time precedes the rental time). is required), first restore the rental time by decrypting the current time-related partial encryption, and then decrypt the station ID-related partial encryption in association with the restored time. A corresponding station ID can be deduced.

While several embodiments of the present invention have been described above in detail with reference to the drawings, taking the case where the rental object is a bicycle as an example, the present invention can also be applied to other rental objects.

For example, if the rental object is a motorcycle (for example, the personal identification number is applied to the engine key of the motorcycle), an automobile (the personal identification number is applied, for example, to the door key or engine key of the automobile). ), a motorized boat or jet ski (wherein the PIN applies, for example, to the engine key of the boat or jet ski), or a go-kart within a particular course (the PIN is, for example, in the go-kart). It is also possible to apply the invention in the case of a door key or an engine key).

Furthermore, if the rental object is furniture (the personal identification number is applied, for example, to the door key of the closed space in which the furniture is stored), electrical appliances (the personal identification number is applied, for example, to the closed space in which the electrical equipment is stored). a door key of a space), an accessory that is removably attached to an appliance (said PIN applies, for example, to a door key of a closed space that stores the accessory), or A recording medium (e.g., CD) on which audiovisual content is recorded that can be played by a user (the PIN code is applied, for example, to the door key of the closed space where the storage medium is stored) The present invention can also be applied to

Furthermore, the rental object is a room in a hotel or an apartment where the user can live (the password is applied, for example, to the door key of the room), an individual storage space in a coin locker (the password is, for example, (applied to the door key of each room of the coin-operated locker), or an individual parking space in the parking lot input by the user in association with each other), the present invention can be applied.

As described above, several embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail based on the drawings, but these are examples, and based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, including the aspects described in the above [Summary of the Invention] column, It is possible to carry out the present invention in other forms with various modifications and improvements.

Claims (7)

A parking area management system that manages lending or returning to users in a plurality of parking areas for each parking area,
a management server that remotely and centrally manages rental or return of the plurality of parking areas to users by communicating with communication devices of users who wish to use any of the parking areas;
The communication device of the user transmits parking area information for specifying one of the parking areas to the management server,
The management server is
a parking area identification unit that, when receiving the parking area information from the communication device of the user, identifies one of the parking areas based on the received parking area information;
a transmission unit that permits the specified parking area to be rented to the user and transmits a PIN number associated with the specified parking area as visualization data to the communication device of the user;
A parking area management system in which the password is entered by the user in association with the identified parking area. 2. The parking area management according to claim 1, wherein the communication device of the user transmits parking area information for specifying one of the parking areas to the management server when the user is in one of the parking areas. system. moreover,
a charge calculation unit that calculates the amount of charge to be charged to the user for the rental or return;
and a settlement processing unit that performs processing for settlement of the charge by a settlement method including at least one of bank settlement, credit settlement, and prepaid settlement, in order to collect the charge from the user. 3. The parking area management system according to 1 or 2. When the parking area corresponding to the received parking area information matches one of a plurality of parking areas pre-stored in the memory of the management server, the parking area identifying unit determines whether the received parking area 4. The parking area management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a judging section for judging that the information is authentic. A program for causing a computer to function as the communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. A program for causing a computer to function as the management server according to any one of claims 1 to 4. 7. A recording medium on which the program according to claim 5 or 6 is computer-readable.

Images