JP2023144093A - Rental vehicle management system and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a novel technique which manages a plurality of vehicles which can be rented to users.SOLUTION: A system which manages a plurality of rental vehicles includes short-range wireless communication units mounted on the respective vehicles, and a management server 50. The management server 50 includes: a reservation unit which, in response to operating a communication device 90 of a user desiring to use one vehicle by the user, selects the one vehicle which the user desires to use out of the plurality of vehicles as a reserved vehicle together with a scheduled start time and a scheduled end time; a start permission unit which permits the user to start using the reserved vehicle in response to transition of the communication device 90 to a receiving state for receiving a signal from the short-range wireless communication units; a reservation change unit which, in response to operating the communication device 90 by the user after the user starts using the reserved vehicle, delays the scheduled end time before the schedule end time comes; and a transmission unit which transmits an amount of a rental fee to the communication device 90 through short-range wireless communication after the user ends using the reserved vehicle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 18

Description

The present invention relates to a technology for managing a plurality of vehicles that can be lent to users.

In recent years, services that allow users to lend and return rental items have become popular. The rental scope extends to movable assets and even real estate. Specifically, an example of a rental object as real estate is a rental space such as a reserved seat or a parking lot, and an example of a rental object as a movable property is transportation/transportation means such as a rental bicycle or a rental car.

More specifically, rental properties as real estate include, for example, accommodation facilities where users can stay for a short period of time (e.g., rooms in hotels, private homes temporarily rented to others, apartment complexes, etc.). living room) or a room in a lodging facility (e.g., individual residence, apartment complex, etc.) where the user can stay for a long period of time, a coin locker, a parking lot (e.g., a parking lot with one or more compartments), and an individual parking space. (For example, each of a plurality of compartments in a parking lot).

Items to be rented as movable property include, for example, land, water, or flying vehicles (e.g., rental cars, rental bicycles, etc.), rental furniture, rental clothing, rental electrical products (including audio guide devices described below), and electrical products. These include removably attached rental accessories (eg, batteries or chargers), rental recording media (eg, CDs) on which audiovisual content is recorded, and which can be played by the user.

Patent Document 1 discloses that in a rental business (for example, a seat rental business, a room rental business) that rents rooms such as karaoke rooms and rental conference rooms (for example, rental rooms), and places such as tennis courts and ball game fields to users, We are disclosing a rental space management support system that can reduce the workload of space managers and promote labor savings. Patent Document 2 also discloses a similar technique.

Patent Document 3 describes a business in which rental spaces as real estate such as rental rooms (for example, rental working rooms), rental seats, and rental parking lots (hourly rental parking lots, monthly parking lots, etc.) are leased to users. Discloses a technology that facilitates cost reduction of equipment that needs to be installed.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-007913 JP2003-281310A Patent No. 5957624

According to the techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, in order for the user to use the desired rental space, the user can reserve the desired rental space before using the space. The user can make the reservation wirelessly online using his or her mobile terminal at a location remote from the desired rental space.

Specifically, according to the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, a user transmits information from his or her personal digital assistant (portable terminal) to a system host (server) to reserve a rental space. An electronic key (a key device that unlocks and locks electronically) is installed in each rental space.

When the reservation is established, the system host sends a password (a type of encryption) to the user's personal digital assistant associated with the rental space selected by the user. The user inputs the password into a room terminal installed individually in the selected rental space and unlocks the corresponding electronic key.

When adopting the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, the burden of installing special equipment called an electronic key for each rental space is imposed on the side that manages the rental space. The user is burdened with obtaining a password and using that password to unlock the electronic key.

Further, when employing the technology disclosed in Patent Document 2, the user can reserve a private room by transmitting information from his or her mobile terminal to the theater system management section (server) 11. A plurality of private rooms that can be lent to a plurality of users are centrally managed by the theater system management section.

When the reservation is established, the theater system management section transmits barcode information (a type of code) to the user's mobile terminal. The user presents the barcode information that his/her mobile terminal has received from the theater system management section at the reception desk of the reserved private room. At the reception, barcode information is taken in, and by exchanging information with the theater system management section, it is confirmed whether or not the reservation is genuine.

When adopting the technology disclosed in Patent Document 2, for the side that manages the rental space, for example, an employee takes in the barcode information at the reception desk, and that employee communicates with the theater system management department. The burden of confirming the authenticity of the reservation is imposed on the user by exchanging information between them, and the user is burdened with obtaining barcode information and using that barcode information to enter the private room. The burden of obtaining permission is imposed on the applicant.

On the other hand, according to the technology disclosed in Patent Document 3, the burden of installing a transmitter in each rental space is imposed on the side that manages rental spaces.

Here, the "transmitter" is a communication device that performs short-range communication with the user's mobile terminal, and by linking with the user's mobile terminal, the rental space where the user is currently staying can be It is used to accurately identify the user's location, that is, to authenticate the user's location. Transmitters of this type have become widespread in recent years, and are becoming cheaper and easier to obtain.

Therefore, purchasing a transmitter and installing it individually in each rental space in order to adopt the technology disclosed in Patent Document 3 is not the same as renting an electronic key to adopt the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1.・At least the economic burden is lower than when installing each space individually. Furthermore, if location authentication is performed using a transmitter installed individually for each rental space, the user is freed from the burden of obtaining a password and using that password to unlock the electronic key.

Therefore, if the technology disclosed in Patent Document 3 is adopted, the cost and labor necessary for operating and managing the rental space can be reduced (for example, unmanned) for the side that manages the rental space. In addition, the user is freed from the trouble of obtaining passwords and barcode information each time and using them at the site.

However, based on research to date, the present inventor has found that when adopting the technology disclosed in Patent Document 3, there are new matters to be considered regarding communication between the transmitter and the mobile terminal. I noticed.

In other words, in an environment where multiple rental spaces are installed adjacent to each other within the same facility, for example, in an environment where multiple rental seats (examples of rental spaces) are installed close to each other, such as in a library, Multiple transmitters will also be placed spatially close to each other.

In such a usage environment where multiple transmitters are arranged at high density, even though the user is staying in the rental space that he or she has selected, his or her mobile terminal may be located in the rental space that he or she has selected. There is a possibility that the installed transmitter (the user's authorized transmitter) will be closer to another transmitter installed in the adjacent rental space (the user's unauthorized transmitter).

In that case, the user's mobile device receives a signal from the unauthorized transmitter with stronger strength than the authorized transmitter, and based on the received signal, Estimating the space incorrectly assumes that the adjacent rental space is the user's current rental space.

That is, when the technology disclosed in Patent Document 3 is adopted, there is a possibility that it may not be possible to correctly grasp which rental space the user is actually staying in at the moment.

With the above knowledge as a background, the present invention has been made with the object of providing a new technique for managing a plurality of vehicles that can be lent to users.

In order to solve the problem , a first aspect of the present invention provides a system for managing a plurality of vehicles that can be lent to users,
a non-contact type or contact type short-range wireless communication unit mounted on each of the plurality of vehicles;
a management server that remotely manages the plurality of vehicles;
including;
The management server is
A user who wishes to use one of the vehicles selects the desired vehicle from among the plurality of vehicles as a reserved vehicle along with the scheduled start time and scheduled end time by operating the user's communication device. a reservation unit that responds to the request and reflects the result in the reservation details;
a start permission unit that allows the user to start using the reserved vehicle in response to the communication device transitioning to a reception state in which it receives a signal from the short-range wireless communication unit when the user starts using the reserved vehicle;
After the user starts using the reserved vehicle, the user operates the communication device to delay the scheduled end time included in the reservation contents before the scheduled end time arrives, and the reservation change result is changed. a reservation change unit that reflects the reservation details;
a transmitting unit that transmits the amount of the rental fee to the communication device by long-distance wireless communication after the user finishes using the reserved vehicle;
including;
A rental vehicle management system is provided in which the communication device includes a payment support unit that supports payment of the rental fee by electronic payment using the amount received from the management server after the user finishes using the reserved vehicle. .

Further, according to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for managing a plurality of vehicles that can be lent to users, comprising:
a non-contact type or contact type short-range wireless communication unit mounted on each of the plurality of vehicles;
a management server that remotely manages the plurality of vehicles;
including;
The management server is
A user who wishes to use one of the vehicles selects the desired vehicle from among the plurality of vehicles as a reserved vehicle along with the scheduled start time and scheduled end time by operating the user's communication device. a reservation unit that responds to the request and reflects the result in the reservation details;
a start permission unit that allows the user to start using the reserved vehicle in response to the communication device transitioning to a reception state in which it receives a signal from the short-range wireless communication unit when the user starts using the reserved vehicle;
A reservation in which, after the user starts using the reserved vehicle, the user operates the communication device to change the reservation with respect to the scheduled end time included in the reservation content, and the result of the reservation change is reflected in the reservation content. a change section;
The charging rate for the usage fee of the reserved vehicle is set to the normal rate if the reservation change is made before the scheduled end time before the reservation change, and after the scheduled end time before the reservation change arrives. a transmission unit that sets a premium rate if the charging rate has been charged, calculates the amount of the rental fee based on the set billing rate, and transmits the calculated amount to the communication device by long-distance wireless communication; and
including;
A rental vehicle management system is provided in which the communication device includes a payment support unit that supports payment of the rental fee by electronic payment using the amount received from the management server after the user finishes using the reserved vehicle. .

Further, according to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program executed by a computer of a communication device of a user who desires to use any one of a plurality of vehicles that can be lent to the user,
a reservation function in which a user selects a desired vehicle from among the plurality of vehicles, together with a scheduled start time and a scheduled end time, by operating the communication device;
a short-range reception function in which the communication device receives a signal from a contactless or contact-type short-range wireless communication unit mounted on the reserved vehicle when the user starts using the reserved vehicle;
a reservation change function for changing the reservation so as to delay the scheduled end time before the scheduled end time arrives by the user operating the communication device after the user starts using the reserved vehicle;
a long-distance reception function that receives the amount of the rental fee from a management server that remotely manages the plurality of vehicles through long-distance wireless communication after the user finishes using the reserved vehicle;
A program is provided for causing a computer to function as a payment support function that supports payment of the rental fee using the received amount by electronic payment.

Further, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for managing a plurality of vehicles that can be lent to users, the system comprising:
a non-contact type or contact type short-range wireless communication unit mounted on each of the plurality of vehicles;
a management server that remotely manages the plurality of vehicles;
The management server is
When a signal transmitted from a communication device of a user who desires to use one of the vehicles is received, one of the vehicles is reserved as a reserved vehicle based on the received signal, and the reservation contents are saved in the memory. Department and
a selection unit that reflects a selection result in the reservation details in response to a user operating the communication device to select a desired vehicle from among the plurality of vehicles together with a scheduled start time and a scheduled end time;
a start permission unit that allows the user to start using the reserved vehicle in response to the communication device transitioning to a reception state in which it receives a signal from the short-range wireless communication unit when the user starts using the reserved vehicle;
After the user starts using the reserved vehicle, the user operates the communication device to delay the scheduled end time included in the reservation contents before the scheduled end time arrives, and the reservation change result is changed. A rental vehicle management system is provided, including a reservation change unit that reflects the reservation details.

Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for managing a plurality of vehicles that can be lent to users, the system comprising:
a non-contact type or contact type short-range wireless communication unit mounted on each of the plurality of vehicles;
a management server that remotely manages the plurality of vehicles;
The management server is
When a signal transmitted from a communication device of a user who desires to use one of the vehicles is received, one of the vehicles is reserved as a reserved vehicle based on the received signal, and the reservation contents are saved in the memory. Department and
a time selection unit that reflects the selection results in the reservation details in response to a user operating the communication device to select a desired vehicle from among the plurality of vehicles together with a scheduled start time and a scheduled end time; ,
a reservation change unit that reflects a result of the reservation change in the reservation content in response to a delay of the scheduled end time included in the reservation content before the arrival of the scheduled end time when the user operates the communication device; ,
a start permission unit that allows the user to start using the reserved vehicle in response to the communication device transitioning to a reception state in which it receives a signal from the short-range wireless communication unit when the user starts using the reserved vehicle; A rental vehicle management system including:

Further, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for managing a plurality of vehicles that can be lent to users, the system comprising:
a non-contact type or contact type short-range wireless communication unit mounted on each of the plurality of vehicles;
a management server that remotely manages the plurality of vehicles;
The system enables a user to select a vehicle he or she wishes to use from among the plurality of vehicles on the mobile terminal by operating the mobile terminal;
The mobile terminal is capable of short-range wireless communication with the short-range wireless communication unit and long-range wireless communication with the management server,
When the management server receives a signal transmitted from the mobile terminal in response to a user's operation to select one of the vehicles, the management server reserves one of the vehicles as a reserved vehicle based on the received signal. , save the reservation details in memory,
The system allows the user to change the reservation on the mobile terminal to delay the scheduled end time before the scheduled end time included in the reservation details arrives, by operating the mobile terminal. ,
In this system, when the user starts using the reserved vehicle, the user holds the mobile terminal over or contacts the short-range wireless communication unit mounted on the reserved vehicle, so that the mobile terminal activates the short-range wireless communication unit. After transitioning to a receiving state in which a signal is received from the user, the user is allowed to start using the reserved vehicle, and when the user finishes using the reserved vehicle, the user transfers the mobile terminal to a nearby vehicle mounted on the reserved vehicle. Provided is a rental vehicle management system that allows a user to end use of the reserved vehicle after the mobile terminal transits to a receiving state in which it receives a signal from the short-range wireless communication unit due to being held over or in contact with the wireless communication unit. be done.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for managing a plurality of vehicles that can be lent to users, the system comprising:
a non-contact type or contact type short-range wireless communication unit mounted on each of the plurality of vehicles;
a management server that remotely manages the plurality of vehicles;
The system enables a user to select a desired vehicle from among the plurality of vehicles on the mobile terminal by operating the mobile terminal,
The mobile terminal is capable of short-range wireless communication with the short-range wireless communication unit and long-range wireless communication with the management server,
When the management server receives a signal transmitted from the mobile terminal in response to a user's operation to select one of the vehicles, the management server reserves one of the vehicles as a reserved vehicle based on the received signal. , save the reservation details in memory,
In this system, when the user starts using the reserved vehicle, the user holds the mobile terminal over or contacts the short-range wireless communication unit mounted on the reserved vehicle, so that the mobile terminal activates the short-range wireless communication unit. After transitioning to a receiving state in which a signal is received from the user, the user is allowed to start using the reserved vehicle, and when the user finishes using the reserved vehicle, the user transfers the mobile terminal to a nearby vehicle mounted on the reserved vehicle. After the mobile terminal transits to a reception state in which it receives a signal from the short-range wireless communication unit due to being held over or in contact with the wireless communication unit, allowing the user to terminate the use of the reserved vehicle;
The short-range wireless communication unit is capable of transmitting a signal representing a unique communication ID,
The rental vehicle management system determines the communication ID corresponding to the reserved vehicle as a regular communication ID according to the correspondence between the plurality of vehicles and the plurality of communication IDs, and sends a signal representing the regular communication ID to the mobile phone. A rental vehicle management system is provided that determines whether a user is present in the reserved vehicle depending on whether a terminal receives a signal from a short-range wireless communication unit installed in the reserved vehicle.

Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for managing a plurality of vehicles that can be lent to users, the system comprising:
a non-contact type or contact type short-range wireless communication unit mounted on each of the plurality of vehicles;
a management server that remotely manages the plurality of vehicles;
The user selects, on the mobile terminal, a vehicle that the user desires to use from among the plurality of vehicles by operating the mobile terminal;
The mobile terminal is capable of short-range wireless communication with the short-range wireless communication unit and long-range wireless communication with the management server,
When the management server receives a signal transmitted from the mobile terminal in response to a user's operation to select one of the vehicles, the management server reserves one of the vehicles as a reserved vehicle based on the received signal. , save the reservation details in memory,
In this system, when the user starts using the reserved vehicle, the user holds the mobile terminal over or contacts the short-range wireless communication unit mounted on the reserved vehicle, so that the mobile terminal activates the short-range wireless communication unit. After transitioning to a receiving state in which a signal is received from the user, the user is allowed to start using the reserved vehicle, and when the user finishes using the reserved vehicle, the user transfers the mobile terminal to a nearby vehicle mounted on the reserved vehicle. Provided is a rental vehicle management system that allows a user to end use of the reserved vehicle after the mobile terminal transits to a receiving state in which it receives a signal from the short-range wireless communication unit due to being held over or in contact with the wireless communication unit. be done.

Further, according to an aspect of the present invention, a plurality of communication devices installed in a plurality of spaces and an in-vehicle wireless communication device that is a wireless communication device in a car of a user who desires to use any of the spaces are connected. A system that prevents interference between
Prior to a user approaching or entering a selected space selected as one of the plurality of spaces, the in-vehicle wireless communication device follows a predetermined correspondence between spaces and communication device IDs, a regular communication device ID acquisition unit that acquires, as a regular communication device ID, a communication device ID represented by a signal to be transmitted by a regular communication device among the plurality of communication devices;
With the user approaching or entering the selection space, the in-vehicle wireless communication device determines that one or more real communication device IDs represented by one or more signals received from one or more communication devices are connected to the authorized communication device. If a signal that does not match the device ID is included, the communication device that sent the signal representing the actual communication device ID that does not match the authorized communication device ID is recognized as a non-regular communication device, and the signal is validly received from the non-regular communication device. An anti-interference system is provided, comprising: a disabling unit that disables the signal;

Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for preventing interference between a plurality of communication devices installed in a plurality of spaces and a mobile terminal of a user who desires to use any of the spaces. There it is,
Prior to a user approaching or entering a selected space selected as one of the plurality of spaces, the mobile terminal selects the plurality of spaces according to a predetermined correspondence between spaces and communication device IDs. A regular communication device ID acquisition step of acquiring a communication device ID represented by a signal to be transmitted by a regular communication device among the communication devices as a regular communication device ID;
one or more real communication device IDs represented by one or more signals received by the mobile terminal from one or more communication devices with the user approaching or entering the selection space; A communication device that determines that there is a possibility of interference occurring in the mobile terminal if it includes an ID that does not match the regular communication device ID, and that has transmitted a signal representing an actual communication device ID that does not match the regular communication device ID. A method for preventing interference with a user terminal is provided, comprising the steps of: recognizing a signal as an unauthorized communication device, and invalidating a signal validly received from the unauthorized communication device.

Further, according to an aspect of the present invention, a method for preventing interference between a plurality of communication devices installed in a plurality of spaces and a mobile terminal of a user who desires to utilize any of the spaces is provided. There it is,
After the user selects one of the plurality of spaces as a selection space on the mobile terminal and before the user enters the selection space, the mobile terminal stores the space and the communication device ID. a regular communication device ID acquisition step of acquiring a communication device ID represented by a signal to be transmitted by a regular communication device among the plurality of communication devices as a regular communication device ID according to a predetermined correspondence relationship;
When the user enters the selection space, the mobile terminal selects one or more real communication device IDs represented by one or more signals received from one or more communication devices as the acquired regular communication. If there is a signal that does not match the device ID, it is determined that there is a possibility of interference occurring at the mobile terminal, and the communication device that transmitted the signal representing the actual communication device ID that does not match the regular communication device ID is disabled. and a blocking/invalidation step of recognizing the device as a legitimate communication device and disabling effective reception from the non-compliant communication device or invalidating the signal validly received from the non-compliant communication device. A method is provided.

Further, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for managing a plurality of spaces, the method comprising:
The method is
A contactless or contact transmitter that emits a signal representing a unique ID in each space;
It is executed using the user's mobile device which selects one of the spaces and sets it as the selected space, and
The method is
When the user brings the mobile terminal close to the transmitter when starting to use the selection space corresponding to the ID, the mobile terminal starts receiving the signal, and soon the user brings the mobile terminal closer to the transmitter. When separated from the transmitter, the mobile terminal transitions to a state in which it does not receive the signal, and after that transition, when the user inputs a start-of-use request to the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal and/or the mobile terminal a usage start permission step in which a management server capable of communicating with the management server authorizes the start of the usage;
After starting to use the selection space corresponding to the ID, when the user brings the mobile terminal close to the transmitter, the state in which the mobile terminal receives the signal is resumed, and soon the user brings the mobile terminal closer to the transmitter. When separated from the communication device, the mobile terminal transitions to a state in which it does not receive the signal, and after that transition, when the user inputs a termination request to the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal and/or the management server A space management method is provided that includes at least one of the following: , and a use termination permitting step for permitting termination of the use.

Further, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for managing a plurality of real or movable objects, the method comprising:
The method is
a contactless or contact communication device that emits a signal representing a unique ID at each object;
It is executed using a mobile terminal of a user who selects one of the objects and makes it the selected object, and
The method is
At the beginning of use, when the user brings the mobile terminal close to the communication device, the mobile terminal starts receiving the signal, and when the user moves the mobile terminal away from the communication device, the mobile terminal transitions to a state where it does not receive the signal, and after that transition, when the user inputs a start-of-use request to the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal and/or a management server capable of communicating with the mobile terminal , a use start permission step of permitting the start of use of the selected object corresponding to the ID;
After the start of use, when the user brings the mobile terminal close to the communication device, the state in which the mobile terminal receives the signal is resumed, and when the user moves the mobile terminal away from the communication device, the mobile terminal When the terminal transitions to a state in which it does not receive the signal, and after that transition, the user inputs a usage termination request to the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal and/or the management server requests that the mobile terminal and/or the management server permit the termination of the usage. An object management method is provided that includes a termination permit process.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for managing multiple spaces, the method comprising:
The method is
a contactless or contact communication device that emits a signal representing a unique ID in each space;
A mobile terminal of a user who selects one of the spaces as the selected space,
It is executed using a management server that can communicate with the mobile terminal,
The method is
a reservation step in which, when one of the plurality of spaces is selected by the user as a selected space, the mobile terminal transmits reservation information for reserving the selected space to the management server;
When the management server receives the reservation information, a registration step of registering the relationship between the user and the selected space in memory;
an acquisition step in which the mobile terminal acquires an ID corresponding to the selected space as a regular ID according to a predetermined correspondence between the plurality of spaces and the plurality of IDs;
Upon initiation of use, when a user holds the mobile terminal over or touches any communication device, the mobile terminal receives a signal from any communication device, and the received signal represents the authorized ID. If the signal is a regular reception signal, when the user eventually moves the mobile terminal away from one of the communication devices, the mobile terminal transitions to a state in which it does not receive the regular reception signal, and after that transition, the user a start-of-use state transition step in which, when a start-of-use request is input to the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal accepts the start-of-use request;
a start-of-use request sending step in which the mobile terminal associates the input start-of-use request with a user and sends it to the management server;
A space management method is provided, comprising: when the management server receives the start-of-use request in association with a user, searches for the selected space in the memory and permits start of use of the selected space. Ru.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for managing a plurality of real estate or movable objects, the method comprising:
The method is
a transmitter that emits a signal representing a unique transmitter code at each object;
It is executed using a mobile terminal of a user who selects one of the objects and makes it the selected object, and
The method is
At the beginning of use, when the user brings the mobile terminal close to the transmitter, the mobile terminal starts receiving the signal, and when the user moves the mobile terminal away from the transmitter, the mobile terminal transitions to a state where it does not receive the signal, and after that transition, when the user inputs a start-of-use request to the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal and/or a management server capable of communicating with the mobile terminal , a use start permission step of permitting the start of use of the selected object corresponding to the transmitter code;
After the start of use, when the user brings the mobile terminal close to the transmitter, the mobile terminal resumes receiving the signal, and when the user moves the mobile terminal away from the transmitter, the mobile terminal resumes receiving the signal. When the terminal transitions to a state in which it does not receive the signal, and after that transition, the user inputs a usage termination request to the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal and/or the management server requests that the mobile terminal and/or the management server permit the termination of the usage. A method is provided that includes a termination permit step.

Further, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for managing a plurality of rentable spaces, the method comprising:
The method is
a transmitter that emits a signal representing a unique transmitter code in each space;
A mobile terminal of a user who selects one of the spaces as the selected space,
It is executed using a management server that can communicate with the mobile terminal,
The method is
a reservation step in which, when one of the plurality of spaces is selected by the user as a selected space, the mobile terminal transmits reservation information for reserving the selected space to the management server;
When the management server receives the reservation information, a registration step of registering the relationship between the user and the selected space in memory;
After selecting one of the spaces, the mobile terminal corresponds to the selected space according to a predetermined correspondence between the plurality of spaces and the plurality of transmitter codes, prior to reception with the transmitter. an acquisition step of acquiring the transmitter code as a regular transmitter code;
At the start of rental, when the user holds the mobile terminal over or touches one of the transmitters, the mobile terminal receives a signal from one of the transmitters, and the received signal is used as the authorized transmitter code. If it is a regular reception signal representing the above, when the user eventually moves the mobile terminal away from one of the transmitters, the mobile terminal transitions to a state in which it does not receive the regular reception signal, and after that transition, a rental start state transition step in which, when a user inputs a rental start request to the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal accepts the rental start request;
a rental start request sending step in which the mobile terminal associates the input rental start request with the user and sends it to the management server;
When the management server receives the rental start request in association with a user, the management server searches the memory for the selected rental object and permits the start of rental of the selected rental object. Ru.

According to another aspect of the invention, the method according to the certain aspect further comprises:
After the rental starts, when the user holds the mobile terminal over or touches one of the transmitters, the mobile terminal receives a signal from one of the transmitters, and the received signal is recognized as the authorized reception. If the signal is a signal, when the user eventually moves the mobile terminal away from one of the transmitters, the mobile terminal transitions to a state in which it does not receive the regular reception signal, and after that transition, the user moves the mobile terminal away from one of the transmitters. a rental end state transition step in which, when a rental end request is input to the terminal, the mobile terminal accepts the rental end request;
a rental termination request sending step in which the mobile terminal associates the input rental termination request with the user and transmits it to the management server;
The method further includes a step of permitting termination of the rental when the management server receives the rental termination request in association with a user.

Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for centrally managing a plurality of rental objects that are real estate or movable assets that can be lent to users, the method comprising:
The method is
A transmitter that emits a signal representing a unique transmitter code for each rental object;
Select one of the rental objects and use the mobile terminal of the user who wishes to use the selected rental object,
The method is
a wide area reception step in which the mobile terminal receives one or more signals from one or more transmitters in a wide area reception mode in which reception is performed in a first effective reception area;
When at least one condition including a first condition that the mobile terminal simultaneously receives a plurality of signals from a plurality of transmitters in the wide area reception mode is satisfied, the first condition is established in place of the wide area reception mode. a narrow-area reception step of receiving one or more signals from one or more transmitters in a narrow-area reception mode in which reception is performed in a second effective reception area narrower than the effective reception area of;
The mobile terminal and/or the management server capable of communicating with the mobile terminal is a real transmitter represented by one or more signals received by the mobile terminal in the narrow area reception mode. a determination step of determining that the user exists in the selected rental target if the code matches a regular transmitter code corresponding to a regular transmitter that is supposed to be installed in the selected rental target. A rental object management method is provided.

In one example, the at least one condition further includes that an actual transmitter code represented by any one of a plurality of signals simultaneously received from a plurality of transmitters in the wide area reception mode is equal to the regular transmitter code. It includes a second condition that they match. In this example, the wide area reception step is repeatedly performed until the at least one condition including the first condition and the second condition is satisfied.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for centrally managing a plurality of rental objects that are real estate or movable assets that can be rented to users, the method comprising:
The method is
A transmitter that emits a signal representing a unique transmitter code for each rental object;
Select one of the rental objects and use the mobile terminal of the user who wishes to use the selected rental object,
The method is
The mobile terminal and/or a management server capable of communicating with the mobile terminal corresponds to the selected rental target according to a predetermined correspondence between the plurality of rental targets and the plurality of transmitter codes. an acquisition step of acquiring the transmitter code as a regular transmitter code;
After the authorized transmitter code is obtained, the mobile terminal transmits a reception attempt to receive signals from one or more transmitters by including the authorized transmitter code in the received one or more signals. a reception step that is performed repeatedly until a regular reception signal exists that represents the
When the regular reception signal is present among the one or more received signals, the mobile terminal and/or the management server selects a rental object corresponding to the regular transmitter code represented by the regular reception signal. A rental object management method is provided, which includes: a determination step of determining that a user exists in the selected rental object without performing identifying processing.

The following aspects can be obtained by the present invention. Each aspect is divided into sections, each section is numbered, and the numbers of other sections are cited as necessary. This is to facilitate understanding of some of the technical features that can be adopted by the present invention and their combinations, and the technical features that can be adopted by the present invention and their combinations are limited to the following aspects. It should not be interpreted as such. That is, it should be interpreted that technical features not described in the following embodiments but described in this specification may be appropriately extracted and adopted as technical features of the present invention.

Furthermore, it should be noted that the description of each section in the form of quoting the numbers of other sections does not necessarily prevent the technical features described in each section from being separated and independent from the technical features described in other sections. It should be interpreted that the technical features described in each section can be made independent as appropriate depending on the nature of the technical features described in each section.

(1) A method for centrally managing multiple rental objects that are real estate or movable assets that can be rented to users,
The method is
A transmitter that emits a signal representing a unique transmitter code for each rental object;
A mobile terminal of a user who selects one of the rental objects and wishes to use the selected rental object, and is capable of receiving signals using a short-range communication method with one or more transmitters. is executed using
The method is
an input support step in which the mobile terminal assists the user in selecting one of the rental targets as a selected rental target prior to reception from one or more transmitters;
The mobile terminal and/or a management server capable of communicating with the mobile terminal generates a transmitter code corresponding to the selected rental target according to the correspondence between the plurality of rental targets and the plurality of transmitter codes. a determination step of determining the code as a regular transmitter code;
A determination in which the mobile terminal and/or the management server determines whether or not the user exists in the selected rental target, depending on whether the mobile terminal receives a signal representing the regular transmitter code. Rental object management method including process and.

Here, the "multiple rental targets" are typically located so close to each other that they cannot be spatially distinguished (separated) from each other with practical accuracy, for example, by the GPS function of the user's mobile terminal. (e.g., multiple rental seats in a rental facility, multiple parking spaces in a parking lot) or personal property (e.g., multiple rental bicycles in the same bicycle rental facility). The GPS function of a user's mobile device enables the identification of multiple real estate properties (e.g., multiple rental facilities, multiple parking lots, ) or personal property (for example, multiple rental bicycles within the same bicycle rental facility).

(2) The mobile terminal repeatedly makes reception attempts to receive signals from one or more transmitters,
The determination step includes:
The mobile terminal and/or the management server causes the mobile terminal to transition from a state in which it does not receive a signal representing the regular transmitter code to a state in which it does receive the signal, at a timing when a first transition appears, or triggered by the first transition. a step of recognizing the start of use of the selected rental object by the user based on the timing at which a predetermined first event occurs;
The mobile terminal and/or the management server causes the mobile terminal to transition from a state in which it receives a signal representing the regular transmitter code to a state in which it does not receive the signal, or occurs at the timing when a second transition appears or is triggered by the second transition. The rental object management method according to item (1), including at least one of the steps of: recognizing the end of use of the selected rental object by the user based on the timing at which a predetermined second event occurs.

(3) The mobile terminal repeatedly makes reception attempts to receive signals from one or more transmitters,
The determination step includes:
A first transition in which the mobile terminal and/or the management server transitions from a state where the mobile terminal does not receive a signal representing the regular transmitter code to a state where the mobile terminal receives a signal representing the regular transmitter code; A second transition from a state of receiving to a state of not receiving, in which the user recognizes the start of use by the user in response to a combination of the appearance of both or one of the pair and the user's declaration of intention to request the start of use. process and
The mobile terminal and/or the management server recognizes the termination of use by the user in response to a combination of the appearance of both or one of the first transition and second transition in a pair and the user's indication of intention to request termination of use. The rental object management method described in paragraph (2), which includes the step of:

(4) The input support step includes:
assisting a user in reserving the selected rental object at a location remote from the selected rental object;
and at least one of: assisting a user in inputting the selected rental object at the same location as the selected rental object or at a location in the vicinity thereof, immediately before use of the selected rental object by the user. The rental object management method described in any of paragraphs 1) to (3).

(5) Each transmitter cooperates with the signal processing characteristics of the mobile terminal, so that as long as there is a user in the corresponding rental target, the user can hold the mobile terminal in his hand and transfer the mobile terminal to the transmitter. The rental object management method according to any one of items (1) to (4), which operates so that the signal transmitted from each transmitter is received by the mobile terminal without holding it up to or touching it. .

(6) Each transmitter cooperates with the signal processing characteristics of the mobile terminal so that a user existing in the corresponding rental target can hold the mobile terminal in his hand and hold the mobile terminal over the transmitter, or The rental object management method according to any one of items (1) to (4), wherein when the mobile terminal contacts the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal operates so that the signal transmitted from each transmitter is received by the mobile terminal.

(7) Furthermore, if the actual transmitter code represented by the signal received by the mobile terminal from each transmitter does not match the regular transmitter code, the mobile terminal may notify the user of the transmitter code of the mobile terminal. The rental object management method according to any one of (1) to (6), including the step of prompting a retry of reception of the rental object.

(8) Furthermore, when the mobile terminal and/or the management server determines that the user has arrived at the selected rental target at a first time, from that time onwards, within a first time limit, the user The rental object management method according to any one of (1) to (7), including the step of allowing the user to start using the selected rental object when a user inputs a use start request.

(9) Further, when the mobile terminal and/or the management server determines that the user has left the selected rental target at a second time, the user has left the mobile terminal within a second time limit from that time. The rental object management method according to any one of items (1) to (8), including the step of allowing a user to terminate use of the selected space when a user inputs a use termination request.

(10) A program executed by a computer of a mobile terminal to implement the mobile terminal according to any one of (1) to (9).

(11) A program executed by a computer of a management server to implement the management server according to any one of paragraphs (1) to (9).

A program according to this and other sections shall be construed to mean, for example, a combination of instructions executed by a computer to perform its functions, and not only a combination of such instructions, but also a program processed in accordance with each instruction. It can be interpreted to include, but is not limited to, files and data.

In addition, this program may be executed by a computer alone to achieve the desired purpose, or may be executed together with other programs to achieve the desired purpose. Yes, but not limited to. In the latter case, the program according to this section may be data-based, but is not limited thereto.

(12) A recording medium on which the program described in (10) or (11) is recorded in a computer-readable manner.

This recording medium can be in various formats, including magnetic recording media such as flexible disks, optical recording media such as CDs and CD-ROMs, magneto-optical recording media such as MO, and unremovable storage media such as ROM. Any of the following may be adopted, but the invention is not limited to these.

(13) For substantially the entire period of use from the start time of use by the user to the end time of use for each rental object, the user's mobile terminal transmits the The rental object management method according to any one of items (1) to (9), wherein the rental object management method is characterized in that the rental object is located within a distance that allows short-range communication with the device.

(14) The plurality of rental objects mentioned in paragraph (13) include a plurality of rental seats installed in a seat rental facility (including libraries, schools, training rooms, and lecture rooms) or a plurality of rooms in an apartment complex. The rental target management method described.

(15) During at least the start and end stages of each usage period from the start time of use by the user to the end time of use for each rental object, the user's mobile terminal is connected to the transmitter of the rental object. , the rental object management method according to any one of items (1) to (9), wherein the rental object management method is arranged within a distance that allows short-range communication with the transmitter.

(16) The plurality of rental objects described in paragraph (15) include a plurality of car rooms in a parking lot (including a bicycle parking lot), a plurality of rental locker rooms, a plurality of rental warehouses, or a plurality of rental safe deposit boxes. How to manage rental objects.

(17) This method is applicable to multiple rental targets installed in multiple facilities that are geographically different from each other (for example, multiple rental targets that are so close to each other that they cannot be spatially resolved using the GPS function of a mobile terminal). carried out to manage
In the input support step, the mobile terminal measures the current position of the mobile terminal, and displays a small number of candidate facilities located near the measured current position among the plurality of facilities on a map. Any of the items (1) to (9), which displays the data in a state where the user can select one of the facilities, thereby supporting the user in selecting one of the facilities. Rental object management method described in .

(18) The method is implemented to manage multiple rental targets installed at multiple facilities that are geographically different from each other,
In the input support step, the mobile terminal displays at least some of the plurality of facilities on the screen in a list format and in a state in which the user can select any one of the facilities; The rental object management method according to any one of items (1) to (9), which supports a person in selecting one of the facilities.

(19) The input support step includes information for identifying the selected rental object and the planned use of the selected rental object in order for the user to reserve the selected rental object at a location away from the selected rental object. the step of assisting in inputting information for identifying a time zone into the mobile terminal;
The method further includes:
Based on the information, the management server creates a reservation status table for chronologically displaying the time slots in which the reservation has been made for each rental object, and each time a new reservation is made, , each time the use of any of the rental objects ends, the reservation status table is updated to reflect that fact, and the latest reservation status table is sent to the mobile terminal,
The input support step further includes: the mobile terminal displaying the transmitted reservation status table on the screen, and the user making a reservation for the selected rental object while referring to the reservation status table; The rental object management method according to any one of items (1) to (9), which supports inputting information into the mobile terminal.

(20) The plurality of transmitters and the mobile terminal are such that while the user is present in the selected rental target, the mobile terminal continuously receives signals from the transmitters installed in the selected rental target. operates to
The method further includes determining whether the user is actually staying at the selected rental target based on whether the mobile terminal is receiving a signal from a transmitter installed in the selected rental target. The rental object management method according to any one of (1) to (9), including the step of repeatedly determining whether or not the rental object has been purchased.

(21) A system for centrally managing multiple rental objects that are real estate or movable assets that can be rented to users,
A transmitter that emits a signal representing a unique transmitter code for each rental object;
A mobile terminal of a user who selects one of the rental objects and wishes to use the selected rental object, and is capable of receiving signals using a short-range communication method with one or more transmitters. including;
The mobile terminal includes an input support unit that assists the user in selecting one of the rental objects as a selected rental object prior to reception from one or more transmitters,
The mobile terminal and/or a management server capable of communicating with the mobile terminal,
a determining unit that determines a transmitter code corresponding to the selected rental target as a regular transmitter code according to the correspondence between the plurality of rental targets and the plurality of transmitter codes;
A rental object management system comprising: a determination unit that determines whether or not a user exists in the selected rental object according to whether or not the mobile terminal has received a signal representing the regular transmitter code.

(22) For substantially the entire period of use from the start time of use by the user to the end time of use for each rental object, the user's mobile terminal transmits the The rental object management system according to item (21), wherein the rental object management system has the characteristic that it is located within a range that allows short-range communication with the rental object management system.

(23) Each rental item is an audio guide device (e.g., a device that receives signals wirelessly from the outside) that is lent to visitors and tourists at art museums, museums, and tourist destinations, and is carried by the visitors and tourists during the tour. the rental object management system according to item (22), including a device for converting the audio data into audio data in real time or reading audio data from the built-in memory in response to an external trigger signal to explain the viewing object audibly. .

(24) During at least the start and end stages of each usage period from the start time of use by the user to the end time of use for each rental object, the user's mobile terminal is connected to the transmitter of the rental object. , the rental object management system according to item (21), wherein the rental object management system has a characteristic that the system is located within a distance that allows short-range communication with the transmitter.

(25) The rental object management method described in paragraph (24), in which each rental object includes a rental car or a rental bicycle.

(26) A method for centrally managing multiple rental objects that are real estate or movable assets that can be lent to users, the method comprising:
The method is
A transmitter that emits a signal representing a unique transmitter code for each rental object;
A mobile terminal of a user who selects one of the rental objects and wishes to use the selected rental object, and is capable of receiving signals using a short-range communication method with one or more transmitters. is executed using
The method is
the mobile terminal repeatedly making reception attempts to receive signals from one or more transmitters;
The mobile terminal supports a user in selecting one of the plurality of rental targets as a selective rental target on the mobile terminal,
The method further includes:
The mobile terminal and/or a management server capable of communicating with the mobile terminal determines whether the mobile terminal does not receive a signal from any transmitter or the signal received from one or more transmitters does not correspond to the selected rental. A signal was received from one or more transmitters, or a signal was received from one or more transmitters from an irregular reception state that did not represent the authorized transmitter code specific to the transmitter that was supposed to be installed in the target. The rental target selected by the user is based on the timing at which a first transition in which a signal transitions to a regular reception state representing the regular transmitter code appears or the timing at which a predetermined first event that occurs triggered by the first transition appears. a step of recognizing the start of use of the
The timing at which the mobile terminal and/or the management server undergoes a second transition from the authorized reception state to the unauthorized reception state, or the timing at which a predetermined second event that occurs in response to the second transition appears. a step of recognizing the end of use of the selected rental object by a user based on the above.

(27) A method for centrally managing multiple rental objects that are real estate or movable assets that can be lent to users, the method comprising:
The method is
A transmitter that emits a signal representing a unique transmitter code for each rental object;
A mobile terminal of a user who selects one of the rental objects and wishes to use the selected rental object, and is capable of receiving signals using a short-range communication method with one or more transmitters. is executed using
The method is
the mobile terminal repeatedly making reception attempts to receive signals from one or more transmitters;
a step in which the mobile terminal supports a user in selecting one of the plurality of rental targets as a selective rental target on the mobile terminal;
The mobile terminal and/or a management server capable of communicating with the mobile terminal determines whether or not the mobile terminal has received the user's A rental object management method comprising: monitoring temporal changes in approach and separation from a selected rental object.

(28) The rental object management method according to item (26) or (27), in which each of the rental objects includes a parking lot.

(29) The rental object management method according to item (26) or (27), in which each of the rental objects includes a car room installed in a parking lot.

(30) A method for controlling the reception range of a transmitter received by a user's mobile terminal, the method comprising:
A plurality of transmitters, each of which is installed on movable or immovable property and continuously transmits a unique identification signal;
a user's mobile terminal capable of receiving one or more transmitters in a near field communication manner;
The method is
The mobile terminal receives signals from each of one or more transmitters in a wide area reception mode in which reception is performed in a first effective reception area, and the mobile terminal receives signals from each of the first effective reception areas for each transmitter. A wide area reception step of determining whether the mobile terminal has detected each transmitter in the wide area reception mode by determining whether the transmitter exists within the area;
a simultaneous reception determination step of determining whether the mobile terminal simultaneously detects a plurality of transmitters in the wide area reception mode;
When at least one condition is satisfied, including the condition that the mobile terminal determines that a plurality of transmitters are detected simultaneously in the wide area reception mode, a second effective reception area that is smaller than the first effective reception area is established. in a narrow-area reception mode in which signals are received from each of one or more transmitters, and it is determined whether the mobile terminal exists within the second effective reception area for each transmitter. a short range reception step of determining whether the mobile terminal has detected each transmitter in the short range reception mode by doing so.

(31) The real estate includes multiple rental spaces (e.g., multiple rental seats, multiple parking lots, multiple compartments in one parking lot, multiple stations, each of which has multiple rental bicycles available to users). 31. The method according to item (30), wherein the transmitter is installed in each of the transmitters (which are stored in a state where they can be lent to the public).

(32) The method according to item (30), wherein the movable property includes a plurality of rental bicycles or rental cars, each of which is equipped with the transmitter.

(33) The wide area reception step includes:
the mobile terminal attempting to receive a signal from each of the one or more transmitters in the wide area reception mode;
When the mobile terminal receives signals from one or more transmitters in the wide area reception mode, the mobile terminal and/or a server capable of communicating with the mobile terminal communicates with each transmitter based on the received signals. Measuring a distance between the mobile terminal and the mobile terminal as a first distance;
the mobile terminal and/or the server determine that each transmitter is detected by the mobile terminal if the first distance measured for each transmitter is shorter than the first effective reception radius; If the first distance is longer than the first effective reception radius, determining that each transmitter is not detected by the mobile terminal,
The narrow range reception step includes:
the mobile terminal attempting to receive a signal from each of the one or more transmitters in the short range reception mode;
When the mobile terminal and/or the server receives signals from one or more transmitters in the narrow area reception mode, the distance between each transmitter and the mobile terminal is determined based on the received signals. Measuring as a second distance;
the mobile terminal and/or the server determine that each transmitter is detected by the mobile terminal if the second distance measured for each transmitter is shorter than the second effective reception radius; determining that each transmitter is not detected by the mobile terminal if the second distance is longer than the second effective reception radius.

The techniques described in items (30) to (33) above relate to improving the reception mode of a user's mobile terminal when the transmitter is detected by the user's mobile terminal. According to this technology, the reception mode, that is, the effective reception radius (value set in the mobile terminal) is made variable, and can be switched between wide area reception mode and narrow area reception mode. According to this technology, when there is a low possibility of interference occurring between multiple transmitters (false detection of a transmitter by a mobile terminal), wide area reception mode is selected and the possibility of interference occurring is high. In this case, the mode is automatically switched to narrow-band reception mode. Therefore, according to this technique, even if a plurality of transmitters are close to each other, it becomes easy for the mobile terminal to normally detect only an appropriate transmitter.

In addition, the technology described in (30) to (33) above (when a mobile terminal detects multiple transmitters at the same time in wide area reception mode, the reception mode is automatically changed from wide area reception mode to narrow area reception mode). The technology described in (1) to (29) above (when a mobile terminal detects multiple transmitters at the same time, the identity of the only transmitter that the mobile terminal should originally receive is It is possible to combine this with filtering technology that uses software to exclude signals from transmitters other than the authorized transmitter, provided that the signal is known prior to reception from the transmitter. An example thereof will be described in detail later with reference to FIG. 25.

According to one aspect of the invention, any space is selected by the user before the user's mobile terminal receives the transmitter.

Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, the selected space selected by the user (for example, the reserved rental target) is assigned to each of the plurality of spaces based on the identity of the space. Multiple installed transmitters are classified into regular transmitters (target transmitters) that are supposed to be installed in one selected space and other non-regular transmitters (non-target transmitters). .

As a result, according to one aspect of the present invention, even if the user's mobile terminal receives a signal from an unauthorized transmitter in the selected space, that signal is not referenced, and only signals from the authorized transmitter are received. is referenced to estimate the user's current position, that is, whether the user is truly located at the same position as the selection space or in the vicinity thereof.

The idea behind this estimation is that if the user's location is known, the mobile terminal only needs to pay attention to the signal that is supposed to be emitted by the transmitter that is supposed to be installed at that known location. .

Therefore, according to one aspect of the present invention, the legitimate transmitter may be disposed spatially close to other transmitters, or the user may receive the legitimate transmitter using his/her own mobile terminal. The effective reception area of the authorized transmitter (for example, Figs. 5 and 20 Even in environments where the effective coverage area at least partially overlaps between the authorized transmitter and other transmitters, for example because of the need to expand the A software filtering function (noise removal function), rather than a regular filtering function (noise removal function), enables only signals from authorized transmitters on the mobile terminal. Therefore, according to one aspect of the present invention, it becomes easy to accurately estimate the user's current location without being influenced by other transmitters.

The effect that the effective reception area of each transmitter can be easily expanded is, for example, when the present invention is applied to a technique for selecting a car room in a parking lot or a technique similar thereto. In the sequence, the user remains in the vehicle parked in the selected compartment in the parking lot, that is, without getting out of the vehicle and approaching the transmitter, the user receives reception from the authorized transmitter and performs parking/exit processing. The effect is that it becomes easier to communicate with the management server for

FIG. 1 shows a plurality of transmitters installed in each of a plurality of reserved seats, a user staying in any of the reserved seats, and a user and 2 is a perspective view illustrating an example of communication between a user's mobile terminal while staying at home, which is an exemplary location away from any reserved seats, and a management server in a remote management center; FIG. be.

Figure 2 shows short-range one-way communication between each transmitter installed in each rental seat shown in Figure 1 and a user's mobile terminal, and between the mobile terminal and the management server shown in Figure 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram conceptually representing long-distance two-way communication.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram conceptually representing the transmitter shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart conceptually representing an example of a program executed by the computer of the transmitter shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 shows an enlarged view of some of the plurality of rental seats shown in FIG. 2 along with the transmitters installed in each rental seat, and also shows a plane conceptually representing the effective reception area assigned to each transmitter. It is a diagram.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram conceptually representing the mobile terminal shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a diagram conceptually representing the facility data file stored in the facility data memory in FIG. 6 in a table format.

FIG. 8 is a diagram conceptually representing the reserved seat data file stored in the reserved seat data memory in FIG. 6 in a table format.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram conceptually representing the management server shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 10(a) shows a list showing a plurality of modules of the seat rental service program executed by the computer of the mobile terminal shown in FIG. 6, and FIG. 5 shows a list showing a plurality of modules of a seat reservation service program executed by a computer.

FIG. 11(a) is a diagram illustrating a reservation status table used in the reservation sequence in order to explain the reservation sequence of the unmanned seat rental method executed in the unmanned seat rental system, FIG. 11(b) is a diagram illustrating a user-specific reservation content file used in the reservation sequence.

FIG. 12 is a plurality of time charts for illustratively explaining the entire sequence (the entire main sequence) of the unmanned seat rental method.

FIG. 13 is a reservation sequence flow achieved by execution of the reservation module shown in FIG. 10(a) by the mobile terminal and execution of the reservation module shown in FIG. 10(b) by the management server.

14A, 14B, and 14C are reservation sequence diagrams for chronologically explaining the reservation sequence flow shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a usage start sequence flow achieved by execution of the use start processing module shown in FIG. 10(a) by the mobile terminal and execution of the use start processing module shown in FIG. 10(b) by the management server.

FIG. 16 is a stay determination sequence flow achieved by execution of the stay determination module shown in FIG. 10(a) by the mobile terminal and execution of the stay determination module shown in FIG. 10(b) by the management server.

FIG. 17 is a usage termination sequence flow achieved by execution of the usage termination processing module shown in FIG. 10(a) by the mobile terminal and execution of the usage termination processing module shown in FIG. 10(b) by the management server.

FIG. 18 is a reservation change sequence flow achieved by the execution of the reservation change module shown in FIG. 10(a) by the mobile terminal and the execution of the reservation change module shown in FIG. 10(b) by the management server.

FIG. 19 shows a plurality of transmitters installed in a plurality of car rooms in each parking lot, and a plurality of transmitters installed in a plurality of car rooms in each parking lot, in a parking lot management system according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A perspective view illustrating an example of how a user's mobile terminal communicates with a management server in a management center located in a remote location, and a user's mobile terminal when the user is staying at a location remote from any vehicle compartment. It is.

FIG. 20 shows an enlarged view of a part of the plurality of compartments installed in one of the plurality of parking lots shown in FIG. 19, and also shows the transmitter installed in each compartment. 1 is a plan view conceptually representing a transmitter together with an effective reception area assigned to the transmitter; FIG.

FIG. 21 is a plurality of time charts for illustrating the entire sequence of the parking lot management system shown in FIG. 19.

FIG. 22 is a time chart for illustrating a reservation sequence executed in the parking lot management system.

FIG. 23 is a time chart for illustrating a parking sequence executed in the parking lot management system.

FIG. 24 is a time chart for illustrating the exit sequence executed in the parking lot management system.

FIG. 25 shows a program for detecting that a user is erroneously seated in a reserved seat in the unmanned seat rental system, and in that case instructing the user to take a seat in the correct reserved seat. It is a flowchart.

Hereinafter, some exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.

<First embodiment>

FIG. 1 shows an example of an unmanned seat rental system (a "rental system management system" and an example of a "rental object management system") according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and hereinafter simply referred to as the "system". .) 10 is shown. This system 10 is generally an example of a rental object management system that uses an individual transmitter to authenticate the location of a rental object on the condition that the user makes a reservation for the rental object.

This system 10 is a system for centrally managing a plurality of seat rental facilities 20 (FIG. 1 shows only the representative seat rental facility A among the seat rental facilities 20). . Each seat rental facility 20 has a plurality of rental seats 22, and each rental seat 22 is a rental space that is an individual space temporarily rented to one user.

A plurality of rental seats 22 within one seat rental facility 20 are generally arranged close to each other. These rental seats 22 are an example of a plurality of rental targets that are so close to each other that they cannot be spatially identified (separated) from each other using the GPS function (described later) of the mobile terminal 90, for example.

On the other hand, the plurality of seat rental facilities 20 are an example of a plurality of facilities that are separated from each other to the extent that they can be spatially identified (separated) from each other using the GPS function (described later) of the mobile terminal 90.

Here, to explain the classification of the rental seats 22, each rental seat 22 belongs to the first type of rental space. The characteristic that the user's mobile terminal 90 is placed within a distance that allows short-range communication with the transmitter 30 in the rental space for substantially the entire period. has. As other rental spaces belonging to the same first type, there are a plurality of rooms within the accommodation facility.

A second type of rental space also exists, in which each rental space is rented at least during the start and end stages of each usage period from the time the user starts using the space to the time the user ends the use. A user's mobile terminal 90 has a characteristic that the user's mobile terminal 90 is placed within a distance that allows short-range communication with the transmitter 30 in the space. Rental spaces belonging to the second type include a plurality of car rooms in a parking lot (including a bicycle parking lot), a plurality of rental locker rooms, a plurality of rental warehouses, and a plurality of rental safe deposit boxes.

This system 10 is configured to execute the unmanned seat rental method according to this embodiment and the user terminal interference prevention method according to this embodiment. The unmanned seat rental method is an example of a rental space management method that centrally manages multiple rental spaces that can be rented to users; This is an example of a rental object management method for centrally managing rental objects. Another example of the rental object management method is a rental object management method that centrally manages a plurality of rental objects (for example, rental cars and rental bicycles) that are movable assets that can be lent to users.

Each seat rental facility 20 is unmanned. Furthermore, in order to reduce and simplify equipment, each seat rental facility 20 is also provided with a device (for example, an electronic key) that opens and closes appropriately to prevent unauthorized entry and exit from each rental seat 22. There are no devices installed to read codes (e.g., passwords or barcode information), payment machines for users to pay rental fees, and ticket machines for issuing tickets to users.

The term "code" is used throughout the specification to mean a "sequence of numbers and/or symbols," and specifically refers to a numerical notation (for example, 2 (value representation), which is a numerical representation specific to an individual analog signal. For identification purposes, the term "code" may be referred to as an ID or identifier, for example.

By the way, as a management method for the seat rental facilities 20, each seat rental facility 20 is managed independently (individually or self-contained) using only the equipment installed in that seat rental facility 20. There are a management method and a centralized management method in which a plurality of seat rental facilities 20 are centrally managed by communicating with a remote management server 50 (see FIG. 1). The system 10 according to this embodiment employs the above-mentioned centralized management method as its seat rental facility management method.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, this system 10 includes a transmitter 30 installed in each rental seat 22 in each seat rental facility 20, a plurality of seat rental facilities 20, and a plurality of rental seats 22. The system includes a management server 50 installed in a management center 40 that centrally manages the data, and a user's mobile terminal 90.

<Transmitter>

In this embodiment, a plurality of rental seats 22 are installed in the same seat rental facility 20, and one transmitter 30 is used for each rental seat 22.

Each transmitter 30 is configured to transmit an identification signal representing its own unique transmitter ID (an example of the above-mentioned "transmitter code"). Since one transmitter ID is unique to one rental seat 22, it is associated with one rental seat ID (an example of a "seat rental code") on a one-to-one basis, as described later.

As shown in FIG. 2, in this system 10, the user uses his or her mobile terminal 90 to transmit the aforementioned identification signal from the transmitter 30 installed in the rental seat 22 where the user is currently staying. In a state of contact with the transmitter 30 or a state of non-contact (a state in which the mobile terminal 90 is held over the transmitter 30 or a state in which the mobile terminal 90 is slightly away from the transmitter 30 as illustrated in multiple locations in FIG. 5), The information is received using a distance one-way wireless communication method, and long-distance two-way wireless communication is performed with the management server 50 of the management center 40.

The user's mobile terminal 90 is a device that is carried by the user and has a wireless communication function, such as a mobile phone, a smart phone, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, or a PDA.

Here, the hardware configuration (see FIG. 3) and software configuration (see FIG. 4) of one transmitter 30 representing the plurality of transmitters 30 in FIG. 1 will be described.

First, to explain conceptually, the transmitter 30 is a contactless type or It is a contact type communication device. It is sufficient for the transmitter 30 to have at least a transmitting function, but it may also be configured to have a receiving function as well, if necessary.

Next, to explain the operation method, the transmitter 30 actively transmits a unique identification signal without requiring an external trigger signal, and permanently as long as the supplied power is not insufficient.

The transmitter 30 is generally a device also known as a beacon device, a radio beacon, or the like that transmits a beacon signal as an identification signal. In one example, the transmitter 30 generates an identification signal representing the corresponding seat rental facility ID by modulating the original signal, and transmits the generated identification signal to an IR signal, a Bluetooth (registered trademark) signal, It is transmitted as an NFC (near field communication) signal.

Next, the hardware configuration will be described with reference to FIG. 3, which is a functional block diagram. It is constituted as a subject.

The transmitter 30 further includes a replaceable disposable battery 106 as a power source. Instead of the battery 106, it is possible to use a rechargeable battery, use a commercial power source as an external power source, or use a generator (for example, a transponder) that generates electricity using an external magnetic field. .

This transmitter 30 further includes a transmitter 108 that generates and transmits an identification signal. The transmitter 108 is operated by a battery 106 and controlled by a controller 110. The controller 110 is controlled by the computer 100.

Next, the software configuration of the transmitter 30 will be described with reference to FIG. 4. The processor 100 of the transmitter 30 repeatedly executes a program conceptually represented by a flowchart in FIG.

When this program is executed each time, the transmitter ID is first read from the memory 102 in step S1. The transmitter ID corresponds one-to-one to the reserved seat ID assigned to one reserved seat 22 in which the transmitter 30 is installed.

Subsequently, in step S2, a signal for modulating the original signal (for example, a carrier signal) is output to the controller 110 so that the read transmitter ID is reflected. The controller 110 controls the transmitter 108, and as a result, the transmitter 108 generates the identification signal to be transmitted this time. Thereafter, in step S3, the generated identification signal is transmitted from the transmitter 108. Then, the process returns to step S1.

Here, to explain one function of the user's mobile terminal 90 in relation to the transmitter 30, the mobile terminal 90, while receiving the identification signal from the transmitter 30, (See FIG. 6) When a pre-installed program is activated, the received identification signal is demodulated in real time, thereby decoding the transmitter ID in real time.

Furthermore, while the mobile terminal 90 is receiving the identification signal from the transmitter 30, based on the received identification signal, the mobile terminal 90 determines the position of the transmitter 30 at the time of transmitting the identification signal and the received identification signal. The distance between the mobile terminal 90 and the current position is also measured.

That is, based on the identification signal received from the transmitter 30, the mobile terminal 90 acquires both the transmitter ID corresponding to the transmitter 30 and the distance to the transmitter 30 at that time. It is.

When the user of the mobile terminal 90 approaches the transmitter 30 while holding the mobile terminal 90 or brings the mobile terminal 90 into complete or almost contact with the transmitter 108 of the transmitter 30, the mobile terminal 90 is activated. The terminal 90 can receive the identification signal from the transmitter 30 in a non-contact manner or in a contact manner.

On the other hand, when the user of the mobile terminal 90 enters a specific reception area while holding the mobile terminal 90, the mobile terminal 90 can receive the identification signal from the transmitter 30 in a contactless manner.

As conceptually shown in a plan view in FIG. 5, each transmitter 30 is assigned two types of reception areas. These are a coverage area (not shown) and an effective coverage area. Each of these areas is generally defined by a circle with each transmitter 30 as the source, and the coverage area has a maximum reception radius, whereas the effective reception area has an effective reception radius.

However, specifically, the receivable area is an area where the identification signal from each transmitter 30 can be reached when the power supply to each transmitter 30 is normal, that is, as long as it exists within that area. This refers to the area in which the mobile terminal 90 can receive the identification signal.

On the other hand, the effective reception area has an effective reception radius smaller than the maximum reception radius of the receivable area. While the maximum reception radius cannot be arbitrarily set, the effective reception radius can be arbitrarily set depending on, for example, the setting of the signal processing characteristics of the mobile terminal 90.

The effective reception radius is, for example, within the range of 50 cm to 3 m, or within the range of 1 m to 2 m, as is obvious from the standard dimensions and geometry of the rental seats 22, which will be detailed later with reference to FIG. be. Further, the maximum receiving radius is, for example, within a range of 50 m to 70 m.

That is, it is possible that the maximum reception radius means a reception limit determined by hardware, whereas the effective reception radius means a reception limit determined by software.

As described above, the mobile terminal 90 measures the distance to the transmitter 30 at the time it transmitted the identification signal it received. The distance measurement may or may not exceed the effective reception radius. When the measured distance value does not exceed the effective reception radius, it means that the mobile terminal 90 is within the effective reception area (see FIG. 5), whereas when the measured distance value exceeds the effective reception radius. This is when the mobile terminal 90 exists within the receivable area but not within the effective reception area.

After receiving the identification signal from the transmitter 30, the mobile terminal 90 determines whether or not the measured distance value is less than or equal to the set value of the effective reception radius. is currently located within the effective reception area, so the mobile terminal 90 determines that it has "effectively received the identification signal from the transmitter 30 (hereinafter also simply referred to as "received the identification signal")". Here, "effectively received" means that the mobile terminal 90 has detected, specified, or identified one of the transmitters 30.

On the other hand, if the mobile terminal 90 determines that the distance measurement value is larger than the set value, the mobile terminal 90 is currently located outside the effective reception area. It is determined that the signal is not being received effectively (hereinafter also simply referred to as "not receiving the identification signal").

That is, in this embodiment, when the mobile terminal 90 is located outside the effective reception area, the mobile terminal 90 appears to be The software will treat this as not having received the identification signal.

FIG. 5 shows a front view of a rented seat 22 (rented seat P) rented to one user (user X). The rental seat 22 includes a desk 24 having a top plate 23 and a chair 26 on which a user can sit. In one example, the transmitter 30 is installed on the top plate 23.

In another example, the transmitter 30 is located near the distal edge 28, which is away from the user's seating position, of the proximal edge 27 and the distal edge 28 of the top plate 23, which face each other in the front-rear direction. will be installed.

In yet another example, the transmitter 30 is installed on the distal edge 28 of the top plate 23 at a position that is biased to the left (or right) from the center position in the width direction. As a result, even if the user places an item such as a document on the top plate 23, the situation where the transmitter 30 is blocked by the item and the signal is interrupted is avoided as much as possible.

FIG. 5 shows a plan view of an example of the effective reception area assigned to the transmitter 30. In this example, if the user X is sitting on the chair 26 and the mobile terminal 90 is being carried by the user X or placed at an arbitrary position on the top plate 27 of the desk 23, The transmission characteristics of the transmitter 30 and the signal processing characteristics of the mobile terminal 90 are set so that the mobile terminal 90 exists within an effective reception area with a large effective reception radius centered on the transmitter 30.

In this example, user X has the advantage that he is not forced to hold his mobile terminal 90 over his own transmitter 30 or place it near his own transmitter 30. On the other hand, the mobile terminal 90 exists not only within the effective reception area of its own transmitter 30 but also within the effective reception area of the adjacent transmitter 30.

However, according to the present embodiment, based on the reservation information of the reserved seat 22 (the identification information of the reserved seat 22 selected by the user prior to the first reception of the mobile terminal 90 from any transmitter 30), multiple outgoing calls can be made. The transmitter 30 is classified into a regular transmitter 30 (target transmitter) that should be installed in the reserved reserved seat 22 and other non-regular transmitters 30 (non-target transmitter). Even if the user's mobile terminal 90 receives a signal from an unauthorized transmitter 30 at the selected rental seat 22, that signal is disabled and not referenced, and only the signal from the authorized transmitter 30 is enabled. By referring to this, the current position of the user, that is, whether the user is truly located at the same position as the selected rental seat 22 or in the vicinity thereof is estimated.

Also shown in FIG. 5 is an effective reception area with a small effective reception radius. If this effective reception area is adopted, there will be no overlap between the effective reception area of the regular transmitter 30 and the effective reception area of the adjacent transmitter 30. However, in this embodiment, in order for the mobile terminal 90 to detect the transmitter 30, the user is forced to bring the mobile terminal 90 close to the transmitter 30 or bring it into contact with the transmitter 30 each time.

<Mobile device>

Next, the hardware configuration of the user's mobile terminal 90 will be described with reference to FIG. 6, which is a functional block diagram. The mobile terminal 90 includes a processor 130 and a memory that stores a plurality of applications executed by the processor 130. The computer 134 has a computer 132 as a main component.

This mobile terminal 90 further includes a display unit (for example, a liquid crystal display) 136 that displays information on a screen (having a window whose area is finite and variable or unchangeable), which is indicated by the reference numeral "135" in FIG. 14, for example. , a receiving section 138 that receives signals from the transmitter 30 and the management server 50, and a transmitting section 140 that generates a signal and transmits the signal to the management server 50.

This mobile terminal 90 further includes an input section 150 for inputting data and commands from the user. The input unit 150 includes, for example, an operation unit that can be operated by the user to input desired information (eg, commands, data, etc.) into the mobile terminal 90. The operating parts include a touch screen that displays icons (e.g., virtual buttons) that can be operated by the user, physical operating parts that can be operated by the user (e.g., a keyboard, keypad, buttons, etc.), and a touch screen that displays user-operable icons (e.g., virtual buttons). Examples include, but are not limited to, a sensing microphone.

This mobile terminal 90 further includes a GPS (satellite positioning system) receiver 152. As is well known, the GPS receiver 152 receives multiple GPS signals from multiple GPS satellites, and determines the position (latitude, longitude, and altitude) of the GPS receiver 152 on the earth based on the GPS signals. Measure by triangulation. That is, this mobile terminal 90 has a positioning function that uses satellites.

As shown in FIG. 7, the memory 132 includes a plurality of data memories including a map data memory 161, a seat rental facility data memory 163, a seat rental data memory 165, and a reservation status table memory 167.

The map data memory 161 temporarily stores map data that the user's mobile terminal 90 downloads from the management server 50 or another map database (not shown), depending on the user's current location. Based on the map data, a map (an example of a "partial map") is displayed on the screen 135 (see FIG. 14) of the display unit 136. The map displayed on the screen 135 changes from moment to moment as the user moves.

As conceptually shown in FIG. 7, the correspondence between a plurality of seat rental facility IDs and a plurality of seat rental facility position data is downloaded from the management server 50 and stored in the seat rental facility data memory 163. is possible. The plurality of seat rental facility IDs respectively correspond to the plurality of seat rental facilities 20 that are centrally managed by the system 10. Further, each of the plurality of seat rental facility position data represents the latitude and longitude (latitude X, longitude Y) of the ground position of the corresponding seat rental facility 20.

The seat rental facility data memory 163 stores, at each moment, a plurality of seat rental facility position data corresponding to a plurality of seat rental facilities 20 that are geographically present on the map displayed on the screen 135. It is temporarily stored together with the seat rental facility ID.

In the mobile terminal 90, a map based on the map data is displayed on the screen 135, and a plurality of seats stored in the seat rental facility data memory 163 at each moment are displayed on the map. Based on the rental facility location data, the positions of a small number of candidate seat rental facilities 20 located near the current location of the mobile terminal 90 among the plurality of downloaded seat rental facilities 20 are displayed in an overlay (see FIG. 14). ).

Here, the "small number of candidate seat rental facilities 20" is displayed on the screen 135 for the geographical reason that it is close to the current location of the mobile terminal 90 among the plurality of downloaded seat rental facilities 20. This refers to a plurality of seat rental facilities 20, and seat rental facilities 20 that are off the screen 135 due to geographical reasons of being far from the current location of the mobile terminal 90 are excluded.

As conceptually shown in FIG. 8, the correspondence relationships among a plurality of seat rental facility IDs, a plurality of seat rental IDs, and a plurality of regular transmitter IDs are downloaded from the management server 50 into the seat rental data memory 165 of FIG. It is possible for the data to be stored. When any one of the plurality of rental seats 22 is selected by the user, one rental seat ID corresponding to it is determined, and in turn, one regular transmitter ID corresponding to it is determined.

A reservation status table, which will be described later, is appropriately downloaded from the management server 50 and stored in the reservation status table memory 167.

As shown in FIG. 10(a), a seat rental service program for the mobile terminal 90 is stored in the memory 132 of the mobile terminal 90, and the seat rental service program includes the following plural modules. are doing.

1) Reservation Module This is a module that supports the user in reserving any of the rental seats 22 before arriving at the seat rental facility 20, as will be described in detail later with reference to FIG. Here, "making a reservation" is equivalent to a task in which the user inputs location information regarding the location of the desired seat rental facility 20 and the desired location of the seat rental facility 22, as well as time information such as the scheduled start time and scheduled end time. .

2) Reservation change module As will be described in detail later with reference to FIG. ) is a module that supports changing the reservation so as to delay the scheduled end time included in the reservation details at the location of the reserved seat 22.

3) Pre-use warning module Although not shown, if there is another user who has reserved the same reserved seat 22 after the scheduled end time included in each user's reservation details, this module will warn the current user. During the period after the reservation is established and before the scheduled start time included in the reservation details, "The same reserved seat is scheduled to be used by another user after the current user finishes using it, so the scheduled end time will be delayed." This is a module that individually sends a message to the current user's mobile terminal 90 to alert the user, ``Unable to change the reservation, therefore, please leave the reserved seat 22 by the scheduled end time.'' be.

4) Usage start processing module As will be described later in detail with reference to FIG. This is a module that supports changing a reservation so that the scheduled start time included in the reservation details is actually brought forward prior to the start of its use.

5) Stay Judgment Module As will be described in detail later with reference to FIG. ) is a module that iteratively determines every moment.

6) Use end processing module This is a module that supports the user to end the use of the reserved seat 22 and electronically pay the rental fee according to the user's own reservation, as will be detailed later with reference to FIG. 17. be.

<Management server>

Next, the hardware configuration of the management server 50 will be described with reference to FIG. 9, which is a functional block diagram. The main body is a computer 164 having a computer 164.

This management server 50 further includes a display section (for example, a liquid crystal display) 166 that displays information, a receiving section 168 that receives signals from the mobile terminal 90, and a receiver section 168 that generates a signal and transmits the signal to the mobile terminal 90. and a clock 172 that measures the current time. This management server 50 does not directly receive information from the transmitter 30, but actually receives it via the mobile terminal 90.

As shown in FIG. 10(b), the memory 162 of the management server 50 stores a seat rental service program for the management server 50, and the seat rental service program includes the following plural modules. are doing.

1) Reservation module This is a module that has the same function as the reservation module of the mobile terminal 90, as will be explained in detail later with reference to FIG.

2) Reservation change module This is a module that has the same function as the reservation change module of the mobile terminal 90, as will be explained later in detail with reference to FIG.

3) Pre-use warning module Although not shown, this is a module having the same function as the pre-use warning module of the mobile terminal 90.

4) Start-of-Use Processing Module This is a module having the same function as the start-of-use processing module of the mobile terminal 90, as will be detailed later with reference to FIG.

5) Stay Judgment Module This is a module that has the same function as the stay judgment module of the mobile terminal 90, as will be detailed later with reference to FIG.

6) End-of-use processing module This is a module having the same function as the end-of-use processing module of the mobile terminal 90, as will be described in detail later with reference to FIG.

<Overview of reservation sequence>

FIG. 11A shows an example of a reservation status table for managing the reservation status of a plurality of reserved seats 22 by a plurality of users by executing the reservation module by the mobile terminal 90 and the management server 50. .

This reservation status table is created and updated in the management server 50, and the latest version is shared with the mobile terminal 90. This reservation status table displays, for each seat rental facility 20 and for each seat rental 22, whether or not there is a reservation and the scheduled usage time period (including date and time). The user visually views this reservation status table on the screen 135 of his or her mobile terminal 90, searches for a seat rental facility 20 with vacant seats by referring to it, and selects one of the plural seats 22 of the seat rental facility 20. Find one with free time and specify your desired date, time, and time slot.

In FIG. 11(a), among the time axes (0:0 to 23:59) for each reserved seat 22 in the reservation status table, the horizontal bar hatched with diagonal lines is displayed at the latest update time of the reservation status table. The time period in which the bar exists indicates a time period in which a reservation already exists, that is, the time period with a prior reservation, while the time period in which the bar does not exist indicates a time period in which there is no reservation, in other words, the time period without a prior reservation. The obi is displayed.

The user stores the identification information of the selected seat rental facility 20, the identification information of the selected seat rental 22, the start date and time of use, and the end date and time of use on his or her mobile terminal 90, as illustrated in FIG. 14(c). , thereby reserving the corresponding rental seat 22.

FIG. 11B shows an example of a user-specific reservation content file for managing the reservation content of a plurality of users by executing the reservation module by the mobile terminal 90 and the management server 50.

This user-specific reservation content file is created and updated in the management server 50. This reservation content file for each user includes personal authentication information (user ID, password, etc.), location information for specifying the location of the selected seat rental facility 20 (ID unique to the selected facility 20), Location information for specifying the location of the selected rental seat 22 (ID unique to the selected rental seat 22), time information for defining the scheduled usage time period for the selected rental seat 22 (scheduled start time, scheduled end time, scheduled (length of usage time, etc.), the type of penalty imposed on the user for violating the rules that the user is required to comply with in order to receive the current seat rental service, etc.

<Summary of the entire sequence>

In FIG. 12, an overview of the main sequences is illustrated using multiple time charts, taking as an example a case where a user makes a reservation for rental seat 22 (rental seat P) with a scheduled start time of 15:00 and a scheduled end time of 18:00. has been done.

In the same figure (the same applies to FIG. 21), the time chart labeled "reception" indicates whether or not the mobile terminal 90 is receiving the authorized transmitter ID at each moment for convenience of explanation. It is expressed as a pulse signal that is low level when the mobile terminal 90 is not receiving the regular transmitter ID, and high level when the mobile terminal 90 is receiving the regular transmitter ID.

1) Start of use

Assuming that a user takes a seat in the reserved seat 22 at a time of 15:30 on a certain day, the user's mobile terminal 90 inevitably enters the effective reception area of the authorized transmitter 30. At this time, the mobile terminal 90 starts receiving signals from the transmitter 30 either while the user is carrying the mobile terminal 90 or by holding the mobile terminal 90 over the transmitter 30 . Note that it is assumed that the use start module is activated before the user arrives at the seat rental facility 20.

As a result, at the time of 15:30, the mobile terminal 90 is in a state in which it does not receive the regular transmitter ID (the mobile terminal 90 receives a signal from one of the transmitters 30, but the signal is from an actual transmitter ID different from the regular transmitter ID). The event of transition from the state of receiving (including both the non-regular ID receiving state representing the transmitter ID and the complete non-receiving state in which the mobile terminal 90 does not receive a signal from any transmitter 30) to the receiving state (as described above) In FIG. 12, assuming that a rising edge of one received pulse signal corresponding to one usage period of the rented seat 22 by the user has occurred, the mobile terminal 90 ( Alternatively, the management server 50) determines that the user has actually taken a seat in the reserved seat 22, that is, has started using the reserved seat 22.

This is because, in this embodiment, the event that the mobile terminal 90 transitions from a state in which it does not receive a regular transmitter ID to a state in which it does receive a regular transmitter ID (that is, the first determination that the actual transmitter ID matches the regular transmitter ID) is This is because this is an exclusive event that does not occur unless the user is seated in a regular reserved seat 22.

Subsequently, the user inputs a use start request (an example of the above-mentioned "first event") into the mobile terminal 90 within a first time limit of, for example, five minutes from the time when the event occurs.

In response to the use start request, the management server 50 allows the user to start using the reserved seat 22. This time is the actual usage start time, but in principle, billing to the user starts from 15:00, which is the scheduled start time. Specifically, from the scheduled start time, counting of the total usage time (rental time, lent time), which is referred to in order to calculate the final rental fee amount for the user, starts.

2) During use

After the user starts using the reserved seat 22, the user usually does not leave the reserved seat 22 for a long time (although the user may temporarily sit in the reserved seat 22). continues to receive the signal from the transmitter 30 (in FIG. 12, the high level continuation part of the one received pulse signal), and as a result, the mobile terminal 90 (or management server 50) It continues to be determined that the person is staying at 22.

3) End of use

Assuming that the user leaves the reserved seat 22 at 17:30 on the same day, the user's mobile terminal 90 leaves the effective reception area of the authorized transmitter 30. At this time, the user's mobile terminal 90 ends reception from the authorized transmitter 30 while the user continues to carry the mobile terminal 90.

As a result, an event in which the mobile terminal 90 transitions from a state in which it receives the regular transmitter ID to a state in which it does not receive it (this is an example of the above-mentioned "second transition", and in FIG. If it is assumed that a falling edge (falling edge) has occurred, the mobile terminal 90 (or the management server 50) determines that the user has actually left the reserved seat 22, that is, has finished using the reserved seat 22.

This is because, in this embodiment, the event in which the mobile terminal 90 transitions from a state in which it receives a regular transmitter ID to a state in which it does not receive it is an exclusive event that does not occur unless the user leaves the regular rental seat 22. It is.

Subsequently, the user inputs a usage termination request (an example of the above-mentioned "second event") into the mobile terminal 90 within a second time limit of, for example, five minutes from the time when the event occurs.

In response to the use end request, the management server 50 allows the user to end the use of the reserved seat 22. Although that time is the end time of actual use, in principle, billing to the user continues until 18:00, which is the scheduled end time. Specifically, at the scheduled end time, counting of the total usage time (rental time, lent time), which is referred to in order to calculate the final rental fee amount for the user, ends.

When the calculation of the rental fee is completed, the user electronically settles the rental fee via the mobile terminal 90.

<Reservation sequence>

In FIG. 13, a user connects a mobile terminal 90 to a management server 90 at a location away from the seat rental facility 20 that the user wants to reserve (for example, at home as shown in FIG. 1), and An example of communication performed between the mobile terminal 90 and the management server 50 located at a remote location in order to reserve one of the rental seats 22 is represented in a chronological sequence flow.

When the seat rental service program (already downloaded from the management server 50 and installed in 132 of the mobile terminal 90) is started by the user on the mobile terminal 90, "reservation", "start use", " A plurality of buttons (display targets selectable by the user) such as "Use Start Request", "Use End Request", and "Change Reservation" are displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal 90.

This time, when the button "Reservation" is selected by the user, the reservation module of the seat rental service program for the mobile terminal 90 is executed by the processor 130 of the mobile terminal 90, and the seat reservation module for the management server 50 is executed. The reservation module of the rental service program is executed by the processor 160 of the management server 50.

When the reservation module for the mobile terminal 90 is executed by the processor 130 of the mobile terminal 90, first, in step 101, the mobile terminal 90 determines the user's current location ( It operates so that the latitude and longitude) are measured.

Next, in step S102, the measured current position of the user is a reference position (display reference point position (latitude and latitude)) that is referred to by the processor 130 in order to display a map on the screen 135 of the display unit 136. It is said that Furthermore, a portion of the entire map that has a size that can be displayed at one time within a window on the screen 135 and in which the reference position exists is a display range of the map (i.e., a portion of the entire map that can be displayed within the window on the screen 135). The area to be displayed at each moment within the

As illustrated in FIG. 14A, as the user moves on the ground over time, the reference position 202 (indicated by a black triangle in the figure) also moves over time to follow it. As a result, as the user moves, the display range of the map also moves over time on the entire map, and as a result, the map image displayed within the window also changes over time.

Subsequently, in step S103, a login request (an example of a "service start signal") for logging into the management server 50 is transmitted to the management server 50 together with a user ID and password for identifying the current user.

On the other hand, when the reservation module for the management server 50 is executed by the processor 160 of the management server 50, the management server 50 receives the login request together with the user ID and password in step S201, and subsequently receives the login request in step S201. In S202, facility data regarding the plurality of seat rental facilities 20 (see FIG. 7 for the plurality of components of the facility data) and seat rental data regarding the plurality of rental seats 22 belonging to these seat rental facilities 20 (the (for a plurality of components, see FIG. 8) and the reservation status table (see FIG. 11(a)) in the memory 162 (or another memory) of the management server 50.

Thereafter, in step S203, the searched facility data, reserved seat data, and reservation status table are transmitted to the mobile terminal 90.

In response, the mobile terminal 90 receives the facility data, reserved seat data, and reservation status table in step S104. The received facility data is stored in the seat rental facility data memory 163 shown in FIG. 7, and as a result, the table shown in FIG. 7 is constructed. Further, the received seat rental data is stored in the seat rental data memory 165 shown in FIG. 8, and as a result, the table shown in FIG. 8 is constructed. The received reservation status table (see FIG. 11(a)) is stored in the reservation status table memory 167.

Subsequently, in step S105, based on the stored facility data, a small number of candidates are displayed on the map displayed on the screen 135 among the plurality of seat rental facilities 20 that are located near the current location. It is displayed as an overlay as facility 20.

In this step 105, all of the plurality of seat rental facilities 20 (all the seat rental facilities 20 stored in the memory 162 of the management server 50) represented by the plurality of received facility data are displayed on the screen 135. It is not displayed. Only a smaller number of seat rental facilities 20 than the plurality of seat rental facilities 20 are displayed on the screen 135, which is determined by the user's current location and the size of the screen 135. That is, the plurality of seat rental facilities 20 received from the management server 50 are further narrowed down to a small number of candidate facilities 20 based on the user's current location and the size of the screen 135.

In one example, as shown in FIG. 14(a), the user's current location is overlaid on the map displayed on the screen 135 using a black triangle 202, and a plurality of candidate facilities 20 are displayed. Overlaid display is performed using a plurality of facility icons 204. In this example, the three facility icons 204 are configured as figures in which the alphabets "A", "B", and "C" are surrounded by a rectangular frame.

Subsequently, in step S106, the user selects one of the seat rental facilities 20 as the currently selected facility 20 by touching the display position of one of the candidate facilities 20 with a finger on the screen 135.

Specifically, when the user touches the display position of one of the candidate facilities 20 on the screen 135 with a finger, the touch position is detected by the touch screen of the display unit 136, and the touch position is displayed on the map, for example. Convert to map coordinate information (location information) that is the latitude and latitude above (defined by the global coordinate system, which is an absolute coordinate system) or the corresponding XY coordinate information (defined by the device coordinate system, which is a relative coordinate system) be done. One of the candidate facilities 20 is specified based on the map coordinate information.

Thereafter, in step S107, the reservation status table is displayed on the screen 135, as illustrated in FIG. 14(b). Next, in step S108, the user enters identification information (for example, name) of the seat rental facility 20 that the user wishes to reserve and identification information (for example, number) of the seat rental facility 20 that the user wishes to reserve, as illustrated in FIG. 14(c). , enter the start date and time of use and the end date and time of use.

Thereafter, in step S109, the mobile terminal 90 transmits the input reservation details to the management server 50.

In response, the management server 50 receives the reservation details in step S204. Subsequently, in step S205, the management server 50 registers the received reservation content in the one associated with the current user among the plurality of user-specific reservation content files (see FIG. 11(b)). Furthermore, the reservation status table stored in the memory 162 is updated to reflect the received reservation details.

Thereafter, in step S206, the management server 50 transmits a message to the mobile terminal 90 indicating that the reservation has been completed.

In response, the mobile terminal 90 displays the received message on the screen 135 or outputs it as a sound. By this display, the user is informed that his or her reservation has been established.

<Use start sequence>

In FIG. 15, immediately after the user arrives at the reserved seat 22 (hereinafter also simply referred to as "rented seat 22") of the reserved seat rental facility 20 and takes a seat, An example of communication performed between the transmitter 30 located in the reserved seat 22, the user's mobile terminal 90, and the management server 50 in order to obtain permission to start using the seat 22 is shown in a chronological sequence flow. It is expressed as.

The transmitter 30 spontaneously and continuously transmits an identification signal unique to itself. When the user takes a seat in the reserved seat 22, the mobile terminal 90 is within the effective reception area of the transmitter 30 (see FIG. 5). Effectively receive the identification signal.

This time, when the user selects the "start use" button on the screen of the mobile terminal 90, the start-of-use processing module for the mobile terminal 90 is executed by the mobile terminal 90. As a result of the execution, first, in step 151, the mobile terminal 90 transmits a login request for logging into the management server 50 to the management server 50 together with a user ID and password for identifying the current user.

On the other hand, when the start-of-use processing module for the management server 50 is executed by the management server 50, the management server 50 receives the login request together with the user ID and password in step S251, and subsequently receives the login request in step S252. , the memory 162 is searched for one associated with the current user among the plurality of user-specific reservation content files. Furthermore, in the searched user-specific reservation content file, information regarding the reserved seat rental facility 20 (selected facility) among the plurality of seat rental facilities 20 and among the plurality of seat rental facilities 22 of the seat rental facility 20 are included. , information regarding the reserved reserved seat 22 (selected reserved seat) are searched as information related to the current user reservation.

Thereafter, in step S253, the retrieved current user reservation related information is transmitted to the mobile terminal 90.

In response, the mobile terminal 90 receives the current user reservation related information in step S152. Subsequently, in step S153, in the current user reservation related information, the transmitter code previously assigned to the authorized transmitter 30 that should be installed in the reserved reserved seat 22 is determined as the authorized transmitter code. Searched. The authorized transmitter code for the user is obtained.

Subsequently, in step S154, the mobile terminal 90 performs a reception attempt to receive a signal from one of the transmitters 30.

On the other hand, as described above, if the mobile terminal 90 is currently located outside the receivable area, the mobile terminal 90 cannot receive the identification signal from the transmitter 30 at all. On the other hand, if the mobile terminal 90 is currently located within the receivable area, the mobile terminal 90 can receive the identification signal from the transmitter 30.

Further, even if the mobile terminal 90 receives an identification signal from any of the transmitters 30, there is a possibility that the mobile terminal 90 is currently located outside the effective reception area for any of the transmitters 30. There is also a possibility that it exists within the reception area.

Therefore, following step S154, in step S154a, the mobile terminal 90 determines whether or not the mobile terminal 90 has effectively received an identification signal from any of the transmitters 30.

Specifically, the mobile terminal 90 first determines whether the mobile terminal 90 exists within the receivable area by determining whether the mobile terminal 90 has received any identification signal. If it is determined that the mobile terminal 90 is within the receivable area, then the mobile terminal 90 determines whether or not it has effectively received an identification signal from any of the transmitters 30 .

Specifically, the mobile terminal 90 measures the current distance between the transmitter 30 and the mobile terminal 90 based on the received identification signal. Further, the mobile terminal 90 determines whether the distance measurement value is smaller than the set value, that is, whether the mobile terminal 90 is currently located within the effective reception area.

If the distance measurement value is smaller than the set value, the determination in step S154a is YES, and then the process moves to step S155, but if not, the determination in step S154a is NO, and then the process proceeds to step S154. The process returns to , and the reception attempt by the mobile terminal 90 is repeated.

In step S155, the mobile terminal 90 demodulates the received identification signal, and then in step S156, the mobile terminal 90 uses the transmitter ID represented by the demodulated identification signal as the actual transmitter ID. decipher.

If the demodulated identification signal is a code expressed in a multi-digit binary number, for example, the code is a conversion table prepared in advance (for example, one downloaded in advance from the management server 50). is used to convert it into a transmitter ID. However, in terms of usage, the difference between "code" and "ID" is not important as long as the purpose is for identification.

Subsequently, in step S157, the mobile terminal 90 determines whether or not the real transmitter ID decoded in this way and the current authorized transmitter ID obtained by executing step S153 match each other. judge. That is, ID verification is performed.

Here, the "actual transmitter ID" corresponds to the transmitter 30 actually installed in the seat actually selected and seated by the user among the plurality of rental seats 22 (selected actual transmitter). On the other hand, the "regular transmitter ID" refers to a transmitter that is supposed to be installed in one of the plural reserved seats 22 that is virtually selected by the user by operating the mobile terminal 90. (Selected virtual transmitter) means the transmitter ID corresponding to 30.

Thereafter, in step S158, the mobile terminal 90 determines whether the actual transmitter ID and the authorized transmitter ID match each other, that is, whether or not the ID verification was successful. In other words, it is determined whether the first transition in which the mobile terminal 90 transitions from a state in which it does not receive a signal representing the authorized transmitter ID to a state in which it does so occurs for the first time after the use start processing module is activated by the user. I will do it

If the ID verification is not successful, the determination in step S158 becomes NO, and then, in step S159, the mobile terminal 90 requests the user to detect the transmitter 30 again using the mobile terminal 90. The user is prompted to try by, for example, displaying an appropriate message on the screen 135 or outputting a voice. After that, the process returns to step S154.

On the other hand, if the ID verification is successful, the determination in step S158 becomes YES, and then, in step S160, the mobile terminal 90 determines that the user has started using the currently rented seat 22 at the current time. do.

In one example, after the user activates the use start processing module, the user arrives at the current seat rental facility 20, but the determination in step S154a is NO if the user has not yet arrived at the reserved seat 22. Become. When the user eventually arrives at the reserved seat 22 and takes a seat, the determination in step S154a changes from NO to YES.

At this time, if the mobile terminal 90 receives a signal representing the authorized transmitter ID, the ID verification is successful and the determination in step S158 becomes YES. Thereafter, in step S160, it is determined that the first transition has occurred at the current time.

Here, the timing at which the determination in step S158 becomes YES is the timing at which the mobile terminal 90 transitions from the state of not receiving the regular transmitter ID to the state of receiving it (corresponds to the temporal position of the "rising edge" in the example of FIG. 12). ).

Thereafter, in step S161, it is determined whether the user has input a start-of-use request to the mobile terminal 90 (for example, the user has selected the above-mentioned button for a start-of-use request). If a start-of-use request is input, the determination in step S161 is YES, and in step S162, it is determined whether the start time is earlier than the scheduled start time specified by the user. In fact, it is determined whether the user actually arrived at the currently reserved seat 22 and started using it earlier than the scheduled start time.

This time, if it is assumed that the user's actual usage start time is not earlier than the scheduled start time, the determination in step S162 is NO, and then in step S163, the current charging condition is the normal charging condition (from the scheduled start time). ) is selected. On the other hand, this time, if it is assumed that the user's actual usage start time is earlier than the scheduled start time, the determination in step S162 becomes YES, and then, in step S164, a special charging condition (actual start time) is set as the current charging condition. (Charging starts from time) is selected.

In either case, in step S165, the determination result that the user is actually using the reserved reserved seat 22 and the current billing conditions are stored in the management server 50 in association with the user. Sent.

Above, a case has been described in which the user successfully issues a start-of-use request immediately after the mobile terminal 90 effectively receives the authorized transmitter 30. However, if the request is not issued, the determination in step S161 is NO. Then, in step S166, it is determined whether the elapsed time from the execution time of step S160 is currently within the first time limit (for example, 5 minutes). If it is within the first time limit, the determination in step S166 becomes YES, and in step S167, the user is prompted to input a start-of-use request, for example, by displaying an appropriate message on the screen 135 or by voice. It is prompted by something such as being output in . Then, the process returns to step S161.

On the other hand, if the elapsed time from the execution time of step S160 currently exceeds the first time limit, the determination in step S166 becomes NO, and then, in step S168, the first violation has occurred by the user. It is determined that

Subsequently, in step S165, information that the first violation has occurred by the user is transmitted to the management server 50. After the execution of step S165 is completed, the process automatically moves to the above-described stay determination sequence without waiting for an instruction from the user.

On the other hand, in step S254, the management server 50 receives the information transmitted by the mobile terminal 90 by executing step S165.

Thereafter, in step S255, the violation received from the mobile terminal 90 is recorded in the memory 162 in association with the user. Subsequently, in step S256, the current time is measured using the clock 172. Thereafter, in step S257, the current time is recognized as the actual use start time. Subsequently, in step S258, the user permits the start of use of the currently reserved seat 22.

Thereafter, in step S259, a billing start time is determined for each user. As a general rule, billing starts from the scheduled start time, and an amount commensurate with the length of time (usage time, rental time) from the scheduled start time is calculated as the rental amount.

However, as an exception, if the actual usage start time is earlier than the scheduled usage start time but the usage start request is normally issued within the first time limit, the usage start time is issued at the billing start time. determined.

In addition, if the actual usage start time is earlier than the scheduled usage start time and the usage start request is not successfully issued within the first time limit, the current reservation may be forcibly canceled or penalties such as violation charges will be imposed. A penalty will be imposed on the user.

Thereafter, in step S260, for each user, the individually determined billing start time and a notice that is commonly notified to all users are constantly received by the transmitter 30 by the mobile terminal 90 while the reserved seat 22 is in use. The content of the warning regarding billing and usage conditions is determined to reflect the content of the warning.

Subsequently, in step S261, a warning regarding the billing and usage conditions is transmitted to the mobile terminal 90 and notified to the user. Thereafter, the process automatically shifts to the stay determination sequence described above.

<Stay judgment sequence>

In FIG. 16, after the user starts using the reserved seat 22, whether the user is actually staying in the reserved seat 22 (seated) or not (not present) is shown. ), an example of communication performed between the transmitter 30 located in the reserved seat 22, the user's mobile terminal 90, and the management server 50 is shown in a chronological sequence.・It is expressed as a flow.

The transmitter 30 spontaneously and continuously transmits an identification signal unique to itself. As long as the user is seated in the reserved seat 22, the mobile terminal 90 can detect the effective reception area of the transmitter 30 without the user having to take the trouble of holding the mobile terminal 90 over the transmitter 30. (see FIG. 5), the mobile terminal 90 effectively receives the identification signal from the transmitter 30.

Subsequently, in step S181, it is determined whether the mobile terminal 90 has effectively received an identification signal from any of the transmitters 30 in the same manner as in step S154.

If it is determined that the mobile terminal 90 has effectively received the identification signal from one of the transmitters 30, then in step S182 the received identification signal is demodulated, and then in step S183, the received identification signal is demodulated. The transmitter ID represented by the identified identification signal is decoded as the actual transmitter ID.

Subsequently, in step S184, it is determined whether or not the actual transmitter ID thus decoded and the current one regular transmitter ID obtained by executing step S153 are the same. That is, ID verification is performed.

On the other hand, if the real transmitter ID and the regular transmitter ID match each other, that is, if the ID verification is successful, the determination in step S185 becomes YES, and then in step S186, the user actually It is determined that the user is currently staying (existing) in the authorized reserved seat 22.

On the other hand, if the real transmitter ID and the regular transmitter ID do not match each other, that is, if the ID matching is not successful, the determination in step S185 becomes NO, and then in step S187, the user In fact, it is determined that the person does not currently exist (is not staying) in the authorized reserved seat 22. If this non-existence determination is made immediately after the determination that the user is staying in step S186, it is detected that the user has just left the reserved seat 22.

In either case, in step S188, the result of the determination that the user is actually staying in the reserved reserved seat 22 or the result of the determination that the reserved seat 22 does not exist is associated with the user and managed. It is sent to the server 50. Then, the process returns to step S181.

A step group consisting of steps S181 to S188 is repeatedly executed during execution of the seat rental service program.

In response, in step S271, the management server 50 receives from the mobile terminal 90 the result of the determination that the user is actually staying in the reserved seat 22 or the result of the determination that the reserved seat 22 does not exist. do. The management server 50 associates the received determination result with the user and stores it in the memory 162 as stay determination result information.

<Use end sequence>

FIG. 17 shows an example of communication performed between the user's mobile terminal 90 and the management server 50 in a chronological sequence in order to obtain permission for the user to end the use of the reserved seat 22.・It is expressed as a flow.

When the mobile terminal 90 determines that there is a possibility that the user has left the reserved seat 22, the mobile terminal 90 automatically (or manually) activates the end-of-use processing module for the mobile terminal 90. Upon activation, first, in step 301, the mobile terminal 90 determines whether or not the user is actually currently staying in the reserved reserved seat 22, switching from "stay" to "absent". Determine whether or not.

Here, the timing at which the determination in step S301 becomes YES changes from a state in which the mobile terminal 90 receives the regular transmitter ID (that is, a state in which the user is staying in the rented seat 22) to a state in which the mobile terminal 90 does not receive the regular transmitter ID (that is, a state in which the user is staying in the rented seat 22). 12) (corresponds to the temporal position of the "falling edge" in the example of FIG. 12). Therefore, the determination in step S301 is, strictly speaking, a determination as to whether or not the user has just left the reserved seat 22.

This time, assuming that the determination in step S301 is YES, it is determined in step S302 that the user has just left the reserved seat 22, that is, the user has finished using the reserved seat 22.

Subsequently, in step S302, it is determined whether the user has issued a usage termination request (for example, the user has selected the above-mentioned button for a usage termination request). If the request has been issued, the determination in step S302 is YES, and then, in step S303, the information that the user has issued the end-of-use request is transmitted to the management server 50.

On the other hand, if the user does not issue a usage termination request, it is determined that the user is staying in the reserved seat 22, the determination in step S302 becomes NO, and then, in step S304, the current state in step S301 is It is determined whether the elapsed time from the YES determination timing is within the second time limit (for example, 5 minutes). If the second time limit is within the second time limit, the determination in step S304 becomes YES, and in step S305, the user is asked to input a termination request, for example, by displaying an appropriate message on the screen 135 or by audible message. It is prompted by something such as being output in . Subsequently, the process returns to step S302.

On the other hand, if the elapsed time from the YES determination timing in step S301 currently exceeds the second time limit, the determination in step S304 becomes NO, and then, in step S306, the user commits the second violation. It is determined that this has occurred.

Subsequently, in step S307, information that the second violation has occurred by the user is transmitted to the management server 50.

On the other hand, when the end-of-use processing module for the management server 50 is executed by the management server 50, the management server 50, in step S401, collects the information transmitted by the mobile terminal 90 by executing the step S303 and the information sent from the mobile terminal 90 in the step S307. The information transmitted by the mobile terminal 90 is received by executing the above.

Thereafter, in step S402, the current time is measured using the clock 172. Subsequently, in step S403, the current time is recognized as the actual use end time. Thereafter, in step S404, the user allows the end of the current use of the reserved seat 22.

Thereafter, in step S405, the time from the billing start time to the billing end time, which is individually determined for each user as described above, is calculated as the total rental time. Here, the "charging end time" normally coincides with the scheduled end time, but if the second violation is notified from the mobile terminal 90, the charging end time may coincide with the actual usage end time. In addition to being determined to match, the rental amount is calculated using a rate higher than the normal rate for the extended rental time from the scheduled end time of use to the actual end time of use.

Next, in step S406, the current rental amount is calculated based on the calculated total rental time length and the fee rate (increase rate) according to the fee table (not shown) and the type of violation that occurred. Ru. The charge rate may be changed to a premium rate as a result of executing a reservation change module, which will be described later.

Thereafter, in step S407, the reservation status table is updated so that the reservation for the reserved seat 22 is deleted from the reservation status table. Subsequently, in step S408, information such as the calculated rental amount is transmitted to the mobile terminal 90.

In response, the mobile terminal 90 receives information such as the rental amount from the management server 50 in step S308, and then displays the rental amount on the screen in step S309. Thereafter, in step S310, the user makes an electronic payment.

Subsequently, the mobile terminal 90 transmits a logout request requesting logout from the management server 50 to the management server 50 in step S311.

In response, the management server 50 receives the logout request in step S409. Subsequently, in step S410, an acknowledgment signal ACK indicating that reception of the logout request has been successfully completed is transmitted to the mobile terminal 90.

In response, the mobile terminal 90 receives the acknowledgment signal ACK from the management server 50 in step S312.

By the way, a scenario is also assumed in which the user leaves the rental seat 22 for some reason during the usage period of the rental seat 22, and then returns to the same rental seat 22. Also in this scenario, the mobile terminal 90 transitions from a state in which it receives a regular transmitter ID to a state in which it does not receive it (a second transition occurs), so the determination in step S301 in FIG. 17 becomes YES.

If it is necessary for the mobile terminal 900 to distinguish this scenario from a scenario in which the user leaves the reserved seat 22, the present embodiment can be improved as follows, for example.

That is, when the mobile terminal 90 detects the second transition after the user starts using the reserved seat 22, the mobile terminal 90 does not immediately proceed to step S302 and request the user to input a use termination request, but prior to that, the mobile terminal 90 performs step S301a. (not shown), a confirmation message is displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal 90 or outputted by voice to confirm to the user whether he or she plans to return to the reserved seat 22 or leave the seat.

Thereafter, in step S301b (not shown), the user responds to the confirmation message and inputs into the mobile terminal 90 that he is "planning to return." In step S301c (not shown), the mobile terminal 90 then In preparation for the first transition that occurs, that is, the mobile terminal 90 transitions from a state in which it does not receive a regular transmitter ID to a state in which it does, it is repeatedly checked whether the mobile terminal 90 has received a regular transmitter ID. judge.

If it is determined in step S301c that the mobile terminal 90 has received the authorized transmitter ID, this means that a new first transition has occurred, and the process then returns to step S301. As a result, proceeding to step S302 is temporarily suspended.

On the other hand, in step S301b, if the user responds to the confirmation message and inputs into the mobile terminal 90 that he "plans to leave", the process moves to step S302.

<Reservation change sequence>

FIG. 18 shows an example of communication performed between the user's mobile terminal 90 and the management server 50 in a chronological sequence in order to change the reservation details while the user is using the reserved seat 22. It is represented by a flow.

This time, when the user selects the "reservation change" button on the screen of the mobile terminal 90, the reservation change module for the mobile terminal 90 is executed by the mobile terminal 90. As a result of the execution, first, in step 401, the mobile terminal 90 receives the stay determination result information from the management server 50, and further, based on the stay determination result information, the user actually selects the currently reserved reserved seat 22. It is determined whether or not the person is staying in .

This time, if it is determined that the user is staying, the determination in step S401 becomes YES, and then, in step S402, it is determined whether the user has input an extension request into the mobile terminal 90. This time, if it is determined that the user has input the extension request (for example, the user has selected the above-mentioned button for the extension request), then in step S403, the mobile terminal 90 receives the extension request from the management server 50. The latest reservation status table is received, and the reservation status table stored in the memory 132 of the mobile terminal 90 is updated to reflect the latest reservation status table.

Subsequently, the mobile terminal 90 displays the updated reservation status table on the screen in step S404. Thereafter, in step S405, the user inputs to the mobile terminal 90 to delay his or her scheduled end time so as not to overlap with another reservation. Furthermore, the mobile terminal 90 transmits the reservation change details to the management server 50, and the management server 50 updates the reservation status table to reflect the reservation change details.

Thereafter, in step S406, the mobile terminal 90 determines whether or not the current reservation change was made before the scheduled use end time elapsed, that is, whether or not it was made within the time range of the original reservation content. do. This time, assuming that the current reservation change is made before the scheduled use end time has elapsed, the billing rate is set to the normal rate in step S407; Assuming that the charge is made after the usage end time has elapsed, the billing rate is set to the premium rate in step S408.

In either case, the mobile terminal 90 then transmits the billing rate set as described above to the management server 50 in step S409.

As is clear from the above description, in this embodiment, one of the first transition and second transition (rising edge and falling edge of one received pulse signal in FIG. 12) forming a pair In response to a combination of the appearance of a certain first transition and the user's declaration of intention to request the start of use, the start of use by the user is recognized.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, in response to the combination of the appearance of the second transition, which is one of the first transition and the second transition forming a pair, and the user's intention to request termination of use, the user terminates the use. is recognized.

Here, "a pair of first transition and second transition" means a combination of two events that occur at the start timing and end timing of one operation performed by the user on the transmitter 30.

Incidentally, in the present embodiment, a scenario is also assumed in which the user X is supposed to be seated in a rented seat P, but ends up inadvertently sitting in another rented seat Q. In this scenario, the user In this case, the mobile terminal 90 and the management server 50 will recognize that the user X is seated in the rented seat P, contrary to the fact.

If it is necessary to avoid such misrecognition, it is possible to improve this embodiment to the following example.

First, to briefly explain, in this improved example, the first technique adopted in this embodiment, that is, when the mobile terminal 90 detects a plurality of transmitters 30 at the same time, the mobile terminal 90 Provided that the transmitter ID of the only transmitter 90 that should originally receive signals is known in advance of reception from multiple transmitters 30 (corresponding reserved seats 22 are reserved), transmitters other than the regular transmitter 30 In addition to the filtering technology that excludes signals from transmitters 30 by software even if they are received, there is a second technology, that is, when the mobile terminal 90 detects multiple transmitters 30 at the same time in wide area reception mode, the reception It corresponds to a combination of technologies that automatically switch the mode from wide-area reception mode to narrow-area reception mode.

Next, to explain specifically, in this example, the mobile terminal 90 is located in the normal effective reception area (in FIG. 5, a circle with a large diameter indicated by a broken line; area) and a reduced effective reception area (in Fig. 5, a circle with a small diameter indicated by a broken line. (one example of "reception area").

That is, in this example, the effective reception radius is a variable value, and when it takes a large value, wide-area reception mode or defocused reception mode is achieved, while when it takes a small value, narrow-area reception mode is achieved. Alternatively, a focus reception mode is realized.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 25, in step S700, the mobile terminal 90 receives signals from one or more transmitters 30 based on the normal effective reception area setting value (effective reception radius in wide area reception mode). Attempt to receive validly.

Next, in step S701, the mobile terminal 90 determines whether or not it has effectively received the real transmitter ID-P (regular transmitter ID of the transmitter 30 of the rented seat P) that matches the regular transmitter ID in the wide area reception mode. (Whether or not the mobile terminal 90 exists within a normal effective reception area centered on the transmitter ID-P). If it is determined that the message has not been received, the process returns to step S700.

When the mobile terminal 90 determines that the real transmitter ID-P has been received in the wide area reception mode, in step S702, the mobile terminal 90 receives another real transmitter ID-Q (the transmitter 30 of the rented seat Q) in the wide area reception mode. It is determined whether the mobile terminal 90 is also effectively receiving the valid transmitter ID-Q (or not) (whether the mobile terminal 90 also exists within the valid reception area of another transmitter ID-Q). If it is determined that another real transmitter ID-Q has not been effectively received, the process moves to step S710, which will be described later.

If it is determined that another real transmitter ID-Q is also being effectively received in the wide area reception mode, in step S703, the mobile terminal 90 receives the transmitter that is transmitting the real transmitter ID-Q. 30 and the distance DP from the transmitter 30 transmitting the actual transmitter ID-P.

Furthermore, in step S704, the mobile terminal 90 determines whether the distance DQ is shorter than the distance DP. If it is determined that the time is short, it is determined that the user X may be seated in the wrong reserved seat Q. If it is determined that the distance DQ is not shorter than the distance DP, the process moves to step S710.

If it is determined that the distance DQ is shorter than the distance DP, in step S705, the mobile terminal 90 switches the effective reception area from the normal effective reception area to the reduced effective reception area (effective reception radius in narrow reception mode). Furthermore, in step S706, the mobile terminal 90 sends a message to the user X requesting that the user X touch or hold the mobile terminal 90 over the transmitter 30 of the rented seat Q in which the user is seated. Display on screen or output as audio.

Thereafter, in step S707, the mobile terminal 90 attempts to effectively receive the one or more transmitters 30 in the short range reception mode.

Subsequently, in step S708, the mobile terminal 90 determines whether the mobile terminal 90 has effectively received the actual transmitter ID-P (regular transmitter ID of the transmitter 30 of the rented seat P) that matches the regular transmitter ID in the narrow area reception mode. It is determined whether or not (whether the mobile terminal 90 exists within the reduced effective reception area centered on the transmitter ID-P).

Then, in the above scenario, the mobile terminal 90 will receive the actual transmitter ID-Q of the transmitter 30 of the reserved seat Q, which does not match the original authorized transmitter ID-P, so step The determination in S708 is NO.

In this case, in step S709, the mobile terminal 90 displays on the screen or outputs a message to the user X to confirm whether or not the currently seated seat 22 is correct. As a result, the user moves from the rented seat Q to the rented seat P.

Thereafter, the process returns to step S707, and the mobile terminal 90 receives the transmitter 30 of the reserved seat P in the narrow area reception mode. Then, the determination in step S708 becomes YES this time. Thereafter, in step S710, the mobile terminal 90 determines that the user is seated in the correct rental seat P.

The step group consisting of steps S700-710 shown in FIG. 25 can replace the step group consisting of steps S154-S157 in FIG. 15 and/or the step group consisting of steps S181-S184 in FIG. 16.

The technique shown in FIG. 25 can be applied to the second embodiment described later, and to support this, FIG. An effective reception area (wide area reception mode) and a reduced effective reception area with a small diameter (narrow area reception mode) are shown.

As is clear from the above description, according to the present embodiment, the mobile terminal 90 and/or the management server 50 chronologically determine whether or not the mobile terminal 90 has received a signal from one or more transmitters 30. Based on the temporal change of the received signal (for example, see FIGS. 12 and 21), the user's sitting/leaving (approach/separation, arrival/leaving) of the selected rental seat 22 is based on the temporal change (not the user's static posture but the dynamic posture). target posture, changes in movement, changes in posture, etc.).

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it becomes easy to accurately detect the timing when the user actually takes a seat in the rental seat 22 and the timing when the user actually leaves the rental seat 22.

Note that this embodiment can be implemented with various modifications, for example, the management server 50 may perform at least part of the same data processing as that performed by the mobile terminal 90. It is possible to improve the configuration, or conversely, to perform the same data processing by the mobile terminal 90 as at least part of the data processing by the management server 50. This also applies to the following second embodiment.

As is clear from the above description, according to the present embodiment, one of the rental targets is selected by the user before the user's mobile terminal receives the transmitter.

Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the selected rental object (for example, the reserved rental object) is installed in each of the plurality of rental objects based on the identity of the rental object, that is, which rental object the selected rental object (for example, the reserved rental object) is. The plurality of transmitters are classified into regular transmitters (target transmitters) that are supposed to be installed in one selected rental object and other non-regular transmitters (non-target transmitters).

As a result, according to this embodiment, even if the user's mobile terminal receives a signal from an unauthorized transmitter in the selected rental target, that signal is not referenced, and only the signal from the authorized transmitter is received. By being referred to, the current location of the user, that is, whether the user is truly located at the same location as the selected rental object or in the vicinity thereof is estimated.

The idea behind this estimation is that if the user's location is known, the mobile terminal only needs to pay attention to the signal that is supposed to be emitted by the transmitter that is supposed to be installed at that known location. .

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the reason why the authorized transmitter has to be placed spatially close to other transmitters, and when the user receives the authorized transmitter using his/her own mobile terminal. The effective reception area of the authorized transmitter (see, for example, Figures 5 and 20) Even in environments where the effective coverage area at least partially overlaps between the authorized transmitter and other transmitters, for example because of the need to expand the Only signals from authorized transmitters are enabled in the mobile terminal by a software filtering function (noise removal function) rather than a function (noise removal function). Thereby, according to the present embodiment, it becomes easy to accurately estimate the user's current location without being influenced by other transmitters.

The effect that the effective reception area of each transmitter can be easily expanded is, for example, when the present invention is applied to a technique for selecting a car room in a parking lot or a technique similar thereto. In the sequence, the user remains in the vehicle parked in the selected compartment in the parking lot, that is, without getting out of the vehicle and approaching the transmitter, the user receives reception from the authorized transmitter and performs parking/exit processing. The effect is that it becomes easier to communicate with the management server for

<Second embodiment>

Next, an unmanned parking lot management system 300 (hereinafter simply referred to as "system 300") according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 19-24. However, parts that are common to the unmanned seat rental system according to the first embodiment will be referred to using the same reference numerals and names, thereby omitting redundant explanation, and only different parts will be described in detail.

This system 300 is for centrally managing a plurality of parking lots 20 (only three representative parking lots A, B, and C among the parking lots 20 are shown in FIG. 19). It is a system. Each parking lot 20 has a plurality of compartments 22, and each compartment 22 is an individual space temporarily lent to one vehicle (car, bicycle, motorcycle, etc.) of one user. This is a rental space.

To explain in comparison with the first embodiment, the plurality of parking lots 20 correspond to the plurality of seat rental facilities 20 in the first embodiment, and the plurality of car rooms 22 correspond to the plurality of car rooms 22 in one seat rental facility 20. This corresponds to a plurality of reserved seats 22.

Also in this embodiment, the plurality of compartments 22 in one parking lot 20 are generally arranged close to each other. These vehicle compartments 22 are an example of a plurality of rental objects that are so close to each other that they cannot be spatially identified (separated) from each other using the GPS function (described above) of the mobile terminal 90, for example.

On the other hand, the plurality of parking lots 20 are an example of a plurality of facilities that are separated from each other to the extent that they can be spatially identified (separated) from each other using the GPS function (described later) of the mobile terminal 90.

This system 300 is an example of a rental object management system that uses an individual transmitter to authenticate the location of a rental object on the condition that the user makes a reservation for the rental object.

This system 300 is configured to execute the parking lot management method according to this embodiment. The parking lot management method is an example of a rental space management method that centrally manages multiple parking lots that can be rented to users; This is an example of a rental object management method for centrally managing rental objects. Another example of the rental object management method is a rental object management method that centrally manages a plurality of rental objects (for example, rental cars and rental bicycles) that are movable assets that can be lent to users.

Each parking lot 20 is unmanned. Furthermore, in order to reduce and simplify equipment, each parking lot 20 is equipped with a device that prevents unauthorized entry into and exit from each vehicle compartment 22 (for example, a gate device that selectively blocks passage of vehicles, a A lift-type/flap-type vehicle exit prevention device that protrudes from the surface of the parking lot 20 and selectively prevents vehicle wheels from climbing over the surface is also used to read codes (for example, passwords and barcode information) presented by users. There are no equipment, payment machines for users to pay rental fees, and ticket machines for issuing tickets to users.

As illustrated in FIG. 19, in each parking lot 20, one transmitter 30 is installed for each compartment 22.

Specifically, to explain the installation position, each transmitter 30 is placed within the area of the corresponding vehicle compartment 22 when viewed from above, and when viewed from the side, it is located within the area of the corresponding vehicle compartment 22 (not shown). It is located at the same height, higher than, or lower than the surface of the room 22 (for example, the ground, paved surface, etc.).

Next, to explain the installation method, each transmitter 30 can be attached to the inside or outside of a wheel chock installed in the corresponding compartment 22, or a pole installed in the corresponding compartment 22. It is possible to attach it to a vertically extending structure, such as a pillar, at a position floating above the surface, or to bury it under the surface of the corresponding vehicle compartment 22.

In this embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 20, the user first selects one of the plurality of parking lots 20, and then selects one of the plurality of compartments 22 in the selected parking lot 20. The user selects one of the following and causes his or her vehicle 400 (or 402) to enter the selected compartment 22. In this example, a vehicle 400 is parked in one compartment 22 facing forward, while another vehicle 402 is parked in an adjacent compartment 22 facing rearward.

While the user is in his or her own vehicle 400 or 402, there is a possibility that the user's mobile terminal 90 receives the transmitter 30 (regular transmitter) installed in the selected vehicle compartment 22. Furthermore, there is a possibility that the transmitter 30 (unauthorized transmitter) installed in the adjacent vehicle compartment 22 will be received.

As illustrated in FIG. 20, the effective reception area of each transmitter 30 is set to cover the mobile terminal 90 of the user in the vehicle parked in the corresponding compartment 22. As a result, the user can receive the transmitter 30 without getting out of his vehicle and approaching the transmitter 30, which is convenient for the user, especially when the weather is bad.

However, in this case, there is a possibility that the same effective reception area will inevitably cover the mobile terminal 90 of the user in the vehicle parked in the adjacent compartment 22, even though it is unnecessary. be. Therefore, in this embodiment as well, the user stays in the selected vehicle compartment 22 by determining whether or not the mobile terminal 90 has received the regular transmitter ID (more precisely, an identification signal representing the regular transmitter ID). It is designed to determine whether or not the

By the way, in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, during one period when the user uses the reserved seat 22, the mobile terminal 90 receives one reception pulse signal, and the timing of the rising edge of the signal is is recognized as the start time of use, while the timing of the falling edge of the signal is recognized as the end time of use. This is due to the communication environment in which the user essentially continues to stay in the same rental room 22 from when he/she takes a seat in the rental seat 22 until he/she leaves the rental seat 22, and during that time, the mobile terminal 90 continues to receive the authorized transmitter ID. do.

In contrast, in the present embodiment, the user stays in the selected compartment 22 when entering and leaving the garage, but for substantially the entire period during which the vehicle is parked in the selected compartment 22. Normally, the user is not staying in the selected vehicle compartment 22 during the time. Therefore, signal processing different from that in the first embodiment is required.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, as conceptually shown in a time chart in FIG. 21, the mobile terminal 90 does not receive the regular transmitter ID (more precisely, the identification signal representing the regular transmitter ID) in the warehousing stage. The first transition from the state to the receiving state (the rising edge of the warehousing pulse signal, which is one received pulse signal at the time of warehousing) occurs, and soon the mobile terminal 90 changes from the state where it receives the regular transmitter ID. A second transition (falling edge of the warehousing pulse signal) to a non-receiving state occurs.

Then, the user is requested to indicate an intention to enter the warehouse (an example of the above-mentioned "first event") to the mobile terminal 90 in order to confirm the entry. When a user actually issues a warehousing request, the timing of the first transition (or the timing of the second transition) is recognized as the warehousing time.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, as conceptually shown in the time chart in FIG. 21, the first transition (the rising edge of the exit pulse signal, which is one received pulse signal at the time of exit) occurs in the exit stage. However, the second transition (falling edge of the output pulse signal) occurs shortly.

Then, the user is requested to express an intention to leave the warehouse (an example of the above-mentioned "second event") to the mobile terminal 90 in order to confirm leaving the warehouse. When a user actually issues a leaving request, the timing of the second transition (or the timing of the first transition) is recognized as the leaving time.

FIG. 22 shows a parking lot management program for managing a plurality of parking lots 20 in which a user uses a mobile terminal 90 and a management server 50 to reserve one of the vehicle rooms 22 in one of the parking lots 20. An example of a reservation sequence to be executed is conceptually represented in a flowchart.

First, when the parking lot management program is activated by the user's mobile terminal 90, the user selects a reservation mode in step S500. Next, in step S601, the management server 50 stores parking lot data (corresponding to seat rental facility data shown in FIG. , cabin data (corresponding to the reserved seat data shown in FIG. 8) representing the correspondence between the IDs of the plurality of car rooms 22 and the plurality of regular transmitter IDs, and the reservation status table (shown in FIG. 11(a)). (corresponding to the reservation status table) is read from the memory 162 and transmitted to the mobile terminal 90.

Subsequently, the mobile terminal 90 receives the data and the table from the management server 50 and stores them in the memory 132 in step S501. Subsequently, in step S502, the mobile terminal 90 selects the plurality of parking lots 20 from a small number of candidate parking lots located near the user's current location, based on the parking lot data and the GPS positioning result of the mobile terminal 90. The candidate parking lots 20 are narrowed down to 20, and these few candidate parking lots 20 are displayed on the screen.

Furthermore, in step S502, the user performs an operation on the mobile terminal 90 to select one of the plurality of candidate parking lots 20 displayed on the screen as the currently selected parking lot 20. . In response, the mobile terminal 90 displays the reservation status table on the screen, thereby allowing the user to know the time period in which each of the plurality of compartments 22 in the selected parking lot 20 is vacant. becomes possible.

Thereafter, in step S503, the user selects one of the compartments 22 using the mobile terminal 90, and then, in step S504, the user enters the scheduled usage time period of the selected compartment 22 on the mobile terminal 90. input.

Thereafter, in step S505, the mobile terminal 90 transmits the reservation details (parking lot 20, vehicle compartment 22, and usage time) specified by the user to the management server 50 together with personal authentication information for identifying the user.

On the other hand, in step S602, the management server 50 receives the reservation content in association with the user, and updates the user-specific reservation content file so that the reservation content is reflected.

FIG. 23 conceptually shows in a flowchart an example of the parking sequence executed by the mobile terminal 90 and the management server 50 in order for the user to park the selected vehicle compartment 22 in the parking lot management program.

First, when the parking lot management program is activated by the user's mobile terminal 90, the user selects the warehousing mode in step S520. Next, in step S521, the mobile terminal 90 acquires the regular transmitter ID corresponding to the currently selected vehicle compartment 22 based on the vehicle compartment data.

Subsequently, in step S522, the mobile terminal 90 determines whether or not the mobile terminal 90 has effectively received the identification signal from any of the transmitters 30 (whether or not the first transition has occurred), and determines whether the identification signal is valid. If the received identification signal is received, it is determined in step S523 whether the real transmitter ID represented by the received identification signal and the regular transmitter ID match each other.

If the actual transmitter ID and the regular transmitter ID match, it is determined that the user is actually staying in the selected vehicle compartment 22 at present. Thereafter, in step S524, the mobile terminal 90 determines that the mobile terminal 90 has finished receiving the regular transmitter ID, that is, that the falling edge (the second transition) of the inventory pulse signal has appeared. I'll be waiting. When it appears, a warehousing request is input from the user into the mobile terminal 90 in step S525. When input, the mobile terminal 90 associates the warehousing request with the user and transmits it to the management server 50 in step S526.

In response, the management server 50 receives the warehousing request in step S621, and as a result, permits the user to warehove the selected vehicle compartment 22. Subsequently, in step S622, the current time is stored in the memory 162 as the warehousing time.

FIG. 24 conceptually shows in a flowchart an example of an exit sequence executed by the mobile terminal 90 and the management server 50 in order for the user to exit the selected vehicle compartment 22 in the parking lot management program.

First, when the parking lot management program is activated by the user's mobile terminal 90, the user selects the exit mode in step S540. Next, in step S541, the mobile terminal 90 acquires the regular transmitter ID corresponding to the currently selected vehicle compartment 22 based on the vehicle compartment data.

Subsequently, in step S542, the mobile terminal 90 determines whether or not the mobile terminal 90 has effectively received the identification signal from any of the transmitters 30 (whether or not the first transition has occurred), and determines whether the identification signal is valid. If the received identification signal is received, it is determined in step S543 whether or not the real transmitter ID represented by the received identification signal and the regular transmitter ID match each other.

If the actual transmitter ID and the regular transmitter ID match, it is determined that the user is actually staying in the selected vehicle compartment 22 at present. Thereafter, in step S544, the mobile terminal 90 determines that the mobile terminal 90 has finished receiving the regular transmitter ID, that is, that the falling edge (the second transition) of the exit pulse signal has appeared. I'll be waiting. When it appears, in step S545, the user waits for an exit request to be input into the mobile terminal 90. When input, the mobile terminal 90 associates the exit request with the user and transmits it to the management server 50 in step S546.

In response, the management server 50 receives the exit request in step S641, and as a result, allows the user to exit the selected vehicle compartment 22. Subsequently, in step S642, the current time is set as the exit time. Thereafter, in step S643, the parking time is calculated as the elapsed time from the parking time to the parking exit time. Subsequently, in step S644, a parking fee is calculated based on the calculated length of parking time. The calculated parking fee is transmitted to the mobile terminal 90.

In response, the mobile terminal 90 displays the received parking fee amount on the screen in step S547, and then the user makes an electronic payment for the parking fee.

As is clear from the above description, in this embodiment, both the first transition and the second transition (the rising edge and the falling edge of one warehousing pulse signal in FIG. 21) appear in the pair. In response to the combination of the input request and the user's declaration of intention to request a warehousing request, the user's warehousing action is recognized, and the pair of first transition and second transition (of the one warehousing pulse signal in FIG. 21) is recognized. The user's action of leaving the warehouse is recognized in response to the combination of the appearance of both the rising edge and the falling edge of , and the user's declaration of intention to request a delivery request.

In contrast, the appearance of one of the pair of first transition and second transition (rising edge and falling edge of one warehousing pulse signal in FIG. 21) and the user's intention to request warehousing In response to the combination, the user's warehousing operation is recognized, and the pair of first and second transitions (rising edge and falling edge of one warehousing pulse signal in FIG. 21) is recognized. The present invention may be implemented in such a manner that the user's action of exiting the warehouse is recognized in response to a combination of the appearance of one of them and the user's declaration of intention to request exit.

According to the present embodiment, when the user is leaving the store, it is determined that the user has completed leaving the store after waiting until the mobile terminal 90 no longer receives the authorized transmitter ID. On the other hand, either the user is contractually forced to perform both the parking operation and the leaving operation in the vehicle parked in the selected compartment 22, or the user uses the transmitter 30 on the mobile terminal 90 in the vehicle. It is possible to design the mobile terminal 90 to disable the reception by software unless the mobile terminal 90 receives the following information.

In this case, the user, the mobile terminal 90, and the vehicle will share the same spatial position, so the mobile terminal 90 detecting the user's entry into the selected vehicle compartment 22 will not be affected by the vehicle's selection. This is equivalent to the mobile terminal 90 detecting that the user has entered the vehicle compartment 22, and similarly, the mobile terminal 90 detecting that the user has left the selected vehicle compartment 22 is equivalent to the mobile terminal 90 detecting that the user has left the selected vehicle compartment 22. This is equivalent to the mobile terminal 90 detecting that the item has been taken out of the warehouse.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments are some specific examples in which the present invention is applied to rental services that rent out seat rental facilities and parking lots as real estate. Instead, the present invention can be applied, for example, to a rental service that rents other real estate, such as a rental warehouse or room, or movable property, such as a vehicle (car, bicycle, motorcycle, etc.). It is possible to apply this method to a rental service that targets rental objects. Furthermore, the present invention can also be applied to uses other than rental services.

Several embodiments of the present invention have been described above in detail based on the drawings, but these are merely illustrative, 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 implement the present invention in other forms with various modifications and improvements.

Claims (11)

A system for managing multiple vehicles that can be lent to users, the system comprising:
a non-contact type or contact type short-range wireless communication unit mounted on each of the plurality of vehicles;
a management server that remotely manages the plurality of vehicles;
The management server is
A user who wishes to use one of the vehicles selects the desired vehicle from among the plurality of vehicles as a reserved vehicle along with the scheduled start time and scheduled end time by operating the user's communication device. a reservation unit that responds to the request and reflects the result in the reservation details;
a start permission unit that allows the user to start using the reserved vehicle in response to the communication device transitioning to a reception state in which it receives a signal from the short-range wireless communication unit when the user starts using the reserved vehicle;
After the user starts using the reserved vehicle, the user operates the communication device to delay the scheduled end time included in the reservation contents before the scheduled end time arrives, and the reservation change result is changed. a reservation change unit that reflects the reservation details;
a transmitting unit that transmits the amount of the rental fee to the communication device by long-distance wireless communication after the user finishes using the reserved vehicle;
A rental vehicle management system, wherein the communication device includes a payment support unit that supports payment of the rental fee by electronic payment using the amount received from the management server after the user finishes using the reserved vehicle. The management server further includes:
and a termination permission section that allows the user to terminate use of the reserved vehicle in response to transition of the communication device to a reception state in which it receives a signal from the short-range wireless communication section when the user terminates use of the reserved vehicle. The rental vehicle management system according to claim 1. A system for managing multiple vehicles that can be lent to users, the system comprising:
a non-contact type or contact type short-range wireless communication unit mounted on each of the plurality of vehicles;
a management server that remotely manages the plurality of vehicles;
The management server is
A user who wishes to use one of the vehicles selects the desired vehicle from among the plurality of vehicles as a reserved vehicle along with the scheduled start time and scheduled end time by operating the user's communication device. a reservation unit that responds to the request and reflects the result in the reservation details;
a start permission unit that allows the user to start using the reserved vehicle in response to the communication device transitioning to a reception state in which it receives a signal from the short-range wireless communication unit when the user starts using the reserved vehicle;
A reservation in which, after the user starts using the reserved vehicle, the user operates the communication device to change the reservation with respect to the scheduled end time included in the reservation content, and the result of the reservation change is reflected in the reservation content. a change section;
The charging rate for the usage fee of the reserved vehicle is set to the normal rate if the reservation change is made before the scheduled end time before the reservation change, and after the scheduled end time before the reservation change arrives. a transmission unit that sets a premium rate if the charging rate has been charged, calculates the amount of the rental fee based on the set billing rate, and transmits the calculated amount to the communication device by long-distance wireless communication; including and
A rental vehicle management system, wherein the communication device includes a payment support unit that supports payment of the rental fee by electronic payment using the amount received from the management server after the user finishes using the reserved vehicle. The rental vehicle management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the communication device includes a mobile phone, a smartphone, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, or a PDA. 4. The rental vehicle management system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of vehicles include a plurality of rental automobiles, rental motorcycles, or rental bicycles. A program for causing a computer to function as the selection unit, start permission unit, reservation change unit, and transmission unit according to claim 1. A program for causing a computer to function as the selection unit, start permission unit, reservation change unit, and transmission unit according to claim 3. A program executed by a computer of a communication device of a user who desires to use one of a plurality of vehicles that can be lent to the user, the program comprising:
a reservation function in which a user selects a desired vehicle from among the plurality of vehicles, together with a scheduled start time and a scheduled end time, by operating the communication device;
a short-range reception function in which the communication device receives a signal from a contactless or contact-type short-range wireless communication unit mounted on the reserved vehicle when the user starts using the reserved vehicle;
a reservation change function for changing the reservation so as to delay the scheduled end time before the scheduled end time arrives by the user operating the communication device after the user starts using the reserved vehicle;
a long-distance reception function that receives the amount of the rental fee from a management server that remotely manages the plurality of vehicles through long-distance wireless communication after the user finishes using the reserved vehicle;
A program for causing a computer to function as a payment support function that supports payment of the rental fee using the received amount by electronic payment. A recording medium on which the program according to claim 6 is recorded in a computer-readable manner. A recording medium on which the program according to claim 7 is recorded in a computer-readable manner. A recording medium on which the program according to claim 8 is recorded in a computer-readable manner.

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