JP5240061B2 - Fuel cost comparison device, fuel cost comparison method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cost comparison device, a fuel cost comparison method, and a program, and more particularly, to a fuel cost comparison device, a fuel cost comparison method, and a program that perform information processing on the fuel cost of a device.

  Due to the recent fluctuations in gasoline prices, drivers are increasingly interested in gasoline prices. A driver who pays for gasoline using a card member or a credit card issued by a service station can grasp the gasoline fee on a monthly basis. You can also keep track of your gasoline bills on a monthly basis by keeping a household account book or checking your monthly receipt.

  Moreover, the technique which can display the gasoline cost for consumption is also proposed (for example, patent document 1).

JP 2007-121251 A

  However, in the conventional technology such as Patent Document 1, it is difficult to appropriately grasp the cause of the change in the gasoline cost paid every predetermined period (for example, the difference between the previous month's gasoline fee and the current month's gasoline fee). It was. Specifically, it is considered that the unit price, fuel consumption, and operation amount (travel distance) mainly affect the gasoline cost paid during a predetermined period. It was difficult to understand in detail how much of these factors affected the difference in gasoline costs.

  For example, even if the driver improves the fuel economy due to eco-driving and the mileage decreases, if the gasoline unit price rises rapidly, the gasoline cost will increase and the driver's motivation for eco-driving may be reduced .

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a fuel cost comparison device, a fuel cost comparison method, and a program capable of appropriately analyzing the cause of the difference in fuel cost to be compared. And

  Therefore, in order to solve the above-described problem, the fuel cost comparison apparatus, with respect to the fuel consumed by the device, for each predetermined period, the period, the fuel cost, the unit price of the fuel, the operation amount of the device, and the operation amount An information storage unit that stores fuel consumption in association with each other, a unit price of fuel for a period to be compared, an operation amount of a device, a value of each factor of fuel consumption with respect to the operation amount, and a comparison target from the information storage unit Read out the unit price of fuel, the amount of operation of the device, and the value of each factor of fuel consumption with respect to the amount of operation, the value of each factor of the period to be compared, and the period to be compared A difference information calculation unit that calculates a fuel cost by replacing any value of each of the corresponding factors, and calculates a difference from the fuel cost obtained by the value before the replacement.

  According to the disclosed apparatus, method, or program, the cause of the difference in fuel cost to be compared can be appropriately analyzed.

  For example, even if the gasoline unit price suddenly increases, the driver can recognize the effect of improving the fuel consumption and reducing the travel distance by eco-driving in monetary amounts.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the fuel cost comparison system of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the hardware structural example of the fuel cost comparison server in embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating the process sequence when a driver visits a service station. It is a figure which shows the example of a customer information table. It is a figure which shows the example of a fuel supply information table. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process sequence of the notification process of the fuel cost difference information by a fuel cost comparison server. It is a figure which shows the example of the text of an information provision mail. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process sequence of the calculation process of difference information. It is a figure which shows the example of the calculation result of the fuel supply information per month. It is a figure for demonstrating the calculation process of the difference for every factor. It is a figure for demonstrating the example of the well-known calculation method of the difference for every factor. It is a figure which shows the example of the calculation result at the time of changing the replacement order of a factor. It is a figure which shows the example of the calculation result of the average value of all the patterns.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a fuel cost comparison system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the fuel cost comparison server 10 is communicably connected to a POS (Point Of Sales) terminal 2, a mail server 3, and a WWW server 4 through a network such as the Internet (whether wired or wireless). Has been.

  The fuel cost comparison server 10 includes a customer information management unit 11, a fuel supply information management unit 12, a difference information calculation unit 13, an information provision mail generation unit 14, a Web information update unit 15, and the like. Each of these units is realized by processing that the program installed in the fuel cost comparison server 10 causes the CPU of the fuel cost comparison server 10 to execute.

  The customer information management unit 11 receives customer information regarding the user (driver) of the service provided by the fuel cost comparison server 10 from the POS terminal 2 and records it in the customer information table 16. The POS terminal 2 is installed, for example, in a service station (SS) refueling machine. The refueling information management unit 12 records information (fueling amount, fuel cost, etc.) transmitted from the POS terminal 2 every time refueling (fuel supply) is performed as refueling information for each driver and records it in the refueling information table 17. . The refueling information table 17 is an example of an information storage unit. The difference information calculation unit 13 reads information recorded in the refueling information table 17 and calculates difference information between the fuel cost of the current month and the fuel cost of the previous month periodically for each driver. The difference information includes not only the difference in fuel cost but also information indicating the amount of money (contribution) that is the degree of influence on the difference for each fuel cost factor. The information providing mail generation unit 14 generates an e-mail for presenting the information calculated by the difference information calculation unit 13 to the driver. The information providing mail generation unit 14 transmits the generated electronic mail to the terminal (for example, the information terminal 6) possessed by the driver via the mail server 3. The Web information update unit 15 uploads the information calculated by the difference information calculation unit 13 to the WWW server 4. The driver can view information uploaded to the WWW server 4 via the Internet 7 using an information terminal 6 such as a PC (Personal Computer) or a mobile phone.

  The customer information table 16 and the refueling information table 17 are recorded in, for example, an auxiliary storage device of the fuel cost comparison server 10. However, the customer information table 16 and the fuel supply information table 17 may be recorded in a storage device connected to the fuel cost comparison server 10 via a network. Information recorded in each table may be managed by a database that manages information in a format other than the table format. The information may be managed by a simple file such as a CSV (Comma Separated Values) format file or an XML (eXtensible Markup Language) format file.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the fuel cost comparison server in the embodiment of the present invention. The fuel cost comparison server 10 in FIG. 2 includes a drive device 100, an auxiliary storage device 102, a memory device 103, a CPU 104, and an interface device 105 that are connected to each other via a bus B.

  A program for realizing the function of the fuel cost comparison server 10 is provided by a recording medium 101 such as a CD-ROM. When the recording medium 101 on which the program is recorded is set in the drive device 100, the program is installed from the recording medium 101 to the auxiliary storage device 102 via the drive device 100. However, the program need not be installed from the recording medium 101 and may be downloaded from another computer via a network. The auxiliary storage device 102 stores the installed program and also stores necessary files and data.

  The memory device 103 reads the program from the auxiliary storage device 102 and stores it when there is an instruction to start the program. The CPU 104 executes functions related to the fuel cost comparison server 10 in accordance with a program stored in the memory device 103. The interface device 105 is used as an interface for connecting to a network.

  Hereinafter, processing performed by the POS terminal 2 of the service station and the fuel cost comparison server 10 when the driver visits the service station will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram for explaining a processing procedure when the driver visits the service station. In the present embodiment, the full tank method is employed for explanation. The full tank method is based on the premise that a full tank is always filled when refueling. Therefore, in the case of the full tank method, the fuel supply amount can be regarded as the consumption amount from the previous fuel supply to the present (current fuel supply).

  When the vehicle 5 visits the service station for refueling, the serviceman determines whether the driver of the vehicle 5 is already registered as a member. For example, the determination is made based on whether or not the user has a membership card. If the driver is not registered as a member and wishes to register as a member, driver attribute information is provided from the driver to the service person. The service person inputs the driver attribute information to the POS terminal 2 as customer information (S11). The POS terminal 2 transmits the input customer information to the fuel cost comparison server 10 (S12).

  Upon receiving the customer information, the customer information management unit 11 of the fuel cost comparison server 10 issues (generates) a member ID for the customer information (S13). Subsequently, the customer information management unit 11 registers the generated member ID and the received customer information in the customer information table 16 in association with each other (S14).

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a customer information table. In FIG. 4, the customer information table 16 includes a member ID, name, address, date of birth, sex, vehicle name, manufacturer, model number, fuel type, tank capacity, e-mail address, remarks 1 to 3, etc. for each member. It is a table for managing information. As information other than the member ID, a value transferred from the POS terminal 2 is registered as customer information. The name, address, date of birth, gender, and e-mail address are the name, address, date of birth, gender, and e-mail address of the driver that is the object of membership registration. The vehicle name, manufacturer, model number, and tank capacity are the vehicle name (model name) of the driver, the vehicle manufacturer, the model number of the vehicle, and the fuel tank capacity of the vehicle. The fuel type is a type of fuel that can be used by the vehicle. Additional information is registered in the remarks.

  Subsequently, the customer information management unit 11 returns the generated member ID to the POS terminal 2 (S15). The POS terminal 2 records the received member ID in the memory.

  If the driver is already registered as a member, the member ID is input to the POS terminal 2 by the service person. The POS terminal 2 records the input member ID in a memory.

  Thereafter, the service person refuels the driver's vehicle and sells fuel (for example, gasoline), and inputs sales information such as the refueling amount, fuel unit price, and price (fuel cost) to the POS terminal 2 (S16). ). The POS terminal 2 records the input sales information in a memory. In the present embodiment, since the full tank method is assumed, refueling is performed until the tank is full.

  Subsequently, the total travel distance of the vehicle is input to the POS terminal 2 by the service person (S17). The POS terminal 2 records the inputted total travel distance in a memory. Subsequently, the POS terminal 2 transmits the member ID, sales information, total travel distance, and the like recorded in the memory to the fuel cost comparison server 10 (S18).

  When the member ID, the sales information, etc. are received from the POS terminal 2, the fuel supply information management unit 12 of the fuel cost comparison server 10 registers the received information as the fuel supply information in the fuel supply information table 17 corresponding to the member ID. (S19). That is, the refueling information table 17 is generated for each member and is recorded in the auxiliary storage device 102 in association with the member ID. In the present embodiment, the member ID and the vehicle 5 correspond one-to-one. Therefore, it can be said that the fuel supply information table 17 is generated for each vehicle 5.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a fuel supply information table. In FIG. 5, a refueling information table 17 is a table for managing information such as the date for each refueling (each time sales information is received), fuel unit price, fueling amount, fuel cost, total travel distance, fuel consumption, and the like. The date is the date on which refueling was performed. Values received from the POS terminal 2 are registered for the fuel unit price, the amount of fuel supply, the fuel cost, and the total travel distance. The fuel consumption information is calculated by the refueling information management unit 12 by applying the refueling amount L ₁ and the total travel distance d _{1 in} the newly registered refueling information and the total travel distance d ₀ of the previous refueling information to the formula (1). A value is registered.

Fuel consumption = (total travel distance d ₁ −total travel distance d ₀ ) ÷ oil supply amount L ₁ (1)
In equation (1), (total travel distance d ₁ -total travel distance d ₀ ) corresponds to the travel distance during the period from the previous refueling to the current refueling. Further, since the full tank method is adopted in the present embodiment, the amount of oil supply can be handled as consumption. Therefore, the current fuel consumption is calculated by the equation (1).

Specifically, if the refueling date is December 25 in this embodiment,
(3075-2725) ÷ 37 = 9.459 (km / l)
Is calculated as the fuel efficiency of this time (December 10 to December 25).

  Through the processing procedure as described above, refueling information is registered in the refueling information table 17 for each refueling. Note that in a gas station where no service person exists, such as a self-service gas station, the operation performed by the service person in the above may be performed by a user such as a driver. In this case, a fueling machine, a payment machine, etc. may be provided with the function which the POS terminal 2 has.

  Subsequently, a processing procedure periodically performed in the fuel cost comparison server 10 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the processing procedure of the fuel cost difference information notification processing by the fuel cost comparison server. The figure shows the processing for one member. Therefore, the process of FIG. For example, each member is executed in order based on the customer information table 16 for each member. In the explanation of the figure, the member to be processed is referred to as “current member”.

  When the arrival of a predetermined time is detected (Yes in S21), the difference information calculation unit 13 starts processing. In the present embodiment, the predetermined time is when the total amount (total amount) of fuel charges for a certain month is fixed. Therefore, it may be after the first day of every month. In this case, the gasoline bill for the previous month is fixed. The previous month is referred to as “current month”, and the previous month is referred to as “last month”. Therefore, when the day in which the processing of FIG. 6 is executed is January 1, December is the current month and November is the last month. The arrival of the predetermined time by the difference information calculation unit 13 may be detected based on a timer or the like provided in the fuel cost comparison server 10. Or the start of the process after step S22 may be instruct | indicated by an administrator's manual input.

  Subsequently, the difference information calculation unit 13 determines, for the current member, the difference between the total amount of fuel charges of the current month and the total amount of fuel charges of the previous month, and the difference amount by element (factor) that affects the fuel cost. A contribution amount is calculated (S22). Fuel cost factors refer to fuel consumption, fuel unit price, and mileage. Hereinafter, the information calculated by the difference information calculation unit 13 is referred to as “difference information”. The difference information calculation unit 13 records the calculated difference information in the memory device 103.

  Subsequently, the information provision mail generation unit 14 checks whether or not an e-mail address is registered in the customer information table 16 of the current member (S23). When the e-mail address is registered (Yes in S23), the information providing mail generating unit 14 is an e-mail for notifying the difference information and the like calculated by the difference information calculating unit 13 and recorded in the memory device 103. (Hereinafter referred to as “information provision mail”) is generated (S24). Subsequently, the information providing mail generation unit 14 transmits the information providing mail to the e-mail address of the current member via the mail server 3 (S25). Therefore, the information providing mail is transmitted to the terminal of the current member associated with the electronic mail address.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the text of the information providing mail. In the information providing mail 510 shown in the figure, current month information 511 and difference information 512 are described. The current month's information includes the fuel cost for the current month (13,975 yen), the travel distance for the current month (1110 km), the average fuel consumption for the current month (9.91 km / l), and the average fuel unit price for the current month (124.78 yen). .

  In addition, the difference information 512 includes the fuel cost difference (+3466 yen), the effect of mileage (+473.74 yen), the effect of fuel unit price (-944.53 yen), and the effect of fuel consumption. (-328.21 yen) is described. The fuel cost difference is the difference between the fuel cost paid in the previous month (total fuel cost for the previous month) and the fuel cost paid in the current month (total fuel cost for the current month). The “effect by XX” indicates the amount (contribution amount) that the change in XX (change from the previous month) contributed to the fuel cost difference. By referring to the information providing mail 510, the driver knows, as the amount of money, the influence of the factor for each fuel cost factor in the difference in fuel cost (gasoline cost) between the previous month and the current month (fuel cost difference). Can do.

  A method for calculating each numerical value described in the information providing mail 510 (that is, details of step S22) will be described later.

  Subsequently, the Web information update unit 15 transmits (uploads) the same information (current month information 511 and difference information 512) as the information described in the information providing mail 510 to the WWW server 4 in association with the member ID of the current member. (S26). In the WWW server 4, the received information is stored in a predetermined storage area (folder) in association with the member ID. As a result, the current member can check the current month information 511 and the difference information 512 on the member Web page provided by the WWW server 4.

  If no e-mail address is registered for the current member (No in S23), the information providing mail 510 is not generated and transmitted. Therefore, the member browses the current month information 511 and the difference information 512 on the member Web page provided by the WWW server 4.

  Next, details of step S22 will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the processing procedure of the difference information calculation processing. Here, the process of FIG. 5 will be described using the fuel supply information of FIG. 5 as an example.

  In step S <b> 221, the difference information calculation unit 13 acquires the total refueling information for the previous month and the total refueling information for the current month from the refueling information table 17 of the current member (reads into the memory device 103). The current member's refueling information table 17 is specified based on the member ID of the current member. If the current month is December, all records for the previous month (November) and all records for the current month (December) are acquired from the refueling information table 120 of FIG.

  Subsequently, the difference information calculation unit 13 calculates monthly fuel supply information for each of the previous month and the current month (S222). More specifically, the difference information calculation unit 13 calculates a monthly average fuel unit price, a monthly fuel amount, a monthly fuel cost, a monthly mileage, and a monthly average fuel consumption.

  The monthly average fuel unit price is obtained by averaging the fuel unit price of the month by the load amount. Therefore, the average fuel unit price for December is (130 × 35 + 120 × 40 + 125 × 37) ÷ (35 + 40 + 37) = 124.78 (yen / l).

  The monthly refueling amount is the sum of the refueling amount for the month. Therefore, the total amount of oil supply in December is 35 + 40 + 37 = 112 (l).

  The monthly fuel charge is the sum of the fuel charges for the month. Therefore, the fuel cost for December is 4550 + 4800 + 4625 = 13975 (yen).

  The monthly travel distance is calculated by the total travel distance of the last refueling day of the month minus the total travel distance of the last refueling date of the month before the current month. Therefore, the travel distance in December is 3075-1965 = 1110 (km). Note that the monthly travel distance is not strictly the travel distance from the first day of the month to the last day of the month, but in the present embodiment, the above formula is the calculation formula for the monthly travel distance. To do. This is because, in the present embodiment, since the fuel supply information is acquired every time fueling is performed, it is not possible to completely grasp the monthly travel distance.

  The average monthly fuel consumption is calculated by the monthly mileage divided by the monthly fuel amount. Therefore, the average fuel consumption in December is 1110/112 = 9.91 (km / l). Note that the monthly refueling amount is consumed for the monthly travel distance. Specifically, the travel distance in December is the travel distance from November 25 to December 25, but the amount of fuel supplied on December 1, December 10, and December 25 Is the amount consumed in the travel distance. Therefore, there is a correspondence between the monthly travel distance and the monthly fuel supply amount. Therefore, it can be said that the monthly average fuel consumption value calculated by the above formula is reasonable.

  Similarly in the last month (November), the monthly average fuel unit price, the monthly fuel amount, the monthly fuel cost, the monthly mileage, and the monthly average fuel consumption are calculated. The difference information calculation unit 13 records the calculation results for the previous month and the current month in the memory device 103.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a calculation result of monthly refueling information. The figure shows the average fuel unit price, fuel amount, fuel cost, travel distance, and average fuel consumption for the last month (November) and the current month (December) calculated based on the fueling information of FIG. The current month information 511 of the information providing mail M1 is described based on the calculation result for the current month.

  Subsequently, the difference information calculation unit 13 calculates the difference in fuel cost between the previous month and the current month (fuel cost difference) by the following formula (S222).

Fuel cost difference = Current fuel cost-Last month fuel cost The fuel cost difference between November and December is 13975-10509 = +3466 (yen).

  Subsequently, the difference information calculation unit 13 calculates a difference (contribution) for each fuel cost factor (travel distance, fuel unit price, fuel consumption) in the fuel cost difference, and ends the process of FIG. 8 (S224). In the present embodiment, the travel distance, the fuel unit price, and the fuel consumption are factors of the fuel cost based on the fact that the fuel cost is calculated by the following equation.

Fuel cost = Fuel unit price x Refueling amount (2)
here,
The relationship of refueling amount = travel distance ÷ fuel consumption is established. Therefore, equation (2) can be modified as follows.

Fuel cost = Fuel unit price x Traveling distance ÷ Fuel consumption (3)
Therefore, in this embodiment, the travel distance, the fuel unit price, and the fuel consumption are factors of the fuel cost. Equation (3) is also used as a premise for calculating the difference for each factor.

  In the present embodiment, the difference information calculation unit 13 calculates the average fuel unit price (hereinafter simply referred to as “fuel unit price”), travel distance, or average fuel consumption (hereinafter simply referred to as “fuel unit price”) for one period to be compared (for example, last month). The fuel cost is calculated by replacing any value of each factor such as “fuel efficiency”) with any value of each factor of the other period to be compared (for example, this month). Formula (3) is used to calculate the fuel cost. The difference information calculation unit 13 calculates the difference between the fuel cost calculated with the value of each factor before replacement and the fuel cost calculated with the value of each factor after replacement. The calculated fuel cost difference is treated as the difference (contribution) of the replaced factor.

  This will be described more specifically. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the difference calculation process for each factor. In the figure, in the first line, last month (November) fuel unit price, travel distance, fuel consumption, and fuel cost are posted. In the second row, the travel distance value in the first row is replaced (replaced) by the value of the current month (December). Therefore, the fuel cost in the second row is calculated based on the equation (3) using the fuel unit price of the previous month, the travel distance of the current month, and the fuel consumption of the previous month. The difference in the second line (+473.74) is the fuel cost in the second line minus the fuel cost in the first line. The second line is obtained by replacing the travel distance with the value of the current month for the first line, so the difference in the second line can be considered as a difference due to a change in the travel distance.

  Subsequently, the third line is obtained by replacing (replacement) the value of the fuel unit price in the second line with the value of the current month (December). Therefore, the fuel cost in the third row is calculated based on the equation (3) using the fuel unit price of the current month, the travel distance of the current month, and the fuel consumption of the previous month. Further, the difference in the third line (−944.53) is the fuel cost in the third line and the fuel cost in the second line. The third line is obtained by replacing the fuel unit price with the value of the current month for the second line, so the difference in the third line can be considered as a difference due to a change in the fuel unit price.

  Then, the 4th line replaces (replaces) the fuel consumption value of the 3rd line with the value of this month (December). Therefore, the fuel cost in the fourth row is calculated based on the equation (3) using the fuel unit price of the current month, the travel distance of the current month, and the fuel consumption of the current month, or the actual value of the current month. The difference in the fourth row (−328.21) is the fuel cost in the fourth row and the fuel cost in the third row. The fourth line is obtained by replacing the fuel efficiency with the value of the current month for the third line, so the difference in the fourth line can be considered as a difference due to a change in fuel efficiency. The difference information calculation unit 13 records the difference calculation result for each factor in the memory device 103.

  The difference information 512 of the information providing mail M1 is described based on the difference for each factor calculated as described above and recorded in the memory device 103 and the fuel cost difference calculated in step S223.

By the way, the total difference for each factor calculated as above is
4738.74-944.53-328.21 = + 3466 (yen)
It becomes.

  Here, it should be noted that the sum of the differences for each factor (+3466) matches the fuel cost difference between the previous month and the current month (that is, the difference between the actual values). That is, in the present embodiment, the calculation method as described above is used in order to match the sum of the differences for each factor with the difference between the actual values.

  On the other hand, based on the concept described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-310127, only the factor for which the difference is calculated for the value of each factor for the current month is replaced with the value for the previous month, and the fuel cost for the current month is replaced. It is conceivable to calculate the difference from the fuel cost as the difference due to the factor. This calculation method will be specifically described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining an example of a known calculation method of the difference for each factor. In the figure, in the first line, the fuel unit price, travel distance, fuel consumption, and fuel cost for the current month (December) are posted. In the second row, the travel distance value in the first row is replaced (replaced) by the value of last month (November). Therefore, the fuel cost in the second row is calculated based on the formula (3) using the fuel unit price of the current month, the travel distance of the previous month, and the fuel consumption of the current month. The difference in the second row (+4343.33) is the fuel cost for the first row and the fuel cost for the second row. In the second row, the travel distance is replaced with the value of the previous month relative to the first row, so the difference in the second row can be considered as a difference due to a change in the travel distance.

  Subsequently, the third line is obtained by replacing (substituting) the value of the fuel unit price in the first line with the value of last month (November). Therefore, the fuel cost in the third row is calculated based on the equation (3) using the fuel unit price of the previous month, the travel distance of the current month, and the fuel consumption of the current month. The difference in the third row (−923.24) is the fuel cost in the first row—the fuel cost in the third row. The third line is obtained by replacing the fuel unit price with the value of the previous month with respect to the first line, so the difference in the third line can be considered as a difference due to a change in the fuel unit price.

  Then, the 4th line replaces (replaces) the fuel consumption value of the 1st line with the value of last month (November). Therefore, the fuel cost in the fourth row is calculated based on the formula (3) using the fuel unit price of the current month, the travel distance of the current month, and the fuel consumption of the previous month. The difference in the fourth row (−328.21) is the fuel cost in the first row—the fuel cost in the fourth row. In the fourth line, the fuel efficiency is replaced with the value of the previous month with respect to the first line, so the difference in the fourth line can be considered as a difference due to a change in fuel efficiency.

The total difference for each factor calculated as above is
+ 434.33-923.24-328.21 = + 3091.88≈ + 3092 (yen)
It becomes. As is apparent from this calculation result, the total difference (+3092) for each factor according to the calculation method of FIG. 11 does not match the fuel cost difference (+3466). This makes it difficult to understand how much the influence of the change of each factor is as a breakdown of the fuel cost difference +3466 yen.

  Therefore, the inventor of the present application takes into account the ease of understanding of the information provided, and the total difference amount for each factor matches the fuel cost difference, and a calculation method that is also valid as the difference amount for each factor. It was derived as a result of trial and error.

  The reason why the total difference for each factor matches the fuel cost difference by the calculation method of this embodiment (the calculation method of FIG. 10) will be theoretically described.

Assuming that the factors of travel distance, fuel unit price, and fuel consumption are a, b, and c, the fuel cost can be expressed as F (a, b, c) as described in Equation (3). That is,
F (a, b, c) = a × b / c
It is.

  Further, the difference between the fuel cost in December and the fuel cost in November (that is, the fuel cost difference) is as follows.

_{F (a 12, b 12,} c 12) -F (a 11, b 11, c 11) ··· (4)
Here, the subscript of each factor indicates the month.

  The calculation method of FIG. 10 is expressed as follows using equation (4).

Difference due to travel distance = F (a ₁₂ , b ₁₁ , c ₁₁ ) −F (a ₁₁ , b ₁₁ , c ₁₁ )
Difference due to unit price of fuel = F (a ₁₂ , b ₁₂ , c ₁₁ ) −F (a ₁₂ , b ₁₁ , c ₁₁ )
Difference due to fuel consumption = F (a ₁₂ , b ₁₂ , c ₁₂ ) −F (a ₁₂ , b ₁₂ , c ₁₁ )
Adding these together,
F (a ₁₂ , b ₁₁ , c ₁₁ ) −F (a ₁₁ , b ₁₁ , c ₁₁ ) + F (a ₁₂ , b ₁₂ , c ₁₁ ) −F (a ₁₂ , b ₁₁ , c ₁₁ ) + F (a ₁₂ , B ₁₂ , c ₁₂ ) -F (a ₁₂ , b ₁₂ , c ₁₁ )
_{= F (a 12, b 12} , c 12) -F (a 11, b 11, c 11)
Which is consistent with equation (4). Therefore, according to the calculation method according to the present embodiment, the total difference for each factor matches the fuel cost difference.

  On the other hand, the calculation method of FIG. 11 will be described in the same way using the formula (4) as follows.

Difference due to travel distance = F (a ₁₂ , b ₁₂ , c ₁₂ ) −F (a ₁₁ , b ₁₂ , c ₁₂ )
Difference due to fuel unit price = F (a ₁₂ , b ₁₂ , c ₁₂ ) −F (a ₁₂ , b ₁₁ , c ₁₂ )
Difference due to fuel consumption = F (a ₁₂ , b ₁₂ , c ₁₂ ) −F (a ₁₂ , b ₁₂ , c ₁₁ )
Even if these are summed, they do not agree with Equation (4). Therefore, in the calculation method of FIG. 11, the sum of the differences for each factor does not match the fuel cost difference.

  By the way, the difference calculation method for each factor according to the present embodiment may cause a difference in the difference due to the same factor depending on the order of the factors to be replaced. In the present embodiment, since three factors are used, there are 3 × 2 × 1 = 6 factors in the order in which the factors are replaced.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a calculation result when the factor replacement order is changed. In the same figure, five patterns P2 to P5 excluding the pattern P1 of FIG. The way of viewing the figure is the same as that of FIG.

  Pattern P2 is an example in which the unit price is changed in the order of fuel unit price → travel distance → fuel consumption. Pattern P3 is an example in which the unit price is changed in the order of fuel unit price → fuel consumption → travel distance. Pattern P4 is an example in which the fuel consumption is changed in the order of fuel consumption → fuel unit price → travel distance. Pattern P5 is an example in which the distance is changed in the order of travel distance → fuel consumption → fuel unit price. Pattern P6 is an example in which fuel consumption is changed in the order of travel distance → fuel unit price.

  In either pattern, the total difference for each factor matches the fuel cost difference. However, the difference for each factor is different. As to which pattern is adopted, for example, which factor may be directly used as a comparison target with the previous month may be used as a determination criterion. The factor with the last replacement order can be directly compared with the previous month's value. This is because the difference between the fuel cost calculated based on the formula (3) and the fuel cost of the current month can be calculated for the factor whose replacement order is the last, with only the factor as the value of the previous month. This calculation method coincides with the calculation method of FIG. In the present embodiment (pattern P1), the fuel efficiency is finally replaced as a factor. This is because the fuel economy is considered to have the most room for improvement depending on the driver's consciousness, and it is desired to further improve the consciousness of improving the fuel efficiency by making a direct comparison with the previous month.

  The difference information calculation unit 13 may calculate the average value of the differences for each factor in any one or a combination (set) of the patterns P1 to P6. For example, FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a calculation result of an average value of all patterns.

  In the figure, for each of the patterns P1 to P6, the difference due to the travel distance, the difference due to the fuel unit price, the difference due to the fuel consumption, and the sum of each difference are shown. The last line shows the average value of six patterns. That is, in the case of the figure, the difference information calculation part 13 calculates the difference for every factor about all the patterns P1-P6, and calculates the average value of the difference of 6 patterns about each factor. The difference information calculation unit 13 records the average value of the six patterns of difference for each factor in the memory device 103 as difference information. Accordingly, in this case, the average value is described in the difference information 512 for each factor in the information providing mail 510. According to the average value, it is possible to solve the problem that the difference (contribution amount) due to each factor changes depending on the replacement order.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the cause of the difference between the fuel cost of the previous month and the fuel cost of the current month (fuel cost difference) can be analyzed appropriately. Specifically, the difference (contribution amount) for each fuel cost factor can be calculated so that the sum of the differences matches the difference in the actual fuel cost value. Accordingly, the cause of the fuel cost difference can be presented (output) in an easily understandable manner. That is, the driver who receives the difference information 512 and the like from the fuel cost comparison server 10 can check the difference from the previous month for each factor. As a result, for example, even if the fuel cost has increased due to soaring fuel unit price (gasoline unit price), it can be confirmed that the difference in fuel consumption has been improved, and eco-driving motivation We can expect prevention of decline.

  In the present embodiment, the difference information is calculated on a monthly basis. However, the predetermined period for calculating the difference information is not limited to one month. A driver who uses a car for commuting every day can provide meaningful difference information even in units of one week. On the other hand, if it is a driver who hardly uses a car, one year unit may be appropriate.

  Further, the comparison target for calculating the fuel cost difference and the difference for each factor may be another driver. For example, for each member, the difference between the average value of fuel unit price, mileage, fuel consumption, and fuel cost for the same period (same month) with all members (or all members other than the member) may be calculated. Good. Or you may limit a comparison object to the member using the same vehicle type. In this case, the members of the same vehicle type may be specified based on the vehicle name or model name in the customer information table 16. Fuel consumption varies greatly depending on the vehicle type. Therefore, by limiting the comparison target to members of the same vehicle type, it is possible to eliminate the difference in fuel consumption depending on the vehicle type to some extent, and to provide more fair difference information. Moreover, you may limit a comparison object to the member who lives in the same area. In this case, it is only necessary to determine the difference in the area based on the address of the customer information table 16. If it is the same region, the fuel cost (gasoline cost) is considered to be approximate. Therefore, by limiting the comparison target to members living in the same area, it is possible to eliminate a large difference in fuel cost and provide more fair difference information.

  In addition, the fuel cost factor may be determined by a classification other than the classification such as the fuel unit price, the travel distance, and the fuel consumption. For example, if it is appropriate to classify the fuel efficiency into two or more factors, a total of four factors may be used. Even if the number of factors increases or decreases, the difference information calculation method according to the present embodiment can be applied effectively.

  Moreover, you may apply this Embodiment to apparatuses other than a vehicle. For example, it may be a ship or an aircraft, and is not limited to a vehicle as long as it is a device that operates on fuel. When this embodiment is applied to other equipment, a factor (for example, travel distance) peculiar to the vehicle may be replaced with an index indicating the operation amount or drive amount of the equipment. If it is a ship, it may be replaced by a voyage distance, and if it is an aircraft, it may be replaced by a flight distance. In this case, information relating to fuel supply (information corresponding to the fuel supply information of the present embodiment) is recorded in a table corresponding to the fuel supply information table 17 for each operator of the device and for each fuel supply. You can do it.

  Further, the refueling information may be managed not for each operator (for each driver) but for each device (for each vehicle). In this case, it can be expected that a change in the state of the device (occurrence of a failure, etc.) is detected due to a change in fuel cost.

  The fuel is not limited to gasoline or ethanol. Fuel corresponding to each device can be targeted. Therefore, the fuel is not limited to a liquid, but may be a gas (gas or the like) solid fuel or electric power.

  In the present embodiment, the refueling information management unit 12 has been described as an example of an input unit for refueling information. However, the refueling information may be manually input by an operator. In this embodiment, the information providing mail generation unit 14 and the Web information update unit 15 have been described as examples of output means. However, the difference information or the like may be displayed (output) on a display device or may be stored in a printer. It may be printed (output).

  Note that the functions in the fuel cost comparison server 10 (a management function for customer information and refueling information, a calculation function for difference information, etc.) may be made available in the form of an ASP (Application Service Provider).

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited to such specific embodiment, In the range of the summary of this invention described in the claim, various deformation | transformation・ Change is possible.

Regarding the above description, the following items are further disclosed.
(Appendix 1)
For the fuel consumed by the device, for each predetermined period, an information storage unit that stores a period, a fuel cost, a fuel unit price, an operation amount of the device, and a fuel consumption for the operation amount in association with each other;
From the information storage unit, the unit price of fuel for the period to be compared, the operation amount of the device, the value of each factor of fuel consumption with respect to the operation amount, the unit price of fuel for the period to be compared, and the operation of the device And the value of each factor of fuel consumption with respect to the operation amount, and the value of each factor of the period to be compared and the value of each factor corresponding to the period to be compared A difference information calculation unit that calculates the fuel cost by replacing the fuel cost calculated by the value before the replacement;
A fuel cost comparison device.
(Appendix 2)
The difference calculation unit changes the order of replacing the unit price, the operation amount of the device, and the fuel consumption with respect to the operation amount of the device in a plurality of ways, and calculates an average value of the differences calculated for each factor for each factor. The fuel cost comparison device according to claim 1 for calculating.
(Appendix 3)
Unit price of replenished fuel, operation amount of the device from the last replenishment to this replenishment, fuel consumption from the last replenishment to this replenishment, and fuel based on the fuel consumption and the unit price An input of fuel cost is accepted every time fuel is replenished, and the period from the last refueling to the current fuel refueling, the fuel cost, the unit price, the operation amount, the operation amount, and the fuel consumption amount The fuel cost comparison device according to appendix 1 or 2, further comprising an information input unit that records the information storage unit in association with the fuel consumption based on the fuel consumption.
(Appendix 4)
A fuel cost comparison method executed by a computer,
For the fuel consumed by the device, the information to be compared is stored for each predetermined period from the information storage unit that stores the period, the fuel cost, the unit price of the fuel, the operation amount of the device, and the fuel consumption for the operation amount in association with each other. The unit price of fuel during the period, the amount of operation of the device, the value of each factor of fuel consumption for the amount of operation, the unit price of fuel for the period to be compared, the amount of operation of the device, and the fuel consumption for the amount of operation The value of each factor is read out, the value of each factor of the period to be compared is replaced with the value of each factor corresponding to the period to be compared, and the fuel cost is calculated. A fuel cost comparison method including a difference information calculation procedure for calculating a difference from a fuel cost obtained by a value before replacement.
(Appendix 5)
In the difference calculation procedure, the order of replacing the unit price, the operation amount of the device, and the fuel consumption with respect to the operation amount of the device is changed in a plurality of ways, and the average value of the differences calculated in a plurality of ways for each factor is calculated for each factor. The fuel cost comparison method according to claim 4, wherein the fuel cost is calculated.
(Appendix 6)
Unit price of replenished fuel, operation amount of the device from the last replenishment to this replenishment, fuel consumption from the last replenishment to this replenishment, and fuel based on the fuel consumption and the unit price An input of fuel cost is accepted every time fuel is replenished, and the period from the last refueling to the current fuel refueling, the fuel cost, the unit price, the operation amount, the operation amount, and the fuel consumption amount The fuel cost comparison method according to appendix 4 or 5, further comprising an information input unit that records the information storage unit in association with fuel consumption based on the fuel consumption.
(Appendix 7)
On the computer,
For the fuel consumed by the device, the information to be compared is stored for each predetermined period from the information storage unit that stores the period, the fuel cost, the unit price of the fuel, the operation amount of the device, and the fuel consumption for the operation amount in association with each other. The unit price of fuel during the period, the amount of operation of the device, the value of each factor of fuel consumption for the amount of operation, the unit price of fuel for the period to be compared, the amount of operation of the device, and the fuel consumption for the amount of operation The value of each factor is read out, the value of each factor of the period to be compared is replaced with the value of each factor corresponding to the period to be compared, and the fuel cost is calculated. A program for executing a difference information calculation procedure for calculating a difference from a fuel cost obtained by a value before replacement.
(Appendix 8)
In the difference calculation procedure, the order of replacing the unit price, the operation amount of the device, and the fuel consumption with respect to the operation amount of the device is changed in a plurality of ways, and the average value of the differences calculated in a plurality of ways for each factor is calculated for each factor. The program according to claim 7 to calculate.
(Appendix 9)
Unit price of replenished fuel, operation amount of the device from the last replenishment to this replenishment, fuel consumption from the last replenishment to this replenishment, and fuel based on the fuel consumption and the unit price An input of fuel cost is accepted every time fuel is replenished, and the period from the last refueling to the current fuel refueling, the fuel cost, the unit price, the operation amount, the operation amount, and the fuel consumption amount The program according to appendix 7 or 8, further comprising an information input unit that records the information storage unit in association with fuel consumption based on the fuel consumption.

1 Internet 2 POS Terminal 3 Mail Server 4 WWW Server 5 Vehicle 6 Information Terminal 7 Internet 11 Customer Information Management Unit 12 Refueling Information Management Unit 13 Difference Information Calculation Unit 13
14 Information Provision Mail Generation Unit 15 Web Information Update Unit 16 Customer Information Table 17 Refueling Information Table 100 Drive Device 101 Recording Medium 102 Auxiliary Storage Device 103 Memory Device 104 CPU
105 Interface device B bus

Claims (4)

For the fuel consumed by the device, for each predetermined period, an information storage unit that stores a period, a fuel cost, a fuel unit price, an operation amount of the device, and a fuel consumption for the operation amount in association with each other;
From the information storage unit, the unit price of fuel for the period to be compared, the operation amount of the device, the value of each factor of fuel consumption with respect to the operation amount, the unit price of fuel for the period to be compared, and the operation of the device And the value of each factor of fuel consumption with respect to the operation amount, and the value of each factor of the period to be compared and the value of each factor corresponding to the period to be compared A difference information calculation unit that calculates the fuel cost by replacing the fuel cost calculated by the value before the replacement;
A fuel cost comparison device.   The difference calculation unit changes the order of replacing the unit price, the operation amount of the device, and the fuel consumption with respect to the operation amount of the device in a plurality of ways, and calculates an average value of the differences calculated for each factor for each factor. The fuel cost comparison device according to claim 1 for calculating. A fuel cost comparison method executed by a computer,
For the fuel consumed by the device, the information to be compared is stored for each predetermined period from the information storage unit that stores the period, the fuel cost, the unit price of the fuel, the operation amount of the device, and the fuel consumption for the operation amount in association with each other. The unit price of fuel during the period, the amount of operation of the device, the value of each factor of fuel consumption for the amount of operation, the unit price of fuel for the period to be compared, the amount of operation of the device, and the fuel consumption for the amount of operation The value of each factor is read out, the value of each factor of the period to be compared is replaced with the value of each factor corresponding to the period to be compared, and the fuel cost is calculated. A fuel cost comparison method including a difference information calculation procedure for calculating a difference from a fuel cost obtained by a value before replacement. On the computer,
For the fuel consumed by the device, the information to be compared is stored for each predetermined period from the information storage unit that stores the period, the fuel cost, the unit price of the fuel, the operation amount of the device, and the fuel consumption for the operation amount in association with each other. The unit price of fuel during the period, the amount of operation of the device, the value of each factor of fuel consumption for the amount of operation, the unit price of fuel for the period to be compared, the amount of operation of the device, and the fuel consumption for the amount of operation The value of each factor is read out, the value of each factor of the period to be compared is replaced with the value of each factor corresponding to the period to be compared, and the fuel cost is calculated. A program for executing a difference information calculation procedure for calculating a difference from a fuel cost obtained by a value before replacement.

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