JPH08124019A - Lending method for portable communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a lending method for portable communication equipments capable of freely lending out and returning the portable telephones, etc., among plural lending shops and also simply summing up the sale, etc., of each lending shop. CONSTITUTION: When a portable telephone 5 lent out at a 1st lending shop 4-1 is returned at a 2nd lending shop 4-2, a written telephone identification ID code 5 and an ID code 4-1 of the 1st lending shop are read out and sent to a management center 2. At the same time, the using frequency 52A of the telephone 5 is also read out and sent to the center 2. Based on these return information 20, the center 2 can grasp the movement of the telephone 5 among the lending shops 4 (4-1, 4-2...) and also can sum up the rentals as the sale of the shop 4-1. On the other hand, each lending shop can grasp the number of available telephones 5 and also the number of telephones 5 under lending. Therefore, the telephones 5 can be effectively lent out and returned among those shops 4.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for lending a portable communication device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a lending method of a portable communication device for lending a portable communication device among a plurality of lending stores and a return of the portable communication device after use.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, mobile phones, simple mobile phones (PH
S) and other portable terminal communication devices and the like (herein, these are collectively referred to as “portable communication devices”) have been widely used. In particular, mobile phones are widely used, and rental services for these mobile phones are also being provided.

The mobile phone lending service currently available is in the same form as a rental system for video cassette tapes, CDs and the like. That is, you go to a rental store, verify your identity, pay a security deposit, and have your mobile phone rented. Then, at the time of return, the user is asked to return the deposit as well as pay the usage fee according to the usage frequency accumulated by the accumulating means built into the mobile phone.

[0004]

However, since mobile phones are often used while traveling, such as on a business trip on the job, they can be borrowed at the same place and rented at the same place as in a general lending method. It is inconvenient for the system to return to.

[0005] When the store to which the mobile phone is rented and the store to which the mobile phone is returned are different, the sales associated with the use of the mobile phone are usually recorded as the sales of the rented store. . However, if the store to be returned is different, such sales processing becomes complicated. For example, the guarantee fee for the rented mobile phone is paid at the rented shop and returned at another shop where the mobile phone is returned, so clearing the usage fee between the rented shops is complicated. turn into.

The situation is the same when renting a portable communication device other than a mobile phone.

In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to freely lend and return a portable communication device such as a mobile phone among a plurality of lending stores, and further, to lend each lending store. The purpose is to propose a method for lending mobile communication devices that allows easy accounting of sales, etc.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the present invention, a portable communication device in a plurality of rental shops that accepts lending of the portable communication device and return of the portable communication device after use. The management center manages the lending / returning operation of the device through the communication line, and uses the identification code and the usage frequency accumulating means provided to the commonly used portable communication device. The lending store is given an identification code to distinguish them, and based on these three pieces of information, it is possible to lend and return portable communication devices among a plurality of lending stores, and also to sell at each lending store. The processing such as tabulation is also performed efficiently.

That is, the present invention has a plurality of rental shops that accept rental of portable communication equipment and return of the portable communication equipment after use, and a management center connected to each of these rental shops by a communication line, Each lending portable communication device is provided with an identification code and is equipped with an accumulating means for accumulating the frequency of use, and after lending the portable communication device rented at one of the lending stores, The following methods are used to accept returns at rental stores, including stores. First, each identification code is assigned to each rental store, and each portable communication device
At least a rewritable storage means for storing the identification code of the rental shop is installed. Then, when lending the portable communication device at the first lending store, which is one of the lending stores, the identification code of the lending portable communication device, the identification code of the lending store, and the usage frequency at the time of lending Is transmitted to the management center.

In the management center, the lending information received from the first lending store is stored and held in the lending information storage means.

Next, in the second lending shop including the first lending shop among the lending shops, when the return of the lent portable communication equipment is accepted, the identification code of the portable communication equipment and its storage means The identification code of the first rental shop written in the above and the number of times of use by the integrating means are read. Then, the read return information is transmitted to the management center.

In the management center, based on the return information received from the second lending store and the lending information received from the first lending store stored in the storage means, information on the usage fee is generated, The sales information is stored in a sales information storage unit that stores the sales information of the first rental store, and the sales information is transmitted to the second rental store.

On the other hand, the second rental shop clears the usage fee based on the information about the usage fee received from the management center and identifies the first rental shop written in the returned mobile phone. The code is rewritten to the identification code of the second rental shop.

The relationship between the management center and a plurality of rental stores managed by the management center may be a network having a multi-tiered hierarchical structure. For example, in a two-layer hierarchical structure, a central management center and a plurality of the management centers connected to the central management center are arranged, and each of these management centers manages a different group of the rental stores. To configure. In this case, an identification code for identifying them may be added to the plurality of management centers.

[0015]

[Operation] The portable communication device lent at the first lending store is
When returning at a second rental store different from the above, the communication device identification code and the identification code of the first rental store written therein are read and transmitted to the management center. At the same time, the usage frequency of the portable communication device is also read and similarly transmitted to the management center. In the management center,
Based on the return information, it is possible to grasp the movement of the portable communication device between the rental shops, to record the usage fee as the sales of the first rental shop, and to lend a mobile phone at each rental shop. It is possible to know the number of mobile communication devices and the number of mobile communication devices that are rented out. Therefore,
It is possible to efficiently lend and return a portable communication device between a plurality of lending stores.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The method of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an entire network of a mobile phone lending system to which the method of the present invention is applied.
In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a central management center, which is connected to a plurality of local management centers 2 (2-1, 2-2, ... 2-N) via a general communication line 3. Manage.

On the other hand, FIG. 2 shows a network centered on each local management center 2. A plurality of rental stores 4 (4-1, 4-2) are provided by each local management center 2.
... 4-N) is managed. Similarly, the local management center 2 and the rental store 4 are also connected by the general communication line 3, and various data are transmitted and received. Thus, in this example, a two-layered network is assembled.

First, referring to FIG. 1, the central management center 1 has an ID code 2 (I
D) (2-1 (ID), 2-2 (ID) ... 2-N
The storage area 11 stores (ID)). In addition, a large number of mobile phones 5 (5
-1, 5-2 ... 5-N) is assigned to each of the mobile phone ID codes 5 (ID) (5-1 (I
D), 5-2 (ID) ... 5-N (ID)), and a storage area 13 storing the owners of these telephones. Further, in this example, there is a storage area 14 for storing the sales state of the usage charge of the mobile phone for each regional management center 2 and a storage area 15 for storing the sales state for each telephone. Also,
A transmission / reception unit for transmitting / receiving data to / from each local management center 2 via the general communication line 3 is provided. The drive control of each part, data processing, etc. in the central management center 1 are performed by a control system mainly composed of a microcomputer.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each local management center 2 is provided with an ID code 2 (ID), and is provided to a lending store 4 under its jurisdiction. The storage unit 21 stores the ID code 4 (ID) of the store. In addition, each rental store 4 in the jurisdiction
Storage unit 22 that stores the ID code of the mobile phone 5 that can be rented, a loan information storage unit 23 that stores information about the mobile phone 5 that is being rented, and a sales status storage unit that stores the sales status for each rental store 24, and a sales status storage unit 25 that stores the sales status for each mobile phone. In addition, a transmission / reception unit for performing communication with the central management center 1 and each rental shop 4 is provided. The drive control of each unit in each local management center 2, various data processing, and the like are also performed by a control system mainly composed of a microcomputer.

Each lending store 4 has a lending store code 4
(ID) is assigned. In addition, the storage unit 4 of the ID code 2 (ID) of the local management center 2 that controls it
1. The mobile phone that can be rented out now has a storage unit 42 that stores an ID code. Further, the lending store 4 has a reading unit 44 for reading information such as the ID code 5 (ID) of the rented mobile phone 5, and a usage frequency reading unit 45 for reading the usage frequency of the rented mobile phone 5. . Further, in this example, a card reader 46 for reading a credit card presented by the user is also provided so that the usage fee can be settled by the credit card. In addition to this, a data rewriting unit 47 is also provided for rewriting the data written in the storage unit of the returned mobile phone 5, for example, rewriting the ID code of the rented store to the ID code of the returned rented store. ing. Each lending store 4 includes a transmission / reception unit 48 for transmitting / receiving information using a general communication line.

Next, the mobile phone 5 in this example has its ID code 5 (ID) and frequency of use 5 stored in its storage unit 51.
2, user's credit card number 53, loan date and time 5
4. The ID code 4 (ID) of the jurisdiction local management center is stored. Further, as in the case of a commercially available mobile phone, an integrating unit 55 for integrating the usage frequency is provided. Further, it is provided with a read / write terminal 56 used to read the contents stored in the storage unit 51 and update the contents.

The operation of lending and returning the mobile phone 5 in the mobile phone lending system of the present embodiment thus configured will be described.

First, the lending / returning operation of a mobile phone between lending stores 4 belonging to the same local management center 2 will be described. With reference to FIG. 4A, a case where the user borrows the mobile phone 5 (5-1, 5-2 ...) At the lending store 4-1 will be described. First, the credit card presented by the customer is read by the card reader 46 (step ST1). Then, using the reading units 44 and 45, the ID code 5 (I
D) and the usage frequency 52 are read (step ST
2). The read credit card number 53, mobile phone ID code 5 (ID), and frequency of use 52 are sent to the local management center 2 under the jurisdiction together with the lending store ID code 4-1 (ID) and the lending date and time 54. (Step ST
3). This transmission information is the lending information 10.

ID code 5 of the rented mobile phone
The (ID) is deleted from the storage unit 42 in which the ID code of the lendable mobile phone is stored. In addition, the rewriting unit 47 is used to update the storage unit 51 of the mobile phone 5 to write the lending information transmitted to the local management center 2 and
The ID code 2 (ID) of the local management center 2 is also stored in the storage unit 51.
(Step ST5). And rental shop 4-1
At, the mobile phone 5 is rented to the user (step ST6). As a result, the information shown in FIG. 3 is stored in the storage unit 51 of the rented mobile phone 5.

On the side of the local management center 2, the received lending information is stored in the storage unit 23 and the ID code of the mobile phone rented from the storage unit 22 which stores the lendable telephone ID code in the area. To delete. And
A signal indicating that the lending information has been received is returned to the lending store 4-1 and is received by the lending store 4-1 (step ST4).

Next, with reference to FIG. 4B, the return of the mobile phone will be described. A user of a mobile phone uses a borrowed mobile phone and then uses a different rental store, for example, a rental store 4-
It shall be returned in 2. In this case, in the lending store 4-2, the lending information 10 written in the storage unit 51 and the accumulating unit 5 via the terminal 56 of the returned mobile phone 5.
The integrated value of the frequency of use according to 5 is read (step ST1
1). The read lending information 10, the read usage frequency 52A at the time of return, the date and time 54A of return, and the ID code 4-2 (ID) of the lending store 4-2 that accepted the return are transmitted from the transmission / reception unit 48. It is sent to the local management center 2 via the general communication line 3 (step ST12).

The local management center 2 performs the following processing based on the received return information. First, I of the regional management center
It is determined whether the D code is its own ID code.
In this case, since they are the same, the lending information stored and received at the time of lending the mobile phone is searched and called based on the lending store ID code and the mobile phone ID code, and collated with the return information. By this processing, the actual usage frequency of the user is obtained based on the usage frequency 52 at the time of lending and the usage frequency 52A at the time of returning, and the usage fee is calculated based on that. Further, the rentable phone ID code storage unit 22 is rewritten to add the returned mobile phone ID code. Then, the information stored in the sales status storage unit for each rental shop 24 is updated, and the calculated usage frequency or usage charge is added. Similarly, the information stored in the telephone sales status storage unit 25 is updated.

After this, a signal indicating that the return information has been accepted, and information regarding the frequency of use or the price of use are sent from the transmitting / receiving section via the general communication line 3 to the rental store 4-
2 is returned to the rental store 4-2 and is received by the rental store 4-2 (step ST13).

It should be noted that the calculation of the frequency of use, the price, etc. can be processed at the lending store to which the mobile phone is returned based on the lending information. In this case, the calculation result is
It may be transmitted to the local management center.

At the lending store 4-2, the usage fee of the mobile phone is cleared based on the received information on the usage frequency or the usage fee (step ST14). In addition, by using the data rewriting unit 47, the terminal 56 of the returned mobile phone
The contents of the storage unit 51 are rewritten via. That is, the rental shop ID code 4-stored in the storage unit 51
1 (ID) to the ID code 4-2 (I
Rewrite as D). Further, the ID code of the returned mobile phone is added to the lendable phone ID code table 42.

In this way, different rental shops 4-1 and 4
The process of lending and returning the mobile phone is performed between -2.
The movement of each mobile phone between rental stores is based on the telephone ID code and the rental store ID code written in it.
It is always known at the local management center. Sales at each rental store are also aggregated at the local management center. The information stored in the local management center is sent to the central management center 1 side via the general communication line from the transmission / reception unit once a day, and stored in the central management center 1 side. Retained.

In the above example, the credit card is used to settle the usage fee and prove the identity of the user. Alternatively, cash settlement can be performed. In addition, identification can also be performed with a driver's license or the like. Further, like the general rental system, a membership system may be introduced to perform identity verification using a membership card issued by registering a membership.

Further, since the lending information is held in the local management center 2, it is not necessary to hold it in the storage unit 51 of the mobile phone. If at least the mobile phone holds the ID code and the lending store ID code, the mobile phone at the time of return, the user, and the settlement of the usage fee can be efficiently processed.

Next, when a mobile phone rented out at a rented store in one regional management center is returned to a rented out store in a regional management center under a different jurisdiction, the region stored in the mobile phone is stored. Based on the ID code 2 (ID) of the management center, the local management center in which the lending information of this mobile phone is stored can be specified. Therefore, the jurisdiction local management center that receives the communication from the lending store 4 to which the mobile phone 5 is returned asks the local management center where the lending information is stored, and if the lending information is received, the usage fee is cleared, Return processing can be performed. Other operations can be performed in the same manner as the lending / returning operation of the mobile phone between the rental shops in the same local management center under the jurisdiction.

In the above description, a mobile phone is taken as an example of the portable communication device. It goes without saying that the present invention can be similarly applied to other portable communication devices.

[0037]

As described above, according to the method of the present invention, the lending / returning operation of a portable communication device at a plurality of lending stores that accepts lending / returning the portable communication device is managed via a communication line. It is managed by the center. In addition, the identification code and the utilization frequency accumulating means provided to the commonly used portable communication device are used, and the identification code for distinguishing them is provided to each lending store. Furthermore, the identification code of each rental store is rewritably stored in the portable communication device. Therefore, if the method of the present invention is adopted, the movement of the portable communication device between the rental stores can be performed based on the identification code of the lending store, the identification code of the portable communication device, and the frequency of use of the portable communication device. The number of portable communication devices that can be rented out and the number of portable communication devices that are rented out can be grasped at each lending store. be able to. As described above, according to the present invention, it becomes possible to easily perform the lending / returning process of the portable communication device among the plurality of lending stores. Further, it becomes possible to efficiently and easily perform processing such as totalizing sales at each lending store.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a lending system of a portable communication device showing an embodiment of a method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a network in each local management center of the lending system of FIG.

3 is an explanatory diagram showing information stored in a mobile phone used in the lending system of FIG.

4 is a schematic flowchart showing an operation in the lending system of FIG. 1, (a) is a schematic flowchart of the lending operation, and (b) is a schematic flowchart of the returning operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Central management center 2 ... Local management center 2 (ID) ... Local management center ID code 3 ... General communication line 4 ... Lending store 4 (ID) ... Lending store ID code 5 ・ ・ ・ Mobile phone 5 (ID) ・ ・ ・ Mobile phone ID code 52 ・ ・ ・ Usage frequency at lending 52A ・ ・ ・ Usage frequency at return 53 ・ ・ ・ Credit card number 54 ・ ・ ・ Lending Date and time 54A ... Date and time of return 10 ... Lending information 20 ... Return information

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A portable communication device to be rented out, comprising: a plurality of rental stores for renting and returning portable communication devices; and a management center connected to each of these rental stores by a communication line. , Each of which is provided with an identification code and is provided with accumulating means for accumulating the frequency of use, and after using the portable communication device lent at one of the rental stores, return it at the rental store including the rental store. In the method of lending a portable communication device for acceptance, each lending store is assigned an identification code, and each portable communication device can be rewritten to store at least the lending store identification code. When storing a portable communication device at the first lending store, which is one of the lending stores, the identification code of the portable communication device to be rented, The identification code of the store and the frequency of use at the time of lending are transmitted to the management center, and the management center stores the lending information received from the first lending store in the lending information storage unit, In the second lending store including the first lending store, when the return of the lent portable communication device is accepted, the identification code of the portable communication device and the first litter written in the storage means are stored. The identification code of the lending store and the number of times of use by the accumulating unit are read, and the read return information that has been read is transmitted to the management center, and the management center stores the return information received from the second lending store and the storage unit. Sales based on the rental information received from the first lending store stored in, and storing the sales information of the first lending store. It stores the sales information in the broadcast storage means,
The sales information is transmitted to the second rental shop, and the second rental shop clears the usage fee based on the information about the usage fee received from the management center and returns the returned portable communication device. The method of lending a portable communication device, comprising the step of rewriting the identification code of the first lending store written in the above into the identification code of the second lending store. 2. The method for lending a portable communication device according to claim 1, wherein the portable communication device is a mobile phone. 3. The central management center according to claim 2,
It has a plurality of the management centers connected to it by a communication line, and is configured to manage the rental shops of different groups by each of these management centers. A lending method of a portable communication device, wherein an identification code is given to them, and the lending information and return information of the mobile phone also include the identification code of this management center.