TWI769029B - Sharing object return system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

The disclosure provides a sharing object return system and method. The sharing object return system includes a server and a plurality of rental-return stations. When the user arrives one of the rental-return stations and intends to return the rent sharing object, if the accommodation sites of the rental-return station are all occupied, the user can operate a mobile device to retrieve the ID of the rental-return station and to output a first full-load message to the server. Then, the server sends a location information and a first coupon information back to the mobile device according to the received first full-load message. When the user arrives a suggested additional rental-return station according to the location information, if the accommodation sites of the additional rental-return station are all occupied, the user can operate the mobile device to retrieve the ID of the additional return station and to output a second full-load message to the server. Then, the server sends a second coupon information back to the mobile device according to the received second full-load message.

Description

Shared item return system and method

The present invention relates to a return system and method, in particular to a return system and method for shared items.

The sharing economy, different from the leasing economy, is a social operation mode of sharing human resources and resources, which includes the sharing of the creation, production, distribution, transaction and consumption of goods and services by different individuals and organizations. Common forms include car sharing, bike sharing, shared power banks, and exchange of accommodation.

In theory, under the sharing economy system, people can rent the resources they own to others for a fee, so that idle resources can be used more effectively, so that the overall utilization efficiency of resources becomes higher. However, when users rent shared items, most of them have encountered situations where they cannot be returned; especially, when users have finished using the rented shared items, they would like to return the rented items as soon as possible to avoid additional rental fees, but if they use If you come to the return station but find that there is no vacancy at the return station, you can only wait for a vacancy at the return station, or go to another return station. This situation will not only increase the user's rental fee, but also waste the user's time, and over time, will reduce people's willingness to use this shared item. In addition, the users dispose of them at will because they are not durable enough to be returned, resulting in chaos around the return station, which in turn causes the problem of environmental clutter.

Therefore, there is still an urgent need to provide a system and method for returning shared items, which can reduce the time users spend waiting for vacancies at the return station, so as to avoid increasing rental costs and wasting users' time.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a system and method for returning shared items, which can reduce the time for users to wait for vacancies at the return station, so as to avoid increasing rental costs and wasting users' time.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a shared item return system, which is applied when a user rents a shared item with a mobile device and wants to return the shared item. The shared item return system includes a server and a plurality of rental and return devices. . The server includes a database, a processor and a communication module, wherein the database records the user information registered by the user and the shared article information of the shared items; the plurality of rental and return devices are distributed and set up separately and are connected with the user information. In the communication connection with the server, each of the renting and returning devices includes a plurality of accommodating spaces and an identification code; wherein, the database of the server also records the identification code of each of the renting and returning devices and a full-load information of the accommodating space. When the user arrives at one of the rent-and-return devices and wants to return the shared items, if the accommodation space of the rent-and-return device is not idle, the user uses the mobile device to obtain the identity code of the rent-and-return device. The obtained identification code sends a first full-load return message to the server. After receiving the first full-load return message, the server sends a location information and a first discount information to the server according to the first full-load return message and the storage space full-load information. A mobile device; then, when the user arrives at another rented and returned device according to the location information, if the accommodation space of the other rented and returned device is in a non-idle state, the user uses the mobile device to obtain the identity of the other rented and returned device After the mobile device obtains the identification code of the other rental and return device, it sends a second full-load return message to the server, and the server sends a second discount information to the mobile device according to the second full-load return message and the storage space full-load information device.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention also provides a method for returning a shared item, which is applied when a user rents a shared item with a mobile device and wants to return the shared item, and cooperates with the above-mentioned shared item return system. The shared item return method includes: The following steps: when the user arrives at one of the rent-and-return devices and wants to return the shared items, if the accommodation spaces of the rent-and-return device are all in a non-idle state, use the mobile device to obtain the identification code of the rent-and-return device; the mobile device Send a first full-load return message to the server according to the obtained identification code; after receiving the first full-load return message, the server sends a location information and a first discount information to the server according to the first full-load return message and the storage space full-load information Mobile device; when the user arrives at the other rental device according to the location information, if the accommodation space of the other rental device is not idle, use the mobile device to obtain the identification code of the other rental device; mobile After the device obtains the identification code of the other rented and returned device, it sends a second full-load return message to the server; and the server sends a second discount message to the mobile device according to the second full-load return message and the storage space full-load information.

In one embodiment, the identification code of each rental device is a two-dimensional barcode, and the user obtains the identification of the rental device or another rental device by scanning the two-dimensional barcode with a mobile device. code.

In one embodiment, each of the renting and returning devices further includes a short-distance communication module, and the user obtains the identification code of the renting and returning device or the other renting and returning device through a short-distance communication method using the mobile device.

In one embodiment, the short-range communication method includes Near-field communication (NFC), Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Bluetooth, or Short Distance Radio (SDR).

In one embodiment, the first discount information provides a free discount for the time required for the user to move from the rented device to the other rented and returned device, and the second discount information provides the user with a discount during the period when the user returns the shared item on the next day. Free deals.

To sum up, in the system and method for returning shared items of the present invention, when the server receives the second full-load return message, it means that the user attempts to return the rented shared items at the two rental devices, but both fail to succeed. Return (because there is no idle storage space for returning shared items), so the server will send the second discount information to the mobile device, and then the user can obtain a longer-term free discount according to the second discount information, for example, the user can The shared items are returned the next day without paying extra rental fees; in other words, the shared item returning system and method of the present invention can not only reduce the time for users to wait for vacancies at the return station, but also avoid increasing the extra rental fees caused by waiting, In turn, people's willingness to use the shared goods can be increased.

The preferred embodiments of the system and method for returning shared items according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the related drawings, wherein the same elements will be described with the same reference numerals.

The system and method for returning a shared item of the present invention is applied to a situation where a user wants to return a shared item after renting the shared item, wherein the shared item can be any appropriate shared object, such as an umbrella, a power bank, Batteries, automobiles, bicycles, etc., the present invention is not limited thereto.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a shared item returning system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1 , the shared item return system 1 of this embodiment includes a server 11 and a plurality of rental and return devices, wherein the server 11 includes a database 111 , a processor 112 , and a communication module 113 , The renting and returning devices are distributed and connected to the server 11 respectively, and each renting and returning device includes a plurality of accommodating spaces and an identification code; for example, in this embodiment, the shared item returning system 1 includes The six rental and return devices 13a to 13f, the rental and return device 13a includes a plurality of accommodation spaces 131a and an identification code 132a, the rent and return device 13b includes a plurality of accommodation spaces 131b and an identification code 132b, and the rent and return device 13c includes a plurality of The accommodating space 131c and an identification code 132c, the renting and returning device 13d includes a plurality of accommodating spaces 131d and an identification code 132d, the renting and returning device 13e includes a plurality of accommodating spaces 131e and an identification code 132e, and the renting and returning device 13f includes a plurality of accommodating spaces 131e and an identification code 132e. Of course, the shared object return system 1 of the present invention may include more rental devices, such as but not limited to 50, 100, 500, 1000, 2000 or more rental devices. In addition, each rental device may include the same amount or different amount of accommodation spaces, which is not limited in the present invention. In addition, each rental device can use any suitable technology to communicate with the server 11, such as telecommunication, Internet, WI-FI, wired or wireless local area network, etc., which is not limited in the present invention.

In the present embodiment, the database 111 records, for example, user information of user registration, shared item information of shared items, identification codes of the rented and returned devices, and full storage space information. To be more specific, when a user wants to use a shared item, he must first perform a registration action, and the shared item return system 1 can obtain the user's user information and record it in the database 111; To effectively manage all shared items, a corresponding shared item information must be provided for these shared items and recorded in the database 111; in addition, the corresponding identification codes of all the rented and returned devices, and the corresponding identification codes indicating the rented and returned devices Whether the storage space is fully loaded (all storage spaces are in a non-idle state) is also recorded in the database 111 for subsequent management of rental and return of shared items.

In the server 11, the communication module 113 is connected to the user's mobile device 20 for communication to receive signals from the mobile device 20 or transmit signals to the mobile device; in addition, the communication module 113 can also be respectively connected with the mobile device 20. The renting and returning devices 13a to 13f are connected to communicate with each other so as to transmit messages to and from the renting and returning devices 13a to 13f. In addition, the processor 112 is used for processing the received signal or information, for example, processing the received data according to the data recorded in the database 111, and further generating output according to the processing result.

In this embodiment, when the user arrives at one of the rent-and-return devices (eg, the rent-and-return device 13a ) and wants to return the shared item, if the accommodation space (eg, the accommodation space 131a ) of the rent-and-return device is in a non-idle state , the user uses the mobile device 20 to obtain the identity code (eg, the identity code 132a) of the rental and return device, and then the mobile device 20 sends a first full-load return message S1 to the server 11 according to the obtained identity code, where , the first full-load return message S1 can notify the server 11 that the user wants to return the rented shared items at the rental and return device 13a but encounters the situation that the rental and return device 13a is fully loaded; after receiving the first full-load return message S1, the server 11 According to the first full-load return message S1 and the storage space full-load information recorded in the database 111, a return suggestion message S2 is sent to the mobile device 20, wherein the return suggestion message S2 includes at least one of the rented and returned devices (for example, the rented and returned devices). a location information of the device 13d) and a first preferential information; then, when the user arrives at another rental and return device according to the return suggestion message S2 (such as the location information of the rental and return device 13d) and wants to return the shared item, if the other The accommodating space (such as the accommodating space 131d) of a rented and returned device is in a non-idle state, the user can use the mobile device 20 again to obtain the identification code (such as the identification code 132d) of the other rented and returned device, and then the mobile device 20 Send a second full-load return message S3 to the server 11 according to the obtained identification code; after receiving the second full-load return message S3, the server 11 can base on the second full-load return message S3 and the storage space recorded in the database 111 A return offer message S4 is sent to the mobile device 20 when the information is fully loaded, wherein the return offer message S4 at least includes a second offer message.

2 , 3A and 3B will be described in detail the operation flow of the method for returning shared items by applying the shared item returning system 1 of the present invention, wherein FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the method for returning shared items according to an embodiment of the present invention, 3A and 3B are schematic diagrams of the display screen of the mobile device 20 when the shared item is returned.

First, when the user rents the shared item and uses the shared item, in order to avoid the increase in the rental fee, he would like to return the shared item as soon as possible. At this time, the user will go to one of the rental and return devices, such as renting The device 13a is also installed in order to carry out the action of returning the shared item.

In step S01, when the user arrives at the rental and return device 13a and wants to return the shared item, if the accommodation space 131a of the rental and return device 13a is not idle, the user uses the mobile device 20 to obtain the identification code 132a of the rental and return device 13a . In this embodiment, each accommodating space 131a may be in a non-idle state due to other factors such as accommodating other shared items or failures; in addition, the identification code 132a in this embodiment may be a two-dimensional barcode, which can be set in the rental and return On the casing of the device 13a, the user uses the scanning function of the mobile device 20 to scan the two-dimensional barcode to obtain the identification code 132a of the rental and return device 13a.

It should be noted that, in other embodiments, each of the rental and return devices may include a short-range communication module, such as Near-field communication (NFC), Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Bluetooth or In Short Distance Radio (SDR), the user uses the mobile device to obtain the ID code of the rented and returned device through a short-distance communication method; the above description is only an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

Next, in step S02, the mobile device 20 sends the first full load return message S1 to the server 11 according to the obtained identification code 132a; in this embodiment, the mobile device 20 can use the telecommunication network, the Internet and other means , the first full-load return message S1 is sent to the server 11, and the first full-load return message S1 can inform the server 11 of several pieces of information, such as the user wants to return the shared item, the user is renting the device 13a, the renting device 13a The accommodating spaces 131a are all in a non-idle state and the like.

In step S03, after receiving the first full load return message S1, the server 11 may send a return suggestion message S2 to the mobile device 20 according to the first full load return message S1 and the full capacity information of the accommodation space of the rental device 13a, wherein the return suggestion message S2 includes a location information and a first discount information of at least another one of the rented and returned devices. In the present embodiment, after receiving the first full load return message S1, the server 11 can retrieve information such as user registration according to the information contained in the first full load return message S1 and the information recorded in the database 111. user information, shared item information of the shared items rented by the user, information of other rented and returned devices adjacent to the rented and returned device 13a, etc., and further compare the information provided by the first fully loaded return message S1 (that is, the rented and returned device 13a Whether all the accommodating spaces 131a are in a non-idle state) is consistent with the state of the accommodating space full of information recorded in the database 111, wherein, each of the renting and returning devices 13a-13f can respectively communicate through the communication module 113 whether its accommodating space is The fully loaded information is uploaded to the server 11 and recorded in the database 111 for the processor 112 to perform the above-mentioned comparison operation. Then, the server 11 generates a return suggestion message S2 according to the retrieved pieces of information, and transmits it to the mobile device 20 . The return suggestion message S2 may include the location information of the rented device 13b or the rented device 13d. Specifically, the return suggestion message S2 usually provides another rented device (that is, the rented device 13b) closest to the rented device 13a. ), but if the rental device 13b is also fully loaded (for example, the information recorded in the database 111 that the storage space of the rental device 13b is full), the server 11 will provide the first and second information to the rental device 13a. The location information of another nearby rental device (ie, the rental device 13d). In addition, the first discount information provides a free discount for the time required for the user to move from the renting and returning device 13a to the other renting and returning device (eg, the renting and returning device 13d). 30 minutes, or 1 hour, the present invention is not limited here. In addition, please refer to FIG. 3A , when the mobile device 20 receives the return suggestion message S2, it can display the location information of the rental and return device 13d, and display a prompt window (as shown in FIG. 3A ), wherein the content of the prompt window is displayed. For example: the system provides a 30-minute free discount, please return the items to the designated rental device during the discount period. In another embodiment, the first discount information may be provided to the user's mobile device 20 in the form of a coupon, so that the user can obtain a free discount by using the coupon; in yet another embodiment, the shared item return system 1 Additional coupons can also be provided to the user, such as sending a text message containing an electronic coupon to the mobile device 20, or sending a physical coupon to the user. The physical coupon can record discount information (such as a coupon code), so that The user enters the discount information to obtain a free discount. For example, in addition to the free discount (such as 30 minutes) provided by the first discount information, the user can also enter the discount code to obtain additional free discounts (such as 30 minutes) ), so users can get a total of 60 minutes of free credit.

In step S04, when the user arrives at another rental device 13d to return the shared item according to the return suggestion message S2, and if the accommodating space 131d of the rental device 13d is not idle, the user can use the mobile device 20 to obtain the shared item. The identification code 132d of the rental device 13d is returned. In this embodiment, the user uses the scanning function of the mobile device 20 to scan the two-dimensional barcode to obtain the identification code 132d of the rental and return device 13d. It should be noted that the detailed description of step S04 can refer to the relevant description of the above-mentioned step S01, which will not be repeated here.

In step S05 , after obtaining the identification code 132d of the rental and return device 13d, the mobile device 20 sends a second full-load return message S3 to the server 11 . In this embodiment, the mobile device 20 can transmit the second full load return message S3 to the server 11 by means of a telecommunication network, the Internet, etc., and the second full load return message S3 can inform the server 11 of several pieces of information, such as The user is renting and returning the device 13d, and the accommodating space 131d of the renting and returning device 13d is in a non-idle state.

Finally, in step S06, after receiving the second full load return message S3, the server 11 sends a return discount message S4 to the mobile device 20 according to the second full load return message S3 and the accommodation space full load information, wherein the return discount message S4 at least Contains a second discount information. In this embodiment, after receiving the second full-load return message S3, the server 11 can confirm that the user has continuously returned the two rental devices according to the information contained in the second full-load return message S3 and after comparing it with the storage space full-load information. The return action is performed but cannot be returned smoothly due to the full load. Therefore, a return offer message S4 is generated and sent to the mobile device 20. The second offer message is, for example, a free offer during the period when the user returns the shared item on the next day. The period of the offer can be, for example, but not limited to, 8 hours, 10 hours, or 12 hours, which is not limited in the present invention. In addition, please refer to FIG. 3B , when the mobile device 20 receives the return offer message S4, a prompt window (as shown in FIG. 3B ) can be displayed, wherein the content of the prompt window is, for example: the system gives your user 12 hours free of charge Concessions, no rent is charged during the concession period. When the user receives the second discount information, he can directly take the rented shared item home and complete the return operation at an appropriate time the next day. There are vacancies in the accommodating space, on the other hand, there is no additional rental fee due to waiting. In another embodiment, the second discount information can be provided to the user's mobile device 20 in the form of a coupon, so that the user can obtain a free discount by using the coupon; in yet another embodiment, the shared item return system 1 Additional coupons can also be provided to the user, such as sending a text message containing an electronic coupon to the mobile device 20, or sending a physical coupon to the user. The physical coupon can record discount information (such as a coupon code), so that The user enters the discount information to obtain a free discount. For example, in addition to the free discount (such as 12 hours) provided by the second discount information, the user can also enter the discount code to obtain additional free discounts (such as 6 hours). ), so the user can get a total of 18 hours of free discounts. In other words, according to the free discount provided by the second discount information, the user may have to return the rented shared items in the morning of the next day, but after using the coupon, they can The time of the free discount is further extended, so that the rented shared items can be returned at noon or afternoon of the next day, so as to increase the flexibility of users to return the rented items.

To sum up, in the system and method for returning shared items of the present invention, when the server receives the second full-load return message, it means that the user attempts to return the rented shared items at the two rental devices, but both fail to succeed. Return (because there is no idle storage space for returning shared items), so the server will send a return discount message (including the second discount information) to the mobile device, and then the user can get a longer free time according to the second discount information For example, the user can return the shared item the next day without paying extra rental fee; in other words, the shared item returning system and method of the present invention can not only reduce the time for the user to wait for the vacant seat at the return station, but also avoid the increase of waiting time due to waiting time. The additional rental costs caused, and in turn, can increase people's willingness to use the shared goods.

The above description is exemplary only, not limiting. Any equivalent modifications or changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention shall be included in the appended patent application scope.

1: Shared Item Return System 11: Server 111:Database 112: Processor 113: Communication module 13a~13f: Rental and return of installations 131a~131f: accommodating space 132a~132f: Identification code 20: Mobile Devices S1: The first full load return message S2: Return suggestion message S3: Second full load return message S4: Return offer message S01~S06: Steps

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a shared item returning system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method for returning a shared item according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are schematic diagrams of display screens of the mobile device when the shared item is returned.

S01~S06: Steps

Claims (10)

A system for returning a shared item, which is applied when a user wants to return a shared item after renting a shared item with a mobile device, comprising: a server including a database, a processor and a communication module, wherein the database records user information registered by the user and shared item information of the shared item; and a plurality of renting and returning devices, which are distributed and connected to the server respectively, wherein each renting and returning device includes a plurality of accommodating spaces and an identification code; Wherein, the database of the server also records the identification code of each of the rented and returned devices and a storage space full information, when the user arrives at one of the rented and returned devices and wants to return the shared item, if The accommodating spaces of the rented and returned device are all in a non-idle state, the user uses the mobile device to obtain the identification code of the rented and returned device, and the mobile device sends a first full-load return according to the obtained identification code sending a message to the server, and after receiving the first full-load return message, the server sends a location information and a first discount information to the mobile device according to the first full-load return message and the accommodation space full-load information; when the use When the user arrives at the other rented and returned device according to the location information, if the accommodation spaces of the other rented and returned device are all in a non-idle state, the user uses the mobile device to obtain the identity of the other rented and returned device Identification code identity, after the mobile device obtains the identification code of the other rented and returned device, it sends a second full load return message to the server, the server according to the second full load return message and the storage space full load information Sending a second discount message to the mobile device. The shared object return system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the identification code of each rental device is a two-dimensional barcode, and the user obtains the rental by scanning the two-dimensional barcode with the mobile device The identification code of the device or the other leased device. The shared item returning system of claim 1, wherein each renting device further includes a short-distance communication module, and the user obtains the renting and returning device or the other device through a short-distance communication by using the mobile device Return the ID of the rental device. The system for returning shared items according to claim 3, wherein the short-distance communication method comprises Near-field communication (NFC), Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Bluetooth, or Short Distance (Short Distance) Radio, SDR). The shared item returning system of claim 1, wherein the first discount information provides a free discount for the time required for the user to move from the renting and returning device to the other renting and returning device, and the second discount information provides Free offer for the period the user returns the shared item the next day. A shared item returning method, which is applied when a user wants to return a shared item after renting a shared item by using a mobile device, and cooperates with the shared item returning system as described in claim items 1 to 5, the shared item returning method includes: : When the user arrives at one of the rent-return devices and wants to return the shared item, if the accommodation spaces of the rent-return device are not idle, use the mobile device to obtain the identification code of the rent-return device ; The mobile device sends the first full load return message to the server according to the obtained identification code; After receiving the first full-load return message, the server sends the location information and the first discount information to the mobile device according to the first full-load return message and the accommodation space full-load information; When the user arrives at the other rental device according to the location information, if the accommodation spaces of the other rental device are not idle, use the mobile device to obtain the identification of the other rental device code; After the mobile device obtains the identification code of the other rented and returned device, it sends the second fully loaded return message to the server; and The server sends the second discount information to the mobile device according to the second full load return information and the accommodation space full load information. The method for returning shared items according to claim 6, wherein the identification code of each rented device is a two-dimensional barcode, and the mobile device obtains the rented device or the other by scanning the two-dimensional barcode. A rental device's ID code. The method for returning shared items according to claim 6, wherein each renting device further includes a short-range communication module, and the mobile device obtains the information of the renting device or the other renting device by means of short-distance communication. the identification code. The method for returning shared items according to claim 8, wherein the short-distance communication method comprises Near-field communication (NFC), Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Bluetooth, or Short Distance (Short Distance) Radio, SDR). The method for returning shared items as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first preferential information provides a free discount for the time required for the user to move from the renting and returning device to the other renting and returning device, and the second preferential information provides A free offer for the period the user returns the shared item the next day.

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