JP7492933B2 - Refueling system, refueling method, and refueling program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a refueling system, a refueling method, and a refueling program.

In recent years, self-service gas stations have come into use, where users themselves fill up their vehicles with fuel by selecting the payment method (settlement method), type of fuel, amount of fuel filled, etc., on an operation terminal installed in the fueling lane. As a technology related to such a fueling system, a system has been proposed in which a timer is set to a predetermined time limit at each stage of the fueling operation performed by the user operating the operation terminal and fueling machine, and if the predetermined operation is not performed within the time limit, a POS device connected to the operation terminal calls a mobile terminal carried by a gas station staff member (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Patent No. 4108800

At the self-service gas station, safety checks by staff (qualified personnel) are required to ensure the safety of the customer's refueling operation. For example, when a customer selects the type of fuel on the operation terminal and removes the refueling nozzle from the refueling machine, a request for permission to refuel is sent from the refueling machine to the in-store SSC (self-service console). The staff member who receives the request for permission to refuel checks the safety of the customer's refueling operation and gives permission to refuel.

Here, for example, if the request for refueling permission is sent while a staff member is performing a specific task (e.g., maintenance, washing the car, etc.), the staff member may not notice the request for refueling permission. Also, when the request for refueling permission is sent to a portable operating terminal (portable SSC), if the portable SSC is in a state where it cannot communicate, the staff member carrying the portable SSC will not notice the request for refueling permission. For this reason, the user cannot perform the refueling operation until the staff member notices the request for refueling permission and grants refueling permission. Thus, with conventional technology, there is a problem that users cannot perform refueling operations smoothly.

The object of the present invention is to provide a refueling system, a refueling method, and a refueling program that enable users to smoothly perform refueling operations at self-service gas stations.

The refueling system according to an embodiment of the present invention is a refueling system that refuels a refueling target based on a refueling operation by a user at a refueling station, and includes an acquisition processing unit that acquires a request for refueling permission output from a refueling machine, a request processing unit that transmits the request for refueling permission acquired by the acquisition processing unit to a store terminal located in a store within the refueling station and to a mobile terminal carried by a person in charge of granting refueling permission in response to the request, and an alarm processing unit that causes at least one of the store terminal and the mobile terminal to issue alarm information indicating that the request for refueling permission has been output from the refueling machine based on response availability information including at least one of the communication status of the mobile terminal and the setting status of the person in charge.

The refueling method according to an embodiment of the present invention is a refueling method for refueling a refueling target based on a refueling operation by a user at a refueling station, and includes the following steps: an acquisition step in which one or more processors acquire a request for refueling permission output from a refueling machine; a request step in which the request for refueling permission acquired by the acquisition step is transmitted to a store terminal located in a store within the refueling station and to a mobile terminal carried by a person in charge of granting the refueling permission in response to the request for refueling permission; and a notification step in which, based on response availability information including at least one of the communication status and the setting status of the mobile terminal, notification information indicating that the request for refueling permission has been output from the refueling machine is issued in at least one of the store terminal and the mobile terminal.

The refueling program according to an embodiment of the present invention is a refueling program that refuels a refueling target based on a refueling operation by a user at a gas station, and is a program for causing one or more processors to execute the following steps: an acquisition step for acquiring a request for refueling permission output from a refueling machine; a request step for transmitting the request for refueling permission acquired by the acquisition step to a store terminal located in a store within the gas station and to a mobile terminal carried by a person in charge of granting the refueling permission in response to the request for refueling permission; and a notification step for causing at least one of the store terminal and the mobile terminal to notify notification information indicating that the request for refueling permission has been output from the refueling machine based on response availability information including at least one of the communication status and setting status of the mobile terminal.

The present invention provides a refueling system, a refueling method, and a refueling program that enable users to smoothly perform refueling operations at self-service gas stations.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a gas station to which a fuel supply system according to each embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the refueling system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3A is a diagram showing an example of stored price information used in the refueling system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3B is a diagram showing an example of portable SSC information used in the refueling system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen transition of the refueling operation terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of the portable SSC according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of the portable SSC according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of the portable SSC according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of the portable SSC according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a procedure of a refueling process executed in the refueling system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10A is a diagram showing an example of stored terminal status information used in the refueling system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10B is a diagram showing an example of urgency information used in the refueling system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10C is a diagram showing an example of notification information used in the refueling system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the procedure of a specific example 1 of a refueling process executed in a refueling system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining the procedure of specific example 2 of the refueling process executed in the refueling system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining the procedure of a specific example 3 of a refueling process executed in the refueling system according to the embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining the procedure of a fourth specific example of a refueling process executed in the refueling system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the following embodiment is an example of the present invention and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[Embodiment 1]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a refueling system 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The refueling system 10 includes a refueling operation terminal 1 (such as refueling operation terminals 1A, 1B, 1C), a refueling machine 2 (such as refueling machines 2A, 2B, 2C), an in-store SSC 3, an alarm device 4, and a portable SSC 5. The refueling system 10 is applied to a self-service gas station (hereinafter referred to as a "gas station") that refuels a target based on a refueling operation by a user. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a specific gas station GS1. In the gas station GS1, six refueling lanes R1 to R6 are installed as refueling spaces for vehicles, and in each refueling lane, a refueling operation terminal 1 and a refueling machine 2 are installed for refueling a vehicle (or a fuel can) parked in the refueling lane. For example, in the refueling lane R1, a refueling operation terminal 1A and a refueling machine 2A for refueling a vehicle parked in the refueling lane R1 are installed. The in-store SSC 3 and the mobile SSC 5 are each an example of an operation terminal of the present invention. The in-store SSC 3 is an example of a store terminal of the present invention, and the mobile SSC 5 is an example of a mobile terminal of the present invention.

In addition, the gas station GS1 is provided with a store (office) for carrying out various procedures, etc., and the store is provided with an in-store SSC 3, a POS terminal (not shown), etc. The in-store SSC 3 and the POS terminal may be an integrated device (information processing device). The store is also provided with an alarm device 4 that notifies (notifies) various information to staff outside the store (hereinafter referred to as "outside store staff"). Staff (hereinafter referred to as "in-store staff") who perform various clerical tasks, procedures, etc. are stationed inside the store. Outside the store, outside staff are stationed to guide users' vehicles and perform specific tasks such as maintenance and car washing in the maintenance area MA. The outside staff carry a portable SSC 5. In addition, the gas station GS1 is provided with a beacon, a camera (neither of which is shown), etc., and the beacon and the camera detect vehicles, users, etc. The beacon may be capable of detecting the portable SSC 5.

As shown in FIG. 2, the fuel operation terminals 1 and fuel dispensers 2 of each fuel lane are connected to each other via network N1. Each fuel operation terminal 1 and each fuel dispenser 2 is also connected to the in-store SSC 3 via network N2. The in-store SSC 3 and the notification device 4 are also connected to each other via network N3. The in-store SSC 3 and each mobile SSC 5 are further connected to each other via network N4. Networks N1, N2, and N3 are, for example, wired LANs, wireless LANs, etc., and network N4 is a wireless LAN (for example, Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark)), etc.

[Fuel Tanker 2]
2, the refueling machine 2 includes a control unit 21, a memory unit 22, a refueling nozzle 23, a nozzle sensor 24, a refueling pump 25, and a communication I/F 26. The refueling machine 2 is an example of a refueling machine of the present invention.

The communication I/F 26 is a communication interface that connects the refueling machine 2 to the network N1 by wire or wirelessly, and performs data communication between the refueling operation terminal 1 and the in-store SSC 3 via the network N1 in accordance with a specified communication protocol.

The storage unit 22 is a non-volatile storage unit such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), or a flash memory that stores various types of information. The storage unit 22 stores a control program for causing the control unit 21 to execute various processes. For example, the control program is non-temporarily recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD or DVD, and is read by a reading device (not shown) such as a CD drive or DVD drive provided in the refueling machine 2 and stored in the storage unit 22. The control program may be distributed from a cloud server and stored in the storage unit 22.

The refueling nozzle 23 is inserted into the fuel inlet of the refueling target (vehicle, fuel can, etc.) and supplies fuel to the refueling target. For example, when the refueling pump 25 is operating and a user presses the lever of the refueling nozzle 23, gasoline is supplied to the vehicle from the refueling nozzle 23. The nozzle sensor 24 is a sensor that detects when the refueling nozzle 23 is removed from the storage unit that houses the refueling nozzle 23 of the refueling machine 2.

The control unit 21 has control devices such as a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The CPU is a processor that executes various arithmetic operations. The ROM is a non-volatile storage unit in which control programs such as a BIOS and an OS for causing the CPU to execute various processes are stored in advance. The RAM is a volatile or non-volatile storage unit that stores various information, and is used as a temporary storage memory (work area) for the various processes executed by the CPU. The control unit 21 controls the refueling machine 2 by executing the various control programs stored in advance in the ROM or the storage unit 22 with the CPU.

Specifically, the control unit 21 includes various processing units such as a reception processing unit 211 and a request processing unit 212. The control unit 21 functions as the various processing units by executing various processes according to the control program with the CPU. Some or all of the processing units included in the control unit 21 may be configured with electronic circuits. The control program may be a program for causing multiple processors to function as the various processing units.

The reception processing unit 211 accepts a refueling operation by the user. Specifically, the reception processing unit 211 accepts an operation by the user to remove the refueling nozzle 23 from the storage unit (corresponding to the first refueling operation of the present invention). For example, the reception processing unit 211 accepts the refueling operation by acquiring a detection signal from the nozzle sensor 24. For example, the reception processing unit 211 receives an ON signal from the nozzle sensor 24 when the refueling nozzle 23 is stored in the storage unit, and receives an OFF signal from the nozzle sensor 24 when the refueling nozzle 23 is removed from the storage unit. When the reception processing unit 211 receives the OFF signal, it accepts the user's operation to remove the refueling nozzle 23 (first refueling operation). The reception processing unit 211 is an example of a reception processing unit of the present invention.

The request processing unit 212 outputs the request for refueling permission. Specifically, the request processing unit 212 outputs the request for refueling permission when the reception processing unit 211 receives the first refueling operation by the user. For example, when the reception processing unit 211 receives an operation to remove the refueling nozzle 23 by the user (first refueling operation), the request processing unit 212 outputs the request for refueling permission to the in-store SSC 3. The request processing unit 212 may also output the request for refueling permission to the refueling operation terminal 1.

Furthermore, when a staff member (an example of a person in charge of the present invention) grants permission to refuel in response to the request for permission to refuel (when permission to refuel is obtained from the in-store SSC 3), the control unit 21 operates the refueling pump 25 to permit the user to perform the refueling operation. When the control unit 21 detects the on signal from the nozzle sensor 24 as a result of the user completing the refueling operation and storing the refueling nozzle 23 in the storage unit, the control unit 21 ends the refueling process. The refueling machine 2 may have a well-known configuration.

Note that the in-store staff and the out-of-store staff are qualified to confirm the safety of the customer's refueling operation and to grant the refueling permission. Also, the staff who have the above qualifications may be limited.

[Fueling Operation Terminal 1]
2, the refueling operation terminal 1 includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, an operation display unit 13, a reading unit 14, and a communication I/F 15. The refueling operation terminal 1 may be an information processing device such as a personal computer. The refueling operation terminal 1 is an example of the refueling operation terminal of the present invention.

The communication I/F 15 is a communication interface for connecting the refueling operation terminal 1 to the network N1 by wire or wirelessly, and for executing data communication in accordance with a predetermined communication protocol between the refueling machine 2 and the in-store SSC 3 via the network N1. The communication I/F 15 may also be capable of executing data communication in accordance with a predetermined communication protocol between the refueling operation terminal 1 and a payment server (not shown) via the network N2.

The operation display unit 13 is a user interface that includes a display unit such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display that displays various information, and an operation unit such as a touch panel, mouse, or keyboard that accepts operations.

The reading unit 14 is a reading device for reading credit cards. Specifically, a payment card such as a credit card or a prepaid card with cash already loaded is inserted into the reading unit 14, and the reading unit 14 reads the card information of the payment card. For example, when a user inserts a credit card into the reading unit 14, the reading unit 14 performs a process of reading the card information of the credit card (reading process). If the credit card is authenticated by the payment server based on the read card information, the reading unit 14 ejects (returns) the credit card based on an instruction from the control unit 11. The reading unit 14 may also read payment information from an information processing device (e.g., a smartphone) that can use electronic money.

The reading unit 14 may also have a function to read a medium that includes special offer information for the usage fee (fuel amount). For example, the reading unit 14 may have a function to read special offer information regarding discounts from a coupon code (two-dimensional code), a coupon number, a point card, etc.

The storage unit 12 is a non-volatile storage unit such as an HDD, SSD, or flash memory that stores various information. The storage unit 12 stores control programs such as a refueling program for causing the control unit 11 to execute the refueling process (see FIG. 9) described below. For example, the refueling program is non-temporarily recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD or DVD, and is read by a reading device (not shown) such as a CD drive or DVD drive provided in the refueling operation terminal 1 and stored in the storage unit 12. The refueling program may be distributed from a cloud server and stored in the storage unit 12.

The memory unit 12 also stores data such as price information D1 according to the payment method (payment type) and oil type. FIG. 3A is a diagram showing an example of price information D1. The price information D1 stores the price (unit price per liter) of each oil type: regular, high octane, and diesel for each payment type. Here, "cash," "credit card," and "prepaid card" are registered as the payment types.

In another embodiment, some or all of the information such as the price information D1 may be stored in a server accessible from the refueling operation terminal 1. In this case, the control unit 11 of the refueling operation terminal 1 may obtain the information from the server and execute various processes such as the refueling process (see FIG. 9) described below. In addition, the price information D1 may be stored in the memory unit 32 of the in-store SSC 3.

The control unit 11 has control devices such as a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The CPU is a processor that executes various arithmetic operations. The ROM is a non-volatile storage unit in which control programs such as a BIOS and an OS for causing the CPU to execute various processes are stored in advance. The RAM is a volatile or non-volatile storage unit that stores various information, and is used as a temporary storage memory (work area) for the various processes executed by the CPU. The control unit 11 controls the refueling operation terminal 1 by executing the various control programs stored in advance in the ROM or the storage unit 12 by the CPU.

The control unit 11 accepts the user's refueling operation and transmits the various information received to the in-store SSC 3 (or POS terminal). The in-store SSC 3 transmits a refueling permission to the refueling machine 2 based on the various information acquired from the refueling operation terminal 1. When the refueling machine 2 acquires the refueling permission from the in-store SSC 3, it operates the refueling pump 25 to permit the user to perform the refueling operation.

Here, an example of the flow of the refueling work by the user is shown. FIG. 4 shows a specific example of the screen transition of the display screen displayed on the operation display unit 13 of the refueling operation terminal 1. First, when the user selects a credit card as a payment method for the refueling fee on the reception screen (see FIG. 4(a)), the control unit 11 displays a guide screen (see FIG. 4(b)) that prompts the user to insert a credit card. When the user inserts a credit card into the reading unit 14 (see FIG. 2), the control unit 11 acquires the card information (credit card type, credit card number, personal information, etc.) read by the reading unit 14 and transmits the card information to the payment server. When the payment server receives the card information, it executes an authentication process. While the authentication process is being executed, the control unit 11 displays a standby screen (see FIG. 4(c)). When the authentication of the credit card is successful, the control unit 11 ejects the credit card from the reading unit 14 and displays a guide screen (see FIG. 4(d)) that prompts the user to take the credit card. When the user receives the credit card, the control unit 11 displays an operation screen (see FIG. 4(e)) for selecting the type of fuel. Next, the control unit 11 displays an operation screen (see FIG. 4(f)) for selecting the quantity. Then, the control unit 11 displays a confirmation screen for the refueling operation (see FIG. 4(g)). After that, the user confirms the refueling method, etc., removes the refueling nozzle 23 from the refueling machine 2, inserts it into the fuel inlet of the vehicle, and performs the refueling operation (operation of pressing the nozzle lever). When it is detected that the user has removed the refueling nozzle 23 from the refueling machine 2, a request for permission to refuel is sent to the staff, and when the staff receives the request, they confirm the safety of the user's refueling operation and give permission to refuel. This causes the refueling machine 2 to execute the refueling process, and the user can perform the refueling operation. When the refueling operation is completed and the refueling fee is determined, the control unit 11 requests the payment server to execute the payment process, and the payment server executes the payment process for the determined refueling fee.

The user can perform the refueling operation in the above-mentioned manner. If the user attempts to start refueling but is unable to obtain permission from the staff to refuel, the user is unable to perform the refueling operation and must wait until permission is given by the staff. With conventional technology, problems such as this arise that prevent users from smoothly performing the refueling operation. In response to this, the refueling system 10 according to this embodiment has a configuration that enables the user to smoothly perform the refueling operation.

Specifically, the control unit 11 includes various processing units such as a display processing unit 111, a reception processing unit 112, and a notification processing unit 113. The control unit 11 functions as the various processing units by executing various processes according to the refueling program with the CPU. Some or all of the processing units included in the control unit 11 may be configured with electronic circuits. The refueling program may be a program for causing multiple processors to function as the various processing units.

The display processing unit 111 displays various information related to the refueling process on the operation display unit 13. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the display processing unit 111 displays a reception screen, an operation screen, a guidance screen, a standby screen, and the like related to the refueling operation on the operation display unit 13.

The reception processing unit 112 accepts various refueling operations from the user. For example, the reception processing unit 112 accepts a refueling operation in which the user selects a payment method, type of fuel, and amount of fuel to be refueled (corresponding to the second refueling operation of the present invention). The reception processing unit 112 also accepts operations such as inputting a coupon number and inputting points to be used. The reception processing unit 112 also accepts confirmation operations, cancellation operations, and the like from the user on various operation screens displayed on the operation display unit 13. The reception processing unit 112 is an example of the reception processing unit of the present invention.

When the notification processing unit 113 determines that a request for refueling permission will be output from the refueling machine 2, it transmits an advance notification to the operation terminal (in-store SSC 3, mobile SSC 5) of the staff member who will grant refueling permission in response to the request for refueling permission, notifying them in advance that the request for refueling permission will be output later. In other words, when the notification processing unit 113 determines that a request for refueling permission will be output from the refueling machine 2, it transmits a notification (advance notification) to let the staff member know in advance that the request for refueling permission will be output later. The notification processing unit 113 transmits the advance notification to, for example, the in-store SSC 3.

For example, when the reception processing unit 112 receives a refueling operation (a second refueling operation) of selecting a refueling fee payment method, selecting a type of fuel, or selecting an amount of fuel to be refueled, the notification processing unit 113 determines that a request for permission to refuel will be output from the refueling machine 2 later.

Here, the refueling machine 2 outputs the request for refueling permission, for example, when the user removes the refueling nozzle 23 from the storage unit. For this reason, the notification processing unit 113 transmits the advance notification to the in-store SSC 3, anticipating that the request for refueling permission will be output later from the refueling machine 2 at a timing before the user removes the refueling nozzle 23 from the storage unit, for example, at a timing when the user selects a payment method (see FIG. 4(a)), a type of oil (see FIG. 4(e)), or a quantity (see FIG. 4(f)). The advance notification includes information that triggered the transmission of the advance notification (e.g., selection information of a payment method, a type of oil, or a quantity, location information of the object to be refueled, etc.), information corresponding to the requester of the refueling permission (e.g., identification information of the refueling lane in which the refueling machine 2 is installed), etc.

In another embodiment, the notification processing unit 113 may determine that a request for refueling permission is output from the refueling machine 2 when the refueling target is placed at a specified refueling location. For example, the notification processing unit 113 determines that a request for refueling permission is output from the refueling machine 2 when a vehicle stops in a refueling lane, when a fuel can (such as a 18L can) is placed in the refueling lane, etc. The notification processing unit 113 can determine the location status of the refueling target using the beacon or the camera installed at the gas station GS1.

For example, when the beacon or the camera installed at the gas station GS1 detects that the user's vehicle has stopped in the refueling lane, the notification processing unit 113 may send the advance notification to the in-store SSC 3, anticipating that a request for permission to refuel will be output later from the refueling machine 2.

The notification processing unit 113 may also be configured to combine the above-mentioned embodiments. For example, the notification processing unit 113 may send a first advance notification to the in-store SSC 3 at a first timing when the user's vehicle stops at the refueling lane, send a second advance notification to the in-store SSC 3 at a second timing when the user selects a payment method on the refueling operation terminal 1, and send a third advance notification to the in-store SSC 3 at a third timing when the user selects a type of fuel on the refueling operation terminal 1. In this case, the notification processing unit 113 may send information that can identify each of the first advance notification, the second advance notification, and the third advance notification (e.g., "stopping," "select payment method," and "select type of fuel") to the in-store SSC 3. The information on each advance notification may also include information (countdown information) from the current time to the time when the request for refueling permission is expected to be output. The notification processing unit 113 is an example of a notification processing unit of the present invention.

In this embodiment, when a user who has parked their vehicle in the fueling lane R1 (see FIG. 1) selects a payment method ("credit card"), a type of fuel ("high-octane gasoline"), and a quantity ("full tank"), the notification processing unit 113 of the fueling operation terminal 1A sends the advance notification to the in-store SSC 3. In this case, the notification processing unit 113 sends the advance notification including information on the fueling lane R1, the payment method ("credit card"), the type of fuel ("high-octane gasoline"), and the quantity ("full tank") to the in-store SSC 3.

In addition to the above-mentioned processes, the control unit 11 can execute a payment process. For example, the control unit 11 acquires card information of a credit card used to pay the user's usage fee (fuel fee) from the reading unit 14. The control unit 11 transmits the acquired card information to a payment server that executes authentication processing of the credit card to request payment. When the payment server receives the payment request, it executes the authentication process. If the authentication of the credit card is successful in the authentication process, the payment server completes the provisional payment and transmits an authentication result (authentication success) to the refueling operation terminal 1. If the authentication of the credit card is unsuccessful in the authentication process, the payment server transmits an authentication result (authentication error) to the refueling operation terminal 1. When the control unit 11 receives the authentication result, it ejects the credit card from the reading unit 14. For example, if the authentication of the credit card is successful in the authentication process, the control unit 11 ejects the credit card from the reading unit 14.

[In-store SSC3]
2, the in-store SSC 3 includes a control unit 31, a storage unit 32, an operation display unit 33, a notification unit 34, and a communication I/F 35. The in-store SSC 3 may be an information processing device such as a personal computer.

The communication I/F 35 is a communication interface that connects the in-store SSC 3 to the network N2 by wire or wirelessly, and executes data communication in accordance with a specified communication protocol with the refueling operation terminal 1 and the refueling machine 2 via the network N2. The communication I/F 35 can also execute data communication in accordance with a specified communication protocol with the alarm device 4 via the network N3, and can execute data communication in accordance with a specified communication protocol with one or more portable SSCs 5 via the network N4.

The operation display unit 33 is a user interface that includes a display unit such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display that displays various information, and an operation unit such as a touch panel, mouse, or keyboard that accepts operations.

The notification unit 34 is an output unit that notifies various types of information to the outside in accordance with commands from the control unit 31. For example, the notification unit 34 may be a speaker that emits a predetermined sound (buzzer sound, voice) or an indicator light that emits a predetermined light. The notification unit 34 may also be a vibrator that emits a predetermined vibration. The notification unit 34 may be built into the in-store SSC 3 or may be connected to the in-store SSC 3 by cable. The notification unit 34 notifies information within the store (office).

The storage unit 32 is a non-volatile storage unit such as an HDD, SSD, or flash memory that stores various information. The storage unit 32 stores control programs such as a refueling program for causing the control unit 31 to execute the refueling process (see FIG. 9) described below. For example, the refueling program is non-temporarily recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD or DVD, and is read by a reading device (not shown) such as a CD drive or DVD drive provided in the in-store SSC 3 and stored in the storage unit 32. The refueling program may be distributed from a cloud server and stored in the storage unit 32.

The storage unit 32 also stores data such as mobile SSC information D2 related to the mobile SSC 5. FIG. 3B is a diagram showing an example of the mobile SSC information D2. The mobile SSC information D2 stores a device ID, an IP address, and staff information for each mobile SSC 5. The device ID and the IP address are device information specific to the mobile SSC 5. The staff is identification information (user ID, name, etc.) of the staff using the mobile SSC 5. Each mobile SSC 5 is assigned information of the staff using the mobile SSC 5. Furthermore, if each staff carries a beacon separate from the mobile SSC 5, the identification information of the beacon may be registered in the identification information of the staff.

In this embodiment, a mobile SSC5 is individually assigned to each of the outside staff members F2 to F5, and each of the outside staff members F2 to F5 carries their own mobile SSC5 while working outside the store (see FIG. 1).

Note that FIG. 3B shows a state in which device ID: X0005 is not assigned to any staff member. For example, when in-store staff member F1, who is in the store, moves outside the store to perform work, in-store staff member F1 takes out portable SSC5 (device ID: X0005) from a storage shelf in the store, carries it with him, and then goes outside the store to perform work. At this time, the control unit 31 registers the identification information of in-store staff member F1 in portable SSC information D2 based on the registration operation by in-store staff member F1 or the communication processing of the beacon.

In addition, if the staff members qualified to grant the refueling permission are limited, information on whether or not they have the qualifications may be registered in the portable SSC information D2.

In another embodiment, some or all of the information such as the portable SSC information D2 may be stored in a server accessible from the in-store SSC 3. In this case, the control unit 31 of the in-store SSC 3 may obtain the information from the server and execute various processes such as the refueling process (see FIG. 9) described below. In addition, the portable SSC information D2 may be stored in the memory unit 12 of the refueling operation terminal 1.

The control unit 31 has control devices such as a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The CPU is a processor that executes various arithmetic operations. The ROM is a non-volatile storage unit in which control programs such as a BIOS and an OS for causing the CPU to execute various processes are stored in advance. The RAM is a volatile or non-volatile storage unit that stores various information, and is used as a temporary storage memory (work area) for the various processes executed by the CPU. The control unit 31 controls the in-store SSC 3 by executing the various control programs stored in advance in the ROM or the storage unit 32 with the CPU.

The control unit 31 acquires various information corresponding to the user's operation from the refueling operation terminal 1. The control unit 31 also requests permission to refuel from staff based on the various information acquired from the refueling operation terminal 1, and transmits the permission to refuel to the refueling machine 2 when it acquires permission to refuel from the staff.

Specifically, the control unit 31 includes various processing units such as an acquisition processing unit 311, a notification processing unit 312, an alarm processing unit 313, a request processing unit 314, and a permission processing unit 315. The control unit 31 functions as the various processing units by executing various processes according to the refueling program with the CPU. Some or all of the processing units included in the control unit 31 may be configured with electronic circuits. The refueling program may be a program for causing multiple processors to function as the various processing units.

The acquisition processing unit 311 acquires the advance notification transmitted from the refueling operation terminal 1. The acquisition processing unit 311 is capable of acquiring the advance notification from each of the six refueling operation terminals 1 installed at the refueling station GS1. In this embodiment, for example, when a user selects a payment method ("credit card"), a type of fuel ("high octane gasoline"), and a quantity ("full tank") at the refueling operation terminal 1A of the refueling lane R1 (see FIG. 1), the acquisition processing unit 311 acquires the advance notification from the refueling operation terminal 1A of the refueling lane R1.

The notification processor 312 transmits the advance notification acquired from the refueling operation terminal 1 to a designated mobile SSC 5. Specifically, the notification processor 312 transmits the advance notification to the mobile SSC 5 carried by the outside staff member outside the store. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the notification processor 312 transmits the advance notification to each of the mobile SSC 5s of the outside staff members F2 to F5. When the mobile SSC 5 acquires the advance notification, it displays (pops up) specific information M1 corresponding to the advance notification on the operation display unit 53 (see FIG. 5 described later). Here, the advance notification includes information on the payment method ("credit card"), fuel type ("high octane gasoline"), and quantity ("full tank"), as well as information on the refueling lane R1.

In this way, the notification processing unit 312 transmits the advance notification obtained from the refueling operation terminal 1A to the portable SSC 5. The notification processing unit 312 also transmits the advance notification to the portable SSC 5 when the reception processing unit 112 of the refueling operation terminal 1 receives the user's second refueling operation (such as the operation of selecting a payment method, the operation of selecting the type of fuel and the quantity). The notification processing unit 312 also displays, on the portable SSC 5, specific information M1 including identification information of the refueling lane (here, refueling lane R1) corresponding to the requester of the refueling permission. The notification processing unit 113 of the refueling operation terminal 1A may also transmit the advance notification to the portable SSC 5. The notification processing unit 312 is an example of a notification processing unit of the present invention.

The notification processing unit 313 notifies the notification unit 34 and the notification device 4 of information indicating that the advance notification has been obtained from the refueling operation terminal 1. For example, when the acquisition processing unit 311 obtains the advance notification from the refueling operation terminal 1A, the notification processing unit 313 outputs (emits) a buzzer sound from the notification unit 34 in the store and the notification device 4 outside the store.

The request processing unit 314 acquires the request for refueling permission output from the refueling machine 2. For example, the request processing unit 314 can acquire the request for refueling permission from each of the six refueling machines 2 installed at the gas station GS1. In this embodiment, for example, when a user removes the refueling nozzle 23 from the refueling machine 2A in the refueling lane R1 (see FIG. 1), the request processing unit 314 acquires the request for refueling permission from the refueling machine 2A in the refueling lane R1.

When the request processing unit 314 acquires the request for permission to refuel, it requests permission to refuel from each staff member. For example, the request processing unit 314 displays request information corresponding to the request for permission to refuel on the operation display unit 33 of the in-store SSC 3, and transmits the request for permission to refuel to the mobile SSC 5 of the outside staff F2 to F5. When the mobile SSC 5 acquires the request for permission to refuel, it displays request information corresponding to the request on the operation display unit 53 (see FIG. 7 described below). The request for permission to refuel includes information on the payment method ("credit card"), type of fuel ("high-octane gasoline"), and quantity ("full tank"), as well as information on the refueling lane R1.

For example, the request processing unit 314 causes the operation display unit 33 of the in-store SSC 3 to display a selection screen (not shown) on which the in-store staff F1 can select whether or not to grant the refueling permission, and the notification processing unit 313 causes the notification unit 34 and the notification device 4 to notify notification information indicating that a request for refueling permission has been output from the refueling machine 2. For example, the notification processing unit 313 causes the notification unit 34 and the notification device 4 to output (emit) a buzzer sound. The buzzer sound is an example of the notification information.

Also, for example, the request processing unit 314 causes the operation display unit 53 of the portable SSC5 of the outside staff F2 to F5 to display (pop-up display) an operation screen (see FIG. 7 described later) through which the staff performs an operation to grant the refueling permission. For example, outside staff F4 (see FIG. 1) confirms the safety of the user's refueling operation in the refueling lane R1 and grants the refueling permission.

In this way, the request processing unit 314 transmits the request for permission to refuel when the reception processing unit 112 of the refueling operation terminal 1 receives the first refueling operation (the operation of removing the refueling nozzle 23) that follows the second refueling operation (the operation of selecting the payment method, the type of fuel, or the quantity) by the user. The request processing unit 314 is an example of the request processing unit of the present invention.

When the permission processing unit 315 receives the refueling permission from a staff member at the in-store SSC 3 or the mobile SSC 5, it permits refueling of the refueling target (vehicle, fuel can, etc.). Specifically, when a staff member at the in-store SSC 3 grants refueling permission, or when any staff member outside the store grants refueling permission at the mobile SSC 5, the permission processing unit 315 obtains refueling permission from the in-store SSC 3 or the mobile SSC 5. When the permission processing unit 315 obtains the refueling permission, it transmits the refueling permission to the refueling machine 2 (here, the refueling machine 2A) that requested the refueling permission. When the refueling machine 2A obtains the refueling permission from the in-store SSC 3, it operates the refueling pump 25 and permits the user to perform the refueling operation. The permission processing unit 315 is an example of a permission processing unit of the present invention.

[Mobile SSC5]
2, the portable SSC 5 includes a control unit 51, a storage unit 52, an operation display unit 53, and a communication I/F 54. The portable SSC 5 is a portable information terminal (mobile terminal) such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal.

The communication I/F 54 is a communication interface that connects the portable SSC 5 to the network N4 via a wired or wireless connection and performs data communication in accordance with a specified communication protocol with external devices such as the in-store SSC 3 via the network N4.

The operation display unit 53 is a user interface that includes a display unit such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display that displays information such as various web pages, and an operation unit such as a mouse, keyboard, or touch panel that accepts operations.

The storage unit 52 is a non-volatile storage unit such as an HDD, SSD, or flash memory that stores various information. For example, a control program such as a browser program is stored in the storage unit 52. Specifically, the browser program is a control program that causes the control unit 51 to execute communication processing with an external device such as an in-store SSC 3 according to a communication protocol such as HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol). The browser program may also be a dedicated application for executing communication processing with the in-store SSC 3 according to a predetermined communication protocol.

The control unit 51 has control devices such as a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The CPU is a processor that executes various arithmetic operations. The ROM is a non-volatile storage unit in which control programs such as a BIOS and an OS for causing the CPU to execute various processes are stored in advance. The RAM is a volatile or non-volatile storage unit that stores various information, and is used as a temporary storage memory (work area) for the various processes executed by the CPU. The control unit 51 controls the portable SSC 5 by having the CPU execute various control programs that are stored in advance in the ROM or the storage unit 52.

For example, when the control unit 51 acquires the advance notification from the in-store SSC 3, it causes the operation display unit 53 to display (pop-up display) specific information M1 corresponding to the advance notification. FIG. 5 shows an example of the specific information M1. The specific information M1 includes information about the sender of the advance notification (e.g., identification information of the refueling lane in which the refueling operation terminal 1 is installed). Here, it includes information about the refueling lane R1 in which the refueling operation terminal 1A that sent the advance notification is installed. The control unit 51 causes the operation display unit 53 to display specific information M1 that prompts staff to prepare for the refueling lane R1 ("Lane 1"). Note that when the control unit 51 acquires the advance notification, it may activate the portable SSC 5 to display a pop-up display of the specific information M1.

Furthermore, when the control unit 51 acquires the advance notification, it may display the specific information M1 and may vibrate a vibrator mounted on the portable SSC 5 or output a predetermined sound from a speaker mounted on the portable SSC 5. Furthermore, the control unit 51 may maintain the display of the specific information M1 and may maintain the sound of the speaker and the vibrator until a confirmation operation (such as a touch operation) is performed on the specific information M1 displayed on the operation display unit 53.

The display form of the specific information M1 is not limited to the form shown in FIG. 5, and may be, for example, the form shown in FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 51 displays specific information M1 including information that "is operating" and the operation information that triggered the advance notification (e.g., "credit card") for the refueling lane R1 corresponding to the advance notification on a list display screen that displays the status of each refueling lane.

Furthermore, when the control unit 51 acquires a request for refueling permission from the in-store SSC 3, it causes the operation display unit 53 to display an operation screen corresponding to the request. FIG. 7 shows an example of the operation screen. The operation screen displays information on the payment method ("credit card"), fuel type ("high octane gasoline"), and quantity ("full tank"), as well as information on the refueling lane (refueling lane R1) in which the refueling machine 2 (here, refueling machine 2A) requesting the refueling permission is installed. The control unit 51 also displays a permission button B1 that accepts an operation from an outside staff member to grant refueling permission. When the outside staff member confirms the safety of the user's refueling operation in the refueling lane R1 and presses the permission button B1 on the mobile SSC 5, the control unit 51 transmits the refueling permission to the in-store SSC 3. When the in-store SSC 3 acquires the refueling permission from the mobile SSC 5, it transmits the refueling permission to the refueling machine 2A. When the fuel dispenser 2A obtains the fuel dispense permission from the in-store SSC 3, it operates the fuel dispenser pump 25 to allow the user to dispense fuel.

While the user is refueling, the control unit 51 causes the portable SSC 5 to display the status of each refueling lane, as shown in FIG. 8. Here, the portable SSC 5 displays information corresponding to the refueling lane R1, such as "Refueling," "Credit card," "Premium gasoline," and "Full tank." Note that the information shown in FIG. 8 is commonly displayed on each portable SSC 5.

[Fueling process]
An example of the procedure of the refueling process executed in the refueling system 10 will be described below with reference to Fig. 9. Specifically, in this embodiment, the control unit 11 of the refueling operation terminal 1, the control unit 21 of the refueling machine 2, the control unit 31 of the in-store SSC 3, and the control unit 51 of the portable SSC 5 cooperate to execute the refueling process. Furthermore, the refueling system 10 is capable of executing the refueling processes in parallel in response to access from each refueling operation terminal 1 and each refueling machine 2.

The present invention can be understood as an invention of a refueling method that executes one or more steps included in the refueling process. One or more steps included in the refueling process described here may be omitted as appropriate. The steps in the refueling process may be executed in a different order as long as the same action and effect is achieved. Furthermore, although an example is described here in which each control unit executes each step in the refueling process, another embodiment of the refueling method can be one in which one or more processors execute each step in the refueling process in a distributed manner.

Here, we will explain an example in which a user parks his/her vehicle in refueling lane R1 and operates the refueling operation terminal 1A of refueling lane R1 to perform refueling operations.

First, in step S11, the control unit 11 of the refueling operation terminal 1A accepts the selection of the payment method for the refueling fee from the user on the reception screen (see FIG. 4(a)). Here, it is assumed that the user selects a credit card as the payment method. The control unit 11 displays a guide screen (see FIG. 4(b)) that prompts the user to insert a credit card. When the user inserts a credit card into the reading unit 14 (see FIG. 2), the control unit 11 acquires the card information read by the reading unit 14 and transmits it to the payment server. When the payment server receives the card information, it executes an authentication process. While the authentication process is being executed, the control unit 11 displays a standby screen (see FIG. 4(c)). When the authentication of the credit card is successful, the control unit 11 ejects the credit card from the reading unit 14 and displays a guide screen (see FIG. 4(d)) that prompts the user to take the credit card.

When the user receives the credit card, in the next step S12, the control unit 11 displays an operation screen (see FIG. 4(e)) for selecting the type of oil. The user selects the type of oil ("high octane gasoline") on the operation screen. Next, the control unit 11 displays an operation screen (see FIG. 4(f)) for selecting the quantity. The user selects the quantity ("full tank") on the operation screen. The control unit 11 accepts the user's operation to select the type of oil and quantity (the second refueling operation of the present invention) and acquires the selected information. Steps S11 and S12 are an example of the reception step of the present invention.

Next, in step S13, the control unit 11 sends a notification (advance notification) to the in-store SSC 3 to let the staff know in advance that the request for fueling permission will be output later. Here, the advance notification includes information on the payment method ("credit card"), fuel type ("high octane gasoline"), quantity ("full tank"), and fueling lane R1. Step S13 is an example of a notification step of the present invention.

Next, in step S14, the control unit 11 displays a confirmation screen for the refueling operation (see FIG. 4(g)). The user checks the confirmation screen to confirm the refueling method, etc. While the user is confirming the refueling method, etc. ("User confirming" in FIG. 9), the refueling system 10 executes the following process.

While the user is checking the refueling method on the confirmation screen, the control unit 31 of the in-store SSC 3 acquires the advance notification from the refueling operation terminal 1A (S31) and transmits the acquired advance notification to the mobile SSC 5 (S32). For example, the control unit 31 transmits the advance notification to each of the mobile SSCs 5 of the outside-store staff F2 to F5.

In addition, in step S33, the control unit 31 causes the notification unit 34 and the notification device 4 to notify information indicating that the advance notification has been obtained from the refueling operation terminal 1A. For example, the control unit 31 causes the notification unit 34 in the store and the notification device 4 outside the store to output (emit) a buzzer sound.

In the mobile SSC 5, when the control unit 51 acquires the advance notification from the in-store SSC 3 (S51), it causes the operation display unit 53 to display (pop-up display) specific information M1 corresponding to the advance notification (S52). The specific information M1 includes information on the refueling lane R1 in which the refueling operation terminal 1A that sent the advance notification is installed. The control unit 51 causes the operation display unit 53 to display (pop-up display) specific information M1 that prompts the staff to prepare for the refueling lane R1 ("Lane 1") (see FIG. 5). This allows the outside staff to know in advance that a request for refueling permission will be sent later in the refueling lane R1. Therefore, for example, the outside staff F2 who is performing maintenance work on a vehicle in the maintenance area MA outside the store can prepare for the request by interrupting the maintenance work and waiting for the request for refueling permission.

After the user confirms the refueling method on the confirmation screen (see FIG. 4(g)), the user opens the cap of the vehicle's fuel filler opening and removes the refueling nozzle 23 for the type of fuel selected by the user (here, "high octane gasoline") from the refueling machine 2. In step S21, the control unit 21 of the refueling machine 2 receives a detection signal (off signal) from the nozzle sensor 24 mounted on the refueling machine 2 and detects that the refueling nozzle 23 has been removed. Next, in step S22, the control unit 21 outputs a request for permission to refuel to the in-store SSC 3. Step S22 is an example of a request step of the present invention.

When the control unit 31 of the in-store SSC 3 acquires the request for fueling permission from the fuel dispenser 2 (S34), it transmits the request for fueling permission to the portable SSC 5 (S35). For example, the control unit 31 transmits the request for fueling permission to each of the portable SSC 5 of the outside staff F2 to F5. Note that the control unit 31 may transmit the request for fueling permission only to the portable SSC 5 of the outside staff F2 to F5 who confirmed (touched) the advance notification.

In the portable SSC 5, when the control unit 51 acquires the request for fueling permission from the in-store SSC 3 (S53), the control unit 51 causes the operation display unit 53 to display request information corresponding to the request for fueling permission (S54). For example, the control unit 51 causes the operation display unit 53 to display (pop-up display) an operation screen (see FIG. 7) on which the outside staff performs an operation to grant the fueling permission. The operation screen displays information on the payment method ("credit card"), fuel type ("high octane gasoline"), and quantity ("full tank"), as well as information on the fueling lane (fueling lane R1) in which the fueling machine 2 (here, the fueling machine 2A) that requested the fueling permission is installed. The control unit 51 also displays a permission button B1 that accepts an operation to grant fueling permission from the outside staff. The control unit 51 may also cause the portable SSC 5 to notify information indicating that the request for fueling permission has been output from the fueling machine 2. For example, the control unit 51 may output a predetermined sound from a speaker mounted on the portable SSC 5, or may vibrate a vibrator mounted on the portable SSC 5.

When the control unit 51 receives an operation from a staff member outside the store to give permission to refuel (permission operation), it notifies the in-store SSC 3 of that fact. Note that the control unit 51 may output a sound from the speaker of the portable SSC 5 or vibrate the vibrator of the portable SSC 5 when a predetermined time has elapsed since the operation screen (see FIG. 7) was displayed.

In the in-store SSC 3, when the control unit 31 acquires the request for fueling permission from the fuel dispenser 2 (S34), it causes the operation display unit 33 to display request information corresponding to the request for fueling permission (S36). For example, the control unit 31 causes the operation display unit 33 of the in-store SSC 3 to display an operation screen (not shown) on which the in-store staff performs an operation to grant the fueling permission, and causes the alarm unit 34 and the alarm device 4 to output (emit) a buzzer sound. The operation screen displays information on the payment method ("credit card"), fuel type ("high octane gasoline"), and quantity ("full tank"), as well as information on the fueling lane (fueling lane R1) in which the fuel dispenser 2 (here, fuel dispenser 2A) that requested the fueling permission is installed. The control unit 31 also displays a permission button that accepts an operation to grant fueling permission from the in-store staff.

Next, in step S37, the control unit 31 determines whether or not an operation to grant permission for refueling (permission operation) has been received from an in-store staff member or an outside staff member. If the control unit 31 receives the permission operation (S37: Yes), the process proceeds to step S38. The control unit 31 waits until the permission operation is received (S37: No). Note that the control unit 31 may increase the volume of the buzzer sound when a predetermined time has elapsed since the operation screen was displayed.

When the in-store staff grants the refueling permission at the in-store SSC 3, or when any of the outside-store staff grants the refueling permission at the mobile SSC 5, in step S38, the control unit 31 of the in-store SSC 3 transmits the refueling permission to the refueling machine 2 that requested the refueling permission (here, refueling machine 2A). Step S38 is an example of a permission step of the present invention.

In step S23, when the fuel dispenser 2A obtains the fuel dispense permission from the in-store SSC 3, it operates the fuel dispenser pump 25 to permit the user to dispense fuel. This allows the user to dispense fuel to the vehicle by inserting the fuel dispenser nozzle 23 into the vehicle's fuel filler opening and performing the fuel dispense operation (pushing the nozzle lever).

In this manner, the refueling system 10 executes the refueling process. The refueling system 10 executes the refueling process each time it receives a refueling operation from a user at each refueling lane.

As described above, the refueling system 10 according to the first embodiment is a refueling system that refuels a refueling target (such as a vehicle or a fuel can) based on a refueling operation by a user. Specifically, when the refueling system 10 determines (predicts) that a request for refueling permission will be output from the refueling machine 2, the refueling system 10 transmits a prior notification to the operation terminal (in-store SSC 3, mobile SSC 5) of a staff member who grants refueling permission in response to the request for refueling permission, notifying the staff member that the request for refueling permission will be output later. In addition, the refueling system 10 outputs the request for refueling permission when the first refueling operation (the operation of removing the refueling nozzle 23 from the refueling machine 2 body) of the user is received after the prior notification is transmitted to the operation terminal. In addition, the refueling system 10 permits refueling of the refueling target when the refueling permission is granted by the staff member at the operation terminal.

According to the above configuration, an advance notification is sent to staff before a request for refueling permission is output from the refueling machine 2, so that even if the staff is performing a specific task (e.g., maintenance, washing the car, etc.), they can stop the specific task by checking the advance notification and prepare for the request, such as waiting for the request for refueling permission to be output. This allows staff to quickly grant refueling permission when the request is made, so that the user can perform the refueling operation immediately after removing the refueling nozzle 23 from the main body of the refueling machine 2. This allows the user to perform the refueling operation smoothly.

The refueling system 10 according to the first embodiment may have the following configuration. For example, the portable SSC 5 may output a first sound from a speaker when the advance notification is acquired, and output a second sound different from the first sound from the speaker when the request for refueling permission is acquired. The portable SSC 5 may also vibrate a vibrator with a first type of vibration pattern when the advance notification is acquired, and vibrate the vibrator with a second type of vibration pattern when the request for refueling permission is acquired.

The in-store SSC 3 may also transmit the advance notification to a specified mobile SSC 5 among the multiple mobile SSCs 5. For example, the in-store SSC 3 transmits the advance notification to a mobile SSC 5 carried by a staff member who is not performing a specific task (e.g., maintenance, car washing, etc.). For another example, the in-store SSC 3 transmits the advance notification to the mobile SSC 5 that is closest to the refueling operation terminal 1A that transmitted the advance notification. The in-store SSC 3 can obtain the location of each mobile SSC 5 using the beacon or camera installed at the gas station GS1. In this way, the in-store SSC 3 may transmit the advance notification to the mobile SSC 5 of a staff member selected from the multiple staff members based on at least one of the information on the current work status and the current location of each staff member.

In addition, if information on the qualifications to grant the refueling permission is registered in the mobile SSC information D2, the in-store SSC 3 may transmit the advance notification to a mobile SSC 5 held by a staff member who has the qualifications among multiple mobile SSCs 5.

[Embodiment 2]
However, there are cases where the portable SSC 5 cannot communicate with the in-store SSC 3. For example, when the battery of the portable SSC 5 runs out, a communication failure occurs in the network N4, or the portable SSC 5 is out of the area where it can communicate with the in-store SSC 3, the portable SSC 5 cannot communicate with the in-store SSC 3. In addition, the staff outside the store may turn off the power of the portable SSC 5 to perform a specific task (e.g., maintenance, car washing, etc.) or may set various notifications (e.g., the request for fueling permission) to be rejected. In such a case, the staff outside the store who possesses the portable SSC 5 cannot obtain fueling permission, which causes problems such as the user being unable to perform the fueling operation or the user being unable to perform the fueling operation. The fueling system 10 according to the second embodiment has a configuration capable of solving the above problem in addition to the configuration of the fueling system 10 according to the first embodiment.

The fuel supply system 10 according to the second embodiment will be described below. For ease of explanation, elements having the same functions as those shown in the first embodiment will be given the same reference numerals, and their explanation will be omitted. Furthermore, the terms defined in the first embodiment will be used in the second embodiment according to their definitions, unless otherwise specified.

The control unit 31 (alarm processing unit 313) of the in-store SSC 3 in the second embodiment is configured to cause at least one of the in-store SSC 3 and the portable SSC 5 to issue alarm information indicating that a request for refueling permission has been output from the refueling machine 2, based on availability information including at least one of the communication status and setting status of the portable SSC 5.

Specifically, the notification processor 313 of the in-store SSC 3 determines the level of urgency based on the response availability information, and notifies the notification information according to the determined level of urgency. The notification processor 313 also refers to the memory unit 32, which stores the communication status, setting status, and urgency of the portable SSC 5 in advance in association with each other, to determine the level of urgency corresponding to the current communication status and setting status of the portable SSC 5. The level of urgency is an index representing the degree of difficulty (degree of difficulty) of the situation in which it is difficult for staff to grant refueling permission when a request for refueling permission is output from the refueling machine 2. The more difficult it is for staff to grant refueling permission (the lower the likelihood that staff will be able to grant refueling permission), the higher the level of urgency.

For example, the memory unit 32 stores data on terminal status information D3, urgency information D4, and notification information D5. FIG. 10A is a diagram showing an example of terminal status information D3. In the terminal status information D3, information on the device ID, IP address, staff, communication status, and setting status is stored for each mobile SSC5. The communication status is information indicating whether the mobile SSC5 is in a state where it can communicate with the in-store SSC3. For example, the communication status is a communication status that indicates at least one of whether the battery of the mobile SSC5 is dead, whether there is a communication failure, and whether it is within a communication available area. For example, if the battery of the mobile SSC5 is dead, if a communication failure has occurred in the network N4, or if the mobile SSC5 is located outside the communication available area, the mobile SSC5 cannot communicate with the in-store SSC, so "communication not possible" is registered in the communication status. For example, if the communication area is set within the premises of gas station GS1, in the example shown in FIG. 1, outside staff member F5 is outside the premises of gas station GS1, so "communication not possible" is registered for outside staff member F5's mobile SSC5 (device ID: "X0004").

In addition, for example, if each staff member carries a beacon separate from the portable SSC 5, if communication between the beacon and the portable SSC 5 is lost, it is expected that the staff member will not have the portable SSC 5. For example, it is conceivable that the staff member will leave the portable SSC 5 behind in the store or in the maintenance area MA. In this case, the staff member will not be able to give the refueling permission via the portable SSC 5. Therefore, the control unit 31 registers "communication not possible" when communication between the beacon and the portable SSC 5 is lost.

The setting status is a setting status set by the off-site staff member in the portable SSC 5 as to whether or not they will be able to respond to the request for permission to refuel. For example, on the setting screen (not shown) of the portable SSC 5, the off-site staff member can set in advance whether or not they will be able to respond to the request for permission to refuel by checking the safety of the user's refueling operation and granting permission to refuel when they receive the request for permission to refuel. For example, off-site staff member F2, who performs specific tasks (e.g., maintenance, car washing, etc.) in the maintenance area MA, will be busy with the specific task, so will set "not available" in advance on the setting screen of the portable SSC 5 for the task of granting permission to refuel.

The control unit 31 acquires the current communication status of the mobile SSC 5 and registers it in the terminal status information D3. The control unit 31 also registers the setting status in the terminal status information D3 according to the user's setting operation acquired from the mobile SSC 5. The communication status and the setting status are examples of the compatibility information of the present invention.

Figure 10B is a diagram showing an example of urgency information D4. The urgency information D4 stores information on the number of mobile SSCs 5 that can communicate and the number of mobile SSCs 5 that can handle the device for each urgency level. The number of mobile SSCs 5 that can communicate corresponds to the number of mobile SSCs 5 that are registered as "available for communication" in the terminal status information D3, and the number of mobile SSCs 5 that can handle the device corresponds to the number of mobile SSCs 5 that are registered as "available" in the terminal status information D3.

For example, if there are zero mobile SSCs 5 available for communication to which the request for fueling permission is to be sent, there is a high possibility that the customer will be forced to wait for a long time without the customer being granted permission to refuel by the off-site staff, so the urgency level is set to the highest level of "3." In other words, the urgency level "3" is associated with the information that there are "zero" mobile SSCs 5 available for communication and "zero" number of mobile SSCs available for service. On the other hand, if there are two or more mobile SSCs 5 available for communication to which the request for fueling permission is to be sent, there is a high possibility that one of the off-site staff will be able to grant permission to refuel immediately, so the urgency level is set to the lowest level of "0." In other words, the urgency level "0" is associated with the information that there are "two or more" mobile SSCs 5 available for communication and "two or more" number of mobile SSCs available for service.

In this way, the urgency information D4 is preset with a level of urgency that corresponds to the number of mobile SSCs 5 that can communicate and the number of mobile SSCs 5 that can be handled. Note that the urgency information D4 may associate the urgency with at least one of the number of mobile SSCs 5 that can communicate and the number of mobile SSCs 5 that can be handled. For example, the manager of the gas station GS1 can register the urgency information D4 in advance and update it as necessary.

Figure 10C is a diagram showing an example of the notification information D5. The notification information D5 stores, for each level of urgency, a notification method for the in-store SSC 3 and a notification method for the mobile SSC 5. For example, when the level of urgency is "3", the in-store SSC 3 outputs (emits) the sound of "tone 2" at the "maximum" volume. For example, when the level of urgency is "2", the in-store SSC 3 outputs the sound of "tone 1" at the "large" volume, and the mobile SSC 5 outputs the sound of "pattern 3" at the "maximum" volume. For example, when the level of urgency is "0", the in-store SSC 3 and the mobile SSC 5 each output the sound of "pattern 1" at the "normal" volume. When the control unit 31 of the in-store SSC 3 determines the level of urgency by referring to the urgency information D4, it causes the notification unit 34 of the in-store SSC 3 and the mobile SSC 5 to each notify the notification information corresponding to the notification information D5 based on the determined level of urgency. The control unit 31 may also cause the notification device 4 to notify predetermined notification information based on the urgency level.

Specific examples of the second embodiment are described below. In each of the following specific examples, the mobile SSC5 of each of the outside staff members F2, F3, and F4 is used as an example.

[Example 1]
Fig. 11 is an example of the procedure of specific example 1 of the refueling process executed in the refueling system 10 according to embodiment 2. Note that the same processes as those in the refueling process of the refueling system 10 according to embodiment 1 (see Fig. 9) are given the same step numbers and their explanations are omitted. Here, the process after the user removes the refueling nozzle from the refueling machine 2 and the refueling machine 2 outputs a request for refueling permission will be explained. The process up to the process in which the refueling machine 2 outputs a request for refueling permission is the same as in embodiment 1.

When the control unit 31 (alarm processing unit 313) of the in-store SSC 3 receives the request for fueling permission from the fuel dispenser 2 (S34), it determines the current level of urgency (S341). Specifically, the control unit 31 refers to the terminal status information D3 (see FIG. 10A) and determines the level of urgency corresponding to the current communication status and setting status of each portable SSC 5. Here, for example, if each of the portable SSCs 5 of the outside staff F2, F3, and F4 is "available for communication," the control unit 31 determines the current level of urgency to be "0." Step S34 is an example of an acquisition step of the present invention.

When the control unit 31 determines that the urgency level is "0" (S341), in the following step S35, it transmits the request for refueling permission acquired from the refueling machine 2 and a notification instruction for notification information corresponding to urgency level "0" (see FIG. 10C) to the portable SSC 5 of each of the outside staff members F2, F3, and F4. Steps S341 and S35 are an example of a notification step of the present invention. Step S35 is also an example of a request step of the present invention.

In each of the portable SSCs 5 of the outside staff F2, F3, and F4, when the control unit 51 acquires the request for fueling permission and the notification instruction from the in-store SSC 3 (S53), the control unit 51 causes the operation display unit 53 to display (pop-up display) the request information corresponding to the request for fueling permission (S54). For example, the control unit 51 causes the operation display unit 53 to display (pop-up display) an operation screen (see FIG. 7) on which the outside staff performs the operation to give the fueling permission. The operation screen displays information on the payment method ("credit card"), the type of fuel ("high octane gasoline"), and the quantity ("full tank"), as well as information on the fueling lane (fueling lane R1) in which the fueling machine 2 (here, the fueling machine 2A) that requested the fueling permission is installed. The control unit 51 also displays a permission button B1 that accepts the operation of giving the fueling permission from the outside staff. The control unit 51 also refers to the notification information D5 (see FIG. 10C) and causes the portable SSC 5 to notify notification information indicating that the request for fueling permission has been output from the fueling machine 2. For example, the control unit 51 may output a sound of "Pattern 1" corresponding to an urgency level of "0" at a normal volume from a speaker mounted on the portable SSC 5. The control unit 51 may also vibrate a vibrator mounted on the portable SSC 5 with a vibration pattern corresponding to an urgency level of "0".

When the control unit 51 receives an operation from an outside staff member to give permission for refueling (permission operation), it notifies the in-store SSC 3 of that fact.

In the in-store SSC 3, when the control unit 31 determines the urgency level (S341), the control unit 31 causes the operation display unit 33 of the in-store SSC 3 to display an operation screen (not shown) on which the in-store staff performs an operation to grant the refueling permission. The operation screen displays information on the payment method ("credit card"), fuel type ("high octane gasoline"), and quantity ("full tank"), as well as information on the refueling lane (refueling lane R1) in which the refueling machine 2 (here, the refueling machine 2A) that requested the refueling permission is installed. The control unit 31 also displays a permission button that accepts an operation from the in-store staff to grant the refueling permission. The control unit 31 also refers to the notification information D5 (see FIG. 10C) and causes the notification unit 34 and the notification device 4 to notify notification information indicating that the request for refueling permission has been output from the refueling machine 2. For example, the control unit 31 causes the notification unit 34 and the notification device 4 to output the sound of "Pattern 1" corresponding to the urgency level "0" at a normal volume.

Next, in step S37, the control unit 31 determines whether or not an operation to grant permission to refuel (permission operation) has been received from an in-store staff member or an outside staff member. If the control unit 31 receives the permission operation (S37: Yes), the process proceeds to step S38. The control unit 31 waits until the permission operation is received (S37: No).

When an in-store staff member grants the refueling permission at the in-store SSC 3, or when any of the outside staff members F2, F3, and F4 grants the refueling permission at the mobile SSC 5, in step S38, the control unit 31 of the in-store SSC 3 transmits the refueling permission to the refueling machine 2 that requested the refueling permission (here, refueling machine 2A). Step S38 is an example of a permission step of the present invention.

[Example 2]
FIG. 12 is an example of a procedure of specific example 2 of the refueling process executed in the refueling system 10 according to the second embodiment.

When the control unit 31 (alarm processing unit 313) of the in-store SSC 3 receives the request for permission to refuel from the refueling machine 2 (S34), it refers to the terminal status information D3 (see FIG. 10A) and determines the urgency level corresponding to the current communication status and setting status of each portable SSC 5 (S341). Here, for example, if the setting status by the outside staff F2, F3 is "unavailable," the control unit 31 determines the current urgency level to be "1."

When the control unit 31 determines that the urgency level is "1" (S341), in the following step S35, it transmits the request for refueling permission acquired from the refueling machine 2 and a notification instruction of the notification information corresponding to urgency level "1" (see FIG. 10C) to the portable SSC 5 of the outside staff F4. On the other hand, the control unit 31 does not transmit the request for refueling permission and the notification instruction to the portable SSC 5 of the outside staff F2 and F3.

In the portable SSC 5 of the outside staff member F4, when the control unit 51 acquires the request for fueling permission and the notification instruction from the in-store SSC 3 (S53), it causes the operation display unit 53 to display request information corresponding to the request for fueling permission (S54). The control unit 51 also causes the permission button B1 to be displayed, which accepts an operation from the outside staff member F4 to grant fueling permission. The control unit 51 also refers to the notification information D5 (see FIG. 10C), and causes the speaker mounted on the portable SSC 5 to output a "Pattern 2" sound corresponding to urgency level "1" at a volume louder than normal. The control unit 51 may also cause the vibrator mounted on the portable SSC 5 to vibrate with a vibration pattern corresponding to urgency level "1".

When the control unit 51 receives an operation from an outside staff member to give permission for refueling (permission operation), it notifies the in-store SSC 3 of that fact.

At the in-store SSC 3, the control unit 31 displays an operation screen on which the operation for granting permission for refueling is performed. The control unit 31 also references the notification information D5 (see FIG. 10C) and causes the notification unit 34 and the notification device 4 to output a "Pattern 2" sound, which corresponds to an urgency level of "1," at a volume louder than normal.

Next, in step S37, the control unit 31 determines whether or not an operation to grant permission to refuel (permission operation) has been received from an in-store staff member or an outside staff member. If the control unit 31 receives the permission operation (S37: Yes), the process proceeds to step S38. The control unit 31 waits until the permission operation is received (S37: No).

When the in-store staff grants the refueling permission at the in-store SSC 3, or when the outside-store staff F4 grants the refueling permission at the mobile SSC 5, in step S38, the control unit 31 of the in-store SSC 3 transmits the refueling permission to the refueling machine 2 (refueling machine 2A) that requested the refueling permission.

[Example 3]
FIG. 13 is an example of a procedure of a specific example 3 of a refueling process executed in the refueling system 10 according to the second embodiment.

When the control unit 31 (alarm processing unit 313) of the in-store SSC 3 receives the request for permission to refuel from the refueling machine 2 (S34), it refers to the terminal status information D3 (see FIG. 10A) and determines the urgency level corresponding to the current communication status and setting status of each portable SSC 5 (S341). Here, for example, if the communication status of the portable SSC 5 of outside-store staff F2 and F3 is "communication not possible" and the setting status by outside-store staff F4 is "not available," the control unit 31 determines the current urgency level to be "2." Note that here, it is assumed that the communication status of the portable SSC 5 of outside-store staff F4 is "communication possible."

When the control unit 31 determines that the urgency level is "2" (S341), in the following step S35, it transmits the request for refueling permission acquired from the refueling machine 2 and a notification instruction of the notification information corresponding to urgency level "2" (see FIG. 10C) to the mobile SSC 5 of outside staff F4. In this case, the request for refueling permission should not normally be transmitted to outside staff F4 who is set as unavailable, but since the mobile SSC 5 of other outside staff F2 and F3 is unable to communicate, the control unit 31 transmits the request for refueling permission and the notification instruction to the mobile SSC 5 of outside staff F4 who is exceptionally available for communication. Note that this situation is registered as urgency level "2" in the urgency information D4.

In the portable SSC 5 of the outside staff member F4, when the control unit 51 acquires the request for fueling permission and the notification instruction from the in-store SSC 3 (S53), it causes the operation display unit 53 to display request information corresponding to the request for fueling permission (S54). The control unit 51 also causes the permission button B1 to be displayed, which accepts an operation from the outside staff member F4 to grant fueling permission. The control unit 51 also refers to the notification information D5 (see FIG. 10C) and causes the speaker mounted on the portable SSC 5 to output a "Pattern 3" sound corresponding to urgency level "2" at maximum volume. The control unit 51 may also cause the vibrator mounted on the portable SSC 5 to vibrate with a vibration pattern corresponding to urgency level "2".

When the control unit 51 receives an operation (permission operation) from the outside staff member F4 to grant permission for refueling, it notifies the in-store SSC 3 of that fact.

At the in-store SSC 3, the control unit 31 displays an operation screen on which the operation for granting permission for refueling is performed. In addition, the control unit 31 references the notification information D5 (see FIG. 10C) and causes the notification unit 34 and the notification device 4 to output a sound of "tone 1," which corresponds to urgency level "2," at a volume louder than normal.

Next, in step S37, the control unit 31 determines whether or not an operation to grant permission to refuel (permission operation) has been received from an in-store staff member or an outside staff member. If the control unit 31 receives the permission operation (S37: Yes), the process proceeds to step S38. The control unit 31 waits until the permission operation is received (S37: No).

When the in-store staff grants the refueling permission at the in-store SSC 3, or when the outside-store staff F4 grants the refueling permission at the mobile SSC 5, in step S38, the control unit 31 of the in-store SSC 3 transmits the refueling permission to the refueling machine 2 (refueling machine 2A) that requested the refueling permission.

[Example 4]
FIG. 14 is an example of a procedure of a specific example 4 of a refueling process executed in the refueling system 10 according to the second embodiment.

When the control unit 31 (alarm processing unit 313) of the in-store SSC 3 receives the request for permission to refuel from the refueling machine 2 (S34), it refers to the terminal status information D3 (see FIG. 10A) and determines the urgency level corresponding to the current communication status and setting status of each portable SSC 5 (S341). Here, for example, if the communication status of the portable SSC 5 of the outside staff F2, F3, and F4 is "communication not possible" and there is no portable SSC 5 with which communication is possible, the control unit 31 determines the current urgency level to be "3."

When the control unit 31 determines that the urgency level is "3" (S341), in the subsequent step S35, it does not transmit the refueling permission request and notification instruction obtained from the refueling machine 2 to any of the portable SSCs 5.

The control unit 31 causes the in-store SSC 3 to display an operation screen for performing an operation to grant the fuel refueling permission. The control unit 31 also refers to the notification information D5 (see FIG. 10C) and causes the notification unit 34 and the notification device 4 to output a sound of "tone 2" corresponding to urgency level "3" at maximum volume.

Next, in step S37, the control unit 31 determines whether or not an operation to grant permission for refueling (permission operation) has been received from the in-store staff. If the control unit 31 receives the permission operation (S37: Yes), the process proceeds to step S38. The control unit 31 waits until the permission operation is received (S37: No).

When the urgency level is "3," permission to refuel cannot be obtained from staff outside the store, and permission to refuel must be obtained from staff in the store. For this reason, if permission to refuel cannot be given immediately, such as when staff are not present in the store, the user cannot refuel and must wait. Therefore, the control unit 31 issues an instruction (announcement instruction) to the refueling operation terminal 1A to display or output a message (such as "Please wait a moment") indicating that the start of the refueling operation will be delayed (S37: No) until permission to refuel is given by the staff in the store (S37: No). When the refueling operation terminal 1A receives the instruction, it displays or outputs the message.

If the in-store staff grants the refueling permission at the in-store SSC 3, in step S38, the control unit 31 of the in-store SSC 3 transmits the refueling permission to the refueling machine 2 (refueling machine 2A) that requested the refueling permission.

As described above, in the fuel supply system 10 according to the second embodiment, the control unit 31 (alarm processing unit 313) of the in-store SSC 3 refers to the memory unit 32 (terminal status information D3, urgency information D4) which stores the communication status of the portable SSC 5, the setting status by the outside staff, and the urgency in advance in association with each other, and determines the urgency corresponding to the current communication status and setting status of the portable SSC 5. The control unit 31 (alarm processing unit 313) then refers to the memory unit 32 (alarm information D5) which stores the urgency and the alarm information (sound type, volume, etc.) in advance in association with each other, and causes the alarm information corresponding to the current urgency of the portable SSC 5 to be alarmed in at least one of the portable SSC 5 and the in-store SSC 3.

The notification processing unit 313 also determines the degree of urgency based on the number of portable SSCs 5 that can grant the refueling permission in response to the refueling permission request. Specifically, the notification processing unit 313 may determine the degree of urgency based on the number of portable SSCs 5 that are currently capable of communication ("communication possible" in the terminal status information D3), may determine the degree of urgency based on the number of portable SSCs 5 that are currently capable of response ("available" in the terminal status information D3), or may determine the degree of urgency based on the number of portable SSCs 5 that are currently capable of communication and capable of response.

Then, the control unit 31 (request processing unit 314) of the in-store SSC 3 transmits the request for fueling permission and a notification instruction according to the urgency to a portable SSC 5 identified based on the urgency among the multiple portable SSCs 5. For example, when the urgency is "0", the request processing unit 314 outputs the request for fueling permission and the notification instruction to all portable SSCs 5 (specific example 1), when the urgency is "1", the request processing unit 314 outputs the request for fueling permission and the notification instruction to a portable SSC 5 that can respond (specific example 2), when the urgency is "2", the request for fueling permission and the notification instruction are exceptionally output to a portable SSC 5 that can communicate but cannot respond (specific example 3), and when the urgency is "3", the request for fueling permission and the notification instruction are not output to the portable SSC 5, but a notification instruction is issued at the in-store SSC 3 (specific example 4). In this way, the control unit 31 has a configuration for switching the destination of the request for fueling permission according to the urgency.

The communication status is at least one of the following: whether the battery of the portable SSC 5 is dead, whether there is a communication failure, and whether the vehicle is within a communication area; and the setting status is a setting status set by a staff member in the portable SSC 5 as to whether or not the vehicle can respond to the request for permission to refuel. The notification information is information that includes at least one of sound, voice, vibration, and light.

As described above, the refueling system 10 according to the second embodiment is a refueling system that refuels a refueling target based on a refueling operation by a user at a refueling station. The refueling system 10 also acquires a request for refueling permission output from the refueling machine 2, and transmits the acquired request for refueling permission to an in-store SSC 3 located in a store within the refueling station GS1, and to a portable SSC 5 carried by a staff member who grants the refueling permission in response to the request for refueling permission. The refueling system 10 also causes at least one of the in-store SSC 3 and the portable SSC 5 to issue notification information indicating that the request for refueling permission has been output from the refueling machine 2, based on response availability information including at least one of the communication status of the portable SSC 5 and the setting status of the staff member.

According to the above configuration, for example, if the battery of the portable SSC 5 runs out, a communication failure occurs in the network N4, or the portable SSC 5 moves out of the area where it can communicate with the in-store SSC 3, the in-store SSC 3 and the portable SSC 5 can emit a predetermined sound or the like depending on the level of urgency, so that the staff can be sure that a request for refueling permission is being output from the refueling machine 2. This allows the staff to notice the request for refueling permission and quickly grant it, so that the user can perform the refueling operation immediately after removing the refueling nozzle 23 from the main body of the refueling machine 2. This allows the user to perform the refueling operation smoothly.

Here, the refueling system 10 according to the second embodiment has the configuration of the refueling system 10 according to the first embodiment. Therefore, when the refueling system 10 according to the second embodiment determines (predicts) that a request for refueling permission will be output from the refueling machine 2, it is capable of transmitting an advance notification to at least one of the in-store SSC 3 and the portable SSC 5, notifying in advance that the request for refueling permission will be output later.

[Embodiment 3]
The fuel supply system 10 according to the third embodiment is a configuration in which the configuration for transmitting the advance notification in the fuel supply system 10 according to the first embodiment is omitted from the fuel supply system 10 according to the second embodiment. For example, the fuel supply system 10 according to the third embodiment may be a configuration in which the notification processing unit 312 of the in-store SSC 3 shown in Fig. 2 is omitted. In this case, in the fuel supply process executed in the fuel supply system 10 according to the third embodiment, the processes of steps S13, S31 to S33, S51, and S52 of the fuel supply process shown in Fig. 9 may be omitted.

In each embodiment, the refueling operation terminal 1, the refueling machine 2, the in-store SSC 3, and the portable SSC 5 correspond to the refueling system of the present invention, but the refueling system of the present invention may include one or more of the components of the refueling operation terminal 1, the refueling machine 2, the in-store SSC 3, and the portable SSC 5. For example, the refueling system of the present invention may be configured by the refueling operation terminal 1 alone. Also, the refueling operation terminal 1 and the in-store SSC 3 may be configured by an integrated device (a management server or a POS terminal).

The fuel supply system according to the present invention can be constructed by freely combining the above-described embodiments, or by appropriately modifying or partially omitting each embodiment, within the scope of the invention described in each claim.

1: Refueling operation terminal 2: Refueling machine 3: In-store SSC
4: Notification device 5: Portable SSC
10: Fuel supply system 23: Fuel supply nozzle 24: Nozzle sensor 25: Fuel supply pump 111: Display processing unit 112: Reception processing unit 113: Notification processing unit 211: Reception processing unit 212: Request processing unit 311: Acquisition processing unit 312: Notification processing unit 313: Notification processing unit 314: Request processing unit 315: Permission processing unit GS1: Gas station M1: Specific information MA: Maintenance areas R1 to R6: Fuel supply lane

Claims (10)

A refueling system that refuels a refueling target based on a refueling operation of a user at a gas station,
an acquisition processing unit that acquires a refueling permission request output from a refueling aircraft;
a request processing unit that transmits the request for fueling permission acquired by the acquisition processing unit to a store terminal that is disposed in a store within the gas station and to a mobile terminal carried by a person in charge of granting the fueling permission in response to the request for fueling permission;
a notification processing unit that notifies, at least in one of the store terminal and the mobile terminal, notification information indicating that a request for refueling permission has been output from the refueling machine, based on response availability information including at least in one of a communication status of the mobile terminal and a setting status of the person in charge;
Equipped with
The notification processing unit determines a degree of urgency based on the response availability information, and notifies the notification information according to the determined degree of urgency. the notification processing unit refers to a storage unit that stores the communication status, the setting status, and the urgency in advance in association with each other, and determines the urgency corresponding to the current communication status and the setting status of the mobile terminal;
The fueling system of claim 1 . the notification processing unit refers to a storage unit that stores the urgency level and the notification information in advance in association with each other, and causes the store terminal and/or the mobile terminal to notify the notification information corresponding to the current urgency level of the mobile terminal.
3. The fueling system of claim 2 . the notification processing unit determines the urgency level based on the number of the mobile terminals that can give the refueling permission in response to the request for refueling permission.
A fuel supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 . the request processing unit transmits the request for refueling permission to a mobile terminal identified based on the urgency level among the plurality of mobile terminals.
A fuel supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 . A refueling system that refuels a refueling target based on a refueling operation of a user at a gas station,
an acquisition processing unit that acquires a refueling permission request output from a refueling aircraft;
a request processing unit that transmits the request for fueling permission acquired by the acquisition processing unit to a store terminal that is disposed in a store within the gas station and to a mobile terminal carried by a person in charge of granting the fueling permission in response to the request for fueling permission;
a notification processing unit that notifies, at least in one of the store terminal and the mobile terminal, notification information indicating that a request for refueling permission has been output from the refueling machine, based on response availability information including at least in one of a communication status of the mobile terminal and a setting status of the person in charge;
Equipped with
The communication status is at least one of a battery status of the mobile terminal, a communication failure, and a communication status of the mobile terminal within a communication available area;
A refueling system , wherein the setting status is a setting status set by the person in charge on the mobile terminal as to whether or not to respond to the request for refueling permission . A refueling system that refuels a refueling target based on a refueling operation of a user at a gas station,
an acquisition processing unit that acquires a request for refueling permission output from a refueling aircraft;
a request processing unit that transmits the request for fueling permission acquired by the acquisition processing unit to a store terminal that is disposed in a store within the gas station and to a mobile terminal carried by a person in charge of granting the fueling permission in response to the request for fueling permission;
a notification processing unit that notifies, at least in one of the store terminal and the mobile terminal, notification information indicating that a request for refueling permission has been output from the refueling machine, based on response availability information including at least in one of a communication status of the mobile terminal and a setting status of the person in charge;
Equipped with
A refueling system , wherein the notification information includes at least one of sound, voice, vibration, and light. A refueling system that refuels a refueling target based on a refueling operation of a user at a gas station,
an acquisition processing unit that acquires a refueling permission request output from a refueling aircraft;
a request processing unit that transmits the request for fueling permission acquired by the acquisition processing unit to a store terminal that is disposed in a store within the gas station and to a mobile terminal carried by a person in charge of granting the fueling permission in response to the request for fueling permission;
a notification processing unit that notifies, at least in one of the store terminal and the mobile terminal, notification information indicating that a request for refueling permission has been output from the refueling machine, based on response availability information including at least in one of a communication status of the mobile terminal and a setting status of the person in charge;
a notification processing unit that, when it is determined that the request for refueling permission will be output from the refueling machine, transmits a prior notification to at least one of the store terminal and the mobile terminal, which notifies the store terminal and the mobile terminal in advance that the request for refueling permission will be output later;
A fuel supply system comprising: A refueling method for refueling a refueling target based on a refueling operation of a user at a gas station, comprising:
One or more processors
An acquisition step of acquiring a request for refueling permission outputted from a refueling aircraft;
a request step of transmitting the request for fueling permission acquired by the acquisition step to a store terminal disposed in a store within the gas station and to a mobile terminal carried by a person in charge of granting the fueling permission in response to the request for fueling permission;
a notification step of causing at least one of the store terminal and the mobile terminal to notify notification information indicating that a request for refueling permission has been output from the refueling machine based on availability information including at least one of a communication status and a setting status of the mobile terminal;
Run
A refueling method , wherein in the notifying step, a degree of urgency is determined based on the action possibility information, and the notifying information according to the determined degree of urgency is notified . A fuel supply program for supplying fuel to a fuel supply target based on a fuel supply operation of a user at a gas station,
An acquisition step of acquiring a request for refueling permission outputted from a refueling aircraft;
a request step of transmitting the request for fueling permission acquired by the acquisition step to a store terminal disposed in a store within the gas station and to a mobile terminal carried by a person in charge of granting the fueling permission in response to the request for fueling permission;
a notification step of causing at least one of the store terminal and the mobile terminal to notify notification information indicating that a request for refueling permission has been output from the refueling machine based on availability information including at least one of a communication status and a setting status of the mobile terminal;
A fueling program for causing one or more processors to execute the following :
In the notifying step, a degree of urgency is determined based on the action possibility information, and the notification information according to the determined degree of urgency is notified.