JP7708903B2 - Transportation servers and computer programs - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to information processing technology for smoothly implementing travel by train, bus, airplane, etc., and car sharing or rental cars for travel after getting off at a train or bus station or airport.

The IC cards issued by railway companies to simplify the payment of fares for railway services and the like are called transportation IC cards or transportation electronic money. These transportation IC cards record individual identification information, personal information linked to it, the amount charged, and a minimum (most recent) boarding and alighting record in the built-in IC chip. Past boarding history and deposit and withdrawal information are then collected and managed on a dedicated management server using the individual identification information as a key.

Meanwhile, vehicle sharing services in which a plurality of users share a plurality of vehicles are provided by service management companies and are becoming widespread. Vehicle sharing services include rental car services and car sharing services.
Users of car sharing services register as members of the service and then use a reservation system to reserve a car sharing vehicle (a vehicle eligible for the service) in advance using a smartphone or personal computer to inform the service owner of the time period during which they intend to use the vehicle (see Figures 1 and 2).

As shown in Figure 1, when starting to use car sharing, a member card with a member ID written on a built-in IC chip is read into the card reader that is an on-board device in the shared car (1). The member ID read by the card reader is checked against the member database in the car sharing server (2, 3). The unlocking determination means then determines whether or not the door should be unlocked (4), and if it is appropriate, transmits door lock unlocking data (5).

Reservation details data such as the time period of use are sent before using the car sharing service, and when the reservation is completed, reservation completion data is sent in advance from the car sharing server to the car sharing device, and when the member user completes the reservation, the car sharing device often is the only device that unlocks the door lock means (see Figure 2).

Preferential services are also becoming more common, offering cheaper prices when you book public transportation such as trains and airplanes and car sharing at the same time than if you booked them separately.
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses "technology (vehicle management server) that enables users of car sharing or rental car services to smoothly receive preferential services even if they are not aware of the existence of such services when combining the service with other modes of transportation such as railroads" (see Figures 3 and 4).

Patent document 2 discloses "technology (vehicle management server) that enables the maintenance and improvement of convenience for users and rational management of preferential services available to users who combine car sharing or rental car services with other modes of transport such as railways."

Patent document 3 discloses "technology (service fee settlement terminal) that enables the maintenance and improvement of convenience for users and rational management when users of a parking lot that utilizes free time combine the use of the parking lot with other means of transportation such as trains or shopping."

Users who have registered as members of a car sharing service (car sharing users) rarely use the vehicles (shared cars) provided by the car sharing service solely as a means of transportation. They also use public transportation such as trains and buses. In other words, the majority of car sharing users are holders of transportation IC cards.

With the spread of mobile information terminals such as smartphones, there is a growing trend to substitute application software for the services provided by transportation IC cards. In other words, application software that can implement the functions of a transportation IC card is downloaded to a smartphone and the transportation IC ID is entered. Then, it can be used as follows.
That is, the transportation ICID is transmitted to a device that requests it by using a short-range communication chip in the smartphone, or the transportation ICID is output as a two-dimensional barcode on a liquid crystal display and read by a two-dimensional barcode reader.

Patent No. 6473570 JP 2017-199236 A JP 2018-60530 A

As mentioned above, not all boarding and alighting records (boarding and alighting data) are written onto transportation IC cards, but rather only the minimum (most recent) boarding and alighting records. This is because the memory capacity of the built-in IC chip is not large. Also, it is thought that users of transportation IC cards have little need to have all boarding and alighting data written onto them.

However, for car sharing service operators, if they have a history of service usage for more modes of transportation, etc., they will be able to provide member users with information related to a wide variety of services. For example, they can send data on special offers, such as electronic coupons that also serve as advertisements, not only when parking fees are settled, but also when a car sharing reservation is made.

If transportation service providers could obtain data on the usage history of car sharing users, they would be more likely to be able to provide data that would lead to increased usage of other services they offer (such as providing transportation) and to improvements to the content of their services.

The problem that this invention aims to solve is to obtain more service usage history from car sharing users who are holders of transportation IC cards, and to be able to provide them with data such as special offers and advertisements using the obtained boarding and disembarking data.
Another object of the present invention is to enable other service providers to obtain car sharing usage history data and provide special benefits, advertisements, and other data using the obtained car sharing usage history data.

(First Invention)
The first invention relates to a transportation server that transmits and receives data with a car sharing server to manage members and shared cars in order to operate a vehicle sharing service.
The car sharing server mentioned above is,
A member database that stores attribute data of members who have registered in advance to operate the vehicle sharing service and a transportation ID related to a transportation IC card held by the member;
A vehicle management database that accumulates data for managing the shared cars provided in the vehicle sharing service;
A privilege database that accumulates privilege data to be provided to members and condition data for enjoying privilege contents related to the privilege data;
Equipped with.
Furthermore, a car share ID receiving means receives a car share ID distributed to a member who has completed membership registration from a communication terminal related to the member;
a transportation ID transmission means for reading out a transportation ID linked to the car share ID received by the car share ID receiving means from the member database and transmitting the transportation ID to a transportation server that manages various data related to the transportation IC card;
a data receiving means for receiving data associated with the transportation ID transmitted by the transportation ID transmitting means from the transportation server;
A privilege extracting means for extracting privilege data related to the boarding and alighting data received by the boarding and alighting data receiving means from the privilege database;
and a benefit etc. data transmission means for transmitting the benefit etc. data extracted by the benefit etc. extraction means to the communication terminal related to the member. The car sharing server is as described above (see FIG. 6).

(Terminology)
"Vehicle sharing services" include both car sharing services and rental car services, but require membership registration.
A "shared car" is a vehicle owned and rented out by a car sharing service provider and/or a vehicle owned and rented out by a rental car service provider.

A "transportation IC card" is an IC card with a built-in IC that allows data rewriting, data storage, and contactless short-distance communication and does not require a power source, regardless of whether it includes an electronic money payment function. In addition to "railway cards" issued by railway companies and "airline cards" issued by airlines, it also includes "parking cards" issued by parking management companies and "shopping cards" issued by retail and distribution companies (see Figures 3 and 14). Note that information terminals such as mobile terminals equipped with chips that have the same functions as the above-mentioned IC cards are also included in the "transportation IC card" referred to here (see Figure 5).

"Boarding and alighting data" refers to data such as the names of boarding and alighting stations and the times if the transportation card is a railroad card, the names of boarding and alighting airports and flight names if the card is an airline card, specific information such as the name of the parking lot and the times of entry and exit if the card is a parking card, and the name of the store where the purchase was made and the amount paid if the card is a shopping card.

"Benefits, etc." include discounts on car sharing fees, points equivalent to the discount, discounts or free use of other services, priority reservations, advertisements, etc. (Databases storing data on benefits, etc. are shown in the figure as a benefits DB, advertising DB, etc.).
The "benefits etc. extraction means" determines whether the travel time and travel distance of a vehicle (e.g., train, subway, airplane, bus, etc.) related to the administrator of the transportation IC card (in the case of a parking card, parking entry and exit records, etc.) based on the boarding and alighting history in the boarding and alighting data, meets condition data related to the benefits etc. data, and if it is determined that the condition data meets the condition data, extracts the benefits etc. data related to the condition data (see Figure 7).

The "means for transmitting data on benefits, etc." is generally a device capable of transmitting data to a mobile communication terminal related to a member in order to operate the vehicle sharing service, but is not limited to this. For example, if the member is using a shared car, it may be a data transmitting device to a communication terminal (e.g., a multi-function car navigation device) installed in the shared car, or a contactless wireless communication device to a member card indicating that the member is a member of the vehicle sharing service.

(effect)
The member database stores in advance attribute data of members who have registered in advance to operate the vehicle sharing service, and the transportation ID related to the transportation IC card held by the member.
The vehicle management database continually accumulates data used to manage the shared cars provided through the vehicle sharing service.
The privilege data to be provided to the members and condition data for enjoying the privilege contents related to the privilege data are stored in the privilege etc. database as needed.

A car share ID distributed to a member who has completed membership registration is received by a car share ID receiving means from the member's communication terminal.A transportation ID linked to the received car share ID is read from the member database, and a transportation ID sending means sends the transportation ID to a transportation server that manages various data related to transportation IC cards.Boarding and alighting data receiving means receives boarding and alighting data linked to the sent transportation ID from the transportation server.A benefit extraction means extracts benefit data related to the received boarding and alighting data from the benefit database.
The privilege etc. data transmitting means transmits the privilege etc. data to the communication terminal related to the member.

Users of the vehicle sharing service as members do not need to worry about conditions for receiving benefits, such as transportation IC boarding and alighting data, etc. In addition, they can receive benefits if they meet the conditions without having to perform tasks such as reading multiple cards into a card reader.
For vehicle sharing service providers, this will make it easier to deliver the services and benefits they want to provide to users of the vehicle sharing service, and will also be useful in collecting data to improve services.

(Variation 1 of the first invention)
The first invention is more preferably formed as follows.
That is, a vehicle data receiving means is provided for receiving vehicle data of the shared car from a data processing means mounted on the shared car,
The benefit etc. extraction means extracts benefit etc. data related to the vehicle data (see FIG. 8).
Here, "vehicle data" includes vehicle position data using GPS, vehicle engine on/off data, and driving data such as sudden steering and sudden acceleration.

(effect)
The shared car is equipped with a GPS (location information acquisition system) and periodically acquires vehicle data including vehicle location data and engine on/off data. The vehicle data receiving means receives the vehicle data. The special offer etc. extraction means extracts special offer etc. data related to the acquired vehicle data.
The vehicle data changes from moment to moment unless the vehicle is parked, and the special benefit data corresponding to the changes is output from the special benefit data output means.

(Variation 2 of the first invention)
It is more preferable that the boarding and alighting data received by the boarding and alighting data receiving means in the first aspect of the invention includes reservation data for existing reservations (see Figs. 7 and 13).

(Terminology)
"Reservation data" refers to data about the date, time, and location of a reserved boarding trip for railroad and airline cards, data about specific information such as the reserved parking location and the scheduled time of entry and exit for parking cards, and data about the date, time, location, and purchase amount for purchases or services for shopping cards.

(effect)
The privilege etc. extraction means can extract privilege etc. data related to the reservation data.
A user of the vehicle sharing service as a member can obtain information about benefits and the like related to the reservation data, or can obtain the benefits themselves.

(Second Invention)
The second invention relates to a computer program for controlling the car sharing server according to the first invention.
The car sharing server includes a member database that stores attribute data of members who have registered in advance to operate the vehicle sharing service and a transportation ID related to the transportation IC card held by the member;
A vehicle management database that accumulates data for managing the shared cars provided in the vehicle sharing service;
The system further includes a privilege database for storing privilege data to be provided to members and condition data for receiving privileges related to the privilege data.
The computer program is
A car share ID receiving procedure for receiving, from a communication terminal associated with a member, a car share ID distributed to the member who has completed member registration;
a transportation ID transmission procedure for reading out a transportation ID linked to the car share ID received in the car share ID reception procedure from the member database and transmitting the transportation ID to a transportation server that manages various data related to the transportation IC card;
a data reception procedure for receiving data associated with the transportation ID transmitted in the transportation ID transmission procedure from the transportation server;
a privilege etc. extraction step of extracting privilege etc. data related to the boarding and alighting data received in the boarding and alighting data receiving step from the privilege etc. database;
a benefit etc. data transmission step of transmitting the benefit etc. data extracted in the benefit etc. extraction step to the communication terminal related to the member;
The car sharing server executes the above process.

(Variation 1 of the second invention)
The second invention is more preferably formed as follows.
That is, the vehicle data receiving procedure includes receiving vehicle data of the shared car from a data processing means mounted on the shared car,
The benefit etc. extraction means extracts benefit etc. data related to the vehicle data.

(Variation 2 of the second invention)
In the second invention, it is more preferable that the boarding and alighting data received by the boarding and alighting data receiving means includes reservation data.

The computer program according to the second aspect of the present invention is used by installing it in a computer (car sharing server). For example, it is possible to record the program on a recording medium, distribute it, and install it, or to download it via a communication line such as the Internet and then install it.
The recording medium may be a CD-R, a hard disk, a DVD-R, or the like.

(Third Invention)
The third invention relates to a service fee settlement machine (parking fee settlement machine, transportation ticket settlement machine, etc.) for settling a specified fee using the car sharing server according to the first invention.
In other words, it is a service fee settlement machine for settling the specified service fee using a membership card that has the car share ID of that member stored in an IC chip when the user has previously registered as a member to use the vehicle sharing service.
The service fee settlement machine includes a member ID receiving means for reading the car share ID from the member card;
A member ID transmission means for transmitting the car share ID received by the member ID receiving means to a car share server that manages data necessary for the operation of the vehicle sharing service;
A privilege receiving means for receiving data on privileges etc. for a member related to the car share ID transmitted by the member ID transmitting means from the car share server;
a settlement amount calculation means for calculating a settlement amount of the service fee using the benefit data received by the benefit receiving means;
an advertisement data output means for outputting the benefit data to a mobile information terminal related to the member;
(See Figures 10 and 11.)

(Terminology)
The "prescribed fee" is, for example, the settlement of parking fees (see FIG. 10), the purchase of tickets for using transportation services or for entering a prescribed facility (see FIG. 11), etc. It is not limited to the fee for services, but also includes the fee for vending machines selling goods.
The constituent element for outputting "benefits data, etc." is set as "advertising data output means" in order to indicate that benefits data, etc. include advertisements that attract users by offering discounts, etc., and does not mean that the benefits data, etc. is to be processed.

(effect)
The member ID receiving means reads the car share ID from the member card.
The member ID transmitting means transmits the car share ID received by the member ID receiving means to a car share server which manages data necessary for the operation of the vehicle sharing service. The benefit etc. receiving means receives data on benefits etc. for the member related to the transmitted car share ID from the car share server. The settlement amount calculation means calculates the settlement amount of the service fee using the received benefit etc. data. The advertising data output means outputs the benefit etc. data to a mobile information terminal related to the member.

(Fourth Invention)
A fourth aspect of the present invention relates to a computer program for controlling the fee adjustment machine according to the third aspect of the present invention.
The service fee settlement machine is a service fee settlement machine for settling the specified fee using a membership card that has the car share ID of the member stored in an IC chip when the member has registered in advance to use the vehicle sharing service.
The computer program that controls the service charge settlement machine is
a member ID receiving step of reading the car share ID from the member card;
a member ID transmission procedure for transmitting the car share ID received in the member ID reception procedure to a car share server that manages data necessary for the operation of the vehicle sharing service;
A procedure for receiving data on benefits, etc. for the member related to the car share ID transmitted in the member ID transmission procedure from the car share server;
a settlement amount calculation step for calculating a settlement amount for the service fee using the benefit data received in the benefit reception step;
an advertising data output step of outputting the benefit data to a mobile information terminal related to the member;
This was then implemented by the service fee settlement machine.

The computer program according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is used by being installed in a fee adjustment machine. For example, it is possible to record the program on a recording medium, distribute it, and install it, or to download it via a communication line such as the Internet and then install it.

According to the first invention, it has become possible to provide a transportation server that acquires more service usage history (e.g., transportation boarding and alighting data) from car sharing users who are holders of transportation IC cards, and exchanges data with a car sharing server that can provide special offers and advertisements using the acquired boarding and alighting data.
According to the second invention, it has become possible to provide a control program for controlling a transportation server that executes data exchange with a car sharing server that can acquire more service usage history (e.g., transportation boarding and alighting data) from car sharing users who are holders of transportation IC cards, and provide them with special offers and advertisements and other data using the acquired boarding and alighting data.

According to the third invention, it is possible to provide a fare adjustment machine for car sharing users who are holders of transportation IC cards, which can acquire more service usage history (e.g., transportation boarding and alighting data) and provide data such as special offers and advertisements using the acquired boarding and alighting data.
According to the fourth invention, it is possible to provide a control program for controlling a fare adjustment machine that can acquire more service usage history (e.g., transportation boarding and alighting data) from car sharing users who are holders of transportation IC cards, and provide them with special offers and advertising data using the acquired boarding and alighting data.

This is a conceptual diagram showing the hardware and procedures that execute data processing when a member user begins using a shared car in a general car sharing service. This is a conceptual diagram showing the hardware and procedures that execute data processing when a member user reserves a shared car and begins using it. 11 is a flowchart showing a data processing procedure for discounting parking fees based on boarding history data recorded in a transportation IC card. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a data processing procedure and hardware configuration for discounting parking fees based on boarding history data recorded on a transportation IC card. 1 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the pre-registration of a transportation IC card required to implement an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the relationship between car sharing users, a car sharing server, and a transportation server in an embodiment of the present invention. A conceptual diagram showing the data processing function of the benefits etc. extraction means, which is the main part of the present invention, when using car sharing reservation completion data. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the data processing function of the benefit extraction means, which is the main part of the present invention, when using location data of a car sharing shared car. This is a conceptual diagram showing the hardware and procedures that execute data processing when a member user finishes using a shared car in a general car sharing service. A block diagram showing the relationship between car sharing users who use a parking lot, a car sharing server, a transportation server, and a parking fee payment machine. A block diagram showing the relationship between a car sharing server, a transportation server, and a transportation ticket vending machine when a transportation user with a transportation ID purchases a transportation ticket. 13 is a conceptual diagram showing the data processing function of the benefit etc. extraction means in the transportation ticket vending machine and the transportation server. FIG. This is a conceptual diagram showing the data processing function of the benefits etc. extraction means, which is the main part of the present invention, when using location data of shared cars in a car sharing service and reservation data for parking spaces. This is a conceptual diagram showing the data processing function of the benefit extraction means, which is the main part of the present invention, when using location data of a car sharing shared car and shopping data (history). This is a conceptual diagram showing the data processing function of the benefits extraction means, which is the main part of the present invention, when using location data of a car sharing shared car, shopping data (history), and parking lot usage history.

(Overall explanation)
The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the embodiments and drawings. The drawings used here are Figures 5 to 15. However, Figures 1 to 4 will also be referred to as necessary.

(Figure 5)
Figure 5 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the pre-registration of a transportation IC card, which is necessary to execute the following embodiment, and the registration of a car sharing ID obtained when a transportation IC card user becomes a car sharing member to a transportation server.

Figure 5 (a) shows a car sharing user who has already completed membership registration to use the car sharing service pre-registering the transportation IC identification information (ID) of a separately acquired transportation IC card in the car sharing server.

Application software that enables the use of the functions of a transportation IC card is installed on the mobile information terminal (a smartphone is shown) of the car share user, and a transportation ICID, which is an ID assigned to the user, is recorded. A procedure is carried out to register this transportation ICID with the car share server. That is, the transportation ICID transmitting means transmits the transportation ICID to the transportation ICID receiving means of the car share server. The received transportation ICID is linked to the member data of this car share user and stored in the member database.

Figure 5 (b) shows how a transportation IC card user registers the car share ID printed on the membership card obtained when becoming a car sharing member to the transportation server. The transportation IC card user uses their own communication terminal (a laptop computer is shown) as a car share ID transmission means to transmit the car share ID to the transportation server. In the transportation server, the car share ID is received by a car share ID receiving means, and is stored in the member database, linked to the transportation IC card user's transportation IC ID.

When the car sharing user and the transportation user shown in Figure 5 are the same person, the car sharing server and the transportation server will register each other in their respective membership databases.

(Figure 6)
FIG. 6 shows the process up to when a car sharing user uses his/her mobile communication terminal (a smartphone in the figure) to make a car sharing reservation with the car sharing server and receives data on benefits, etc.
The mobile communication terminal is pre-installed with a function as a car sharing member card, and a car sharing ID is also recorded in it. The member card is shown in phantom as being included in the mobile communication terminal.

A car share user transmits reservation data, including the time period when the user wishes to use the shared car, the pick-up location, and the return location, as well as a car share ID that indicates that the user is a member, to the car share server. The transmitted reservation data and car share ID are received by a car share ID receiving means.

The car share ID is checked against a member database to determine whether it is reservation data from a legitimate member, and then the transportation ID linked to the car share ID is extracted from the member database.
In addition, if the reservation data is from a legitimate member, a vehicle management database that stores management data for shared cars determines whether or not the reservation related to the reservation data is possible, and if the reservation is possible, reservation completion data is returned from the reservation completion data output means.

The extracted transportation ID is transmitted from the transportation ID transmission means to the transportation server, and is received by the transportation ID receiving means in the transportation server. Then, the boarding and alighting data linked to the transportation ID is extracted from the boarding and alighting database, and the extracted boarding and alighting data is returned to the car sharing server.

The boarding and alighting data transmitted from the transportation server is received by the boarding and alighting data receiving means in the car sharing server. Then, the bonus etc. extraction means extracts bonus etc. data appropriate for the boarding and alighting data and the reservation completion data from the bonus database and the advertisement database. An example of the extraction will be described later with reference to FIG. 7.
The extracted bonus etc. data is transmitted from the bonus etc. data output means to the portable communication terminal.

For convenience, the aforementioned bonus database and advertising database are illustrated as one database. Bonus data is the content of the bonus that can be obtained when certain conditions (condition data) are met, and the bonus database stores the condition data and bonus data. Advertising data is data for identifying certain target customers and data that shows the contents of products and services to those target customers, and the advertising database stores that advertising data.

(Figure 7)
7 shows an example of how the benefit etc. extraction means extracts benefit etc. data. The benefit etc. extraction means in the car sharing server is the focus of the illustration, along with the benefit database, advertisement database, reservation completion data output means, boarding and alighting data receiving means, and benefit etc. output means, and other components are omitted.

The benefit database and advertisement database store data that doubles as sales promotion information, such as "If you ride Railway Company A five or more times during November, you will receive a 10% off coupon."
The reservation completion data includes the reservation date (December 8th), the start time of use (15:00), the end time of use (17:30), the reservation location (Toyosu), the return location (Toyosu), etc. Naturally, the data on car sharing usage is also included.
The boarding and alighting data includes boarding history for several weeks and boarding and alighting reservation data.

The means for extracting benefits etc. determined that the completed car sharing reservation data mentioned above met the conditions that the reservation location and return location were Toyosu, and that the boarding and alighting history included use of a specified railway company a specified number of times or for a specified amount, and extracted discount coupon "a" as the data for benefits etc.
The discount coupon for "A" was a 20% discount coupon for a fresh fish restaurant in Toyosu, and its purpose was to show gratitude for using the train instead of a taxi.

In addition, the privilege etc. extraction means extracts the discount coupon "a" as privilege etc. data by using the boarding and alighting reservation data from the boarding and alighting data.
Coupon "b" is a coupon that provides a 15% discount on rental cars in Fukushima, based on the reservation data of passengers planning to get off the car in Fukushima. A deadline for applications is also set to solidify reservations for the Christmas season.

As described above, the benefit etc. extraction means compares the applicable period, applicable area, applicable conditions, car sharing usage time and day, etc. in the advertisement data and benefit data with the reservation completion data and boarding and disembarking data to extract optimal advertisements and coupons. An upper limit (e.g., five) is set for the number of optimal coupons. It is also preferable to assign priorities within the upper limit.

Although not shown in the figure, the above prioritization may be performed by using the member's usage history data in the member database. For example, if there is a history of rental car usage in a regional city, the above-mentioned "b" would be given higher priority than "a."

(Figure 8)
8 also shows an example of how the special offer extraction unit extracts special offer data. Here, the special offer extraction unit extracts predetermined special offer data by using the location data of the shared car (or a combination with off data indicating that the engine is stopped).
In addition, while Figure 8 illustrates a clock installed in the car sharing server, in other embodiments the server also has a built-in clock, which is used as appropriate as an extraction condition in the bonus etc. extraction means.

The shared car constantly acquires vehicle location data by receiving radio waves from GPS satellites. This location data is transmitted to the car sharing server at specified intervals. The transmitted location data is received by the location data receiving means of the car sharing server and stored in the vehicle management database, and can also be used by the bonus etc. extraction means to extract bonus etc. data.

Let us assume that the vehicle location data indicates Gotanda-ku, Tokyo, the return location of the shared car is Gotanda, and the scheduled return time (15:30) is approaching. In this case, the means for extracting data on benefits, etc. judges that advertising data "c" is optimal and extracts it. "c" is a campaign offering free drinks and half-price cakes for today only at a newly opened cafe in Gotanda.

The extracted data on benefits, etc. as advertising data is transmitted from the benefit output means to the shared car and communicated to the shared car user via a multi-function car navigation device installed in the shared car. It is assumed that the shared car user will visit the cafe after returning the shared car, and this data on benefits, etc. is also transmitted from the benefit output means to the mobile information terminal of the shared car user (not shown).
In addition, the vehicle data receiving means may receive engine-off data as vehicle data, and transmit data such as bonuses to the mobile information terminal of the shared car user only when the location data close to the time when the engine-off data was received is within Gotanda-ku, Tokyo. This reduces the total amount of data transmission, thereby saving on communication fees, or suppresses the transmission of unnecessary data to the shared car user.

(Figure 9)
FIG. 9 shows the actions taken by a member user at the end of using a shared car, and the relationship between the shared car data processing device and the car sharing server.
The multi-function car navigation device of the shared car acquires the vehicle's position data and transmits it to the car sharing server via the data transmission means. Therefore, the car sharing server knows that the shared car is near the return location. In addition, the data transmission means acquires engine off data from the vehicle indicating that the engine has been stopped and transmits it to the car sharing server. Therefore, the car sharing server receives the vehicle data including the engine off data.

After parking the shared car at the return location, the member user gets out of the shared car, touches the car sharing membership card to the vehicle unlocking sensor to transmit the car sharing ID via short-range wireless communication, and locks the shared car. The car sharing ID transmitted to the vehicle unlocking sensor is transmitted to the car sharing server via the data transmission means and stored in the vehicle management database.

In the car sharing server, discount data stored in the advertisement database and the benefit database is extracted using data such as the start and end times of use from the usage data in the vehicle management database, and various historical data stored in the member database, and a fee calculation means calculates the usage fee for the shared car. The calculated usage fee is then sent to the mobile information terminal associated with the member user. Together with the usage fee, information from the benefit database and the advertisement database, such as benefits for the next use, is sent.

(Figure 10)
Figure 10 shows the data processing that takes place between the parking fee payment machine, the car sharing server, and the transportation server when a car sharing user who has already registered a transportation ID uses a parking lot.

When a car share user parks a shared car in a parking lot and pays the parking fee, the parking fee payment machine requests the user to insert the parking ticket and touch the membership card. The car share user has the parking ticket data reading means read the parking ticket they received when they started using the parking lot. The car share user also touches the membership card (including cases where the membership card is installed as data on a mobile information terminal, as shown by the dashed line in the figure) to the member ID receiving means (card reader). When touched, the member ID receiving means reads the car share ID stored in the IC chip in the member card via short-range wireless communication.

The read car share ID is sent to the car share server by the member ID sending means. The sent car share ID is received by the car share ID receiving means and compared with the member database. Then, the transportation ID linked to the car share ID is sent to the transportation server.

In the transportation server, the transportation ID receiving means receives the transportation ID, accesses the boarding and alighting database in which the boarding and alighting data is accumulated, and extracts the boarding and alighting data linked to the transportation ID. Then, the boarding and alighting data transmitting means transmits the extracted boarding and alighting data to the car sharing server.

In the car sharing server, the boarding and alighting data receiving means receives the boarding and alighting data, and extracts bonus data and advertising data appropriate for the boarding and alighting data from a bonus database and an advertising database. The extracted bonus data and other data are then transmitted to the parking fee payment machine.

In the parking fee settlement machine, the privilege data receiving means receives the privilege data. Then, the settlement amount calculation means calculates the settlement amount using the entry time data read from the parking ticket. For example, if the privilege data includes a discount on the parking fee, the settlement amount will be calculated taking the discount into account.
The calculated amount is communicated to the car sharing user via a payment output means (e.g., an electronic display or a speaker). The car sharing user who watches the payment output means pays the amount (see FIG. 4). The parking fee may be added up when the car sharing service ends (payment at this stage may be omitted).

If the parking fee payment machine is equipped with advertising data output means capable of wireless communication with a mobile information terminal, advertising data that has not been used for payment among the above-mentioned bonus data is transmitted. In the figure, the advertising data is shown being transmitted via wireless communication, but this is not limited to this. For example, a two-dimensional barcode may be output to an LCD panel, and the two-dimensional barcode may be read by the camera function of the mobile information terminal associated with the car share user.

(Figure 11)
11 shows how data is processed between a transportation ticket vending machine, a car share server, and a transportation server when a transportation user who has registered a car share ID in advance (a user who carries a transportation ID issued by a company that provides rail services) purchases a transportation ticket to use the transportation service. The transportation ticket vending machine is not limited to rail tickets, but also includes buses, ferries, and the like.

When this transportation user wishes to pay the fare for the transportation ticket, the transportation ticket vending machine requests the user to touch the transportation card. The transportation user touches the transportation card to the member ID receiving means (card reader). When touched, the member ID receiving means reads the transportation ID stored in the IC chip in the member card by short-range wireless communication.

The transportation ID read by the transportation ticket vending machine is transmitted to the transportation server by the member ID transmission means. The transmitted transportation ID is received by the transportation ID reception means and compared with the member database. Then, the car share ID linked to the transportation ID is transmitted to the car share server.

In the car sharing server, the car sharing ID receiving means receives the car sharing ID linked to the transportation ID, accesses the member database in which the car sharing usage history data is stored, and extracts the usage history data linked to the car sharing ID. The usage history transmitting means then transmits the extracted usage history data to the transportation server.

In the transportation server, the usage history data is received by the usage history receiving means, and bonus data and advertising data appropriate for the usage history data are extracted from the bonus database and advertising database. The extracted bonus data is then transmitted to the transportation ticket vending machine.

In the transportation ticket vending machine, the benefit data receiving means receives the benefit data. Then, the settlement amount calculation means calculates the settlement amount using the destination data input by the transportation user. For example, if the benefit data includes a discount based on the car sharing usage history, the settlement amount will be calculated taking the discount into account.
The calculated fare is transmitted to the transportation user via a fare output means (for example, an electronic display or a speaker). The transportation user who sees the fare output means pays the fare.

If the transportation ticket vending machine is equipped with advertising data output means capable of wireless communication with a mobile information terminal, advertising data that has not been used for settlement among the above-mentioned benefit data, etc. is transmitted. In the figure, the advertising data is shown being transmitted by wireless communication, but this is not limited to this. For example, a two-dimensional barcode may be output to an LCD panel, and the two-dimensional barcode may be read by the camera function of the mobile information terminal associated with the car share user.

(Figure 12)
FIG. 12 shows an example of what kind of privilege data is extracted by the privilege etc. extraction means shown in FIG.

A transportation user inputs destination data using a touch panel as a destination data input means in the transportation ticket vending machine. For this destination data, the sale date is December 8th, the boarding date is December 24th, the boarding station is Omiya, the disembarking station is Kitakata, the determined departure time is 13:00, and the arrival time is 17:30, and the ticket can be purchased.

Based on the travel date and destination of this ticket, the benefit extraction means extracts benefit data, such as a 20% discount coupon for car sharing in Fukushima Prefecture, and outputs it to the transportation ticket vending machine. The benefit output means of the transportation ticket vending machine outputs the benefit data on the screen as characters or a pattern, or outputs it as a two-dimensional barcode that can be easily obtained by the user making the payment using their own mobile information terminal (not shown).

The car sharing usage history received from the car sharing server includes reservation data in addition to the usage history. The reservation data includes reservations from 17:30 to 19:30 on December 4th and from 12:30 to 14:30 on December 5th.
Although a specific example will be omitted, the benefit etc. extraction means can extract appropriate advertisements and benefits using not only the usage history but also the reservation data.

(Figure 13)
FIG. 13 shows a procedure for extracting benefit and other data using parking history and reservation data in the parking lot management server.
The location data receiving means receives the location data, and receives parking history and reservation data from the parking management server. Suppose that the parking history and reservation data includes a parking reservation for December 11th from 12:00 to 15:00 in Higashi-ku, Nagoya. If the vehicle location received by the location data receiving means is near Nagoya, the benefit etc. extraction means extracts a coupon for lunch in an underground mall in Nagoya, which is "d."

In the above example, we have assumed that a car sharing member user is using a shared car, but the above "d" can also be extracted if the member user reserves the car for use in Nagoya when reserving the car.

(Figure 14)
FIG. 14 shows a procedure for extracting bonus and other data using shopping data in a retail server.
A retail server is a server that manages shopping history data, reward points, and the like based on membership cards issued by retailers such as convenience stores and shopping centers.

Suppose the shopping data receiving means receives shopping history data from a retail server, and the shopping history data indicates that the total amount for November was 34,500 yen. Also, suppose that the location data receiving means receives indicates that the location of the shared car is in Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo.
In this case, the benefit etc. extraction means extracts a member-only discount coupon for the year-end sale at the shopping mall in Shinagawa of "e", as it matches the condition data of "customers whose total shopping amount in November is 20,000 yen or more excluding tax". Then, it transmits the coupon to the mobile information terminal of the shared car user.

(Figure 15)
15 shows the shopping data in the retail server and the procedure for extracting the benefit data using the parking lot management server. It is assumed that a car sharing member user uses a parking lot near the store where the user goes shopping using a shared car. The procedure for the car sharing server to obtain the retail ID and parking ID related to the shared member user in advance and to transmit the retail ID and parking ID to the retail server and the parking lot management server is omitted.

The benefit etc. extraction means extracts optimal benefit etc. data by using location data, shopping history data, parking history/reservation data, and the like.
The present invention can extract data on benefits and the like by acquiring IDs related to multiple services other than the car sharing service, as in the embodiment shown in Fig. 15. The user does not need to present multiple membership cards at the time of payment.

(Combined use of discount services)
7, the number of pieces of bonus data and advertisement data extracted by the bonus etc. extraction means is not limited to one, but may be multiple. Also, a discount coupon used by the user may be used in combination.
For example, if a car sharing ride record indicates a 200 yen discount and a 400 yen discount for shopping, even if the standard parking fee is 1,000 yen, the settlement will be made with a 600 yen discount, and the user will only have to pay the 400 yen parking fee.

According to the embodiment described above, a provider of a vehicle sharing service can use data on the usage history and reservations of member users of the vehicle sharing service with other service providers (transportation, parking, retail stores, etc.) to select from a wide range of advertisements and special offer information and deliver it to the member users.
Other service providers can also use the member users' usage history and reservation data for the vehicle sharing service to select from a large number of advertisements and special offer information and deliver it to the member users.

The present invention can be used in car sharing or rental car businesses, transportation services, parking management services, retail, data communications businesses that manage data for car sharing, rental cars, parking lots, etc., and software development businesses related to data communications.

Claims (9)

A transportation server that transmits and receives data to and from a car sharing server for managing members and shared cars in order to operate a vehicle sharing service,
The car sharing server mentioned above is,
A member database that stores the car share ID and attribute data of a member who has registered in advance to operate the vehicle sharing service, and a transportation ID related to a transportation IC card held by the member;
A transportation ID transmission means for transmitting the transportation ID linked to the car sharing ID to the transportation server;
A vehicle management database that accumulates data for managing the shared cars provided in the vehicle sharing service; and
a privilege database for storing privilege data including conditions for receiving privileges provided to members and contents of the privileges;
a data receiving means for receiving data associated with the transportation ID from the transportation server that stores the transportation ID;
A privilege extracting means for extracting privilege data related to the boarding and alighting data received by the boarding and alighting data receiving means from the privilege database;
a privilege data transmission means for transmitting the privilege data extracted by the privilege data extraction means to the communication terminal related to the member;
Equipped with
The traffic server mentioned above is
A transportation ID receiving means for receiving a transportation ID linked to the car sharing ID from the transportation ID transmitting means in the car sharing server;
a boarding and alighting database for storing boarding and alighting data related to the transportation ID received by the transportation ID receiving means;
A data transmission means for transmitting data on boarding and alighting linked to the transportation ID from the boarding and alighting database to the data receiving means of the car sharing server;
A transportation server equipped with 2. The transportation server according to claim 1, further comprising a privilege database for storing privilege data indicating privilege contents for privileges that can be obtained when a predetermined condition is satisfied and the predetermined conditions. 3. A transportation server according to claim 1 or 2, comprising an advertisement database that stores data for identifying specific target customers and advertisement data that indicates the contents of products and services for the target customers. 2. The transportation server according to claim 1, wherein the boarding and alighting data includes names of train stations. 2. The transportation server according to claim 1, wherein the boarding/disembarking data includes names of airports for boarding/disembarking on air routes. 2. The transportation server according to claim 1, wherein the boarding/alighting data includes the name of a parking lot related to the vehicle. 2. The transportation server according to claim 1, wherein the boarding and alighting data includes the name of a store related to the purchase of goods. 2. The transportation server according to claim 1, wherein the boarding and alighting data received by said boarding and alighting data receiving means includes reservation data. A computer program for controlling a transportation server that transmits and receives data with a car sharing server for managing members and shared cars in order to operate a vehicle sharing service,
The car sharing server includes a member database that stores the car sharing IDs and attribute data of members who have registered in advance to operate the vehicle sharing service, and the transportation IDs related to the transportation IC cards held by the members;
A transportation ID transmission means for transmitting the transportation ID linked to the car sharing ID to the transportation server;
A vehicle management database that accumulates data for managing the shared cars provided in the vehicle sharing service; and
a privilege database for storing privilege data to be provided to members and condition data for receiving privileges related to the privilege data;
a data receiving means for receiving data associated with the transportation ID from the transportation server that stores the transportation ID;
A privilege extracting means for extracting privilege data related to the boarding and alighting data received by the boarding and alighting data receiving means from the privilege database;
a privilege data transmission means for transmitting the privilege data extracted by the privilege data extraction means to the communication terminal related to the member;
Equipped with
The computer program is
A transportation ID receiving step of receiving a transportation ID linked to the car sharing ID from the transportation ID transmitting means in the car sharing server;
a boarding/alighting data storage procedure for storing boarding/alighting data, etc., relating to the transportation ID received in the transportation ID receiving procedure in a boarding/alighting database;
a data transmission step of transmitting data associated with the transportation ID from the data stored in the data database in the data storage step to the data receiving means of the car sharing server;
A computer program for causing the transportation server to execute the above.