JP7821666B2 - Bonus Granting Device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a bonus awarding device.

Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle charging facility that provides users with benefits within the facility that correspond to the amount of charge that is applied to the driving battery of the vehicle.

JP 2013-246704 A

There are two types of chargers: relatively inexpensive normal charging chargers and relatively expensive rapid charging chargers. The amount of charge per unit time is greater with rapid charging than with normal charging. Therefore, according to the disclosure in Patent Document 1, many users will want to efficiently take advantage of facility benefits by using rapid charging chargers rather than normal charging chargers.

Users using a quick-charging charger can take advantage of the facility's perks during the short quick-charging time, and then leave the facility shortly after. Therefore, even if users are given perks based on the amount of charging, there is an issue in that users do not necessarily stay at the facility for long. If a user's stay at a facility is short, the amount of money they spend there is likely to be small.

The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems.

One aspect of the present invention is a reward granting device that includes: a storage device that stores charger information related to the charging performance of chargers installed at a facility and registration information for users of electric vehicles; an acquisition unit that acquires the chargeable capacity of a battery mounted on the electric vehicle from the charger or the electric vehicle; an estimation unit that, when the battery is charged by the charger, estimates the length of time the user will stay at the facility based on the chargeable capacity and the charger information; a determination unit that determines to grant the user a reward at the facility in an amount corresponding to the length of time spent estimated by the estimation unit; and an output unit that outputs notification information related to the reward determined by the determination unit to the user's terminal based on the registration information.

The present invention has the effect of encouraging users to spend more money at facilities.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a network connection configuration of a reward granting device according to an embodiment and a situation in which the reward granting device is used. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the privilege granting device. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a table in which settings related to a charger are registered. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a table in which user-related settings are registered. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a table that defines the amount of a benefit to be given to a user. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing how a benefit to be given to a user is determined based on the length of stay at a commercial facility, and how the user's terminal is notified of the benefit. 7A is a diagram showing how notification information about a benefit is output to a user's terminal, and FIG. 7B is a diagram showing an example in which part of the notification information about a benefit has been changed. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for granting a privilege to a user in the privilege granting device.

Figure 1 is a diagram that schematically illustrates the network connection configuration of a reward granting device 10 in one embodiment and a situation in which the reward granting device 10 is used. A user's terminal 30, the user's electric vehicle 40, and a charger 50 that charges the battery 42 of the electric vehicle 40 are connected to the reward granting device 10 via a communication network 20. The charger 50 is installed in a parking lot 62 of a commercial facility 60. The commercial facility 60 has a parking lot 62 and a store 64.

In this embodiment, a user carries a terminal 30 and visits a commercial facility 60 in an electric vehicle 40. The user parks the electric vehicle 40 in a parking lot 62 and goes shopping at a store 64. While the user is staying at the commercial facility 60, the battery 42 of the electric vehicle 40 is charged by a charger 50.

Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the reward granting device 10. The reward granting device 10 has a processing circuit 80 and a storage device 90. The processing circuit 80 includes a processor such as a CPU or GPU. The storage device 90 includes volatile memory such as RAM and non-volatile memory such as ROM or flash memory. The volatile memory is used as working memory for the processor. The non-volatile memory stores programs executed by the processor and other necessary data.

The processing circuit 80 has an acquisition unit 100, an estimation unit 110, a determination unit 120, and an output unit 130. The acquisition unit 100, the estimation unit 110, the determination unit 120, and the output unit 130 are realized by the processing circuit 80 executing a program stored in the storage device 90. At least some of the acquisition unit 100, the estimation unit 110, the determination unit 120, and the output unit 130 may be realized by an integrated circuit such as an ASIC or FPGA, or an electronic circuit including a discrete device.

The acquisition unit 100 acquires the capacity and chargeable amount of the battery 42 mounted on the electric vehicle 40 from the charger 50, along with the charger ID and user ID. The charger ID and user ID correspond to the charger 50 that charges the battery 42 and the user of the electric vehicle 40, respectively. The chargeable amount of the battery 42 is the difference between the capacity of the battery 42 and the power stored in the battery 42 (remaining battery power) at the time charging of the battery 42 begins.

The acquisition unit 100 may acquire the capacity and chargeable amount of the battery 42 from the electric vehicle 40. Alternatively, the SOC of the battery 42 may be acquired instead of the chargeable amount of the battery 42. In this case, the acquisition unit 100 can acquire the chargeable amount of the battery 42 by performing a calculation using the capacity and SOC of the battery 42.

The estimation unit 110 estimates the length of time the user will stay at the commercial facility 60 when the battery 42 is charged by the charger 50. The length of time the user will stay at the commercial facility 60 is estimated based on the chargeable capacity of the battery 42 and the charging performance of the charger 50. Charger information related to the charging performance of the charger 50 is stored in advance in the storage device 90.

The determination unit 120 determines to grant the user a benefit that can be used at the commercial facility 60 in an amount corresponding to the user's stay time at the commercial facility 60 (estimated by the estimation unit 110). The amount of benefit determined by the determination unit 120 also depends on the capacity of the battery 42. The benefit that can be used at the commercial facility 60 is selected by the determination unit 120 from the benefits pre-stored in the storage device 90. In this embodiment, the benefit is a 10% discount coupon that can be used within the facility, and the amount of benefit is the number of 10% discount coupons granted.

The output unit 130 outputs notification information regarding the benefit determined by the determination unit 120 to the user's terminal 30. The notification information is output to the user's terminal 30 based on the user's registration information corresponding to the user ID acquired by the acquisition unit 100.

Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating a table 150 in which settings related to chargers 50 are registered. Table 150 is stored in storage device 90. Table 150 stores facility IDs associated with each facility, such as commercial facilities 60, charger information 152 related to the charging capabilities of chargers 50 installed at the facility, and settings related to the granting of benefits to users.

The charger information 152 includes a charger ID associated with each charger 50, the charging output of the charger 50, and a classification related to the charging performance of the charger 50. Settings related to the granting of benefits to users are set for each charger 50.

In the example shown in Figure 3, commercial facility 60 is associated with facility ID value F1. Five chargers 50 are installed in commercial facility 60. The charging output of chargers 50 corresponding to charger ID values C1 and C2 is 3.2 kW. The charging performance category of these chargers 50 is classified as "normal." The charging output of charger 50 corresponding to charger ID value C3 is 6 kW. The charging performance category of this charger 50 is classified as "normal."

The charging output of the charger 50 corresponding to charger ID value C4 is 10 kW. The charging performance category of this charger 50 is classified as "high." The charging output of the charger 50 corresponding to charger ID value C5 is 50 kW. The charging performance category of this charger 50 is classified as "high."

In the example shown in Figure 3, chargers 50 classified as "normal" in the charging performance category (chargers 50 for normal charging) are set as eligible for bonuses. In other words, a user who uses any of the chargers 50 corresponding to charger ID values C1, C2, and C3 will receive a bonus. Chargers 50 classified as "high" in the charging performance category (chargers 50 for rapid charging) are set as ineligible for bonuses. In other words, a user who uses any of the chargers 50 corresponding to charger ID values C4 and C5 will not receive a bonus.

This bonus system is expected to increase the need for additional normal charging chargers 50. Because the installation costs for normal charging chargers 50 are relatively low, the likelihood that additional normal charging chargers 50 will actually be installed increases. In addition, a specified amount of bonus may be awarded to users who use a rapid charging charger 50.

Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating table 170 in which user-related settings are registered. Table 170 is stored in storage device 90. User registration information 174 for each user is registered in association with the benefits available to the user. User registration information 174 registers a user ID associated with each user and personal information about the user. The user's personal information includes contact information, including the user's telephone number and email address, as well as data for identifying the user's terminal. In the example shown in Figure 4, a value I1 is registered as the user's personal information corresponding to a user ID value U1.

As described above, when the determination unit 120 determines that a perk that can be used at the commercial facility 60 will be granted to a user, the granted perk is registered in table 170. Perks that have been consumed are deleted from table 170. In the example shown in Figure 4, four perks, R1, R2, R3, and R4, are registered as perks that can be used by the user corresponding to the user ID value U1.

Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating a table 190 that defines the amount of a benefit to be given to a user. Table 190 is stored in storage device 90. As described above, in this embodiment, the benefit is a 10% discount coupon valid throughout the facility, and the amount of the benefit is the number of 10% discount coupons given. As shown in Figure 5, the longer the stay time estimated by the estimation unit 110, the greater the amount of the benefit given. It is therefore expected that the provision of the benefit will act as an incentive for the user to decide to stay at commercial facility 60 for a longer period of time.

It is believed that the number of users who own electric vehicles 40 with small battery 42 capacities is greater than the number of users who own electric vehicles 40 with large battery 42 capacities. As shown in Figure 5, the smaller the capacity of the battery 42 installed in the electric vehicle 40, the greater the amount of benefits granted. This encourages many users who own electric vehicles 40 with small battery 42 capacities to use the commercial facility 60. As the number of users who own electric vehicles 40 with large battery 42 capacities increases, the difference in the amount of benefits granted depending on the battery 42 capacity may become smaller.

Figure 6 shows how the reward 200 to be awarded to a user is determined based on the length of stay at a commercial facility 60, and how the user's terminal 30 is notified of the award of the reward 200. In this embodiment, the user charges the battery 42 of the electric vehicle 40 using a charger 50 corresponding to the charger ID value C1, which is classified as "normal" in terms of charging performance. As explained using Figure 3, the reward 200 is awarded to the user who uses that charger 50.

The user operates an input device (not shown) on the charger 50 to input a command to start charging the battery 42 installed in the electric vehicle 40 along with the user ID. The input device on the charger 50 is, for example, a touch panel, a button, or a reader that reads the screen display of the terminal 30. The charger 50 acquires the capacity and chargeable amount of the battery 42 from the electric vehicle 40. The charger 50 transfers vehicle data 210, which includes the charger ID corresponding to the charger 50 itself, the user ID, and the capacity and chargeable amount of the battery 42, to the benefit granting device 10.

The acquisition unit 100 of the reward granting device 10 acquires vehicle data 210 received from the charger 50. The estimation unit 110 estimates the user's stay time at the commercial facility 60 based on the vehicle data 210. The estimated stay time is obtained, for example, by adding a predetermined time to the estimated charging time of the battery 42. The charging time is estimated based on the chargeable amount of the battery 42 described above and the charging output value of the charger information 152 registered in the table 150 shown in Figure 3.

According to Figure 3, the charging output of the charger 50 corresponding to the charger ID value C1 is 3.2 kW. If the chargeable amount is 9.6 kWh, the charging time is estimated to be 3 hours. If the above-mentioned predetermined time is 30 minutes, the user's stay at the commercial facility 60 is estimated to be 3 hours and 30 minutes. If the capacity of the battery 42 installed in the electric vehicle 40 is 35 kWh, referring to table 190 shown in Figure 5, the amount of benefits 200 (discount coupons) to be granted to the user is determined to be 4.

The four rewards 200 (R1, R2, R3, and R4) determined by the determination unit 120 are registered in the table 170 shown in FIG. 4. The output unit 130 outputs notification information 220 regarding the rewards 200 determined by the determination unit 120 to the user's terminal 30.

Figure 7A shows notification information 220 regarding the perks 200 output to the user's terminal 30. A message NM containing an estimated charging time, the perks 200 and their granted amounts, and the expiration date of the perks 200 is displayed on the screen 30S of the user's terminal 30. On the screen 30S, an area DR displaying the perks 200 is located below the message NM. Area DR indicates that the user has been granted perks R1, R2, R3, and R4, which correspond to the four perks 200 mentioned above, out of a maximum of six perks 200 that can be granted.

On screen 30S, an additional message AM regarding the contents included in benefit 200 is displayed below area DR. According to message AM, by using the discount coupon provided as benefit 200 to cover the cost of charging battery 42 installed in electric vehicle 40, a discount equivalent to 10% of the charging cost will be provided.

If the charging cost per hour of stay is set at 150 yen, then if the stay is for two hours, a 30 yen discount will be applied to the original charging cost of 300 yen. If the stay is for three hours, a 45 yen discount will be applied to the original charging cost of 450 yen. The decision unit 120 decides to grant the user a benefit 200 that includes such discounts according to the stay length. This allows the user to use the discount coupon for charging costs.

According to message AM, the discount coupon provided as benefit 200 can be used to pay the parking fee for electric vehicle 40 in parking lot 62, resulting in a discount of 10% of the parking fee.

If the parking fee per hour of stay is set at 1,000 yen, then if the stay is two hours, a 200 yen discount will be applied to the original parking fee of 2,000 yen. If the stay is three hours, a 300 yen discount will be applied to the original parking fee of 3,000 yen. The decision unit 120 decides to grant the user a benefit 200 that includes such discounts according to the stay length. This allows the user to use the discount coupon to pay the parking fee.

Figure 7B is a diagram showing an example in which part of the notification information 220 regarding the benefit 200 has been changed. Specifically, the display content of the additional message AM regarding the content included in the benefit 200 has been changed from the example shown in Figure 7A to the example shown in Figure 7B. According to the message AM shown in Figure 7B, when the discount coupon provided as the benefit 200 is used to pay the parking fee for the electric vehicle 40 in the parking lot 62, the 10% discount on the parking fee will not be applied.

The message AM states that, in exchange for a discount equivalent to 10% of the parking fee, no parking fee will be charged during the charging time of the battery 42 installed in the electric vehicle 40. The decision unit 120 decides to grant the user this benefit 200, which includes no parking fee being charged during the charging time. In this way, the user can use the discount coupon to pay the parking fee.

Figure 8 is a flowchart showing the processing steps for the reward granting device 10 to grant a reward 200 to a user. This processing step is performed, for example, by the processing circuit 80 of the reward granting device 10 executing a program stored in the storage device 90. When this processing step starts, in step S110, the acquisition unit 100 acquires vehicle data 210 from the charger 50. As described above, the vehicle data 210 includes the charger ID of the charger 50, the user ID of the user of the electric vehicle 40, and the capacity and chargeable amount of the battery 42 installed in the electric vehicle 40.

In step S120, the estimation unit 110 estimates the user's stay time at the commercial facility 60 based on the vehicle data 210 acquired in step S110. In step S130, the determination unit 120 determines the rewards 200 available for use at the commercial facility 60 and the amount of rewards 200 to be granted to the user based on the stay time estimated in step S120.

In step S140, the determination unit 120 stores the benefit 200 determined in step S130 in the table 170 in the storage device 90. In step S150, the output unit 130 outputs notification information 220 regarding the benefit 200 determined in step S130 to the user's terminal 30. When the processing of step S150 is completed, this processing procedure ends.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various configurations are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[Inventions Obtained from the Embodiments]
The invention that can be understood from the above-described embodiments will be described below.

(1) The benefit granting device (10) includes a storage device (90) that stores charger information (152) related to the charging performance of a charger (50) installed in a facility (60) and registration information (174) of a user of an electric vehicle (40); an acquisition unit (100) that acquires the chargeable capacity of a battery (42) mounted on the electric vehicle from the charger or the electric vehicle; an estimation unit (110) that, when the battery is charged by the charger, estimates the user's stay time at the facility based on the chargeable capacity and the charger information; a determination unit (120) that determines to grant the user a benefit (200) at the facility in an amount corresponding to the stay time estimated by the estimation unit; and an output unit (130) that outputs notification information (220) related to the benefit determined by the determination unit to the user's terminal (30) based on the registration information. This may result in the user's stay time at the facility being extended. As a result, users' spending at facilities will tend to increase. Furthermore, this will stimulate investment in adding more chargers at facilities.

(2) The acquisition unit may further acquire the battery capacity from the charger or the electric vehicle, and the determination unit may determine to grant a larger amount of the benefit to the user the smaller the capacity. This may encourage many users who own electric vehicles with small battery capacities to visit the facility.

(3) The decision unit may decide to grant the user the benefit, including a discount on the cost of charging the battery or the parking fee at the facility, based on the length of stay. This may encourage many users to use the chargers at the facility.

(4) The decision unit may decide to grant the user the benefit, including not being charged parking fees at the facility during the time the battery is being charged. This may encourage many users to use the charger at the facility. Furthermore, this may reduce the risk of the electric vehicle being left connected to the charger for a long period of time even after the battery has finished charging.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10...Benefit granting device 20...Communication network 30...Terminal 40...Electric vehicle 50...Charger 60...Commercial facility 62...Parking lot 64...Store 80...Processing circuit 90...Storage device 100...Acquisition unit 110...Estimation unit 120...Decision unit 130...Output unit 150, 170, 190...Table 152...Charger information 174...User registration information 200...Benefit 210...Vehicle data 220...Notification information

Claims (3)

a storage device that stores charger information relating to the charging performance of chargers installed in the facility and registration information of users of electric vehicles;
an acquisition unit that acquires the capacity and chargeable amount of a battery mounted on the electric vehicle from the charger or the electric vehicle;
an estimation unit that, when the battery is charged by the charger, estimates a stay time that the user will stay in the facility based on the chargeable amount and the charger information;
a determination unit that determines to grant to the user a benefit at the facility in an amount corresponding to the stay time estimated by the estimation unit, the benefit increasing as the capacity decreases ; and
an output unit that outputs notification information regarding the benefit determined by the determination unit to the user's terminal based on the registration information;
A reward granting device comprising: The reward granting device according to claim 1 ,
The decision unit decides to grant the user the benefit including a discount on the charging cost of the battery or the parking fee at the facility according to the length of stay. The reward granting device according to claim 1 ,
The decision unit decides to grant the user the benefit including not being charged parking fees at the facility during the charging time of the battery.