JP6158655B2 - Bicycle sharing system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a bicycle sharing system.

  In recent years, car rental companies have called car sharing, and car rental business bases (places where cars can be rented and returned) that have been established mainly in airports, stations, and major hotels have become parking lots in urban areas. A new rental car system that allows people to rent a car anytime, anywhere is being popularized by expanding and making reservations on mobile phones. Of course, a bicycle sharing business that develops this car sharing system into a bicycle rental business is also conceivable. In car sharing, in order to make use reservations, user authentication, and operation (operation) status grasps more convenient and efficient, it is common to access the reservation management server of the rental company with a mobile phone. The method can also be applied to bicycle sharing. In Patent Document 1, a two-dimensional bar code is attached to each bicycle, and the user reads the bar code with the user's mobile phone to authenticate the user and is attached to the user's mobile phone. A technique for confirming the location of a bicycle by using the GPS function of is disclosed. Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for inputting and confirming an authentication number for user authentication. The method of knowing the current position of the bicycle using the GPS function of the user's mobile phone in Patent Document 1 is effective when the user is driving the bicycle. For example, the user can use the bicycle in the bicycle parking lot of the station. Since the user carries a mobile phone when he / she goes to the shopping street or a department store on foot, the GPS information of the mobile phone does not represent the current position of the bicycle.

JP2010-55583A JP2011-154420A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a bicycle sharing system that can perform a series of necessary functions such as user authentication, bicycle locking, unlocking, and theft prevention without human intervention.

    In the present invention, the object of the invention is achieved as follows.

    1. Each bicycle has a GPS function, a public wireless communication function, and a bicycle unlocking / unlocking control function like a mobile phone, and reservation information is transmitted from the management server to the bicycle. By transferring the reservation information sent to the mobile phone to the bicycle for authentication, the bicycle confirms the coincidence of the information, unlocks the bicycle, and makes it usable.

    2. If a position movement is observed in the GPS information of the bicycle while the bicycle is locked, the bicycle is judged to have been stolen and an alarm is issued, and an arousal from surrounding people is urged.

    3. Use bicycle parking lots in front of the station, parking lots, convenience stores, supermarkets, etc. as bicycle parking lots to increase the degree of freedom of borrowing and returning bicycles, and where do users rent or return bicycles to? Is determined in advance by communicating with the user's mobile phone and the management server.

    According to the present invention, it is possible to borrow a user's favorite place and return it at a favorite place without any human intervention, and from the rental company's viewpoint, appropriate management of rental bicycles to each bicycle parking lot. Is possible. Bicycle theft can also be detected.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the exchange of the signal between a user at the time of the user registration of a bicycle, a bicycle, and a server. It is a figure which shows the exchange of the signal between a user at the time of use reservation of a bicycle, a bicycle, and a server. It is a figure which shows the exchange of the signal between a user, a bicycle, and a server at the time of locking and unlocking from the start of use of a bicycle. It is a figure which shows the exchange of the signal between a user, a bicycle, and a server at the time of the use end (at the time of return) of a bicycle. It is a figure which shows the exchange of the signal between a user, a bicycle, and a server at the time of completion | finish of use of a bicycle (when GPS information cannot be transmitted from the bicycle of a bicycle parking lot). It is a figure which shows the state transition of a bicycle. (A)-(m) is a figure of the example of operation with a user's mobile telephone. It is a figure which shows the example of the information management table in a management server. It is a figure which shows locking and unlocking of a bicycle. It is a figure which shows locking and unlocking of the bicycle which uses a rope.

  The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, a portion surrounded by a broken line is a bicycle adapter 1 installed in each bicycle. The adapter 1 includes a PHS communication unit 1-1, a GPS unit 1-2, a key control unit 1-3, an authentication control unit 1 and the like. -4, alarm generating unit 1-5, rope current driving / detecting unit 1-6, remaining battery level detecting unit 1-7, and battery 1-8. It is an image with the microphone and liquid crystal display part removed, and it is physically smaller than a mobile phone. The location where the bicycle adapter is installed on the bicycle depends on the unlocking / locking mechanism, depending on the unlocking / locking mechanism, when the unlocking / locking mechanism using the rope near the bicycle hub or the rope described later is used. Will increase. The PHS communication unit 1-1 communicates with the reservation management server 4 via the public wireless communication network 3, and performs all information communication necessary for this system, such as reservation management and operation management. The user's mobile phone 2 communicates with the reservation management server 4 for user registration, bicycle reservation, and borrowing return via the public communication network. The reservation management server 4 not only manages the reservation return of the bicycle described above, but also the current position of all bicycles used in the bicycle sharing business and the bicycle type information (general type, electric type, two-seater type, etc.) described later. It manages all information necessary for the business, including theft information such as unique information including bicycle registration numbers , location information of all bicycle parking lots, and inventory management information for bicycles in bicycle parking lots.
As for the cellular phone 2 of the user, the functions necessary for carrying out the present invention include an operation display unit, a GPS detection unit (position specifying unit), and a wireless communication unit as shown in FIGS. is to communication terminal function, the mobile phone is functionally it can be said that the communication terminal.
Since the present cellular phone has the function, the explanation here (mode for carrying out the invention) will be explained as the cellular phone 2. Further, the GPS function of the GPS unit 1-2 and the mobile phone, that is, the position specifying function, is well-known to a cellular telephone system in which a large number of base stations are arranged, with accuracy corresponding to the coverage area of the base station. It is possible to specify In the PHS communication network, it can be specified with an accuracy of 100 meters, and in addition, in a self-employed wireless communication network in which a large number of base stations are arranged, the position can be specified with an accuracy of 50 meters or 10 meters. Mounting is not always necessary.

The public communication network 3 shown in FIG. 1 does not indicate a communication network of one public wireless communication carrier, but all of the communication carriers used by users (NTT Docomo, Softbank, 4 companies, KDDI and Willcom). In this example, the PHS communication network is used as the bicycle communication function, but it is not necessary to limit the communication function to PHS communication. Since PHS communication consumes less power, it will be suitable as a communication function for bicycles.
The public wireless communication network can cover the whole of Japan, but when the service area of the bicycle sharing system is limited to a large amusement park or a tourist city area such as Kyoto city or Beppu city, Instead of the public wireless communication network, an arbitrary wireless communication network (for example, a self-employed specific low-power wireless communication network using a frequency of 920 MHz band) may be used, and which wireless system is used depends on the size of the service area, Select from the viewpoint of power consumption. In particular, in a self-operated wireless communication network, if the interval between the installed wireless stations is set to the interval of the bicycle parking lot, the wireless station itself has a position specifying function, and it is not always necessary to install the GPS function.
In addition, a communication terminal dedicated to a private wireless communication network may be used instead of the mobile phone.
In addition, since the coverage area of one radio station can reach as much as 10 kilometers by increasing the transmission power, it will be possible to provide services just by installing one radio station at amusement parks and the like.

  The present invention is characterized in that a user can borrow a bicycle at a favorite place and return it at a favorite place, but it is premised on that there are many borrowing / return bases in the city. Business forms such as a bicycle sharing business partnering with businesses such as parking lot operators, convenience stores, supermarkets, shopping streets, amusement parks, tourism associations in the city or at tourist sites will be adopted. Of course, a bicycle sharing company may conduct a bicycle parking business. I think that seven bicycles can be parked in the parking space for one car, but anyway, it is not a technical problem but a problem different from the present invention to install many bicycle parking lots.

  2a-2e show a series of flows for use.

  A person who intends to use bicycle sharing needs to first register as a car sharing company. In FIG. The information to be sent at this time is the same as many services that are currently popular on the Internet, such as the user's address, name, phone number, email address, age, usage fee debit destination (credit card number, etc.), etc. Information. Upon receiving the membership registration application, the reservation management server 4 reviews the application contents by, for example, inquiring to the credit card company or calling back to the applicant and confirming that the user is based on the truth information. When it is done, the application software (hereinafter referred to as the operation application) is used to notify the user of the membership number and to have the operation screen necessary for a series of operations such as future reservations installed on the mobile phone 2 of the user. Send). When the user receives this operation application, the user installs it on the mobile phone 2 and creates an icon on the screen of the mobile phone. (These operations are commonplace for mobile phone users today and will not be detailed here).

  Next, the flow when a user rents a bicycle is shown.

  As shown in FIG. 2b, a reservation application is first required. The user makes a reservation using the operation application described above on the mobile phone 2. FIG. 4 shows an operation screen of the mobile phone 2 by the operation application. In FIG. 4A, the user first sends the membership number to the reservation management server 4. When the reservation management server 4 is determined to have an appropriate membership number, the screen is switched in response to a signal from the reservation management server 4 and the reservation operation is started. First, in FIG. 4 (b), it is selected whether to make a reservation immediately or to make a reservation at a later date after designating the date and time. When “Reservation (now)” is selected, the screen changes to a screen for designating a bicycle format in FIG. There are various types of bicycles, but in FIG. 4 (c), a general type, an electric type, or a two-seater type can be selected. Thereafter, the selected desired bicycle type and GPS information of the mobile phone 2 of the reservation person are transmitted to the reservation management server 4. The reservation management server 4 receives the user's GPS location information and bicycle type information, searches for a bicycle parking lot near the current location of the user, and determines that the remaining battery level of the bicycle is an appropriate amount (for example, After confirming whether there is more than 30%), the parking information is shown in Fig. 4 (d), "There is a desired bicycle at the parking lot number 1200" and the map of the parking lot is also displayed. Is displayed. If the user is OK, when the OK button is pressed in FIG. 4 (e), information is sent to the reservation management server 4 as an "official reservation request", and the reservation management server 4 transmits the bicycle registration number. Therefore, the “bicycle registration number” is displayed on the mobile screen as shown in FIG. The reservation person sees the location of the bicycle parking lot sent to him and decides to change the car model from a little distance, but at that time, he does not press the “OK” button but presses the “NG” button. Then, although not shown, the screen changes to a screen for selecting other alternative candidates, and another bicycle type or bicycle parking lot is selected and determined.

  In any case, go to the bicycle parking lot with the mobile phone of the user with the bicycle parking number, the bicycle registration number, and the member number that is determined by such operation, and attach the bicycle registration number that sticks the bicycle to the bicycle. While looking, look for a bicycle. At that time, the member number is transmitted to the bicycle at the same timing when the reservation management server 4 transmits the bicycle registration number to the user, and the information is registered in the authentication control unit 1-4. Yes. The reservation management server 4 waits for the user to search for the designated bicycle at the bicycle parking lot after transmitting the bicycle registration number and the member number in FIG. 2b. When the user finds the bicycle, when the user presses the “authentication” button in FIG. 4 (g) on the user's mobile phone, the user's membership number is transferred to the bicycle, and whether the bicycle is an authorized reservation person. The bicycle is unlocked if it is confirmed as an authorized reservation person, and the unlocked information is transmitted from the bicycle to the reservation management server 4 and simultaneously transmitted to the user's mobile phone 2 to carry the mobile phone. As shown in Fig. 4 (h), "Authentication is OK. Start using" is displayed on the screen. The use of the bicycle is started when the bicycle is unlocked. As a means for transferring information between the user's mobile phone and the bicycle, there may be a method of using an infrared communication function attached to the mobile phone or a method of using an RFID chip or a Bluetooth wireless function built in. Which of these known near field communication means is used does not matter in the present invention. If the user cannot search for a bicycle within a certain period of time (for example, 45 minutes) after sending an “official reservation request” for some reason, it is considered that the reservation has been canceled. is necessary. In addition, when the user does not select “Reservation (now)”, although not shown, by selecting a desired reservation date and time and a borrowing place (bicycle parking number), such information is converted into the GPS information of FIG. 2b. However, the subsequent operations and communication are the same as in the case of “Reservation (now)”.

  After the use of the bicycle is started, the user can freely use the bicycle, but locking and unlocking are performed by the user. For example, there are many daily activities such as parking a bicycle at the bicycle parking lot in front of the station and going shopping, or stopping the bicycle in the middle of cycling and taking a walk for a while. Need to be locked and unlocked. The locking and unlocking operations are performed on the user's mobile screen as shown in FIG. Since the member number is stored in the bicycle authentication control unit 1-4 from the start of use of the bicycle to the return, as shown in FIG. The mobile phone 2 transmits the member number simultaneously with the lock / unlock control signal. The authentication control unit 1-4 authenticates that the lock is unlocked only from a legitimate user, and then sends a lock / unlock instruction to the key control unit 1-3. Each time the bicycle is locked, the GPS information of the bicycle and the remaining battery information are reported to the reservation management server 4 and are under proper operation management of the reservation management server 4. If the remaining battery level is less than a certain value (for example, 15%), although not shown, the bicycle emits a simple warning sound and prompts the user to view the mobile phone 2. At the same time, the reservation management server 4 gives a message to the user's mobile phone: “This bicycle can only be used for a certain period of time (for example, 3 hours). The bicycle must be replaced. Do you want to use it for more than 3 hours? When the user responds “Use for more than 3 hours”, send the bicycle parking number and the bicycle registration number. The member number is transmitted to the exchange candidate bicycle at the bicycle parking lot, and the waiting state for the exchange is made, as in the procedure before starting use. Making the bicycle waiting for replacement available is the same operation as when making it available for the first time.

  Next, a flow when the user finishes using the bicycle will be described.

  When the user makes a use end application on the mobile screen shown in FIG. 4 (i), as shown in FIG. 2d, the use end signal is sent together with the member number and the GPS information of the bicycle being used. 2 to the reservation management server 4. The reservation management server 4 looks at the GPS information in the end-of-use signal, returns the second closest parking lot candidate to the user's current position, and returns to this bicycle parking area if possible while looking at the bicycle bicycle parking stock information. Bicycle parking lot candidate information that you would like us to send to you. The user selects a desired bicycle parking lot from the bicycle parking lot candidate sites shown in the mobile phone (FIG. 4 (j)). At this time, although it is a bit far from the user, it may be a method to introduce a discount system for the usage fee when a bicycle parking lot is selected in cooperation with the appropriate inventory management of the bicycle sharing company. . When the user parks the bicycle at the bicycle parking lot where the bicycle is guided and presses the “Return” button in FIG. 4 (k) on the screen, the member number is sent to the bicycle. Information, membership number, and remaining battery power are sent to the reservation management server 4. The reservation management server 4 confirms that the bicycle has been returned to the proposed bicycle parking lot with the coincidence of the member number, and locks the bicycle. At the same time, a return completion signal is sent to the user and Fig. 4 (m) "Thank you for using" is displayed on the mobile screen. At this time, if the usage fee information is included in the return completion signal and transmitted, the usage fee can be displayed on the screen.

  In the bicycle parking lot in the building, GPS information cannot be obtained from the bicycle and GPS information cannot be sent to the reservation management server 4 or GPS information different from the location of the bicycle parking lot is sent (the reservation management server 4 In some cases, the correct GPS information of the bicycle parking lot corresponds to the bicycle parking lot number and is managed separately, so that different GPS information is transmitted). At that time, although not shown, the reservation management server 4 displays “Please send GPS information” on the mobile phone 2 of the user. When this display appears, the user walks a little from the bicycle parking lot in the building, goes to a place where GPS information can be obtained, and sends the GPS information from the user's mobile phone 2 to the reservation management server 4. The reservation management server 4 performs locking after confirming that the received GPS information is close to the original GPS position of the bicycle parking lot. Signal exchange between the user mobile phone 2, the reservation management server 4, and the bicycle in this case is shown in FIG. 2e.

  FIG. 3 shows the flow from reservation to use and return in the form of a state shift diagram viewed from a bicycle.

FIG. 5 is an example showing how inventory management is performed in the reservation management server 4.
For each bicycle owned by a bicycle sharing company, the bicycle registration number is used as an index, and for each bicycle, where the bicycle parking lot is currently waiting for reservations, accepting reservations and waiting for the start of use Whether it is in use or waiting to be returned is managed including the remaining battery level as well as the membership number. When there is a battery remaining in a reservation-waiting bicycle whose value is less than a certain value (for example, 30%), maintenance personnel go out to replace (or charge) the battery and manage it so that the predetermined remaining amount is reached. The number of bicycles that can be reserved now can be managed for each bicycle parking number. In the above description, the user is not required to input the scheduled return time. However, if the scheduled return time is input, it is convenient for inventory management. There is no problem even if you don't have to ask for the expected return time, sticking to the business concept that "anyone can rent a bike anywhere and whenever you like and return the bike to the place you like at any time".

  Next, a mechanism for locking and unlocking the bicycle will be described.

FIG. 6 is a simple diagram, but the movable piece 5-2 moves up and down by passing a current through the solenoid 5-1. Since the movable piece 5-2 has an inclined surface, the bar 5-5 pulled by the fixed frame 5-4 by the spring 5-3 is shifted left and right by the inclined surface. The fluctuation range of the bar is α, but that α is used for unlocking and locking the bicycle. When the bar 5-5 is at the lower position in FIG. 6, the bar 5-5 is shifted to the right side by unlocking and moving the movable piece 5-2 in the solenoid 5-1 further downward (FIG. 5). (Because it is written schematically, bar 5-5 is in the upper position). At that time, the right end of the bar 5-5 enters between the spokes of the bicycle and is locked.

  FIG. 6 is simply shown, but if a toggle mechanism (not shown) using a solenoid for moving the bar 5-5 is employed, power consumption can be saved.

  FIG. 7 shows an example in which a rope is inserted between spokes of a bicycle. The lock mechanism 6-1 of the rope 6-2 can be locked and unlocked using the electromagnetic control mechanism as described above. it can. Further, when a current is passed through the rope 6-2 at a constant cycle and no current flows, it can be determined that the rope 6-2 has been cut, that is, has been stolen. As a fixed period here, PHS communicates with the base station to confirm its location like a mobile phone, so every time it communicates with the base station, or once every several communications It would be nice to pass a current.

  When a rope is used, the bicycle adapter 1 is mounted inside the lock mechanism 6-1 together with an electromagnetic control mechanism for locking and unlocking.

  In addition to the method of passing current through the rope as described above, the theft detection method is to observe the GPS information of the bicycle while the bicycle is locked, and if the bicycle moves more than 10 meters with the GPS information, it is determined that the theft is theft. You can also. Moving the bicycle while it is locked is a bicycle parking lot, and the organizer can only move a little while keeping it locked to organize the bicycle parking arrangement. For this reason, a movement of 10 meters or more can be determined as theft. Theft detection using GPS information is difficult to detect when a bicycle is parked in a building, and detection with a rope is more practical. In addition, when using a rope, the rope can be stolen by passing it between the spokes of the bicycle and hanging it on the metal bar of the bicycle fixing frame (generally a metal rod is installed in a U shape). It becomes a measure. Moreover, the method using a rope has an advantage that it can be applied immediately to an existing bicycle.

  If any method is determined to be theft, the bicycle will sound an alarm from the alarm generator. The alarm sound may be loud from the speaker or may be generated as “thief, thief”. One method is to drive a mechanical alarm device (for example, a car horn) to generate a loud sound.

  Many bicycles have a power generation mechanism for night lighting. If a part of the generated power is supplied to the battery 1-8, it can be used for charging the battery, and the battery life can be extended.

  The present invention can execute a bicycle sharing business without manpower, and is a very useful system for both business operators and users. The combination of user-owned mobile phone, reservation management server, and communication function installed on the bicycle makes the flow of reservation, use, return, unlocking, and locking smooth, and theft prevention by detecting theft Can also contribute.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Bicycle adapter 1-1 PHS communication part 1-2 GPS part 1-3 Key control part 1-4 Authentication etc. control part 1-5 Alarm generation part 1-6 Rope current drive and detection part 1-7 Battery remaining charge detection part 1-8 Battery 2 User mobile phone 3 Public wireless communication network 4 Reservation management server 5-1 Solenoid 5-2 Movable piece 5-3 Spring 5-4 Fixed frame 5-5 Bar 6-1 Lock mechanism 6-2 Rope

Claims (2)

A communication terminal owned by a bicycle user and having a position specifying means, a wireless communication means, and an operation display means;
Bicycle rental information, current location information, unique information, all bicycle parking location information, bicycle inventory information at all times for bicycles to be rented, and bicycle bicycle parking information to users A reservation management server having a function of enabling electronic unlocking and locking of
An adapter equipped with a bicycle having position specifying means, wireless communication means, electronic unlocking and locking means;
Consists of
Based on the operation of the communication terminal by the user, management of bicycle rental, use and return and control of unlocking and locking by exchanging information by communication between the communication terminal, the reservation management server and the adapter. In the bicycle sharing system
The adapter further includes a battery remaining amount detection means for the means driving battery incorporated therein ,
The reservation management server further has a function of calculating a usable time of a bicycle from a remaining amount of the battery with a built-in adapter detected by the remaining battery amount detecting unit,
The reservation management server transmits a usable time of the bicycle calculated from the remaining battery level of the adapter to the communication terminal via wireless communication means, and a time longer than the available time from the user via the communication terminal. When a request for use is received, based on the location information of the user, the bicycle parking lot of the stock bicycle with a long remaining battery capacity and the specific information of the stock bicycle are wirelessly notified to the communication terminal of the user. bicycle sharing system to be. 2. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the position information of the bicycle is observed by position specifying means while the bicycle is locked, and when the change in the position information exceeds a predetermined value, it is determined that the bicycle is stolen. Bicycle sharing system.

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