Patent Publication Number: US-2019188926-A1

Title: Service management system, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing service management program, and service management method

Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-243640 filed on Dec. 20, 2017 including the specification, drawings and abstract is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The disclosure relates to a service management system, a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a service management program, and a service management method. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-4180 (JP 2006-4180 A) describes a system, in which a shop terminal is connected to a vehicle and user terminals so that they can communicate with each other, and communications with the vehicle and the user terminals are authenticated based on personal authentication information registered to the shop terminal. In this system, a vehicle ID, a personal ID, and a user terminal ID are associated with each other in a customer data base server managed by the shop terminal. The shop terminal uses the vehicle information such as a use history and repair history of the vehicle to provide a service for the vehicle such as notification of periodical check for oil change to the user terminal corresponding to the user terminal ID associated with the vehicle ID. The shop terminal uses personal information such as gender, age, and accident-free record to provide a service for the individual to the user terminal corresponding to the user terminal ID associated with the personal ID. 
     SUMMARY 
     In the system described in JP 2006-4180 A, although content of services to be provided to the vehicle user is determined based on user characteristics extracted from the personal information, the content of the services to be provided is not managed for individual users. Thus, there has been room for improvement in providing services suitable for each user. 
     The disclosure provides a service management system, a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a service management program, and a service management method in view of the above circumstances. 
     A first aspect of the disclosure relates to a service management system. The service management system includes a storage unit that stores service information associated with a vehicle ID assigned to each vehicle and a user ID assigned to each user of the vehicle, the service information including content of a service to be provided to the user of the vehicle. The service management system also includes a service management unit configured to read from the storage unit the service information associated with both the vehicle ID assigned to the vehicle and the user ID assigned to the user and manage the content of the service to be provided to the user of the vehicle when the user of the vehicle uses the service. 
     A second aspect of the disclosure relates to a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a service management program. The program causes a computer, which includes a storage unit in which service information including content of a service to be provided to a user of a vehicle, a vehicle ID assigned to each vehicle, and a user ID assigned to each user of the vehicle are associated with each other, to execute a process, when the user of the vehicle uses the service. The process includes reading from the storage unit the service information associated with both the vehicle ID and the user ID and managing the content of the service to be provided to the user of the vehicle. 
     A third aspect of the disclosure relates to a service management method for managing service information including content of a service to be provided to a user of a vehicle. The service management method includes associating a vehicle ID assigned to each vehicle with service information and associating a user ID assigned to each user of a vehicle with the service information, and managing the content of the service by providing the user of the vehicle with the service information associated with both the vehicle ID assigned to the vehicle and the user ID assigned to the user when the user of the vehicle uses the service. 
     According to the above aspects, when the user of the vehicle uses the service, the content of the service to be provided to the user of the vehicle varies based on the service information associated with both the vehicle ID and the user ID, the service information being different depending on the combination of the user and the vehicle. Thus, it is possible to manage the service to be provided to the user of the vehicle. 
     In the above service management system, the service information may include a free service and a paid service. 
     With the above configuration, it is possible to expand the content of the service to be provided to the user of the vehicle. 
     In the above service management system, the service information may include a period of validity of the service and contractor information of the service. 
     With the above configuration, it is possible to manage the content of the service to be provided to the user of the vehicle in accordance with the content of contract of the service. 
     In the above service management system, the service information may include information on a supervisor of the vehicle. 
     With the above configuration, it is possible to manage the content of the service to be provided to the user of the vehicle depending on whether the user of the vehicle is the supervisor of the vehicle. 
     In the above service management system, the service to be provided to the user of the vehicle may include a service available both through on-board equipment installed in the vehicle and through communication equipment that communicates with the vehicle. 
     With the above configuration, it is possible to provide the service to the user of the vehicle based on the service information shared between the on-board equipment and the communication equipment. 
     In the above service management system, the service information may include restriction information for restricting use of the service by the user. 
     With the above configuration, it is possible to restrict the use of the service by the user of the vehicle. 
     In the above service management system, the restriction information may include the number of users that use the service. 
     With the above configuration, it is possible to restrict the number of users that can use the service. 
     In the above service management system, the restriction information may include at least one of the number of times, a duration, and a time range of the use of the service. 
     In the service management system, the service management unit may execute exclusive control, when the service management unit reads from the storage unit the service information associated with one user ID in response to requests from the communication equipment possessed by a plurality of the users. 
     With the above configuration, it is possible to restrict the number of users that can simultaneously use the service information associated with one user ID. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals denote like elements, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a service management system according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view illustrating an example of data stored in data tables; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view illustrating an example of associations between various kinds of information related to a user ID; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view illustrating an example of classification of services to be provided to users of vehicles; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view illustrating an example of data in license information; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic view illustrating an example of associations between various kinds of information related to user IDs; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic view illustrating a procedure to initially register various kinds of information associated with the license information; 
         FIG. 8  is a sequence chart illustrating a service management procedure performed by the service management system according to the embodiment; 
         FIG. 9A  is a schematic view illustrating an example of ID management performed by the service management system according to the related art; 
         FIG. 9B  is a schematic view illustrating an example of ID management performed by the service management system according to the embodiment; and 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic view illustrating an example of ID management performed by the service management system according to the embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment of a service management system will be described with reference to the drawings. 
     The service management system according to the embodiment is a system for managing service information (license information) required when a user of a vehicle uses a service provided by an application using the vehicle. The system is configured such that a mobile information terminal (communication equipment) possessed by the user of the vehicle can communicate with the vehicle. A vehicle ID and a user ID are transmitted to a data center that manages a number of pieces of vehicle information. The mobile information terminal obtains the vehicle ID through communication with the vehicle. The user ID is identification information of the user possessing the mobile information terminal. When receiving the vehicle ID and the user ID from the mobile information terminal, the data center reads the license information associated with the vehicle ID and the user ID from a storage unit. The data center returns the read license information to the mobile information terminal that is a sending source. Thus, the use of the service using the vehicle at the mobile information terminal is managed. 
     Specifically, the mobile information terminal  100  includes a control unit  110 , a storage unit  120 , a communication unit  130 , an operation unit  140 , and a display unit  150 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     The control unit  110  controls the operation of the mobile information terminal  100  as a whole, and can run various applications  121  including an application using the vehicle. 
     The storage unit  120  stores a user ID  122  that is identification information of the user possessing the mobile information terminal  100 , in addition to the various applications  121 . An email address of the mobile information terminal  100  is used as the user ID  122 , for example. 
     The communication unit  130  and the vehicle  200  carry out wireless communications with Bluetooth (registered trademark) or the like. Through the wireless communications established between the communication unit  130  and the vehicle  200 , the communication unit  130  receives, from the vehicle  200 , a vehicle ID  123  that is identification information of the vehicle  200 , and stores the vehicle ID  123  in the storage unit  120 . 
     The operation unit  140  and the display unit  150  function as a user interface through which the user operates the mobile information terminal  100 . The operation unit  140  includes an operation switch such as a push button, and outputs an operation signal to the control unit  110 . When the display unit  150  is a touch-panel display, the display unit  150  also functions as the operation unit  140 . 
     A data center  300  includes a control unit  310 , a storage unit  320 , and a communication unit  330 . 
     The control unit  310  controls the operation of the data center  300  as a whole, and functions as a service management unit  311  that manages the use of application  121  using the vehicle at the mobile information terminal  100  based on a request by the mobile information terminal  100 . 
     The storage unit  320  stores various kinds of data that are used by the service management unit  311  to manage the use of the application  121 . The various kinds of data include a terminal information table  321 , a user information table  322 , a license code table  323 , and a vehicle information table  324 , for example. 
     When receiving the user ID  122  and the vehicle ID  123  from the mobile information terminal  100  through the communication unit  130 , the service management unit  311  refers to the tables  321  to  324  stored in the storage unit  320  to extract the license information required when the user uses the application  121  using the vehicle  200 , based on the user ID  122  and the vehicle ID  123 . The service management unit  311  transmits, through the communication unit  330 , the extracted license information to the mobile information terminal  100  that is a sending source of the user ID  122  and the vehicle ID  123 . Thus, the use of the application  121  at the mobile information terminal  100  is managed based on the license information. 
     More specifically, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the terminal information table  321  contains a telephone number or the like of the mobile information terminal  100 , with a terminal ID serving as a key. The terminal ID is individual information of the mobile information terminal  100 . 
     The user information table  322  contains a password for authentication of the user ID  122 , user information such as a user name, personal information of the user such as service use history information, a period of validity of a navigation service based on the user ID  122 , and so forth, with the user ID  122  serving as a key. The user ID  122  is received by the data center  300  from the mobile information terminal  100 . 
     The license code table  323  contains a period of validity of a license, license restriction information such as the number of users that can use the license and a period of validity of the navigation service based on the license code, license contractor information, information on a supervisor of the licensed vehicle, and so forth, with the license code serving as a key. The license code functions as an identification number of the license information. 
     The vehicle information table  324  contains travel history information such as a travel distance of the vehicle and on-board equipment information such as a serial number of a data communication module (DCM) installed in the vehicle, and so forth, with a vehicle identification number (VIN) serving as a key. 
     The terminal information table  321  and the user information table  322  are associated with each other, based on the terminal ID and the user ID  122  that serve as the keys for the terminal information table  321  and the user information table  322 . A plurality of terminal IDs can be associated with one user ID. That is, when the user possesses the plurality of mobile information terminals  100 , the terminal information tables  321  that differ depending on the types of the mobile information terminals  100  are associated with the common user information table  322 . 
     The user information table  322  and the license code table  323  are associated with each other based on the user ID  122  and the license code that serve as the keys for the user information table  322  and the license code table  323 , respectively. The plurality of license codes can be associated with one user ID. That is, when the user has licenses for the plurality of vehicles, the license code tables  323  that differ between the vehicles are associated with the common user information table  322 . The plurality of user IDs  122  can be associated with one license code. That is, when the plurality of users has the license for one vehicle, the user information tables  322  that differ between the users are associated with the common license code table  323 . 
     The license code table  323  and the vehicle information table  324  are associated with each other based on the license code and the VIN that serve as the keys for the license code table  323  and the vehicle information table  324 , respectively. One VIN can be associated with one license code. That is, the license information for one vehicle is common, and the license code table  323  and the vehicle information table  324  have a one-to-one correspondence. 
     Thus, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the user information, the service use history information, the terminal information of the mobile information terminal  100 , and the license code are associated with one user ID. In this case, there are one-to-one correspondences between the user ID and the user information and between the user ID and the service use history information. In contrast, the plurality of pieces of terminal information can be associated with one user ID, and there is no upper limit for the number of pieces of terminal information. Although the plurality of license codes can be associated with one user ID, there is an upper limit for the number of such license codes (for example, five). 
     The vehicle information, the periods of validity of the navigation service and DCM, the information on the supervisor of the licensed vehicle, the contractor information of the service using DCM are associated with one license code. In this case, there are one-to-one correspondences between the license code and each of the above information. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the services to be provided to the vehicle users are classified into people-oriented services based on the users and vehicle-oriented services based on the vehicles. The people-oriented services are classified into navigation services using the mobile information terminals  100  of the users and other services. The vehicle-oriented services are classified into services using the DCM installed in the vehicle and services without using the DCM. The classified services include free services and paid services. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the license information includes the license information for the people-oriented services and the license information for the vehicle-oriented services, in addition to the number of users that can use the license, which has been described above. In the example shown in  FIG. 5 , the license information for the people-oriented services includes the period of validity of the navigation service using the mobile information terminal  100  and the periods of validity of other paid contents. In the example, the license information for the vehicle-oriented services includes the period of validity of the basic service using the DCM and the periods of validity of optional services using the DCM. 
     Next, the setting of the license information of the application when the user possessing the mobile information terminals  100  uses the vehicle  200  will be described based on specific examples. 
     The example shown in  FIG. 6  involves two users (user A, user B) and two vehicles (vehicle V 1 , vehicle V 2 ). In the example, the user A possesses two mobile information terminals  100  (terminal T 1 , terminal T 2 ) and the user B possesses one mobile information terminal  100  (terminal T 3 ). The user A is registered as a user of the vehicle V 1 , while the user B is registered as a user of both the vehicle V 1  and the vehicle V 2 . 
     In this case, the user ID  122  (AAA) corresponding to the user A is associated with the user information and the service use history information of the user A, and is also associated with the terminal information of the terminals T 1 , T 2  possessed by the user A. The user ID  122  (AAA) is associated with the license code ( 111 ) corresponding to the vehicle V 1 . The license code ( 111 ) is associated with the vehicle information and the license information of the vehicle V 1 . 
     The user ID  122  (BBB) corresponding to the user B is associated with the user information and the service use history information of the user B, and is also associated with the terminal information of the terminal T 3  possessed by the user B. 
     The user ID  122  (BBB) is associated with the license code ( 111 ) corresponding to the vehicle V 1  and the license code ( 222 ) corresponding to the vehicle V 2 . The license code ( 111 ) is associated with the vehicle information and the license information of the vehicle V 1 . The license code ( 222 ) is associated with the vehicle information and the license information of the vehicle V 2 . 
     When the user A uses the vehicle V 1 , the license code ( 111 ) is applied, which is associated with the user ID  122  (AAA) corresponding to the user A and is assigned to the vehicle V 1 . The periods of validity (the period of validity of the navigation service using the mobile information terminal  100  and the period of validity of the service using the DCM) associated with the license code ( 111 ) are applied. 
     When the user B uses the vehicle V 2 , the license code ( 222 ) is applied, which is associated with the user ID  122  (BBB) corresponding to the user B and is assigned to the vehicle V 2 . The periods of validity (the period of validity of the navigation service using the mobile information terminal  100  and the period of validity of the service using the DCM) associated with the license code ( 222 ) are applied. 
     Next, the procedure to initially register various kinds of information associated with the license information will be described. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , at the time of initial registration of various kinds of information, the operation unit  140  of the mobile information terminal  100  is operated to start the application  121 . 
     Then, an initial screen related to the application  121  is displayed on the display unit  150  of the mobile information terminal  100 . 
     When the initial registration of the user ID is selected on the initial screen, a screen for inputting the license code is displayed on the display unit  150 . 
     When the license code is subsequently input through the operation unit  140 , authentication for the license code is conducted. The code authentication is conducted to check whether there is a license code identical to the input license code, among the license codes registered in the license code table  323 . When the input license code is authenticated, a user ID creation screen is displayed on the display unit  150 . 
     When the user ID and the password are input on the user ID creation screen through the operation unit  140 , a user information input screen is displayed on the display unit  150 . 
     When the user name and the telephone number of the mobile information terminal  100  are input on the user information input screen through the operation unit  140 , a screen showing terms of use of the application  121  is displayed on the display unit  150 . 
     When input indicating agreement is made on the screen showing the terms of use through the operation unit  140 , a screen for providing services using the application  121  is displayed on the display unit  150 . In this case, the screen displays the services of which use has been permitted based on the license information, but does not display the services of which use has been prohibited based on the license information. That is, the use of the services using the application  121  is managed based on the license information. 
     Next, the service management procedure performed by the service management system according to the embodiment will be described. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , in the embodiment, it is assumed that when the wireless communication is established between the vehicle  200  and the mobile information terminal  100 , the vehicle ID  123  of the vehicle  200  is transmitted from the vehicle  200  to the mobile information terminal  100 . Then, the mobile information terminal  100  stores the vehicle ID  123  received from the vehicle  200  into the storage unit  120 . 
     When the service is provided to the vehicle user, the application  121  installed in the mobile information terminal  100  possessed by the user is started first. Upon the start of the application  121 , a screen for inputting the user ID  122  is displayed on the display unit  150  of the mobile information terminal  100 . 
     When the user ID  122  is input through the operation unit  140  of the mobile information terminal  100 , the input user ID  122  is transmitted from the mobile information terminal  100  to the data center  300 . At this time, the data center  300  conducts authentication of the user ID  122  input through the mobile information terminal  100 . When the user ID  122  is authenticated by the data center  300 , the mobile information terminal  100  reads the vehicle ID  123  stored in the storage unit  120  and transmits the vehicle ID  123  to the data center  300 . 
     Then, based on the user ID  122  and the vehicle ID  123  transmitted through the mobile information terminal  100 , the data center  300  refers to the user information table  322 , the license code table  323 , and the vehicle information table  324  to extract the license information corresponding to the combination of the user ID  122  and the vehicle ID  123  from the license code table  323 . 
     More specifically, the data center  300  refers to the user information table  322  and the license code table  323  to extract one or more license codes associated with the user ID  122 . When there is only one license code associated with the user ID  122 , the data center  300  extracts the license information corresponding to the combination of the user ID  122  and the vehicle ID  123  from the license code table  323 , based on the license code. In contrast, when there is a plurality of license codes associated with the user ID  122 , the data center  300  selects the license code associated with the vehicle ID  123  from the license codes. Based on the selected license code, the data center  300  extracts the license information corresponding to the combination of the user ID  122  and the vehicle ID  123  from the license code table  323 . The data center  300  then transmits the license information extracted from the license code table  323  to the mobile information terminal  100 . 
     The mobile information terminal  100  then displays on the display unit  150  the screen for providing services using the application  121 , of which use is restricted based on the license information received from the data center  300 . At this time, the mobile information terminal  100  synchronizes the displayed information with the on-board equipment installed in the vehicle  200 . Thus, the on-board equipment installed in the vehicle  200  displays, as is the mobile information terminal  100 , the screen for providing the services using the application  121 , of which use is restricted based on the license information described above. 
     Next, the operation of the service management system according to the embodiment will be described. 
     In a system according to the related art shown in  FIG. 9A , one service ID is assigned to each vehicle  200  and one or more users are associated with the service ID, regarding the use of the services by the users of the vehicle  200 . 
     In the system, when the plurality of users uses the service using one vehicle  200 , one service ID is referred to by the plurality of users. This makes it difficult to know the service use history of each user. 
     Also in the system, when one user has a plurality of vehicles, the individual service IDs for the corresponding vehicles are associated with the user. Therefore, the user has to use different service IDs depending on the vehicle, which decreases convenience for the user. In addition, the service use history of the user is managed based on the vehicle, which also makes it difficult to know the service use history of each user. 
     In the embodiment, one license code is associated with one vehicle  200 , and one or more user IDs are associated with each license code, as shown in  FIG. 9B . 
     In the system, even when using the services using the plurality of vehicles  200 , the user uses their user ID  122  so that the license code are read, thus benefiting from improved convenience. Furthermore, it is possible to know the service use history of each user. In addition, it is possible to restrict the available services depending on the user so as to manage the available services of each user. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , when the user possesses the plurality of mobile information terminals  100 , the plurality of mobile information terminals  100  is associated with one user ID  122 . In this case, requests to read the license code based on one user ID  122  may be made simultaneously by the plurality of mobile information terminals  100 . 
     In this regard, the service management unit  311  of the data center  300  according to the embodiment executes exclusive control when reading the license code based on the user ID  122 . Therefore, the number of license codes readable based on one user ID  122  is limited to one. Thus, it is possible to appropriately restrict the number of users that can use the services based on the license information. 
     According to the embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained. 
     (1) When the user of the vehicle  200  uses the services, content of the services to be provided to the user varies based on the license information associated with both the vehicle ID  123  and the user ID  122 . The license information differs depending on the combination of the user and the vehicle. Thus, it is possible to manage the services to be provided to each user of the vehicle  200 . 
     (2) The services to be provided to the user of the vehicle  200  include the free services and the paid services. Thus, it is possible to expand the content of the services to be provided to the user of the vehicle  200 . 
     (3) The license information includes the periods of validity and the contractor information of the services to be provided to the user of the vehicle  200 . Thus, it is possible to manage the content of the services to be provided to the user of the vehicle  200  in accordance with the content of contract of each service. 
     (4) The license information includes the information on the supervisor of the vehicle  200  for which the services are provided. Thus, it is possible to manage the content of the services to be provided to the user of the vehicle  200  depending on whether the user of the vehicle  200  is the supervisor of the vehicle  200 . 
     (5) The services to be provided to the user of the vehicle  200  include services available both through the on-board equipment installed in the vehicle  200  and through the mobile information terminal  100  that communicates with the vehicle  200 . Thus, it is possible to provide the services to the user of the vehicle  200  based on the license information shared between the on-board equipment and the mobile information terminal  100 . 
     (6) The license information includes the number of users that can use the services as the license restriction information for restricting the use of the services by the users. Thus, it is possible to restrict the number of users that can use the services in accordance with the license information. 
     (7) The service management unit  311  executes the exclusive control when reading the license information associated with one user ID  122  from the storage unit  320  in response to the requests from the mobile information terminals  100  possessed by the plurality of users. Thus, it is possible to restrict the number of users that can use the license information associated with one user ID  122 . 
     The embodiment may be carried out in the following modes. 
     In the embodiment, the service management unit  311  executes the exclusive control when reading, from the storage unit  320 , the license information associated with one user ID  122  in response to the requests from the mobile information terminals  100  possessed by the plurality of users. However, the number of mobile information terminals  100  associated with one user ID  122  may be limited to only one. 
     In the embodiment, the license information includes the number of users that can use the services as the restriction information for restricting the use of the services by the users. However, the restriction information for restricting the use of the services by the users may also include the number of times, a duration, and a time range of the use of the services. 
     In the embodiment, the services to be provided to the user of the vehicle  200  include the services available through both the on-board equipment installed in the vehicle  200  and the mobile information terminal  100  that communicates with the vehicle  200 . However, the services to be provided to the user of the vehicle  200  may be services available through either one of the on-board equipment and the mobile information terminal  100 . 
     In the embodiment, the license information includes the information on the supervisor of the vehicle for which the services are provided. However, the license information need not include the information on the supervisor of the vehicle  200 . That is, the content of the services to be provided to each user of the vehicle  200  may be managed regardless of whether the user of the vehicle  200  is the supervisor of the vehicle  200 . 
     In the embodiment, the license information includes the periods of validity and the contractor information of the services to be provided to the user of the vehicle  200 . However, the license information need not include the information on the content of contract of each service. That is, the content of the services to be provided to each user of the vehicle may be managed without taking into account the content of contract of each service. 
     In the embodiment, the services to be provided to the user of the vehicle  200  include the free services and the paid services. However, the services to be provided to the user of the vehicle  200  may include either the free services or the paid services. 
     In the embodiment, the data center  300  refers to the user information table  322  and the license code table  323  to extract the license code associated with the user ID  122 . When there is the plurality of license codes associated with the user ID  122 , the data center  300  selects the license code associated with the vehicle ID  123  from the license codes. However, the data center  300  may refer to the vehicle information table  324  to extract the license code associated with the vehicle ID  123 . The data center  300  may read the license information corresponding to the extracted license code, on condition that the license code is associated with the user ID  122 . 
     In the embodiment, the mobile information terminal  100  that communicates with the vehicle  200  requests the data center  300  to provide the license information. However, the on-board equipment may directly request the data center  300  to provide the license information, as long as the on-board equipment has a communication function like a navigation apparatus installed in the vehicle  200 .