Server device and point management method

• US 10,243,375 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2016
• Issued: 03/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Toya, Shoichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, Robert J
• Application Number:
  US15/227,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20170063110A1
• Time in Patent Office: 965 Days
• Field of Search: 320106
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0049 Detection of fully charged condition
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A server device includes: a storage unit that stores points that a user of the battery pack holds, the points being usable as fees for at least one of usage of the battery pack and enjoyment of a service; and a control unit that changes the points, based on whether or not a usage state satisfies a usage condition, the usage condition including at least one of a condition for state management of the battery pack and a condition for usage promotion of the battery pack.

Claims

1. A management system comprising:

a memory that stores loyalty points that a user of a battery pack holds, the loyalty points being usable for at least one of usage the battery pack and obtaining a service; and

a processor configured to change the loyalty points, based on whether or not a usage state of the battery pack satisfies a usage condition, the usage condition including at least one of a condition for state management of the battery pack and a condition for usage promotion of the battery pack,

wherein the usage condition includes that a return due date for the battery pack does not lapse or the battery pack is returned by the return due date.

2. The management system according to claim 1,

wherein the processor increases the loyalty points when the usage state satisfies the usage condition.

3. The management system according to claim 1,

wherein the processor decreases the loyalty points when the usage state does not satisfy the usage condition.

4. The management system according to claim 3, further comprising a transceiver that transmits a warning notification to an information terminal of the user,

wherein the processor controls the transceiver to transmit the warning notification before decreasing the loyalty points.

5. The management system according to claim 1, further comprising a transceiver that wirelessly communicates with an information terminal,

wherein the processor causes the transceiver to acquire the usage state from the battery pack via the information terminal.

6. The server device according to claim 1, further comprising a transceiver that wirelessly communicates with an information terminal,

wherein the processor causes the transceiver to transmit the changed loyalty points to the information terminal.

7. The management system according to claim 1, further comprising a transceiver that wirelessly communicates with an information terminal,

wherein the processor causes the transceiver to transmit information indicating that the loyalty points has been changed to the information terminal.

8. The management system according to claim 1, further comprising a transceiver that wirelessly communicates with the battery pack,

wherein the processor causes the transceiver to acquire the usage state from the battery pack.

9. The management system according to claim 1,

wherein the battery pack transmits the usage state directly to the management system.

10. A management system comprising:

a memory that stores loyalty points that a user of a battery pack holds, the loyalty points being usable for at least one of usage the battery pack and obtaining a service; and

a processor configured to change the loyalty points, based on whether or not a usage state of the battery pack satisfies a usage condition, the usage condition including at least one of a condition for state management of the battery pack and a condition for usage promotion of the battery pack,

wherein the usage condition is a condition for usage promotion of the battery pack, and

wherein the usage promotion being based on the usage state of the battery pack.

11. The management system according to claim 10,

wherein the usage condition includes that the battery pack is used beyond a recommended usage amount for the battery pack within a predetermined period.

12. The management system according to claim 10,

wherein the battery pack transmits the usage state directly to the management system.

13. A management system comprising:

a memory that stores loyalty points that a user of a battery pack holds, the loyalty points being usable for at least one of usage the battery pack and obtaining a service; and

a processor configured to change the loyalty points, based on whether or not a usage state of the battery pack satisfies a usage condition, the usage condition including at least one of a condition for state management of the battery pack and a condition for usage promotion of the battery pack,

wherein the usage condition includes that an update due date of information indicating a state of the battery pack does not lapse or the information indicating the state of the battery pack is transmitted to the management system by the update due date, and

wherein the update due date of information include a date on which state information of the battery is registered to be transmitted.

14. The management system according to claim 13,

wherein the battery pack transmits the usage state directly to the management system.

15. A loyalty point management method comprising:

storing, in a memory of a management system, loyalty points that a user of the battery pack holds, the loyalty points being usable for at least one of usage of the battery pack and obtaining a service; and

changing, by a processor of the management system, the loyalty points, based on whether or not a usage state of the battery pack satisfies a usage condition, the usage condition including at least one of condition for state management of the battery pack and a condition for usage promotion of the battery pack,

wherein the usage condition includes that a return due date for the battery pack does not lapse or the battery pack is returned by the return due date.

16. A loyalty point management method comprising:

storing, in a memory of a management system, loyalty points that a user of the battery pack holds, the loyalty points being usable for at least one of usage of the battery pack and obtaining a service; and

changing, by a processor of the management system, the loyalty points, based on whether or not a usage state of the battery pack satisfies a usage condition, the usage condition including at least one of a condition for state management of the battery pack and a condition for usage promotion of the battery pack,

wherein the usage condition includes that an update due date of information indicating a state of the battery pack does not lapse or the information indicating the state of the battery pack is transmitted to the management system by the update due date, and

wherein the update due date of information include a date on which state information of the battery is registered to be transmitted.

17. A loyalty point management method comprising:

storing, in a memory of a management system, loyalty points that a user of the battery pack holds, the loyalty points being usable for at least one of usage of the battery pack and obtaining a service; and

changing, by a processor of the management system, the loyalty points, based on whether or not a usage state of the battery pack satisfies a usage condition, the usage condition including at least one of a condition for state management of the battery pack and a condition for usage promotion of the battery pack,

wherein the usage condition is a condition for usage promotion of the battery pack, and

wherein the usage promotion being based on the usage state of the battery pack.