SERVER DEVICE AND POINT MANAGEMENT METHOD

• US 20170063110A1
• Filed: 08/03/2016
• Published: 03/02/2017
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 10,243,375 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 server device comprising:

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.

2. The server device according to claim 1,

wherein the control unit increases the points when the usage state satisfies the usage condition.

3. The server device according to claim 1,

wherein the control unit decrease the points when the usage state does not satisfy the usage condition.

4. The server device according to claim 1,

wherein the usage condition is a condition for state management of the battery pack.

5. The server device according to claim 4,

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.

6. The server device according to claim 4,

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 server device by the update due date.

7. The server device according to claim 1,

wherein the usage condition is a condition for usage promotion of the battery pack.

8. The server device according to claim 7,

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

9. The server device according to claim 3, further comprising a warning unit that warns the user,

wherein the control unit controls the warning unit to warn the user before decreasing the points.

10. The server device according to claim 1, further comprising a first communication unit that wirelessly communicates with an information terminal,

wherein the control unit causes the first communication unit to acquire the usage state from the battery pack via the information terminal.

11. The server device according to claim 1, further comprising a first communication unit that wirelessly communicates with an information terminal,

wherein the control unit causes the first communication unit to transmit the changed points to the information terminal.

12. The server device according to claim 1, further comprising a first communication unit that wirelessly communicates with an information terminal,

wherein the control unit causes the first communication unit to transmit information indicating that the points has been changed to the information terminal.

13. The server device according to claim 1, further comprising a second communication unit that wirelessly communicates with the battery pack,

wherein the control unit causes the second communication unit to acquire the usage state from the battery pack.

14. A point management method comprising:

storing 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

changing the 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 usage condition for state management of the battery pack and a usage condition for usage promotion of the battery pack.