US 12,337,940 B2
Usage management system for ship propulsion apparatus, ship propulsion apparatus, user terminal device, and usage rights management server
Eiichi Hirose, Shizuoka (JP); and Hiroshi Inoue, Shizuoka (JP)
Assigned to YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Shizuoka (JP)
Filed by YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Iwata (JP)
Filed on May 8, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/144,371.
Application 18/144,371 is a continuation of application No. PCT/JP2021/020823, filed on Jun. 1, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 2020-191146 (JP), filed on Nov. 17, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0271682 A1, Aug. 31, 2023
Int. Cl. B63B 79/00 (2020.01); B63H 21/21 (2006.01); F02P 11/04 (2006.01); G06Q 30/018 (2023.01)
CPC B63B 79/00 (2020.01) [B63H 21/21 (2013.01); F02P 11/04 (2013.01); G06Q 30/0185 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A usage management system for a vessel propulsion apparatus including a thrust generator, a prime mover and a controller, the usage management system comprising:
a use rights management server to manage use rights information of a vessel propulsion apparatus that provides a thrust to a vessel; and
a user terminal to exchange data communication with the vessel propulsion apparatus and with the use rights management server; wherein
the controller is configured or programmed to communicate with the user terminal, to operate the prime mover in a permission mode to permit an output exceeding a predetermined limit output if use permission is provided from the user terminal, and to operate the prime mover in a non-permission mode to prohibit the output exceeding the predetermined limit output if use permission is not provided from the user terminal;
the user terminal is operable to transmit a use-permission request with identifications of the vessel propulsion apparatus and a user to the use rights management server, to enter an active state to allow issuance of use permission to the controller if a use-permission notification is received from the use rights management server, and to enter a non-active state to prohibit issuance of use permission to the controller if a use-permission notification is not received from the use rights management server; and
the use rights management server is operable to refer to use rights information concerning the vessel propulsion apparatus when a use-permission request with identifications of the vessel propulsion apparatus and the user is received from the user terminal, and to transmit a use-permission notification or a use-non-permission notification to the user terminal in accordance with the use rights information.