Control method, IoT device, and recording medium

An Internet of things (IoT) device, wherein

• each of the IoT device and a user who uses the IoT device has a digital account,
• the IoT device comprises:
• a communicator that obtains first transaction data for allowing the user who used the IoT device to transfer a first amount corresponding to a usage amount of the IoT device, the first transaction data including (i) an address of the digital account of the user, the address indicating a source of payment, (ii) an address of the digital account of the IoT device, the address indicating a destination of the payment, and (iii) the first amount indicating the usage amount of the IoT device;
• and
• a processor that (i) specifies the digital account of the IoT device by referring to first association information associating the address of the digital account of the IoT device included in the first transaction data obtained and an identifier uniquely assigned to hardware of the IoT device and (ii) transfers the usage amount of the IoT device to the digital account of the IoT device by deducting the first amount from the digital account of the user and adding the first amount to the digital account of the IoT device based on the first transaction data obtained,
• the IoT device is owned by two or more owners, and
• when the first amount is transferred to the digital account of the IoT device, the processor:
• specifies the two or more owners of the IoT device and allocation information indicating allocation for each of the two or more owners by referring to second association information associating addresses of digital accounts of the two or more owners of the IoT device with the allocation information;
• determines an amount of allocation for each of the two or more owners based on the allocation information;
• and
• allocates, to a digital account of each of the two or more owners specified, the first amount transferred to the digital account of the IoT device, according to the amount of allocation determined,
• each of the address of the digital account of the user, the address of the digital account of the IoT device, and the addresses of digital accounts of the two or more owners is a blockchain address,
• each of the digital account of the user, the digital account of the IoT device, and the digital accounts of the two or more owners specified is managed on a blockchain,
• the processor further:
• stores, into the blockchain, the first transaction data obtained to operate a smart contract managed on the blockchain;
• causes the smart contract to transfer the first amount from the digital account of the user to the digital account of the IoT device;
• and
• allocates, by the smart contract, the first amount transferred to the digital account of the IoT device to the digital accounts of the two or more owners specified,
• the IoT device is photovoltaic equipment that transmits electric power generated using a solar cell,
• the user uses the electric power through use of the photovoltaic equipment, and
• the usage amount of the IoT device is an amount on an electric bill.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for causing a computer to execute a control method, wherein

• each of an Internet of things (IoT) device and a user who uses the IoT device has a digital account,
• the control method includes:
• obtaining first transaction data for allowing the user who used the IoT device to transfer a first amount corresponding to a usage amount of the IoT device, the first transaction data including (i) an address of the digital account of the user, the address indicating a source of payment, (ii) an address of the digital account of the IoT device, the address indicating a destination of the payment, and (iii) the first amount indicating the usage amount of the IoT device;
• specifying the digital account of the IoT device by referring to first association information associating the address of the digital account of the IoT device included in the first transaction data obtained and an identifier uniquely assigned to hardware of the IoT device;
• and
• transferring the usage amount of the IoT device to the digital account of the IoT device by deducting the first amount from the digital account of the user and adding the first amount to the digital account of the IoT device based on the first transaction data obtained,
• the IoT device is owned by two or more owners,
• the control method further comprises the following, performed when the first amount is transferred to the digital account of the IoT device:
• specifying the two or more owners of the IoT device and allocation information indicating allocation for each of the two or more owners by referring to second association information associating addresses of digital accounts of the two or more owners of the IoT device with the allocation information;
• determining an amount of allocation for each of the two or more owners based on the allocation information;
• and
• allocating, to a digital account of each of the two or more owners specified, the first amount transferred to the digital account of the IoT device, according to the amount of allocation determined,
• each of the address of the digital account of the user, the address of the digital account of the IoT device, and the addresses of digital accounts of the two or more owners is a blockchain address,
• each of the digital account of the user, the digital account of the IoT device, and the digital accounts of the two or more owners specified is managed on a blockchain,
• the control method further comprises:
• storing, into the blockchain, the first transaction data obtained to operate a smart contract managed on the blockchain;
• causing the smart contract to transfer the first amount from the digital account of the user to the digital account of the IoT device;
• and
• allocating, by the smart contract, the first amount transferred to the digital account of the IoT device to the digital accounts of the two or more owners specified,
• the IoT device is photovoltaic equipment that transmits electric power generated using a solar cell,
• the user uses the electric power through use of the photovoltaic equipment, and
• the usage amount of the IoT device is an amount on an electric bill.