Parking fee management device, parking fee management method, and program

Abstract

To reduce users' concentrated unloading.SOLUTION: A parking charge management device 10 manages parking charges at a parking lot. The parking charge management device 10 comprises an estimation unit 25 which estimates a peak time of unloading at which unloading is concentrated, and a discount information generation unit 26 which generates discount information in which time zones is associated with discount rates or discount amounts on the basis of an estimation result of the estimation unit 25. The discount information generation unit 26 sets a discount rate or a discount amount in time zones except the peak time of unloading higher than a discount rate or a discount amount in the peak time of unloading.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0006] , ,

[0005] ,

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a parking fee management device, a parking fee management method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] In parking lot facilities, there is a so-called "hourly rental parking lot" that charges a usage fee per hour or per day. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a fee setting system that varies the unit price of parking fees according to the ratio of parked vehicles to the capacity of the parking lot in an hourly rental parking lot.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in hourly rental parking lots installed in commercial facilities such as department stores and outlet malls, and places where a large number of visitors come, such as theme parks, amusement parks, aquariums, zoos, concert halls, movie theaters, stadiums (baseball fields, soccer fields), etc., and their surroundings, the return times of users may be concentrated. In such a case, the exit of the parking lot may become congested, and the waiting time required for exit may become long, which may lead to dissatisfaction among users. In addition, the concentration of exits may also have a significant impact on the congestion and traffic jams of the surrounding roads, so there is also concern about the impact on nearby residents and the general public using the surrounding roads.

[0005] It is difficult to eliminate such a concentration of exits by the method of Patent Document 1 that varies the unit price of parking fees according to the ratio of parked vehicles to the capacity, for example.

[0006] This disclosure is made in view of these circumstances and aims to provide a parking fee management device, a parking fee management method, and a program that can alleviate the concentration of vehicles exiting a parking lot. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] This disclosure one The embodiment is a parking fee management device for managing parking fees in a parking lot, comprising: an estimation unit that estimates peak exit times when exits are concentrated; and a discount information creation unit that creates discount information associating time periods with discount rates or discount amounts based on the estimation results of the estimation unit. When a user receives a request for disclosure of fees, including identification information of an entering vehicle, from a user terminal used by a user, or from an information terminal installed in or around the parking lot and used by a user, the system includes a fee information creation unit that creates individual fee information, associating each of several exit time slots with a parking fee, based on the entry time and discount information associated with the identification information of the entering vehicle, and a communication unit that transmits the individual fee information to the sender of the fee disclosure request. Equipped with, The individual fee information includes the exit reservation status at the parking lot, and an exit reservation input means is provided for making an exit reservation for each of the exit time slots. The aforementioned discount information creation unit is a parking fee management device that sets the discount rate or discount amount outside of peak exit times to be higher than the discount rate or discount amount during peak exit times.

[0008] This disclosure One example for reference The embodiment is a parking fee management device for managing parking fees in a parking lot, comprising a discount information creation unit that creates discount information associated with time slots and discount rates or discount amounts, and the discount information creation unit updates the discount rates or discount amounts according to the exit reservation status.

[0009] This disclosure one The embodiment is a parking fee management method for managing parking fees for a parking lot, comprising the steps of: a computer estimating peak exit times when there is a concentration of exits; and creating discount information that associates time periods with discount rates or discount amounts based on the estimated peak exit times. The process includes: when a user receives a request for disclosure of fees including identification information of an entering vehicle from a user terminal used by a user, or from an information terminal installed in or around a parking lot and used by a user, creating individual fee information that associates each of multiple exit time slots with a parking fee based on the entry time associated with the identification information of the entering vehicle and the discount information, and transmitting the individual fee information to the sender of the request for disclosure of fees. Execute, The individual fee information includes the exit reservation status at the parking lot, and an exit reservation input means is provided for making an exit reservation for each of the exit time slots. The process of creating the aforementioned discount information is a parking fee management method in which the discount rate or discount amount outside of peak exit times is set higher than the discount rate or discount amount during peak exit times.

[0010] This disclosure One example for referenceThe embodiment is a parking fee management method for managing parking fees for a parking lot, wherein a computer performs the steps of creating discount information associated with a time period and a discount rate or discount amount, and updating the discount rate or discount amount of the discount information according to the exit reservation status.

[0011] This disclosure one The embodiment is a program for causing a computer to function as the parking fee management device described above.

[0012] This disclosure One example for reference The embodiment is a program that causes a computer to perform the following processes: receiving discount information, which associates a time period with a discount rate or discount amount, from a parking fee management device that manages parking fees for a parking lot; and displaying the received discount information on a display unit.

[0013] This disclosure one The process involves transmitting the identification information of the entering vehicle and a request for disclosure of fees to a parking fee management device that manages parking fees in the parking lot, and from the said parking fee management device multiple Departure time Each of A process to receive individual fee information associated with parking fees, and a process to display the received individual fee information on the display unit. The system includes a process for displaying the exit reservation status at the parking lot and an exit reservation input means for making an exit reservation for each of the exit time slots on the screen displaying the individual fee information, and a process for sending an exit reservation request including the exit time slot corresponding to the operated exit reservation input means to a predetermined destination when any of the exit reservation input means is operated. This is a program that causes a computer to execute something. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] The parking fee management device, parking fee management method, and program described herein have the effect of alleviating the concentration of vehicles exiting parking lots. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] This figure shows an example of the network configuration of a parking fee management device according to the first embodiment of this disclosure. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a parking fee management device according to the first embodiment of this disclosure. [Figure 3]It is a functional block diagram showing an example of the functions provided by the parking fee management device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] It is a diagram showing an example of the inventory management information according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] It is a diagram showing an example of the discount information according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] It is a diagram showing an example of the display screen of the individual fee information according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] It is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a flat parking lot according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] It is a functional block diagram showing an example of the functions provided by the parking fee management device according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 9] It is a diagram showing an example of the inventory management information according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 10] It is a diagram showing an example of the discount information in the initial state according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 11] It is a diagram showing an example of the discount information when the discount rate is changed according to the number of reservations for the discount information in the initial state shown in FIG. 10. [Figure 12] It is a diagram showing an example of the display screen of the discount information according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 13] It is a diagram showing an example of the display screen of the personal fee information according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 14] It is a diagram showing an example of the display screen of the personal fee information according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 15] It is a functional block diagram showing an example of the functions provided by the parking fee management device according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] 〔First Embodiment〕 Hereinafter, a parking fee management device, a parking fee management method, and a program according to the first embodiment of this disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The parking fee management device, a parking fee management method, and a program according to the first embodiment can be applied to a variety of parking lots in general. Examples include surface parking lots where users park their vehicles themselves in parking spaces installed in a large parking area, multi-story parking lots where users park their vehicles themselves in parking spaces installed in a multi-story structure, and mechanical parking lots equipped with drop-off / pick-up rooms. Examples of mechanical parking lots include elevator-type tower mechanical parking systems, vertical circulation systems, plane reciprocating systems, horizontal circulation systems, multi-layer circulation systems, two-tier systems, and berth-type mechanical parking systems. It can also be applied to valet parking systems where, after the driver disembarks, the vehicle is transported to a designated parking space by an attendant, a self-propelled vehicle transport trolley, or by the autonomous vehicle itself.

[0017] Figure 1 shows an example of the network configuration of the parking fee management device 10 according to this embodiment. As shown in Figure 1, the parking fee management device 10 is connected to a communication network 3, such as the Internet or, in the case of local communication, a wireless LAN (e.g., Wi-Fi), and is capable of communicating with user terminals 50, information terminals 60, etc., carried by parking lot users.

[0018] The parking fee management device 10 is a device that manages parking fees for a parking lot, and its details will be described later. The user terminal 50 is a so-called information processing device such as a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer, and has a communication unit for communication such as the Internet, an input unit for the user to input operations, and a display unit for displaying information. For example, the user terminal 50 has a predetermined application software for using the parking lot (hereinafter referred to as the "parking application") installed. Through this parking application, the user can send various requests described later to the parking fee management device 10 and obtain the desired information. In addition, when using the parking application, the system may be operated in a way that requires the user to register information such as their email address and user ID.

[0019] In this embodiment, as described above, the case in which the "parking application" is installed on the user terminal 50 is used as an example, but the system is not limited to this example. For example, the functions of the parking application may be executed on a cloud-side server, and the results of the parking application may be viewed via the internet using a general-purpose web browser without installing dedicated software on the user terminal 50.

[0020] The information terminal 60 is installed in places where users of the parking lot come and go, such as within facilities surrounding the parking lot, and provides information to users. An example of the information terminal 60 is a kiosk terminal. In Figure 1, one user terminal 50 and one information terminal 60 are shown, but the number of these terminals is not limited to the illustrated configuration and can be increased as needed depending on the situation.

[0021] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the parking fee management device 10. The parking fee management device 10 includes, for example, a CPU 11, a main memory 12 that functions as a work area when each program is executed, an auxiliary memory 13 for storing programs executed by the CPU 11 and data referenced by these programs, and a communication interface 14 for connecting to a network. These components are connected, for example, via a bus 18. Examples of the auxiliary memory 13 include magnetic disks, magneto-optical disks, and semiconductor memory. An example of a magnetic disk is an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). An example of semiconductor memory is an SSD (Solid State Drive).

[0022] Furthermore, the parking fee management device 10 may also be equipped with input devices 15 such as a keyboard and mouse, a display 16, etc. These input devices 15 and the display 16 may be installed remotely, and configured to allow input operations to be performed on the parking fee management device 10 remotely.

[0023] Figure 3 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the functions provided by the parking fee management device 10. The series of processes necessary to realize the various functions described later are stored in the storage unit 13 (see Figure 2) in the form of a program (for example, a parking fee management program). The CPU 11 reads this program into the main memory 12 and performs information processing and calculations to realize the various functions. The program may be pre-installed in the storage unit 13, provided stored on another computer-readable storage medium, or distributed via wired or wireless communication. Computer-readable storage media include magnetic disks, magneto-optical disks, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, semiconductor memory, etc.

[0024] As shown in Figure 3, the parking fee management device 10 includes a communication unit 20, an entry reception unit 21, an entry / exit management information storage unit 22, an exit reception unit 23, an exit performance information storage unit 24, an estimation unit 25, a discount information creation unit 26, a discount information storage unit 27, and a fee information creation unit 28, among others.

[0025] The communication unit 20 communicates with external devices. For example, the communication unit 20 exchanges information with various devices installed in the parking lot, such as the user terminal 50 and the information terminal 60. Examples of various devices installed in the parking lot include the parking control unit that controls the mechanical parking system, the ticket machine 32, the pre-payment machine 35, and the payment machine 34 (see Figure 7).

[0026] When the parking reception unit 21 receives parking information, including information about the entering vehicle and the time of entry, via the communication unit 20, it updates the parking management information stored in the parking management information storage unit 22 based on the parking information. The information about the entering vehicle is information that can identify the entering vehicle, and examples include the vehicle ID, parking ticket number, and user ID that the user has registered in advance.

[0027] The vehicle ID is information linked to a vehicle, such as the vehicle's license plate or the ID of an on-board device installed in the vehicle. For example, the vehicle ID may be obtained by photographing the vehicle's license plate with a camera and analyzing the image upon entry. The on-board device ID may be obtained by communicating with the on-board device installed in the vehicle upon entry. The parking ticket number may be received from the ticket machine 32 (see Figure 7) when it issues a parking ticket. The user ID is applicable to parking lots that do not issue parking tickets, for example, and may be obtained by having the user ID recorded on the IC card or user terminal 50 held by the user read by the parking lot's IC card reader, two-dimensional barcode reader, etc., upon entry. In this embodiment, the case in which the parking ticket number is used as information about the parked vehicle will be explained as an example.

[0028] When the dispatch reception unit 23 receives dispatch information, including dispatch vehicle information and dispatch time, via the communication unit 20, it updates the inbound / outbound management information stored in the inbound / outbound management information storage unit 22 based on the dispatch information.

[0029] The entry / exit management information storage unit 22 stores entry / exit management information. Figure 4 shows an example of entry / exit management information. As shown in Figure 4, the entry / exit management information is registered with the entry time associated with the parking ticket number. In addition, the entry / exit management information may also include the settlement time, exit time, billing time, parking fee, etc., associated with the parking ticket number. Furthermore, the entry / exit management information may also include information on discount tickets based on the purchase price at facilities affiliated with the parking lot (e.g., commercial facilities), and information on the discount rate based on the exit time.

[0030] The vehicle departure record information storage unit 24 stores past vehicle departure record information. For example, the vehicle departure record information storage unit 24 stores departure time information from the vehicle entry and exit management information shown in Figure 4, which has been accumulated over a predetermined period in the past. In addition, the vehicle departure record information may also include information such as the day of the week, weekday / holiday / weekend information, information on events held around the parking lot, and weather information (weather, temperature, humidity, etc.).

[0031] The estimation unit 25 estimates the peak departure time when there is a concentration of vehicle departures. For example, the estimation unit 25 estimates the peak departure time using at least one of the following: past departure performance information, event information for the day, weather information for the day, day of the week information for the day, and public holiday information for the day.

[0032] For example, the estimation unit 25 may estimate the peak shipping time based on past shipping performance information stored in the shipping performance information storage unit 24. Specifically, the estimation unit 25 may estimate the peak shipping time using known statistical methods from past shipping performance information. Note that there may be more than one peak shipping time estimated. Furthermore, the estimation unit 25 may estimate the peak shipping time using machine learning.

[0033] Furthermore, the estimation unit 25 may identify past shipping performance information with a similarity of a predetermined value or higher from at least one piece of information, such as the weather on the day, whether there is an event, the day of the week, and information on weekdays / holidays / public holidays, and estimate the peak shipping time using the identified shipping performance information. The estimation of the peak shipping time by the estimation unit 25 can be performed using known statistical processing or machine learning techniques, and the method is not particularly limited.

[0034] The peak departure time can be identified, for example, as the time period when the number of vehicles departing exceeds a predetermined value. This predetermined value may be an index value set relatively by considering the number of vehicles departing during other time periods, or it may be set as an absolute value.

[0035] Furthermore, the estimation of peak departure times by the estimation unit 25 is not limited to the method described above. For example, instead of using past departure performance information, the peak departure times when departures are concentrated may be estimated based on event information or weather forecasts for the day. For example, if an event is scheduled between 2 PM and 4 PM, there is a possibility that departures will be concentrated after the event ends. In this case, for example, the one hour from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM may be estimated as the peak departure time.

[0036] The discount information creation unit 26 creates discount information that associates time periods with discount rates, based on the estimation results of the estimation unit 25. At this time, the discount information creation unit 26 sets the discount rate for times other than the peak departure time to be higher than the discount rate during the peak departure time. For example, the discount information creation unit 26 sets the discount rate for times before and after the peak departure time to be higher than the discount rate during the peak departure time.

[0037] Figure 5 shows an example of discount information. In the discount information shown in Figure 5, discount rates are set in 30-minute increments. In the discount information shown in Figure 5, the discount rate is set to 0% for the time period estimated to be the peak departure time, and the discount rates before and after the peak departure time are set higher than the discount rate for the peak departure time (i.e., 0%). In this way, by offering a higher discount rate outside of peak departure times than during peak times, it is possible to incentivize users to avoid peak departure times. This helps to spread out departure times and alleviate congestion. Furthermore, by spreading out departure times, it is possible to shorten the time required for departure (waiting time and time to get onto the road) and contribute to reducing congestion and traffic jams on surrounding roads. It also becomes possible to reduce the number of personnel such as traffic controllers and the time spent dealing with congestion.

[0038] Furthermore, the discount information creation unit 26 may set the discount rate for later hours higher than the discount rate for earlier hours. This can reduce users' reluctance to park for extended periods, give users a sense of security about staying in commercial facilities for long periods, and is expected to stimulate users' spending. As a result, it is possible to increase the economic effect within the commercial facility and contribute to the profits of the commercial facility. In this embodiment, a discount rate is used, but this is not the only example. For example, a discount amount may be used instead of a discount rate.

[0039] The discount information created by the discount information creation unit 26 is stored in the discount information storage unit 27. Furthermore, the discount information creation unit 26 transmits discount information to the user terminal 50 and the information terminal 60 via the communication unit 20 at predetermined timings. These predetermined timings include the timing at which the discount information is created, a pre-set time, or the timing at which a request to view discount information is received from the user terminal 50 or the like via the communication unit 20.

[0040] When the fee information creation unit 28 receives a parking ticket number and a fee disclosure request via the communication unit 20, it obtains the entry time corresponding to the parking ticket number from the entry and exit management information stored in the entry and exit management information storage unit 22. Then, the fee information creation unit 28 uses the obtained entry time and the discount information stored in the discount information storage unit 27 to create individual fee information that associates the exit time and parking fee, and transmits the created individual fee information to the sender of the fee disclosure request via the communication unit 20. As a result, the display screen of the user terminal 50 or information terminal 60 that receives the individual fee information will display the individual fee information that associates the time and parking fee.

[0041] Figure 6 shows an example of a display screen for individual fee information. As shown in Figure 6, the individual fee information displays the parking fee, which reflects the time of day and the discount rate. In addition, if the facility offers a parking fee discount service based on the amount of purchases made by the user, the purchase amount linked to the parking ticket number may be obtained from the facility's POS system, and the discount amount corresponding to the purchase amount may be displayed. In the individual fee information example in Figure 6, a case where a 2-hour discount on the parking fee is applied based on the purchase amount is shown. Furthermore, in this case, it is possible to encourage purchasing behavior by showing how much more needs to be purchased to increase the parking fee discount. Furthermore, individual fee information may include both the parking fee before the discount is applied and the parking fee after the discount is applied.

[0042] By providing individual fee information to user terminals 50, users can check the parking fees and consider their departure time. Furthermore, by displaying the parking fee before and after the discount for comparison, users can gain a sense of value.

[0043] Next, we will describe the various processes performed by the parking fee management device 10 according to this embodiment. For the sake of convenience, the following description will be based on an example of its application to a flat parking lot 30 as shown in Figure 7.

[0044] [Discount information creation process] The parking fee management device 10 estimates the peak exit time for the day at a predetermined time, for example, a predetermined time before the start of parking entry to the parking lot, creates discount information based on the estimated peak exit time, and stores it in the discount information storage unit 27.

[0045] [Inbound Reception Processing] When entering the surface parking lot 30, users stop their vehicles before the entrance gate 31, receive a parking ticket from the ticket machine 32, enter the parking lot through the entrance gate 31, and park in a designated space. Once the ticket is issued, the ticket machine 32 transmits entry information, which is associated with the parking ticket number and entry time, to the parking fee management device 10. Upon receiving the entry information, the parking fee management device 10 updates the entry and exit management information based on the entry information. This registers the parking lot number and entry time.

[0046] [Discount information provision processing] The parking fee management device 10 transmits the discount information stored in the discount information storage unit 27 to the user terminal 50 or information terminal 60 at a predetermined timing. For example, when a parking lot user performs a predetermined input operation on the user terminal 50 or information terminal 60, a request to view discount information is sent to the parking fee management device 10. For example, if a user launches a pre-installed parking application on the user terminal 50 and presses the button to view discount information from the menu displayed on the display screen, a request to view discount information is sent to the parking fee management device 10. Alternatively, if a user presses the button to view discount information from the menu displayed on the display screen of the information terminal 60, a request to view discount information is sent to the parking fee management device 10.

[0047] When the parking fee management device 10 receives a request to view discount information, it transmits the discount information stored in the discount information storage unit 27 to the user terminal 50 or information terminal 60 that made the request. As a result, the display screen of the user terminal 50 or information terminal 60 displays discount information associated with time slots and discount rates. This allows users to check the discount rates for each time slot and consider their departure time. In addition, as shown in Figure 5, the display screen may also display notes such as event information at the commercial facility or information on peak hours.

[0048] [Processing of providing toll information and accepting parking reservation] When a parking lot user performs a prescribed input operation on the user terminal 50 or information terminal 60, the parking ticket number and a request for disclosure of fees are transmitted to the parking fee management device 10. For example, a user can launch a pre-installed parking application on the user terminal 50 and press the fee disclosure button from the menu displayed on the screen, which will display an input field for entering the parking ticket number. The user can enter the parking ticket number by typing the number written on the parking ticket or by reading the two-dimensional barcode displayed on the parking ticket with the two-dimensional barcode reader on the user terminal 50. After entering the parking ticket number, for example, if the user presses the confirm button, the parking ticket number and the fee disclosure request will be sent to the parking fee management device 10.

[0049] Furthermore, when a user presses the fee disclosure button from the menu displayed on the information terminal 60, an input field for entering the parking ticket number will appear. The user enters the parking ticket number by typing the number written on the parking ticket, or by having the two-dimensional barcode displayed on the parking ticket read by the two-dimensional barcode reader equipped on the information terminal 60. After entering the parking ticket number, for example, when the user presses the confirm button, the parking ticket number and the fee disclosure request are sent to the parking fee management device 10.

[0050] When the parking fee management device 10 receives a parking ticket number and a request for disclosure of fees from a user terminal 50 or information terminal 60, it obtains the entry time corresponding to the parking ticket number from the entry and exit management information stored in the entry and exit management information storage unit 22. Then, using the obtained entry time and the discount information stored in the discount information storage unit 27, it creates individual fee information that associates the exit time and parking fee, and transmits it to the requesting user terminal 50 or information terminal 60. As a result, the display screen of the user terminal 50 or information terminal 60 will show personal fee information that associates the time of day with the parking fee. Users will be able to consider their departure time while checking the parking fee.

[0051] [Settlement process] For example, users complete payment at a pre-payment machine 35 installed in a commercial facility or parking lot before exiting. For example, users insert their parking ticket into the parking ticket reader provided in the pre-payment machine 35. As a result, payment request information, including the parking ticket number, is transmitted from the pre-payment machine 35 to the parking fee management device 10. Upon receiving the payment request information, the parking fee management device 10 obtains the entry time corresponding to the parking ticket number from the entry / exit management information and calculates the billing time from the current time and the entry time. It also obtains the discount rate corresponding to the current time period from the discount information and calculates the parking fee based on the billing time, discount rate, and basic parking fee. The parking fee management device 10 transmits the calculated parking fee to the pre-payment machine 35. As a result, the parking fee is displayed on the display unit of the pre-payment machine 35. Once payment is complete, this information is transmitted to the parking fee management device 10, and the current time is written to the payment time field in the entry / exit management information.

[0052] [Outbound processing] When exiting the surface parking lot 30, the user gets into their parked vehicle, stops the vehicle before the exit gate 33, and inserts their parking ticket into the payment machine 34 located at the exit gate 33. This transmits exit request information, including the parking ticket number, from the payment machine 34 to the parking fee management device 10. Upon receiving the exit request information, the parking fee management device 10 obtains the payment time corresponding to the parking ticket number from the entry / exit management information. If the payment time cannot be obtained, i.e., if prepayment has not been made, the payment machine 34 performs the payment process described above. On the other hand, if the payment time can be obtained, the device determines whether the difference between the payment time and the current time is within a predetermined time. If it is within the predetermined time, it determines that payment has been made, opens the exit gate 33, and allows the user to exit. Conversely, if the difference between the payment time and the current time exceeds the predetermined time, the device recalculates the parking fee starting from the payment time, collects that amount again, and then opens the exit gate 33. In this case, it is acceptable to implement a policy where no discount is applied to the parking fee that is collected again.

[0053] When the exit gate 33 opens, users move their vehicles and exit the parking lot. The payment machine 34 also transmits exit information, including the parking ticket number and exit time, to the parking fee management device 10 once the exit is complete. Upon receiving the exit information, the parking fee management device 10 updates the entry and exit management information based on the exit information.

[0054] As described above, the parking fee management device, parking fee management method, and program according to this embodiment provide the following effects and advantages. The system estimates the peak departure times when vehicle departures are concentrated, and based on these estimated peak departure times, it creates discount information that associates time slots with discount rates or discount amounts. Since the discount rates or discount amounts outside of peak departure times are set higher than those during peak departure times, it provides an incentive for users to avoid departure times. This helps to distribute vehicle departures, reducing waiting times for users and mitigating the impact of congestion on surrounding roads caused by concentrated departures.

[0055] In the above embodiment, we have described a case in which discount information is displayed on the user terminal 50 and the information terminal 60, but the example is not limited to this. For example, discount information may be displayed at all times on a display installed in a parking lot or commercial facility. This makes it possible to make many users aware of the departure times with higher discount rates, and to alleviate congestion when vehicles are leaving the parking lot.

[0056] Furthermore, although the above-described embodiment assumed a parking lot for a commercial facility, in cases where there are multiple peak exit times, such as in movie theaters or concert venues, the discount time period and discount rate may be set according to the interval between peak exit times, the capacity of the parking lot, and the processing capacity (the number of vehicles that the parking facility can process entering or exiting per unit time).

[0057] Furthermore, in the embodiments described above, the discount rate was set based on the peak departure time, but in addition to this, or instead, the discount rate may be set based on the number of users (inbound rate) on the day. For example, if the number of users (inbound rate) is less than a predetermined number, no discount may be applied, or the discount rate may be set lower than when the number of users (inbound rate) is equal to or greater than a predetermined number.

[0058] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a discount rate corresponding to the time of departure was reflected in the parking fee, and the discounted fee was collected. However, in the case of daily parking lots, for example, a flat parking fee is collected upon entry. In this case, for example, a system could be implemented where a fee corresponding to the time of departure is refunded upon exit. Alternatively, instead of discounting the parking fee, other methods such as distributing novelty goods could be used to alleviate the concentration of departure times.

[0059] [Second Embodiment] Next, a parking fee management device, a parking fee management method, and a program according to the second embodiment of this disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The parking fee management device, a parking fee management method, and a program according to this embodiment are applicable to parking lots that accept exit reservations. Typical examples of parking lots that accept exit reservations include, for example, a mechanical parking system that transports vehicles between a storage area (storage area) and a passenger boarding / alighting area using transport means (lifts, pallets, conveyors, etc.), and valet parking facilities that transport vehicles between the passenger boarding / alighting area and the storage area using workers or self-propelled vehicle transport trolleys, etc. In the following description, components common to the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions will be omitted, while the differences will be the main focus of the explanation.

[0060] Figure 8 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the functions of the parking fee management device 10a according to this embodiment. As shown in Figure 8, the parking fee management device 10a further includes an exit reservation acceptance unit 41 in addition to the configuration of the parking fee management device 10 described above. Furthermore, the parking fee management device 10a includes a discount information creation unit 43 instead of a discount information creation unit 26.

[0061] When the exit reservation reception unit 41 receives exit reservation information, including the parking lot number and exit reservation time slot, via the communication unit 20 from a user terminal 50, an information terminal 60, or an exit reservation terminal (not shown) installed in a commercial facility or parking lot, it accepts the reservation based on this exit reservation information.

[0062] Specifically, the exit reservation reception unit 41 maintains an upper limit on the number of exit reservations that can be accepted per hour (for example, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, etc.). This upper limit is a value predetermined based on factors such as the processing capacity of the parking facilities and road conditions (traffic congestion) around the parking lot. Furthermore, the upper limit may be set to a value with a certain margin to account for users who exit without making an exit reservation.

[0063] The exit reservation reception unit 41 holds exit reservation information, for example, which associates a time slot, the number of exit reservations, and a reservation limit. When the exit reservation reception unit 41 receives exit reservation information from a user terminal 50 or the like, it determines whether the number of reservations for the exit reservation time slot included in the exit reservation information has reached the limit. If it has not reached the limit, it accepts the exit reservation, reflects it in the exit reservation information, and updates the entry / exit management information stored in the entry / exit management information storage unit 22. Figure 9 shows an example of entry / exit management information according to this embodiment. As shown in Figure 9, the entry / exit management information further registers the exit reservation time associated with the parking ticket number. Furthermore, if the number of reservations for the time slot specified in the departure reservation information has reached the upper limit, the departure reservation acceptance unit 41 will not be able to accept the departure reservation and will send information indicating that the reservation is unavailable to the user terminal 50, which is the source of the departure reservation information.

[0064] The discount information creation unit 43 is similar to the discount information creation unit 26 described above in that it creates discount information that associates time slots with discount rates or discount amounts, but the method for setting the discount rate is different. Specifically, the discount information creation unit 43 changes the discount rate according to the status of outbound reservations. That is, the status of outbound reservations changes moment by moment. Therefore, the discount information creation unit 43 dynamically changes the discount rate according to the status of outbound reservations. More specifically, in each time slot, the discount rate decreases as the number of reservations increases. The discount information creation unit 43 may also compare the number of reservations in each time slot and increase the discount rate for time slots where the number of reservations is below a predetermined value. In this way, it is possible to promote the dispersion of reservations.

[0065] More specifically, the discount information creation unit 43 sets the discount rate based on the peak time estimated by the estimation unit 25, similar to the first embodiment described above. This discount rate is set as an initial value. Figure 10 shows an example of discount information in its initial state. In the discount information illustrated in Figure 10, the discount rate and reservation status are registered in association with the time period. However, since no reservations have been made at this point, the number of reservations is zero for all time periods. Furthermore, since the discount rate fluctuates depending on the reservation status, the discount rate in the initial state may be set higher than the discount rate in the first embodiment described above, as illustrated in Figure 10.

[0066] The discount information creation unit 43 updates the discount information at predetermined intervals. Specifically, the discount information creation unit 43 acquires the dispatch reservation information held by the dispatch reservation acceptance unit 41 at predetermined intervals and updates the discount information based on the latest dispatch reservation information acquired. For example, the discount information creation unit 43 compares the latest dispatch reservation information with the previously acquired dispatch reservation information and sets the discount rate lower than the previous value during time periods when the number of reservations has increased, and sets the discount rate higher than the previous value during time periods when the number of reservations has decreased due to cancellations. This makes it possible to encourage dispatch reservations during time periods when the number of reservations is low.

[0067] Figure 11 shows an example of discount information when the discount rate is changed according to the number of reservations. In the discount information exemplified in Figure 11, the discount rate is set to 0% for time slots where the number of reservations has reached the upper limit of 30. Also, compared with the initial state discount information shown in Figure 10, it can be seen that the discount rate is set to decrease in stages as the number of reservations increases. The discount information created by the discount information creation unit 43 is stored in the discount information storage unit 27.

[0068] Next, regarding the processes performed by the parking fee management device 10a according to this embodiment, we will omit the explanation of processes that are the same as those in the first embodiment described above, and mainly explain the different processes.

[0069] [Discount information provision processing and vehicle departure reservation acceptance processing] When a parking lot user performs a predetermined input operation on the user terminal 50 or information terminal 60, a request to view discount information is sent to the parking fee management device 10a. For example, if a user launches a pre-installed parking application on the user terminal 50 and presses the button to view discount information from the menu displayed on the screen, a request to view discount information is sent to the parking fee management device 10a. Alternatively, if a user presses the button to view discount information from the menu displayed on the screen of the information terminal 60, a request to view discount information is sent to the parking fee management device 10a.

[0070] When the parking fee management device 10a receives a request to view discount information, it transmits the discount information stored in the discount information storage unit 27 to the user terminal 50 or information terminal 60 that made the request. As a result, the display screen of the user terminal 50 or information terminal 60 displays discount information associated with time slots and discount rates. The display screen may also display the number of parking reservation slots for each time slot and their upper limit.

[0071] Figure 12 shows an example of the display screen of an information terminal 60 displaying discount information. As shown in Figure 12, the display screen of the information terminal 60 shows, for example, the discount rate and reservation status (number of reservations relative to the upper limit) for each time slot. In addition, a reservation button 52 for making a vehicle departure reservation is displayed on this display screen. This reservation button 52 is displayed only for time slots where the number of reservations has not reached the upper limit. This makes it easy for users to make a vehicle departure reservation by pressing the reservation button 52 for the time slot in which they wish to make a vehicle departure reservation.

[0072] When a user presses the reservation button 52, an input field for entering the parking ticket number appears, for example. The user enters the parking ticket number by typing the number printed on the parking ticket, or by reading the two-dimensional barcode displayed on the parking ticket with the two-dimensional barcode reader on the user terminal 50. After entering the parking ticket number, if the user presses the confirmation button, for example, an exit reservation request including the parking ticket number and the desired exit time slot is sent to the parking fee management device 10a.

[0073] When the parking fee management device 10a receives an exit reservation request, it updates the exit reservation information based on the exit reservation request and also updates the entry / exit management information.

[0074] [Processing of providing toll information and accepting parking reservation] When a parking lot user performs a prescribed input operation on the user terminal 50 or information terminal 60, the parking ticket number and a request for disclosure of fees are transmitted to the parking fee management device 10. For example, when a user launches a pre-installed parking application on the user terminal 50 and presses the fee disclosure button from the menu displayed on the screen, an input field for entering the parking ticket number appears. The user enters the parking ticket number by typing the number written on the parking ticket or by reading the two-dimensional barcode displayed on the parking ticket with the two-dimensional barcode reader on the user terminal 50. After entering the parking ticket number, for example, when the user presses the confirm button, the parking ticket number and the fee disclosure request are sent to the parking fee management device 10a.

[0075] Furthermore, when a user presses the fee disclosure button from the menu displayed on the information terminal 60, an input field for entering the parking ticket number will appear. The user enters the parking ticket number by typing the number written on the parking ticket, or by having the two-dimensional barcode displayed on the parking ticket read by the two-dimensional barcode reader equipped on the information terminal 60. After entering the parking ticket number, for example, when the user presses the confirm button, the parking ticket number and the fee disclosure request are transmitted to the parking fee management device 10a.

[0076] When the parking fee management device 10 receives a parking ticket number and a request for disclosure of fees from a user terminal 50 or information terminal 60, it obtains the entry time corresponding to the parking ticket number from the entry and exit management information stored in the entry and exit management information storage unit 22. Then, using the obtained entry time and the discount information stored in the discount information storage unit 27, it creates individual fee information that associates the exit time and parking fee, and transmits it to the requesting user terminal 50 or information terminal 60. As a result, the display screen of the user terminal 50 or information terminal 60 will show personal fee information that associates the time of day with the parking fee.

[0077] Figures 13 and 14 show examples of the display screen for individual fee information. As shown in Figures 13 and 14, the display screen shows a bar 51 for selecting a time slot. By moving this bar 51, the parking fee for the time slot selected by the bar 51 is displayed prominently at the top of the screen. Figure 13 shows an example of the display screen when the time slot 16:00 is selected, and Figure 14 shows an example of the display screen when the time slot 16:45 is selected.

[0078] Furthermore, as illustrated in Figures 13 and 14, the personal fee information display screen also shows a reservation button 52 for making a parking reservation. Users can easily make a parking reservation by aligning the bar 51 to the desired time slot and pressing the reservation button 52. When the reservation button 52 is pressed by the user, the selected exit reservation information, including the time slot and parking ticket number, is transmitted to the parking fee management device 10a. Upon receiving the exit reservation information, the parking fee management device 10a updates the exit reservation information based on the information and also updates the entry and exit management information.

[0079] [Settlement and dispatch processing] For example, when it is time for a reserved exit, the user completes the payment at the pre-payment machine and then heads to the parking lot to exit. The pre-payment process and exit process are the same as in the first embodiment described above, so a detailed explanation is omitted here. Furthermore, advance payment may be made via electronic payment using the user terminal 50. Furthermore, if a vehicle has made a parking reservation but fails to exit the parking lot during the reserved time slot, the discount rate may not be applied, and the parking fee based on the basic rate may be charged.

[0080] As described above, the parking fee management device, parking fee management method, and program according to this embodiment provide the following effects and advantages. By creating discount information that associates time slots with discount rates or amounts, and updating the discount rates or amounts according to the exit reservation status, it becomes possible to reflect the exit reservation status in the parking fee discount rate. In this way, by linking the parking fee discount rate with the exit reservation status, it becomes possible to distribute exit reservations and alleviate congestion when exiting the parking lot.

[0081] In the embodiment described above, the initial value of the discount information was determined according to the estimation result by the estimation unit 25, but the example is not limited to this. For example, the initial value of the discount information may be set to a predetermined value (e.g., 20%).

[0082] [Third Embodiment] Next, a parking fee management device, a parking fee management method, and a program according to the third embodiment of this disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. While the embodiments described above aimed to alleviate the concentration of vehicles exiting the parking lot, this embodiment differs in that it also aims to alleviate the concentration of vehicles entering the parking lot. For example, at a facility where an event is held, visitors may concentrate in line with the start time of the event. As a result, a concentration of vehicles entering the parking lot may occur, potentially causing the parking lot to become crowded, or surrounding roads to become congested or jammed due to vehicles waiting to enter. Therefore, in this embodiment, the time when a concentration of vehicle entry occurs is estimated, and discounts or benefits are provided to users according to the estimated peak entry time to distribute the number of vehicle entry events.

[0083] Figure 15 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the functions of the parking fee management device 10b according to this embodiment. In Figure 15, components identical to those of the parking fee management device 10 according to the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions are omitted. The differences will be explained in detail.

[0084] The inventory receipt and dispatch record information storage unit 24a stores past inventory receipt record information in addition to the past inventory dispatch record information described in the first embodiment above. The estimation unit 25a estimates the peak time for vehicle entry based on at least one of the following: past vehicle entry data, event information for the day, weather information for the day, and day of the week information for the day. The estimation method for this unit can be the same as the method used to estimate the peak time for vehicle departure described above. For example, if an event is scheduled, the peak time for receiving goods may be estimated to be from a predetermined time before the event start time (for example, one hour before) until the event start time.

[0085] The reward information creation unit 44 creates reward information that associates the reward information to be given to the user with a predetermined period before and after the time period determined from the peak time of entry estimated by the estimation unit 25a. Here, the predetermined periods before and after the designated time can be fixed, or they can be changed according to the peak time for vehicle entry. For example, if the peak time for vehicle entry is between 2 PM and 3 PM, it can be expected that users will have lunch at the facility by arriving around 11 AM. In such cases, the predetermined period before the peak time for vehicle entry may be set to 3 hours, from 11 AM to 2 PM. The predetermined period after the peak time for vehicle entry may be set to a predetermined standard time (for example, one hour).

[0086] Examples of perks include discounted or increased parking fee tickets, or free parking tickets. Regarding free parking tickets, one example is providing a ticket for a predetermined period, such as one hour. The predetermined period may be determined based on the characteristics of facilities near the parking lot. For example, it could be set to about one hour if the area or time is likely to be used for shopping or coffee, or to one to two hours if the area or time is likely to be used for dining. Alternatively, a free ticket could be provided for a period equivalent to the time from the time of entry to the peak entry time.

[0087] Furthermore, the benefits offered may vary before and after peak entry times. For example, benefits offered during a predetermined period before peak entry times may be more attractive than those offered during a predetermined period after peak entry times (e.g., increasing the discount amount, extending the free period for free tickets). This provides an incentive for users to enter the parking lot earlier. As a result, it becomes possible to encourage users to stay at the facility longer, leading to increased purchasing behavior and ultimately boosting overall revenue for both the parking lot and the facility.

[0088] The reward information creation unit 44 may also transmit the created reward information to the user terminal via the communication unit 20. This makes it possible to present reward information to users before they enter the depot, associating the time of entry with the reward. By confirming this reward information, users are expected to enter the depot earlier, which can alleviate congestion at the depot.

[0089] When the parking entry reception unit 21a receives parking entry information via the communication unit 20, it determines, based on the benefit information, whether the parking entry time falls within the time frame in which the benefit can be received. If it does, it registers not only the parking entry time but also the benefit information granted to the user in the parking entry / exit management information. As a result, the parking entry / exit management information according to this embodiment registers benefit information corresponding to the parking space number and the parking time.

[0090] Furthermore, if the benefit information registered in the entry / exit management information is a discount on the fee, it will be taken into consideration when settling the parking fee, resulting in a reduction of the parking fee. If it is a ticket that can be used at the facility, the user can display the electronic ticket on the user terminal 50 and use it, or they can present the parking ticket number, etc., at the facility's information counter to confirm entry information and receive a ticket.

[0091] As described above, the parking fee management device, parking fee management method, and program according to this embodiment make it possible to alleviate the concentration of parking by estimating the peak time for parking and providing discounts or benefits on parking fees to users who park during a predetermined period before and after the time determined from the peak time. This makes it possible to shorten waiting times for parking and alleviate traffic congestion on surrounding roads.

[0092] In this embodiment, the system has been described in combination with the parking fee management device according to the first embodiment, but it can also be combined with the parking fee management device according to the second embodiment. In this case, for example, the system may be configured to allow users to make parking reservations from the user terminal 50.

[0093] Furthermore, it is not always necessary to offer both benefits upon vehicle entry and discounts upon vehicle exit. For example, based on past entry and exit records, it may be possible to offer only benefits upon entry, only discounts upon exit, or both, depending on the day.

[0094] Furthermore, while the above embodiment provided incentives, instead of providing incentives, it is also possible to mitigate the concentration of vehicles entering the parking lot by reducing the incentive to enter during peak hours. This could be achieved by imposing penalties, such as withholding the exit discount, on users who enter the parking lot during peak hours, i.e., users who do not cooperate in distributing the number of vehicles entering the parking lot. Alternatively, instead of, or in addition to, free or discounted parking tickets, free or discounted parking tickets that can be used at affiliated stores may be provided as a benefit.

[0095] Although the present disclosure has been described above using various embodiments, the technical scope of this disclosure is not limited to the scope described in the embodiments above. Various modifications or improvements can be made to the embodiments without departing from the gist of this disclosure, and such modified or improved forms are also included in the technical scope of this disclosure. Furthermore, it is possible to combine all or part of each embodiment. Furthermore, the various processing flows described in the above embodiments are merely examples, and it is possible to delete unnecessary steps, add new steps, or change the processing order without departing from the spirit of this disclosure.

[0096] For example, in the embodiments described above, the parking fee management device was described using an example where it includes an entry reception unit 21, an entry / exit management information storage unit 22, an exit reception unit 23, etc., but the invention is not limited to this example. For example, the parking fee management device may realize the above-described processing in cooperation with a parking control device that controls the entire parking lot. That is, if the parking control device includes an entry reception unit 21, an entry / exit management information storage unit 22, an exit reception unit 23, etc., it may perform various processes by obtaining the information necessary to realize the parking fee management method according to each embodiment described above from these components.

[0097] Furthermore, the parking fee management device according to each embodiment may be incorporated into a parking control device that controls a parking lot, and configured to realize the various functions described above. Furthermore, the memory and various information contained in each embodiment of the parking fee management device do not need to be located within the parking fee management device itself. For example, they can be located on a cloud server and configured to allow for information retrieval and updating as needed.

[0098] The parking fee management device, parking fee management method, and program described in each embodiment above can be understood, for example, as follows.

[0099] The parking fee management device (10) relating to this disclosure is a parking fee management device for managing parking fees for a parking lot, comprising: an estimation unit (25) that estimates peak exit times when exits are concentrated; and a discount information creation unit (26) that creates discount information associated with time periods and discount rates or discount amounts based on the estimation results of the estimation unit, wherein the discount information creation unit sets the discount rate or discount amount for times other than peak exit times to be higher than the discount rate or discount amount for peak exit times.

[0100] According to the parking fee management system described above, the discount information is set so that the discount rate or amount outside of peak exit times is higher than the discount rate or amount during peak exit times. This provides an incentive for users to avoid exiting during peak times. As a result, exits can be dispersed, reducing waiting times for users and mitigating the impact of congestion on surrounding roads caused by concentrated exits.

[0101] In the above-mentioned parking fee management device, the estimation unit may estimate the peak departure time using at least one of the following: past departure record information, event information for the day, weather information for the day, day of the week information for the day, and public holiday information for the day.

[0102] The parking fee management device (10a) relating to this disclosure is a parking fee management device for managing parking fees for a parking lot, and includes a discount information creation unit (43) that creates discount information associated with time slots and discount rates or discount amounts, and the discount information creation unit updates the discount rate or discount amount according to the exit reservation status.

[0103] According to the above-mentioned parking fee management system, discount information is created that associates time slots with discount rates or discount amounts, and the discount rates or discount amounts are updated according to the exit reservation status. This makes it possible to reflect the exit reservation status in the parking fee discount rate. In this way, by linking the parking fee discount rate with the exit reservation status, it is possible to distribute exit reservations and alleviate congestion when exiting the parking lot.

[0104] In the above-mentioned parking fee management device, the discount information creation unit may set the discount rate or discount amount for a time period such that the discount rate or discount amount for a time period decreases continuously or in stages as the number of exit reservations for a time period increases.

[0105] According to the parking fee management system described above, it becomes possible to guide users to make exit reservations during times when there are fewer exit reservations. This makes it possible to alleviate congestion when exiting the parking lot.

[0106] The above-described parking fee management device may include an estimation unit (25) that estimates the peak exit times when exits are concentrated, and the discount information creation unit may set initial values ​​for the discount rate or discount amount for each time period according to the estimation results of the estimation unit, and update the initial values ​​according to the exit reservation status.

[0107] According to the parking fee management system described above, it is possible to set discount rates that take into account peak exit times. This is expected to further alleviate congestion when parking.

[0108] The above-mentioned parking fee management device may include a communication unit (20) that transmits discount information to a user terminal (50) used by the user, or to an information terminal (60) installed in a facility located within or around the parking lot and used by the user.

[0109] The above-mentioned parking fee management system makes it possible to provide users with discount information that associates time slots with discount rates or discount amounts. This makes it possible to guide users to exit the parking lot during times when there is no congestion in the exit process.

[0110] The above-mentioned parking fee management device may include a fee information creation unit (28) that, upon receiving a fee disclosure request including vehicle identification information from a user terminal used by a user, or from an information terminal installed in or around the parking lot and used by a user, creates individual fee information that associates the exit time and parking fee with the vehicle identification information and the discount information associated with the vehicle identification information, and a communication unit (20) that transmits the individual fee information to the sender of the fee disclosure request.

[0111] The above-mentioned parking fee management system makes it possible to provide users with customized parking fees. This allows users to intuitively understand the parking fees and intuitively convey the benefits of exiting during off-peak hours.

[0112] In the above-described parking fee management device, the fee information creation unit may also reflect discount information corresponding to the user's purchase information within the facility associated with the parking lot in the individual fee information.

[0113] The above-mentioned parking fee management system makes it possible to present users with more accurate parking fees.

[0114] In the above-described parking fee management device (10b), the estimation unit (25a) estimates the peak time for parking when parking is concentrated, and the parking fee management device may further include a reward creation unit (44) that creates reward information associated with a predetermined period before and after the time period determined from the peak time for parking estimated by the estimation unit, and reward information to be given to the user.

[0115] According to the above-mentioned parking fee management system, it is possible to alleviate not only the concentration of people exiting the parking lot but also the concentration of people entering it.

[0116] The above-mentioned parking fee management device may also be equipped with a communication unit (20) that transmits reward information to a user terminal (50) used by the user.

[0117] According to the parking fee management system described above, it is possible to present users with reward information that links the time of entry with the corresponding benefit before they enter the parking lot. By checking this reward information, users are expected to enter the parking lot earlier, which can help alleviate congestion at the parking lot.

[0118] The parking fee management method relating to this disclosure is a parking fee management method for managing parking fees for a parking lot, wherein a computer performs the steps of: estimating the peak exit time when exits are concentrated; and creating discount information based on the estimated peak exit time, which associates time periods with discount rates or discount amounts, and the step of creating discount information sets the discount rate or discount amount for times other than the discount rate or discount amount for peak exit time to be higher.

[0119] The parking fee management method relating to this disclosure is a parking fee management method for managing parking fees for a parking lot, wherein a computer performs the steps of creating discount information associated with a time period and a discount rate or discount amount, and updating the discount rate or discount amount of the discount information according to the exit reservation status.

[0120] The program disclosed herein is a program for causing a computer to function as the parking fee management device described above.

[0121] The program relating to this disclosure causes a computer to perform the following processes: receiving discount information, which associates time slots with discount rates or discount amounts, from a parking fee management device that manages parking fees for a parking lot; and displaying the received discount information on a display unit.

[0122] The program relating to this disclosure causes a computer to perform the following processes: sending identification information of an incoming vehicle and a request for disclosure of fees to a parking fee management device that manages parking fees for the parking lot; receiving individual fee information from the parking fee management device that associates the exit time with the parking fee; and displaying the received individual fee information on a display unit.

[0123] The above program may include a process for displaying a parking reservation input means for making a parking reservation on the individual fee information display screen, and a process for sending a parking reservation request, including the parking time slot, to a predetermined destination when the parking reservation input means is operated. [Explanation of symbols]

[0124] 3: Communication Network 10: Parking fee management device 10a: Parking fee management device 10b: Parking fee management device 20: Communications Department 21: Vehicle Inbound Reception Department 21a: Inbound Reception Department 22: Warehousing / receiving management information storage unit 23: Dispatch Reception Department 24: Outbound shipment information storage unit 24a: Storage unit for inventory receipt and dispatch information 25: Estimation part 25a: Estimation part 26: Discount Information Creation Department 27: Discount Information Storage Unit 28: Fee Information Creation Department 30: Ground-level parking lot 31: Entrance Gate 32: Ticket machine 33: Exit Gate 34:Payment machine 35: Pre-payment machine 41: Vehicle dispatch reservation reception department 43: Discount Information Creation Department 44: Bonus Information Creation Department 50: User terminal 51: Bar 52: Reservation button 60: Information terminal

Claims

1. A parking fee management device for managing parking fees in a parking lot, An estimation unit that estimates the peak time for shipments when shipments are concentrated, A discount information creation unit creates discount information that associates time periods with discount rates or discount amounts based on the estimation results of the estimation unit, A fee information creation unit, upon receiving a fee disclosure request including vehicle identification information from a user terminal used by a user, or from an information terminal installed in or around the parking lot and used by a user, creates individual fee information that associates parking fees with each of multiple exit time slots based on the vehicle identification information, and the aforementioned discount information. A communications unit that transmits the aforementioned individual charge information to the sender of the charge disclosure request. Equipped with, The individual fee information includes the exit reservation status at the parking lot, and an exit reservation input means is provided for making an exit reservation for each of the exit time slots. The aforementioned discount information creation unit is a parking fee management device that sets the discount rate or discount amount outside of peak exit hours to be higher than the discount rate or discount amount during peak exit hours.

2. The parking fee management device according to claim 1, wherein the estimation unit estimates the peak departure time using at least one of past departure record information, event information for the day, weather information for the day, day of the week information for the day, and public holiday information for the day.

3. The parking fee management device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the discount information creation unit updates the discount rate or discount amount according to the parking reservation status.

4. The parking fee management device according to claim 3, wherein the discount information creation unit sets the discount rate or discount amount for a given time period such that the discount rate or discount amount for that time period decreases continuously or in stages as the number of parking reservations for that time period increases.

5. The parking fee management device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the discount information creation unit sets an initial value for the discount rate or discount amount for each time period according to the estimation result of the estimation unit, and updates the initial value according to the parking reservation status.

6. The parking fee management device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the communication unit transmits the discount information to the sender of the fee disclosure request.

7. The parking fee management device according to claim 1, wherein the fee information creation unit reflects discount information corresponding to the user's purchase information within the facility associated with the parking lot into individual fee information.

8. The estimation unit estimates the peak time for receiving goods into the warehouse, The parking fee management device according to claim 1, further comprising a reward information creation unit that creates reward information associated with a predetermined period before and after the time period determined from the peak parking time estimated by the estimation unit, and reward information to be given to the user.

9. The parking fee management device according to claim 8, wherein the communication unit transmits the benefit information to a user terminal used by the user.

10. A parking fee management method for managing parking fees in a parking lot, Computers A process to estimate the peak time for shipments when shipments are concentrated, A process of creating discount information that associates time slots with discount rates or discount amounts based on estimated peak departure times, When a request for disclosure of fees, including identification information of an entering vehicle, is received from a user terminal used by a user, or from an information terminal installed in or around the parking lot and used by a user, the process of creating individual fee information, in which each of multiple exit time slots is associated with a parking fee, based on the entry time and discount information associated with the identification information of the entering vehicle, The process of sending the aforementioned individual fee information to the sender of the fee disclosure request. Execute, The individual fee information includes the exit reservation status at the parking lot, and an exit reservation input means is provided for making an exit reservation for each of the exit time slots. The process of creating the aforementioned discount information is a parking fee management method in which the discount rate or discount amount outside of peak exit times is set higher than the discount rate or discount amount during peak exit times.

11. A program for causing a computer to function as a parking fee management device according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

12. The parking fee management device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the exit reservation status included in the individual fee information includes the number of exit reservations for each exit time slot and its upper limit.

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