Automatic Valet Parking System, Method for Providing Automatic Valet Parking Service, and Computer-Readable Storage Medium

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an automated valet parking system, a method for providing automated valet parking services, and a computer-readable storage medium. A management device in the automated valet parking system predicts a user's schedule for utilizing the automated valet parking service based on usage history information related to the user's usage history of the automated valet parking service. Furthermore, the management device determines a parking location for the user's vehicle among multiple parking lots based on the predicted usage schedule. This provides a technique for efficiently utilizing multiple parking lots when providing automated valet parking services.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a technology for providing an automated valet parking service using multiple parking lots. Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an example of technology related to an automated valet parking service. In the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, a management device accepts a parking reservation, which includes information such as the desired parking time period and the location where the user of the autonomous vehicle will exit the vehicle. Based on the accepted parking reservation, the management device assigns the autonomous vehicle a parking lot within its jurisdiction. Furthermore, the management device creates a travel plan for the autonomous vehicle to the assigned parking lot based on predicted congestion conditions based on the movements of other vehicles scheduled to travel within the jurisdiction.

[0003] The technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 creates a travel plan to the assigned parking lot to prevent congestion when vehicles enter the parking lot. However, congestion can occur not only when entering the parking lot but also when leaving the parking lot. The technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 does not address smooth parking exits. The technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 assumes that there are multiple parking lots within the management device's jurisdiction. However, the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 still has room for improvement in terms of efficient utilization of multiple parking lots to achieve smooth parking exits.

[0004] Furthermore, as documents representing the technical level at the time of filing the application in the technical field of the present disclosure, in addition to Patent Document 1, the following Patent Documents 2 to 4 can be cited as examples.

[0005] Prior art literature

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-196136

[0007] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-166634

[0008] Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-166767

[0009] Patent Document 4: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-027474 Summary of the Invention

[0010] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0011] The present disclosure is made in view of the above-mentioned problems and aims to provide a technology that can efficiently use multiple parking lots when providing an automatic valet parking service.

[0012] Technical solutions to solve problems

[0013] The present disclosure provides an automatic valet parking system. The automatic valet parking system provides an automatic valet parking service using multiple parking lots. The automatic valet parking system includes: an information storage device that stores usage history information related to a user's usage history of the automatic valet parking service; and a management device that manages the parking locations of the user's vehicle in the multiple parking lots. The management device is configured to: predict a user's usage schedule for the automatic valet parking service based on the usage history information stored in the information storage device; and determine a parking location based on the predicted usage schedule.

[0014] In the automatic valet parking system disclosed herein, the management device may select a parking lot from a plurality of parking lots for parking the vehicle when determining a parking location, referring to the predicted usage schedule. Furthermore, the management device may select a parking space (box) within the parking lot for parking the vehicle when determining a parking location, referring to the predicted usage schedule.

[0015] Furthermore, in the automatic valet parking system of the present disclosure, the management device may refer to the usage schedules of other users using the automatic valet parking service in addition to the user's usage schedule of the automatic valet parking service when determining the parking location.

[0016] In the automatic valet parking system disclosed herein, usage history information may also include information regarding the time at which a user unloaded a vehicle. Furthermore, usage history information may also include information regarding the day of the week at which a user unloaded a vehicle. Furthermore, usage history information may also include information regarding the departure / arrival locations used by the user when unloading a vehicle.

[0017] The present disclosure provides a method for providing an automated valet parking service, specifically, a method for providing an automated valet parking service using multiple parking lots. The method includes the following steps: First, storing usage history information relating to a user's usage history of the automated valet parking service. Second, predicting the user's schedule for using the automated valet parking service based on the stored usage history information. Finally, third, determining a parking location for the user's vehicle in the multiple parking lots based on the predicted usage schedule.

[0018] The present disclosure provides a program for causing a computer to execute. The program causes a computer to manage the parking locations of a user's vehicle in multiple parking lots to provide an automated valet parking service using multiple parking lots. The program causes a computer to execute the following processes. The first process is to obtain usage history information regarding a user's usage history of the automated valet parking service. The second process is to predict the user's usage schedule for the automated valet parking service based on the obtained usage history information. The third process is to determine a parking location for the user's vehicle based on the predicted usage schedule.

[0019] Effects of the Invention

[0020] According to the disclosed technology, a user's automated valet parking usage schedule is predicted based on the user's automated valet parking usage history. Furthermore, the predicted automated valet parking usage schedule is referenced to determine the parking location for the user's vehicle among multiple parking lots. This allows for efficient utilization of multiple parking lots when providing automated valet parking services. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of an automatic valet parking facility to which the automatic valet parking system according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is applied.

[0022] Figure 2 This is a block diagram showing the configuration of an automatic valet parking system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0023] Figure 3 This is a diagram for explaining a usage schedule prediction process executed by the management device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0024] Figure 4 It is a diagram for explaining a parking position determination process executed by the management device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0025] Description of labels

[0026] 2 vehicle; 10 automated valet parking facility; 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 parking lots; 11a, 12a, 13a, 14a, 15a, 16a parking spaces; 21, 22 departure / arrival areas; 30 automated valet parking system; 32 management device; 32a processor; 32b memory; 32c program; 32d data; 34 information storage device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The following describes the embodiments of the present disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, when the number, quantity, amount, range, or other numerical values of various elements are mentioned in the embodiments shown below, the concepts of the present disclosure are not limited to the numerical values mentioned, unless otherwise specifically stated or clearly determined in principle. In addition, the structures and the like described in the embodiments shown below are not necessarily essential to the concepts of the present disclosure, unless otherwise specifically stated or clearly determined in principle.

[0028] 1. Composition of automatic valet parking facilities

[0029] Figure 1 1 is a schematic diagram of an automatic valet parking facility 10 to which an automatic valet parking system 30 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure is applied. Figure 1 The automated valet parking facility 10 of the illustrated configuration provides an automated valet parking service. The automated valet parking service provided by the automated valet parking system 30 includes assigning a parking space to a vehicle 2 within the automated valet parking facility 10 and moving the vehicle 2 within the automated valet parking facility 10.

[0030] The automatic valet parking facility 10 has a departure / arrival area where users get on and off the vehicle 2. Figure 1 In the example shown, two departure / arrival areas are provided: a first departure / arrival area 21 and a second departure / arrival area 22. Each departure / arrival area 21 and 22 has an area large enough for multiple vehicles 2 to depart / arrive simultaneously. A user hands over a vehicle 2 to the automatic valet parking system 30 at either of the departure / arrival areas 21 and 22. Furthermore, a user picks up a vehicle 2 from the automatic valet parking system 30 at either of the departure / arrival areas 21 and 22. Furthermore, the departure / arrival area may be divided into a departure area for unloading and an arrival area for loading. Furthermore, the departure / arrival area does not necessarily have to be attached to the automatic valet parking facility 10. The departure / arrival area may be located in the residential building where the user lives, or at the entrance or exit of the street where the user lives.

[0031] The automatic valet parking facility 10 has a plurality of parking lots for parking the user's vehicle 2. Figure 1In the example shown, six parking lots 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 are provided. The first parking lot 11 is a relatively small, flat parking lot located near the first departure / arrival terminal 21. The second parking lot 12, the third parking lot 13, and the fourth parking lot 14 are multi-story parking lots located within a building. The fifth parking lot 15 is a relatively large, flat parking lot located near the second departure / arrival terminal 22. The sixth parking lot 16 is an underground parking lot located below the first parking lot 11. Each parking lot 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 has a plurality of parking spaces 11a, 12a, 13a, 14a, 15a, and 16a, respectively.

[0032] The vehicle 2 that can utilize the automatic valet parking facility 10 is a vehicle that corresponds to (responds to, supports) the automatic valet parking service. As long as it corresponds to the automatic valet parking service, the vehicle 2 can be a personally owned vehicle, a shared service vehicle, or a MaaS (Mobility as a Service) vehicle. Vehicles that correspond to the automatic valet parking service include vehicles that can at least be driven autonomously within the automatic valet parking facility 10, and vehicles that can at least be remotely driven by a remote driver within the automatic valet parking facility 10. In addition, even vehicles that support neither autonomous driving nor remote driving can be loaded on a self-propelled transport vehicle and moved within the automatic valet parking facility 10. In other words, basically any type of vehicle 2 can correspond to the automatic valet parking service and utilize the automatic valet parking facility 10. In addition, there are various known methods for automatic valet parking. In this disclosure, the method of automatic valet parking itself is not limited, so its detailed description is omitted.

[0033] 2. Composition of the Automatic Valet Parking System

[0034] The automatic valet parking system 30 includes a management device 32 and an information storage device 34. The management device 32 is a computer connected to the vehicle 2 (or the self-propelled transporter that transports the vehicle 2) via a wireless network. The management device 32 is also connected to the user's portable terminal 18 via a wireless network. The management device 32 manages the membership information of users of the automatic valet parking service and performs various processes required to implement the automatic valet parking service, including reservations and authentication for use of the automatic valet parking facility 10. In addition, the management device 32 manages the parking position of the vehicle 2 within the automatic valet parking facility 10. In addition, the management device 32 guides the vehicle 2 when entering from any of the departure / arrival areas 21 and 22 to any of the parking lots 11-16, and guides the vehicle 2 when leaving from any of the departure / arrival areas 21 and 22 to any of the parking lots 11-16.

[0035] Information storage device 34 is a storage device built into management device 32, external to management device 32, or a data server connected to management device 32 via a network. Information storage device 34 stores user membership information and reservation information for automated valet parking facility 10. Information storage device 34 also stores each user's usage history of the automated valet parking service. Each time a user utilizes the automated valet parking service, a new usage history is stored in information storage device 34.

[0036] The portable terminal 18 is a user-portable terminal capable of wireless communication. Examples of portable terminal 18 include smartphones and tablet computers. The portable terminal 18 stores registration information associating the portable terminal 18 with the vehicle 2. By downloading and launching the dedicated automatic valet parking application onto the portable terminal 18, various functions can be utilized, including reservations for use of the automatic valet parking facility 10, automatic entry into and exit from parking lots 11-16, and more. The portable terminal 18 is connected to the management device 32 via a wireless network.

[0037] Next, use Figure 2 The following describes the details of the configuration of the automatic valet parking system 30. The management device 32 constituting the automatic valet parking system 30 includes at least one processor 32a (hereinafter referred to as the processor 32a) and at least one memory 32b (hereinafter referred to as the memory 32b) coupled to the processor 32a. The memory 32b stores at least one program 32c (hereinafter referred to as the program 32c) executable by the processor 32a and various data 32d associated therewith. The memory 32b includes a primary storage device and an auxiliary storage device. The program 32c and the data 32d can be stored in either the primary storage device or a computer-readable recording medium serving as the auxiliary storage device.

[0038] Program 32c includes a program that causes processor 32a to execute a program for managing the parking position of vehicle 2 within automated valet parking facility 10. Data 32d includes parking lot map information, which includes information regarding the locations of parking lots 11-16 within automated valet parking facility 10 and the locations of parking spaces 11a-16a within each parking lot. When the program is executed by processor 32a, management device 32 (processor 32a) executes usage history information acquisition processing 321, usage schedule prediction processing 322, parking position determination processing 323, and vehicle movement processing 324.

[0039] The usage history information acquisition process 321 is a process for acquiring information related to the user's usage history of the automatic valet parking service from the information storage device 34 when a user reserves the use of the automatic valet parking facility 10. For example, the user's reservation for the automatic valet parking system 30, entered via the mobile terminal 18, is acquired, and the user ID included in the reservation is used to search the data stored in the information storage device 34. The usage history information stored in the information storage device 34 includes information related to the date, day of the week, and time when the user unloaded the vehicle, as well as information related to the departure and arrival terminals used by the user when unloading the vehicle. Furthermore, the usage history information may also include information related to the date, day of the week, and time when the user checked in the vehicle, as well as information related to the departure and arrival terminals used by the user when checking in the vehicle.

[0040] The usage schedule prediction process 322 is a process for predicting the user's usage schedule for the automated valet parking service when a user deposits a vehicle 2 at the automated valet parking facility 10. In the automated valet parking system 30, when a user utilizes the automated valet parking service, that is, when depositing a vehicle 2 at the automated valet parking facility 10, the user does not need to enter a usage schedule, such as the expected date and time of departure and arrival points for departure. This usage schedule is predicted based on the usage history information acquired by the usage history information acquisition process 321. Details of the usage schedule prediction process 322 will be described later. Furthermore, the usage schedule can also be predicted at the stage where the user makes a reservation for the automated valet parking service.

[0041] The parking position determination process 323 determines the parking position for a vehicle 2 that has been parked by a user in the automated valet parking facility 10. The automated valet parking facility 10 has multiple parking lots 11-16, and the distances and traffic conditions to the departure and arrival areas 21 and 22 vary for each parking lot 11-16. Furthermore, each parking lot 11-16 has multiple parking spaces 11a-16a, and the distances to the departure and arrival areas 21 and 22 vary depending on the location of each parking space 11a-16a within the parking lot 11-16. Furthermore, when multiple vehicles 2 move within the automated valet parking facility 10, their movement paths may overlap or intersect when leaving the parking lot, depending on their respective parking locations. Taking these considerations into account, the parking position determination process 323 determines the parking position for each vehicle 2 so that it can exit the parking lot smoothly. Details of the parking position determination process 323 will be described later.

[0042] Vehicle movement processing 324 moves vehicle 2 according to the parking position determined in parking position determination processing 323. Vehicles 2 parked in the automated valet parking facility 10 may remain parked in a fixed parking position from the time they enter the facility until they leave, or their parking positions may change multiple times. Whether the parking position of vehicle 2 changes until it leaves the facility depends on the user's predicted usage schedule and is also affected by the usage schedules of other users. When the management device 32 receives a request to leave the facility from the user's mobile terminal 18, vehicle 2 is moved from the parking position to either the departure / arrival area 21 or 22 designated by the user. In vehicle movement processing 324, if vehicle 2 has an autonomous driving function, vehicle 2 is moved automatically; if vehicle 2 has a remote driving function, vehicle 2 is moved remotely. If vehicle 2 does not have either autonomous driving or remote driving functions, vehicle 2 is moved using a self-propelled transport vehicle.

[0043] 3. Details of schedule prediction and parking location determination

[0044] Figure 3 3 is a diagram for explaining the usage schedule prediction process 322 executed by the management device 32. In the usage schedule prediction process 322, the usage history information of the user who has used the automatic parking service is used. Figure 3 In the example shown, usage history information is associated with the ID of vehicle 2. While usage history information can also be associated with a user's ID, vehicles 2 are not necessarily owned by an individual. Therefore, it is more preferable to manage usage history information using the vehicle ID rather than the user ID.

[0045] exist Figure 3 In the example shown, the usage history information includes the time when the user unloaded the vehicle 2 on each date and the departure / arrival station used by the user when unloading. Figure 3 In the example, T1 means the first departure / arrival terminal 21, and T2 means the second departure / arrival terminal 22. Figure 3 The usage history information shown shows that, for example, vehicle 2 with vehicle ID: 001 leaves the warehouse from the first departure / arrival station 21 before 7:30 every Tuesday and does not leave the warehouse every Sunday. If today is August 20 (Thursday), the usage schedule prediction process 322 predicts the usage schedule of vehicle 2 with vehicle ID: 001 for tomorrow, August 21 (Friday). Figure 3In the example shown, the departure time on Friday of the previous week was 9:15 and the departure / arrival point was T2, and the departure time on Friday of the previous week was 9:30 and the departure / arrival point was T2. Therefore, the departure time for this Friday, August 21st, is predicted to be 9:30 and the departure / arrival point will be T2. In the schedule prediction process 322, statistical prediction using a mathematical model is performed.

[0046] Figure 4 3 is a diagram for explaining the parking position determination process 323 executed by the management device 32. In the parking position determination process 323, the utilization schedule predicted in the utilization schedule prediction process 322 is used. Here, it is assumed that the vehicle 2 with vehicle ID: 001 is parked in the automatic valet parking facility 10 by a certain user. In this case, in the parking position determination process 323, the predicted utilization schedule associated with the vehicle ID: 001 is referenced, and the predicted utilization schedules of other vehicles 2 parked in the automatic valet parking facility 10 are also referenced. Figure 4 In the example shown, the predicted usage schedules of the plurality of vehicles 2 from vehicle ID: 002 to vehicle ID: N are referred to separately from the predicted usage schedule of vehicle ID: 001 .

[0047] In parking location determination processing 323, to ensure smooth exit, vehicles 2 that exit earlier are generally parked in parking locations closer to departure / arrival areas 21 and 22. Specifically, vehicles 2 that exit earlier are assigned parking spaces closer to departure / arrival areas 21 and 22 among parking lots 11 to 16, and within these selected parking spaces, they are assigned parking spaces closer to the entrance or exit of the parking lot.

[0048] On the contrary, the vehicle 2 with a later departure time is parked at a parking position farther from the departure / arrival area 21, 22. For example, it is predicted that the vehicle 2 with vehicle ID: 002 and the vehicle 2 with vehicle ID: N have no departure schedule yet. Figure 4 In the example shown, vehicle 2 with vehicle ID: 002 designates parking lot 14, located on the top floor of the multi-story parking garage, as its designated parking lot. Furthermore, vehicle 2 with vehicle ID: N designates parking lot 16, located underground in parking lot 11, as its designated parking lot. By ensuring that vehicles 2 with later departure times are parked farther from departure / arrival areas 21 and 22, and that vehicles 2 with earlier departure times are preferentially parked near departure / arrival areas 21 and 22, the distance traveled during departure can be reduced, ensuring smoother departure.

[0049] After the earlier vehicle 2 has been unloaded, a parking lot or parking space closer to the departure / arrival area 21 or 22 may become available. In this case, the parking position determination process 323 re-determines the parking position so that the vehicle 2 parked farther from the departure / arrival area 21 or 22 can be moved to the available parking lot or parking space. However, even in this case, the parking position of each vehicle 2 is determined based on the predicted usage schedule of each vehicle 2, so that vehicles 2 with relatively earlier unloading times are parked in parking lots or parking spaces closer to the departure / arrival area 21 or 22.

[0050] Furthermore, in parking position determination processing 323, the optimal parking position for all vehicles 2 is comprehensively determined by referring to all input predicted usage schedules. For example, suppose that vehicle 2 with vehicle ID: 003 and vehicle 2 with vehicle ID: 001 are predicted to leave the first departure / arrival area 21 at the same time. In this case, if vehicles 2 with vehicle ID: 001 and 2 with vehicle ID: 003 are parked in the same parking lot, their movement paths will overlap during departure, hindering smooth departure. Furthermore, if vehicle 2 with vehicle ID: 001 is parked in parking lot 11 and vehicle 2 with vehicle ID: 003 is parked in parking lot 6 16, their movement paths will intersect during departure, hindering smooth departure.

[0051] So, in Figure 4 In the example shown, vehicle 2 with vehicle ID: 001 is parked in parking lot 15, located next to the second departure / arrival area 22, while vehicle 2 with vehicle ID: 003 is parked in parking lot 11, located next to the first departure / arrival area 21. This allows for smooth unloading of both vehicles 2. All vehicles 2 moving within the automated valet parking facility 10 are checked for overlap and / or intersection of their movement paths, similar to this example. Parking lot map information is used to check for overlap and / or intersection of movement paths between vehicles 2.

[0052] As described above, the automated valet parking system 30 according to this embodiment predicts a user's schedule for using the automated valet parking service based on usage history information related to the user's usage history of the automated valet parking service. The automated valet parking system 30 then refers to the predicted schedule to determine a parking location for the user's vehicle in one of the multiple parking lots 11-16. At this point, the automated valet parking system 30 also refers to the schedules of other users using the automated valet parking service. This allows for efficient use of multiple parking lots 11-16 to provide automated valet parking services.

[0053] 4. Other Implementation Methods

[0054] If the departure / arrival point predicted in the forecast schedule differs from the user's actual desired departure / arrival point, and unsuccessful unloading at the user's desired departure / arrival point is not possible, the user may be advised to change the departure / arrival point. If the user accepts the suggestion, a reward may be given to the user.

Claims

1. An automatic valet parking system that uses multiple parking lots to provide automatic valet parking services to multiple users, characterized in that: have: an information storage device storing usage history information relating to each user's usage history of the automatic valet parking service; and a management device for managing the parking positions of each user's vehicle in the plurality of parking lots, The plurality of parking lots include a plurality of departure / arrival areas, The management device is configured to execute: predicting a usage schedule of each user using the automatic valet parking service based on the usage history information stored in the information storage device; and When it is predicted that multiple vehicles will leave the parking lot at the same time with reference to the utilization schedule, the parking positions are determined so that the movement lines of the multiple vehicles do not overlap, and the multiple vehicles are parked in different parking lots using different departure / arrival areas.

2. The automatic valet parking system according to claim 1, characterized in that: When determining the parking position, the management device refers to the utilization schedule and selects a utilization parking lot for parking the vehicle from among the plurality of parking lots.

3. The automatic valet parking system according to claim 2, characterized in that: When determining the parking position, the management device refers to the utilization schedule and selects a utilized parking space in the utilized parking lot for parking the vehicle.

4. The automatic valet parking system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The usage history information includes information on the time at which each user removed the vehicle from the garage.

5. The automatic valet parking system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The usage history information includes information on the days on which each user removed the vehicle from the depot.

6. A method for providing an automatic valet parking service, wherein the method provides the automatic valet parking service to a plurality of users using a plurality of parking lots including a plurality of departure / arrival areas, wherein: include: storing usage history information related to each user's usage history of the automatic valet parking service; predicting a usage schedule of each user using the automatic valet parking service based on the usage history information; and With reference to the utilization schedule, when it is predicted that multiple vehicles will leave the garage at the same time, the parking position of each user's vehicle in the multiple parking lots is determined in a manner so that the movement lines of the multiple vehicles do not overlap, so that the multiple vehicles are parked in different parking lots using different departure / arrival areas.

7. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a process of managing parking positions of vehicles of respective users in a plurality of parking lots including a plurality of departure / arrival areas, so as to provide an automatic valet parking service to a plurality of users using the plurality of parking lots, wherein: The program is configured to cause the computer to execute: a process of obtaining usage history information related to each user's usage history of the automatic valet parking service; a process of predicting a usage schedule of each user using the automatic valet parking service based on the usage history information; and Referring to the utilization schedule, when it is predicted that multiple vehicles will leave the garage at the same time, the parking positions are determined so that the movement lines of the multiple vehicles do not overlap, so that the multiple vehicles are parked in different parking lots using different departure / arrival areas.

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