Management system

Abstract

To provide a technique for easily discovering a disabled vehicle even when an AVP vehicle fails and it is difficult to identify a location of the vehicle.SOLUTION: A management system includes: a management server for wirelessly communicating with a vehicle inside a parking lot; and an annunciator arranged in the vehicle or close to the vehicle so as to emit light, sound, or both of them by receiving an instruction from the management server. When it is detected that an event requiring confirmation of a vehicle state occurs via wireless communication with the vehicle, the management server performs control to actuate the annunciator corresponding to the vehicle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a technology for managing a parking lot where an automatic parking service is provided to vehicles. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a system for detecting people inside an AVP (Automated Valet Parking) vehicle. In this conventional technology, a vehicle sensor is used to determine whether there is a person inside the AVP vehicle. By confirming that no person remains inside the AVP vehicle, interference with automatic parking is prevented. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2018-505488 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the AVP system, when a vehicle to be controlled needs to be moved by a person due to a breakdown or the like, the staff in the parking lot must identify the broken-down vehicle. In such a case, it may be difficult for the staff to identify the vehicle. In particular, in a parking lot where vehicles of the same model are parked side by side, it is difficult to determine the vehicle by the vehicle number or the parking space. Therefore, it may take a lot of time to search for the broken-down vehicle. The above-mentioned Patent Document 1 is a system that monitors the AVP vehicle by a system and detects people inside the vehicle, but it does not provide a solution to this problem.

[0005] One object of the present disclosure is to provide a technology that can easily find a broken-down vehicle even when an AVP vehicle breaks down and it is difficult to identify the location of the vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A first aspect of the present disclosure relates to a management system for managing a parking lot where an automatic parking service is provided to vehicles. The management system includes a management server capable of wireless communication with vehicles in the parking lot, and an alarm provided on or near the vehicle, which emits sound, light, or both in response to an instruction from the management server. The management server is configured to execute control to activate the alarm corresponding to the vehicle when it detects through wireless communication with the vehicle that an event has occurred that requires confirmation of the vehicle's status.

[0007] A second aspect of the present disclosure has the following features in addition to the features of the first aspect: The vehicle is configured to activate an alarm when a communication state with the management server is poor.

[0008] A third aspect of the present disclosure has the same features as the first aspect, but further includes the following: The alarm is an infrastructure facility provided in the parking lot.

[0009] A fourth aspect of the present disclosure has the following features in addition to the features of the first aspect: The management server is configured to change an operation mode of the alarm device depending on the content of the event that has occurred.

[0010] A fifth aspect of the present disclosure has the same features as the first aspect, but further includes the following: The management server is configured to transmit location information of the vehicle in which the occurrence of the event is detected to a mobile terminal carried by a parking lot staff member. Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the present disclosure, when an event occurs that requires confirmation of the vehicle's condition, the alarm corresponding to the vehicle is controlled to emit sound, light, or both. This makes it possible to notify the surroundings of the presence of the vehicle in which the event has occurred. Therefore, the location of the vehicle in which the event has occurred can be quickly identified, thereby shortening the time required to find the vehicle. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an overview of a management system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an overview of a management system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a specific example of a management system according to an embodiment; [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a process performed by a management system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a process performed by a management system according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing by a management system according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] A management system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, common elements in the drawings will be denoted by the same reference numerals and duplicated explanations will be omitted.

[0014] 1. Overview FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an overview of a management system 1 according to an embodiment. The management system 1 manages a parking lot 2 where an automatic parking service is provided to a vehicle 3. The automatic parking service is used, for example, in a rental car service that rents out a vehicle 3. The vehicle 3 has an automatic valet parking function. A vehicle that has an automatic valet parking function is called an AVP vehicle. The AVP vehicle may be an automatic driving vehicle or a manually driving vehicle.

[0015] The management system 1 includes an alarm 4 and a management server 10. The alarm 4 is, for example, a device that emits sound or light or both upon receiving an instruction from the management server 10. The alarm 4 will be described in detail later.

[0016] The management server 10 includes a processor 11, a storage device 12, and a communication device 13. The processor 11 executes various processes for managing the parking lot 2. Specifically, the processor 11 manages the entry and exit of vehicles 3 parked in the parking lot 2. The processor 11 also performs maintenance management for keeping the vehicles 3 in a normal condition.

[0017] The storage device 12 stores a management program (not shown). The management program is a computer program executed by the processor 11. The processor 11 executes the management program, whereby the functions of the management system 1 are realized.

[0018] The communication device 13 is a device capable of wireless communication with the vehicle 3 .

[0019] The management server 10 performs the following process in the maintenance management of the vehicles 3. Specifically, the management server 10 transmits a request to the target vehicle 3 or all vehicles 3 in the parking lot 2 to respond with the identification information ID of the vehicle 3 and vehicle status information indicating whether the condition of the vehicle 3 is normal. The identification information ID is, for example, a vehicle number or a management number assigned by the automatic parking service company.

[0020] Furthermore, the management server 10 detects whether an event has occurred that requires checking the status of the vehicle 3, based on the identification information ID received from the vehicle 3 and the vehicle status information corresponding to the identification information ID. For example, if the vehicle status information is "normal", the management server 10 determines that no event has occurred that requires checking the status of the vehicle 3. On the other hand, if the vehicle status information is "abnormal", the management server 10 detects that an event has occurred that requires checking the status of the vehicle 3. A specific processing example will be described later.

[0021] Thereafter, the management server 10 executes control to activate the alarm device 4 corresponding to the vehicle 3 that detected the occurrence of the event. A specific example of control to activate the alarm device 4 will be described later.

[0022] In the example shown in Fig. 1, the management server 10 has determined that an event has occurred in the vehicle 3 with the identification information ID "10" among the 20 vehicles 3 parked in the parking lot 2, which requires checking the status of the vehicle 3. The management server 10 then executes control to activate the alarm 4 corresponding to the vehicle 3 with the identification information ID "10". This makes it possible to notify the staff of the parking lot 2 of the vehicle 3 in which the event has occurred.

[0023] 2 is a diagram for explaining an overview of the alarm 4. The alarm 4 includes a first alarm 4a that is conventionally provided on the vehicle 3, and a second alarm 4b that is provided near the vehicle 3. Examples of the first alarm 4a include a light (headlight, etc.), a lamp (blinker lamp, hazard lamp, etc.), a horn, a speaker (navigation voice, etc.), an approaching sound mounted on a hybrid vehicle, etc., a security buzzer, etc. Examples of the second alarm 4b include infrastructure equipment such as a marker that can be turned on or off and is provided near or around the parking space, a light that can illuminate the parking space from above, and a speaker installed near the parking space.

[0024] In the example shown in Fig. 2, the headlights of the vehicle 3, which are the first alarm 4a, are turned on, and the markers near the parking space and the markers around the parking space, which are the second alarm 4b, are turned on. In addition to this example, the specific situation of the vehicle 3 may be transmitted by the navigation voice using a speaker mounted on the vehicle 3. For example, by announcing the identification information ID of the vehicle 3 and the parking space number by voice, the staff of the parking lot 2 can more easily find the vehicle 3 where the event has occurred.

[0025] According to the management system 1 of the embodiment, when it is detected that an event has occurred that requires checking the status of a vehicle 3 in a parking lot 2, control is performed to activate an alarm 4 corresponding to the vehicle 3. When control is performed to activate the alarm 4, a sound or light or both are emitted from the first alarm 4a or the second alarm 4b. Specific examples of control to activate the alarm 4 will be described below.

[0026] 2. Specific examples 2-1. Example of alarm operation control 3 is a diagram for explaining a specific example of control for activating the alarm 4 in the management system 1 according to the embodiment. As described above, the control for activating the alarm 4 is executed when it is detected that an event that requires confirmation of the state of the vehicle 3 has occurred. Events that require confirmation of the state of the vehicle 3 include an abnormal state of the vehicle 3, a poor communication state between the management server 10 and the vehicle 3, etc. Abnormal states of the vehicle 3 include, for example, vehicle breakdown, malfunction of an on-board sensor, insufficient charging, insufficient fuel, etc.

[0027] Here, consider a case where the communication state between the management server 10 and the vehicle 3 is not working properly as an event that requires confirmation of the state of the vehicle 3. In this case, even if there is a vehicle 3 in which the event has occurred, the management server 10 cannot grasp this, and cannot execute control to activate the alarm 4 corresponding to the vehicle 3.

[0028] Therefore, in the management system 1 according to the embodiment, when the communication state between the management server 10 and the vehicle 3 is good, the management server 10 controls to activate the alarm 4 corresponding to the vehicle 3 in which the event has occurred. On the other hand, when the communication state between the management server 10 and the vehicle 3 is poor, the vehicle 3 controls to activate the alarm 4 corresponding to the vehicle 3 in which the event has occurred.

[0029] In addition, an example in which the management server 10 activates the alarm 4 when the communication state between the management server 10 and the vehicle 3 is good will be referred to as a first example, and an example in which the vehicle 3 activates its own alarm 4 when the communication state between the management server 10 and the vehicle 3 is poor will be referred to as a second example. Below, the first and second examples will be described in detail.

[0030] 2-1-1. First example Fig. 3(A) shows a specific example of a first example in which the management server 10 activates the alarm 4. As shown in Fig. 3(A), to determine whether an event has occurred that requires confirmation of the status of the vehicle 3, various parameters received from the vehicle 3 are used after the management server 10 transmits a request to the vehicle 3 to respond with identification information ID and vehicle status information. The various parameters include whether or not there has been a response from the vehicle 3 and the vehicle status information.

[0031] There are three examples (cases 1, 2, and 3) of combinations of the presence or absence of a response from vehicle 3 and the vehicle status information. Specifically, case 1 shown in Fig. 3(A) shows an example where there is a response from vehicle 3 and the vehicle status information received from vehicle 3 is normal. In this case, no event has occurred that requires confirmation of the status of vehicle 3, and there is no need to inform the surrounding area of ​​the status of vehicle 3, so the management server 10 does not control the activation of the alarm 4 corresponding to vehicle 3.

[0032] 3(A) shows an example of a case where there is a response from the vehicle 3 and the vehicle status information received from the vehicle 3 is abnormal. In this case, since it is necessary to notify the surroundings that an event has occurred that requires checking the status of the vehicle 3, the management server 10 controls to activate the alarm 4 corresponding to the vehicle 3. Specifically, the management server 10 executes control to activate at least one of the first alarm 4a and the second alarm 4b corresponding to the vehicle 3.

[0033] Case 3 shown in Fig. 3(A) shows an example of a case where there is no response from the vehicle 3. Even if the communication state between the management server 10 and the vehicle 3 is good, if some problem occurs on the vehicle 3 side, it is assumed that the vehicle 3 will be unable to return a response to the management server 10. In this case, it is necessary to inform the surroundings that an event has occurred that requires confirmation of the status of the vehicle 3. Therefore, the management server 10 controls the activation of the second alarm 4b corresponding to the vehicle 3.

[0034] 2-1-2. Second example Fig. 3(B) shows a specific example in which the vehicle 3 activates the alarm 4 of the vehicle itself. As shown in Fig. 3(B), in order to determine whether an event has occurred that requires confirmation of the state of the vehicle 3, various parameters including the presence or absence of a request from the management server 10 and vehicle status information are used. In addition, four cases (cases 4, 5, 6, and 7) are given as examples of combinations of the presence or absence of a request from the management server 10 and the vehicle status information. Note that cases 4 and 5 correspond to cases 1 and 2 described above, respectively, and therefore cases 6 and 7 will be described here.

[0035] Specifically, case 6 shown in Fig. 3(B) shows an example in which the request from the management server 10 is not received even after a predetermined time has elapsed, and the vehicle status information is normal. In this case, the communication state between the management server 10 and the vehicle 3 is poor, but the vehicle status information is normal, so that no event occurs that requires confirmation of the state of the vehicle 3. In this case, since there is no need to inform the surroundings of the state of the vehicle 3, the vehicle 3 does not execute control to activate the first alarm 4a of its own vehicle.

[0036] Case 7 shown in Fig. 3(B) shows an example in which the request from the management server 10 is not received even after a predetermined time has elapsed, and the vehicle status information is abnormal. In this case, the communication state between the management server 10 and the vehicle 3 is not good, and in addition, the vehicle status information is abnormal, so that an event has occurred that requires confirmation of the status of the vehicle 3. Therefore, the vehicle 3 needs to inform the surroundings that an event has occurred that requires confirmation of the status of the vehicle, and therefore executes control to activate the first alarm 4a of the vehicle.

[0037] 2-2. Examples of alarm operation modes The management system 1 may change the operation mode of the alarm 4 corresponding to the vehicle 3 according to the state of various parameters used to determine whether an event has occurred that requires checking the status of the vehicle 3. For example, if the degree of malfunction of the vehicle 3 is high, it is necessary to check the status of the vehicle 3 quickly. In this case, the management system 1 uses an alarm 4 that emits a sound so that the staff of the parking lot 2 can notice it immediately. On the other hand, if the degree of malfunction of the vehicle 3 is low and checking the status of the vehicle 3 is a low priority, the management system 1 may control the alarm 4 to be activated using a light-emitting alarm 4.

[0038] The management system 1 may operate a combination of an alarm 4 that emits sound and an alarm 4 that emits light depending on the type of failure. Furthermore, the management system 1 may set a periodic pattern for emitting sound or light in advance depending on the type of failure.

[0039] 3. Processing example (sequence) 3-1. First Example Fig. 4 is a sequence diagram showing a first example of a processing example in the management system 1 according to the embodiment. Specifically, Fig. 4(A) shows a sequence diagram for the above-mentioned case 1, Fig. 4(B) shows a sequence diagram for the above-mentioned case 2, and Fig. 4(C) shows a sequence diagram for the above-mentioned case 3. Each of these will be described in detail below.

[0040] 4(A) will be described in detail first. The management server 10 transmits a request RQ to the vehicle 3 to request the vehicle 3 to respond with identification information ID and vehicle status information. If the vehicle status information contained in the response RES received by the management server 10 from the vehicle 3 is normal, the management server 10 does not execute control to activate the alarm 4 corresponding to the vehicle 3.

[0041] 4(B) will be described in detail below. The management server 10 transmits a request RQ to the vehicle 3. If the vehicle status information contained in the response RES received by the management server 10 from the vehicle 3 indicates an abnormality, the management server 10 executes control to activate the alarm 4 corresponding to the vehicle 3. Specifically, the management server 10 executes at least one of a first operation control CON1 of the first alarm 4a corresponding to the vehicle 3 and a second operation control CON2 of the second alarm 4b corresponding to the vehicle 3.

[0042] 4(C) will be described in detail. The management server 10 transmits a request RQ to the vehicle 3. If a response RES is not received from the vehicle 3 even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the transmission of the request RQ, the management server 10 executes a second operation control CON2 of the second alarm 4b corresponding to the vehicle 3.

[0043] As described above, case 4 in the second example of the control for activating the alarm 4 corresponds to case 1 in the first example, so the sequence of case 4 is the same as that in Fig. 4(A). Also, case 5 in the second example of the control for activating the alarm 4 corresponds to case 2 in the first example, so the sequence of case 5 is the same as that in Fig. 4(B). In the sequence diagram of the second example described later, the explanation of cases 4 and 5 will be omitted, and details of cases 6 and 7 will be explained.

[0044] 3-2. Second Example Fig. 5 is a sequence diagram showing a second example of a processing example in the management system 1 according to the embodiment. Specifically, Fig. 5(A) shows a sequence diagram for the above-mentioned case 6, and Fig. 5(B) shows a sequence diagram for the above-mentioned case 7. Each will be described in detail below.

[0045] 5(A) will be described in detail first. The management server 10 transmits a request RQ to the vehicle 3. If the vehicle status information contained in the response RES received by the management server 10 from the vehicle 3 is normal, the management server 10 does not execute control to activate the alarm 4 corresponding to the vehicle 3.

[0046] 5(A), if the communication state between the management server 10 and the vehicle 3 is poor, it is assumed that the vehicle 3 will not be able to receive the request RQ from the management server 10 even if a predetermined time has passed since the vehicle 3 transmitted the response RES to the management server 10. However, if the vehicle status information is normal, there is no need to notify the surroundings of the status of the vehicle 3. Therefore, even if the time period during which the vehicle 3 does not receive a request RQ from the management server 10 exceeds a predetermined time, if the vehicle status information is normal, the vehicle 3 will not execute control to activate the first alarm 4a of its own vehicle.

[0047] Next, Fig. 5(B) will be described in detail. As in Fig. 5(A), consider a case where the vehicle 3 does not receive a request RQ from the management server 10 even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the vehicle 3 transmitted a response RES to the management server 10. In this case, if the vehicle status information is abnormal, an event has occurred that requires confirmation of the state of the vehicle 3. Therefore, if the time period during which the vehicle 3 does not receive a request RQ from the management server 10 exceeds a predetermined time and the vehicle status information is abnormal, the vehicle 3 executes control to activate the first alarm 4a of the vehicle itself.

[0048] 4. Processing example (flowchart) 4-1. First Example Fig. 6A is a flowchart showing a processing example of a first example of the management system 1 according to the embodiment. Specifically, Fig. 6A shows a processing example of the management server 10 in the management system 1.

[0049] In step S100, the management server 10 transmits a request RQ to the vehicle 3 in the parking lot 2. After that, the process proceeds to step S110.

[0050] In step S110, the management server 10 determines whether or not a response RES has been received from the vehicle 3. If it is determined that a response RES has been received from the vehicle 3 (step S110; Yes), the process proceeds to step S120. Otherwise (step S110; No), the process proceeds to step S140.

[0051] In step S120, the management server 10 judges whether the vehicle status information included in the response RES is abnormal or not. If it is judged that the vehicle status information is abnormal (step S120; Yes), the process proceeds to step S130. Otherwise (step S120; No), the process ends.

[0052] In step S130, the management server 10 executes control to activate at least one of the first alarm 4a and the second alarm 4b corresponding to the vehicle 3.

[0053] In step S140, the management server 10 executes control to activate the second alarm device 4b corresponding to the vehicle 3 that has not responded RES.

[0054] 4-2. Second Example 6B is a flowchart showing an example of processing of the vehicle 3 in the management system 1 according to the embodiment. Specifically, FIG. 6B shows an example of processing of the vehicle 3 in the management system 1.

[0055] In step S200, the vehicle 3 determines whether the time period during which the vehicle 3 has not received a request RQ from the management server 10 exceeds a predetermined time. If it is determined that the time period exceeds the predetermined time (step S200; Yes), the process proceeds to step S210. Otherwise (step S200; No), the process proceeds to step S230.

[0056] In step S210, the vehicle 3 determines whether the vehicle status information is abnormal. If it is determined that the vehicle status information is abnormal (step S210; Yes), the process proceeds to step S220. Otherwise (step S210; No), the process ends.

[0057] In step S220, the vehicle 3 executes control to activate the first alarm device 4a of the host vehicle.

[0058] In step S230, the vehicle 3 transmits a response RES to the request RQ to the management server 10. After that, the process proceeds to step S110 described above.

[0059] 5.Effects According to the management system 1 of the embodiment, when an event occurs that requires confirmation of the state of the vehicle 3, at least one of the first alarm 4a and the second alarm 4b corresponding to the vehicle 3 is controlled to be activated. This makes it possible to notify those in the vicinity that the vehicle 3 in question has occurred is present. Therefore, the location of the vehicle in question can be quickly identified, thereby shortening the time required to find the vehicle 3 in question. Furthermore, when the vehicle 3 in question has occurred is in a dangerous malfunction state, it is possible to minimize damage to the surroundings by quickly notifying those in the vicinity of the danger.

[0060] 6. Other embodiments The management system 1 may control the activation of at least one of the first alarm 4a and the second alarm 4b corresponding to the vehicle 3, and may also transmit location information of the vehicle 3 in which the event occurred to a mobile device carried by a staff member of the parking lot 2. This allows the staff member of the parking lot 2 to more accurately grasp the location of the vehicle 3 in which the event occurred. This further shortens the time required to find the vehicle 3 in which the event occurred. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 1... management system, 2... parking lot, 3... vehicle, 4... alarm, 4a... first alarm, 4b... second alarm, 10... management server, 11... processor, 12... storage device, 13... communication device, RQ... request, RES... response, CON1... first operation control, CON2... second operation control

Claims

1. In a management system for managing a parking lot where an automatic parking service is provided to a vehicle, a management server capable of wireless communication with the vehicles in the parking lot; an alarm that is provided on or near the vehicle and that emits sound, light, or both in response to an instruction from the management server; The management server includes: A management system characterized by being configured to execute control to activate the alarm corresponding to the vehicle when it detects via wireless communication with the vehicle that an event has occurred that requires checking the status of the vehicle.

2. The management system according to claim 1, The vehicle is configured to activate the alarm when communication with the management server is poor.

1. A management system comprising:

3. The management system according to claim 1, The alarm is an infrastructure facility provided in the parking lot.

1. A management system comprising:

4. The management system according to claim 1, The management server is configured to change an operation mode of the alarm device depending on the content of the event that has occurred.

1. A management system comprising:

5. The management system according to claim 1, The management server is configured to transmit location information of the vehicle in which the occurrence of the event is detected to a mobile terminal carried by a staff member of the parking lot.

1. A management system comprising:

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