Method

Abstract

To improve a technique of searching parking lots.SOLUTION: A terminal device 10 acquires each of destinations of one or more vehicles 30 parked at each of one or more parking lots. Next, the terminal device 10 calculates estimated parking time of each of the one or more vehicles 30, based on each of the destinations of the one or more vehicles 30. Next, the terminal device 10 sets each schedule time at which the one or more vehicles are usable, based on the estimated parking time of each of the one or more vehicles 30 with respect to each of the one or more parking lots. Then, the terminal device 10 provides, to users, information of the one or more parking lots whose display modes are changed based on each schedule time at which the one or more vehicles are usable.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a method. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a vehicle navigation system that displays full / vacant information for each parking lot when searching for parking lots. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology in which, when a driver inputs parking information into a car navigation system when parking, the car is notified of the parking location at the destination based on the priority order of recommended parking lot information. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication 2012-184974 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] There was room for improvement in the technology used to search for parking spaces.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present disclosure is to improve the technology for searching for parking spaces. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the method comprises: A method executed by a terminal device, comprising: obtaining a destination for each of the one or more vehicles parked in each of the one or more parking lots; calculating an estimated stop time for each of the one or more vehicles based on the destination of the one or more vehicles, The longer the distance between the destination of the one or more vehicles and the one or more parking lots in which the one or more vehicles are parked, the smaller the estimated stop time value of the one or more vehicles is calculated; When the destination of the one or more vehicles is a facility within a predetermined distance from the one or more parking lots in which the one or more vehicles are parked, the estimated stop time of the one or more vehicles is calculated to be larger than when the destination of the one or more vehicles is not the facility. And, Setting a scheduled time when each of the one or more parking lots will be available based on the estimated stop time of the one or more vehicles parked in each of the one or more parking lots; providing a user with information on the one or more parking lots, the display manner of which is changed based on the scheduled time when the one or more parking lots will become available; Includes. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a technique for searching parking spaces is improved. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the terminal device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described.

[0010] (Overview of the embodiment) An overview of a system 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Fig. 1. The system 1 includes a plurality of terminal devices 10, an information processing device 20, and a plurality of vehicles 30. The plurality of terminal devices 10, the information processing device 20, and the plurality of vehicles 30 are communicatively connected to a network 40 including, for example, the Internet and a mobile communication network.

[0011] The terminal device 10 is a computer such as a personal computer (PC), a smartphone, or a tablet terminal. In this embodiment, the terminal device 10 is used by a user who searches for a parking lot. The terminal device 10 may be a computer mounted on a vehicle.

[0012] (Terminal Device Configuration) The terminal device 10 includes a communication unit 11, an output unit 12, an input unit 13, a storage unit 14, and a control unit 15.

[0013] The communication unit 11 includes one or more communication interfaces connected to the network 40. The communication interfaces correspond to mobile communication standards such as, but are not limited to, 4G (4th Generation) or 5G (5th Generation). In this embodiment, the terminal device 10 communicates with the information processing device 20 via the communication unit 11 and the network 40.

[0014] The output unit 12 includes one or more output devices that output information. The output devices are, for example, but not limited to, a display that outputs information as a video or a speaker that outputs information as a sound. Alternatively, the output unit 12 may include an interface for connecting an external output device.

[0015] The input unit 13 includes one or more input devices that detect an input operation by a user. The input devices are, for example, but not limited to, a physical key, a capacitive key, a mouse, a touch panel, a touch screen that is integral with the display of the output unit 12, or a microphone. Alternatively, the input unit 13 may include an interface for connecting an external input device.

[0016] The storage unit 14 includes one or more memories. The memories are, for example, but not limited to, semiconductor memories, magnetic memories, or optical memories. Each memory included in the storage unit 14 may function as, for example, a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory. The storage unit 14 stores any information used in the operation of the terminal device 10. For example, the storage unit 14 may store a system program, an application program, and embedded software. The information stored in the storage unit 14 may be updatable with information acquired from the network 40 via the communication unit 11, for example.

[0017] The control unit 15 includes one or more processors, one or more programmable circuits, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination of these. The processor is, for example, but is not limited to, a general-purpose processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or a dedicated processor specialized for a specific process. The programmable circuit is, for example, but is not limited to, an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array). The dedicated circuit is, for example, but is not limited to, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). The control unit 15 controls the operation of the entire terminal device 10.

[0018] The positioning unit 16 includes one or more devices that acquire location information of the terminal device 10. Specifically, the positioning unit 16 includes, for example, a receiver compatible with GPS, but is not limited thereto, and may include a receiver compatible with any satellite positioning system.

[0019] The information processing device 20 is, for example, a computer such as a server device, etc. The information processing device 20 is capable of communicating with a plurality of terminal devices 10 and a plurality of vehicles 30 via a network 40.

[0020] (Configuration of information processing device) The information processing device 20 includes a communication unit 21, a storage unit 22, and a control unit 23.

[0021] The communication unit 21 includes one or more communication interfaces connected to the network 40. The communication interface corresponds to, for example, a mobile communication standard, a wired LAN (Local Area Network) standard, or a wireless LAN standard, but is not limited to these and may correspond to any communication standard. In this embodiment, the information processing device 20 communicates with a plurality of terminal devices 10 and a plurality of vehicles 30 via the communication unit 21 and the network 40.

[0022] The storage unit 22 includes one or more memories. Each memory included in the storage unit 22 may function as, for example, a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory. The storage unit 22 stores any information used in the operation of the information processing device 20. For example, the storage unit 22 may store a system program, an application program, embedded software, a database, and the like. The information stored in the storage unit 22 may be updatable with information acquired from the network 40 via the communication unit 21, for example.

[0023] The control unit 23 includes one or more processors, one or more programmable circuits, one or more dedicated circuits, or a combination of these. The processor is, for example, but is not limited to, a general-purpose processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or a dedicated processor specialized for a specific process. The programmable circuit is, for example, but is not limited to, an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array). The dedicated circuit is, for example, but is not limited to, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). The control unit 23 controls the operation of the entire information processing device 20.

[0024] (Vehicle configuration) The vehicle 30 is, for example, an automobile, but is not limited thereto and may be any vehicle. The vehicle 30 includes a communication unit 31, an output unit 32, an input unit 33, a storage unit 34, a control unit 35, and a positioning unit 36. Note that the communication unit 31, the output unit 32, the input unit 33, the storage unit 34, the control unit 35, and the positioning unit 36 ​​are similar to the communication unit 11, the output unit 12, the input unit 13, the storage unit 14, the control unit 15, and the positioning unit 16, respectively, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0025] First, an overview of this embodiment will be described, and details will be described later. The terminal device 10 acquires the destinations of one or more vehicles 30 parked in one or more parking lots. Next, the terminal device 10 calculates the estimated stop time of each of the one or more vehicles 30 based on the destinations of the one or more vehicles 30. When calculating the estimated stop time, the terminal device 10 calculates a smaller value for the estimated stop time of each of the one or more vehicles 30 as the distance between the destination of each of the one or more vehicles 30 and the one or more parking lots in which the one or more vehicles 30 are parked is longer, and when the destination of each of the one or more vehicles 30 is a facility within a predetermined distance from the one or more parking lots in which the one or more vehicles 30 are parked, the terminal device 10 calculates a larger value for the estimated stop time of each of the one or more vehicles 30 than when the destination of each of the one or more vehicles 30 is not the facility. Next, the terminal device 10 sets a scheduled time when each of the one or more parking lots will be available based on the estimated stop time of each of the one or more vehicles 30 parked in each of the one or more parking lots. The terminal device 10 then provides the user with information on one or more parking lots, the display mode of which has been changed based on the scheduled time when each of the one or more parking lots will become available.

[0026] In this way, according to this embodiment, when a user searches for a parking lot, not only can the user know whether the parking lot is full or empty, but also, if the parking lot is full, the display mode is changed based on the scheduled time when the parking lot will become available, so the user can know whether the parking lot will soon become empty. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the technology for searching parking lots is improved in that the user can not only know the full / empty information of each parking lot, but also know whether a full parking lot will soon become empty.

[0027] (Operation flow of terminal device) The operation of the terminal device 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0028] S100: The control unit 15 of the terminal device 10 acquires the destinations of one or more vehicles 30 parked in one or more parking lots, respectively.

[0029] Specifically, the control unit 15 acquires the destinations of the one or more vehicles 30 parked in one or more parking lots by receiving information on the destinations of the one or more vehicles 30 parked in one or more parking lots from the information processing device 20 via the communication unit 11 and the network 40. Any method can be used to determine whether the one or more vehicles 30 are parked in a parking lot. For example, the information processing device 20 may make the determination based on the position information and status information of the one or more vehicles 30 received from the control unit 15 of each of the one or more vehicles 30 via the network 40.

[0030] "Location information" may include any information indicating a location, such as an address, latitude and longitude, or the name of a facility.

[0031] "Status information" may include any information indicative of the status of one or more vehicles 30, such as, for example, information indicating whether one or more vehicles 30 are moving.

[0032] One or more of the vehicles 30 may use the positioning unit 16 to obtain location information of their current location.

[0033] In addition, the control unit 15 may acquire the destinations of each of the one or more vehicles 30 directly from each of the one or more vehicles 30 via the communication unit 11 and the network 40, without going through the information processing device 20.

[0034] S101: The control unit 15 calculates an estimated stopping time of each of the one or more vehicles 30 based on the destination of the one or more vehicles 30.

[0035] Specifically, the control unit 15 may calculate a smaller estimated stop time value for the one or more vehicles 30 as the distance between the destination of the one or more vehicles 30 and the one or more parking lots in which the one or more vehicles 30 are parked is longer. This is because it can be estimated that the one or more vehicles 30 are more likely to leave the one or more parking lots in which they are parked earlier.

[0036] Alternatively, the control unit 15 may calculate a large value for the estimated stop time of the one or more vehicles 30 when the destination of the one or more vehicles 30 is a facility within a predetermined distance from the one or more parking lots where the one or more vehicles 30 are parked. This is because, when the facility is, for example, a shopping center, it can be estimated that the one or more vehicles 30 are likely to require some time before departing.

[0037] Also, for example, when the destinations of one or more vehicles 30 are included in the history information of one or more vehicles 30, the control unit 15 may calculate the value of the estimated stop time of one or more vehicles 30 based on the history.

[0038] "History information" may include any information that provides a history of the movements of one or more vehicles 30, including, but not limited to, destinations to which one or more vehicles 30 have previously traveled, and locations and times at which the vehicles have been parked en route to those destinations.

[0039] S102: The control unit 15 sets a scheduled time when each of the one or more parking lots will become available, based on an estimated stop time of the one or more vehicles 30 parked in each of the one or more parking lots.

[0040] Specifically, the control unit 15 identifies the shortest estimated stopping time of the one or more parked vehicles 30 calculated in S101 in each of the one or more parking lots. Next, the control unit 15 sets the scheduled time when the one or more parking lots will become available by adding the identified shortest estimated stopping time to the current time. Note that the control unit 15 may set the time when the one or more parking lots will become available in a format such as 5 minutes later, 10 minutes later, 20 minutes later, etc., instead of the scheduled time when the one or more parking lots will become available.

[0041] The estimated stop time to be specified may be the longest estimated stop time among the estimated stop times of the one or more vehicles 30, or may be the average value of the estimated stop times of the one or more vehicles 30.

[0042] S103: The control unit 15 provides the user with information on one or more parking lots, the display mode of which has been changed based on the scheduled time when each of the one or more parking lots will become available.

[0043] Specifically, the control unit 15 may provide information about one or more parking lots to the user by outputting, on the screen of the terminal device 10, for example, the full parking information for one or more parking lots in green text for one or more parking lots whose scheduled time of availability is less than a specified time, and in red text for one or more parking lots whose scheduled time of availability is equal to or later than a specified time.

[0044] The "predetermined time" may be any time such as 10:00, 10:30, 12:00, 13:00, etc., and may be changeable as appropriate. Also, instead of a predetermined time, it may be a predetermined time such as 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, etc.

[0045] The "display mode" is not limited to the two colors, green and red, but may be multiple colors, such as blue and yellow, and may use various display modes, including, but not limited to, display using shapes such as a circle or double circle, and display using numbers or symbols.

[0046] The "full parking lot information" is information that indicates whether the parking lot is full or not. For example, the full parking lot information may be "full" or "empty", but any method may be adopted without being limited thereto. The full parking lot information may be obtained, for example, from the information processing device 20.

[0047] As described above, the terminal device 10 acquires the destinations of the one or more vehicles 30 parked in one or more parking lots. Next, the terminal device 10 calculates the estimated stop time of each of the one or more vehicles 30 based on the destinations of the one or more vehicles 30. When calculating the estimated stop time, the terminal device 10 calculates a smaller value for the estimated stop time of the one or more vehicles 30 as the distance between the destination of the one or more vehicles 30 and the one or more parking lots in which the one or more vehicles 30 are parked is longer, and when the destination of the one or more vehicles 30 is a facility within a predetermined distance from the one or more parking lots in which the one or more vehicles 30 are parked, the terminal device 10 calculates a larger value for the estimated stop time of the one or more vehicles 30 than when the destination of the one or more vehicles 30 is not the facility. Next, the terminal device 10 sets the scheduled time when each of the one or more parking lots will be available based on the estimated stop time of each of the one or more vehicles 30 parked in each of the one or more parking lots. Then, the terminal device 10 provides the user with information on the one or more parking lots in which the display mode is changed based on the scheduled time when each of the one or more parking lots will be available.

[0048] According to this configuration, when a user searches for a parking lot, not only can the user know whether the parking lot is full or empty, but also, if the parking lot is full, the display mode is changed based on the scheduled time when the parking lot will become available, so the user can know whether the parking lot will soon become empty. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the technology for searching parking lots is improved in that the user can not only know the full / empty information of each parking lot, but also know whether a parking lot that will soon become full will soon become empty.

[0049] Although the present disclosure has been described based on the drawings and examples, it should be noted that those skilled in the art may make various modifications and alterations based on the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these modifications and alterations are included in the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the functions included in each component or step can be rearranged so as not to be logically inconsistent, and multiple components or steps can be combined or divided into one.

[0050] For example, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration and operation of the terminal device 10 may be distributed among a plurality of computers that can communicate with each other. Also, for example, an embodiment in which some or all of the components of the terminal device 10 are provided in the information processing device 20 or the vehicle 30 may be provided. For example, the information processing device 20 or the vehicle 30 may include some or all of the components of the terminal device 10.

[0051] Also, for example, an embodiment is possible in which a general-purpose computer functions as the terminal device 10 according to the above-described embodiment. Specifically, a program describing the processing contents for realizing each function of the terminal device 10 according to the above-described embodiment is stored in the memory of the general-purpose computer, and the program is read and executed by a processor. Therefore, the present disclosure can also be realized as a program executable by a processor, or a non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores the program. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 1 System 10 Terminal Equipment 11 Communications Department 12 Output section 13 Input section 14 Storage section 15 Control section 16 Positioning unit 20 Information processing device 21 Communications Department 22 Memory section 23 Control Unit 30 Vehicles 31 Communications Department 32 Output section 33 Input section 34 Storage section 35 Control section 36 Positioning unit 40 Network

Claims

[Claim 1] A method executed by a terminal device, comprising: obtaining a destination for each of the one or more vehicles parked in each of the one or more parking lots; calculating an estimated stop time for each of the one or more vehicles based on the destination of the one or more vehicles, The longer the distance between the destination of the one or more vehicles and the one or more parking lots in which the one or more vehicles are parked, the smaller the estimated stop time value of the one or more vehicles is calculated; When the destination of the one or more vehicles is a facility within a predetermined distance from the one or more parking lots in which the one or more vehicles are parked, the estimated stop time of the one or more vehicles is calculated to be larger than when the destination of the one or more vehicles is not the facility. And, Setting a scheduled time when each of the one or more parking lots will be available based on the estimated stop time of the one or more vehicles parked in each of the one or more parking lots; providing a user with information on the one or more parking lots, the display manner of which is changed based on the scheduled time when the one or more parking lots will become available; A method comprising:

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