Parking position identification device

Abstract

To achieve enhancement to enable a user to identify a correct parking floor in a multistory parking garage where the user has parked a vehicle.SOLUTION: A parking position identification device performs: storing floor data where a sign image including a floor sign arranged inside a multistory parking garage so as to enable identification of the floor of the multistory parking garage is registered in association with the floor to be identified based on the floor sign; comparing a sign image acquired when the parking of a vehicle is completed with the sign image of the floor data; and identifying the parking floor indicating the floor where the vehicle is positioned when completing the parking of the vehicle. The parking position identification device allows a display device to display the parking floor when the parking floor can be identified, and allows the display device to display the sign image when the parking floor cannot be identified.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a parking position identifying device that identifies a parking position when parking of a vehicle is completed and displays the parking position on a display device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a parking location display device that presents to a user a parking floor indicating the floor on which the vehicle will be located when parking is completed in a multi-story parking garage. For example, a parking location identification device described in Patent Document 1 (hereinafter referred to as the "conventional device") searches for a three-dimensional route from the user to the vehicle based on the current position and altitude of the vehicle after parking is completed and the current position and altitude of a communication terminal device carried by the user, and presents the three-dimensional route to the user. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2006-234418 A Summary of the Invention

[0004] In the conventional device, the current position and altitude of the vehicle are determined using GPS. In a multi-storey parking garage, the current position and altitude of the vehicle may not be determined due to the inability to receive GPS signals from artificial satellites. Furthermore, the altitude determined using GPS may contain errors. For this reason, the conventional device may not be able to present the user with the correct parking floor of the multi-storey parking garage where the vehicle is parked, and the user may not be able to identify the correct parking floor.

[0005] The present invention has been made to address the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to increase the likelihood that a user can identify the correct parking floor of a multi-storey parking garage where a vehicle is parked.

[0006] The vehicle control device of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as the "device of the present invention") is A parking position specifying device (SV) that specifies a parking position when parking of a vehicle (VA) is completed and displays the parking position on a display device (DP), The parking position identification device includes: storing floor data (14) in which a sign image including a floor sign that is provided in a multi-story parking lot and can identify a floor of the multi-story parking lot and a floor that is identified based on the floor sign are registered in association with each other; Identifying a parking floor representing the floor on which the vehicle will be located when parking of the vehicle is completed by comparing the signature image acquired when parking of the vehicle is completed with the signature image of the floor data (step 320); If the parking floor can be identified (step 325 "Yes"), the parking floor is displayed on the display device (step 330); If the parking floor cannot be identified (step 325 "No"), the sign image is displayed on the display device (step 350). A parking position identification device configured as above.

[0007] According to the device of the present invention, when a parking floor is identified based on a sign image, the parking floor is displayed, and when a parking floor is not identified based on a sign image, the sign image is displayed on the display device. This increases the possibility that the user can identify the correct parking position even if a GPS signal cannot be received in the parking garage or if the altitude determined using GPS includes an error. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic system configuration diagram of a parking location identification system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 2 is a flowchart of a routine executed by a CPU shown in FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] 11 is a flowchart of a routine executed by a CPU of the parking location identification server. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] As shown in Fig. 1, the parking location identification system according to this embodiment (hereinafter referred to as "this system") includes a parking location identification server SV (hereinafter referred to as "identification server SV"), a vehicle VA, and a display device DP. These are connected to each other via a network so that data can be communicated.

[0010] When parking is complete, the vehicle VA transmits position data to the identification server SV for identifying the parking position of the vehicle VA. The position data includes a vehicle ID, a GPS position, a GPS height, and a sign image. The GPS position is the position (latitude and longitude) of the vehicle VA identified using a GPS. The GPS height is the height at which the vehicle VA is located identified using a GPS. The sign image is an image of a floor sign (marking) capable of identifying a floor, which is provided on pillars of a multi-story parking garage and near the entrances of floors of the multi-story parking garage. Such floor signs include numbers and / or alphabets.

[0011] When the specified server SV receives the location data, it stores the received location data in the location data storage unit 12 of the storage device 10. Floor data is stored in advance in the floor data storage unit 14 of the storage device 10. The floor data is data in which the location (latitude and longitude) of the parking structure is associated with sign images of floor signs provided on each floor of the parking structure.

[0012] For example, a user may park the vehicle VA, then leave the vehicle VA, and become unsure of where the vehicle VA is parked. In such a case, when the user performs a predetermined operation on the display device DP (e.g., a smartphone), the display device DP transmits a location specification request to the specification server SV. The location specification request includes the vehicle ID. The vehicle ID is registered in advance in the display device DP.

[0013] When the specific server SV receives the location identification request, the specific server SV refers to the location data and the floor data to identify the parking location and the parking floor of the vehicle VA. Then, the specific server SV transmits a location identification response to the display device DP to display the parking location and the parking floor on the display device DP.

[0014] A position data transmitting device 20 including the components shown in FIG. 1 is applied to the vehicle VA. The ECU 30 is an electronic control device having a microcomputer as a main part. The ECU 30 is also called a control unit, a controller, and a computer. The microcomputer includes a CPU (processor), a ROM, a RAM, an interface, etc. The specific server SV and the display device DP each include a CPU (processor), a ROM, a RAM, an interface, etc.

[0015] The camera 32 acquires image data by capturing images of the surroundings of the vehicle VA. The number of cameras 32 may be one or more. The ECU 30 acquires image data from the camera 32. The vehicle speed sensor 34 detects the vehicle speed Vs representing the speed of the vehicle VA. The GPS receiver 36 receives GPS signals from multiple artificial satellites, and identifies the current position (latitude and longitude) and altitude of the vehicle VA based on the received signals. The shift position sensor 38 detects the position (shift position) of a shift lever (not shown) of the vehicle VA. The shift positions include N range (neutral position), P range (parking position), D range (forward position), and R range (reverse position). The ECU 30 acquires the detection values ​​of these 34 to 38. The communication I / F 40 is an interface for connecting the position data transmission device 20 to a network.

[0016] (Overview of operation) When the identification server SV receives a location identification request, it acquires location data corresponding to the vehicle ID included in the location identification request from the location data storage unit 12. The identification server SV acquires floor data corresponding to the GPS location of the location data from the floor data storage unit 14. The identification server SV identifies a parking floor by comparing a sign image of the location data with a sign image of the floor data. If the identification server SV can identify a parking floor, it causes the display device DP to display the parking floor, and if the identification server SV cannot identify a parking floor, it causes the display device DP to display a sign image of the location data.

[0017] This increases the likelihood that the user will be able to identify the correct parking floor when the vehicle VA is parked in a multi-story parking garage.

[0018] (Specific operation) <Position data transmission routine> The CPU of the ECU 30 of the vehicle VA (hereinafter referred to as the "first CPU") executes the routine shown in the flowchart of Fig. 2 every time a predetermined time elapses. When an appropriate time arrives, the first CPU starts processing from step 200 of Fig. 2, and determines in step 205 whether the vehicle speed Vs is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold vehicle speed Vsth. If the vehicle speed Vs is greater than the threshold vehicle speed Vsth (step 205 "No"), the first CPU proceeds to step 295 and temporarily ends this routine.

[0019] If the vehicle speed Vs is equal to or less than the threshold vehicle speed Vsth (step 205 "Yes"), the first CPU executes steps 210 to 230. Step 210: The first CPU acquires image data from the camera 32. Step 215: The first CPU acquires "GPS data including the current position and height of the vehicle VA" from the GPS receiver 36. Step 220: The first CPU acquires a sign image from the image data. Step 225: The first CPU stores the GPS data and the sign image. Step 230: Determines whether the shift position is in the P range.

[0020] If the shift position is in the P range (step 230 "Yes"), the process proceeds to step 235. In step 235, the first CPU transmits the vehicle ID and location data including the most recent "GPS data and sign image" to the parking location identification server SV. If the GPS data and sign image cannot be obtained when the shift position is in the P range, the location data including the most recently stored GPS data and sign image is transmitted. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 295, and the first CPU temporarily ends this routine. If the shift position is not in the P range (step 230 "No"), the process proceeds to step 295, and the first CPU temporarily ends this routine.

[0021] <Parking location identification routine> The CPU of the specific server SV (hereinafter referred to as the "second CPU") executes the routine shown in the flowchart in Fig. 3 every time a predetermined time elapses. When an appropriate time arrives, the second CPU starts the process from step 300 in Fig. 3, and determines in step 305 whether the specific server SV has received a location specification request.

[0022] If the identification server SV receives a location identification request (step 305 "Yes"), in step 310, the second CPU identifies the GPS location of the vehicle VA identified by the vehicle ID included in the location identification request by referring to the location data, and determines whether the GPS location is in a multi-story parking lot. If the GPS location is in a multi-story parking lot (step 310 "Yes"), in step 315, the second CPU determines whether floor data of the GPS location is stored in the floor data storage unit 14. If the floor data is stored in the floor data storage unit 14 (step 315 "Yes"), the second CPU executes steps 320 and 325.

[0023] Step 320: The second CPU acquires a sign image of the vehicle VA identified by the vehicle ID included in the location identification request by referring to the location data, and identifies the floor (parking floor) corresponding to the sign image by referring to the floor data.

[0024] Step 325: The second CPU judges whether or not the parking floor has been identified. If the parking floor has been identified (step 325 "Yes"), in step 330, the second CPU transmits a position identification response to the display device DP for displaying the GPS position, the parking floor, and a sign image. Note that in step 330, the second CPU may also transmit the GPS height included in the position identification response to the display device DP. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 395, and the second CPU temporarily ends this routine.

[0025] If the parking floor cannot be identified (step 325 "No"), the second CPU executes steps 335 and 340. Step 335: The second CPU acquires the GPS height of the vehicle VA identified by the vehicle ID included in the location identification request by referring to the location data, and identifies the floor (parking floor) corresponding to the GPS height. If a floor of a multi-story parking lot and its GPS height are registered in association with the floor data, the parking floor can be identified based on the GPS height, but if a floor and its GPS height are not registered in the floor data or the GPS height is not stored in the location data, the parking floor cannot be identified based on the GPS height.

[0026] Step 340: The second CPU judges whether or not the parking floor has been identified. If the parking floor has been identified (step 340 "Yes"), in step 345, the second CPU judges whether or not a sign image of the vehicle VA identified by the vehicle ID included in the location identification request is stored in the position data. If the sign image is stored in the position data (step 345 "Yes"), in step 350, the second CPU transmits a position identification response to the display device DP to display the GPS position, the parking floor, the sign image, and the GPS height. Then, the process proceeds to step 395, and the second CPU temporarily ends this routine.

[0027] If the sign image is not stored in the position data (step 345 "No"), the second CPU transmits a position identification response to the display device DP to display the GPS position, the parking floor, and the GPS height in step 355. Then, the process proceeds to step 395, and the second CPU temporarily ends this routine.

[0028] If the floor data of the GPS position is not stored in the floor data storage unit 14 (step 315 “No”) or the parking floor cannot be identified based on the GPS height (step 340 “No”), the process proceeds to step 360. In step 360, the second CPU determines whether at least one of the sign image and the GPS height of the vehicle VA identified by the vehicle ID included in the position identification request is stored in the position data.

[0029] If at least one of the sign image and the GPS height is stored in the position data (step 360 "Yes"), in step 365, the second CPU transmits a position identification response to the display device DP for displaying the GPS position and the sign image and / or the GPS height stored in the position data. Then, the process proceeds to step 395, and the second CPU temporarily ends this routine. If neither the sign image nor the GPS height is stored in the position data (step 360 "No") or the GPS position of the vehicle VA is not a multi-storey parking garage (step 310 "No"), in step 370, the second CPU transmits a position identification response to the display device DP for displaying the GPS position. Then, the process proceeds to step 395, and the second CPU temporarily ends this routine.

[0030] A parking floor identified based on a sign image is more likely to be the correct parking floor than a parking floor identified based on a GPS height. This is because a GPS signal may not be received from an artificial satellite in a multi-story parking lot, and the GPS height may contain an error. For this reason, in this embodiment, when a parking floor is identified based on a sign image, the parking floor is displayed on the display device DP. Furthermore, when a parking floor is not identified based on a sign image, if a sign image can be displayed, the sign image is displayed on the display device DP. This increases the possibility that a user can identify the correct parking position by looking at the sign image.

[0031] The parking location specification routine may be executed by the display device DP or the position data transmission device 20. When the display device DP executes the parking location specification routine, the position data transmission device 20 needs to transmit the position data to the display device DP, and further, the floor data needs to be stored in the display device DP. When the position data transmission device 20 executes the parking location specification routine, the floor data needs to be stored in the position data transmission device 20. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] SV: parking location identification server, 10: storage device, 12: location data storage unit, 14: floor data storage unit, VA: vehicle, DP: display device.

Claims

[Claim 1] A parking position specifying device that specifies a parking position when parking of a vehicle is completed and displays the parking position on a display device, The parking position identification device includes: storing floor data in which a sign image including a floor sign that is provided in a multi-story parking lot and can identify a floor of the multi-story parking lot and a floor that is identified based on the floor sign are registered in association with each other; identifying a parking floor representing a floor on which the vehicle is located when parking of the vehicle is completed by comparing a signature image acquired when parking of the vehicle is completed with the signature image of the floor data; When the parking floor is identified, the parking floor is displayed on the display device; If the parking floor cannot be identified, the sign image is displayed on the display device. A parking position identification device configured as above.

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