Vehicle management system

Abstract

To prevent a vehicle from advancing into a location where the vehicle is not desired to advance.SOLUTION: A vehicle management system to prevent a vehicle from advancing comprises a detection unit that detects that a traveling vehicle is approaching a location where the vehicle should be prevented from advancing, and a control unit that outputs information for preventing the vehicle detected by the detection unit from advancing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle management system. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, gate-type paid hourly parking lots with gates at the entrances and exits (hereinafter, "paid hourly parking lots" will also be referred to as "parking lots") and flap-type parking lots with flaps for each parking space have been known.

[0003] In recent years, the number of camera-type parking lots (hereinafter, "camera-type parking lots" are also called "gateless parking lots") that do not require entrance and exit gates or flap plates for each parking space has been increasing by using cameras installed in the parking lot to photograph the license plate numbers of vehicles entering and leaving the parking lot and linking the parking ticket with the license plate number. Gateless parking lots have the advantage of being lower in cost than gated parking lots or flap-type parking lots because they do not require the installation and maintenance costs of equipment such as gates and flaps. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-163536 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Conventional hourly parking lots generally have gates that are opened and closed when entering and leaving the lot. It is clear that a gate, a physical piece of equipment, has the effect of stopping or slowing down the progress of a vehicle for the driver. However, when gateless parking lots are constructed in response to demands for simplifying equipment and reducing costs, measures must be taken against vehicles that leave the lot without paying their parking fees, either intentionally or accidentally (carelessly, etc.) (hereinafter referred to as "unpaid vehicles"). Considering this from a further perspective, if there are locations where vehicles, not just unpaid vehicles, should not enter, measures may be required to prevent vehicles from proceeding into such locations.

[0006] For example, in the case of unpaid vehicles, if the vehicle number can be recognized as in the case of the camera-type parking lot described above, it is often possible to track the unpaid vehicle by checking the vehicle number. However, such a response takes time and effort, so it would be meaningful if the number of unpaid vehicles could be reduced. In this way, in a gateless format, there are cases where it is required to prevent vehicles from proceeding to places where they are not desired.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle management system that can prevent a vehicle from proceeding to a location where the vehicle is not desired to proceed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention is a vehicle management system that prevents a vehicle from progressing, and includes a detection unit that detects that a traveling vehicle is approaching a location where the vehicle's progress should be prevented, and a control unit that outputs information for preventing the vehicle's progress detected by the detection unit. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a vehicle from traveling to a location where the vehicle is not desired to travel. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an overall schematic diagram including a parking lot system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the parking lot management device according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a vehicle model / brake assist relationship table in the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a stop display in the embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the process performed by the parking lot management device in the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a modified example in which the installation location of the equipment is changed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the parking lot system (vehicle management system) of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. In this embodiment, an example will be described in which a vehicle is prevented from leaving a parking lot if the vehicle is not yet settled, assuming that there is a location where the vehicle should not proceed. In this case, the location where the vehicle is prevented from proceeding is a location where the vehicle should not be allowed to leave the parking lot if the vehicle is still not yet settled, that is, an exit for leaving the parking lot.

[0012] First, the configuration of the parking lot system S will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4. Fig. 1 is an overall schematic diagram including the parking lot system S of the embodiment. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the parking lot management device 1 of the embodiment. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a vehicle type / brake assist relationship table in the embodiment. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a stop display in the embodiment.

[0013] As shown in Fig. 1, a parking lot P is provided facing a road R. The parking lot P has an entrance EN and an exit EX. A parking lot system S provided for the parking lot P includes a parking lot management device 1, a camera 2 (photographing unit), equipment 3, and a payment machine 4.

[0014] The camera 2 captures images of the front, side, and rear of a vehicle C, including its vehicle number, entering the parking lot P from the entrance EN, and transmits the captured images to the parking lot management device 1. Note that a camera 2 may be provided for each vehicle compartment.

[0015] The facility 3 includes a display 31, a transmitter 32, and a camera 33 (photographing unit).

[0016] The display device 31 is a means for displaying information based on an instruction signal from the parking lot management device 1, and is, for example, a digital signage (electronic billboard). For example, the display device 31 displays a display screen as shown in Fig. 4 in order to stop an unpaid vehicle C that is about to leave the parking lot based on an instruction signal from the parking lot management device 1. The display screen shown in Fig. 4 may also include an indication to prompt payment.

[0017] The display 31 is not limited to digital signage, and may be Patlite (registered trademark) or the like. If the vehicle C is a connected car, the parking lot management device 1 may recognize that the vehicle C is an unpaid vehicle through internet communication, and may display the information on the car navigation system, head-up display, or the like in the vehicle C instead of displaying the information on the display 31.

[0018] In addition, in accordance with the display on the display unit 31 or the like, the display contents may be output as audio from a speaker attached to the display unit 31 or the like.

[0019] The transmitter 32 is an example of an information output unit that outputs information for the unpaid vehicle C to detect an obstacle using a brake assist function and perform a stopping operation, to the unpaid vehicle C. Specifically, for example, the transmitter 32 outputs information (laser, millimeter wave, electromagnetic wave for LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging), audio information, stereoscopic video information, etc., hereinafter also referred to as "vehicle stopping information") for stopping the unpaid vehicle C that is about to leave the parking lot, based on an instruction signal from the parking lot management device 1 (details will be described later).

[0020] The camera 33 captures images of the front, side, and rear of the vehicle C, including its vehicle number, that is about to leave the parking lot through the exit EX, and transmits the captured images to the parking lot management device 1.

[0021] The payment machine 4 is a device where the driver of vehicle C about to leave the parking lot performs operations to settle the parking fee. For example, the driver inputs the vehicle number of vehicle C on the touch panel of the payment machine 4, looks at the photographed image of vehicle C displayed on the touch panel accordingly, and if it is an image of the driver's own vehicle C, performs operations to settle the parking fee. Note that the photographed image of vehicle C displayed on the touch panel here is an image taken by camera 2 when vehicle C entered parking lot P. This photographed image is saved, and is read out and displayed on the touch panel at the time of settlement.

[0022] Instead of settling the parking fee at this payment machine 4, it may be possible to settling the parking fee using a smartphone app, or if vehicle C is a connected car, it may be possible to settling the parking fee over the Internet using a connected car service function.

[0023] The parking lot management device 1 is a computer system that manages the availability of parking spaces and parking fee settlement by the settlement machine 4, and has various functions for reducing the number of unpaid vehicles. As shown in FIG. 2, the parking lot management device 1 includes a processing unit 11, a storage unit 12, an input unit 13, an output unit 14, and a communication unit 15.

[0024] The storage unit 12 is composed of, for example, a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), etc., and stores various information. The storage unit 12 stores, for example, the operation program of the processing unit 11, various data, setting values, parameters, calculation results, etc.

[0025] The input unit 13 is a means for a user to input information, and is, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, or the like.

[0026] The output unit 14 is an information output means, and is, for example, a display device such as a touch panel or an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), or an audio output device such as a speaker.

[0027] The communication unit 15 is a communication interface for communicating with other devices such as the camera 2, the display device 31, the transmitter 32, the camera 33, and the settlement machine 4.

[0028] The processing unit 11 is configured, for example, by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and executes various information processing. The processing unit 11 may be realized by having a processing device such as a CPU execute a program, that is, by software, or may be realized by hardware such as an IC (Integrated Circuit), or may be realized by a combination of software and hardware. The processing unit 11 includes, as its functional configuration, an acquisition unit 111, a detection unit 112, and a control unit 113.

[0029] The acquisition unit 111 acquires various types of information. For example, the acquisition unit 111 acquires images of the vehicle C from the camera 2 or the camera 33, and acquires payment processing information from the payment machine 4.

[0030] The detection unit 112 detects that a traveling vehicle is approaching a place where the progress of the vehicle should be prevented. For example, the detection unit 112 detects that a vehicle C traveling to leave a parking lot P after parking is an unpaid vehicle for which a parking fee has not been paid.

[0031] Specifically, for example, in the case of vehicle C for which payment has been made in cash, the detection unit 112 recognizes that payment has not been made for vehicle C by inputting the vehicle number into the payment settlement machine 4, and thereby detects that the vehicle is an unpaid vehicle.

[0032] Also, for example, in the case of vehicle C for which payment is made via a smartphone app, the detection unit 112 detects that vehicle C is an unpaid vehicle by recognizing that payment has not been made via the smartphone app.

[0033] Also, for example, in the case of vehicle C, which is a connected car, the detection unit 112 detects that the vehicle is an unpaid vehicle by connecting to an Internet line and recognizing that settlement has not been made over the Internet using the connected car service function for the vehicle C. Note that these methods of detecting unpaid balances are merely examples, and it goes without saying that unpaid balances may be detected by other methods.

[0034] The control unit 113 executes various controls. The control unit 113 outputs information for preventing the progress of the vehicle detected by the detection unit 112. For example, the control unit 113 outputs information for stopping the unpaid vehicle C. Specifically, the control unit 113 outputs information for stopping the unpaid vehicle C.

[0035] The control unit 113 judges whether or not the unpaid vehicle C has a brake assist function based on the image captured by the camera 33. For example, it is assumed that the presence or absence of the brake assist function is determined for each vehicle model. In that case, this judgment can be realized, for example, by determining the vehicle model of the vehicle C based on the captured image and using a vehicle model / brake assist relationship table (FIG. 3). According to the vehicle model / brake assist relationship table in FIG. 3, for example, it can be seen that vehicle model C1 is equipped with a laser radar type brake assist function. The same is true for vehicle models C2 to C4. It can be seen that vehicle model C5 is not equipped with a brake assist function.

[0036] This vehicle type / brake assist relationship table may be created based on catalogs issued by vehicle manufacturers, prescribed organizations (government agencies, etc.), and other publicly available information. Furthermore, if a vehicle type that is not listed in this vehicle type / brake assist relationship table is detected, and if it is possible to determine in real time whether or not the vehicle has a brake assist function by inquiring with prescribed organizations (government agencies, vehicle manufacturers, etc.) based on the vehicle number, then such a method may be used.

[0037] In addition, this determination can be realized, for example, by determining whether or not there is a sensor (such as a light receiving unit or a camera) for the brake assist function on the front of the vehicle C based on the captured image. In recent years, the number of vehicles equipped with a brake assist function has been increasing, and such vehicles always have a sensor that monitors the front. Such a sensor is often installed, for example, at a predetermined position in the center part in the left-right direction on the front of the vehicle C (for example, near the emblem or near the rearview mirror), so the presence and type of the brake assist function can be determined taking such information into consideration. Then, the front monitoring means can be actuated to give the vehicle the illusion that there is an obstacle, thereby activating the brake assist function.

[0038] Then, when the control unit 113 determines that the unpaid vehicle C has a brake assist function, it outputs information for the unpaid vehicle C to detect an obstacle using the brake assist function and perform a stopping operation, depending on the type of brake assist function.

[0039] The detection method for activating the brake assist function is, for example, any of the laser radar type, millimeter wave radar type, camera type, and LiDAR type.

[0040] When the control unit 113 determines that the unsettled vehicle C has a laser radar type brake assist function, it instructs the transmitter 32 to emit a laser radar type laser toward the light receiving unit of the laser radar of the unsettled vehicle C. This makes the vehicle C mistakenly believe that there is an obstacle ahead, activating the brake assist function. The position of the light receiving unit of the laser radar of the unsettled vehicle C can be identified from the vehicle type and the image captured by the camera 33. The laser is assumed to be, for example, infrared, but is not limited to this, and may be another electromagnetic wave such as microwave or short wave.

[0041] Furthermore, when the control unit 113 determines that the unsettled vehicle C has a millimeter wave radar type brake assist function, it instructs the transmitter 32 to emit millimeter waves of the millimeter wave radar type toward the light receiving unit of the millimeter wave radar of the unsettled vehicle C. This allows the vehicle C to have the illusion that there is an obstacle ahead, thereby activating the brake assist function. The position of the light receiving unit of the millimeter wave radar of the unsettled vehicle C can be identified from the vehicle type, the image captured by the camera 33, etc.

[0042] Furthermore, when the control unit 113 determines that the unpaid vehicle C has a camera-based brake assist function, it outputs display information so that the unpaid vehicle C detects an obstacle based on an image captured by the camera. Specifically, for example, the transmitter 32 is used to make a stereoscopic image (e.g., a three-dimensional hologram display or a three-dimensional CG (Computer Graphics) display, etc.) and a traffic sign (a traffic light, a stop sign, etc.) appear in front of the unpaid vehicle C. This gives the vehicle C the illusion that there is an obstacle ahead, and the brake assist function can be activated.

[0043] Furthermore, when the control unit 113 determines that the unsettled vehicle C has a LiDAR-type brake assist function, it instructs the transmitter 32 to emit electromagnetic waves for LiDAR toward the light receiving unit of the LiDAR of the unsettled vehicle C. This allows the vehicle C to have the illusion that there is an obstacle ahead, activating the brake assist function. The position of the light receiving unit of the LiDAR of the unsettled vehicle C can be identified from the vehicle type, captured image, and the like. Furthermore, the electromagnetic waves for LiDAR are assumed to be, for example, infrared rays, but are not limited thereto, and may be other electromagnetic waves such as visible light and ultraviolet rays.

[0044] In addition, regardless of the type of the brake assist function, when the brake assist function of the vehicle C is activated and the driver realizes that the parking fee has not been paid, and the operation is completed by paying the parking fee, the control unit 113 ends (cancels) the output of information for stopping the vehicle C. The timing at which the control unit 113 ends the output of information for stopping the vehicle C is not limited to the timing at which the payment of the parking fee is completed. Depending on the positional relationship between the place where the vehicle C is stopped and the payment machine, it is possible that the driver cannot operate the payment machine. In such a case, it is necessary to stop the output of information for stopping the vehicle C early so that the vehicle C can reach the payment machine. In any case, the brake assist function is activated by detecting that the vehicle C with unpaid parking is about to leave the parking lot and activating the brake assist function of the vehicle, which causes the vehicle C to stop or decelerate, so that the driver realizes that the parking fee has not been paid and performs the payment process.

[0045] Furthermore, when the control unit 113 determines that the unpaid vehicle C does not have a brake assist function, it outputs display information to prompt the unpaid vehicle C to stop. For example, the control unit 113 transmits an instruction signal to the display device 31 to display a display screen as shown in FIG. 4. The driver of the vehicle C can see this display screen and recognize that the parking fee has not been paid. Furthermore, a display to prompt the unpaid vehicle C to stop may be displayed using a stereoscopic image.

[0046] Next, the process performed by the parking lot management device 1 in the embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the process performed by the parking lot management device 1 in the embodiment.

[0047] First, in step S1, the detection unit 112 of the processing unit 11 determines whether or not an unpaid vehicle C has been detected. If Yes, the process proceeds to step S2, and if No, the process returns to step S1.

[0048] In step S2, the control unit 113 causes the display unit 31 to display a display screen that prompts the unpaid vehicle C to stop and make payment.

[0049] Next, in step S3, the control unit 113 determines whether or not the unpaid vehicle C has stopped. If Yes, the process ends, and if No, the process proceeds to step S4.

[0050] In step S4, the control unit 113 determines whether or not the unpaid vehicle C has a brake assist function based on the image captured by the camera 33, and if Yes, proceeds to step S5, and if No, proceeds to step S6.

[0051] In step S5, the control unit 113 outputs information for the unpaid vehicle C to detect an obstacle using the brake assist function and perform a stopping operation according to the type of brake assist function (laser radar type, millimeter wave radar type, camera type, LiDAR type). Thereafter, after stopping the vehicle C, if the parking fee settlement for the vehicle C is completed, the control unit 113 ends the output of information for stopping the vehicle C. Note that the operation of outputting information for performing a stopping operation does not necessarily need to continue until the vehicle C comes to a complete stop. This operation is performed so that the driver realizes that the parking fee has not been settled due to the operation of the brake assist function and recognizes that the parking fee needs to be settled. As described above, the information output operation may be stopped at the timing required for this purpose.

[0052] In step S6, the control unit 113 outputs display information for prompting the vehicle C, which is an unpaid vehicle and does not have a brake assist function, to stop.

[0053] Next, a modified example in which the installation location of the equipment 3 is changed will be described with reference to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a modified example in which the installation location of the equipment 3 is changed. For example, if the equipment 3 is installed in a position immediately to the right of the arrow of symbol A, it can output vehicle stop information to the vehicle C in the direction indicated by symbol A. Furthermore, without being limited to this, the equipment 3 may be installed in a position where it outputs vehicle stop information to the vehicle C in the direction indicated by symbol B, or it may be installed in a position where it outputs vehicle stop information to the vehicle C in the direction indicated by symbol C. In other words, the equipment 3 may be installed anywhere as long as it faces the front of the vehicle C exiting the parking lot P.

[0054] In this way, the parking lot management device 1 of the embodiment can prevent vehicles from proceeding to places where the vehicles are not desired. Specifically, in a gateless paid parking lot, when an unpaid vehicle is detected, information for stopping the unpaid vehicle is output, thereby reducing the number of unpaid vehicles.

[0055] For example, if an unpaid vehicle has a brake assist function, information is output for unpaid vehicle C to detect an obstacle and perform a stopping operation using the brake assist function depending on the type of brake assist function (laser radar type, millimeter wave radar type, camera type, LiDAR type). This reduces the possibility that an unpaid vehicle will leave the parking lot P as is, thereby reducing the number of unpaid vehicles. In that case, by also displaying a display screen such as that shown in FIG. 4 on the display device 31 or as a stereoscopic image, it is possible to make the driver aware that the vehicle is an unpaid vehicle even if stopping using the brake assist function fails, and it is possible to reduce the number of unpaid vehicles.

[0056] Even if the unpaid vehicle does not have a brake assist function, the driver can be made aware that vehicle C is an unpaid vehicle by displaying a display screen such as that shown in Fig. 4 on the display device 31 or displaying it as a 3D image, thereby reducing the number of unpaid vehicles. In particular, it is possible to significantly reduce the number of vehicles that leave the parking lot without realizing that the toll has not been paid due to the driver's negligence (carelessness, etc.).

[0057] In addition, by reducing the number of unpaid vehicles in gateless paid parking lots, it is possible to reduce costs and improve convenience. In addition, there is no need to install gate-related equipment at the exit, which increases the freedom of layout.

[0058] The program executed by the parking lot management device 1 of this embodiment can be provided by recording it in an installable or executable file format on a recording medium readable by a computer device, such as a CD (Compact Disc)-ROM (Read Only Memory), a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R (Recordable), or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). The program may also be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

[0059] Although an embodiment of the present invention has been described, this embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. This novel embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. This embodiment and its modifications are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, and are included in the invention and its equivalents described in the claims.

[0060] For example, the types of brake assist functions are not limited to the above four types, and may be other types. Furthermore, the parking lot P may be either an indoor parking lot or an outdoor parking lot. Furthermore, the vehicle to which the present invention is applied is not limited to a manually driven vehicle, and may be an automatically driven vehicle. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 1...Parking lot management device, 2...Camera, 3...Equipment, 4...Payment machine, 11...Processing unit, 12...Memory unit, 13...Input unit, 14...Output unit, 15...Communication unit, 31...Display unit, 32...Transmitter, 33...Camera, 111...Acquisition unit, 112...Detection unit, 113...Control unit, C...Vehicle, EN...Entrance, EX...Exit, P...Parking lot, R...Road, S...Parking lot system

Claims

1. A vehicle management system that inhibits the progression of a vehicle, A detection unit that detects that a traveling vehicle is approaching a location where the progress of the vehicle should be restricted; A control unit that outputs information for inhibiting the progress of the vehicle detected by the detection unit.

2. A vehicle management system provided for a gateless paid parking lot, a detection unit that detects that a vehicle that has been parked in the parking lot and is traveling to leave the parking lot is an unpaid vehicle for which a parking fee has not been paid; A vehicle management system comprising: a control unit that outputs information for stopping the unpaid vehicle.

3. an acquisition unit that acquires a photographed image from the photographing unit that photographs the unpaid vehicle; and an information output unit that outputs information to the unpaid vehicle for the unpaid vehicle to detect an obstacle using a brake assist function and perform a stopping operation, The control unit is determining whether the unpaid vehicle has the brake assist function based on the captured image; When it is determined that the unpaid vehicle has the brake assist function, instructs the information output unit to output information for the unpaid vehicle to detect an obstacle and perform a stopping operation by the brake assist function according to the type of the brake assist function, The vehicle management system according to claim 2 , further comprising: when it is determined that the unpaid vehicle does not have the brake assist function, display information for prompting the unpaid vehicle to stop is output.

4. The brake assist function is any one of a laser radar type, a millimeter wave radar type, a camera type, and a LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) type, The control unit is When it is determined that the unsettled vehicle has the laser radar type brake assist function, the information output unit is instructed to emit the laser radar type laser toward a light receiving unit of a laser radar of the unsettled vehicle, When it is determined that the unpaid vehicle has the millimeter wave radar type brake assist function, the information output unit is instructed to emit millimeter waves of the millimeter wave radar type toward a light receiving unit of the millimeter wave radar of the unpaid vehicle, When it is determined that the unpaid vehicle has the camera-type brake assist function, display information is output so that the unpaid vehicle detects an obstacle based on an image captured by the camera, A vehicle management system as described in claim 3, wherein when it is determined that the unpaid vehicle has the LiDAR type brake assist function, the information output unit is instructed to emit electromagnetic waves for the LiDAR toward the LiDAR light receiving unit of the unpaid vehicle.

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