Parking lot management system and parking lot management service providing method

Abstract

To provide a parking lot management system that is convenient for both a user and a supervisor.SOLUTION: In a parking lot management system where a user terminal, a monitoring terminal, and a server are communicatively connected, parking location identification information assigned to each parking space is displayed on a power-free display medium in a parking lot. The server includes: a first reception unit that receives the parking location identification information, vehicle number information, and settlement information from the user terminal; a parking information generation unit that generates, on the basis of time information at which any of the pieces of information is received and the settlement information, available parking date and time information, and generates parking information linking the parking location identification information, the vehicle number information, the settlement information, and the available parking date and time information; a second reception unit that receives the vehicle number information of a monitoring target from the monitoring terminal; a monitoring information generation unit that generates, on the basis of the vehicle number information and the parking information received by the second reception unit, monitoring information; and a monitoring information providing unit that provides the monitoring information to the monitoring terminal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a parking lot management system and a method for providing a parking lot management service provided using a communication network.

Background Art

[0002] Parking meters and parking tickets installed in time-limited parking sections are known. For example, a parking meter is a machine that senses a vehicle parked at a predetermined parking position with a sensor (e.g., an ultrasonic sensor) and automatically measures the parking time, and a user can park within the limited time by paying a predetermined fee.

[0003] As a system that can replace existing parking meters and parking tickets, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a parking fee collection management system for electronic settlement processing that identifies a parking position based on the GPS information of a mobile terminal.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] It is generally known that there is an error of about 5 to 10 meters in GPS positioning, and it may be difficult to identify the parking position based on GPS information as in Patent Document 1 due to its accuracy. In addition, there is a need for a parking lot management system that is easy for users to use, easy for administrators (parking monitors or general parking lot administrators) to monitor and manage whether the user is paying the fee and parking in accordance with the rules, easy to introduce, operate, maintain, and is highly convenient for both parties.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a parking lot management system and a parking lot management service providing method that are highly convenient for both users and administrators (monitors).

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] One embodiment of the present invention is a parking lot management system in which a user terminal, a monitoring terminal, and a server are communicably connected via a network, in the parking lot managed by the parking lot management system, parking location identification information assigned to each parking space is shown on a power-free posting medium, the server is a first reception unit that receives, from the user terminal, parking location identification information of a parking space used by the user, vehicle number information of the parked vehicle, and settlement information; a parking information generation unit that generates parking available date and time information based on the time information when any of the parking location identification information, the vehicle number information, and the settlement information is received by the first reception unit and the settlement information, and generates parking information associating the parking location identification information, the vehicle number information, the settlement information, and the parking available date and time information; a second reception unit that receives, from the monitoring terminal, vehicle number information of a parked vehicle to be monitored; a monitoring information generation unit that generates monitoring information based on the vehicle number information received by the second reception unit and the parking information; a monitoring information providing unit that provides the monitoring information to the monitoring terminal; and is a parking lot management system comprising

[0008] Also, one embodiment of the present invention is a method for providing a parking lot management service by the above parking lot management system.

Effects of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a parking lot management system and a parking lot management service providing method that are highly convenient for both users and administrators (monitors).

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

Figure 15

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, a parking lot management system and a parking lot management service providing method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a parking lot management system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The parking lot management system 1 includes at least one user terminal 10, at least one monitoring terminal 20, and a server 30 communicably connected to the user terminal 10 and the monitoring terminal 20 via a network 40 such as the Internet.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the user terminal 10 and the monitoring terminal 20. The user terminal 10 or the monitoring terminal 20 includes a processor 11, a memory 12, a storage 13, an input interface 14, an output interface 15, and a communication interface 16. The processor 11 is, for example, a CPU and controls various operations of each component of the terminal. A processor other than the CPU may be used. The memory 12 is a storage device that stores programs and the like for executing various operations of the terminal. The storage 13 is a storage device used for storing various data. The input interface 14, the output interface 15, and the communication interface 16 are interfaces related to input signals, output signals, and communication, respectively. Each of these is connected through a bus line.

[0014] The user terminal 10 and the monitoring terminal 20 may be portable devices such as a general smartphone, tablet, or mobile computer equipped with an input device and a display device. The user terminal 10 is a terminal of a user who uses a parking lot managed by the parking lot management system 1. The monitoring terminal 20 is a terminal of a supervisor or manager of the parking lot managed by the parking lot management system 1. The monitoring terminal 20 is owned, for example, by a parking attendant who patrols time-limited parking areas or the city, or by a manager or supervisor who manages a general parking lot. The monitoring terminal 20 may be held by the supervisor or attached to a device such as a selfie stick. When monitoring, the supervisor may patrol on foot, or may attach the monitoring terminal 20 to a bicycle or a car. The monitoring terminal 20 may also be used fixedly by being attached to the equipment of the parking lot as a monitoring camera and monitoring terminal.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the server 30. The server 30 includes a processor 31, a memory 32, a storage 33, an input interface 34, an output interface 35, and a communication interface 36. The processor 31 is, for example, a CPU, and controls various operations of each component of the server. A processor other than a CPU may be used. The memory 32 is a storage device that stores programs and the like for executing various operations of the server. The storage 33 is a storage device used to store various data. It may be an external storage. The input interface 34, the output interface 35, and the communication interface 36 are interfaces related to input signals, output signals, and communication, respectively. Each of these is connected via a bus line.

[0016] FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the parking lot management system 1 according to the present embodiment. The parking lot management system 1 includes, for example, a first reception unit 51, a second reception unit 52, a settlement processing unit 53, a parking information generation unit 54, a parking information providing unit 55, a monitoring information generation unit 56, a monitoring information providing unit 57, a reservation information generation unit 58, and a reservation information providing unit 59. These functions can be executed, for example, by the server 30 (processor 31) of the parking lot management system 1. They may also be executed by other processors. Further, the parking lot management system 1 can include an information storage unit 61. The information storage unit 61 can store various information received, generated, or provided by the server 30. The information storage unit 61 is not limited to the storage 33 within the server 30, and may be a storage device separate from the server 30, such as a database server.

[0017] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a parking lot 70 managed by the parking lot management system 1 according to the present embodiment. The parking lot 70 consists of one or more parking spaces 71 separated by white lines or the like. Each parking space 71 in the parking lot 70 can park one vehicle. The parking lot 70 managed by the parking lot management system 1 is not limited to one location. The parking lot management system 1 can manage one parking lot 70, a plurality of adjacent parking lots 70, or a plurality of scattered parking lots 70.

[0018] A signboard 72 is installed as a posting medium in each parking space 71 of the parking lot 70. The signboard 72 describes parking location identification information pre-assigned by the administrator or the like of the parking lot management system 1 to each parking space 71 of the parking lot 70. The parking location identification information is posted, for example, by printing on the signboard 72, pasting printed matter, handwriting, etc. The parking location identification information is assigned to each parking space 71 and consists of, for example, numbers or alphabets. The signboard 72 may describe information (URL, two-dimensional code, etc.) for accessing the server 30.

[0019] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another example of the parking lot 80 managed by the parking lot management system 1 according to the present embodiment. The parking lot 80 consists of a plurality of parking spaces 81 delimited by white lines or the like. Each parking space 81 in the parking lot 80 can park one vehicle.

[0020] One signboard 82 is installed in the parking lot 80 as a posting medium. On the signboard 82, parking location identification information pre-assigned by an administrator or the like of the parking lot management system 1 is described for a plurality of parking spaces 81 in the parking lot 80. The parking location identification information is posted, for example, by printing on the signboard 82, pasting printed matter, handwriting, etc. The parking location identification information is assigned for each parking space 81 or commonly to a plurality of parking spaces 81 and consists of, for example, numbers or alphabets. Information (URL, two-dimensional code, etc.) for accessing the server 30 may be described on the signboard 82.

[0021] In the present embodiment, the signboard 72 and the signboard 82 are ordinary signboards that are not electronic signboards. Power supply or the like to the signboard 72 and the signboard 82 is not required. That is, in the present embodiment, the parking location identification information is shown on a power-free posting medium such as the signboard 72 and the signboard 82. The posting medium is not limited to the signboard 72 and the signboard 82, and any form in which a person using the parking lot can recognize the parking location identification information may be used. For example, the parking location identification information may be written on a road (road surface), a plate with the parking location identification information described thereon may be posted at a corner of the parking lot, or the plate may be attached to a tree or the like in the parking lot. Parking management machines that require power supply (for example, ticket dispensers, imaging devices, etc.) do not need to be installed in the parking lot 70 or the parking lot 80.

[0022] Hereinafter, the parking lot management system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described by taking the parking lot 70, that is, the one in which the parking location identification information is assigned for each parking space 71, as an example. However, even in the parking lot 80 in which the parking location identification information common to a plurality of parking spaces 81 is assigned, parking lot management by the parking lot management system 1 according to the present embodiment is possible by the same operation procedures and processes as the following description.

[0023] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an operation procedure performed by a user when parking a vehicle in a parking lot 70. The user parks the vehicle in a parking space 71 of the parking lot 70 (step S11). The user accesses the site of the parking lot management system 1 via a network 40 such as the Internet from the user terminal 10, or launches the parking lot management application of the parking lot management system 1 pre-installed in the user terminal 10 (step S12). The user checks the parking location identification information shown on the signboard 72 of each parking space 71 of the parking lot 70, inputs the parking location identification information of the parking space 71 used by the user into the user terminal 10, inputs the vehicle number information which is the information of the license plate of the parked vehicle into the user terminal 10, inputs the settlement information regarding the payment of the parking fee into the user terminal 10, and transmits it to the server 30 (step S13). The input may be performed by various inputs (key input, voice input, etc.) available on the user terminal 10. The settlement information includes payment method information regarding electronic settlement such as credit card settlement and electronic money settlement, and parking fee information. The user receives and checks the settlement completion information transmitted from the server 30 on the user terminal 10 (step S14). Thus, the operation performed by the user when parking is completed.

[0024] Note that vehicle number information and settlement information (payment method information) can also be pre-registered in the site of the parking lot management system 1 and the parking lot management application. In this case, as the operation procedure performed by the user when parking, the input of the vehicle number information and the settlement information (payment method information) into the user terminal 10 can be omitted. The user only needs to input at least the parking location identification information and the settlement information (parking fee information) from the user terminal 10, as long as the pre-registered vehicle number information and settlement information (payment method information) can be obtained by the server 30.

[0025] Information regarding parking fees and parking time is pre-stored in the information storage unit 61 of the parking lot management system 1. The parking fees and parking time are preset by the administrator or the like of the parking lot management system 1. The parking fees and parking time can be set to a fixed time and fee (non-extendable), such as 300 yen for 60 minutes in a time-limited parking section. In a general parking lot, it can be set at 200 yen every 30 minutes, or 200 yen for 30 minutes, 300 yen for 60 minutes, 500 yen for 120 minutes, etc., and the user can be allowed to select at the time of settlement. The parking fees and parking time may be set for each day of the week or time zone. For example, it can be set at 600 yen per hour from 10 to 18 on weekends, and 300 yen from 20:00 at night to 6:00 the next morning.

[0026] Figure 8 is an example of a flowchart regarding the parking lot management (parking information) by the parking lot management system 1 according to the present embodiment. The server 30 receives, by the first reception unit 51 from the user terminal 10, the parking location identification information of the parking space 71 used by the user, the vehicle number information of the parked vehicle, and the settlement information (step S21). The server 30 performs a settlement process based on the settlement information acquired from the user terminal 10 by the settlement processing unit 53 (step S22). The settlement process is executed by communicating with an external server as appropriate. When the settlement process is completed, the server 30 transmits settlement completion information to the user terminal 10.

[0027] When the server 30 receives any one of the parking location identification information, the vehicle number information, and the settlement information, it generates the available parking date and time information based on the time information and the settlement information at the time of reception, and generates parking information by associating the parking location identification information, the vehicle number information, the settlement information, and the generated available parking date and time information (step S23). The generated parking information is, for example, information associating the parking location identification information, the vehicle number information, the settlement information (information indicating that the settlement has been completed), and the available parking date and time information, and is stored in the database of the information storage unit 61, for example (step S24). The available parking date and time information may be, for example, the end time of parking, or the remaining time until the end time of parking, that is, the remaining available parking time, or both, based on the time when any one of the parking location identification information, the vehicle number information, and the settlement information is received. For example, the available parking date and time information is generated using the received time and the settlement information from the relationship between the parking fee and the parking time prestored in the information storage unit 61. An example of the parking information database including the generated parking information is shown in FIG. 9.

[0028] The server 30 can provide at least a part of the generated parking information to the user terminal 10 in response to a request from the user terminal 10 by the parking information providing unit 55. For example, the server 30 receives a request for providing the available parking date and time information from the user terminal 10, and transmits the available parking date and time information among the parking information generated by the parking information generation unit 54 to the user terminal 10. Further, the server 30 can provide at least a part of the generated parking information to the monitoring terminal 20 in response to a request from the monitoring terminal 20 by the monitoring information providing unit 57.

[0029] Note that the form of providing various information from the server 30 to the user terminal 10 or the monitoring terminal 20 in this embodiment may be transmission of various information from the server 30 to the user terminal 10 or the monitoring terminal 20, or the user terminal 10 or the monitoring terminal 20 may prepare various information in a form that can be acquired by the user terminal 10 or the monitoring terminal 20 so that the user terminal 10 or the monitoring terminal 20 can access the server 30 and acquire various information, or as long as the user terminal 10 or the monitoring terminal 20 can obtain the desired information.

[0030] Server 30, in response to a request from user terminal 10 by parking information providing unit 55, provides at least a part of the parking information, for example, the available parking date and time information, to user terminal 10. In addition, even without a request from user terminal 10, server 30 can send a notification based on the available parking date and time information to user terminal 10. For example, when approaching the end time of the available parking time in the available parking date and time information (such as 10 minutes before or 5 minutes before the end time of parking) or when the remaining available parking time approaches zero (such as 10 minutes or 5 minutes of the remaining available parking time), server 30 can send, by parking information providing unit 55, a notification to user terminal 10 that the parking time will soon end. Even without a request from user terminal 10, server 30 can notify user terminal 10 that the end time of parking is approaching, improving the convenience for the user. This can also be used as a criterion for the update described later.

[0031] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an operation procedure performed by a monitor who is monitoring parking lot 70 during monitoring. The monitor accesses the site of parking lot management system 1 via network 40 such as the Internet from monitor terminal 20, or launches the parking lot management application of parking lot management system 1 pre-installed on monitor terminal 20 (step S31). Note that the monitor performs prior registration and authentication on the site of parking lot management system 1 and the parking lot management application as a monitor. The monitor inputs vehicle number information, which is information on the license plate of the parked vehicle, into monitor terminal 20 and sends it to server 30 (step S32). The vehicle number information may be directly input by the monitor or the like by key input, input by reading the vehicle number information aloud and using a voice recognition function, or an image including the vehicle number information of the parked vehicle (an image taken by the monitor of the license plate). That is, the monitor can take a picture of the license plate of the parked vehicle to be monitored with monitor terminal 20 and send the taken image to server 30 as the vehicle number information. The monitor receives the monitoring information sent from server 30 with monitor terminal 20 and checks whether it is proper parking or there is a violation or the like (step S33). The monitor can create a violation ticket or a warning notice based on the received monitoring information (violation information or warning information) (step S34).

[0032] Figure 11 is an example of a flowchart regarding parking lot management (monitoring by the monitoring terminal 20) by the parking lot management system 1 according to the present embodiment. The server 30 receives vehicle number information of a parked vehicle to be monitored from the monitoring terminal 20 by the second reception unit 52 (step S41). For example, the server 30 can directly receive the vehicle number information from the monitoring terminal 20 to obtain the vehicle number information, or receive an image including the vehicle number information of the parked vehicle, and process this image to obtain the vehicle number information.

[0033] The server 30 determines whether the parked vehicle to be monitored has been settled based on the vehicle number information received from the monitoring terminal 20 and the parking information generated by the parking information generation unit 54 by the monitoring information generation unit 56 (step S42). The server 30, for example, collates the vehicle number information received from the monitoring terminal 20 with the vehicle number information in the parking information (parking information database), and reads out the settlement information associated with the matched vehicle number information, thereby determining whether the parked vehicle to be monitored has been settled. If it is determined that the vehicle has been settled (step S42 - Yes), the process proceeds to step S43. If it is determined that the vehicle has not been settled (step S42 - No), the process proceeds to step S45.

[0034] The server 30 determines whether the parked vehicle to be monitored is within the parking available time based on the vehicle number information received from the monitoring terminal 20 and the parking information generated by the parking information generation unit 54 by the monitoring information generation unit 56 (step S43). For example, the server 30 collates the vehicle number information received from the monitoring terminal 20 with the vehicle number information in the parking information (parking information database), and reads out the available parking date and time information associated with the matched vehicle number information, thereby determining whether the parked vehicle to be monitored is within the parking available time. When the available parking date and time information is the parking end time, it can be determined whether it is within the parking available time by comparing it with the current time information. When the available parking date and time information is the remaining available parking time, it can be determined whether it is within the parking available time based on the presence or absence of the remaining time. If it is determined that it is within the parking available time (step S43 - Yes), the monitoring information generation unit 56 generates monitoring information indicating that it is a proper parked vehicle (step S44), and the monitoring information providing unit 57 provides the monitoring information to the monitoring terminal 20 (step S46), and the process ends. If it is determined that it is not within the parking available time, that is, it has exceeded the parking available time (step S43 - No), the process proceeds to step S45.

[0035] If the server 30 determines that the payment has not been completed (step S42 - No) or the parking available time has passed (step S43 - No), the monitoring information generation unit 56 generates violation information or warning information as monitoring information (step S45). The server 30 provides the generated monitoring information, that is, the violation information or warning information, to the monitoring terminal 20 by the monitoring information providing unit 57 (step S46), and the process ends.

[0036] The content of the violation information and warning information can be appropriately set by the administrator of the parking lot management system 1 or the like. If the owner of the monitoring terminal 20 is a parking monitor who monitors the time-limited parking section, a violation ticket can be printed in accordance with laws and regulations based on the violation information provided in step S46 by a portable printer or the like that can communicate with the monitoring terminal 20. If the owner of the monitoring terminal 20 is a general parking lot administrator, a warning notice can be printed based on the warning information provided in step S46 by a portable printer or the like that can communicate with the monitoring terminal 20. The printed document may be pasted on the parked vehicle or the like.

[0037] In addition to the vehicle number information, which is the information of the license plate of the parked vehicle to be monitored, being input into the monitoring terminal 20 by the monitor and transmitted to the server 30 (step S32 in FIG. 10), the monitor may also input the parking location identification information of the parked vehicle to be monitored into the monitoring terminal 20 and transmit it to the server 30. In this case, the server 30 can determine whether the parked vehicle to be monitored has been settled based on the parking location identification information and vehicle number information received from the monitoring terminal 20 and the parking information generated by the parking information generation unit 54, instead of in step S42 of FIG. 11, by the monitoring information generation unit 56. The server 30 can determine whether the parked vehicle to be monitored has been settled, for example, by collating the parking location identification information and vehicle number information received from the monitoring terminal 20 with the parking location identification information and vehicle number information of the parking information (parking information database) respectively, and reading out the settlement information associated with the matched parking location identification information and vehicle number information. Also, the server 30 can determine whether the parked vehicle to be monitored is within the allowable parking time based on the parking location identification information and vehicle number information received from the monitoring terminal 20 and the parking information generated by the parking information generation unit 54, instead of in step S43 of FIG. 11, by the monitoring information generation unit 56. The server 30 can determine whether the parked vehicle to be monitored is within the allowable parking time, for example, by collating the parking location identification information and vehicle number information received from the monitoring terminal 20 with the parking location identification information and vehicle number information of the parking information (parking information database) respectively, and reading out the allowable parking date and time information associated with the matched parking location identification information and vehicle number information. By collating not only the vehicle number information but also the parking location identification information, the monitoring accuracy can be improved.

[0038] FIG. 12 is an example of a flowchart regarding the update of settlement information in the parking lot management by the parking lot management system 1. In the present embodiment, in the case of the time-limited parking section, the usage time is determined and the parking time cannot be extended. However, in the case of a general parking lot, the usage time can be extended by updating the settlement information.

[0039] Server 30 receives at least additional settlement information from user terminal 10 by first reception unit 51 (step S51). Server 30 performs a settlement process based on the additional settlement information acquired from user terminal 10 by settlement processing unit 53 (step S52). Then, server 30 updates the parking information by parking information generation unit 53 (step S53) and ends the process. For example, based on the additional settlement information, the available parking date and time information of the parking information is updated (extended), and the parking information database is updated (step S54). The processes of steps S51 to S54 can be executed in the same manner as the processes of steps S21 to S24 respectively.

[0040] In parking lot management system 1 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to make a parking reservation for each parking space 71 of parking lot 70 based on the parking location identification information and the parking information. FIG. 13 is an example of a flowchart regarding parking reservation by parking lot management system 1 according to the present embodiment.

[0041] Server 30 receives reservation request information from user terminal 10 by first reception unit 51 (step S61). The reservation request information includes, for example, the parking location identification information of the parking space that the user wishes to use, the vehicle number information of the vehicle to be parked, the desired parking date and time information, and the settlement information.

[0042] Server 30 generates reservation result information including the availability of the parking reservation based on the reservation request information acquired from user terminal 10 and the parking information related to the parking location identification information included in the reservation request information by reservation information generation unit 58 (step S62). Server 30 collates the parking location identification information of the reservation request information acquired from user terminal 10 with the parking location identification information of the parking information, and further collates the desired parking date and time information of the reservation request information with the available parking date and time information of the parking information. If there is an available space in the available parking date and time information at the desired parking date and time of the desired parking date and time information, reservation result information indicating that the parking reservation is possible is generated. Also, if the available parking date and time information is filled at the desired parking date and time of the desired parking date and time information, reservation result information indicating that the parking reservation is not possible is generated.

[0043] In addition, when parking reservation is possible, settlement processing can be performed based on the settlement information, and parking information is generated by the parking information generation unit 54 based on the reservation result information. The settlement processing and the processing for generating the parking information can be executed in the same manner as the processing in steps S22 to S24. By generating the parking information based on the reservation result information, the server 30 can set so that other vehicles cannot execute the settlement processing at the date and time when the reservation is confirmed.

[0044] The server 30 provides the generated reservation result information to the user terminal 10 through the reservation information providing unit 59 (step S63).

[0045] At the time of reservation, the available parking date and time information of the parking information can be freely set by the administrator of the parking lot management system 1 or the like. For example, the available parking date and time information of the parking information can be set so that reservations cannot be made on specific weekdays or time zones. For each parking space in the parking lot, it is also possible to set whether reservations are possible on specific weekdays or time zones.

[0046] The parking lot management system 1 may be able to check the availability of each parking space 71 in the parking lot 70 or make a parking reservation based on the parking location identification information and the parking information. FIG. 14 is an example of a flowchart regarding the availability check and parking reservation by the parking lot management system 1 according to the present embodiment.

[0047] Server 30 receives reservation request information from user terminal 10 by first reception unit 51 (step S71). The reservation request information includes, for example, parking location identification information of the parking space 71 that the user wishes to use. Server 30 generates vacancy information regarding the parking location identification information based on the reservation request information acquired from user terminal 10 and parking information regarding the parking location identification information included in the reservation request information by reservation information generation unit 58 (step S72). For example, server 30 collates the parking location identification information of the reservation request information acquired from user terminal 10 with the parking location identification information of the parking information, and generates vacancy information based on the available date and time information associated with the parking location identification information. Server 30 provides the generated vacancy information to user terminal 10 by reservation information providing unit 59 (step S73).

[0048] Server 30 receives reservation request information based on vacancy information from user terminal 10 by first reception unit 51 (step S74). The reservation request information based on vacancy information includes, for example, vehicle number information of the vehicle to be parked, desired parking date and time information, and payment information. Server 30 generates reservation result information based on the reservation request information acquired from user terminal 10 by reservation information generation unit 58 (step S75). Server 30 provides the generated reservation result information to user terminal 10 by reservation information providing unit 59 (step S75). Thereby, it becomes possible to check the vacancy status of the parking lot and make a parking reservation.

[0049] In addition, the above-mentioned parking reservation for checking the vacancy status and making a parking reservation can be performed by the user using user terminal 10 according to the operation procedures of steps S13 and S14 in the flowchart of FIG. 7, for example. Also, the parking reservation can be processed by server 30 according to the processing of steps S21 to S24 in the flowchart of FIG. 8, for example.

[0050] In parking reservation as shown in Fig. 13 and in checking the availability status and making a parking reservation as shown in Fig. 14, parking location identification information is used for parking reservation and checking the availability status. However, the parking location identification information in this embodiment is assigned to each parking space in the parking lots managed by the parking lot management system 1 and is shown on a power - free posting medium. The parking location identification information used for parking reservation and checking the availability status can be obtained by checking the parking location identification information shown on the posting medium. Additionally, the parking location identification information may be published on the website of the parking lot management system 1 or the parking lot management application, and the user can check and obtain the parking location identification information by checking this. The website of the parking lot management system 1 or the parking lot management application may have functions such as displaying parking location identification information by address or displaying parking location identification numbers on a map.

[0051] In addition, when the parking lot management system 1 has a parking reservation function, the parking information generated by parking reservation and the parking information generated by actual parking are centrally managed by the parking management database. Therefore, after the server 30 receives the parking location identification information of the parking space used by the user, the vehicle number information of the parked vehicle, and the payment information from the user terminal 10 of the user who actually parks, it collates the parking location identification information from the parking information in the parking management database and determines whether parking is possible based on the available date and time information for parking reservation. An example of a flowchart regarding parking lot management (parking information) by the parking lot management system in that case is shown in Fig. 15.

[0052] The server 30 receives, from the user terminal 10, through the first reception unit 51, the parking location identification information of the parking space 71 used by the user, the vehicle number information of the parked vehicle, and the payment information (step S81). The server 30 determines whether parking is possible based on the parking location identification information, the payment information, and the parking information acquired from the user (step S82). The server 30 collates the parking location identification information acquired from the user terminal 10 with the parking location identification information of the parking information, and further collates the available parking date and time information based on the payment information acquired from the user terminal 10 with the available parking date and time information of the parking information. If there is an available space in the available parking date and time of the parking information, it is determined that parking is possible (step S82 - Yes), and the process proceeds to step S84. If the available parking date and time information of the parking information is full, it is determined that parking is impossible (step S82 - No), and the process proceeds to step S83. The server 30 transmits to the user terminal 10 that parking is impossible (step S83).

[0053] When the server 30 determines that parking is possible (step S82 - Yes), the payment process in step S84, the generation of parking information in step S85, and the storage of parking information in step S86 are executed. Steps S84 to S86 can be executed in the same manner as steps S22 to S24, respectively. Also, regarding the update of the payment information shown in FIG. 12, it is possible to determine whether an extension or update of the usage time is possible in the same manner as step S82.

[0054] As described above, in one embodiment of the present invention, a parking lot management system is communicably connected via a network with a user terminal, a monitoring terminal, and a server. In the parking lot managed by the parking lot management system, parking location identification information assigned to each parking space is shown on a power-free posting medium. The server includes a first reception unit that receives from the user terminal the parking location identification information of the parking space used by the user, the vehicle number information of the parked vehicle, and the settlement information; and a parking information generation unit that generates parking available date and time information based on the time information when any of the parking location identification information, the vehicle number information, and the settlement information is received by the first reception unit and the settlement information, and generates parking information associating the parking location identification information, the vehicle number information, the settlement information, and the parking available date and time information. Further, the server includes a second reception unit that receives from the monitoring terminal the vehicle number information of the parked vehicle to be monitored; a monitoring information generation unit that generates monitoring information based on the vehicle number information received by the second reception unit and the parking information; and a monitoring information providing unit that provides the monitoring information to the monitoring terminal.

[0055] According to this embodiment, the parking lot management is completed by the user terminal, the monitoring terminal, the server, and the parking location identification information shown on the posting medium of the parking lot, and no machines or the like that require power supply are needed in the parking lot itself. It is easy for the administrator of the parking lot to introduce, operate, and maintain, and a parking lot management system that is highly convenient for the administrator can be provided. Further, since the electronic settlement is completed by the user terminal and the server, the user does not need to prepare coins or the like, and the administrator can also save the trouble of collecting money in the parking lot. Furthermore, a parking monitor or a general administrator can appropriately monitor the parking situation with the monitoring terminal, which is highly convenient. Since the monitoring information is provided from the server only by transmitting the vehicle number information from the monitoring terminal to the server, complicated operations of the operator of the monitoring terminal are not required. A parking lot management system that is highly convenient for both the user and the administrator (monitor) can be provided.

[0056] According to this embodiment, parking location identification information assigned to each of one or more parking spaces is used to identify the parking location, and the parking location identification information is shown on a power-free posting medium. In the case of a parking lot where multiple vehicles can be parked, it is generally known that GPS information has an error of about 5 to 10 meters, and there is a possibility that the parking position cannot be identified. However, in this embodiment, since GPS information is not used to identify the parking location, such a problem does not occur. By posting the parking location identification information clearly for each parking space, it is possible to provide a parking lot management system that is easy for users to understand and use.

[0057] The monitoring information generation unit collates the vehicle number information received by the second reception unit with the parking information, and can generate violation information or warning information as monitoring information when the parked vehicle to be monitored has not been settled. In addition, the monitoring information generation unit collates the vehicle number information received by the second reception unit with the parking information, and can generate violation information or warning information as monitoring information when the parked vehicle to be monitored has exceeded the parking allowable time. The parking situation can be monitored using the monitoring terminal, which is highly convenient for the monitor. Since the violation information or warning information is provided from the server only by transmitting the vehicle number information from the monitoring terminal to the server, the operator of the monitoring terminal can perform monitoring and management without complicated operations.

[0058] The second reception unit can directly receive vehicle number information from the monitoring terminal to obtain the vehicle number information, or receive an image including the vehicle number information of the parked vehicle to be monitored and obtain the vehicle number information from the image. In addition to receiving the vehicle number information by direct input such as key input, by obtaining the vehicle number information from the image information, it is possible to save the trouble of inputting the vehicle number information by parking monitors and general administrators, prevent input errors, and make a highly convenient parking lot management system.

[0059] The available parking date and time information includes at least one of the parking end time and the remaining available parking time, and the server includes a parking information providing unit that provides the available parking date and time information to the user terminal in response to a request from the user terminal. As a result, the user can use the user terminal to check the parking end time and the remaining available parking time even at the destination, which is convenient. Also, by checking the parking end time and the remaining available parking time at the destination, it is possible to use them as a guideline for making an additional payment, which is user-friendly.

[0060] The first reception unit receives additional payment information from the user terminal, and the parking information generation unit updates the parking information based on the additional payment information. The parking time can be extended even at the destination using the user terminal, improving the convenience for the user.

[0061] The first reception unit receives reservation request information from the user terminal, and the server can include a reservation information generation unit that collates the reservation request information received by the first reception unit with the parking information and generates reservation result information including the availability of the parking reservation, and a reservation information providing unit that provides the reservation result information to the user terminal. The reservation request information can include the parking location identification information of the parking space used by the user, the vehicle number information of the parked vehicle, the desired parking date and time information, and the payment information. Since it is possible to make a prior parking reservation from the user terminal, it is possible to provide a more user-friendly parking lot management system for the user.

[0062] The parking information generation unit generates available parking date and time information based on the reservation request information received by the first reception unit, and generates parking information associating the parking location identification information, the vehicle number information, the payment information, and the available parking date and time information. As a result, the current parking status and the reservation status can be managed centrally as parking information, and a user-friendly parking lot management system can be provided for both the user and the administrator.

[0063] In addition, in one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for providing a parking lot management service by a parking lot management system in which a user terminal, a monitoring terminal, and a server are communicably connected via a network. In the parking lot managed by the parking lot management system, parking location identification information assigned to each parking space is shown on a power-free posting medium. The server includes a first reception step of receiving, from the user terminal, the parking location identification information of the parking space used by the user, the vehicle number information of the parked vehicle, and the settlement information; a parking information generation step of generating a parking available time based on the time information and the settlement information when any of the parking location identification information, the vehicle number information, and the settlement information is received in the first reception step, and generating parking information associating the parking lot identification information, the vehicle number information, the settlement information, and the parking available date and time information; a second reception step of receiving, from the monitoring terminal, the vehicle number information of the parked vehicle to be monitored; a monitoring information generation step of generating monitoring information based on the vehicle number information received in the second reception step and the parking information; and a monitoring information providing step of providing the monitoring information to the monitoring terminal. A method for providing a parking lot management service that is highly convenient for both users and administrators (monitors) can be provided.

[0064] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, various modifications and changes are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the parking lot management system can be used in any form, such as a website where the user terminal and the monitoring terminal communicate via a browser, or an application downloaded and installed on the user terminal and the monitoring terminal. Although one server is mentioned as the server constituting the parking lot management system, the number of servers is not limited to this, and multiple servers may be used.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0065] 1 Parking lot management system 10 User terminal 20 Monitoring terminal 30 Server 40 Network 70, 80 Parking lot 71, 81 Parking spaces 72, 82 Signboards

Claims

1. A parking lot management system in which a user terminal, a monitoring terminal, and a server are communicably connected via a network, in the parking lot managed by the parking lot management system, parking location identification information assigned to each parking space is shown on a power-free posting medium, the server includes: a first reception unit that receives, from the user terminal, parking location identification information of a parking space used by the user, vehicle number information of the parked vehicle, and settlement information; a parking information generation unit that generates parking available date and time information based on the time information when any of the parking location identification information, the vehicle number information, and the settlement information is received by the first reception unit, and the settlement information, and generates parking information associating the parking location identification information, the vehicle number information, the settlement information, and the parking available date and time information; a second reception unit that receives, from the monitoring terminal, vehicle number information of a parked vehicle to be monitored; a monitoring information generation unit that generates monitoring information based on the vehicle number information received by the second reception unit and the parking information; a monitoring information providing unit that provides the monitoring information to the monitoring terminal; A parking lot management system comprising:

2. The monitoring information generation unit collates the vehicle number information received by the second reception unit with the parking information, and generates irregular information or warning information as the monitoring information when the parked vehicle to be monitored has not been settled yet. The parking lot management system according to claim 1.

3. The monitoring information generation unit collates the vehicle number information received by the second reception unit with the parking information, and generates irregular information or warning information as the monitoring information when the parked vehicle to be monitored has exceeded the parking available time. The parking lot management system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The second reception unit directly receives the vehicle number information from the monitoring terminal to obtain the vehicle number information, or receives an image including the vehicle number information of the parked vehicle to be monitored and obtains the vehicle number information from the image. The parking lot management system according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The parking available date and time information includes at least one of the parking end time and the remaining available parking time, The server includes a parking information providing unit that provides the parking available date and time information to the user terminal in response to a request from the user terminal. The parking lot management system according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The first reception unit receives additional payment information from the user terminal, The parking information generation unit updates the parking information based on the additional payment information. The parking lot management system according to claim 1 or 2.

7. The first reception unit receives reservation request information from the user terminal, The server, A reservation information generation unit that collates the reservation request information received by the first reception unit with the parking information and generates reservation result information including the availability of parking reservations; A reservation information providing unit that provides the reservation result information to the user terminal; The parking lot management system according to claim 1, comprising:

8. The reservation request information includes parking location identification information of a parking space that the user wishes to use, vehicle number information of the vehicle to be parked, parking desired date and time information, and payment information. The parking lot management system according to claim 7.

9. The parking information generation unit generates parkable date and time information based on the reservation request information received by the first reception unit, and generates parking information associating the parking location identification information, the vehicle number information, the payment information, and the parkable date and time information. The parking lot management system according to claim 8.

10. A method for providing a parking lot management service by a parking lot management system in which a user terminal, a monitoring terminal, and a server are communicably connected via a network, In the parking lot managed by the parking lot management system, parking location identification information assigned to each parking space is shown on a power-free display medium, To the server, A first reception step of receiving, from the user terminal, parking location identification information of a parking space used by the user, vehicle number information of the vehicle to be parked, and payment information; A parking information generation step of generating parkable date and time information based on the time information when any of the parking location identification information, the vehicle number information, and the payment information is received in the first reception step and the payment information, and generating parking information associating the parking lot identification information, the vehicle number information, the payment information, and the parkable date and time information; A second reception step of receiving, from the monitoring terminal, vehicle number information of a parked vehicle to be monitored; A monitoring information generation step of generating monitoring information based on the vehicle number information received in the second reception step and the parking information; A monitoring information providing step of providing the monitoring information to the monitoring terminal; A method for providing a parking lot management service, which causes the above to be executed.

Images