Special parking lot system

Abstract

To provide an inexpensive parking lot, and make it possible to render various services based on information concerning use of a parking space.SOLUTION: A parking lot management system includes plural parking spaces, a display unit for displaying an identification display associated with each parking space, and a server device capable of communicating with a portable terminal. The portable terminal has a settlement function as well as a reading function of the identification display. When the portable terminal reads the identification display, use initiation information on the parking space is transmitted to the server device. Thereafter, when the portable device reads the identification display again, use termination information on the parking space is transmitted to the server device. The server device settles a parking fee of the parking space on the basis of the use initiation information and the use termination information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a management system for hourly parking lots such as coin parking lots, and more particularly to a system for using a mobile terminal to settle and manage parking spaces. [Background technology]

[0002] Traditionally, there are hourly parking lots such as coin parking lots where users can use designated parking spaces by paying a fee according to the amount of time they park. In coin parking lots, the fee is often set by the hour, with a fixed fee for the first few hours and then increasing for each additional hour. In addition, there are sometimes time-based fee systems, such as nighttime discounts and maximum fees.

[0003] Incidentally, there is a type of coin parking called a gate-type. A gate-type coin parking is a system in which gates (barriers) are installed at the entrance and exit of the parking lot, and parking tickets are issued and fees are automatically calculated. Users obtain a parking ticket at the entrance, and when leaving, they use that ticket to pay the fee at the payment machine. Once the fee is paid, the exit gate opens, allowing the car to leave.

[0004] There are also coin parking lots called locking parking lots. In locking parking lots, the locking plate rises when the machine determines that a car is parked there, and after use, the locking plate lowers when the parking fee is paid at the payment machine, allowing the car to leave.

[0005] There are also coin parking lots with cameras, which use cameras to recognize vehicle license plates and manage entry and exit to the parking lot.

[0006] In a parking lot management system used in such coin parking lots, an external management terminal and an external image processing terminal including a surveillance camera are linked via a public communication network, as described in Patent Document 1, for example. The parking lot management system in Patent Document 1 detects vehicle entry and exit from image data captured by the surveillance camera, and transmits the data to the external management terminal using virtual measurement lines and areas. The external management terminal then receives this data, calculates the usage status of the parking lot, and displays it on a display device.

[0007] This parking lot management system can keep capital investment in parking lots low and reliably notify users of parking lot usage status using cameras. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-146976 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] Incidentally, conventional parking lot management systems such as those described in Patent Document 1 require the use of cameras to monitor parking lot usage. However, a management system that uses cameras requires the preparation of communication devices for the cameras, which incurs equipment costs, although not as much as those for gates and locking plates. In addition, a payment machine is also basically required, making the payment of parking fees a roundabout process.

[0010] In response to the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides parking lot users with a parking lot management system that uses the users' own portable terminals to obtain information about parking space usage and to settle fees, thereby providing inexpensive parking lots and enabling the provision of various services based on information about parking space usage.

[0011] (1) The parking lot management system of the present invention manages parking spaces where users carrying portable terminals park their cars. The parking lot management system comprises a plurality of parking spaces, a display unit that displays an identification mark corresponding to each parking space, a portable terminal that reads the identification mark and has a payment function, and a server device that can communicate with the portable terminal. The portable terminal reads the identification mark and transmits usage start information for the parking space to the server device, and then the portable terminal reads the identification mark again and transmits usage end information for the parking space to the server device, and the server device settles the parking fee for the parking space based on the usage start information and the usage end information.

[0012] This parking lot management system uses a portable terminal to transmit parking space usage start and end information to a server, making it possible to manage parking space usage without an internet connection device such as a Wi-Fi device, thus providing an inexpensive parking lot without the need for an internet connection device.

[0013] In addition, the server device can obtain start-of-use information regarding the use of the parking space by reading the identification display using a portable terminal with payment functionality, so payment can be made using the portable terminal, making it easier to settle parking fees.

[0014] Furthermore, by storing regular services such as parking fee discount services in the server device, the regular services can be selectively provided for each parking space, and it is also easy to change the regular service information of the server device.

[0015] (2) The parking lot management system may further include an external terminal capable of communicating with the server device, and the external terminal may transmit the store usage history to the server device.

[0016] In this way, when users of a parking lot managed by the parking lot management system of the present invention use nearby stores, etc., they can easily receive parking lot discount services, etc. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide inexpensive parking spaces and to provide various services based on information regarding the use of parking spaces. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic plan view of a parking lot managed by a parking lot management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a system configuration diagram of a parking lot management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a flow diagram showing an example of use of a parking lot management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Hereinafter, a parking lot management system S according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0020] <Configuration example of parking lot management system S> The parking lot management system S is applied to a plurality of parking lots 1 each having at least one parking space 10.

[0021] 1, parking lot 1 includes a plurality of parking spaces 10 and a display unit 20 that displays an identification mark (not shown) such as a QR code (registered trademark) or a two-dimensional code corresponding to each parking space 10. In this embodiment, display unit 20 is a well-known signboard, and in addition to the identification markings, the fee structure for each parking space 10 is printed on the display unit 20.

[0022] As shown in Figure 2, the parking lot management system S comprises a server device 60 that can communicate with a portable terminal 70 carried by a user of the parking space 10 via an Internet line N, and an external terminal 80 that can connect to and communicate with the server device 60 via the Internet line N.

[0023] The mobile terminal 70 is a conventionally well-known smartphone or tablet, and has at least a camera function and a payment function. The camera function of the mobile terminal 70 enables it to read an identification mark displayed on the display unit 20. The payment function of the mobile terminal 70 also enables it to perform payments in cooperation with credit cards and other payment services.

[0024] Specifically, the portable terminal 70 includes a camera for reading the identification marking, a communication function for communicating with the server device 60, a touch screen display, and a GPS sensor used for functions such as using location information to guide the user to the nearest parking space 10. The portable terminal can operate a parking lot application, which can execute the operations required for the usage examples and operation flow of the parking lot management system S described below.

[0025] The server device 60 is a central computer system of the parking lot management system S, and stores data for multiple parking lots 1 and performs fee calculations, communication control, etc. The server device 60 is also composed of hardware and software for executing server software that receives, processes, and responds to data from the portable terminal 70 and the external terminal 80. Furthermore, the server device 60 centrally manages information such as users' parking data, fee settings, payment history, and usage status of the parking spaces 10, and can exchange information with each portable terminal 70 and each external terminal 80 as needed.

[0026] The server device 60 comprises a memory unit that stores all data related to the parking lot 1, a communication unit that communicates with the portable terminal 70 and the external terminal 80, a fee calculation unit that automatically calculates the parking fee based on the parking usage time and fee settings, a payment processing unit that accepts payment requests from users and processes the parking fee payment in cooperation with the payment function of the portable terminal 70, and an information providing unit that provides the portable terminal 70 and the external terminal 80 with the usage status of the parking lot 1, available space information, fee information, etc. in real time.

[0027] The external terminal 80 is a conventionally well-known PC (Personal Computer), a notebook PC, a tablet, or the like, and has at least a communication function for communicating with the server device 60 via the Internet line N.

[0028] <Example of use of Parking Lot Management System S> Entry Step (S1): A user searches for an available parking space 10 within the parking lot 1 and parks his / her car there. A display unit 20 is installed on the side of each parking space 10, displaying an identification mark corresponding to that space. In this embodiment, this identification mark is provided as a QR code.

[0029] Start-of-use registration step (S2): After parking the car, the user uses the camera of the portable terminal 70 to read the QR code displayed on the parking space 10. This operation launches the parking lot application, and the user's portable terminal 70 starts communicating with the server device 60. The user registers to start using the application, which starts measuring the parking time.

[0030] Parking step (S3): After reading the QR code and registering for use, the user moves to a store or the like outside the parking lot 1 while still carrying the portable terminal 70. The store is equipped with an external terminal 80 that can communicate with the server device 60, and the store staff recognizes that the user's external terminal 80 has registered for use of the parking space 10 on the portable terminal 70 at the store, and operates the external terminal 80 to send the store usage history of the store to the server device 60. Based on this store usage history, the server device 60 provides services such as discounts on parking fees at the time of later payment.

[0031] Payment step (S4): When the user has finished parking and is ready to leave, he or she again reads the QR code of the same parking space 10 with the mobile terminal 70. This operation launches the parking lot application, and the user's mobile terminal 70 starts communicating with the server device 60 again. Entry Step (S5): After confirming that the payment has been completed, the user removes the car from parking space 10 and exits parking lot 1.

[0032] <Operation flow of parking lot management system S> In the use start registration step (S2), the portable terminal 70 reads the identification mark and transmits use start information of the parking space 10 to the server device 60. Specifically, when the portable terminal 70 reads the identification mark, a parking lot application is launched, and use start information indicating that use of the parking space 10 corresponding to the read identification mark has started is transmitted to the server device 60. At this time, the server device 60 stores at least information that use of the parking space 10 corresponding to the identification mark has started and the time when use of the parking space 10 started.

[0033] Thereafter, in a parking step (S3), if the user is the user of the parking space 10, the external terminal 80 transmits the store usage history. Specifically, the parking lot application on the user's portable terminal 70 displays a message that the parking space 10 is in use, and the store staff member who confirms the display operates the external terminal 80 to transmit the store usage history. At this time, the server device 60 stores at least the store usage history.

[0034] Thereafter, in a payment step (S4), the portable terminal 70 again reads the identification mark and transmits use end information of the parking space 10 to the server device 60. Specifically, when the portable terminal 70 reads the identification mark, a parking lot application is launched, and use end information indicating that use of the parking space 10 corresponding to the read identification mark has ended is transmitted to the server device 60. At this time, the server device 60 stores at least the information that use of the parking space 10 corresponding to the identification mark has ended and the time when use of the parking space 10 ended.

[0035] Furthermore, in a payment step (S4), the server device 60 performs payment of the parking fee for the parking space 10 based on the use start information and use end information. Specifically, the server device 60 calculates the parking fee based on a pre-prepared parking fee table from the time when use of the parking space 10 started and the time when use of the parking space 10 ended. At this time, if the server device 60 has stored a usage history of a store or the like, it will calculate a discounted parking fee.

[0036] Server device 60 then executes payment based on the calculated parking fee. Specifically, the parking fee is displayed on portable terminal 70 via a parking lot application, and the user selects a payment method (credit card, electronic money, etc.) presented within the parking lot application and pays the fee, thereby completing the payment.

[0037] In this embodiment, the external terminal 80 is used in a store or the like. However, the external terminal 80 may also be used by the operator of the parking lot management system S. For example, the operator of the parking lot management system S can determine whether unauthorized parking has occurred in the parking space 10 by checking the information against the start-of-use registration information.

[0038] In this embodiment, the display unit 20 has one identification mark, and the identification mark is read twice, once at the start and end of use of the parking lot 1. However, the display unit 20 may have an identification mark at the start of use and an identification mark at the end of use, and may read different identification marks at the start and end of use.

[0039] In this embodiment, no special services are provided to the portable terminal 70 that has scanned the QR code and registered for initial use, but the server device 60 may be configured to offer a discount on the fee for the portable terminal 70 that has scanned the QR code and registered for initial use.

[0040] In this embodiment, the parking lot 1 is described as not having a camera device, but may be provided with a camera device that can communicate with the server device 60.

[0041] The above describes the parking lot management system S according to this embodiment. However, the parking lot management system S is not limited to the above embodiment, and other configurations are possible within the scope of achieving the object of the invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0042] The present invention can be used to manage a parking lot 1. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] S Parking Management System 1 Parking lot 10 parking spaces 20 Display section 60 Server equipment 70 Portable devices 80 External Terminal

Claims

1. A parking lot management system that manages parking spaces where users carrying mobile terminals park their cars, Multiple parking spaces and a display unit that displays an identification mark corresponding to each parking space; a server device capable of communicating with the portable terminal; the portable terminal has a payment function and a function for reading the identification mark, The portable terminal reads the identification mark and transmits the parking space use start information to the server device; Thereafter, the portable terminal again reads the identification mark to transmit information indicating that the parking space has been used to the server device; the server device performs settlement of the parking fee for the parking space based on the use start information and the use end information; A parking lot management system characterized by the above.

2. Further, an external terminal capable of communicating with the server device is provided, The parking lot management system according to claim 1 , wherein the external terminal transmits a store usage history to the server device.

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