Parking lot management system, and program

Abstract

To allow electronic settlement by an arrangement that a user uses a communication terminal which communicates with a management server.SOLUTION: A parking lot management system for managing a parking lot 22 according to the present invention has a management server 50. The management server has a function for receiving, from a communication terminal 90 of a user, as an exit parking lot unique user information, a user unique information of the same kind of an entry parking lot unique user information as a user unique information acquired at a position of the parking lot upon entry to the parking lot, and a function for transmitting, to the communication terminal, a parking charge data for use in electronic settlement of the parking charge subject to matching, at the exit of the parking lot, the acquired entry parking lot user unique information and the received exit parking lot user unique information with each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 12

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technology that enables the entire system to support electronic payments by combining a payment device equipped with a non-electronic payment function that performs payments using non-electronic payment methods other than electronic payment with a user's communication terminal, and / or a technology that enables a user to perform electronic payments by using a communication terminal to communicate with a management server. [Background technology]

[0002] In various business fields, there are various ways for users to settle fees.

[0003] Conventionally, for example, ticket vending machines or payment machines installed in parking lots are designed to have (1) a payment function that enables a user to pay the fee (payment (transfer of money or value) + input of information to complete the transaction (information that gives economic meaning to the simple physical phenomenon of transferring money or value)), and (2) an issuing function that grants the user permission to use the parking lot in exchange for the user's payment and issues a ticket or receipt as proof of that permission.

[0004] There are two types of timing for users to pay parking fees: prepayment, where the parking fee is paid before using the parking lot, and postpayment, where the parking fee is paid after using the parking lot. There are also methods for paying parking fees: cash payment, prepaid IC card payment, and electronic payment, which will be described later. Media used to pay parking fees include currency (cash, prepaid IC cards or credit cards that have a value equivalent to cash, etc.), substitute currencies (tokens, gift certificates, coupons, etc. with limited uses), rewards (points, coupons, discount coupons, rebate coupons, etc. with limited uses), and vouchers (free tickets, etc. with limited uses).

[0005] Therefore, throughout this application document, when we refer to a "prepaid" or "postpaid" payment, it is not essential that the user use currency for the payment, and it means that the payment can be made using a substitute currency, a benefit, a voucher, any equivalent thereof, or a combination of these media, all of which fall under the category of "prepaid" or "postpaid" payment.

[0006] Patent Document 1 discloses a system that uses a vending machine (accepts cash payments; equivalent to a ticket vending machine), a user's mobile terminal (an example of a communication terminal), and a server.

[0007] When change is given in the vending machine, electronic value, which is electronic information having the same cash value as the change, is deposited into an account in the server.

[0008] Specifically, a user first accesses the server with a mobile device, and after successfully completing the necessary authentication, the mobile device receives a barcode from the server. Next, the user holds the mobile device displaying the barcode over a barcode reader on a vending machine.

[0009] The vending machine then communicates with the server and, if the barcode is authenticated as genuine, receives authorization to sell from the server.

[0010] Thereafter, the user presses the cash payment button or the electronic value payment button among the payment selection buttons on the vending machine. After the user presses the cash payment button and selects a product, when change is generated, the user presses the cash return button or the electronic value return button among the return selection buttons. When the user presses the electronic value return button, electronic value equivalent to the amount of change is sent to the server.

[0011] Patent Document 1 appears to disclose that (1) the mobile terminal utilizes the cash payment function of the vending machine, and (2) the vending machine and the mobile terminal are linked by a barcode.

[0012] Patent Document 2 discloses a system for managing postpaid parking lots. In this system, a user's communication terminal communicates with an exit terminal (equivalent to a ticket vending machine) with a cash settlement function and a centralized management system (centralized management server). When leaving the parking lot, the user's communication terminal selects the settlement method from cash, IC, or credit, and notifies the exit terminal of the selection.

[0013] Patent Document 3 discloses a system in which a user's communication terminal, a ticket dispenser, and a server are interconnected via the Internet. Therefore, the ticket dispenser, the user's communication terminal, and the server may be connected in series, or the ticket dispenser and the user's communication terminal may be connected in parallel to the server. The ticket dispenser issues a ticket upon receiving information from the mobile terminal and the server, respectively. Furthermore, once the ticket dispenser has completed issuing the ticket, it sends a ticket issuance completion notification to the server. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0014] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-77036 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-198096 [Patent Document 3] JP 2017-27441 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0015] Nowadays, many potential users of parking lots have communication terminals (for example, mobile terminals), and these communication terminals have communication functions that enable short-range communication and long-range communication.

[0016] Taking note of the fact that communication terminals have such advanced communication functions, the inventor proposed that ticket vending machines installed in parking lots be equipped with, in addition to the conventional payment and ticket issuing functions described above, (1) a transmission function that transmits identification information unique to the ticket vending machine (for example, a parking lot ID that identifies the parking lot in which the ticket vending machine is installed), and (2) a communication function that either communicates short-distance with a user's communication terminal that is capable of long-distance communication with a management server (which can ultimately be linked to the management server via the communication terminal) or that communicates long-distance directly with the management server.

[0017] Furthermore, the inventor realized that if the system was designed so that when a user makes an electronic payment (also known as "smartphone payment," which includes, for example, credit card payment), they would use a communication terminal but not a ticket vending machine, and conversely, when making a cash payment or prepaid IC card payment (also simply referred to as "card payment"), they would use a ticket vending machine but not a communication terminal, then the management server would not be able to collect information from the ticket vending machine when making a cash payment or prepaid IC card payment, making it inconvenient for the management server to collect information from multiple parking lots and centrally manage their operating status, etc.

[0018] In other words, the inventor realized that if the system is designed so that users use communication terminals and communicate with the management server regardless of the payment method, it will be possible to take advantage of the characteristics of the communication terminals, namely, the ability of the management server to collect parking-related information from users regardless of location.

[0019] Alternatively, the ticket vending machine may be designed to have both the ability to communicate with a communication terminal over short distances and the ability to communicate with a management server over long distances, but this may create new problems such as increased manufacturing and operating costs for the ticket vending machine.

[0020] Therefore, the inventor divided the payment function Z into (a) a payment function X that enables the user to pay the fee, and (b) an information input function Y that enables the user to input the information necessary to complete the parking transaction through that payment.

[0021] Based on this, the inventor proposed that while payment function X would still be realized by the ticket vending machine, information input function Y would be realized not by the ticket vending machine but by a user's communication terminal capable of long-distance communication with the management server (the purpose of inputting information into the ticket vending machine is, for example, to link the ticket vending machine with the communication terminal), thereby emphasizing the ticket vending machine's role as a fare payment machine (for example, a cash dispenser, a card reader for prepaid IC cards), i.e., the ability to use the ticket vending machine to accept cash or card payments.

[0022] Furthermore, the inventor proposed that the ticket vending machine send a payment completion signal to the user's communication terminal when the user has completed payment to the ticket vending machine, so that the communication terminal can know from the ticket vending machine that the user's payment has been completed, while emphasizing the ticket vending machine's character as a fare payment machine.

[0023] However, none of Patent Documents 1 to 3 discloses that the ticket vending machine sends a payment completion signal to the user's communication terminal.

[0024] Furthermore, the inventor realized that when one part (for example, the aforementioned X) and another part (for example, the aforementioned Y) of the ticket vending machine's conventional payment function Z (for example, parts that were previously inseparable in terms of software configuration within the same device) are shared between the ticket vending machine and the communications terminal, which are physically independent, it is necessary to link multiple actions by the same user that occur in different locations, i.e., the user action of paying at the ticket vending machine with the user action of inputting information at the communications terminal, in order to complement the insulation (distribution) between payment at the ticket vending machine and information input at the communications terminal.

[0025] Therefore, the inventor has proposed the following solutions, assuming two-way communication between the ticket vending machine and the user's communication terminal: (1) limiting the communication method between the ticket vending machine and the communication terminal to short-range communication (forcing the user operating the communication terminal to be near the ticket vending machine); (2) sharing the same unique information about the user between the ticket vending machine and the communication terminal; and (3) preventing the subsequent establishment of another communication between another user's communication terminal and the ticket vending machine when communication is established between one user's communication terminal and the ticket vending machine in order to ensure the uniqueness of that communication for the ticket vending machine.

[0026] In summary, the inventor realized that ticket vending machines have the unique characteristic of allowing cash and card payments, while users' communication terminals have the unique characteristic of being able to provide information to the management server regardless of location, and that using both ticket vending machines and users' communication terminals while taking advantage of their respective characteristics would be desirable in order to achieve both diversification of user payment methods and centralized management of multiple parking lots by the management server.

[0027] Against this background, the first aspect of the present invention is to provide a parking lot management system that uses both ticket machines and users' communication terminals while taking advantage of the characteristics of each, thereby making it easy to achieve both a diversification of payment methods for users and centralized management of multiple parking lots by a management server.

[0028] Furthermore, in order to manage post-payment parking lots, traditionally, parking lots are equipped with an entry / exit control device (e.g., a gate device that rises and lowers as appropriate, a vehicle movement prevention device that rises and lowers as appropriate, etc.) that controls the entry and exit of vehicles into and from the parking lot, and a control device that can communicate with the entry / exit control device and has at least one of the control functions of controlling the entry / exit control device and the payment function that allows users to pay parking fees (e.g., an adjustment machine), and further, a management server is installed outside the parking lot that can communicate with the control device and can communicate with the entry / exit control device via the control device.

[0029] In cases where a payment machine allows cash or prepaid IC card payments but not electronic payments, in order to enable electronic payments while using the payment machine essentially as is (at least with the hardware configuration remaining the same), the inventor has proposed that the user's communication terminal not be used when entering the parking lot, but when leaving the parking lot, the user's communication terminal be used to carry out both the parking lot exit procedure and payment of the parking fee.

[0030] In other words, the inventor proposed a technical idea that by combining a payment device equipped with a non-electronic payment function that makes payments using non-electronic payment methods other than electronic payment with a user's communication terminal, the entire system will be able to support electronic payments.

[0031] Against this background, the present invention has been made with the objective of enabling a system that uses a payment device equipped with a non-electronic payment function for making payments using non-electronic payment methods other than electronic payment to support electronic payments by utilizing the user's communication terminal while making use of the payment device, and / or enabling the user to make electronic payments by using the communication terminal to communicate with a management server. [Means for solving the problem]

[0032] In order to solve the problem, according to a first aspect of the present invention, parking A parking lot management system that manages Including a management server, The management server is User When leaving the parking lot, User-specific information acquired at the location of the parking lot when the user enters the parking lot. a function of receiving user specific information of the same type as the user specific information at the time of entry as user specific information at the time of leaving from the communication terminal of the user; At the time of leaving the warehouse, acquired a function of transmitting parking fee data for electronic payment of the parking fee to the communication terminal on the condition that the user-specific information at the time of entry and the received user-specific information at the time of exit match each other; A parking lot management system including:

[0033] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a parking lot management system including a management server is provided. parking A program executed by a computer of a user's communication terminal, The management server acquires user-specific information at the location of the parking lot when the user enters the parking lot as user-specific information at the time of entry; The communication terminal User When leaving the parking lot, The obtained The same type of user-specific information as the user-specific information at the time of entry is transmitted to the management server as user-specific information at the time of release. send Function and At the time of leaving the warehouse, acquired a receiving function for receiving parking fee data for electronic payment of the parking fee from the management server on the condition that the user-specific information at the time of entry and the transmitted user-specific information at the time of exit match each other; Including, The aforementioned send A program is provided that is executed by the computer to implement the functions and the receiving functions.

[0034] The present invention provides the following aspects. Each aspect is divided into paragraphs, each numbered, and described by citing the numbers of other paragraphs as necessary. This is to facilitate understanding of some of the technical features and combinations thereof that may be employed by the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the technical features and combinations thereof that may be employed by the present invention to the following aspects. In other words, it should be understood that technical features that are not described in the following aspects but are described in this specification may be appropriately extracted and employed as technical features of the present invention.

[0035] Furthermore, describing each paragraph in a format that refers to the number of other paragraphs does not necessarily mean that the technical features described in each paragraph cannot be separated and made independent from the technical features described in other paragraphs, and it should be interpreted that the technical features described in each paragraph can be made independent as appropriate depending on their nature.

[0036] (1) A parking lot management system configured such that a management server centrally manages a plurality of prepaid parking lots, and a user is permitted to rent out any parking lot selected by the user using a communication terminal, a ticket vending machine installed in the parking lot, the ticket vending machine having a payment function that allows users to pay by cash or by prepaid card, a ticket issuing function, and a communication function; a management server capable of communicating with the communication terminal; Including, The ticket vending machine communicates under either a first communication environment in which it can communicate with the communication terminal but cannot communicate with the management server, but information from the ticket vending machine can be sent to the management server via the communication terminal, or a second communication environment in which it can communicate with the management server but cannot communicate with the communication terminal, Furthermore, when the user pays the advance fee to the ticket vending machine using the communication terminal, the ticket vending machine issues a ticket to the user and transmits a payment completion signal to the communication terminal or the management server, A parking lot management system in which the communication terminal or the management server grants the user permission to use the parking lot when the communication terminal or the management server receives the payment completion signal from the ticket machine.

[0037] (2) The ticket vending machine communicates under the first communication environment, When the payment is made to the ticket vending machine, the ticket vending machine transmits the payment completion signal to the communication terminal, When the communication terminal receives the payment completion signal from the ticket vending machine, it transmits a procedure completion signal to the management server, The parking lot management system according to (1), wherein the management server grants the user permission to use the parking lot when the management server receives the procedure completion signal from the communication terminal.

[0038] (3) The ticket vending machine transmits first unique information that is unique to the user (e.g., including location information for identifying the location of an individual parking space and / or a user ID) to the communication terminal; the communication terminal inputs second unique information unique to the user (e.g., including location information for identifying the location of an individual parking space and / or a user ID), from the user; When multiple conditions are all met, including a condition that a match is established between the first unique information received from the ticket vending machine and the second unique information input to the communication terminal (for example, the ticket vending machine and the communication terminal are linked), and a condition that the payment completion signal is received from the ticket vending machine, the communication terminal transmits the procedure completion signal to the management server, The parking lot management system according to (2), wherein the management server grants the user permission to use the parking lot when the management server receives the procedure completion signal from the communication terminal.

[0039] (4) When the user wishes to make the payment to the ticket vending machine, the communication terminal transmits a signal to the ticket vending machine; A parking lot management system as described in (2) above, in which when the ticket vending machine receives the signal from the communication terminal, it prohibits the reception of signals from communication terminals other than the communication terminal, thereby establishing communication exclusively between the ticket vending machine and the communication terminal.

[0040] (5) The ticket vending machine communicates under the second communication environment, When the payment is made to the ticket vending machine, the ticket vending machine transmits the payment completion signal to the management server, the ticket vending machine transmits first unique information that is unique to the user (e.g., including location information for identifying the location of an individual parking space and / or a user ID) to the management server; the communication terminal transmits second unique information unique to the user (e.g., including location information for identifying the location of an individual parking space and / or a user ID) to the management server; The parking lot management system described in (1) grants the user permission to use the parking lot when multiple conditions are met, including the condition that a match is made between the first unique information received from the ticket vending machine and the second unique information received from the communication terminal (for example, the ticket vending machine and the communication terminal are linked), and the condition that the payment completion signal is received from the ticket vending machine.

[0041] (6) A parking lot management system as described in paragraph (5), wherein the management server grants the user permission to use the parking lot and sends a procedure completion signal to at least the communication terminal of the ticket vending machine and the communication terminal when all of a plurality of conditions are met, including the condition that a match is made between the first unique information received from the ticket vending machine and the second unique information received from the communication terminal, and the condition that the payment completion signal is received from the ticket vending machine.

[0042] (7) A program for causing a computer to function as a communication terminal according to any one of (1) to (6).

[0043] In this application, the term "program" may be interpreted to mean, for example, a combination of instructions executed by a computer to perform its function, and may also be interpreted to include, but is not limited to, not only the combination of instructions but also the files and data processed in accordance with each instruction.

[0044] Furthermore, this program may be executed by a computer alone to achieve its intended purpose, or may be executed by a computer together with other programs to achieve its intended purpose, but is not limited to these. In the latter case, the program according to this paragraph may be, but is not limited to, one that mainly consists of data.

[0045] (8) A program for causing a computer to function as the management server described in any one of (1) to (6).

[0046] (9) A recording medium on which the program described in (7) or (8) is recorded in a computer-readable manner.

[0047] In this application document, the recording medium represented by the term "recording medium" may take various forms, including, but not limited to, magnetic recording media such as flexible disks, optical recording media such as CDs and CD-ROMs, magneto-optical recording media such as MOs, and non-removable storage such as ROMs.

[0048] (10) A parking management system for managing postpaid parking lots, a payment machine installed in the parking lot and having a payment function that allows a user to pay a parking fee by a payment method other than electronic payment when leaving the parking lot; a management server that is installed outside the parking lot and communicates with the payment machine; A user's communication terminal capable of communicating with the management server. Including, The communication terminal transmits a settlement request to the management server when the vehicle leaves the warehouse, The management server sends a parking fee calculation request to the payment machine, The payment machine calculates the parking fee and transmits parking fee data representing the parking fee to the management server. The management server relays the parking fee data to the communication terminal, The communication terminal sends an electronic payment request to a payment server to make electronic payment of the parking fee represented by the parking fee data, and when the electronic payment is completed by the payment server, the parking lot management system sends a payment completion signal to the management server.

[0049] With this system, post-payment parking lots that have payment machines that do not support electronic payments can be made to support electronic payments by using the user's communication terminal while essentially using the payment machines as they are (with minimal configuration changes).

[0050] (11) A parking management system for managing postpaid parking lots, an entry / exit control device installed in the parking lot and controlling the entry and exit of vehicles into and from the parking lot; an adjustment machine installed in the parking lot, the adjustment machine having a payment function that enables a user to settle a parking fee by a payment method other than electronic payment when leaving the parking lot, and a command function that commands the entrance / exit control device; a management server that is installed outside the parking lot and communicates with the payment machine; A user's communication terminal capable of communicating with the management server. Including, The communication terminal transmits a settlement request to the management server when the vehicle leaves the warehouse, The management server sends a parking fee calculation request to the payment machine, The payment machine calculates the parking fee and transmits parking fee data representing the parking fee to the management server. The management server relays the parking fee data to the communication terminal, the communication terminal transmits an electronic payment request to a payment server to make electronic payment of the parking fee represented by the parking fee data, and when the electronic payment is completed by the payment server, transmits a payment completion signal to the management server; The management server transmits a withdrawal permission signal to the adjustment machine, The adjustment machine transmits a withdrawal permission operation command signal to the entry / exit control device, The entry / exit control device and the parking lot management system perform an exit permission operation to permit the vehicle to leave the parking lot.

[0051] (12) A parking management system for managing postpaid parking lots, an entry / exit control device installed in the parking lot and controlling the entry and exit of vehicles into and from the parking lot; an adjustment machine installed in the parking lot, the adjustment machine having a payment function that enables a user to settle a parking fee by a payment method other than electronic payment when leaving the parking lot, and a command function that commands the entrance / exit control device; a management server that is installed outside the parking lot and communicates with the payment machine; A user's communication terminal capable of communicating with the management server. Including, The communication terminal a payment request sending unit that sends a payment request and identification information for identifying a selected parking position selected by the user from among a plurality of parking positions in the parking lot to the management server in response to a user's operation when the vehicle leaves the parking lot; The management server a calculation request sending unit that, upon receiving the payment request and the identification information, sends the parking fee calculation request together with the identification information to the payment machine; The settlement machine is a parking fee data transmission unit that, upon receiving the calculation request together with the identification information, calculates a parking fee by calculating a parking time for the selected parking position identified by the identification information, and transmits parking fee data representing the parking fee to the management server; The management server a parking fee data relay unit that relays the parking fee data to the communication terminal upon receiving the parking fee data; The communication terminal a payment completion signal sending unit that, after receiving the parking fee data, sends an electronic payment request to a payment server in response to a user's operation to make an electronic payment for the parking fee represented by the parking fee data, and, when the electronic payment is completed by the payment server, sends a payment completion signal to the management server; The management server a withdrawal permission signal transmitting unit that transmits a withdrawal permission signal to the settlement machine when the payment completion signal is received; The settlement machine is A parking lot management system having an exit permission operation command signal transmitting unit that, upon receiving the exit permission signal, transmits an exit permission operation command signal to the entry / exit control device to instruct it to operate to permit the vehicle to leave the parking lot.

[0052] (13) The communication terminal has a positioning function for measuring its own current location, A parking lot management system described in any of items (10) to (12), wherein the communication terminal and / or the management server permits the electronic payment on the condition that the user is in the vicinity of the parking lot.

[0053] (14) A parking management system for managing postpaid parking lots, an adjustment machine installed in the parking lot and having a payment function that allows a user to pay a parking fee by a payment method other than electronic payment when the user's vehicle leaves the parking lot; A user's communication terminal capable of communicating with the settlement machine. Including, The communication terminal transmits a payment request to the payment machine at the time of leaving the warehouse, Upon receiving the payment request, the payment machine calculates the parking fee and transmits parking fee data representing the parking fee to the communication terminal; the communication terminal transmits an electronic payment request to a payment server to make electronic payment of the parking fee represented by the parking fee data, and when the electronic payment is completed by the payment server, transmits a payment completion signal to the payment machine; In this parking lot management system, when the settlement machine receives the payment completion signal, it performs an operation to allow the vehicle to leave the parking lot.

[0054] (15) The parking lot has a plurality of parking locations; The payment machine manages the presence or absence of parked vehicles for each parking location, The communication terminal When the vehicle leaves the parking lot, in response to a user's operation, the payment request and identification information for identifying a selected parking position selected by the user from among a plurality of parking positions in the parking lot are transmitted to the payment machine; The settlement machine is The parking management system described in paragraph (14) above, when receiving the settlement request and the identification information, calculates the parking time for the selected parking location identified by the identification information, calculates the parking fee, and transmits parking fee data representing the parking fee to the communication terminal.

[0055] (16) Further, a management server capable of communicating with the communication terminal is included, When the communication terminal transmits the payment completion signal to the payment machine, the communication terminal transmits parking information indicating the parking status of the parking lot to the management server, A parking lot management system as described in (14) or (15), in which the management server acquires parking information related to the parking lot that has been acquired at the payment machine from the payment machine via the communication terminal.

[0056] Here, the management server has the function of comprehensively managing the parking lot based on, for example, multiple parking information (e.g., operating status for each parking location, parking time period, parking fee amount, etc.) acquired from the communication terminals of multiple users who use the parking lot.

[0057] Furthermore, the management server has the function of, for example, obtaining parking information regarding other parking lots from the payment machines of each parking lot via each user's communication terminal, thereby centrally managing multiple parking lots based on multiple parking information regarding those parking lots.

[0058] (17) A parking lot management system as described in (16), in which the communication terminal performs short-range wireless communication with the payment machine, thereby allowing the communication terminal to perform the electronic payment on the condition that the user is in the vicinity of the payment machine.

[0059] (18) A program for causing a computer to function as a communication terminal according to any one of (10) to (17).

[0060] (19) A program for causing a computer to function as the management server according to any one of (10) to (17).

[0061] (20) A program for causing a computer to function as a settlement machine described in any one of (10) to (17).

[0062] (21) A recording medium on which the program according to any one of (17) to (20) is recorded in a computer-readable manner.

[0063] (22) A parking lot management system for managing a parking lot, an entry / exit control device installed in the parking lot and controlling the entry and exit of vehicles into and from the parking lot; A management server that is installed outside the parking lot and communicates with the entry / exit control device directly or via another device; A user's communication terminal capable of communicating with the management server. Including, The communication terminal transmits a delivery request to the management server at the time of delivery, When a predetermined condition (for example, payment of parking fees, use of a free parking ticket or coupon) is met, the management server transmits an exit permission signal to the entry / exit control device, The parking lot management system includes a parking entry / exit control device that, upon receiving the exit permission signal, operates to permit the vehicle to exit the parking lot. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0064] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a bicycle parking lot to which a bicycle parking lot management system according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention is applied. [Figure 2]FIG. 2 is a perspective view conceptually showing how communications are carried out between a plurality of bicycle parking lots, a plurality of users, a management center, and a settlement agent in the bicycle parking lot management system shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a front view showing the ticket vending machine shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram conceptually showing a communication network configuration in the bicycle parking lot management system shown in FIG. 1, with the ticket vending machines, mobile terminals, management server, and payment server as components. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram conceptually showing the mobile terminal shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram conceptually showing the management server shown in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a flowchart conceptually showing an example of a bicycle parking request processing program executed by the ticket machine, the mobile terminal, and the management server in the bicycle parking lot management system shown in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram conceptually showing in tabular form a management list created in the management server for managing the operating status of the bicycle parking lot in the bicycle parking lot management system shown in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a flowchart conceptually showing an example of a bicycle parking request processing program executed by the ticket machine, the mobile terminal, and the management server in the bicycle parking lot management system according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a flowchart conceptually showing an example of a bicycle parking request processing program executed by the ticket machine, the mobile terminal, and the management server, respectively, in a bicycle parking lot management system according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram conceptually showing a communication network configuration in the bicycle parking lot management system shown in FIG. 10, with the ticket vending machines, mobile terminals, management server, and payment server as components. [Figure 12]Figure 12 is a conceptual diagram showing the paths for communication between the entry / exit control device, the settlement machine, and the management server, and the communication network configuration for communication between the user's mobile terminal, the management server, and the payment server in a bicycle parking lot management system according to an exemplary fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a flowchart conceptually showing an example of an entry processing program executed by the entry / exit control device and the payment machine at the time of entry in the bicycle parking lot management system shown in FIG. [Figure 14] Figure 14 is a flowchart conceptually illustrating an example of an exit processing program executed by the entry / exit control device, the settlement machine, the user's mobile terminal, the management server, and the payment server at the time of exit in the bicycle parking lot management system shown in Figure 12. [Figure 15] Figure 15 is a conceptual diagram showing the paths for communication between the entry / exit control device, the settlement machine, and the user's mobile terminal, and the communication network configuration for communication between the user's mobile terminal, the management server, and the payment server in a bicycle parking lot management system according to an exemplary fifth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] Figure 16 is a flowchart conceptually illustrating an example of an exit processing program executed by the entry / exit control device, the settlement machine, the user's mobile terminal, the management server, and the payment server at the time of exit in the bicycle parking lot management system shown in Figure 15. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0065] Hereinafter, some more specific and exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0066] First Embodiment

[0067] As shown in Fig. 1, a bicycle parking lot management system (hereinafter simply referred to as "the system") 10 according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention is used to provide a bicycle parking service in which a bicycle parking lot 22 (an example of a "parking lot" in the present invention) has multiple racks 72 (an example of bicycle parking spaces) that can accommodate multiple bicycles 12, and the bicycle parking lot management system 10 rents out one of the racks 72 to the user, with the user paying a prepayment fee in cash, using a transportation IC card (an example of a "prepaid IC card"), or by electronic payment. The bicycle parking lot management system according to this embodiment is configured to execute the bicycle parking lot management method according to this embodiment.

[0068] Here, a "transportation IC card" is a prepaid IC card that can be used to settle service fees for specific transportation services, and is an alternative to, for example, conventional commuter passes, balance-based tickets, and coupon tickets.

[0069] 1, according to this system 10, a ticket vending machine 30 is installed at each bicycle parking lot 22. The ticket vending machine 30 issues a ticket in exchange for a user's prepaid fee, either in cash or with a transportation card. The user is required to attach the purchased ticket to their bicycle 12 to prove that they are authorized to use the bicycle parking lot 22.

[0070] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2, according to this system 10, a user uses a mobile terminal 90 (an example of a "communication terminal" in the present invention) to access a management server 50 operated by a management center 40 via a communication network (for example, the Internet as a global network), thereby obtaining the authority to use the bicycle parking lot 22.

[0071] 2, the user uses a mobile terminal 90 to access a payment server 110 operated by a payment service provider 100 via the communication network, and the user then pays the necessary fee by electronic payment. On condition of this payment, the management server 50 grants the user permission to use the bicycle parking lot 22.

[0072] Next, to explain in more detail, as shown in Figure 1, bicycle parking lot facilities 20 are installed in each of a plurality of bicycle parking lots 22 (only representative bicycle parking lots 22 among the bicycle parking lots 22 are shown in Figure 1) that are centrally managed by a management center 40. The bicycle parking lot facilities 20 include a ticket vending machine 30 and a bicycle storage device 70.

[0073] First, the hardware configuration of the ticket vending machine 30 will be described.

[0074] As shown in Fig. 3, the ticket vending machine 30 has a ticket issuing button 32 and a fee settlement button 34. The ticket vending machine 30 has a ticket issuing function that issues a physical ticket under predetermined conditions when the user presses the ticket issuing button 32 after selecting the length of the planned parking time (planned usage time) (the ticket type that corresponds to the type of ticket) prior to starting bicycle parking and paying the corresponding prepaid bicycle parking fee. The ticket vending machine 30 also has a fee settlement function that issues a receipt indicating that the additional bicycle parking fee has been settled when the user presses the fee settlement button 34 after completing parking and paying the additional bicycle parking fee.

[0075] As shown in Figure 3, this ticket vending machine 30 is configured to have a coin processing unit, a safe, and a control board (not shown), a display 36, and a printer (not shown) that prints and issues tickets and receipts.

[0076] The control board is mainly configured as a computer having a processor and memory, and enables the user to pay the prepayment fee with cash or a transportation card by executing a program described later with reference to Figure 7. The software configuration of this ticket vending machine 30 will be described later with reference to Figure 7.

[0077] The ticket vending machine 30 further includes a card reader 38 that reads data from a prepaid card when the user holds it over the card, and a communication unit 40 for performing short-distance wireless communication with the user's mobile terminal 90.

[0078] 3, the coin processing unit has a coin insertion slot 50, a return lever 52, a coin selector (which determines the type of inserted coin and whether the inserted coin is a counterfeit coin) (not shown), and a coin return slot 56. Of the inserted coins, those that are not returned to the user through the coin return slot 56 are stored in the safe.

[0079] As shown in Figure 3, on the front of the door 24 of the ticket vending machine 30 are arranged a ticket issuing button 32, a fare settlement button 34, a transparent window 60 through which display light from the screen of the display 36 (e.g., an LCD display) passes, a coin insertion slot 50, a return lever 52, a coin return slot 56, and an outlet 64 for discharging tickets and receipts printed and discharged by the printer.

[0080] In this embodiment, the display 36 is a touch panel type, and therefore the display 36 displays multiple parking time lengths associated with the amount of the prepaid fee, and when the user touches any of these parking times, that parking time is selected as the scheduled parking time, and as a result, the ticket type is selected.

[0081] Furthermore, the display 36 displays the numbers of multiple racks 72 and a message prompting the user to input the number of the rack 72 where the user wants to store their bicycle 12. In response, the user touches the number of one of the racks 72, thereby specifying the rack 72 that the user has used.

[0082] Next, the configuration of the bicycle storage device 70 will be described.

[0083] The bicycle storage device 70 includes a plurality of racks 72 and a frame 74 that connects the racks 72. The racks 72 define a plurality of bicycle parking spaces on the supporting surface of the bicycle parking area 22 (e.g., the ground, a leveled surface, a paved surface, etc.).

[0084] A user who wishes to park their bicycle 12 in the bicycle parking lot 22 selects any vacant (unused or unoccupied) rack 72 and parks their bicycle 12 in that rack 72. The user then unlocks their loop lock 80 to secure the bicycle 12 to the rack 72. The user then locks the loop lock 80. The user then exits the bicycle parking lot 22 alone.

[0085] As is well known, the loop lock 80 is constructed by connecting two ends of a flexible wire via a combination lock, which unlocks when the appropriate pin number is entered.

[0086] Next, the communication network configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

[0087] The ticket vending machine 30 performs short-range two-way wireless communication with the mobile terminal 90 using an IR signal, a communication unit of the adjustment machine 210, an NFC (near field wireless communication) signal, or the like, via the communication unit (transmitter and receiver) 40. The ticket vending machine 30 may also be capable of performing long-range two-way wireless communication with the mobile terminal 90 and / or management server 50 via the Internet.

[0088] The mobile terminal 90 performs long-distance two-way wireless communication with the management server 50 of the management center 40 via the Internet. Furthermore, the mobile terminal 90 performs long-distance two-way wireless communication with the payment server 110 of the payment agent 100 via the Internet.

[0089] Next, the hardware configuration of the mobile terminal 90 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0090] The mobile terminal 90 is an example of a type of communication terminal that can be carried by a user, such as a mobile phone, a smartphone, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, or a PDA, but alternatively, it may be a type of communication terminal that cannot be carried by a user, such as a fixed telephone installed in the bicycle parking area 22 or a public telephone installed near the bicycle parking area 22.

[0091] Here, the hardware configuration of the mobile terminal 90 will be explained with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG. 5. The mobile terminal 90 is mainly composed of a computer 134 having a processor 130 and a memory 132 that stores a plurality of programs (also called "applications") executed by the processor 130 (see FIG. 7).

[0092] The mobile terminal 90 further has a display unit (e.g., an LCD display) 136 for displaying information, a receiving unit 138 for receiving signals from the management server 50 (and / or the settlement machine 210), and a transmitting unit 140 for generating signals and transmitting the signals to the management server 50 (and / or the settlement machine 210).

[0093] The mobile terminal 90 further includes an input unit 150 for inputting data and commands from the user. The input unit 150 includes, for example, an operation unit operable by the user to input desired information (e.g., commands, data, etc.) into the mobile terminal 90. The operation unit may be, but is not limited to, a touch screen that displays icons (e.g., virtual buttons) operable by the user, a physical operation unit (e.g., a keyboard, keypad, buttons, etc.) operable by the user, a microphone that detects voice, etc.

[0094] The mobile terminal 90 further includes a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver 152. As is well known, the GPS receiver 152 receives multiple GPS signals from multiple GPS satellites and determines the position (latitude, longitude, and altitude) of the GPS receiver 152 on the Earth by triangulation based on the GPS signals.

[0095] Here, the GPS is an example of a positioning unit that measures the current position of the mobile terminal 90, that is, the current position 90 of the user.

[0096] Other examples include a method in which the mobile terminal 90 receives a signal representing the position coordinates of a wireless base station (such as an access point or cellular base station, installed inside or outside the bicycle parking lot 22) for wireless communication of the mobile terminal 90, and uses that to determine its position, or a method in which the mobile terminal 90 receives a signal representing a unique transmitter ID from a transmitter installed in the bicycle parking lot 22, and converts that transmitter ID into the position coordinates of that transmitter to determine its position.

[0097] Mobile terminal 90 further includes an acceleration sensor 154 that detects its own acceleration. Because acceleration sensor 154 is mounted on mobile terminal 90, it vibrates integrally with mobile terminal 90, and as a result, it detects the acceleration acting on acceleration sensor 154 itself as being equivalent to the acceleration acting on mobile terminal 90.

[0098] Next, the hardware configuration of the management server 50 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0099] Referring to the functional block diagram of Figure 6, the hardware configuration of the management server 50 will be explained. The management server 50 is mainly composed of a computer 164 having a processor 160 and a memory 162 that stores multiple applications (see Figure 7) executed by the processor 160.

[0100] The management server 50 further has a display unit (for example, a liquid crystal display) 166 that displays information, a receiving unit 168 that receives signals from the mobile terminal 90, a transmitting unit 170 that generates signals and transmits them to the mobile terminal 90, and a clock 172. The management server 50 does not communicate directly with the ticket vending machine 30, but in fact communicates via the mobile terminal 90.

[0101] Next, the software configurations of the ticket vending machine 30, the user's mobile terminal 90, and the management server 50 will be described.

[0102] Figure 7 conceptually shows in a flowchart an example of a bicycle parking request processing program executed by the ticket vending machine 30, the mobile terminal 90, and the management server 50 in the system 10, which allows a user to operate the mobile terminal 90 and use the ticket vending machine 30 to pay the advance fee with cash or a transportation card.

[0103] First, in step S31, the mobile terminal 90 causes the processor 130 to execute the bicycle parking request processing program stored in the memory 132, thereby starting up the bicycle parking request processing program.

[0104] Next, in step S32, the mobile terminal 90 allows the user to input the number of the rack 72 in the current parking lot 22 that the user wishes to use to store the bicycle 12.

[0105] Next, in step S33, the mobile terminal 90 displays a message on the screen of the mobile terminal 90 to prompt the user to operate the ticket vending machine 30 if the user wishes to pay the prepayment fare with cash or a transportation card.

[0106] This time, the user follows the message and approaches the ticket vending machine 30.

[0107] In step S1, the ticket vending machine 30 displays a plurality of planned use times associated with the corresponding prepaid amounts on the touch panel of the display 36. When the user touches one of the plurality of planned use times displayed on the touch panel of the display 36 with his / her finger, the user selects the desired ticket type. At this time, the amount of the prepaid amount is confirmed.

[0108] Next, in step S2, the ticket vending machine 30 allows the user to input the number of the rack 72 in the current parking area 22 that the user wishes to use to store the bicycle 12.

[0109] Thereafter, in step S3, the ticket vending machine 30 allows the user to pay the current advance fare with cash or a transportation card.

[0110] Next, when the payment is completed, the ticket machine 30 sends a payment completion signal indicating this to the mobile terminal 90 in step S4, along with the bicycle parking lot ID unique to the current bicycle parking lot 22, the entered rack number, and the length of the planned usage time corresponding to the selected ticket type.

[0111] As described above, communication between the ticket vending machine 30 and the mobile terminal 90 is short-range two-way wireless communication using IR signals, Bluetooth (registered trademark) signals, NFC (near field communication) signals, etc. Typically, one user is positioned in front of one ticket vending machine 30, and therefore one ticket vending machine 30 and one mobile terminal 90 are expected to communicate with each other.

[0112] At this time, the mobile terminal 90 attempts reception with the ticket vending machine 30 in step S34, and if the reception is successful, the determination in step S35 becomes YES, and the process proceeds to step S36.

[0113] In this step S36, the mobile terminal 90 compares the rack number input by the user in the aforementioned step S32 with the rack number received from the ticket vending machine 30 in the aforementioned step S34, and if the comparison is successful (the two rack numbers match), it determines that there is only one user positioned in front of one ticket vending machine 30 and that a one-to-one relationship exists between the ticket vending machine 30 and the mobile terminal 90, indicating a normal state.

[0114] Next, in step S37, the mobile terminal 90 authenticates the bicycle parking lot 22 in which the user is currently staying from the bicycle parking lot ID received from the ticket machine 30 in the aforementioned step S34, in accordance with the correspondence between the bicycle parking lot ID and the bicycle parking lot 22 that is pre-stored in memory 132.

[0115] Thereafter, in step S38, the mobile terminal 90 determines that the bicycle parking space rental procedure for the current user has been completed, and in step S39, sends a procedure completion signal indicating this to the management server 50, along with the current bicycle parking space ID, the current rack number, and the length of the current planned usage time (hereinafter collectively referred to as "bicycle parking-related information").

[0116] In response, in step S51, the management server 50 receives the procedure completion signal together with the bicycle parking-related information. Next, in step S52, the management server 50 registers the current rack number in association with the bicycle parking lot ID (in the example shown in the figure, "Bicycle Parking Lot A") in the management list shown in Fig. 8 and stored in memory 162.

[0117] Thereafter, in step S53, the management server 50 grants the user authority to use the rack 72 having the current rack number in the current bicycle parking lot 22. Next, in step S54, the management server 50 measures the current time as the start time and registers the start time in the management list shown in FIG.

[0118] Thereafter, the management server 50 measures the current time in step S55, and subsequently determines in step S56 whether the actual usage time obtained by subtracting the start time from the current time exceeds the planned usage time. If it does not exceed the planned usage time, the determination is NO, and the process returns to step S55. However, if it does exceed the planned usage time, the determination is YES, and in step S57, the fact that the user has exceeded the time limit for use of the bicycle parking lot 22 is registered in the management list shown in FIG. 8.

[0119] This management list is shared by being viewed by multiple workers under the control of the management center 40 who are dispatched to any bicycle parking lot 22. As a result, each worker can individually intercept bicycles 12 that are over the time limit in the bicycle parking lot 22 that he or she is responsible for.

[0120] Meanwhile, substantially in parallel with the execution of the above-mentioned step S39, the mobile terminal 90 transmits the procedure completion signal to the ticket vending machine 30 in step S40, similar to step S39.

[0121] In response, in step S5, the ticket vending machine 30 receives the procedure completion signal from the mobile terminal 90, and then, in step S6, uses the printer to issue a physical ticket as proof that the user has authority to use the bicycle parking lot 22.

[0122] The user then attaches the purchased ticket to their own bicycle 12. As a result, workers can visually determine whether each bicycle 12 belongs to a user who has paid the prepaid fee.

[0123] <Second embodiment>

[0124] Next, a bicycle parking lot management system 10 according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described. However, duplicated explanations of parts common to the bicycle parking lot management system 10 according to the first embodiment will be omitted, and only the different parts will be described in detail. The bicycle parking lot management system according to this embodiment is configured to execute the bicycle parking lot management method according to this embodiment.

[0125] In the first embodiment described above, in order to link the ticket vending machine 30 and the mobile terminal 90 by noting that the person who paid the fee to the ticket vending machine 30 (payer) and the person who operated the mobile terminal 90 (operator) are both the same user, the user is forced to enter the same rack number into both the ticket vending machine 30 and the mobile terminal 90.

[0126] In contrast, in this embodiment, the same purpose is achieved if the user inputs the rack number only into the mobile terminal 90. However, instead of this, the present invention may be implemented in a form in which the same purpose is achieved if the user inputs the rack number only into the ticket vending machine 30.

[0127] Figure 9 conceptually illustrates in a flowchart an example of a bicycle parking request processing program executed by the ticket vending machine 30, the mobile terminal 90, and the management server 50 in the system 10, which allows a user to operate the mobile terminal 90 and use the ticket vending machine 30 to pay a prepayment fee in cash or with a transportation card.

[0128] According to this embodiment, first, in step S131, the mobile terminal 90 causes the processor 130 to execute the bicycle parking request processing program stored in the memory 132, thereby starting up the bicycle parking request processing program.

[0129] Next, in step S132, the mobile terminal 90 allows the user to input the number of the rack 72 in the current parking lot 22 that the user wishes to use to store the bicycle 12.

[0130] Next, in step S133, if the user wishes to pay the prepayment fee with cash or a transportation card, the mobile terminal 90 transmits a signal including the rack number and its own source address (such as the IP address or MAC address of the mobile terminal 90) to the ticket vending machine 30 in a broadcast manner (at this point, the mobile terminal 90 does not know the destination address (IP address, MAC address, etc.) of the ticket vending machine 30, which is the destination) using, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark) or via the Internet.

[0131] Thereafter, in step S134, the mobile terminal 90 displays a message on the screen of the mobile terminal 90 to prompt the user to operate the ticket vending machine 30.

[0132] Following the message, the user approaches the ticket vending machine 30.

[0133] In step S102, the ticket vending machine 30 identifies the sender from the sender address included in the signal received from the mobile terminal 90, then in step S103, establishes communication between the ticket vending machine 30 and one mobile terminal 90, and then in step S104, refuses to receive a signal transmitted from another sender, that is, the mobile terminal 90 of another user. Specifically, the ticket vending machine 30 will thereafter only receive signals that include its own address as the destination address.

[0134] Next, in step S105, the ticket vending machine 30 displays the rack number contained in the signal received from the mobile terminal 90 in the above-mentioned step S101 on the touch panel of the display 36, and further displays multiple planned usage times in association with the corresponding multiple prepaid fee amounts.

[0135] Thereafter, in step S106, the ticket vending machine 30 allows the user to select the desired ticket type by touching one of the multiple scheduled use times displayed on the touch panel of the display 36. At this time, the amount of the prepayment fee is confirmed.

[0136] Next, in step S107, the ticket vending machine 30 allows the user to pay the current advance fare with cash or a transportation card.

[0137] Next, when the payment is completed, the ticket vending machine 30 sends a payment completion signal indicating this, together with the bicycle parking lot ID unique to the current bicycle parking lot and the length of the planned usage time corresponding to the selected ticket type, in step S108, to only the mobile terminal 90 via Bluetooth (registered trademark) or via the Internet via unicast (at this point, the ticket vending machine 30 knows the destination address of the current mobile terminal 90, which is the destination) along with its own source address.

[0138] At this time, the mobile terminal 90 attempts reception with the ticket vending machine 30 in step S135, and if the reception is successful, the determination in step S136 becomes YES, and the process proceeds to step S137.

[0139] In this step S137, the mobile terminal 90 authenticates the bicycle parking lot 22 where the user is currently staying from the bicycle parking lot ID received from the ticket machine 30 in the aforementioned step S135, in accordance with the correspondence between the bicycle parking lot ID and the bicycle parking lot 22 that is pre-stored in the memory 132.

[0140] Thereafter, in step S138, the mobile terminal 90 determines that the bicycle parking space rental procedure for the current user has been completed, and in step S139, sends a procedure completion signal indicating this to the management server 50, along with the current bicycle parking space ID, the current rack number, and the length of the current planned usage time (hereinafter collectively referred to as "bicycle parking-related information").

[0141] In response, the management server 50 receives the procedure completion signal together with the bicycle parking-related information in step S151. Next, in step S152, the management server 50 registers the current rack number in association with the bicycle parking lot ID ("Bicycle Parking Lot A" in the example shown in Figure 8) in the management list stored in memory 162.

[0142] Thereafter, in step S153, the management server 50 grants the user authority to use the rack 72 having the current rack number in the current bicycle parking lot 22. Next, in step S154, the management server 50 measures the current time as the start time and registers the start time in the management list shown in FIG.

[0143] Thereafter, the management server 50 measures the current time in step S155, and then determines in step S156 whether the actual usage time obtained by subtracting the start time from the current time exceeds the planned usage time. If it does not exceed the planned usage time, the determination is NO, and the process returns to step S155. However, if it does exceed the planned usage time, the determination is YES, and in step S157, the fact that the user has exceeded the time limit for use of the bicycle parking lot 22 is registered in the management list shown in FIG. 8.

[0144] Meanwhile, after (or before) executing the aforementioned step S108, the ticket vending machine 30 uses the printer to issue a physical ticket in step S109 as proof that the user has the authority to use the bicycle parking lot 22 at this time.

[0145] <Third embodiment>

[0146] Next, a bicycle parking lot management system 10 according to an exemplary third embodiment of the present invention will be described. However, duplicated explanations of parts common to the bicycle parking lot management system 10 according to the first embodiment will be omitted, and only the different parts will be described in detail. The bicycle parking lot management system according to this embodiment is configured to execute the bicycle parking lot management method according to this embodiment.

[0147] Both the first and second embodiments described above are specific examples of implementing the present invention in a first communication environment, i.e., a communication environment in which the ticket vending machine 30 can communicate with the mobile terminal 90 but cannot communicate with the management server 50, but information from the ticket vending machine 30 can be sent to the management server 50 via the mobile terminal 90. However, this embodiment is a specific example of implementing the present invention in a second communication environment, i.e., a communication environment in which the ticket vending machine 30 can communicate with the management server 50 but cannot communicate with the mobile terminal 90.

[0148] Figure 10 conceptually shows in a flowchart an example of a bicycle parking request processing program executed by the ticket vending machine 30, the mobile terminal 90, and the management server 50 in the system 10, which allows a user to pay a prepayment fee using cash or a transportation card using the ticket vending machine 30 while operating the mobile terminal 90.

[0149] As shown in Figure 11, in this embodiment, the ticket vending machine 30, the mobile terminal 90, the management server 50, and the payment server 110 are connected to each other via the Internet. However, in this embodiment, communication does not take place between the ticket vending machine 30 and the mobile terminal 90. As a result, in this embodiment, the ticket vending machine 30 and the mobile terminal 90, which do not actually communicate with each other, are each connected in parallel to the management server 50.

[0150] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, the mobile terminal 90 first starts the bicycle parking request processing program stored in the memory 132 by having the processor 130 execute the bicycle parking request processing program in step S231.

[0151] Next, in step S232, the mobile terminal 90 sends a user ID (e.g., a unique number, a unique symbol string, a telephone number, an email address, etc.), which is information unique to the user, to the management server 50, provided that the user is a member of the current bicycle parking service.

[0152] In response, the management server 50 receives the user ID in step S251.

[0153] After executing step S232, in step S233, the mobile terminal 90 allows the user to select the payment method for the advance fee from a first option of cash payment or card payment using the ticket vending machine 30, and a second option of electronic payment using the user's own mobile terminal 90 (smartphone payment, credit card payment, cash card payment, etc.).

[0154] Next, in step S234, the mobile terminal 90 determines whether the payment method selected by the user is the first option. If the determination is YES, in step S235, the mobile terminal 90 displays a message on the screen of the mobile terminal 90 to urge the user to operate the ticket vending machine 30.

[0155] On the other hand, if the determination in step S234 is NO, the user will pay the prepayment fee by electronic payment when the mobile terminal 90 communicates with the payment server 110 shown in Fig. 2. This is not directly related to the present invention, so further explanation will be omitted.

[0156] Following the message displayed on the screen in step S235, the user approaches the ticket vending machine 30.

[0157] In step S201, the ticket vending machine 30 displays a plurality of planned use times in association with a corresponding plurality of prepaid fee amounts on the touch panel of the display 36. When the user touches one of the plurality of planned use times displayed on the touch panel of the display 36 with his / her finger, the user selects the desired ticket type. At this time, the amount of the prepaid fee is confirmed.

[0158] Next, in step S202, when the user holds his / her membership card over the card reader 38, the ticket vending machine 30 reads the user ID from the membership card.

[0159] Then, in step S203, the ticket machine 30 allows the user to input the number of the rack 72 in the current parking area 22 that the user wishes to use to store the bicycle 12.

[0160] Next, in step S204, the ticket vending machine 30 transmits the input user ID to the management server 50 together with the bicycle parking lot ID unique to the current bicycle parking lot 22.

[0161] In response, in step S252, the management server 50 receives the user ID and bicycle parking lot ID from the ticket machine 30. Next, in step S253, the management server 50 compares the input user ID with the user ID input in step S251. If the comparison is successful, in step S254, the management server 50 determines that the identity authentication of the current user has been successful.

[0162] Then, in step S255, the management server 52 authenticates the current bicycle parking lot 22 from the input bicycle parking lot ID in accordance with the correspondence between the bicycle parking lot ID and the bicycle parking lot 22 that is pre-stored in memory 162.

[0163] On the other hand, after executing step S204, the ticket vending machine 30 allows the user to pay the current advance fare with cash or a transportation card in step S205.

[0164] Next, when the payment is completed, the ticket machine 30 sends a payment completion signal indicating this to the management server 50 in step S206, along with the current bicycle parking lot ID, the entered rack number, and the length of the planned usage time corresponding to the selected ticket type (hereinafter collectively referred to as "bicycle parking-related information").

[0165] In response, in step S256, the management server 50 receives the payment completion signal together with the bicycle parking-related information. Next, in step S257, the management server 50 registers the current rack number in association with the bicycle parking lot ID (in the example shown in the figure, "Bicycle Parking Lot A") in the management list shown in Fig. 8 and stored in memory 162.

[0166] Thereafter, in step S258, the management server 50 determines that the procedure that the current user must carry out in order to use the current bicycle parking lot 22 has been completed. In response to this, in step S259, the management server 50 transmits a procedure completion signal indicating this to the mobile terminal 90, and in parallel with this, in step S260, the management server 50 transmits the procedure completion signal to the ticket vending machine 30.

[0167] Thereafter, in step S261, the management server 50 grants the user authority to use the rack 72 having the current rack number in the current bicycle parking lot 22. Next, in step S262, the management server 50 measures the current time as the start time and registers the start time in the management list shown in FIG.

[0168] Thereafter, the management server 50 measures the current time in step S263, and then determines in step S264 whether the actual usage time obtained by subtracting the start time from the current time exceeds the planned usage time. If it does not exceed the planned usage time, the determination is NO and the process returns to step S263, but if it does exceed the planned usage time, the determination is YES and in step S265, the fact that the user has exceeded the time limit for use of the bicycle parking lot 22 is registered in the management list shown in FIG. 8.

[0169] Meanwhile, after executing the aforementioned step S206, the ticket vending machine 30 receives the procedure completion signal in step S207, and then, in step S208, uses the printer to issue a physical ticket as proof that the user has the authority to use the bicycle parking lot 22 at this time.

[0170] In addition, in step S236, the mobile terminal 90 attempts to receive the procedure completion signal from the management server 50, and if the reception is successful, the judgment in step S237 becomes YES, and in step S238 it is determined that the procedure that the current user must carry out in order to use the current bicycle parking lot 22 has been completed.

[0171] <Fourth embodiment>

[0172] Next, a bicycle parking lot management system 10 according to an exemplary fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. However, duplicated explanations of parts common to the bicycle parking lot management systems 10 according to the first to third embodiments will be omitted, and only the different parts will be described in detail. The bicycle parking lot management system according to this embodiment is configured to execute the bicycle parking lot management method according to this embodiment.

[0173] This embodiment is an example of a post-payment parking lot management system, and is different from the first to third embodiments described above, which are all examples of pre-payment parking lot management systems. However, this embodiment is common with the third embodiment described above in that it is a specific example of a case where the present invention is implemented in a second communication environment, that is, a communication environment in which the adjustment machine 210 corresponding to the ticket vending machine 30 can communicate with the management server 50 but cannot communicate with the mobile terminal 90.

[0174] In the system 10 according to this embodiment, when entering a bicycle, the user does not operate either their mobile terminal 90 or the payment machine 210. At this time, only the entry / exit control device 200 operates in response to the user entering the bicycle 12 (an example of a "vehicle") into one of the racks 72.

[0175] On the other hand, when leaving the parking lot, if the user wishes to pay the deferred parking fee by cash or prepaid IC card, he / she only operates the payment machine 210 and does not need to operate his / her own mobile terminal 90, but if he / she wishes to pay electronically, he / she only operates his / her own mobile terminal 90 and does not need to operate the payment machine 210.

[0176] However, when leaving the warehouse, the settlement machine 210 operates in accordance with instructions from the management server 50, and the management server 50 is instructed by the mobile terminal 90. Therefore, in this system 10, the user does not directly operate the settlement machine 210, but operates the settlement machine 210 indirectly, and the entry / exit control device 200 is operated via the settlement machine 210.

[0177] Figure 12 conceptually shows the communication paths (e.g., communication cables, public telephone lines, Internet lines, etc.) for communication between the entry / exit control device 200 and the settlement machine 210 in this system 10, the communication paths (e.g., public telephone lines, long-distance wireless communication lines, Internet lines, etc.) for communication between the settlement machine 210 and the management server 50, and the communication network configuration (e.g., the Internet, etc.) for communication between the user's mobile terminal 90, the management server 50, and the payment server 110.

[0178] An example of the entry / exit control device 200 includes a gate device (not shown) installed (common to multiple racks 72) at the entrance / exit of a bicycle parking space (an example of a "parking lot") 22, and a controller (not shown) that controls the gate device. The gate device has a movable member (e.g., a boom, a bar, etc.), and the movable member can be switched between a state that allows the bicycle 12 to exit the bicycle parking space 22 and a state that prevents the bicycle 12 from leaving.

[0179] Another example of the entry / exit control device 200 includes a retractable, flap, or locking device (not shown) installed on each of a plurality of racks 72 (each an example of a "parking position" or "parking space") in the bicycle parking lot 22, and a controller (not shown) that controls the locking device. In either case, the entry / exit control device 200 for each rack 72 has a movable member (e.g., a baffle plate, a flap, a lock, etc.) that can be switched between a state (unlocked state) that allows the bicycle 12 to leave (exit) the corresponding rack 72 and a state (locked state) that prevents the bicycle 12 from leaving (exiting).

[0180] In one example, the controller is installed in the bicycle parking space 22 and is configured to centrally control a plurality of locking devices installed in a plurality of racks 72 in the bicycle parking space 22, respectively.

[0181] The settlement machine 210 differs from the ticket vending machine 30 in that instead of issuing a ticket as proof of payment when entering the facility, it issues a receipt as proof of payment when leaving the facility. However, it is similar to the ticket vending machine 30 in both hardware and software configuration in that it has a non-electronic payment function that allows users to pay by cash or by prepaid card, and a communication function that enables wireless communication with the management server 50 (or mobile terminal 90).

[0182] On the other hand, with regard to the time and fee calculation function, the ticket vending machine 30 has a calculation function that calculates the effective parking time, expected parking time, or reserved parking time, rather than the actual parking time, for each rack 72 (e.g., for each vehicle compartment or parking space) when entering the parking lot, in accordance with instructions from the user (e.g., the result of selecting the ticket type mentioned above), and calculates the amount of the parking fee based on the calculated value.

[0183] In contrast, the payment machine 210 has a calculation function that calculates the length of actual parking time for each rack 72 (for example, for each compartment or for each parking space) when leaving the parking lot based on a signal from a bicycle presence / absence sensor (for example, an object presence / absence sensor) described below in the entry / exit control device 200, and calculates the amount of parking fee based on this calculated value. In any case, the ticket vending machine 30 and the payment machine 210 have in common the fact that they both calculate the length of parking time and calculate the amount of parking fee based on this calculated value.

[0184] This calculation function is shared by both non-electronic and electronic payments, whether it is a ticket vending machine 30 or a payment machine 210.

[0185] FIG. 13 is a conceptual flowchart showing an example of a warehousing processing program executed by the warehousing / retrieval control device 200 and the settlement device 210 at the time of warehousing in this system 10.

[0186] When each entry processing program is executed in the entry stage, first, in step S1301, the computer (not shown) of the entry / exit control device 200 determines whether a bicycle 12 has entered (entered) any of the racks 72 in the bicycle parking area 22, using, for example, a signal from a bicycle presence / absence sensor of the entry / exit control device 200 (not shown, but a sensor (e.g., a loop coil) that detects changes in magnetic field depending on the relative position to the bicycle, or a sensor that detects changes in light depending on the relative position to the bicycle, etc.).

[0187] If there is an entry, the determination in step S1301 becomes YES, and then in step S1302, the computer of the entry / exit control device 200 transmits to the settlement machine 210 the rack number, which is an example of identification information for identifying the current rack 72.

[0188] In response, the payment machine 210 receives the rack number in step S1351, and then, in step S1352, measures the current time as the entry time using a clock (not shown) of the payment machine 210. Thereafter, in step S1353, the payment machine 210 stores the rack number and entry time in association with each other in its memory (not shown).

[0189] After executing step S1302, the entry / exit control device 200 operates in step S1303 to prevent the bicycle 12 stored in the current rack 72 from being removed without authorization. For example, if the entry / exit control device 200 uses a liftable flap, the flap is raised from the support surface of the bicycle parking space 22 to lock the bicycle 12. If the entry / exit control device 200 uses an unlockable lock, the lock is locked while the bicycle 12 is tethered to it.

[0190] Figure 14 conceptually shows a flowchart of an example of an exit processing program executed by the entry / exit control device 200, the settlement machine 210, the user's mobile terminal 90, the management server 50, and the payment server 110 at the time of exit in this system 10.

[0191] When each of the shipping processing programs is executed in the shipping stage, the mobile terminal 90 determines in step S1431 whether or not the user has input a payment request (which also serves as a shipping request) to the mobile terminal 90. If a payment request is input, the determination in step S1431 becomes YES, and then in step S1432, the user inputs into the mobile terminal 90 the rack number of the rack 72 where their bicycle 12 is stored.

[0192] Thereafter, the mobile terminal 90 transmits the input rack number to the management server 50 in step S1433.

[0193] In response to this, the management server 50 receives the rack number in step S1451, and then in step S1452 sends to the payment machine 210 a calculation request to calculate the amount of parking fee that the current user should pay and the current rack number.

[0194] In response, the payment device 210 receives the calculation request and rack number in step S1411, and then measures the current time using the clock in step S1412. After that, in step S1413, the payment device 210 calculates the parking time as the elapsed time from the entry time stored in the memory to the current time.

[0195] Next, in step S1414, the payment device 210 calculates the amount of the parking fee by converting the calculated parking time length into the amount of the parking fee according to a predetermined conversion table. Thereafter, in step S1415, the payment device 210 transmits parking fee data representing the calculated amount of the parking fee to the management server 50.

[0196] In response to this, management server 50 receives the parking fee data in step S1453, and then transmits the received parking fee data to mobile terminal 90 in step S1454.

[0197] In response to this, the mobile terminal 90 receives the parking fee data in step S1434. That is, in this embodiment, the mobile terminal 90 is configured to receive the parking fee data indirectly using the management server 50 as a relay device, rather than directly from the adjustment machine 210 that originally generated the data.

[0198] Next, in step S1435, the mobile terminal 90 transmits an electronic payment request to the payment server 110 to electronically pay the parking fee represented by the received parking fee data.

[0199] In response to this, the payment server 110 receives the electronic payment request in step S1471, and then performs the electronic payment in step S1472. When the payment is completed, the payment server 110 returns a payment completion signal indicating this to the mobile terminal 90.

[0200] In response to this, in step S1436, the mobile terminal 90 transmits to the management server 50 a payment completion signal indicating that the payment of the parking fee has been completed by electronic payment.

[0201] In response to this, the management server 50 receives the payment completion signal in step S1455, and then transmits a withdrawal permission signal to the settlement machine 210 in step S1456.

[0202] In response to this, the settlement machine 210 receives the departure permission signal in step S1416, and then transmits a departure permission operation command signal to the entry / exit control device 200 in step S1417.

[0203] In response to this, the entry / exit control device 200 transitions the movable member to an unlocked state in step S1401, thereby permitting the bicycle 12 to be removed from the current rack 72.

[0204] Thus, in this embodiment, in the delivery stage, the mobile terminal 90 is the only object of operation for the user. However, although the mobile terminal 90 can communicate with both the management server 50 and the settlement server 110, it cannot communicate with the adjustment machine 210 and cannot communicate with the entry / exit control device 200. Because the entry / exit control device 200 can communicate with the adjustment machine 210 and the adjustment machine 210 can communicate with the management server 50, the mobile terminal 90 can indirectly and ultimately operate the entry / exit control device 200.

[0205] Therefore, in this embodiment, even though the settlement machine 210 does not support electronic payment, the user can support electronic payment by using a mobile terminal 90 that can communicate with the payment server 110, without changing the hardware configuration of the inventory control device 200, the hardware configuration of the settlement machine 210, the hardware configuration of the management server 50, or the communication environment (communication path) between the inventory control device 200, the settlement machine 210, and the management server 50.

[0206] In this embodiment, the user can operate his / her mobile terminal 90 to make an electronic payment at a location away from the current bicycle parking lot 22. However, if a step is added to use the GPS function of the mobile terminal 90 to confirm that the user's current location is near the current bicycle parking lot 22, the user can be forced to use the mobile terminal 90 near the current bicycle parking lot 22 to make an electronic payment.

[0207] Specifically, in one example, the mobile terminal 90 sends a notification to the management server 50 on the condition that the distance between the measured current location and the current bicycle parking lot 22's location coordinates (which are stored in the mobile terminal 90 in advance in association with each bicycle parking lot 22 or downloaded by the mobile terminal 90 from the management server 50) is equal to or less than a set value. 50 and thus allows the user to complete electronic payments.

[0208] In another example, after an access is made from the mobile terminal 90, the management server 50 receives the current location of the mobile terminal 90 from the mobile terminal 90, and, on the condition that the distance of the current location from the location coordinates of the current bicycle parking lot 22 is less than a set value, allows further communication with the mobile terminal 90, and ultimately allows the user to complete the procedure for electronic payment.

[0209] <Fifth embodiment>

[0210] Next, a bicycle parking lot management system 10 according to an exemplary fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. However, duplicated explanations of parts common to the bicycle parking lot management system 10 according to the fourth embodiment will be omitted, and only the different parts will be described in detail. The bicycle parking lot management system according to this embodiment is configured to execute the bicycle parking lot management method according to this embodiment.

[0211] This embodiment is common to the aforementioned fourth embodiment in that it is an example of a postpaid parking lot management system. However, this embodiment differs from the fourth embodiment in that the adjustment machine 210 can communicate with the mobile terminal 90 but cannot communicate with the management server 50, in that the adjustment machine 210 can communicate with the management server 50 but cannot communicate with the mobile terminal 90.

[0212] As in the fourth embodiment, in the system 10 according to this embodiment, when entering a bicycle, the user does not operate either his / her mobile terminal 90 or the adjustment machine 210. At that time, only the entry / exit control device 200 operates in response to the user entering the bicycle 12 (an example of a "vehicle") into one of the racks 72.

[0213] On the other hand, when leaving the parking lot, if the user wishes to pay the deferred parking fee by cash or prepaid IC card, the user only operates the payment machine 210 and does not need to operate the user's mobile terminal 90, but if the user wishes to pay electronically, the user only operates the user's mobile terminal 90 and does not need to operate the payment machine 210. This is also the same as in the fourth embodiment.

[0214] However, when leaving the warehouse, the settlement machine 210 is instructed by the mobile terminal 90, so in this system 10, it is interpreted that the user does not directly operate the settlement machine 210, but indirectly operates the settlement machine 210, and the entry / exit control device 200 is activated via the settlement machine 210.

[0215] Figure 15 conceptually shows in this system 10 the paths for communication between the entry / exit control device 200 and the settlement machine 210 (e.g., communication cables, public telephone lines, Internet lines, etc.), the paths for communication between the settlement machine 210 and the user's mobile terminal 90 (e.g., short-range wireless communication, Bluetooth (registered trademark), etc.), and the communication network configuration (e.g., the Internet, etc.) for communication between the user's mobile terminal 90, the management server 50, and the payment server 110.

[0216] Thus, in this embodiment, unlike the fourth embodiment, the settlement machine 210 has a short-range wireless communication unit that performs short-range communication with the mobile terminal 90 in order to support electronic payment. As a result, the user is required to operate the mobile terminal 90 in the vicinity of the settlement machine 210, for example, within a radius of about 5 m from the settlement machine 210, in order to make an electronic payment.

[0217] In contrast, in the fourth embodiment, unless a step is added to use the GPS function of the mobile terminal 90 to confirm that the user's current location is near the current bicycle parking lot 22, the user cannot be forced to use the mobile terminal 90 near the current bicycle parking lot 22 to make an electronic payment.

[0218] On the other hand, if the user cannot be forced to use the mobile terminal 90 to make an electronic payment near the current bicycle parking lot 22, there is a risk that the user will operate the mobile terminal 90 to fraudulently request an electronic payment before arriving at the current bicycle parking lot 22.

[0219] When this fraudulent activity occurs, a false parking time that is shorter than the actual parking time is calculated, and a false parking fee that is lower than the normal fee is calculated based on that calculation. When the user electronically pays the false parking fee, the entry / exit control device 200 switches via the payment machine 210 to a state that allows the corresponding bicycle 12 to be removed, and as a result, when the user arrives at the current bicycle parking lot 22, he or she can leave the bicycle parking lot 22 with the bicycle 12.

[0220] On the other hand, the act of the user requesting electronic payment by operating the mobile terminal 90 near the bicycle parking space 22 leads to the expectation that once the electronic payment is completed, the user will promptly leave the bicycle parking space 22 with the bicycle 12 without intentionally prolonging the parking time. In this case, the length of parking time calculated in response to the electronic payment request will not be unduly shortened from the actual parking time.

[0221] In this system 10, when an item is brought into storage, an entry / exit processing program is executed by the entry / exit control device 200 and the settlement machine 210, respectively. However, since an example of each entry processing program is the same as that shown in Figure 13, a duplicate explanation will be omitted.

[0222] Figure 16 conceptually shows a flowchart of an example of an exit processing program executed by the entry / exit control device 200, the settlement machine 210, the user's mobile terminal 90, the management server 50, and the payment server 110 at the time of exit in this system 10.

[0223] When each of the shipping processing programs is executed in the shipping stage, the mobile terminal 90 determines in step S1631 whether or not the user has input a payment request (which also serves as a shipping request) to the mobile terminal 90. If a payment request has been input, the determination in step S1631 becomes YES, and then in step S1632, the user inputs into the mobile terminal 90 the rack number of the rack 72 where their bicycle 12 is stored.

[0224] Thereafter, in step S1633, the mobile terminal 90 transmits the input rack number together with a payment request to the payment adjustment machine 210. In this embodiment, the payment adjustment machine 210 is designed to have a communication unit for wireless communication with the mobile terminal 90. One example of the communication unit is a communication device that performs short-range communication using the Bluetooth (registered trademark) system.

[0225] In response to this, the payment device 210 receives the payment request and the rack number in association with each other in step S1611, and then measures the current time using the clock in step S1612. After that, in step S1613, the payment device 210 calculates the elapsed time from the entry time stored in the memory to the current time as the parking time.

[0226] Next, in step S1614, the payment device 210 calculates the amount of the parking fee by converting the calculated parking time length into the amount of the parking fee according to a predetermined conversion table. Thereafter, in step S1615, the payment device 210 transmits parking fee data representing the calculated amount of the parking fee to the mobile terminal 90.

[0227] In response to this, the mobile terminal 90 receives the parking fee data in step S1634. That is, in this embodiment, the mobile terminal 90 is configured to receive the parking fee data directly from the payment machine 210 that originally generated the parking fee data, rather than indirectly receiving the parking fee data using the management server 50 as a relay.

[0228] Next, in step S1635, the mobile terminal 90 transmits an electronic payment request to the payment server 110 to electronically pay the parking fee represented by the received parking fee data.

[0229] In response to this, the payment server 110 receives the electronic payment request in step S1671, and then performs the electronic payment in step S1672. When the payment is completed, the payment server 110 returns a payment completion signal indicating this to the mobile terminal 90.

[0230] In response to this, in step S1636, the mobile terminal 90 transmits to the payment machine 210 a payment completion signal indicating that payment of the parking fee has been completed by electronic payment.

[0231] In response to this, the settlement machine 210 receives the departure permission signal in step S1616, and then transmits a departure permission operation command signal to the entry / exit control device 200 in step S1617.

[0232] In this embodiment, the operation of transmitting an exit permission operation command signal to the entry / exit control device 200 is an example of "an operation for permitting the vehicle to exit from the parking lot." Other examples of "an operation for permitting the vehicle to exit from the parking lot" include an operation of displaying a message on the screen of the display of the payment machine 210 indicating that exit is permitted in association with the current parking location, and an operation of turning on an indicator lamp of the payment machine 210 that, when lit, indicates that the user's exit is permitted in association with the current parking location.

[0233] In response to this, the entry / exit control device 200 transitions the movable member to an unlocked state in step S1601, thereby permitting the bicycle 12 to be removed from the current rack 72.

[0234] Thereafter, in step S1637, the mobile terminal 90 transmits parking information (or parking-related information) to the management server 50. The parking information includes, for example, the rack number where the current user parked the bicycle 12 in the current bicycle parking lot 22, the time period during which the bicycle was parked, the length of time the bicycle was parked, and the amount of parking fee paid by the user according to the length of time.

[0235] In response to this, in step S1651, the management server 50 receives the parking information from the mobile terminal 90. The management server 50 is designed to receive parking information from the mobile terminals 90 of users of multiple bicycle parking lots 22, thereby centrally managing multiple bicycle parking lots 22. As a result, the management server 50 can, for example, monitor changes in occupancy rate over time for each bicycle parking lot 22, and evaluate differences in occupancy rate between multiple bicycle parking lots 22.

[0236] Thus, in this embodiment, in the delivery stage, the mobile terminal 90 is the only object that the user operates. However, the mobile terminal 90 can communicate with not only the adjustment machine 210 but also the management server 50 and the settlement server 110. Since the receiving / delivery control device 200 can communicate with the adjustment machine 210, and the adjustment machine 210 can communicate with the mobile terminal 90, the mobile terminal 90 can indirectly and ultimately operate the receiving / delivery control device 200.

[0237] Therefore, in this embodiment, even though the settlement machine 210 does not support electronic payment, the user can support electronic payment by using a mobile terminal 90 that can communicate with the payment server 110, without changing the hardware configuration of either the entry / exit control device 200 or the hardware configuration of the settlement machine 210.

[0238] In the fourth and fifth embodiments described above, the user can perform the electronic payment operations using his / her mobile terminal 90 at a location away from the payment machine 210 as long as he / she is within the bicycle parking lot 22, without having to physically occupy the payment machine 210, which is convenient for the user in that there are no restrictions on the location where he / she can perform the necessary operations.

[0239] However, the lack of physical occupation of the checkout machine 210 while one user is making an electronic payment means that another user may attempt to use the checkout machine 210 to perform a non-electronic payment (cash payment or card payment).

[0240] In this case, the rack number (e.g., parking location identification information) assigned to one user and the rack number assigned to another user would not normally match, so electronic payments that do not require the active use of the settlement machine 210 and non-electronic payments that do require it can be carried out in parallel. This is convenient for users as it reduces the time they have to wait for their turn to make a payment.

[0241] However, if for some reason (for example, by chance) the rack number actually entered into the mobile terminal 90 by one user and the rack number entered into or selected on the settlement machine 210 by another user match, the first of the two settlement processes by the two users (for example, the one in which one user issues a settlement request before the other user) will be processed first, regardless of whether the rack number at that time is correct or not. This is because there is no means of determining the authenticity of the rack number.

[0242] Therefore, as an exemplary measure to prevent incorrect input or selection of rack numbers, an identification mark, such as a computer-readable pattern (e.g., a barcode, a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (registered trademark), etc.), or the transmitter may be attached in advance to each of the multiple racks 72 (an example of the parking lot) in the bicycle parking area 22 (an example of the parking lot).

[0243] Here, the "identification mark" is a display medium that indicates a rack position (an example of a parking position) that differs for each rack 72. On the other hand, the "transmitter" is a communication device that transmits a signal that indicates a transmitter ID that differs for each rack 72. The transmitter ID is converted uniquely into a rack position (an example of a parking position) by the mobile terminal 90. Both the identification mark and the transmitter are location information presenting means that present different location information for each parking position.

[0244] To explain the transmitter more specifically, the transmitter is a contactless or contact type communication device that is installed in each corresponding rack 72, at least one of which is installed in each corresponding rack 72, and that transmits an identification signal that can identify the ID unique to the corresponding rack 72. It is sufficient for this transmitter to have at least a transmission function, but it may also be configured to have a reception function as well, if necessary.

[0245] This transmitter actively transmits a unique identification signal without requiring an external trigger signal, and continuously so long as there is no shortage of power supply.

[0246] Furthermore, this transmitter is generally a device known as a beacon device, a radio beacon, or the like that transmits a beacon signal as an identification signal. In one example, this transmitter generates an identification signal representing the corresponding parking lot ID by modulating an original signal, and transmits the generated identification signal as an IR signal, a Bluetooth (registered trademark) signal, an NFC (near field communication) signal, or the like.

[0247] When the identification mark is used for each rack 72, for example, the user reads it with an image sensor (e.g., a digital camera) of their mobile terminal 90 before electronic or non-electronic payment, and converts the read result into a combination of the ID of the current bicycle parking space 22 and the ID of the current rack 72, or at least into the ID of the current rack 72. The mobile terminal 90 may transmit the conversion result to the management server 50 in the fourth embodiment, or to the payment machine 210 in the fifth embodiment.

[0248] In contrast, when a transmitter is used for each rack 72, for example, the user receives a signal from the transmitter with the receiver of their mobile terminal 90 before electronic or non-electronic payment, converts the received signal into a transmitter ID, and then converts the transmitter ID into a combination of the ID of the current bicycle parking space 22 and the ID of the rack 72, or at least into the ID of the current rack 72. The mobile terminal 90 may transmit the conversion result to the management server 50 in the fourth embodiment, or to the adjustment machine 210 in the fifth embodiment.

[0249] As another example, when a user wishes to make an electronic payment when leaving the bicycle parking lot, the user applies the mobile terminal 90 to the location information presentation means for personal authentication (collation of personal information) when leaving the bicycle parking lot, and responds to this. The mobile terminal 90 then transmits a combination of the ID of the current bicycle parking lot 22, the ID of the current rack 72, and the user ID (for example, a unique number, a unique symbol string, a telephone number, an email address, etc.) to the management server. 50 Alternatively, the information may be transmitted to the settlement machine 210. That is, a user who wishes to make an electronic payment when leaving the garage simply holds the mobile terminal 90 over the location information presentation means when entering the garage.

[0250] In this case, when the bicycle leaves the bicycle parking lot, just as when the bicycle enters the bicycle parking lot, if the user applies the mobile terminal 90 to the location information presentation means, the mobile terminal 90 will respond to the request and transmit a combination of the ID of the current bicycle parking lot 22, the ID of the current rack 72, and the user ID (for example, a unique number, a unique symbol string, a telephone number, an email address, etc.) to the management server. 50 Alternatively, the information may be transmitted to the settlement machine 210. That is, a user who wishes to make an electronic payment simply holds the mobile terminal 90 over the location information presentation means when leaving the garage.

[0251] In this case, the management server responds 50 Alternatively, the settlement machine 210 compares the information received from the mobile terminal 90 when entering the warehouse with the information received from the mobile terminal 90 when leaving the warehouse. If the comparison is successful, the management server 50The payment machine 210 may calculate the amount of the parking fee and send a request for electronic payment for the parking fee to the payment server 110, and the payment machine 210 may calculate the amount of the parking fee and send a request for electronic payment for the parking fee to the management server 110. 50 The payment information may be sent to the payment server 110 either via the payment server 110 or without going through the payment server 110.

[0252] It should be noted that in some of the embodiments described above, the present invention is implemented by selecting a bicycle, which is an example of a "vehicle" as a moving body, as the stored object, but instead of or in addition to this, the present invention may also be implemented by selecting a motorcycle, moped, or automobile, which are other examples of a "vehicle," as the stored object.

[0253] Additionally, in some of the embodiments described above, all or part of the processing that was executed on mobile terminal 90 may instead be executed on management server 50, and conversely, all or part of the processing that was executed on management server 50 may instead be executed on mobile terminal 90. This is because which device executes the processing to be executed is usually determined by the circumstances at the time, such as the amount and type of data to be handled, the processing speed and storage capacity of each device, etc.

[0254] Furthermore, although the above-described embodiments embody the technical idea of ​​combining a payment device (such as the fare adjustment machine 210) that does not support electronic payment with a user's communication terminal (such as the mobile terminal 90) to make the entire system compatible with electronic payment in the parking lot management business field, this technical idea is also useful in other business fields. For example, the technical idea is also useful in a business that receives fares from users and issues tickets in exchange for the fares, a business that receives fees from users at a store and issues meal tickets in exchange for the fees, and a business that receives fees from users and issues permits in exchange for the fees.

[0255] Although some exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, these are merely examples, and the present invention can be embodied in other forms that incorporate various modifications and improvements based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, including the embodiments described in the "Summary of the Invention" section above.

Claims

1. A parking lot management system for managing a parking lot, Including a management server, The management server is a function of receiving, from the user's communication terminal, user-specific information at the time of exit, the same type of user-specific information as that at the time of entry, which is user-specific information acquired at the location of the parking lot when the user enters the parking lot, when the user leaves the parking lot; a function of transmitting parking fee data for electronic payment of the parking fee to the communication terminal when the acquired user-specific information at the time of entry matches the received user-specific information at the time of exit; Parking management system including.

2. The parking lot management system further includes: a location information presenting means for presenting location information corresponding to the parking lot; a program executed by a computer of the communication terminal; Including, The management server further receiving the location information corresponding to the parking lot and identifying the parking lot based on the received location information; transmitting the amount of the parking fee; Including, The electronic payment of the parking fee is performed using a payment server that is an element that does not belong to the parking lot management system, The communication terminal has a plurality of functions, a function of enabling selective connection to the management server and the payment server; a function of transmitting the location information corresponding to the parking lot to the management server when the communication terminal is applied to the location information presentation means corresponding to the parking lot; a function of receiving the amount of the parking fee for the parking lot from the management server while in communication with the management server; a function of transmitting an electronic payment request to the payment server while in communication with the payment server; Including, The parking lot management system according to claim 1 , wherein the program is executed by a computer of the communication terminal to realize the plurality of functions.

3. the location information presentation means includes an identification mark or a transmitter corresponding to the parking lot; the identification mark includes a pattern representing the location information corresponding to the corresponding parking lot; The parking lot management system according to claim 2 , wherein the transmitter has a function of transmitting a signal representing the location information corresponding to the corresponding parking lot.

4. The parking lot management system according to claim 2 , wherein the location information includes information for identifying each vehicle compartment or each parking space when the parking lot has multiple vehicle compartments or multiple parking spaces.

5. The parking lot management system described in claim 1, wherein the communication terminal and / or the management server use the communication terminal to determine whether the user is in the vicinity of the parking lot, and has an electronic payment authorization function that authorizes the electronic payment if it is determined that the user is in the vicinity of the parking lot.

6. A program executed by the management server to manage the parking lot using the parking lot management system according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. A program executed by a computer of a communication terminal of a user of a parking lot managed by a parking lot management system including a management server, The management server acquires user-specific information at the location of the parking lot when the user enters the parking lot as user-specific information at the time of entry; The communication terminal a transmission function for transmitting, to the management server, user-specific information of the same type as the acquired user-specific information at the time of entry as user-specific information at the time of exit when the user leaves the parking lot; a receiving function for receiving, at the time of leaving the parking lot, parking fee data for electronic payment of the parking fee from the management server on the condition that the acquired user-specific information at the time of entering the parking lot and the transmitted user-specific information at the time of leaving the parking lot match each other; Including, A program executed by the computer to realize the sending function and the receiving function.

8. A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 6 is recorded.

9. A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 7 is recorded.

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