Parking assist method and parking assist apparatus

Abstract

To provide a parking support method capable of recommending a parking space more preferable for a driver or a vehicle and improving convenience when the driver parks the vehicle in the recommended parking space.SOLUTION: The control device 111 determines a recommended parking space in the parking lot in which the vehicle is to be parked, based on a parking time from a start to an end of parking of the vehicle in the parking lot by the driver, parking space information related to the parking spaces of the parking lot, and environmental conditions in the parking time of the parking lot. The control device 111 provides the driver with parking-related information or parking-related functions related to parking the vehicle in the determined parking space.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a parking assistance method and a parking assistance device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a parking assistance device that selects a parking space candidate from among covered parking spaces when the amount of solar radiation around the vehicle is greater than a predetermined value. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2022-114291 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Selecting a parking space based solely on the weather conditions at the time a vehicle is to be parked in a parking lot may not result in selecting a parking space that is preferable for the driver or the vehicle. It is desirable to recommend a parking space that is more preferable for the driver or the vehicle and to improve the convenience of the driver when parking the vehicle in the recommended parking space. An object of the present invention is to provide a parking assistance method and a parking assistance device that can recommend a parking space that is more preferable for the driver or the vehicle and to improve the convenience of the driver when parking the vehicle in the recommended parking space. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, the control device determines a recommended parking space within the parking lot based on the parking time, parking space information, and environmental conditions during the parking time, and provides the driver with parking-related information or parking-related functions related to parking the vehicle in the determined parking space. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the parking assistance method and parking assistance device of the present invention, it is possible to recommend a parking space that is more preferable for the driver or the vehicle, and further to improve the convenience for the driver when parking the vehicle in the recommended parking space. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the system configuration in which a parking assistance device according to an embodiment communicates with various servers. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a parking assistance device according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram conceptually showing an example of parking lot management information held by the parking lot management server 30 shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram conceptually showing an example of detailed information in the parking space information shown in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a first example of a parking lot. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a second example of a parking lot. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of priority information set by the driver. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a parking assistance method according to an embodiment and a process executed by a parking assistance device according to an embodiment. [Figure 9A] FIG. 9A is a diagram showing an example of the amount of solar radiation for parking spaces that should be recommended when shade priority is set and parking time is between 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM. [Figure 9B] FIG. 9B is a diagram showing an example of the amount of solar radiation for parking spaces that should be recommended when shade priority is set and parking time is between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM. [Figure 10A] FIG. 10A is a diagram showing a recommended relationship between wind direction and vehicle direction when evaporator drying priority is set. [Figure 10B]FIG. 10B is a diagram showing a recommended relationship between wind direction and vehicle orientation when pollen / yellow sand avoidance priority is set. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the parking position of a vehicle when automatic parking is started in a parking lot. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] A parking assistance method and a parking assistance device according to one embodiment will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle 11 is equipped with an on-board device 10. The on-board device 10 may be a car navigation device or an on-board infotainment device known as IVI (In-Vehicle Infotainment). The on-board device 10 is connected to a parking lot management server 30, a weather information providing server 40, a crime information providing server 50, and a vehicle support function providing server 60 via a network 20. Typically, the network 20 is the Internet.

[0009] The on-vehicle device 10 may be connected only to the parking lot management server 30. The on-vehicle device 10 may be connected to the weather information providing server 40 in addition to the parking lot management server 30. The on-vehicle device 10 may be connected to the crime information providing server 50 in addition to the parking lot management server 30. It is more preferable that the on-vehicle device 10 is connected to the weather information providing server 40 and the crime information providing server 50 in addition to the parking lot management server 30. It is most preferable that the on-vehicle device 10 is connected to all the servers. The on-vehicle device 10 functions as a parking assistance device.

[0010] The configuration of the in-vehicle device 10 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. The in-vehicle device 10 includes a position information calculation unit 101, a map information storage unit 102, a route search unit 103, a voice generation unit 104, a speaker 105, a display control unit 106, and a display unit 107. The position information calculation unit 101 includes a GNSS receiving unit that receives GNSS signals transmitted from three or more satellites for a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). The position information calculation unit 101 calculates position information of the vehicle 11 based on the GNSS signals received by the GNSS receiving unit. Typically, the GNSS is a Global Positioning System (GPS).

[0011] The map information storage unit 102 may be a storage unit such as a semiconductor memory that non-temporarily stores map information. The map information storage unit 102 may also be a temporary storage unit that temporarily stores map information provided by a map providing server (not shown). When a destination is input by an input unit 108 (described later), the route search unit 103 searches for a route to the destination based on location information of the current location calculated by the location information calculation unit 101 and the map information stored in the map information storage unit 102. The audio generation unit 104 generates audio for route guidance to the destination from a speaker 105. The display control unit 106 displays map information on a display unit 107, and also displays an image for route guidance to the destination on the display unit 107. The display unit 107 is, for example, a liquid crystal display.

[0012] The in-vehicle device 10 further includes an input unit 108, a behavior history generation unit 109, a setting unit 110, a control device 111, a communication unit 112, an automatic parking control unit 113, a security function control unit 114, a ventilation function control unit 115, and a cleaning function control unit 116. The input unit 108 may be an operation button, a touchpad provided integrally with the display unit 107, or a microphone. The behavior history generation unit 109 generates a behavior history of the driver of the vehicle 11 by accumulating the position information of the vehicle 11 calculated by the position information calculation unit 101 over a long period of time.

[0013] As will be described later, the setting unit 110 can set priority information for the driver when parking the vehicle 11 in a parking lot. The control device 111 executes parking assistance for the driver when parking the vehicle 11 in a parking lot. The control device 111 can be configured with a microprocessor, and may be the central processing unit of a microcomputer. The communication unit 112 communicates with the parking lot management server 30, the weather information providing server 40, the crime information providing server 50, and the vehicle support function providing server 60 via the network 20.

[0014] The automatic parking control unit 113 controls the vehicle 11 to automatically park in a parking space in a parking lot by controlling the accelerator, brake, shift, and steering based on images captured by the camera and distance information to objects other than the vehicle 11 detected by the sensor. The crime prevention function control unit 114 controls a crime prevention function that uses a camera equipped in the vehicle 11 to capture images of suspicious individuals. This crime prevention function may not only capture images of suspicious individuals by the vehicle 11 alone, but may also capture images of suspicious individuals in cooperation with multiple other vehicles around the vehicle 11. The ventilation function control unit 115 controls the windows or air conditioner to automatically open windows for ventilation to an extent that does not pose a crime prevention problem, or to automatically operate the air conditioner. The cleaning function control unit 116 controls the wipers to automatically operate the wipers.

[0015] The in-vehicle device 10 does not necessarily have to include the automatic parking control unit 113, but it is preferable that the in-vehicle device 10 includes the automatic parking control unit 113. The in-vehicle device 10 does not necessarily have to include the security function control unit 114, the ventilation function control unit 115, and the cleaning function control unit 116. The in-vehicle device 10 may include only one of the security function control unit 114, the ventilation function control unit 115, and the cleaning function control unit 116, or may include any two selected from these.

[0016] The parking lot management server 30 shown in FIG. 1 holds parking lot management information such as that shown in FIG. 3 as an example. As shown in FIG. 3, the parking lot management information includes the name of the parking lot, location information of the parking lot, location information of the entrance and exit of the parking lot, and parking space information. The location information of the parking lot may be latitude and longitude that identify the location of the parking lot, or may be the address of the parking lot. The parking space information includes parking space layout information and detailed information about each parking space. The parking space layout information is information that indicates how multiple parking spaces are arranged on the floor of the parking lot. If the parking lot is a self-driving multi-story parking lot, the parking space layout information includes layout information for each floor.

[0017] FIG. 4 shows an example of detailed information in parking space information. Assume that there are 40 parking spaces, numbered No. 1 to No. 40, on the floor of a parking lot. The detailed information for each parking space divides the time period from sunrise to sunset into multiple time periods and includes information indicating whether each parking space is in the shade or sun. The information indicating whether it is in the shade or sun indirectly indicates the amount of solar radiation. Whether a parking space is in the shade or sun may be determined based on the relationship between the position of the sun and buildings or the like located near the parking lot, or, if the parking lot has a roof, the relationship between the position of the sun and the roof may be determined.

[0018] In the example shown in FIG. 4, the time period from sunrise to sunset is divided into four time periods: sunrise to 8:59 AM, 9:00 AM to 11:59 AM, 12:00 PM to 2:59 PM, and 3:00 PM to sunset. In FIG. 4, for example, "shade" for the time period from sunrise to 8:59 AM does not necessarily mean that the time period is in the shade, but may also mean that the time period is in the shade for most of the time period. The same applies to sunny areas. The time period from sunrise to sunset may be divided into two time periods, morning and afternoon, or may be further divided into smaller time periods. Information indicating whether a parking space is in the shade or sun during a time period may be set for each season or month.

[0019] The detailed information for each parking space may further include image information of the surrounding area of ​​each parking space. The image information may include separate images of the vehicle 11 positioned on a roadway in the parking lot, with the parking space located on the left side as viewed from the roadway, and images of the parking space located on the right side as viewed from the roadway.

[0020] As will be described later, the parking lot management server 30 may further manage whether or not a vehicle is parked in a parking space in each parking lot. The parking lot management server 30 may be configured to manage whether or not a vehicle is parked in a parking space in each parking lot, and to accept reservations for use of the parking space.

[0021] FIG. 5 shows parking lot 70A, a first example of a parking lot. Parking lot 70A has 40 parking spaces, numbered parking spaces 1 to 40. Parking lot 70A has an entrance 71a and an exit 72a facing road 81, and an entrance 71b and an exit 72b facing road 82. FIG. 6 shows parking lot 70B, a second example of a parking lot. Parking lot 70B has 10 parking spaces, numbered parking spaces 1 to 10. Parking lot 70B has an entrance 73 and an exit 74.

[0022] The driver may input what to prioritize when parking the vehicle 11 in a parking lot using the input unit 108 and set it in advance in the setting unit 110. As shown in Fig. 7, the driver can set one of four priority information, for example, shade priority, evaporator drying priority, pollen / yellow sand avoidance priority, and damage avoidance priority.

[0023] Shade priority means selecting a parking space in the shade when parking vehicle 11 in a parking lot as much as possible. Evaporator drying priority means selecting a parking space in which the evaporator provided in the air conditioner can easily dry when parking vehicle 11 in a parking space. Pollen / yellow sand avoidance priority means selecting a parking space in which pollen or yellow sand is less likely to adhere to vehicle 11 when parking vehicle 11 in a parking space, or selecting a parking space in which pollen or yellow sand is less likely to hit, for example, the front of vehicle 11. Damage avoidance priority means selecting a parking space that is less likely to be damaged, avoiding parking spaces that have been the subject of theft or other damage in the parking lot in the past.

[0024] Generally, the evaporator dries easily when the vehicle 11 is oriented such that the wind blows on the front of the vehicle 11. If it is desired to prevent pollen or yellow sand from blowing on the front of the vehicle 11, it is preferable to orient the vehicle 11 so that the wind blows on the rear of the vehicle 11. Therefore, the evaporator drying priority and the pollen / yellow sand avoidance priority cannot be set at the same time. It is possible to set the shade priority, the evaporator drying priority or the pollen / yellow sand avoidance priority, and the damage avoidance priority at the same time, or it is possible to set each of the shade priority, the evaporator drying priority, the pollen / yellow sand avoidance priority, and the damage avoidance priority individually.

[0025] The vehicle 11 may be configured to determine whether or not the evaporator should be dried using a sensor provided in the vehicle 11, and to automatically set the evaporator drying priority in accordance with the determination result. In this case, the control device 111 may control the display control unit 106 to display on the display unit 107 that the evaporator drying priority has been set. Even when the evaporator drying priority has been automatically set, the driver may manually set other priority information, such as shade priority.

[0026] A specific parking assistance method by the in-vehicle device 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 8. When processing starts, the control device 111 determines in step S1 whether the vehicle 11 is located in a parking lot based on the position information input from the position information calculation unit 101. The control device 111 can determine whether the vehicle 11 is located in any of the parking lots by accessing the parking lot management server 30 via the communication unit 112 and the network 20. The route search unit 103 can recognize that the vehicle 11 is located in any of the parking lots based on the position information of the current position calculated by the position information calculation unit 101 and the map information stored in the map information storage unit 102. The control device 111 may determine whether the vehicle 11 is located in any of the parking lots based on the recognition by the route search unit 103.

[0027] If the vehicle 11 is not located in a parking lot (NO), the control device 111 determines in step S2 whether the driver intends to park the vehicle 11 in a parking lot. When the driver uses the input unit 108 to search for parking lots near a predetermined destination or sets a parking lot as a destination, the control device 111 determines that the driver intends to park the vehicle 11 in a parking lot. Alternatively, if the input unit 108 is a microphone and the driver utters "I want to park," or if a parking button (not shown) is installed and the parking button is pressed, the control device 111 may determine that the driver intends to park the vehicle 11 in a parking lot.

[0028] If the driver does not intend to park the vehicle 11 in the parking lot in step S2 (NO), the control device 111 repeats the processes of steps S1 and S2. If the vehicle 11 is located in the parking lot in step S1 (YES), or if the driver intends to park the vehicle 11 in the parking lot in step S2 (YES), the control device 111 estimates the parking time or acquires the input parking time in step S3. The control device 111 estimates the parking time based on the driver's behavior history generated by the behavior history generation unit 109. If the driver inputs the parking time, i.e., from what time to what time the vehicle will be parked, using the input unit 108, the control device 111 acquires the parking time.

[0029] In step S4, the control device 111 accesses the weather information providing server 40 via the communication unit 112 and the network 20 to obtain environmental conditions around the parking lot during the time period when the vehicle is to be parked. The environmental conditions include at least one of solar radiation-related information, wind-related information, pollen-related information, yellow sand-related information, and crime-related information. The solar radiation-related information is information that directly or indirectly indicates the amount of solar radiation for each time period. The solar radiation-related information may include not only the amount of solar radiation but also the direction of the solar radiation. The wind-related information is information that indicates the wind direction for each time period. The wind-related information may include not only the wind direction but also the wind speed for each time period.

[0030] Pollen-related information is information about the amount of pollen dispersed on the day vehicle 11 is parked in the parking lot. Yellow sand-related information is information about the amount of yellow sand dispersed on the day vehicle 11 is parked. The amount of pollen and yellow sand dispersed may conceptually indicate the amount of dispersion, such as none, a little, or a lot. Crime-related information is information indicating whether there has been any theft (vehicle break-in) or other damage in any of the parking spaces in the parking lot in the past.

[0031] In step S5, the control device 111 selects the parking lot where the vehicle is currently located or a recommended parking lot. The control device 111 may select the parking lot closest to the destination as the recommended parking lot, or may select the recommended parking lot based on the parking lot management information shown in FIG. 3. The control device 111 may select a parking lot in response to an input by the driver to the input unit 108. In step S6, the control device 111 determines a recommended parking space within the selected parking lot. The control device 111 controls the display control unit 106 to notify the display unit 107 of the location of the determined parking space, for example, by an image. The control device 111 can generate an image of the parking space based on the layout information of the parking space information, and can indicate the location of the parking space in the image.

[0032] If the parking lot management server 30 manages whether or not parking spaces in each parking lot are in use, the control device 111 can obtain the parking space usage status from the parking lot management server 30 and recommend unused parking spaces. Furthermore, if the parking lot management server 30 is configured to accept reservations for the use of parking spaces, the control device 111 can also request the parking lot management server 30 to reserve a recommended parking space. In this way, the convenience of parking assistance provided to the driver is greatly improved.

[0033] In step S7, the control device 111 provides parking-related information for parking the vehicle 11 in the parking space. The control device 111 may recommend to the driver, as the parking-related information, the orientation of the vehicle when parking the vehicle 11 in the determined parking space. When recommending the orientation of the vehicle to the driver, the control device 111 may control the display control unit 106 to display an image indicating the orientation of the vehicle on the display unit 107, or control the sound generation unit 104 to generate sound from the speaker 105 indicating the orientation of the vehicle.

[0034] Here, how the control device 111 recommends a parking space or a parking space and the orientation of the vehicle 11 for each of shade priority, evaporator drying priority, pollen / yellow sand avoidance priority, and damage avoidance priority will be described.

[0035] It is assumed that detailed parking space information for the currently located parking lot or a recommended parking lot is as shown in FIG. 4. It is assumed that shade priority is set in the setting unit 110, and the parking time is from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, as shown in FIG. 9A. In this case, since there is no parking space that is shaded from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, the control device 111 should select and recommend parking space No. 22 in FIG. 4, which is shaded in the morning. Also, as shown in FIG. 9B, if the parking time is from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, the control device 111 should select and recommend parking space No. 40 in FIG. 4, which is shaded in the afternoon.

[0036] When only shade priority is set in the setting unit 110, the control device 111 does not need to recommend a direction for the vehicle 11.

[0037] Here, the control device 111 selects a parking space based on information indicating whether the parking space is in the shade or sun for each time period, which is stored in the detailed parking space information obtained from the parking lot management server 30. The control device 111 may also select a parking space using solar radiation-related information obtained from the weather information providing server 40. In particular, if the detailed parking space information includes information on the location and height of buildings, etc., near the parking lot and whether the parking lot has a roof, it is possible to calculate whether each parking space will be in the shade or sun for each time period based on this information and the direction of solar radiation (the position of the sun) for each time period.

[0038] Assume that the setting unit 110 is set to evaporator drying priority and the wind direction is from left to right as shown in FIG. 10A. In this case, the control device 111 may determine and recommend the orientation of the vehicle 11 so that the front of the vehicle 11 faces upwind. Assume that the setting unit 110 is set to pollen / yellow sand avoidance priority and the wind direction is from left to right as shown in FIG. 10B. In this case, the control device 111 may determine and recommend the orientation of the vehicle 11 so that the rear of the vehicle 11 faces upwind. Here, the wind direction for each time period is not taken into consideration, but the wind direction may change depending on the time period. In such a case, the control device 111 may recommend the most effective orientation of the vehicle 11 taking into consideration the parking time and the wind direction for each time period, as in FIGS. 9A and 9B.

[0039] 10B shows an example in which the direction of vehicle 11 is determined based on wind-related information and at least one of pollen-related information and yellow sand-related information. If the parking lot management information includes whether or not a parking lot or parking space has a roof, when the amount of pollen dispersed is high based on the pollen-related information, or when the amount of yellow sand dispersed is high based on the yellow sand-related information, control device 111 can recommend a parking lot or parking space that has a roof. In this way, pollen-related information or yellow sand-related information may be used without being combined with wind-related information.

[0040] Assume that damage avoidance priority is set in the setting unit 110. Assume that the currently located parking lot or the recommended parking lot is parking lot 70B shown in FIG. 6. Assume that the control device 111 accesses the crime information providing server 50 via the communication unit 112 and the network 20 and obtains information that a vehicle parked in parking space No. 6 in parking lot 70B has been stolen. In this case, the control device 111 recommends a parking space other than parking space No. 6. If only damage avoidance priority is set in the setting unit 110, the control device 111 does not need to recommend a direction for the vehicle 11.

[0041] Returning to Fig. 8, in step S7, the control device 111 may further control the route search unit 103 to provide the driver with a route guiding the vehicle 11 from the current location to the entrance of the parking lot, as parking-related information. Assume that the recommended parking lot is parking lot 70A shown in Fig. 5, and the recommended parking space is parking space No. 11. In this case, the control device 111 may control the route search unit 103 to provide the driver with a route guiding the vehicle 11 from the current location to the entrance 71a of parking lot 70A.

[0042] In step S7, the control device 111 may control the route search unit 103 to provide the driver with a route that guides the vehicle 11 from the current location to a position where automatic parking of the vehicle 11 into a recommended parking space can be initiated, instead of a route that guides the driver from the current location to the entrance of the parking space. Assume that the recommended parking lot is parking lot 70A shown in Figure 5, and the recommended parking space is parking space No. 5. In this case, the control device 111 may control the route search unit 103 to provide the driver with a route that guides the driver to a position where automatic parking can be initiated near parking space No. 5, as shown in Figure 11.

[0043] At this time, the control device 111 may obtain, as parking-related information, from the parking lot management server 30, images of the surroundings of the parking spaces in the detailed information of each parking space shown in Fig. 4, and control the display control unit 106 to display the images on the display unit 107. In the example shown in Fig. 11, since parking space No. 5 is located on the left side of the vehicle 11, the control device 111 controls the display control unit 106 to display, on the display unit 107, an image in which the parking space is located on the left side as seen from the driving lane.

[0044] Once the control device 111 has guided the vehicle 11 to a position where automatic parking can be initiated, it may control the automatic parking control unit 113 to automatically initiate automatic parking. FIG. 11 shows a state in which a parking space and surrounding vehicles are recognized by multiple sensors. The function of the control device 111 to automatically initiate automatic parking of the vehicle 11 into a parking space using the automatic parking control unit 113 is an example of a parking-related function. Once the control device 111 has guided the vehicle 11 to a position where automatic parking can be initiated, it may simply display on the display unit 107 text, graphics, or the like indicating that automatic parking by the automatic parking control unit 113 is now possible. In this case, the automatic parking control unit 113 initiates automatic parking when an input to initiate dynamic parking is made via the input unit 108.

[0045] In step S8, the control device 111 may suggest a vehicle support function to be recommended for purchase as a parking-related function. The control device 111 recommends the driver to purchase the security function, and controls the security function control unit 114 to activate the security function control unit 114 once the purchase procedure with the vehicle support function providing server 60 is completed. The control device 111 recommends the driver to purchase the ventilation function, and controls the ventilation function control unit 115 to activate the ventilation function control unit 115 once the purchase procedure with the vehicle support function providing server 60 is completed. The control device 111 recommends the driver to purchase the cleaning function, and controls the cleaning function control unit 116 to activate the cleaning function control unit 116 once the purchase procedure with the vehicle support function providing server 60 is completed.

[0046] The security function that activates the security function control unit 114 is effective when combined when damage avoidance priority is set. If the driver accidentally leaves the vehicle 11 with a window slightly open despite the damage avoidance priority being set, the security function control unit 114 may close the window as a security function. The ventilation function that activates the ventilation function control unit 115 is effective when combined when shade priority is set. The cleaning function that activates the cleaning function control unit 116 is effective when combined when pollen / yellow sand avoidance priority is set. If the driver accidentally leaves the vehicle 11 with a window slightly open despite the pollen / yellow sand avoidance priority being set, the cleaning function control unit 116 may close the window and activate the wiper as a cleaning function.

[0047] In step S9, the control device 111 determines whether any vehicle support function has been purchased. If no vehicle support function has been purchased in step S9 (NO), the control device 111 ends the processing. If any vehicle support function has been purchased in step S9, the control device 111 activates the purchased vehicle support function in step S10 and ends the processing.

[0048] As described above, the control device 111 determines a recommended parking space within the parking lot where the vehicle is to be parked, based on the parking time from when the driver starts to park the vehicle 11 in the parking lot until when the driver finishes parking the vehicle 11, parking space information regarding the parking spaces available in the parking lot, and environmental conditions during the parking time in the parking lot. The parking time may be input by the driver or may be estimated based on the driver's behavioral history. The parking space information is at least the layout information shown in FIG. 3. The control device 111 provides the driver with parking-related information or parking-related functions related to parking the vehicle in the determined parking space.

[0049] As a result, the parking assistance method executed by the in-vehicle device 10 can recommend a parking space that is more preferable for the driver or the vehicle 11, and further improve the convenience for the driver when parking the vehicle 11 in the recommended parking space.

[0050] The environmental conditions may include at least one of solar radiation-related information, wind-related information, pollen-related information, yellow sand-related information, and crime-related information. If the environmental conditions include solar radiation-related information, it becomes possible to park the vehicle 11 in the shade for a longer period of time. If the environmental conditions include wind-related information, it becomes possible to make it easier to dry the evaporator and to make it less likely for pollen or yellow sand to hit the front of the vehicle 11. If the environmental conditions include pollen-related information or yellow sand-related information, it becomes possible to select a parking lot or parking space depending on the amount of pollen or yellow sand dispersed. If the environmental conditions include crime-related information, it becomes possible to select a parking space that is less susceptible to theft and other damage.

[0051] The control device 111 may recommend to the driver, as the parking-related information, the orientation of the vehicle 11 when parking the vehicle 11 in a parking space. At this time, the control device 111 may determine the orientation of the vehicle 11 based on the wind-related information and recommend it to the driver. This makes it easier to dry the evaporator. The control device 111 may also determine the orientation of the vehicle 11 based on the wind-related information and the pollen-related information or the yellow sand-related information and recommend it to the driver. This makes it harder for pollen or yellow sand to hit the front of the vehicle 11.

[0052] The control device 111 may provide the driver with, as the parking-related information, a route guiding the vehicle 11 from the current location to the entrance of the parking lot. The control device 111 may further provide, as the parking-related information, a route guiding the vehicle 11 from the current location to a position where automatic parking of the vehicle 11 into a parking space in the parking lot can be initiated. This may further improve the convenience for the driver when parking the vehicle 11 into a recommended parking space.

[0053] As a parking-related function, the control device 111 may provide control for starting automatic parking to the automatic parking control unit 113, which controls automatic parking of the vehicle 11 into a parking space. In this way, the vehicle 11 is automatically parked in the parking space, further improving convenience. As a parking-related function, the control device 111 may also activate at least one of the security function, ventilation function, and cleaning function provided in the vehicle 11. This may improve security or comfort.

[0054] The control device 111 functions as a parking space determination unit that determines a recommended parking space within the parking lot where the vehicle 11 is to be parked based on the parking time, parking space information, and environmental conditions. The control device 111 also functions as a providing unit that provides parking-related information or parking-related functions related to parking the vehicle 11 in the determined parking space. The control device 111 provides the driver with parking-related information or parking-related functions by controlling at least one of the sound generation unit 104, the display control unit 106, the automatic parking control unit 113, the security function control unit 114, the ventilation function control unit 115, and the cleaning function control unit 116. The in-vehicle device 10 equipped with the control device 111 functions as a parking assistance device.

[0055] The in-vehicle device 10 can recommend a parking space that is more suitable for the driver or the vehicle 11, and can also improve the convenience of the driver when parking the vehicle 11 in the recommended parking space.

[0056] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 10 In-vehicle equipment 11 vehicles 20 Network 30 Parking lot management server 40 Weather information server 50 Crime Information Server 60 Vehicle support function providing server 101 Location information calculation unit 102 Map information storage unit 103 Route Search Unit 104 Sound generation unit 105 Speaker 106 Display control unit 107 Display section 108 Input section 109 Behavioral History Generation Unit 110 Setting section 111 Control device 112 Communications Department 113 Automatic parking control unit 114 Security function control unit 115 Ventilation function control unit 116 Cleaning function control unit

Claims

1. The control device determining a recommended parking space within the parking lot in which the vehicle is to be parked based on a parking time from when the driver starts to park the vehicle in the parking lot until when the driver finishes parking the vehicle, parking space information regarding parking spaces available in the parking lot, and environmental conditions in the parking lot during the parking time; providing the driver with parking-related information or parking-related functions related to parking the vehicle in the determined parking space; Parking assistance methods.

2. 2. The parking assistance method of claim 1, wherein the environmental conditions include at least one of solar radiation-related information that directly or indirectly indicates the amount of solar radiation for each time period, wind-related information that indicates the wind direction for each time period, pollen-related information regarding the amount of pollen dispersed on the day the vehicle is parked in the parking lot, yellow sand-related information regarding the amount of yellow sand dispersed on the day the vehicle is parked, and crime-related information regarding crimes committed in the parking lot.

3. The parking assistance method according to claim 1 , wherein the control device recommends to the driver, as the parking-related information, a direction in which the vehicle should be oriented when parking the vehicle in the parking space.

4. the environmental conditions include at least wind-related information indicating wind direction for each time period; The control device determines an orientation of the vehicle when parking the vehicle in the parking space based on the wind-related information and recommends the orientation of the vehicle to the driver. The parking assistance method according to claim 3 .

5. the environmental conditions include at least wind-related information indicating wind directions for each time period, and at least one of pollen-related information regarding the amount of pollen dispersed on the day the vehicle is parked in the parking lot and yellow sand-related information regarding the amount of yellow sand dispersed, The control device determines the orientation of the vehicle when parking the vehicle in the parking space based on the wind-related information and the pollen-related information or the yellow sand-related information, and recommends the orientation of the vehicle to the driver. The parking assistance method according to claim 3 .

6. The parking assistance method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control device provides the driver with a route for guiding the vehicle from a current position to an entrance of the parking lot as the parking-related information.

7. The parking assistance method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control device provides the driver with, as the parking-related information, a route that guides the vehicle from its current position to a position where automatic parking of the vehicle into the parking space in the parking lot can be initiated.

8. The parking assistance method according to claim 7 , wherein the control device provides, as the parking-related function, control for starting automatic parking to an automatic parking control unit that controls automatic parking of the vehicle into the parking space.

9. The parking assistance method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control device activates at least one of a security function, a ventilation function, and a cleaning function provided in the vehicle as the parking-related function.

10. a parking space determination unit that determines a recommended parking space within the parking lot in which the vehicle is to be parked, based on a parking time from when the driver starts to park the vehicle in the parking lot until when the driver finishes parking the vehicle in the parking lot, parking space information regarding parking spaces available in the parking lot, and environmental conditions in the parking lot during the parking time; a providing unit that provides the driver with parking-related information or parking-related functions related to parking the vehicle in the determined parking space; A parking assistance device comprising:

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