Parking management system

Abstract

We provide a parking management system that enables low-cost remote management of mechanical parking systems. [Solution] The parking management system comprises a mechanical parking system having a code display unit that displays a dedicated two-dimensional code, and a management terminal operated by a manager who remotely manages the mechanical parking system. The dedicated two-dimensional code is readable by the built-in camera of a mobile terminal, and the dedicated two-dimensional code contains connection information that enables the mobile terminal that reads the dedicated two-dimensional code to connect with the management terminal for voice communication.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to a parking lot management system.

Background Art

[0002] Unlike a self-driving parking lot, a mechanical parking lot is equipped with a transporter for raising and lowering a vehicle placed on a pallet, so there is a risk in handling. Therefore, there are guidelines regarding safety measures for mechanical parking lots. In these guidelines, it is necessary for the administrator to thoroughly explain in writing the correct operation method, compliance with precautions, etc. to users, and to permit use to those who have received such explanations. Also, in a time-sharing mechanical parking lot used by an unspecified number of people, a dedicated operator is required to perform the operation.

[0003] In the case of a time-sharing self-driving parking lot, users can use it without receiving special education. However, due to the existence of the above guidelines, when a user who has not received education is allowed to use a time-sharing mechanical parking lot, a system is required in which the administrator can at least constantly monitor and directly instruct the user. However, having a manager stationed at each time-sharing mechanical parking lot has the problem of extremely high labor costs.

[0004] Therefore, conventionally, a mechanical parking lot that can be remotely monitored to the same extent as when a manager is constantly present has been proposed. In Patent Document 1 below, in order to unmanned a parking lot and remotely monitor and control a plurality of parking lots collectively, a parking lot management system that connects the parking lot management equipment of each parking lot and the remote monitoring and control equipment by communication means has been proposed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

[0006] The parking management system described in Patent Document 1 requires parking management equipment, remote monitoring and control equipment, and communication means, and since these devices include multiple components, constructing a parking management system incurs significant costs.

[0007] Therefore, this application aims to provide a parking management system that enables low-cost remote management of mechanical parking systems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A parking management system according to one aspect of this application comprises a mechanical parking system having a code display unit that displays a dedicated two-dimensional code, and a management terminal operated by a manager who remotely manages the mechanical parking system, wherein the dedicated two-dimensional code is readable by a built-in camera of a mobile terminal, and the dedicated two-dimensional code contains connection information that enables the mobile terminal that reads the dedicated two-dimensional code to connect with the management terminal for voice communication.

[0009] This configuration allows the administrator to communicate with users of the mechanical parking system using a mobile device such as a smartphone, enabling remote management of the mechanical parking system. Furthermore, this remote management does not require a voice call connection between the mechanical parking system and the management terminal. Therefore, no equipment is needed to connect the mechanical parking system and the management terminal for voice communication. Consequently, this configuration provides a parking management system that enables low-cost remote management of mechanical parking systems.

[0010] Furthermore, in the parking management system described above, the management terminal may have a management display capable of displaying images captured by the built-in camera of the mobile terminal when connected to the mobile terminal.

[0011] With this configuration, the manager can manage the mechanical parking system while simultaneously communicating with users, and by viewing the system and its users through the built-in camera of a mobile device. Therefore, the manager can properly manage the mechanical parking system.

[0012] Furthermore, in the parking management system described above, the dedicated two-dimensional code contains equipment information for the mechanical parking system, and the management terminal may have a management display capable of displaying the equipment information for the mechanical parking system acquired via the mobile terminal when connected to the mobile terminal.

[0013] This configuration allows the manager to manage the mechanical parking system while simultaneously checking the system's equipment information and communicating with users. Therefore, the manager can properly manage the mechanical parking system. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to this application, it is possible to provide a parking management system that enables low-cost remote management of mechanical parking systems. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is an overall diagram of the parking management system. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a flowchart of the remote connection management program. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0016] The parking management system 100 according to this embodiment will be described below. Figure 1 is an overall view of the parking management system 100. The parking management system 100 according to this embodiment is a system for remotely managing a mechanical parking lot 10.

[0017] As shown in Figure 1, the parking management system 100 according to this embodiment comprises a mechanical parking system 10 and a management terminal 20. The mechanical parking system 10 is intended to be used as a time-based parking lot. These components will be described in order below.

[0018] <Mechanical parking garage> The mechanical parking garage 10 is a mechanical parking garage that accommodates vehicles 101. In this embodiment, there is no attendant stationed at the mechanical parking garage 10. The mechanical parking garage 10 is managed by an attendant stationed at a location away from the mechanical parking garage 10. The mechanical parking garage 10 is, for example, an elevator type, a box-type circulating type, a horizontal circulating type, a plane reciprocating type, and a vertical and horizontal moving puzzle type.

[0019] As shown in Figure 1, the mechanical parking system 10 includes a roughly rectangular parking tower 14, a plurality of pallets 16 on which vehicles 101 are placed, a carrier (not shown) for moving the pallets 16 between the entrance and storage areas within the parking tower 14, an entrance / exit opening 13 provided at the lower front of the parking tower 14 to connect the entrance and the outside of the parking tower 14, an entrance / exit door 15 for opening and closing the entrance / exit opening 13, an operation panel 11, and a code display unit 12. The mechanical parking system 10 in this embodiment is a parking lot shared by monthly users who have received prior training on the correct operation method and hourly users who are using it for the first time. For this reason, only a predetermined number of the plurality of pallets 16 are designated as hourly pallets 16a.

[0020] The control panel 11 is mounted on the wall of the parking tower 14 so as to beside and near the entrance / exit 13. The control panel 11 is a device that operates the mechanical parking system 10 when a vehicle 101 is parked inside or outside the system. As mentioned above, there is no attendant stationed at the mechanical parking system 10 in this embodiment. Therefore, the control panel 11 is operated by the user (hereinafter simply referred to as "user") who parks the vehicle 101 inside or outside the mechanical parking system 10. However, the user's operation of the control panel 11 is performed under the guidance of an attendant stationed at a location away from the mechanical parking system 10.

[0021] Here, the operation panel 11 is provided with a number input section 11a. The user cannot perform other operations such as calling the pallet 16a unless the user authentication is completed by entering the password number into the number input section 11a. Since the mechanical parking lot 10 of the present embodiment is used as a time rental parking lot, the users are an unspecified large number. Many of the unspecified large number of users use the mechanical parking lot 10 for the first time. It would be a problem if a first-time user who has not received education on the correct operation method could operate the mechanical parking lot 10 before receiving guidance from the administrator. Therefore, the user cannot obtain the password number unless the user has received guidance from the administrator. The user can call the pallet 16a by entering the obtained password number into the number input section 11a of the operation panel 11.

[0022] Note that the number input section 11a may be for inputting the pallet number instead of the password number for user authentication. In this case, the pallet number of the pallet 16a for time rental is made special in advance so that first-time users do not know the pallet number. After receiving guidance from the administrator, the user can call the pallet 16a by entering the obtained pallet number into the number input section 11a of the operation panel 11. By doing so, since first-time users cannot call the pallet 16a for time rental before receiving guidance from the administrator, the same effect as the password number input for the above user authentication can be achieved.

[0023] The code display section 12 is a part for displaying a dedicated two-dimensional code. The code display section 12 is attached to, for example, any of the entrance / exit door 15, the wall surface of the parking tower 14, and the operation panel 11. The code display section 12 may be a panel or a sticker with a dedicated two-dimensional code drawn thereon, or may be a display device for displaying the dedicated two-dimensional code. The dedicated two-dimensional code is a two-dimensional code unique to the mechanical parking lot 10. That is, the dedicated two-dimensional code displayed differs depending on the mechanical parking lot 10. The dedicated two-dimensional code is, for example, a QR code (registered trademark).

[0024] The dedicated two-dimensional code of this embodiment can be read by the built-in camera 91 of the mobile terminal 90. The mobile terminal 90 of this embodiment is, for example, a smartphone owned by the user. However, the mobile terminal 90 may also be a tablet computer or the like owned by the user. In addition to the built-in camera 91 described above, the mobile terminal 90 has a built-in microphone 92, a built-in speaker 93, a touch panel 94, and a mobile control device 95, etc. The mobile control device 95 includes a communication module, which allows the mobile terminal 90 to connect to a network such as the Internet.

[0025] The dedicated two-dimensional code in this embodiment contains connection information. The connection information is information that enables the mobile terminal 90, which reads the dedicated two-dimensional code, to connect with the management terminal 20 for voice communication. In this embodiment, the mobile terminal 90 connects with the management terminal 20 for voice communication using a web browser-based communication system. In this case, the connection information includes, for example, a dedicated URL (Uniform Resource Locator) specific to the mechanical parking system 10 for accessing the communication system.

[0026] However, the mobile terminal 90 may connect to the management terminal 20 for voice communication using a pre-installed application software call system instead of a web browser. In this case, the connection information includes, for example, an identification number and a PIN for accessing the call system. The mobile terminal 90 may access the call system automatically after reading the dedicated two-dimensional code of the mechanical parking lot 10, or it may access the call system after obtaining permission from the user after reading the dedicated two-dimensional code of the mechanical parking lot 10. The above call system may be a general-purpose system or a dedicated system.

[0027] Furthermore, the dedicated two-dimensional code of this embodiment includes equipment information. The equipment information is the equipment information of the mechanical parking system 10. The equipment information includes, for example, information such as the model number and installation location of the mechanical parking system 10.

[0028] <Management terminal> The management terminal 20 is a terminal operated by a manager who remotely manages the mechanical parking system 10. The management terminal 20 is installed in a location away from the mechanical parking system 10. Although Figure 1 shows one mechanical parking system 10 and one management terminal 20, the number of mechanical parking systems 10 and management terminals 20 provided by the parking management system 100 is not limited. For example, multiple mechanical parking systems 10 may be managed using multiple management terminals 20.

[0029] As shown in Figure 1, the management terminal 20 includes a management microphone 21, a management speaker 22, a management display 23, and a management control device 24. The management microphone 21, the management speaker 22, and the management display 23 are electrically connected to the management control device 24. The management control device 24 can acquire the audio collected by the management microphone 21. The management control device 24 can also output audio from the management speaker 22. Furthermore, the management control device 24 can output various information and images to the management display 23.

[0030] The management control device 24 includes a processor, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, and a communication module. The non-volatile memory of the management control device 24 stores various programs, including a connection management program described later, and the processor performs calculations using the volatile memory based on each program. The management control device 24 is also connected to a network such as the Internet via the communication module. In this embodiment, the management terminal 20 is constantly in access to the aforementioned call system via the network. Therefore, when the mobile terminal 90 accesses the call system, the management terminal 20 can connect with the mobile terminal 90 for voice communication.

[0031] The management control device 24 has a number storage unit 24a. The number storage unit 24a stores the numbers necessary to operate the operation panel 11 of the mechanical parking lot 10 remotely managed by the management terminal 20. These stored numbers include a PIN for user authentication on the operation panel 11 and a pallet number for calling up a pallet 16a for hourly parking. When the management terminal 20 remotely manages multiple mechanical parking lots 10, the number storage unit 24a stores multiple numbers corresponding to each mechanical parking lot 10. The user's mobile terminal 90 communicates with the management terminal 20 by accessing it via a dedicated two-dimensional code containing information specific to the mechanical parking lot 10, so the manager can know which of the multiple mechanical parking lots 10 has connected to the management terminal 20.

[0032] The administrator uses the connected mobile terminal 90 to instruct the user on the correct operating procedure, and then informs the user of the PIN (or pallet number) of the mechanical parking system 10 that the currently communicating mobile terminal 90 is targeting, from among the multiple PINs (or pallet numbers) stored in the number storage unit 24a. Alternatively, instead of the administrator manually extracting the number from the number storage unit 24a, the management control device 24 may extract the number of the target mechanical parking system 10 from the number storage unit 24a based on the signal from the mobile terminal 90.

[0033] As described above, in this embodiment, the management terminal 20 can be connected to the mobile terminal 90 for voice communication, but the management terminal 20 does not need to be connected to the mechanical parking system 10 for voice communication. In this case, it is not necessary to install speakers or microphones in the mechanical parking system 10 for communication between the user and the manager. Also, in this embodiment, the management terminal 20 is not connected to the mechanical parking system 10 for communication. However, the management terminal 20 may be connected to the mechanical parking system 10 for communication so that some data can be exchanged with it.

[0034] <Connection Management Program> Next, we will describe the connection management program executed by the management control device 24 of the management terminal 20. Figure 2 is a flowchart of the connection management program.

[0035] As shown in Figure 2, when the connection management program is started, the management control device 24 determines whether or not the mobile terminal 90 has accessed the aforementioned call system (step S1). In this embodiment, if the mobile terminal 90 has accessed the call system, the management control device 24 receives a notification from the call system. Therefore, if the management control device 24 receives a notification from the call system, it determines that the mobile terminal 90 has accessed the call system.

[0036] In step S1, if the management control device 24 determines that there is no access to the call system from the mobile terminal 90 (NO in step S1), it repeats step S1. On the other hand, if the management control device 24 determines that there is access to the call system from the mobile terminal 90 (YES in step S1), it establishes a voice call connection with the mobile terminal 90 via the call system (step S2). When the management terminal 20 is established to communicate with the mobile terminal 90 via voice, the administrator's voice acquired by the management microphone 21 is output from the mobile terminal 90's built-in speaker 93, and the user's voice acquired by the mobile terminal 90's built-in microphone 92 is output from the management speaker 22 of the management terminal 20.

[0037] Next, the management control device 24 displays images (hereinafter referred to as "mobile images") and equipment information captured by the built-in camera 91 of the mobile terminal 90 on the management display 23 (step S3). Specifically, the management control device 24 acquires mobile images and equipment information via the mobile terminal 90 and the network (communication system), and displays the acquired mobile images and equipment information on the management display 23.

[0038] When the management control device 24 executes steps S2 and S3, the manager can communicate with the user while checking the mobile screen and equipment information displayed on the management display 23. By communicating with the user, the manager can inform the user of the correct way to operate the control panel 11 according to the equipment information of the mechanical parking garage 10, the correct way to enter the entrance with a vehicle 101, and the correct way to check the safety of the entrance. In addition, the manager can check whether the user is operating the control panel 11 correctly using the mobile image. In this way, the manager can remotely manage the mechanical parking garage 10.

[0039] The administrator uses the connected mobile terminal 90 to instruct the user on the correct operating procedure, and then informs the user of the PIN (or pallet number) of the mechanical parking system 10 that the mobile terminal 90 is currently communicating with, from among the multiple PINs (or pallet numbers) stored in the number storage unit 24a. This allows the user to enter the PIN (or pallet number) into the number input unit 11a. After entering the number, the user operates the control panel 11 to operate the carriers and entrance / exit doors 15 inside the parking tower 14. For example, when entering a parking space, the user operates the control panel 11 to call pallet 16a and enter the vehicle 101 into the entrance. The administrator remotely monitors the user until the user has finished entering the parking space. When the user finishes operating the control panel 11, the mobile terminal 90 and the management terminal 20 are disconnected when the user terminates access to the communication system on the mobile terminal 90.

[0040] Next, the management control device 24 determines whether the mobile terminal 90 and the management terminal 20 have been disconnected (step S4). If the management control device 24 determines that the mobile terminal 90 and the management terminal 20 have not been disconnected (the connection is maintained) (NO in step S4), it returns to step S3 and continues to display the mobile image and equipment information on the management display 23. On the other hand, if the management control device 24 determines that the mobile terminal 90 and the management terminal 20 have been disconnected (YES in step S4), it returns to step S1 and repeats each step. This concludes the explanation of the connection management program.

[0041] As described above, in the parking management system 100 according to this embodiment, by using a portable terminal 90, remote management of the mechanical parking system 10 is possible without directly connecting the mechanical parking system 10 and the management terminal 20, that is, without providing equipment to directly connect the mechanical parking system 10 and the management terminal 20. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a parking management system 100 that can realize remote management of the mechanical parking system 10 at low cost. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0042] 10 Mechanical parking 11. Control Panel 12 Code display section 20 Management terminals 21 Management microphones 22 Management Speakers 23 Management Display 24 Management control device 90 Mobile devices 91. Built-in camera 92 Built-in microphone 93. Built-in speaker 94 Touch Panel 95 Portable control device 100 Parking Management Systems

Claims

1. A mechanical parking garage having a code display unit that displays a dedicated two-dimensional code, The mechanical parking system includes a management terminal operated by a manager who remotely manages the mechanical parking system, The aforementioned dedicated two-dimensional code can be read by the built-in camera of a mobile device. A parking management system wherein the dedicated two-dimensional code contains connection information that enables a mobile device that reads the dedicated two-dimensional code to connect with the management terminal in a voice call manner.

2. The parking management system according to claim 1, wherein the management terminal has a management display capable of displaying images taken by the built-in camera of the mobile terminal when connected to the mobile terminal.

3. The aforementioned dedicated two-dimensional code contains information about the facilities of the mechanical parking system. The parking management system according to claim 1, wherein the management terminal has a management display capable of displaying the equipment information of the mechanical parking lot acquired via the mobile terminal when connected to the mobile terminal.

Images