Parking management system

Abstract

We provide a parking management system that enables low-cost parking fee management by a management center. [Solution] The parking management system 100 comprises a mechanical parking garage 10 that accommodates multiple vehicles 101, and a management center having a management server that can communicate with the mobile terminals of users of the mechanical parking garage. When a user enters the mechanical parking garage, the management server obtains the user's user information and entry time from the user's mobile terminal, stores the entry information including the user's user information and entry time for each user, and when a user leaves the parking garage, it obtains the user's user information and departure time from the mobile terminal of the departing user, identifies the entry information that contains user information that matches the departing user's user information from among the multiple entry information stored in advance, and calculates the parking fee based on the entry time and departure time included in the identified entry information.

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 has 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 to users the correct operation method, compliance with precautions, etc., and to permit use to those who have received explanations etc. regarding these. Also, in a time-sharing mechanical parking lot used by an unspecified number of people, it is necessary for a dedicated operator 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 can use a time-sharing mechanical parking lot, a system in which the administrator can at least constantly monitor and directly instruct the user is required. However, having a manager permanently stationed at each time-sharing mechanical parking lot has the problem of very high labor costs.

[0004] Therefore, conventionally, a mechanical parking lot that can be remotely monitored to the same extent as when a manager is always present has been proposed. In Patent Document 1 below, a parking lot management system is proposed in which a management center is installed at a location away from the mechanical parking lot and parking fees can be settled at the management center. Specifically, in the parking lot management system described in Patent Document 1, on the management center side, a user is identified based on the image data of the vehicle captured at the time of entry and the entry time data, and the parking fee is settled.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

[0006] However, the parking management system described in Patent Document 1 requires the installation of cameras for imaging vehicles and communication equipment for communicating with a management center in the mechanical parking system. Therefore, constructing a new parking management system like the one described in Patent Document 1 would incur significant costs.

[0007] Therefore, this application aims to provide a parking management system that enables low-cost parking fee management by a management center. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A parking management system according to one aspect of this application comprises a mechanical parking garage that accommodates multiple vehicles, and a management center having a management server capable of communicating with the mobile terminals of users of the mechanical parking garage. The management server, upon entry when a user parks a vehicle into the mechanical parking garage, obtains user information of the entering user and the entry time from the entering user's mobile terminal, stores entry information including the user information and the entry time for each user, and upon exit when a user leaves the mechanical parking garage, obtains user information of the exiting user and the exit time from the exiting user's mobile terminal, identifies entry information from among the multiple previously stored entry information that includes user information matching the user information of the exiting user, and calculates parking fees based on the entry time and exit time included in the identified entry information.

[0009] This configuration allows for parking fee management by a management center without the need to install equipment that directly connects the mechanical parking system to the management center, by using mobile devices such as smartphones. Therefore, this embodiment provides a parking management system that enables low-cost parking fee management by a management center.

[0010] Furthermore, in the parking management system described above, the user information may include the unique identification number of the user's mobile device.

[0011] With this configuration, the management server can easily obtain user information.

[0012] Furthermore, in the parking management system described above, the mechanical parking system has multiple pallets on which the vehicles are placed, the entry information includes the pallet number of the pallet on which the vehicle of the entering user is placed, and the management server may output the pallet number included in the identified entry information to the mobile terminal of the departing user when the vehicle is removed from the parking lot.

[0013] With this configuration, users can quickly identify the pallet carrying their vehicle when departing, allowing them to complete the departing process quickly. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to this application, it is possible to provide a parking management system that enables low-cost management of parking fees by a management center. [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 parking lot management program. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0016] (Overall configuration of the parking management system) The parking management system 100 according to this embodiment will be described below. First, the overall configuration of the parking management system 100 will be described. Figure 1 is an overall diagram of the parking management system 100. As shown in Figure 1, the parking management system 100 according to this embodiment includes a mechanical parking system 10 and a management center 20. These components will be described in order below.

[0017] <Mechanical parking garage> The mechanical parking system 10 is a facility that accommodates multiple vehicles 101. The mechanical parking system 10 is a parking facility equipped with a drive mechanism for moving the vehicles 101, and includes, for example, elevator type, box-type circulating type, horizontal circulating type, plane reciprocating type, and vertical and horizontal moving puzzle type parking facilities.

[0018] The mechanical parking system 10 of this embodiment has a plurality of pallets 11 on which vehicles 101 are placed. The pallets 11 move within the mechanical parking system 10 with the vehicles 101 on them. Each pallet 11 is assigned a unique pallet number. The mechanical parking system 10 has an entrance / exit opening 13 in the lower part for entering and exiting the vehicle 101. The vehicle 101 enters the mechanical parking system 10 through this entrance / exit opening 13 and exits the mechanical parking system 101 through this entrance / exit opening 13. The entrance / exit opening 13 is provided with an opening / closing door 14.

[0019] Furthermore, the mechanical parking system 10 of this embodiment has an operation panel 12. The operation panel 12 is a device for operating the mechanical parking system 10 when a vehicle 101 enters and exits the parking space. The operation panel 12 is operated by a user of the mechanical parking system 10 (hereinafter simply referred to as "user") in accordance with the instructions of the manager (hereinafter simply referred to as "manager") who is stationed at the management center 20 and manages the mechanical parking system 10.

[0020] When storing the vehicle 101 in the mechanical parking lot 10, the user who stores the vehicle 101 operates the operation panel 12 to perform "empty call". When the empty call is made, an empty pallet 11 without the vehicle 101 moves to the loading / unloading port 13, and then the opening / closing door 14 is opened. The user places the vehicle 101 on the empty pallet 11 that has moved to the loading / unloading port 13 to complete the storage. When the empty call is made, the operation panel 12 displays the pallet number of the pallet 11 that has moved to the loading / unloading port 13, that is, the pallet number of the pallet 11 on which the user's vehicle 101 is placed.

[0021] Also, when retrieving the vehicle 101 from the mechanical parking lot 10, the user who retrieves the vehicle 101 operates the operation panel 12 to perform "call". The call is made by inputting or selecting the pallet number of the pallet 11 on which the user's vehicle 101 is placed using the operation panel 12. When the call is made, the pallet 11 on which the user's vehicle 101 is placed moves to the loading / unloading port 13, and then the opening / closing door 14 is opened. The user unloads the vehicle 101 from the pallet 11 that has moved to the loading / unloading port 13 to complete the retrieval.

[0022] <Management Center> The management center 20 is a facility for managing the mechanical parking lot 10. The management center 20 is installed at a location away from the mechanical parking lot 10. In this embodiment, the management center 20 has one or more administrators stationed, and manages a plurality of mechanical parking lots 10. However, the number of administrators stationed at the management center 20 and the number of mechanical parking lots 10 managed by the management center 20 are not limited.

[0023] ]> The management center 20 has a management terminal 21. The management terminal 21 is a terminal operated by an administrator who manages the mechanical parking lot 10. The management terminal 21 includes, for example, a microphone, a speaker, a display, and an input device. The number of management terminals 21 possessed by the management center 20 is not limited. Also, the management terminal 21 is communicably connected to a management server 22 possessed by the management center 20.

[0024] The management server 22 is connected to a network such as the Internet and is a device that performs various calculations. The management server 22 includes a processor, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, and a communication module. Various programs, including the parking management program described later, are stored in the non-volatile memory of the management server 22, and the processor performs calculations using the volatile memory based on each program.

[0025] Furthermore, the management server 22 can be accessed from the user's mobile device 90. In other words, the user's mobile device 90 can communicate with the management server 22 via the network. The mobile device 90 referred to here is, for example, a smartphone owned by the user. However, the mobile device 90 may also be a tablet computer or the like owned by the user. In this embodiment, the mobile device 90 can access the management server 22 via a web browser. However, the mobile device 90 may also be configured to access the management server 22 via application software that has been pre-installed on the mobile device 90.

[0026] The mechanical parking system 10 in this embodiment has a code display unit 15 that displays a dedicated two-dimensional code. The dedicated two-dimensional code displayed by the code display unit 15 contains information such as the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the web browser for the mobile terminal 90 to access the management server 22. By reading the dedicated two-dimensional code displayed by the code display unit 15, the mobile terminal 90 can access the management server 22. The dedicated two-dimensional code is, for example, a QR code (registered trademark).

[0027] Furthermore, the management server 22 is configured to obtain the International Mobile Equipment Identifier (IMEI) of the mobile terminal 90 when it is accessed by the mobile terminal 90. In addition, in this embodiment, when the mobile terminal 90 accesses the management server 22, the mobile terminal 90 can connect to the management terminal 21 for a call. In other words, the user can converse with the administrator using the mobile terminal 90.

[0028] (Parking Management Program) Next, the parking management program executed by the management server 22 will be described. Figure 2 is a flowchart of the parking management program. The parking management program in this embodiment is a program that manages the mechanical parking lot 10. Furthermore, the parking management program in this embodiment also manages parking fees. In this embodiment, users are required to access (i.e., connect to) the management server 22 using their mobile terminal 90 when entering and exiting the parking lot.

[0029] As shown in Figure 2, when the connection management program starts, the management server 22 determines whether or not there has been an access from the mobile terminal 90 (step S1). If the management server 22 determines that there has been no access from the mobile terminal 90 (NO in step S1), it repeats step S1.

[0030] On the other hand, if the management server 22 determines that there has been an access from the mobile terminal 90 (YES in step S1), it obtains user information from the mobile terminal 90 (step S2). In this embodiment, the management server 22 obtains the individual identification number of the mobile terminal 90 as user information. However, the user information may be information other than the individual identification number of the mobile terminal 90. For example, the user may enter a pre-set user number or password into the mobile terminal 90, and the management server 22 may obtain the user number or password entered into the mobile terminal 90 as user information.

[0031] Next, the management server 22 determines whether the access from the mobile terminal 90 to the management server 22 is an access during storage (step S3). For example, the management server 22 can determine that it is an access during storage if it does not contain the corresponding storage information (i.e., it is the first access) among the multiple storage information records it stores (storage information will be described later), and that it is an access during storage if it contains the corresponding storage information (i.e., it is the second access). However, the user may input into the mobile terminal 90 whether it is an access during storage or a storage outbound access, and the management server 22 may obtain the information entered by the user into the mobile terminal 90 and determine whether it is an access during storage based on the obtained information.

[0032] In step S3, if the management server 22 determines that the access by the mobile terminal 90 is an access at the time of storage entry (YES in step S3), it obtains the storage entry time (step S4). In this embodiment, the management server 22 obtains the time when the mobile terminal 90 accessed the management server 22 as the storage entry time. However, the management server 22 may obtain the storage entry time by a method other than this method.

[0033] After step S4, the management server 22 obtains the pallet number of the pallet 11 on which the user's vehicle 101 is placed (step S5). As described above, when a call is made, the operation panel 12 displays the pallet number. In this embodiment, the user enters the pallet number displayed on the operation panel 12 into the mobile terminal 90, and the management server 22 obtains the pallet number entered by the user from the mobile terminal 90. However, if the user and the administrator are able to communicate by phone, the user may verbally tell the administrator the pallet number, the administrator may enter the pallet number using the management terminal 21, and the management server 22 may obtain the pallet number entered by the management terminal 21.

[0034] After step S5, the management server 22 stores the incoming goods information (step S6). The incoming goods information in this embodiment includes user information (user information of the user receiving the goods) obtained in step S2, the incoming goods time obtained in step S4, and the pallet number obtained in step S5. The management server 22 stores the incoming goods information for each user, that is, for each piece of user information. After step S6, steps S1 onwards are repeated.

[0035] Now, returning to step S3, if the management server 22 determines that the access by the mobile terminal 90 is not an access at the time of receiving goods, that is, if it determines that it is an access at the time of dispatch (NO in step S3), it obtains the dispatch time (step S7). In this embodiment, the management server 22 obtains the time when the mobile terminal 90 accessed the management server 22 as the dispatch time. However, the management server 22 may obtain the dispatch time by a method other than this method.

[0036] After step S7, the management server 22 identifies the incoming goods information of the same user as the outgoing user (step S8). As explained in step S6, the management server 22 stores incoming goods information for each user, including user information, time of incoming goods, and pallet number, at the time of incoming goods. Then, in step S8, the management server 22 identifies the incoming goods information from among the multiple incoming goods information stored in advance that includes user information that matches the user information obtained in step S2 (user information of the outgoing user).

[0037] After step S8, the management server 22 calculates the parking fee (step S9). Specifically, it calculates the parking fee based on the entry time included in the entry information identified in step S8 and the exit time obtained in step S7. For example, the management server 22 calculates the parking fee by multiplying the time from entry to exit by the hourly parking fee.

[0038] After step S9, the management server 22 outputs the parking fee to the user's mobile terminal 90 as they exit the parking lot (step S10). In step S10, the parking fee output by the management server 22 is the parking fee calculated in step S9. The parking fee output by the management server 22 is displayed on the user's mobile terminal 90.

[0039] The user pays the parking fee displayed on the mobile terminal 90 using a predetermined payment method. For example, the user makes an electronic payment using a mobile payment app installed on the mobile terminal 90. Then, in step S11, the management server 22 recognizes the payment of the parking fee based on the payment information transmitted from the mobile terminal 90 or the electronic payment service provider. Subsequently, in step S12, the management server 22 outputs the pallet number to the mobile terminal 90 of the user who is leaving the parking lot. This pallet number is the pallet number included in the entry information identified in step S8. Since the management server 22 shows the pallet number to the user after recognizing the payment of the parking fee, it is possible to prevent the user from entering the pallet number into the operation panel 12 and leaving the parking lot without paying the parking fee. Alternatively, the use of the parking management system 100 can be limited to members only, and the user's credit card information can be stored in the management server 22 during member registration. In that case, the payment of parking fees can be made more reliably.

[0040] The user enters the pallet number displayed on the mobile terminal 90 into the operation panel 12 of the mechanical parking garage 10. As a result, the pallet 11 carrying the user's vehicle 101 moves to the entrance / exit gate 13, and the user exits the mechanical parking garage 101. After step S12, the process returns to step S1 and the steps are repeated. In this embodiment, after step S12, the management server 22 deletes the entry information identified in step S8 from the management server 22, but it may be left on the server.

[0041] The above is a description of the parking management system 100. As described above, according to the parking management system 100 of this embodiment, by using a mobile terminal 90 such as a smartphone, it is possible for the management center 20 to manage parking fees without directly connecting the mechanical parking lot 10 and the management center 20, that is, without providing equipment to directly connect the mechanical parking lot 10 and the management center 20. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a parking management system 100 that enables low-cost parking fee management by the management center 20. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0042] 10 Mechanical parking 11 Palettes 12. Control Panel 13 Inlet / Outlet 14 Opening and closing doors 15 Code display section 20 Management Center 21 Management terminal 22 Management Server 90 Mobile devices 100 Parking Management Systems 101 vehicles

Claims

1. A mechanical parking garage that can accommodate multiple vehicles, The aforementioned mechanical parking facility includes a management center with a management server capable of communicating with the mobile terminals of its users, The aforementioned management server When a user parks their vehicle in the mechanical parking garage, the system obtains the user's information and the time of entry from the user's mobile device, and stores the entry information, including the user's information and the time of entry, for each user. A parking management system that, when a user exits the mechanical parking garage with their vehicle, obtains the user's information and exit time from the user's mobile terminal, identifies an entry information from a plurality of pre-stored entry information that contains user information matching the user's information of the exiting user, and calculates the parking fee based on the entry time and exit time included in the identified entry information.

2. The parking management system according to claim 1, wherein the user information includes the individual identification number of the user's mobile device.

3. The aforementioned mechanical parking system has a plurality of pallets on which the vehicles are placed. The aforementioned storage information includes the pallet number of the pallet on which the vehicle of the user entering the storage facility is loaded. The parking management system according to claim 1, wherein the management server outputs the pallet number included in the identified entry information to the mobile terminal of the user departing the parking lot when the user leaves the parking lot.

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