Parking fee payment system

Abstract

To provide parking lot users with parking spaces that allow them to park at the lowest possible rate within a designated area. [Solution] The parking fee settlement system includes a parking information receiving unit that receives parking information from a portable terminal that indicates a vehicle has been stopped in a designated parking space; a fee information receiving unit that receives fee information for other parking spaces within a predetermined range from the parking space from the portable terminal; a fee comparison unit that compares the fee information for the parking space with the fee information for the other parking spaces; and a fee settlement unit that settles the parking fee based on the fee information for the other parking spaces if the fee information for the other parking spaces is cheaper than the fee information for the parking space.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a management system for time-based parking lots such as coin parking, and particularly to a system for performing settlement of parking spaces using a portable terminal.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there are time-based parking lots such as coin parking where users can use designated parking spaces by paying a fee according to the parking time. In coin parking, the fee is often set in time units, and it is common for the first few hours to be a fixed fee and the fee to increase per hour thereafter. Also, a fee system based on time zones may be provided, such as a night discount or a maximum fee setting.

[0003] By the way, there is a type called a gate type in coin parking. The gate type of coin parking is a system that installs gates (barriers) at the entrance and exit of the parking lot and issues parking tickets and automatically calculates fees. Users obtain a parking ticket at the entrance, use the parking ticket to pay the fee at the checkout machine when leaving the warehouse, and when the fee is paid, the gate at the exit opens and the vehicle can leave the warehouse.

[0004] Also, there is a type called a lock type in coin parking. In the lock type of coin parking, when the machine determines that a vehicle has stopped, the lock plate rises, and after use, by paying the parking fee at the checkout machine, the lock plate descends and the vehicle can leave the warehouse.

[0005] Furthermore, there is a type called a camera type in coin parking. The camera type of coin parking is a system that uses a camera to recognize the vehicle number plate and manages the entry and exit of the parking lot.

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

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-146976 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] By the way, in conventional parking management systems such as Patent Document 1, parking fees are calculated and paid according to predetermined fee information. However, there are many parking lots within a given area, and fees are determined for each parking lot and parking space. Users want to park in the cheapest place possible, but those who rent out parking spaces want to make the parking fees as efficient as possible, so there has been a problem in setting fee information.

[0009] To address the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides parking spaces that allow parking lot users to park at the lowest possible price within a predetermined range.

[0010] (1) The parking fee settlement system according to the present invention includes: a parking information receiving unit that receives parking information from a portable terminal that indicates a vehicle has been stopped in a predetermined parking space; a fee information receiving unit that receives fee information for other parking spaces within a predetermined range from the parking space from the portable terminal; a fee comparison unit that compares the fee information for the parking space with the fee information for the other parking spaces; and a fee settlement unit that settles the parking fee based on the fee information for the other parking spaces if the fee information for the other parking spaces is cheaper than the fee information for the parking space.

[0011] The price comparison department compares the parking space fee information with that of other parking spaces and settles the parking fee based on the cheaper fee information, so that parking lot users can park at the lowest price within a specified range. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, a parking space is provided to parking lot users that allows them to park at the lowest possible price within a predetermined range. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This diagram shows a schematic plan view of a parking lot managed by a parking management system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a schematic image of a server device. [Figure 2] This is a system configuration diagram of a parking management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] Hereinafter, a parking fee settlement system S according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the parking space 10 is a conventional, well-known hourly parking space 10.

[0015] First, let me explain the configuration of the parking fee payment system S.

[0016] As shown in Figure 1, the parking fee settlement system S comprises a parking lot and a server device 2. The identification display 20 comprises a plurality of parking spaces 10 where vehicles such as automobiles can be parked, and an identification display 20 having an identification display provided corresponding to each parking space 10. In this embodiment, the identification display 20 is a conventionally well-known sign, and in addition to the identification display, fee information for each parking space 10 is printed on it.

[0017] The parking fee settlement system S operates through the cooperation of a portable terminal 3 (not included in the parking fee settlement system S) and a server device 2, and provides the cheapest parking space 10 among hourly parking lots within a predetermined range. The portable terminal 3 is a commonly known smartphone or tablet and has at least communication, camera, and payment functions.

[0018] As shown in Figure 2, the server device 2 includes a parking information receiving unit 21 that receives parking information indicating that a vehicle has been parked in each parking space 10, a fee information receiving unit 22 that receives fee information for other parking spaces (not shown) in other parking lots within a predetermined range, a fee comparison unit 23 that compares the fee information for each parking space 10 with the fee information for other parking spaces (not shown), and a fee settlement unit 24 that settles parking fees based on the fee information.

[0019] The parking information receiving unit 21 receives the parking information transmitted from the portable terminal 3 to the server device 2 when the portable terminal 3 reads the identification mark on the identification mark 20, and determines when parking has started in the corresponding parking space.

[0020] The fee information receiving unit 22 receives fee information for other parking spaces. Specifically, a display showing fee information for other parking spaces (not shown) in another parking lot (not shown) within a predetermined range from parking space 10 is photographed by the user using a portable terminal 3, and the fee information for the other parking spaces (not shown) is transmitted to the server device 2, and the fee information receiving unit 22 receives the fee information for the other parking spaces (not shown).

[0021] The fee comparison unit 23 compares the fee information of the parking space 10 in the parking lot 1 with the fee information of other parking spaces (not shown) received from the portable terminal 3, and determines the cheaper fee information as the parking fee. In the present embodiment, the parking fee is calculated based on the parking time and the fee per unit time, but it may be calculated taking into account the maximum fee, time zone fee, etc.

[0022] The fee settlement unit 24 settles the parking fee based on the fee information of the parking fee determined by the fee comparison unit 23. Specifically, when the portable terminal 3 reads the identification display of the identification display object 20 again, the fee settlement unit 24 settles the parking fee through a settlement system such as a well-known credit card. However, the fee settlement unit 24 may settle the parking fee through other settlement systems.

[0023] Next, the operation of the parking fee settlement system S will be described.

[0024] Entrance step (S1): The user searches for an empty parking space 10 in the parking lot and parks the vehicle. An identification display object 20 that displays an identification display corresponding to the space is installed on the side of each parking space 10. In the present embodiment, this identification display is provided as a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (registered trademark).

[0025] Usage start registration step (S2): After parking the vehicle, the user of the parking space 10 uses the camera of the portable terminal 3 to read the QR code (registered trademark) displayed on the identification display object. By this operation, the portable terminal 3 of the user starts communicating with the server device 2. In the present embodiment, when the portable terminal 3 and the server device communicate with each other, it is determined that parking in the parking space 10 has started, and thereby the measurement of the parking time is started.

[0026] Other parking fee information transmission step (S3): After scanning the QR code and registering to begin use, the user moves outside the parking lot while still holding the portable terminal 3. The user moves outside the parking lot and finds another parking space (not shown) in another parking lot (not shown). If the user sees the fee information for the other parking space (not shown) displayed on a sign, the user takes a picture of the sign using the camera function of the portable terminal 3 and transmits the fee information for the other parking space (not shown) to the server device 2.

[0027] Price comparison and payment steps (S4): When the user returns to the parking lot, finishes parking, and is ready to exit, the user scans the QR code (registered trademark) corresponding to the same parking space 10 again using the camera function of their mobile terminal 3. This operation causes the user's mobile terminal 3 to resume communication with the server device 2, determine that parking has ended, and thus the measurement of parking time ends.

[0028] Upon receiving the parking completion information, the server device 2 calculates the user's parking fee. In calculating the parking fee, it calculates a first parking fee based on the fee information of parking space 10, and a second parking fee based on the fee information of other parking spaces. Subsequently, the fee comparison unit 23 compares the first and second parking fees, and the fee settlement unit 24 settles the user with the cheaper one as their parking fee. In this embodiment, the second parking fee is calculated, for example, by extracting fee information using artificial intelligence (AI) from an image of fee information displayed on a sign for another parking space, which is captured by the camera function of the portable terminal 3.

[0029] Steps to qualify (S6): After confirming that payment has been completed, the user will remove their vehicle from parking space 10 and exit the parking lot.

[0030] In this embodiment, the parking fee comparison system was described in a form that compares the fee information for parking space 10 with the fee information for one other parking space. However, the parking fee comparison system may also compare the fee information for parking space 10 with the fee information for multiple other parking spaces. Even in that case, the parking fee comparison system will settle the parking fee based on the cheapest fee information.

[0031] The parking fee settlement system S according to this embodiment has been described above. However, the parking fee settlement system S is not limited to the above embodiment, and other configurations are possible as long as the objective of the invention is achieved. [Industrial applicability]

[0032] This invention can be used for settling parking fees. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1 Parking 2 Server devices 3. Portable devices 10 parking spaces 20 Identification Information Display Items 21 Parking Information Receiving Unit 22. Billing Information Receiving Unit 23 Price Comparison Section 24. Payment Department

Claims

[Claim 1] A parking information receiving unit receives parking information from a portable terminal when a vehicle is stopped in a designated parking space, A fee information receiving unit that receives fee information for other parking spaces within a predetermined range from the aforementioned parking space from the portable terminal, A comparison unit that compares the fee information of the aforementioned parking space with the fee information of other parking spaces, A parking fee settlement system including a fee settlement unit that settles parking fees based on the fee information of other parking spaces when the fee information of other parking spaces is cheaper than the fee information of the parking space.

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