Parking fee payment system

Abstract

To provide a parking fee payment system. [Solution] The system includes an image recognition device 12, a parking area application 11, and a parking area server 13. The image recognition device 12 photographs and identifies the vehicle's license plate number. The parking area application 11 associates the license plate number with a pre-approval of a financial transaction used to pay parking fees. When the vehicle drives to the parking area, the parking area server 13 verifies whether the pre-approval of the financial transaction is valid, and if the pre-approval of the financial transaction is verified to be valid, associates the validity verification result with the license plate number. Before the vehicle attempts to leave the parking area, the parking area server 13 checks whether the vehicle's license plate number is associated with a valid verification result, and if it is verified to be associated, uses the pre-approval of the financial transaction related to the license plate number to request payment of the parking fee from the financial institution.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a parking system, and more particularly to a parking fee payment system. [Background technology]

[0002] In the conventional parking fee collection system, when a vehicle enters the parking lot, a camera identifies the license plate and then calculates the parking time. When a user wants to leave the parking lot, they must pay at the parking lot's payment booth before leaving. In this payment system, users must walk to the payment booth, check the parking fee, select the payment method themselves, and complete the payment.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a parking fee payment method in which vehicle information is acquired at a parking lot, an order waiting for payment is generated based on the vehicle information, and the fee is debited from an ETC account associated with the license plate number included in the order, after which the vehicle can pass through.

[0004] Patent document 2 discloses a vehicle traffic identification device including a first image capture device, a license plate detection module, a license plate recognition module, a second image capture device, a face recognition module, a vehicle information storage module, and a parking fee calculation module. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Chinese Patent Application Publication No. 111179446 [Patent Document 2] Chinese Utility Model No. 210777138 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, if there are a large number of people or if users are unfamiliar with the operation of the checkout station, long queues may form in front of the checkout station.

[0007] In addition, the communication speed of the clearing house's network also affects the user's payment efficiency. The longer it takes to pay, the longer it takes for the user to leave the parking lot, which indirectly affects the parking lot's turnover rate.

[0008] Therefore, the present inventors believed that the above drawbacks could be improved, and after extensive research, they came up with the present invention, which effectively improves the above issues through rational design.

[0009] The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a parking fee payment system. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention adopts the following measures. A parking fee payment system according to one aspect of the present invention includes an image recognition device, a parking area app, and a parking area server. The image recognition device may be a camera or a monitoring device (e.g., an AI camera) with computing and network connection capabilities, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The image recognition device is installed in a parking area and photographs and identifies the vehicle's license plate number when the vehicle approaches the parking area, and provides the license plate number to the parking area server. The parking area app is installed on an electronic device and associates the license plate number with a pre-approval for a financial transaction used for parking fee payment. The parking area server is connected to the image recognition device and verifies whether the pre-approval for a financial transaction associated with the vehicle license plate number is valid when the vehicle approaches the parking area. If the pre-approval for a financial transaction is verified as valid, the server associates the validity verification result with the license plate number. When the image recognition device detects that the vehicle is leaving the parking area, if the parking area server confirms that the license plate number of the vehicle is linked to a valid verification result, the server uses the pre-approval for a financial transaction associated with the license plate number to request payment of the parking fee from a financial institution.

[0011] At least the following points will become clear from the description and drawings to be described later. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram illustrating a parking fee payment system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for paying parking fees according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 is a flowchart illustrating an invoice uploading mechanism by a parking area server according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional optical fiber cable; FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a conventional optical fiber cable;

[0014] To improve upon the conventional parking fee payment system, the parking fee payment system and method of the present invention are applicable to parking areas where users pay a fee, such as large parking lots or single parking spaces, and also to various transportation vehicles, such as transportation means with license plates that allow user identification.

[0015] 1 is a block diagram showing a parking fee payment system according to one embodiment of the present invention. The parking fee payment system includes a parking area application 11, an image recognition device 12, and a parking area server 13. The parking area server 13 is connected to both the parking area application 11 and the image recognition device 12. Each component will be described below.

[0016] The parking area app 11 is installed on a user's electronic device, such as a mobile device, a personal laptop, a tablet, etc. The electronic device executes the parking area app 11 to perform at least operations related to parking fee payment.

[0017] The parking area application 11 is provided by a parking area company or a company that has the authority to manage the parking area on behalf of the company.

[0018] One of the improvements to the payment mechanism of the present invention is that the user can run the parking area application 11 at any time to link the number with the pre-authorization of the financial transaction used to pay the parking fee.

[0019] For example, a user may register a personal account with the parking area app 11 and clear account verification. The parking area app 11 then provides the user with an interface for linking the number to a financial transaction payment, including, but not limited to, a credit card (Visa / Master Card / JCB), a bank account debit (linking to a bank account for automatic debit), an electronic wallet (Easy Wallet / LINE Pay / JKOPAY), a mobile payment (Apple Pay / Google Pay / Samsung Pay), or a microtransaction provided by a telecommunications carrier (Chunghwa Telecom / Far EasTone Telecommunications / Taiwan Mobile).

[0020] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a user can enter their license plate number and financial transaction payment through the interface of the parking area app 11, and save the input after completion to complete the linking with the pre-approval of the financial transaction.

[0021] According to another embodiment of the present invention, when linking the pre-approval of the financial transaction, the parking area app 11 performs a pre-verification of the financial transaction payment. After the verification is completed, the parking area app 11 completes the linking of the license plate number with the pre-approval of the financial transaction. This pre-approval of the financial transaction is used for subsequent automatic deductions of parking fee payments, as will be described in more detail below.

[0022] The image recognition device 12 of the parking fee payment system is installed in the parking area, for example, at the entrance / exit point of the parking lot or next to a single parking space (any position where a license plate can be photographed when a vehicle enters the parking space). When a user drives a vehicle to the parking area, the image recognition device 12 photographs the vehicle's license plate and performs image recognition to obtain the number.

[0023] When the vehicle reaches the outside of the parking area (the position before entering the parking space), the image recognition device 12 identifies the license plate number and transmits it to the parking area server 13. The parking area server 13 obtains pre-approval for the financial transaction based on the license plate number and verifies whether the pre-approval for the linked financial transaction is valid.

[0024] The parking area server 13 verifies whether the pre-authorization for the linked financial transaction is valid as follows: For example, if the user selects credit card debit, the parking area server 13 connects to the server of a financial institution or financial service platform via an API (application program interface) and performs a small-amount debit test on the credit card number entered by the user to verify that the linked credit card is valid (e.g., debit 1 yuan and then refund 1 yuan to the user's credit card balance). If the user selects bank account debit, the parking area server 13 requests connection to the user's personal online banking or the use of electronic authentication to verify that the bank account is the user's personal account and has sufficient balance (e.g., verify that the balance is more than NT$500).

[0025] The parking area server 13 verifies the pre-approval of the financial transaction, and if a valid verification result is obtained, associates the valid verification result with the license plate number, stores the result of association, and uses push technology to display on the parking area app 11 that the smart payment process will be used for this transaction. If the parking area server 13 verifies that the pre-approval of the financial transaction is invalid, it displays on the parking area app 11 that the traditional payment process will be used for this transaction. In this case, the parking area app 11 may provide the user with a selection option to re-associate the pre-approval of the financial transaction with the license plate number using another payment method, and if the parking area server 13 performs the re-verification and obtains a valid verification result, it displays on the parking area app 11 that the smart payment process will be used for this transaction.

[0026] Alternatively, if the parking area server 13 verifies that the pre-authorization of the financial transaction is valid, the parking area app 11 may display payment options. The payment options include a smart payment process based on the pre-authorization of the financial transaction associated with the valid verification result, and a traditional payment process. The user selects the payment process to be used for the transaction, and the parking area app 11 returns the selection result to the parking area server 13. If the selection result is a traditional payment process, the parking area server 13 does not perform the process of linking the valid verification result with the license plate number, or cancels the linking after it has been established. Based on the user's selection result, the parking area server 13 performs the corresponding debit process when the user attempts to leave the parking area, or verifies whether the payment has been completed.

[0027] A smart payment process refers, for example, to the parking area server 13 performing an automatic debit with pre-authorization of the associated financial transaction when the user is about to leave the parking area.

[0028] The conventional payment process involves, for example, checking the parking fee at the payment booth, selecting the payment method by yourself, and then completing the payment.

[0029] The user clicks on the payment option and selects the smart payment process or the traditional payment process as the parking fee payment method. If the user selects the smart payment process, the parking area server 13 will directly execute the automatic deduction when the vehicle is about to leave the parking area. If the user selects the traditional payment process, the vehicle cannot leave the parking area unless the payment is first completed at the checkout.

[0030] Once the parking area application 11 has completed linking the number with the pre-approval of the financial transaction used to pay the parking fee, it uploads the linking result to the parking area server 13. As a result, when the image recognition device 12 identifies the number and transmits it to the parking area server 13, the parking area server 13 can verify the pre-approval of the financial transaction related to the number and confirm whether the pre-approval of the financial transaction is valid enough to complete the payment.

[0031] When a user attempts to enter a parking area, the image recognition device 12 completes the identification of the license plate and then allows the vehicle to enter and park (e.g., opens the parking gate), and at the same time notifies the parking area server 13 to verify the pre-approval of the financial transaction and record the time of the vehicle's entry. In other words, whether the verification result of the pre-approval of the financial transaction is valid does not affect the vehicle's use of the parking lot.

[0032] In a situation where a smart payment process is adopted, when a vehicle is about to leave a parking area, the image recognition device 12 identifies the vehicle's license plate number and provides it to the parking area server 13. The parking area server 13 calculates the vehicle's parking time and the amount of parking fee to be paid based on the license plate number's entry time and departure time. Next, the parking area server 13 checks whether the license plate number is associated with a valid verification result, and if so, uses the pre-authorization of financial transactions related to the license plate number to request payment of the parking fee from the financial institution.

[0033] When the parking area server 13 confirms that the payment has been completed, it controls the gate to open so that the vehicle can leave the parking area.

[0034] 2 is a flowchart showing a parking fee payment method according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is implemented by the parking fee payment system of FIG.

[0035] In step S20, the parking area application 11 performs a link between the vehicle number and the pre-approval of the financial transaction used to pay the parking fee.

[0036] In step S21, the image recognition device 12 photographs and identifies the license plate number of the vehicle.

[0037] In step S22, the parking area server 13 verifies pre-authorization of the financial transaction.

[0038] In step S23, the parking area server 13 verifies the pre-approval of the financial transaction and then determines whether a valid verification result is obtained. If it is determined that a valid verification result is obtained, it executes step S24; if not, it executes step S27.

[0039] In step S24, the valid verification result is linked to the number.

[0040] In step S25, the vehicle enters the parking area and the parking time starts to be counted.

[0041] In step S26, before the vehicle leaves the parking area, the parking area server 13 calculates the parking fee payment amount and verifies whether the license plate number is associated with a valid verification result, and if so, uses the pre-authorization of financial transactions associated with the license plate number to bill the financial institution for the parking fee payment.

[0042] In step S27, the parking area application 11 notifies the user of the verification failure and indicates to the user that the parking fee needs to be paid via a conventional payment process when leaving the parking area.

[0043] FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating an invoice uploading mechanism by a parking area server according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] 3, the parking fee payment system further comprises an invoice server 31. The invoice server 31 is connected to the parking area server 13. The invoice server 31 includes an invoice database 311.

[0045] 1 and 2, once the parking area server 13 confirms that payment has been completed, it receives an original invoice corresponding to the parking fee payment from a connected electronic invoice system (not shown). The electronic invoice system is an invoice system that is built and maintained by the company itself, and issues an original invoice after the transaction is completed.

[0046] The parking area server 13 uploads the original invoice to the invoice server 31. The invoice server 31 is a server built by the company itself.

[0047] The invoice server 31 converts the original invoice into an XML invoice (i.e., an invoice in Extensible Markup Language (XML) format), and stores and retains the XML invoice in the invoice database 311 .

[0048] The invoice server 31 uploads the XML invoice to the invoice relay station 33 via File Transfer Protocol (FTP). The invoice relay station 33 is an intermediary storage point between the invoice server 31 and the Treasury server 35. If the Treasury server 35 does not successfully return the information, the invoice relay station 33 transmits it again.

[0049] The invoice relay station 33 uploads the XML invoice to a Treasury server 35 via a Treasury invoice transmission platform 34, such as the Turnkey platform.

[0050] The Treasury server 35 checks the accuracy of the XML invoice and returns the accuracy information of the XML invoice (e.g., invoice upload success, invoice format error, validation failure, etc.) and writes it to the Treasury invoice transmission platform 34.

[0051] The invoice relay station 33 receives the accuracy information of the XML invoice via the Ministry of Finance invoice transmission platform 34 and returns it to the invoice database 311 of the invoice server 31. At this time, the XML invoice containing the accuracy information is returned to the invoice database 311.

[0052] In this way, the invoice server 31 can self-manage all invoices issued.

[0053] In summary, the parking fee payment system and method of the present invention use a parking area app to link the license plate number with pre-authorization for financial transactions in advance. Before a vehicle enters the parking area, the pre-authorization for financial transactions is verified and the valid verification result is linked to the license plate number. This allows the financial institution to directly request payment for parking fees when the vehicle is about to leave the parking area. This solves the problems of long lines waiting for verification at the gate when a vehicle is about to leave the parking area, or the inability to withdraw funds, which forces drivers to get out of the vehicle and pay using traditional payment methods. This significantly improves the efficiency of vehicles leaving the parking area.

[0054] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means devised in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 11 Parking Area App 12 Image recognition device 13 Parking Area Server 31 Invoice Server 311 Invoice Database 33 Invoice Relay Station 34 Ministry of Finance Invoice Transmission Platform 35 Ministry of Finance Server Steps S20~S27

Claims

1. an image recognition device that is installed in a parking area and photographs and identifies the license plate number of a vehicle when the vehicle reaches the parking area; a parking area application installed on an electronic device and performing the linking of said number with a pre-authorization of a financial transaction used to pay for parking; a parking area server that is connected to the image recognition device and that verifies whether the pre-approval of the financial transaction is valid when the vehicle reaches the parking area, and if the pre-approval of the financial transaction is valid, associates the verification result of validity with the number; A parking fee payment system characterized in that before the vehicle attempts to leave the parking area, the parking area server checks whether the number is linked to the valid verification result, and if it confirms that it is linked, it uses pre-authorization of the financial transaction related to the number to request payment of the parking fee from a financial institution.

2. 2. The parking fee payment system of claim 1, wherein when the parking area server verifies that the pre-authorization of the financial transaction is valid, the parking area app displays payment options, the payment options including a smart payment process with pre-authorization of the financial transaction associated with the number, and a traditional payment process.

3. 2. The parking fee payment system of claim 1, wherein if the parking area server verifies that the pre-authorization for the financial transaction is invalid, the parking area app displays payment options, the payment options including a traditional payment process.

4. 2. The parking fee payment system of claim 1, wherein the operation by the parking area server to verify whether pre-approval of the financial transaction is valid includes verifying whether pre-approval of the financial transaction is valid by pre-debiting a credit card or checking a bank account balance.

5. 2. The parking fee payment system of claim 1, further comprising an invoice server connected to the parking area server, wherein after the parking area server bills a financial institution for the parking fee payment using pre-approval of the financial transaction related to the number, the parking area server receives an original invoice corresponding to the parking fee payment from a connected electronic invoice system and uploads the original invoice to the invoice server.

6. 6. The parking fee payment system according to claim 5, wherein the invoice server converts the original invoice into an XML invoice and stores the XML invoice in an invoice database of the invoice server.

7. 6. The parking fee payment system of claim 5, further comprising an invoice relay station connected to the invoice server, the invoice relay station being used to receive the XML invoice transmitted from the invoice server and upload the XML invoice to the Ministry of Finance server via the Ministry of Finance invoice transmission platform.

8. 8. The parking fee payment system of claim 7, wherein the Treasury server checks the accuracy of the XML invoice and generates accuracy information.

9. 9. The parking fee payment system of claim 8, wherein the invoice relay station receives the accuracy information returned from the Ministry of Finance server via the Ministry of Finance invoice transmission platform, transmits the accuracy information to the invoice database of the invoice server, and stores the XML invoice containing the accuracy information in the invoice database.

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