A program executed by a computer of a user's communication device to reserve a parking space

Abstract

To provide a technology for managing parking lots using a user's communication device having a positioning function.SOLUTION: A management server 50 in a system for managing a plurality of parking lots 20 transmits parking lot position data representing the position of each of the parking lots and image data representing an image of each of the parking lots to a communication device 90 of a user (S203). Based on the parking lot position data, the communication device 90 selects some of the plurality of parking lots that are positioned in a prescribed area with respect to the current position positioned by a positioning unit of the communication device as a small number of candidate parking lots and displays the small number of candidate parking lots on a screen of the communication device (S104). When the user performs an operation for selecting any of the small number of candidate parking lots on the screen of the communication device, the management server 50 receives data for specifying the any of the candidate parking lots as a designated parking lot from the communication device (S204). The communication device 90 displays an image of the designated parking lot on the screen of the communication device based on image data associated with the designated parking lot.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 13

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technology for managing parking lots using users' communication devices equipped with positioning functions. , technology for managing parking lots using a user's communication device, technology for managing parking lots using a password or authentication code, technology for managing parking lots using password verification or authentication code verification, and / or technology for enabling a user to reserve parking in a parking lot online. This is regarding. [Background technology]

[0002] As for types of parking lots, which are spatial regions for parking, there are parking lots that are used continuously by the same user and parking lots that are used irregularly by different users.

[0003] The latter type of parking lot includes a parking lot for visitors to a facility (e.g., guests, contractors). Examples of this type of parking lot include a parking lot (e.g., a visitor parking lot) that is installed in association with an apartment complex where multiple rooms are gathered in one building (including, for example, a form in which multiple homes exist independently of each other on the same site, and a collective housing complex (e.g., an apartment building) where multiple homes exist in the same building), a parking lot that is installed in association with a commercial facility (e.g., a store, an exhibition center, an accommodation facility, etc.) for visitors to the commercial facility, and a parking lot that is installed in association with a public facility (e.g., a city hall, a gymnasium, a museum, an art gallery, a school, a station, an airport, etc.) for visitors to the public facility.

[0004] There is already a need to manage parking lots so that only visitors who have been pre-authorized by the facility can park there. One example of a technology that may meet this need is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,399,363.

[0005] Patent Document 1 discloses technology for managing facilities in common areas of apartment complexes and other collective housing (e.g., doors, elevators, parcel lockers, multi-storey parking lots, etc.; hereinafter referred to as "shared facilities") so that they can only be used by residents or visitors who have been authorized in advance, provided that the facilities have keys that can be unlocked and locked remotely and electronically.

[0006] Specifically, according to the disclosed technology, a person wishing to use a shared facility carries a general-purpose IC card on which unique serial number information is recorded, and the hardware used includes a reading device that is installed in the shared facility and reads the serial number information from the IC card, and an authentication management device that authenticates the IC card based on the serial number information received from the reading device, and if successful, permits use of the shared facility and remotely and electronically unlocks the key to the shared facility. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-8392 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] This technology makes it possible to manage the use of shared facilities without human intervention. However, this technology requires the use of multiple pieces of hardware to manage the use of shared facilities: a key that can be remotely and electronically unlocked and locked, a reader, and an authentication management device. Therefore, minimizing the number of such dedicated hardware items used is useful in reducing the costs required to operate this type of management (for example, the cost of purchasing equipment, labor costs for maintenance and inspection, etc.).

[0009] Meanwhile, the present inventors have conducted various studies on technology for managing parking lots so that only visitors who have been approved in advance by the facility (e.g., by those involved in the facility, such as residents in the facility, users of the facility, the owner of the facility, employees of the facility, operators of the facility, and managers of the facility) are allowed to park in the parking lot. As a result, the present inventors have realized that it is desirable and possible to perform this type of management using as few pieces of hardware as possible, whether dedicated or general-purpose.

[0010] Furthermore, the inventors have also conducted various studies on technology that enables online reservation of parking in general parking lots that are not attached to any particular facility.

[0011] In light of these circumstances, the present invention provides a technology for managing parking lots using communication devices of users that have a positioning function. , technology for managing parking lots using a user's communication device, technology for managing parking lots using a password or authentication code, technology for managing parking lots using password verification or authentication code verification, and / or technology for enabling a user to reserve parking in a parking lot online. This was undertaken with the objective of providing the following: [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] In order to solve the problem, according to one aspect of the present invention, A program executed by a computer of a user's communication device for reserving one of a plurality of parking lots online as a parking lot that the user wishes to use before entering the parking lot, the program comprising: The communication device has a plurality of functions, A receiving function for receiving parking lot data from a management server, the parking lot data including parking lot position data representing a position of each of the plurality of parking lots being associated with each of the plurality of parking lots; a first display function that selects, based on the parking lot position data received from the management server, from among the plurality of parking lots, those that are located within a predetermined area relative to the current location determined by the positioning unit of the communication device as a small number of candidate parking lots, and displays the selected small number of candidate parking lots on the screen of the communication device in a state in which they are overlaid on a map, and if a corresponding candidate parking lot has an available parking space, displays the selected small number of candidate parking lots together with a first mark indicating this on the screen of the communication device; a second display function that, when the user performs a parking lot selection operation on the screen of the communication device to select one of the small number of candidate parking lots, displays on the screen of the communication device a plurality of candidate parking spaces in the selected candidate parking lot as images, together with a second mark indicating that the corresponding candidate parking space is vacant; a transmission function for transmitting parking lot / car room identification data for identifying one of the candidate parking lots and one of the selected candidate car rooms to the management server when the user performs a car room selection operation on the screen of the communication device to select one of the multiple candidate car rooms; Including, The management server identifies the parking lot and vehicle space selected by the user based on the parking lot / vehicle space identifying data received from the communication device, and reserves the parking lot and vehicle space for the user; A program executed to realize the functions. is provided.

[0028] The present invention provides the following embodiments. Each embodiment is divided into clauses, each clause is numbered, and other clause numbers are cited as necessary. This is to facilitate understanding of some of the technical features that the present invention may employ and their combinations, and should not be construed as limiting the technical features and combinations that the present invention may employ to the following embodiments. In other words, it should be construed that technical features that are not described in the following embodiments but are described in this specification may be appropriately extracted and employed as technical features of the present invention.

[0029] Furthermore, describing each section in a form that refers to the number of other sections does not necessarily mean that the technical features described in each section are prevented from being separated and made independent from the technical features described in other sections, and it should be interpreted that the technical features described in each section can be made independent as appropriate depending on their nature.

[0030] (1) A parking management system that manages a parking lot so that only visitors who have been approved in advance by a facility can park in the parking lot designated by the facility, A transmitter installed in a designated parking lot designated by the facility, which transmits an identification signal representing a unique authorized transmitter code, and the identification signal can be received by a mobile terminal of the visitor in the designated parking lot via a short-distance communication method; a regular authentication code issuing unit that issues a unique regular authentication code in response to a request from the facility, and the issued regular authentication code is ultimately notified to the visitor; an entry permission unit that permits entry of the visitor into the designated parking lot when a plurality of conditions are satisfied, the conditions including a condition that the real authentication code input into the visitor's mobile terminal matches the authorized authentication code, and a condition that a real transmitter code represented by an identification signal received from the transmitter at the designated parking lot when the visitor's mobile terminal enters the designated parking lot matches the authorized transmitter code; Parking management system including.

[0031] (2) A parking management system as described in (1), in which, when the genuine authentication code is issued, the genuine authentication code is notified to the visitor via the facility.

[0032] (3) further comprising a regular authentication code invalidation unit that invalidates the regular authentication code when a predetermined time has elapsed from a reference time, The parking management system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the regular authentication code issuing unit does not issue another regular authentication code for the designated parking lot while the regular authentication code is valid.

[0033] (4) A parking management system as described in (3), wherein the reference time includes the issuance time when the genuine authentication code was issued.

[0034] (5) A parking lot management system as described in any of (1) to (4), in which, when the genuine authentication code issuing unit issues the genuine authentication code, it associates the genuine authentication code with the corresponding genuine transmitter code and stores it in memory, thereby establishing a relationship between the genuine authentication code and the genuine transmitter code in such a way that they can be uniquely derived from each other.

[0035] (6) A parking lot management method for managing a parking lot so that only visitors who have been approved in advance by a facility may park in the parking lot designated by the facility, comprising the steps of: The parking lot management method includes: A mobile terminal of the visitor; A transmitter installed in a designated parking lot designated by the facility, which transmits an identification signal representing a unique authorized transmitter code, and the identification signal can be received by a mobile terminal of the visitor in the designated parking lot via a short-distance communication method; Management server and This is carried out using The parking lot management method includes: a genuine authentication code issuing step of issuing a unique genuine authentication code in response to a request from the facility, the issued genuine authentication code being ultimately notified to the visitor; an entry permission step in which the management server permits entry of the visitor into the designated parking lot when a plurality of conditions are satisfied, the conditions including a condition that the real authentication code input into the mobile terminal of the visitor matches the authorized authentication code and a condition that a real transmitter code represented by an identification signal received from the transmitter at the designated parking lot when the mobile terminal of the visitor enters the designated parking lot matches the authorized transmitter code; A parking lot management method comprising:

[0036] (7) A program executed by the computer of the visitor's mobile terminal to implement the visitor's mobile terminal described in paragraph (6).

[0037] Throughout this specification, the term "program" may be interpreted to mean, for example, but not limited to, a combination of instructions that are executed by a computer to perform a function, and may also include not only such a combination of instructions, but also the files and data that are processed in accordance with each instruction.

[0038] Furthermore, this program may be executed by a computer alone to achieve the intended purpose, or may be executed by a computer together with other programs to achieve the intended purpose, but is not limited thereto. In the latter case, the program according to this section may be, but is not limited to, one that mainly consists of data.

[0039] (8) A program executed by the management server computer to implement the management server described in (6).

[0040] (9) A recording medium having the program described in (7) or (8) recorded thereon in a computer-readable manner.

[0041] Throughout this specification, the term "recording medium" may be interpreted to mean various types of recording medium, including, but not limited to, magnetic recording media such as floppy disks, optical recording media such as CDs and CD-ROMs, magneto-optical recording media such as MOs, and non-removable storage media such as ROMs.

[0042] (10) A parking management system as described in (1), in which the authentic authentication code is valid only for one parking session by the visitor.

[0043] (11) the visitor's mobile device displays an input screen to assist the visitor in inputting the real authentication code; The parking lot management system described in paragraph (1), wherein the entry permission unit does not permit entry unless the actual authentication code is entered into the visitor's mobile terminal within a predetermined first time limit from the start time of displaying the input screen or a time related thereto.

[0044] (12) The parking lot management system according to claim 1, further comprising a first expiration unit that expires the genuine authentication code when a second predetermined time limit has elapsed from the time when the genuine authentication code was issued by the genuine authentication code issuing unit or a time related thereto.

[0045] (13) The parking lot management system described in paragraph (1) further includes a second expiration unit that expires the genuine authentication code when a predetermined third time limit has elapsed from the time when the visitor enters the real authentication code into the visitor's mobile terminal to transmit the real authentication code to the entry permission unit via the visitor's mobile terminal or a time related thereto.

[0046] (14) The device further includes an exit permission unit that permits the visitor to exit the designated parking lot when at least one condition is satisfied, the condition including a condition that an actual transmitter code represented by an identification signal received from the transmitter at the designated parking lot matches the genuine transmitter code when the visitor's mobile terminal exits the designated parking lot. (1) term A parking management system as described in the above.

[0047] (15) The parking lot management system described in paragraph (1) further includes a management list creation unit that creates a management list for each of a plurality of parking spaces in the designated parking lot, the management list reflecting the usage history of each parking space based on signals received from the visitor's mobile terminal when the visitor enters and leaves the parking lot.

[0048] (16) A parking management system as described in paragraph (15), in which the authentic authentication code issuing unit determines whether or not there is a vacant space in the designated parking lot based on the management list, and if it is determined that there is no vacant space, does not issue the authentic authentication code.

[0049] (17) The facility includes an apartment building occupied by more than one person, The visitor includes a visitor to any resident of the apartment complex; A parking management system as described in (1) above, in which a resident of one of the apartment buildings determines the designated parking lot and issues the request to the official authentication code issuing unit.

[0050] (18) The authorized authentication code does not expire if the visitor completes the entry operation before a predetermined second time limit has elapsed from the time when the visitor inputs the real authentication code into the visitor's mobile terminal in order to transmit the real authentication code to the entry permission unit via the visitor's mobile terminal or a time related thereto. However, the authorized authentication code expires if the second time limit has elapsed before the entry operation is completed. (1) term A parking management system as described in the above.

[0051] (19) A parking lot management system as described in paragraph (1), in which the genuine authentication code does not expire if a visitor completes a specified action related to entry before a specified third time limit has elapsed from the time the genuine authentication code is issued by the genuine authentication code issuing unit or a time related thereto, but the genuine authentication code expires if the third time limit has elapsed before the completion of the action.

[0052] (20) A parking management system that manages a parking lot so that a user can reserve parking in the parking lot, comprising: a transmitter installed in the parking lot, which transmits an identification signal representing a unique regular transmitter code, the identification signal being capable of being received by the user's mobile terminal in the parking lot via a short-distance communication method; a password issuing unit that issues a unique authorized password in response to a request from the user or another person and registers the password in a memory; an entry permission unit that permits the user to enter the parking lot when a plurality of conditions are satisfied, including a condition that the real password input to the mobile terminal of the user is authenticated and a condition that a real transmitter code represented by an identification signal received from the transmitter at the parking lot when the mobile terminal of the user enters the parking lot is authenticated; Parking management system including.

[0053] (21) A parking lot management system as described in paragraph (20), in which, when the password issuing unit issues the genuine password, it associates the genuine password with the corresponding genuine transmitter code and stores the password in memory, thereby establishing a relationship between the genuine password and the genuine transmitter code in such a way that they can be uniquely derived from each other.

[0054] (22) The parking lot management system according to claim (20), further comprising a password expiration unit that expires the password when a predetermined time limit has elapsed from a reference time.

[0055] (23) The parking lot management system described in (22) further includes a display unit that calculates a scheduled expiration time when the password is scheduled to expire and displays the scheduled expiration time on the screen of the user's mobile terminal.

[0056] (24) A parking lot management system according to claim 22, wherein the reference time is the time when the password is issued.

[0057] (25) The parking lot includes a plurality of parking spaces; A parking management system as described in claim 20, wherein the password is unique to a designated one of the parking spaces.

[0058] (26) A parking lot management system as described in (20), wherein the transmitter is used commonly to the multiple vehicle compartments.

[0059] (27) The warehousing permission unit determines that the password is valid if the password exists in the memory, and determines that the password has expired if the password does not exist in the memory, The parking lot management system according to claim 22, wherein the password expiration unit records in the memory a state in which the password has expired by clearing the password in the memory.

[0060] (28) a status flag is present in the memory, the status flag being in a different state when the password is in a valid state and when the password is in an invalid state; The entry permission unit determines whether the password is valid or expired based on a state of the status flag, The parking lot management system described in claim (22), wherein the password expiration unit records in the memory that the password has expired by changing the state of the status flag in the memory to indicate that the password has expired.

[0061] (29) A parking management system as described in paragraph (20), wherein the password, when the password is valid, functions to permit the user to reserve parking in the parking lot while excluding other users from reserving parking in the same parking lot.

[0062] (30) A parking lot management method for managing a parking lot so that a user can reserve parking in the parking lot online, comprising the steps of: The parking lot management method includes: A mobile terminal of the user; a transmitter installed in the parking lot, which transmits an identification signal representing a unique regular transmitter code, the identification signal being capable of being received by the user's mobile terminal in the parking lot via a short-distance communication method; Management server and This is carried out using The parking lot management method includes: a password issuing / expiring step in which the mobile terminal of the user or the management server issues a unique password in response to a request from the user or another person, registers the password in a memory, and expires the password when a predetermined time limit has elapsed from a reference time; an entry permission step of permitting the user to enter the parking lot when a plurality of conditions are satisfied, including a condition that a password input to the mobile terminal of the user is authenticated and a condition that a transmitter code represented by an identification signal received from the transmitter at the parking lot when the mobile terminal of the user enters the parking lot is authenticated; A parking lot management method comprising:

[0063] (31) The parking lot management system described in paragraph (3) further includes a notification unit that, when the genuine authentication code is issued, notifies the occupant of the time when the genuine authentication code is scheduled to expire or the time remaining until that time.

[0064] (32) The parking lot management system described in (22) further includes a notification unit that, when the password is issued, notifies the user via the user's mobile terminal of the time when the password is scheduled to expire or the time remaining until that time. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0065] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view that shows a parking lot managed by a parking lot management system according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, together with apartment buildings and roads installed in the surrounding area. [Diagram 2] Figure 2 is an oblique view showing an example of communication between a transmitter installed in a parking lot, a mobile terminal of a visitor in the parking lot, a mobile terminal of a resident of the apartment building, and a management server in a management center located in a remote location in the parking lot management system. [Diagram 3]FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing long-distance two-way communication between a visitor's mobile terminal shown in FIG. 2 and a resident's mobile terminal shown in the same figure, and long-distance two-way communication between the resident's mobile terminal and the management server shown in the same figure. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing short-distance one-way communication between the transmitter shown in FIG. 2 and a visitor's mobile terminal shown in the same figure, and long-distance two-way communication between the mobile terminal and the management server shown in the same figure. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram conceptually showing the transmitter shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart conceptually illustrating an example of a program executed by the computer of the transmitter shown in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view showing the transmitter shown in FIG. 2 together with the parking lot in which the transmitter is installed, and conceptually showing the receivable area and effective reception area assigned to the transmitter. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram conceptually showing what is common between the visitor's mobile terminal and the resident's mobile terminal shown in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram conceptually showing the management server shown in FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram conceptually showing the mobile terminal of the resident shown in FIG. 2, the management server shown in the same figure, the mobile terminal of the visitor shown in the same figure, and the transmitter shown in the same figure. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram showing a plurality of records stored in the memory (internal memory or external memory) of the management server shown in FIG. 9, including general parking lot records and resident / guest parking lot records. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram showing how the resident / guest parking lot record shown in FIG. 11 is made up of multiple files. [Figure 13]Figure 13 is a flowchart showing a password issuance / reservation sequence (password issuance / reservation program) that chronologically illustrates an example of communication between a resident's mobile terminal and the management server in the parking lot management system so that the resident can have the management server issue a password in advance to allow a visitor to park, and an example of communication between the resident's mobile terminal and the visitor's mobile terminal so that the resident can send the issued password to the visitor. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a number of snapshots for explaining the password issuing and reserving sequence shown in FIG. 13 in chronological order. [Figure 15] Figure 15 is a flowchart showing an entry sequence (entry program) that chronologically illustrates an example of communication that takes place between a transmitter, a visitor's mobile terminal, and a management server in order to start parking immediately after a visitor enters a parking lot in the parking lot management system. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a screen transition diagram for explaining the warehousing sequence shown in FIG. 15 in chronological order. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is an additional screen transition diagram for explaining the warehousing sequence shown in FIG. 15 in chronological order. [Figure 18] Figure 18 is a flowchart showing an exit sequence (exit program) that chronologically illustrates an example of communication between a transmitter, a visitor's mobile terminal, and the management server just before a visitor leaves a parking lot in the parking lot management system. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a screen transition diagram for explaining the retrieval sequence shown in FIG. 18 in chronological order. [Figure 20] FIG. 20(a) is a time chart showing a first scenario for explaining the function of the password in FIG. 2, and FIG. 20(b) is a time chart showing a second scenario for explaining the function. [Figure 21]FIG. 21 is an additional flowchart for explaining the part of the password issue / reservation sequence (password issue / reservation program) shown in FIG. 13 that controls the valid / invalid state of the password over time. [Figure 22] FIG. 22(a) is a time chart showing a first scenario for explaining the function of a password in a parking management system according to an exemplary second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 22(b) is a time chart showing a second scenario for explaining the function. [Diagram 23] FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating a concept common to the above-described embodiments for determining whether or not entry is permitted. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0066] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, some exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0067] First Embodiment

[0068] First, referring to Fig. 1, a parking management system (hereinafter, simply referred to as "system") 10 according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described. The system 10 centrally manages a plurality of geographically distributed parking lots 20. The system 10 is designed to implement a parking management method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0069] <Parking lot classification>

[0070] There are two types of parking lots 20:

[0071] 1. A typical parking lot that is set up separately from other facilities

[0072] (1) This parking lot can be used by anyone who is a member of the parking service provided by this system 10 (hereinafter simply referred to as a "member").

[0073] (2) The parking service is a time-based parking service without reservation.

[0074] 2. Parking lots for residents and visitors that are attached to the facility (shared facilities for the facility)

[0075] (1) This parking lot is available to members who are residents of apartment complex 22 (residents, the management association, the resident management company, and other related parties to apartment complex 22) and members who are visitors (acquaintances, friends, business people, etc.).

[0076] (2) The form of parking service shall be monthly parking service for residents and hourly parking service with reservation using a password for visitors.

[0077] (3) In this embodiment, the method of payment for the parking fee is a post-payment system in which the person who should pay the parking fee (the resident or visitor) pays the parking fee in an amount corresponding to the actual length of parking time when the visitor leaves the parking lot. However, a pre-payment system in which the parking fee is paid in an amount corresponding to the expected length of parking time when the visitor enters the parking lot may also be used.

[0078] <Parking lot configuration>

[0079] 1 shows a shared parking lot 20, which is an example of a parking lot for residents and visitors and is attached to an apartment building 22, which is an example of a facility, as a shared facility for the apartment building 22. The shared parking lot 20 may be in the form of, for example, an outdoor parking lot, an indoor parking lot, an above-ground parking lot, an underground parking lot, a surface parking lot, a multi-story parking lot, etc. This shared parking lot 20 has multiple parking spaces within the same continuous site.

[0080] Here, a "space" refers to a two-dimensional or three-dimensional space allocated for one vehicle to be parked. Therefore, in any parking lot, the number of spaces corresponds to the number of vehicles that can be parked.

[0081] Herein, the term "vehicle" should be construed throughout the specification as including not only automobiles but also all kinds of moving objects such as bicycles, motorcycles, etc.

[0082] In this shared parking lot 20, each parking space can be selectively assigned to either a resident parking space 24 or a guest parking space 26 at the discretion of the residents (or management association) of the apartment complex 22.

[0083] As used herein, the term "parking space" refers to a vehicle compartment or a collection of vehicles compartments within a parking lot (eg, multiple vehicles adjacent to each other).

[0084] This shared parking lot 20 is unmanned. Furthermore, in order to reduce and simplify facilities, the shared parking lot 20 is not equipped with a gate device that opens and closes as appropriate to prevent unauthorized vehicles from leaving the parking lot through the entrance and exit gates of the shared parking lot 20, a car stopper device that protrudes from the ground and sinks into the ground as appropriate to prevent unauthorized vehicles from leaving the parking lot 20, nor a ticket issuing machine or payment machine that issues parking tickets to users of the shared parking lot 20 on the condition that they pay a parking fee.

[0085] <Outline of parking lot management method>

[0086] Generally, there are two types of management methods for multiple parking lots 20: an autonomous management method in which each parking lot 20 is managed autonomously (individually or self-containedly) using only the equipment installed in that parking lot 20, and a centralized management method in which the multiple parking lots 20 are managed centrally by communicating with a management server 50 (see FIG. 2) in a remote management center 40. In contrast, this system 10 employs the latter centralized management method.

[0087] First, to explain the basic hardware configuration, as shown in Figure 2, to realize this system 10, a transmitter 30 is installed in each parking lot 20, a management server 50 installed in a management center 40 that centrally manages multiple parking lots 20 or operated or used by the management center 40, mobile terminals 90 of resident users, and mobile terminals 90 of visitors are used.

[0088] The visitor's mobile terminal 90 is a device carried by the visitor and having a wireless communication function, such as a mobile phone, a smartphone, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, or a PDA.

[0089] The mobile terminal 90 of the resident is similar to the mobile terminal 90 of the visitor, but instead of the mobile terminal 90, the resident may use a communication device such as a personal computer that is not suitable for carrying.

[0090] Next, the basic software configuration (algorithm) will be described. The parking lot management method is executed to realize the system 10. The parking lot management method has several basic steps as follows.

[0091] 1. Official password issuance process

[0092] As shown in Fig. 2, this is a process in which management server 50 responds to a request from a resident of apartment complex 22 to give advance permission for a visitor (an example of a visitor) to enter a designated parking lot 20 designated by the resident, and issues a legitimate password (an example of a legitimate authentication code) assigned to the visitor that is unique to both the designated parking lot 20 and the transmitter 30 that is to be installed there. Here, the "password" may be a numeric string, a character string, or a combination of numbers and letters.

[0093] As shown in FIG. 3, in order to execute this official password issuing process, in this system 10, a resident uses his / her own mobile terminal 90 (or other communication device) to perform long-distance two-way wireless communication with a management server 50 in a management center 40.

[0094] <Password characteristics>

[0095] As described below, in order to manage multiple parking lots 20, there are general parking lot records and resident and guest parking lot records. The general parking lot records can be accessed by anyone who is a member of the parking service, whether that be a general member, a resident, or a guest. However, the resident and guest parking lot records can essentially only be accessed by residents.

[0096] In response, visitors are permitted to access the resident / guest parking records and use the resident / guest parking lots, provided they use the password provided by the resident.

[0097] In this embodiment, the password is a one-time password that is valid only for one parking session by a visitor. The password can be generated, for example, as a number (e.g., expressed in decimal, hexadecimal, or 36) that increments by a certain amount and returns to a minimum value when it reaches a maximum value, or it can be generated irregularly using a random number generator. In either case, the password is generated so that the same password will not be the same as at least the previous value among multiple past values ​​for the same parking space.

[0098] In addition, this password has two time limits.

[0099] (1) First Time Limit

[0100] If the visitor does not enter the password into the mobile terminal 90 within a first predetermined time limit after the visitor's mobile terminal 90 starts displaying an input screen (see FIG. 14(c)) that assists the visitor in entering the password, subsequent processing is terminated, and as a result, the visitor is not permitted to enter the facility.

[0101] In this way, if the visitor does not enter the password before the specified first time limit has elapsed from the time the input screen starts to be displayed, the visitor is deemed to have no intention of entering the facility, and, for example, the current communication between the mobile terminal 90 and the management server 50 is forcibly cut off.

[0102] (2) Second Time Limit

[0103] This password will expire when a predetermined second time limit (for example, 10 minutes, 1 hour, 6 hours, 12 hours, or 24 hours) has elapsed from the time the password was issued by the management server 50 (an example of a reference time). In other words, this password is a time-limited password, and the management server 50 (or the visitor's mobile terminal 90) has a first timer that starts counting up from the time the password was issued and times out when the second time limit has elapsed, expiring the password.

[0104] By the way, by using this password, the user can reserve a parking space, so the user does not have to worry that the designated parking space 20 may be full when a visitor arrives and cannot park there.

[0105] Furthermore, the presence of this password in memory 162 described below also indicates that the designated vehicle compartment has been previously booked, so that use of this password can prevent other guests from making duplicate reservations for the same designated vehicle compartment.

[0106] Incidentally, if the password is set to be always valid from the time the password is issued until the visitor completes the exit operation, the visitor may enter the designated parking lot 20 at any time. This expands the time range that the visitor can select as the entry time, improving usability for the visitor.

[0107] In this case, however, the parking lot manager cannot charge either visitors or residents for the designated parking space, and the designated parking space cannot be used by other people who wish to park there, so the parking space is left unused, which is economically disadvantageous for the parking lot manager.

[0108] In other words, what is an advantage for visitors becomes a disadvantage for the parking lot manager, and this second time limit exists as a measure to easily resolve this trade-off relationship.

[0109] This second time limit effectively forces the visitor to enter the designated parking space before the limited time has elapsed from the time the password was issued. If the visitor does not enter the designated parking space before the password expires, the password will expire before the visitor enters the parking space, effectively canceling the visitor's reservation. This penalizes the first visitor in the event that another visitor reserves the same parking space for a subsequent visitor.

[0110] On the other hand, if a visitor enters a designated parking space before the password expires, even if the password expires after entry and the visitor's reservation is effectively canceled, not only will the visitor appear to be occupying the designated parking space (the entry and exit times are recorded in the management list described below, and as a result, the presence or absence of a parked vehicle is monitored for each parking space), but other visitors will not be able to make a reservation for or actually enter the same parking space, because the visitor will physically occupy the designated parking space with their vehicle.

[0111] As a result, the period from the time the password is issued to the time the vehicle actually enters the designated parking space, i.e., the wasted period during which the visitor does not park and other visitors cannot reserve parking spaces, is shortened. This improves the utilization rate of the same parking space, which is economically advantageous for the parking lot manager.

[0112] FIG. 20 shows two scenarios to illustrate the effect of having this second time limit on a password.

[0113] FIG. 20(a) shows a first scenario in which the guest enters the password PW into his / her mobile terminal 90 within the second time limit, while FIG. 20(b) shows a second scenario in which the guest fails to enter the password within the time limit.

[0114] The following sequence of actions is common to these scenarios:

[0115] S1: A visitor (an acquaintance, friend, delivery person, moving company, repairman, salesperson, etc.) wishing to visit a resident will contact the resident by phone, email, etc. prior to the visit (for example, the day before or on the day, or just before arriving at the parking lot) to inform the resident that they would like to visit.

[0116] S2: In order to permit and reserve parking for a visitor in a designated parking space, the resident accesses the management server 50 from the mobile terminal 90 at a time earlier than the visitor's scheduled arrival time (for example, just before the scheduled arrival time) and requests the management server 50 to issue a unique password PW (password issuance and reservation sequence described below).

[0117] S3: The management server 50 issues a password PW and transmits it to the mobile terminal 90 of the resident (password issue and reservation sequence, described later).

[0118] S4: The resident informs the visitor of the password PW by telephone or e-mail, and the visitor receives the password PW, for example, near or inside the designated parking lot.

[0119] S5: The visitor enters the password PW into his / her mobile terminal 90.

[0120] S6: The visitor's mobile terminal 90 transmits the password PW to the management server 50.

[0121] The effect of the password PW is that in either scenario, during the validity period of the password PW, the presence of a valid password PW precludes another visitor from interrupting and reserving parking for the same parking space.

[0122] In the first scenario shown in Figure 20(a), the visitor enters the password PW into his / her mobile terminal 90 during the validity period of the password PW (S6), and then holds the mobile terminal 90 over the transmitter 30 to authenticate the ID of the transmitter 30 (S7), thereby completing the entry operation.

[0123] In this scenario, even after the second time limit has elapsed and the password PW has become invalid, it is possible to determine that the visitor has parked their vehicle in the designated parking space by referring to the management list described below (see Figure 12), so that other visitors are still prevented from reserving parking in the same space.

[0124] In contrast, in the second scenario shown in Fig. 20(b), the visitor neglects to input the password PW into his / her mobile terminal 90 during the validity period of the password PW. Therefore, even if the visitor parks a vehicle in the designated parking space after the second time limit has elapsed since the password PW was input and the password PW becomes invalid, this fact cannot be detected by referring to the management list. Therefore, there is a possibility that another visitor can reserve parking in the same parking space.

[0125] 2. Official password notification process

[0126] As shown in Figure 2, this is the process in which the resident notifies the visitor of the issued password in advance, either verbally, by telephone, email, SNS, or by other communication method (e.g., a communication method using a communication device such as a mobile terminal 90 or a personal computer).

[0127] In one example, as shown in FIG. 3, to execute this official password notification process, the resident uses his / her own mobile terminal 90 (or another information device) to perform long-distance two-way wireless communication with the visitor's mobile terminal 90.

[0128] 3. Identification signal receiving process

[0129] This is a process that enables a visitor's mobile terminal 90 to receive an identification signal from a transmitter 30 at a designated parking lot 20 when the visitor enters the designated parking lot 20, as shown in FIG.

[0130] As shown in FIG. 4, to execute this identification signal receiving process, in this system 10, a visitor holds or touches his / her mobile terminal 90 over a transmitter 30 installed in the parking lot 20 that the visitor is currently visiting, thereby receiving the above-mentioned identification signal from the transmitter 30 using his / her mobile terminal 90 via a short-range one-way wireless communication method.

[0131] 4. Actual password transmission process

[0132] This is a step in which the visitor inputs an actual password (an example of an actual authentication code) via his / her mobile terminal 90 and transmits it to the management server 50, as shown in FIG.

[0133] 5. Warehousing permission process

[0134] This is a process for permitting a visitor to enter the designated parking lot 20 when multiple conditions are met simultaneously, including the condition that the real password received from the visitor's mobile terminal 90 matches the legitimate password (password authentication is successful) and the condition that the real transmitter ID (an example of a real transmitter code) represented by the identification signal received by the visitor's mobile terminal 90 from the transmitter 30 matches the legitimate transmitter ID (an example of a legitimate transmitter code) corresponding to that transmitter 30 (transmitter ID authentication is successful).

[0135] As shown in FIG. 4, in order to execute this warehousing permission process, the visitor uses his / her mobile terminal 90 to perform long-distance two-way wireless communication with the management server 50 of the management center 40.

[0136] 6.Departure permission process

[0137] This is a process for allowing a visitor to leave a designated parking lot 20 when at least one condition is met, including the condition that, when the visitor's mobile terminal 90 leaves the designated parking lot 20, the actual transmitter code represented by the identification signal received from the transmitter 30 at the designated parking lot 20 matches the genuine transmitter code (transmitter ID authentication is successful).

[0138] As shown in FIG. 4, in order to execute this exit permission process, the visitor uses his / her mobile terminal 90 to perform long-distance two-way wireless communication with the management server 50 of the management center 40.

[0139] In this embodiment, the visitor is not required to enter the password into the mobile terminal 90 and undergo password authentication when leaving the warehouse, but the present invention may be implemented in such a manner that this is required.

[0140] <Transmitter>

[0141] In this embodiment, multiple vehicle compartments are installed in the same parking lot 20, and one transmitter 30 is used in common for these vehicle compartments. However, the present invention may also be implemented in a mode in which one transmitter 30 is used for each vehicle compartment.

[0142] Each transmitter 30 is configured to transmit an identification signal that indicates a transmitter ID (an example of the above-mentioned "transmitter code") that is unique to itself. Since one transmitter ID is unique to one parking lot 20, it is associated one-to-one with one parking lot ID (an example of the "parking lot code"), as described below.

[0143] The transmitter 30 may be installed on the ground of the parking lot 20 so as not to be mechanically fixed thereto, i.e., so as to be easily detachable from the ground. In other words, each transmitter 30 is not physically fixed to a corresponding position (corresponding parking lot 20) in space. This is because the owner of the land operated as the parking lot 20 may request the management company to operate the land as the parking lot 20 for a certain period of time, but may suddenly cancel the request.

[0144] In such a case, the management company will promptly remove all the facilities for the parking service from the parking lot 20, and at that time, in order to minimize the effort required for restoring the parking lot to its current state, the transmitter 30 may simply be placed on the ground of the land. Therefore, the transmitter 30 may be installed in a location other than the parking lot 20 in which it is legitimately installed (for example, in a different parking lot away from the parking lot 20 in which it is legitimately installed, or in a different location that does not correspond to the parking lot 20 in which it is legitimately installed) due to fraudulent acts by someone, against the will of the parking lot management company.

[0145] Here, the hardware configuration (see FIG. 5) and the software configuration (see FIG. 6) of one transmitter 30 will be described.

[0146] First, to explain conceptually, the transmitter 30 is a contactless or contact type communication device that is installed at least one in each corresponding parking lot 20 and transmits an identification signal that can identify the parking lot ID unique to the corresponding parking lot 20. It is sufficient for the transmitter 30 to have at least a transmission function, but it may also be configured to have a receiving function as well, if necessary.

[0147] Next, the operation method will be described. The transmitter 30 actively transmits a unique identification signal without requiring an external trigger signal, and continuously so long as there is no shortage of power supply.

[0148] The transmitter 30 is a device that is generally known as a beacon device, a radio beacon, or the like that transmits a beacon signal as an identification signal. In one example, the transmitter 30 generates an identification signal representing a corresponding parking lot ID by modulating an original signal, and transmits the generated identification signal as an IR signal, a Bluetooth (registered trademark) signal, an NFC (near field communication) signal, or the like.

[0149] Next, the hardware configuration will be explained with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG. 5. The transmitter 30 is mainly composed of a computer 104 having a processor 100 and a memory 102 that stores a plurality of applications executed by the processor 100.

[0150] The transmitter 30 further has a replaceable disposable battery 106 as a power source. Instead of the battery 106, it is possible to use a rechargeable battery, a commercial power source as an external power source, or a generator that generates power by utilizing an external magnetic field (for example, a transponder).

[0151] The transmitter 30 further includes a transmitter unit 108 that generates and transmits an identification signal. The transmitter unit 108 is powered by a battery 106 and controlled by a controller 110. The controller 110 is controlled by the computer 100.

[0152] Next, the software configuration of the transmitter 30 will be described with reference to FIG. 6. The processor 100 of the transmitter 30 repeatedly executes a program conceptually shown in the flow chart of FIG.

[0153] When this program is executed each time, first, in step S1, a transmitter ID is read from memory 102. The transmitter ID has a one-to-one correspondence with a parking lot ID assigned to one parking lot 20 in which the transmitter 30 is installed.

[0154] Next, in step S2, a signal for modulating an original signal (e.g., a carrier signal) is output to controller 110 so that the read transmitter ID is reflected. The controller 110 controls transmitting unit 108, so that transmitting unit 108 generates an identification signal to be transmitted this time. After that, in step S3, transmitting unit 108 transmits the generated identification signal. Then, the process returns to step S1.

[0155] Here, to explain one function of the mobile terminal 90 in relation to this transmitter 30, when the mobile terminal 90 receives an identification signal from the transmitter 30 and starts a certain program pre-installed in the computer 134 (see Figure 8) of the mobile terminal 90, the received identification signal is demodulated in real time, thereby decrypting the transmitter ID in real time.

[0156] Furthermore, while receiving an identification signal from transmitter 30, mobile terminal 90 also measures, based on the received identification signal, the distance between the position of transmitter 30 when the identification signal was transmitted and the position of mobile terminal 90 when the identification signal was received.

[0157] That is, based on the identification signal received from the transmitter 30, the mobile terminal 90 acquires both the transmitter ID corresponding to that transmitter 30 and the distance to the transmitter 30 at that time.

[0158] When a user of the mobile terminal 90 (e.g., a visitor) approaches the transmitter 30 while holding his / her mobile terminal 90 and brings the mobile terminal 90 into complete or near contact with the transmitting section 108 of the transmitter 30, the mobile terminal 90 can receive an identification signal from the transmitter 30 in a contact manner.

[0159] In contrast, when a user of the portable terminal 90 enters a specific reception area while holding the portable terminal 90, the portable terminal 90 can receive an identification signal from the transmitter 30 in a non-contact manner.

[0160] As conceptually shown in plan view in Figure 7, each transmitter 30 is assigned two types of reception areas: a coverage area and an effective reception area. Both areas are generally defined as a circle originating from each transmitter 30, with the coverage area having a maximum reception radius, whereas the effective reception area has an effective reception radius.

[0161] However, specifically, the reception area means an area within which the identification signal from each transmitter 30 can reach when the power supply to that transmitter 30 is normal, i.e., an area within which the mobile terminal 90 can receive the identification signal as long as it is within that area.

[0162] In contrast, the effective receiving area has an effective receiving radius smaller than the maximum receiving radius of the receivable area. The maximum receiving radius cannot be set arbitrarily, whereas the effective receiving radius can be set arbitrarily. The effective receiving radius is, for example, within the range of 0 cm to 50 cm or within the range of 30 cm to 50 cm. Also, the maximum receiving radius is, for example, within the range of 50 m to 70 m.

[0163] That is, it can be said that the maximum reception radius means the reception limit determined by the hardware, whereas the effective reception radius means the reception limit determined by the software.

[0164] As described above, the mobile terminal 90 measures the distance to the transmitter 30 when it transmits the identification signal that it receives. The measured distance value may or may not exceed the effective reception radius. When the measured distance value does not exceed the effective reception radius, the mobile terminal 90 is present within the effective reception area, whereas when the measured distance value exceeds the effective reception radius, the mobile terminal 90 is present within the coverage area but not within the effective reception area.

[0165] After receiving the identification signal from transmitter 30, mobile terminal 90 determines whether the distance measurement value is less than or equal to the set value of the effective reception radius, and if it determines that it is less than or equal to the set value, then since mobile terminal 90 is currently located within the effective reception area, mobile terminal 90 determines that it has "validly received the identification signal from transmitter 30 (hereinafter also simply referred to as "has received the identification signal").

[0166] In contrast, if the mobile terminal 90 determines that the distance measurement value is greater than the set value, then since the mobile terminal 90 is currently located outside the effective receiving area, the mobile terminal 90 determines that it is "not effectively receiving the identification signal from the transmitter 30 (hereinafter also simply referred to as 'not receiving the identification signal')."

[0167] In other words, in this embodiment, when the mobile terminal 90 is located outside the effective reception area, even though the mobile terminal 90 is actually receiving the identification signal, the mobile terminal 90 will be treated in software as if it is not receiving the identification signal.

[0168] In this embodiment, the individual performance and relative positional relationship of each transmitter 30, as well as the setting value of the effective receiving radius, are set so that at least the effective receiving area of ​​each transmitter 30, out of the receivable area and effective receiving area, does not overlap with at least the effective receiving area of ​​another transmitter 30.

[0169] <Mobile device>

[0170] Next, the hardware configuration of mobile terminal 90 will be described with reference to functional block diagram FIG. 8. Mobile terminal 90 is mainly composed of computer 134 having processor 130 and memory 132 that stores a plurality of applications executed by processor 130.

[0171] The mobile terminal 90 further has a display unit (e.g., a liquid crystal display) 136 that displays information, for example, on a screen indicated by the symbol "135" in FIG. 14 (having a window of finite area that is variable or fixed), a receiving unit 138 that receives signals from the transmitter 30 and the management server 50, and a transmitting unit 140 that generates a signal and transmits the signal to the management server 50.

[0172] The mobile terminal 90 further includes an input unit 150 for inputting data and commands from a user who is a visitor or a resident. The input unit 150 includes, for example, an operation unit operable by a user to input desired information (e.g., commands, data, etc.) to the mobile terminal 90. The operation unit may be, but is not limited to, a touch screen that displays icons (e.g., virtual buttons) operable by the user, a physical operation unit (e.g., a keyboard, keypad, buttons, etc.) operable by the user, a microphone that detects voice, etc.

[0173] The mobile terminal 90 further includes a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver 152. As is well known, the GPS receiver 152 receives a plurality of GPS signals from a plurality of GPS satellites, and measures the position (latitude, longitude, and altitude) of the GPS receiver 152 on the earth by triangulation based on the GPS signals.

[0174] As shown in FIG. 8, the memory 132 has a plurality of data memories including a map data memory 161, a parking lot data memory 163, and a transmitter data memory 165.

[0175] The map data memory 161 temporarily stores map data downloaded from the management server 50 or another map database (not shown). Based on the map data, a map (an example of the aforementioned "partial map") is displayed on a screen 135 (see Figs. 14(a) and 19(a)) of the display unit 136. The map displayed on the screen 135 changes from moment to moment as the mobile terminal 90 and its user move.

[0176] The parking lot data memory 163 is capable of storing parking lot data relating to at least the shared parking lot 20 among the shared parking lot 20 shown in FIG. 1 and other parking lots 20 (not shown), which has been downloaded from the management server 50.

[0177] The parking lot data will be described in more detail later with reference to Figures 11 and 12, but generally speaking, it includes a plurality of parking lot position data corresponding to a plurality of parking lots 20 geographically present on the map displayed on the screen 135 at each moment (i.e., including the shared parking lot 20 shown in Figure 1 and other parking lots 20 (not shown), each parking lot 20 being a candidate parking lot for the user), associated with a parking lot ID and a transmitter ID.

[0178] In the mobile terminal 90, a map based on the map data is displayed on the screen 135, and further, the positions of the multiple parking lots (i.e., multiple candidate parking lots) 20 are overlaid on the map at each moment based on the multiple parking lot position data stored in the parking lot data memory 163 at that time (see Figures 14(a) and 19(a)).

[0179] In contrast, the transmitter data memory 165 is capable of storing data relating to at least the transmitter 30 that should be installed in the shared parking lot 20, among the transmitters 30 that should be installed in the shared parking lot 20 and the transmitters 30 that should be installed in other parking lots 20, which data has been downloaded from the management server 50.

[0180] <Administration Server>

[0181] Next, the hardware configuration of the management server 50 will be explained with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG. 9. The management server 50 is mainly composed of a computer 164 having a processor 160 and a memory 162 that stores a plurality of applications executed by the processor 160.

[0182] This management server 50 further has a display unit (e.g., a liquid crystal display) 166 that displays information, a receiving unit 168 that receives signals from the mobile terminal 90, a transmitting unit 170 that generates signals and transmits them to the mobile terminal 90, and a clock 172 that measures the current time. This management server 50 does not directly receive information from the transmitter 30, but in effect receives information via the mobile terminal 90.

[0183] <Overall system configuration>

[0184] FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram showing the overall configuration of this system 10.

[0185] <Mobile devices for residents>

[0186] The mobile terminal 90 for the resident has the following functional units: 。

[0187] 1. Vacancy Judgment Unit 200

[0188] This is done by selecting one of the multiple candidate parking lots 20 that has an available parking space (vacant space) based on parking lot data in a management list described below.

[0189] 2. Parking lot selection section 202

[0190] In response to the tenant's operation, one of a number of candidate parking lots 20 with vacant spaces is selected as the designated parking lot 20 (in this example, it is assumed that the shared parking lot 20 shown in FIG. 1 is selected).

[0191] 3. Vehicle compartment selection unit 204

[0192] In this case, in response to an operation by the resident, one of a plurality of parking spaces belonging to the designated parking lot 20 is selected as the designated parking space.

[0193] 4. Password receiving unit 204

[0194] This receives the authorized password from the management server 50 .

[0195] <Administration Server>

[0196] The management server 50 manages the parking lot data shown in Figures 11 and 12. The parking lot data, as shown in Figure 11, is conceptually a plurality of records, and these records include general parking lot records and resident / visitor parking lot records.

[0197] The general parking record is a collection of data related to multiple general parking lots. The resident and guest parking record is a collection of data related to multiple resident and guest parking lots.

[0198] Each record is made up of multiple files. To explain this, using the resident / guest parking lot record as an example, as shown in Figure 12, the resident / guest parking lot record is made up of multiple files, and each file is prepared for each shared parking lot 20.

[0199] Specifically, each file belonging to the resident / visitor parking record has a map position (longitude X, latitude Y) representing the reference position of one shared parking lot 20, the location of that shared parking lot 20 (address, residence, etc.), a parking lot ID unique to that shared parking lot 20, a transmitter ID unique to one transmitter 30 that should be installed in that shared parking lot 20, a management list, and other related information.

[0200] Other relevant information includes information regarding parking fees (such as the name of the fee payer and fee calculation conditions), information regarding the types of vehicles (such as size) that can be parked in the designated parking lot 20, and image data of the designated parking lot 20.

[0201] The management list has a number of items for each of the multiple parking spaces belonging to each shared parking lot 20, including the following items:

[0202] 1. Who can use each parking space (general users who use hourly parking service without reservation, visitors who use hourly parking service with reservation, or residents who use monthly parking service)

[0203] 2. The time-limited one-time password (hereinafter referred to simply as "password")

[0204] 3. The time when the management server 50 issued this password

[0205] 4. The time when the password given to the parking lot user was entered by the user into his / her mobile terminal 90

[0206] 5. The time when the parking user entered the parking space

[0207] 6. The time when the parking user left the parking space

[0208] 7.Payer (whether the person paying the parking fee is a resident or a visitor)

[0209] To create this management list, the management server 50 includes a management list creation unit 210 as shown in FIG.

[0210] The management list creation unit 210 creates and appropriately updates the management list for each of the multiple parking spaces in each parking lot 20 to reflect the usage history of each parking space based on signals received from the mobile terminals 90 of users (tenants, visitors, or other parking lot users) upon entry and exit.

[0211] Ideally, the management list is shared between the management server 50 and the mobile terminal 90 for the visitor, but if the mobile terminal 90 does not access the management server 50 for a long time, the latest management list may not be reflected in the mobile terminal 90. Therefore, it is also effective for the mobile terminal 90 to access the management server 50 only for the purpose of updating the management list.

[0212] The vacancy determination unit 200 of the visitor's mobile terminal 90 determines, from the contents of the management list, whether or not there is a vacant car space among the multiple car spaces belonging to the parking lot 20 selected by the visitor.

[0213] In the example shown in Figure 10, the vacancy determination unit 200 is installed in the mobile terminal 90 for visitors, but instead of or in addition to this, a similar vacancy determination unit 200 may be installed in the management server 50.

[0214] As shown in Fig. 10, the management server 50 has a password issuing unit 214 that issues the password. When the password issuing unit 214 issues a password, it records the password for the currently designated vehicle compartment in the management list. The fact that a password has been recorded for the designated vehicle compartment means that the designated vehicle compartment has been reserved for parking by a guest.

[0215] Furthermore, the management server 50 has a password status control unit 216 that controls the valid / invalid state of the password over time. The password status control unit 216 controls the state of the password in relation to the second time limit (see FIG. 21).

[0216] The password issued by the password issuing unit 214 is transmitted from the management server 50 to the resident, who then notifies the visitor of the password. Thus, in this embodiment, the password issued by the management server 50 is not notified to the visitor directly from the management server 50, but is notified to the visitor directly by the resident who granted the visitor parking authority.

[0217] As a result, the visitor is expected to recognize the importance of the password more highly than if the password were notified directly and impersonally by the management server 50, and to treat the password with care.

[0218] As shown in FIG. 10, the visitor's mobile terminal 90 has a password transmission unit 220 that transmits to the management server 50 the password notified by the resident.

[0219] Furthermore, the visitor's portable terminal 90 has a regular transmitter ID setting unit 222 that sets a unique transmitter ID for the transmitter 30 that should be installed in the designated parking lot 20 as a regular transmitter ID by referring to the management list, and an identification signal receiving unit 224 that receives an identification signal from the transmitter 30 in the designated parking lot 20.

[0220] Furthermore, the portable terminal 90 for visitors has a transmitter ID matching unit (i.e., a transmitter ID authentication unit) 226 that determines whether the actual transmitter ID represented by the identification signal received from the transmitter 30 matches the set authorized transmitter ID (whether the transmitter ID matching or transmitter ID authentication was successful or not).

[0221] In the example shown in FIG. 10, the authorized transmitter ID setting unit 222 and the transmitter ID matching unit 226 are installed in the visitor's mobile terminal 90, but this is not essential to the present invention, and the authorized transmitter ID setting unit 222 and / or the transmitter ID matching unit 226 may also be installed in the management server 50.

[0222] In response to this, the management server 50 has a password receiving unit 230 that receives a password from the visitor's mobile terminal 90, and a password matching unit (i.e., password authentication unit) 232 that determines whether the received password (actual password) matches the set official password (whether password matching or password authentication has been successful).

[0223] Furthermore, the management server 50 has an entry permission unit 234 that permits the visitor to enter the designated parking space in the designated parking lot 20 upon receiving a match determination from the password matching unit 232 (i.e., a determination that password authentication has been successful) and a match determination from the transmitter ID matching unit 226 (i.e., a determination that transmitter ID authentication has been successful), and an exit permission unit 236 that permits the visitor to leave the designated parking space in the designated parking lot 20 upon receiving a match determination from the transmitter ID matching unit 226 (i.e., a determination that transmitter ID authentication has been successful).

[0224] Furthermore, management server 50 has a parking time calculation unit 240 that calculates the parking time as the difference between the entry time and the exit time in the management list at the time of exit, a parking fee calculation unit 242 that calculates the parking fee based on the calculated parking time, and an electronic settlement unit 244 for electronically settling the calculated parking fee. Electronic settlement unit 244 is connected to, for example, an external settlement server 250 so as to be able to communicate over long distances.

[0225] The electronic payment unit 244 may be installed not in the management server 50 but in another server or in the mobile terminal 90 of the visitor.

[0226] <Password issuing and reservation sequence>

[0227] Figure 13 shows a flowchart of a password issuance and reservation sequence that chronologically illustrates an example of communication between a resident's mobile terminal 90 and the management server 50 in this system 10 so that the resident can have the management server 50 issue a password in advance to allow the visitor to park in the visitor parking space 26, and an example of communication between the resident's mobile terminal 90 and the visitor's mobile terminal 90 so that the resident can notify the visitor of the issued password.

[0228] When a resident requests a password to be issued on demand from management server 50, processor 130 in resident's mobile terminal 90 executes a portion of the parking service application stored in memory 132 that is related to password issuance and reservation processing. In management server 50, processor 160 executes a portion of the parking management program stored in memory 162 that is related to password issuance and reservation processing.

[0229] First, in step S101, the resident's mobile terminal 90 sends a login request (an example of a "service start signal") to the management server 50 to log in to the management server 50, together with a user ID to identify the current user who is the resident.

[0230] In response to this, the management server 50 receives the login request together with the user ID in step S201. Then, in step S202, the management server 50 reads the resident / guest parking lot records from the database (represented by "DB" in FIG. 13) in the memory 162. Then, in step S203, the management server 50 transmits the read resident / guest parking lot records to the mobile terminal 90.

[0231] In response to this, in step S102, the mobile terminal 90 of the resident receives the transmitted resident / guest parking lot record from the management server 50, and stores the received resident / guest parking lot record in the parking lot data memory 163 shown in Fig. 8. As a result, the resident / guest parking lot record with the current contents is shared between the management server 50 and the mobile terminal 90 of the visitor.

[0232] In this sequence, attention is not focused on all resident / guest parking lots and all the vehicle compartments in those resident / guest parking lots belonging to the resident / guest parking lot records downloaded from management server 50 and stored in parking lot data memory 163. Of all resident / guest parking lots, attention is focused on only those that have vehicle compartments that can be used by visitors, i.e., guest parking spaces 26. However, hereinafter, these will simply be referred to as "resident / guest parking lots."

[0233] Next, in step S103, the mobile terminal 90 of the resident measures the current position (longitude and latitude) of the user (the resident in this case) based on the GPS signal received by the GPS receiver 152 from the outside.

[0234] Next, in step S104, the mobile terminal 90 of the resident sets the measured current position of the user (the resident in this case) as a reference position (position (longitude and latitude) of the display reference point) referenced by the processor 130 in order to display the map on the screen 135 of the display unit 136. Furthermore, the mobile terminal 90 of the resident determines the portion of the overall map that has a size that can be displayed at one time within the window on the screen 135 and in which the reference position exists as the display range of the map (i.e., the area of ​​the overall map that is displayed in the window at each moment).

[0235] Next, in step S105, the resident's mobile terminal 90 determines whether there is at least one vacant parking space in each of the multiple parking spaces 20 based on the resident / guest parking space records stored in the parking space data memory 163.

[0236] For example, in the management list, for each vehicle compartment, a determination is made as to whether or not at least one of the following conditions is met: a password exists (is valid), and there is a time of entry but no time of exit (indicating that the vehicle has entered the vehicle compartment but not exited), and if the determination is affirmative, the vehicle compartment is determined to be vacant. According to this method of determining availability, the period from the time the password is issued to the actual time of exit is regarded as a fully booked period, and reservations by other visitors are excluded.

[0237] Alternatively, this vacancy determination may be performed by determining whether a password exists (is valid) for each vehicle compartment in the management list, and if the determination is positive, determining that the vehicle compartment is vacant. With this vacancy determination method, only the password valid period is considered to be a fully booked period, and reservations by other guests are excluded.

[0238] Furthermore, among the multiple parking lots 20, those with at least one vacant room are extracted as multiple candidate parking lots 20 with vacancies, while among the multiple parking lots 20, those with no vacancies are extracted as multiple candidate parking lots 20 with no vacancies.

[0239] It should be noted that this step S105 may be omitted in the mobile terminal 90 of the resident, and instead, an equivalent step may be added to the management server 50, and a similar vacancy determination may be made by referring to the management list.

[0240] In addition, this step S105 may be performed by the resident's mobile terminal 90 in a manner that determines that a parking space is full for each parking space when the entry time is recorded in the management list but the exit time is not recorded.

[0241] According to these embodiments, the resident's mobile terminal 90 does not need to refer to the password, and it is sufficient to download from the management server 50 to the mobile terminal 90 only the resident / visitor parking lot record excluding the password information. As a result, the resident's mobile terminal 90 does not need to hold other people's password information, improving security.

[0242] Next, in step S106, the resident's mobile terminal 90 overlays multiple candidate parking lots 20 (candidate parking lots with vacancies and candidate parking lots without vacancies) on the map displayed on the screen 135 based on the multiple parking lot position data (coordinate values ​​X, Y) belonging to all of the received parking lot records.

[0243] An example of the display is shown in Fig. 14(a). In the figure, the symbol "vacant" indicates that there is one candidate parking lot 20 with vacancies at that display position. A candidate parking lot 20 with no vacancies is displayed using the symbol "full."

[0244] In this step 106, not all parking lots 20 stored in the memory 162 of the management server 50 are displayed on the screen 135. Only a number of candidate parking lots 20, which are smaller than the number of parking lots 20 and which are located within a window determined by the current location of the resident and the size of the screen 135, are displayed on the screen 135. In other words, the number of parking lots 20 received from the management server 50 is further narrowed down to a smaller number of candidate parking lots 20 based on the current location of the resident and the size of the screen 135.

[0245] Thereafter, in step S107, the resident touches with his / her finger the display position of any of the candidate parking lots 20 with available spaces on his / her mobile terminal 90, thereby selecting any of the parking lots 20 as the designated parking lot for the visitor.

[0246] Next, in step S110, the mobile terminal 90 of the resident sets the parking lot ID corresponding to the currently designated parking lot 20 as the currently authorized parking lot ID. Next, in step S111, the mobile terminal 90 sets the transmitter ID unique to the transmitter 30 that should be installed in the currently designated parking lot 20 as the currently authorized transmitter ID.

[0247] Thereafter, in step S112, the mobile terminal 90 of the resident displays a predetermined menu screen together with the vehicle compartments on the screen 135. Specifically, a plurality of vehicle compartments in the selected designated parking lot 20 are displayed on the screen 135. At this time, pins are displayed on vacant vehicle compartments.

[0248] An example of such a display is shown in Figure 14(b) . In this display example, there are four vacant spaces in the designated parking lot 20, and each space is displayed with a space number and a pin that can be selected by the resident to indicate that the space is vacant.

[0249] Furthermore, in this example display, a resident password issue button 300, which is displayed as "Visitor Password", is displayed as one of multiple buttons selectable by the resident. In this example display, there are four parking spaces in the currently designated parking lot 20, and all of these parking spaces are vacant.

[0250] Next, in step S113, the resident designates a vehicle compartment for the visitor by selecting one of the multiple pins displayed on screen 135 of mobile terminal 90. After that, in step S114, the resident selects resident password issue button 300 displayed on screen 135 of mobile terminal 90.

[0251] It is desirable that immediately before executing step S113, the mobile terminal 90 of the resident accesses the management server 50 and downloads the latest management list from the management server 50 to the mobile terminal 90, thereby updating the management list on the mobile terminal 90. This is because the management list on the management server 50 may be updated at any time.

[0252] Next, in step S115, the resident's mobile terminal 90 transmits to the management server 50 the current authorized parking lot ID or data for identifying it (for example, the current authorized transmitter ID), the current designated parking space number or data for identifying it, and a password request requesting the issuance of a password.

[0253] In response, in step S204, the management server 50 receives the information from the mobile terminal 90. Then, in step S205, a unique password is issued. The password may be, for example, a number that increments by a fixed amount and is generated cyclically and regularly so that it returns to a minimum value when it reaches a maximum value, or may be generated irregularly using a random number generator.

[0254] In step S205, the vacancy determination unit 200 may be executed to confirm that the currently designated vehicle compartment is available based on the management list. However, in one example, the currently designated vehicle compartment is treated as being fully booked from the time when a password is issued to another guest with a prior reservation to the time when the other guest leaves the designated vehicle compartment. In this case, a password is not issued to the currently designated guest, and therefore the currently designated guest is prevented from reserving the same vehicle compartment.

[0255] In contrast, the present invention may be implemented in such a way that for each cabin, the cabin is treated as full from the time a password is issued to another guest with a prior reservation until the time the password expires, and the current guest is precluded from making a reservation for the same cabin.

[0256] The present invention may also be implemented in such a way that for each vehicle compartment, the vehicle compartment is treated as being fully booked from the time another guest with a prior booking enters the vehicle compartment to the time the other guest leaves the vehicle compartment, and the current guest is precluded from making a reservation for the same vehicle compartment.

[0257] Then, in step S206, the management server 50 records the issued password for the currently designated parking space in the management list, and the designated parking space is reserved for the guest. Then, in step S207, the management list is updated. Then, in step S208, the issued password is sent to the mobile terminal 90 of the resident.

[0258] In response, in step S116, the mobile terminal 90 of the resident receives the current password from the management server 50. Then, in step S117, the received password is displayed on the screen 135.

[0259] An example of the display is shown in Fig. 14(c) In this display example, the password is "9680" and the second time limit for that password is 10 minutes.

[0260] In the display example of Figure 14(c), the screen 135 of the resident's mobile terminal 90 also displays the time that has elapsed until the time when the issued password is scheduled to expire, i.e., the remaining time of the second time limit.

[0261] Therefore, the resident can know the final time during which the visitor is permitted to use the current password to enter the designated parking space, and based on that knowledge, can inform the visitor of that final time.

[0262] The remaining time may be calculated by the mobile terminal 90 of the resident, but as described below, the management server 50 may perform the calculation and transmit the calculated value to the mobile terminal 90 of the resident as needed.

[0263] In addition, the management server 50 may transmit the calculated value of the remaining time to the visitor's mobile terminal 90, and in response, the visitor's mobile terminal 90 may display the remaining time on screen 135, thereby notifying the visitor, i.e., the user of the designated parking lot 20, of the remaining time.

[0264] Thereafter, in step S118, the mobile terminal 90 of the resident transmits a logout request to the management server 50 to request logging out from the management server 50.

[0265] In response to this, the management server 50 receives the logout request in step S209, and then in step S210 transmits an acknowledgement signal ACK to the mobile terminal 90, which indicates that the logout request has been received normally.

[0266] Thereafter, in step 119, the resident uses the mobile terminal 90 to create electronic media (for example, an electronic message including the current password) to notify the visitor of the current password. Next, the resident transmits the created electronic media from his / her own mobile terminal 90 to the visitor's mobile terminal 90.

[0267] In response to this, in step S131, the visitor receives the current password from the mobile terminal 90 of the resident on his / her own mobile terminal 90.

[0268] The management server 50 further executes a password status control program represented by a flowchart in FIG. 21 in order to control the valid / invalid state of a password over time.

[0269] In this password status control program, first, in step S801, a parking lot number m that identifies a current target among a plurality of parking lots 20 is set to 1. Next, in step S802, a vehicle compartment number n that identifies a current target among a plurality of vehicle compartments belonging to the current parking lot 20 is set to 1.

[0270] Next, in step S803, the password issuance time is read from the management list for the current vehicle space in the current parking lot 20. After that, in step S804, the current time is measured using the clock 172. Next, in step S805, the password issuance time is subtracted from the current time to calculate the elapsed time T from the password input time.

[0271] Thereafter, in step S806, it is determined whether the elapsed time T is equal to or greater than the second time limit T2, that is, whether the second time limit T2 has elapsed since the password was entered.

[0272] This time, if it is assumed that the elapsed time T is equal to or greater than the second time limit T2, the determination in step S806 will be YES, and in step S807, the current password for the current parking space in the current parking lot 20 will be invalidated, and the current password will be cleared from the management list.

[0273] In contrast, if it is assumed this time that the elapsed time T is shorter than the second time limit T2, the determination in step S806 becomes NO, and step S807 is skipped.

[0274] In any case, thereafter, in step S808, the current value of the cabin number n is checked to see if it is greater than the maximum value n max It is determined whether or not this is the case, that is, whether or not processing has been completed for all the parking spaces in the current parking lot 20. If the determination is NO, in step S809, the parking space number n is incremented by 1, and then the process returns to step S803.

[0275] On the other hand, if the determination in step S808 is YES, in step S810, the current value of the parking lot number m is equal to or smaller than the maximum value m maxIt is determined whether or not this is the case, that is, whether or not processing has been completed for all parking lots 20. If the determination is NO, in step S811, the parking lot number m is incremented by 1, and then the process returns to step S803. If the determination in step S810 is YES, the process returns to step S801.

[0276] In one example, the management server 50 sequentially calculates the time that has not yet elapsed out of the second time limit T2, i.e., the remaining time, and transmits the calculated value to the resident's mobile terminal 90. In response, the resident's mobile terminal 90 displays the remaining time on the screen 135 as a numerical value and / or a bar chart, as shown in FIG. 14(c).

[0277] Instead of or in addition to the remaining time, a calculated value of the time at which the second time limit T2 is expected to elapse may be displayed on the mobile terminal 90 of the resident.

[0278] <Stock receipt sequence>

[0279] Figure 15 shows a flowchart of an entry sequence that chronologically illustrates an example of communication that takes place between a transmitter 30 and the visitor's mobile terminal 90 located in the same parking lot 20, and a management server 50 located in a remote location, in order to start parking immediately after a visitor enters a designated parking space in the designated parking lot 20.

[0280] The transmitter 30 spontaneously and continuously transmits an identification signal unique to itself. When entering the parking lot 20, the processor 130 in the visitor's mobile terminal 90 executes a portion of the parking service application stored in memory 132 that is related to the parking entry process. In the management server 50, the processor 160 executes a portion of the parking lot management program stored in memory 162 that is related to the parking entry process.

[0281] First, in step S301, the visitor's mobile terminal 90 sends a login request (an example of a "service start signal") to the management server 50 to log in to the management server 50, together with a user ID to identify the current user who is the visitor.

[0282] In response to this, in step S401, management server 50 receives the login request together with the user ID. Then, in step S402, it reads out the general parking lot record and the resident / visitor parking lot record from the database (represented by "DB" in FIG. 13) in memory 162. Then, in step S403, it transmits the read out general parking lot record and resident / visitor parking lot record to mobile terminal 90.

[0283] In response to this, in step S302, the visitor's mobile terminal 90 receives the transmitted parking lot record from the management server 50 and stores the received parking lot record in the parking lot data memory 163 shown in Fig. 8. As a result, the general parking lot record and the resident / visitor parking lot record with their current contents are shared between the management server 50 and the visitor's mobile terminal 90.

[0284] Next, in step S303, the visitor's mobile terminal 90 displays a menu screen on the screen 135 based on the data stored in advance in the memory 132.

[0285] An example of such a display is shown in Fig. 16(a). In this display example, a visitor entry button 310 for requesting entry by the visitor and a logout button 312 for logging out are displayed as multiple buttons selectable by the visitor. Thereafter, in step S304, the visitor selects the visitor entry button 310.

[0286] Next, in step S305, the visitor's mobile terminal 90 displays on the display 135 an input screen that assists the visitor in inputting a password.

[0287] An example of such a display is shown in Fig. 16(b). In this display example, a space 314 into which a password is input, a cancel button 316 and a confirm button 318 as multiple buttons selectable by the visitor, and a keypad 320 having multiple numeric keys and multiple alphabet keys are displayed. The visitor's mobile terminal 90 starts counting down the remaining time of the first time limit from the time when the display of the space 314 starts.

[0288] Thereafter, in step S306, the visitor's mobile terminal 90 determines whether the remaining time of the first time limit is not 0, and if it is determined that the remaining time is 0, performs an error termination in step S307. In this case, the visitor's mobile terminal 90 stops subsequent processing, and as a result, the visitor is prohibited from entering the warehouse.

[0289] On the other hand, if it is determined that the remaining time of the first time limit is not 0, then in step S308, the visitor inputs a password in space 314, as shown in Fig. 16(c) for example. After completing the input, in step S309, the visitor selects confirmation button 318, as shown in Fig. 16(c) for example.

[0290] Next, in step S310, the visitor's mobile terminal 90 transmits the entered password to the management server 50 as the real password.

[0291] In response, the management server 50 receives the real password in step S404. Then, in step S405, it is determined whether or not the same real password as the received real password exists in the management list of the resident / guest parking lot record, that is, password matching is performed. Then, in step S406, it is determined whether or not the password matching is successful.

[0292] If the password verification fails, the management server 50 ends the process with an error in step S407. In this case, the management server 50 stops the subsequent process, and as a result, the visitor is prohibited from entering the warehouse.

[0293] On the other hand, if the password matching is successful, in step S409, the management server 50 reads from the memory 162 of the management server 50 a message indicating that the password matching was successful, as well as the one containing the current password among the multiple vehicle compartment data sets belonging to the management list of the resident / visitor parking record (hereinafter referred to as the "relevant vehicle compartment data set"), and transmits this message to the visitor's mobile terminal 90.

[0294] In this way, since the visitor has transmitted a valid password to the management server 50 via the mobile terminal 90, the visitor can access the resident / visitor parking lot record that is normally accessible only to residents.

[0295] As illustrated in Figure 12, the relevant vehicle compartment-specific data set is composed of multiple data including data identifying the currently designated parking lot 20 (e.g., parking lot ID), data indicating the location of the designated parking lot 20 (not shown), data identifying the vehicle compartment number of the currently designated vehicle compartment, the transmitter ID of the transmitter 30 that should be installed in the designated vehicle compartment, the current password, and the time the password was issued.

[0296] In response to this, in step S311, the portable terminal 90 of the visitor receives a message indicating that the password verification was successful and the corresponding vehicle compartment-specific data set from the management server 50. The received vehicle compartment-specific data set is stored in the parking lot data memory 163 of the portable terminal 90.

[0297] Next, in step S312, the visitor's mobile terminal 90 displays multiple pieces of data including the vehicle compartment number and address of the designated vehicle compartment on the screen 135 based on the various data in the stored vehicle compartment-specific data set, as shown in Fig. 17. After that, the visitor checks the displayed content, and in step S313, selects the enter button 322 to request entry into the designated vehicle compartment.

[0298] Next, in step S314, the portable terminal 90 of the visitor determines whether or not the portable terminal 90 has validly received the identification signal from the transmitter 30.

[0299] If the visitor's mobile terminal 90 is currently located outside the coverage area, the mobile terminal 90 will not be able to receive any identification signal from the transmitter 30 at all.

[0300] On the other hand, if the visitor's mobile terminal 90 is currently located within the reception area, the mobile terminal 90 can receive the identification signal from the transmitter 30 .

[0301] In this case, in step S314, the distance between the current transmitter 30 and the visitor's mobile terminal 90 is measured based on the received identification signal. In step S314, it is further determined whether the measured distance value is smaller than the set value, that is, whether the visitor's mobile terminal 90 is currently located within the effective reception area. In short, in step S314, it is determined whether the visitor's mobile terminal 90 has identified any of the transmitters 30.

[0302] If the distance measurement value is smaller than the set value, the visitor's mobile terminal 90 has identified one of the transmitters 30 and the process proceeds to step S315; if not, the user is not permitted to enter the parking lot 20 (to start the parking service).

[0303] Thereafter, the visitor's mobile terminal 90 demodulates the received identification signal in step S315, and then in step S316 decodes the transmitter ID represented by the demodulated identification signal as the real transmitter ID.

[0304] That is, the current transmitter 30 is identified. If the demodulated identification signal is a code represented by a multi-digit binary number, for example, the code is converted into a transmitter ID using a conversion table prepared in advance (for example, one downloaded in advance from the management server 50). However, in terms of usage, the difference between "code" and "ID" is not important since the purpose is identification.

[0305] Next, in step S317, the visitor's portable terminal 90 sets the transmitter ID present in the corresponding vehicle compartment data set stored in the parking lot data memory 163 as the authorized transmitter ID.

[0306] Thereafter, in step S318, the portable terminal 90 of the visitor determines whether the decrypted real transmitter ID and the genuine transmitter ID match each other. That is, ID matching is performed.

[0307] Thereafter, the visitor's mobile terminal 90 determines whether or not the ID matching is successful in step S319. If the ID matching is unsuccessful, an error termination is performed in step S320. In this case, the visitor's mobile terminal 90 stops subsequent processing, and as a result, the visitor is prohibited from entering the warehouse.

[0308] On the other hand, if the ID matching is successful, the visitor's mobile terminal 90 displays the message "Authentication" on the screen 135 in step S321, which means that the ID authentication was successful, thereby visually communicating to the visitor that the entry operation by the visitor has been completed. Next, the visitor's mobile terminal 90 transmits a message to the management server 50 in step S322 indicating that the authentication was successful (the ID matching was successful).

[0309] In response to this, in step S410, management server 50 permits the visitor to enter the garage, and then in step S411, calculates the entry time to be equal to the current time using clock 172. Thereafter, in step S411, the entry time is recorded in the management list in association with the designated parking space corresponding to the current password.

[0310] Thereafter, in step S322, the visitor's mobile terminal 90 transmits a logout request to the management server 50, requesting logging out from the management server 50.

[0311] In response, the management server 50 receives the logout request in step S412, and then transmits an acknowledgment signal ACK, indicating that the logout request has been received successfully, to the portable terminal 90 of the visitor in step S413.

[0312] <Basic Concepts for Determining Permission to Enter Warehouse>

[0313] Here, with reference to FIG. 23, a basic concept in this embodiment for determining whether or not to permit entry will be specifically described.

[0314] Prior to entering the warehouse, the resident receives a genuine password from management server 50, which is then notified to the visitor. The visitor enters the real password into mobile terminal 90 so as to reproduce the genuine password.

[0315] Next, it is determined whether the real password matches any of the multiple authorized passwords stored in the management list. If the real password matches any authorized password, the current real password is authenticated for the time being, and the authorized password that matches the current real password is assumed to be the current authorized password (first assumption).

[0316] In this embodiment, the visitor and the legitimate password notified by the resident are not directly associated with each other in advance. In other words, personal authentication information such as the visitor's user ID is not referenced to determine whether the actual password is legitimate.

[0317] Therefore, even if the actual password this time was not notified to the visitor by the resident, if it happens to match one of the legitimate passwords, the actual password will be successfully authenticated (possibility of erroneous authentication).

[0318] Thereafter, among the multiple compartments stored in the management list, the one corresponding to the assumed current authorized password is assumed to be the current authorized compartment (second assumption).

[0319] Next, among the multiple genuine transmitter IDs stored in the management list, the one corresponding to the assumed genuine vehicle compartment this time is assumed to be the genuine transmitter ID this time (third assumption).

[0320] Thereafter, it is determined whether the real transmitter ID represented by the identification signal received by the visitor from the real transmitter 30 via the mobile terminal 90 matches the assumed current genuine transmitter ID.

[0321] However, as mentioned above, the real transmitter 30 is not fixedly installed in any of the parking lots 20, and therefore may be moved to an unauthorized parking lot 20 due to some kind of fraudulent act, and the relationship between the actual parking lot 20 and the actual transmitter 30 is not immutable. Therefore, it cannot be concluded that the real transmitter 30 is installed in the current authorized parking lot 20 simply based on the fact that the real transmitter ID matches any authorized transmitter ID.

[0322] However, if the real transmitter ID matches the assumed genuine transmitter ID, then all three assumptions above are found to be valid, leading to the following facts:

[0323] 1. It is unclear whether the visitor this time is the person in question, but the visitor has been notified of the official password by one of the residents and has been given permission in advance by that resident to park in the designated parking space.

[0324] 2. The actual password entered by the visitor into the mobile terminal 90 matches the legitimate password notified by one of the residents.

[0325] 3. The vehicle compartment corresponding to this official password must match the designated vehicle compartment.

[0326] 4. The actual transmitter 30 is installed in the designated vehicle compartment.

[0327] 5. The visitor is currently staying in the assigned vehicle compartment.

[0328] Thus, according to this concept, the password authentication process and the transmitter ID authentication process are not carried out independently of each other, but are linked to each other via the designated vehicle compartment, and specifically, the official password and the official transmitter ID are associated with each other in a bidirectionally inducible manner.

[0329] Therefore, by adopting this concept, it is possible to remotely monitor whether only visitors who have been granted authority by the resident have entered the designated parking space, without the need to perform personal authentication of visitors or to permanently install the actual transmitter 30 in the official parking lot 20.

[0330] In the example shown in FIG. 23, authentication of the transmitter ID is performed after authentication of the password, but the present invention may be implemented in a mode in which authentication of the transmitter ID is performed before authentication of the password.

[0331] <Shipping sequence>

[0332] Figure 18 shows a flowchart of an exit sequence, which chronologically illustrates an example of communication that takes place between a transmitter 30 and a visitor's mobile terminal 90, both located in the same parking lot 20, and a management server 50 located in a remote location, just before a visitor leaves a designated parking lot 20.

[0333] The transmitter 30 spontaneously and continuously transmits an identification signal unique to itself. When leaving the designated parking lot 20, the processor 130 in the visitor's mobile terminal 90 executes a portion of the parking service application stored in memory 132 that is related to the leaving process. In the management server 50, the processor 160 executes a portion of the parking management program stored in memory 162 that is related to the leaving process.

[0334] Specifically, first, in step S501, the portable terminal 90 of the visitor measures the current position (longitude and latitude) of the user (the visitor in this case) based on a GPS signal received by the GPS receiver 152 from an external source.

[0335] Next, in step S502, the visitor's mobile terminal 90 sets the measured current position of the user (the visitor in this case) as a reference position (position (longitude and latitude) of the display reference point) referenced by the processor 130 to display the map on the screen of the display unit 136. Furthermore, the part of the overall map that has a size that can be displayed at one time within the window on the screen 135 and in which the reference position exists is determined to be the display range of the map (i.e., the area of ​​the overall map that is displayed in the window at each moment).

[0336] Next, in step S503, the visitor's mobile terminal 90 sends a login request (an example of the aforementioned "service start signal") to log in to the management server 50, together with a user ID for identifying the current user.

[0337] In response to this, the management server 50 receives the login request together with the current location and the user ID in step S601. Then, in step S602, the management server 50 reads out the general parking lot record and the resident / visitor parking lot record from the database (represented by "DB" in FIG. 13) in the memory 162. Then, in step S603, the management server 50 transmits the read parking lot records to the mobile terminal 90.

[0338] In response, in step S504, the visitor's mobile terminal 90 receives the transmitted parking lot record from management server 50. Next, in step S505, a plurality of candidate parking lots 20 (general parking lots and parking lots for residents and visitors) are overlaid on the map displayed on screen 135 based on the plurality of parking lot position data (coordinate values ​​X, Y) belonging to the received parking lot record.

[0339] 19(a), the user's current location is overlaid on a map displayed on the screen 135 using a black triangle 332, and multiple candidate parking lots 20 are overlaid using multiple parking lot icons 334. This display allows the visitor to confirm that he or she is in the parking lot 20 from which he or she should exit.

[0340] 19(b), the visitor's mobile terminal 90 overlays the take-out button 330 (a virtual button displayed with characters, symbols, images, etc.) operated by the user to request take-out on the map displayed on the screen 135. Then, in step S507, the user selects the take-out button 330 on his / her mobile terminal 90.

[0341] Next, in step S508, the portable terminal 90 of the visitor determines whether or not the portable terminal 90 has validly received the identification signal from the transmitter 30, in the same manner as in step S314 shown in FIG.

[0342] Thereafter, in step S509, the visitor's mobile terminal 90 demodulates the received identification signal in the same manner as in step S315, and then in step S510, decodes the transmitter ID represented by the demodulated identification signal as the actual transmitter ID in the same manner as in step S316. That is, the current transmitter 30 is identified.

[0343] Next, in step S511, the portable terminal 90 of the visitor determines whether or not the decrypted real transmitter ID and the received genuine transmitter ID match each other, in the same manner as in step S318. That is, ID matching is performed.

[0344] Next, the visitor's mobile terminal 90 determines whether or not the ID matching is successful in step S512. If it is unsuccessful, an error termination is performed in step S513. In this case, the visitor's mobile terminal 90 stops subsequent processing, and as a result, the visitor is prohibited from leaving the warehouse.

[0345] If the ID matching is successful, in step 514, the visitor's mobile terminal 90 displays on the screen 135 a confirmation button 342 that can be operated by the user to confirm that the user actually wishes to exit the parking lot 20, as shown in Figure 19(b).

[0346] Next, in step S515, the user selects the confirmation button 342 on his / her own mobile terminal 90. Thereafter, in step S516, the visitor's mobile terminal 90 transmits final confirmation data indicating that the user has selected the confirmation button 342 (which also indicates that the ID matching was successful) together with the current actual transmitter ID to the management server 50.

[0347] In response to this, the management server 50 receives the final confirmation data together with the actual transmitter ID at this time in step S604. As a result, the user is permitted to leave the current parking lot 20, i.e., to end the parking service.

[0348] Next, in step S605, management server 50 sets the current time indicated by clock 172 as the departure time. The departure time is recorded in the management list in association with the current actual transmitter ID. After that, in step S606, the entry time stored in association with the current actual transmitter ID is read from the management list in memory 162, and the elapsed time from the entry time to the departure time is calculated as the parking time.

[0349] Thereafter, in step S607, the management server 50 calculates a parking fee corresponding to the calculated length of parking time. For this calculation, the fee calculation table stored in the memory 162 is referenced. Then, in step S608, electronic payment is made so that the calculated parking fee is deducted from the account of the resident or visitor (according to the payment person data in the management list).

[0350] In step S608, when the electronic payment is completed, the password, issue time, input time, entry time, and exit time for that vehicle compartment are cleared from the management list in order to permit a new visitor to use the same vehicle compartment. Thereafter, in step S609, management server 50 transmits a message to visitor's mobile terminal 90 indicating that the exit procedure has been completed normally.

[0351] In response to this, the visitor's mobile terminal 90 receives the message in step S517, and then in step S518 displays a message indicating that the withdrawal procedure has been completed normally on the screen 135. Thereafter, in step S519, a logout request requesting logout from the management server 50 is transmitted to the management server 50.

[0352] In response to this, the management server 50 receives the logout request in step S610, and then transmits an acknowledgement signal ACK to the mobile terminal 90 in step S611.

[0353] In response to this, the mobile terminal 90 receives the acknowledgement signal ACK from the management server 50 .

[0354] In this embodiment, the resident, not the visitor, is responsible for paying the parking fee corresponding to the visitor's parking time. Therefore, if the visitor forgets to take his / her vehicle out of the designated parking space, or if the visitor takes the vehicle out but forgets to perform the necessary operation to leave the parking space through communication between the mobile terminal 90 and the management server 50, the management server 50 will recognize that the vehicle is still parked, which will result in a longer parking time and a higher parking fee.

[0355] To prevent such forgetting to perform the withdrawal operation, the system 10 allows a resident who becomes anxious to pose as a visitor and access the management server 50. At this time, the resident logs into the management server 50 using his / her own user ID and starts the withdrawal sequence shown in FIG.

[0356] In this sequence, the resident goes to the designated parking space, enters the same password used by the visitor, and receives an identification signal from the transmitter 30 using his / her mobile terminal 90. At this time, the relationship between the resident's user ID and the transmitter ID does not match the relationship between the visitor's user ID and the transmitter ID, and in that sense, the relationship can be said to be illegal. However, in this system 10, the management server 50 ignores such illegality. As a result, the resident can pose as the visitor and perform the withdrawal operation.

[0357] <Second embodiment>

[0358] Next, a parking lot management method according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described. However, elements common to the first embodiment will be referred to using the same reference numerals or names to omit redundant explanations, and only different elements will be described in detail.

[0359] In this embodiment, the first time limit, as well as a third time limit and a fourth time limit, which will be described later, are assigned to the password.

[0360] (1) Third Time Limit

[0361] This password will not expire if the visitor enters the password into his / her mobile terminal 90 before a predetermined third time limit (for example, 10 minutes, 1 hour, 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours) has elapsed from the time the management server 50 issued the password. In contrast, this password will expire if the third time limit elapses before the visitor enters the password. In other words, the management server 50 (or the visitor's mobile terminal 90) has a second timer that starts counting up from the time the password is issued, and expires when the third time limit has elapsed, conditionally expiring the password.

[0362] This password reduces the aforementioned wasted time between the time the password is issued and the time the visitor actually enters the designated parking space.

[0363] (2) Fourth Time Limit

[0364] This password will not expire if the visitor holds his / her mobile terminal 90 over the transmitter 30 and successfully authenticates the ID of the transmitter 30 before a predetermined fourth time limit (e.g., 10 minutes) has elapsed from the time the visitor enters the password into the mobile terminal 90 to be transmitted from the visitor's mobile terminal 90 to the management server 50 upon entering the warehouse. In contrast, this password expires if the fourth time limit has elapsed before the ID authentication is successful. In other words, the management server 50 (or the visitor's mobile terminal 90) has a third timer that starts counting up from the time the password is entered and expires when the fourth time limit has elapsed, conditionally expiring the password.

[0365] The combination of these two types of time limits has the effect that if the visitor actually enters the designated parking space and completes all operations for entering before the third time limit has elapsed, the current password will remain uncleared until the visitor actually leaves the designated parking space.

[0366] Thus, it is easy to ensure that a new password issued to the same guest or a different guest for the same vehicle compartment after the vehicle has left the parking lot will not match the previous password.

[0367] Similar to FIG. 20, FIG. 22 shows two scenarios to illustrate the effect of this password.

[0368] Figure 22(a) shows a first scenario in which a visitor enters a password PW into his / her mobile terminal 90 within the third time limit (S6) and also holds his / her mobile terminal 90 over a transmitter 30 within the fourth time limit to authenticate the ID of the transmitter 30 (S7), while Figure 22(b) shows a second scenario in which the visitor fails to hold his / her mobile terminal 90 over the transmitter 30 within the fourth time limit.

[0369] In this first scenario shown in Figure 22(a), the visitor holds his / her mobile terminal 90 over the transmitter 30 within the fourth time limit to authenticate the ID of the transmitter 30, thereby completing the entry operation. Thus, the password remains valid from the time of issue to the time of exit. As long as the password is valid, other visitors are prevented from reserving parking in the same parking space.

[0370] 22(b), the visitor fails to hold his / her mobile terminal 90 over the transmitter 30 within the fourth time limit. Therefore, after the fourth time limit has elapsed and the password PW has become invalid, the visitor no longer physically occupies the designated parking space with his / her vehicle, not to mention appearance (on the screen of the mobile terminal 90), so other visitors can make reservations for the same parking space and can actually enter the parking space.

[0371] As the above, examples have been described in which the "facility" is the apartment building 22 and the "visitor" is a guest of a resident of the apartment building 22, as exemplary embodiments of the present invention, but the present invention can be embodied in other aspects. For example, the "facility" may be a commercial facility (e.g., a store, an exhibition center, an accommodation facility, etc.), a public facility (e.g., a city hall, a gymnasium, a museum, an art gallery, a school, a station, an airport, etc.), etc.

[0372] In addition, in some of the embodiments described above, the management server 50 is designed to issue a password in response to a request from a resident and send it to the resident, who then notifies the visitor of the password. Alternatively, the present invention may be implemented in a manner in which the management server 50 issues a password in response to a request from the visitor and sends it to the visitor.

[0373] In some of the embodiments described above, if a password exists in the memory 162 for each vehicle compartment, the password is determined to be valid, and if the password does not exist, the password is determined to have expired. Furthermore, by clearing the password in the memory 162, the state that the password has expired is recorded in the memory 162.

[0374] In response to this, the present invention can be implemented in the following manner. That is, a status flag exists in memory 162, the state of which differs depending on whether the password is valid or expired. Whether the password is valid or expired is determined based on the state of the status flag. The state of the status flag in memory 162 is changed to indicate that the password is expired, whereby the state that the password is expired is recorded in memory 162.

[0375] <Effects of Some Embodiments>

[0376] According to some of the embodiments described above, by issuing and registering a password (a password unique to a visitor or a password unique to a designated vehicle compartment), the following effects can be obtained.

[0377] 1. Thanks to the issuance of a password, even a visitor can access parking lot data that would normally only be accessible to residents, and as a result, after the issuance of the password, the visitor can log in to the management server 50 to park and be allowed to enter the parking lot without the intervention of the resident (the password gives the visitor the authority to access parking lot data that would normally only be accessible to residents).

[0378] 2. The effect that visitors can reserve parking spaces for designated parking spaces (the password gives visitors the authority to reserve parking spaces).

[0379] 3. The effect of excluding other visitors from reserving the same designated parking space (the password gives the visitor the authority to exclude other visitors from reserving the same parking space if the visitor reserves a parking space)

[0380] Of these effects, the second and third effects can be realized not only when the present invention is implemented in a parking lot 20 that does not have independence, such as when the parking lot 20 is attached to an apartment building 22, but also when the present invention is implemented in a general parking lot that is independent from other facilities.

[0381] Although some exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, these are merely examples, and the present invention can be embodied in other forms that incorporate various modifications and improvements based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, including the forms described in the [Summary of the Invention] section above.

Claims

1. A program executed by a computer of a user's communication device for reserving one of a plurality of parking lots online as a parking lot that the user wishes to use before entering the parking lot, the program comprising: The communication device has a plurality of functions, A receiving function for receiving parking lot data from a management server, the parking lot data including parking lot position data representing a position of each of the plurality of parking lots being associated with each of the plurality of parking lots; a first display function that selects, based on the parking lot position data received from the management server, from among the plurality of parking lots, those that are located within a predetermined area relative to the current location determined by the positioning unit of the communication device as a small number of candidate parking lots, and displays the selected small number of candidate parking lots on the screen of the communication device in a state in which they are overlaid on a map, and if a corresponding candidate parking lot has an available parking space, displays the selected small number of candidate parking lots together with a first mark indicating this on the screen of the communication device; a second display function that, when the user performs a parking lot selection operation on the screen of the communication device to select one of the small number of candidate parking lots, displays on the screen of the communication device a plurality of candidate parking spaces in the selected candidate parking lot as images, together with a second mark indicating that the corresponding candidate parking space is vacant; a transmission function of transmitting parking lot / car room identification data for identifying one of the candidate parking lots and one of the selected candidate car rooms to the management server when the user performs a car room selection operation on the screen of the communication device to select one of the multiple candidate car rooms; Including, The management server identifies the parking lot and vehicle space selected by the user based on the parking lot / vehicle space identification data received from the communication device, and reserves the parking lot and vehicle space for the user; A program executed to realize the above-mentioned functions.

2. The program according to claim 1 , wherein the cabin selection operation is performed by the user selecting the second mark corresponding to any one of the candidate cabins on a screen of the communication device.

3. The program described in claim 1, wherein the management server remotely and centrally manages the multiple parking lots.

4. The program described in claim 1, wherein the communication device includes a mobile terminal.

5. The program according to claim 1 , wherein the positioning unit includes a positioning function called GPS.

6. A recording medium having a program described in any one of claims 1 to 5 recorded thereon in a computer-readable manner.

Images