Information processing device, program, and information processing method

Abstract

To provide a technique for improving convenience of a user of a vehicle when the user uses a time-based pay parking lot.SOLUTION: An information processing device includes a control section. The control section outputs a first time length required for a movement from a present position of a user to a parking lot at first timing to output a first charge being the use charge of the parking lot from a time when a vehicle enters the parking lot to the present time. The control section allows a time earlier by a second time length than a leaving scheduled time corresponding to an upper limit time length / an upper limit charge desired by the user to be set as the first timing. The control section sets a time length to which a margin is added to the first time length as the second time length.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing device, a program, and an information processing method. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for displaying the time elapsed since the start of parking and the parking fee on a user's terminal when a vehicle is parked in a pay parking lot for hourly parking. Patent Document 1 also discloses a technique for outputting an alarm from the user's terminal when the parking fee is updated (added).

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for outputting an alarm from a user's terminal at a timing that matches preset conditions when a vehicle is parked in a pay parking lot for hourly parking. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2004-069551 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2008-242727 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a technology that can improve the convenience of a vehicle user when using a pay parking lot for hourly parking. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure is outputting a first length of time required for the user of the vehicle to travel from a current location to the parking lot at a first timing for outputting a first fee, which is a usage fee for the parking lot from the time the vehicle entered the parking lot to the present; A control unit is provided. It is an information processing device.

[0007] Another aspect of the present disclosure is outputting a first length of time required for a user of the vehicle to travel from a current location of the user to the parking lot at a first timing for outputting a first fee, which is a fee for using the parking lot from the time the vehicle entered the parking lot to the present; To make a computer execute the It is a program.

[0008] Another aspect of the present disclosure is outputting a first length of time required for a user of the vehicle to travel from a current location of the user to the parking lot at a first timing for outputting a first fee, which is a fee for using the parking lot from the time the vehicle entered the parking lot to the present; The computer executes It is an information processing method.

[0009] The present disclosure can also be understood as a non-transitory storage medium that stores the above-mentioned program. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a technique that can improve the convenience of a vehicle user when the user uses a paid parking lot for hourly parking. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of a parking fee presentation system. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 shows an example of the hardware configuration of each of the user terminal, the server device, and the sensor device included in the parking fee presentation system. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a user terminal according to the embodiment. [Figure 4]FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a first input screen in the embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a first display screen in the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process flow executed in a user terminal in the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a first display screen in the modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] There is a service (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "parking fee display service") that displays the parking fee from the time of entry (start of parking) to the present to users who use hourly paid parking lots. Such a service is provided, for example, through an application program installed on the user's terminal.

[0013] However, in order for a user who has been presented with a usage fee from the time of entry to the present to leave the parking lot, the user must move from the user's current location to the parking lot. Depending on the time required to move from the user's current location to the parking lot, the usage fee may change (the usage fee may increase) during the movement. Therefore, if the user does not know the time required to move from the user's current location to the parking lot, it is difficult for the user to predict the usage fee to be paid when leaving the parking lot. In response to this, the user may consider using a separate application program or a web browser to check the time required to move from the user's current location to the parking lot, but this may force the user to perform cumbersome tasks. Therefore, there is room for improvement in terms of improving the convenience of users with respect to the above-mentioned services.

[0014] Therefore, in one aspect of the present disclosure, a control unit of an information processing device outputs a first length of time required for a user of the vehicle to move from the current location of the vehicle to the parking lot at a first timing when the control unit outputs a first fee, which is a usage fee for the parking lot from the time the vehicle entered the parking lot to the present. This allows the user who has parked the vehicle in the parking lot to know the first length of time in addition to the first fee. As a result, the user who has parked the vehicle in the parking lot can predict the usage fee for the parking lot when the user returns to the parking lot from the current location. Therefore, the user who has parked the vehicle in the parking lot can return to the parking lot so that the usage fee to be paid when the vehicle leaves the parking lot does not exceed the predicted amount.

[0015] Here, the information processing device according to the present disclosure is a small computer carried by a user, such as a smartphone, tablet terminal, or wearable terminal, and is a computer in which an application program for receiving the parking fee presentation service described above is installed. The control unit according to the present disclosure is a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) equipped in the computer. The information processing device according to the present disclosure The display device may be a server device capable of displaying the first fee and the first time length via a web browser or the like of a user terminal.

[0016] When the information processing device according to the present disclosure is a small computer (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as a "user terminal") as described above, the control unit may communicate with a server device to receive the entry time of the vehicle into the parking lot, the usage fee per unit time of the parking lot where the vehicle is entered, and location information of the parking lot where the vehicle is entered. The server device here is, for example, a computer operated by the operator of the parking lot where the vehicle is entered and / or the provider of the parking fee presentation service. The control unit may obtain the entry time, the usage fee per unit time, and the location information of the parking lot by communicating with equipment installed in the parking lot where the vehicle is entered. The control unit may also receive the GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) equipped in the user terminal. The control unit may acquire location information of the user terminal via a GPS Navigation Satellite System (GPS) receiver or the like. When the entry time, the usage fee per unit time, the location information of the parking lot, and the location information of the user terminal are acquired in this manner, the control unit can calculate the first fee based on the entry time and the usage fee per unit time. Furthermore, the control unit can also calculate the first time length based on the location information of the user terminal and the location information of the parking lot.

[0017] In the information processing device according to the present disclosure, the control unit may receive an input of an upper limit time length, which is an upper limit value of the parking time length of the vehicle in the parking lot, desired by the user. In this case, the control unit may display an input screen for the upper limit time length on a display device or the like of the information processing device at a timing when, for example, information indicating that the vehicle has entered the parking lot is received from a server device or the like that manages the parking lot. When the control unit receives the input of the upper limit time length, the control unit may calculate a scheduled exit time, which is the time when the upper limit time length has elapsed from the entry time. The control unit may set a time that is a second time length earlier than the calculated scheduled exit time as the first timing. The control unit may output the first fee and the first time length when the first timing arrives. This enables the user to move to the parking lot so that the parking time length does not exceed the upper limit time length.

[0018] In addition, when the distance between the user's current location and the location of the parking lot is relatively large, the first time length becomes relatively long. In such a case, the parking time length may exceed the upper limit time length while the user moves from the current location to the parking lot. Therefore, the control unit may set the second time length to the same time length as the first time length or the first time length plus a margin. As a result, the first timing becomes a time earlier than the scheduled departure time by the same time length as the time length required to move from the user's current location to the parking lot or the time length plus a margin. As a result, even if the distance between the user's current location and the location of the parking lot is relatively large, the user can move to the parking lot so that the parking time length does not exceed the upper limit time length.

[0019] In the information processing device according to the present disclosure, the control unit may accept input of the maximum charge instead of the maximum time length. The maximum charge is the maximum charge for the vehicle in the parking lot desired by the user. In this case, the control unit may calculate a first parking time length, which is the parking time length for which the vehicle can be parked in the parking lot at the maximum charge. The control unit may calculate the time at which the first parking time length has elapsed from the entry time as the scheduled exit time. The control unit may set the first timing to a time that is a second length of time earlier than the calculated scheduled exit time. In this case, the second length of time may be the same length of time as the first length of time or the first length of time plus a margin. The control unit may output the first charge and the first length of time at the set first timing. This enables the user to move to the parking lot so that the parking lot usage fee does not exceed the maximum charge.

[0020] In the information processing device according to the present disclosure, the control unit may accept an input of a scheduled departure time instead of the upper limit time length or the upper limit fee. In that case, the control unit The first timing may be set to a time that is the second time period earlier than the scheduled departure time input by the above.

[0021] Furthermore, in the case where the information processing device according to the present disclosure includes a display device, the control unit may control the display device to output route information from the user's current location to the parking lot at a first timing. The route information is, for example, information indicating a route by which the user can travel from the user's current location to the parking lot within a first time length. Such route information may be, for example, information indicating the route from the user's current location to the parking lot on a map. This enables the user to travel from the current location to the parking lot within the first time length.

[0022] In the information processing device according to the present disclosure, the control unit may further receive a request for route guidance from the user's current location to the parking lot, and execute route guidance from the user's current location to the parking lot. This allows the user to move from the current location to the parking lot without getting lost. As a result, the user can move from the current location to the parking lot more reliably within the first time period.

[0023] Here, it is also assumed that the user who has received the first information wishes to reset the upper limit time length or the upper limit fee. For example, if the user's business takes longer than expected, it is necessary to delay the departure of the vehicle from the parking lot. In this regard, in the information processing device according to the present disclosure, when the first fee and the first time length are output, the control unit may receive a user operation for changing the upper limit time length or the upper limit fee. The control unit may reset the first timing based on the changed upper limit time length or the upper limit fee. The control unit may re-output the first fee and the first time length at the reset first timing. This makes it possible to meet the needs of users who wish to reset the upper limit time length or the upper limit fee.

[0024] Another aspect of the present disclosure can be specified as a program or a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium on which the program is recorded. The program causes a computer to execute the following: outputting a first length of time required for a user of the vehicle to travel from a current location of the vehicle to the parking lot at a first timing for outputting a first fee, which is a usage fee for the parking lot from the time the vehicle enters the parking lot to the present. In this case, the computer is a user terminal carried by the user of the vehicle. Also, the program is an application program installed in the user terminal.

[0025] Another aspect of the present disclosure can be identifiable as an information processing method executed by a computer. The information processing method includes outputting a first length of time required for a user of the vehicle to travel from a current location of the vehicle to the parking lot at a first timing when the computer outputs a first fee, which is a usage fee for the parking lot from the time the vehicle enters the parking lot to the present. The computer is a computer (user terminal) that operates as the information processing device described above.

[0026] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The configurations of the following embodiments are merely examples, and the present disclosure is not limited to the configurations of the embodiments.

[0027] <Embodiment> 1 is a diagram showing an example of a system configuration of a parking fee presentation system 1 according to the first embodiment. The parking fee presentation system 1 is a system that provides information related to the parking fee (parking fee) to a user who uses a pay parking lot for hourly parking.

[0028] The parking fee presentation system 1 includes a user terminal 100, a server device 200, and a sensor device 3. 00. The parking fee presentation system 1 may include a plurality of user terminals 100 and a plurality of sensor devices 300, but for the sake of convenience, only one of each is shown in FIG.

[0029] The user terminal 100 is a terminal carried by a user of a vehicle 10 parked in a pay parking lot (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as a "parking lot"). The user terminal 100 is a terminal that can be carried by a user, such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or a wearable terminal. An application program for using a parking fee presentation service is installed in the user terminal 100.

[0030] The server device 200 is a server operated by the operator of the parking lot. The server device 200 may be a server operated by a provider of a parking fee presentation service. The server device 200 may be configured to include a server operated by the operator of the parking lot and a server operated by a provider of a parking fee presentation service. The server device 200 of this embodiment has a function of acquiring the parking start time (entry time) of the vehicle 10 in the vehicle compartment of the parking lot and the identification information of the vehicle 10 (for example, a character string marked on the vehicle registration number plate (number plate)) from the sensor device 300. The server device 200 of this embodiment also has a function of providing the user terminal 100 with the usage fee per unit time of the parking lot where the vehicle 10 is parked, the position information of the parking lot where the vehicle 10 is parked, and the entry time of the vehicle 10.

[0031] The sensor device 300 is installed in a parking lot and detects the start of parking (entry) of the vehicle 10 into a vehicle compartment of the parking lot. The sensor device 300 of this embodiment also has a function of detecting identification information of the entered vehicle 10 (for example, a character string marked on the vehicle registration plate) and a function of transmitting the entry time (parking start time) of the vehicle 10 to the server device 200.

[0032] The server device 200 and the sensor device 300 are connected to a network N1 and communicate with each other through the network N1. In this embodiment, when the sensor device 300 detects the entry of the vehicle 10, the sensor device 300 transmits to the server device 200 the identification information of the entered vehicle 10 and the entry time (the time when parking in the vehicle compartment started).

[0033] Furthermore, the user terminal 100 is connected to the network N1 by wireless communication and communicates with the server device 200 through the network N1. When the sensor device 300 detects the entry of the vehicle 10, the server device 200 transmits information including the entry time, the location information of the parking lot, and the usage fee per unit time of the parking lot to the user terminal 100 through the network N1. The user terminal 100 generates information related to the parking fee of the parking lot (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as "first information") based on the information received from the server device 200, and presents the generated information to the user.

[0034] In this embodiment, the first information includes the parking fee from the entry time to the present (first fee), the time required to travel from the user's current location to the parking lot (first time length), and route information from the user's current location to the parking lot. In this embodiment, the first information is presented to the user at a first timing. The first timing is a time that is a second time length earlier than the scheduled departure time. The scheduled departure time is set according to the upper limit time length or upper limit fee specified by the user. The upper limit time length is the upper limit of the parking time length desired by the user in the parking lot. The upper limit fee is the upper limit of the fee for the vehicle 10 in the parking lot desired by the user. The second time length is the first time length plus a margin.

[0035] According to this embodiment, a user who parks the vehicle 10 in a parking lot can receive the first information at the first timing. As a result, the user can grasp the parking lot usage fee (first fee) from the entry time to the present, the time length (first time length) required to move from the user's current location to the parking lot, and the route from the user's current location to the parking lot. Therefore, the user can easily predict the parking lot usage fee at the time of returning from the user's current location to the parking lot. Also, in this embodiment, the first timing MIG is set to a time that is a second time length earlier than the scheduled departure time according to the upper limit time length or the upper limit fee. Therefore, the user can return to the parking lot and leave the vehicle 10 so that the parking time length does not exceed the upper limit time length or the parking lot usage fee does not exceed the upper limit fee by starting to move from the user's current location to the parking lot at the first timing.

[0036] (Hardware configuration) FIG. 2 shows an example of the hardware configuration of each of the user terminal 100, the server device 200, and the sensor device 300 included in the parking fee presentation system 1. As shown in FIG.

[0037] The user terminal 100 is a small computer that can be carried by a user, such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or a wearable terminal. The user terminal 100 includes, as its hardware configuration, a CPU 101, a memory 102, an external storage device 103, a wireless communication unit 104, a touch panel display 105, and a position sensor 106. However, in FIG. 2, as the hardware configuration of the user terminal 100, hardware components that perform processing required for receiving the parking fee presentation service are extracted and shown, and the hardware components included in the user terminal 100 are not limited to the elements shown in FIG. 2.

[0038] The memory 102 is a storage device that provides the CPU 101 with a storage area and a working area for loading programs stored in the external storage device 103, and is used as a buffer. The memory 102 includes, for example, semiconductor memories such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory).

[0039] The external storage device 103 stores various programs and data used by the CPU 101 when executing each program. The external storage device 103 is, for example, an erasable programmable ROM (EPROM) or a hard disk drive. The external storage device 103 may include a portable recording medium such as a universal serial bus (USB) memory or an SD card. The programs held in the external storage device 103 include, for example, an operating system (OS) and an application program for using a parking fee presentation service.

[0040] The CPU 101 is a processor that executes various processes by loading an OS and various other application programs stored in an external storage device 103 into the memory 102 and executing them. The user terminal 100 may be equipped with a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) instead of the CPU 101. The number of CPUs 101 is not limited to one, and multiple CPUs 101 may be equipped. The CPU 101 is an example of a "control unit" of the information processing device according to the present disclosure.

[0041] The wireless communication unit 104 supports mobile communication methods such as 5G (5th Generation), 6G (6th Generation), 4G (4th Generation), and LTE (Long Term Evolution), Wi The wireless communication unit 104 is a wireless communication circuit conforming to a wireless communication method such as MAX, WiFi, etc. The wireless communication unit 104 connects to the network N1 by wireless communication, and enables communication with the server device 200.

[0042] Touch panel display 105 outputs images in accordance with instructions from CPU 101 , and outputs signals input by the user to CPU 101 .

[0043] The position sensor 106 is a sensor that acquires the current position of the user terminal 100. The position sensor 106 is, for example, a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver, and acquires the latitude and longitude of the location where the user terminal 100 is located.

[0044] The server device 200 is, for example, a computer dedicated to the server. The server device 200 includes, as a hardware configuration, a CPU 201, a memory 202, an external storage device 203, and a communication unit 204. The CPU 201, the memory 202, and the external storage device 203 are similar to the CPU 101, the memory 102, and the external storage device 103 of the user terminal 100, respectively, and therefore their description will be omitted. However, the programs held in the external storage device 203 of the server device 200 include a program for providing a parking fee presentation service. In addition, the external storage device 203 of the server device 200 stores data linking the vehicle 10 of a user who has subscribed to the parking fee presentation service with the user terminal 100 of the user. For example, the external storage device 203 stores a table linking the identification information of the user terminal 100 with the identification information of the vehicle 10. In addition, the external storage device 203 also stores a table linking the name of the parking lot, the location information of the parking lot, and the usage fee per unit time to the identification information of the parking lot.

[0045] The communication unit 204 is, for example, a network interface card (NIC). The communication unit 204 is connected to an access network such as a local area network (LAN) by wire, and is connected to the network N1 through the access network. However, the communication unit 204 is not limited to a circuit that connects to the network N1 by wire, and may be, for example, a wireless communication circuit that complies with a wireless communication method such as WiFi or a mobile communication method.

[0046] In the server device 200 configured as described above, when the communication unit 204 receives a signal (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as a "first signal") including the identification information of the parking lot, the entry time of the vehicle 10, and the identification information of the vehicle 10 from the sensor device 300, the CPU 201 accesses the external storage device 203 to identify the user terminal 100 linked to the identification information of the vehicle 10. The CPU 201 also accesses the external storage device 203 to extract the name, location information, and usage fee per unit time linked to the identification information of the parking lot. The CPU 201 transmits a signal (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as a "second signal") including the name of the parking lot, the location information of the parking lot, and the usage fee per unit time of the parking lot to the user terminal 100 via the communication unit 204.

[0047] The sensor device 300 is a computer installed in a pay parking lot for hourly rental. The sensor device 300 includes, as hardware components, a CPU 301, a memory 302, an external storage device 303, a camera 304, and a communication unit 305. The CPU 301, the memory 302, the external storage device 303, and the communication unit 305 are similar to the CPU 201, the memory 202, the external storage device 203, and the communication unit 204 of the server device 200, respectively, and therefore their description will be omitted. However, the external storage device 303 stores identification information of the parking lot in which the sensor device 300 is installed. The camera 304 of the sensor device 300 captures images of the vehicle compartment in the parking lot.

[0048] In the sensor device 300 configured as described above, the CPU 301 detects the entry of the vehicle 10 by monitoring the image captured by the camera 304. When the entry of the vehicle 10 is detected, the CPU 301 identifies the time when the entry of the vehicle 10 was detected as the entry time of the vehicle 10. The CPU 301 determines the identification information of the vehicle 10 that has entered the parking lot by processing the image captured by the camera 304. The CPU 301 reads out the identification information of the parking lot stored in the external storage device 303. The CPU 301 then processes the identification information of the vehicle 10 and the identification information of the vehicle 10. The first signal including the entry time of 0 and the identification information of the parking lot is transmitted to the server device 200 via the communication unit 305.

[0049] Note that the hardware configurations of the user terminal 100, the server device 200, and the sensor device 300 shown in Fig. 2 are merely examples, and the hardware configurations of the user terminal 100, the server device 200, and the sensor device 300 are not limited to those shown in Fig. 2. For example, the user terminal 100 may also include a microphone, a speaker, a camera, and the like as hardware components in addition to those shown in Fig. 2.

[0050] (User terminal functional configuration) 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of the user terminal 100 in this embodiment. The user terminal 100 has, as its functional components, a reception unit F110, a first calculation unit F120, a second calculation unit F130, a setting unit F140, a determination unit F150, a generation unit F160, an output unit F170, and a guidance unit F180. These functional components are realized by the CPU 101 of the user terminal 100 executing an application program stored in the external storage device 103.

[0051] The reception unit F110 receives the upper limit time length or the upper limit charge desired by the user. Specifically, the reception unit F110, when triggered by the wireless communication unit 104 receiving a second signal from the server device 200, outputs a first input screen as shown in Fig. 4 on the touch panel display 105. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the first input screen. The first input screen is a screen for allowing the user to input the upper limit time length or the upper limit charge desired by the user.

[0052] The first input screen shown in FIG. 4 includes display fields for information indicating the name of the parking lot where the vehicle 10 is parked (parking lot name), the parking start time of the vehicle 10 in the parking lot (entry time), and the usage fee per unit time of the parking lot. The information displayed in the display fields is information included in the second signal received from the server device 200. The first input screen shown in FIG. 4 also includes an input field for inputting the maximum time length or maximum fee desired by the user, and a setting button for the maximum time length or maximum fee. The input field for the maximum time length or maximum fee includes a pull-down menu for the user to select the maximum time length or maximum fee. When the setting button is operated with one of the maximum time length or maximum fee selected, the reception unit F110 receives the maximum time length or maximum fee input by the user through the touch panel display 105.

[0053] When the upper limit time length or the upper limit fee is accepted, the acceptance unit F110 passes the second signal received from the server device 200 and the upper limit time length or the upper limit fee input by the user to the first calculation unit F120.

[0054] The first calculation unit F120 calculates a scheduled departure time based on the information received from the reception unit F110. The scheduled departure time is the scheduled departure time when it is assumed that the vehicle 10 is parked in the parking lot for the upper limit time length, or the scheduled departure time when it is assumed that the vehicle 10 is parked in the parking lot for the upper limit fee length.

[0055] Here, when the user inputs the upper limit time length on the first input screen of FIG. 4, the first calculation unit F120 calculates the time obtained by adding the upper limit time length to the entry time (the time when the upper limit time length has elapsed from the entry time) as the scheduled departure time. Also, when the user inputs the upper limit fee on the first input screen of FIG. 4, the first calculation unit F120 first calculates the maximum parking time length (first parking time length) that can be parked in the parking lot for the upper limit fee by dividing the upper limit fee by the usage fee per unit time. Next, the first calculation unit F120 calculates the time obtained by adding the first parking time length to the entry time (the time when the first parking time length has elapsed from the entry time). ) is calculated as the scheduled departure time.

[0056] When the scheduled departure time is calculated, the first calculation unit F120 passes the second signal and the scheduled departure time to the second calculation unit F130.

[0057] The second calculation unit F130 calculates a time length (first time length) required for the user to move from the current position to the parking lot. When calculating the first time length, the second calculation unit F130 acquires the current position of the user terminal 100 through the position sensor 106. The second calculation unit F130 identifies the current position of the user terminal 100 as the current position of the user. The second calculation unit F130 calculates the first time length based on the current position of the user and the position information of the parking lot included in the second signal. At this time, the first time length can be calculated by a method similar to that of a known navigation system. For example, the second calculation unit F130 may calculate the first time length based on the distance of the route from the current position of the user to the parking lot and the average walking speed of an adult. In addition, if the route from the user's current location to the parking lot includes a section traveled by public transportation, the required time length for the section traveled by walking and the required time length for the section traveled by public transportation may be calculated, and the total time length may be set as the first time length. In addition, if there are multiple routes from the user's current location to the parking lot, the second calculation unit F130 may calculate the first time length, for example, for the route that requires the shortest time or the shortest distance.

[0058] When the first time length is calculated, the second calculation unit F130 passes the second signal, the scheduled departure time, route information from the user's current position to the parking lot, and the first time length to the setting unit F140.

[0059] The setting unit F140 sets the first timing. The first timing is a timing at which information (first information) related to the parking fee is presented to the user. In this embodiment, the first timing is a time that is a second length of time earlier than the scheduled departure time. The second length of time is a length of time obtained by adding a margin (for example, several minutes to several tens of minutes) to the first length of time. When setting the first timing, the setting unit F140 sets the length of time obtained by adding the margin to the first length of time calculated by the second calculation unit F130 as the second length of time. Next, the setting unit F140 sets the time obtained by subtracting the second length of time from the scheduled departure time calculated by the first calculation unit F120 as the first timing.

[0060] When the first timing is set, the setting unit F140 passes the second signal, the scheduled departure time, route information from the user's current position to the parking lot, the first time length, and the first timing to the determination unit F150.

[0061] The determination unit F150 determines whether the first timing has arrived. That is, the determination unit F150 compares the first timing with the current time to determine whether the first timing has arrived. If it is determined that the first time has arrived (if the first timing is the same as the current time), the determination unit F150 passes the second signal, route information from the user's current position to the parking lot, and the first time length to the generation unit F160.

[0062] If it is determined that the first timing has not arrived (if the first timing is later than the current time), the second calculation unit F130 performs the calculation process of the first time length, the setting unit F140 performs the setting process of the first time, and the determination unit F150 performs the determination process again. This is because if the user moves and the user's current location changes, the route from the user's current location to the parking lot, the first time length, and the first timing also change.

[0063] The generating unit F160 generates the first information based on the information included in the second signal, route information from the user's current position to the parking lot, and the first time length. The first information in this embodiment includes the parking lot usage fee from the entry time to the present, the time length required to move from the user's current position to the parking lot (first time length), and route information from the user's current position to the parking lot. The parking lot usage fee from the entry time to the present is calculated based on the elapsed time length from the entry time to the present, and the usage fee per unit time included in the second signal. The route information from the user's current position to the parking lot is information that shows on a map a route that can be traveled from the user's current position to the parking lot within the first time length. The map data used for the route information may be stored in the external storage device 103 of the user terminal 100, or may be acquired by communicating with an external device that provides map data via the network N1.

[0064] The first information generated by the generation unit F160 is passed from the generation unit F160 to the output unit F170.

[0065] The output unit F170 outputs the first information generated by the generation unit F160 to the touch panel display 105. For example, the output unit F170 controls the touch panel display 105 to output a first display screen as shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the first display screen. The first display screen is a screen for presenting the first information to a user.

[0066] The first display screen shown in Fig. 5 includes display fields showing the entry time of the vehicle 10, the parking fee from the entry time to the present, the time required to travel from the user's current location to the parking lot (required time), and information showing a route from the user's current location to the parking lot on a map. The first display screen shown in Fig. 5 also includes a route guidance button for requesting route guidance from the user's current location to the parking lot. It is up to the user to decide whether or not to operate the route guidance button. When the route guidance button is operated by the user, the user's current location, the location information of the parking lot, and the route information are passed from the output unit F170 to the guidance unit F180.

[0067] Returning to Fig. 3, the guidance unit F180 performs route guidance based on the user's current location, the location information of the parking lot, and the route information. Route guidance from the user's current location to the parking lot is performed by a known method. For example, the guidance unit F180 may start a route guidance application program installed in the user terminal 100 to perform route guidance from the user's current location to the parking lot.

[0068] The functional configuration of the user terminal 100 is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 3, and functional components can be omitted, changed, or added as appropriate.

[0069] (Processing flow) Next, the process executed by the user terminal 100 in this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a flow chart showing an example of a process flow executed by the user terminal 100 when the user terminal 100 receives a second signal transmitted from the server device 200. The process shown in Fig. 6 is executed mainly by the CPU 101 of the user terminal 100, but for convenience, the process will be described mainly with reference to the functional components.

[0070] 6, when the wireless communication unit 104 of the user terminal 100 receives the second signal transmitted from the server device 200 (step S101), the reception unit F110 outputs the first input screen from the touch panel display 105 (step S102). As described above in the explanation of FIG. 4, the first input screen is for inputting the maximum time length or maximum charge desired by the user, This is a screen for the user to input. After completing the process of step S102, the reception unit F110 executes the process of step S103.

[0071] In step S103, the reception unit F110 judges whether the input of the upper limit time length or the upper limit charge has been completed. Specifically, when the set button is operated with the upper limit time length or the upper limit charge selected on the first input screen as shown in FIG. 4, the reception unit F110 judges that the input of the upper limit time length or the upper limit charge has been completed (positive judgment in step S103). If neither the upper limit time length nor the upper limit charge has been selected, or the set button has not been operated, the reception unit F110 judges that the input of the upper limit time length or the upper limit charge has not been completed (negative judgment in step S103). If the negative judgment in step S103 is made, the reception unit F110 waits until the input of the upper limit time length or the upper limit charge has been completed. Also, if the positive judgment in step S103 is made, the reception unit F110 passes the second signal and the upper limit time length or the upper limit charge input by the user to the first calculation unit F120. The first calculation unit F120 executes the process of step S104 when it receives the information from the reception unit F110.

[0072] In step S104, the first calculation unit F120 calculates the scheduled exit time. As described above, the scheduled exit time is the scheduled exit time when it is assumed that the vehicle 10 is parked in the parking lot for the upper limit time length, or the scheduled exit time when it is assumed that the vehicle 10 is parked in the parking lot for the time length of the upper limit fee. When the user inputs the upper limit time length on the first input screen, the first calculation unit F120 calculates the time obtained by adding the upper limit time length to the entry time as the scheduled exit time. When the user inputs the upper limit fee on the first input screen, the first calculation unit F120 first calculates the first parking time length, which is the maximum time length that the vehicle can be parked in the parking lot for the upper limit fee, by dividing the upper limit fee by the usage fee per unit time. Next, the first calculation unit F120 calculates the time obtained by adding the first parking time length to the entry time as the scheduled exit time. When the first calculation unit F120 finishes executing the process of step S104, it passes the second signal and the scheduled departure time to the second calculation unit F130. The second calculation unit F130 executes the process of step S105, triggered by receiving the information from the first calculation unit F120.

[0073] In step S105, the second calculation unit F130 calculates a first time length. As described above, the first time length is the time length required for the user to move from the current location of the user to the parking lot. When calculating the first time length, the second calculation unit F130 acquires the current location of the user terminal 100 (the user's current location) through the location sensor 106. The second calculation unit F130 calculates the first time length based on the user's current location and the location information of the parking lot included in the second signal. At that time, the second calculation unit F130 first calculates the first time length based on the distance of the route from the user's current location to the parking lot and the average walking speed of an adult. In addition, if the route from the user's current location to the parking lot includes a section traveled by public transportation, the second calculation unit F130 calculates the required time length of the section traveled by walking and the required time length of the section traveled by public transportation, and calculates the total time length as the first time length. In addition, if there are multiple routes from the user's current location to the parking lot, the second calculation unit F130 calculates the first time length for the route that requires the shortest time or the shortest distance. After completing the process of step S105, the second calculation unit F130 passes the second signal, the scheduled departure time, route information (information indicating the route that was the subject of the calculation of the first time length), and the first time length to the setting unit F140. The setting unit F140 executes the process of step S106, triggered by receiving information from the second calculation unit F130.

[0074] In step S106, the setting unit F140 sets the first timing. As described above, the first timing is the timing for providing the user with information (first information) related to the parking fee. This is the timing indicating the timing. In setting such a first timing, the setting unit F140 first calculates the second time length by adding a margin to the first time length calculated by the second calculation unit F130. Next, the setting unit F140 sets the time obtained by subtracting the second time length from the scheduled departure time calculated by the first calculation unit F120 (the time that is the second time length earlier than the scheduled departure time) as the first timing. After completing the process of step S106, the setting unit F140 passes the second signal, the scheduled departure time, the first time length, the route information, and the first timing to the determination unit F150. The determination unit F150 executes the process of step S107, triggered by receiving the information from the setting unit F140.

[0075] In step S107, the determination unit F150 compares the first timing set by the setting unit F140 with the current time to determine whether the first timing has arrived. If the first timing is the same as the current time, the determination unit F150 determines that the first timing has arrived (positive determination in step S107). If the first timing is later than the current time, the determination unit F150 determines that the first timing has not arrived (negative determination in step S107). If a negative determination is made in step S107, the processes from step S105 to step S107 are executed again. If a positive determination is made in step S107, the determination unit F150 passes the second signal, the route information, and the first time length to the generation unit F160. The generation unit F160 executes the process of step S108, triggered by receiving information from the determination unit F150.

[0076] In step S108, the generating unit F160 generates first information. The first information is information related to the parking fee, and includes the parking fee from the entry time to the present, the time length required to move from the user's current position to the parking lot (first time length), and information on the route that can move from the user's current position to the parking lot within the first time length (route information). The generating unit F160 calculates the parking fee from the entry time to the present based on the elapsed time length from the entry time to the present and the usage fee per unit time included in the second signal. In addition, the generating unit F160 generates information that shows the route from the user's current position to the parking lot on a map. After completing the process of step S108, the generating unit F160 passes the generated first information to the output unit F170. The output unit F170 executes the process of step S109, triggered by receiving the information from the generating unit F160.

[0077] In step S109, the output unit F170 outputs the first information generated by the generation unit F160 to the touch panel display 105. That is, the output unit F170 outputs a first display screen for presenting the first information to the user from the touch panel display 105. As described in the description of FIG. 5 above, the first display screen includes a display field for the entry time of the vehicle 10, a display field for the parking fee from the entry time to the present, a display field for the time required to move from the user's current position to the parking lot, a display field for information showing the route from the user's current position to the parking lot on a map, and a route guide button. After completing the process of step S109, the output unit F170 executes the process of step S110.

[0078] In step S110, the output unit F170 determines whether a route guidance request has been input through the touch panel display 105. That is, the output unit F170 determines whether the route guidance button has been operated on the first display screen of the touch panel display 105. If the route guidance button has not been operated on the first display screen of the touch panel display 105 (negative determination in step S110), the output unit F170 waits until the route guidance button is operated. However, if the user performs an operation to close the first display screen before the route guidance button is operated, the execution of this processing routine may be terminated. Also, if the route guidance button has been operated on the first display screen of the touch panel display 105 (positive determination in step S110), the output unit F170 passes the user's current position, parking lot position information, and route information to the guidance unit F180. The guidance unit F180 Receipt of information from the output unit F170 is used as a trigger to execute the process of step S111.

[0079] In step S111, the guidance unit F180 performs route guidance from the user's current location to the parking lot based on the user's current location, the parking lot's location information, and the route information. For example, the guidance unit F180 starts an application program for route guidance installed in the user terminal 100 to perform route guidance from the user's current location to the parking lot. After the process of step S111 is performed, the execution of this processing routine is terminated.

[0080] (Effects of the embodiment) In this embodiment, the user terminal 100 outputs the length of time (first time length) required to move from the user's current location to the parking lot and route information from the user's current location to the parking lot at the timing (first timing) of outputting the parking lot usage fee (first fee) from the entry time to the present. This allows the user who has parked the vehicle 10 in the parking lot to know the first time length and route information in addition to the first fee. This makes it easier for the user to predict the parking lot usage fee at the time of returning to the parking lot from the user's current location.

[0081] In this embodiment, the user terminal 100 receives the upper limit time length or the upper limit fee desired by the user, and sets the first timing to a time that is a second time length earlier than the scheduled departure time according to the upper limit time length or the upper limit fee. Therefore, the user can return to the parking lot and leave the vehicle 10 without the parking time length exceeding the upper limit time length or the parking fee exceeding the upper limit fee by starting to move from the user's current position to the parking lot at the first timing.

[0082] In addition, in this embodiment, when the user desires route guidance from the user's current location to the parking lot, the user terminal 100 executes route guidance from the user's current location to the parking lot. This enables the user to move from the user's current location to the parking lot without getting lost. As a result, the user can more reliably return to the parking lot and exit the vehicle 10 without the parking time exceeding the upper limit time or the parking fee exceeding the upper limit fee.

[0083] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to improve the convenience for users who use hourly pay parking lots.

[0084] <Modification> In addition, a user who has parked the vehicle 10 in a parking lot may wish to reset the upper limit time length or the upper limit fee at the timing (first timing) when the first information is presented to the user. For example, if the user's business takes longer than expected, it may be necessary to delay the departure of the vehicle 10 from the parking lot. Therefore, in this modification, the user terminal 100 is configured to accept a user operation to change the upper limit time length or the upper limit fee when the first information is presented to the user.

[0085] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a first display screen in this modified example. The first display screen is a screen output to the touch panel display 105 of the user terminal 100 at a first timing, and is a screen for presenting first information to the user. The first display screen shown in FIG. 7 includes a display field for the entry time of the vehicle 10, a display field for the parking fee from the entry time to the present, a display field for the time required to move from the user's current position to the parking lot, a display field for information showing on a map the route from the user's current position to the parking lot, a route guidance button, and a reset button. The reset button is a button for requesting resetting (changing) the upper limit time length or the upper limit fee. It is up to the user to decide whether or not to operate the reset button. When the reset button is operated by the user, a reset request is passed from the output unit F170 to the reception unit F110.

[0086] The reception unit F110, which has received the reset request from the output unit F170, causes the touch panel display 105 to output again the first input screen as described in the description of FIG. 4 above. When the user selects a new upper limit time length or upper limit charge on the first input screen and operates the setting button, the new upper limit time length or upper limit charge reselected by the user is passed from the reception unit F110 to the first calculation unit F120. Thereafter, based on the new upper limit time length or upper limit charge, the calculation process of the scheduled departure time by the first calculation unit F120, the calculation process of the first time length by the second calculation unit F130, the setting process of the first timing by the setting unit F140, the judgment process by the judgment unit F150, and the generation process of the first information by the generation unit F160 are sequentially repeated. Then, at the first timing according to the new upper limit time length or upper limit charge, the output unit F170 causes the touch panel display 105 to output the regenerated first information. In short, when the reset button is operated on the first display screen, the processes from step S102 to step S109 in the process flow of FIG. 6 described above are executed again.

[0087] According to this modification, it is possible to meet the needs of users who wish to reset the upper limit time length or the upper limit charge.

[0088] <Other> The above embodiment and modified examples are merely examples, and the present disclosure may be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. For example, the reception unit F110 of the user terminal 100 may receive an input of a scheduled departure time from the user instead of receiving an input of an upper limit time or an upper limit fee from the user. In this case, the calculation process of the scheduled departure time based on the upper limit time or the upper limit fee can be omitted, and therefore the first calculation unit F120 can be omitted from the functional components of the user terminal 100 shown in FIG. 3.

[0089] The functions of the server device 200 may be realized by a sensor device 300 installed in a parking lot. In this case, the sensor device 300 may transmit the second signal to the user terminal 100 via short-range wireless communication conforming to the Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy standard or via the network N1. This makes it possible to obtain the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment and modified example.

[0090] Furthermore, the processes and means described in this disclosure can be freely combined and implemented as long as no technical contradiction occurs. Furthermore, a process described as being performed by one device may be shared and executed by multiple devices. Alternatively, a process described as being performed by different devices may be executed by one device. In a computer system, the hardware configuration (server configuration) by which each function is realized can be flexibly changed.

[0091] The present disclosure can also be realized by supplying a computer program that implements the functions described in the above embodiments to a computer, and having one or more processors of the computer read and execute the program. Such a computer program may be provided to the computer by a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that can be connected to the system bus of the computer, or may be provided to the computer via a network. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium may be, for example, any type of disk, such as a magnetic disk (floppy disk, hard disk drive (HDD), etc.), an optical disk (CD-ROM, DVD disk, Blu-ray disk, etc.), a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), an EPROM, an EEPROM, a magnetic This includes cards, flash memory, optical cards, and any type of medium suitable for storing electronic instructions. [Explanation of symbols]

[0092] 1. Parking fee display system 10 Vehicles 100 user terminals 101 CPU 102 Memory 103 External storage device 104 Wireless Communication Section 105 Touch Panel Display 106 Position Sensor F110 Reception F120 1st calculation unit F130 Second calculation unit F140 Setting section F150 Judgment section F160 generation section F170 Output section F180 Information Department 200 Server device 300 Sensor device N1 Network

Claims

1. outputting a first length of time required for the user of the vehicle to travel from a current location of the user to the parking lot at a first timing for outputting a first fee, which is a usage fee for the parking lot from the time the vehicle entered the parking lot to the present; A control unit is provided, The control unit is determining whether an input of an upper limit time length, which is an upper limit value of a parking time length of the vehicle in the parking lot, has been received; When it is determined that the input of the upper limit time length has been accepted, a scheduled departure time is calculated, which is the time when the upper limit time length has elapsed from the entry time; Setting the first timing to a time that is a second time period earlier than the scheduled departure time; outputting the first charge and the first time length at the set first timing; Execute Information processing device.

2. When the first charge and the first time length are output, The control unit is receiving a user operation for changing the upper limit time length; resetting the first timing based on the changed upper limit time length; re-outputting the first fee and the first time length at the reset first timing; Further execute The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. The control unit sets the second time length to a time length equal to the first time length or a time length obtained by adding a margin to the first time length.

3. The information processing device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The information processing device includes a display device, the control unit controls the display device to output route information from the user's current location to the parking lot at the first timing. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

5. The control unit is accepting a request for route guidance from a current location of the user to the parking lot; Executing route guidance from a current location of the user to the parking lot; Further execute The information processing device according to claim 4.

6. the information processing device is a user terminal carried by the user, The control unit is receiving the entry time, the parking lot usage fee per unit time, and location information of the parking lot by communicating with a server device; Obtaining location information of the user terminal; calculating the first fee based on the entry time and a usage fee for the parking lot per unit time; Calculating the first time length based on location information of the user terminal and location information of the parking lot; Execute The information processing device according to claim 1 .

7. outputting a first length of time required for a user of the vehicle to travel from a current location of the user to the parking lot at a first timing for outputting a first fee, which is a usage fee for the parking lot from a time when the vehicle entered the parking lot to a present time; To make a computer execute the A program, The computer includes: determining whether an input of an upper limit time length, which is an upper limit value of a parking time length of the vehicle in the parking lot, has been received; When it is determined that the input of the upper limit time length has been accepted, a scheduled departure time is calculated, which is the time when the upper limit time length has elapsed from the entry time; Setting the first timing to a time that is a second time period earlier than the scheduled departure time; outputting the first charge and the first time length at the set first timing; Run program.

8. When the first charge and the first time length are output, The computer includes: receiving a user operation for changing the upper limit time length; resetting the first timing based on the changed upper limit time length; re-outputting the first fee and the first time length at the reset first timing; To further implement the The program according to claim 7.

9. The computer includes: A time length equal to the first time length or a time length obtained by adding a margin to the first time length, For setting the second time length, The program according to claim 7 or 8.

10. the computer includes a display device; The computer includes: to control the display device to output route information from the user's current location to the parking lot at the first timing; The program according to any one of claims 7 to 9.

11. The computer includes: accepting a request for route guidance from a current location of the user to the parking lot; Executing route guidance from a current location of the user to the parking lot; To further implement the The program according to claim 10.

12. the computer is a user terminal carried by the user, The computer includes: communicating with a server device to receive the entry time, the parking lot usage fee per unit time, and location information of the parking lot; Obtaining location information of the user terminal; Calculating the first fee based on the entry time and the parking fee per unit time; Calculating the first time length based on location information of the user terminal and location information of the parking lot; In order to execute The program according to any one of claims 7 to 11.

13. outputting a first length of time required for a user of the vehicle to travel from a current location of the user to the parking lot at a first timing for outputting a first fee, which is a usage fee for the parking lot from a time when the vehicle entered the parking lot to a present time; The computer executes The computer, determining whether an input of an upper limit time length, which is an upper limit value of a parking time length of the vehicle in the parking lot, has been received; When it is determined that the input of the upper limit time length has been accepted, a scheduled departure time is calculated, which is the time when the upper limit time length has elapsed from the entry time; Setting the first timing to a time that is a second time period earlier than the scheduled departure time; outputting the first charge and the first time length at the set first timing; Run Information processing methods.

Images