Information processing device

Abstract

To provide a technique indicating an appropriate parking area in accordance with a charging system of a vehicle.SOLUTION: An information processing device comprises: an acquisition part that acquires information related to a charging system of a vehicle which can charged in an external part; and an instruction part that instructs a provision formation of a division frame defining the parking area in the parking on the basis of the information related to the charging system.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a technology has been proposed for displaying a parking area for a vehicle in a parking lot such as a garage. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for setting the position and size of a parking area based on vehicle side information and garage side information, and displaying the parking area based on the setting. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2009-139983 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the technology described in Patent Document 1 does not take into account the vehicle charging method when setting the parking area, and it is not possible to set a parking area suitable for the vehicle charging method. Therefore, the technology described in Patent Document 1 is not able to fully utilize the parking lot space.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and one of the exemplary objectives of the present invention is to provide a technique for indicating an appropriate parking area according to a charging method of a vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, an information processing device of one embodiment of the present invention includes an acquisition unit that acquires information regarding a charging method of a vehicle that is capable of external charging, and an instruction unit that instructs the presentation form of a partition frame that partitions a parking area in a parking lot based on the information regarding the charging method.

[0007] Any combination of the above components, and any transformation of the present invention into a method, system, recording medium, computer program, etc., are also effective as aspects of the present invention. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technique for indicating an appropriate parking area according to a charging method of a vehicle. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the parking lot device according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which a vehicle is being charged by a charging device. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 shows three vehicles parked side-by-side. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a plot frame presented by a parking lot system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 4 is a flowchart for explaining an example of an operation flow of the vehicle and parking lot system according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a presentation process in S15 shown in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of operations of the parking lot system in the second processing example. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 shows four vehicles parked side-by-side, facing the same direction. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which two of the four vehicles shown in FIG. 9 are facing in opposite directions. [Figure 11] 13 is a flowchart showing the flow of operations of the parking lot system in the third processing example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions are omitted as appropriate. In addition, the configurations described below are examples, and do not limit the scope of the present invention in any way.

[0011] In addition, in this specification and drawings, multiple components having substantially the same functional configuration may be distinguished by adding different alphabets after the same reference numeral. However, when there is no need to particularly distinguish each of multiple components having substantially the same functional configuration, each of the multiple components is given only the same reference numeral. For example, when there is no particular need to distinguish between vehicle 10a and vehicle 10b, they are simply referred to as "vehicle 10."

[0012] [Embodiment] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system according to this embodiment includes a vehicle 10 and a parking lot system 20. The vehicle 10 and the parking lot system 20 are communicatively connected to each other via a network 15. Although Fig. 1 shows one vehicle 10 and one parking lot system 20, a plurality of vehicles 10 or a plurality of parking lot systems 20 may be connected to the network 15.

[0013] Vehicle 10 is a vehicle that can be externally charged, and may be, for example, an electric vehicle such as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, a fuel cell electric vehicle, or a battery electric vehicle.

[0014] The network 15 is a communication line for transmitting and receiving information between the vehicle 10 and the parking lot system 20. The network 15 may be wireless, wired, or a combination of these. The network 15 may be, for example, the Internet, a packet communication network, a telephone line, another communication line, or a combination of these.

[0015] The parking lot system 20 performs various processes in the parking lot, more specifically, manages the number of parked vehicles, provides parking area guidance, presents parking space partitions, etc. The functions of the parking lot system 20 are realized by the cooperation of a parking lot device 22 (information processing device) and a presentation device 24.

[0016] The parking lot device 22 executes various information processing related to the parking lot, specifically, transmits and receives information to and from the vehicle 10 via the network 15, and issues instructions to the presentation device 24. The specific configuration and functions of the parking lot device 22 will be described later with reference to FIG.

[0017] The presentation device 24 can present various types of information. The presentation device 24 may include, for example, a light-emitting means such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode) and a means for presenting visual information such as an LD (Liquid Display). For example, the presentation device 24 can present (display) a parking lot boundary or the like on the ground. The presentation device 24 may also include various known audio output devices capable of presenting audio information. For example, the presentation device 24 may output audio guiding the user to the parking area where the vehicle should be parked.

[0018] 2 is a functional block diagram of the parking lot device 22 according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the parking lot device 22 includes a communication unit 220, a storage unit 222, and a processing unit 224.

[0019] The communication unit 220 can transmit and receive various types of information, and is configured by various types of known communication devices. For example, the communication unit 220 can communicate with the vehicle 10 via the network 15 and receive vehicle information from the vehicle 10. The vehicle information may include, for example, information related to the model of the vehicle 10, the size of the vehicle 10, whether external charging is possible, the charging method, the position of a charging port provided on the vehicle 10, and the like. The communication unit 220 can transmit the received information to the storage unit 222 and the processing unit 224.

[0020] The charging method may be a front / rear connector connection method, underfloor charging, a side connector connection method, an automatic charging method (robot method), etc. The front / rear connector connection method is a method in which a charging cable is inserted into a charging port provided in the center of the front or rear of the vehicle, and power is supplied from a charging device to the vehicle's battery via the charging cable. Underfloor charging is a method in which power is transmitted contactlessly from a power transmission coil placed on the ground of a parking lot to a power receiving coil of a vehicle parked on the power transmission coil, thereby charging the vehicle's battery.

[0021] The side connector connection method is a method in which a charging cable is inserted into a charging port provided on the right or left side of the vehicle, and power is supplied from the charging device to the vehicle's battery via the charging cable. This charging method requires space on the vehicle's charging port side so that the charging cable does not interfere with pedestrian traffic and getting on and off. For this reason, the side connector connection method requires more space between adjacent vehicles than the front / rear connector connection method and underfloor charging described above.

[0022] The automatic charging method is a method in which a mobile robot placed in a parking lot automatically charges the vehicle battery. This charging method requires a large space on the side of the vehicle for the robot to work, so it requires more space between adjacent vehicles than the side connector connection method described above.

[0023] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which a side connector connection type vehicle 10a is being charged by a charging device 30. In the example shown in Fig. 3, a charging port is provided at position 11a on the right rear side of the vehicle 10a. The charging port and the charging device 30 are connected by a charging cable 32, and power is supplied from the charging device 30 to the vehicle 10a through the charging cable 32.

[0024] On the left and right sides of the vehicle 10a, compartment frames 242a, 242b are presented by the presentation device 24. The compartment frames 242a, 242b are used as spaces for passengers of the vehicle 10a to move around or as spaces for the charging cable 32. In the example shown in Fig. 3, the compartment frame 242b on the right side of the vehicle 10a is used for installing the charging cable 32.

[0025] Returning to Fig. 2, the configuration of the parking lot device 22 will be described. The storage unit 222 stores various information and may be configured, for example, with a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD). The storage unit 222 may store, for example, information about the parking lot managed by the parking lot system 20, information received by the communication unit 220, the processing results of the processing unit 224, information for identifying the presentation form of the partition frame, and a processing program for the processing unit 224 to execute various information processes.

[0026] The information about the parking lot may include, for example, information such as the size of the parking lot, charging equipment installed in the parking lot, the standard width of the partition frame, and information about the parked vehicles. The information about the parked vehicles may include, for example, the parking position, charging information, and the number of parked vehicles. The required size of the partition frame may differ depending on, for example, whether external charging is possible, the charging method, the location of the charging port, and whether people get on and off the vehicle. The information for identifying the presentation form of the partition frame may be, for example, a partition frame table that associates vehicle information such as the charging method with information about the presentation form of the partition frame, such as the width of the partition frame. The information about the presentation form of the partition frame may include, for example, information about the shape, size (width, etc.), and position of the partition frame.

[0027] The processing unit 224 executes various information processing by executing processing programs stored in the storage unit 222. The processing unit 224 may include a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a ROM (Read Only Memory). The functions of the processing unit 224 are realized by the cooperation of the acquisition unit 226 and the instruction unit 228.

[0028] The acquisition unit 226 acquires various types of information. The acquisition unit 226 can acquire various types of information received by the communication unit 220, for example, acquiring information related to a charging method of a vehicle that allows external charging (also referred to as "charging information"). In addition, the acquisition unit 226 may acquire information related to a required size of a partition frame according to the charging method, etc., by referring to information such as a partition frame table stored in the memory unit 222. The acquisition unit 226 can transmit the acquired information to the instruction unit 228.

[0029] The instruction unit 228 can execute various instructions, for example, instructing the presentation form of the partition frame based on the charging information. In this embodiment, the instruction unit 228 instructs the presentation device 24 on the presentation form of the partition frame. Specifically, the instruction unit 228 may instruct the presentation device 24 to present a presentation form of a partition frame having a width according to the charging method. Furthermore, the instruction unit 228 may instruct the presentation device 24 to present a presentation form of a partition frame in a presentation form according to the position of a charging port provided on the vehicle 10.

[0030] The instruction unit 228 may instruct the presentation form of the parking lot based on various vehicle information in addition to the charging method. For example, the instruction unit 228 may instruct the presentation form of the partition frame in accordance with the presence or absence of people getting on and off the vehicle in addition to the charging method. Specifically, when the vehicle is parked by autonomous driving and no people get on and off the vehicle, the instruction unit 228 may instruct the presentation device 24 to make the width of the partition frame smaller than when people get on and off the vehicle.

[0031] An example of a partition frame presented by the parking lot system 20 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 4 and 5. Figure 4 shows an example of a partition frame presented by a conventional parking lot system, and Figure 5 shows an example of a partition frame presented by the parking lot system 20 according to this embodiment.

[0032] Fig. 4 shows three vehicles 10b-10d parked side by side. As shown in Fig. 4, on the left and right sides of each of the three vehicles 10b-10d, there are compartment frames 242c-242f having the same width L1. These compartment frames 242c-242f have a size that can ensure a necessary and sufficient space for vehicles having any charging method to be parked.

[0033] Here, the vehicle 10b has a charging port at the rear left position 11b, and the vehicle 10c in the center has a charging port at the rear right position 11c. Therefore, the space between the vehicles 10b and 10c is not used for arranging the charging cable. Therefore, the width of the partition frame 242d presented between the vehicles 10b and 10c may be narrower than when a space for a charging cable is required. Furthermore, the vehicle 10d has a charging port at the rear center position 11d. Therefore, the width of the partition frame 242f on the right side of the vehicle 10d may be narrower than when a space for a charging cable is required.

[0034] In this way, if the width of the section frame 242 is constant regardless of the charging method, the width of the section frame 242 may be larger than necessary, and the parking lot space may not be used effectively. According to the parking lot device 22 of this embodiment, the presentation mode of the section frame 242 can be changed depending on the charging method, so that the parking lot space can be used more effectively.

[0035] 5, the compartment frames 242c to 242g presented by the parking lot system 20 according to this embodiment are presented to have widths according to the charging method. For example, the width L2 of the compartment frame 242d and the width L3 of the compartment frame 242f are each changed to be smaller than L1. This allows more vehicles to be parked in the parking lot, for example, allowing an additional vehicle 10e to be parked on the right side.

[0036] [First processing example] 6 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the flow of operations of the vehicle 10 and the parking lot system 20 according to this embodiment. The flow of operations will be explained below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

[0037] First, the vehicle 10 enters the parking lot (S11). Next, the vehicle 10 transmits vehicle information to the parking lot system 20 via the network 15 (S13). Here, the vehicle 10 transmits, for example, information about the vehicle model and charging information. The transmitted vehicle information is received by the communication unit 220 provided in the parking lot device 22 of the parking lot system 20.

[0038] Next, the parking lot system 20 executes a presentation process based on the vehicle information transmitted in S13 (S15). The flow of the presentation process in S15 will be described later with reference to FIG. 7. When the presentation process is executed, a parking space frame is presented. Next, the vehicle 10 is parked in a parking area within the presented parking space frame (S17).

[0039] Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the presentation process in S15 shown in Fig. 6. The flow of the presentation process will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in Fig. 6.

[0040] First, the acquisition unit 226 acquires the vehicle information transmitted in S13 (S101). The vehicle information includes information related to the charging method of the vehicle 10. Next, the instruction unit 228 determines whether or not the vehicle 10 is capable of external charging based on the vehicle information acquired in S101 (S103). If it is determined that external charging is not possible, the process proceeds to S105, and if it is determined that external charging is possible, the process proceeds to S107.

[0041] If it is determined in S103 that external charging is not possible, the parking lot system 20 guides the vehicle out of the charging area (S105). Specifically, the presentation device 24 may output a voice that guides the vehicle 10 to a parking area for vehicles that do not allow external charging, based on an instruction from the instruction unit 228. When the parking lot system 20 guides the vehicle out of the charging area, the presentation process shown in FIG. 7 ends.

[0042] When it is determined in S103 that the vehicle is capable of external charging, the parking lot system 20 guides the vehicle 10 into a charging area (S107). For example, the presentation device 24 may output a sound guiding the vehicle 10 to a parking area for vehicles capable of external charging.

[0043] Next, the acquisition unit 226 acquires information about the section frame based on the information about the charging method acquired in S101 (S109). For example, the acquisition unit 226 may acquire information about the width of the section frame.

[0044] Next, the instruction unit 228 determines whether or not the shape of the partition frame needs to be changed (S111). For example, if the width of the partition frame acquired in S109 matches the standard width of the partition frame, the instruction unit 228 may determine that the shape of the partition frame does not need to be changed. On the other hand, if the width of the partition frame acquired in S109 does not match the standard width of the partition frame, the instruction unit 228 may determine that the shape of the partition frame needs to be changed. If it is determined in S111 that the shape of the partition frame does not need to be changed, the process proceeds to S117. On the other hand, if it is determined in S111 that the shape of the partition frame needs to be changed, the process proceeds to S113.

[0045] If it is determined in S111 that the shape of the partition frame does not need to be changed, the presentation device 24 presents a partition frame having a standard width (S117). On the other hand, if it is determined in S111 that the shape of the partition frame needs to be changed, the acquisition unit 226 acquires the required change width of the partition frame (S113). For example, the acquisition unit 226 may acquire the difference between the standard width of the partition frame and the width of the partition frame acquired in S109 as the required change width.

[0046] Next, the instruction unit 228 instructs the shape of the partition frame (S115). For example, the instruction unit 228 may instruct the presentation device 24 to change the width of the partition frame from the standard width by the change width acquired in S113. At this time, the instruction unit 228 may instruct the presentation device 24 as to the position at which the partition frame is to be presented, as necessary. Next, the presentation device 24 presents the partition frame based on the instruction by the instruction unit 228 in S115 (S117). When the presentation device 24 presents the partition frame, the presentation process shown in FIG. 7 ends.

[0047] The operation of the system according to this embodiment has been described above. Here, the parking lot device 22 according to this embodiment will be summarized. The parking lot device 22 (information processing device) according to this embodiment includes an acquisition unit 226 that acquires charging information, which is information related to the charging method of the vehicle 10 that allows external charging, and an instruction unit 228 that instructs the presentation form of the partition frame that partitions the parking area in the parking lot based on the charging information. According to this aspect, it is possible to present the partition frame suitable for the charging method of the vehicle 10, so that the space of the parking lot can be utilized more efficiently, and for example, it is possible to increase (or maximize) the number of vehicles that can be accommodated in the parking lot.

[0048] [Second processing example] In the first processing example, an example was described in which the parking lot system 20 obtains the required width of the partition frame based on the vehicle information received from the vehicle 10, and presents the partition frame based on the required width. In the second processing example, the vehicle 10 transmits the required width of the partition frame to the parking lot system 20, and the parking lot system 20 presents the partition frame based on the required width. Below, the flow of operations related to the second processing example will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 8.

[0049] First, the vehicle 10 enters a parking lot (S201). Next, the vehicle 10 notifies the parking lot system 20 of the width of the partition frame (S203). The width of this partition frame is a size that depends on the charging method of the vehicle 10, etc. Next, the parking lot system 20 guides the vehicle 10 into the charging area (S205).

[0050] Next, the instruction unit 228 included in the parking lot device 22 of the parking lot system 20 determines whether or not the shape of the partition frame needs to be changed (S207). If the width of the partition frame transmitted in S203 matches the standard width of the partition frame, the instruction unit 228 may determine that the shape of the partition frame does not need to be changed. Also, if the width of the partition frame transmitted in S203 does not match the standard width of the partition frame, the instruction unit 228 may determine that the shape of the partition frame needs to be changed. If it is determined in S207 that the shape of the partition frame does not need to be changed, the process proceeds to S213. On the other hand, if it is determined in S207 that the shape of the partition frame needs to be changed, the process proceeds to S209.

[0051] If it is determined in S207 that the shape of the partition frame needs to be changed, the presentation device 24 presents a partition frame of a standard width (S213). On the other hand, if it is determined in S207 that the shape of the partition frame does not need to be changed, the acquisition unit 226 acquires a changed width of the partition frame based on the width of the partition frame transmitted in S203 (S209). Next, the instruction unit 228 instructs the presentation device 24 on the shape of the partition frame based on the changed width acquired in S209 (S211). Next, the presentation device 24 presents the partition frame based on the instruction in S211 (S213). Once the partition frame has been presented, the vehicle 10 is parked in the parking area within the partition frame (S215).

[0052] In this way, the parking lot system 20 can indicate a parking area according to the charging method by receiving the required width of the compartment frame from the vehicle 10 without having to calculate the required width of the compartment frame.

[0053] [Third processing example] In the above-mentioned first and second processing examples, the width of the partition frame is changed from the standard width as necessary. Here, an example will be described in which the parking direction of the vehicle is indicated without changing the width of the partition frame, thereby making effective use of the parking lot space.

[0054] With reference to Figs. 9 and 10, it will be described how parking lot space can be effectively utilized by varying the parking directions of some of the vehicles parked side-by-side.

[0055] 9 shows four vehicles 10f-10i parked side by side facing the same direction. Here, vehicles 10f and 10g are provided with charging ports at positions 11f and 11g on the rear right side, and vehicles 10h and 10i are provided with charging ports at positions 11h and 11i on the rear left side. Also, compartment frames 242h-242m are provided on the left and right sides of each of vehicles 10f-10i.

[0056] Vehicle 10g has a charging port at position 11g on the rear right side, and vehicle 10h has a charging port at position 11h on the rear left side, so charging cables for both vehicles are installed between vehicle 10g and vehicle 10h. For this reason, the width of vehicle frame 242j may not provide enough space for passengers to move around or for installing a charging cable. In addition, vehicle 10i on the far right has a charging port at position 11i on the rear left side, and a relatively large vehicle 10h is parked to the left of vehicle 10i, so the space required for installing a charging cable may not be provided to the left of vehicle 10i.

[0057] If the width of the parking space is not changed, when multiple vehicles facing the same direction are parked side by side, it may not be possible to secure sufficient space for external charging. Therefore, an example will be described in which sufficient space is secured by changing the orientation of the vehicles as necessary.

[0058] Fig. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which two vehicles 10g and 10i among the four vehicles 10f to 10i shown in Fig. 9 are facing in opposite directions. As shown in Fig. 10, by making some of the vehicles face in a different direction from the other vehicles, it is possible to secure space near the charging port. For example, vehicle 10g is parked so that no other vehicles are positioned near the left rear side of the charging port of vehicle 10h, and space for installing a charging cable is secured.

[0059] The operation of the parking lot system 20 that instructs the vehicle to face in a different direction from other vehicles as necessary will be described below. The overall flow of operations in the third processing example is assumed to be the same as the processing example shown in Fig. 6, and the presentation process in S15 is assumed to be processed according to the flow shown in the flowchart of Fig. 11. Here, the description of the processing flow shown in Fig. 6 will be omitted, and the processing flow shown in Fig. 11 will be described.

[0060] First, the processes of S301 to S307 are carried out, but because these processes are substantially the same as the processes of S101 to S107 described with reference to Fig. 7, the description thereof will be omitted here. When the parking lot system 20 guides the vehicle 10 to the charging area in S307, the presentation device 24 presents the section frame (S309).

[0061] Next, the instruction unit 228 selects the parking direction based on the charging information (S311). Specifically, the instruction unit 228 may select the parking direction based on at least one of the charging information of the vehicle parked adjacently stored in the storage unit 222 and the charging information acquired in S301. For example, assume that a large vehicle is already parked to the left of the parking area where the vehicle is to be parked. Also assume that the charging method of the vehicle to be parked is a side connector connection method, and the location of the charging port is at the rear left side. In this case, the instruction unit 228 may select a parking direction in which the location of the charging port is on the opposite side of the adjacent vehicle 10h, as in the case of the vehicle 10i shown in FIG. 10.

[0062] Next, the presentation device 24 presents the parking direction selected in S309 based on an instruction by the instruction unit 228 (S313). For example, the presentation device 24 may present the parking direction to the driver of the vehicle 10 by voice. This allows the driver of the vehicle 10 to park the vehicle 10 along the presented parking direction and secure a space required for installation of a charging cable, etc.

[0063] According to the third processing example, when sufficient space cannot be secured by parking vehicles side-by-side in the same direction, it is possible to maximize the number of vehicles that can be parked by indicating the parking direction without changing the presentation format of the partition frame.

[0064] In addition, in this processing example, the parking lot system 20 has been described as instructing the parking direction of the vehicle, but instead of or in addition to this, the parking lot system 20 may instruct the charging method. Specifically, when the vehicle can be charged by multiple charging methods, the charging method that requires the smallest space between adjacent vehicles may be selected. For example, the presentation device 24 may present a sound notifying the selected charging method.

[0065] For example, assume that a vehicle can be charged by two charging methods, under-floor charging and automatic charging. When charging by the automatic charging method, a large space is required for the robot to charge through a charging port provided on the side of the vehicle. For example, if a large vehicle is parked in an adjacent parking area, it may be difficult to secure sufficient space. In such a case, the parking lot system 20 may select the under-floor charging method, which requires a relatively small space, and present the selected charging method.

[0066] [supplement] The present invention has been described above based on the embodiment. This embodiment is merely an example, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications are possible in the combination of each component and each treatment process, and that such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0067] 10 vehicle, 20 parking lot system, 22 parking lot device, 24 presentation device, 220 communication unit, 222 memory unit, 224 processing unit, 226 acquisition unit, 228 instruction unit, 242 partition frame, 30 charging device.

Claims

[Claim 1] A communication unit that receives information regarding a charging method of a vehicle capable of external charging that has entered a parking lot and is transmitted from the vehicle; an indication unit that indicates a width of a partition frame on a display device that displays a partition frame that partitions a parking area in the parking lot based on information regarding the charging method received by the communication unit, The display device changes a width of the partition frame in response to an instruction from the instruction unit. Information processing device.

Images