Refueling Monitoring System

Abstract

To provide a refueling monitoring system that systematically guarantees to be as a base for a local infrastructure, aiming to allow employees at a gas station to engage in tasks other than refueling, that is, to allow them to do other tasks, to allow a few people to operate the gas station, to allow even one person to do work by improved productivity, and to allow the gas station not to always have a dedicated opening worker.SOLUTION: Processing can be performed at a remote place by a portable information processing terminal 21 such as a smartphone, a tablet, or a smart watch that receives and displays, on the screen, video captured by cameras 23 and 24 installed in a gas station from an information management server 20 in a cloud environment.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a refueling monitoring system that aims to improve the efficiency of refueling monitoring operations by using existing infrastructure. [Background technology]

[0002] Traditionally, gas stations have been classified by business hours into those that are open for set hours, for example from 8:00 to 20:00, and those that are open 24 hours a day, and by business type into full-service and self-service.

[0003] Incidentally, even if a gas station is a self-service facility, the Fire Service Act requires that a "hazardous materials handler" (hereinafter referred to as a "full-time supervisor") who is qualified to hold a "Class 4 Hazardous Materials Handling License" must be on-site at all times.

[0004] This is understood to be to ensure safety when a vehicle arrives at a gas station, stops within the fuel filling space frame in front of the fuel filling equipment, and refuels, by having a dedicated monitor from inside the gas station visually check through a one-way mirror (half mirror) to confirm that the fuel nozzle is inserted into the vehicle's fuel filler opening, and not into the plastic container.

[0005] After the full-time supervisor confirms that the fuel nozzle is inserted into the fuel filler opening, he operates the valve (fuel filler solenoid valve) to open from the closed position and starts the fuel pump. When the driver closes (pulls) the lever on the fuel filler nozzle, refueling begins, and when refueling is complete, the full-level stop device installed on the fuel filler nozzle is activated and refueling automatically stops.

[0006] When the driver opens the fuel nozzle lever and returns it from the vehicle's fuel filler port to the fixed fuel supply equipment, the nozzle switch on the fixed fuel supply equipment detects it. A dedicated monitor operates the fuel supply solenoid valve from open to closed. Some fixed fuel supply equipment automatically changes the solenoid valve from open to closed when the fuel nozzle is returned to the fixed fuel supply equipment.

[0007] Conventionally, various proposals have been made for automating the opening of fuel valves that does not require a full-time supervisor at least at night (for example, see Patent Document 1). The invention described in Patent Document 1 aims to allow users to fill gasoline, a product with a high risk of fire or explosion, by themselves and to enable safe payment, and detects a user approaching a fuel dispenser with an approach detection sensor, illuminates the user with infrared light from an illuminator, photographs the user with an infrared camera, and acquires iris data (iris data) from the image with an image processing unit. A main control unit compares the acquired iris data with iris data read by a card reader from an iris card inserted by the user, and when both iris data match, opens the valve of the fuel dispenser to enable the user to fill gasoline with the fuel nozzle, and after filling gasoline, notifies the center that handles billing for the supply of supplied gasoline of the personal data on the iris card. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-139100 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] For residents of depopulated areas and marginal villages with no gas stations nearby, there are concerns that the so-called "SS depopulated area problem" will become more apparent, causing problems such as refueling their cars and agricultural machinery, delivering kerosene in the winter to elderly people who do not have transportation, and replacing gasoline.

[0010] In recent years, gas stations have been disappearing in rural areas, making life very difficult. Moreover, in the technology described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, all refueling monitoring work is done by full-time monitors except at night. There areDue to the recent labor shortage and the expectation that this situation will worsen due to future demographic trends, gas station employees will be able to open the fuel pump while taking care of other tasks, as a result of eliminating the need for full-time refueling supervisors. In addition, gas station operators that also operate other businesses, such as convenience stores, will have convenience store employees open the fuel pump, thereby reducing the number of staff required to open the pump. was It is hoped that by providing an environment in which a large number of employees can handle a variety of tasks, the management structure of gas stations can be strengthened.

[0011] The present invention has been devised in consideration of the various problems that existed in the past as described above, and it eliminates the need to assign a full-time employee to open the fuel tank, and allows a person to open the fuel tank while working on other tasks, or allows a gas station to be operated with a small number of people, thereby improving the management base and enabling small-scale management to handle the various tasks of a gas station even by one person. to Response, and also, for example, the operations of convenience stores and gas stations Cum The aim is to improve the management base of gas stations. By The main objective of this project is to provide a refueling monitoring system that will encourage gas stations to continue operating in rural areas where the population is declining rapidly, a major national issue, and systematically ensure that gas stations are secured as infrastructure bases in those areas. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a refueling monitoring system according to a first aspect thereof, A recognition means for recognizing the entry of a vehicle and / or a person into a designated position in the store by a camera installed in the gas station premises; A notification means for notifying a portable information processing terminal for an employee of the arrival of the vehicle and / or person; A fixed position restraint and release means that allows employees to respond to visitors even while they are working; The present invention is characterized by comprising:

[0013] Portable information processing terminals for employees are notebook type PC This refers to mobile devices including tablets, smartphones, smartwatches, etc.

[0014] In one embodiment, by enabling business processing from a remote location using a portable information processing terminal, a feature may be provided in which a gas station employee is freed from the constraints of a fixed location from which the gas station's fuel lane can be viewed in the past to open a fuel tank, allowing the employee to open the fuel tank from a remote location.

[0015] Portable information processing terminals are notebook type PC This refers to mobile devices used by employees for business purposes, including tablets, smartphones, smartwatches, etc.

[0016] As a second aspect of the refueling monitoring system, the present invention is characterized in that, compared to the first aspect, it further comprises an information management server having a visit notification function that notifies a portable information processing terminal located away from the gas station that a vehicle has arrived at the gas station when the vehicle number is recognized by the vehicle number recognition system.

[0017] In one embodiment, the notification means may be something that the employee can recognize while working, such as voice (including pronunciation, music, and synthesized sound), vibration, flashing light, or music that matches the work instructions given to the employee.

[0018] In one embodiment, the fixed position restraint release means may be operated by pressing a dedicated button on a portable information processing terminal, touching the screen, scrolling the screen, giving voice instructions, giving gesture instructions, etc., so that the employee can perform the work necessary to respond to the visitor at the site where he or she was working before the visitor was recognized.

[0019] As a third aspect of the refueling monitoring system, the present invention is characterized in that, compared to the second aspect, it further comprises a refueling permission function that enables visual recognition of an image displayed on a portable information processing terminal, which can be enlarged / reduced by touch operation on the screen, and enables a refueling permission signal to be sent to the information management server.

[0020] In one embodiment, the portable information processing terminal sends an open signal to the information management server to open the refueling machine while actually visually observing the arrival of a vehicle, or sends an open signal to the information management server to open the refueling machine only after a vehicle has arrived and confirmed that it is OK to open the bottle.

[0021] As a fourth aspect of the refueling monitoring system, the present invention is characterized in that, relative to the first aspect, the fixed position restraint release means further comprises an opening function for sending an opening signal from the portable information terminal to a refueling machine and opening the refueling machine.

[0022] In one embodiment, while working at a location away from a gas station, the fixed position restraint and release means of the portable information processing terminal actually visually confirms that a vehicle has arrived and sends an open signal to open the fuel pump, or sends an open signal to open the fuel pump after a vehicle has arrived and it has been confirmed that it is OK to open the valve.

[0023] As a fifth aspect of the refueling monitoring system, the present invention is characterized in that, in relation to the second or third aspect, the portable information processing terminal displays vehicle information including at least one of the vehicle number, vehicle model, fuel type, and the date of theft registration obtained from the Automobile Inspection and Registration Information Association via the information management server, and further has a display function for displaying customer information including at least one of the vehicle number, customer name, and number of visits registered in the vehicle number recognition system.

[0024] As a sixth aspect of the refueling monitoring system, the present invention relates to any one of the second, third and fifth aspects. In contrast The information management server is characterized by having a display function that records a history based on a refueling score if a problem occurs during refueling, and displays a screen on the portable information processing terminal the next time the vehicle is refueled or thereafter.

[0025] In one embodiment, a screen will display any problems that occurred during previous refueling attempts, allowing the problem to be avoided in advance.

[0026] As a seventh aspect of the refueling monitoring system, the present invention relates to any one of the first to sixth aspects. In contrast The system further comprises an emergency contact means for contacting a designated Metropolitan Police Department or police station when a vehicle registered as stolen arrives at the store, and a storage means for storing the date and time of visit and the video in a separate storage area in the portable information processing terminal so that the video can be submitted to the Metropolitan Police Department or the police station at a later date.

[0027] In one embodiment, when a vehicle registered as stolen comes to the store, the date and time of the visit and the video are communicated to the Metropolitan Police Department or a police station using an emergency contact means in the portable information processing terminal, and are stored in a separate memory area so that they can be submitted to the Metropolitan Police Department or a police station at a later date.

[0028] In one embodiment, an employee can secure a vehicle that has been registered as stolen by providing a video of the vehicle, which is stored in a separate storage area, to the Metropolitan Police Department or a police station.

[0029] As an eighth aspect of the refueling monitoring system, the present invention relates to any one of the first to seventh aspects. In contrast The portable information processing terminal is characterized by further having a lane display function that performs at least one of the following: automatically displaying target lanes on the screen in the order in which notifications were received; and, if multiple lanes are visited simultaneously, displaying them on the screen in the order in which they were visited.

[0030] According to this configuration, notifications are automatically displayed on the screen in the order in which they were received, or in the order in which they were received, so that employees can reliably keep track of the vehicles that have entered the gas station premises. Effect of the Invention

[0031] According to the present invention, it is possible for full-time inspectors to engage in tasks other than refueling, i.e., they may engage in multiple tasks, or it is possible to operate a gas station with a small number of staff. It is also possible for one person to work due to improved productivity, and it is no longer necessary to have a full-time inspector at the gas station all the time. It makes it possibleIt is possible to provide a refueling monitoring system that systematically guarantees that gas stations will continue to exist by improving their management practices and that they will be secured as infrastructure bases in regional areas. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0032] [Figure 1] 1 is an external view showing an example of a valve opening operation at a self-service gas station according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 2] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a fixed fuel supply equipment installed at a gas station according to one embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an auxiliary system for compensating for the temporary absence of a monitoring room according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4A] 13 shows a screen image of a smartphone terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is a monitoring screen for all lanes. [Figure 4B] 13 is a screen for confirming the status of preparation for refueling upon notification of a visit according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4C] 13 is an enlarged refueling preparation status confirmation screen according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5A] 1 shows a screen image of a smart watch according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is a camera image display screen. [Figure 5B] 13 shows a screen image of a smart watch according to one embodiment of the present invention, which is a refueling preparation status confirmation screen. [Figure 5C] 13 shows a screen image of a smart watch according to one embodiment of the present invention, illustrating an enlarged refueling preparation status confirmation screen. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is an example of a hardware block diagram of a fuel supply system used for a fuel opening operation in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is an example of a functional block diagram of a refueling system used in a gas station according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 13 is a flowchart showing another example of the operation of the unplugging task according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9]9 is a flow chart branching from γ in FIG. 8 according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0033] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a refueling monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view showing an example of a self-service gas station according to an embodiment of the present invention. A plurality of fixed fuel supply devices 2 (two are shown in the figure, but this is not limited thereto) are installed at the gas station, and a fuel supply space frame line L indicating the stopping position and / or parking position (also called the proper position) of a visiting vehicle 10 is drawn near the fixed fuel supply device 2. A monitor constituting a guidance section is arranged on the fixed fuel supply device 2, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be hung from a canopy 4, or may be arranged on a pillar 4b or an office building 1. The office building 1 is arranged at a location away from the fuel supply space. Peripheral devices such as a personal computer and a router are arranged in the office building 1. A gate is provided at the entrance of the gas station, and a plurality of cameras 3 (six are shown in the figure, but this is not limited thereto) are arranged on the upper part of the gate and / or on the underside 4a of the canopy 4 of the gas station.

[0034] Although one gas station is shown in the figure, the present invention is not limited to this. If multiple gas stations are connected via a network and exchange information with each other, and there is a center that oversees all of the gas stations, various information can be managed at the center.

[0035] Fig. 2 is an example of a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the fixed refueling equipment 2 shown in Fig. 1. One end of a fuel supply pipe 12 immersed in a fuel tank 11 is connected to a fuel supply pump 14, and the other end of the fuel supply pipe 12 is provided with an electromagnetic valve 13 that is operated by an open signal from a portable information processing terminal 21 such as a smartphone described later. Reference numeral 15 denotes a nozzle switch that detects whether a fuel supply nozzle 16 is removed from the fixed refueling equipment 2 or not.

[0036] As shown in Fig. 3, camera images captured by a surveillance camera 23 installed in the gas station premises are transmitted to a fuel supply monitoring monitor 25, and are visually monitored by an employee. At this time, when the monitor leaves his / her seat temporarily, he / she transmits permission to check the images from a portable information processing terminal 21 carried by the monitor to an information management server 20 in a cloud environment. The camera images captured by the surveillance camera 23 are received by the portable information processing terminal 21 from the information management server 20. In this way, the information management server 20 notifies the portable information processing terminal 21, which is separated from the automated gas station, that a vehicle has arrived at the station when the vehicle number is recognized by the vehicle number recognition system (visit notification function). When receiving this information, the portable information processing terminal 21 may notify the employee by sound or vibration.

[0037] Then, the user visually recognizes the image displayed on the portable information processing terminal 21, which can be enlarged or reduced by touching the screen, and transmits a refueling permission signal to the information management server 20 (refueling permission function). The refueling permission function information management server 20 transmits a refueling permission signal to the solenoid valve 13 of the refueling machine of the automated gas station, which opens the valve.

[0038] At this time, the portable information processing terminal 21 sends an open signal to the information management server 20 to open the fuel tank while actually visually confirming that a vehicle has arrived, or sends an open signal to the information management server 20 to open the tank after confirming that a vehicle has arrived and whether it is OK to open the tank. 。

[0039] In addition, an existing NX camera 24 is installed within the automated gas station, and the vehicle number of the visiting vehicle is recognized by this NX camera 24, and this image is analyzed by an NX computer 26 in the sales room, and customer information such as the vehicle number, customer name, and number of visits registered in the vehicle number recognition system is transmitted to the information management server 20. Then, this customer information is displayed on the portable information processing terminal 21 of an employee outside the station.

[0040] In addition, the NX personal computer 24 transmits the vehicle number information to a second information management server 27 in a cloud environment, and the information management server 27 transmits the vehicle number information to the Automobile Inspection and Registration Information Association 28. The Automobile Inspection and Registration Information Association 28 transmits vehicle inspection certificate information such as the vehicle number, vehicle model, oil type, and the date of theft registration to the information management server 27, which then combines this with catalog information and transmits it to the information management server 20 as vehicle information. This vehicle information is displayed on the portable information processing terminal 21 of an employee who is outside the room.

[0041] Furthermore, if a problem occurs during refueling, the information management server 20 records a history based on the refueling score, and causes the portable information processing terminal 21 to display a screen on the screen the next time refueling is performed.

[0042] In addition, when a vehicle registered as stolen arrives at the store, the portable information processing terminal 21 can be equipped with an emergency contact button (not shown) as a means of emergency contact with the Metropolitan Police Department or a designated police station, and the video footage can be stored in a separate memory area on the portable information processing terminal 21 so that it can be submitted to the Metropolitan Police Department or a police station at a later date.

[0043] The portable information processing terminal 21 automatically displays the target lanes on the screen in the order in which the notification is received, or simultaneously displays multiple lanes. Entered the room case, Entering the room They are displayed on the screen in order.

[0044] Fig. 4 shows the screen image of a smartphone terminal, Fig. 4A is a monitoring screen for all lanes, Fig. 4B is a screen for checking the refueling preparation status by visit notification, and Fig. 4C is an enlarged screen for checking the refueling preparation status. Fig. 4A shows lane 1 to lane 6 (31 to 36) by lane as a monitoring screen for all lanes. Fig. 4B shows an enlarged view of lane 3, and displays the visit history such as name 41, number of visits 42, vehicle type 43, attributes 44, type of fuel 45, and theft registration 46. Fig. 4C is an even enlarged view of Fig. 4B, with a refueling permission button 47 displayed below.

[0045] Fig. 5 shows a screen image of a smartwatch, Fig. 5A is a camera image display screen, Fig. 5B is a refueling preparation status confirmation screen, and Fig. 5C is an enlarged refueling preparation status confirmation screen. For example, three lanes are displayed on the camera image display screen of Fig. 5A, and a refueling permission button 47 is displayed at the bottom of the refueling preparation status confirmation screen of Fig. 5B, and the same refueling permission button 47 is displayed on the enlarged refueling preparation status confirmation screen of Fig. 5C.

[0046] Fig. 6 is an example of a hardware block diagram of a fuel supply system used in the automated gas station for opening the valve shown in Fig. 1. The fuel supply system shown in Fig. 6 includes a touch panel 101, a liquid crystal panel 102, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 103, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 104, a group of electromagnetic valves 106, a group of drive circuits 107, a group of pump motors 109, a group of drive circuits 110, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 111, an instruction device 112, a group of cameras 113 (the above-mentioned surveillance camera 23 for verification and the NX camera 24 for vehicle number recognition), a reporting circuit 114, a transceiver 115 shown by a dashed line, and a monitor 116.

[0047] The touch panel 101 and the liquid crystal panel 102 form a display 15. The electromagnetic valve group 106 and the drive circuit group 107 form a valve group 105, and the pump motor group 109 and the drive circuit group 110 form a pump group 108.

[0048] The touch panel 101 is an element that allows an occupant of the vehicle 10 (see FIG. 1) to input the name of the credit card used, the type of oil, and the amount of oil. The liquid crystal panel 102 is placed on the back of the touch panel 101 and is an element that displays the name of the credit card used, the type of oil, and the amount of oil.

[0049] The ROM 103 is a storage element in which a control program for the fuel supply system is stored, and may be, for example, a mask ROM in which data is not erased even when the power is turned off.

[0050] The RAM 104 is an element that expands and temporarily stores the control program stored in the ROM 103, and examples of such elements include SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) and DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory). SRAM is a type of volatile semiconductor memory that can be freely read and written, and does not require rewriting (refreshing) the contents stored therein at regular intervals. DRAM is a type of storage device that uses semiconductor elements, and requires repeated rewriting operations to maintain the stored contents.

[0051] The CPU 111 is an element that controls the system, that is, reads, decodes, and executes instructions, and is, for example, a microprocessor. The CPU 111 is an element that has a program counter that stores an address indicating from which position in the ROM 103 an instruction is to be read, an instruction decode circuit that decodes the instruction read from the ROM 103, an arithmetic circuit that performs arithmetic and logical operations, and an internal register that stores temporary information.

[0052] The valve group 105 is a group of devices that are inserted into each fuel supply pipe connected to a fuel tank (regular gasoline, high octane gasoline, and diesel) and open when a refueling permission signal is received from the portable information processing terminal 21 via the information management server 20, and is performed by applying or stopping a predetermined voltage from the drive circuit group 107 to the electromagnetic valve group 106.

[0053] The pump group 108 is connected to each of the discharge sides of the valve group 105 , and the pump motor group 109 is rotated by application of a predetermined voltage from the drive circuit group 110 .

[0054] The monitor 116 is a device for displaying the fuel filling space and the vehicle 10, thereby urging the driver of the vehicle 10 to move to the proper location.

[0055] The indicating device 112 is a device that transmits information required for the vehicle 10 to move to a location where refueling is possible, when the vehicle 10 is an autonomous vehicle.

[0056] The camera group 113 is a camera that captures images of the vehicle 10 inside the gas station, and includes the above-mentioned surveillance camera 23 for verification and the NX camera 24 for vehicle number recognition, and is arranged, for example, on at least one of the back surface 4a of the canopy 4, the pillar 4b, or the fixed fueling equipment 2.

[0057] The transceiver 115 is a device for detecting the vehicle 10 in the gas station, and detects from the detection signal whether the vehicle 10 is parked in a proper position. An artificial intelligence system (not shown) determines whether the actions of the occupants and / or non-occupants of the vehicle 10 are inappropriate refueling or vandalism. Or It is composed of a database that stores, for example, behavioral patterns of legitimate and illegitimate actions, and an AI engine that determines whether an action is legitimate or illegitimate based on the database.

[0058] FIG. 7 is an example of a functional block diagram of a fuel supply system used in the automated fuel supply station with the valve opening operation shown in FIG.

[0059] 7, the system includes a detection unit 201, a guidance unit 211, a memory unit 225, a fuel supply unit 241, an oil type identification unit 251, a control unit 266, a fuel supply port imaging unit 256, a second image display unit 255, and a movement control unit (not shown). The system may include an artificial intelligence system.

[0060] The fuel filler port imaging unit 256 is Bottom surface 4a The image capturing device 11 captures an image of the vicinity of the fuel filler opening of the vehicle 10 from a vehicle, and is realized by, for example, a camera and a pan / tilt control device.

[0061] The detection unit 201 includes a third imaging unit 202, a position determination unit 203, a transmission unit 204, a reception unit 205, and a position acquisition unit 206. The third imaging unit 202 is a device that images the vehicle 10 and the fuel supply space frame line. The image captured by the third imaging unit 202 is analyzed, and a position determination unit 203 serving as a third determination unit determines whether the vehicle 10 is located within the fuel supply space frame line, and the driver of the vehicle 10 is guided by a guidance unit 211 as to how far the vehicle 10 is from the fuel supply space frame line L (see FIG. 1). The detection unit 201 in this case is realized by, for example, the CPU 115, the ROM 105, the RAM 106, and the camera group 124 shown in FIG. 9.

[0062] The detection unit 201 includes a transmission unit 204 that transmits ultrasonic waves, lasers, or electromagnetic waves to indicate the direction and distance of the position of the vehicle 10 from the fueling facility, a reception unit 205 that receives the reflected waves from the transmission unit 204, and a position acquisition unit 206 that acquires the position of the vehicle 10 from the reflected waves received by the reception unit 205. The detection unit 201 in this case is realized by, for example, the CPU 115, the ROM 105, and the RAM 106.

[0063] The guiding unit 211 is a means for urging the driver of the vehicle 10 to move the vehicle 10 to the fuel supply space boundary line L, which is the correct position, when the vehicle 10 deviates from the correct position, i.e., when the vehicle 10 deviates from the fuel supply space boundary line L shown in Fig. 1. The guiding unit 211 is, for example, a first voice guidance unit 212 that provides guidance on the distance and / or direction by voice. The first voice guidance unit 212 is realized by, for example, the CPU 115, the ROM 105, and the RAM 106.

[0064] The guidance unit 211 may be a character display means for guiding the distance and / or direction with characters, and in this case is realized by the CPU 115, the ROM 105, and the RAM 106, for example.

[0065] The guidance unit 211 may be a first image display means for providing guidance with a still image or a moving image, and in this case is realized by the CPU 115, the ROM 105, and the RAM 106, for example.

[0066] The storage unit 225 is a means for storing by associating the vehicle registration number plate (number plate) and the fuel information, and is realized by, for example, an HDD (not shown).

[0067] The fuel supply unit 241 shown in FIG. 7 includes an opening / closing unit 242 inserted into the fuel supply pipes of all the underground fuel tanks, and a pump unit 244 connected to the fuel supply pipes. When the opening / closing unit 242 is opened and the pump unit 244 is operated according to a fuel supply permission instruction from the control unit 266, the fuel supply state becomes possible. The attachment / detachment detection unit 243 detects whether the fuel supply nozzle 5 is withdrawn or returned from the fixed fuel supply facility 2, and is realized by, for example, a valve group 107, a pump group 110, and an attachment / detachment sensor (not shown). of and is realized by an attachment / detachment sensor.

[0068] The first fuel type identification unit 251 shown in FIG. 7 includes a camera group 124 (NX camera 24) as a second imaging unit 252 that images the vehicle registration number plate of the vehicle 10, a first registration number extraction unit 253 that extracts the vehicle registration number information of the vehicle 10 from the image imaged by the camera group 124, and a search unit 254 that searches for fuel information (fuel type information) regarding the vehicle 10 from the vehicle registration number information extracted by the first registration number extraction unit 253. When the fuel information is obtained by the search unit 254, the control unit 266 opens the opening / closing unit 242 of the fuel corresponding to the fuel information of the fixed fuel supply facility 2 and drives the pump unit 244 (the order of opening and driving may be simultaneous or reversed). The fuel type identification unit 251 is realized by, for example, a CPU 115, a ROM 105, and a RAM 106 shown in FIG. 9.

[0069] FIGS. 8 and 9 are flowcharts showing another example of the operation of the automated fueling station for the opening operation shown in FIG. 1.

[0070] The control unit causes the NX camera 24 for vehicle number recognition to image the number plate of the vehicle (step S1), analyzes the imaged vehicle image to extract the vehicle registration number, and searches the database for the fuel type of the vehicle corresponding to the obtained vehicle registration number (step S2).

[0071] The control unit judges whether the vehicle is in a correct position (step S3), and if the vehicle is not in a correct position (step S3 / NO), guides the vehicle to the correct position (step S4).

[0072] When the vehicle is stopped in the correct position, the control unit detects whether there are any abnormal sounds in the engine compartment, detects whether the lamp is out, detects the date of the statutory inspection (step S5), opens the electromagnetic valve, makes the fuel pump operable, and uses audio and image displays to remind the driver not to forget to close the fuel filler cap or the fuel filler door after refueling (step S6).

[0073] When the type of oil and the amount of oil are inputted on the touch panel of the fixed fuel supply equipment (step S7), if the type of oil has not been identified (step S8 / NO), the control unit identifies the type of oil of the vehicle (step S9). If the fuel supply nozzle does not correspond to the type of oil, for example, a message indicating that the oil type is incorrect is displayed on the display of the fixed fuel supply equipment (step S10 / NO), the driver re-inputs the type of oil on the touch panel of the fixed fuel supply equipment, the fuel supply nozzle is replaced (step S11), and the type of oil is confirmed (steps S9, S10). When the lever of the fuel supply nozzle is closed (step S12), the control unit instructs the worker at a remote location to press the fuel supply permission button on the portable information processing terminal 21 to open the electromagnetic valve and refuel the vehicle's fuel tank (step S13). When the fuel level reaches the level specified by the driver (step S14) and the lever of the fuel nozzle is opened (step S15 / YES), the electromagnetic valve is closed and power supply to the fuel pump is stopped (step S16).

[0074] The control unit causes the fixed refueling equipment to settle the bill (step S17), and performs at least one of the following displaying, audio guidance, and / or printing of the settlement result, whether there are any abnormal sounds in the engine compartment, whether the fuel filler cap has been left closed, whether the fuel filler door has been left closed, whether the tire pressure is low, whether the light is out, and the statutory inspection date (step S18), and then links the vehicle registration number and the type of fuel and stores them in the memory means, and the process ends (step S19).

[0075] As explained above, one embodiment of the system has the objectives of enabling full-time inspectors to engage in tasks other than refueling, i.e., allowing them to perform multiple tasks, or allowing gas stations to be operated with a small number of staff, improving productivity so that the work can be done by one person, and even eliminating the need to have a full-time inspector at gas stations all the time, thereby promoting the survival of gas stations by improving their management structure, and ensuring that they are secured as hubs of regional infrastructure.

[0076] Although not specifically illustrated, the present invention can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] L…Fueling space border 1…Office building 2. Fixed fuel supply equipment 3. Camera 4. Canopy 4a…Bottom surface 4b…Column 10…Visiting vehicle 11...Fuel tank 12...Oil pipe 13...Solenoid valve 14…Fuel pump 15…Nozzle switch 16…Fuel nozzle 20...Information management server 21...Portable information processing terminal 22…Fuel tanker 23…Surveillance camera 24…NX Camera 25…Fueling monitor 26…NX PC 27…Second information management server 28…Automobile Inspection and Registration Information Association

Claims

1. A system comprising an information management server and a portable information processing terminal capable of transmitting and receiving information to each other, a surveillance camera capable of transmitting video information to the information management server, and a refueling machine to which a refueling permission signal can be transmitted from the information management server, A recognition means for recognizing an entry of a vehicle and / or a person into a designated position within a gas station by the surveillance camera installed within the gas station; A notification means for notifying the portable information processing terminal for employees of the arrival of the vehicle and / or person; A fixed position restraint and release means that allows employees to respond to visitors even while they are working; Equipped with The fixed position restraint release means receives a refueling permission signal from the portable information processing terminal to the information management server, and in response thereto, transmits an open signal from the information management server to the refueling machine, thereby opening the refueling machine. A refueling monitoring system.

2. The vehicle number recognition system further includes a vehicle number recognition camera and a vehicle number recognition system for recognizing a vehicle number from an image captured by the vehicle number recognition camera. The refueling monitoring system according to claim 1, further comprising an information management server having a visit notification function for notifying the portable information processing terminal away from the gas station that a vehicle has arrived at the gas station when the vehicle number is recognized by the vehicle number recognition system.

3. The refueling monitoring system as described in claim 2, further comprising a refueling permission function that enables visual recognition of an image displayed on the portable information processing terminal, which can be enlarged / reduced by touching the screen, and to send a refueling permission signal to the information management server.

4. The refueling monitoring system described in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the portable information processing terminal displays vehicle information including at least one of the vehicle number, vehicle model, fuel type, and date of theft registration obtained from the Automobile Inspection and Registration Information Association via the information management server, and further has a display function for displaying customer information including at least one of the vehicle number, customer name, and number of visits registered in the vehicle number recognition system.

5. The refueling monitoring system of any one of claims 2, 3, and 4, characterized in that the information management server further has a display function for recording a history if a problem occurs during refueling and displaying a screen on the portable information processing terminal the next time or later the vehicle is refueled.

6. An emergency contact method to contact the designated Metropolitan Police Department or police station when a stolen vehicle is brought to the store, A storage means for storing the visit date and time and the video in a separate storage area in the portable information processing terminal so that the video can be submitted to the Metropolitan Police Department or a police station at a later date.

6. The refueling monitoring system according to claim 1, further comprising:

7. the portable information processing terminal automatically displays the target lanes on a screen in the order in which the notifications are received; 7. The refueling monitoring system according to claim 1, further comprising a lane display function for performing the above-mentioned.

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