Mobile communication terminal, computer program, and parking lot management system

Abstract

To enable, in a deferred payment parking lot where no parking ticket is issued, the time at which parking is started to be checked even away from the parking lot.SOLUTION: A portable communication terminal is caused to execute: a bar code reading procedure in which a bar code can be optically read; a vehicle number inputting procedure in which a vehicle number can be input; a user request data transmitting procedure of using the bar code and the vehicle number to create request data requesting that the time at which parking is started should be reported and transmitting the request data to a data center; a corresponding data receiving procedure of receiving data corresponding to the request data; and a corresponding data outputting procedure of outputting the vehicle number and the parking started time in the corresponding data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information and communication technology that can confirm the parking start time even when away from the parking lot in a parking lot that does not issue parking tickets.

Background Art

[0002] As a most typical time-based rental parking lot, a parking ticket is received at the entrance of the parking lot, presented at the time of leaving the warehouse, and the difference between the entry time and the exit time is used as the parking time to settle the parking fee. In order to achieve unmanned operation, it is equipped with a settlement machine and a blocking means (for example, a locking plate or a barrier). When a vehicle enters the parking space in the parking lot, the blocking means is activated, and when the settlement is completed by the settlement machine, the blocking means is released and the vehicle can leave the warehouse.

[0003] With the recent progress of image processing technology, the improvement and cost reduction of communication infrastructure, etc., there have emerged parking lots that photograph license plates with cameras installed at the entrance of the parking lot, etc., and use the photographed images and shooting times to calculate parking fees and manage settlement procedures.

[0004] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology that can manage the entry and exit of a parking space without a locking plate. In such a parking lot, since parking tickets can be abolished, there is an advantage that a ticket issuing machine is not required and maintenance such as replenishing the paper used for the ticket issuing machine is not required.

[0005] A more specific explanation will be given with reference to FIG. 1. First, a parking lot user (driver of the vehicle) parks the vehicle in an empty parking space in the parking lot (a). Subsequently, a dedicated camera installed near the entrance of the parking lot or in front of and behind the parking space photographs the vehicle number. The photographed image is digitized by OCR processing and transmitted to the data center together with time data with a time stamp (b). When the parking lot user inputs his / her vehicle number into the pre-settlement machine, the data center performs a verification operation, calculates the parking fee based on the time data, and prompts for settlement (c).

[0006] For example, in Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3, in order to address the problem that charging cannot be performed when the license plate recognition fails in a device for identifying users of a parking lot (drivers of vehicles), a technique for improving the identification accuracy of users is disclosed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0007]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0008] When using a parking lot that takes a picture of the license plate with a camera installed at the entrance and uses the captured image and the capture time to calculate parking fees and manage settlement procedures, there were problems as shown in FIG. 2. Assume the case of leaving the parking lot and having business near the parking lot. For example, when shopping at a shopping center adjacent to the parking lot, since there is no parking ticket, it leads to a situation where it becomes impossible to know when the vehicle entered the lot (FIGS. 2(a) and (b)).

[0009] In addition, as a service for parking lot users, commercial facilities near the parking lot waive or discount parking fees for parking lot users who have a consumption behavior of a certain amount or more. Then, parking lot users who receive such services want to know things like up to what time it will be free (FIG. 2(b)).

[0010] Also, at the time of settlement, there may be a case where the user becomes anxious as to whether the charged parking fee is appropriate because the arrival time could not be confirmed (Fig. 2(c)).

[0011] Although the technologies disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3 all contribute to the convenience of the parking lot management operator, they cannot eliminate the anxiety of the parking lot users as described above.

[0012] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a technique for being able to confirm the start time of parking even when away from the parking lot in a parking lot that does not issue parking tickets.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0013] In order to solve the above-described problems, a first invention related to a mobile communication terminal, a second invention related to an application program operating on the mobile communication terminal according to the first invention, and a third invention related to a parking lot management system are provided.

[0014] (First Invention) The first invention relates to a mobile communication terminal for knowing the start time of parking by communicating with a data center that executes various data management in a parking lot. Barcode reading means capable of optically reading barcodes, Vehicle number input means capable of inputting the vehicle number of the parked vehicle, User request data transmission means for creating request data asking to be notified of the start time of parking using the barcode data read by the barcode reading means and the vehicle number input via the vehicle number input means, and transmitting the request data to the data center, Corresponding data receiving means for receiving the corresponding data when the data center that has received the request data extracts and transmits the corresponding data corresponding to the request data, Corresponding data output means for outputting the vehicle number and the start time of parking in the received corresponding data, Comprising (see FIGS. 3, 4, and 7).

[0015] (Glossary) The "mobile communication terminal" pertains to the users in the parking lot. Although mainly a so-called smartphone, it includes 3G-generation shell-type mobile phones as long as they can read barcodes, and also includes tablet terminals. The "barcode" mainly refers to two-dimensional barcodes and QR codes (registered trademarks), but does not exclude one-dimensional barcodes. This barcode is displayed at locations where parking lot users who use the parking lot move or stay, such as commercial facilities adjacent to the parking lot.

[0016] The "vehicle number" is the four-digit number on the license plate. It may include the name of the transportation branch office, the vehicle type classification number, and the usage symbol from "a" to "w". The "vehicle number input means" is, for example, a numeric keypad, a keyboard including a numeric keypad, or a numeric keypad using virtual buttons on a touch panel of a liquid crystal screen. The "corresponding data output means" mainly refers to means that appeal to the user's vision of the calculator, such as a liquid crystal panel, but also includes auxiliary means such as a speaker.

[0017] (Function) Based on the operation of the parking lot user, the barcode reading means optically reads the barcode. And based on the operation of the parking lot user, the vehicle number related to the parked vehicle is input from the vehicle number input means. Using the barcode data read by the barcode reading means and the vehicle number input via the vehicle number input means, the user request data transmission means creates request data asking to be informed of the time when parking started, and transmits it to the data center. When the data center that has received the request data extracts and transmits the corresponding data corresponding to the request data, the corresponding data receiving means receives the corresponding data. Then, the corresponding data output means outputs the vehicle number and the parking start time in the received corresponding data. The parking lot user can check the parking start time without settling accounts at the cashier.

[0018] (Variation 1 of the First Invention) The first invention may be formed as follows. That is, it is provided with position data acquisition means for acquiring the position data of the mobile communication terminal, and the user request data transmission means includes the position data acquired by the position data acquisition means in the request data (see FIG. 8).

[0019] (Term Explanation) "Position data" is data acquired using GPS. That is, as the "position data acquisition means", the mobile communication terminal according to the present invention has an IC chip that can utilize GPS built therein.

[0020] (Operation) The position data acquisition means acquires the position data of the mobile communication terminal, and the position data is included in the request data and transmitted by the user request data transmission means. This is to enable measures such as not responding to inappropriate request data by using the position data.

[0021] (Variation 2 of the First Invention) The first invention may be formed as follows. That is, when there are a plurality of corresponding data received by the corresponding data receiving means, The above-mentioned corresponding data output means outputs license plate data among the received plurality of corresponding data, and enables selection of one of the plurality of license plate data. The above-mentioned corresponding data output means is to output the vehicle number and the parking start time related to the selected one license plate data (see Fig. 6).

[0022] (Operation) When there are multiple vehicles parked in the parking lot to be managed with the same four-digit number used as the vehicle number, there will be multiple pieces of "corresponding data", and the corresponding data receiving means receives the multiple corresponding data. The corresponding data output means outputs the license plate data among the received multiple corresponding data. Then, the owner of the mobile communication terminal (parking lot user) is allowed to select one of the multiple license plate data. The corresponding data output means outputs the vehicle number and the parking start time related to the selected corresponding data.

[0023] (Variation 3 of the First Invention) The first invention may be formed as follows. That is, the above-mentioned barcode reading means is also to read a barcode related to payment. It is provided with a settlement means for processing the payment based on the read barcode and creating settlement amount data based on the processing. The above-mentioned user request data transmission means may also transmit the above-mentioned settlement amount data to the above-mentioned data center (see Fig. 9).

[0024] (Term Explanation) The "barcode related to payment" is a barcode that can be processed by the electronic payment function when the mobile communication terminal is equipped with an electronic payment function. The electronic payment function is to perform the procedure of reading a two-dimensional barcode indicating the identification of goods or paid services to be paid for and their prices and making a payment intention indication.

[0025] (Function) The barcode reading means reads a barcode related to payment, processes the payment based on the read barcode, and the settlement means creates settlement amount data based on the processing. The user request data transmission means transmits the settlement amount data to the data center as well.

[0026] (Second Invention) The second invention is an application program installed and used in the mobile communication terminal according to the first invention, and relates to a computer program for controlling the mobile communication terminal to know the parking start time by communicating with a data center that executes various data management in a parking lot. That is, an optical barcode reading procedure for barcodes, A vehicle number input procedure that enables input of the vehicle number related to the parked vehicle, A user request data transmission procedure for creating request data asking to notify the time when parking was started using the barcode data read by the barcode reading procedure and the vehicle number input via the vehicle number input means, and transmitting the request data to the data center, A corresponding data reception procedure for receiving the corresponding data when the data center that has received the request data extracts and transmits the corresponding data corresponding to the request data, A corresponding data output procedure for outputting the vehicle number and the parking start time in the received corresponding data, is a computer program for causing the mobile communication terminal to execute (see FIGS. 4, 5, and 7).

[0027] (Variation 1 of the Second Invention) The second invention includes a position data acquisition procedure for acquiring the position data of the mobile communication terminal, In the user request data transmission procedure, it is also possible to include the position data acquired by the position data acquisition procedure in the request data (see FIG. 8).

[0028] (Variation 2 of the Second Invention) The second invention may be formed as follows. That is, when there are a plurality of corresponding data received by the corresponding data receiving means, it includes a plurality of license plate output procedures for outputting license plate data in the plurality of received corresponding data, In the corresponding data output procedure, it may be to output the vehicle number and the parking start time related to one selected license plate data among the plurality of license plate data output by the plurality of license plate output procedures (see Fig. 6).

[0029] (Variation 3 of the Second Invention) The second invention may be formed as follows. That is, a payment barcode reading procedure for also reading a barcode related to payment, and a settlement procedure for processing the payment based on the barcode read by the payment barcode reading procedure and creating settlement amount data based on the processing, In the user request data transmission procedure, it may also be to transmit the settlement amount data to the data center (see Fig. 9).

[0030] (Variation 4 of the Second Invention) The second invention may be formed as follows. That is, a receipt image reading procedure for reading an image of a receipt related to payment, and an OCR processing procedure for specifying the payment amount from the image read by the receipt image reading procedure, In the user request data transmission procedure, it may also be to transmit the payment amount to the data center (see Fig. 10).

[0031] (Variation 5 of the Second Invention) The second invention may be formed as follows. That is, in the above-mentioned corresponding data output procedure, an alarm setting procedure for activating an alarm at a predetermined time is included. When the time set in the above-mentioned alarm setting procedure is reached, the mobile communication terminal is made to execute an alarm output procedure for outputting an alarm (see Fig. 11).

[0032] It is also possible to transmit the computer program according to the second invention from a computer storing the program to other terminal means through a communication line. In addition, the computer program according to the second invention can be stored in a recording medium and provided. Here, the "recording medium" is a medium that can carry a program that cannot occupy space by itself. For example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, a CD-R, a CD-RW, an MO (magneto-optical disk), a DVD-R, a DVD-RW, a flash memory, etc.

[0033] (Third Invention) The third invention relates to a parking lot management system that is a sub-combination with the mobile communication terminal according to the first invention. The parking lot management system includes a cashier installed in the parking lot for collecting parking fees from parking lot users, and a data center that executes data communication with the cashier and manages the data. The above-mentioned cashier includes a vehicle number reading means for reading the vehicle number of the vehicle to be parked as number data, a time stamp for adding time data to the number data to form incoming data, and an incoming data transmission means for transmitting the above-mentioned incoming data to the above-mentioned data center. The above-mentioned data center includes an incoming data receiving means for receiving the above-mentioned incoming data, a parking management database for managing the received incoming data for each parking lot, a user request data receiving means for receiving user request data including data for specifying a parking lot and data for specifying a vehicle from a communication terminal related to a parking lot user, Extracting parking data based on the above user request data from the above parking management database, and transmitting the corresponding data including the vehicle number and the parking start time to the above communication terminal as the corresponding data transmission means (see Figure 4).

[0034] (Operation) The vehicle number reading means of the vehicle to be parked reads the vehicle number as number data. For the number data, a time stamp is added with time data to obtain storage data. Then, the storage data transmission means transmits the storage data to the data center. At the data center, the storage data receiving means receives the storage data, and the received storage data is accumulated and managed for each parking lot in the parking management database. Suppose a parking lot user wants to know when they started parking their vehicle. The user reads a two-dimensional barcode specifying the parking lot with a mobile communication terminal related to the parking lot user. Then, the user request data receiving means receives the user request data including the data (vehicle number) specifying the vehicle. Then, the parking data based on the user request data is extracted from the parking management database. The extracted corresponding data includes the vehicle number and the parking start time, and the corresponding data transmission means transmits it to the mobile communication terminal. The parking lot user can know when they started parking their vehicle.

[0035] (Variation 1 of the Third Invention) The third invention is more preferably formed as follows. That is, the above user request data receiving means also receives the position data of the communication terminal related to the above parking lot user, and the above corresponding data transmission means does not transmit the corresponding data when the above position data is outside a predetermined range (see Figure 8).

[0036] (Operation) The user request data receiving means also receives the position data of the communication terminal related to the parking lot user, and when the position data is outside the predetermined range, the data transmitting means does not transmit the corresponding data, so as not to respond to inappropriate request data.

[0037] (Variation 2 of the third invention) The third invention can also be formed as follows. That is, the user request data receiving means also receives the settlement amount data obtained by the communication terminal related to the parking lot user, further includes a parking fee calculating means for calculating the parking fee using the settlement amount data, and the corresponding data transmitting means includes the parking fee calculated by the parking fee calculating means in the corresponding data (see FIGS. 9 and 10).

[0038] (Operation) The user request data receiving means also receives the settlement amount data obtained by the communication terminal related to the parking lot user, and the parking fee calculating means calculates the parking fee using the settlement amount data. Then, the corresponding data transmitting means includes the parking fee calculated by the parking fee calculating means in the corresponding data and transmits it. The parking lot user can also know the current parking fee in addition to when he parked his vehicle.

[0039] (Variation 2 of the third invention) The third invention can also be formed as follows. That is, the corresponding data transmitting means may include data related to a paid product or service that can substantially reduce the parking fee calculated by the parking fee calculating means (see FIG. 12).

[0040] In "paid products or paid services that can substantially reduce parking fees", "substantially reduce" means, in addition to reducing the parking fee by Y yen, extending the current fee or the time for free parking, or giving so-called points with economic value.

Effects of the Invention

[0041] According to the first invention, it was possible to provide a mobile communication terminal that can confirm the start time of parking even when away from the parking lot in a parking lot that does not issue parking tickets. According to the second invention, it was possible to provide an application program for a mobile communication terminal that can confirm the start time of parking even when away from the parking lot in a parking lot that does not issue parking tickets. According to the third invention, it was possible to provide a mobile communication terminal that can confirm the start time of parking even when away from the parking lot in a parking lot that does not issue parking tickets.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0042]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

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Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0043] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on the drawings and embodiments. The drawings used individually are FIGS. 1 to 13. In FIGS. 1, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12, solid arrows indicate serial communication, and two-dot chain arrows indicate wireless communication. Note that FIGS. 1 and 2 have already been used to explain the background art and its problems, and are also used in the description of the present invention. Note that the design of the smartphone screen and the like is an example, and design changes are of course possible.

[0044] (FIG. 1) As a premise of the embodiment of the present invention, it is assumed that a parking lot user enters a parking lot that does not issue a physical parking ticket when entering the warehouse (FIG. 1(a)). Subsequently, a dedicated camera installed near the entrance of the parking lot and the front and rear of the vehicle compartment captures the vehicle number. The captured image is digitized by OCR processing and transmitted to the data center together with time data with a time stamp (b). When the parking lot user inputs their vehicle number into the pre-payment machine, the data center performs a verification operation, calculates the parking fee based on the time data, and prompts for payment (c).

[0045] (FIG. 2) As a premise of the embodiments of the present invention, after entering the parking lot, the parking lot user leaves the parking lot. In Fig. 2(a), it shows that the user has moved to a shopping center adjacent to the parking lot. In this state, if the parking lot user does not remember when they entered the parking lot, they will not know and feel anxious (b). Also, at the time of settlement, even when they do not remember the entry time, they will feel anxious about whether the settlement is appropriate (c).

[0046] In the following embodiments, in order to eliminate the anxiety of the parking lot user as shown in Fig. 2(b) and (c), a large number of two-dimensional barcodes are pasted in the area where it is presumed that the parking lot user will visit using the above-mentioned parking lot. The two-dimensional barcode is data for identifying one parking lot in a data center that manages a plurality of parking lots.

[0047] (Fig. 3) Fig. 3 shows an overview of the first embodiment. In Fig. 3(a), it is a scene where a parking lot user who has forgotten when they entered the parking lot finds a two-dimensional barcode displayed in the shopping center. They read it with the barcode reading function of their own smartphone (when starting a dedicated application, first, the barcode reading function is activated, and the parking lot user is instructed to read the two-dimensional barcode).

[0048] In Fig. 3(b), the user is instructed (from the dedicated application) to enter the last four digits of the vehicle number of the parked car. Enter four digits using an input means such as a numeric keypad and press the send button (it may also be a button with the meaning of searching for the entry time). The data center identifies the parking lot with the data of the two-dimensional barcode, reads out data such as the entry time from the vehicle number, and returns it.

[0049] As shown in Fig. 3(c), the content of the reply from the data center is displayed on the screen of the smartphone. Since the entry time is displayed there, the parking lot user can grasp when they parked their vehicle.

[0050] (Figure 4) In Figure 4, for the first embodiment outlined in Figure 3, it shows what information is exchanged among facilities such as a pre-payment machine for a parking lot, a data center, and a smartphone of a parking lot user.

[0051] First, a vehicle number reading means (camera) captures the vehicle number of a vehicle entering the parking lot. Then, the captured image data is digitized by an OCR processing means. On the other hand, regarding the time when the camera captures an image, it is associated with the entry time data by a timestamp. And the digitized vehicle number is transmitted to the data center as entry data together with the data specifying the entry time and the parking lot.

[0052] In the data center, an entry data receiving means receives the entry data and stores it in a parking lot management database. The parking lot management database stores data for each managed parking lot (in Figure 4, Parking Lot A, Parking Lot B, Parking Lot C).

[0053] Different two-dimensional barcodes are pasted around each parking lot. When a parking lot user wants to know the entry time of their vehicle, they use the barcode reading means of their smartphone to read the two-dimensional barcode. On the other hand, the vehicle number is input by a vehicle number input means. And as request data including the specific data of the parking lot and the vehicle number, a user request data transmitting means transmits it to the data center.

[0054] The request data is received by a user request data receiving means in the data center. Then, the entry data matching the request data is retrieved from the parking lot management database by a corresponding data extraction means. The retrieved corresponding data is transmitted to the smartphone by a corresponding data transmitting means. The smartphone receives the corresponding data by a corresponding data receiving means and outputs it via a corresponding data output means.

[0055] (Figure 5) In FIG. 5, the second embodiment is shown in a flowchart. The difference from the first embodiment is the case where there are a plurality of corresponding data in the vehicle number based on the request data in the data center.

[0056] The parking lot user finds the two-dimensional barcode and activates a dedicated application (entry time confirmation application) on their smartphone. Then, first, the barcode reader is activated (S1). The parking lot user operates the smartphone to read the two-dimensional barcode (S2). Next, a screen for inputting the vehicle number is activated along with an instruction prompting the input of the vehicle number (S3). In accordance with the instruction, the parking lot user operates the smartphone to input the four-digit vehicle number of their own vehicle. When the input is completed, request data is created by combining with the parking lot identification data specified by the two-dimensional barcode, and the request data is transmitted to the data center (S4).

[0057] After that, since the corresponding data is transmitted from the data center, it is received (S5). Even if a plurality of corresponding data are found in the data center, the plurality of corresponding data will be returned to the smartphone. When there are a plurality of corresponding data, the entire plurality of license plates are displayed on the smartphone screen (S6, S7). The parking lot user selects their own license plate from the displayed plurality of license plates (S8). When selected from a plurality of license plates or when there is no need for selection, the license plate and the entry time are output to the smartphone screen (S9).

[0058] Although not shown in the flowchart, when there is no corresponding data, it is considered to be an input error by the parking lot user, so a screen with the message "The specified vehicle number was not found. Please re-enter the vehicle number." is output to the smartphone to prompt re-entry.

[0059] (FIG. 6) FIG. 6(a) illustrates S6, S7, and S8 in FIG. 5. FIGS. 6(c) and (d) illustrate S9 in FIG. 5. Note that FIG. 6(b) is an example in which the arrival times are displayed for two vehicles respectively. The selection by the parking lot user can be omitted.

[0060] (FIG. 7) FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment. The difference from the first embodiment is as follows. That is, when the barcode reading means reads a barcode, it transmits it to the data center, and when the vehicle number input means inputs a vehicle number, it transmits it. In this way, the "request data" is not created on the smartphone side, but is organized as request data in the data center and the corresponding data is returned.

[0061] Although the number of communications executed between the smartphone and the data center increases, such an embodiment can also meet the desire of the parking lot user to know the arrival time. The parking lot user can know the arrival time without downloading a dedicated application.

[0062] (FIG. 8) FIG. 8 shows a fourth embodiment. The difference from the first embodiment is that it is made obligatory to acquire position data in the smartphone, and requests from parking lot users who are not within a predetermined range from the parking lot to know the arrival time are not responded to. By not responding to irrelevant or unnecessary requests, the aim is to improve security.

[0063] It may also be that the parking lot user cannot start the application shown in FIG. 3 unless "acquisition of position data" is turned on in the privacy settings of the smartphone. Even if "acquisition of position data" is set to ON, there may be cases where the acquired position data has not been updated for some reason. To handle such cases, the smartphone screen will output a message stating that "after re-acquiring (updating) the position data, the request data should be sent again."

[0064] According to this embodiment, for example, when the vehicle is shipped out or when leaving the parking lot by a certain distance or more, the system cannot execute the arrival time confirmation.

[0065] (Figure 9) Figure 9 shows the fifth embodiment. The difference from the first embodiment is that when a service for discounting parking fees is applied to parking lot users who have used money at a commercial facility partnered with the parking lot, the service content is reflected in the arrival time confirmation app.

[0066] The fifth embodiment assumes that the smartphone has a barcode payment function. At the shopping register in the shopping center, the two-dimensional barcode of the purchase is read by the barcode reading means. Then, after executing the payment by the payment means, the user request data transmission means also transmits the payment amount data to the data center. At the data center, the parking fee calculation means calculates the parking fee at that time using the payment amount data, and returns it to the smartphone together with the corresponding data as the parking fee.

[0067] As the corresponding data output means of the smartphone, in addition to the arrival time, the current parking fee will be displayed on the liquid crystal screen. In the illustrated example, assuming that a service is being executed where the parking fee for one hour from the arrival time is free because a purchase of 1500 yen (tax excluded) has been made, it is illustrated as an example that it is free until a specified time.

[0068] (Figure 10) Figure 10 shows the sixth embodiment. The difference from the fifth embodiment is that even when the smartphone does not have a barcode payment function, the service that discounts the parking fee can be reflected.

[0069] The parking lot user takes a picture of the shopping receipt with the camera. Then, the OCR processing means extracts the settlement amount from the image data of the receipt and adds it to the user request data as settlement amount data. In the data center, the parking fee calculation means calculates the parking fee using the settlement amount data and returns it together with the corresponding data.

[0070] According to the fifth and sixth embodiments, it is possible to confirm the arrival time even with the cooperation service with the parking lot in the commercial facility reflected, improving the convenience for the parking lot user.

[0071] (Fig. 11) Fig. 11 conceptually shows the seventh embodiment. The sixth embodiment shows the time until the parking fee is free, but in this embodiment, a timer function until the free time can be set.

[0072] When the finger of the parking lot user touches the button "Alarm setting until free time" on the lower side of the smartphone screen, it is displayed so that the time before the alarm rings can be set. The parking lot user sets the desired time. In this figure, "15 minutes before" is set. That is, the alarm of the user's smartphone rings at 14:39, 15 minutes before the free time ends at 14:54.

[0073] In Fig. 11, the timer setting data is sent to the data center, the timer data receiving means in the data center receives the timer setting data, and the alarm data transmitting means uses the clock to output an alarm. This is because it is intended to collect data such as how the parking lot user uses the timer setting. That is, instead of sending the timer setting data to the data center, it may be completed by the clock function or the alarm output means in the smartphone.

[0074] (Fig. 12) Fig. 12 shows the time until the parking fee is free in the sixth embodiment. In this embodiment, in order to extend the time when the parking fee is free, data on recommended products to be additionally purchased is also sent to the smartphone of the parking lot user.

[0075] The parking fee calculation means in the data center refers to the data in the product database of the shopping center and extracts products whose prices can make the parking fee free and data related to those products (such as where the selling store is and what its name is). Then, the recommended product data is sent to the smartphone of the parking lot user by the corresponding data transmitting means.

[0076] Note that if the product database of the shopping center is prepared in advance as a "recommended product database" in the data center, the data processing is reasonable.

[0077] It is displayed at the lower side of the smartphone screen that a purchase of 500 yen or more (tax excluded) will make the parking fee free for an additional 30 minutes. When the finger of the parking lot user touches the button "View recommended products for 500 yen shopping", products suitable for shopping of 500 yen or more are output to the smartphone screen.

[0078] (Fig. 13) Fig. 13 conceptually shows an algorithm for automatic correction when inputting the vehicle number. As shown in Fig. 13(a), assume that the vehicle number is "Adachi 500 ho·5-60". As shown in Fig. 13(b), some parking lot users may input "0" instead of "·", and as shown in Fig. 13(c), some parking lot users may input only three digits, i.e., "5,6,0".

[0079] Therefore, in a dedicated application pre-installed on a smartphone or the like, when the first digit is "0", it is adjusted to be "·" as shown in Fig. 13(d). The same process is executed when the vehicle number has only two digits or only one digit.

Industrial Applicability

[0080] The present invention has applicability in the operation of parking lots, the manufacturing industry of equipment necessary for the operation of parking lots, the manufacturing industry of mobile communication terminals, the software service industry for creating application programs used in mobile communication terminals, and the like.

Claims

1. A mobile communication terminal that performs various data management in a parking lot and communicates with a data center that transmits, as incoming data, a vehicle number together with data identifying the arrival time and the parking lot, so as to know the parking start time during parking in a pay-later parking lot, barcode reading means capable of optically reading a barcode indicating data identifying the parking lot, vehicle number input means capable of inputting the vehicle number of the parked vehicle, user request data transmission means for creating request data asking to be notified of the time when parking started with the barcode data read by the barcode reading means and the vehicle number input via the vehicle number input means, and transmitting the request data to the data center, corresponding data receiving means for receiving the corresponding data when the data center that has received the request data extracts the corresponding data corresponding to the request data from the incoming data and transmits it, corresponding data output means for outputting the vehicle number and the parking start time in the received corresponding data, A mobile communication terminal comprising the above.

2. In the case where there are a plurality of corresponding data received by the corresponding data receiving means, the corresponding data output means outputs the license plate data in the plurality of received corresponding data and enables selection of one of the plurality of license plate data, the corresponding data output means outputs the vehicle number and the parking start time related to the selected one license plate data, The mobile communication terminal according to claim 1.

3. the barcode reading means is also configured to read a barcode related to payment, comprising settlement means for processing the payment based on the read barcode and creating settlement amount data based on the processing, the user request data transmission means is also configured to transmit the settlement amount data to the data center, The mobile communication terminal according to any one of claims 1 or 2.

4. An application program for controlling a mobile communication terminal that performs various data management in a parking lot and communicates with a data center that transmits, as incoming data, a vehicle number together with data identifying the arrival time and the parking lot, so as to know the parking start time during parking in a pay-later parking lot, A barcode reading procedure capable of optically reading a barcode indicating data for specifying a parking lot, A vehicle number input procedure that enables input of a vehicle number related to a parked vehicle, A user request data transmission procedure for creating request data asking to notify the time when parking is started using the barcode data read by the barcode reading procedure and the vehicle number input via the vehicle number input means, and transmitting the request data to the data center, A corresponding data reception procedure for receiving the corresponding data when the data center that has received the request data extracts the corresponding data corresponding to the request data from the storage data and transmits it, A corresponding data output procedure for outputting the vehicle number and the parking start time in the received corresponding data, A computer program configured to be executed on a mobile communication terminal.

5. In the case where there are a plurality of corresponding data received by the corresponding data receiving means, Including a plurality of license plate output procedures for outputting license plate data in the plurality of received corresponding data, In the corresponding data output procedure, the vehicle number and the parking start time related to one selected license plate data among the plurality of license plate data output by the plurality of license plate output procedures are output. The computer program according to claim 4.

6. A payment barcode reading procedure for also reading a barcode related to payment, A settlement procedure for processing the payment based on the barcode read by the payment barcode reading procedure and creating settlement amount data based on the processing, In the user request data transmission procedure, the settlement amount data is also transmitted to the data center. The computer program according to any one of claims 4 or 5.

7. A receipt image reading procedure for reading an image of a receipt related to payment, An OCR processing procedure for specifying the payment amount from the image read by the receipt image reading procedure, In the user request data transmission procedure, the payment amount is also transmitted to the data center. The computer program according to any one of claims 4 to 6.

8. In the corresponding data output procedure, an alarm setting procedure for activating an alarm when a predetermined time is reached is included. When the time set in the above alarm setting procedure is reached, the mobile communication terminal is made to execute an alarm output procedure for outputting an alarm. The computer program according to any one of claims 4 to 7.

9. A payment machine installed in a parking lot for collecting parking fees from parking lot users, A data center that executes data communication with the payment machine and manages data, A parking lot management system that includes a parking lot user can know the parking start time while parked in a post-payment parking lot, The above payment machine includes vehicle number reading means for reading the vehicle number of the vehicle to be parked as number data, A time stamp that adds time data to the number data to obtain storage data, Storage data transmission means for transmitting the above storage data to the above data center, The above data center includes storage data receiving means for receiving the above storage data, A parking management database for managing the received storage data for each parking lot, User request data receiving means for receiving user request data including a barcode indicating data for specifying a parking lot and data for specifying a vehicle from a mobile communication terminal related to a parking lot user, Corresponding data transmission means for extracting parking data based on the above user request data from the above parking management database and transmitting it to the above mobile communication terminal as corresponding data including the vehicle number and the parking start time, A parking lot management system comprising.

10. The above user request data receiving means is configured to also receive settlement amount data obtained by a mobile communication terminal related to the above parking lot user, It further includes a parking fee calculation means for calculating a parking fee using the above settlement amount data, The above corresponding data transmission means is configured to include the parking fee calculated by the above parking fee calculation means in the above corresponding data. The parking lot management system according to claim 9.

11. The above corresponding data transmission means is configured to include data related to a paid product or service that can substantially reduce the parking fee calculated by the above parking fee calculation means. The parking lot management system according to any one of claims 9 or 10.

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