Parking management device, parking management system, parking management method, and program

Abstract

This makes it possible to identify parking spaces to guide users to at a low cost. [Solution] A parking management device 200 identifies a parking space to guide a user who wishes to use a parking lot with multiple parking spaces, comprising: an acquisition unit 211 that acquires attribute information indicating the attributes of the user's vehicle 10; a storage unit 220 that stores parking statistics information 220a including attribute information of vehicles previously parked in each of the multiple parking spaces, and based on the user's attribute information acquired by the acquisition unit 211, an output unit 213 that guides the user to the identified parking space.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a parking lot management device, a parking lot management system, a parking lot management method, and a program. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, efforts have been active to provide access to sustainable transport systems that also take into account vulnerable road users. As one of such efforts, research and development on driving support technologies for vehicles such as automobiles have been conducted to further improve traffic safety and convenience.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle guidance device that parks a vehicle in a parking space corresponding to the size of the vehicle. Prior Art Documents Patent Documents

[0004] Patent Document 1 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2023-053667 Summary of the Invention Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the configuration described in Patent Document 1, for example, in order to determine a通行 path through which a vehicle can pass or to detect an available parking space, various sensors must be mounted on the vehicle, which may increase the vehicle cost in such a case. Therefore, it is desired to realize a configuration capable of specifying a parking space to be guided to a user at low cost.

[0006] The present invention provides a parking lot management device, a parking lot management system, a parking lot management method, and a program that can specify a parking space to be guided to a user at low cost. Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] One aspect of the present invention is, A parking management device that identifies a parking space from among multiple parking spaces to guide a user who wishes to use a parking lot with multiple parking spaces, An acquisition unit that acquires attribute information indicating the attributes of the user's vehicle, A parking space identification unit refers to a storage unit that stores parking statistics information including attribute information of vehicles previously parked in each of the plurality of parking spaces, and, based on the user attribute information acquired by the acquisition unit, identifies a parking space previously parked by a similar vehicle similar to the user's vehicle as the parking space to be guided. The system includes an output unit that guides the user to the identified parking space. 、 The acquisition unit is, The output unit acquires information on the selected parking space according to the results of the guidance, and updates the parking statistics information based on the acquired parking space information.

[0008] Furthermore, other embodiments of the present invention include: A parking management system that identifies a parking space to guide a user who wishes to use a parking lot with multiple parking spaces, from among the multiple parking spaces, The system comprises a parking management device that identifies the parking space to be guided to the user, and a vehicle that can communicate with the parking management device and receives guidance on the parking space. The aforementioned parking management device is Obtain attribute information indicating the attributes of the user's vehicle, By referring to parking statistics information that includes attribute information of vehicles previously parked in each of the aforementioned multiple parking spaces, and based on the acquired user attribute information, the system identifies parking spaces previously parked by similar vehicles similar to the user's vehicle as the parking spaces to be guided. It has a first control unit that guides the user to the identified parking space, The first control unit, The system retrieves information on the selected parking space based on the results of the guidance provided, and updates the parking statistics information based on the retrieved parking space information. The aforementioned user's vehicle is, The system includes a second control unit that receives guidance on parking spaces from the parking management device and broadcasts information about the parking spaces based on the received guidance.

[0009] Another aspect of the present invention is a computer that identifies, from among a plurality of parking spaces, a parking space to be guided to a user who desires to use a parking lot provided with the plurality of parking spaces, acquiring attribute information indicating an attribute of the user's vehicle, referring to parking statistical information including attribute information of vehicles that have been parked in each of the plurality of parking spaces in the past, and based on the acquired attribute information of the user, identifying, as the parking space to be guided, a parking space in which a similar vehicle similar to the user's vehicle has been parked in the past, guiding the identified parking space to the user death, The system retrieves information on the selected parking space based on the results of the guidance provided, and updates the parking statistics information based on the retrieved parking space information. to execute a process.

[0010] Another aspect of the present invention is causing a computer that identifies, from among a plurality of parking spaces, a parking space to be guided to a user who desires to use a parking lot provided with the plurality of parking spaces, to acquire attribute information indicating an attribute of the user's vehicle, to refer to parking statistical information including attribute information of vehicles that have been parked in each of the plurality of parking spaces in the past, and based on the acquired attribute information of the user, to identify, as the parking space to be guided, a parking space in which a similar vehicle similar to the user's vehicle has been parked in the past, to guide the identified parking space to the user death, The system retrieves information on the selected parking space based on the results of the guidance provided, and updates the parking statistics information based on the retrieved parking space information. to execute a process. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to identify a parking space to be guided to a user at low cost. Furthermore, the present invention improves traffic safety and contributes to the development of a sustainable transportation system. [Brief Description of Drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a parking lot management system 100 according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a diagram showing an example of parking statistical information 220a. [Figure 3] It is a sequence chart showing an example of processing executed in the embodiment. [Figure 4] It is a flowchart showing an example of processing (parking statistical information update processing) executed in the parking lot management apparatus 200. MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0013] Hereinafter, one embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments do not limit the present invention, and not all elements described in the following embodiments are necessarily essential to the present invention. Furthermore, two or more elements described in the following embodiments may be arbitrarily combined without departing from the scope of the gist of the present invention. In the following description, the same or similar reference numerals are assigned to the same or similar elements, and the description thereof may be omitted or simplified.

[0014] [Parking Lot Management System] FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the overall outline of a parking lot management system 100. This parking lot management system 100 is a system that identifies a parking space to be guided from among a plurality of parking spaces provided in a parking lot for a user who wishes to use the parking lot having the plurality of parking spaces, and guides the identified parking space to the user.

[0015] The parking lot is, for example, a space provided with predetermined parking spaces in advance, and a plurality of vehicles can park therein. Each parking space may be provided for each vehicle size, for example, small vehicles such as kei cars and compact cars, standard vehicles (medium vehicles), and large vehicles. The parking lot is assumed to be, for example, a parking lot provided in a commercial facility or a general coin-operated parking lot. In addition, for example, a parking space such as an open square, a riverbed, or an event venue may be assumed.

[0016] The parking management system 100 comprises a parking management device 200 and a vehicle 10, and the parking management device 200 and the vehicle 10 are capable of communicating with each other. In other words, the parking management device 200 and the vehicle 10 cooperate with each other. In one embodiment, for example, the parking management device 200 performs the process of identifying the parking space to be guided, the vehicle 10 receives the guidance for the identified parking space and notifies the user of that parking space. The configurations of the parking management device 200 and the vehicle 10 will be described below.

[0017] [Parking Management System] The parking management device 200 is a device that identifies the parking space to be guided, and is composed of, for example, a server device or a general-purpose computer. The parking management device 200 is installed, for example, within the parking lot premises or in a management facility that manages the parking lot.

[0018] Furthermore, the parking management device 200 is connected to a camera 300 capable of detecting the entry of a vehicle into the parking lot. The camera 300 only needs to be installed in a location that can detect the entry of a vehicle 10 into the parking lot, for example, at the entrance or exit of the parking lot. The camera 300 may also be used as a surveillance camera or security camera.

[0019] Furthermore, the camera 300 only needs to be able to detect at least the vehicle 10 entering the parking lot, but it may also be configured to detect other things, such as the vehicle 10 leaving the parking lot or the parking space in which it is parked. Also, the camera 300 is not limited to one camera, but may consist of multiple cameras.

[0020] The connection between the parking management device 200 and the camera 300 may be made by wired communication, wireless communication, or via other information processing equipment.

[0021] The information acquired by the camera 300 is then output to the parking management device 200 and stored in the memory unit 220.

[0022] The parking management device 200 comprises a control unit 210 equipped with a CPU, RAM, ROM, etc., a storage unit 220 having a non-transient storage medium for storing various information, and a communication unit 230. The storage unit 220 stores various programs and various data. The communication unit 230 is a circuit for communicating with various vehicles, including the vehicle 10, and external devices such as the camera 300 mentioned above. The control unit 210 executes predetermined programs stored in the storage unit 220, ROM, etc.

[0023] The memory unit 220 stores parking statistics information 220a. The parking statistics information 220a stores information indicating the attributes of vehicles that have been parked in each of the multiple parking spaces in the past (hereinafter also referred to as attribute information), and route information to the parking space. In other words, information on what kind of vehicle parked in each parking space and what route it took to park is stored. Based on this parking statistics information 220a, the parking space to guide the user is identified. The attribute information and route information of the vehicles parked in each parking space are transmitted to the parking management device 200, for example, in accordance with the parking of each vehicle, and stored there. For example, the parking management device 200 acquires the attribute information and route information of each vehicle via the communication unit 230 and stores the acquired information as parking statistics information 220a.

[0024] The timing at which attribute information and route information are transmitted from each vehicle to the parking management device 200 may be predetermined. For example, this could be when parking is completed or when the ignition power is turned off. Alternatively, the information may be transmitted at predetermined intervals.

[0025] Figure 2 shows an example of parking statistics information 220a. As mentioned above, this parking statistics information 220a stores information such as "what kind of vehicle parked in a parking space and what route it took to park." In other words, information on the attributes and route of parked vehicles is associated and stored for each parking space in the parking lot. Here, the identification information for each parking space is indicated by symbols such as "A1".

[0026] Vehicle attributes include information on vehicle size, license plate number, minimum ground clearance, minimum turning radius, approach angle, and departure angle. Note that these are just examples, and the parking statistics information 220a only needs to include information that allows for an approximate understanding of the vehicle's size. In the embodiment, it is preferable that the attribute information includes at least the vehicle size and one of the following: license plate number, minimum ground clearance, minimum turning radius, approach angle, and departure angle.

[0027] Vehicle size is information indicating the dimensions of a vehicle, for example, based on its overall length, overall width, and overall height. In this embodiment, vehicles are divided into three categories: small, medium, and large. However, there are not limited to three categories, and there may be multiple categories. Furthermore, vehicle size can be any information indicating the dimensions of a vehicle, and may be defined by, for example, the vehicle's overall length, overall width, and overall height.

[0028] A vehicle number indicates vehicle identification information. A vehicle number only needs to include information indicating the size of the vehicle and information indicating the user. In this embodiment, the vehicle identification information includes a vehicle number that indicates the classification of the automobile as information indicating the size of the vehicle. For example, it may include information such as "3 number" indicating a regular passenger car or "5 number" indicating a compact passenger car.

[0029] Minimum ground clearance is information indicating the vertical distance from a horizontal ground surface (road surface) to the lowest point of the vehicle body. Minimum ground clearance may be considered in relation to the height of locking devices installed, for example, in coin-operated parking lots.

[0030] The minimum turning radius indicates the radius of the circle traced by the center of the outermost wheel when the steering wheel is turned to its maximum extent. The minimum turning radius is an indicator related to how easily a vehicle can turn, and depending on the location of the parking space, it may cause problems such as difficulty in parking. Therefore, it can be taken into consideration when identifying parking spaces to guide drivers to.

[0031] The approach angle is information indicating the angle between the tangent line drawn from the bottom of the front bumper to the contact patch of the front wheel and the road surface, and serves as an indicator of interference between the front bumper and the road surface. In other words, the larger the approach angle, the less likely it is to interfere with the road surface.

[0032] The departure angle is information indicating the angle between the tangent line drawn from the bottom of the rear bumper to the contact patch of the rear wheel and the road surface, and serves as an indicator of interference between the rear bumper and the road surface. In other words, the larger the departure angle, the less likely it is to interfere with the road surface.

[0033] The route information indicates the path each vehicle takes from entering the parking lot to parking in a designated space. The route may be defined, for example, by links indicating roads within the parking lot. In this embodiment, as an example, the path taken to reach the parking space is indicated by "L1," etc. Note that the route information may also be defined by other information such as nodes, as long as the path to the parking space can be determined.

[0034] In the parking statistics information 220a shown in Figure 2, for example, information such as minimum ground clearance, minimum turning radius, approach angle, and departure angle is shown with specific numerical values. However, it is preferable to convert these values ​​into numerical values ​​with a predetermined range when storing them in the storage unit 220. This is because it is unlikely that each of these numerical values ​​will perfectly match the attribute information of the user's vehicle 10 unless it is the same vehicle type. For example, if the minimum ground clearance of a predetermined parked vehicle is 150 [mm], it may be set to a value with a predetermined range such as 130 to 170 [mm]. Note that this conversion of values ​​may be performed not only when storing them in the storage unit 220, but also, for example, when the control unit 210 described later identifies the parking space to guide the user to. Other parameters that are shown numerically may also be converted to values ​​with a predetermined range in the same way.

[0035] Furthermore, in the parking statistics information 220a shown in Figure 2, the attributes and route information of one vehicle are displayed for each parking space, such as parking space ID "A1". However, it can be assumed that multiple vehicles have been parked in each parking space in the past. Therefore, although not shown here, the attributes and route information of multiple vehicles may be stored for each parking space. The more data there is, the more accurate the information will be.

[0036] In the parking statistics information 220a defined in this way, for example, if we were to describe the parking statistics information for a single parking space (for example, parking space ID "A1") as a representative example, we can understand that "a small vehicle with a 5-number license plate, a minimum ground clearance of 150 [mm], a minimum turning radius of 4.7 [m], an approach angle of 27 [°], and a departure angle of 50 [°] parked in parking space ID "A1" by following the route "L1, L2, L3" in that order."

[0037] As mentioned above, since the driving data from each vehicle is transmitted to the parking management device 200 according to the parking of each vehicle, it can be updated at predetermined intervals.

[0038] The control unit 210 executes various programs stored in the storage unit 220. Conventionally, techniques for assigning parking spaces are known, but in order to identify such parking spaces, various sensors must be installed on the vehicle to detect passages that the vehicle can travel through and parking spaces that can be parked in, which may increase the cost of the vehicle. Therefore, in this embodiment, in order to suppress the increase in vehicle costs, a predetermined program is executed that identifies a parking space that is in line with the user's vehicle 10 by using the trends of similar vehicles that are similar to the user's vehicle 10.

[0039] Specifically, the control unit 210 includes an acquisition unit 211, a parking space identification unit 212, and an output unit 213 as functional units realized by the execution of a predetermined program. In the following, the processes described as being performed by the acquisition unit 211, the parking space identification unit 212, and the output unit 213 are processes realized by the control unit 210.

[0040] The acquisition unit 211 acquires attribute information indicating the attributes of the user's vehicle 10. For example, the acquisition unit 211 acquires the attribute information of the vehicle 10 via the communication unit 230. Here, the attribute information may be the same as the information described in the parking statistics information 220a above, and may include information such as vehicle size, vehicle number, minimum ground clearance, minimum turning radius, approach angle, and departure angle. Note that for the attribute information of the vehicle 10, it is sufficient to grasp the approximate size of the vehicle 10, and therefore, the acquisition unit 211 acquires information indicating the vehicle size of the vehicle 10 by communicating with the vehicle 10. In addition, it is preferable to acquire at least one of the following information: vehicle number, minimum ground clearance, minimum turning radius, approach angle, and departure angle.

[0041] As mentioned above, the parking management device 200 is connected to the camera 300 in a communicative manner. Therefore, for example, when a vehicle 10 enters the parking lot, the device may be configured to acquire information such as vehicle size, vehicle number, minimum ground clearance, minimum turning radius, approach angle, and departure angle by acquiring information captured by the camera 300.

[0042] Furthermore, the acquisition unit 211 acquires information on the parking space selected according to the guidance provided by the output unit 213 (described later) from the vehicle 10 via the communication unit 230. In other words, it acquires information on the parking space in which the user parked. As a result, the parking management device 200 can determine whether or not the user parked in the guided parking space, and can also understand the trend of parking spaces selected according to the guidance.

[0043] Furthermore, when the acquisition unit 211 acquires information on a parking space selected according to the results guided by the output unit 213, it updates the parking statistics information 220a based on the acquired parking space information. By updating the parking statistics information 220a according to the selection of a parking space, it becomes possible to construct more accurate data.

[0044] Furthermore, if the parking space guided by the function of the output unit 213 differs from the parking space actually used by the vehicle, it is preferable that the acquisition unit 211 associates user information with the parking statistics information 220a in conjunction with the update in order to determine whether the selection of the different parking space is, for example, a user-specific selection. User information can be obtained, for example, from the vehicle number.

[0045] In this way, by associating and storing user information, if, for example, a certain percentage of users park in a different parking space than the one they were directed to, it may be possible that the directed parking space was inappropriate based on vehicle size, etc., rather than being specific to the user. In such cases, the directed parking space can be updated according to the parking space actually used. On the other hand, if, for example, only a specific user parks in a different parking space than the one they were directed to, it can be assumed that the choice was made based on the user's convenience or preference, and it can be determined that there is no need to update the directed parking space. In that case, because the user information is associated, the system can be configured to direct only that user to a different parking space in subsequent guidance sessions.

[0046] The parking space identification unit 212 identifies a parking space to guide the user to. Specifically, the parking space identification unit 212 refers to the aforementioned parking statistics information 220a to extract parking spaces where similar vehicles similar to the user's vehicle 10 have parked in the past, and identifies the extracted parking spaces as the parking spaces to guide the user to. In other words, within the parking lot, the parking space identification unit 212 refers to the attribute information of vehicles that have parked in each parking space in the past and uses the trends of similar vehicles to identify the parking space to guide the user to.

[0047] Here, "similar vehicle" refers to, for example, a vehicle that satisfies the conditions of a predetermined parameter in the attribute information of the parking statistics information 220a described above. For example, a vehicle is considered similar to the user's vehicle 10 if it has the same conditions for a predetermined parameter (e.g., vehicle size) in its attribute information, or if it has the same conditions for at least a predetermined number of parameters (e.g., two or more) in its attribute information. Note that such a definition of a similar vehicle may be arbitrarily defined by, for example, the manufacturer.

[0048] Furthermore, the parking space identification unit 212 may identify more than one parking space. In other words, there may be multiple parking spaces that could be guided to the user.

[0049] Furthermore, if the parking space identification unit 212 identifies a parking space to guide the user and the parking space the user actually parks in is different, it updates the parking statistics information according to the tendency of the parking space the user actually parks in. As described above, the parking space identification unit 212 refers to the parking statistics information 220a and, for example, identifies a parking space where a similar vehicle has parked as a parking space to guide the user to. However, even if the vehicle size is similar, for example, depending on the specific vehicle model, there may be a tendency to park in a different parking space than the one guided.

[0050] For example, let's say a minivan and an SUV are in the same vehicle size category, and they are directed to the same parking space because their vehicle sizes are the same. Minivans generally use sliding doors, while SUVs do not, to the same extent as minivans. In such a case, a minivan user may not be concerned about the width of the parking space as long as there is enough width to get in and out of the vehicle. On the other hand, an SUV user may be concerned about the width of the parking space, considering the opening and closing of the doors when getting in and out of the vehicle. Therefore, even if the same parking space is directed to vehicles of the same size, a minivan user and an SUV user may actually park in different spaces. Furthermore, such trends may change as parking statistics data 220a is accumulated.

[0051] Therefore, the parking space identification unit 212 acquires information on the parking space where the user has parked, in accordance with the parking space guidance. For example, if a predetermined percentage or more of vehicles are parked in a different parking space than the one guided based on vehicle size, the unit updates the guided parking space to one where the predetermined percentage or more of vehicles have parked. In other words, if the trend of actually parked parking spaces differs from the parking space guided based on vehicle size, the parking space identification unit 212 updates the guided parking space according to that trend. This is to provide guidance that corresponds to the information of the parking space where each user has actually parked.

[0052] In this example, we have described a case where the parking space guided based on vehicle size information differs from the actual parking space used. However, similar processing may be applied when the parking space guided based on parameters other than vehicle size differs from the actual parking space used. For example, if the parking space identification unit 212 guides a parking space based on vehicle number information that differs from the actual parking space used, and a predetermined percentage or more of the vehicles are parked in different parking spaces, the parking space guided may be updated according to the trend of the actual parking spaces used.

[0053] The output unit 213 guides the user to a parking space identified by the function of the parking space identification unit 212. That is, the output unit 213 transmits information about the parking space identified by the parking space identification unit 212 to the vehicle 10 via the communication unit 230. The transmitted information is received by the vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 guides the user to a parking space by notifying them of the parking space by predetermined means, such as displaying the parking space on a predetermined display unit such as a touch panel, or outputting the parking space by voice. The display unit to which the notification is received may be, for example, the user's mobile terminal such as a smartphone.

[0054] [vehicle] Next, the configuration of the user's vehicle 10, which receives guidance on parking spaces from the parking management device 200, will be described. The vehicle 10 can be any vehicle capable of notifying the user of parking spaces by displaying the guidance on parking spaces received from the parking management device 200 on a predetermined display unit or the like. In other words, it can be any vehicle capable of parking assistance (or driving assistance) that notifies the user of parking spaces. Therefore, the target vehicles may be, for example, internal combustion engine vehicles equipped with an internal combustion engine such as a gasoline engine or diesel engine as a power source, or electric vehicles equipped with an electric motor. Alternatively, they may be hybrid vehicles equipped with an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. They may also be vehicles equipped with other predetermined driving assistance or autonomous driving functions.

[0055] As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle 10 comprises a control unit 11, a communication unit 12, and a user interface unit 13. The control unit 11 is a computer equipped with a CPU, RAM, ROM, etc.

[0056] The communication unit 12 includes a circuit for communicating with other devices. In this embodiment, the vehicle 10 can communicate with the parking management device 200 via the communication unit 12 and exchange various types of information. For example, it can receive guidance on parking spaces from the parking management device 200, or transmit attribute information of the vehicle 10 and information about the parking space it parked in to the parking management device 200.

[0057] The user interface unit 13 is an interface unit for receiving user instructions and providing the user with various information, and includes a display unit consisting of a touch panel type display (not shown), input units such as switches, and output units such as speakers. In this embodiment, information regarding parking spaces transmitted from the parking management device 200 is displayed on the display unit of the user interface unit 13 or output from the speaker.

[0058] The control unit 11 can execute a predetermined program stored in a memory unit (not shown). For example, the control unit 11 executes a predetermined program that guides the user to a parking space. Specifically, the control unit 11 receives information about parking spaces transmitted from the parking management device 200 and controls the display unit of the user interface 13 to display the received information about parking spaces. Furthermore, if the user selects a displayed parking space, the control unit 11 controls the user by displaying and guiding them to that parking space.

[0059] [Sequence Chart] Next, an example of the process performed in the embodiment will be explained using a sequence chart. Figure 3 is a sequence chart of this example, in which the parking management device 200 and the vehicle 10 work together to perform the process. As described above, the parking management device 200 identifies a parking space to guide the user and transmits the information of the identified parking space to the vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 displays the parking space guidance received from the parking management device 200 on a display unit or the like. As the specific details of the processes performed by the parking management device 200 and the vehicle 10 are as described above, this section will mainly explain the flow of the process, and detailed explanations of the processes will be omitted or simplified.

[0060] First, in step S1, the control unit 210 of the parking management device 200 acquires parking entry information for vehicle 10. That is, the control unit 210 acquires information that vehicle 10 has entered the parking lot, and using the acquisition of this parking entry information as a trigger, it starts identifying the parking space to guide the vehicle to. Specifically, the camera 300 acquires information that vehicle 10 has entered the parking lot. Then, the control unit 210 acquires information that vehicle 10 has entered the parking lot from the camera 300 via the communication unit 230.

[0061] Next, in step S2, the control unit 210 acquires attribute information of the vehicle 10. That is, it acquires attribute information of the vehicle 10 such as vehicle size, vehicle number, minimum ground clearance, minimum turning radius, approach angle, and departure angle. Here, as an example, it will be explained that vehicle size information has been acquired from the vehicle 10. Note that in addition to acquiring the attribute information of the vehicle 10 by communication with the vehicle 10, it may also be configured so that, for example, when the vehicle 10 enters the parking lot in step S1, the vehicle size etc. is acquired by the camera 300 and acquired together with the information that the vehicle 10 has entered the parking lot.

[0062] Next, in step S3, the control unit 210 identifies a parking space to guide the user to. Specifically, the control unit 210 refers to the parking statistics information 220a to identify similar vehicles to the user's vehicle 10. That is, it identifies similar vehicles of a similar size to the user's vehicle. Then, it extracts the parking spaces that the identified similar vehicles have parked in the past. The control unit 210 identifies these extracted parking spaces as the parking spaces to guide the user to. Note that, as mentioned above, there may be multiple parking spaces identified at this time.

[0063] Next, in step S4, the control unit 210 transmits the parking space information identified in step S3 to the vehicle 10. That is, the control unit 210 transmits the identified parking space information to the vehicle 10 via the communication unit 230. This allows the control unit 210 to transmit parking space information to guide the user. The control unit 210 may also transmit route information to the parking space along with the transmission of the parking space information. Furthermore, after transmitting the parking space information to the vehicle 10, the control unit 210 may store the transmitted parking space information in the storage unit 220, or store it as part of the parking statistics information 220a. After transmitting the parking space information to the vehicle 10, the control unit 210 terminates the process shown in Figure 3.

[0064] In response to the processing in step S4, the vehicle 10 receives parking space information from the parking management device 200 (step S5). That is, the control unit 11 in the vehicle 10 obtains information about parking spaces to guide the user from the parking management device 200 via the communication unit 12.

[0065] Then, the vehicle 10 notifies the user of the parking space information received in step S5 (step S6). For example, the control unit 11 causes the parking space information to be displayed on the display unit of the user I / F unit 13. Alternatively, the parking space information may be notified via the speaker in the user I / F unit 13. This allows the user to select a parking space based on the displayed parking space information.

[0066] [Updating parking statistics information] Next, the process for updating the parking statistics information 220a in the parking management device 200 will be described. Figure 4 is a flowchart showing an example of this update process. As described above, the parking management device 200 identifies a parking space to guide the user to and transmits information about the identified parking space to the user's vehicle 10. However, since information about the parking space in which the user actually parked is unknown, it is preferable to obtain information about the parking space in which the user actually parked and update the parking statistics information 220a.

[0067] Therefore, the control unit 210 acquires information about the parking space in which the vehicle 10 was parked (step S10). That is, the control unit 210 acquires information about the parking space in which the vehicle was actually parked from the vehicle 10 via the communication unit 230. If the parking space in which the vehicle 10 was parked can be determined by the camera 300 installed in the parking lot, the control unit 210 may acquire information about the parking space in which the vehicle 10 was parked based on the information from the camera 300.

[0068] Next, the control unit 210 updates the parking statistics information 220a based on the information of the parking space where the vehicle 10 parked, which was acquired in step S10 (step S11). That is, it reflects the information of the parking space where the vehicle 10 parked in the parking statistics information 220a. At this time, it is preferable for the control unit 210 to store the correlation between the information of the parking space that was guided and the information of the parking space that was actually parked. For example, if the information of the parking space that was guided and the information of the parking space that was actually parked differ, it may be necessary to update the information of the parking space to be guided in the next time and beyond. In other words, the information of the parking space that was actually parked is accumulated and the information of the parking space to be guided is also updated based on that. As a result, accurate parking statistics information 220a is updated or generated sequentially, and it becomes possible to guide parking spaces based on the updated information.

[0069] Furthermore, the system for updating the parking spaces to be guided may be configured to update the parking spaces to be guided in accordance with trends, for example, when a certain percentage or more of the vehicles tend to park in different parking spaces than the parking spaces that were previously guided.

[0070] [Effects in the Embodiment] As described above, in this embodiment, the parking management device 200 identifies parking spaces to guide the user to, based on parking statistics information 220a which includes attribute information of vehicles previously parked in each of the multiple parking spaces, and which have been previously parked in parking spaces similar to the user's vehicle 10. In other words, the parking management device 200 is configured to identify parking spaces to guide the user to, using the trends of similar vehicles similar to the user's vehicle 10. Therefore, for example, when determining the route to a parking space or identifying a parking space, it does not require a large number of sensors, etc., compared to conventional configurations such as the device described in Patent Document 1. Thus, it is possible to identify parking spaces to guide the user at a low cost.

[0071] In this way, users who receive guidance on parking spaces can avoid the trouble of searching for a parking space suitable for their vehicle 10.

[0072] Furthermore, the parking statistics information 220a includes route information for each parking space. Therefore, the parking management device 200 can provide guidance not only for parking spaces but also for the route to the parking space. This makes it possible to guide the driver to a parking space without having to consider the route to the parking space. In other words, it becomes possible to provide driving assistance and parking assistance without relying on various sensors necessary for sensing.

[0073] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the parking management device 200 obtains information on the selected parking space from the user based on the results of guidance provided by the output unit 213, and updates the parking statistics information 220a based on the acquired parking space information. In this way, the parking statistics information 220a is updated according to the user's parking, making it possible to identify the parking space to guide the user based on more accurate information.

[0074] Furthermore, the vehicle attribute information included in the parking statistics information 220a may include vehicle size, minimum ground clearance, minimum turning radius, vehicle number, approach angle, departure angle, etc. This information indicates the size of the vehicle. Therefore, by identifying parking spaces to guide the user based on this information, it becomes possible to identify a parking space suitable for the user's vehicle 10.

[0075] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the parking management device 200 obtains attribute information of the vehicle 10 and information about the parking space in which the vehicle 10 actually parked, either through communication with the vehicle 10 or based on information obtained from a camera 300 installed in the parking lot. In other words, it is possible to identify the parking space to be guided using a conventionally known configuration (in other words, an existing configuration). That is, it is possible to identify the appropriate parking space with a simple configuration without requiring a new or complex configuration.

[0076] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the parking management device 200 is configured to update the parking space to be guided if the parking space guided by the output unit 213 differs from the parking space in which the user's vehicle 10 actually parks. For example, if a predetermined percentage or more of the vehicles park in a different parking space than the one guided based on vehicle size. In other words, if the parking space actually parked differs from the guided parking space, the guided parking space is updated according to that trend. This makes it possible to guide vehicles to parking spaces that are more suitable for their respective vehicles, even if they are of similar size (e.g., medium-sized), such as minivans and SUVs, if the trends in parking spaces differ. As a result, it becomes possible to guide users to parking spaces that are more appropriate for their vehicle.

[0077] Furthermore, in this embodiment, if the parking space guided by the output unit 213 differs from the parking space actually parked by the user's vehicle 10, the parking management device 200 acquires user information from the vehicle number and updates the parking statistics information 220a by associating it with the acquired user information. This allows the device to determine, for example, that if a predetermined percentage or more of users park in a different parking space than the guided parking space, it may be that the guided parking space is not appropriate, based on vehicle size, etc., rather than being specific to the user. By updating the guided parking space according to the parking space actually parked, it becomes possible to guide users to appropriate parking spaces that match their usage trends. On the other hand, if, for example, only a specific user parks in a different parking space than the guided parking space, it can be determined that there is no need to update the guided parking space because it was selected based on the user's convenience or preference. In that case, since the user information is associated, the device can be configured to guide only the target user to a different parking space in subsequent guidance sessions.

[0078] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. It is clear to those skilled in the art that various modifications or alterations can be conceived within the scope of the claims, and these are also understood to naturally fall within the technical scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the components of the above embodiments may be combined arbitrarily without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0079] For example, the parking statistics information 220a explained using Figure 2 is not limited to the information included in Figure 2, as long as it is information that can indicate the size of the vehicle when identifying a parking space to guide the user to. For example, it may include engine displacement, etc. In addition, it may include other information for guiding the user to a parking space, such as the route information mentioned above. In other words, the parking statistics information 220a may include information that can guide the user to an appropriate parking space and reduce the effort required of the user during the process of parking in that space.

[0080] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, when guiding the user to a parking space, an example was described in which the parking space to be guided is identified mainly based on the vehicle size in the parking statistics information 220a. However, in identifying the parking space to be guided, the parking space to be guided may be identified based on multiple parameters, such as all the parameters of the parking statistics information 220a. The more parameters referenced, the more accurate the guidance of parking spaces will be.

[0081] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, when the parking management device 200 identifies a parking space to guide a user to, it may acquire, in addition to the parking statistics information 220a, information on the availability of parking spaces in the current parking lot, and may also consider this availability information when identifying a parking space to guide a user to. The parking management device 200 may be configured to acquire information on the availability of parking spaces based on information acquired by the camera 300, or to acquire the availability status by communicating with other devices that manage the availability of parking spaces. This makes it possible to avoid situations such as when the guided parking space is full, and to guide the user to a more appropriate parking space.

[0082] Furthermore, the configuration of the above-described embodiment may share functions or consist of fewer devices. For example, at least a part of the configuration of the parking management device 200 may be implemented in the control unit 11 of the vehicle 10.

[0083] Furthermore, for example, at least a portion of the components (acquisition unit 211, parking space identification unit 212, output unit 213) that make up the control unit 210 of the parking management device 200 may be divided and exist in multiple devices. Also, for example, the parking management device 200 may be configured as a cloud server or the like.

[0084] Furthermore, some of the components of the above-described embodiment may be omitted, or the processing may be varied or omitted.

[0085] Furthermore, the processing described in the above-mentioned embodiments can be realized by executing a pre-prepared control program on a computer. This control program is recorded on a computer-readable storage medium and executed by reading it from the storage medium. This control program may also be provided in the form of a non-transient storage medium such as flash memory, or it may be provided via a network such as the Internet. The computer that executes this control program may be included in the control device, included in an electronic device such as a smartphone, tablet terminal, or personal computer that can communicate with the control device, or included in a server device that can communicate with these control devices and electronic devices.

[0086] This specification contains at least the following information. The components indicated in parentheses in the embodiments described above are, but are not limited thereto.

[0087] (1) A parking management device (parking management device 200) that identifies a parking space to guide a user who wishes to use a parking lot with multiple parking spaces, An acquisition unit (acquisition unit 211) acquires attribute information indicating the attributes of the user's vehicle, A parking space identification unit (parking space identification unit 212) refers to a storage unit (storage unit 220) that stores parking statistics information (parking statistics information 220a) including attribute information of vehicles previously parked in each of the plurality of parking spaces, and, based on the user attribute information acquired by the acquisition unit, identifies a parking space where a similar vehicle similar to the user's vehicle has previously parked as the parking space to be guided. The system includes an output unit (output unit 213) that guides the user to the identified parking space, Parking management system.

[0088] According to (1), the system is configured to identify parking spaces to guide the user to using the characteristics of similar vehicles to the user's vehicle. Therefore, for example, it does not require a large number of sensors to determine the route to the parking space or to identify the parking space. Consequently, it is possible to identify parking spaces to guide the user at a low cost. And with such guidance, the effort required of the user to find a parking space can be reduced.

[0089] (2) The parking management device described in (1), The acquisition unit is, The system acquires information on the selected parking space according to the results of the guidance provided by the output unit, and updates the parking statistics information based on the acquired parking space information. Parking management system.

[0090] According to (2), the parking statistics will be updated based on information about the parking spaces that users have actually parked in, making it possible to identify parking spaces to guide users to and to provide guidance to parking lots based on more accurate information.

[0091] (3) A parking management device as described in (1) or (2), The aforementioned parking statistics information includes route information to the parking space. Parking management system.

[0092] According to (3), by including route information in the parking statistics, it becomes possible to provide guidance not only on parking spaces but also on the route to the parking spaces. This means, for example, that guidance to the parking spaces can be provided without the need to consider the route to the parking spaces. In other words, driving assistance and parking assistance can be provided without relying on various sensors necessary for sensing.

[0093] (4) A parking management device as described in (1) or (2), The aforementioned attribute information is, The user's vehicle includes at least one of the following pieces of information: vehicle size, minimum ground clearance, minimum turning radius, vehicle number indicating identification information, approach angle, and departure angle. Parking management system.

[0094] According to (4), if the attribute information includes information about the size of the vehicle, such as vehicle dimensions, it becomes possible to guide users to parking spaces based on the trends of vehicles of similar size.

[0095] (5) The parking management device described in (4), The parking management device is connected to an imaging unit (camera 300) capable of acquiring the attribute information. The acquisition unit is, The vehicle size information is acquired based on the information captured by the imaging unit. Parking management system.

[0096] According to (5), the vehicle size can be obtained based on the information acquired by the imaging unit.

[0097] (6) The parking management device described in (5), The acquisition unit is, At least one of the following pieces of information—the minimum ground clearance, the minimum turning radius, the vehicle number, the approach angle, and the departure angle—is acquired based on the information captured by the imaging unit. Parking management system.

[0098] According to (6), based on the information acquired by the imaging unit, information such as minimum ground clearance, minimum turning radius, vehicle number, approach angle, and departure angle can be obtained.

[0099] (7) A parking management device as described in (1) or (2), The acquisition unit is, The attribute information is acquired via a communication unit (communication unit 230) that can communicate with the user's vehicle. Parking management system.

[0100] According to (7), attribute information can be obtained by communicating with the user's vehicle, so more accurate attribute information such as vehicle size can be obtained compared to, for example, obtaining attribute information using various sensors or devices.

[0101] (8) A parking management device as described in (1) or (2), The acquisition unit is, Information on the parking space selected according to the results of guidance by the output unit is acquired via a communication unit (communication unit 230) that can communicate with the user's vehicle. Parking management system.

[0102] According to (8), by communicating with the user's vehicle, information on the actual parking space can be obtained, and by reflecting this information in the parking statistics, more accurate parking statistics can be generated, and the parking space to be guided can be identified.

[0103] (9) The parking management device described in (4), The aforementioned parking space identification section is, If the parking space indicated by the output unit differs from the parking space in which the user's vehicle actually parks, and a predetermined percentage or more of the vehicles are parked in a different parking space than the parking space indicated based on the vehicle size, the indicated parking space is updated. Parking management system.

[0104] According to (9), if the parking space actually used differs from the parking space indicated, the indicated parking space will be updated according to the trend. This makes it possible to guide vehicles to parking spaces that are more suitable for each vehicle, even if they are of similar size, if the trend of parking spaces differs, and as a result, it becomes possible to guide users to parking spaces that are more appropriate for them.

[0105] (10) The parking management device described in (4), The acquisition unit is, If the parking space indicated by the output unit differs from the parking space in which the user's vehicle actually parked, the user information is obtained from the vehicle number, and the parking statistics information is updated by associating the obtained user information. Parking management system.

[0106] According to (10), by associating user information with parking statistics, for example, information about a user's unique parking space can be stored, and on subsequent visits, it becomes possible to guide the user to a parking space that is suitable for them.

[0107] (11) The parking management device described in (10), The aforementioned parking space identification section is, If the parking space indicated by the output unit differs from the parking space in which the user's vehicle actually parked, and a predetermined percentage or more of the user's vehicles park in parking spaces different from the indicated parking spaces, the output unit will update the indicated parking spaces. Parking management system.

[0108] According to (11), for example, if a certain percentage or more of users park in a different parking space than the parking space they were directed to, it is possible that the directed parking space is not appropriate based on the vehicle size, etc., rather than being specific to the user. Therefore, by updating the directed parking space according to the parking space actually used, it becomes possible to guide users to an appropriate parking space that is in line with their usage trends.

[0109] (12) A parking management system (parking management system 100) that identifies a parking space to guide a user who wishes to use a parking lot with multiple parking spaces, The system comprises a parking management device (parking management device 200) that identifies the parking space to be guided to the user, and a vehicle (vehicle 10) that can communicate with the parking management device and receive guidance on the parking space. The aforementioned parking management device is Obtain attribute information indicating the attributes of the user's vehicle, By referring to parking statistics information (parking statistics information 220a) which includes attribute information of vehicles previously parked in each of the aforementioned multiple parking spaces, and based on the acquired user attribute information, the system identifies parking spaces previously parked by similar vehicles similar to the user's vehicle as the parking spaces to be guided. It has a first control unit (control unit 210) that guides the user to the identified parking space, The aforementioned user's vehicle is, The system has a second control unit (control unit 11) that receives guidance on parking spaces from the parking management device and notifies information on the parking spaces based on the received guidance. Parking management system.

[0110] According to (12), the system is configured to identify the parking space to guide the user to using the characteristics of similar vehicles that are similar to the user's vehicle. Therefore, for example, it does not require a large number of sensors to determine the route to the parking space or to identify the parking space. Consequently, it is possible to identify the parking space to guide the user at a low cost. And with this configuration, the user who receives guidance on a parking space can save the trouble of searching for a parking space.

[0111] (13) A computer that identifies a parking space to guide a user who wishes to use a parking lot with multiple parking spaces from among the multiple parking spaces, Obtain attribute information indicating the attributes of the user's vehicle (vehicle 10), By referring to parking statistics information (parking statistics information 220a) which includes attribute information of vehicles previously parked in each of the aforementioned multiple parking spaces, and based on the acquired user attribute information, the system identifies parking spaces where similar vehicles similar to the user's vehicle have previously parked as the parking spaces to be guided. The process of guiding the user to the identified parking space is executed. Parking lot management methods.

[0112] According to (13), the system is configured to identify the parking space to guide the user to by using the trends of similar vehicles that are similar to the user's vehicle. Therefore, for example, it does not require a large number of sensors to determine the route to the parking space or to identify the parking space. Consequently, it is possible to identify the parking space to guide the user at a low cost. And by providing this guidance, the user can save time searching for a parking space.

[0113] (14) A computer that identifies a parking space to guide a user who wishes to use a parking lot with multiple parking spaces from among the multiple parking spaces, Obtain attribute information indicating the attributes of the user's vehicle (vehicle 10), By referring to parking statistics information (parking statistics information 220a) which includes attribute information of vehicles previously parked in each of the aforementioned multiple parking spaces, and based on the acquired user attribute information, the system identifies parking spaces where similar vehicles similar to the user's vehicle have previously parked as the parking spaces to be guided. The process of guiding the user to the identified parking space is executed. program.

[0114] According to (14), the system is configured to identify parking spaces to guide the user to using the characteristics of similar vehicles that are similar to the user's vehicle. Therefore, for example, it does not require a large number of sensors to determine the route to the parking space or to identify the parking space. Consequently, it is possible to identify parking spaces to guide the user at a low cost. And with such guidance, the effort required of the user to find a parking space can be reduced. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0115] 10 vehicles 11 Control Unit (Second Control Unit) 100 Parking Management Systems 200 Parking Management System 210 Control Unit (First Control Unit) 211 Acquisition Department 212 Parking Space Identification Section 213 Output section 220 Storage section 220a Parking Statistics 230 Communications Department 300 Camera (imaging unit)

Claims

1. A parking management device that identifies a parking space from among multiple parking spaces to guide a user who wishes to use a parking lot with multiple parking spaces, An acquisition unit that acquires attribute information indicating the attributes of the user's vehicle, A parking space identification unit refers to a storage unit that stores parking statistics information including attribute information of vehicles previously parked in each of the plurality of parking spaces, and, based on the user attribute information acquired by the acquisition unit, identifies a parking space previously parked by a similar vehicle similar to the user's vehicle as the parking space to be guided. The system includes an output unit that guides the user to the identified parking space, The acquisition unit is, The system acquires information on the selected parking space according to the results of the guidance provided by the output unit, and updates the parking statistics information based on the acquired parking space information. Parking management system.

2. A parking management device according to claim 1, The aforementioned parking space identification section is, If the parking space indicated by the output unit differs from the parking space in which the user's vehicle actually parked, the system updates the indicated parking space based on the trend of the parking spaces in which the user's vehicle actually parked. Parking management system.

3. A parking management device according to claim 1, The aforementioned parking statistics information includes route information to the parking space. Parking management system.

4. A parking management device according to claim 1, The aforementioned attribute information is, The user's vehicle includes at least one of the following pieces of information: vehicle size, minimum ground clearance, minimum turning radius, vehicle number indicating identification information, approach angle, and departure angle. Parking management system.

5. A parking management device according to claim 4, The parking management device is connected to an imaging unit capable of acquiring the attribute information, The acquisition unit is, The vehicle size information is acquired based on the information captured by the imaging unit. Parking management system.

6. A parking management device according to claim 5, The acquisition unit is, At least one of the following pieces of information—the minimum ground clearance, the minimum turning radius, the vehicle number, the approach angle, and the departure angle—is acquired based on the information captured by the imaging unit. Parking management system.

7. A parking management device according to claim 1, The acquisition unit is, The attribute information is acquired via a communication unit capable of communicating with the user's vehicle. Parking management system.

8. A parking management device according to claim 1, The acquisition unit is, Information on the parking space selected according to the results of guidance by the output unit is acquired via a communication unit that can communicate with the user's vehicle. Parking management system.

9. A parking management device according to claim 2, The attribute information includes information on the vehicle size of the user's vehicle. The aforementioned parking space identification section is, A parking management device that updates the parking space to be guided if the parking space guided by the output unit differs from the parking space in which the user's vehicle actually parked, and if a predetermined percentage or more of the vehicles are parked in a different parking space than the parking space guided based on the vehicle size.

10. A parking management device according to claim 2, The attribute information includes vehicle number information indicating identification information for the user's vehicle. The acquisition unit is, If the parking space indicated by the output unit differs from the parking space in which the user's vehicle actually parked, the user information is obtained from the vehicle number, and the parking statistics information is updated by associating the obtained user information. Parking management system.

11. A parking management device according to claim 2, The aforementioned parking space identification section is, If the parking space indicated by the output unit differs from the parking space in which the user's vehicle actually parked, and a predetermined percentage or more of the user's vehicles park in parking spaces different from the indicated parking spaces, the output unit will update the indicated parking spaces. Parking management system.

12. A parking management system that identifies a parking space to guide a user who wishes to use a parking lot with multiple parking spaces, from among the multiple parking spaces, The system comprises a parking management device that identifies the parking space to be guided to the user, and a vehicle that can communicate with the parking management device and receives guidance on the parking space. The aforementioned parking management device is Obtain attribute information indicating the attributes of the user's vehicle, By referring to parking statistics information that includes attribute information of vehicles previously parked in each of the aforementioned multiple parking spaces, and based on the acquired user attribute information, the system identifies parking spaces previously parked by similar vehicles similar to the user's vehicle as the parking spaces to be guided. It has a first control unit that guides the user to the identified parking space, The first control unit is, The system retrieves information on the selected parking space based on the results of the guidance provided, and updates the parking statistics information based on the retrieved parking space information. The aforementioned user's vehicle is, The system includes a second control unit that receives guidance on parking spaces from the parking management device and broadcasts information on the parking spaces based on the received guidance. Parking management system.

13. A computer that identifies a parking space to guide a user who wishes to use a parking lot with multiple parking spaces, Obtain attribute information indicating the attributes of the user's vehicle, By referring to parking statistics information that includes attribute information of vehicles previously parked in each of the aforementioned multiple parking spaces, and based on the acquired user attribute information, the system identifies parking spaces previously parked by similar vehicles similar to the user's vehicle as the parking spaces to be guided. The user is then guided to the identified parking space. The process involves obtaining information on the selected parking space according to the results of the guidance provided, and updating the parking statistics information based on the obtained information on the parking space. Parking lot management methods.

14. A computer that identifies a parking space from among multiple parking spaces for a user who wishes to use a parking lot with multiple parking spaces, Obtain attribute information indicating the attributes of the user's vehicle, By referring to parking statistics information that includes attribute information of vehicles previously parked in each of the aforementioned multiple parking spaces, and based on the acquired user attribute information, the system identifies parking spaces previously parked by similar vehicles similar to the user's vehicle as the parking spaces to be guided. The user is then guided to the identified parking space. The system will execute a process to obtain information on the selected parking space based on the results of the guidance provided, and to update the parking statistics information based on the obtained information on the parking space. program.

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