Parking Lot Gate Control via Vehicle Image Recognition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for parking lot reservation management using recognized vehicle registration numbers are ineffective, requiring manual intervention and increasing costs due to the need for complex work by parking lot managers.

Innovation Solution

An information processing system that analyzes captured images to detect vehicle information and opens corresponding parking lot gates when reservation information matches the detected vehicle information, utilizing a network of edge analytics IoT cameras, servers, and gate devices for automated reservation and entry/exit management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If manual intervention is used for parking lot reservation management, then complex work by parking lot managers is required, but this increases costs and reduces efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomation of parking lot reservation managementVSAvoidcomplexity of management system

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service automation where the parking management system automatically detects vehicles via imaging units, recognizes vehicle information, checks reservation status, and controls gate devices without human intervention. The server autonomously manages reservation information and coordinates between multiple parking lots, eliminating the need for manual management work while reducing system complexity through automated workflows.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If automated vehicle recognition is implemented, then entry and leaving management is streamlined, but system complexity increases due to integration of multiple devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveefficiency of entry and leaving managementVSAvoidcomplexity of integrated system

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides functionality into distinct modules: imaging units for vehicle detection, recognition units for extracting vehicle information, server for reservation management, and gate devices for access control. Each component performs a specific function, allowing the system to achieve high productivity through automated workflows while managing complexity through functional segmentation and modular architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple imaging units are deployed across different parking lots, then reservation management coverage is improved, but system complexity and coordination requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage of reservation managementVSAvoidcomplexity of multi-parking lot coordination

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The server acts as an intermediary that centralizes reservation information management across multiple parking lots. Each imaging unit and gate device in different parking lots communicates with the central server, which stores and manages reservation data. This intermediary architecture enables broad coverage across multiple locations while simplifying coordination by providing a single point of control and data storage that all components can access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11538284B2Information processing apparatus and method, and program

Publication Date: 2022.12.27 SONY GROUP CORP

AI summary

An information processing apparatus includes an entry and leaving management unit configured to analyze a captured image and detect vehicle information included in the captured image, and in a case where there is reservation information of parking corresponding to the detected vehicle information, open a gate of a parking lot corresponding to the reservation information.