Parking Management Using 2D Barcodes to Reduce Installation Cost

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional parking management systems require costly installations, such as cameras, to recognize and manage vehicles in parking lots, increasing operational expenses.

Innovation Solution

A parking management system comprising a server device, a portable device, and a vehicle that communicate via a network, using 2D barcodes to identify parking spaces and track vehicle entry and exit times without the need for on-site detection equipment, allowing for cost-effective management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If cameras or other detection equipment are installed in the parking lot to recognize vehicles, then vehicle recognition and parking management accuracy is improved, but installation cost and operational expense increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle recognition accuracyVSAvoidinstallation cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses 2D barcodes as a simplified copy or representation of vehicle identification information. Instead of using complex camera systems to capture and recognize vehicle features, the system uses 2D barcodes that contain encoded vehicle information, which can be read by simple portable terminals. This replaces expensive optical recognition systems with low-cost barcode scanning technology.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs portable terminals (smartphones, tablets) that users already possess as temporary, disposable identification tools rather than installing permanent, expensive camera infrastructure. These portable devices serve as one-time or short-term identification instruments that eliminate the need for costly fixed detection equipment in the parking lot.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If cameras are installed to track vehicle entry and exit, then parking data collection accuracy is improved, but system complexity and maintenance cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparking data collection accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system requires users to actively scan their own 2D barcodes using their portable terminals when entering and exiting the parking lot. This self-service approach eliminates the need for automated camera-based detection systems. The user's own device performs the identification function, simplifying the overall system architecture and reducing maintenance requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of having the system actively detect vehicles through cameras, the patent inverts the approach by having users actively present their identification information through portable terminals. The detection role shifts from the parking management infrastructure to the user's personal device, fundamentally simplifying the management system's complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP3379514B1Parking management system and parking management method
Publication Date: 2022.11.02 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3379514B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3379514B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3379514B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A technique for managing parking of vehicles at a lower cost is disclosed. A parking management system includes a terminal device and a server device. The terminal device includes: a storage unit that stores user information; a reading unit that reads identification information of a parking space from a code associated with the parking space, and a transmission unit that transmits, to the server device, parking position information which includes the stored user information and the read identification information. The server device includes: a receiving unit that receives the parking position information from the terminal device; and an identifying unit that identifies a position where a vehicle is parked and a user of the parked vehicle, based on the received parking position information.