Vehicle Parking Fee Calculation Using Digital Position Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing parking systems that do not use fixed equipment struggle to manage vehicle parking efficiently, leading to random parking and decreased operational efficiency in areas operated as parking lots without defined spaces.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus equipped with a controller that acquires vehicle data, including position, direction, and size information, to calculate parking fees and guide vehicles to appropriate positions, imposing penalties for deviations and offering discounts for proper parking, thereby optimizing parking lot usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a parking lot is operated using spaces not maintained as a parking lot without fixed equipment, then the system can utilize flexible spaces, but it becomes impossible to manage vehicle parking positions effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces fixed mechanical parking equipment (lock plates, fee adjustment machines) with an information processing system that uses sensors, communication units, and controllers to detect vehicle presence and calculate parking fees. This substitution enables flexible space utilization while maintaining effective parking management through digital means.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an information processing apparatus as an intermediary between the vehicle and the parking lot management system. This apparatus includes a controller that receives vehicle data, determines parking positions, and calculates fees, thereby enabling effective management of flexible parking spaces without direct mechanical intervention.
2Ease of operation
If vehicle parking is not managed in a structured manner, then parking spaces can be used freely, but operational efficiency decreases due to random parking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the information processing apparatus continuously receives vehicle data, determines current parking positions, and provides this information to calculate accurate parking fees. This feedback loop enables structured management that maintains operational efficiency while allowing flexible parking within defined parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes predetermined parking positions and criteria before vehicles arrive. The system has pre-configured position information and parking fee calculation rules, enabling it to quickly and efficiently manage vehicle parking without requiring real-time decision-making, thus maintaining high operational efficiency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If parking positions are not predetermined, then drivers have flexibility in parking location, but the system cannot calculate accurate parking fees
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the parking lot into multiple predetermined parking positions, each with specific coordinate information. This segmentation allows drivers to park flexibly in any available position while the system maintains accurate tracking of each vehicle's location through the information processing apparatus, enabling precise fee calculation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital representation (copy) of the parking lot layout and vehicle positions through the information processing apparatus. This virtual model allows the system to track vehicle locations accurately even when physical markings are absent, maintaining measurement precision while preserving driver flexibility in choosing parking locations.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure guides a vehicle to an appropriate parking position in a parking lot. An information processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a controller, the controller being configured to execute, acquiring vehicle data of a vehicle that is parked in a predetermined parking lot, the vehicle data including information about a parking position in the parking lot, and calculating a parking fee corresponding to the vehicle based on the vehicle data.