JP5046560B2 - Parking lot management system and management method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a parking lot management system and a management method thereof, and more specifically, a parking lot management system that manages parking / entry information and billing information of a parked vehicle for each vehicle number of a parked vehicle photographed by an imaging device, and It relates to the management method.

  Various systems for managing unmanned parking lots have been proposed. In order to manage an unmanned parking lot, it is important to manage the entry and exit of vehicles, and the management is based on the record of entry / exit times and the collection of charges based on the records and the prevention of unauthorized exits. In order to record the entry / exit time, the entry / exit of a vehicle is detected by a magnetic sensor, an optical sensor, a camera, or the like.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-22597 discloses a parking lot collection system that captures a license plate of a vehicle with a camera at the time of loading and unloading, stores the captured image information in a memory together with the loading time, and based on the vehicle number. Incoming vehicles are managed. The parking fee is calculated from the entry / exit time of the vehicle, and the calculated parking fee is collected by a collecting device installed at the exit. When the collection is confirmed, the exit gate opens and the vehicle can go out to the general road.

  Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 8-22597 discloses a parking lot collection system that recognizes a vehicle number from image information taken by a camera, confirms collection of a parking fee, and opens a gate of the parking lot. Yes. As a result, it is possible to omit the issuance of parking tickets.

JP-A-8-22597

  However, the system disclosed in Patent Document 1 merely discloses a parking lot collection system that can be used in a specific parking lot, and is a parking lot installed in a plurality of areas. There is a drawback that it is not possible to centrally manage entry / exit management and billing management for each vehicle.

  In addition, there is a drawback in that it is not possible to construct a parking lot management system in which a user who has signed a contract can freely use a plurality of parking lots and can centrally manage usage charges. Furthermore, there is a drawback that the user who has left the parking fee without paying it cannot be recharged.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and in a parking lot management system that manages a plurality of parking lots installed in different areas, the parking lot management system relates to a vehicle parked in a parking lot. A management device that has a database that stores information for each vehicle number of the vehicle and a management device that is connected to the management device by a wired or wireless telecommunication line, and is installed in the parking lot to take pictures of the vehicles entering the parking space of the parking lot Where the vehicle number of the vehicle is read from the image information captured by the imaging device and stored in the database, and the vehicle is issued without paying the parking fee. It is a parking lot management system characterized by recording in a database.

  The invention of the present application is characterized in that, when the database indicates that the parking fee is not paid for the parked vehicle, the unpaid parking fee is charged when the vehicle leaves.

  Furthermore, this invention is made | formed in order to solve the subject mentioned above, In the parking lot management method which manages the several parking lot installed in a different area, image | photographs the vehicle which enters into the parking space of a parking lot. Recording the vehicle number of the vehicle read from the image information captured by the capturing step, and recording the unpaid vehicle exit when the vehicle exits without paying the parking fee. It is the parking lot management method characterized by this.

  According to the present invention, in a plurality of parking lots to which the present system is applied, the user can freely use any parking lot, and in particular, a user who has concluded a parking lot use contract, particularly transportation. Users who engage in work, etc. will be able to settle their fees centrally regardless of which parking lot they use. In addition, since the parking lot manager can manage the vehicle from the vehicle number in a unified manner, it becomes possible to make another billing charge for any user who has not paid in the past at any parking lot.

  BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The configuration shown in the drawings is simplified for easy understanding of the features of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to the description of the drawings and examples, and is defined only by the claims.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram showing an embodiment of a parking lot management system 10 to which the present invention is applied. A parking lot management system 10 shown in FIG. 1 is connected to a central management device 11 via a dedicated line or a communication line 12, 12a, 12b such as a normal telephone line or the Internet network, and within the parking lots 13, 13a, 13b. However, it may be connected to more field control devices in parking lots.

  The parking lot 13 is divided into parking spaces 15, and one vehicle can be parked in one division. In each parking space, a camera box 16 is provided on the pole, and a camera 17 as an imaging device and a human sensor 18 for detecting whether a person has entered the parking space are provided therein. . The camera 17 may be an industrial camera that is normally used, and may be anything as long as it can capture a still image or a moving image. The human sensor 18 is, for example, a pyroelectric sensor, and can measure the temperature of an object with infrared rays and detect the presence of a person from the temperature difference. Furthermore, the camera need not be installed for each parking space, and may be installed so that a predetermined number of parking spaces can be photographed. In this case, which parking space the vehicle has entered is identified by analyzing the captured image information.

  The camera 17 and the human sensor 18 are respectively coupled to the field control device 14 by signal lines 19 and 20, and the image signal of the camera 17 and the detection signal of the human sensor 18 are transmitted to the field control device 14, respectively. The on-site control device 14 converts each received signal into a desired digital signal, but since the circuit configuration and the specific configuration of the processing circuit belong to the prior art, they will not be described in detail here.

In addition, a charge settlement machine 21 coupled to the on-site control device 14 is installed in the parking lot 13, and the use fee of the parking lot can be paid from the settlement machine 21 when the user leaves the parking lot 13 . Although not shown in the figure, the fee settlement machine 21 is provided with a coin and bill slot, and a display device that displays billing information for users, other service information, and the like.

  In the other parking lots 13a and 13b, the above-described on-site control device 14, the camera 17 and the human sensor 18 provided in the box 16, and the fee settlement device 21 are arranged in the same configuration, but have the same purpose. As long as the above can be achieved, other configurations may be adopted.

  Next, operation | movement of the parking lot management system shown by FIG. 1 is demonstrated below, using FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, when the vehicle 23 enters the parking space 15, the camera 17 captures the incoming vehicle 23 including the vehicle number 25 in the direction 24. The video may be a still image or a video. The captured image signal is transmitted to the on-site controller 14 via the signal line 19.

The image signal is converted into digital information in the field control device 14 and stored in a predetermined memory. The site control device 14 extracts a vehicle number 25 included in the image information from the image information converted into digital information according to predetermined image processing. Vehicle license 25 that has been extracted, while being stored in a memory of the local control unit 14, via an electric communication line 1 2, including the Internet network, parking 13 parking number, the vehicle 23 has receipts parking The parking space number of the space 15 and the shooting date and time when the vehicle 23 is shot are added to the central management apparatus 11. The data sent to the central management device 11 is stored in a predetermined area of a database provided in a memory device in the central management device 11. If the vehicle number cannot be extracted from the image information, the image information may be sent to the central management device 11 and stored in a predetermined memory area of the central management device 11. This image information can be used for visually identifying the vehicle number. The stored data is used for various services provided by the present system, the contents of which will be described later.

  The time when the vehicle enters and exits the predetermined parking space is obtained based on detection signals from vehicle detection sensors (not shown) provided in each parking space. As the vehicle detection sensor, a loop sensor that detects a change in a magnetic field, an optical sensor that detects the presence of the vehicle by blocking the progress of light by the vehicle body, a weight sensor that detects the weight of the vehicle, or the like is used. Moreover, since the camera 17 is photographing the vehicle as described above, it is possible to determine the presence of the vehicle from the image information and specify the entry / exit time of the vehicle.

  Next, the procedure for leaving the store will be described. The user first stops at the checkout machine to pay the parking fee and enters the parking space number. A parking fee is calculated from the warehousing time, and the parking fee is displayed on the display screen of the settlement machine. The user pays the fee to the checkout machine and receives a receipt to complete the checkout. The fact that the settlement has been completed is sent to the central management device via the control device and written in a predetermined area of the database.

  Some users may forget the checkout procedure and try to leave, so it is necessary to call attention to such users. As shown in FIG. 3, when the user 31 approaches the vehicle 32, the human sensor 18 detects the infrared ray 33 from the user, and a display panel 41 as shown in FIG. It may be attached to the box 42 and, for example, the wording “charging” may be displayed. In addition to the display, a message for the user may be sent from the speaker 43 to call attention. In this case, in order to consider the surrounding environment, it is desirable to measure the ambient sound with the microphone 44 and limit the sound pressure of the message sent from the speaker 43.

  If the vehicle is a contract vehicle, no warning will be issued even if it is attempted to leave the vehicle without stopping at the checkout machine. As will be described later, since the contract vehicle is registered in the database of the central management device 11, the central management device 11 notifies the site control device 14 that it is a contract vehicle. Thereby, the use vehicle which drives a contract vehicle does not need to carry out any payment procedure at the time of leaving, and can restart driving comfortably.

  Next, a database provided in the central management apparatus 11 will be described. 5 to 8 show examples of various databases stored in the central management apparatus 11. FIG. 5 is an example of a contracted vehicle database 50 that includes a list of contractors that have signed a parking lot usage contract. In FIG. 5, vehicle numbers contracted with the contractor are listed. FIG. 6 is an example of an unauthorized outgoing vehicle database 60 that shows a list of vehicles that have been issued without paying the parking fee. In this database, the vehicle number of the vehicle that has been issued illegally and the time of the illegal issue are recorded. The image data of the vehicle that has been issued illegally may be stored in this database, but may be stored in another area in association with it. In addition, non-paid parking fees may be recorded. FIG. 7 is a trouble delivery database 70 that records the vehicle number and the delivery time of a vehicle that has been delivered without the user paying a parking fee due to defective equipment such as a settlement machine. In addition, an unpaid parking fee may be recorded. FIG. 8 is a number-by-number usage situation database 80 in which a user uses a parking lot and records the time / use parking lot by vehicle number. When the vehicle used is a contract vehicle, the usage status may be recorded in the contract vehicle database shown in FIG. In addition, there is an arranged vehicle database that records vehicle numbers arranged by the police. 5 to 8 are databases created according to use, but a database of a format that manages all items for each vehicle number may be configured. The management items shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 are examples, and other items may be added as necessary. Further, although FIGS. 5 to 8 are expressed in text for easy understanding, it is natural that an actual database is stored as digital data encoded or encoded.

  Returning to FIG. 8, the number-by-number usage situation database will be further described. The vehicle number column at the left end is recorded with the vehicle number which is captured by the camera (FIG. 2) and extracted by the field control device as described above. The next entry / exit time records the time when the vehicle entered the parking space and the time it left. The sign “-----” in the delivery time indicates that the vehicle is currently parked and has not yet been delivered. As the photographing time, the time when the camera photographed the vehicle is recorded. The parking lot number and the parking space number are numbers assigned to each parking lot and each parking space in order to specify a place where the vehicle is parked. The leaving state indicates in what situation the vehicle has left. “Normal” in the table indicates that the parking fee has been settled, “Trouble issue” indicates that the device has been issued due to a defective device, and “Illegal issue” indicates that the vehicle has been left unpaid. . The symbol “---” indicates that the parking fee has not yet been settled because the vehicle is parked.

  The operation of the central management device 11 using the database shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 at the time of warehousing and unloading will be described below. FIG. 9 shows a flowchart 900 showing the operation of the central management apparatus 11 when a vehicle is received. First, when the vehicle sensor installed in each parking space detects the intrusion of the vehicle and the vehicle number is transmitted from the field control device, the central management device 11 refers to the arranged vehicle database shown in FIG. In step 902, it is searched whether there is a vehicle number corresponding to the list. If there is an arrangement vehicle, the process proceeds to step 903 to warn that the arrangement vehicle has entered the parking lot. If necessary based on this warning, the parking lot manager can notify the police or the like. If the incoming vehicle is not an arrangement vehicle, the process proceeds to step 904.

  In step 904, a search is made using the contracted vehicle database 50 shown in FIG. 5 as to whether the warehousing vehicle is a contracted vehicle. If it is a contract vehicle, the process proceeds from step 905 to step 906, and the in-vehicle vehicle is a contract vehicle, and it is transmitted to the site control device that there is no problem even if the vehicle is left as it is. When the transmission is completed, the central management device 11 records that it is a contracted vehicle in the usage status database 80 and ends the warehousing management process.

  If the warehousing vehicle is not a contract vehicle, the process proceeds to step 907, and the license plate usage status database 80 is referred to. It is searched in step 908 whether or not the vehicle that has entered this time is a new vehicle. If it is a new vehicle, the vehicle number is registered in the license plate usage status database 80 in step 909. For example, if the vehicle number “Shinagawa OO-OOOO” 81 is new in the usage status database 80 by license plate, in addition to the vehicle number, the warehousing time, the shooting date and time, and the parking lot where the vehicle has entered The number and parking space number are recorded. Thereafter, in step 910, the on-site control device 14 is transmitted to the site control device 14 that it is a new vehicle, and the on-site control device 14 introduces the service content to the user, for example.

  If the warehousing vehicle is not new at step 908, the processing of the central management device 11 checks the unpaid status of the parking fee. First, in step 911, the trouble delivery database 70 refers to whether there has been any unpaid trouble at the past. When it exists, it progresses to step 913 from step 912, and the central management apparatus 11 transmits to the spot control apparatus 14 that there has been unpaid due to the trouble at the past. Based on the transmission from the central management device 11, the on-site control device 14 can, for example, guide the user that there has been unpaid in the past from the settlement machine and that it will be added at the current settlement.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 914, and refers to the unauthorized delivery vehicle database 60 to search whether there is a fact that the delivery has been made unpaid in the past. If it is determined in step 915 that there is an unauthorized shipment, the process proceeds to step 916, where a warning is displayed, alerting the parking lot manager, and also transmitted to the site controller 14 in step 917 for use. Receipt is registered in the situation database 80. When a vehicle with a high frequency of unauthorized unloading arrives, the person in charge of the field can call attention to the user and request that the past parking fee be settled.

In step 915, when it is not possible to confirm the fact of unauthorized goods issue, it is determined that good vehicle, and transmits the information in step 918 to the local controller 14, the goods receipt is registered in utilization for status database 80.

  Next, the operation | movement at the time of leaving of the central management apparatus 11 is demonstrated. FIG. 10 shows a flowchart 1000 showing the operation of the central management device 11 when the vehicle leaves. First, when the vehicle sensor (not shown) detects the movement of the vehicle parked in the parking space, it is determined that the delivery has started. The issuing vehicle is specified from the parking lot number and the parking space number, and it is determined in step 1001 whether the vehicle is a contracted vehicle. In the case of a contract vehicle, the process proceeds to step 1002 and sales are registered in the contract vehicle database 50. That is, the date and time used, the usage fee, and the parking lot used are recorded for each vehicle number of the contractor. This record is used, for example, when creating a monthly bill. When the sales registration in the contracted vehicle database 50 is completed, the process proceeds to step 1003, where “normal” 82 is recorded in the shipping status column of the usage status database 80, and the processing at the time of shipping for the contracted vehicle ends.

  If the outgoing vehicle is not a contracted vehicle in step 1001, in step 1004, if the outgoing vehicle is a outgoing due to a device failure, it is determined that there is an unpaid issue at the time of trouble, and in step 1005, the outgoing vehicle database 70 stores the The vehicle number, shipping time and unpaid charges are recorded. This unpaid fee is charged when the same vehicle is used again in any parking lot operated by this parking lot system. When the trouble delivery data is recorded in the trouble delivery database 70, the process proceeds to step 1003, where "trouble delivery" 83 is recorded in the delivery status column of the usage status database 80, and the parking fee cannot be paid due to a defective device. The process at the time of leaving the vehicle is finished.

  If it is determined in step 1006 that the vehicle has been left unpaid (illegal issue), the process proceeds to step 1007. In step 1007, the vehicle number of the leaving vehicle, the leaving time, and the unpaid fee are recorded in the unpaid delivery database 60. This unpaid fee is charged when the same vehicle is used again in any parking lot operated by this parking lot system. When unpaid delivery data is recorded in the unpaid delivery database 60, the process proceeds to step 1008 to display an alarm. This warning display may be performed, for example, in order to call attention to the parking lot manager, or a notification that the site manager is unpaid for the unauthorized delivery vehicle. In order to leave the fact that the goods are left unpaid, the image information recorded in the on-site control device 14 is sent to the central management device 11 in step 1009, and the image information is stored in a predetermined storage area in association with the unpaid delivery database 60. . When the above process is completed, “unpaid delivery” 84 is recorded in the delivery status column of the usage status database 80 in step 1003, and the process for the unshipped vehicle is completed.

  If it is determined in step 1006 that the vehicle is not left unpaid, it is determined that the vehicle is a good vehicle, and the process proceeds to step 1003. In step 1003, “normal” is recorded in the shipping status column of the usage status database 80.

  The parking lot management system according to the present invention can collectively manage vehicles entering and leaving a plurality of parking lots that are distant from each other for each vehicle number. Since it is possible to obtain a charge for the parking fee for the vehicle that has been issued illegally the next time the vehicle is received, it is possible to improve the efficiency of collecting the unpaid parking fee. In addition, since it is not necessary to charge a parking fee each time the user has a parking lot use contract and the user does not need to pay, the convenience of using the parking lot is improved. Furthermore, since the vehicle number of the vehicle that does not pay the parking fee is stored and the parking fee can be tracked and billed, it is not necessary to install an expensive lock plate in each parking space.

It is a block diagram which shows the parking lot management system which is one Example of this invention. It is a figure explaining the situation when photographing the vehicle number of the vehicle to enter. It is a figure explaining the condition which detects the driver who approaches a vehicle. It is a figure which shows another example of the camera box which has a display apparatus. It is an example of a contract vehicle database including a list of contractors who have concluded a parking lot use contract. It is an example of the unauthorized delivery vehicle database which shows the list | wrist of the vehicle delivered without paying a parking charge. It is a delivery database due to equipment failure that records the vehicle number and delivery time of a vehicle delivered by a user without paying a parking fee due to equipment failure such as a settlement machine. It is a usage status database by number that records the time and parking space used by the user for each vehicle number. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the central management apparatus when a vehicle arrives. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the central management apparatus when a vehicle leaves.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Parking lot management system 11 Central management apparatus 12,12a, 12b Communication line 13,13a, 13b Parking lot 14,14a, 14b Site control apparatus 15 Parking space 16 Camera box 17 Camera 18 Human sensor 25 Vehicle number

Claims (12)

In a parking lot management system that manages the loading and unloading of vehicles to and from a plurality of parking lots that include a parking space that does not have a lock plate for restricting the loading and unloading of vehicles, the parking lot management system includes:
A management device having a database for storing information related to vehicles parked in the parking lot for each vehicle number of the vehicle;
An imaging device that is coupled to the management device by a wired or wireless telecommunication line and installed in the parking lot in order to photograph a vehicle entering the parking space of the parking lot;
A notification device that is electrically coupled to the management device and installed for each parking space, and notifies the status of the payment procedure of the parking fee at least in characters or sound when leaving the parking space;
The management device reads a vehicle number of the vehicle from image information captured by the imaging device when the vehicle enters the parking space, stores the vehicle number in the database, and the vehicle does not pay a parking fee. When leaving the vehicle, the unpaid vehicle shipment is recorded in the database, and the vehicle number of the vehicle entered in the parking lot managed by the parking lot management system matches the vehicle number of the unpaid vehicle recorded in the database. Claim the unpaid parking fee at the parking lot where the unpaid vehicle is re-entered ,
A parking lot management system characterized by that.   The parking lot management system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle number is read from the image information by the management device.   A control device is further installed in each of the parking lots, and the control device reads the vehicle number in the image information received from the imaging device and sends the vehicle number to the management device via the electric communication line. The parking lot management system according to claim 1.   4. The parking lot management system according to claim 2, wherein when the vehicle number cannot be read from the image information, the image information is stored in a predetermined area of the management device.   The information related to the vehicle is composed of information indicating the current and past parking lot usage status of the vehicle including at least parking lot usage time, parking fee payment and non-payment status, and whether or not there is a parking usage agreement. The parking lot management system according to claim 1.   2. The parking lot management system according to claim 1, wherein when the vehicle is contracted to use the parking lot, the management device does not ask for payment of a parking fee when the vehicle leaves the vehicle.   When the vehicle leaves the store without paying a parking fee, the image information captured by the imaging device is sent to the management device via the communication line, and is associated with the vehicle number in a predetermined area of the management device. The parking lot management system according to claim 1, wherein the parking lot management system is stored.   The settlement device further includes a settlement device coupled to the management device, wherein the settlement device displays usage details including billing information to a parking lot user based on information related to the vehicle sent from the management device. The parking lot management system according to claim 1.   The parking management system according to claim 1, wherein the imaging device can capture at least one of a still image and a moving image.   The parking lot management system according to claim 1, wherein the imaging device is installed for each parking space of the parking lot.   The parking lot management system according to claim 1, wherein the communication line includes an Internet network. In the parking lot management method for managing the loading and unloading of vehicles to and from a plurality of parking lots consisting of parking spaces that do not have a lock plate for restricting the loading and unloading of vehicles,
Shooting a vehicle entering the parking space of the parking lot with an imaging device installed in the parking lot;
Recording in the database information related to vehicles parked in the parking lot for each vehicle number of the vehicle read from the image information captured by the capturing step;
When issuing from the parking space, the notification device installed in the parking space notifies the status of the payment procedure of the parking fee at least by letters or sound;
If the vehicle issues without paying a parking fee, recording the issue of unpaid vehicles in the database;
If the vehicle number of the vehicle entered into the parking lot managed by the parking lot management method matches the vehicle number of the unpaid vehicle recorded in the database, the unpaid parking fee is the parking lot where the unpaid vehicle is re-entry. Billing,
A parking lot management method comprising:

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