Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
  • G06Q10/02—Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
  • G06Q10/06—Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06Q30/00—Commerce
  • G06Q30/06—Buying, selling or leasing transactions
  • G06Q30/0645—Rental transactions; Leasing transactions
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G08—SIGNALLING
  • G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
  • G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
  • G08G1/14—Traffic control systems for road vehicles indicating individual free spaces in parking areas
  • G08G1/141—Traffic control systems for road vehicles indicating individual free spaces in parking areas with means giving the indication of available parking spaces
  • G08G1/142—Traffic control systems for road vehicles indicating individual free spaces in parking areas with means giving the indication of available parking spaces external to the vehicles

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a method of managing parking spaces as part of the automated rental of vehicles. It also relates to a system implementing such a method and an installation incorporating such a method and system.
• the field of the invention is the field of automated rental of vehicles, and more particularly the management of parking spaces for vehicles offered for rental on a plurality of rental sites. "Rental site” means any site where you can rent a vehicle or leave a vehicle at the end of the rental period.
• Automated vehicle rental is a growing field. Agglomerations wishing to reduce the number of vehicles on their territory are implementing automated vehicle rental systems.
• Bicycle rental facilities are currently known. These facilities include several rental sites, scattered in a geographical area, and allowing users to take a bike rental or deposit a bike at the end of rental. Thus, a user can take a bike rental on a first site, use it for the duration of the lease, and deposit it, at the end of the lease, on a second rental site different from the first rental site.
• Known rental sites include locations arranged to receive a vehicle when the latter is no longer rented. Each location is designed to receive a single vehicle. The reason for such a design is to ensure an automated individual rental of vehicles offered for rent without human intervention. Thus, each rental site can receive more vehicles than parking spaces. However, such a situation can lead to an overload of a rental site, no longer allowing a user to deposit a rented vehicle. The user in such an embarrassing situation is then led to look for another rental site to deposit his vehicle and end the lease. During this time, the vehicle is still rented and the user can be charged the corresponding amount. In addition, the search for an available parking space is a waste of time that can be non-negligible, especially when no other rental site is near the overloaded rental site.
• An object of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.
• Another object of the invention is to provide a method and a parking location management system in the context of an automated rental of vehicles for better management of the automated rental of a vehicle.
• Another object of the invention is to propose a method and a parking location management system in the context of an automated rental of vehicles making it possible to reduce the costs associated with renting vehicles for users.
• the invention proposes to achieve at least one of the aforementioned goals by a method of managing parking locations in the context of an automated rental of vehicles offered for rental on a plurality of sites, said rental, each said rental sites comprising at least one parking space, said method being characterized in that it comprises for at least one rental site the following steps:
• availability data relating to the presence or absence of a parking space available at said rental site
• the method according to the invention allows a user not to be in the embarrassing situation described above, and to be informed about the availability of rental sites before going there for a part of avoid going to a non-available rental site, and secondly to identify a rental site available to deposit his vehicle and terminate the lease.
• the method according to the invention avoids a user having to search for an available parking site for a period of time that will be charged to him, which reduces the cost associated with the rental of the vehicle and the loss of time for the user.
• the method of the invention thus allows users to better manage the automated rental of vehicles, accompanying them until the end of the lease.
• “Available” rental site means a rental site with at least one "available” parking space, that is to say not occupied by another vehicle and not reserved.
• the availability data in particular the availability data displayed at the level of the vehicle, may include data:
• the step of transmitting an availability data item can be carried out, in particular via a wireless communication network of GPRS type:
• central via a remote site, called central.
• the method comprises transmitting said availability data from said rental site to said central site and from said central site to said vehicle.
• the data from each rental site can be collected at a central server, which then sends all the data to each of the vehicles. .
• the one or more availability data transmitted can comprise only the modifications with respect to the last data transmission, and possibly, if no modification has taken place, a data l 'showing.
• the central site that performs the determination step from data in its possession, including data transmitted by the rental site.
• the central site summarizes the availability data of several rental sites and transmits to the vehicles only the changes compared to the previous data transmission.
• the method comprises a step of determining the state of each of the station's parking spaces.
• the availability data is determined using these states combined possibly with the total number of parking spaces in said rental site.
• the availability status of at least one parking space can be determined according to at least one of the following options:
• a presence data of a vehicle on said parking space of said rental site for example by a presence detection camera, an infrared sensor, a weighing device, a current loop, etc. such a measurement of a presence data state preferably performed at the rental site, and / or
• said charging terminal when said parking space is provided with a charging means, said charging terminal, by detecting an electrical connection of said charging terminal with a vehicle, for example by the use of a pilot wire, such detection being preferentially carried out at the level of the rental site, and
• the availability status of a parking space is determined by the use of all the options combined with each other.
• the method according to the invention further comprises the transmission of the site of rental to the central site of the state of availability of each parking space, the central site then performing the synthesis of all of these data and determining the availability data for each of the rental sites.
• the availability data can be displayed on a map in association with the location of said rental site on said map.
• the vehicle also receives, from the central site or from the rental site, the location data of at least one rental site.
• These location data can also be preprogrammed in the vehicle.
• the user both to know the availability of a rental site and its location, for example with respect to a destination.
• the user then has the opportunity to know the availability status of all the rental sites near his destination and thus to organize to deposit the vehicle he has rented and end the lease.
• the availability data displayed for at least one rental site may be a color datum, "green” or “red”, a datum indicating the number of available parking spaces or a combination of these options.
• the method according to the invention may comprise a display of the relative availability data or data:
• the method according to the invention may comprise a selection of the rental sites concerned according to the indicated destination, and possibly the threshold distance, prior to the availability data display.
• the method according to the invention may advantageously furthermore comprise at least one of the following functions:
• this rental site may then become, possibly with the approval of the user, the new arrival site, and
• the method according to the invention may advantageously also comprise a user guidance to a selected rental site or a rental site having at least one available parking space.
• the method according to the invention may further comprise a step of reserving a parking space from a vehicle being rented. Such a reservation can also be made from a rental site during or just before the rental of the vehicle.
• the reservation data can then be transmitted either directly to the rental site or via the central site.
• the reservation data may include a vehicle identifier or an identifier of the user.
• the reservation can be made for a predetermined duration, for example 90 minutes, said duration can also be variable depending on the proximity of the location.
• the reservation can be requested by the user from the vehicle, through a call to an operator of the rental service or directly through a vehicle interface.
• a vehicle interface can also be the display interface of the availability data of the rental sites.
• a reservation request is sent from the vehicle to a rental site, possibly via the central site, the rental site then changing the "available" status of the parking space into a “reserved” status.
• Such "reserved” status then renders the parking space “unavailable” and prevents any other user from accessing the parking space, and in the case of automated rental of electric vehicles at the charging station of the parking space .
• the declared parking space "available” is a parking space that is neither occupied by a vehicle nor reserved by a user.
• a parking location management system in the context of an automated rental of vehicles offered for rental on a plurality of sites, said rental, each of said rental sites comprising at least one parking space, said system being characterized in that it comprises: means for determining a so-called availability data relating to the presence or absence of an available parking space at at least one rental site,
• the means for determining the availability data can comprise:
• means for detecting the presence of a vehicle for example weighing means and / or a camera, and / or means for detecting an electrical connection at each parking space, for example a pilot wire, in particular when the rented vehicles are electric vehicles, and
• a common management server located at a site called central, remote from said rental sites and in communication with the rental terminal of each rental site through a communication network, for example a LAN type wired network.
• the means for determining the availability data may also comprise a database, at each of the rental sites or at the central site, for storing whether a parking space is reserved or not.
• the means for transmitting the data or the availability data may comprise a communication module, said central, disposed at a site, called central, remote sites rental.
• a communication module may comprise a SIM card or equivalent for communicating through a GPRS type network.
• the transmission means may also comprise, for each vehicle, a communication module, said vehicle, for example GPRS type, disposed in the vehicle and arranged to receive the data transmitted by the central communication module and transmit data, by example of reservation, to the central communication module.
• a communication module said vehicle, for example GPRS type, disposed in the vehicle and arranged to receive the data transmitted by the central communication module and transmit data, by example of reservation, to the central communication module.
• the display means may comprise a user interface, arranged for:
• Such an interface can be an interface of a GPS-type geolocation means.
• an automated vehicle rental facility comprising a plurality of rental sites each having at least one parking space and a plurality of vehicles to be picked up and delivered to the locations of the sites. rental, said installation comprising a management system according to the invention or comprising means for implementing the method according to the invention.
• FIGURE 1 is a schematic representation of a vehicle rental installation implementing the method according to the invention
• FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation in the form of a diagram of a management method according to the invention
• FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic representation in the form of a diagram of a reservation phase of a parking space in the context of a method according to the invention.
• FIG. 4 is a schematic representation in the form of a diagram of a modification phase of a reservation made according to the reservation phase of FIG. 3. It is understood that the embodiments which will be described in FIG. following are in no way limiting. It will be possible, in particular, to imagine variants of the invention comprising only a selection of characteristics described subsequently isolated from the other characteristics described, if this selection of characteristics is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention with respect to the state of the art. This selection comprises at least one preferably functional feature without structural details, or with only a portion of the structural details if it is that portion only that is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the state of the art. the prior art.
• the examples described below relate to an automated rental of electric cars on several rental sites.
• FIGURE 1 is a schematic representation of an automated rental facility for electric cars.
• the installation 100 represented in FIG. 1 comprises a central site 102 connected to several sites - or stations - 104i-104 n , said to be leased at through a wireless communication network 106, for example GPRS, or a wired network, for example of the DSL or LAN type.
• a wireless communication network 106 for example GPRS, or a wired network, for example of the DSL or LAN type.
• each site 104 is connected to the central site via the two separate networks, which allows a continuous connection even if one of the networks is faulty.
• Each rental site 104 includes a rental terminal 110 for the rental of a vehicle and a plurality of charging terminals 112-116, each charging terminal being provided for charging a vehicle equipped with an electric battery to a parking space, to know the parking spaces 118-122.
• Some rental sites 104 also include a subscription terminal 108 for registering a new subscriber.
• Each parking location of a rental site 104 comprises a presence detector module 124-128, namely weighing means, a camera and / or an infrared sensor and / or an electrical connection detector with a vehicle, connected to the rental terminal 110 of the rental site 104.
• the central site 102 can be connected directly to each of the terminals of a rental site 104 through the network 106 or only to the subscription terminal and / or to the rental terminal and / or charging terminals 112-116. .
• At least two terminals of a rental site are connected to each other through a wired connection (not shown).
• the central site 102 includes a central management server 132, a synthesis module 134 and a communication module 136, called central.
• the central site 102 further comprises a database 138 in which are registered in association with each vehicle identifier, the identifier of the user who is rented this vehicle, possibly the state (rented / not rented / in maintenance). ) of the vehicle.
• the central site 102 is in communication with electric vehicles 140i-140 m being leased, through the central communication module 136 and a communication box 142i-142 m , said vehicle, arranged in each of the vehicles, through a network of wireless communication 144, for example GPRS, which may be the same as the communication network 106.
• a network of wireless communication 144 for example GPRS, which may be the same as the communication network 106.
• the central site exchanges data with each of the vehicles 140.
• Each vehicle communication module 142 is in connection with a user interface (not shown), for example an interface of a vehicle geolocation device, which may include a touch screen, to display the data on a map and to take into account account the data entries made by the user of the vehicle 140.
• a user interface for example an interface of a vehicle geolocation device, which may include a touch screen, to display the data on a map and to take into account account the data entries made by the user of the vehicle 140.
• the installation 100 makes it possible to manage a plurality of vehicles offered for rental.
• the users are able to interact with the different terminals as well as with the various elements of the vehicles.
• the vehicle rental service with the installation according to the invention can also be carried out using operators, who can intervene in the service with their mobile terminal such as a PDA.
• Each rental site 104 includes a database 145 in which is recorded the reserved state or not of each parking slot 118 of the rental site 104. This database could also record the availability status of each parking location, ie occupied, or free.
• FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a parking location management method 200 according to the invention, for example in the context of the installation of FIG. 1.
• the method 200 firstly comprises a step 202, of data collection carried out by the rental terminal BL, of each rental site.
• This terminal determines for each parking location of each of the rental sites, which is occupied.
• Step 202 is therefore performed for each of the locations of the rental site, either simultaneously or one after the other.
• This step 202i comprises: a step 204, in which the rental terminal interrogates a presence sensor assigned to a parking space, for example a current loop located on the track, under the parking space or else a detection sensor, such as a camera, for example on the charging terminal assigned to the parking space.
• a detection sensor such as a camera
• the status of the slot can also be determined by detecting the connection of a vehicle to the charging means of the charging station assigned to the slot. This type of detection, however, does not detect vehicles parked illegally in the location, unlike detection using a presence sensor. It is also possible to interrogate both types of sensors simultaneously;
• a step 206 during which a database is queried to determine whether a free slot is reserved or not;
• a step 208 during which the number of available slots is counted. This number corresponds to the availability data for the site i.
• step 210 After step 202, performed for each of the parking locations of the rental site, a step 210 performs a comparison of the determined availability data with that previously determined.
• step 202 is performed again, a minute later.
• the new availability data is communicated to the central site, and more particularly to the central management server, during a step 212.
• Steps 202-212 are performed for each of the rental sites in parallel either at the same time or in a staggered manner.
• the management server stores the received data in a database, for example the database 138 of FIG. 1.
• a database for example the database 138 of FIG. 1.
• Each availability data for a rental site is recorded in the database, for example in association with an identifier of rental site concerned.
• the storage is carried out as and when the availability data is received from the various rental sites.
• step 216 the management server makes a comparison between the data previously sent to the vehicles and the new availability data.
• step 214 is renewed, for example 1 minute later.
• the central management server sends, in one and the same consignment, the availability data for all the rental sites, to each of the vehicles of the park, namely to the rented vehicles and possibly to the vehicles that are not rented.
• This data is then displayed in the vehicles in step 220 if the user wishes.
• step 214 is performed periodically, including again 1 minute later.
• the vehicle display interface updates the availability data display for the rental sites affected by the change, the display remaining unchanged for the other rental sites.
• the sending of data to vehicles is done through a wireless network such as a wireless telephone network (GPRS or 3G in particular).
• a wireless network such as a wireless telephone network (GPRS or 3G in particular).
• the reservation database is stored in the management server.
• each rental site 104 sends to the management server the data on the occupation of the various locations determined in step 202, following this step.
• the steps 204, 206 for consulting the reservation database and for determining the state of each of the locations and then the availability data are then performed by the management server.
• the vehicle including its user interface, has a GPS and stores in its memory the maps of the rental area. It also has GPS coordinates of rental sites, also associated with their identifier, which allows to place them correctly on the map. It is also configured to integrate the transmitted availability data on the card. Each availability data is displayed on the map in relation to the representation of the corresponding station, particularly in the vicinity of the location of the site on the map. These cards are displayed on the user interface to allow the user to access them. It should be noted that this data may only be displayed if the vehicle is in operation, and in particular if the user wishes to display them, in particular as part of the GPS function.
• the availability data received at the vehicle level can be stored in a memory at the vehicle level, especially at the user interface.
• the availability data can also be downloaded in real time and, if necessary, via the user interface from the central management server.
• the user of the vehicle therefore has at his disposal information on the availability of the different rental sites in the rental area. He can better choose his route.
• FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic representation in the form of a diagram of a first embodiment of a reservation phase of a parking space, which can be implemented as part of a method according to the invention .
• Such a reservation phase can be performed following the steps described with reference to FIG.
• the vehicle is then able to indicate to the user the nearest site including an available location. If the user validates this choice of station, the GPS of the vehicle guides the user towards this station. If not, it guides it to the specified destination, to which the user wants to go.
• the process 300 comprises a first step 302 during which the user indicates his destination on the user interface in the vehicle, for example by selecting tactilely or by entering the address of his destination.
• the user interface calculates by calculation the available rental sites closest to the destination, in step 304. For this, the user interface calculates the distance between each site of a set of pre-selected rental sites, those which have the coordinates close to that chosen as the arrival site for example, and the point of destination defined.
• the identifiers of the nearest rental sites are stored in step 306, in storage means at the vehicle level.
• the user is then questioned at step 308 to determine whether to indicate one of the rental sites as a destination in the step.
• step 310 If the user responds in the negative, then he is guided to the destination he has previously indicated in step 310.
• the destination is changed and the new route is determined.
• he is questioned at step 312 to determine whether he wishes to reserve a parking space at the chosen rental site.
• a reservation request is sent to the rental terminal of the chosen site, possibly via the central management server.
• the booking request includes the rental site identifier, the user identifier and / or the vehicle identifier.
• the location is reserved for step 318 and its "available" status is changed to "reserved".
• the charging terminal associated with the location can be controlled, for example via the rental terminal, for the charging station to display. a particular light indication, in particular by switching on an LED or color change, to signal to other users the unavailability of the parking space.
• the rental terminal also modifies its light signaling, including by lighting a lamp at the top, for example, to inform users that no location is available in this station. Moreover, the rental terminal can at the same time send to the central management server a new availability data indicating that the number of available places is zero.
• the reservation can be made for a predetermined period, of fixed duration or calculated according to the distance separating the user from the rental site concerned, by example 90 minutes.
• a timer is started at the central system or the rental terminal, a command canceling the arrangements made in case of reservation being issued when the timer expires.
• the user who has reserved the place can access the loading means before the expiration of the timer by identifying with the rental terminal or the charging terminal having an identification means reader.
• the identifier read from the means of identification is compared with that or those associated with the location reserved when booking and transmitted by the vehicle when booking. This comparison can be performed at the central management server, the rental terminal having previously transferred the identifier read. If the identifier corresponds to that associated with a reserved space, the central server sends an order to the charging station corresponding to the reserved space, via the rental terminal and cancels the arrangements made for the reservation while allowing the opening of the hatch containing the loading means or the access means to the parking space.
• the identification is preferably performed using an identifier stored in an RFID chip, using a reader of such a chip, but it could be performed by a barcode reading, or by entering the identifier by the user.
• the reservation process 300 described with reference to FIG. 3 may possibly include the management of a possible change occurring during the journey.
• FIGURE 4 is a schematic representation in the form of a diagram of a modification phase of a reservation made according to the reservation phase of FIG. 3 following a change.
• Such a change may occur, for example, if a location has been vacated in a site closer to the specified destination or because the selected rental site no longer has an available parking slot.
• the reservation phase 400 comprises a step 402 of reception from the availability data management server concerning the rental sites close to the destination.
• step 404 the user interface determines whether a rental site closer than the one previously selected has an available parking slot.
• the interface checks whether there is a reservation in progress during step 406.
• step 402 is performed again when new availability data is received. If there is no reservation in progress, the interface determines at step 408 whether the rental site closest to the indicated destination always has an available location. If so, step 402 is performed again. If this is not the case, a warning is sent to the user during a step 410 and a step 412 asks the user if he wishes to search for a new arrival site. If the user wishes to search for a new site, the reservation phase 300 is carried out from step If the user does not wish to search for a new rental site, a step 414 of guiding the user to the destination is carried out.
• step 404 a rental site closer to the destination than the one previously selected is identified, the user is notified in a step 416.
• the interface queries the user, at step 418, to determine if he wishes to select the new rental site closest to his destination as the destination site. If the user does not wish it, then a step 420 realizes the guidance of the user to the site previously selected as the destination destination.
• the interface checks if there is an existing reservation in the previous rental site at step 422. If yes, the reservation is canceled by sending a cancellation message to the rental terminal BL from the previous rental site via the management server at step 424.
• step 424 the interface questions the user to determine if he wishes to reserve a parking space in the new rental site. If the user responds in the negative, a step 428 directs the user to the new site selected as the arrival site. Otherwise, a reservation request is issued during a step 430 to the rental terminal BLj of the new rental site chosen as a destination and the guide step 428 is performed.
• step 424 of canceling the reservation may be performed after step 430 of reserving a parking slot in the new rental site.
• the step of reserving a parking space in a rental site can be done through a telephone call with an operator, a call from the operator from the vehicle being possible.

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• 2011
  • 2011-09-30 FR FR1158784A patent/FR2980879B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2012
  • 2012-09-27 EP EP12790585.9A patent/EP2761543A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2012-09-27 WO PCT/FR2012/052173 patent/WO2013045834A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2012-09-27 US US14/348,016 patent/US20150051926A1/en not_active Abandoned
• 2015
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