JP2005078126A - Parking lot management system, and radio slave machine, adjustment device, and center device of the system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform parking lot management for wholly and automatically performing and saving devices and a running cost. <P>SOLUTION: A communication slave machine 18a photographs a vehicle by a camera 15b when a censor 17a disposed in a parking area detects the vehicle and transmits its image information to a communication master machine 18b of an adjustment device 10. The adjustment device 10 photographs a vehicle forwarding to an exit of a parking lot and transmits its image information to a center device 20 together the image information from the slave machine 18a. The center device 20 specifies the vehicle from each of the image information, calculates a parking fee of the vehicle on the basis of both data and transmits the fee information to the adjustment device 10. The adjustment device 10 adjusts the fee and open a gate 14 after adjustment. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a parking lot management system, and more particularly to a parking lot management system capable of simplifying facilities and performing reliable parking management, and a wireless slave unit, a clearing apparatus, and a center apparatus of the system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Paid parking lots, especially so-called coin parking, are popular, but there are flap type and gate type. In the flap type, when the vehicle stops on the flap, the sensor works and the flap rises, Billing starts. The user can move the vehicle by dropping the billing amount into the collecting device and lowering the flap. In the gate type, the gate is opened by receiving a card at the gate entrance, and the vehicle is put in the parking lot. When you leave the parking lot, you can put the card in the checkout device and pay the fee to open the gate and take the vehicle out of the parking lot.
Furthermore, regarding a parking management system using a gate system, Patent Document 1 describes a pay parking management system of the following type.
(1) Install a device that recognizes the vehicle number of vehicle 1 at the entrance of the parking lot, record the acquired number and entry time on a magnetic card parking ticket, issue a parking ticket, open the entrance gate, To enter. When leaving the parking lot, a card is inserted into the fee settlement device to settle the expenses, and the entry gate opens after confirming the vehicle with the vehicle number recognition device.
(2) Install a number recognition device that recognizes the vehicle number at the entrance of the parking lot, notify the fee adjustment device of the vehicle number and entry time, and open the entrance gate. At the time of participation, the parking number is calculated by driving the vehicle number of the host vehicle with the fee adjustment device, thereby adjusting the fee and opening the entry gate.
(3) A camera unit, an image analysis unit, and a management function unit are provided, and the license plate of the vehicle parked in the parking lot is photographed and recognized by the camera. For example, the flap is raised by new registration and the flap is lowered by charge settlement.
[0003]
Among the conventional parking lot management systems, the system (1) requires a magnetic card parking ticket to be issued each time it is used, and it is costly to operate. There is also a problem that it is complicated.
In the system (2), although the magnetic card is not exchanged as in the system (1), a complicated operation of driving the vehicle number of the host vehicle when leaving the vehicle is required.
Furthermore, the system (3) requires a complicated procedure of registration, and in this system, a flap (lock mechanism) must be installed for each parking space, that is, for each vehicle. There is also a problem of cost.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-307744
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention was made to solve the problems of the conventional parking lot management system as described above, and its purpose is to reduce initial investment and running costs, and further eliminate complicated procedures for the user. Moreover, it is to ensure that the parking lot can be managed.
[Means for Solving the Problems]
[0006]
The invention according to claim 1 is a sensor means for detecting the presence or absence of a vehicle for each parking area, a first video acquisition means for acquiring a video of the vehicle in response to detection of the vehicle by the sensor, and transmitting the acquired video And a wireless slave unit capable of wireless communication.
The invention of claim 2 is a sensor means for detecting a vehicle heading toward an exit, a second video acquisition means for acquiring a video of the vehicle in response to detection of the vehicle by the sensor means,
Vehicles based on wireless communication means capable of receiving video information transmitted from the slave unit arranged in the parking area, image information of the parked vehicle transmitted from the slave unit, and the vehicle image acquired by the second video acquisition unit Means for acquiring information; parking fee calculation means for calculating a parking fee for the vehicle based on the vehicle information and parking time information; and a payment means for displaying the calculated parking fee and for adjusting the fee. It is the payment apparatus characterized by having provided.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a parking management system comprising the slave unit according to the first aspect and the settlement apparatus according to the second aspect.
The invention according to claim 4 is disposed in the parking area, sensor means for detecting the vehicle heading to the exit, second image acquisition means for acquiring the image of the vehicle in response to detection of the vehicle by the sensor means, and The first wireless communication means capable of receiving video information transmitted from the slave unit, the second wireless communication means capable of communicating with the center apparatus, and the parking fee of the vehicle transmitted from the center apparatus are displayed. And a payment means for adjusting the parking fee.
Claim 5 is a means for receiving vehicle video information transmitted from the clearing device according to claim 4, a means for acquiring vehicle information from the received video information, a means for storing the acquired vehicle information, A center device comprising: means for calculating a parking fee based on the vehicle information and parking time information; and means for transmitting the calculated parking fee to a settlement apparatus.
A sixth aspect of the present invention is a parking management system comprising the slave unit described in the first aspect, the settlement device described in the fourth aspect, and the center device described in the sixth aspect.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a first embodiment of a parking lot management system of the present invention.
This system includes a slave unit, a settlement unit, and a center device, and the slave unit includes a camera 15a, a sensor 17a, and a communication slave unit 18a for communication. The settlement unit includes a settlement apparatus 10, a parking lot exit gate 14, a camera 15b, a communication master unit 18b, and the like.
[0008]
FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically showing a parking lot. Cameras 15b,... Are installed at positions facing the vehicle to be parked in the back of each parking area of the parking lot. A camera 15b is also attached to the exit gate 14 at a position where the number plate of the vehicle heading toward the exit can be photographed. Note that the number of cameras installed near the exit gate 14 is not limited to one. By arranging a plurality of cameras, the number plate of the vehicle heading to the exit can be reliably photographed.
[0009]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the slave unit.
The slave unit includes a camera 15a, a sensor 17a, and a communication slave unit 18a. The communication slave unit 18a is a control unit 182 that controls the entire slave unit, and a wireless control unit that performs communication using specific low-power communication or Bluetooth. 184, a ROM 186 storing a control program and the like and a power source 188 are provided.
[0010]
4A is a block diagram showing a settlement block of the first embodiment, and FIG. 4B is a block diagram showing a center device block.
The checkout block includes a camera 15b, a sensor 17b for detecting a vehicle leaving the parking lot, a communication master unit 18b, and a checkout device 10. Here, the settlement unit includes a wireless control unit 108 for the communication master unit 18b and the communication slave unit 18a to communicate by specific low power communication or Bluetooth, the center device 20 and the Dopa (registered trademark) network, etc. A wireless control unit 104 for communicating via a wireless communication line is provided, and the control is performed by the control unit 101 disposed in the settlement apparatus 10. That is, the settlement unit includes a control unit 101, a settlement unit 102 and a settlement control unit 103, a storage unit 104 including a RAM and a ROM, and a power source 105. The control unit 101, the storage unit 104, and the power source 105 are communication base units. 18b.
[0011]
As shown in FIG. 4A, the settlement unit includes a wireless control unit 109 that controls communication of the communication master unit 18b connected to the center apparatus 20 via a commercial wireless communication network such as a Dopa (registered trademark) network. .
As shown in FIG. 4B, the center device 20 analyzes the image information transmitted from the settlement unit 10 and the communication control unit 202 that communicates with the control unit 201 and the settlement unit connected to the control unit 201. An image analysis unit 203 for specifying the number, a storage unit 204 including a RAM for storing the specified image and a ROM for storing an operation program, a power source 205, and the like are provided.
[0012]
In the above configuration, when the vehicle license plate of the parked vehicle is photographed by the camera 15b of the slave unit, the image information is transmitted to the center device 20 via the radio telephone line via the settlement device 10 together with the date / time information. The center device 20 acquires the telephone number of the settlement apparatus 10 and stores the vehicle number and the like based on the image information in the storage unit 206 together with the telephone number of the settlement apparatus 10.
When the vehicle leaves the parking area and approaches the exit of the parking lot, that is, the checkout device 10, the sensor 17b first detects the approaching vehicle, and the second camera 15b is activated accordingly to photograph the license plate of the vehicle. . The image captured by the second camera 15 b is subjected to image analysis by the image analysis device 203 provided in the center device 20 via the settlement apparatus 10. Next, the control unit 201 determines the license plate of the vehicle from the analysis result, compares the vehicle number with the vehicle number of the parked vehicle stored in advance in the RAM 204, identifies the matching vehicle, The parking time is calculated from the shooting time of the vehicle to calculate the parking fee. The calculation result is transmitted to the settlement apparatus 10 and displayed on the display unit 107 such as an LCD of the settlement apparatus 10. Here, if the displayed amount is settled, the gate 14 of the parking lot opens and the vehicle exits the parking lot.
[0013]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the above processing.
That is, when the wireless communication slave device 18a detects that the vehicle is parked from the sensor means 17a (S101), the wireless communication slave device 18a photographs the vehicle number using the camera 15a which is the image acquisition means of the vehicle (S102). Is transmitted to the communication master unit 18b of the settlement apparatus 10 using wireless communication means (S103).
The settlement apparatus 10 receives the video information from the communication slave unit 18a (S104) and transmits the video information as it is to the center apparatus 20 (S105).
When the center device 20 receives the video information from the settlement device 10 (S106), the center device 20 analyzes the vehicle information using the analysis means 203 (S107), and stores the analyzed vehicle information in a pair with the date / time information in the storage unit ( S108).
In addition, when the vehicle leaves the parking area and approaches the exit of the parking lot, that is, the settlement device 10, the settlement device 10 first detects the approaching vehicle by the sensor 17b (S109), as in the first embodiment. The second camera 15b is actuated to photograph the vehicle license plate (S110). The video information captured by the second camera 15b is transmitted to the center apparatus 20 via the settlement apparatus 10 (S111), and image analysis is performed by the image analysis apparatus 203 provided there (S112). Next, the control unit 201 determines the number plate of the vehicle, compares the vehicle number with the vehicle number of the parked vehicle stored in advance in the RAM 206, and specifies a matching vehicle (S113). The center device 20 performs calculation based on the date and time information stored in a pair with the vehicle information stored in the storage unit (S114), and transmits the fee information calculated by the payment processing to the payment device 10 ( S115). When the settlement apparatus displays the fee information transmitted from the center apparatus and performs the settlement process (S116, YES), the settlement apparatus opens the gate (S117).
[0014]
In this way, by transmitting information on parked vehicles to the center unit and performing processing such as analysis and storage there, it is possible to manage a plurality of parking lots at the same time, thereby reducing initial investment costs and running costs. can do.
[0015]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In the second embodiment, the slave unit is the same as that of the first embodiment. However, as shown in FIG. 6, the settlement unit does not have a radio control unit for communicating with the center device, and There is also no center device block 20. Instead, an image analysis unit 109 is provided in the checkout block 10. Other configurations are the same as those described with reference to FIG.
In this configuration, when the vehicle stops in the parking area, for example, when detected by a sensor that detects the weight of the vehicle, the camera is activated to capture the vehicle number. The photographed vehicle number is wirelessly transmitted to the checkout block communication master unit 18b via the communication slave unit 18a. The image analysis unit 109 analyzes the transmitted image information, and the vehicle number is stored in the RAM 104. To remember. At the same time, the time taken for accounting is stored together with the number.
When the vehicle leaves the parking area and approaches the exit of the parking lot, that is, the checkout device 10, the sensor 17b first detects the approaching vehicle, and the second camera 15b is activated to take a picture of the vehicle's license plate. The image captured by the second camera 15 b is subjected to image analysis by an image analysis unit 109 provided in the settlement apparatus 10. Next, the control unit 101 discriminates the license plate of the vehicle, compares the vehicle number with the vehicle number of the parked vehicle stored in advance in the RAM 104, specifies the matching vehicle, and also takes the shooting time of the vehicle. The parking time is calculated from the parking start time already stored, and the parking fee is calculated. The calculation result is displayed on the display unit 107 such as an LCD by the display control unit 106 of the settlement apparatus 10. Here, if the displayed amount is settled, the gate 14 of the parking lot opens and the vehicle exits the parking lot.
[0016]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the procedure of the parking lot management system according to the present embodiment described above.
When detecting that the vehicle is parked from the sensor unit 17a (S201, YES), the wireless communication slave unit 18a takes a picture of the vehicle using the camera 15a that is the image acquisition unit (S202), and uses the image as the settlement apparatus 10 Is transmitted using wireless communication means (S203). The settlement apparatus 10 receives the vehicle image transmitted from the wireless communication slave unit 18a (S204), and analyzes it using the analysis means (S205). The analyzed vehicle information is stored in the RAM 104 as a storage unit together with the date / time information (S206). When the settlement apparatus 10 detects the vehicle from the second sensor means 17b, that is, the presence of a vehicle heading toward the exit (S207), the settlement apparatus 10 photographs with the camera 15b as the second video acquisition means (S208), and the photographed image information is obtained. The analysis is performed using the analysis means (S209), the analyzed vehicle information, for example, the date and time information corresponding to the vehicle number is taken out from the storage means, and the parking fee is calculated by the settlement control unit (S210). Here, if the fee is settled (S211, YES), the gate 14 of the parking lot is opened (S212).
In the above embodiment, as a vehicle detection sensor, a sensor using infrared light, a sensor using light, etc. can be used in addition to a sensor that operates by the weight of the vehicle body.
[0017]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, since a flap (car stop) generated according to the parking lot installation is not required, costs can be reduced, and a parking ticket is not required at the time of parking, so a parking ticket is issued. Running costs (magnetic cards, thermal recording paper, etc.) can be reduced. Furthermore, the vehicle to be parked can be managed with certainty, and a user-friendly parking lot can be provided without requiring complicated operations.
Since the parking area can be centrally managed, it is possible to efficiently manage a distributed parking area with a small number of people.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a parking management system of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the parking management system.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a slave unit.
FIG. 4A is a block of the center apparatus, and FIG. 4B is a center apparatus.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the parking lot management system according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a settlement apparatus according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a parking lot management system according to a second embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Checkout apparatus, 12 ... Display apparatus, 14 ... Gate, 15a, 15b ... Camera, 16 ... Checkout means, 17a, 17b ... Sensor.

Claims (6)

Sensor means for detecting the presence or absence of a vehicle for each parking area;
First image acquisition means for acquiring an image of the vehicle in response to detection of the vehicle by the sensor;
And a wireless communication unit capable of transmitting the acquired video. Sensor means for detecting a vehicle heading toward the exit; and second image acquisition means for acquiring an image of the vehicle in response to detection of the vehicle by the sensor means;
Wireless communication means capable of receiving video information transmitted from a slave unit arranged in a parking area;
Means for acquiring vehicle information from image information of the parked vehicle transmitted from the slave unit and the vehicle image acquired by the second image acquisition unit;
A parking fee calculating means for calculating a parking fee of the vehicle based on the vehicle information and the parking time information;
A payment means for displaying the calculated parking fee and for adjusting the fee,
A settlement apparatus characterized by comprising: A parking management system comprising the slave unit according to claim 1 and the settlement apparatus according to claim 2. Sensor means for detecting a vehicle heading toward the exit; and second image acquisition means for acquiring an image of the vehicle in response to detection of the vehicle by the sensor means;
A first wireless communication means capable of receiving video information transmitted from a handset arranged in a parking area;
A second wireless communication means capable of communicating with the center device;
Means for displaying a parking fee of the vehicle transmitted from the center device;
A settlement means for settlement of the parking fee;
A settlement apparatus characterized by comprising: A means for receiving video information of a vehicle transmitted from the clearing device according to claim 4, a means for acquiring vehicle information from the received video information, a means for storing the acquired vehicle information, the vehicle information and the parking A center apparatus apparatus comprising: means for calculating a parking fee based on time information; and means for transmitting the calculated parking fee to a settlement apparatus. A parking management system comprising the slave unit according to claim 1, the payment device according to claim 4, and the center device device according to claim 6.

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