JP2012133429A - Parking lot management apparatus, parking lot management method, program, and parking lot management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a parking lot management apparatus in which convenience of a parking lot is considered, a parking lot management method, a program, and a parking lot management system.SOLUTION: A parking lot management apparatus 6 includes manages a vehicle parked in each vehicle room of a parking lot 2 including a plurality of vehicle rooms 111 and an imaging apparatus 4 for each vehicle room which images a vehicle entering any one of the vehicle rooms 111. The apparatus includes: a first information acquisition section which acquires captured image information from the imaging apparatus 4 and identifies a vehicle number of the vehicle from the acquired image information; a determination section which determines whether vehicle number information of the vehicle can be acquired by the first information acquisition section; and a second information acquisition section that acquires image information again from the imaging apparatus 4 for the vehicle room that the vehicle of which the vehicle number information cannot be acquired enters after the lapse of a specific time, and causes the first information acquisition section to identify the vehicle number of the vehicle and to acquire the vehicle number information of the vehicle when the determination section determines that vehicle number information of a vehicle that has entered any one of the vehicle rooms 111 cannot be acquired.

Description

  The present invention relates to a parking lot management device, a parking lot management method, a program, and a parking lot management system.

  In a parking lot management system that manages a vehicle for each vehicle compartment, a vehicle lock device may be installed for each vehicle compartment to prevent unloading. However, the initial cost of this vehicle locking device is high and maintenance costs are also incurred after installation, which may be avoided by the parking lot operator. On the user side, the lock plate of the vehicle lock device may damage the vehicle, so the parking lot itself where the vehicle lock device is located should be avoided and used for users who are concerned about this point. It was difficult.

  However, a parking lot management system that eliminates such a problem and does not use a vehicle lock device is also known. For example, in the parking lot management system disclosed in Patent Document 1, site control devices installed in a plurality of parking lots and a central management device are connected via the Internet network. Then, the on-site control device photographs a vehicle entering the passenger compartment (hereinafter simply referred to as “entrance vehicle”) with a camera, and the vehicle number of the vehicle (hereinafter referred to as “vehicle number”) from the captured image information. And the extracted vehicle number information is transmitted to the central management device. When the central management device receives the vehicle number information transmitted from the field control device, the central management device records and manages the vehicle number and unpaid fee information in a database. Due to such a mechanism, even if the parking fee is left unpaid, this parking fee is bundled together with the previous unpaid fee when using the parking lot included in this parking lot management system. By being charged, it is possible to collect the previous unpaid charges.

JP 2007-317098 A (summary etc.)

  By the way, the image information captured by the camera is the vehicle number based on the timing when the incoming vehicle is captured by the camera, the installation position of the camera, the resolution, the ambient brightness at the time of shooting, the weather, and the captured image information. It can be fully assumed that the vehicle number cannot be identified due to the image identification accuracy of the software for extracting the vehicle. For this reason, the camera disclosed in Patent Document 1 reduces the risk that the vehicle number cannot be extracted by using a high-performance and high-accuracy camera. However, if it does in this way, a camera will become expensive inevitably and the expense of the whole parking lot management system will rise.

  In addition, when the vehicle number cannot be extracted in the parking lot management system disclosed in Patent Document 1, the site control device transmits the captured image information to the central management device and stores it in a predetermined storage area. It is confirmed visually after the fact. Therefore, in this parking lot management system, when a situation where the car number cannot be extracted occurs, it is difficult to respond quickly, and the parking lot user cannot perform the exit process (settlement process) smoothly. May be reduced.

  In addition, even if a trouble that cannot be settled like this occurs, the user cannot grasp the reason for the trouble at that time, so it is assumed that the user will leave the place. Furthermore, the next time the user uses the parking lot, even if the last time the user was informed that the store had been illegally issued and the payment was not possible on the user side, the parking lot suddenly Since there is a possibility that the parking fee to which the unpaid fee will be added will be charged in a lump, the uncollected parking fee due to unauthorized leaving can be prevented, but the user's side may have a bad feeling of parking .

  The present invention has been made to solve at least one of the above problems, and the object of the present invention is to reduce the cost of the entire parking lot management system and to manage the parking lot in consideration of the convenience of the parking lot. An apparatus, a parking lot management method, a program, and a parking lot management system are provided.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, one aspect of a parking lot management device according to the present invention includes a plurality of vehicle compartments and an imaging device for the vehicle compartment that images a vehicle entering one of the plurality of vehicle compartments. A parking lot management device for managing vehicles parked in each passenger compartment in a parking lot having a first parking area that acquires the captured image information from the imaging device and identifies the vehicle number of the vehicle from the acquired image information 1 information acquisition unit, a determination unit that determines whether or not the vehicle number information of the vehicle has been acquired by the first information acquisition unit, and the determination unit acquires the vehicle number information of the vehicle that has entered the vehicle compartment If it is determined that the vehicle number could not be obtained, image information is obtained again from the imaging device for the passenger compartment in which the vehicle whose vehicle number information could not be acquired after a predetermined time has passed, and the vehicle number of the vehicle is identified by the first information acquisition unit A second information acquisition unit for acquiring vehicle number information of the vehicle; A.

  Further, in addition to the above-described configuration, this parking lot management device has vehicle room information that the vehicle has entered the central management device connected via the network when the vehicle number information of the vehicle cannot be acquired a plurality of times. It is preferable to have an alarm processing unit for transmitting image information.

  In addition to any one of the above-described configurations, this parking lot management device is transmitted from a vehicle detection device that is installed in each vehicle compartment and detects the entry of the vehicle into the vehicle compartment. It is preferable to have an image information distribution unit that identifies and records which vehicle interior the image information is captured by an imaging device corresponding to the vehicle detection signal.

  Further, one aspect of the parking lot management method according to the present invention is a vehicle in a parking lot having a plurality of passenger compartments and an imaging device for the passenger compartment that images a vehicle entering one of the plurality of passenger compartments. A parking lot management method for managing a vehicle parked for each room, the image information acquisition step for acquiring image information captured by the imaging device, and the vehicle number of the vehicle identified from the image information acquired by the image information acquisition step In the first information acquisition step, the determination step for determining whether or not the vehicle number information of the vehicle has been acquired by the first information acquisition step, and the determination step, it was determined that the vehicle number information of the vehicle could not be acquired A second information acquisition step of acquiring image information from the imaging device and acquiring vehicle number information after a predetermined time has elapsed.

  According to another aspect of the program of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle in a parking lot having a computer and a plurality of vehicle compartments, and an image pickup device for the vehicle compartment that images a vehicle entering the vehicle compartment. A program for functioning as a parking lot management device for managing a vehicle parked for each room, wherein the captured image information is acquired from the imaging device, and the vehicle number of the vehicle is identified from the acquired image information. The information acquisition means, the determination means for determining whether or not the vehicle number information of the vehicle can be acquired by the first information acquisition means, and the determination means cannot acquire the vehicle number information of the vehicle that has entered the vehicle compartment If it is determined that the vehicle number has not been acquired after a predetermined time has elapsed, image information is acquired again from the imaging device for the passenger compartment in which the vehicle has entered, and the first information acquisition unit identifies the vehicle number of the vehicle. , Vehicle number information Function as a second information acquiring means for creating obtained.

  Further, one aspect of the parking lot management system according to the present invention is a vehicle in a parking lot having a plurality of vehicle compartments and an imaging device for the vehicle compartment that images a vehicle entering one of the plurality of vehicle compartments. A parking lot management system for managing vehicles parked in each room, a vehicle detection device that is installed in each vehicle compartment, detects a vehicle entering the vehicle compartment, and outputs a vehicle detection signal, and a vehicle detection device In response to the detection signal output by the vehicle, the first information acquisition for acquiring the image information captured from the imaging device for the passenger compartment in which the vehicle detection unit is installed and identifying the vehicle number of the vehicle from the acquired image information And a determination unit that determines whether or not the vehicle number information of the vehicle has been acquired by the first information acquisition unit, and that the determination unit has failed to acquire the vehicle number information of the vehicle that has entered the vehicle compartment The car number information cannot be obtained after the specified time A second information acquisition unit for acquiring image information again from the imaging device for the passenger compartment in which the vehicle has entered, causing the first information acquisition unit to identify the vehicle number of the vehicle, and acquiring the vehicle number information of the vehicle; Have.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, while suppressing the expense of the whole parking lot management system, the parking lot management apparatus of a parking lot, the parking lot management method, the program, and the parking lot management system which considered the convenience of the parking lot can be provided.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the parking lot management system which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the hardware structural example of the parking lot management apparatus shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structural example of the control part shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the parking lot information which the parking lot information update part shown in FIG. 3 manages. It is a figure which shows the example which the image information distribution part shown in FIG. 3 links | relates and records the image information supplied from the imaging device with vehicle compartment and vehicle number information. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the vehicle interior management in the parking lot management system shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example which notifies that there is an unpaid parking fee in the receipt which the payment machine shown in FIG. 1 issues. It is a figure which shows the screen which notifies that there exists an unpaid parking charge in the display part of the payment machine shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the structural example which uses the some imaging device from which an installation location differs with respect to one vehicle interior. It is a figure which shows the structural example which uses the some imaging device from which an installation location differs with respect to one vehicle interior.

  Hereinafter, parking management system 1 concerning one embodiment of the present invention is explained based on a drawing. Note that the configuration shown in the drawings is appropriately simplified in order to facilitate understanding of the features of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the drawings and the description of the embodiments.

[Description of parking lot management system 1]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a parking lot management system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the parking lot management system 1, a central management device 8 is connected to a parking lot 2 to be managed via a network 7. Although only one parking lot 2 is illustrated in FIG. 1, there are a plurality of parking lots 2 managed by the central management device 8. In the parking lot 2, a vehicle detection device 3 (3A to 3D), an imaging device 4 (4A to 4D), a payment machine 5 and a parking lot management device 6 are installed. Moreover, the parking lot 2 has four vehicle compartments 111 (111A to 111D) as spaces for parking vehicles. However, it is good also as the parking lot 2 which has the number of other vehicle rooms. In addition, regarding the vehicle detection devices 3A to 3D, the imaging devices 4A to 4D, and the passenger compartments 111A to 111D, when it is not necessary to specify which device or passenger compartment these are, the vehicle detection device 3 and the imaging device 4 are simply used. And the passenger compartment 111. Hereinafter, each apparatus which comprises the parking lot management system 1 is demonstrated.

(Description of the vehicle detection device 3)
The vehicle detection device 3 is composed of, for example, a magnetic sensor such as a loop coil that detects a change in a magnetic field, and is embedded in the ground of the passenger compartment 111 and is a parking lot management device via a wired signal line T1. 6 is connected. The vehicle detection device 3 detects that a vehicle has entered or exited from the passenger compartment 111, and a signal indicating the detection result (hereinafter referred to as a receipt) via a signal line T1 (for example, a cable conforming to the RS-485 standard). The signal for detecting the vehicle detection signal ON and the signal for detecting the delivery are called the vehicle detection signal OFF.) Are transmitted to the parking lot management device 6. By receiving the vehicle detection signal ON or the vehicle detection signal OFF, the parking lot management device 6 can grasp which compartment 111 (111A to 111D) the vehicle has entered or exited. It becomes. In addition, the vehicle detection apparatus 3 may be comprised by optical sensors other than a loop sensor, a weight sensor, etc.

(Description of Imaging Device 4)
The imaging device 4 is provided in the vicinity of the passenger compartment 111 in the parking lot 2, for example. The imaging device 4 is connected to the parking lot management device 6 via a wired signal line T2 (for example, a cable of LVDS (Low voltage differential signaling) standard). The imaging device 4 is, for example, a surveillance camera that can capture moving images, such as a video camera or a television camera, or a still camera that can capture still images. The imaging device 4 includes a decoder unit (not shown) that digitally converts a video signal (video signal) generated by shooting, a memory unit (not shown) that records image information digitally converted by the decoder unit, A communication unit (not shown) for connecting to the signal line T2 for transmission to the parking lot management device 6 is incorporated. Note that switches SW1 to SW4 are provided between the imaging device 4 and the parking lot management device 6, and ON / OFF control of the switches SW1 to SW4 is performed by control on the parking lot management device 6 side. The parking lot management device 6 performs control so that the switches SW1 to SW4 of the vehicle compartments are not turned on at the same time, and selects image information from the imaging device 4 that captures the desired vehicle compartment 111 by switching differential transmission. Can be received.

(Explanation of checkout machine 5)
The checkout machine 5 is connected to the parking lot management device 6 through a signal line T3 (for example, a LAN cable). Based on the vehicle detection signal ON or the vehicle detection signal OFF transmitted via the parking lot management device 6, the checkout machine 5 distinguishes the entry time into the compartment and the exit time from the compartment (hereinafter, individually distinguished). If it is not necessary, it is referred to as “entrance / exit information”). Further, the checkout machine 5 accepts user input (for example, input of a passenger compartment number), and executes a checkout process based on the input and entry / exit information. In addition, the settlement machine 5 collects information such as receipt / exit information and settlement fee obtained as a result of the settlement process (hereinafter referred to as entry / exit information, settlement fee, etc., if it is not necessary to distinguish them individually) Use information ") is transmitted to the parking lot management device 6, and the received parking lot management device 6 receives the information received from the settlement machine 5 via the network 7 such as PHS, a general telephone line, or the Internet. Transmit to the central management device 8.

(Description of parking lot management device 6)
The parking lot management device 6 performs entry / exit management of the parking lot 2 and monitors vehicles that are not yet settled or that cannot be recognized and that appear to be unauthorized. In addition, the parking lot management apparatus 6 and the payment machine 5 may be configured to be able to communicate wirelessly instead of the wired signal line T3, or may be configured to be included in one housing.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the parking lot management apparatus 6 illustrated in FIG. 1. The parking lot management device 6 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 31, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 32, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 33, a bus 34, a memory 35, and a communication unit 36.

  The CPU 31 executes various processes according to a program (not shown) stored in the ROM 32. The RAM 33 appropriately stores programs (not shown) and data executed by the CPU 31. The memory 35 is composed of a flash memory or the like, and records the usage status of each compartment in the parking lot 2 and vehicle number information. Details of the information recorded in the memory 35 will be described later. The CPU 31, ROM 32, RAM 33, and memory 35 are connected to each other by a bus 34. Further, a communication unit 36 is connected to the CPU 31 via the bus 34. The control unit 21 transmits the vehicle detection signal ON or the vehicle detection signal OFF to the settlement machine 5 through the communication unit 36.

  FIG. 3 shows a functional configuration example performed by the control unit 21 of the parking lot management apparatus 6. The control unit 21 includes a parking lot information management unit 22, an information acquisition unit 23, a determination unit 24, a retry timer 25, and a notification processing unit 26. The function shown in FIG. 3 is realized by the CPU 31 shown in FIG. 2 reading out a parking lot management program (not shown) stored in the ROM 32 to the RAM 33 and executing various processes.

  The parking lot information management unit 22, which is an example of a second information acquisition unit, records information indicating the use situation of each compartment of the parking lot 2 recorded in a predetermined area in the memory 35, and vehicle number information. In accordance with a parking lot information record updating unit 22A to be updated and a vehicle detection signal transmitted from the vehicle detection device 3, it is identified which imaging device 4 corresponds to which cabin 111 the image information is captured. And an image information distribution unit 22B for recording in a predetermined area of the memory 35. In addition, the parking lot information management part 22 as a 2nd information acquisition part records the information which shows the use condition of each compartment of the parking lot 2 currently recorded on the predetermined area | region in the memory 35, and vehicle number information. By controlling the information acquisition unit 23 and the determination unit 24 described later, the parking lot information can be acquired again and recorded and updated.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of parking lot information managed by the parking lot information record updating unit 22A shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the parking lot information record updating unit 22 </ b> A includes “vehicle compartment NO”, “loop state” indicating the detection state of each vehicle compartment, and ON / OFF state flags of SW <b> 1 to SW <b> 4 shown in FIG. 1. Various information such as “SW status” indicating “vehicle number information” identified from the license plate of the vehicle entering the respective vehicle compartments is maintained, and the state of the parking lot entry / exit is updated by updating these information. to manage.

  “Vehicle compartment NO” is a number associated with each of the compartments 111 </ b> A to 111 </ b> D, and is associated with 1, 2, 3, 4 in order from the smallest compartment number. In the “loop state”, the vehicle detection state for each passenger compartment is maintained. The initial value of the “loop state” is OFF. For example, when the vehicle detection signal ON is transmitted from the vehicle detection device 3A installed in the passenger compartment 111A, the parking lot information management unit 22 The “loop state” in which “chamber compartment NO” indicating the chamber 111A is 1 is changed from the OFF state to the ON state. Thereby, it can be seen that the vehicle is stored in the passenger compartment 111A. Further, when the vehicle detection signal OFF is further transmitted from the vehicle detection device 3A, the parking lot information management unit 22 changes the “loop state” in which the “vehicle compartment NO” indicating the vehicle interior 111A is 1 from the ON state to the OFF state. Change to state. Thereby, it can be seen that the vehicle has been delivered from the passenger compartment 111A. Further, the “SW status” currently serves as a flag for determining whether or not image information can be acquired from the imaging device 4. For example, when “SW status” is “Hi”, it indicates that any of the switches SW1 to SW4 between the imaging devices 4A to 4D and the parking lot management device 6 is ON. ing. On the other hand, when the “SW status” is “Low”, it indicates that any of the switches SW1 to SW4 between the imaging devices 4A to 4D and the parking lot management device 6 is in an OFF state.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example in which the image information distribution unit 22B illustrated in FIG. 3 records the image information supplied from the imaging device 4 in association with the passenger compartment 111 and the vehicle number information. As shown in FIG. 5, the “shooting date and time” taken, “chamber compartment NO” that identifies the taken cabin 111, “file name” of the taken image information, and “ Vehicle NO ”is recorded in association with it. In the example shown in FIG. 5, a moving image file is associated as image information. However, in the case of a still image, a still image file may be associated. Further, if the vehicle NO cannot be acquired, “None” or NULL data may be used. Furthermore, the image information distribution unit 22B may store only image information that cannot be acquired by the vehicle NO in association with the memory 35.

  The information acquisition unit 23 as an example of the first information acquisition unit includes an image information acquisition unit 23A that acquires image information from the imaging device 4 in response to a vehicle detection signal from the vehicle detection device 3, and an image information acquisition unit 23A. The vehicle number information acquisition part 23B which identifies the vehicle number reflected on the license plate from the image information acquired by the above and acquires the vehicle number information as text data is included. The vehicle number information acquisition unit 23B is realized, for example, when the control unit 21 reads out and executes license plate recognition software (not shown) recorded in the ROM 32 into the RAM 33 and executes it from the image information output from the imaging device 4. The vehicle number written on the license plate of the vehicle can be recognized and output as text data to the parking lot information management unit 22 described above.

  The determination unit 24 determines for the first time that the vehicle number information acquisition unit 23B determines whether or not the vehicle number information acquisition unit 23B can acquire the vehicle number information and the vehicle number information acquisition unit 23B cannot acquire the vehicle number information. In this case, a retry determination unit 24B that sets a retry timer 25 that measures the time from when the initial determination is made until a predetermined time (for example, after 2 minutes, after 5 minutes, etc.) has elapsed is included.

  When a predetermined time has elapsed since the initial determination, the retry timer 25 notifies the retry determination unit 24B to that effect. When the retry timer 25 notifies that the predetermined time has elapsed since the first determination, the retry determination unit 24B can notify the parking lot information management unit 22 that the predetermined time has elapsed. The parking lot information management unit 22 informed that the predetermined time has elapsed from the retry determination unit 24B causes the information acquisition unit 23 to acquire again the image information supplied from the imaging device 4 that captures the corresponding passenger compartment 111, Control is performed so that the vehicle number information is acquired again by the determination unit 24 from the image information acquired again.

  The notification processing unit 26 receives the vehicle detection signal ON from the vehicle detection device 3 and responds to the vehicle detection device 3 for some reason even though the “loop state” shown in FIG. 4 is ON. If the “vehicle number information” of the vehicle stored in the passenger compartment 111 cannot be acquired, it is determined that the possibility of an unauthorized vehicle is high, and the “vehicle compartment NO” and “loop state” shown in FIG. ”And image information recorded in the memory 35 (hereinafter, these pieces of information are simply referred to as“ report information ”). The notification information may include usage information generated by the settlement machine 5, and in that case, usage information related to the corresponding vehicle compartment number may be acquired from the settlement machine 5. .

(Description of the central management device 8)
The central management device 8 receives the notification information transmitted from the parking lot management device 6 and records and stores it in, for example, a storage unit (not shown). Alternatively, the notification information is transmitted to, for example, a personal computer (not shown) of a parking lot manager (that is, a parking lot owner who becomes a user of the parking lot management system 1) via the network 7, or a recording medium. May be recorded. In addition, the central management device 8 may be set not in the parking lot maintenance facility, but in other locations such as other service providers or the parking lot manager's own facility. Alternatively, the central management device 8 may pop up the notification information on a display unit (not shown).

(Vehicle compartment management and unauthorized vehicle report processing)
Next, the operation of the parking lot management system 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of vehicle compartment management and unauthorized vehicle notification in the parking lot management system 1 shown in FIG. The process shown in FIG. 6 is started, for example, when the parking lot management device 6 is turned on.

  Step S1: The control unit 21 (retry determination unit 24B) of the parking lot management device 6 determines whether or not a retry has occurred. Details of the retry here will be described in step S9, which will be described later. However, when the process in step S1 is the first time, the control unit 21 does nothing in particular. On the other hand, if a retry occurs in step S1 for the second time or more (YES in step S1), the process proceeds to step S3.

  Step S <b> 2: As described above, the vehicle detection device 3 transmits a vehicle detection signal ON to the parking lot management device 6 when detecting the entry of the vehicle. The control part 21 (parking lot information management part 22) of the parking lot management apparatus 6 determines whether the vehicle detection signal ON from the vehicle detection apparatus 3 for every compartment 111 is detected. When it is determined that the vehicle is detected in any of the passenger compartments 111 (YES in step S2), the control unit 21 proceeds to the process of step S3, and when it is determined that the vehicle is not detected (NO in step S2), Return to determination processing.

  Step S3: When the “SW status” shown in FIG. 4 is “Low”, the control unit 21 (parking lot information management unit 22) rewrites it to “Hi” and switches on the other vehicle compartments 111. Ban. Here, for example, the description will be continued assuming that the vehicle detection device 3A in the passenger compartment 111A has transmitted the vehicle detection signal ON to the parking lot management device 6. The control unit 21 issues a command signal for turning on the switch SW1 of the passenger compartment 111A that has detected the vehicle to the vehicle detection device 3A. After the process of step S3, the process proceeds to step S4.

  Step S4: The vehicle detection device 3A receives a command signal for turning on the switch SW1 of the switch compartment 111A from the parking lot management device 6 and turns on the switch SW1. Thereby, the parking lot management apparatus 6 can receive image information photographed by the imaging apparatus 4A. After the process of step S4, the process proceeds to step S5.

  Step S5: The control unit 21 (the image information acquisition unit 23A and the vehicle number information acquisition unit 23B) of the parking lot management device 6 receives and receives the image information captured by the imaging device 4A via the signal line T2. Processing for recognizing the vehicle number from the image information is executed. After the process of step S5, the process proceeds to step S6.

  Step S6: The control unit 21 (vehicle number acquisition determination unit 24A) of the parking lot management device 6 determines whether or not the vehicle number information of the vehicle stored in the passenger compartment 111A has been acquired by the process of step S5, and acquires the vehicle number information. If it is determined that it has been completed (YES in step S6), the process proceeds to step S10. If it is determined that acquisition is not possible (NO in step S6), a starting point for determining a timeout in step S8 described later is set. Then, the process proceeds to step S7. Note that the starting point for determining the timeout is made when the process of step S6 is executed for the first time, and this starting point is not set in the second and subsequent processes.

  Step S7: The control unit 21 (vehicle number acquisition determination unit 24A) of the parking lot management device 6 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed from the starting point set in Step S6, and the predetermined time has elapsed (that is, time-out). ) (YES in step S7), the process proceeds to step S8. If it is determined that the predetermined time has not elapsed (NO in step S7), the process returns to step S5. The predetermined time here is, for example, 5 seconds, 10 seconds, or the like.

  Step S8: The control unit 21 (reporting processing unit 26) of the parking lot management device 6 cannot acquire the “vehicle number information” of the vehicle that has entered the passenger compartment 111A to the central management device 8 via the network 7. The notification information described above is transmitted on the assumption that there is a high possibility of an unauthorized vehicle. Note that the timing at which the above-described notification information is transmitted is not performed when the process of step S8 is the first time, and nothing is performed, and when the step S8 is the second process, the above-described notification information is transmitted to the central management device. 8 may be transmitted. After step S8, the process proceeds to step S9.

  Step S9: The control unit 21 (retry determination unit 24B) of the parking lot management device 6 sets the retry timer 25. As described above, the retry timer 25 measures the time from when the initial determination is made until a predetermined time (for example, 2 minutes, 5 minutes, etc.) elapses. After the process in step S9, the process proceeds to step S10.

  Step S10: The control unit 21 (parking lot information management unit 22) of the parking lot management device 6 detects the vehicle when the vehicle number information is acquired in the determination of step S6 or after the retry timer 25 is set in step S9. A command signal for turning off the switch SW1 of the passenger compartment 111A is issued to the vehicle detection device 3A. Furthermore, since the “SW status” shown in FIG. 4 is “Hi”, the control unit 21 rewrites it to “Low” and sets a state in which the switch ON of the other passenger compartment 111 can be permitted. After the process in step S10, the process proceeds to step S11.

  Step S11: The vehicle detection device 3A receives a command signal for turning off the switch SW1 of the switch compartment 111A from the parking lot management device 6 and turns off the switch SW1. Thereby, the parking lot management apparatus 6 cuts off reception of the image information image | photographed by 4 A of imaging devices. After the process of step S11, the process returns to the process of step S1 again.

(Function and effect)
According to the embodiment described above, the following operational effects can be obtained.

  That is, the parking lot management device 6 acquires the captured image information from the imaging device 4 that captures the vehicle entering the passenger compartment 111, and identifies the vehicle number of the vehicle from the acquired image information (step of FIG. 6). S5), it is determined whether or not the vehicle number information of the vehicle has been acquired (step S6 in FIG. 6). If it is determined that the vehicle number of the vehicle has not been acquired by this determination (NO in step S6 in FIG. 6), The imaging device 4 for the passenger compartment 111 in which the vehicle whose vehicle number information could not be acquired after the predetermined time has passed is imaged again by the imaging device 4 for the passenger compartment 111, and the image information captured again by the imaging device 4 is obtained again. The vehicle number of the vehicle is identified again from the image information acquired again, and it is determined again whether the vehicle number information of the vehicle has been acquired (steps S9 and S10 in FIG. 6). S11, YES in step S1).

  As a result, the vehicle information is extracted from the timing at which the image information captured by the image capturing device 4 is captured, the installation position and resolution of the image capturing device 4, the ambient brightness at the time of capturing, the weather, and the captured image information. Even if the vehicle number of the vehicle cannot be identified at a time due to the image identification accuracy of the software to be used, the vehicle number information is acquired again based on the image information acquired again after a predetermined time has passed. Change the installation position of the device 4, change the resolution, adjust the ambient brightness at the time of shooting, take pictures in consideration of the weather, and extract the car number from the taken image information It is not necessary to adopt a software with higher image identification accuracy, and the vehicle number can be read. Therefore, the parking lot management device 6 can reduce the cost of the entire parking lot management system 1 as compared with the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1. Moreover, since this parking lot management apparatus 6 can further reduce the occurrence of a situation in which the vehicle number cannot be extracted, the parking lot user can smoothly perform the exit process (settlement process), and the user can The convenience of parking is taken into account.

  In addition, when the vehicle number information of the vehicle cannot be acquired, the parking lot management device 6 transmits the vehicle compartment information and image information that the vehicle has entered to the central management device 8 connected via the network 7. The notification processing unit 26 is provided. As a result, in addition to the above-described effects, information related to unauthorized shipping is transmitted to the central management device 8, so that it is second time that the user has not been paid based on the transmitted information regarding unauthorized shipping. Notification can be made by various methods at the time of use.

  In addition, the parking lot management device 6 identifies which image information is captured by the imaging device 4 corresponding to the passenger compartment 111 according to the vehicle detection signal transmitted from the vehicle detection device 3. I try to record. Accordingly, in addition to the above-described effects, the imaging device 4 does not need to perform some processing when identifying image information so that it can be identified as its own image information. It becomes possible to construct the parking lot management system 1 using a simple camera.

  In addition, the parking lot management method executed by the parking lot management device 6 is also the timing at which the image information taken by the imaging device 4 is taken, the installation position of the imaging device 4, the resolution, the ambient brightness at the time of shooting, Even if the car number cannot be identified at a time due to the weather or even the image identification accuracy of the software that extracts the car number from the captured image information, after a predetermined time has passed, it will be revisited based on the acquired image information Since the car number information was acquired, the installation position of the imaging device 4 was changed, the resolution was changed, the ambient brightness at the time of shooting was adjusted, the weather was taken into consideration, and the image was taken It is not necessary to improve the image identification accuracy of the software for extracting the vehicle number from the image information, and the vehicle number can be easily read. Therefore, this parking lot management method can suppress the cost of the entire parking lot management system 1 as compared with the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1. In addition, this parking lot management method can further reduce the occurrence of the situation where the car number cannot be extracted, so that the parking lot user can smoothly perform the exit process (settlement process), and parking for the user. Consider the convenience of the parking lot.

  Moreover, it is possible to implement | achieve the control which the parking lot management apparatus 6 performs by installing the program for performing the above-mentioned control in a computer. Therefore, this program is based on the timing at which the image information captured by the image capturing device 4 is captured, the installation position of the image capturing device 4, the resolution, the ambient brightness at the time of capturing, the weather, and the captured image information. Even if the vehicle number cannot be identified at a time due to the image identification accuracy of the software that extracts the number, after the predetermined time has elapsed, the vehicle number information is acquired again based on the acquired image information. Software image that changes the installation position of the imaging device 4, changes the resolution, adjusts ambient brightness at the time of shooting, takes into account the weather, and extracts the vehicle number from the taken image information It is not necessary to improve the identification accuracy, and the vehicle number can be easily read. Therefore, this program can reduce the cost of the entire parking lot management system 1 as compared with the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1. In addition, since this program can further reduce the occurrence of situations where the car number cannot be extracted, the parking lot user can smoothly perform the exit process (settlement process), and the convenience of the parking lot for the user. Sex is considered.

  Moreover, the parking lot management system 1 having the parking lot management device 6, the vehicle detection device 3, and the imaging device 4 also has the same effects as the parking lot management device 6, the parking lot management method, and the program described above. Can play.

(Modification)
Although the parking lot management system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the parking lot management system 1 can be variously modified. For example, in the parking lot management device 6, the notification information is transmitted to the central management device 8. In addition, when the user pays with the checkout machine 5, the parking lot management device 6 performs the central management device 8. 8 inquires whether there is an unpaid parking fee in the past using the car number information as a key. If there is an unpaid parking fee in the past, as shown in FIG. You may make it notify that there is an unpaid parking fee. As a result, the user can reconfirm that his / her parking history is grasped, so that the user can be warned (checked) to prevent unauthorized use from the next use of the parking lot 2. Become. In addition, instead of the receipt shown in FIG. 7 or together with the receipt shown in FIG. 7, a display notifying that there is an unsettled parking fee is displayed on the display unit (not shown) of the checkout machine 5 as shown in FIG. You may make it make it. Furthermore, when a patrol lamp (registered trademark) is installed in each image pickup device 4, an inquiry is made to the central management device 8 based on the vehicle number information of the stored vehicle, and when it is found that there is an unsettled parking fee, The Patlamp (registered trademark) may be turned on.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, one imaging device 4 is used for one vehicle compartment 111. It is good also as a structure which uses the some imaging device 4 from which these differ. FIG. 9 shows a case where a plurality of imaging devices 4E and 4F are used. In FIG. 9, the vehicle 10 enters from the direction of arrow A. When the parking lot management device 6 receives a vehicle detection signal from the vehicle detection device 3, the imaging devices 4E and / or 4F start shooting. Then, the parking lot management device 6 first establishes a connection with the imaging device 4F (switch ON), acquires image information taken by the imaging device 4F, and recognizes the vehicle number of the vehicle 10. Then, if the vehicle number information of the vehicle 10 cannot be acquired from the image information of the imaging device 4F, the parking lot management device 6 opens the connection with the imaging device 4F (switch OFF), and the imaging device 4E Is established (switch ON). And you may make it acquire the vehicle number information of the vehicle 10 based on the image information image | photographed with the imaging device 4E. Thereby, even when the focus of the imaging device 4F is not on the license plate of the vehicle 10 and the vehicle number cannot be recognized, the vehicle number of the vehicle 10 can be recognized based on the image information of the imaging device 4F. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the situation in which the vehicle number cannot be recognized as compared with the case where one imaging device 4 is used. Note that the installation positions of the imaging devices illustrated in FIG. 9 may be the installation positions of the imaging devices 4G and 4H illustrated in FIG. In addition, about the installation position and the number of installation of the some imaging device 4, you may change suitably with the shape of the parking area | region of the parking lot 2 not only in the example shown in FIG. 9 and FIG.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used for a parking lot management device, a parking lot management method, a program, a parking lot management system, and the like that manage a parking lot of an automobile.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Parking lot management system, 2 ... Parking lot, 3, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D ... Vehicle detection apparatus, 4, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D ... Imaging apparatus, 5 ... Settlement machine, 6 ... Parking lot management apparatus , 7 ... Network, 8 ... Central management device, 21 ... Control unit, 22 ... Parking lot information management unit (an example of a second information acquisition unit), 22A ... Parking lot information record update unit, 22B ... Image information distribution unit, 23 ... Information acquisition unit (an example of a first information acquisition unit), 23A ... Image information acquisition unit, 23B ... Vehicle number information acquisition unit, 24 ... Determination unit, 24A ... Vehicle number acquisition determination unit, 24B ... Retry determination unit, 25 ... retry timer, 26 ... alarm processing unit, T1, T2, T3 ... signal line,

Claims (6)

A parking lot that manages vehicles parked in each of the compartments, in a parking lot that has a plurality of compartments and an imaging device for the compartment that captures the vehicle entering one of the plurality of compartments A management device,
A first information acquisition unit that acquires the captured image information from the imaging device and identifies the vehicle number of the vehicle from the acquired image information;
A determination unit that determines whether the vehicle number information of the vehicle has been acquired by the first information acquisition unit;
When it is determined that the vehicle number information of the vehicle that has entered the vehicle compartment has not been acquired by the determination unit, the vehicle for the vehicle compartment in which the vehicle for which the vehicle number information has not been acquired after a predetermined time has elapsed has been received. A second information acquisition unit that acquires the image information from the imaging device again, causes the first information acquisition unit to identify the vehicle number of the vehicle, and acquires the vehicle number information of the vehicle;
A parking lot management device characterized by comprising: The parking lot management device according to claim 1,
When the vehicle number information of the vehicle cannot be acquired a plurality of times, the information processing unit transmits the vehicle compartment information and the image information in which the vehicle has entered the central management device connected via the network. A parking lot management device. The parking lot management apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The second information acquisition unit includes:
The image information is photographed by the imaging device corresponding to which compartment according to a vehicle detection signal that is installed in each compartment and is transmitted from a vehicle detection device that detects entry of the vehicle into the compartment. A parking lot management apparatus comprising an image information distribution unit for identifying and recording whether or not the information is recorded. A parking lot that manages vehicles parked in each of the compartments, in a parking lot that has a plurality of compartments and an imaging device for the compartment that captures the vehicle entering one of the plurality of compartments A management method,
An image information acquisition step of acquiring image information captured by the imaging device;
A first information acquisition step for identifying a vehicle number of the vehicle from the image information acquired by the image information acquisition step;
A determination step of determining whether or not the vehicle number information of the vehicle has been acquired by the first information acquisition step;
In the determination step, when it is determined that the vehicle number information of the vehicle could not be acquired, second information acquisition for acquiring the image information from the imaging device and acquiring the vehicle number information of the vehicle after a predetermined time has elapsed. Steps,
A parking lot management method characterized by comprising: Computer
A parking lot that manages vehicles parked in each of the compartments, in a parking lot that has a plurality of compartments and an imaging device for the compartment that captures the vehicle entering one of the plurality of compartments A program that functions as a management device,
First information acquisition means for acquiring the captured image information from the imaging device and identifying the vehicle number of the vehicle from the acquired image information;
A determination unit that determines whether or not the vehicle number information of the vehicle has been acquired by the first information acquisition unit;
When it is determined that the vehicle number information of the vehicle that has entered the vehicle compartment has not been acquired by the determination means, the vehicle for the vehicle compartment in which the vehicle for which the vehicle number information has not been acquired after a predetermined time has elapsed has been received. Second information acquisition means for acquiring again the image information from the imaging device, causing the first information acquisition means to identify the vehicle number of the vehicle, and acquiring the vehicle number information of the vehicle;
Program to function as. A parking lot that manages vehicles parked in each of the compartments, in a parking lot that has a plurality of compartments and an imaging device for the compartment that captures the vehicle entering one of the plurality of compartments A management system,
A vehicle detection device that is installed in each vehicle compartment, detects the vehicle entering the vehicle compartment, and outputs a vehicle detection signal;
In accordance with a detection signal output from the vehicle detection device, image information captured from the imaging device for the passenger compartment in which the vehicle detection unit is installed is acquired, and the vehicle number of the vehicle is acquired from the acquired image information. A first information acquisition unit for identifying
A determination unit that determines whether the vehicle number information of the vehicle has been acquired by the first information acquisition unit;
When it is determined that the vehicle number information of the vehicle that has entered the vehicle compartment has not been acquired by the determination unit, the vehicle for the vehicle compartment in which the vehicle for which the vehicle number information has not been acquired after a predetermined time has elapsed has been received. A second information acquisition unit that acquires the image information from the imaging device again, causes the first information acquisition unit to identify the vehicle number of the vehicle, and acquires the vehicle number information of the vehicle;
Having a parking management system.

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