JP5235116B2 - Parking lot management system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a parking lot management system that includes a fee settlement machine that settles a parking fee and a management device that manages a parking lot.

  Parking lot management system that stores parking fee calculation program, setting information such as monetary data, etc., and calculates and collects the parking fee according to the parking time and usage time zone based on this setting information Is widely spread. Generally, in a pay parking lot, a fee system is adopted in which the parking fee per unit time is different for each use time zone in one day. In the parking management system, considering the usage frequency and congestion level of parking users, determine a fee structure that is as good as possible for attracting customers, and store the setting information corresponding to this fee structure in the fee settlement machine in advance. ing.

  However, if the customer attractability, that is, the occupancy rate fluctuates greatly depending on the season, or if the market share is deprived due to the entry of a business associate in the vicinity, the fee structure may be revised to ensure customer attractability. When the fee structure is reviewed, it is necessary to change the setting information stored in the fee settlement machine.

  Recently, in large parking lots, a communication function to communicate with the parking lot management center located away from the fee adjustment machine is installed in the fee adjustment machine, and setting information is sent from the parking lot management center to the fee adjustment machine. A system for changing the setting information of the fee settlement machine is realized by the parking management center operating the fee settlement machine remotely. However, in small parking lots, it is not a toll settlement machine with such advanced communication functions, and it is called a so-called stand-alone type that has no communication function or only a simple communication function. There are many cases where fee settlement machines are installed. Even in the case of a stand-alone fee settlement machine with a simple communication function, the communication function is not a communication function that directly connects the fee settlement machine and the management device, but via an alarm device installed near the parking lot. The fare settlement machine and the management device are connected indirectly, and the communication mode is to alert the parking lot management center from the warning device that the fare settlement machine door has been opened or the change has been exhausted. Can be notified unilaterally. In other words, not only a stand-alone fee settlement machine with no communication function but also a stand-alone fee settlement machine with a simple communication function can receive setting information from the parking management center. It is not possible to communicate properly. In a parking lot where such a stand-alone fee settlement machine is installed, a staff member who is resident in the parking lot directly changes the setting information by operating the fee settlement machine, or a parking lot where there is no staff member. If so, an engineer in charge of the service will visit the site and change the setting information by directly operating the fee settlement machine.

  When a parking staff or a service engineer changes the setting information by directly operating the fee adjustment machine, a work error may occur. That is, since many of the staff members who are resident in the parking lot are not familiar with the operation of the fee adjustment machine, there is a possibility that an operation error may occur. In addition, when a technician in charge of a service goes to the site, many of the engineers are familiar with the operation of the fee settlement machine, so an operation error occurs due to inexperienced operation of the fee settlement machine. There is almost no possibility. However, the service person often has to hurry to go around a plurality of parking lots for setting changes and repairs, and there is a possibility that a work error due to a careless mistake or the like may occur.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-203259 (Patent Document 1) describes a technique for changing the setting of a parking fee in a parking lot management system. That is, in this publication, in order to facilitate the parking fee setting operation in the parking fee settlement machine, the screen changes by selecting the setting item displayed in the screen, and the setting item is displayed on each changing screen. Describes a technology for updating the fee structure by providing an clerk operation unit for selecting and setting fee data and selecting the setting items displayed on the screen of the clerk operation unit in each operation step sequentially on each screen Yes.
JP 2002-203259 A

  According to the parking lot management system described in Patent Document 1, the charge system can be changed by sequentially selecting the setting items displayed on the screen of the operation unit of the charge settlement machine. The setting change operation by an engineer becomes easy.

  However, even if the setting change operation becomes easy, it is difficult to eliminate a mistake due to a cause that existed before the operation. An error due to a potential cause that existed before the operation is, for example, an error due to an error in the setting information of the fee structure itself, an error that causes misconfiguration of setting information of another fee structure, or For example, there is a mistake such as setting a fee structure that has not yet been approved by the parking lot management.

  In addition, if the service representative is a contractor commissioned by the parking lot manager to perform maintenance and inspection work, the parking lot manager and the service maintenance / inspection contractor are responsible for the work mistake related to the change of the parking fee setting. Trouble may occur between In order to prevent such troubles, it is desired to eliminate work mistakes related to changing the parking fee setting.

  In addition, there is a possibility that work mistakes may occur when changing the setting of the fee adjustment machine for setting items other than parking charges. These work mistakes are similar to work mistakes related to changing parking charge settings. However, it is not easy to realize this.

  The present invention has been made in view of, for example, the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a parking lot management system that can eliminate mistakes related to a setting change of a fee settlement machine.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a first invention is a parking lot management system including a charge settlement machine and a management device, wherein the charge settlement machine is for setting a function or operation of the charge settlement machine. A setting information receiving means for receiving setting information, a key information storage means for storing key information, a setting information received by the setting information receiving means, and a key information stored in the key information storage means. Check information generating means for generating check information by performing the above calculation, and check information output means for outputting the check information generated by the check information generating means, and the management device includes the check information output means. Check information receiving means for receiving the output check information, and parking information for storing parking management information including the setting information and the key information Check that generates check reference information by performing the first calculation using the setting information and key information included in the parking lot management information stored in the parking lot management information storage means and the parking lot management information storage means A reference information generating means, a check information matching means for checking the check information received by the check information receiving means and the check reference information generated by the check reference information generating means, and a check result by the check information matching means. Collation result output means for outputting.

  Furthermore, in order to solve the above-described problem, the second invention is the parking lot management system according to the first invention described above, wherein the management device uses the check information receiving means as a result of the check by the check information checking means. Check information received by the check information receiving means or check reference information generated by the check reference information generating means when the received check information matches the check reference information generated by the check reference information generating means Confirmation information generating means for generating confirmation information by performing a second calculation using key information included in the parking lot management information stored in the parking lot management information storage means, and the confirmation information generating means Confirmation information output means for outputting the confirmation information generated by The second calculation is performed using the confirmation information receiving means for receiving the confirmation information output by the output means, the check information generated by the check information generating means, and the key information stored in the key information storage means. Confirmation reference information generating means for generating confirmation reference information, confirmation information collating means for collating the confirmation information received by the confirmation information receiving means and the confirmation reference information generated by the confirmation reference information generating means, As a result of collation by the confirmation information collating means, when the confirmation information received by the confirmation information receiving means matches the confirmation reference information generated by the confirmation reference information generating means, the confirmation information received by the setting information receiving means Setting validating means for validating the setting of the function or operation of the fee settlement machine based on the setting information.

  Furthermore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the third invention is the parking lot management system according to the first or second invention described above, wherein the check information output by the check information output means of the fee settlement machine is the above-mentioned check information. A communication terminal device for transmitting to the management device is provided.

  Furthermore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the fourth invention is the parking lot management system according to the first or second invention described above, wherein the check information generating means is the setting information received by the setting information receiving means. Is encrypted with the key information stored in the key information storage means, and the check information is generated by inputting the obtained information into a hash function and performing an operation.

  Furthermore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the fifth invention is the parking lot management system according to the first or second invention described above, wherein the check information generating means is the setting information received by the setting information receiving means. Is encrypted with the key information stored in the key information storage means, and the information obtained thereby is input to a hash function to perform an operation, and from the hash value obtained thereby, a part of the hash value is determined. Is extracted as check information.

  Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a sixth invention is the parking lot management system according to the first or second invention described above, wherein the check information receiving means is a key input device provided in the fee settlement machine. Receives check information entered using.

  Furthermore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the seventh invention is the parking lot management system according to the first or second invention described above, wherein the parking lot management information is set in the fee settlement machine of the setting information. Approval information indicating whether or not to approve, and the check information collating means only when the approval information indicates that the setting information is approved to be set in the fee settlement machine. The information is checked against the check criterion information.

  Furthermore, in order to solve the said subject, 8th invention is the parking lot management system which concerns on 3rd invention mentioned above, The said management apparatus is information of the said communication terminal device which transmitted the said check information to the said management apparatus. And an information management means for storing a collation result between the check information and the check reference information in the parking lot management information storage means as a part of the parking lot management information.

  According to the first aspect, since the result is output when the check information is matched by the check information matching means, the latest setting information on the database of the parking lot management center is compared with the inputted setting information. This can be done easily, and the fee adjustment machine operator confirms the latest setting information in the database and confirms the version management error.

  According to the second aspect of the invention, since the setting of the operation is validated only when the collation is confirmed by the confirmation information collating means, the latest setting information on the database of the parking lot management center is input without collation. Since the setting is not validated without matching of the setting information comparison and collation, a setting operation error and a version management error of the fee adjusting machine operator are solved in order to make sure that the setting information is compared with the latest setting information in the database.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reliably check the setting information even with a stand-alone fee settlement machine, and the checking operation can be easily performed by operating a normal mobile terminal. This eliminates the need for equipment costs and installation work costs.

  According to the fourth, fifth, and sixth inventions, it is possible to input data that has been transmitted and received by an easy operation of the fee adjusting machine operator, and the setting operation screen already provided in the fee adjusting machine In addition, the system can be operated by using the setting operation keys, and a system can be constructed that can reliably eliminate setting operation mistakes without incurring equipment costs.

  According to the seventh invention, only when the approval information of the management consignment source is recorded in association with the latest setting information and the approval information indicates that the setting is approved, the check information and the check Since it is possible to shift to the step of collating with the reference information, it is possible to prevent an operational error that erroneously validates the setting data without the approval of the management consignment source.

  According to the eighth aspect of the invention, when and from which communication terminal device collated, and as a result, the collation is matched is recorded in the database, and the upgrade information of the setting information of each parking lot is recorded from the parking lot management center. It becomes possible to grasp.

  According to the above-described present invention, it is possible to eliminate a mistake related to the change of the setting of the fee settlement machine.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Parking management system)
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a parking lot management system of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the parking lot management system 1 includes a charge settlement machine 3, 3,... Installed in each of the parking lots 2, 2,..., A management device 5 provided in the parking lot management center 4, And a communication terminal device 6. Although the parking lot management system 1 can manage a large number of parking lots, in this embodiment, for convenience of explanation, a case where four parking lots 2 are managed is taken as an example. Parking lot 2 has no. 1, no. 2, No. 3, no. An identification number such as 4 is assigned. In addition, although there may be two or more fee settlement machines 3 installed in one parking lot, in this embodiment, an example is shown in which one fee settlement machine 3 is installed in each parking lot 2. I will give you.

  Each fee settlement machine 3 is a device that performs settlement and collection of parking fees for users of the parking lot 2. Each fee settlement machine 3 is a stand-alone type fee settlement machine. Each fee settlement machine 3 does not include a communication device that directly communicates with the management device 5. That is, each fee settlement machine 3 does not have a communication function of receiving setting information including a parking fee calculation program and amount data from the management device 5. However, each charge settlement machine 3 is installed in the vicinity of the parking lot 2 with a simple signal such as a door open signal indicating that the door of the charge settlement machine 3 is opened and a change change signal indicating that the change has been exhausted. It has a function of outputting to an alarm device (not shown). The alarm device that has received a door open signal, a change-of-change signal, etc., makes a maintenance contract on the management device 5 or separately that the door of the fee settlement machine 3 has been opened or has changed, via a communication line. Notify the security company.

  The communication terminal device 6 is, for example, a mobile phone, and has a call function and a mail function, preferably an Internet web browsing function, like a normal mobile phone, and transmits check information described later to the management device 5. Further, confirmation information or error information can be received from the management device 5.

  On the other hand, the management device 5 is a device that mainly manages each parking lot 2 and each fee settlement machine 3 and includes, for example, a server computer 7 and a database 8. The server computer 7 can read and write information from and to the database 8. Further, as described above, the management device 5 has a function of performing communication with the communication terminal device 6 by voice synthesis, mail transmission / reception, simple communication via the Internet web page, and the like.

  The parking lot management company is entrusted with the management of the parking lot 2 by the owner of each parking lot 2 and plays a role of monitoring each parking lot 2 and maintaining / inspecting / repairing each fee settlement machine 3. . And the parking lot management company operates the parking lot management center 4 in order to manage each parking lot 2 like this. For example, no. When a change of money occurs in the charge settlement machine 3 installed in the parking lot 2 of No. 3, a change of change signal is output from the charge settlement machine 3 to the alarm device. The occurrence of a cut is notified. The management device 5 receives this notification and The operator of the parking lot management center 4 is informed that a change has occurred in the fee settlement machine 3 installed in the parking lot 2 of No. 3. Upon receiving this notification, the operator informs the service staff at the site that is traveling around each parking lot 2 of the occurrence of change. The service person who received this report is Go to the parking lot 2 of No. 3 and replenish coins for change into the fee settlement machine 3 installed in the parking lot 2.

  In addition, the parking lot management company changes the setting of the parking fee based on a request from the owner of the parking lot 2. The procedure for changing the parking fee setting is generally as follows. That is, the manager in charge of the parking lot management company, for example, No. Receive a request from the owner of Parking Lot 3 to review the parking fee. In response, the manager in charge proposes a new parking fee to the owner and receives approval from the owner. Subsequently, the manager in charge creates the new parking fee setting information, and stores the created setting information in the database 8 of the management device 5 as will be described later. Set an approval flag indicating that the setting has been approved by the owner. Subsequently, the manager in charge gives the new parking fee setting information to the on-site service person. For example, the manager in charge transmits an e-mail attached with an encrypted version of the parking fee setting information to a personal computer owned by the person in charge of the service. The service representative decrypts the new parking fee setting information attached to the e-mail received by the personal computer, and stores the decrypted setting information in a storage medium such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory. Subsequently, the service person in charge is no. Go to parking lot 2 of No. 3, 3 Open the door of the charge settlement machine 3 installed in the parking lot 2 and connect a USB memory to the USB connection terminal 26 (see FIG. 3) provided in the charge settlement machine 3 to store a new one stored in the USB memory. The parking fee setting information is stored in the storage device 25 (see FIG. 3) provided in the fee settlement machine 3. Thereafter, a setting validation process to be described later is performed, and the new parking fee setting information is validated in the fee settlement machine 3. As a result, no. In the fee settlement machine 3 installed in the parking lot 2 of 3, the fee settlement based on the new parking fee can be performed.

(Charge settlement machine)
FIG. 2 shows the appearance of a part of the parking lot 2 and the fee settlement machine 3 installed in the parking lot 2. FIG. 3 shows the internal structure of the fee settlement machine 3. FIG. 4 shows components realized by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21 of the fee settlement machine 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the fee settlement machine 3 includes a key input device 11 having a numeric keypad and operation keys, a display device 12 having a small liquid crystal display, a coin insertion slot 13, a bill insertion slot 14, an interphone 15, and a speaker 16. The door 17, the door lock 18 for locking / unlocking the door 17, and the setting operation lock 19 that is operated when the service person performs the setting operation of the fee settlement machine 3.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the fee settlement machine 3 includes a CPU 21, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 22, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 23, and these CPU 21, ROM 22 and RAM 23 are connected via an interface 24. , Key input device 11, display device 12, intercom 15, speaker 16, storage device 25, USB connection terminal 26, setting operation lock switch 27, door open switch 28, signal output unit 29, receipt printer 30, coin selector 31, coin The payout device 32, the bill reader 33, the change change detection unit 34, and the parking lot device control unit 35 are connected. The storage device 25 is a nonvolatile semiconductor storage element such as a flash memory. The USB connection terminal 26 is a terminal for connecting a USB memory when information stored in the USB memory is stored in the storage device 25. Further, when the service person inserts the key for setting operation into the setting operation lock 19 and turns it, the setting operation lock switch 27 is turned on. As a result, the fee settlement machine 3 makes payment to the general user. From the payment mode in which the control of the parking lot equipment linked to the processing and the payment processing is performed, the mode is switched to the maintenance / inspection mode in which the fee settlement machine 3 is maintained, inspected, and the setting information is changed. While the door 17 is closed, the door opening switch 28 is turned on. However, when the door 17 is opened, the door opening switch 28 is turned off. The door open signal is output. Further, when the change change detection unit 34 detects change change, a change change signal is similarly output from the signal output unit 29 to the alarm device. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the parking lot device control unit 35 is connected to the parking lot devices such as the vehicle sensor 42 and the flap device 43 installed in the parking space 41 via the embedded wiring 44. Control parking equipment.

  Further, the CPU 21 executes the computer program stored in the ROM 22, thereby setting information receiving unit 51, check information generating unit 52, check information output unit 53, confirmation information receiving unit 54, confirmation as shown in FIG. It functions as a reference information generation unit 55, a confirmation information collation unit 56, a setting validation unit 57 and a general control unit 58. Details of these components 51 to 58 will be described later. Note that the setting information receiving unit 51, the check information generating unit 52, the check information output unit 53, the confirmation information receiving unit 54, the confirmation reference information generating unit 55, the confirmation information collating unit 56, and the setting validation unit 57 are set information receiving. This is a specific example of means, check information generation means, check information output means, confirmation information reception means, confirmation reference information generation means, confirmation information collation means, and setting validation means.

  A key code is stored in the ROM 22 in FIG. The key code is information unique to the parking lot 2 or the fee settlement machine 3 and is an array of alphanumeric characters (may include symbols other than alphanumeric characters) of several digits to several tens digits. The key code stored in the ROM 22 cannot be rewritten. Further, the key code stored in the ROM 22 cannot be read by the service person as well as the user of the parking lot 2. For example, in a normal operation procedure, the key code cannot be read from the ROM 22, or the key code is read from the ROM 22 so that a password input that only a special administrator knows is required. Further, the ROM 22 stores a hash function used for generating check information and confirmation reference information in a setting validation process described later. The ROM 22 is a specific example of key information storage means, and the key code is a specific example of key information.

(Management device)
FIG. 5 shows components realized by the CPU of the server computer 7 that constitutes a part of the management apparatus 5. The server computer 7 includes a CPU 60, a ROM, a RAM, an input / output device, a storage device such as a hard disk drive, a communication device, and the like, like a general computer. As shown in FIG. 5, the CPU 60 executes a computer program stored in the ROM, so that a check information receiving unit 61, a check reference information generating unit 62, a check information collating unit 63, a confirmation information generating unit 64, a confirmation information It functions as an output unit 65, an information management unit 66, and a general control unit 67. Details of these components 61 to 67 will be described later. The check information receiving unit 61, the check reference information generating unit 62, the check information collating unit 63, the confirmation information generating unit 64, the confirmation information output unit 65, the information management unit 66, and the general control unit 67 are respectively a check information receiving unit, This is a specific example of check criteria information generation means, check information collation means, confirmation information generation means, confirmation information output means, information management means, and collation result output means.

  A storage device (not shown) of the server computer 7 stores a hash function used for generating check reference information and confirmation information in a setting validation process described later. This hash function is a known hash function such as SHA1 or MD5. The hash function stored in the server computer 7 and the hash function stored in the ROM 22 of the fee settlement machine 3 are used in different steps in the setting validation process, but the function itself is the same.

(Parking management information)
FIG. 6 shows parking lot management information 71 stored in the database 8 constituting a part of the management device 5. As shown in FIG. 6, the database 8 stores a plurality of parking lot management information 71 respectively corresponding to the plurality of parking lots 2. In this embodiment, the parking lot 2 managed by the parking lot management system 1 is No. 1, no. 2, No. 3, no. Since there are four parking lots 2, the database 8 stores four parking lot management information 71 corresponding to the four parking lots 2. Each parking lot management information 71 includes parking lot identification information, key code, setting information, update date / time, approval flag, verification flag, communication terminal information, verification date / time, setting information version, and the like. The parking lot identification information is information for identifying each parking lot 2 managed by the parking lot management system 1 and is a simple number such as 01, 02, 03, 04, for example. The key code is an array of several to several tens alphanumeric characters (which may include symbols other than alphanumeric characters) used for generating check reference information and confirmation information, which will be described later. The key code stored in the ROM 22 of the fee settlement machine 3 is the same as the key code included in the parking lot management information 71 corresponding to the parking lot 2 where the fee settlement machine 3 is installed. For example, no. 3 and the key code stored in the ROM 22 of the fee settlement machine 3 installed in the parking lot 2 of No. 3; The key code included in the parking lot management information 71 corresponding to the parking lot 2 of 3 is the same. The setting information is information for setting a parking fee (information for setting a parking fee settlement function or a settlement operation), specifically, information including a parking fee calculation program and amount data. The update date / time is information indicating the date / time when the setting information is updated (changed). The approval flag is a flag indicating whether or not the owner has approved the setting of the new setting information to the fee settlement machine 3. The collation flag is a flag indicating that the check information matches the check reference information in the check information collation process of the setting validation process described later. The communication terminal information is information (for example, a mail address, a telephone number, etc.) for specifying the communication terminal device 6 that is the transmission source of the check information. The collation date and time is information indicating the date and time when the check information collation process in the setting validation process was performed. The setting information version is information indicating the version of the setting information. The database 8 is a specific example of parking lot management information storage means, and the approval flag is a specific example of approval information.

(Setting activation process)
FIG. 7 shows the setting validation process. The setting validation processing is processing for validating the changed new setting information in the fee settlement machine 3 when the parking fee setting information in the fee settlement machine 3 is changed. The following operations are performed before the setting validation process is started. For example, no. In order to change the setting information of the parking fee in the fee settlement machine 3 installed in the parking lot 2 of the parking lot 3, the manager in charge of the parking lot management company operates the server computer 7 and stores the four stored in the database 8 From the parking management information 71, No. The parking lot management information 71 corresponding to the parking lot 2 of No. 3 is designated, and subsequently the fact that the owner has approved the setting information of the new parking fee and the setting of the new setting information in the fee settlement machine 3 is input. As a result, the general control unit 67 of the server computer 7 In the parking management information 71 corresponding to the parking lot 2 of 3, the existing setting information is rewritten to the input new setting information, the current date and time are written as the update date and time, and the setting of the new setting information to the fee settlement machine 3 is performed. Set the approval flag indicating that the owner has approved, set the verification flag indicating that the verification of verification information has not been completed, initialize the communication terminal information, initialize the verification date and time, and set the setting information version Update. Subsequently, the manager in charge uses the e-mail or the like as described above to give the new parking fee setting information to the service representative at the site. The service representative receives the new parking fee setting information and stores it in the USB memory. Go to parking lot 2 at 3. Subsequently, the service person in charge is no. A key for opening and closing the door 17 is inserted into the door lock 18 of the charge settlement machine 3 installed in the parking lot 2 of No. 3, and the door 17 is opened by turning in the unlocking direction. Further, when the person in charge of the service inserts the key for setting operation into the setting operation lock 19 and turns it, the setting operation lock switch 27 is turned on. In response to this, the general control unit 58 of the fee adjustment machine 3 adjusts the fee adjustment. Switch the machine 3 from the settlement mode to the maintenance inspection mode. When the service person connects the USB memory to the USB connection terminal 26 of the fee adjustment machine 3 after switching to the maintenance / inspection mode, the setting information receiving unit 51 of the fee adjustment machine 3 displays the setting information stored in the USB memory. The setting information is received and stored in the storage device 25 of the fee settlement machine 3. Immediately after this, the setting validation process is started.

  As shown in FIG. The check information generation unit 52 of the toll settlement machine 3 installed in the parking lot 2 of No. 3 reads out the key code K1 and the hash function F1 from the ROM 22, and the setting information D1 received by the setting information receiving unit 51 by the key code K1. Encryption is performed, and information obtained thereby is input to the hash function F1 to perform calculation. A hash value is obtained as a result of this calculation. This hash value is an array of alphanumeric characters of about several tens of digits (for example, when the hash function F1 is MD5, it is a 32-digit alphanumeric array). Subsequently, the check information generation unit 52 extracts information that is a part of the hash value and has a predetermined length as the check information C1. Specifically, an alphanumeric array of the first five digits of this hash value is extracted as check information C1. Subsequently, the check information output unit 53 outputs the check information C1 to the display device 12 of the fee settlement machine 3. Thereby, the check information C1 is displayed on the screen of the display device 12. The person in charge of the service reads the check information C1 displayed on the screen of the display device 12, inputs the read check information C1 and the identification information (03) of the parking lot 2 into the communication terminal device 6, and communicates the information. The data is transmitted from the terminal device 6 to the management device 5.

  The check information receiving unit 61 in the server computer 7 of the management device 5 receives the check information C1 and the identification information of the parking lot 2 transmitted from the communication terminal device 6. Subsequently, the information management unit 66 stores information for specifying the communication terminal device 6 such as the telephone number of the communication terminal device 6 in the database 8. This information is stored as communication terminal information in the parking lot management information 71 corresponding to the identification information of the parking lot 2 received by the check information receiving unit 61. Subsequently, the check information matching unit 63 reads the approval flag included in the parking lot management information 71 corresponding to the identification information of the parking lot 2 received by the check information receiving unit 61 from the database 8, and this approval flag is set. It is determined whether or not the owner has approved the setting of the information D1 to the fee settlement machine 3. If the approval flag does not indicate that the owner has approved the setting of the setting information D1 to the fee settlement machine 3, the general control unit 67 of the server computer 7 transmits error information to the communication terminal device 6.

  On the other hand, when the approval flag indicates that the owner has approved the setting of the setting information D1 to the fee settlement machine 3, the check reference information generating unit 62 receives the parking lot 2 received by the check information receiving unit 61. The setting information D1 ′ and the key code K1 ′ included in the parking lot management information 71 corresponding to the identification information are read from the database 8, and the hash function F1 ′ is read from the storage device of the server computer 7. Then, the check criterion information generation unit 62 encrypts the setting information D1 'with the key code K1', and inputs the information obtained thereby to the hash function F1 'to perform calculation. As a result of this calculation, a hash value which is an array of alphanumeric characters of about several tens of digits is obtained. Subsequently, the check criterion information generation unit 62 extracts the first five-digit alphanumeric array of the hash value as check criterion information C1 '. Subsequently, the check information collating unit 63 collates the check information C <b> 1 received by the check information receiving unit 61 with the check reference information C <b> 1 ′ generated by the check reference information generating unit 62. The key code K1, encryption algorithm and hash function F1 used for generating the check information C1 in the fee settlement machine 3, and the key code K1 ′ used for generating the check reference information C1 ′ in the server computer 7 of the management apparatus 5 The encryption algorithm and the hash function F1 ′ are the same. Therefore, if the setting information D1 input to the fee settlement machine 3 by the service person is the same as the setting information D1 ′ stored in the database 8 of the management device 5, the check information C1 and the check reference information C1 ′ Match. If the check information C1 and the check reference information C1 'do not match as a result of the collation, the general control unit 67 of the server computer 7 transmits error information to the communication terminal device 6.

  On the other hand, if the check information C1 matches the check reference information C1 ′ as a result of the check by the check information checker 63, the information management unit 66 confirms that the check information C1 matches the check reference information C1 ′. The collation flag and the current date and time shown are stored in the database 8. The verification flag and the current date and time are stored as a verification flag and a verification date and time in the parking lot management information 71 corresponding to the identification information of the parking lot 2 received by the check information receiving unit 61, respectively. Subsequently, the confirmation information generation unit 64 in the server computer 7 of the management apparatus 5 encrypts the check reference information C1 ′ generated by the check reference information generation unit 62 with the key code K1 ′, and hashes the information obtained thereby. Input to the function F1 ′ to perform calculation. As a result of this calculation, a hash value which is an array of alphanumeric characters of about several tens of digits is obtained. Subsequently, the confirmation information generation unit 64 extracts the first five-digit alphanumeric array of this hash value as confirmation information CC1. Subsequently, the confirmation information output unit 65 outputs the confirmation information CC1 generated by the confirmation information generation unit 64 to a communication device provided in the server computer 7. Thereby, the confirmation information CC1 is transmitted to the communication terminal device 6. The identification of the communication terminal device 6 to which the confirmation information CC1 is to be transmitted is performed by referring to the communication terminal information included in the parking lot management information 71.

  The person in charge of the service obtains the confirmation information CC1 received by the communication terminal device 6, The fee is entered into the fee settlement machine 3 installed in the parking lot 2 using the key input device 11 of the fee settlement machine 3. The confirmation information receiving unit 54 of the fee settlement machine 3 receives the confirmation information CC1 input using the key input device 11. Subsequently, the check reference information generation unit 55 encrypts the check information C1 generated by the check information generation unit 52 with the key code K1 read from the ROM 22, and the hash function obtained by reading the information obtained from the ROM 22 Input to F1 to perform calculation. As a result of this calculation, a hash value which is an array of alphanumeric characters of about several tens of digits is obtained. Subsequently, the confirmation criterion information generation unit 55 extracts the first five-digit alphanumeric array of the hash value as confirmation criterion information CC1 '. Subsequently, the confirmation information collating unit 56 collates the confirmation information CC1 received by the confirmation information receiving unit 54 with the confirmation reference information CC1 'generated by the confirmation reference information generating unit 55. The key code K1 ′, the encryption algorithm, and the hash function F1 ′ used for generating the confirmation reference information CC1 in the server computer 7 of the management apparatus 5, and the key used for generating the confirmation reference information CC1 ′ in the fee settlement machine 3 The code K1, the encryption algorithm, and the hash function F1 are the same. Therefore, if the check criterion information C1 ′ generated in the server computer 7 of the management device 5 and the check information C1 generated in the fee settlement machine 3 are the same, the confirmation information CC1 and the confirmation criterion information CC1 ′ match. To do. As a result of the collation, if the confirmation information CC1 and the confirmation reference information CC1 'do not match, an error message is displayed on the screen of the display device 12 of the fee settlement machine 3.

  On the other hand, if the confirmation information CC1 matches the confirmation reference information CC1 ′ as a result of the collation by the confirmation information collation unit 56, the setting validation unit 57 is based on the setting information D1 received by the setting information receiving unit 51. The setting of the fee settlement function or the fee settlement operation by the fee settlement machine 3 is validated. Thereby, the calculation process of the parking fee included in the setting information D1 and the settlement process using the amount data are No. It becomes feasible in the fee settlement machine 3 installed in the parking lot 2 of No. 3.

  Finally, the service person removes the USB memory from the USB connection terminal 26, closes the door 17 of the fee settlement machine 3, and turns the key inserted in the door lock 18 in the locking direction to lock the door 17. Subsequently, when the service person turns the key inserted in the setting operation lock 19 and removes it, the setting operation lock switch 27 is turned off, and in response to this, the general control unit 58 of the fee settlement machine 3 operates the fee settlement machine. 3 is switched from the maintenance / inspection mode to the settlement mode. As a result, the fee settlement machine 3 becomes usable by a general parking lot user.

  As described above, according to the parking lot management system 1, even if the service person stores the new setting information in the storage device 25 of the fee settlement machine 3, if the setting validation process is not completed, the new The setting based on the setting information is not validated in the fee settlement machine 3. The setting validation process is not completed unless all of confirmation of the approval flag, verification of the check information, and verification of the verification information are passed. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate a mistake related to the setting change of the fee settlement machine 3. That is, if the approval flag does not indicate that the owner has approved the setting of the new setting information to the fee settlement machine 3, the setting validation process is not completed, so the unapproved setting information is set in the fee settlement machine 3. This error can be resolved. Further, if the check information and the check reference information do not match, the setting validation process is not completed, so that it is possible to eliminate a mistake that the service person inputs wrong setting information to the fee settlement machine 3. Thus, according to the parking lot management system 1, it is possible to eliminate an operation error due to an immature operation or an operation error due to a careless error, and a cause that existed before the operation. It is possible to eliminate mistakes caused by. In addition, this can prevent troubles between the parking lot management company and the parking lot owner.

  Furthermore, according to the parking lot management system 1, the service person is made to input the confirmation information to the fee settlement machine 3. If the confirmation information does not match the confirmation reference information, the setting validation process is not completed. As a result, it is possible to make the service person confirm that correct setting information has been reliably input to the fee settlement machine 3. Then, it is possible to surely carry out fee settlement by the fee settlement machine 3 based on correct setting information.

  The key code used for generating the check information and the confirmation reference information is stored in the ROM 22 of the fee settlement machine 3 in a non-rewritable manner. This key code is not only for the user of the parking lot 2 but also for the service. Can not read. Accordingly, check information cannot be generated unless the setting validation process is used. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a sloppy and dishonest service person from generating check information using another computer or the like and using this information to perform an illegal act.

  In addition, transmission / reception of check information, confirmation information, and error information between the fee settlement machine 3 and the management device 5 is performed via a communication terminal device 6 such as a mobile phone. The check information is input to the communication terminal device 6 by the service person reading the check information displayed on the display device 12 of the fee settlement machine 3 and inputting the check information to the communication terminal device 6. Further, the confirmation information is input to the fee settlement machine 3 by the service person reading the confirmation information received by the communication terminal device 6 (or listening with the ear) and using the key input device 11. This is done by inputting to the fee settlement machine 3. Therefore, the parking lot management system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention can be realized easily and at a low cost by using the hardware resources of the existing stand-alone fee settlement machine 3 and the management apparatus 5 almost as they are. it can.

  Each of the check information and the confirmation information is generated by extracting the first five digits of the hash value output from the hash function. Therefore, the person in charge of the service can easily input the check information to the communication terminal device 6 and can easily input the confirmation information to the fee settlement machine 3.

  In addition to the parking lot identification information, key code, and setting information, the setting information update date / time, approval flag, verification flag, communication terminal information, verification date / time, and setting information version are stored in the database 8 of the management device 5. Stored as parking lot management information 71. This information can be used for version management of setting information, automatic creation of approval history documents, automatic creation of instruction documents for service personnel, etc., thereby improving the efficiency and accuracy of parking lot management Can do.

  In the parking lot management system 1 described above, the case where the check information and the confirmation information are respectively generated by extracting the first five digits of the hash value output from the hash function is taken as an example. Not limited to. The hash value portion extracted as check information and confirmation information may be the end of the hash value or an intermediate portion. The number of digits extracted as check information and confirmation information may be 3 digits, 4 digits, or 6 digits or more. Alternatively, a hash function in which the number of digits of the output hash value is about several digits may be used, and the entire hash value may be used as check information and confirmation information, respectively. In addition, other calculation methods may be employed instead of the calculation using the hash function for the generation of check information and the generation of confirmation information. However, by employing an operation using a hash function, it is possible to easily obtain an output that is unique to the combination of the keyword and the setting information and is easy to handle. In addition, other methods may be employed instead of encryption with a key code for generating check information and confirmation information.

  Further, in the parking lot management system 1 described above, an example has been given in which the check criterion information generated by the check criterion information generation unit 62 is used for generation of confirmation information. However, the check information received by the check information receiving unit 61 Check information that matches the reference information may be used to generate confirmation information.

  In the parking lot management system 1 described above, the communication terminal device 6 uses a communication terminal device 6 to transmit check information to the management device 5 and receive confirmation information or error information from the management device 5. A function may be used, an e-mail function may be used, or an Internet web browsing function may be used. When using the call function, the service person pronounces check information toward the microphone of the communication terminal device 6, and the management device 5 converts the voice into character information using a known voice recognition technique. Also, the management device 5 converts the confirmation information or error information (error message) into voice and transmits it to the communication terminal device 6, and the service person listens to the voice output from the speaker of the communication terminal device 6. Recognize confirmation information or error information. Further, when using the e-mail function, the service representative transmits an e-mail in which the check information is described in text from the communication terminal device 6 to the management device 5, and the confirmation information or error information is described in the text. An electronic mail is received from the management device 5. When using the web browsing function of the Internet, the service person accesses the web page constructed on the server computer 7 of the management device 5 by the communication terminal device 6 and checks the form in this web page. Enter information. Confirmation information or error information is also transmitted through such a web page.

  Further, in the setting validation process of the parking lot management system 1 described above, generation of confirmation information in the management device 5, transmission of confirmation information from the management device 5 to the fee settlement machine 3, and generation of confirmation reference information in the fee settlement machine 3 The verification of verification information in the fee settlement machine 3 may be omitted. In this case, when the check information received by the check information receiving unit 61 matches the check reference information generated by the check reference information generating unit 62 as a result of checking by the check information checking unit 63, the server computer 7 The general control unit 67 (collation result output means) transmits the collation result to the communication terminal device 6 possessed by the service person. Then, the service person who received the verification result activates the setting information in the fee settlement machine 3 by a predetermined operation.

  In addition, the present invention provides a parking lot management system having a so-called network-type fee settlement machine, that is, the fee settlement machine has an advanced communication function, and transmits setting information from the management device to the fee settlement machine. However, it can also be applied to a parking lot management system for setting / changing setting information of a fee settlement machine by remotely operating the fee settlement machine.

  Furthermore, the present invention can also be applied to setting / changing information other than parking fees. That is, the setting information is not limited to the parking fee calculation program and the amount data, but may be other information for setting the function or operation of the fee settlement machine.

  Further, the present invention can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist or idea of the invention that can be read from the claims and the entire specification, and a parking lot management system with such a change is also a technical idea of the invention. include.

It is explanatory drawing which shows embodiment of the parking lot management system of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of a part of a parking lot and the fee payment machine installed in the parking lot. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of a fee payment machine. It is a block diagram which shows the component implement | achieved by CPU of a fee adjustment machine. It is a block diagram which shows the component implement | achieved by CPU of the server computer which comprises some management apparatuses. It is explanatory drawing which shows the parking lot management information memorize | stored in the database which comprises some management apparatuses. It is explanatory drawing which shows a setting validation process.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Parking lot management system 2, 2, ... Parking lot 3, 3, ... Charge settlement machine 5 Management apparatus 6 Communication terminal apparatus 7 Server computer 8 Database 11 Key input apparatus 12 Display apparatus 21 CPU
22 ROM
51 Setting Information Receiving Unit 52 Check Information Generating Unit 53 Check Information Output Unit 54 Confirmation Information Receiving Unit 55 Confirmation Reference Information Generating Unit 56 Confirmation Information Collating Unit 57 Setting Validating Unit 61 Check Information Receiving Unit 62 Check Criteria Information Generating Unit 63 Check Information Verification unit 64 Confirmation information generation unit 65 Confirmation information output unit 66 Information management unit 67 General control unit 71 Parking lot management information C1 Check information C1 ′ Check criterion information CC1 Confirmation information CC1 ′ Confirmation criterion information D1, D1 ′ Setting information F1, F1 'Hash function K1, K1' key code

Claims (8)

A parking lot management system equipped with a fee settlement machine and a management device,
The fee settlement machine is
A setting information receiving means for receiving setting information for setting the function or operation of the fee settlement machine;
Key information storage means for storing key information;
Check information generating means for generating check information by performing a first calculation using the setting information received by the setting information receiving means and the key information stored in the key information storage means;
Check information output means for outputting the check information generated by the check information generation means,
The management device
Check information receiving means for receiving the check information output by the check information output means;
Parking lot management information storage means for storing parking lot management information including the setting information and the key information;
Check criterion information generating means for generating check reference information by performing the first calculation using setting information and key information included in the parking lot management information stored in the parking lot management information storage means;
Check information collating means for collating the check information received by the check information receiving means with the check reference information generated by the check reference information generating means;
A parking lot management system comprising: collation result output means for outputting a collation result by the check information collating means. The management device
When the check information received by the check information receiving means coincides with the check reference information generated by the check reference information generating means as a result of checking by the check information checking means, the check information receiving means has received the check information. By performing the second calculation using the check information or the check reference information generated by the check reference information generation means and the key information included in the parking lot management information stored in the parking lot management information storage means Confirmation information generating means for generating confirmation information;
Confirmation information output means for outputting the confirmation information generated by the confirmation information generation means,
The fee settlement machine is
Confirmation information receiving means for receiving the confirmation information output by the confirmation information output means;
Confirmation reference information generation means for generating confirmation reference information by performing the second calculation using the check information generated by the check information generation means and the key information stored in the key information storage means;
Confirmation information collating means for collating the confirmation information received by the confirmation information receiving means with the confirmation reference information generated by the confirmation reference information generating means;
As a result of collation by the confirmation information collating means, when the confirmation information received by the confirmation information receiving means matches the confirmation reference information generated by the confirmation reference information generating means, the confirmation information received by the setting information receiving means The parking lot management system according to claim 1, further comprising setting validation means for validating the setting of the function or operation of the fee settlement machine based on the setting information.   The parking lot management system according to claim 1, further comprising a communication terminal device that transmits the check information output by the check information output unit of the fee settlement machine to the management device.   The check information generating means encrypts the setting information received by the setting information receiving means with the key information stored in the key information storage means, and inputs the information obtained thereby to the hash function for calculation. The parking lot management system according to claim 1, wherein the check information is generated.   The check information generating means encrypts the setting information received by the setting information receiving means with the key information stored in the key information storage means, inputs the information obtained thereby into a hash function, performs an operation, The parking lot management system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein information having a predetermined length and part of the hash value is extracted as check information from the hash value obtained thereby.   The parking lot management system according to claim 1, wherein the check information receiving unit receives check information input using a key input device provided in the fee settlement machine. The parking lot management information has approval information indicating whether to approve the setting of the setting information to the fee settlement machine,
The check information collating unit collates the check information with the check reference information only when the approval information indicates that the setting information is approved to be set in the fee settlement machine. The parking lot management system according to claim 1 or 2.   The management device uses the information on the communication terminal device that transmitted the check information to the management device, and the parking lot management information using a check result of the check information and the check reference information as a part of the parking lot management information. 4. The parking lot management system according to claim 3, further comprising information management means stored in the storage means.

Images