JP6046300B1 - Parking lot management system and parking lot management method - Google Patents

Abstract

A new technique for centrally managing a plurality of parking lots is provided. A mobile terminal 90 of a user receives an identification signal from a transmitter 30 in any of the passenger compartments 22 in any of the parking lots 20, and the mobile terminal 90 receives the battery remaining of the transmitter 30 from the identification signal. The amount estimation value is extracted, and the management server 50 receives the extracted battery remaining amount estimation value from the portable terminal 90, and the operation of the corresponding transmitter 30 is guaranteed based on the received battery remaining amount estimation value. When the plurality of transmitters 30 are operation-guaranteed transmitters that are diagnosed to be guaranteed to operate, the management server 50 sets the spare transmitter 32 as any of the transmitters. Although not assigned to the vehicle compartment 22, if any transmitter 30 is an operation non-guaranteed transmitter diagnosed as operation is not guaranteed, it is assigned to the vehicle compartment 22 originally assigned to the operation non-guaranteed transmitter. Assign it , An alternative to the operation of non-guaranteed transmitter. [Selection] Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates a plurality of parking centrally manage technology.

  Parking lots having multiple parking spaces for vehicles are already widely used. This type of parking lot is classified in terms of the method of transporting the vehicle to the target parking space, and the user drives the vehicle by itself to transport it to the target parking space, and mechanically moves the pallet and cage. And mechanically transporting the vehicle to the target parking space.

  Moreover, the parking lot may be lent to the user free of charge, or may be rented for a fee. Toll parking lots are classified into monthly and hourly lending (including “daily lending”) in terms of the length of time lending to users.

  If you categorize the time-rented parking lot in terms of its management system, the person in charge of managing and monitoring the parking lot is resident at the site, and such a person in charge is not resident. It is classified as an unmanned system dispatched to the site.

  For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 exist as publicly known documents disclosing this type of parking lot and facilities (including a ticketing machine) installed in the parking lot.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for managing a parking lot for a bicycle that is easy to manage and is sufficiently profitable without equipment costs. According to this technology, since it is not necessary to install a device for preventing the bicycle from being illegally parked, the facility cost of the parking lot is reduced.

  Specifically, according to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, after a bicycle is parked at a vacant parking position, the user moves to a ticketing machine and inputs his / her registration number to the ticketing machine. In addition, the necessary parking fee will be introduced. The ticket issuing machine records the input registration number as the registration number for the bicycle whose parking fee has already been settled.

  Furthermore, according to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, an administrator who manages a parking lot (including a bicycle parking lot) reads a registration number from a label attached to a parked bicycle by his / her portable terminal. On the other hand, the manager takes in the registration number recorded on the ticket-issuing machine, that is, the registration number for the bicycle whose parking fee has already been settled, from the ticket-issuing machine.

  After that, the administrator verifies the registration number read from the parked bicycle with the registration number imported from the ticketing machine, and whether the parking fee has been settled for the parked bicycle based on the result of the verification That is, whether or not the bicycle is illegally parked. The administrator attaches a sticker that prompts the user to pay the fee to the bicycle whose parking fee is not settled, thereby notifying the user who owns the bicycle that the parking fee is uncleared.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a prepaid unmanned parking lot. In this parking lot, when a parking card is inserted, a card issuing machine that issues a parking card recording the time allowed for parking for a fee, a garage gate that is always closed, and a garage entrance are installed. And a warehousing management device that opens the warehousing gate on condition that the parking card is appropriate. Furthermore, in this parking lot, an exit gate that is always closed, and an exit management device that is installed at the exit and opens the exit gate on condition that the parking card is appropriate when a parking card is inserted. And are installed.

  According to the technique disclosed in Patent Literature 2, the user inserts a parking card into the exit management device when leaving the parking lot. The exit management device reads information from the inserted parking card, and when the read information indicates that the actual parking time length exceeds the expected parking time, the exit management device informs the user. On the other hand, it is required to pay an additional parking fee. If the user pays an additional parking fee to the delivery management device in response to the request, the delivery gate is opened. Since the delivery gate is not opened unless the user pays the necessary additional parking fee, the user can be prevented from cheating without paying the additional parking fee.

  Therefore, according to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2, it is essential that the parking lot manager visits the parking lot periodically to find illegal parking while it is a prepaid unmanned parking lot. And unauthorized parking can be prevented.

JP 2003-242537 A JP 2006-146325 A

  In general, in a parking lot service, from the standpoint of an administrator who manages a plurality of parking lots, there is a demand for cost reduction of facilities that need to be installed in each parking lot.

  However, with the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, a ticketing machine as a dedicated facility must be installed for each parking lot. The ticketing machine must be designed to have a function of inputting a user identification number, a function of recording data representing the input user identification number, and a function of outputting the recorded data to the outside. In addition, there was a limit to reducing the equipment cost of the ticket issuing machine.

  Therefore, when this technology is adopted, it is difficult to reduce the cost of equipment that needs to be installed in each parking lot.

  Moreover, according to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2, it is necessary to install a card issuing machine, a warehousing gate, a warehousing management device, a warehousing gate, and a warehousing management device in a parking lot. This becomes a factor of increasing the facility cost (including the device cost and the installation work cost) of the parking lot, compared to the case where only the ticketing machine needs to be installed in the parking lot. Moreover, according to this technique, both the warehousing management device and the warehousing management device need to have a function of reading information from the parking card. This leads to an increase in the facility costs of the warehousing management device and the warehousing management device, which also increases the facility cost of the parking lot.

  Therefore, even when this technology is adopted, it is difficult to reduce the cost of equipment that needs to be installed in each parking lot.

  Furthermore, in general, in a parking lot service, from the viewpoint of the user who uses the service, it is easy to use, that is, work required for the user when entering and leaving the parking lot (for example, in each parking lot) It is desired that the operation that the user needs to perform on the installed equipment and the user's own communication device is simple.

  Thus, for example, when entering and leaving a parking lot, the user operates his / her mobile terminal (for example, a mobile phone, a PHS, a PDA, a smartphone, a tablet computer, a personal computer with a communication function, etc.) to communicate with the management center ( For example, when it is required to transmit parking location information to the management center), it is desirable that the amount, type, and the like of data that the user is required to input to the mobile terminal is minimized. .

  Furthermore, as a parking lot management system, each parking lot is managed independently (individually or self-contained) using only the facilities installed in the parking lot, There is a centralized management system that centrally manages these parking lots by communicating with a management server in which the parking lots are remotely located.

  In the parking management business that employs the latter centralized management method, the management server displays the parking lot used by the user and the usage status thereof (for example, the entry time and the exit time) for each user and for each parking lot. Accurately grasping is necessary for correctly calculating the parking fee and correctly monitoring the number of vehicles parked in each parking lot (for example, the operation rate, the vacancy rate, etc.).

  Therefore, so that the user does not transmit erroneous information about the actual usage status of the parking lot to the management server regardless of whether the user is careless or intentional when entering or leaving the store. It is important to.

  Therefore, from the standpoint of an administrator who centrally manages a plurality of parking lots, in addition to the above-mentioned request for cost reduction of parking facilities, parking related information transmitted from the used parking lot to the management server. Improvement of security is also required.

Against the background of the above knowledge, the present invention has been made as an object to provide a new technique for intensively managing a plurality of parking lots.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a parking lot management system that centrally manages a plurality of geographically different parking lots having a plurality of vehicle compartments. ,
A non-contact type or a contact type transmitter that is installed at least one in each compartment of each parking lot and transmits an identification signal locally;
The plurality of compartments of the plurality of parking lots by wirelessly communicating with a portable terminal of a user who uses any of the compartments in any of the parking lots and receiving the identification signal from the transmitter And a management server that centrally manages
Each transmitter is operated by a battery, estimates the remaining amount of the battery, generates the identification signal so as to also represent the estimated remaining battery value, and transmits the generated identification signal,
The user's mobile terminal extracts the battery remaining amount estimated value from the identification signal received from the transmitter in any vehicle compartment in any parking lot,
The management server further includes:
The extracted battery remaining amount estimated value is received in association with the corresponding transmitter or vehicle compartment from the user's mobile terminal, and the operation of the corresponding transmitter is guaranteed based on the received battery remaining amount estimated value. Including a transmitter diagnosis unit that diagnoses whether or not
The parking lot management system further includes a spare transmitter added to a plurality of transmitters corresponding to the plurality of vehicle compartments in the same parking lot,
The spare transmitter is not assigned to any vehicle compartment when all of the plurality of transmitters are operation-guaranteed transmitters that are diagnosed to be guaranteed to operate. However, if it is a non-guaranteed transmitter that has been diagnosed as non-guaranteed, it is assigned to the cabin that was originally assigned to the non-guaranteed transmitter, thereby replacing the non-guaranteed transmitter. A parking management system is provided.

  The following aspects are obtained by the present invention. Each aspect is divided into sections, each section is given a number, and is described in a form that cites other section numbers as necessary. This is to facilitate understanding of some of the technical features that the present invention can employ and combinations thereof, and the technical features that can be employed by the present invention and combinations thereof are limited to the following embodiments. Should not be interpreted. That is, it should be construed that it is not impeded to appropriately extract and employ the technical features described in the present specification as technical features of the present invention although they are not described in the following embodiments.

  Further, describing each section in the form of quoting the numbers of the other sections does not necessarily prevent the technical features described in each section from being separated from the technical features described in the other sections. It should not be construed as meaning, but it should be construed that the technical features described in each section can be appropriately made independent depending on the nature.

(1) A parking lot management system that centrally manages a plurality of geographically different parking lots,
A non-contact type or a contact type transmitter that is installed at least one in each parking lot and locally transmits an identification signal that can identify a parking space ID unique to the corresponding parking lot;
A management server that centrally manages the plurality of parking lots by wirelessly communicating with a mobile terminal of a user using any of the parking lots,
The management server is
When the portable terminal of the user in any parking lot effectively receives the identification signal from the transmitter, the received identification signal is referred to as a parking space ID corresponding to any of the parking lots from the portable terminal. A real-time receiver that receives the signal substantially in real time in a form;
Based on the received parking space ID, the parking space where the user is actually located is specified, and the time when the parking space ID is received is set at the time of warehousing at the time of entering the parking space, and at the time of leaving from the parking space at the time. A parking lot management system including an information recognition unit that recognizes each as a delivery time.

(2) A parking lot management system that centrally manages a plurality of geographically different parking lots,
A non-contact type or a contact type transmitter that is installed at least one in each compartment of each parking lot and locally transmits an identification signal that can identify a unique parking space ID in the corresponding compartment;
A management server that centrally manages the plurality of parking lots by wirelessly communicating with a mobile terminal of a user who uses any of the vehicle compartments in any of the parking lots,
The management server is
When the user's mobile terminal in any vehicle compartment in any parking lot effectively receives the identification signal from the transmitter, the received identification signal is transferred from the mobile terminal to any vehicle compartment. A real-time receiving unit that receives substantially real-time in the form of a corresponding parking space ID;
Based on the received parking space ID, a user's actual vehicle compartment is specified, and the time at which the user has received the parking space ID is set at the time of entry into the parking lot and at the time of delivery from the current parking lot. A parking lot management system including an information recognition unit that recognizes each as a delivery time.

(3) The information recognizing unit is triggered by the fact that the user's mobile terminal has received the identification signal representing the same parking space ID a plurality of times at different times from the transmitter (1) or ( The parking lot management system according to item 2).

(4) When the user's mobile terminal effectively receives an identification signal representing the same parking space ID a plurality of times at different times from the transmitter, the real-time receiving unit is parked by the received identification signal. Receiving the space ID from the mobile terminal substantially in real time;
The said information recognition part is a parking lot management system as described in the (3) term, when the said real-time receiving part receives the said parking space ID from a user's recording portable terminal.

(5) The real-time receiving unit receives an identification signal representing a parking space ID represented by the identification signal from the portable terminal substantially in real time each time the user's portable terminal receives the identification signal from the transmitter. Received at
The parking lot management system according to (3), wherein the information recognition unit is activated when the real-time reception unit receives the same parking space ID from the mobile terminal a plurality of times at different times.

(6) The management server starts substantial communication with the portable terminal in response to a first reception event that the user's portable terminal has received the identification signal from the transmitter, and after the communication starts. In response to the second reception event that the portable terminal has received the identification signal representing the same parking space ID from the transmitter again, the parking space ID is received from the portable terminal (1) to (5). The parking lot management system according to any one of the above.

(7) The management server generates a first reception event in which a user's mobile terminal receives the identification signal from the transmitter, and then the mobile terminal receives an identification signal indicating the same parking space ID from the transmitter. In response to the second reception event, substantial communication with the portable terminal is started, and after the communication starts, the parking space ID is obtained from the portable terminal. The parking lot management system according to any one of (1) to (5).

(8) Each transmitter is operated by a battery, estimates the remaining amount of the battery, generates the identification signal so as to also represent the estimated remaining battery value, transmits the generated identification signal,
The user's mobile terminal extracts the estimated battery remaining value from the identification signal received from the corresponding transmitter,
The management server further includes:
The extracted battery remaining amount estimated value is received from the user's portable terminal in association with the corresponding transmitter or parking space ID, and the operation of the corresponding transmitter is guaranteed based on the received battery remaining amount estimated value. The parking lot management system according to any one of (1) to (7), further including a transmitter diagnostic unit that diagnoses whether or not the transmission is performed.

(9) Each transmitter is operated by a battery, estimates the remaining amount of the battery, generates the identification signal so as to also represent the estimated remaining battery value, transmits the generated identification signal,
The user's mobile terminal extracts the estimated battery remaining value from the identification signal received from the corresponding transmitter,
The management server further includes:
The extracted battery remaining amount estimated value is received from the user's portable terminal in association with the corresponding transmitter or parking space ID, and the operation of the corresponding transmitter is guaranteed based on the received battery remaining amount estimated value. Transmitter diagnosis unit for diagnosing whether or not
In the same parking lot, among the plurality of transmitters, the parking of the operation-guaranteed transmitter diagnosed as the operation that is adjacent to the non-operation-guaranteed transmitter diagnosed as the operation is not guaranteed and the operation is guaranteed. The plurality of parking space IDs so that a space ID is commonly assigned to both the vehicle room originally assigned to the operation-guaranteed transmitter and the vehicle room originally assigned to the operation non-guaranteed transmitter. The parking lot management system according to (2), further including a correspondence change unit that changes a correspondence relationship between the vehicle and the plurality of vehicle compartments from a one-to-one correspondence relationship to a one-to-many correspondence relationship.

(10) In the same parking lot, the correspondence changing unit is installed in a vehicle room adjacent to the vehicle room when the transmitter installed in the vehicle room is an operation non-guaranteed transmitter. If the transmitter is an operation guarantee transmitter, the correspondence relationship between the plurality of parking space IDs and the plurality of vehicle compartments is set to 1 so that the operation guarantee transmitter covers the two vehicle compartments simultaneously. The parking lot management system according to (9), wherein the one-to-many correspondence is changed to the one-to-many correspondence.

(11) The parking management system further includes:
Each transmitter is operated by a battery, estimates the remaining amount of the battery, generates the identification signal so as to also represent the estimated remaining battery value, and transmits the generated identification signal,
The user's mobile terminal extracts the estimated battery remaining value from the identification signal received from the corresponding transmitter,
The management server further includes:
The extracted battery remaining amount estimated value is received from the user's portable terminal in association with the corresponding transmitter or parking space ID, and the operation of the corresponding transmitter is guaranteed based on the received battery remaining amount estimated value. Transmitter diagnosis unit for diagnosing whether or not
A spare transmitter added to the plurality of transmitters in the same parking lot, and
The spare transmitter is not assigned to any vehicle compartment when all of the plurality of transmitters are operation-guaranteed transmitters that are diagnosed to be guaranteed to operate. However, when the operation non-guaranteed transmitter is diagnosed as not being guaranteed, it is assigned to the cabin originally assigned to the operation non-guaranteed transmitter, thereby substituting the non-operation guaranteed transmitter (2 The parking lot management system described in the item).

(12) The preliminary transmitter is a non-contact or contact transmitter that locally transmits an identification signal that can identify a parking space ID different from the parking space IDs of the plurality of vehicle compartments,
The management server further includes:
When the operation non-guaranteed transmitter is detected with respect to the correspondence between the plurality of parking space IDs and the plurality of vehicle compartments, the vehicle interior originally assigned to the operation non-guaranteed transmitter and the spare transmitter The parking lot management system according to item (11), including a corresponding relationship changing unit that changes to indicate that the parking space IDs corresponding to each other correspond to each other.

(13) The parking lot management system according to any one of (1) to (12), wherein the vehicles that can be parked in each parking lot include at least one of a bicycle, an automobile, and a motorcycle.

(14) A parking lot management system for managing a plurality of geographically different parking lots,
A non-contact type or a contact type transmitter that is installed at least one in each parking lot and locally transmits an identification signal that can identify a parking space ID unique to the corresponding parking lot;
A management server that centrally manages the plurality of parking lots by wirelessly communicating with a user's mobile terminal,
When the portable terminal receives the identification signal from the transmitter installed in any parking lot, the portable terminal identifies the parking space ID for the parking lot based on the identification signal, and is identified. Sent parking space ID to the management server,
The management server
A warehousing processing unit that handles warehousing of vehicles to any parking lot;
A delivery processing unit that processes the delivery of vehicles from any of the parking lots,
The warehouse processing unit
A first condition that the mobile terminal has received the identification signal representing the same parking space ID a plurality of times at different times during the warehousing process this time;
The management server from the portable terminal, the parking space ID identified using the warehousing request that the user wishes to park the vehicle in any parking lot, and the current identification signal; When the second condition that the user has received the chassis number of the vehicle that the user wants to enter is established, the parking lot corresponding to the current parking space ID is recognized as the current parking lot, and And record the time of arrival of the vehicle this time,
The exit processing unit
A third condition in which the mobile terminal has effectively received an identification signal representing the same parking space ID a plurality of times at different times during the present shipping process;
The management server uses the portable terminal, the user requests that the vehicle is to be released from the current parking lot, the parking space ID identified using the current identification signal, and the user When the fourth condition that the vehicle number of the vehicle to be issued is received is established, the parking lot corresponding to the current parking space ID is recognized as the current parking lot, and the current parking lot from the current parking lot is A parking lot management system that records the time of departure of a vehicle.

(15) A parking lot management system for managing a plurality of geographically different parking lots,
A non-contact type or a contact type transmitter that is installed at least one in each compartment in each parking lot and locally transmits an identification signal that can identify a unique parking space ID in the corresponding compartment;
A management server that centrally manages the plurality of vehicle compartments in the plurality of parking lots by wirelessly communicating with a user's portable terminal,
When the portable terminal receives the identification signal from the transmitter installed in one of the passenger compartments, the portable terminal identifies the parking space ID for the passenger compartment based on the identification signal, and is identified. Sent parking space ID to the management server,
The management server
A warehousing processing unit that processes the warehousing of vehicles into any vehicle compartment in any parking lot;
A delivery processing unit for processing delivery of vehicles from any vehicle compartment in any parking lot,
The warehouse processing unit
A first condition that the mobile terminal has received the identification signal representing the same parking space ID a plurality of times at different times during the warehousing process this time;
The management server from the portable terminal, the parking request ID that the user wishes to park the vehicle in any of the compartments, and the parking space ID identified using the current identification signal, When the second condition that the user has received the chassis number of the vehicle that the user wants to enter is established, the vehicle corresponding to the current parking space ID is recognized as the current vehicle and the current vehicle To record the time when the vehicle was received,
The exit processing unit
A third condition in which the mobile terminal has effectively received an identification signal representing the same parking space ID a plurality of times at different times during the present shipping process;
The management server, from the portable terminal, the user requests that the user wants to leave the vehicle from the vehicle compartment, the parking space ID identified by using the identification signal, and the user When the fourth condition that the vehicle number of the vehicle issued by the vehicle is received is established, the parking lot corresponding to the current parking space ID is recognized as the current parking lot, and the current parking lot is A parking lot management system that records the departure time of a vehicle.

(16) A parking lot management method for centrally managing a plurality of geographically different parking lots,
At least one non-contact type transmitter or a contact type transmitter that locally transmits an identification signal that can identify a parking space ID unique to the corresponding parking lot is installed in each parking lot,
A user using any of the parking lots communicates wirelessly with a management server that centrally manages the plurality of parking lots via the mobile terminal,
The parking lot management method is
When the portable terminal of the user in any parking lot effectively receives the identification signal from the transmitter, the received identification signal is referred to as a parking space ID corresponding to any of the parking lots from the portable terminal. A receiving process in real time to receive in substantially real time in form;
Based on the received parking space ID, the parking space where the user is actually located is specified, and the time when the parking space ID is received is set at the time of warehousing at the time of entering the parking space, and at the time of leaving from the parking space at the time. A parking lot management method including an information recognition process that recognizes each as a delivery time.

(17) A parking lot management method for centrally managing a plurality of geographically different parking lots,
A non-contact type or a contact type transmitter that locally transmits an identification signal that can identify a parking space ID unique to the corresponding vehicle compartment is installed in each vehicle compartment of each parking lot,
A user who uses any vehicle compartment in any parking lot wirelessly communicates with a management server that centrally manages the plurality of parking lots via a mobile terminal,
The parking lot management method is
When the user's mobile terminal in any vehicle compartment in any parking lot effectively receives the identification signal from the transmitter, the received identification signal is transferred from the mobile terminal to any vehicle compartment. A real-time receiving step of receiving substantially in real time in the form of a corresponding parking space ID;
Based on the received parking space ID, a user's actual vehicle compartment is specified, and the time at which the user has received the parking space ID is set at the time of entry into the parking lot and at the time of delivery from the current parking lot. A parking lot management method including an information recognition process that recognizes each as a delivery time.

(18) A program executed by a user's portable terminal or a computer of a management server in order to implement the method according to (16) or (17).

  The program according to this section may be interpreted to mean, for example, a combination of instructions executed by a computer to perform its function, or not only a combination of these instructions but also a file or data processed according to each instruction. Can be interpreted to include, but is not limited to.

  In addition, this program may achieve its intended purpose by being executed by a computer alone, or may be intended to achieve its intended purpose by being executed by a computer together with other programs. Yes, but not limited to them. In the latter case, the program according to this section can be mainly composed of data, but is not limited thereto.

(19) A recording medium on which the program according to item (18) is recorded so as to be readable by a computer.

  This recording medium can adopt various formats, for example, a magnetic recording medium such as a flexible disk, an optical recording medium such as a CD and a CD-ROM, a magneto-optical recording medium such as an MO, and an unremovable storage such as a ROM. However, it is not limited to them.

FIG. 1 shows a plurality of transmitters installed in a parking lot, one of a plurality of parking lots managed centrally by a parking lot management system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view exemplarily shown together with one spare transmitter.

2, in the parking management system shown in FIG. 1, a transmitter installed in a certain cabin, a spare transmitter installed in the same parking lot, a mobile terminal of a user in the same cabin, It is a perspective view which shows an example of a mode that the management server in the management center in a remote place communicates with each other.

FIG. 3 shows a short-distance one-way communication between the transmitter and spare transmitter shown in FIG. 2 and the portable terminal, and a long-distance two-way communication between the portable terminal and the management server shown in FIG. Are conceptually represented respectively.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram conceptually showing the transmitter shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart conceptually showing an example of a program executed by the transmitter computer shown in FIG. 4 (hereinafter, also referred to as “application”; the same applies to other programs).

FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view showing a plurality of transmitters shown in FIG. 1 together with a plurality of cabins in which the transmitters are installed. In this plan view, the transmitters are further assigned to each transmitter. The receivable area and the effective reception area are conceptually represented.

FIG. 7 shows a short-distance one-way communication between the transmitter and the portable terminal shown in FIG. 2 and a long-distance two-way communication between the portable terminal and the management server shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram conceptually illustrating an example of signal exchange in each time series.

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram conceptually showing the mobile terminal shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart conceptually showing an example of a program executed by the computer of the mobile terminal shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram conceptually showing the management server shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram conceptually showing the computer of the management server shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart conceptually showing a part of an example of a main program executed by the computer shown in FIG.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart conceptually showing the remaining part of the main program shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart conceptually showing an example of a list display program executed by the computer shown in FIG.

FIG. 15 is a diagram conceptually showing an example of the usage status management list created by executing step S208 in FIG. 12 and step S224 in FIG.

FIG. 16 is a diagram conceptually showing a correspondence table referred to by the computer shown in FIG. 14 when the management server shown in FIG. 10 creates the usage status management list shown in FIG.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart conceptually showing an example of a delivery reminder program executed by a delivery notice unit in the computer shown in FIG.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart conceptually showing the first shortage backup processing program executed by the shortage backup processing unit of the computer shown in FIG. 11 and not using the spare transmitter. It is.

FIG. 19A is a diagram showing an example of the initial setting of the correspondence relationship between the transmitter and the passenger compartment in the parking lot management system shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 19B is a diagram showing the correspondence relationship. It is a figure which shows an example of a mode changed by execution of the backup process program at the time of insufficient remaining amount shown in FIG.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of how the regular usage status management list illustrated in FIG. 15 is changed when the correspondence is changed by the correspondence changing unit.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart conceptually showing a second shortage backup processing program executed by the shortage backup processing unit of the computer shown in FIG. 11 and using the spare transmitter. is there.

22A is a diagram showing an example of the initial setting of the correspondence relationship between the transmitter and the passenger compartment in the parking lot management system shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 22B is a diagram showing the correspondence relationship. It is a figure which shows an example of a mode changed by execution of the backup process program at the time of the shortage of remaining amount shown in FIG.

FIG. 23 shows a short-distance one-way communication between a transmitter and a portable terminal and a long-distance between a portable terminal and a management server in a parking lot management system according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which represents notionally an example of signal exchange in each of distance bidirectional | two-way communication in time series.

  Hereinafter, some exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described in detail based on a drawing.

[First Embodiment]

  First, referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a parking lot management system (hereinafter simply referred to as “system”) 10 according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention can park a plurality of vehicles. This is a system for managing a plurality of parking lots 20 (in FIG. 1, only representative parking lots 20 of these parking lots 20 are shown).

  In FIG. 1, the parking lot 20 is shown in a plan view. The parking lot 20 has a plurality of vehicle compartments (an example of the parking space) 22 that enables simultaneous parking of a plurality of vehicles. In this parking lot 20, there is a single entry / exit port 24 (which is both an entry / exit port).

  The parking lot 20 is unmanned, and the parking lot 20 also includes a gate device that opens and closes appropriately to prevent the unauthorized vehicles from coming out from the entrance / exit 24 of the parking lot 20. A car stop device that appears and disappears as appropriate to prevent unfair vehicles from being issued, and a ticketing machine and a checkout machine that issue a parking ticket to the user on condition that the user pays a parking fee are also installed. Absent.

  It should be noted that the term “vehicle” should be interpreted as a term encompassing not only automobiles but also all types of mobile objects such as bicycles and motorcycles.

  As shown in FIG. 1, there are two types of parking sections on the site of the parking lot 20. It is based on a premise of a section for renting the vehicle compartment 22 on a daily basis for each vehicle user (a temporary storage section or a daily renting section) and for each vehicle user. And a compartment for renting the passenger compartment 22 (monthly compartment). Hereinafter, when simply referred to as “parking lot 20”, only the temporary storage section of the parking lot 20 is meant.

  This system 10 employs the above-described centralized management system as the parking lot management system. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the system 10 includes a plurality of transmitters (an example of a parking lot side unit) 30 installed in a plurality of compartments 22 of a plurality of parking lots 20, respectively. And a management server (an example of a center side unit) 50 installed in a management center 40 that centrally manages a plurality of parking lots 20.

  In the present embodiment, one transmitter 30 is configured to transmit a local identification signal that can identify a unique parking space ID for each vehicle compartment 22 in each parking lot 20. One parking space ID is unique to one vehicle compartment 22 and also unique to one transmitter 30. Of course, if one parking space ID is specified, one parking lot to which the corresponding vehicle compartment 22 belongs is also specified.

  As a result, each parking lot 20 is provided with the same number of transmitters 30 as the number of vehicle compartments 22 present therein, and further, at least one spare transmitter 32 is also provided.

  The spare transmitter 32 is temporarily used to replace any transmitter 30 when it fails. The spare transmitter 32 is also configured to transmit a local identification signal that can identify a unique parking space ID, in the same manner as the regular transmitter 30.

  As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, in this system 10, the user uses the mobile terminal 90 of his / her own mobile terminal 90 from the transmitter 30 installed in one vehicle compartment 22 where the user is currently staying. The local identification signal is received in a contact state or non-contact state with the transmitter 30 (short-distance one-way wireless communication is performed), and the long-distance two-way wireless communication with the management server 50 of the management center 40 is performed. Communicate.

  Further, the user receives the above-described local identification signal from the spare transmitter 32 via the portable terminal 90 when the normal transmitter 30 fails.

  The user's portable terminal 90 is a device that is carried by the user and has a wireless communication function, such as a mobile phone, a smartphone, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, and a PDA.

  Here, a hardware configuration (refer to FIG. 4) and a software configuration (refer to FIG. 5) will be described for one transmitter 30 that represents the plurality of transmitters 30 installed in the plurality of vehicle compartments 22. FIG. In addition, about the spare transmitter 32, since a structure and a function are common with the transmitter 30, the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

  First, to explain conceptually, at least one transmitter 30 is installed in each vehicle compartment 22 and locally transmits an identification signal that can identify a unique parking space ID in the corresponding vehicle compartment 22. A contactless or contact communication device.

  The transmitter 30 is normally fixedly installed in the corresponding vehicle compartment 22 so as not to move, but can be movably installed so that it can be moved at any time. The transmitter 30 only needs to have at least a transmission function, but may be configured to have a reception function as required.

  Next, in order to explain the operation system, the transmitter 30 transmits the unique identification signal actively without using a trigger signal from the outside, locally, and permanently unless the supply power is insufficient. To do.

  The transmitter 30 is a device that is generally known by a name such as a beacon device that transmits a beacon signal as an identification signal or a radio beacon. In one example, the transmitter 30 generates an identification signal indicating a corresponding parking space ID by modulating an original signal, and the generated identification signal is converted into an IR signal, a Bluetooth (registered trademark) signal, an NFC, and the like. (Short-range wireless communication) Transmit locally as a signal.

  Next, the hardware configuration will be described with reference to FIG. 4 which is a functional block diagram. The transmitter 30 includes a computer 104 having a processor 100 and a memory 102 for storing a plurality of applications executed by the processor 100. It is configured as a subject.

  The transmitter 30 further includes a replaceable disposable battery 106 as a power source. Instead of the battery 106, a rechargeable battery or a commercial power source as an external power source can be employed.

  The transmitter 30 further includes a transmitter 108 that generates and transmits an identification signal. The transmitter 108 is operated by the battery 106 and is controlled by the controller 110. The controller 110 is controlled by the computer 100.

  Next, the software configuration of the transmitter 30 will be described with reference to FIG. 5. The processor 100 of the transmitter 30 repeatedly executes the program conceptually shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  When each program is executed, first, in step S1, a parking space ID (that is, a unique parking space ID assigned to the passenger compartment 22 where the transmitter 30 of this time is actually installed) is read from the memory 102. Next, in step S2, the remaining amount of the battery 106 is estimated.

  Subsequently, in step S3, a signal for modulating an original signal (for example, a carrier signal) is transmitted to the controller 110 so that the read parking space ID and the estimated remaining battery level are reflected. Is output. The controller 110 controls the transmitting unit 108, and as a result, the transmitting unit 108 generates an identification signal to be transmitted this time. Thereafter, in step S4, the generated identification signal is transmitted from the transmitter 108. Then, it returns to step S1.

  In addition, in the transmitter 30, the algorithm or procedure for generating the identification signal so that the parking space ID and the remaining battery level are reflected may be different from the algorithm or procedure shown in FIG. Is possible.

  Here, in order to explain one function of the user's portable terminal 90 in association with the transmitter 30, the portable terminal 90 receives an identification signal from the transmitter 30 and transmits it to the computer of the portable terminal 90. When a program installed in advance, that is, a dedicated application for transmitter processing (hereinafter referred to as “transmitter application”) is activated (login), the received identification signal is demodulated, thereby Decode the parking space ID. The mobile terminal 90 further transmits the decoded parking space ID to the management server 50.

  Further, when the portable terminal 90 starts the transmitter application while receiving the identification signal from the transmitter 30, the transmitter 30 when the identification signal is transmitted based on the received identification signal. And the distance between the position of the portable terminal 90 when the identification signal is received is also measured.

  That is, based on the identification signal received from the transmitter 30, the mobile terminal 90 has a parking space ID unique to the passenger compartment 22 where the transmitter 30 is actually installed, and the distance from the transmitter 30 at that time. Both are to be acquired.

  When the user of the portable terminal 90 approaches the transmitter 30 while holding his / her own portable terminal 90 and makes the portable terminal 90 completely or substantially contact the transmitter 108 of the transmitter 30, the portable terminal 90 is The identification signal can be received from the transmitter 30 in a contact manner.

  On the other hand, when the user of the mobile terminal 90 enters the specific reception area while holding his / her mobile terminal 90, the mobile terminal 90 can receive the identification signal from the transmitter 30 in a non-contact manner.

  As conceptually shown in a plan view in FIG. 6, two types of reception areas are assigned to the transmitter 30. They are a receivable area and an effective receiving area. Each of these areas is generally defined by a circle originating from the transmitter 30. A receivable area has a maximum reception radius, whereas an effective reception area has an effective reception radius.

  More specifically, however, the receivable area is an area where the identification signal from the transmitter 30 is reachable when the power supply of the transmitter 30 is normal, that is, as long as it exists in the area. It means an area where the terminal 90 can receive the identification signal.

  On the other hand, the effective reception area has an effective reception radius smaller than the maximum reception radius of the receivable area. The maximum reception radius cannot be arbitrarily set, whereas the effective reception radius can be arbitrarily set.

  That is, the maximum reception radius may mean a reception limit determined by hardware, whereas the effective reception radius may mean a reception limit determined by software.

  As described above, the portable terminal 90 measures the distance from the transmitter 30 when the received identification signal is transmitted. The distance measurement may or may not exceed the effective reception radius. When the distance measurement value does not exceed the reception effective radius, the mobile terminal 90 exists in the effective reception area, whereas when the distance measurement value exceeds the reception effective radius, the mobile terminal 90 Is present in the receivable area but not in the effective reception area.

  When the portable terminal 90 activates the transmitter processing application, the portable terminal 90 determines whether or not the distance measurement value is less than or equal to the set value of the effective reception radius. Since 90 is currently located within the effective reception area, the portable terminal 90 determines that “the identification signal from the transmitter 30 has been received effectively (hereinafter also simply referred to as“ the identification signal has been received ”)”. .

  On the other hand, when the mobile terminal 90 determines that the distance measurement value is larger than the set value, the mobile terminal 90 is currently located outside the effective reception area. It is determined that the signal is not received effectively (hereinafter also simply referred to as “the identification signal is not received”).

  That is, in the present embodiment, when the mobile terminal 90 is located outside the effective reception area, the mobile terminal 90 actually appears even though the mobile terminal 90 receives the identification signal. It is handled on the software that the identification signal has not been received.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the individual performance and relative positional relationship of the plurality of transmitters 30, and the receivable area and the effective reception area do not overlap each other between the plurality of transmitters 30. A set value for the effective reception radius is set.

  In FIG. 7, the contents of the short-distance one-way wireless communication between the transmitter 30 and the mobile terminal 90 located in the same vehicle compartment 22 are expressed in time series and conceptually. The transmitter 30 continues to transmit the same identification signal to the portable terminal 90.

  Note that the identification signal is a signal that reflects not only the parking space ID but also the remaining battery level, so that the identification signal may be unchanged even if the parking space ID is unchanged. It is assumed that it fluctuates with time.

  However, since the remaining battery level does not change abruptly, it is possible to consider that the remaining battery level is unchanged within a short time span assumed in association with the mobile terminal 90. On the other hand, it is not assumed that the parking space ID changes.

  Therefore, since the identification signal repeatedly transmits the same information within a short time span, in the substantial sense, the identification signal can be handled as being essentially unchanged.

  By the way, the identification signal is not physically observed as a plurality of signals when it is a continuous wave, whereas it is observed as a plurality of signals when it is an intermittent wave. However, even a continuous wave can be understood as a plurality of periodic signals arranged in time series as long as the identification signal is periodic. Therefore, for convenience of explanation, as conceptually shown in FIG. 7, regardless of whether the signal is a continuous wave or an intermittent wave, the identification signal should be understood as a plurality of individual signals arranged in time series. Is possible.

  In addition, in FIG. 7, the contents of long-distance two-way wireless communication between the portable terminal 90 and the remote management server 50 are also conceptually represented. This will be described in detail later.

  Next, the hardware configuration of the mobile terminal 90 will be described with reference to FIG. 8, which is a functional block diagram. The mobile terminal 90 includes a processor 130 and a memory 132 that stores a plurality of applications executed by the processor 130. The computer 134 is mainly configured.

  The portable terminal 90 further includes a display unit (for example, a liquid crystal display) 136 that displays information, a receiving unit 138 that receives signals from the transmitter 30 and the management server 50, and generates and manages the signals. And a transmission unit 140 that transmits to the server 50.

  Next, the software configuration of the mobile terminal 90 will be described with reference to FIG. 9. The processor 130 of the mobile terminal 90 executes a plurality of programs. One of these programs is the transmitter application described above, and the application is conceptually represented in the flowchart of FIG.

  The processor 130 of the portable terminal 90 repeatedly executes the transmitter application (hereinafter also simply referred to as “program”). When the program is executed each time, first, in step S101, the program is activated in response to a user operation.

  Next, in step S102, it is determined whether or not the mobile phone 90 has effectively received the identification signal from the transmitter 30.

  If the mobile terminal 90 is currently located outside the receivable area, the mobile terminal 90 cannot receive any identification signal from the transmitter 30, and therefore the determination in step S102 is NO.

  Thereafter, in step S115, a message is displayed on the screen of the display unit 136 to notify the user that an operation error exists, or to prompt the user to modify the operation method and try again. At this time, communication between the portable terminal 90 and the management server 50 ends (logout). An example of the above message is a message stating that “the signal from the transmitter cannot be received properly. Please bring your mobile device close enough to or in contact with the transmitter and then start the app again.” is there. This completes the current execution of this program.

  On the other hand, when the mobile terminal 90 is currently located within the receivable area, the mobile terminal 90 can receive the identification signal from the transmitter 30. In this case, in step S102, the distance to the current transmitter 30 is measured based on the received identification signal. In step S102, it is further determined whether or not the distance measurement value is smaller than the set value, that is, whether or not the mobile terminal 90 is currently located within the effective reception area. If the distance measurement value is greater than or equal to the set value, the determination in step S102 is no and the process moves to step S115.

  On the other hand, when the portable terminal 90 is currently located in the effective reception area, the determination in step S102 is YES because the distance measurement value is smaller than the set value. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, the first reception confirmation in relation to the transmitter 30 (this is an example of the “first reception event”) is completed. Thereafter, the current session, that is, one-way bidirectional communication with the management server 50 for the user to use the current parking service is started.

  In the present embodiment, the management server 50 is not actually designed to directly confirm the fact that the mobile terminal 90 has effectively received the identification signal from the transmitter 30. However, the management server 50 has received an access request from the mobile terminal 90 on the premise of a protocol or fact that the mobile terminal 90 does not make an access request to the management server 50 unless the identification signal is effectively received from the transmitter 30. Only from this fact, the fact that the mobile terminal 90 has effectively received the identification signal from the transmitter 30 is estimated.

  Therefore, the management server 50 is actually equivalent to performing the operation | movement for confirming the fact that the portable terminal 90 received the identification signal from the transmitter 30 effectively.

  When this session starts, first, the member ID of the user is transmitted to the management server 50 in step S103. In step S <b> 104, the user password is transmitted to the management server 50.

  Subsequently, in step S105, the user among the current request from the user, that is, an entry request for entry of a vehicle into a certain compartment 22 and an exit request for entry of the vehicle from the compartment 22 Is transmitted to the management server 50. Thereafter, in step S <b> 106, a unique chassis number (for example, a 4-digit number attached to a so-called license plate) attached to the vehicle that the user wants to park is transmitted to the management server 50. Note that step S106 can be omitted.

  Subsequently, in step S107, the received identification signal is demodulated, whereby the parking space ID represented by the identification signal is decoded. Thereby, the parking space ID that uniquely identifies the vehicle compartment 22 of this time is identified. This parking space ID is stored in the memory 132.

  In step S107, the remaining battery level represented by the identification signal is also decoded by demodulating the received identification signal. This estimated battery remaining value is also stored in the memory 132.

  Thereafter, in step S108, whether or not the portable terminal 90 has effectively received an identification signal representing the same parking space ID as the identification signal received from the transmitter 30 at the time of execution of step S102 (ie, substantially the same identification signal). Is determined. The algorithm for determining the presence / absence of the effective reception is the same as that described above for step S102.

  This time, assuming that the mobile terminal 90 is continuously present in the same effective reception area of the same cabin 22 during the current session, the mobile terminal 90 has the same parking space ID as the previously received identification signal. Since the identification signal representing is received, the determination in step S108 is YES. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 7, the second reception confirmation (this is an example of the “second reception event”) in relation to the transmitter 30 is completed.

  Thereafter, in step S109, the identified parking space ID is transmitted to the management server 50. This step S109 is executed without performing any other substantial processing when the determination in step S108 is YES, so step S109 is executed immediately after the second reception confirmation, thereby The parking space ID converted from the same identification signal received at the second time as that received at the first time is transmitted from the portable terminal 90 to the management server 50.

  As a result, in effect, the management server 50, after the mobile terminal 90 effectively receives the second identification signal from the transmitter 30, then without intentionally extended waiting time, ie, substantially in real time. The identification signal is received in the form of a parking space ID converted from the identification signal. The identification signal and the parking space ID are substantially the same as information.

  Therefore, as will be described later, if the management server 50 measures the current time immediately after receiving the parking space ID, the management server 50 obtains the current time from the actual warehousing time or the eviction time of the vehicle (the user requests warehousing. In this case, the time can be accurately recognized as the time reflecting the warehousing time, and when the user requests the vehicle to be evacuated.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, in the process in which the identification signal received by the mobile terminal 90 from the transmitter 30 is converted into the parking space ID that the mobile terminal 90 transmits to the management server 50, the user's intentional intervention, Since there is no data input or data editing by the user, the user cannot tamper with the parking space ID. As a result, the security of the vehicle compartment position related information (an example of the parking related information) transmitted from the transmitter 30 to the management server 50 via the portable terminal 90 is improved.

  On the other hand, assuming that the mobile terminal 90 has moved from an effective reception area in one cabin 22 to an effective reception area in another cabin 22 during this session, the mobile terminal 90 receives the previous reception. Since the identification signal different from the identified identification signal is received, the determination in step S108 is NO.

  In this case, after that, although not shown, a warning message is displayed on the screen of the display unit 136 of the portable terminal 90. The warning message is, for example, a message stating that “the user moved from the first compartment to another compartment before the parking application was completed, and this action resulted in the loss of eligibility to use this parking service”. Is displayed. This completes the current execution of this program. At this time, communication between the portable terminal 90 and the management server 50 ends (logout).

  By the way, the identification number transmitted by the transmitter 30 is unique to the transmitter 30 and also unique to one vehicle compartment 22 in which the transmitter 30 is installed. Furthermore, the receivable area of the transmitter 30 installed in one vehicle compartment 22 does not overlap with the receivable area of another transmitter 30 installed in another vehicle compartment 22. Therefore, the portable terminal 90 does not receive a plurality of identification signals from the plurality of transmitters 30 at the same time.

  Then, the fact that “the mobile terminal has received an identification signal representing the same parking space ID again during the same session” means that “the user with the mobile terminal 90 is in one vehicle compartment 22 identified by the identification signal. The fact that they stayed continuously for a certain time span can be inferred with high accuracy. However, when the mobile terminal 90 receives the identification signal from the transmitter 30 once and transmits the parking space ID corresponding to the identification signal to the management server 50, the same inference is performed only with low accuracy. Can not.

  Here, “a certain time span” specifically means, for example, a time interval from the time when the first reception confirmation is performed to the time when the second reception confirmation is performed. However, the time interval can have, for example, 1 second as a lower limit or 5 seconds as an upper limit. For example, in an example in which the time interval is set to 1 second, the user receives a parking service to stay in the same cabin 22 and within the effective reception area of the transmitter 30 for at least 1 second. It becomes the condition for.

  When the current parking space ID is transmitted to the management server 50 in step S109, a reply from the management server 50 is awaited in step S110. As will be described later, in the returned data, the data indicating whether or not the process for entering the vehicle has started (parking has started), the process for exiting has been completed (parking has ended). Data indicating whether or not the payment has been completed, payment details indicating the settlement after the shipment, and the like.

  If there is such a reply from the management server 50, it is determined in step S111 whether or not the returned data is parking start data indicating that the process for entering the vehicle has been started. If it is parking start data, the determination in step S111 is YES. This completes the current execution of this program. Thereby, the user can start parking his / her vehicle in the vehicle compartment 22 of this time.

  As a result, the current session, that is, one-way two-way communication with the management server 50 for entry into the current vehicle compartment 22 is completed (logout).

  On the other hand, if the data returned from the management server 50 this time is not parking start data, the determination in step S111 is NO, and the returned data is processed for delivery in step S113. It is determined whether or not the parking end data indicates that the event has been completed. If it is parking end data, the determination in step S113 is YES.

  Since the payment details are returned from the management server 50 this time, the returned payment details are displayed on the screen of the display unit 136 of the portable terminal 90 in step S114. This completes the current execution of this program. Thereby, the user can know the amount of the parking fee paid as a consideration for the current parking service.

  As a result, the current session, that is, one-way bidirectional communication with the management server 50 for delivery from the current passenger compartment 22 ends (logout).

  Next, the hardware configuration of the management server 50 will be described with reference to FIG. 10 which is a functional block diagram. The management server 50 includes a processor 160 and a memory 162 that stores a plurality of applications executed by the processor 160. The computer 164 is mainly configured.

  The management server 50 further generates a signal by displaying a display unit (for example, a liquid crystal display) 166 that displays information, a receiving unit 168 that receives a signal from the portable terminal 90, and transmits the signal to the portable terminal 90. And a clock 172. This management server 50 does not directly receive from the transmitter 30, but in effect via the mobile terminal 90.

  Next, the software configuration of the computer 164 of the management server 50 will be conceptually described with reference to FIG. 11 which is a functional block diagram.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the management server 50 includes a warehousing processing unit 200 for processing warehousing of vehicles and a warehousing processing unit 202 for processing warehousing of vehicles.

  The management server 50 further includes a list creation unit 204 and a list display unit 206. The list creation unit 204 creates the usage status management list shown in FIG. In response to this, the list display unit 206 responds to a display request from the operator of the management server 50, reads the created usage status management list from the memory 162, and displays it on the screen of the display unit 166 of the management server 50. .

  The management server 50 further includes a delivery reminder 208. The delivery prompting unit 208 repeatedly extracts, from a plurality of users, unissued users who have not completed delivery of the vehicle from the plurality of users, and the mobile terminals 90 of the extracted unissued users. In addition, a message indicating that the vehicle has not been delivered is transmitted.

  The management server 50 further includes a parking fee calculation unit 210 that calculates a parking fee to be paid by the user who parked the vehicle, and a settlement processing unit 212 that allows the user to pay the parking fee.

  Specifically, the parking fee calculation unit 210 calculates the length of the elapsed time from the entry time to the exit time as the length of the user's parking time. The amount of the parking fee is set to increase according to the length of the parking time, and the relationship is stored in advance in the memory 162 as a fee table (not shown).

  The parking fee calculation unit 210 further calculates the amount of the current parking fee by referring to the fee table based on the calculated length of the parking time.

  Further, the settlement processing unit 212 collects the current parking fee from the user by performing bank settlement, credit settlement, prepaid settlement or the like for the current user.

  Next, the software configuration of the management server 50 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 12 and FIG. 13. The processor 160 of the management server 50 includes the programs shown in FIG. The main program conceptually represented in the flowchart of FIG. 13 (a program for entering and leaving the goods) is repeatedly executed.

  Each execution of the main program is started in step S201 shown in FIG. 12, and in this step S201, the type of the current request issued from the user to the management center 40 via the portable terminal 90 is stored. Receives information for identifying whether the request is a request or a delivery request, the chassis number, the parking space ID, and the estimated battery remaining amount together with the member ID and password assigned in advance for the current user. To do. These data are stored in the memory 162 in association with each other for later access.

  In order to enjoy the parking service provided by the system 10, the user is required to register in advance as a member, and at that time, register the password necessary for subsequent personal authentication. It is requested.

  In this step S201, it is further determined whether or not a parking space ID has been received from the user's portable terminal 90 before the set time has elapsed since the start of communication with the user's portable terminal 90. If the parking space ID is not received, the determination is NO, and the management server 50 blocks the current communication with the user's mobile terminal 90.

  The reason why the management server 50 could not receive the parking space ID from the user's mobile terminal 90 within the set time is that the first reception confirmation was established in the user's mobile terminal 90 in step S102 of FIG. The determination is YES and communication with the management server 50 is started. However, since the second reception confirmation is not established in the user's portable terminal 90, the determination in step S108 in FIG. Is skipped.

  Therefore, only when the parking space ID is received from the user's portable terminal 90 within the set time, the process proceeds to step S202.

  Note that whether or not the parking space ID has been received from the user's portable terminal 90 within the set time is determined not after step S201 but after step S201 and before step S204. Good. For example, it may be executed between steps S202 and S203, or may be executed between steps S203 and S204.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, when the user's portable terminal 90 receives an identification signal representing the same parking space ID from the transmitter 30 a plurality of times, the parking space ID is transferred from the user's portable terminal 90 to the management server 50. And the management server 50 starts full-scale processing using it as a trigger. Therefore, the management server 50 does not receive the same parking space ID from the user's portable terminal 90 a plurality of times.

  Instead, each time the user's portable terminal 90 receives an identification signal from the transmitter 30, each parking space ID represented by each identification signal is transmitted to the management server 50, and the management server 50 It is also possible to implement the present invention in such a manner that when the same parking space ID is received a plurality of times from the portable terminal 90, the management server 50 starts full-scale processing.

  Next, in step S202, it is determined from the collation result of the received member ID and password and the registered information whether or not the personal authentication for the current user has been successful. If the personal authentication is successful, it is determined in step S203 whether or not the current request from the user is a warehousing request.

  If the current request is an outgoing request, the determination is no, and then the process proceeds to the step group shown in FIG. 13. If the current request is an incoming request, the determination is yes, and step S204 is performed. Migrate to

  In this step S204, the current time is measured using the clock 172, and the user's warehousing time (parking start time) is recorded in the memory 162 as the same time as the current time.

  This step S204 is the time when the management server 50 received the parking space ID from the portable terminal 90 in step S201 (this is because the portable terminal 90 effectively received the second identification signal from the transmitter 30 during the user warehousing process). (The time almost coincides with the time), and is executed promptly (one minute or before a time longer than necessary has elapsed). Therefore, the warehousing time is recognized as a time substantially coincident with the time when the portable terminal 90 effectively receives the second identification signal from the transmitter 30 in the warehousing process of the user.

  That is, in this step S204, the mobile terminal 90 has effectively received the second identification signal from the transmitter 30 at the time when the management server 50 receives the parking space ID from the mobile terminal 90, that is, in the user's warehousing process. The user's warehousing time is recognized based on the time substantially matching the time.

  Subsequently, in step S207, the user is allowed to park the vehicle in the current vehicle compartment 22. As a premise, it is recognized that the user is actually in the passenger compartment 22 having the parking space ID at the warehousing time.

  Thereafter, in step S208, the vehicle compartment 22 corresponding to the parking space ID is acquired in accordance with the correspondence table shown in FIG. 16, whereby the current vehicle compartment 22 and the parking lot 20 to which it belongs are specified. In this step S208, the current entry time and the vehicle compartment 22 are further stored in the memory 162 in association with the current member and chassis number in preparation for later use.

  Specifically, in this step S208, the usage status management list shown in FIG. 15 is created. More specifically, in this step S208, triggered by the occurrence of an event of warehousing for a certain user, for each parking service, a parking space (the parking lot 20 and the passenger compartment 22), the warehousing time, A data block (for example, linked data) in which the departure time, information for identifying the user (member ID), and the chassis number are associated with each other and further optionally associated with the estimated battery remaining amount. Column) is created. A plurality of data blocks corresponding to a plurality of parking services are listed, thereby creating a usage status management list.

  As illustrated in FIG. 16, correspondence relationships among a plurality of parking space IDs, a plurality of parking spaces 20, and a plurality of vehicle compartments 22 are recorded in the memory 162 in advance. Therefore, if the current parking space ID is specified at each time point, the location of one corresponding parking lot 20 and the location of one corresponding vehicle compartment 22 are specified.

  In the example of the usage status management list shown in FIG. 15, a plurality of data blocks are arranged in time series. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 15, a plurality of data blocks are arranged in order from the latest warehousing time.

  In the example shown in FIG. 15, the first data block from the top is the vehicle compartment number of parking lot A. 1 indicates that the vehicle (chassis number: 0123) was received at 10:00 on January 20 for the member “Tanaka”, but the vehicle has not yet been released (parked).

  The second data block from the top is the car number in parking lot A. In FIG. 2, the vehicle (chassis number: 1234) is entered into the member “Suzuki” at 9:00 on January 20, but the vehicle has not been issued yet (parked).

  The third data block from the top is the parking lot No. 3, the vehicle (chassis number: 2345) is received for the member “Kato” at 8:00 on January 20th, and the vehicle is left in the parking lot A at 17:00 on January 20th. The parking fee is paid.

  The fourth data block from the top is the parking lot No. 4, the vehicle (chassis number: 3456) is entered into the member “Kobayashi” at 8:00 on January 19th, and the vehicle is delivered to the parking lot B at 12:00 on January 19th. The parking fee is paid.

  In other words, the part of the management server 50 that executes step S208 constitutes the list creation unit 204.

  Subsequently, in step S211, the list display program shown in FIG. 14 (described in detail later) is executed, so that the usage status management list is displayed on the screen of the display unit 166 of the management server 50 as necessary. Thereby, the usage status management list is made visible to the operator of the management server 50.

  Thereafter, in step S212, the exit reminder program (described in detail later) shown in FIG. 17 is executed. With the above, the execution of the part of the main program for entering the vehicle is completed.

  On the other hand, if the current request issued by the user is an exit request, the determination in step S203 of FIG. 12 is NO, and the process proceeds to step S213 shown in FIG. In step S213, the current time is measured using the clock 172, and the user's departure time (parking end time) is recorded in the memory 162 as the same time as the current time.

  This step S213 is the time when the management server 50 received the parking space ID from the portable terminal 90 in step S201 (this is because the portable terminal 90 effectively received the second identification signal from the transmitter 30 during the user's leaving process). (The time almost coincides with the time), and is executed promptly (one minute or before a time longer than necessary has elapsed). Therefore, the delivery time is recognized as a time that substantially matches the time when the mobile terminal 90 effectively received the second identification signal from the transmitter 30 in the user's delivery process.

  That is, in this step S213, the time when the management server 50 received the parking space ID from the portable terminal 90, that is, the portable terminal 90 effectively received the second identification signal from the transmitter 30 in the user's leaving process. The user's delivery time is recognized based on a time that substantially matches the time.

  Subsequently, in step S215, by referring to the use state management list, it is determined whether or not the parking space ID at the time of delivery matches the parking space ID at the time of entry of the same user. If they do not match, the determination in step S215 is NO, and in step S227, there is a possibility that there is some abnormality in the data received from the user this time, or the user is staying in the wrong rental space 20. As a certain case, re-input of data to the user, that is, retry of communication with the management server 50 is required. This is the end of the execution of the main program.

  On the other hand, when the parking space ID at the time of delivery coincides with the parking space ID at the time of entry of the same user, the determination in step S215 is YES, and then in step S217, the user determines that the present vehicle compartment 22 It is allowed to leave from. As a premise, it is recognized that the user is actually in the passenger compartment 22 having the restored parking space ID at the measured delivery time. Thereafter, in step S <b> 218, the warehousing time for the vehicle that is the current evacuation target is read from the memory 162.

  Subsequently, in step S219, the length of the elapsed time from the entry time to the exit time is calculated as the length of the current user's parking time. Thereafter, in step S221, the amount of the current parking fee is calculated by referring to the fee table based on the calculated length of the parking time. Thereafter, in step S222, the calculated parking fee is paid to the current user, and the current parking fee is collected from the user.

  Subsequently, in step S223, a message indicating that the delivery has been completed and the payment details for the current parking fee are transmitted to the user's portable terminal 90.

  Thereafter, in step S224, the usage status management list is updated so that the current data at the shipping time is reflected. Subsequently, in step S225, the list display program shown in FIG. 14 (described in detail later) is executed, so that the latest usage status management list is displayed on the screen of the display unit 166 of the management server 50 as necessary. Thus, the usage status management list is made visible to the operator of the management server 50.

  Thereafter, in step S226, an exit reminder program (described in detail later) shown in FIG. 17 is executed. This completes the execution of the part of the main program where the vehicle is unloaded.

  In the present embodiment, the mobile terminal 90 receives a unique local identification signal for each vehicle compartment 22 from the transmitter 30, converts the identification signal into a parking space ID, and converts the parking space ID into the user's mobile phone. The terminal 90 transmits to the management server 50, which is effectively equivalent to the management server 50 receiving a local identification signal unique to each vehicle compartment 22 via the user's portable terminal 90. .

  In this way, thanks to the identification signal from the transmitter 30 being transmitted to the management server 50 via the portable terminal 90, the user can specify any vehicle at any specified time. The management server 50 can recognize that the user is in the room 22.

  By the way, in this embodiment, after a user's portable terminal 90 receives the identification signal showing the same parking space ID effectively several times, and confirms the identity of the passenger compartment 22 where the user is staying, the portable terminal 90 Transmits the parking space ID corresponding to the identification signal to the management server 50 only once.

  On the other hand, whenever the portable terminal 50 receives the identification signal, the identification signal is converted into a parking space ID and transmitted to the management server 50, and the management server 50 receives the same parking space ID a plurality of times. After confirming the identity of the passenger compartment 22 where the user is staying (that the user continues to be in the same passenger compartment 22), it is possible to implement the present invention in such a manner that the entry or exit of the vehicle is processed. is there.

  However, in this aspect, considering that the management server 50 normally processes a plurality of sessions related to parking with a plurality of users (each session is a series of interactive operations) collectively, The processing load on the management server 50 tends to increase.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the user's portable terminal 90 causes the user's portable terminal 90 to perform an event of confirming the identity of the vehicle compartment 22 where the user is staying, not the management server 50. The burden on the management server 50 can be reduced easily.

  Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the management server 50 responds to the first reception event that the user's mobile terminal 90 has received the identification signal from the transmitter 30 with the mobile terminal 90. In response to the second reception event that the portable terminal 90 has received the identification signal representing the same parking space ID from the transmitter 30 again after starting the substantial communication (one session), the portable terminal 90 A parking space ID corresponding to the identification signal is received from the terminal 90.

  According to this embodiment, it becomes possible to perform the process of the user's portable terminal 90 and the process of the management server 50 in parallel with each other, and therefore, the user can more quickly perform the vehicle than when the processes are performed in series. It is possible to perform goods receipt or delivery.

  Here, the list display program will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  This list display program is repeatedly executed, and at the time of each execution, first, in step S301, it is waited for a list display request from the operator of the management server 50.

  When the list display request is issued, the determination in step S301 is YES, and the usage status management list is read from the memory 162 in step S302. Subsequently, in step S <b> 303, the read usage status management list is displayed on the screen of the display unit 172 of the management server 50. This completes the current execution of this list display program.

  Here, the delivery notification program will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  This delivery notification program is repeatedly executed. At the time of each execution, first, in step S401, a data block to be noted this time is selected from a plurality of data blocks recorded in the usage status management list in units of events of entry. Is selected.

  Subsequently, in step S402, in the selected data block, by referring to the column of the departure time, whether or not the time when the user corresponding to the data block has left the vehicle is not recorded, that is, It is then determined whether or not the current user remains unissued.

  If the current user remains unissued, the determination in step S402 is YES, and in step S403, a message for prompting the delivery is transmitted from the management server 50 to the user's portable terminal 90. . Thereafter, the process returns to step S401, and another data block is selected as an execution target.

  On the other hand, if the current user has already left the store, the determination in step S402 is NO, step S403 is skipped, and the process returns to step S401.

  As is clear from the above description, in this embodiment, the part of the management server 50 that executes steps S201 to S207 and S210 constitutes the warehousing processing unit 200, and steps S201 to S203 and S213 to S223 are executed. The part to be executed constitutes the exit processing part 202, the part to execute steps S208 and S224 constitutes the list creation part 204, and the part to execute steps S211 and S225 constitutes the list display part 206. The part which performs and performs step S212 and S226 comprises the leaving reminder part 208. FIG.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the portion of the management server 50 that executes step S201 constitutes an example of each of the real-time receiving unit and the real-time receiving process, and steps S203 to S205, S214, and S215 are performed. The part to be executed constitutes an example of each of the information recognition unit and the information recognition process.

  As illustrated in FIG. 11, the computer 164 of the management server 50 includes a backup processing unit 214 when the remaining amount is insufficient. This shortage remaining time backup processing unit 214 includes a remaining battery level estimation unit 220, a transmitter diagnosis unit 222, and a correspondence change unit 224.

  The management server 50 executes a shortage backup processing program in order to configure the shortage backup processing unit 214. In this embodiment, the management server 50 uses two types of shortage backup processing programs. Of these, the one selected in advance by the management center 40 is executed.

  Briefly, the first shortage backup processing program does not use the spare transmitter 32, and the plurality of transmitters 30 excluding the operation non-guaranteed transmitter 30 and the plurality of vehicle compartments. The backup of the operation non-guaranteed transmitter 30 is performed by optimizing the correspondence relationship with. On the other hand, the second shortage backup processing program performs backup of the non-guaranteed transmitter 30 by substituting the operation non-guaranteed transmitter 30 with the spare transmitter 32.

  FIG. 18 conceptually shows the first low-deficiency backup processing program in a flowchart.

  This program is repeatedly executed in the management server 50 for each parking lot 20 managed by the management server 50. At each execution of this program, first, in step S601, the number n is set to 1, and then, among the plurality of transmitters 30 respectively installed in the plurality of compartments 22 belonging to the current parking lot 20, The transmitter 30 is selected so that the serial number assigned to it (same as the serial number assigned to the corresponding passenger compartment 22) is equal to the current value of number n (currently 1). .

  In FIG. 19 (a), a plurality of transmitters 30, a plurality of passenger compartments 22, and information on the presence or absence of operation guarantee are shown in association with each other, and the correspondence relationship is stored in the memory 162 as a correspondence relationship table. Has been.

  Next, in step S <b> 602, the current remaining current estimated value of the transmitter 30 is read from the memory 162. Subsequently, in step S603, whether or not the estimated battery remaining amount is lower than the reference value, that is, whether or not there is a possibility that the operation is not guaranteed because the current remaining amount of the transmitter 30 is insufficient. Is determined.

  If it is assumed that the estimated remaining battery level is equal to or greater than the reference value this time, the determination in step S603 is YES, and in step S604, the current transmitter 30 is diagnosed as an operation-guaranteed transmitter. The correspondence table is updated so that the diagnosis result is reflected, whereby the diagnosis result is stored in the memory 162.

  Subsequently, in step S605, it is determined whether or not the number n has reached the maximum value nmax (equal to the total number of transmitters 30). If the number n is smaller than the maximum value nmax, the determination in step S605 is NO, and in step S606, the number n is incremented by 1, and then the process proceeds to step S602.

  On the other hand, if the number n reaches the maximum value nmax, the determination in step S605 is YES, and then the process returns to step S601, where the number n is reset to 1.

  If it is assumed that the estimated remaining battery level is lower than the reference value this time, the determination in step S603 is NO, and in step S607, it is diagnosed that the current transmitter 30 is an operation unguaranteed transmitter. The correspondence table is updated so that the diagnosis result is reflected, whereby the diagnosis result is stored in the memory 162.

  Thereafter, in step S608, it is determined whether or not the (n−1) th transmitter 30 is an operation guarantee transmitter by referring to the correspondence table. This time, assuming that the (n−1) -th transmitter 30 is an operation-guaranteed transmitter, the determination in step S608 is YES, and in step S609, the correspondence table is reflected to reflect the result. Be changed.

  Specifically, the (n-1) th transmitter 30 is expressed as being assigned to both the nth passenger compartment 22 and the (n-1) th passenger compartment 22 as described above. The correspondence table is changed. In accordance with this change, the usage status management list is updated as shown in FIG.

  Thereafter, in step S610, for all users who are going to use the current parking lot 20, the transmitter 30 installed in the nth passenger compartment 22 may break down. A guidance message “I want to use the nth vehicle compartment 22 using the (n-1) th transmitter 30” is transmitted to the mobile terminals 90 of these users. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S605.

  On the other hand, this time, if it is assumed that the (n−1) -th transmitter 30 is also an operation non-guaranteed transmitter, the determination in step S608 is NO, and the correspondence table is referred to in step S611. Thus, it is determined whether or not the (n + 1) th transmitter 30 is an operation guarantee transmitter. This time, assuming that the (n + 1) -th transmitter 30 is an operation-guaranteed transmitter, the determination in step S611 is YES, and in step S612, the correspondence table is changed to reflect the result. The

  Specifically, the correspondence table is expressed so that the (n + 1) th transmitter 30 is assigned to both the nth compartment 22 and the (n + 1) th compartment 22. Be changed. In accordance with this change, the usage status management list is updated as shown in FIG. Thereafter, in step S610, guidance to the user is performed as described above.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 19B, the first transmitter 30 is attracting attention this time, and if the transmitter 30 is diagnosed as an operation non-guaranteed transmitter, the second transmitter 30 is used. Has been diagnosed as an operation guarantee transmitter, the second transmitter 30 is assigned to both the first vehicle compartment 22 and the second vehicle compartment 22. As a result, it is avoided that the first vehicle compartment 22 is left unoccupied because the operation of the first transmitter 30 is not guaranteed, thereby improving the operating rate of the parking lot 20. To do.

  In this example, as shown in FIG. 20, the usage status management list includes a list of users who use each vehicle compartment 22 for the first vehicle compartment 22 and the second vehicle compartment 22 individually. It updates so that the user who is using either of these two compartments 22 may be specified, without specifying.

  FIG. 21 conceptually shows the above-described second shortage backup processing program in the form of a flowchart.

  This program is also repeatedly executed in the management server 50 for each parking lot 20 managed by the management server 50. At each execution of this program, first, in step S701, the number n is set to 1, and then the nth one of the plurality of regular transmitters 30 is selected as the current transmitter 30.

  In FIG. 22 (a), a plurality of transmitters 30, a plurality of vehicle compartments 22, and information on the presence / absence of operation guarantee are shown in association with each other, and the correspondence is stored in the memory 162 as a correspondence table. Has been.

  Next, in step S <b> 702, the current remaining current estimated value of the transmitter 30 is read from the memory 162. Subsequently, in step S703, whether or not the estimated battery remaining value is lower than the reference value, that is, whether or not there is a possibility that the operation is not guaranteed due to the current remaining amount of the transmitter 30 being insufficient. Is determined.

  If it is assumed that the estimated remaining battery level is equal to or greater than the reference value this time, the determination in step S703 is YES, and in step S704, the current transmitter 30 is diagnosed as an operation-guaranteed transmitter. The correspondence table is updated so that the diagnosis result is reflected, whereby the diagnosis result is stored in the memory 162.

  Subsequently, in step S705, it is determined whether or not the number n has reached the maximum value nmax (equal to the total number of transmitters 30). If the number n is smaller than the maximum value nmax, the determination in step S705 is NO, and in step S706, the number n is incremented by 1, and then the process proceeds to step S702.

  On the other hand, when the number n reaches the maximum value nmax, the determination in step S705 is YES, and then the process returns to step S701, where the number n is reset to 1.

  If it is assumed that the estimated remaining battery level is lower than the reference value this time, the determination in step S703 is NO, and in step S707, it is diagnosed that the current transmitter 30 is an operation-unguaranteed transmitter. The correspondence table is updated so that the diagnosis result is reflected, whereby the diagnosis result is stored in the memory 162.

  Thereafter, in step S708, by referring to the correspondence relationship table, the nth transmitter 30 is replaced by the spare transmitter 32. The correspondence table is changed to reflect the alternative.

  After that, in step S709, the transmitter 30 installed in the nth vehicle compartment 22 may break down for all users who are going to use the current parking lot 20, so the spare transmitter 32 is Instead, a guidance message indicating that the user wants to use the nth vehicle compartment 22 is transmitted to the mobile terminals 90 of the users. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S705.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 20B, the first transmitter 30 is attracting attention this time, and when the transmitter 30 is diagnosed as an operation non-guaranteed transmitter, the first transmitter 30 is used. Is replaced by the spare transmitter 32 ("100" is assigned as the serial number). As a result, it is avoided that the first vehicle compartment 22 is left unoccupied because the operation of the first transmitter 30 is not guaranteed, and the operating rate of the parking lot 20 is improved.

[Second Embodiment]

  Next, a parking lot management system 10 according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. However, since this embodiment has many elements in common with the first embodiment described above, only different elements will be described in detail, and the common elements will be referred to using the same name or the same reference numerals. The duplicated explanation is omitted.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, when signals are transmitted between the transmitter 30, the user's portable terminal 90, and the management server 50, as shown in FIG. 90 processing and the management server 50 processing are partially performed in parallel with each other.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 23 in time series, the process of the mobile terminal 90 and the process of the management server 50 are performed in series.

  Specifically, after the first reception event that the management server 50 has received the identification signal from the transmitter 30 has occurred, the identification signal representing the same parking space ID from the transmitter 30 to the portable terminal 90. Until the second reception event occurs, the mobile terminal 90 does not perform substantial communication until the second reception event occurs, and only after the second reception event has occurred, the mobile terminal 90 responds to the second reception event. Substantial communication (one session) with the terminal 90 is started, and then the parking space ID corresponding to the identification signal is received from the portable terminal 90.

  According to this embodiment, the management server 50 can perform necessary processing without waiting for the appearance of an event that is temporally affected by the operating state of the mobile terminal 90 after one session is started. Therefore, the management server 50 does not have to worry about interruption of processing due to the convenience of the mobile terminal 90, and it becomes easy to complete the processing with high efficiency.

[Some effects according to some embodiments]

  As mentioned above, although some embodiment of this invention was described in detail based on drawing, according to these embodiment, the following some effects are acquired, for example.

1. Cost reduction of parking service equipment installed in the parking lot 20

  Non-contact or contact type transmissions that specify the information to be transmitted or transmitted from various device manufacturers, and convert the information into identification signals, modulate or encrypt them, and transmit the identification signals locally The machine is commercially available.

  It is possible to implement | achieve the transmitter 30 of this embodiment using this commercial item. That is, it is not indispensable to design and manufacture a dedicated transmitter in order to realize the transmitter 30.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is easy to reduce the cost of parking service facilities that need to be installed in each vehicle compartment 22.

2. Improved accuracy in recognizing which vehicle compartment 22 the user is actually in

  According to the present embodiment, the management server 50 effectively receives the local identification signal unique to each passenger compartment 22 and transmitted from the transmitter 30 via the user's portable terminal 90. Parking service is provided.

  Here, since the identification signal transmitted from the transmitter 30 is a kind of encrypted signal, it is impossible for the user to modify the identification signal. In addition, the management server 50 specifies the location of the passenger compartment 22 where the user is currently located using an identification signal from the transmitter 30.

  Furthermore, in the process in which the identification signal received by the portable terminal 90 from the transmitter 30 is converted into the parking space ID that the portable terminal 90 transmits to the management server 50, the user's intentional intervention, that is, data input by the user, There is no data editing. Therefore, the user cannot tamper with the parking space ID. As a result, the security of the parking related information transmitted from the passenger compartment 22 used to the management server 50 is improved.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the accuracy of recognizing which vehicle compartment 22 the user is actually in is improved.

3. Improved accuracy in recognizing when a user actually enters or exits a certain compartment 22

  According to the present embodiment, a unique local identification signal for each passenger compartment 22 is transmitted from the transmitter 30 to the management server 50 via the user's portable terminal 90 in the form of a parking space ID substantially in real time. Is done. For example, the management server 50 refers to the time when the parking space ID is received, and recognizes the time when the entry into the vehicle compartment 22 is started and the time when the delivery from the vehicle compartment 22 ends. Therefore, the user cannot falsify those times.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the accuracy with which the user recognizes at which time the vehicle compartment 22 is actually entered or exited is improved. Therefore, this also improves the security of the parking related information transmitted from the vehicle compartment 22 to be used to the management server 50.

4). Segregated monitoring of user behavior in terms of whether a user was really in a car room 22 for parking purposes or just in the vicinity of a car room 22 by chance

  According to the present embodiment, an event that the user's mobile terminal 90 effectively receives an identification signal representing the same parking space ID a plurality of times at different times, that is, an identification signal representing the same parking space ID for a certain period of time. The management server 50 performs processing for parking after waiting for substantially continuous reception over the span.

  That is, according to the present embodiment, instead of requiring the instantaneous reception of a certain identification signal, that is, the instantaneous stay of a user in a certain passenger compartment 22, the continuous reception of the identification signal representing the same parking space ID, that is, The management server 50 estimates or identifies the position of the passenger compartment 22 where the user is actually staying, that is, the parking space ID, with the user's continuous stay in the same passenger compartment 22 as a sufficient condition.

  As a result, according to the present embodiment, the position of the user's mobile terminal 90, that is, the position of the user is continuously observed instead of instantaneously, so that the user can really enter or leave the vehicle. It is possible to distinguish and observe the user's behavior from the viewpoint of whether he / she was at 22 or just in the vicinity of the passenger compartment 22 by chance.

  Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, when it is determined that the user may have been in the vicinity of the passenger compartment 22 by chance, the management server 50 does not start or starts the parking process. However, it is possible to stop the process and finally prevent unnecessary processing.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, in response to only one event that the user's mobile terminal 90 first received the identification signal effectively, the management server 50 is more accurate than when the parking process is performed, Processing for unauthorized parking can be avoided.

  For example, in the user's mobile terminal 90, an application for a parking service is erroneously started, and at that time, the user was in the vicinity of one of the passenger compartments 22 by chance. Even if the identification signal from the machine 30 is received, as long as the user is moving away from the passenger compartment 22 at the next moment, the user makes an erroneous parking application to the management server 50 without knowing it. You do n’t have to. Therefore, an incorrect parking fee is not charged to the user by the management server 50.

  In addition, some of the above-described embodiments are some specific examples when the present invention is applied to a parking service for parking a bicycle. The present invention can be applied to a parking service for parking a car or a parking service for a motorcycle.

  As mentioned above, although several embodiment of this invention was described in detail based on drawing, these are illustrations and are based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art including the aspect as described in the above-mentioned [summary of invention] column. The present invention can be implemented in other forms with various modifications and improvements.

Claims (4)

A parking lot management system that centrally manages a plurality of geographically different parking lots having a plurality of vehicle compartments,
A non-contact type or a contact type transmitter that is installed at least one in each compartment of each parking lot and transmits an identification signal locally;
The plurality of compartments of the plurality of parking lots by wirelessly communicating with a portable terminal of a user who uses any of the compartments in any of the parking lots and receiving the identification signal from the transmitter And a management server that centrally manages
Each transmitter is operated by a battery, estimates the remaining amount of the battery, generates the identification signal so as to also represent the estimated remaining battery value, and transmits the generated identification signal,
The user's mobile terminal extracts the battery remaining amount estimated value from the identification signal received from the transmitter in any vehicle compartment in any parking lot,
The management server further includes:
The extracted battery remaining amount estimated value is received in association with the corresponding transmitter or vehicle compartment from the user's mobile terminal, and the operation of the corresponding transmitter is guaranteed based on the received battery remaining amount estimated value. Including a transmitter diagnosis unit that diagnoses whether or not
The parking lot management system further includes a spare transmitter added to a plurality of transmitters corresponding to the plurality of vehicle compartments in the same parking lot,
The spare transmitter is not assigned to any vehicle compartment when all of the plurality of transmitters are operation-guaranteed transmitters that are diagnosed to be guaranteed to operate. However, if it is a non-guaranteed transmitter that has been diagnosed as non-guaranteed, it is assigned to the cabin that was originally assigned to the non-guaranteed transmitter, thereby replacing the non-guaranteed transmitter. Garage management system. A parking lot management method for centrally managing a plurality of geographically different parking lots having a plurality of vehicle compartments,
At least one non-contact type or contact type transmitter that transmits an identification signal locally is installed in each compartment of each parking lot,
In the same parking lot, a spare transmitter is additionally installed for a plurality of transmitters corresponding to the plurality of passenger compartments,
A user who uses any vehicle compartment in any parking lot wirelessly communicates with a management server that centrally manages the plurality of parking lots via a mobile terminal,
Each transmitter is operated by a battery, estimates the remaining amount of the battery, generates the identification signal so as to also represent the estimated remaining battery value, and transmits the generated identification signal,
The parking lot management method is
A receiving step in which the user's mobile terminal receives the identification signal from a transmitter in any vehicle compartment in any parking lot;
An extraction step in which the user's mobile terminal extracts the estimated battery remaining value from the received identification signal;
The management server receives the extracted battery remaining amount estimated value from the user's portable terminal in association with the corresponding transmitter or vehicle compartment, and based on the received battery remaining amount estimated value, the corresponding transmitter Transmitter diagnosis process for diagnosing whether the operation of the transmitter is guaranteed,
When all of the plurality of transmitters are operation-guaranteed transmitters that are diagnosed to be guaranteed to operate, the management server does not assign the spare transmitter to any vehicle compartment. If such transmitter is a non-guaranteed transmitter that has been diagnosed as not operating, it will be assigned to the cabin that was originally assigned to the non-operational transmitter, thereby Nine parking lot management methods that include an alternative process to substitute. The program for making a computer perform each process which the management server of Claim 1 or 2 performs. A recording medium on which the program according to claim 3 is recorded so as to be readable by a computer .

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