JP7236761B2 - parking lot management system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a technology for managing a plurality of parking lots using an information processing terminal of a user who selects and uses one of the plurality of parking lots.

Parking lots with multiple parking spaces (also called "cabins") for vehicles are already widespread. This type of parking lot can be categorized from the viewpoint of the method of transporting the vehicle to the target parking space. A mechanical type that mechanically transports the vehicle to the target parking space.

In addition, the parking lot may be rented to the user free of charge or may be rented for a fee. Toll parking lots are classified into monthly parking lots and hourly parking lots (including "daily parking") in terms of the length of time they are rented to users.

Hourly parking lots can be categorized according to their management methods: manned parking lots, in which a person in charge of managing and monitoring the parking lot is stationed on-site, and sporadic parking lots, in which such a person is not stationed at all times. It is classified as an unmanned type that is typically dispatched to the site.

Hourly parking lots can be categorized from the viewpoint of parking fee payment methods. It is categorized as a post-paid type where you pay a parking fee corresponding to the length of the parking time.

Several prior art documents have been found that disclose several types of parking lots as described above.

In Patent Document 1, the vehicle is equipped with a parking lot without installing dedicated equipment in the parking lot, and without requiring the user to operate his/her own mobile terminal or to operate the equipment in the parking lot. It discloses a technique that makes it possible to completely automate the process of entering and exiting a parking lot using a GPS, a computer, and a communication device.

Specifically, this patent document 1 measures the current position of the vehicle using a GPS-type positioning function installed in the vehicle in which the user rides, not in the user's communication device, and detects the position in any parking lot. When the state that does not match the position changes to the state that matches the parking lot position, the user's entry into the parking lot is automatically detected, and the vehicle position after that changes from the state where the vehicle position matches the parking lot position. A technology is disclosed that automatically detects the exit of the user from the parking lot when transitioning to a state that does not match.

Moreover, Patent Document 2 does not require the installation of dedicated equipment in the parking lot, and furthermore, without requiring the user to operate his own mobile terminal or to operate the equipment in the parking lot. Using the GPS and acceleration sensor mounted on the mobile terminal, the user's position information and action information are acquired, and using these information, the user's entering and exiting the parking lot where the user is currently staying is detected. , discloses a technology that makes it possible to fully automate the process of entering and exiting a parking lot.

Specifically, this patent document 2 is a parking lot management system for managing a plurality of parking lots, and includes reception means for receiving a reservation for use of each parking lot by a user, and an information communication terminal owned by the user. Based on the location information of the information communication terminal and the behavior information of the user received from, determine the parking lot actually used by the user, and start and end the use of the parking lot by the user and determination means for determining the.

More specifically, this patent document 2 uses the acceleration sensor to determine whether the user is walking or riding, and starts walking from the state where the user gets in and enters a parking lot. When the state transitions to a middle state, it is determined that the user has entered the parking lot. A technique for determining that the user has left the parking lot is disclosed.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-202542 JP 2013-256380 A JP 2010-250734 A

According to the technique described in Patent Literature 1, it is theoretically possible to completely automate the process of entering and exiting a parking lot. However, in order to adopt the technique described in Patent Document 1, the vehicle needs to communicate with a positioning device (positioning function) such as GPS, a computer (signal processing function), and an external server. It is required to install a device (communication function), that is, to increase the functionality (for example, intelligence) of the vehicle.

On the other hand, according to the technology described in Patent Document 2, instead of installing a special device in the vehicle, a user's mobile terminal having a signal processing function, a communication function, a positioning function, and an action detection function. used. Today, when mobile terminals equipped with such functions are widely used, the technology described in Patent Document 2 enables entry/exit processing to/from a parking lot without making the vehicle highly functional (for example, intelligent). can be fully automated.

However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 only focuses on the relationship between the location information of the mobile terminal and the location information of the parking lot, and attempts to identify the parking lot where the user got in and entered. There was a practical problem that there was a high possibility of malfunction.

In addition, in the technique described in Patent Document 2, attention is paid to the behavior information of the user in addition to the location information of the mobile terminal to identify the parking lot where the user got in and entered. Despite the limited accuracy, there is still a practical problem that the system is likely to malfunction because the user behavior information of interest is not unique to parking lots.

In addition, both Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose that, in order to specify the parking lot where the user has boarded and entered, attention is paid to the unique behavior that occurs in the vehicle when the vehicle travels in the parking lot. do not have.

By the way, a prepaid time rental system is already known as a management form of a parking lot. According to this operation mode, in the parking lot entry stage in which the user enters the parking lot to park the vehicle, the effective parking time, which is the time zone in which the user wishes to park in the parking lot, is calculated in units of hours. The user is authorized to use the parking lot on the condition that the parking lot is specified by the user and the parking fee is paid in advance in an amount corresponding to the length of the valid parking time.

Patent Document 3 describes a conventional example of a prepaid parking lot. This parking lot has a charge settlement device for the user to pay the parking fee in advance, and an exit gate that opens for the user to leave the parking lot on the condition that it is confirmed that the regular parking fee has been paid at the time of entering the parking lot. Dedicated equipment called an exit gate management device that permits parking is installed.

A user who uses this parking lot predicts the length of time required for the vehicle to be continuously parked in the parking lot as an effective parking time when entering the parking lot, and estimates the effective parking time. Pay a parking fee that is commensurate with the length of the road.

Furthermore, the user using this parking lot can enter and leave the parking lot any number of times within the valid parking time, that is, re-enter the parking lot.

By the way, in the case of operating a parking lot, regardless of whether the operating form is a prepaid hourly rental system or not, the operational status of the parking lot, that is, the availability status, can be measured or estimated in real time to inform other potential users. It is advantageous to parking lot managers and land owners in that it contributes to improving the utilization rate of parking lots and increasing profits, and it is also possible to timely guide users in the vicinity of empty parking lots. Therefore, it is advantageous for the user in that it becomes easy for the user to search for a parking lot at the necessary place when the user needs it.

Although it is desirable for such parking lot guidance to be highly accurate, uncertain factors may exist among multiple factors that need to be taken into account in order to measure or estimate the availability of parking lots.

For example, as described above, a user who uses the prepaid parking lot described in Patent Document 3 can enter and exit the parking lot any number of times within the valid parking time, that is, can enter the parking lot again. It is possible. In this case, the user may or may not actually restock.

In this case, if the parking lot manager estimates the availability of the parking lot by regarding the possibility of the user re-entering the parking lot as 0%, even if the user actually tries to re-enter the parking lot, the parking lot will be empty. There is a risk that the user will feel inconvenient. On the other hand, if the possibility of the user re-entering the parking lot is assumed to be 100% and the availability of the parking lot is estimated, there is a risk that the operating rate of the parking lot will decrease if the user does not actually re-enter the parking lot. be.

In this way, when operating a prepaid parking lot in a manner that permits re-entry within the valid parking time, how does the parking lot manager deal with the uncertain factor of the probability that the user will actually re-enter the parking lot? The accuracy of estimating parking lot vacancies varies depending on whether the information is handled, which affects both the utilization rate of the parking lot and the user's convenience.

Therefore, when a prepaid parking lot is operated in a manner that permits re-entry within the valid parking time, it is necessary to provide parking lot guidance that simultaneously improves the operating rate of the parking lot and improves the user's convenience. is desirable.

Further, when constructing a prepaid parking lot described in Patent Document 3, a charge adjustment device for the user to pay the parking fee in advance and a time when the user leaves the parking lot are monitored and the effective parking lot is installed. It is necessary to install an exit gate device in the parking lot to check whether it is before the expiration of the time. Therefore, when constructing this parking lot, a large capital investment is required.

On the other hand, information that can be obtained from a user's information processing terminal (for example, a mobile terminal) (for example, information that can estimate the user's behavior, etc.) while suppressing the installation or use of dedicated equipment for each room in the parking lot ) to comprehensively estimate the availability of parking spaces by focusing on multiple users rather than focusing on multiple vehicle compartments individually, and providing the results to other potential users. It is also desirable to perform parking lot guidance such as guiding in advance.

Against the background of the above knowledge, the present invention relates to a technique for managing a plurality of parking lots using an information processing terminal of a user who selects and uses one of the plurality of parking lots, and The task was to provide a technology that makes it possible to suppress the installation of dedicated equipment to

In order to solve the problem, according to one aspect of the present invention, each of a plurality of postpaid parking lots is used by a user who selects and uses one of the plurality of parking lots using an information processing terminal. A parking lot management system for managing a parking lot,
a candidate parking lot selection unit that selects, as a plurality of candidate parking lots, those located near the user's current location measured by the information processing terminal from among the plurality of parking lots;
Parking lot information representing a current parking lot selected by the user on the screen of the information processing terminal from among the selected candidate parking lots, and vehicle information for identifying the vehicle of the user. a receiving unit that receives parking-related information including from the information processing terminal;
When the user indicates to the information processing terminal that the user intends to leave the parking lot and includes payment of the parking fee, at least the parking lot information among the received parking-related information. A settlement unit that enables the user to settle the parking fee by electronic payment using the information processing terminal based on
A parking lot management system is provided that includes:
Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, a parking lot management system for managing the plurality of parking lots using an information processing terminal of a user who selects and uses one of the plurality of parking lots,
a candidate parking lot selection unit that selects, as a plurality of candidate parking lots, those located near the user's current location measured by the information processing terminal from among the plurality of parking lots;
a parking lot identifying unit that identifies, as a current parking lot, one selected by the user on the screen of the information processing terminal from among the plurality of selected candidate parking lots;
a button display unit for displaying, on a screen of the information processing terminal, a button operated by the user to issue a request related to exit processing for the user's vehicle to exit the current parking lot;
and a parking lot management system including: a parking lot completion unit that completes the parking process when the button is operated by the user on the screen of the information processing terminal.
Further, according to an aspect of the present invention, a parking lot management system that manages a parking lot having a plurality of compartments not for each compartment but for each vehicle,
A parking lot identification device that is installed in the parking lot and outputs identification information for identifying the parking lot not for each vehicle room but for each parking lot;
an exit detection device that is installed in the parking lot and detects whether or not a vehicle has exited the parking lot, not for each vehicle compartment but by an entrance or exit of the parking lot;
a management server capable of communicating with information processing terminals of users who use the parking lot,
The information processing terminal
a parking lot identification unit that identifies the parking lot where the user is currently staying by using the parking lot identification device;
a transmission unit that transmits the identified parking lot to the management server;
a button display unit that displays a button on a screen, the button being operated by the user to issue a request related to a leaving process for the user's vehicle to leave the parking lot;
a button operation data transmission unit that, when the button is operated by the user, transmits data indicating that the button has been operated to the management server;
The information processing terminal or the management server,
an exit determination unit that determines whether or not the user's vehicle has exited from the parking lot by using the exit detection device for the identified parking lot;
a leaving handling processing unit for treating the user's vehicle as leaving the identified parking lot when the leaving determining unit determines that the user has left the parking lot before the user operates the button; including
After the user operates the button, the management server determines that leaving the identified parking lot is complete when the leaving determination unit determines that the user has left the parking lot. A parking management system is provided that includes a portion.

Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, a parking lot management system for managing a parking lot,
A parking lot identification device that is installed in the parking lot and outputs identification information for identifying the parking lot;
a parking exit detection device installed in the parking lot for detecting whether or not the vehicle has exited from each of a plurality of compartments in the parking lot;
a management server capable of communicating with information processing terminals of users who use the parking lot,
The information processing terminal
a parking lot identification unit that identifies the parking lot where the user is currently staying by using the parking lot identification device;
a transmitter that transmits the identified parking lot to the management server;
The information processing terminal or the management server includes a leaving determination unit that determines whether or not the vehicle has left the corresponding compartment for the identified parking lot by using the leaving detection device. ,
A parking lot management system is provided in which the management server includes an exit completion determination unit that determines that the exit has been completed for the identified parking lot when the exit determination unit determines that the exit has occurred. .

Further, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for managing a plurality of parking lots using an information processing terminal of a user who selects and uses one of the plurality of parking lots, comprising:
The information processing terminal uses its own GPS or communicates with outside equipment installed outside each parking lot or inside equipment installed inside each parking lot. As a result of the user moving, the user an entrance determination step of determining whether or not the user has entered any parking lot;
an exit determination step in which the information processing terminal determines whether or not the user has exited from any parking lot as a result of the user's movement by the GPS or by communication with the outside equipment or the inside equipment;
a boarding determination step in which the information processing terminal uses its own sensor to determine whether or not the user is in a state of boarding the vehicle together with the information processing terminal;
When the information processing terminal determines that the user has entered one of the parking lots and determines that the user is in the boarding state, the information processing terminal displays an entry request on its own screen when operated by the user. a warehousing button display step of displaying a button;
When the user operates the parking button, the information processing terminal and/or a management server capable of communicating with the information processing terminal grants the user the right to use one of the parking lots, thereby an entry permission step for permitting the user to enter any parking lot;
When the information processing terminal determines that the user has exited from one of the parking lots and determines that the user is in the boarding state, the information processing terminal issues a parking exit request on its own screen when operated by the user. an exit button display step of displaying the button;
When the exit button is operated by the user, the information processing terminal and/or the management server confirms that the user has finished using one of the parking lots, thereby allowing the user to use one of the parking lots. and a parking permitting step for permitting a user to exit from the parking lot management method.

Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for managing a plurality of parking lots using an information processing terminal of a user who selects and uses one of the plurality of parking lots, comprising:
a step in which the information processing terminal obtains the current position of the vehicle using a position obtaining unit of the information processing terminal in a riding state in which the user is riding in the vehicle together with the information processing terminal;
The information processing terminal acquires dynamic behavior of the vehicle using a dynamic behavior acquiring unit of the information processing terminal in the boarding state, and based on the acquisition result, the vehicle travels on a normal road. determining whether the vehicle exhibits an inherent dynamic behavior that does not appear when the vehicle is parked, but does appear when driving in any parking lot;
In a state in which the information processing terminal is not carried by a user and the information processing terminal is fixedly placed in the interior of the vehicle, the vehicle exhibits the unique dynamic behavior. and identifying one of the plurality of parking lots corresponding to the current position of the vehicle as the parking lot selected by the user.

Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, a system for managing a plurality of parking lots using an information processing terminal of a user who selects and uses one of the plurality of parking lots,
a position acquisition unit provided in the information processing terminal for acquiring the current position of the vehicle in a riding state in which the user is riding in the vehicle together with the information processing terminal;
a dynamic behavior acquiring unit provided in the information processing terminal and acquiring dynamic behavior of the vehicle in the boarding state;
Based on the obtained dynamic behavior, the vehicle detects a unique dynamic behavior that does not appear when the vehicle is traveling on a normal road but appears when traveling in an arbitrary parking lot. In a state in which the information processing terminal is not carried by the user and the information processing terminal is fixedly placed in the interior of the vehicle, the vehicle detects the unique dynamic state. a parking lot identification unit that identifies, as the parking lot selected by the user, one of the plurality of parking lots that corresponds to the current position of the vehicle, on the condition that the parking lot is determined to exhibit behavior. is provided.

The present invention provides the following aspects. Each aspect is divided into sections, each section is numbered, and the numbers of other sections are referred to as necessary. This is to facilitate understanding of some of the technical features that can be employed by the present invention and combinations thereof, and the technical features that can be employed by the present invention and combinations thereof are limited to the following aspects. should not be interpreted as That is, it should be construed that the technical features described in the present specification, which are not described in the following aspects, are appropriately extracted and employed as the technical features of the present invention.

Furthermore, it should be noted that stating each paragraph in a format that refers to the numbers of other paragraphs does not necessarily prevent the technical features described in each paragraph from being separated and independent from the technical features described in other paragraphs. It should be construed that the technical features described in each section can be made independent as appropriate according to their nature.

(1) A method of managing a plurality of parking lots using an information processing terminal of a user who selects and uses one of the plurality of parking lots,
a step in which the information processing terminal obtains the current position of the vehicle using a position obtaining unit of the information processing terminal in a riding state in which the user is riding in the vehicle together with the information processing terminal;
The information processing terminal acquires dynamic behavior of the vehicle using a dynamic behavior acquiring unit of the information processing terminal in the boarding state, and based on the acquisition result, the vehicle travels on a normal road. determining whether the vehicle exhibits an inherent dynamic behavior that does not appear when the vehicle is parked, but does appear when driving in any parking lot;
The information processing terminal selects the parking lot selected by the user from among the plurality of parking lots that corresponds to the current position of the vehicle on condition that the vehicle is determined to exhibit the unique dynamic behavior. A parking lot management method including a parking lot identifying process for identifying a parking lot.

(2) A method of managing a plurality of parking lots using an information processing terminal of a user who selects and uses one of the plurality of parking lots,
a position acquisition step in which the information processing terminal acquires the current position of the vehicle by using a position acquisition unit of the information processing terminal in a riding state in which the user is riding in the vehicle together with the information processing terminal;
When the information processing terminal is in the boarding state, the vehicle is traveling on a normal road based on the state quantity of the rotational motion of the vehicle acquired using the rotational motion state quantity acquisition unit of the information processing terminal. a high-frequency turning state determination step of determining whether or not there is a possibility that the vehicle is in a high-frequency turning state in which the vehicle turns more frequently than usual;
On the condition that the information processing terminal determines that the vehicle may be in the high-frequency turning state, the user selects one of the plurality of parking lots that corresponds to the current position of the vehicle. A parking lot management method including:

(3) Furthermore,
By using the proximity sensor of the information processing terminal in the boarding state, the information processing terminal is not carried by the user, and the information processing terminal is fixedly mounted in the vehicle. including an in-vehicle placement state determination step of determining whether or not there is a possibility that the
In the parking lot identification step, it is determined that the vehicle may be in the high-frequency turning state, and the information processing terminal may be in the in-vehicle state. , the parking lot management method according to item (1) or (2), wherein, among the plurality of parking lots, one corresponding to the current position of the vehicle is specified as the parking lot selected by the user.

(4) A method of managing a plurality of parking lots using an information processing terminal of a user who selects and uses one of the plurality of parking lots,
a position acquisition step in which the information processing terminal acquires the current position of the vehicle by using a position acquisition unit of the information processing terminal in a riding state in which the user is riding in the vehicle together with the information processing terminal;
The information processing terminal, in the boarding state, based on the acceleration and/or vibration state of the vehicle acquired using the acceleration acquisition unit and/or the vibration acquisition unit of the information processing terminal, a high-frequency acceleration/deceleration state determination step of determining whether or not there is a possibility that the vehicle is in a high-frequency acceleration/deceleration state in which the vehicle accelerates/decelerates more frequently than when the vehicle is running;
The user selects one of the plurality of parking lots that corresponds to the current position of the vehicle on condition that the information processing terminal determines that the vehicle may be in the high-frequency acceleration/deceleration state. and a parking lot identification step of identifying the parking lot as a designated parking lot.

(5) Furthermore,
By using the proximity sensor of the information processing terminal in the boarding state, the information processing terminal is not carried by the user, and the information processing terminal is fixedly mounted in the vehicle. including an in-vehicle placement state determination step of determining whether or not there is a possibility that the
In the parking lot identification step, it is determined that the vehicle may be in the high-frequency acceleration/deceleration state, and the information processing terminal may be in the in-vehicle state. (4), wherein, among the plurality of parking lots, one corresponding to the current position of the vehicle is specified as the parking lot selected by the user.

(6) A method of managing a plurality of parking lots using a portable information processing terminal of a user who selects and uses one of the plurality of parking lots, comprising:
Acquired by the position acquisition unit of the information portable terminal in a riding state in which the user is in the vehicle together with the information processing terminal in a parking stage in which the user enters the vehicle into one of the parking lots. The current position of the vehicle thus obtained is outside all the spatial areas corresponding to all the lots of the plurality of parking lots, and is inside any one of the spatial areas corresponding to any one of the parking lots. an entry determination step of determining whether or not the user has entered into any spatial region corresponding to any parking lot by determining whether or not the transition to the state existing in the
The information processing terminal determines whether the vehicle moves on a normal road based on the rotational motion state quantity of the vehicle acquired using the rotational motion state quantity acquisition unit of the information processing terminal in the riding state in the parking stage. a high-frequency turning state determination step of determining whether or not there is a possibility that the vehicle is in a high-frequency turning state in which the vehicle turns more frequently than when the vehicle is running;
The condition that the information processing terminal, in the parking stage, the current position of the vehicle has entered any spatial region corresponding to any parking lot, and the possibility that the vehicle is in the high-frequency turning state. an entrance parking lot identification step of identifying any of the above parking lots as a parking lot into which the user has boarded the vehicle when a plurality of conditions including the condition that there is a parking lot are all simultaneously satisfied Management method.

(7) Instead of or in addition to the high-frequency turning state determination step,
The information processing terminal determines whether the vehicle runs on a normal road based on the low-frequency component of the acceleration of the vehicle acquired using the acceleration acquisition unit of the information processing terminal in the boarding state in the parking stage. a high-frequency acceleration/deceleration state determination step of determining whether or not there is a possibility that the vehicle is in a high-frequency acceleration/deceleration state in which the vehicle accelerates/decelerates more frequently than when the
The parking lot management method according to item (6), wherein the plurality of conditions include a condition that the vehicle may be in the high-frequency acceleration/deceleration state.

(8) Furthermore,
The information processing terminal uses the proximity sensor of the information processing terminal in the boarding state in the parking stage, so that the information processing terminal is not carried by the user while the user is boarding, and the information processing terminal including an in-vehicle placement state determination step of determining whether or not there is a possibility of being in an in-vehicle placement state in which the device is fixedly placed in the interior of the vehicle;
The parking lot management method according to item (6) or (7), wherein the plurality of conditions further include a condition that the information processing terminal may be placed in the vehicle.

(9) Furthermore,
determining whether the information processing terminal is fixedly held in the vehicle by using a proximity sensor of the information processing terminal in the riding state;
The parking lot specifying step is performed on the condition that the vehicle is determined to exhibit the unique dynamic behavior and the information processing terminal is determined to be held fixedly in the vehicle. The parking lot management method according to item (1), wherein, among a plurality of parking lots, one corresponding to the current position of the vehicle is specified as the parking lot selected by the user.

Subsequently, the mobile terminal 90 performs frequency analysis in step S1807. Specifically, signal processing such as Fourier transform, high-pass filter, and low-pass filter is performed on the measured original waveform. Thereby, a plurality of frequency components are extracted from the original waveform.

(12) The management table creating/updating step includes:
a) in the warehousing stage, when the user makes a warehousing, the warehousing completed flag is turned ON;
b) in the delivery stage, when the regular delivery is established, the regular delivery flag is turned ON;
c) in the delivery stage, when the provisional delivery is established, a provisional delivery flag is turned ON;
d) creating and updating the management table so as to achieve at least one of: when the user is granted the re-entry authority in the delivery stage, a re-entry permission flag is turned ON; The parking lot management method according to (11).

(13) A method of managing a parking lot using an information processing terminal of each user who uses a prepaid hourly parking lot and a management server, comprising:
a first transmission step in which the information processing terminal transmits an effective parking time desired by the user in the parking lot to the management server in association with the user in a stage where the user enters the parking lot;
The information processing terminal determines whether or not the user exits the parking lot while the user is in the vehicle in the stage where the user exits the parking lot, and stores boarding/leaving determination data representing the result. It is associated with the user and transmitted to the management server, and it is determined whether or not the user has performed a leaving operation as an indication of intention to leave the parking lot on the information processing terminal, and the leaving operation representing the result a second transmission step of associating discrimination data with a user and transmitting the determination data to the management server;
Based on the effective parking time, boarding/leaving determination data, parking exit operation determination data, and parking time received from the information processing terminal, the management server calculates the future vacancy status of the parking lot to a plurality of parking lots in the parking lot. By focusing on individual time-series behavior patterns of a plurality of users of the parking lot instead of focusing on the individual vacancy of the parking lot, a fully-occupied state in which there is no vacant compartment in the parking lot. and a vacant room determination step of predicting whether there is an empty state in which there is a vacant room or a congested state indicating that the car may actually be full or may be in an empty state. parking management methods, including;

(14) The user is given the authority to re-enter the same parking lot unless the valid parking time expires when the user exits the parking lot in the boarding state in the exiting stage. If the user performs the exit operation on the information processing terminal when leaving the parking lot in the riding state on the stage, the authority to re-enter is lost,
The vacancy determination step is performed by comparing the result of the vacancy determination in anticipation of the future re-entry with the result of the vacancy determination without anticipation of the future re-entry. , the parking lot management method according to item (13), which determines the final determination result.

(15) In the vacancy determination step, if the vacancy determination is performed in anticipation of the occurrence of the re-entry in the future, the determination result will be the full state. (14) The parking lot management method according to item (14), wherein, when the empty room determination results in the vacant state, the congested state is determined as the final determination result.

(16) The vacancy determination step executes each determination cycle at a predetermined time interval, and in each determination cycle,
X1: the number of valid parking, which is the number of users whose valid parking time does not expire during each determination cycle;
X2: Determined as the number of users for whom the valid parking time did not expire during each judgment cycle, and for whom exit from the parking lot in the riding state was accompanied by the parking exit operation. number of deliveries and
X3: During each determination cycle, the valid parking time did not expire and the user exited the parking lot in the boarded state without performing the parking exit operation, and the same user is the same. Parking lot management according to any one of items (13) to (5), including a first calculation step of calculating the number of users who are authorized to re-enter the parking lot and the number of undetermined exits from the parking lot. Method.

(17) The vacancy determination step includes:
The maximum number of parking Y1 immediately after each judgment cycle is calculated as (X1-X2) in anticipation of the expected number of re-entry in the future, and the minimum number of parking Y2 immediately after each judgment cycle is calculated as the future. The parking lot management method according to item (16), including a second calculation step of calculating as (X1-(X2+X3)) without considering the expected number of occurrences of re-entry in the above.

(18) The vacancy determination step includes:
In each determination cycle, if it is determined from the maximum parking number Y1 whether the operating status of the parking lot is full or empty, the determination result is full. Item (17) including a step of determining the final determination result to be a congested state when determining whether the operating status of the parking lot is a full state or an empty state when the determination result is an empty state. The parking lot management method described in .

(19) The vacancy determination step includes:
In each judgment cycle, if the judgment result in the previous judgment cycle is full or congested, the operation status of the parking lot is determined to be full from the minimum parking number Y2 without considering it. (17) or (18), including the step of determining the final determination result to be a congested state when determining whether the parking lot is in the empty state or the empty state. parking lot management method.

(31) A method in which a management server centrally manages a plurality of parking lots by communicating with a plurality of portable terminals of a plurality of users,
a warehousing processing step in which the mobile terminal and the management server support warehousing processing for the vehicle of any user to enter any parking lot;
a leaving processing step in which the mobile terminal and the management server support the leaving processing for the vehicle to leave the parking lot;
The exit processing is based on the position of the user detected by the mobile terminal and the change in the position over time, and the speed or acceleration of the user detected or estimated by the mobile terminal. (b) a method including a behavior analysis unit for determining whether a pedestrian left the parking lot or got into the running vehicle and left the parking lot;

Throughout the application documents, the phrase "own position detected by the mobile terminal" is, for example, detected by the mobile terminal using a signal received from a transmitter (e.g., artificial satellite) installed outside the parking lot. or to mean your position detected using signals received from transmitters installed in parking lots (e.g., near-field communication transmitters). may

In addition, throughout the application documents, the phrase "own speed or acceleration detected by the mobile terminal" means that, for example, when the mobile terminal is equipped with a speed sensor or an acceleration sensor, it is detected using those sensors. may be interpreted to mean the velocity or acceleration that

In addition, throughout the application documents, the phrase "own velocity or acceleration estimated by the mobile terminal" refers to the position detected by the mobile terminal when the mobile terminal does not include a speed sensor or an acceleration sensor. It may be interpreted to mean the time-differentiated value (the difference between the previous value and the current value of the position) or twice the time-differentiated value (the difference between the previous value and the current value of the difference). This interpretation also applies to the aforementioned angular velocity estimator and acceleration estimator.

(32) The shipping processing step includes:
an entrance determination step in which, after entering the parking lot, the mobile terminal determines whether or not the user has entered the parking lot based on the position of the mobile terminal itself detected by the mobile terminal and changes in the position over time;
After it is determined that the entry has been made, the mobile terminal detects its own position detected by the mobile terminal, changes in the position over time, and its own velocity or acceleration detected or estimated by the mobile terminal. (31), determining whether or not the vehicle has left the parking lot because the user has boarded the vehicle in motion and left the parking lot based on Method.

(33) The shipping determination step includes:
An action that determines whether the user is stationary or moving, regardless of whether the user is walking or riding in the vehicle, based on temporal changes in the position of the user detected by the mobile terminal. a type discrimination step;
When it is determined that the user is moving, based on the acceleration detected or estimated by the mobile terminal, the user is walking without getting into the vehicle or is getting into the running vehicle. a movement type determination step of determining whether the
Based on the user's own position detected by the mobile terminal and the temporal change of the position, it is possible to determine whether the user has left the parking lot regardless of whether the user is walking or riding in the vehicle. (32) The method according to item (32), comprising:

(34) The mobile terminal includes an acceleration sensor that detects its own acceleration,
The movement type determination step includes:
an intensity analysis step in which the mobile terminal and/or the management server measures a substantial maximum intensity representing a waveform of acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor;
a frequency analysis step in which the mobile terminal and/or the management server extract a plurality of frequency components from the waveform of the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor, and measure the frequency of the one with the largest amplitude among the frequency components; The method according to item (33), including at least one of

(35) The strength analysis step determines that the user is walking when the measured substantial maximum strength is greater than a first threshold value, while determining that the measured substantial maximum strength is greater than the first threshold value. 34. The method of clause 34, wherein if less than or equal to a first threshold, determining that the user is in the moving vehicle.

(36) The frequency analysis step determines that the user is walking when the measured frequency is lower than a second threshold, while determining that the measured frequency is equal to or higher than the second threshold. (34) or (35), determining that the user is in the moving vehicle, if .

(37) The mobile terminal
an acceleration sensor that detects its own acceleration;
a step count detection unit that detects the number of steps of the user per unit time based on the detection result of the acceleration sensor;
In the movement type determination step, when the mobile terminal and/or the management server determines that the user is walking when the detected number of steps is greater than a third threshold, 33. The method of clause 33, wherein if the number of steps is less than or equal to the third threshold, determining that the user is in the moving vehicle.

(38) The warehousing process includes:
The mobile terminal includes a step of inputting from the user an effective parking time, which is a time period in which the user wishes to park the vehicle in one of the parking lots;
The shipping process further includes:
a step of inputting from the user, in the mobile terminal, a leaving operation performed by the user as a manifestation of intention to leave the vehicle from the parking lot;
When the mobile terminal and/or the management server determines that the user has boarded the vehicle and left the parking lot, the actual parking operation by the user is not permitted until the valid parking time expires. (31) to (37), including the step of waiting and treating the vehicle as leaving the parking lot, and when the valid parking time expires, the parking lot is treated as leaving the parking lot without waiting for the actual parking operation by the user. Method.

In one example of this, the entry process may further include enabling the mobile terminal to pay a prepaid parking fee commensurate with the entered length of valid parking time.

(39) Furthermore,
A re-entry determination step for determining whether or not the same user has re-entered the same parking lot before the expiration of the effective parking time without performing an actual exit operation,
39. The method of clause 38, wherein execution of at least a substantial portion of the inventory processing step is skipped if it is determined that the restocking has occurred.

(40) In the parking process step, the user parks the car from a position outside one of the plurality of parking lots based on the position of the user detected by the mobile terminal and the temporal change of the position. The method according to any one of items (31) to (39), including an entry determination step of determining that the vehicle has entered one of the parking lots on condition that the vehicle has moved to a position within the parking lot.

(41) The warehousing processing step includes:
On the condition that the user moves from a position outside one of the plurality of parking lots to a position inside the parking lot based on the user's own position detected by the mobile terminal and its temporal change. , an entry determination step for determining that the vehicle has entered one of the parking lots;
When it is determined that the parking has been performed, the mobile terminal transmits the vehicle information for identifying the vehicle and a valid time zone, which is the time period in which the user wishes to park the vehicle in one of the parking lots. (40) The method according to clause (40), comprising: transmitting parking related information to the management server, including parking time or related time information for identifying the valid parking time.

(42) Furthermore,
a progress monitoring step in which the mobile terminal and/or the management server sequentially calculates the remaining time of the effective parking time as time passes, thereby monitoring the actual progress of the parking time of the vehicle;
an extension processing step in which the mobile terminal and/or the management server responds to an extension request from the user prior to expiration of the valid parking time and performs extension processing for extending the valid parking time (41 ) The method described in Section 1.

(43) The progress monitoring step includes:
When the transmission of the parking-related information and the payment of the prepaid parking fee are completed, the mobile terminal and/or the management server calculates the remaining time by successively subtracting the effective parking time as time elapses. a remaining time calculation step for
a remaining time display step of the mobile terminal and/or the management server displaying the calculated remaining time on a screen of the mobile terminal, either spontaneously or in response to a request from a user (42). The method described in section.

(44) Furthermore, the mobile terminal and/or the management server determine whether there are any unused vacant rooms in the parking lot based on the number of confirmed entries and the number of confirmed exits. The method according to any one of items (31) to (43), including a vacancy determination step of determining whether or not there is room availability.

(45) The vacancy determination step includes:
Each time the mobile terminal and/or the management server confirms one parking lot, the number of vacant rooms, which is the number of unused vacant rooms among the plurality of car rooms in the parking lot, is decremented by 1. a subtraction step to
(44), wherein the mobile terminal and/or the management server add 1 to the number of vacant rooms each time one actual leaving operation or one deemed leaving operation is confirmed. Method.

(46) The shipping processing step further includes:
When it is determined that the entry has been performed in the user's leaving stage, the mobile terminal gives the user a visual, auditory, or tactile stimulus to prompt the user to perform the leaving operation. The method according to any one of items (31) to (45), including a step of prompting the leaving operation.

(47) The shipping processing step includes:
After it is determined that the user has exited the parking lot as a pedestrian, the remaining time of the effective parking time, which is the time zone in which the user wishes to park the vehicle in one of the parking lots, is a predetermined time. If shorter, the mobile terminal provides a visual, auditory or tactile stimulus to the user to prompt the user to issue an extension request to extend the effective parking time. A method according to any one of paragraphs (31) to (46) comprising a prompting step.

(48) A method in which a management server centrally manages a plurality of parking lots by communicating with a plurality of portable terminals of a plurality of users,
a warehousing processing step in which the mobile terminal and the management server support warehousing processing for the vehicle of any user to enter any parking lot;
a leaving processing step in which the mobile terminal and the management server support the leaving processing for the vehicle to leave the parking lot;
The warehousing process includes
The mobile terminal includes a step of inputting from the user an effective parking time, which is a time period in which the user wishes to park the vehicle in one of the parking lots;
The shipping process includes:
a step of inputting from the user, in the mobile terminal, a leaving operation performed by the user as a manifestation of intention to leave the vehicle from the parking lot;
When the user causes the vehicle to leave the parking lot, the mobile terminal and/or the management server wait for the user's actual leaving operation before the valid parking time expires, and treat the vehicle as leaving the parking lot. On the other hand, when the valid parking time expires, it is handled as leaving without waiting for the actual leaving operation by the user.

In one example of this, the entry process may further include enabling the mobile terminal to pay a prepaid parking fee commensurate with the entered length of valid parking time.

(49) Furthermore,
A re-entry determination step for determining whether or not the same user has re-entered the same parking lot before the expiration of the effective parking time without performing an actual exit operation,
49. The method of clause 48, wherein if it is determined that the restocking has taken place, execution of at least a substantial portion of the stocking process step is skipped.

(50) A program executed by a computer of a mobile terminal to implement the mobile terminal according to any one of (1) to (49).

A program under this paragraph shall be construed to mean, for example, the combination of instructions executed by a computer to perform its function, and the combination of those instructions as well as the files and data processed in accordance with each instruction. can also be interpreted to include, but not be limited to.

In addition, this program may achieve its intended purpose by being executed by a computer by itself, or may achieve its intended purpose by being executed by a computer together with other programs. They can, but are not limited to. In the latter case, the programs under this section may be data-based, but are not so limited.

(51) A program executed by a management server computer to implement the management server according to any one of (1) to (49).

(52) A recording medium in which the program according to (50) or (51) is computer-readable.

Various formats can be adopted for this recording medium, for example, magnetic recording media such as flexible disks, optical recording media such as CDs and CD-ROMs, magneto-optical recording media such as MOs, and non-removable storages such as ROMs. etc., but not limited to them.

(53) A system in which a management server centrally manages a plurality of parking lots through communication with a plurality of mobile terminals of a plurality of users,
a warehousing processing unit that supports warehousing processing for one of the user's vehicles to be warehousing in any parking lot among the mobile terminal and the management server;
an exit processing unit of the mobile terminal and the management server that supports exit processing for the vehicle to exit the parking lot;
The exit processing unit allows the user to get into the vehicle based on the position of the user detected by the mobile terminal and the temporal change in the position, and the speed or acceleration of the user detected or estimated by the mobile terminal. A system including a behavior analysis unit that determines whether the driver exited the parking lot as a pedestrian without warning or exited the parking lot by getting into the running vehicle.

(54) A system in which a management server centrally manages a plurality of parking lots through communication with a plurality of mobile terminals of a plurality of users,
a warehousing processing unit that supports warehousing processing for one of the user's vehicles to be warehousing in any parking lot among the mobile terminal and the management server;
an exit processing unit of the mobile terminal and the management server that supports exit processing for the vehicle to exit the parking lot;
The warehousing processing unit
In the mobile terminal, an effective parking time input unit for inputting an effective parking time, which is a time period in which the user wishes to park the vehicle in one of the parking lots,
The delivery processing unit
A leaving operation input unit of the mobile terminal for inputting a leaving operation performed by a user as a manifestation of intention to leave the vehicle from the parking lot;
When the user of the portable terminal and/or the management server causes the vehicle to leave the parking lot, the vehicle is treated as leaving the parking lot after waiting for the actual leaving operation by the user until the valid parking time expires. On the other hand, when the effective parking time expires, a leaving handling control unit handles leaving without waiting for an actual leaving operation by the user.

In this example, the warehousing processing unit further includes a parking fee control enabling unit that enables the mobile terminal to receive a prepaid parking fee corresponding to the length of the valid parking time entered. It's okay.

<1> A method of managing a plurality of parking lots using an information processing terminal of a user who selects and uses one of the plurality of parking lots,
a step in which the information processing terminal obtains the current position of the vehicle using a position obtaining unit of the information processing terminal in a riding state in which the user is riding in the vehicle together with the information processing terminal;
The information processing terminal acquires dynamic behavior of the vehicle using a dynamic behavior acquiring unit of the information processing terminal in the boarding state, and based on the acquisition result, the vehicle travels on a normal road. determining whether the vehicle exhibits an inherent dynamic behavior that does not appear when the vehicle is parked, but does appear when driving in any parking lot;
In a state in which the information processing terminal is not carried by a user and the information processing terminal is fixedly placed in the interior of the vehicle, the vehicle exhibits the unique dynamic behavior. a step of identifying one of the plurality of parking lots corresponding to the current position of the vehicle as the parking lot selected by the user.

<2> A method of managing a plurality of parking lots using an information processing terminal of a user who selects and uses one of the plurality of parking lots,
a position acquisition step in which the information processing terminal acquires the current position of the vehicle by using a position acquisition unit of the information processing terminal in a riding state in which the user is riding in the vehicle together with the information processing terminal;
By using the proximity sensor of the information processing terminal in the boarding state, the information processing terminal is not carried by the user, and the information processing terminal is fixedly mounted in the vehicle. an in-vehicle placement state determination step for determining whether or not there is a possibility that the
When the information processing terminal is in the boarding state, the vehicle is traveling on a normal road based on the state quantity of the rotational motion of the vehicle acquired using the rotational motion state quantity acquisition unit of the information processing terminal. a high-frequency turning state determination step of determining whether or not there is a possibility that the vehicle is in a high-frequency turning state in which the vehicle turns more frequently than usual;
On the condition that the information processing terminal determines that the information processing terminal may be in the in-vehicle state and that the vehicle may be in the high-frequency turning state, and a parking lot identification step of identifying one of the plurality of parking lots that corresponds to the current position of the vehicle as the parking lot selected by the user.

<3>
The parking lot management method according to item <2>, wherein the rotational motion state quantity acquisition unit includes a gyro sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, an inclination sensor, or a gravity sensor.

<4> A method of managing a plurality of parking lots using an information processing terminal of a user who selects and uses one of the plurality of parking lots,
a position acquisition step in which the information processing terminal acquires the current position of the vehicle by using a position acquisition unit of the information processing terminal in a riding state in which the user is riding in the vehicle together with the information processing terminal;
By using the proximity sensor of the information processing terminal in the boarding state, the information processing terminal is not carried by the user, and the information processing terminal is fixedly mounted in the vehicle. an in-vehicle placement state determination step for determining whether or not there is a possibility that the
The information processing terminal, in the boarding state, based on the acceleration and/or vibration state of the vehicle acquired using the acceleration acquisition unit and/or the vibration acquisition unit of the information processing terminal, a high-frequency acceleration/deceleration state determination step of determining whether or not there is a possibility that the vehicle is in a high-frequency acceleration/deceleration state in which the vehicle accelerates/decelerates more frequently than when the vehicle is running;
provided that the information processing terminal determines that there is a possibility that the information processing terminal is placed in the vehicle and that the vehicle is likely to be in the high-frequency acceleration/deceleration state. and a parking lot identifying step of identifying, as the parking lot selected by the user, one of the plurality of parking lots that corresponds to the current position of the vehicle.

<5> The parking lot management method according to <4>, wherein the acceleration acquisition unit includes an acceleration sensor.

<6> A program executed by a computer of an information processing terminal to implement the information processing terminal according to any one of <1> to <5>.

<7> A recording medium in which the program according to <6> is computer-readable.

<8> A system for managing a plurality of parking lots using an information processing terminal of a user who selects and uses one of the plurality of parking lots,
a position acquisition unit provided in the information processing terminal for acquiring the current position of the vehicle in a riding state in which the user is riding in the vehicle together with the information processing terminal;
a dynamic behavior acquiring unit provided in the information processing terminal and acquiring dynamic behavior of the vehicle in the boarding state;
Based on the obtained dynamic behavior, the vehicle detects a unique dynamic behavior that does not appear when the vehicle is traveling on a normal road but appears when traveling in an arbitrary parking lot. In a state in which the information processing terminal is not carried by the user and the information processing terminal is fixedly placed in the interior of the vehicle, the vehicle detects the unique dynamic state. a parking lot identification unit that identifies, as the parking lot selected by the user, one of the plurality of parking lots that corresponds to the current position of the vehicle, on the condition that the parking lot is determined to exhibit behavior. .

According to the present invention, the following aspects are also obtained.

(1) A parking lot management system that manages a parking lot having multiple compartments for each vehicle rather than for each compartment,
A parking lot identification device that is installed in the parking lot and outputs identification information for identifying the parking lot not for each vehicle room but for each parking lot;
an exit detection device that is installed in the parking lot and detects whether or not a vehicle has exited the parking lot, not for each vehicle compartment but by an entrance or exit of the parking lot;
a management server communicable with information processing terminals of users who use the parking lot;
including
The information processing terminal
a parking lot identification unit that identifies the parking lot where the user is currently staying by using the parking lot identification device;
a transmission unit that transmits the identified parking lot to the management server;
a button display unit that displays a button on a screen, the button being operated by the user to issue a request related to a leaving process for the user's vehicle to leave the parking lot;
a button operation data transmission unit that, when the button is operated by the user, transmits data indicating that the button has been operated to the management server;
including
The information processing terminal or the management server,
an exit determination unit that determines whether or not the user's vehicle has exited from the parking lot by using the exit detection device for the identified parking lot;
a leaving handling processing unit for treating the user's vehicle as leaving the identified parking lot when the leaving determining unit determines that the user has left the parking lot before the user operates the button;
including
After the user operates the button, the management server determines that leaving the identified parking lot is complete when the leaving determination unit determines that the user has left the parking lot. Parking management system including department.

(2) In the parking lot, there is also a gate device that opens and closes to prevent unauthorized vehicles from exiting the parking lot from the entry/exit entrance of the parking lot, and a car stop that appears and disappears to prevent unauthorized vehicles from exiting from each compartment. A device, a ticket issuing machine for issuing a parking ticket to the user, a payment machine for the user to settle the parking fee, and a vehicle presence/absence detection device for detecting whether or not a vehicle exists in each compartment. The parking lot management system according to item (1), which is not installed.

(3) The parking lot management system according to (1) or (2), wherein the information processing terminal is carried by the user or mounted in the user's vehicle.

(4) The parking lot management system according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the exit detection device is configured as a sensor installed at an entrance or exit of the parking lot.

(5) A program for causing a computer to function as the information processing terminal according to any one of (1) to (4).

(6) A program for causing a computer to function as the management server according to any one of (1) to (4).

(7) A recording medium in which the program according to (5) or (6) is computer-readable.

(8) A system for managing a parking lot for each vehicle,
an exit detection device for detecting whether or not a vehicle has exited from the parking lot at an entry/exit entrance or an exit exit of the parking lot;
A management server that can communicate with a user's information processing terminal
including
The information processing terminal includes a button display unit that displays buttons on the screen,
Information processing terminal or management server
A leaving determination unit that determines whether or not the vehicle has left the parking lot by using the leaving detection device;
and a processing unit that treats the user's vehicle as leaving the garage when the exit determination unit determines that the exit has occurred before the user operates the button;
including
A parking lot management system in which the management server determines that exit from the parking lot is complete when the exit determining unit determines that the exit has occurred after the user has operated the button.

According to the present invention, the following aspects are also obtained.

(1) A parking lot management system that manages a parking lot having multiple compartments for each vehicle rather than for each compartment,
A parking lot identification device that is installed in the parking lot and outputs identification information for identifying the parking lot not for each vehicle room but for each parking lot;
a management server communicable with information processing terminals of users who use the parking lot;
including
The information processing terminal
a parking lot identification unit that identifies the parking lot where the user is currently staying by using the parking lot identification device;
a button display unit that displays a button on a screen, the button being operated by the user to issue a request related to a leaving process for the user's vehicle to leave the parking lot;
When the displayed button is operated by the user, the parking lot information for identifying the identified parking lot not for each room but for each parking lot, and for identifying the user's vehicle. a transmission unit that transmits vehicle information input by a user to the management server;
including
The management server is
a registration presence/absence determination unit that determines whether or not there is a registration of the same combination of parking lot information and vehicle information received from the transmission unit in a memory;
a parking fee transmission unit that calculates a parking fee to be charged to the user based on the identified parking lot and transmits the calculated parking fee to the information processing terminal;
including
The parking fee transmission unit selectively operates according to the determination result of the presence or absence of registration,
The parking lot management system further includes a settlement unit that enables the user to use the information processing terminal to settle the parking fee received from the parking fee transmission unit by electronic payment. .

(2) In the parking lot, there is also a gate device that opens and closes to prevent unauthorized vehicles from exiting the parking lot from the entry/exit entrance of the parking lot, and a car stop that appears and disappears to prevent unauthorized vehicles from exiting from each compartment. A device, a ticket issuing machine for issuing a parking ticket to the user, a payment machine for the user to settle the parking fee, and a vehicle presence/absence detection device for detecting whether or not a vehicle exists in each compartment. The parking lot management system according to item (1), which is not installed.

(3) The parking lot management system according to (1) or (2), wherein the parking lot is not provided with a ticket issuing machine for issuing a parking ticket to the user.

(4) The parking lot management system according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the parking lot is not provided with a payment machine for the user to settle the parking fee.

(5) The parking lot management system according to any one of items (1) to (4), wherein the user pays the parking fee in the parking lot in a prepaid or postpaid manner.

(6) The parking lot management system according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein the information processing terminal is carried by the user or mounted in the user's vehicle.

(7) The parking lot management system according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein the button is operated by the user to issue a request related to payment of the parking fee.

(8) A program for causing a computer to function as the information processing terminal according to any one of (1) to (7).

(9) A program for causing a computer to function as the management server according to any one of (1) to (7).

(10) A recording medium in which the program according to (8) or (9) is computer-readable.

FIG. 1 is a plan view exemplarily showing one of a plurality of parking lots centrally managed by a parking lot management system according to an exemplary first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a part of a plurality of vehicle compartments shown in FIG. 1 with vehicles stopped in the vehicle compartments.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of mutual communication between a mobile terminal of a user in each parking lot and a management server in a remote management center in the parking lot management system shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 shows the long-distance two-way communication between the user's mobile terminal shown in FIG. 3 and the management server shown in the same figure, the communication between the satellite and the mobile terminal, and the parking lot shown in FIG. 2 conceptually illustrates short-range one-way communication with an installed transmitter; FIG.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram conceptually representing the mobile terminal shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram conceptually representing the management server shown in FIG.

7 is a diagram listing a plurality of programs (or modules) executed by the mobile terminal computer shown in FIG. 5 and a plurality of programs (or modules) executed by the management server computer shown in FIG. 6; is.

FIGS. 8(a)-8(c) are time charts conceptually representing first to third exemplary parking sequences, respectively, implemented by the parking management system.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a list of a plurality of actions that the user can take in the stage of entering the parking lot in the parking lot management system and the results caused by those actions.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a list of actions that the user can take in the exit stage from the parking lot in the parking lot management system and the results caused by those actions.

FIG. 11 shows a parking lot guidance program executed by a mobile terminal and a management server to guide potential users to a plurality of available parking lots in association with a map in the parking lot management system. It is a flow chart which expresses an example conceptually.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart conceptually showing an example of a parking lot processing program executed by a mobile terminal and a management server, respectively, in order to assist a user in carrying out parking lot processing in a certain parking lot in the parking lot management system. .

FIG. 13 conceptually shows an example of a progress monitoring program respectively executed by the mobile terminal and the management server in order to monitor the progress of the actual parking time after the user enters a parking lot in the parking management system. 2 is a flow chart shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 shows an example of a vacancy determination program executed by the management server to determine whether or not there is a vacancy in each parking lot based on information from each user's mobile terminal in the parking management system. is a flow chart conceptually representing.

FIG. 15 shows an extension request executed by a mobile terminal and a management server, respectively, in response to an extension request from a user after the user enters a parking lot in the parking lot management system to extend the effective parking time. 4 is a flowchart conceptually representing an example of a processing program;

FIG. 16 shows an example of an exit processing program executed by the mobile terminal and the management server, respectively, in order to assist the user in exiting the parking lot after the user enters a parking lot in the parking lot management system. 2 is a flow chart conceptually representing a part.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart conceptually representing the remaining part of the delivery processing program shown in FIG.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart conceptually showing an example of a behavior analysis program executed by a portable terminal to analyze user behavior after a user enters a parking lot in the parking lot management system.

FIG. 19(a) is a waveform diagram showing the original waveform during user walking analyzed by the behavior analysis program shown in FIG. 18, and FIG. 19(b) shows the original waveform shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram showing waveforms obtained as a result of strength analysis processing.

FIG. 20(a) is a waveform diagram showing frequency components obtained as a result of performing frequency analysis processing on the original waveform shown in FIG. 19(a), and FIG. FIG. 10 is a waveform diagram showing another frequency component obtained as a result of performing frequency analysis processing in the first step;

FIG. 21(a) is a waveform diagram showing the original waveform during user running analyzed by the behavior analysis program shown in FIG. 18, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram showing waveforms obtained as a result of strength analysis processing.

FIG. 22(a) is a waveform diagram showing frequency components obtained as a result of performing frequency analysis processing on the original waveform shown in FIG. 20(a), and FIG. FIG. 10 is a waveform diagram showing another frequency component obtained as a result of performing frequency analysis processing in the first step;

FIG. 23 shows a behavior analysis program executed by the mobile terminal to analyze the behavior of the user after entering a parking lot in the parking lot management system according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. It is a flow chart which expresses an example conceptually.

FIG. 24 is a plan view visually showing an example of the execution result of step S1204 shown in FIG.

FIG. 25 is a plan view visually showing an example of execution results of steps S1205, S1212 and S1215 shown in FIG. 12 collectively for convenience of explanation.

26 is a plan view conceptually showing an example of how a plurality of data and a plurality of flags are stored for each user in the memory of the management server shown in FIG. 6 as a status management table for each parking lot.

FIG. 27 is a functional block diagram conceptually representing a parking lot management system according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a perspective view showing an example of how the mobile terminal shown in FIG. 27 is placed and used inside a vehicle parked in a parking lot.

FIG. 29 conceptually expresses only the steps different from those of the first and second embodiments of the warehousing processing program executed by the computer of the mobile terminal shown in FIG. It is a flow chart.

FIG. 30 conceptually represents only the steps different from those of the first and second embodiments of the exit processing program executed by the computer of the mobile terminal shown in FIG. It is a flow chart.

FIG. 31 conceptually expresses only steps different from the first and second embodiments in the leaving processing program executed by the computer of the mobile terminal shown in FIG. It is a flow chart.

FIG. 32 is a schematic diagram for explaining the entering parking lot identification module, the leaving parking lot identification module, and the exit parking lot identification module shown in FIGS. 29 to 31, respectively.

33 is a graph for conceptually explaining the principle of the high-frequency turning state determination process executed in the portable terminal shown in FIG. 27. FIG.

34 is a graph for conceptually explaining the principle of the high-frequency acceleration/deceleration state determination process optionally executed in the mobile terminal shown in FIG. 27. FIG.

FIG. 35 shows, in a certain parking lot, in order to explain the operation principle of the parking lot status management table creating/updating unit and the vacancy determination unit in the parking lot management system according to the fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a time chart exemplifying how the status (occupancy state) of each compartment changes over time for each user.

FIG. 36 is a flowchart conceptually showing a table creating/updating module for implementing a parking lot status management table creating/updating unit in the parking lot management system shown in FIG.

FIG. 37 is a flowchart conceptually showing a vacant room determination module for implementing the vacant room determination unit in the parking lot management system shown in FIG.

Several exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[First embodiment]

1 and 2, a parking lot management system (hereinafter simply referred to as "system") 10 according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention is each capable of parking a plurality of vehicles. A system for managing a plurality of parking lots 20 (only a representative parking lot 20 of the parking lots 20 is shown in FIG. 1).

In this system 10, a parking lot management method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention enables a remote management server 50 to manage a plurality of parking lots 20 by communicating with the mobile terminals 90 of a plurality of users. Centrally managed things are implemented.

In one example, the system 10 allows a user to park on the condition that the user uses his/her mobile terminal 90 as a parking ticket and pays a prepaid parking fee commensurate with the length of the scheduled parking time. Permission is granted to use the car park 20. In another example, the system 10 allows the user to use his/her mobile terminal 90 as a parking ticket and to pay a prepaid parking fee corresponding to the length of time the user actually parked. is permitted to use the parking lot 20.

FIG. 1 shows a parking lot 20 in plan view. The parking lot 20 has a plurality of compartments (an example of the parking spaces) 22 that allow simultaneous parking of a plurality of vehicles. This parking lot 20 has only one entrance/exit 24 (both entrance and exit). FIG. 2 shows a portion of the plurality of compartments 22 with the vehicle stopped in each compartment 22 .

This parking lot 20 is unmanned, and furthermore, in this parking lot 20, a gate device that opens and closes as appropriate to prevent unauthorized vehicles from exiting from the entrance/exit 24 of the parking lot 20 is installed from the vehicle compartment 22. A car stop device that appears appropriately to prevent an illegal vehicle from leaving the parking lot is also a ticket issuing machine for issuing a parking ticket to the user who is the driver, and a payment machine for the user to settle the parking fee. is not installed.

As an additional remark about the definition of the term "vehicle", the term "vehicle" should be interpreted as a term that includes not only automobiles but also all kinds of moving bodies such as bicycles and motorcycles.

As shown in FIG. 1, there are two types of parking spaces on the site of the parking lot 20 . That is, for each vehicle user, a section (temporary custody section or daily rental section) for renting out the passenger compartment 22 on a daily basis, and for each vehicle user, on the premise of a prior contract, a monthly unit and a compartment for renting out the compartment 22 (monthly compartment). Hereinafter, the term "parking lot 20" simply means only the temporary custody section of the parking lot 20. As shown in FIG.

This system 10 employs the aforementioned centralized management system as its parking lot management system. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, it is provided with a mobile terminal 90 of each user in each parking lot 20 and a management server 50 installed in a management center 40 that centrally manages a plurality of parking lots 20. ing.

The management center 40 is managed by a parking lot manager (for example, the owner of the land used as the parking lot 20 who manages the parking lot 20 by himself/herself, or the owner of the land of another person who uses the land as the parking lot 20). operated by a parking lot management company that is entrusted to manage it.

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

The mobile terminal 90 is an example of the information processing terminal described above, but is not a type of information processing terminal that is always carried by the user. The portable terminal 90 means a portable terminal such as not carried by the user inside the vehicle, but carried by the user outside the vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 4 , the mobile terminal 90 has an essential function of receiving GPS (Global Positioning System) signals from a plurality of artificial satellites existing in outer space. It has a positioning function that measures the current position on the map (ground position).

Furthermore, in an optional aspect, the mobile terminal 90 can receive a signal representing the position coordinates of a base station (another example of an off-site transmitter), a signal representing the position coordinates of a base station (another example of an off-site transmitter), It also receives signals from transmitters (also referred to as “local transmitters”) 30 installed in the premises, which represent transmitter IDs unique to each transmitter 30 .

In this optional aspect, the mobile terminal 90 identifies the transmitter ID represented by the signal received from each transmitter 30 as the corresponding parking lot ID where the transmitter 30 is located. to identify the parking lot 30 according to a predefined rule (for example, a conversion table) that expresses the correspondence relationship between the two.

As a result, the portable terminal 90 distinguishes the transmitter 30 detected this time from other transmitters 30 and identifies the position of the transmitter 30 detected this time (for example, the position on the map, the position of the installed parking lot, etc.). and/or by measuring the strength of the signal received from the current transmitter 30, the distance between that transmitter 30 and the mobile terminal 90 is determined.

The transmitter 30 is generally a device that is also known as a beacon device that transmits a beacon signal as an identification signal, a radio beacon, and the like. In one example, this transmitter 30 modulates the original signal to generate an identification signal representing the corresponding transmitter ID (or parking lot ID), and the generated identification signal is an IR signal, Bluetooth ( registered trademark) signal, NFC (Near Field Communication) signal, etc.

As shown in FIG. 4 , the mobile terminal 90 performs long-distance two-way wireless communication with the management server 50 of the management center 40 . In addition, in a mode where the transmitter 30 is installed in the parking lot 20, as shown in FIG. is received by the short-range one-way wireless communication system in a contact state or a non-contact state with the transmitter 30 .

As shown in FIG. 2, the user operates the mobile terminal 90 in the vehicle to perform reception for positioning (GPS reception, reception from a base station, reception from the local transmitter 30, etc.), and management. It is possible to communicate with the server 50 . According to this aspect, the user can operate the portable terminal 90 for entering (including payment for prepaid parking) and leaving (including payment for postpaid parking) inside the vehicle. You do not have to be bothered by the weather such as wind and rain.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the user can perform reception for positioning and communicate with the management server 50 by operating the mobile terminal 90 outside the vehicle. This aspect is significant, for example, when it is necessary for the user to bring the portable terminal 90 close to the premises transmitter 30 and hold it over or touch it.

Next, the hardware configuration of the mobile terminal 90 will be described with reference to FIG. 5, which is a functional block diagram. ) is composed mainly of a computer 134 having a memory 132 for storing.

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

This mobile terminal 90 further has an input unit 150 for inputting data and commands from the user. The input unit 150 has, for example, an operation unit that can be operated by the user to input desired information (eg, commands, data, etc.) to the mobile terminal 90 . The operation unit includes a touch screen that displays icons (e.g., virtual buttons) that can be operated by the user, a physical operation unit that can be operated by the user (e.g., keyboard, keypad, buttons, etc.), and voice. Sensing microphones and the like include, but are not limited to.

This mobile terminal 90 further has a GPS (satellite positioning system) receiver 152 . As is well known, the GPS receiver 152 receives a plurality of GPS signals from a plurality of GPS satellites, and based on the GPS signals, determines the position (latitude, longitude and altitude) of the GPS receiver 152 on the earth. Measured by triangulation.

Alternatively or additionally, mobile terminal 90 may determine its position on the earth (latitude and longitude) by triangulation using the positions of multiple base stations.

That is, the positioning unit 230 (an example of the position acquisition unit) of the mobile terminal 90 may be a GPS positioning unit or a base station positioning unit as an off-site transmitter, or may be the on-site transmitter 30. You can.

The mobile terminal 90 further incorporates an acceleration sensor 154 that detects its own acceleration (for example, acceleration when the mobile terminal 90 translates). Since the acceleration sensor 154 is mounted on the mobile terminal 90, it vibrates integrally with the mobile terminal 90. As a result, the acceleration acting on the acceleration sensor 154 itself is equivalent to the acceleration acting on the mobile terminal 90. Detect as

The type of the acceleration sensor 154 is, for example, a semiconductor piezoresistive type, a capacitance type, a heat detection type, or the like. In one example, the acceleration sensor 154 individually detects accelerations Gx, Gy, and Gz in three axial directions of the X, Y, and Z axes, and as a composite value Gr of these three detected values Gx, Gy, and Gz, It can be designed to output one representative acceleration.

This acceleration sensor 154 detects an approximation of the acceleration acting on the user when the user is carrying the mobile terminal 90, and when the user is in a vehicle, the An approximation to the acceleration acting on the vehicle (for example, longitudinal acceleration and longitudinal deceleration) is detected.

Note that the acceleration acting on the mobile terminal 90 is theoretically calculated by time-differentiating the position measured based on the GPS signal described above to calculate the speed, and further time-differentiating the speed. It is possible to However, in terms of accuracy, the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor 154 may be superior. In any case, the acceleration sensor 154 is an example of an acceleration acquisition unit that acquires the axial acceleration of the vehicle by detecting or estimating it.

Optionally, the mobile terminal 90 further includes, although not shown, an optical sensor that detects light (e.g., sunlight) exposed to the mobile terminal 90, sound exposed to the mobile terminal 90 (e.g., the sound of a vehicle). A sound sensor for detecting engine sound), a proximity sensor for detecting the approach of an object (for example, a vehicle) to the portable terminal 90 (an example of which will be described later in detail), and the like can be incorporated.

Next, the hardware configuration of the management server 50 will be described with reference to FIG. 6, which is a functional block diagram. It is mainly composed of a computer 164 having

The management server 50 further includes a display unit (for example, a liquid crystal display) 166 that displays information, a reception unit 168 that receives signals from the mobile terminal 90 , and a signal that generates and transmits the signal to the mobile terminal 90 . and a clock 172 . This management server 50 does not directly receive data from the transmitter 30, but actually receives data via the mobile terminal 90. FIG.

Next, the software configurations of the computer 134 of the mobile terminal 90 and the computer 164 of the management server 50 will be conceptually described with reference to FIG. 7, which is a functional block diagram.

As shown in FIG. 7, the computer 134 of the mobile terminal 90 has the following characteristic units (program execution units or functional units).

1. Parking lot guidance unit 200

In the system 10, this corresponds to an example of a parking lot guidance program executed by the mobile terminal 90 to guide potential users to a plurality of available parking lots 20 in association with a map (Fig. 11).

This parking lot guidance unit 200 is the same as the parking lot guidance unit 300 described later, but usually, a plurality of potential users who are not staying in any parking lot 20 (moving to any parking lot from now on). In response to individual access from each user, a management server 50 individually distributes necessary guide information to a mobile terminal 90 of each user. .

Specifically, the parking lot guidance unit 200, like the parking lot guidance unit 300 described later, responds to access from each potential user and identifies each existing parking lot 20 as an available vehicle. It is displayed on the screen of each user's portable terminal 90 together with full vacancy information (obtained by the vacancy determination unit 306 described later) representing the presence or absence of the room.

As a result, the mobile terminal 90 selects only a few candidate parking lots 20 from all the parking lots 20 located near the user's current position (for example, the position measured by GPS) from among the plurality of parking lots 20. Automatically select and display on the screen. The positions and types of the displayed candidate parking lots 20 change as the user moves.

2. Warehousing processing unit 202

This is executed by the mobile terminal 90 in order to assist the user in carrying out the parking process at any parking lot (hereinafter also referred to as "selected parking lot") 20 selected by the user in the system 10. (See the left part of FIG. 12). This warehousing processing unit 202 , like the warehousing processing unit 302 to be described later, does not accept warehousing processing by the user unless the user is staying at the selected parking lot 20 .

This warehousing processing unit 202 includes a parking fee calculation unit that calculates a parking fee in the same manner as the warehousing processing unit 302 which will be described later. In one example, the parking fee calculation unit may have different rules for each parking lot 20, but for users who use the same parking lot 20, the parking fee is calculated uniformly according to the same rule, and In another example, the parking fee is calculated according to different rules for each parking lot 20 and for each user using the same parking lot 20 . This is regardless of whether it is a prepaid parking fee or a postpaid parking fee.

In the latter example, the amount of the parking fee will fluctuate for each location of the parking lot 30 and for each user, resulting in an individual response to users (e.g., individual usage for each user). It is possible to offer discounts reflecting actual results, or to charge parking fees higher than the normal value reflecting past violation history.

3. Progress monitoring unit 204

In the system 10, after each user starts parking in the parking lot 20, the progress of the actual parking time is individually monitored, and the result (remaining time of the effective parking time) is displayed by each user. It corresponds to an example of a progress monitoring program executed by the mobile terminal 90 to individually notify the mobile terminal 90 of each user, regardless of whether they are inside or outside the car park 20 (see the left part of FIG. 13). .

4. Extension request processing unit 206

In the system 10, after each user starts parking in the parking lot 20, regardless of whether each user is inside or outside the parking lot 20, an extension request from each user via the mobile terminal 90 is accepted. It corresponds to an example of an extension request processing program executed by the mobile terminal 90 to individually extend the valid parking time in response (see the left part of FIG. 15).

5. Outgoing processing unit 208

This is an example of an exit processing program executed by the mobile terminal 90 in the system 10 to assist the user in exiting the selected parking lot 20 after the user starts parking in the selected parking lot 20. (see left part of each of FIGS. 16 and 17). This parking lot processing unit 208 , like the parking lot processing unit 310 described later, does not accept the parking lot processing by the user unless the user is staying at the selected parking lot 20 .

6. Behavior analysis unit 210

This corresponds to a flowchart conceptually representing an example of a behavior analysis program executed by the mobile terminal 90 to analyze the behavior of the user after the user enters the selected parking lot 20 to exit the parking lot in the system 10 . (see left part of FIG. 18).

This behavior analysis unit 210 includes: 1) a position detection unit 212 that detects that the user is in the parking lot 20 based on the position of the user measured by the mobile terminal 90; 3) an acceleration sensor 154 mounted on the mobile terminal 90 and integrally vibrating; and a boarding detection unit 216 for detecting that the user is moving (running) in the vehicle based on the acceleration detected by the vehicle.

In one example, the movement detection unit 214 determines whether the user is moving in the parking lot 20 (walking or riding in a vehicle) based on the presence or absence of a temporal change in the user's position measured by the mobile terminal 90 . (whether or not).

In another example, if the movement detection unit 214 finds that the substantial maximum value among the speeds detected or estimated by the mobile terminal 90 from time to time is equal to or lower than a first reference value (for example, 1 km/h), While determining that the user is stationary or stationary, if the first reference value is exceeded, it is determined that the user is moving.

In one example, the boarding detection unit 216 detects the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor 154 that is mounted on the mobile terminal 90 and vibrates integrally, and that the user is moving (running) in the vehicle. detect that

In this case, the boarding detection unit 216 detects the maximum intensity among the plurality of acceleration values belonging to the latest analysis window segment (latest time window segment) of the acceleration waveform detected by the acceleration sensor 154. A plurality of frequency components are extracted from the portion within the latest analysis window (latest time window segment) of the acceleration waveform detected by the intensity analysis unit that sequentially measures over time and the acceleration sensor 154, and those frequencies and a frequency analysis unit for measuring the frequency of the component having the maximum amplitude.

In another example, if the boarding detection unit 216 detects or estimates the speed of the mobile terminal 90 from time to time and the substantial maximum value is equal to or lower than the second reference value (for example, 10 km/h), While it is determined that the user is walking, if the second reference value is exceeded, it is determined that the user is moving by vehicle.

The behavior analysis unit 210 further has, as an additional or alternative option, a step count detection unit 218 that detects the number of user steps per unit time based on the detection result of the acceleration sensor 154 .

The number-of-steps detection unit 218 detects the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor 154, and based on the fact that the mobile terminal 90 carried by the user has changed by a swing width equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the mobile terminal 90 detects This is a program that operates to add 1 to the cumulative number of vibrations assuming that vibrations have occurred.

An example of the number-of-steps detection unit 218 is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-296097, and the number-of-steps detection unit 218 in this embodiment may employ a technique similar to that.

Further, in the behavior analysis unit 210, the movement detection unit 214 may be omitted by having the boarding detection unit 216 serve as the movement detection unit 214 as well. In this case, in order to achieve the purpose, the boarding detection unit 216 refers to the speed of the mobile terminal 90 but does not have to refer to the acceleration.

7. Positioning unit 230

This is an example of a positioning program (not shown) executed by the mobile terminal 90 to measure the position of the mobile terminal 90, i.e., the user's position, based on the GPS signal, the identification signal from the base station or the local transmitter 30. corresponds to

As described above, since the premises transmitter 30 is a short-range communication device, the positioning unit 230 performs positioning using a GPS signal or a base station outside the parking lot 20. Internally, GPS signals, base stations and/or local transmitters 30 are used to provide positioning.

The on-site transmitter 30 always provides stable reception and positioning to the mobile terminal 90 in the parking lot 20, which may interfere with the reception of GPS signals due to being adjacent to obstacles such as high-rise buildings. It is advantageous in terms of guarantee.

Next, the software configuration of the computer 164 of the management server 50 will be conceptually described with reference to FIG. 7, which is a functional block diagram. However, the positioning section 230 is only the GPS positioning section or the base station positioning section, and the off-site transmitter 30 is excluded.

1. Parking information section 300

In the system 10, this corresponds to an example of a parking lot guidance program executed by the management server 50 to guide potential users to a plurality of available parking lots 20 in association with a map (Fig. 11).

Specifically, the parking lot guidance unit 300 responds to access from each potential user, and provides each actual parking lot 20 with fullness information (vacancy information described later) indicating whether or not there is a usable vehicle compartment. obtained by the determination unit 306) is displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal 90 of each user.

2. Warehousing processing unit 302

This corresponds to an example of an entry processing program executed by the management server 50 to assist the user in carrying out the entry processing at the selected parking lot 20 in the system 10 (see the right part of FIG. 12).

3. Progress monitoring unit 304

In the system 10, after each user starts parking in the parking lot 20, the progress of the actual parking time is individually monitored, and the result (remaining time of the effective parking time) is displayed by each user. It corresponds to an example of a progress monitoring program executed by the management server 50 to individually notify each user's mobile terminal 90 regardless of whether it is inside or outside the car park 20 (see the right part of FIG. 13). .

4. Vacancy determination unit 306

This is an example of a vacancy determination program executed by the management server 50 in the system 10 to determine whether or not there is a vacancy in each parking lot 20 based on information from each user's mobile terminal 90. Corresponding (see FIG. 14).

4. Extension request processing unit 308

In the system 10, after each user starts parking in the parking lot 20, regardless of whether each user is inside or outside the parking lot 20, an extension request from each user via the mobile terminal 90 is accepted. It corresponds to an example of an extension request processing program executed by the management server 50 to individually extend the valid parking time in response (see the right part of FIG. 15).

5. Delivery processing unit 310

This is an example of an exit processing program executed by the management server 50 in the system 10 to assist the user in exiting the selected parking lot 20 after the user starts parking in the selected parking lot 20. (see right part of each of FIGS. 16 and 17).

<Some examples of parking sequences>

FIG. 8 shows a time chart of some examples of parking sequences implemented using the system 10 . A specific description will be given below.

<First parking sequence>

FIG. 8(a) shows that in the system 10, after the user has parked the vehicle in a certain parking lot 20, before the effective parking time expires, the user operates the portable terminal 90 to leave the parking lot (for example, as described later). Then, the user taps a virtual "exit button" displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal 90 (other operations include, for example, touching, pressing, selecting, and giving voice instructions). Afterwards, a first exemplary parking sequence is conceptually represented in which the user exits (exits) parking lot 20 by entering his/her vehicle.

Similarly in other parking sequences to be described later, the parking stage is started by the user entering a certain parking lot 20 for the purpose of parking (the vehicle entering the parking lot). It ends by the act of leaving. When the user inputs a parking request (or a parking request) to the mobile terminal 90, the remaining time of the valid parking time starts to be subtracted (counted down) and the actual parking time is increased (counted up). be started.

On the other hand, the exit stage is started by the user entering the parking lot 20 where the parking lot has been entered for the purpose of exiting the parking lot (the vehicle leaving the parking lot), and exiting the parking lot 20. ends with an act.

In the parking sequence shown in FIG. 8(a), the user leaves the parking lot 20 before the valid parking time expires, and prior to leaving the parking lot, the user performs the exit operation. As a result, the actual parking time starts from "entering (occurrence of parking request, entering operation)" and ends at "leaving operation". Therefore, in this parking sequence, the user's exit (together with the vehicle) in the parking exit stage means the actual exit (real exit).

<Second parking sequence>

FIG. 8(b) shows that in the system 10, after the user parks the vehicle in a certain parking lot 20, the user himself/herself without performing the exit operation on the mobile terminal 20 before the valid parking time expires. A second exemplary parking sequence is conceptually represented for entering (exiting) a vehicle from parking lot 20 .

In this parking sequence, the user leaves the parking lot 20 together with the vehicle before the valid parking time expires, and the user does not perform the exit operation before leaving the parking lot. In this case, after that, when the valid parking time expires, it is assumed that the user has performed the leaving operation. Therefore, in this case, the actual parking time matches the effective parking time. Therefore, in this parking sequence, the user's exit (together with the vehicle) at the exit stage means provisional exit (provisional exit).

<Third parking sequence>

FIG. 8(c) shows that in the system 10, after the user has parked the vehicle in a certain parking lot 20, the user parks the vehicle without performing the exit operation on the mobile terminal 90 before the valid parking time expires. A third exemplary parking sequence is conceptually represented for exiting the parking lot 20 (exiting with the vehicle) and then re-entering the same parking lot 20 again.

In this parking sequence, the first actual parking is completed, and the user causes the vehicle to leave the parking lot 20 . Prior to leaving the garage, although not shown, the user does not perform the above-mentioned leaving operation before the effective parking time expires. Therefore, the user is permitted to enter the parking lot again (entering the parking lot is permitted without paying a new parking fee). The time period during which re-entering is permitted is defined between the timing of leaving the parking lot in the first actual parking and the timing of expiration of the effective parking time.

After that, the user parks the vehicle in the same parking lot 20 for the second actual parking. Since the re-entering is permitted this time, the user does not need to perform the parking-receiving processing (for example, inputting the valid parking time and paying the parking fee) requested at the time of the first actual parking. Immediately, the vehicle is allowed to park in any vacant compartment. As a result, the second actual parking is started.

After that, as shown in the figure, when the user leaves the vehicle from the parking lot 20 without performing the exit operation, the user performs the exit operation after the effective parking time expires. is considered. At that timing, progress of the duration time for the second actual parking and progress of the entire actual parking time end.

On the other hand, although not shown, when the user causes the vehicle to exit the parking lot 20 after performing the exit operation, the duration of the second actual parking is calculated at the timing when the exit operation is performed. Both the progress and the overall actual parking time progress are terminated.

FIG. 9 lists a plurality of actions that the user can take in the stage of entering the parking lot 20 in the system 10 and the results caused by those actions.

A case where the user enters a certain parking lot 20 in a certain parking stage is divided into cases where the entry is the first entry and re-entry (second entry, third and subsequent entries). It is classified as a case that there is. In the case of the first entry, since it corresponds to the first entry, the user is treated normally.

On the other hand, cases of re-entry are classified into cases in which the user performed the exit operation in the preceding exit stage and cases in which the user did not.

In the case where the user has performed the aforementioned retrieval operation, the user is treated in the same manner as the first warehousing.

On the other hand, in the case where the user has not performed the exit operation, the user is notified that the valid parking time has not expired at each point in time and is within the time. , ie, re-stocking, is permitted. On the other hand, if the valid parking time has expired at that time, the user is prohibited from entering the parking lot this time, that is, re-entering the parking lot. As a result, the user is treated in the same manner as the first-time warehousing.

FIG. 10 lists a plurality of actions that the user can take in the exit stage from the parking lot 20 in the system 10 and the results caused by those actions.

A case in which the user enters a certain parking lot 20 in a certain exit stage is divided into a case in which the exit operation is performed within the effective parking time after that, and a case in which the exit operation is not performed after that. being classified.

Cases in which the exit operation is performed in time after entering are classified into cases in which the user leaves the parking lot with the vehicle in time and cases in which the user does not leave. In the former case, it is determined that the user caused the vehicle to leave the parking lot 20 .

On the other hand, the cases in which the user does not leave are, at each point in time, cases in which the time is up, cases in which the remaining time of the valid parking time is short, and cases in which the valid parking time has passed and the time has expired. It is classified as a case of becoming.

Among these cases, in cases where the remaining time is short, the user is urged to extend the effective parking time, and in cases where the time is over, the user commits an illegal act. Some penalty is imposed on the user for

On the other hand, cases in which the exit operation is not performed after entering are classified into cases in which the user exits with the vehicle and cases in which the user does not exit.

Cases in which the user leaves with the vehicle are classified into cases in which the user leaves within the time limit and cases in which the user leaves the site after the time runs out. In the former case, the user is permitted to restock. On the other hand, in the latter case, it is assumed that the user has performed the leaving operation when the time is up.

On the other hand, the cases in which the user does not leave with the vehicle are, at each point in time, cases in which the time is up, cases in which the remaining time of the valid parking time is short, and cases in which the valid parking time has elapsed It is classified as a case of being over.

Among these cases, in cases where the remaining time is short, the user is urged to extend the effective parking time, and in cases where the time is over, the user asks the parking lot 20 to park. Some penalty is imposed on the user for violating the terms.

Next, multiple processes executed by the mobile terminal 90 and the management server 50, that is, multiple services provided to the user will be described. However, the case where the parking lot 20 is a prepaid hourly rental type will be described as an example.

<Parking guidance and positioning>

As shown in FIG. 11, parking lot guidance unit 200 and positioning unit 230 of mobile terminal 90 and parking lot guidance unit 300 of management server 50 execute respective parking lot guidance programs.

Specifically, in step S1101, the mobile terminal 90 transmits to the management server 50 a request for logging in to the website operated by the management server 50. FIG.

Upon receiving the request, management server 50 establishes communication between mobile terminal 90 and management server 50 in step S1151.

After that, in step S1152, the management server 50 searches the memory 162 for all or part of the plurality of parking lots 20 managed by the management center 40, and the position of each parking lot 20 on the map (for example, each Parking lot position data representing the latitude and longitude of one location representing the parking lot 20 and parking lot ID data representing the parking lot ID for identifying each parking lot 20 are acquired.

After that, in step S1153, the management server 50 receives from the vacant room determination unit 304, for each parking lot 20, vacancy data indicating whether or not there is a vacant room (or congestion of vehicles in the parking lot 20). degree of congestion).

Subsequently, in step S1154, the management server 50 sets the plurality of parking lot position data of the plurality of parking lots 20, the plurality of parking lot ID data of the plurality of parking lots 20, the plurality of parking lot 20 (If there is a parking lot transmitter 30 in the parking lot 20, the transmitter ID of the parking lot transmitter 30 is included.) to the mobile terminal 90. do.

In response, mobile terminal 90 receives and stores the parking related data set in memory 132 in step S1102. As a result, the portable terminal 90 converts the position of any parking lot 20 into a parking lot ID, and converts the transmitter ID received from any of the on-site transmitters 30 installed in any of the parking lots 20 to a parking lot ID. It becomes possible to convert to a parking lot ID.

Subsequently, in step S1103, the mobile terminal 90 measures the current position (longitude and latitude) of the user based on the GPS signal received by the GPS receiver 152 from the outside. This constitutes the positioning section 230 .

Subsequently, in step S1104, the mobile terminal 90 determines that the measured current position of the user is a reference position (display reference point position ( latitude and longitude)). Furthermore, of the overall map, a portion having a size that can be displayed at once in a window on the screen of the mobile terminal 90 and in which the reference position exists is the display range of the map (that is, the , the area displayed at each instant within said window).

As is well known, when the user moves on the ground with time, the reference position also moves with time so as to follow it. As a result, as the user moves, the display range of the map also moves over time on the entire map, and the map image displayed in the window also changes over time.

Subsequently, in step S1105, the mobile terminal 90 overlays a plurality of parking lots 20 on the map displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal 90 based on the received plurality of parking lot position data. Furthermore, based on the received fullness status data, fullness information about whether each parking lot 20 is full or has vacancies is displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal 90 in association with the display position of each parking lot 20. (For example, the character "man" meaning full occupancy, the character "mixed" meaning that each parking lot 20 is in a crowded state, the character "empty" meaning that there are vacancies, the number of vacant rooms number) is also displayed.

Such visual indications make it easier for each potential user to know the existence and location of available parking lots 20 .

<Parking status management table and reproduction of user behavior patterns>

In this embodiment, the time-series behavior information from the mobile terminal 90 of the user, which is linked to the parking lot 20 but not linked to the vehicle compartment 22 in the parking lot 20, is collected by the management server. Referenced by 50, the operating conditions or status of the parking lot 20 is analyzed comprehensively and in real time (without delay) on a user-by-user basis rather than on a vehicle-by-room basis.

That is, in the present embodiment, attention is focused on individual compartments 22 in a certain parking lot 20, and whether or not each compartment 22 is vacant is not taken into consideration. Focusing on each of the multiple users who use the vehicle, data that can restore the chronological behavior pattern of each is associated with the user, associated with the time and chronological order, and stored in the parking lot status management table. Record.

Therefore, it is time-series behavior information from the mobile terminal 90 of the user, in which the behavior of the user is sequentially classified into one of a plurality of categories, and the time-series data of the classified behaviors is shown in FIG. A parking lot-specific status management table exemplified in 26 is created.

Here, "multiple classifications" include, for example, warehousing and warehousing; , and provisional delivery. An example of behavior patterns of a plurality of users in the same parking lot 20 is represented by a time chart in FIG. 35 according to the above behavior classification.

The parking status management table is updated in real time so as to reflect various data transmitted from the mobile terminal 90 of the user to the management server 50 . As a result, by observing the temporal change of each item in the status management table for each parking lot, it is possible to reproduce the user behavior pattern illustrated in FIG. Become.

<Various flags used in the status management table for each parking lot>

In the parking lot status management table, a plurality of flags are used to encode and classify various actions of the user with respect to the parking lot 20 (so that they can be recorded as binary data).

1. Received flag

The warehousing completion flag is a flag that switches between two different statuses, is located in the memory of the management server 50 (or the mobile terminal 90), and is stored in association with a user. , the user has entered the necessary personal information and parking-related information and paid the necessary fee, etc.), the user has acquired the authority to enter the specific parking lot 20. Alternatively, it indicates whether or not a user having re-entering authority, which will be described later, has re-entered the same parking lot 20 .

This warehousing completion flag indicates that warehousing authority or re-warehousing authority has been acquired in the first status (for example, ON state), while in the second status (for example, OFF state), warehousing authority and re-warehousing authority It means that you have not acquired This stocked flag is normally in the second status in the initial state.

2. Restock permission flag

The re-entry permission flag is a flag that switches between two different statuses, is located in the memory of the management server 50 (or the mobile terminal 90), is stored in association with the user, and , before the expiration of the valid parking time, and the leaving operation is not performed, etc.), the user has acquired the authority to park in the same parking lot 20 as the parking lot 20 where the user entered.

This re-entry permission flag indicates that the re-entry permission has been acquired in the first status (eg, ON state), while the re-entry permission flag has not been acquired in the second status (eg, OFF state). represents This restocking permission flag is normally in the second status in the initial state.

3. Issued flag

The exited flag is a flag that switches between two different statuses, is located in the memory of the management server 50 (or the mobile terminal 90), is stored in association with a user, and is stored when the user a) has completed the valid parking time. Either the driver left the parking lot 20 in the boarding state before the expiration of the valid parking lot 20 and performed the parking exit operation at that time, so that the regular parking exit (corresponding to "actual parking exit" in FIG. 8(a)) was established, or b) the valid Since the driver left the parking lot 20 in a boarding state before the expiration of the parking time and did not perform the exit operation at that time, provisional exit (see FIG. 8) was established. (see FIG. 8) is established. When regular leaving or assumed leaving is established, charging for the user stops (actual parking time is determined) (see FIG. 8).

In the first status (for example, ON state), this shipped flag indicates that regular delivery or assumed delivery has been confirmed. Indicates not confirmed. This shipped flag is normally in the second status in the initial state.

4. Regular issue flag

The regular delivery flag is a flag that switches between two different statuses, is located in the memory of the management server 50 (or the mobile terminal 90), is stored in association with the user, and indicates whether regular delivery has been made.

The regular delivery flag indicates that the regular delivery has been confirmed in the first status (eg, ON state), and indicates that the regular delivery has not been confirmed in the second status (eg, OFF state). This regular delivery flag is normally in the second status in the initial state.

5. Deemed issue flag

The deemed delivery flag is a flag that switches between two different statuses, is located in the memory of the management server 50 (or the mobile terminal 90), is stored in association with the user, and indicates whether or not the deemed delivery has been performed.

This deemed delivery flag indicates that the deemed delivery has been confirmed in the first status (for example, ON state), and indicates that the deemed delivery has not been confirmed in the second status (eg, OFF state). This deemed delivery flag is normally in the second status in the initial state.

6. Provisional issue flag

The provisional delivery flag is a flag that switches between two different statuses, is located in the memory of the management server 50 (or the mobile terminal 90), is stored in association with the user, and indicates whether provisional delivery has been made.

The provisional delivery flag indicates that provisional delivery has been confirmed in the first status (eg, ON state), and indicates that provisional delivery has not been confirmed in the second status (eg, OFF state). This provisional delivery flag is normally in the second status in the initial state.

7. running flag

In the first status (for example, ON state), the running flag indicates that the user is in the vehicle and is moving (riding), while in the second status (for example, OFF state), means different.

8. walking flag

A walking flag, which indicates that the user is walking in a first status (eg, ON state), while indicating otherwise in a second status (eg, OFF state).

<Incoming processing and positioning>

As shown in FIG. 12, the warehousing processing unit 202 and the positioning unit 230 of the mobile terminal 90 and the warehousing processing unit 302 of the management server 50 execute respective warehousing processing programs.

The entering processing program of the mobile terminal 90 is such that when the user enters any parking lot 20 for the first time or re-entering the parking lot, and if the user enters any vacant compartment 22 in the parking lot 20, It is preferably manually activated by the user or automatically activated when the user parks the vehicle.

This is because, in the preceding parking lot guidance, if there is a vacant room in one of the parking lots 20, even if the user of a certain vehicle is guided, it takes time to actually enter the same parking lot 20. In such a case, there is a possibility that another vehicle may enter the guided vacant room in the meantime, and in that case, the same parking lot 20 may become fully occupied. It is from.

Here, in order to automatically start the warehousing processing program, for example, the mobile terminal 90 determines whether the measured current position of the mobile terminal 90 exists in any parking lot 20 or not. After determining that the mobile terminal 90 exists, if the position of the mobile terminal 90 does not change for a predetermined time or more (or the amount of change is less than the reference value), it is determined that the vehicle has entered one of the compartments 22. Then, the portable terminal 90 can automatically start the warehousing processing program.

Similarly, alternatively or additionally, the delivery processing program can be automatically activated.

Specifically, in the warehousing processing program, the portable terminal 90 transmits a request for logging in to the website operated by the management server 50 to the management server 50 in step S1201. Upon receiving the request, management server 50 establishes communication between mobile terminal 90 and management server 50 in step S1251.

After that, in step S1202, the mobile terminal 90 measures the current position (longitude and latitude) of the user based on the GPS signal received by the GPS receiver 152 from the outside (or the identification signal received from the local transmitter 30). This also constitutes the positioning unit 230 .

Subsequently, in step S1203, the portable terminal 90 receives the measured current position and the parking lot positions (latitude and longitude) of each of the plurality of parking lots 20 (this position information is stored in the management server 50 as described above). (already downloaded to the mobile terminal 90) is less than or equal to a reference value. , it is determined whether or not the state has changed to the state of existing in any parking lot 20 , that is, whether or not the user has just entered any parking lot 20 .

For example, when step S1203 was executed last time, the distance between the user's current position and the position of any parking lot 20 was longer than the reference value. I do.

In this embodiment, as for the determination method of whether or not the user has entered the vehicle, as in the determination of whether or not to enter the vehicle at the exit stage, the behavior analysis of the user at the entrance stage also shows that the user is moving in the vehicle (while driving). The method of determining whether or not the user has entered any of the parking lots 20 on the condition that it is determined that the user has entered the parking lot 20 is not adopted.

That is, even in the parking stage, regardless of whether the user is walking or riding in a vehicle (without performing user behavior analysis using the acceleration sensor 154), it is possible to determine whether the user has entered any parking lot 20 or not. It determines whether This is because it is common sense that, due to the nature of the entering stage, the user normally does not enter any of the parking lots 20 by walking, as in the case of entering at the leaving stage. .

However, instead of this, the user enters one of the parking lots 20 on the condition that it is determined that the user is moving in the vehicle (driving) as a result of the behavior analysis of the user. It is possible to carry out the present invention in a manner in which it is determined whether or not it is done.

In steps S1202 and S1203, if the parking lot 20 is equipped with the on-site transmitter 30, the identification signal received from the on-site transmitter 30 is used instead of the GPS signal. The current position, that is, the current position of the parking lot 20 may be acquired.

If the user has not entered any parking lot 20, the determination in step S1203 is NO, and the process returns to step S1202. Steps S 1202 - 1203 are repeated until the user enters any parking lot 20 .

If the user has entered any parking lot 20, the determination in step S1203 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S1204.

In this step S1204, as illustrated in FIG. 24, the mobile terminal 90 transmits the information for identifying one of the parking lots 20 (for example, the name and location of the parking lot) to the current parking lot, that is, the current parking lot. , is displayed on the screen so that it is at least visually recognizable as the parking lot 20 selected by the user and where the user is actually staying (hereinafter referred to as "current parking lot").

Subsequently, in step S1205, the mobile terminal 90 inputs to the mobile terminal 90 a parking request (or a parking request) indicating that the user wants to use the current parking lot 20 at the current parking lot 20 position. (tap a specific position on the screen or input a specific voice).

In the example shown in FIG. 25, in this step S1205, a parking button (such as an icon) operated by the user to input a parking request (or parking request) to the mobile terminal 90 is displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal 90. Is displayed.

Here, the user inputs a parking request (or warehousing request) to the mobile terminal 90, the user selects the warehousing button on the screen of the mobile terminal 90 (see FIG. 25), the user inputs the mobile terminal The operation of tapping a specific position (for example, the current parking lot P3) on the screen of 90 (see FIG. 24) and the operation of the user inputting a specific voice into the mobile terminal 90 are each a manifestation of the user's intention. means the warehousing operation of

If the user does not issue a parking request for the current parking lot 20, the determination in step S1205 is NO, and the process returns to step S1202. Steps S1202-1205 are repeated until conditions are met for the user to issue a parking request for any parking lot 20. FIG.

On the other hand, if the user issues a parking request for the current parking lot 20, the determination in step S1205 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S1206.

In this step S1206, the portable terminal 90 reads the parking lot ID corresponding to the current parking lot 20 from the memory 132, thereby determining the current parking lot ID.

Subsequently, in step S1207, the user inputs vehicle information for identifying his/her own vehicle to the mobile terminal 90. FIG. An example of the vehicle information is a vehicle number (vehicle license plate number) (for example, a four-digit number (for example, 1234)), which is an example of a number unique to the vehicle. Another example of the vehicle information is an example of image data specific to the vehicle, which is image data acquired by the user by photographing the vehicle with the photographing camera of the mobile terminal 90 .

After that, in step S1208, the mobile terminal 90 receives the user or a user ID for identifying the mobile terminal 90 (for example, user ID, user's address and name, mobile terminal 90 phone number, mobile terminal 90 e-mail address, etc.) together with the determined parking lot ID, the input vehicle information, and the entry operation data indicating that the user has performed the entry operation (operation of the entry button) on the mobile terminal 90 as a manifestation of the user's intention. It is transmitted to the management server 50 (see the status management table for each parking lot shown in FIG. 26).

In response, the management server 50 receives the user ID, parking lot ID, and vehicle information in step S1252. Subsequently, in step S1253, the management server 50 searches the memory 162 to determine whether or not the same combination of the received user ID, parking lot ID, and vehicle information has already been registered. It is determined whether or not the user has already parked the same vehicle in the same parking lot 20.例文帳に追加

If not registered, the determination in step S1253 is NO, and the combination of the received user ID, parking lot ID, and vehicle information is registered in the memory 162, and the current warehousing is treated as the first warehousing ( Hereinafter, it will be referred to as "handled as initial warehousing"), and the process proceeds to step S1209.

On the other hand, if registered, the determination in step S1253 becomes YES, and the management server 50 determines in step S1254 whether or not the valid parking time has expired, that is, whether or not the parking time has expired. do. Specifically, as will be described later, the management server 50 determines whether or not it is determined by the progress monitoring program shown in FIG. 13 that the time has expired. If the time has expired, the determination in step S1254 becomes YES, and this is treated as first-time warehousing. Also in this case, the process proceeds to step S1209.

On the other hand, if the time is not over, the determination in step S1254 becomes NO, and the management server 50 executes the shipping processing program (the loading processing program shown in FIG. 12) in step S1255, which will be described later with reference to FIG. is executed prior to ), it is determined whether or not re-entry is permitted for the current vehicle and user.

Determination of whether or not re-entry is permitted is performed, for example, by checking the re-entry permission flag associated with the user ID or the parking lot ID in the memory 162 of the management server 50 (in the OFF state, the user is authorized to re-enter the This is done by judging whether or not the flag indicating that the authority has been granted to the user is ON (see FIG. 26).

If re-entry is not permitted, the determination in step S1255 is NO, and this is treated as initial entry, and in this case also, the process proceeds to step S1209.

On the other hand, if re-entry is permitted, the determination in step S1255 becomes YES, and in step S1256, the management server 50 sends re-entry permission data indicating that re-entry is permitted to the current user. is transmitted to the portable terminal 90 of the

In response to this, the portable terminal 90 receives the re-entry permission data in step S1214, and then, in step S1215, displays a message indicating that re-entry is permitted, as illustrated in FIG. Display data on screen.

If restocking is permitted, the mobile terminal 90 does not execute steps S1209-1213, and the management server 50 does not execute steps S1257-1264. As a result, the input of the valid parking time and the settlement (payment) of the parking fee by the user are omitted.

On the other hand, if re-entry is not permitted, that is, if it is treated as first-time entry, in step S1209, the user instructs the mobile terminal 90 to park the vehicle in the current parking lot 20. Enter the valid parking time for the desired time slot or relevant time information to identify the valid parking time.

Here, the effective parking time may be defined, for example, by a number representing the length of time. Further, the related time information may be defined by the scheduled leaving time since the actual entering time is automatically measured by the mobile terminal 90 or the management server 50 . In this case, since the actual parking time is measured by the mobile terminal 90 or the management server 50, the length of the effective parking time can be automatically calculated.

Subsequently, in step S1210, the mobile terminal 90 receives the input valid parking time (the length of this time is a variable time that is extended when the user issues an extension request) or related time information (hereinafter simply (collectively referred to as “effective parking time”) is transmitted to the management server 50 .

In response to this, the management server 50 receives the transmitted valid parking time in step S1257.

Subsequently, in step S1258, management server 50 calculates the parking fee for the current user as a prepaid parking fee based on the received valid parking time or other information. After that, the management server 50 transmits the calculated amount of the parking fee to the portable terminal 90 in step S1259.

On the other hand, the portable terminal 90 receives the transmitted parking fee amount in step S1211. After that, in step S1212, the mobile terminal 90 stores the received parking fee amount as related information such as the length of the effective parking time, the scheduled exit time, the current parking lot 20 displayed on the screen along with information (eg, name and location) that represents the

Subsequently, in step S1213, the mobile terminal 90 allows the user to electronically pay for the current parking fee (for example, the mobile terminal 90 accesses another payment server). When the payment is completed, the portable terminal 90 notifies the management server 50 of that fact.

On the other hand, when the management server 50 receives the fact that the payment has been completed, it permits the current user to park the vehicle in the current parking lot 20 in step S1260. Specifically, whether or not parking is permitted, that is, whether or not parking has been officially completed is determined, for example, in the status management table for each parking lot (see FIG. 26) in the memory 162 of the management server 50. , a parking completion flag associated with the user ID or the parking lot ID (in the OFF state, the user is not authorized to enter the parking lot 20 this time; in the ON state, the authority is given to the user) This is done by judging whether or not the flag indicating that it has been assigned is ON (see FIG. 26). Subsequently, in step S1261, the management server 50 measures the current time and determines the warehousing time as the time equal to it.

After that, in step S1262, the management server 50 adds the length of the valid parking time received to the determined parking time to obtain the scheduled parking time (this time is updated when the user issues an extension request). , which is a variable time to be calculated).

Subsequently, in step S1263, the management server 50 stores the received valid parking time, the calculated parking fee amount, the determined parking time, and the calculated scheduled parking time. , is registered in the memory 162 in association with the combination of the current user ID, parking lot ID and vehicle information, thereby creating a parking lot status management table (see FIG. 26).

Thereafter, management server 50 transmits the registered content to portable terminal 90 in step S1264. Subsequently, portable terminal 90 receives the registered content in step S1214.

In response to this, the portable terminal 90 receives the registered contents in step S1214, and then, in step S1215, displays the data representing the contents together with the data representing that the warehousing is permitted on the screen. displayed above (see FIG. 25).

<Progress monitoring>

As shown in FIG. 13, the progress monitoring unit 204 of the mobile terminal 90 and the progress monitoring unit 306 of the management server 50 execute respective progress monitoring programs.

Specifically, in step S<b>1351 , the management server 50 selects the current attention target as the current target user from among the plurality of users registered in the memory 162 . In the memory 162, various data such as a user ID, a parking lot ID, an effective parking time, and a scheduled leaving time are registered in association with each other.

Next, in step S1352, the management server 50 uses the clock 172 to measure the current time, and then in step S1353, the target user's scheduled leaving time is read from the memory 162. FIG.

After that, in step S1354, the management server 50 calculates the remaining time of the effective parking time by subtracting the current time from the scheduled parking time. Subsequently, in step S1355, it is determined whether or not the calculated remaining time is 0 or less, that is, whether or not the effective parking time has expired.

If the remaining time is longer than 0, the determination in step S1355 becomes NO and step S1356 is skipped. Target users. Then, the process returns to step S1352.

On the other hand, if the remaining time is 0 or less, the determination in step S1355 is YES, and the management server 50 determines "time out" in step S1356. Subsequently, in step S1357, the determination result of "time over" is transmitted to the mobile terminal 90 of the current target user together with the data representing the remaining time. Then, in step S1358, another user becomes the next target user. Then, the process returns to step S1352.

In response to this, in step S1301, portable terminal 90 receives from management server 50 the determination result of "time over" and the latest value of the remaining time, and in step S1302 stores data representing the determination in memory. Save to 132. Subsequently, in step S1303, the portable terminal 90 displays data indicating "Time Over" on the screen to notify the user.

After that, in step S1304, the portable terminal 90 determines that the remaining time is a non-zero reference value T0 (for example, a fixed value such as 1 hour, or a variable value such as calculated as about 10% of the length of the effective parking time). Determine if shorter. Since the effective parking time is about to expire at present, it is determined whether or not the remaining time is short.

Note that steps S1304 and 1305 are executed regardless of whether portable terminal 90 has executed steps S1301-1303 because management server 50 executed step S1357.

If the remaining time is shorter than the reference value T0 (for example, 1 hour), the determination in step S1304 is YES, and in step S1305, an extension request is sent to the user to extend the effective parking time. to the management server 50 via the mobile terminal 90 . given to the user from

On the other hand, if the remaining time is not shorter than the reference value T0, the determination in step S1304 is NO, and step S1305 is skipped.

<Vacancy determination>

As shown in FIG. 14, the vacancy determination unit 304 in the management server 50 executes a vacancy determination program.

Specifically, in step S1451, the management server 50 registers the parking lot status management table of the memory 162 (hereinafter also simply referred to as "registered in the memory 162"). Among them, the object of interest of this time is selected as the object parking lot of this time. As described above, in the parking lot status management table of the memory 162, various data such as the user ID, the parking lot ID, the effective parking time, and the scheduled leaving time are registered in association with each other.

Next, in step S1452, the management server 50 determines whether or not the latest parking permit has been sent to any mobile terminal 90 regarding the current target parking lot. If so, in step S1453, the current value of the number of vacant rooms N, which is the total number of available car rooms 22 (vacant car rooms 22) in the current target parking lot, is stored in the memory 162. is loaded from

The initial value of the number of vacant rooms N is the total number of car rooms 22 that can be rented by the hour prepared in the target parking lot this time. The counter is decremented by 1 each time the vehicle is parked, and is incremented by 1 each time one compartment (one time, one vehicle) leaving the garage (actual leaving and assumed leaving) is confirmed.

Subsequently, the management server 50 decrements the number of vacant rooms N by 1 in step S1454, and then updates the memory 162 with the contents thereof in step S1455. Subsequently, in step S1456, it is determined whether the current value of the number of vacant rooms N is greater than 0 (or a reference value greater than 0 in consideration of a margin), that is, whether there are vacant rooms in the current target parking lot. determine whether or not

If the current value of the number of vacant rooms N is greater than 0, it is determined in step S1457 that there are vacant rooms. If not, it is determined that there are no vacant rooms in step S1458.

After that, in step S1459, the management server 50 registers the determination result in the memory 162 or updates the memory 162 so that the determination result is reflected. Subsequently, in step S1460, another user is made the next target user. Then, the process returns to step S1452.

As described above, the case where the determination in step S1452 is YES because the parking of one compartment is confirmed, but when the determination in step S1452 is NO because the parking of one compartment is not confirmed In step S1461, the management server 50 determines whether or not the user's exit operation for one compartment has been confirmed (the actual exit flag is ON).

If the user's leaving operation for one compartment is confirmed (the actual leaving flag is ON), the determination in step S1461 becomes YES, and the management server 50 determines the number of vacant rooms N in step S1462. Read the current value from memory 162 . Subsequently, in step S1463, 1 is added to the number of vacant rooms N, and then the process proceeds to step S1455.

On the other hand, if the user's leaving operation for one compartment has not been confirmed (the actual leaving flag is OFF), the determination in step S1461 is NO, and the management server 50, in step S1464, It is determined whether or not the deemed leaving of one compartment has been confirmed (the deemed leaving flag is ON).

If the deemed delivery is confirmed, the determination in step S1464 becomes YES, and the process proceeds to step S1462. is NO, steps S1462 and S1463 are skipped, and then the process proceeds to step S1456.

In this example, there are two types of shipped flags, the actual shipped flag and the assumed shipped flag. A completed flag may also be used.

<Extension request processing>

As shown in FIG. 15, the extension request processing unit 206 of the mobile terminal 90 and the extension request processing unit 308 of the management server 50 execute their respective extension request processing programs.

Specifically, the mobile terminal 90 determines whether or not the user has input an extension request to the mobile terminal 90 in step S1501. If an extension request has been input, the process proceeds to step S1502, but if not, the process returns to step S1501.

When an extension request is input, the portable terminal 90 inputs an extension time, which is the length of the effective parking time, from the user in step S1502. Subsequently, in step S1503, the issuance of an extension request and the length of the desired extension time are transmitted to the management server 50 in association with the user ID.

In response to this, in step S1551, the management server 50 receives, in association with the user ID, the issuance of the extension request and the length of the desired extension time. Subsequently, in step S1552, an extension charge corresponding to the length of the extension time is calculated. After that, in step S1553, the amount of the extension fee is transmitted to the mobile terminal 90. FIG.

In step S1504, the mobile terminal 90 receives the transmitted amount of the extension fee, and subsequently displays the received amount of the extension fee on the screen in step S1505. Thereafter, in step S1506, the user is allowed to electronically pay for the extension fee.

Subsequently, in step S1507, the portable terminal 90 notifies the management server 50 that the payment has been completed.

In response to this, the management server 50 receives the completion of the payment in step S1554, and then permits the user to extend the valid parking time in step S1555. After that, in step S1556, the scheduled leaving time is updated to the future side by extending the effective parking time. Subsequently, in step S1557, the status management table for each parking lot in the memory 162 is updated with the contents. Thereafter, in step S1558, the extended valid parking time (latest valid parking time) and the updated scheduled leaving time are transmitted to the mobile terminal 90. FIG.

In step S1508, the mobile terminal 90 receives the transmitted latest effective parking time and scheduled exit time, and then displays the information on the screen in step S1509. After that, the process returns to step S1501.

<Delivery processing and positioning>

As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, delivery processing unit 208 and positioning unit 230 of portable terminal 90 and delivery processing unit 310 of management server 50 execute respective delivery processing programs.

First, in step S1601 shown in FIG. 16, the mobile terminal 90 measures the current position of the mobile terminal 90, ie, the current position of the user, in the same manner as in step S1202 in FIG.

Subsequently, in step S1602, similarly to step S1203 in FIG. It is determined whether or not there has been a change, that is, whether or not the user has just entered any parking lot 20 .

If the user has not entered any parking lot 20, the determination in step S1602 is NO, and the process returns to step S1601. Steps S 1601 - 1602 are repeated until the user enters any parking lot 20 .

If the user has entered any parking lot 20, the determination in step S1602 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S1603.

In this step S1603, the portable terminal 90 reads the parking lot ID corresponding to the current parking lot 20 from the memory 132, thereby acquiring the actual parking lot ID. Subsequently, in step S1604, the parking lot ID corresponding to the parking lot 20 permitted to enter, that is, the current parking lot ID is read from the memory 132. FIG.

After that, in step S1605, the mobile terminal 90 determines whether or not the obtained actual parking lot ID and the current parking lot ID match each other. That is, it is determined whether or not the user has entered the same parking lot 20 as the parking lot 20 where the user has entered.

Subsequently, in step S1606, the mobile terminal 90 notifies the management server 50 that the user is currently staying in the parking lot 20 to exit the parking lot.

In response to this, the management server 50 receives in step S1651 that the user is currently staying at the parking lot 20 to leave the garage. Subsequently, in step S1652, it is determined whether or not the progress monitoring program has determined that "time has expired". If it is determined that the time is over, the determination in step S1652 becomes YES, and in step S1653 a predetermined penalty is imposed on the user.

On the other hand, if it is not determined that the time is over, the determination in step S1652 becomes NO, and the management server 50 permits the user to leave the current parking lot 20 in step S1654. Subsequently, in step S1655, data indicating that the user is permitted to leave the garage is transmitted to the portable terminal 90. FIG.

In response to this, the portable terminal 90 receives from the management server 50 data indicating that the user is permitted to leave the garage in step S1607. Subsequently, in step S1608, the "exit button" to be operated by the user is displayed on the screen. As a result, the user is required to operate the "departure button" in order to input to the portable terminal 90 the intention to leave the garage.

Subsequently, in step S1609, the mobile terminal 90 determines whether or not the user has operated the "exit button". Assuming that the user has operated the "exit button" (that is, has operated to exit the garage), the determination in step S1609 is YES.

After that, in step S1613, the mobile terminal 90 determines whether or not it is determined that "time has expired" during execution of the progress monitoring program. If it is determined that the time is over, the determination in step S1613 becomes YES, and in step S1614 a predetermined penalty is imposed on the user.

On the other hand, if it is not determined that "time is up", the determination in step S1613 becomes NO, and thereafter, in step S1615, the portable terminal 90 displays the running flag managed by the behavior analysis program shown in FIG. (Flag indicating that the user is in the vehicle and moving in the ON state), which is stored in the memory 132, is read.

Subsequently, in step S1616, the mobile terminal 90 determines whether the read running flag is ON. If not ON, the process returns to step S1613. If it is ON (that is, if the user is moving (running) in a vehicle), in step S1617 the current position of the mobile terminal 90, that is, the current position of the user, is performed in the same manner as in step S1601. (for example, the current position of the vehicle in which the user is riding).

Subsequently, in step S<b>1618 , the mobile terminal 90 determines whether the user exists in the current parking lot 20 or does not exist in the parking lot 20 based on the presence or absence of a temporal change in the user position measured by the mobile terminal 90 . It is determined whether the state has changed, that is, whether the user has just left the current parking lot 20 .

If the user has not yet left the current parking lot 20, the determination in step S1618 is NO, and the process returns to step S1613. Steps S 1613 - 1618 are repeated until the user exits the current parking lot 20 .

That is, among these steps, steps S1615 to S1618 are a group of steps (hereinafter referred to as a "leaving determination step group") for determining whether or not the user has gotten into the vehicle and left the current parking lot 20. FIG.

When the user exits the current parking lot 20 (in this case, while getting into the vehicle), the determination in step S1618 becomes YES, and the mobile terminal 90 performs the exit operation in step S1613 in step S1619. and data indicating that the user got into the vehicle and left the parking lot 20 are transmitted to the management center 50 .

In response to this, in step S1656, the management server 50 receives data from the mobile terminal 90 indicating that the user has left the parking lot 20 after getting into the vehicle. Subsequently, in step S1657, it is determined that the parking has been completed, and in the status management table for each parking lot, the parking completed flag is turned ON, and the normal parking flag is turned ON (see FIG. 26).

Thereafter, in step S1658, the user is prohibited from re-entering the same parking lot 20, and the re-entry permission flag is turned off in the status management table for each parking lot (see FIG. 26). Subsequently, in step S 1659 , data indicating that the user is prohibited from entering the same parking lot 20 again is transmitted to the mobile terminal 90 .

The case where the user has performed the leaving operation has been described above, but if the user has not yet performed the leaving operation, the determination in step S1609 becomes NO, and the mobile terminal 90, in step S1610, causes the progress monitoring program to indicate that "time In other words, it is determined whether or not the valid parking time has expired.

If it is not determined that the time is over, the determination in step S1610 becomes NO, and the mobile terminal 90 checks in step S1621 whether or not the user got into the vehicle and left the current parking lot 20. In order to make the determination, the same steps as those described above for determining the leaving of the warehouse are executed. If the user has not yet gotten into the vehicle and left the current parking lot 20, the determination in step S1621 is NO, and the process returns to step S1609.

On the other hand, if the user gets into the vehicle and exits from the parking lot 20, the determination in step S1621 becomes YES, and the portable terminal 90 then, in step S1622, determines that the user has entered the same parking lot 20 again. allow to Thereafter, in step S1623, data indicating that re-entry is permitted is transmitted to the management server 50, and upon receipt of the data, the management server 50 associates the data with the current user in the status management table by parking lot in the memory 162. The re-entry permission flag to be stored is turned ON.

After that, in step S1627 of FIG. 17, the mobile terminal 90 determines whether or not the progress monitoring program has determined that the time has expired, that is, whether or not the valid parking time has expired.

If it is not determined that "time is over", the determination is NO, and the process returns to step S1627. At this timing, that is, at the timing when the effective parking time expires, it is determined that the user has performed the leaving operation even though there is no actual leaving operation, and it is determined that the assumed leaving is performed.

Subsequently, the mobile terminal 90 prohibits the user from entering the same parking lot 20 again in step S1630. After that, in step S1631, data indicating that the assumed delivery has been performed and data indicating that re-entry is prohibited are transmitted to the management server 50. FIG.

The management server 50 receives the data in step S1662, and updates the status management table by parking lot in the memory 162 in step S1663 to reflect the data. As a result, the delivered flag is turned ON, the deemed delivery flag is turned ON, and the re-entry permission flag is turned OFF. Furthermore, the provisional delivery flag is also turned OFF.

On the other hand, if the user neither performs an exit operation nor gets in and exits the parking lot 20 before the expiration of the valid parking time, then in step S1610 of FIG. 16, "time over". If it is determined whether or not, the determination becomes YES, and subsequently, in step S1610a, a predetermined penalty is imposed on the user.

<Behavior analysis>

As shown in FIG. 18, the behavior analysis unit 210 of the mobile terminal 90 executes a behavior analysis program.

First, in step S1801, the portable terminal 90 measures the current position of the user in the same manner as in step S1202 in FIG.

Next, in step S1802, mobile terminal 90 determines whether the user is moving. Specifically, the measured current position of the user and the position of the user similarly measured in the past (more precisely, the position of the mobile terminal 90) stored in the memory 132. Calculate the amount of change between

If the amount of change is greater than or equal to the reference value, it is determined that the user is moving. It is determined that the vehicle is stopped (during rest). Subsequently, in step S1819, the walking flag that is ON and indicates that the user is walking is turned OFF. Further, in step S1820, the running flag is also turned OFF.

It should be noted that the determination of whether or not the user is moving by the execution of steps S1801 and 1802 is performed by the mobile terminal 90 receiving from the on-site transmitter 30 when the on-site transmitter 30 is installed in the parking lot 20. Alternatively or additionally, a process of measuring the distance between the two based on the strength of the signal and determining whether or not the user is moving based on whether the distance changes over time may be performed. good.

If it is determined that the user is moving, then in step S1803 the mobile terminal 90 acquires a signal from the acceleration sensor 154, and based on the signal, the acceleration acting on the mobile terminal 90 (the vibration of the user). and/or caused by vehicle vibration).

As illustrated in FIGS. 19(b) and 21(b), a portion of the continuous original waveform covered by an analysis window having a predetermined time width extending past the current time is the current time. subject to analysis.

FIG. 19(a) shows the measured values when the user is walking with the central acceleration of 0 (the acceleration of the low-frequency component in the acceleration waveform (substantial walking acceleration of the user) is 0). FIG. 21(a) shows an example of the original waveform of the acceleration G in the graph, while FIG. An example of the original waveform of the acceleration G measured when the user gets into the vehicle and is moving in the state where the acceleration is 0 is represented by a graph.

Therefore, both FIG. 19A and FIG. 21A substantially show only the high-frequency component of the acceleration waveform of the mobile terminal 90 . Here, the high frequency component means the noise component when the low frequency component is treated as the main component, and conversely, the low frequency component means the noise component when the high frequency component is treated as the main component. become.

FIG. 19(b) graphically represents the maximum intensity of the portion of the original waveform measured during the user's gait that lies within the latest analysis window, while FIG. , the maximum intensity of the portion existing within the latest analysis window of the original waveform measured while the user is running is graphically represented.

FIG. 20(a) graphically represents the large-amplitude frequency components of the portion of the original waveform measured during the user's walking that lies within the latest analysis window, while FIG. , the large-amplitude frequency components of the portion existing within the latest analysis window of the original waveform measured while the user is running are graphically represented.

FIG. 20(b) graphically represents the small-amplitude frequency components of the portion of the original waveform measured during user walking that lies within the latest analysis window, while FIG. , the small-amplitude frequencies of the portion of the original waveform measured while the user is running that are within the latest analysis window are graphically represented.

After that, the portable terminal 90 performs intensity analysis in step S1804. In one example, by performing peak hold on the upper part of the measured original waveform (the waveform that progresses while oscillating up and down), the envelope of the upper part is obtained, and similarly, the By performing peak hold on the lower part of the original waveform, the envelope curve of the lower part is obtained.

Subsequently, in step S1805, the portable terminal 90 measures a substantial maximum intensity I representing the measured original waveform.

In one example, the distance (approximation) between the maximum value of the upper envelope and the minimum value of the lower envelope, as illustrated in FIGS. Measure the maximum intensity I as a constant amplitude). This example simplifies the calculation of the maximum intensity I from the example below.

In another example, although not shown, the gap between the two acquired envelopes is sampled at regular time intervals, and the gap, that is, the amplitude, is substantially the largest among a plurality of sampled values, Maximum intensity I is measured.

After that, in step S1806, the mobile terminal 90 determines whether the measured maximum intensity I is greater than the first threshold value I0. If so, the determination in step S1806 is YES.

Subsequently, the mobile terminal 90 performs frequency analysis in step S1807. Specifically, signal processing such as Fourier transform, high-pass filter, and low-pass filter is performed on the measured original waveform. Thereby, a plurality of frequency components are extracted from the original waveform.

After that, in step S1808, the mobile terminal 90 measures the frequency F of the frequency component with the maximum amplitude. In the example shown in FIG. 20, "F1" is the frequency of the large amplitude frequency component, and in the example shown in FIG. 22, "F2" is the frequency of the large amplitude frequency component.

Subsequently, in step S1809, the mobile terminal 90 determines whether the measured frequency F is smaller than the second threshold value F0. If it is smaller, the determination in step S1809 is YES.

After that, in step S1810, the mobile terminal 90 determines that the user is currently walking without getting into the vehicle. Subsequently, in step S1811, the walking flag stored in the memory 132 is turned ON. Subsequently, in step S1812, the running flag stored in the memory 132 in the ON state is turned OFF. Then, the process returns to step S1801.

The case where the maximum intensity I is greater than the first threshold value I0 has been described above. It is determined whether or not the walking flag is ON. If it is ON, it is determined in step S1814 that the user is running, but if it is not ON, that is, if it is OFF, steps S1814-1817 are skipped and the process returns to step S1801.

To explain the reason, it is impossible for the user to get into the vehicle immediately after entering the parking lot 20 as a normal behavior pattern of the user. After that, the user walks further, gets into a parked vehicle, and then travels while riding in the vehicle toward the exit of the parking lot 20.例文帳に追加

In order to improve the analysis accuracy of user behavior in consideration of such behavior patterns expected of users, in the present embodiment, the judgment in step S1806 or step S1809 is NO when the walking flag is not ON. Immediately after that, it is not determined that the user is running.

Following execution of step S1814, the portable terminal 90 determines in step S1815 that the user has just gotten into the vehicle. This is because the behavior of the user has just shifted from walking to running.

This determination immediately after boarding may be used as a trigger for counting up the number of vacant rooms N, for example. In that case, as in the example shown in FIG. 14, other potential users can be notified of the existence of a vacant room earlier than when the exit operation or the assumed exit is used as a trigger for count-up, thereby 20 is improved.

Thereafter, the portable terminal 90 turns ON the running flag in step S1816, and turns OFF the walking flag in step S1817. Then, the process returns to step S1801.

18, for example, all or part of steps S1802 to S1820 may be executed not by the mobile terminal 90 but by the management server 50 in order to reduce the processing load on the mobile terminal 90. .

[Second embodiment]

A parking lot management system 10 and a parking lot management method according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described. However, elements common to those of the first embodiment will be referred to using the same reference numerals or names to omit redundant description, and only different elements will be described in detail.

This embodiment is the same as the first embodiment described above, except that the behavior analysis program shown in FIG. 23 is executed instead of the behavior analysis program shown in FIG.

The behavior analysis program shown in FIG. 23 has steps S2301-2303 and 2306-23016, which are common to steps S1801-1803 and 1810-1820 of the behavior analysis program shown in FIG. 18, respectively.

The behavior analysis program shown in FIG. 23 further has step S2304, which replaces steps S1804, 1805, 1807 and 1808 in the behavior analysis program shown in FIG.

The behavior analysis program shown in FIG. 23 further has step S2305, which replaces steps S1806 and 1809 in the behavior analysis program shown in FIG.

When the behavior analysis program shown in FIG. 23 is executed by the mobile terminal 90, in step S2304, the mobile terminal 90 detects the number of steps N of the user based on a series of multiple accelerations measured every moment by the acceleration sensor 154. . This detection is performed by mobile terminal 90 executing a step detection algorithm.

Also, in step S2305, if the detected number of steps N is greater than the third threshold value N0, it is determined in step S2306 that the user is walking. On the other hand, if the detected number of steps N is less than or equal to the third threshold value N0, it is determined in step S2310 that the user is running on condition that the walking flag is ON. .

To explain the reason, when the user is running, the acceleration or vibration applied to the acceleration sensor 154 by the user and the vehicle is weaker than when the user is walking. Such weak accelerations or vibrations are not detected by the step detection algorithm performed by step S2304. Therefore, when the number of steps N is small, it is determined that the user is running, and in the opposite case, it is determined that the user is walking.

[Some exemplary effects obtained by some embodiments described above]

1. Reduction of costs and labor to be borne by the parking lot manager regarding the facilities of the parking lot 20

According to this embodiment, by using the user's portable terminal 90 instead of using the equipment installed in the parking lot 20, the user gets into his/her own vehicle and exits the parking lot 20 in the leaving stage. or the user left the parking lot 20 as a pedestrian without getting into his/her own vehicle.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is not essential to install a sensor (for example, a loop coil) that electromagnetically detects the passage of a vehicle in the parking lot 20 as a dedicated facility for detecting leaving the parking lot.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, it becomes easy to reduce the costs and labor required for manufacturing, purchasing, installing, and maintaining and inspecting the equipment installed in the parking lot 20 .

2. Reducing the operations and burdens that the user is required to perform in the outbound stage

According to this embodiment, in the exit stage, even if the user carelessly leaves the parking lot 20 while forgetting the exit operation, the vehicle is automatically treated as exited when the valid parking time expires.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, even if the user carelessly leaves the parking lot 20 while neglecting the exit operation, the user is not required to perform a new operation and additional time and economic burdens. done. For example, the user does not have to be billed for an extension fee.

3. Improved usability for users who need to re-enter the same parking lot 20

According to this embodiment, if the user leaves the parking lot 20 while intentionally deferring the exit operation, the user can enter the same parking lot 20 again until the valid parking time expires. 20 can be used intermittently any number of times.

4. Improving the accuracy of estimating the number of vacant rooms in the parking lot 20 by the parking lot manager

1) First reason

In this embodiment, as described above, the vacant room determination unit 304 determines that there are unused vacant rooms in the parking lot 20 based on the number of confirmed arrivals and the number of confirmed departures. It is determined whether or not

Specifically, the vacant room determination unit 304 determines the number of vacant rooms N, which is the number of unused vacant rooms among the plurality of car rooms in the parking lot 20, every time one parking lot is confirmed. It has a subtracting unit that subtracts 1 and an adding unit that adds 1 to the number of vacant rooms N each time one actual leaving operation or assumed leaving operation is confirmed.

By the way, instead of this, if the addition unit is implemented in a mode that does not add 1 to the number of vacant rooms N unless one actual leaving operation is confirmed, when an assumed leaving is confirmed, that is, actually Even if the vehicle for which the assumed leaving is confirmed does not actually exist in the parking lot 20, the number of vacant rooms N will not increase. This does not correctly reflect the actual operating state of the parking lot 20, and vacant rooms in the parking lot 20 end up not being used for parking, and the operating rate of the parking lot 20 does not improve.

On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, the addition unit calculates the number of vacant rooms N not only when one actual leaving operation is confirmed but also when one assumed leaving operation is confirmed. It is designed to increase.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the accuracy of estimating the number of vacant rooms N in the parking lot 20 is improved, and the vacant rooms in the parking lot 20 can be prevented from being wasted for parking. It becomes easy to raise the operating rate of 20.

2) Second reason

Instead of this embodiment, in the exit stage, regardless of whether or not the user actually exits the parking lot, once the effective parking time expires, the parking lot is uniformly treated as exit, and the number of vacant rooms N is added by 1. can be implemented.

According to this aspect, for the user, there may be an advantage that usability is improved because the leaving operation is not required.

However, there may be drawbacks on the part of the parking lot manager. This is because if the user is not requested to leave the parking lot 20 to confirm his/her intention to leave the parking lot, the user will actually leave the parking lot 20 at a much earlier time than the valid parking time expires, and the vehicle compartment will be vacant. Even if it becomes a room, the addition unit does not add the number of vacant rooms N until the effective parking time expires. This is because it is not possible to notify multiple users who are

On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, in principle, the user is requested to perform an exit operation as a manifestation of intention to exit from the parking lot 20 .

In order to make the user himself/herself aware that the user is requested to leave the parking lot 20, in the present embodiment, the user enters the parking lot 20 to exit the parking lot 20 and If no operation is performed and the user does not leave the parking lot 20 after getting into the vehicle, the user is prompted to input an extension request to the mobile terminal 90 via the user's mobile terminal 90.例文帳に追加

The notification is given by the mobile terminal 90 visually (by displaying a specific message or button), audibly (by generating a specific sound), or tactilely (by vibrating the mobile terminal 90). It is possible.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the accuracy of estimating the number of vacant rooms N existing in the parking lot 20 is improved by requesting the user to exit the parking lot, and the vacant rooms in the parking lot 20 are wasted. It will not be used for parking, thereby facilitating an increase in the utilization rate of the parking lot 20.例文帳に追加

5. Increased flexibility for parking administrators to set parking fees individually for each user

According to this embodiment, the user communicates with the management server 50 via his mobile terminal 90 . Although the management server 50 calculates parking charges for all users, it is not essential to use common charge calculation rules for all users.

This is because the management server 50 can deal with each user's mobile terminal 90 individually, and the parking lot manager takes the trouble to rewrite the charge table on the charge signboard installed in the parking lot 20. This is because there is no need to go to 20.

The management server 50 may flexibly or dynamically calculate parking fees according to, for example, the following rules.

1) Occupancy response type rules for each parking lot

A parking lot 20 with a low actual operating rate among a plurality of parking lots 20 has a low charge, and a parking lot 20 with a high actual operating rate has a high charge, so that any parking lot 20 is applied each time. and flexibly calculate individual parking fees for each user.

2) Hourly availability response type rule

For each parking lot 20, the time slot is determined each time so that the amount is low when the actual operating rate is low and the amount is high when the actual operating rate is high. Feedback to flexibly calculate individual parking fees for each user.

3) Time zone response type rule

The amount is low when the occupancy rate of each parking lot 20 is statistically expected to be low, and is high when the occupancy rate is statistically expected to be high. Each time, it feeds back which time zone it is, and flexibly calculates the individual parking fee for each user.

4) Usage history response type rule

The individual parking fee for each user is flexibly set by feeding back the actual individual usage frequency of each user so that the fee is high when the frequency of use of the parking lot 20 of each user is low and the fee is low when the frequency of use is high. calculate.

5) Day of the week response type rule

The amount is low on the day of the week when the occupancy rate of each parking lot 20 is statistically expected to be low, and the amount is high on the day of the week when the occupancy rate is statistically expected to be high. , detects which day of the week it is, and feeds it back to flexibly calculate each user's individual parking fee.

6) Weather-responsive rules

The amount is low when the weather is statistically expected to have a low operating rate of each parking lot 20, and the amount is high when the weather is statistically expected to have a high operating rate. , and feeds it back to flexibly calculate each user's individual parking fee.

6. The parking lot manager can change the amount of the parking fee in real time.

Typically, toll signs are installed at parking lots to allow users to calculate the amount of parking fees for each parking lot. The price signboards are usually not designed to be remotely operable to display the amount, and require workers to go to the site and manually replace the display panel each time. Therefore, it is physically difficult to change the parking fee calculation rule in real time as long as the parking lot requires a fee signboard.

In contrast, according to the present embodiment, the amount of parking fee can be calculated by the management server 50 individually for each parking lot, for each user, and for each time period. The charge signboard installed in the parking lot 20 is unnecessary for the calculation.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the parking lot manager determines the amount of the parking fee based on external factors and internal factors, for example, demand expected for the parking lot at that time (geographically speaking, the parking lot number of users expected to use the parking lot) (an example of an external factor), the actual occupancy rate of your own parking lot at that time (an example of an internal factor), and the number of other parking lots adjacent to it It can be changed in real time according to the actual operating rate (example of external factors).

7. Among the parking applications in the mobile terminal 90 of the user in response to the type of action (action, behavior) of the user entering the parking lot 20 (entering the parking lot while riding) and/or leaving the parking lot (leaving the parking lot while riding) The corresponding part will start automatically.

Specifically, for example, the user's portable terminal 90 includes a GPS receiver 152 (a functional unit that detects the user's position and the direction in which the user moves) and an acceleration sensor 154 (which determines whether the user is walking or running). ), the type of behavior (movement, behavior) of the user entering and/or leaving the warehouse is discriminated in the background. The portable terminal 90 activates the warehousing processing program when it detects warehousing, and activates the warehousing processing program when it detects warehousing.

8. Compatibility between automation of entering and leaving the parking lot 20 and clarification of intention from the user

In this embodiment, the mobile terminal 90 and the management server 50 do not completely automate the entering/leaving process. ) is detected, an entry button is displayed on the screen in order to confirm the intention of the user (see FIG. 25). , the exit button is displayed in order to confirm the user's declaration of intention (see FIG. 25).

Furthermore, after waiting for the user to select the warehousing button for the warehousing operation, the warehousing processing program changes the warehousing flag from OFF to ON (see FIG. 26), and waits for the user to select the warehousing button for the shipping operation. Then, the delivery processing program changes the delivered flag from OFF to ON (see FIG. 26).

As a result, the mobile terminal 90 and the management server 50 do not operate against the user's intention, that is, malfunction.

9. User behavior analysis using the acceleration sensor 154 in the mobile terminal 90 is omitted in the warehousing stage.

The mobile terminal 90 uses the GPS receiver 152 but does not use the acceleration sensor 154 to analyze the behavior of the user in the warehousing stage, but uses both the GPS receiver 152 and the acceleration sensor 154 in the warehousing stage. and perform user behavior analysis.

Therefore, user behavior analysis using the acceleration sensor 154 in the mobile terminal 90 is performed only in the delivery stage, and is omitted in the delivery stage because the need for such analysis is relatively low, resulting in wasteful power consumption. is prevented.

[Third embodiment]

A parking lot management system 10 and a parking lot management method according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described. However, elements common to the first and second embodiments are referred to using the same reference numerals or names to omit redundant description, and only different elements will be described in detail.

As shown in FIG. 27, in this embodiment, the mobile terminal 90 further includes a gyro sensor (or yaw rate sensor) 156 that detects its own angular velocity (for example, rotational speed around an axis fixed to the mobile terminal 90). built-in. Since the gyro sensor 156 is mounted on the mobile terminal 90, it rotates integrally with the mobile terminal 90. As a result, the gyro sensor 156 rotates around each measurement reference axis (X, Y, Z). Angular velocity is detected as equivalent to the angular velocity acting on the mobile terminal 90 .

Specifically, when the user is carrying (wearing) the mobile terminal 90, the gyro sensor 156 has a strong tendency to move together with the user, and thus acts on the user. Detect the angular velocity or its corresponding approximation (such as a value that changes in conjunction with the angular velocity).

On the other hand, when the user of the portable terminal 90 is in the vehicle, the gyro sensor 156 has a strong tendency for the user to move integrally with the vehicle. , the gyro sensor 156 has a strong tendency to perform yaw motion (rotational motion around the vertical center line of the vehicle) integrally with the vehicle. Thus, the gyro sensor 156 detects angular velocities acting on the vehicle (eg, vehicle yaw rate, vehicle turning angular velocity, etc.) or corresponding approximations thereof. That is, the gyro sensor 156 is an example of a rotational motion state quantity acquisition unit that acquires the rotational motion of the vehicle by detecting or estimating it.

In addition, regarding the layout, the gyro sensor 156 is arranged such that when the user of the mobile terminal 90 is in the vehicle, the mobile terminal 90 is separated from the user's body and is located at a specific location in the vehicle, for example, as shown in FIG. As such, it may be placed in a recess 182 (eg, a storage pocket) in an interior component such as a dashboard 180 located approximately in the center of the vehicle. In this case, the gyro sensor 156 has a strong tendency to move integrally with the vehicle rather than with the user. angular velocity, etc.) is detected with higher accuracy than when the user wears the mobile terminal 90 in the vehicle.

In the example shown in FIG. 28, the portable terminal 90 ideally has one of the measurement reference axes of the gyro sensor 156 in the concave portion 182 provided on the dashboard 180 that opens upward. and the vertical center line of the vehicle are substantially parallel to each other. According to this example, the gyro sensor 156, due to its installed position and orientation, is able to detect the yaw rate of the vehicle with sufficient accuracy.

For example, if the gyro sensor 156 is focused on the measurement reference axis in the direction parallel to the thickness direction of the mobile terminal 90 (the direction perpendicular to the screen), as in the example shown in FIG. When placed in the recess 182 in an orientation facing toward the center of the vehicle, the measurement reference axis of interest and the vertical centerline of the vehicle are substantially parallel to each other.

By the way, regardless of whether the mobile terminal 90 is carried by the user or not, when the mobile terminal 90 is placed in the vehicle, the reference axis of the gyro sensor 156 includes a component that is not parallel to the vertical center line of the vehicle. Sometimes. In this case, the angular velocity detected by the gyro sensor 156 does not exactly match the yaw rate of the vehicle.

However, as long as the gyro sensor 156 is fixedly held in the vehicle in an orientation in which the measurement reference axis of the gyro sensor 156 includes a component parallel to the vertical center line of the vehicle, the angular velocity detected by the gyro sensor 156 and the It is easily expected that there is a certain correlation with the yaw rate of the vehicle.

Therefore, unless there are special circumstances, it is easily assumed that the absolute value of the angular velocity detected by the gyro sensor 156 is larger during turning of the vehicle than during straight running of the vehicle. Therefore, regardless of the orientation of the mobile terminal 90 in the vehicle, it is appropriate to use the gyro sensor 156 as a sufficient sensor as long as it is possible to distinguish whether the vehicle is in a turning state.

The gyro sensor 156 may be replaced with a sensor that detects the angular acceleration (e.g., yaw rate differential) of the mobile terminal 90, or a sensor that detects the angle (e.g., yaw angle) of the mobile terminal 90 (e.g., a geomagnetic sensor described later). 157, tilt sensor, gravity sensor, etc.).

As shown in FIG. 27, this portable terminal 90 further incorporates a geomagnetic sensor (also referred to as a magnetic force sensor) 157 . The geomagnetic sensor 157 detects the direction of the mobile terminal 90 with respect to absolute space (for example, the angle from magnetic north) by using the earth's magnetic field. Therefore, if the mobile terminal 90 is fixed to the vehicle, the geomagnetic sensor 157 can sequentially detect the orientation of the vehicle with respect to the absolute space. When both the gyro sensor 156 and the geomagnetic sensor 157 are used inside the vehicle (ideally in a fixed position), they function as a motion sensor or a dynamic behavior acquisition unit that detects the dynamic behavior of the vehicle. do.

For example, as shown in FIG. 28, when the portable terminal 90 is placed in the concave portion 182 in a posture facing almost straight up, the measurement reference axis of the geomagnetic sensor 157 and the vertical center line of the vehicle are substantially parallel to each other. . In this case, the geomagnetic sensor 157 can detect the yaw angle of the vehicle, that is, the orientation of the vehicle with respect to absolute space when the vehicle is viewed from directly above.

If the orientation change frequency (for example, orientation sign change frequency) is high, it can be understood that the vehicle has made a turning motion with high frequency. That is, the geomagnetic sensor 157 is also an example of a rotational motion state quantity acquisition unit that acquires the rotational motion of the vehicle by detecting or estimating it.

It should be noted that the rotary motion state quantity acquisition unit of the above-described several examples can indirectly detect the rotary motion of the vehicle as a user's rotation operation of the steering wheel SW (see FIG. 28) of the vehicle, For this purpose, the mobile terminal 90 may be attached to the steering wheel SW so as to rotate integrally therewith.

As shown in FIG. 27, this mobile terminal 90 further incorporates a proximity sensor 158 . The proximity sensor 158 of the vehicle is, for example, capacitive and detects changes in capacitance that occur between itself and the object to be detected. The amount of change in the detected capacitance changes according to the size of the detection target and the distance d to the detection target.

Here, the object to be detected can be a user himself, a vehicle, or an object (regardless of whether it is made of metal or synthetic resin) including parts in the vehicle. Proximity sensor 158 detects relative distance d to objects located around mobile terminal 90 with reference to the position of mobile terminal 90 . The detected value does not depend on the behavior of the vehicle. This is because the distance between proximity sensor 158 and surrounding objects does not change even if the behavior of the vehicle changes.

The detection target is, in the example shown in FIG. 28, a member to be detected (screen, cover, etc.) 184 that is fixedly, detachably, or retractably attached to the dashboard 182 . The detected member 184 is installed within a detectable range by the proximity sensor 158, and is installed, for example, so as to at least partially cover the screen of the mobile terminal 90 from the front thereof. The non-detecting member 184 may have a shape or layout that does not substantially interfere with the user's view of the screen of the mobile terminal 90 while the user is maneuvering the vehicle.

Further, when the proximity sensor 158 detects a detected member 184 fixed to the vehicle (acting as a stationary member in the vehicle), the distance d detected by the proximity sensor 158 does not change with time, If it is steady, it can be estimated that the mobile terminal 90 is placed at the same position relative to the vehicle. On the other hand, when the distance d detected by the proximity sensor 158 changes with time and is unsteady, the portable terminal 90 is placed at a position that changes relative to the vehicle. can be estimated. A typical example of such a position is the user's body.

Therefore, it is possible to estimate whether or not the mobile terminal 90 is carried by the user by the combination of the proximity sensor 158, that is, the mobile terminal 90, and the detected member 184 fixed to the vehicle.

If the proximity sensor 158 is used in the interior of the vehicle, it can be determined whether the mobile terminal 90 is carried by the user while in the vehicle or not and is fixedly placed anywhere in the interior of the vehicle. It is possible to distinguish

As a specific example of the algorithm for the distinction, the time profile (time series data) of the capacitance change (or distance) detected by the proximity sensor 158 is non-stationary and/or the detected distance If d is longer than the threshold value d0 (for example, because the proximity sensor 158 cannot detect the non-detecting member 184), it is highly probable that the mobile terminal 90 is carried by the user while riding. judge.

In contrast, if the time profile of the capacitance change (or distance) detected by the proximity sensor 158 is substantially stationary and/or the detected distance d does not exceed the threshold d0 ( For example, as shown in FIG. 28, the proximity sensor 158 continues to detect the non-detecting member 184), the portable terminal 90 is not carried by the user while in the vehicle, and the mobile terminal 90 is not being carried by the user. It is possible to determine that there is a high possibility that it is fixedly placed at some place (a specific position within the dashboard 182).

It is determined whether or not the time profile of the capacitance change (or distance) detected by the proximity sensor 158 is substantially steady. It may be implemented in a mode in which it is not determined whether or not there is. If the detection value waveform is steady, the mobile terminal 90 is not worn by the user, and the mobile terminal 90 is in a stationary state despite the movement of the user's body. In this scenario where the presence or absence of the mobile terminal 90 is mainly discussed, it is reasonable to presume that the mobile terminal 90 is fixedly placed in the vehicle as long as it is found that the mobile terminal 90 is in a stationary state. Because there is Further, according to this aspect, there is no need to mount an additional component such as the member to be detected 184 on the vehicle.

On the other hand, when the mobile terminal 90 is carried by the user while riding, the acceleration sensor 154, the gyro sensor 156, and the geomagnetic sensor 157 detect the corresponding vehicle behavior with low accuracy, but the mobile terminal 90 When the vehicle is fixedly placed somewhere in the vehicle while riding, the acceleration sensor 154, the gyro sensor 156, and the geomagnetic sensor 157 detect the corresponding vehicle behavior with high accuracy.

Therefore, the proximity sensor 158 can be used to ensure a state in which the acceleration sensor 154, the gyro sensor 156, and the geomagnetic sensor 157 detect the corresponding vehicle behavior with high accuracy.

The system 10 according to this embodiment has the same features as those shown in FIG. The warehousing processing unit 202 executes the same warehousing processing program shown in FIG. 12 except step S1203 of FIG. determination step group) and S1621 and step S1627 in FIG.

FIG. 29 shows a flowchart of a modified example of the entry processing program shown in FIG. is represented.

This parking lot identification module for entering parking lot executes a parking lot identification method having a plurality of steps as follows.

A. Entry judgment process

In the warehousing stage, as illustrated in FIG. From the state existing outside all the spatial areas SP centered on the reference coordinate point RP (longitude, latitude), any one of the parking lots 20 centered on the reference coordinate point RP (longitude, latitude) It is determined whether or not a transition has occurred to a state existing within the spatial domain SP. Thereby, it is determined whether or not the current position CP has entered any space area SP corresponding to any parking lot 20 .

In the example shown in FIG. 32, the vehicle AM moves from the current position CP1 outside the spatial area SP to the current position CP2 within the spatial area SP, and as a result, at that time, the current position CP is within the spatial area SP. judged to have entered.

The spatial area SP includes a plurality of coordinate points (for example, a plurality of coordinate points for defining the boundary line of the site) so as to geometrically accurately reflect the boundary line of the corresponding parking lot 20 or its equivalent. ) may be defined using a set of coordinate points. However, in this case, the size of the data required for the definition becomes large, and it is necessary to secure the communication load and storage capacity of the portable terminal 90 accordingly.

On the other hand, in the example shown in FIG. 32, one spatial area SP is defined as one circular area (which may be a collection of a plurality of circular areas). The one circular area has one radius r centered on one reference coordinate point RP. Therefore, one spatial region SP is defined only by a relatively small data set consisting of data representing one reference coordinate point RP and data representing one radius r. Therefore, according to this example, the communication load and storage capacity of the mobile terminal 90 are saved.

However, when one spatial region SP is defined as at least one circular region, one spatial region SP normally covers the entire site of one corresponding parking lot 20 without excess or deficiency. ,Have difficulty.

Specifically, in the example shown in FIG. 32, one circle area has one circle area in order to give priority to completely covering the non-circular site of the corresponding one parking lot 20 without omission. The circular area of also includes the portion outside the premises of the parking lot 20. - 特許庁

Therefore, when determining which parking lot 20 the vehicle has entered using only the position information (positioning unit 230) acquired by the mobile terminal 90, the vehicle is located outside the premises of a certain parking lot 20. Even if the AM is located, there is a possibility that an erroneous determination that the vehicle AM has entered the parking lot 20 is made.

By the way, as a result of the research of the present inventors, in general, regardless of the type of vehicle, when the vehicle runs in an arbitrary parking lot, there is a unique behavior that does not exist when the vehicle runs on a normal road. The fact that the vehicle indicates

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, each parking lot 20 typically has a plurality of compartments arranged close together, in which situation the user selects one of the compartments. Therefore, it is necessary to enter the parking lot 20 from the adjacent road. Therefore, in each parking lot 20, the vehicle performs turning motions (left steering, right steering, return steering, holding steering, etc.) at a higher frequency than when traveling on a normal road, and acceleration and deceleration motions (braking, acceleration, etc.). , decelerate, start, stop, reverse, etc.).

Against the background of such knowledge, in the present embodiment, the position information (positioning unit 230) acquired by the mobile terminal 90 is used to determine whether the vehicle AM is positioned outside all the spatial regions SP of all the parking lots 20. The vehicle AM is guided to the parking lot 20 guided from the position information only by satisfying the condition that the vehicle AM transits from the state where the vehicle AM is located to the state where it is located within the spatial region SP of any parking lot 20. It is not determined that you have entered.

In the present embodiment, the condition includes that condition and, as will be described later in detail, the condition that the vehicle AM performs high-frequency turning (or performs high-frequency acceleration/deceleration instead of or in addition to this). Only when a plurality of conditions are satisfied at the same time is it determined that the vehicle AM exists in the parking lot 20 guided from the position information.

B. Boarding condition judgment process

In the warehousing stage, the acceleration of the mobile terminal 90 is detected by using the acceleration sensor 154 (an example of the acceleration acquisition unit), and based on the amplitude and/or frequency of the high-frequency component in the detected acceleration waveform, It is determined whether or not there is a possibility that the user is in the vehicle AM.

Considering the function and application of the acceleration sensor 154, when the acceleration waveform detected by the acceleration sensor 154 is used to detect the amplitude and/or frequency of the acceleration waveform (vibration waveform) generated in the mobile terminal 90, , the acceleration sensor 154 constitutes an example of a vibration acquisition unit. On the other hand, when detecting the translational acceleration (axial acceleration) of the mobile terminal 90 using the acceleration sensor 154, the acceleration sensor 154 constitutes an example of a typical acceleration acquisition unit.

As described above, FIG. 21(a) shows an example of the acceleration waveform of the mobile terminal 90 when the user is walking with the central acceleration being 0, and FIG. An example of the acceleration waveform of the mobile terminal 90 is shown when the user is in a vehicle running with the center acceleration being zero .

Thanks to this boarding state determination process, the in-vehicle placement state determination process, high-frequency turning state determination process, and high-frequency acceleration/deceleration state determination process, which will be described later, can be performed in any parking lot 20 without the user getting into the vehicle AM. When the vehicle is walking, these determination processes are originally designed to be executed in the riding state, so they are not executed, or even if they are executed, the execution results are ignored. ing.

As a result, according to this boarding state determination process, although the parking lot 20 is completely unmanned and the installation of special equipment in the parking lot 20 is omitted, the error of the system is reduced. The operation is suppressed, and the reliability of the judgment result of the system is improved.

However, it is possible to carry out the present invention without the riding condition determination step.

C. In-vehicle installation state determination process

In the warehousing stage, by using the proximity sensor 158, as illustrated in FIG. Determine whether there is a possibility that

Thanks to this in-vehicle placement state determination process, the high-frequency turning state determination process and the high-frequency acceleration/deceleration state determination process described below can be performed while the user is carrying the portable terminal 90 while the user is in the vehicle AM. If there is, there is a risk that the accuracy of these judgment steps will be reduced, so they are not executed, or even if they are executed, their execution results are ignored.

As a result, according to the in-vehicle placement state determination process, similar to the boarding state determination process, malfunction of the system is suppressed, and the reliability of the determination result of the system is improved.

However, it is possible to carry out the present invention without the in-vehicle placement state determination step.

D. High-frequency turning state judgment process

In the warehousing stage, the angular velocity (especially, yaw rate θ) is detected, and based on the frequency of change in the detected angular velocity, it is possible that the vehicle is in a high-frequency turning state in which the vehicle turns at a frequency higher than that assumed when the vehicle is traveling on a normal road. determine whether or not there is

Here, the change frequency of the angular velocity is, for example, the change frequency of the sign of the angular velocity (for example, the direction of the yaw motion), that is, the number of times the user turns the steering wheel SW (see FIG. 28) of the vehicle for a certain period of time. are equivalent.

Specifically, in the example of the parking lot 20 shown in FIG. In order to enter the target vehicle compartment 22 with the vehicle compartment 22 as the target vehicle compartment 22, for example, the vehicle travels from the left side to the right side of the adjacent road and then turns left to enter the parking lot 20. A scenario can be envisioned in which the vehicle then turns right into the target compartment 22, which is one of the five compartments 22 on the right, and parks.

In this scenario, as illustrated in FIG. 33 (θ: yaw angle, Δθ: yaw rate), the user turns the steering wheel SW of the vehicle
1) left steering before the entrance/exit 24;
2) return steering immediately after passing through the entrance/exit 24;
It is necessary to steer four times: 3) right steering before entering the parking compartment and 4) reverse steering immediately after entering the parking compartment. When the vehicle travels the same distance on the road, the user typically turns the steering wheel SW less often. In addition, since the size of each compartment 22 is, for example, 2.5 m in width and 5.0 m in depth, the approximate distance traveled by the vehicle from the vicinity of the entrance/exit 24 on the adjacent road to the target compartment 22 is estimated. be done.

Based on such knowledge, the high-frequency turning state determination process is performed by determining the change frequency n of the angular velocity (yaw rate Δθ) (for example, the total number of peaks and valleys appearing per unit time in the graph of FIG. 33 representing the yaw rate Δθ). number) exceeds a threshold value n0 to determine whether the vehicle is likely to be in a high-frequency turning state, i.e., when the vehicle is traveling on a normal road, the Determine whether the vehicle exhibits inherent dynamic behavior that would otherwise occur when driving in any parking lot 20 .

Specifically, in the high-frequency turning state determination step, for example, the sign of the angular velocity changes from positive to negative per angular velocity observation time Δt (unit: seconds) (eg, 20 seconds, 30 seconds, 40 seconds), Then, by determining whether or not the number of times n of each change from negative to positive exceeds a threshold value n0 (for example, 4 times, 6 times, 8 times, intermediate values of these values, etc.), the Determine whether there is a possibility of being in a frequent turning state.

Alternatively, the ratio n/Δt, which is obtained by dividing the number of times n by the observation time Δt, is a predetermined value (for example, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, a value between these values, etc.). If it exceeds, it may be determined that the vehicle may be in a high-frequency turning state.

Note that this high-frequency turning state determination step may realize the same function by using the geomagnetic sensor 157 or another sensor (for example, an inclination sensor, a gravity sensor, etc.) instead of or in addition to the gyro sensor 156. .

E. Entrance parking lot identification process

At the warehousing stage, there are four conditions, i.e.
1. a first condition that the current position CP has entered the space area SP corresponding to one of the parking lots 20;
2. a second condition that the user may be in the vehicle AM;
3. a third condition that the mobile terminal 90 is not carried by the user and may be fixedly placed inside the vehicle AM;
4. When the fourth condition that the vehicle AM may be in the high-frequency turning state is all satisfied at the same time, one of the parking lots 20 is identified as the parking lot where the user has entered the vehicle. do.

F. High-frequency acceleration/deceleration state judgment process

A high-frequency acceleration/deceleration state determination step may be performed instead of or in addition to the high-frequency turning state determination step described above.

In this high-frequency acceleration/deceleration state determination process, the acceleration of the mobile terminal 90 is detected by using the acceleration sensor 154 in the storage stage, and based on the change frequency of the low-frequency component in the detected acceleration waveform, Vehicle AM accelerates and decelerates (start (accelerate from 0 speed), stop (decelerate to 0 speed), accelerate, decelerate, etc.) It is determined whether or not there is a possibility of being in a high-frequency acceleration/deceleration state in which

In the same scenario as the scenario explained with the example of the parking lot 20 shown in FIG.
1) deceleration before the entrance/exit 24;
2) acceleration immediately after entering the entrance/exit 24;
3) deceleration in front of the parking compartment;
4) acceleration immediately after entering the parking compartment, and 5) deceleration for stopping the vehicle in the parking compartment. . As the vehicle travels the same distance on the road, the user typically switches between decelerating and accelerating less often.

FIG. 34 shows an example of an acceleration waveform acquired when the vehicle accelerates and then decelerates. The acceleration waveform has low frequency components and high frequency components as described above.

As mentioned above, the high frequency components are shown in FIGS. 19(a) and 21(a), which are components that vary depending on whether the user is walking or riding in a vehicle.

Specifically, FIG. 19A shows that when the user's foot touches the road surface while the user is walking, the portable terminal 90 attached to the user's body and moving integrally moves between the user's foot and body. It reflects the shock waves received from the road surface through other parts. On the other hand, FIG. 21( a ) shows that when the tires of the vehicle roll on uneven road surfaces while the user is traveling (riding the vehicle), the tire is attached to the body of the user sitting on the seat in the vehicle and integrally mounted thereon. A mobile device 90 that moves freely is a part of the vehicle that has a higher shock absorption than the feet and body and reflects shock waves received from the road surface via the tires, suspension and seat.

In contrast, the low frequency components represent the net acceleration of the user or vehicle. Therefore, in high-frequency acceleration/deceleration conditions, the low-frequency component is used as the main component to be noted, which indicates the time profile (time history) of the acceleration of the vehicle.

Based on such knowledge, the high-frequency acceleration/deceleration state determination step uses the acceleration sensor 154 to detect the acceleration of the mobile terminal 90, and determines the change frequency of the low-frequency component in the waveform of the detected acceleration. By determining whether or not m is higher than the threshold value m0, it is determined whether or not there is a possibility that the vehicle is in a high-frequency acceleration/deceleration state.

Specifically, in the high-frequency acceleration/deceleration state determination step, for example, the sign of acceleration changes from positive to negative per acceleration observation time Δt (unit: seconds) (eg, 20 seconds, 30 seconds, 40 seconds). , and whether the number m of negative to positive changes exceeds a threshold m0 (e.g., 4, 6, 8, intermediate values, etc.). It is determined whether or not there is a possibility of being in a high-frequency acceleration/deceleration state.

Alternatively, the ratio m/Δt, which is obtained by dividing the number of times m by the observation time Δt, is a predetermined value (eg, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, a value between these values, etc.). If it exceeds, it may be determined that there is a possibility that the vehicle is in a high-frequency acceleration/deceleration state.

1. Entry parking specific module

Here, returning to FIG. 29, the entry parking lot identification module at the time of entry will be described. Step S1202 shown in FIG. ) is executed, in step S2901, the current position CP1 positioned at the previous execution of step S1202 was outside all the spatial areas SP corresponding to all the parking lots 20, but at the time of the previous execution of step S1202 It is determined whether or not the measured current position CP<b>2 is within any spatial region SP corresponding to any parking lot 20 .

That is, whether or not the user has moved from outside all the space areas SP corresponding to all parking lots 20 into any space area SP corresponding to any parking lot 20, that is, any It is determined whether or not the vehicle has just entered the space area SP.

Here, the spatial area SP corresponding to each parking lot 20 is defined by the reference coordinate point RP (function of the identification code of the parking lot 20) corresponding to that parking lot 20 and the radius r (parking function of the identification code of the car park 20), thereby defining one spatial region SP on the absolute space. A combination of the reference coordinate point RP and the radius r is stored in the memory 132 of the mobile terminal 90 as spatial region description data in association with the parking lot 20 .

The spatial region description data is prepared in advance for all the parking lots 20, or for all the parking lots 20 located near the current position of the mobile terminal 90 (for example, within a predetermined distance from the current position). ) are downloaded from the management server 50 .

Here, whether or not the current position is within the space area SP corresponding to each parking lot 20 is determined by, for example, calculating the distance D between the current position and the reference coordinate point of each parking lot 20, and calculating the distance D is less than the radius r corresponding to each parking lot 20, the current position is determined to be within the space area SP. This can be done by determining that it is outside the spatial region SP.

If the determination is NO, the process returns to step S1202. If YES, in step S2902, one parking lot 20 corresponding to the corresponding space area SP is the parking lot 20 entered by the user in the parking stage. selected as a candidate.

Subsequently, the distance d is detected by using the proximity sensor 158 in step S2905. Subsequently, in step S2906, it is determined whether or not the distance d is shorter than the threshold value d0 and the time profile of the distance d is steady over time.

If the determination in step S2906 is NO, it is determined that there is a possibility that the mobile terminal 90 is carried by the user. output from The warning is issued to prompt the user to place the mobile terminal 90 at a specified position in the vehicle, for example, the dashboard 180 . After that, the process returns to step S1202.

On the other hand, if the determination in step S2906 is YES, it is determined in step S2908 that there is a possibility that the mobile terminal 90 is not carried by the user and is fixedly placed at a specified position inside the vehicle. be. That is, it is determined that the device is placed indoors. In this case, execution of the above-described high-frequency turning state determination process is permitted and started.

Specifically, in step S2909, the gyro sensor 156 is used to detect the angular velocity of the mobile terminal 90, that is, the angular velocity (yaw rate) of the vehicle this time.

Subsequently, in step S2910, the frequency of change in the direction (positive or negative) of the angular velocity (the number of times the user turns the steering wheel SW of the vehicle in a given period of time, the frequency of the angular velocity waveform, etc.) is obtained from the waveform of the angular velocity detection value over a certain period of time in the past. n is calculated. For example, the change frequency n is the number of times the user has turned the steering wheel SW of the vehicle in the past 5, 10 or 20 seconds.

After that, in step S2911, it is determined whether or not the change frequency n is higher than the threshold value n0. The threshold n0 is 2, 4, 6, for example.

If the change frequency n is equal to or less than the threshold value n0, the determination in step S2911 becomes NO, and it is determined that the vehicle is likely to be traveling on a normal road this time. back to

On the other hand, if the change frequency n is higher than the threshold value n0, the determination in step S2911 becomes YES, and in step S2912 it is determined that the vehicle may be in a high-frequency turning state.

Subsequently, in step S2913, it is determined that the user has actually boarded and entered the candidate parking lot. Then, in step S2914, the candidate parking lot is identified as the parking lot 20 where the user is currently located, ie, the parking lot that the user entered in the warehousing stage. Subsequently, the process moves to step S1204 in FIG.

After that, in step S1208, the portable terminal 90 receives the user ID, the parking lot ID, the vehicle information, and the boarding entry data indicating that the current user boarded and entered the current parking lot 20 in the parking stage. to the management server 50. In response, the management server 50 receives the information from the mobile terminal 90 in step S1252.

2. Departure entry parking lot identification module

FIG. 30 is a flow chart showing a modified example of the leaving processing program shown in FIG. 16 in which step S1602 should be replaced, as a parking lot identification module for leaving the parking lot that identifies the parking lot where the user walked into in the leaving stage. is represented.

16. After execution of step S1601 shown in FIG. 16, the user selects all space areas corresponding to all parking lots 20 in step S3001 in the same manner as in step S2901 described above. It is determined whether or not the vehicle has moved into any spatial area SP corresponding to any parking lot 20 from outside the SP.

If the determination is NO, the process returns to step S1601. If YES, in step S3002, one parking lot 20 corresponding to the corresponding space area SP is the parking lot 20 entered by the user in the exit stage. selected as a candidate.

Subsequently, in step S3003, the waveform of the acceleration is obtained by using the acceleration sensor 154 in the same manner as in step S2903 described above, and high frequency components are extracted from the acceleration waveform. Its frequency F is calculated.

Then, in step S3004, it is determined whether the calculated frequency F is higher than the threshold F0.

If the frequency F is lower than the threshold value F0, the determination in step S3004 becomes NO, it is determined that the vehicle is in the boarding state, and the process returns to step S1601. The determination is YES, and the walking state is determined in step S3005.

Subsequently, in step S3006, it is determined that the user has actually walked into the candidate parking lot. Then, in step S3007, the candidate parking lot is identified as the parking lot 20 where the user is currently located, ie, the parking lot that the user entered in the exit stage. Then, the process moves to step S1603 in FIG.

3. Departure exit parking lot identification module

FIG. 31 shows a first modified example in which S1615-S1618 (first replacement portion) in FIG. 16 should be replaced, and S1621 (second The second modified example in which the replacement part) is to be replaced is shown in a flow chart as an exit parking lot identification module for identifying the parking lot where the user boarded and exited in the exit stage.

As for the first modification, if the determination in step S1613 in FIG. 16 is NO, the execution of this leaving parking lot specification module is started, and as for the second modification, step S1610 in FIG. is NO, the execution of this exit parking lot specification module is started.

In any of the modified examples, when the execution of the exit parking lot specification module is started, first, in step S3101, the current position of the mobile terminal 90 is detected by the positioning unit 230, which is the GPS positioning unit or the base station positioning unit. CP is measured. Next, in step S3102, the current position CP1 positioned at the previous execution of step S3101 was within any space area SP corresponding to any parking lot 20, but was positioned at the previous execution of step S3102. It is determined whether or not the current position CP2 obtained is outside any of the spatial regions SP.

That is, whether or not the user has moved from within any spatial region SP corresponding to any parking lot 20 to outside the spatial region SP, that is, immediately after leaving any spatial region SP. It is determined whether or not

If the determination in step S3102 is NO, the process proceeds to step S1613 for the first modification, and to step S1609 for the second modification.

On the other hand, if the determination in step S3102 is YES, then in step S2902, one parking lot 20 corresponding to the spatial area SP to which the current position corresponds until just before is the parking lot 20 from which the user exited in the exit stage. selected as a candidate.

Subsequently, in step S3104, by using the acceleration sensor 154, the waveform of the acceleration is obtained over a certain period of time (analysis window) in the past, as illustrated in FIG. Furthermore, high-frequency components are extracted from the acceleration waveform by a digital high-pass filter. Further, from the high frequency component, its frequency F (for example, the frequency F1 or F2 of the large amplitude frequency component shown in FIGS. 20(a) and 22(a)) is calculated.

Then, in step S3105, it is determined whether the calculated frequency F is less than a threshold F0 (which is equivalent to the second threshold F0).

If the frequency F is equal to or greater than the threshold value F0, the determination in step S3105 becomes NO, it is determined that the user is in a walking state, and the process proceeds to the corresponding one of steps S1613, S1609 and S1628. If it is lower than the value F0, the determination in step S3105 is YES, and in step S3106 it is determined that the vehicle is in the boarding state.

Subsequently, in step S3107, it is determined that the user has actually boarded and left the candidate parking lot. After that, in step S3108, the candidate parking lot is identified as the parking lot where the user boarded and exited in the exit stage. Subsequently, the process proceeds to step S1619 for the first modification, and to step S1622 for the second modification.

Thereafter, in step S1619, the mobile terminal 90 performs an exit operation indicating that the user has boarded and exited the current candidate parking lot with an exit operation in the exit stage. Boarding/leaving data (corresponding to a combination of the boarding/leaving determination data representing that the vehicle exited the parking lot and the boarding/leaving determination data representing that the vehicle exited the parking lot) is transmitted to the management server 50 . In response to this, the management server 50 receives the boarding/leaving data with exit operation from the portable terminal 90 in step S1656. The management server 50 further sets the current time as the exit time, and updates the status management table by parking lot so that the exit time is reflected and the exit flag is turned ON.

As for the second modification, in step S1623, the mobile terminal 90 further displays an exit parking lot indicating that the user has boarded and left the current candidate parking lot without performing an exit operation in the exit stage. Operation lacking boarding/leaving data (corresponding to a combination of leaving operation determination data indicating that there is no leaving operation and boarding/leaving determination data indicating that the vehicle has boarded and left) is transmitted to the management server 50 . On the other hand, the management server 50 receives the boarding/leaving data without the exit operation from the portable terminal 90 . The management server 50 further updates the parking status management table so that the re-entry flag is ON.

Comparison between the first and second embodiments and the present embodiment

According to the first and second embodiments, in the parking stage, the user's position information is referenced, but neither the user's action information nor the vehicle's behavior information is referenced, and the parking process is performed. In the stage, the user's position information and the user's action information (walking or riding) are referred to, but the leaving process is performed without referring to the vehicle's behavior information.

As a result, according to the first and second embodiments, in the parking stage, it is not possible to distinguish whether the user has walked into one of the parking lots 20 or has gotten into one of the parking lots 20 (in the first place, , in the parking stage, a scenario in which the user walks to enter one of the parking lots 20 cannot normally be assumed), but in the leaving stage, the user walks out of the parking lot 20 to be used or gets on. It is possible to distinguish whether the

However, even in the parking exit stage, if it is not necessary to distinguish whether the user exited the parking lot 20 by walking or by getting in (for example, if re-entry within the valid parking time is not permitted) ), it becomes unnecessary to refer to the user's behavior information not only at the warehousing stage but also at the warehousing stage.

On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, unlike the first and second embodiments, in the parking stage, the user's position information and vehicle behavior information (for example, high-frequency turning, high-frequency acceleration/deceleration) are Although it is referred to, the warehousing process is performed without referring to the user's behavior information.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, unlike the first and second embodiments, vehicle behavior information is also referred to. Reliability of the system 10 is improved with respect to techniques for identifying parking lots in use by a user, albeit agnostic.

Further, according to the present embodiment, as in the first and second embodiments, in the leaving stage, the user's position information and behavior information are referred to, but the vehicle behavior information is not referred to, and the leaving process is performed. Therefore, it is possible to distinguish whether the user left the parking lot 20 by walking or exiting the parking lot 20 by getting on.

However, it is not essential to refer to the user's behavior information in the warehousing process and/or the warehousing process to carry out the present invention. This is because, when the user is required to place his/her mobile terminal 90 at a predetermined position in the vehicle in order to use the parking lot 20, the above-described warehousing processing and/or warehousing processing is performed. This is because these processes do not require the user's behavior information because they are executed with the portable terminal 90 existing in the vehicle.

The technical idea of performing the warehousing process and/or the warehousing process by referring to at least the user's position information and the vehicle behavior information (for example, high-frequency turning, high-frequency acceleration/deceleration) in the warehousing stage and/or the warehousing stage is as follows. The present invention can be applied to any parking lot 20 regardless of its operation mode. For example, it may be applied to a prepaid hourly system or a postpaid hourly system.

[Fourth embodiment]

Next, the parking lot management system 10 and the parking lot management method according to the exemplary fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. However, elements common to those of the first to third embodiments are referred to using the same reference numerals or names to omit redundant description, and only different elements will be described in detail.

FIG. 35 shows the status (occupancy status) of each vehicle compartment 22 for each user in a certain parking lot 20 in order to explain the operation principle of the parking lot status management table creating/updating unit and the vacant room determination unit in this system 10 . 4 is a time chart exemplifying how state, operating state) transitions over time. FIG. 36 is a flow chart conceptually showing a management table creation/update module for implementing the management table creation/updating section in this system 10. As shown in FIG.

The system 10 according to this embodiment, like the first to third embodiments, is designed to manage a prepaid, timed parking lot 20 .

Specifically, first, in the warehousing stage, as shown in the upper part of FIG. Next, in step S3602, the mobile terminal 90 selects a parking lot (a parking lot entered while the user is in the vehicle for parking) 20, that is, according to the algorithm shown in FIG. 29, for example. , the location information of the user and the behavior information of the vehicle are referenced to identify the parking lot 20 where the vehicle is parked.

Subsequently, in step S3603, the user finally indicates to the management server 50 that he or she wants to enter the parking lot 20 this time by operating the entry button on the mobile terminal 90. FIG. After that, in step S3604, the user inputs the effective parking time into the mobile terminal 90. FIG.

Subsequently, in step S3605, the portable terminal 90 receives the above-mentioned information, that is, the user ID, the parking lot ID representing the parking lot 20 (which is an example of the above-mentioned "entered parking lot identification data"), and the valid The parking time and warehousing operation data indicating that the user has performed the warehousing operation are transmitted to the management server 50 (this is an example of the aforementioned "first transmission step").

Thereafter, in step S3606, the user pays a prepaid parking fee through the mobile terminal 90 corresponding to the length of the valid parking time. Subsequently, in step S3607, the user gets off the vehicle while the vehicle is parked in the current parking lot 20, then walks in the parking lot 20 and exits through the entrance/exit 24.

In the first to third embodiments, neither the mobile terminal 90 nor the management server 50 has an algorithm for determining whether or not the user has walked out of the parking lot 20 in the parking stage. An algorithm similar to that represented by steps S3101-S3105 shown may be executed to automatically determine whether the user has walked out of the parking lot 20 or not.

On the other hand, in step S3651, the management server 50 receives various information transmitted from the portable terminal 90 in step S3605. Subsequently, in step S3652, similarly to the first to third embodiments, a status management table for each parking lot (hereinafter simply referred to as "management table") as shown in FIG. management table creating/updating process”).

Thereafter, in step S3653, the management server 50 initializes the states of various flags for the management table. The reason why the states of various flags are initialized is that this time it is in the warehousing stage. Specifically, the warehousing flag is initially set to ON, but the re-warehousing permission flag, the temporary warehousing flag, the warehousing completion flag, the regular warehousing flag, and the assumed warehousing flag are all initially set to OFF.

Next, in the delivery stage, first, in step S3611, the user inputs the user ID into the portable terminal 90, as shown in the lower part of FIG. Next, in step S3612, the mobile terminal 90 selects the parking lot 20 from which the user is about to exit (the parking lot that the user entered while walking to exit), that is, according to the algorithm shown in FIG. The location information and action information are referenced to identify the parking lot 20 from which the vehicle is about to exit.

Subsequently, in step S3613, the mobile terminal 90 matches the parking lot ID of the current parking lot 20 with the parking lot ID of the entering parking lot 20 that is stored in the management table in association with the user. Determine whether or not

If they match, in step S3614, the mobile terminal 90 determines whether or not the user has operated the leaving button on the mobile terminal 90, that is, whether or not the user has performed a leaving operation as a declaration of intention. to create

Subsequently, in step S3615, the mobile terminal 90 exits from the current parking lot 20 in accordance with the same algorithm represented by steps S3101 and S3102 shown in FIG. determine whether or not

If it is determined that the user has left the vehicle, then in step S3616 the portable terminal 90 is in a riding state in which the user is in the vehicle according to the same algorithm represented by steps S3104-S3106 shown in FIG. Determine whether or not

Thereafter, in step S3617, based on the determination results in steps S3615 and S3616, the mobile terminal 90 creates boarding/leaving determination data representing whether or not the user has left the parking lot 20 this time while in the boarding state. The boarding/leaving determination data is transmitted to the management server 50 together with the exit operation determination data in association with the user (this is an example of the above-described "second transmission step").

In response to this, in step S3671, the management server 50 receives the boarding/leaving determination data and the leaving operation determination data from the portable terminal 90 in association with the user. Subsequently, in step S3672, the management server 50 determines whether the effective parking time (for example, scheduled parking time) in the management table has expired at the current time measured by the clock 172. Determine whether or not there is

If it is determined that the time has expired, in step S3673 the management server 50 updates the management table by updating the states of various flags (an example of the above-described "management table creation/update process"). is).

Specifically, the management server 50 determines that the received boarding/leaving determination data indicates that the user is leaving in the boarding state, and that the received leaving operation determination data does not involve the leaving operation. Moreover, if the effective parking time has not expired at the time of receiving these data, it is determined that provisional leaving has been performed, the state of the provisional leaving flag is switched from OFF to ON, and the same user gives the user permission to re-enter the same parking lot, and switches the state of the re-entry permission flag from OFF to ON.

Further, the management server 50 determines that the received boarding/leaving determination data indicates that the user is leaving the boarding state, and that the received leaving operation determination data is accompanied by the leaving operation, and If the valid parking time has not expired at the time of receiving the data, it is determined that the regular parking has been completed, the state of the regular parking leaving flag is switched from OFF to ON, and the state of the leaving flag is changed. Switch from OFF to ON.

Further, the management server 50 determines whether or not the valid parking time has expired at the time of the reception time after the provisional parking is determined, and if it has expired, determines that the deemed parking has been completed. , the state of the deemed delivery flag is switched from OFF to ON, and in this case also, the state of the delivered flag is switched from OFF to ON in the same manner as in the case where the regular delivery is established.

Further, the management server 50 determines whether or not the valid parking time has expired at the time of the reception time in a state where the re-entry permission flag is ON, and if it has expired, grants the right to re-enter the parking lot. In order to eliminate it, the state of the re-entry permission flag is switched from ON to OFF.

In addition, in order to save the capacity of the memory 162, the management server 50 may delete the behavior pattern of the corresponding user from the management table if the normal delivery or the assumed delivery is established in each determination cycle. In that case, in the example shown in FIG. 35, at time t5, data relating to user number 1 does not exist in the management table.

By the way, in the first to third embodiments, the management server 50 has the vacant room determination unit 304 as shown in FIG. This vacancy determination unit 304 may be installed in the mobile terminal 90, but in any case, for each parking lot, based on the number of confirmations of entering and exiting, a plurality of cars in the parking lot 20 are checked. Determine whether or not there is an unused vacant room in the room.

Specifically, the vacant room determination unit 304 determines the number of vacant rooms, which are the number of unused vacant rooms, among the plurality of car rooms in each parking lot 20 each time one parking lot is confirmed. The number of vacant rooms is decremented by 1, and the number of vacant rooms is incremented by 1 each time one actual leaving operation (regular leaving) or assumed leaving is confirmed.

In the first to third embodiments, the mobile terminal 90 receives information from the vacant room determination unit 304 of the management server 50 whether or not there is a vacant room for each parking lot 20, that is, whether or not there is a vacant room at present. Full vacancy state data (or parking lot 20, parking lot status data indicating parking lot status, parking lot operating state data, parking lot full/empty state data, etc.) is received.

By the way, in the first to third embodiments, when the user gets in and leaves the parking lot 20 before the valid parking time expires, and the user does not perform the leaving operation at that time (temporary leaving the parking lot). ), the user is authorized to re-enter the same parking lot 20, either actively or effectively, until said valid parking time expires.

On the other hand, in the first to third embodiments, in the leaving stage, the user gets in (with the vehicle) and exits from the parking lot 20, walks (leaving the vehicle in the parking lot 20), and parks the vehicle. It is possible to distinguish whether the vehicle has exited from the parking lot 20 or not.

Here, when the user has performed the provisional parking, the user may exercise the authority to re-enter the parking space before the effective parking time expires, and may actually re-enter the parking space; If the user does not exercise the authority, does not actually re-enter the parking lot, and the valid parking time expires, there is a possibility that the user will be treated as the above-mentioned deemed leaving the parking lot.

If the former possibility is emphasized more than the latter possibility and the vacant room judgment of the parking lot 20 is performed conservatively (emphasizing the user's profit), as a result, "Even if temporary leaving is performed, the user In this case, it is assumed that the vehicle exists in the parking lot 20, and the vacant room determination is performed. Therefore, in reality, there is a risk that a vacant room that is not used by another user will be generated in the parking lot 20 unnecessarily. There is

On the other hand, if the latter possibility is emphasized more than the former possibility, and the vacancy determination is boldly performed for the parking lot 20 (emphasizing the profit of the parking lot manager), as a result, "temporary leaving is performed. When the parking lot 20 is re-entered by the same user, it is assumed that the user will not be re-entered, and the vacancy determination is made. The room may not exist at all and it may not be possible to restock.

Against this background, the system 10 according to the present embodiment performs vacant room determination to determine whether the car is empty or full without taking into account the number of expected re-entry events in the future. Although the result is an empty state, if the vacant room determination is performed in anticipation of the number of expected re-entry occurrences in the future and the determination result is a full state, the final determination result is determined to be a congested state. This strikes a good balance between the interests of the user and the interests of the parking lot manager.

The algorithm used by the system 10 to determine availability will now be briefly described.

The system 10 repeatedly performs vacancy determination for each parking lot 20 for each user at predetermined time intervals Δt. The reason why the vacancy determination is performed for each user rather than for each vehicle compartment 22 is that, in this embodiment, it is unnecessary to manage which vehicle compartment 22 the user is parked in. because there is

Here, the "time interval Δt" is set to have a length shorter than the shortest parking time required for a vehicle to enter a certain parking lot 20 until it leaves the parking lot 20, that is, within one time interval Δt. is set so as to prevent a vehicle from entering and exiting a certain parking lot 20, for example, 1 minute, 5 minutes, or 10 minutes.

However, the shorter the time interval Δt, the more accurately the actual status of the parking lot 20 can be monitored, while the processing load on the management server 50 increases. It should be set so that the load and the load are well balanced.

Furthermore, this system 10 determines the availability of each parking lot 20, and the operation status of each parking lot 20 in three operating states, that is, a full state in which there is no vacant compartment 22 in each parking lot 20. , a vacant state in which vacant compartments 22 exist, and a congested state indicating that there is a possibility that the cars are actually full or vacant.

Specifically, the system 10 performs vacant room determination for each parking lot 20 for each user repeatedly at predetermined time intervals with reference to the management table illustrated in FIG. 26 .

This system 10 observes changes in the behavior pattern of the user with respect to the parking lot 20 according to the latest contents of the management table for each determination cycle.

Specifically, in each determination cycle, the system 10, based on the contents of the management table, for each parking lot 20:
X1: the number of valid parking, which is the number of users whose valid parking time does not expire during each determination cycle;
X2: Determined as the number of users for whom the valid parking time did not expire during each judgment cycle, and for whom exit from the parking lot in the riding state was accompanied by the parking exit operation. number of deliveries and
X3: During each determination cycle, the valid parking time did not expire and the user exited the parking lot in the boarded state without performing the parking exit operation, and the same user is the same. Calculate the number of undetermined exits, which is the number of users authorized to re-enter the parking lot.

Here, there is a possibility that the number of undetermined deliveries X3 does not match the number of users who actually re-entered the warehousing after that. If they match, the calculated value of the actual parking number Y is
Y=X1-X2
However, if they do not match, the calculated value of the actual parking number Y is
Y=X1-(X2+X3).

In this way, the calculated value of the actual number of parked vehicles Y is a fluid one that varies depending on the number of users who actually re-entered the parking lot.
Y min <= Y <= Y max

This system 10 is based on these three calculated values X1, X2 and X3, and the total number of the plurality of compartments 22 in each parking lot 20 allocated for hourly rental to users (no hourly rental for users). Based on the relationship with the total number of vehicle compartments 22 scheduled to be rented by the hour to the user from the state where it is not performed, according to a predetermined determination rule, the operation status of each parking lot 20 immediately after each determination cycle, Predict whether the vehicle is in one of a full state, an empty state, and a congested state.

Here, the "total number Z" may be defined as a number equal to the number n of all of the plurality of compartments 22 assigned to each parking lot 20, and among those compartments 22, the number illustrated in FIG. Thus, if some of the compartments 22 are not hourly rental compartments, but are monthly subscriber compartments, the total number Z may be defined as a number less than the number n.

A "predetermined determination rule" is defined as one determination rule selected from a plurality of potential determination rules or a combination of multiple determination rules.

Here, the "potential multiple determination rules" are classified into a determination rule that does not assume the indeterminate number of deliveries X3, that is, a future re-stocking (does not assume re-stocking), and a determination rule that assumes.

First, according to an example of a determination rule that does not assume re-entry, the number of users using each parking lot 20 at each time, that is, the maximum number of parked cars Ymax is
Ymax=X1-(X2+X3)
is defined by the formula

If the condition Ymax<Z is satisfied, the parking lot 20 is determined to be empty, and if the condition Ymax=Z is satisfied, the parking lot 20 is determined to be full.

Next, according to an example of a determination rule that assumes re-entry, the number of users using each parking lot 20 at each time, that is, the minimum number of parked cars Ymin is
Ymin=X1-X2
is defined by the formula

If the condition Ymin<Z is satisfied, the parking lot 20 is determined to be empty, and if the condition Ymin=Z is satisfied, the parking lot 20 is determined to be full.

An example of the "potential determination rule" is that, in each determination cycle, if the operating status of the parking lot 20 is determined from the maximum number of parked vehicles Y1 to be either full or empty, the determination result is full. However, if it is determined whether the operation status of the parking lot 20 is full or empty based on the minimum number of parked vehicles Y2, the determination result is an empty state. It is to decide.

Another example of a "potential judgment rule" is that in each judgment cycle, if the judgment result in the previous judgment cycle was full or congested, the minimum parking When it is determined whether the operation status of the parking lot 20 is full or vacant from the number of cases Y2, and if the determination result is an empty state, the final determination result is determined to be a congested state. be.

In any case, according to this system 10, it cannot be determined whether the operating state of each parking lot 20 is an empty state or a full state. If there is a possibility of fluctuation, it is determined that the parking lot 20 is neither vacant nor full, and is in a congested state.

As a result, the user who is informed that the parking lot 20 is in a congested state expects that a vacant room may be found, although he/she is prepared for the possibility that the vacant room may not be found when he/she arrives at the site. Even if there is no vacant room when you go to parking lot 20, you will not feel so uncomfortable.

FIG. 37 conceptually represents a room availability determination module executed by the processor 160 of the management server 50 to implement the room availability determination unit 304 that determines room availability according to the algorithm described above. It is a flow chart.

The availability determination module performs one determination cycle for a different parking lot 20 each time the time interval Δt elapses.

In each determination cycle of this vacancy determination module, first, in step S3701, the parking lot 20 to be executed this time is selected from among the plurality of parking lots 20 managed by the management server 50, and the selected parking lot 20 is selected. The management table corresponding to the parking lot 20 is read from the memory 162 .

Next, in step S3702, in the management table, the number of users whose scheduled exit time (the rightmost position of the solid line or broken line in FIG. 35) is in the future from the current time (for example, t5) is defined as the number of valid parking spaces X1. It is counted and the value is stored in memory 162 in association with parking lot 20 .

For example, in the scenario shown in FIG. 35, for example, at time t5, the number of available parking X1 is "5 ” is counted.

Subsequently, in step S3703, in the management table, the number of users for whom the regular delivery flag has changed from OFF to ON in the current determination cycle (for time t5, between time t4 and time t5) is determined as the confirmed delivery number. It is counted as X2 and that value is stored in memory 162 in association with parking lot 20 .

For example, in the scenario shown in FIG. 35, the fixed number of deliveries X2 is counted as "1" due to regular delivery by user number 4 between time t4 and time t5.

After that, in step S3704, the number of users whose provisional exit flag is ON in the management table is counted as the undetermined exit number X3, and this value is stored in the memory 162 in association with the parking lot 20. FIG.

For example, in the scenario shown in FIG. 35, for example, at time t5, the number of undetermined deliveries X3 is counted as "2" due to provisional deliveries for the two users numbered 6 and 7, respectively. be done.

It should be noted that the user assigned number 5 also has experience of provisional delivery, but is treated as deemed delivery after that, and the provisional delivery flag is turned off, so it is not included in the number of uncertain delivery cases X3.

Thereafter, in step S3706, the maximum number of parked vehicles Ymax is calculated using the counted valid number of parked vehicles X1 and the determined number of parked vehicles X2, and this value is stored in the memory 162 in association with the parking lot 20. FIG.

For example, in the scenario shown in FIG. 35, the maximum number of parked vehicles Ymax is calculated as 4 (=5-1) at time t5.

Subsequently, in step S3707, the minimum parking number Ymin is calculated using the counted valid number of parked vehicles X1, fixed parking number X2, and uncertain parking number X3, and this value is stored in the memory 162 in association with the parking lot 20. be done.

For example, in the scenario shown in FIG. 35, the minimum number of parked vehicles Ymin is calculated as 2 (=5-(1+2)) at time t5.

Thereafter, in step S3708, it is determined whether or not the maximum number of parked cars Ymax is smaller than the total number Z. If the maximum number of parked cars Ymax is smaller than the total number Z, that is, if it is determined that the calculated value of the actual number of parked cars Y assuming re-entry is smaller than the total number Z (unoccupied state), in step S3709, the parking lot 20 is determined to be empty.

On the other hand, if the maximum number of parked cars Ymax is greater than or equal to the total number Z, that is, if it is not determined that the calculated value of the actual number of parked cars Y is less than the total number Z assuming re-entry (empty state), in step S3710 , the minimum number of parked cars Ymin is smaller than the total number Z or not.

If the minimum number of parked cars Ymin is smaller than the total number Z, that is, if it is determined that the calculated value of the actual number of parked cars Y is smaller than the total number Z (unoccupied state) for the first time because re-entry is not assumed, then in step S3712, parking is performed. It is determined that the parking lot 20 is in a congested state.

On the other hand, if the minimum number of parked vehicles Ymin is greater than or equal to the total number Z, that is, if the calculated value of the actual number of parked vehicles Y is greater than or equal to the total number Z regardless of whether re-entry is assumed, in step S3711, It is determined that the parking lot 20 is full.

In this embodiment, the mobile terminal 90 of the user is used for the vacancy determination. However, since the mobile terminal 90 does not always move together with the vehicle, the behavior of the mobile terminal 90 does not always match the behavior of the vehicle.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, at least in the parking exit stage, the sensor function mounted on the mobile terminal 90 is used to determine whether the user has boarded and exited the parking lot 20 (exited with the vehicle) or walked. (the user exited alone while the vehicle was parked).

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to perform the vacancy determination using the mobile terminal 90 of the user without installing dedicated equipment in the parking lot 20 . However, this is not essential to practice the invention.

That is, the vacancy determination is performed by, for example, a vehicle presence/absence sensor (for example, a proximity sensor, a reflected light sensor, etc.) installed in each compartment 22 in the parking lot 20, or a sensor installed in each compartment 22 in the parking lot 20. A vehicle number camera (in this case, the parking lot may be managed for each vehicle, not for each user), a vehicle passing detection sensor installed at the entrance/exit 24 of the parking lot 20 (in this case, the parking lot , may be managed for each user instead of for each vehicle compartment 22), or dedicated equipment such as the fee settlement device and the exit gate management device described in Patent Document 3 (in this case , parking may be managed for each user).

In short, the present invention can be applied regardless of the type of situation in which a prepaid parking lot is operated in such a manner that re-entry is possible within the valid parking time.

That is, in the present embodiment, as described above, attention is paid to each of the plurality of compartments 22 in a certain parking lot 20, and instead of questioning whether each compartment 22 is vacant or not, each moment In the parking lot 20, individual attention is focused on a plurality of users who use a plurality of vehicles that actually exist in the parking lot 20, and data (various flags, etc.) that can restore the chronological behavior patterns of each user are stored as parking lot-specific statuses. It is recorded in the management table (FIG. 26) in association with the user and in association with the time and chronological order.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the number of users who actually exist in the parking lot 20 is grasped as the actual number of parked cars in the parking lot 20 at each moment. Further, vacant room judgments are made in anticipation of re-entry after provisional exit and vacancy judgments in which re-entry is not anticipated, and the number of parking spaces that will actually exist in the parking lot 20 in the future is predicted for each possibility.

If the predicted value does not exceed the number of valid parking spaces Z of the parking lot 20, it is determined that the parking lot is empty, and if it matches, it is determined that the parking lot is full. Furthermore, according to the comparison result between the vacant room judgment that expects the occurrence of re-entry after temporary leaving and the vacant room judgment that does not, the judgment result is changed from the empty state to the congested state, and the user who expects the judgment result do not disappoint the expectations of

It should be noted that the above-described several embodiments are some specific examples when the present invention is applied to a parking service for parking automobiles. , can be applied to a parking service for parking bicycles, or to a parking service for parking motorcycles.

Additionally, the above-described several embodiments apply the present invention to the user's portable terminal 90, which may be carried by the user or placed in the vehicle without being carried by the user. These are some specific examples when applied to a communication environment used as a "user information processing terminal" in the invention. and the vehicle behavior information acquisition function can be applied to the communication environment in which the "user information processing terminal" in the present invention is used.

That is, the "user information processing terminal" in the present invention may be an information processing terminal of a type expected to be carried by a user or an information processing terminal of a type mounted on a vehicle.

However, when the present invention is applied to a communication environment in which such an in-vehicle computer is used as a "user information processing terminal" in the present invention, the in-vehicle computer always moves with the user's vehicle. In this case, it is also important to distinguish whether the "user information processing terminal" in the present invention moves with the user's body while walking or separates from the user's body and moves with the vehicle. It also becomes unnecessary to distinguish whether the device is in the vehicle or whether it is in the vehicle.

As described above, several embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail based on the drawings, but these are examples, and based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, including the aspects described in the above [Summary of the Invention] column, It is possible to carry out the present invention in other forms with various modifications and improvements.

Claims (10)

A parking lot management system that manages the plurality of parking lots using an information processing terminal of a user who selects and uses one of a plurality of parking lots that are postpaid ,
a candidate parking lot selection unit that selects, as a plurality of candidate parking lots, those located near the user's current location measured by the information processing terminal from among the plurality of parking lots;
Parking lot information representing a current parking lot selected by the user on the screen of the information processing terminal from among the selected candidate parking lots, and vehicle information for identifying the vehicle of the user. a receiving unit that receives parking-related information including from the information processing terminal ;
When the user indicates to the information processing terminal that the user intends to leave the parking lot and includes payment of the parking fee, at least the parking lot information among the received parking-related information. A settlement unit that enables the user to settle the parking fee by electronic payment using the information processing terminal based on
parking management system including; The parking-related information further includes user information for identifying the user,
2. The parking lot management system according to claim 1, wherein the settlement unit includes a calculation unit that calculates the amount of the parking fee based on the parking lot information and the user information . 3. The parking lot management system according to claim 1, further comprising a parking determination unit that determines whether or not the same vehicle is parked in the same parking lot based on the received parking lot information and vehicle information. 4. The parking lot management system according to claim 1, wherein said information processing terminal is carried by said user or mounted in said vehicle. A program for causing a computer to function as the candidate parking lot selection unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4. A program for causing a computer to function as the receiver according to any one of claims 1 to 4. A program for causing a computer to function as the settlement unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4. A recording medium on which the program according to claim 5 is computer-readable. A recording medium on which the program according to claim 6 is computer-readable. A recording medium on which the program according to claim 7 is computer-readable.

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