WO2016152133A1

WO2016152133A1 - Vehicle guidance system and vehicle guidance method

Info

Publication number: WO2016152133A1
Application number: PCT/JP2016/001594
Authority: WO
Inventors: 匠哉稲垣; 稔三枝
Original assignee: 日本電気株式会社
Priority date: 2015-03-26
Filing date: 2016-03-18
Publication date: 2016-09-29
Also published as: JPWO2016152133A1; JP6658735B2

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a vehicle guidance system which is capable of simplifying an onboard communication device of a vehicle. Provided is a vehicle guidance system, comprising: a control device for controlling the guidance of a vehicle in a parking area for parking the vehicle, said parking area being divided into blocks which include one or a plurality of parking spaces; and communication devices which communicate with lighting devices which are installed in each of the respective parking spaces and the communication devices in adjacent parking spaces or communication means in the vehicle. The control device determines a target block including the parking space which is the destination to which to guide the vehicle, and a guidance path from the present position of the vehicle to the target block, and notifies the communication devices in the parking spaces located along the guidance path of identifying information of the vehicle. The communication devices which are notified of the identifying information detect the vehicle and control the lighting devices which are located along the guidance path to guide the vehicle to the target block.

Description

Vehicle guidance system and vehicle guidance method

The present invention relates to a vehicle guidance system and a vehicle guidance method for automatically guiding a vehicle in a facility.

In a vehicle guidance system, for example, a system for automatically guiding a vehicle to a target place in a facility such as a parking lot is known. This technology grasps the full availability information of each area of the parking lot and guides the vehicle to an empty area.

An example of an automatic guidance system is described in Patent Document 1. The facility guidance system described in Patent Document 1 detects the position of an information communication terminal based on the radio field strength received from a wireless station by an information communication terminal possessed by the facility user, and the behavior of the facility user Is detected. The facility guidance system transmits information on the guidance route to the empty vehicle area based on the position and action to the information communication terminal.

Moreover, the parking lot management system described in Patent Document 2 detects the presence or absence of parking by a parking state detection device, classifies and stores it in a server device via a wireless LAN (Local Area Network), and stores a guidance request signal. Check the position of the mobile object that was sent. Further, the parking lot management system transmits a guidance signal for guiding the moving body to the parking space close to the confirmed position. As a result, the moving body outputs the guidance based on the guidance signal by voice or the like.

In addition, the empty parking space guidance support system described in Patent Document 3 uses a camera or a sensor to determine the position of a vehicle via a network, and turns on an arrow lamp installed along each parking lane. Guide the car to an empty parking space.

JP 2014-163911 A JP 2005-85187 A JP 2014-146130 A JP 2009-204576 A International Publication No. 2006/109827

However, the technology described in Patent Document 1 described above is such that an information communication terminal possessed by a facility user integrally manages a plurality of radio stations and detects a position based on radio field strength received from the plurality of radio stations. And detecting the behavior of facility users. Moreover, the technique described in Patent Document 2 detects the position of a moving body via a plurality of wireless LAN base stations. Therefore, the techniques described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 have a problem that the accuracy of position detection of an object is low. Moreover, the technique described in Patent Document 3 needs to recognize a vehicle by image analysis via a network using a camera or a sensor that covers an area in a parking lot and determine its position. Therefore, the technique described in Patent Document 3 has a problem that the processing load of the server due to image analysis is large. Further, the techniques described in Patent Documents 1 to 3 have a common problem that the load on the entire system is large and a large-scale system is required.

An example of an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle guidance system and a vehicle guidance method that can solve the above-described problems. Specifically, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle guidance system and the like that can specify the position of a vehicle with extremely high accuracy and can reduce the load on the entire system.

A vehicle guidance system according to an aspect of the present invention includes a control device for controlling vehicle guidance in a parking lot partitioned by a block including one or a plurality of parking areas for parking a vehicle, and each parking area. A communication device that communicates with an installed lighting device and a communication device or a vehicle communication means in a nearby parking area, and a control device includes a target block including a parking area to which the vehicle is guided, and a current vehicle The guidance route from the position to the target block is determined, the vehicle identification information is notified to the communication device in the parking area located on the guidance route, and the communication device notified of the identification information detects the vehicle and guides to the target block. The lighting device located in the guidance path is controlled to do so.

In the vehicle guidance method according to one aspect of the present invention, the control device controls the guidance of the vehicle in a parking lot partitioned by a block including one or a plurality of parking areas for parking the vehicle, A communication device or a vehicle communication means in a nearby parking area communicates with a lighting device installed in the parking area of the vehicle, and the control device guides the vehicle to the target block including the parking area, and the current position of the vehicle The guidance route to the target block is determined, the vehicle identification information is notified to the communication device in the parking area located on the guidance route, and the communication device notified of the identification information detects the vehicle and guides it to the target block. The lighting device located in the guidance path is controlled.

A computer-readable recording medium according to an aspect of the present invention determines a target block including a parking area to which a vehicle is guided, a guide route from the current position of the vehicle to the target block, and is positioned on the guide route. Processing for controlling vehicle guidance in a parking lot partitioned by a block including one or a plurality of parking areas for parking the vehicle by notifying vehicle identification information to a communication device in the parking area is executed in the control device. Record the program to be executed.

According to the present invention, it is possible for the vehicle guidance system to specify the position of the vehicle with extremely high accuracy and to reduce the load on the entire system.

FIG. 1 is a schematic top view showing an example of a configuration of a vehicle guidance system 1000 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the control device 100 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the full / vacant information list according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a guidance list according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a route list according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of contents described in the route list according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a monitoring list according to the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of an individual list according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a device provided in the parking area 501 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a search result list according to the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a parking area state list according to the first embodiment. FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of the vehicle 400 that enters the parking lot 500 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example when the control device 100 according to the first embodiment is realized by a computer device. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an outline of an operation for updating the full / vacant information list in the control device 100 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an overview of the operation of updating the guidance list in the control device 100 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an overview of operations of monitoring list update and individual list transmission in the control device 100 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an overview of the operation of guiding the vehicle by the lighting device 301 and the communication device 201 in the parking area 501 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an outline of the operation of the vehicle guidance control in the control device 100 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of the operation of the guidance list and the monitoring list after the vehicle guidance is completed in the control device 100 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of the operation of searching for a lost vehicle in the control device 100 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 21 is a schematic top view illustrating an example of the configuration of the vehicle guidance system 1010 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 22 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the control device 110 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 23 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a device provided in the parking area 501 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an example of a guidance list according to the second embodiment. FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating an example of an individual list according to the second embodiment. FIG. 26 is a schematic top view showing an example of the configuration of the vehicle guidance system 1020 according to the third embodiment. FIG. 27 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the control device 120 according to the third embodiment. FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating an example of a guidance list according to the third embodiment.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a schematic top view showing an example of a configuration of a vehicle guidance system 1000 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the vehicle guidance system 1000 includes a control device 100 installed in a parking lot 500. The parking lot 500 is provided with a plurality of parking areas.

複数 Each of the multiple parking areas forms a block (section) with a predetermined number of areas. In the example of FIG. 1, four parking areas are provided in one block. In FIG. 1,

parking areas

501, 502, 503 and 504 are blocks 50, and

parking areas

505, 506, 507 and 508 are blocks 51. The block 52 is at the position in the figure. Each parking area includes a communication device and a lighting device.

The installation location of the control device 100 may be anywhere and may be outside the parking lot 500. Further, only the communication unit 106 may be in the parking lot 500 and the other functional units may be outside the parking lot 500. In the example of FIG. 1, there are already parked vehicles in the

parking areas

501, 502, 504, 505, and 508, and the

parking areas

503, 506, and 507 are empty. Further, it is assumed that the vehicle 400 is already being guided by the vehicle guidance system 1000 and the vehicle 401 is starting to enter the parking lot 500.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the control device 100. The control device 100 includes a vacancy information management unit 101, a vehicle management unit 102, a parking area determination unit 103, a parking route determination unit 104, a vehicle guidance unit 105, and a communication unit 106.

The vehicle guidance system 1000 eliminates the need for a device capable of outputting information such as images and sounds in the vehicle in order to guide the vehicle. Therefore, in this Embodiment, the vehicle guidance system 1000 guides a vehicle to the vacant parking area using the control apparatus 100 and the illuminating device and communication apparatus with which the parking area in the parking lot is equipped.

That is, the control device 100 determines a target block including a parking area that guides a vehicle that has entered the parking lot, and a guide route from the current position of the vehicle to the target block. Furthermore, the control apparatus 100 notifies the identification information of a vehicle to the communication apparatus of the parking area located on a guidance route.

The communication device notified of the identification information controls the lighting device positioned on the guidance route so as to guide the vehicle to the target block.

Here, the configuration of the control device 100 will be described in more detail.

The vacancy information management unit 101 receives vacancy information as parking area state data from communication devices installed in all the parking areas in the parking lot 500. Based on the content of the received parking area state data, the full / vacant information management unit 101 updates the full / vacant information of the parking area item in the full / vacant information list stored in the storage unit (not shown). Full sky information is information indicating whether each parking area is already parked (full) or not parked (empty).

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the full / vacant information list. In the availability information list, availability information corresponding to each parking area is recorded. In the example of FIG. 3, the full / vacant information column is recorded with “0” being empty and “1” being full, but is not limited to this as long as the full / vacant information can be determined.

The vehicle management unit 102 manages information on each vehicle that has entered the parking lot 500. Information of each vehicle is stored as a guide list in a storage unit (not shown).

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a guidance list. Information on each vehicle, the start block for starting guidance and the target block is recorded in the guidance list. The block information may be any information that enables each block to be identified. In the case of FIG. 4, the block number (the block reference number in FIG. 1) is recorded. Further, the guidance list shown in FIG. 4 records a MAC (Media Access Control) address for vehicle identification. For identifying the vehicle, a MAC address of a communication unit (described later) mounted on the vehicle is used.

Specifically, when the vehicle first enters the parking lot 500 and first communicates with a communication device in the nearest parking area, the MAC address of the communication unit of the vehicle is transmitted to the control device 100 via the communication device. Is done. When the vehicle management unit 102 receives information (MAC address of the communication unit of the vehicle) from a newly entered vehicle, the vehicle management unit 102 adds the MAC address of the communication unit of the vehicle as vehicle information to the guidance list shown in FIG.

In order to ensure entrance processing, an entrance block having a communication device for communicating with the vehicle at the entrance of the parking lot 500 may be provided in the parking lot 500 separately. In this case, when the vehicle communicates with the communication device provided in the entrance block, the communication device transmits the MAC address of the communication unit of the vehicle to the control device 100, and the vehicle management unit 102 enters the guidance list as described above. The vehicle information may be added. In FIGS. 1 and 4, the current position information of the vehicle immediately after entering is 59 (= entrance block information).

Further, it is assumed that a parking area determination unit 103 described later determines a target block including a parking area that is a guidance destination for the added vehicle. In this case, in addition to the start block for starting guidance, the vehicle management unit 102 provides information on the block to which the current position of the vehicle belongs (for example, the block nearest to the current position) and the parking area to be guided as the guidance of the vehicle proceeds. The target block information is acquired, and the guidance list is updated with the acquired information.

In the guidance list shown in FIG. 4, even when the vehicle deviates from a guidance route described later, information for identifying a block to which the current position of the vehicle belongs is updated as new start block information.

On the other hand, the vehicle guiding unit 105 deletes the vehicle information from the guidance list after completing the control of guiding the vehicle to the target block.

The parking area determining unit 103 refers to the current position information indicating the current position of the vehicle and the full / vacant information (FIG. 3) stored in the full / vacant information managing unit 101. In the case of the present embodiment, the current position information is information of a block to which the current position of the vehicle belongs, and is information detected by the vehicle guiding unit 105 described later. The parking area determination unit 103 determines a target block to be guided to the vehicles in the parking lot 500 based on the referenced information. After determining the target block, the parking area determination unit 103 notifies the vehicle management unit 102 of the target block.

The parking route determination unit 104 refers to the current position information of the vehicle and the target block determined by the parking area determination unit 103 from the guidance list, and determines a guidance route for guiding the vehicle to the target block. The parking route determination unit 104 determines the guidance route by referring to the route list shown in FIG. 5 in which all parking areas on the route between the blocks are recorded.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a route list. In the route list of FIG. 5, routes between the blocks including the block 59 described above are registered in advance. FIG. 6 is an example of route information actually registered in the route 59-50 (route from block 59 to block 50) in the route list of FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the 59-50 route information is information indicating, in order from the departure point, a parking area that starts from the block 59 and passes to reach the block 50 that is the target block. The same applies to other route information.

The parking route determination unit 104 registers the determined guidance route in the monitoring list. The monitoring list will be described later with reference to FIG.

Specifically, the parking route determination unit 104 registers the MAC address of the communication unit of the vehicle guided to the parking area on the determined guidance route in the monitoring list. In this case, the parking route determination unit 104 acquires the MAC address of the communication unit of the vehicle from the guidance list shown in FIG. Furthermore, the parking route determination unit 104 is set in advance in a timer (vehicle search timer: FIG. 7) described later that is set to search for a vehicle in a parking area on the determined guide route (in the middle of the guide route). Register the time.

The vehicle guidance unit 105 refers to the guidance route determined by the parking route determination unit 104 and sets information for controlling the lighting device in the parking area on the guidance route (in the middle of the guidance route) as an individual list (FIG. 8 described later). Send to communication device. Moreover, the vehicle guidance part 105 monitors the present position of the said vehicle based on the information of the MAC address of the vehicle transmitted from the communication apparatus with which the parking area near the vehicle was equipped. If it is determined that the vehicle has deviated from the guidance route determined by the parking route determination unit 104 (for example, the route 50-59 shown in FIG. 6), the vehicle guidance unit 105 searches for the current position of the vehicle. . If the vehicle is found as a result of the search, the vehicle guidance unit 105 notifies the parking route determination unit 104 to redetermine the guidance route using the found block as a new start block. The vehicle guidance unit 105 monitors the full / vacant information list of the full / vacant information management unit 101 periodically or continuously while monitoring the current position of the vehicle, and the target block for guiding the vehicle has a vacancy. Confirm. If there is no more space in the target block during vehicle guidance, the parking area determination unit 103 is notified to re-determine the parking area.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the monitoring list. One monitoring list is created for one vehicle being guided. That is, a monitoring list is created by the parking route determination unit 104 and the vehicle guidance unit 105 for each vehicle that is being guided. The parking route determination unit 104 registers the MAC address of the communication unit of the vehicle to be guided for each parking area on the determined guidance route (in the middle of the guidance route), and the parking route determination unit 104 further sets a vehicle search timer. Set.

The vehicle search timer is an allowable time from when communication between a communication device in a parking area and the vehicle is interrupted until communication between the communication device in another parking area and the vehicle occurs. If communication between the communication device in the parking area in the guidance route and the vehicle does not occur even when the vehicle search timer is exceeded, the vehicle guidance unit 105 determines that the vehicle is determined by the parking route determination unit 104. It is determined that the vehicle has deviated, that is, the vehicle has been lost. The vehicle search timer can be changed as appropriate according to the distance between the parking areas and the situation. For example, if the distance to the next parking area on the route is wide, or if it takes time to communicate with the communication unit in the next parking area because slowing down or detouring is required for construction, etc. You may set large.

Further, the vehicle discovery flag is a flag indicating which communication unit in each parking area has found the vehicle guided according to the guidance route. When a notification indicating that communication with the vehicle has been performed from the communication unit in the parking area in the guidance route, that is, a search result list to be described later, the vehicle guidance unit 105 detects the vehicle in the parking area in which the communication device is located. The flag is changed from “0” to “1”, and the vehicle discovery flags in other parking areas are all changed to “0”.

The vehicle discovery frequency is the number of times that a notification indicating that communication with the vehicle has been performed from the communication unit in the parking area in the guidance route, that is, a search result list described later. When this number exceeds the predetermined number, it is determined that the vehicle has parked in the parking area in the guidance route before the guidance to the target block for guiding the vehicle is completed, and the guidance is terminated.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of an individual list transmitted from the vehicle guiding unit 105 to the communication unit in each communication area. The vehicle guide unit 105 refers to the monitoring list (FIG. 7), and acquires the row of the parking area where the MAC address of the communication unit of the vehicle is described. Furthermore, the vehicle guidance unit 105 refers to the guidance list (FIG. 4) and acquires a target block corresponding to the MAC address of the communication unit of the vehicle. Thereafter, the vehicle guidance unit 105 creates a separate list by assigning a lost child search flag to each parking area on the guidance route, and transmits the individual list to the communication device 201. The lost child search flag is a flag indicating whether or not to perform a process of searching for the current position of the vehicle when a vehicle to be described later deviates from the guidance route. When the lost child search flag is “1”, a process for searching the current position of the vehicle is performed.

The communication unit 106 communicates with a communication device or a control device 100 in an adjacent parking area.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the device provided in the parking area 501. As shown in FIG. 9 is applied not only to the parking area 501 but also to all parking areas.

The illuminating device 301 is composed of, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode). The illumination device 301 is installed at a position where it can be easily visually recognized from outside the parking area.

The communication device 201 includes a communication unit 2011, a vehicle detection unit 2012, and a lighting device control unit 2013.

The communication unit 2011 performs the first communication or the second communication that performs communication with the intensity of the output radio wave that allows communication with a nearby parking area or a vehicle communication unit. However, the second communication can be performed only by a communication device in the parking area that is representative of each block.

The second communication is performed in order to search the current position of the vehicle when the vehicle to be guided is off the guidance route, that is, when the lost child search flag in the received individual list (FIG. 8) is “1”. . The strength of the output radio wave in the second communication is that communication is possible when the vehicle is in the vicinity of the block including the parking area having the communication device 201, and where the vehicle is located in the parking lot 500. However, the strength is set so as to be able to communicate with the communication device in the parking area that is representative of any one of the blocks. The communication unit provided in the parking area near the current position of the vehicle also communicates with the communication unit 106 of the control device 100.

Further, when the individual list (FIG. 8) transmitted by the control device 100 is received and the lost child search flag of the received individual list is “0”, the communication unit 2011 identifies the lighting device 301 on the guidance route. 1 is notified to the lighting device control unit 2013. The first operating state of the lighting device 301 such as lighting or blinking is not limited. When the lost child search flag of the received individual list is “1”, the communication unit 2011 does not control the lighting device 301 on the guidance route.

In addition, when the communication unit 2011 sets the lighting device 301 to the first operating state, there is a vehicle that communicates with a communication unit of a nearby vehicle and has a communication unit with a MAC address registered in the received individual list. Search regularly. If the communication unit 2011 communicates with the vehicle, the lighting device control unit 2013 is notified to put the lighting device 301 into the second operating state. The second operating state of the lighting device 301 is not limited as long as the state is different from the first operating state, such as turning off or blinking. In the following description, the first operating state is turned on and the second operating state is turned off.

Further, when the communication unit 2011 communicates with the vehicle as a result of the search, the communication unit 2011 creates a search result list, performs multi-hop communication toward the control apparatus 100, and transmits the list. Here, “perform multi-hop communication for transmission to the control device 100 and transmit” means, for example, the neighborhood of the parking area 501 directly among the parking areas between the parking areas of the block 50 and the control apparatus 100. It communicates and transmits with respect to the communication part of parking area (parking area 502). The communication unit of the parking area that has received the communication further communicates and transmits to the communication unit of the nearby parking area in the direction toward the control device 100. By repeating this, the information transmitted by the communication unit 2011 of the parking area 501 is finally transmitted to the control device 100 via the communication unit of another parking area. In addition, since the search of the vehicle having the communication unit of the MAC address registered in the received individual list is periodically performed until the guidance is completed, a search result list is created each time when communicating with the vehicle. And transmitted to the control device 100.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the search result list. FIG. 10 is an example of a search result list created when the parking area 508 in the block 51 finds the vehicle 401 and performs communication. When the control device 100 receives this search result list, the vehicle guidance unit 105 updates the monitoring list, changes the vehicle discovery flag in the row of the parking area 508 from “0” to “1”, and parks other than that. All the vehicle discovery flags in the area are changed to “0”.

The vehicle detection unit 2012 detects whether or not the vehicle is stopped in the parking area 501. For example, the vehicle detection unit 2012 is configured by an infrared sensor, but may be detected by other methods such as a camera or load detection. When the state of the vehicle detection unit 2012 changes, the communication unit 2011 performs multi-hop communication and transmits the information on the change, for example, the information that the empty vehicle has changed to full to the control device 100.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of parking area state data generated by the vehicle detection unit 2012. The vehicle detection unit 2012 is created to notify the control device 100 that the parking area 503 is full. As shown in FIG. 11, the parking area state data includes information indicating the parking area and full information. The parking area state data is transferred from the vehicle detection unit 2012 to the communication unit 2011 and transmitted from the communication unit 2011 to the control device 100. When the control device 100 receives the parking area state data from the communication unit 2011 of each parking area, the availability information management unit 101 updates the availability information list (FIG. 3), and the availability information of the row of the parking area 503. Is changed from “0” to “1”.

The lighting device control unit 2013 controls the lighting device 301 based on the contents described in the individual list transmitted from the vehicle guiding unit 105 of the control device 100. Moreover, the illuminating device control part 2013 turns off the illuminating device 301, when the illuminating device 301 is made into states other than light extinction for predetermined time.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the vehicle 400 that enters the parking lot 500. The configuration illustrated in FIG. 12 is applied to the configuration of a vehicle that enters not only the vehicle 400 but also all the parking lots 500.

The vehicle 400 includes a communication unit 410.

The communication unit 410 performs output communication to the extent that communication with a communication unit in a parking area near the vehicle 400 is possible. Therefore, the communication unit 410 may be, for example, a mobile terminal such as a smartphone in addition to an in-vehicle device such as a car navigation, and a communication chip is attached to a parking ticket issued when entering the parking lot 500 in advance. It may be built in and realized by the communication chip.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example when the control device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is realized by a computer device. As illustrated in FIG. 13, the control device 100 includes a communication interface 10, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, an output device 12, an input device 13, a main storage device 14, and a secondary storage device 15.

The communication interface 10 constitutes an input / output interface for communication with the processing device and peripheral terminals. The communication interface 10 also includes an interface for connection control with a network (not shown) connected to the control device 100. Specifically, the communication interface 10 of the control device 100 operates as the communication unit 106.

The CPU 11 operates the operating system to control the entire control device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Further, the CPU 11 reads a program or data from the secondary storage device 15 to the main storage device 14, for example. Specifically, the CPU 11 of the control device 100 includes a fullness information management unit 101, a vehicle management unit 102, a parking area determination unit 103, a parking route determination unit 104, and a vehicle guidance unit according to the first embodiment. It operates as 105, and executes various processes based on program control. Further, the CPU 11 of the control device 100 is not limited to one and may include two or more.

The output device 12 is realized by a display or a display, for example, and is used for confirming the output.

The input device 13 is realized by, for example, a mouse, a keyboard, a built-in key button, etc., and is used for an input operation. The input device 13 is not limited to a mouse, a keyboard, and a built-in key button, and may be a touch panel, for example.

The main storage device 14 is a working memory based on the control of the CPU 11.

The secondary storage device 15 is, for example, an optical disk, a flexible disk, a magnetic optical disk, an external hard disk, a semiconductor memory, or the like, and records a computer program so that it can be read by a computer. The secondary storage device 15 temporarily stores or non-temporarily stores a computer program to be executed by the control device 100. Therefore, the CPU 11 reads the computer program recorded in the secondary storage device 15, and according to the program, the full / vacant information management unit 101, the vehicle management unit 102, the parking area determination unit 103, and the parking route determination unit. 104 and the vehicle guiding unit 105 may be operated.

Further, the computer program may be downloaded from an external computer (not shown) connected to the communication network. In addition, the secondary storage device 15 of the control device 100 includes a vacancy information management unit 101, a vehicle management unit 102, a parking area determination unit 103, a parking route determination unit 104, and a vehicle guidance in the first embodiment. Each unit 105 functions as an information storage device.

The block diagram (FIG. 1) used in the description of the first embodiment shows functional unit blocks. These functional blocks are not limited to the computer apparatus shown in FIG. 13, and each unit may be realized by a hardware circuit. However, the means for realizing each unit included in the control device 100 is not particularly limited. That is, the control device 100 may be realized by one physically coupled device, or may be realized by connecting two or more physically separated devices in a wired or wireless manner and by a plurality of these devices. Good.

The operation of the vehicle guidance system 1000 configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an outline of the update operation of the full / vacant information list (FIG. 3) in the control device 100 according to the first embodiment. Note that the processing according to this flowchart may be executed based on the program control by the CPU 11 described above.

As shown in FIG. 14, first, the vacancy information management unit 101 receives parking area state data indicating vacancy information from communication devices respectively installed in all parking areas in the parking lot 500 (step S <b> 101). ). The full / vacant information management unit 101, based on the contents of each received parking area state data, the full / vacant information of all the parking area items in the full / vacant information list stored in the storage unit or the secondary storage device 15 (not shown). Is updated (step S102).

Thus, the control device 100 ends the operation of updating the full / vacant information list. The operation of updating the full / vacant information list is performed every time the control device 100 receives parking area state data from the communication device. Moreover, when the control apparatus 100 receives parking area state data, the parking area state data may be stored in a storage unit (not shown), and the full / vacant information list may be updated periodically.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an outline of the operation of updating the guidance list (FIG. 4) in the control device 100 according to the first embodiment. The process according to this flowchart may also be executed based on the program control by the CPU 11 described above.

As shown in FIG. 15, when receiving information on a new vehicle (here, vehicle 401 shown in FIG. 1), that is, the MAC address of the communication unit of vehicle 401, vehicle management unit 102 adds a new information to the guidance list. The MAC address of the communication unit of the vehicle 401 is added (step S201).

Next, the parking area determination unit 103 determines a block having a parking area of an empty vehicle based on the availability information described in the availability information list, and determines a target block from which the vehicle 401 is to be guided. To do. Moreover, the parking area determination part 103 notifies the determined objective block to the vehicle management part 102 (step S202). The determination method may be any method. For example, the determination method may be a method of assigning one to each block, or a method of sequentially assigning from the parking area toward the corner of the parking lot 500.

Next, the vehicle management unit 102 updates the guidance list based on the information of the start block for starting guidance, that is, the block to which the current location of the vehicle 401 belongs, and the target block (target block 50) notified from the parking area determination unit 103. (Step S203). In the case of a vehicle immediately after entrance, the start block for starting guidance is a block of a parking area closest to the entrance or a block of a communication device at the entrance.

Thus, the control device 100 ends the operation of updating the guidance list (FIG. 4).

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an overview of operations of monitoring list update and individual list transmission in the control device 100 according to the first embodiment. The process according to this flowchart may also be executed based on the program control by the CPU 11 described above.

As shown in FIG. 16, first, the parking route determination unit 104 refers to the guidance list shown in FIG. 4, and acquires the current position information (block 59) of the vehicle 401 and information on the target block (step S301).

Next, the parking route determination unit 104 determines the guidance route to be guided based on the current position information of the vehicle 401, the information of the target block, and the contents described in the route list (FIGS. 5 and 6), and monitors the list (FIG. (Step S302). When the monitoring list of the vehicle 401 does not exist, the parking route determination unit 104 newly creates and registers it. If it already exists, the parking route determination unit 104 deletes all existing information and registers it.

Next, the vehicle guidance unit 105 creates information for controlling the lighting device in the parking area on the guidance route as an individual list (FIG. 8), and transmits the information to the communication device in the parking area on the guidance route (step S303). ).

Thus, the control device 100 ends the operation of monitoring list update and individual list transmission.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an outline of the operation of guiding the vehicle by the illumination device 301 and the communication device 201 in the parking area 501 according to the first embodiment. The process according to this flowchart may also be executed based on the program control by the CPU 11 described above. Moreover, although demonstrated as operation | movement of the illuminating device 301 and the communication apparatus 201 of the parking area 501, an illuminating device and a communication apparatus operate | move similarly about all the parking areas.

As shown in FIG. 17, first, when the communication apparatus 201 receives the individual list from the control apparatus 100 by the processing in step S303 shown in FIG. 16, the communication unit 2011 is registered in the monitoring list (FIG. 7). The lighting device control unit 2013 is notified so that the lighting device 301 on the guided route is in the first operating state. In addition, the lighting device control unit 2013 that has received the notification controls the lighting device 301 to the first operating state for guidance (step S401). Further, the communication unit 2011 communicates with a communication unit of a nearby vehicle, and searches whether the vehicle 401 having the communication unit with the MAC address described in the received individual list is on the guidance route (step S402).

If the vehicle 401 is detected (YES in step S402), the communication unit 2011 notifies the lighting device control unit 2013 to place the lighting device 301 in the second operating state. In addition, the lighting device control unit 2013 that has received the notification controls the lighting device 301 to the second operating state for guidance (step S403). Further, the communication unit 2011 creates a search result list (FIG. 10), performs multi-hop communication to the control device 100, and transmits it (step S404).

If the vehicle 401 is not detected (NO in step S402), and a predetermined time (this predetermined time is not the set time of the vehicle search timer shown in the monitoring list of FIG. 7) has passed (YES in step S405). ), The communication unit 2011 notifies the lighting device control unit 2013 of turning off. In addition, the lighting device control unit 2013 that has received the notification turns off the lighting device 301, and the communication unit 2011 ends the search for the vehicle 401 (step S406). If the vehicle 401 is not detected (NO in step S402) and the predetermined time has not elapsed, the search is continued (step S402).

Thus, the lighting device 301 and the communication device 201 in the parking area 501 end the vehicle guidance operation. This operation is performed whenever the communication device 201 receives an individual list from the control device 100.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an outline of the operation of the vehicle guidance control in the control device 100 according to the first embodiment. The process according to this flowchart may also be executed based on the program control by the CPU 11 described above.

As shown in FIG. 18, first, the vehicle guidance unit 105 monitors the full information list of the full information management unit 101 and confirms that there is a vacancy in the target block (target block 50) for guiding the vehicle ( Step S501). If there is no vacancy in the target block 50 (NO in step S501), the vehicle guidance unit 105 notifies the parking area determination unit 103 that there is no vacancy, and the vehicle management unit 102 selects the target block to be guided again. Determination, that is, step S202 and subsequent steps are performed (step S502). In this case, the flow shown in FIG. 15 is performed.

When the target block 50 is empty (YES in step S501), the vehicle guidance unit 105 includes a search result list (FIG. 10) from a communication device in a parking area (for example, the parking area 508) on the guidance route to be guided. Waiting for reception (step S503). When the search result list is received (YES in step S503), the vehicle guidance unit 105 sets the vehicle discovery flag in the row of the parking area in the monitoring list (FIG. 7) to “0” based on the content of the received search result list. Is changed from “1” to “1”, and all the vehicle discovery flags in the other parking areas are changed to “0” (step S504). Further, the vehicle guiding unit 105 adds one to the number of times the vehicle has been found in the row of the parking area (step S505).

Next, as a result of the addition in step S505, when the number of vehicle discoveries reaches a predetermined number (YES in step S506), the vehicle guidance unit 105 has the parking area where the vehicle has transmitted the search result list. Alternatively, it is considered that the car was parked in the nearby parking area. That is, the vehicle guidance unit 105 notifies the vehicle management unit 102 of the completion of vehicle guidance (step S507) and ends the vehicle guidance.

As a result of the addition in step S505, if the vehicle discovery count has not reached the predetermined number (NO in step S506), the vehicle guidance unit 105 determines whether the parking area is a parking area in the target block of the vehicle 401, It confirms with reference to a guidance list | wrist (FIG. 4) (step S508). In the case of a parking area in the target block 50 of the vehicle (YES in step S508), the vehicle guidance unit 105 notifies the vehicle management unit 102 of the completion of vehicle guidance (step S507) and ends the vehicle guidance.

If the parking area is not a parking area in the target block of the vehicle (NO in step S508), or if the search result list is not received (NO in step S503), the previous search result list is received with reference to the monitoring list. If the time until the present time has not passed the time registered in the vehicle search timer in the parking area that received the previous search result list (NO in step S509), the vehicle guiding unit 105 returns to step S501. Then, it waits for confirmation of the target block 50 and reception of the search result list. When the time from the reception of the previous search result list to the present has passed the time registered in the vehicle search timer of the parking area that received the previous search result list (YES in step S509), the vehicle guiding unit 105 It is determined that the vehicle has deviated from the guidance route determined by the parking route determination unit 104, and a lost vehicle search process described later is performed (step S510).

Thus, the control device 100 ends the operation of the vehicle guidance control.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing an outline of processing operations of the guidance list (FIG. 4) and the monitoring list after the completion of guidance of the vehicle 401 in the control device 100 according to the first embodiment. The process according to this flowchart may also be executed based on the program control by the CPU 11 described above.

As illustrated in FIG. 19, first, when the vehicle management unit 102 is notified of the completion of vehicle guidance from the vehicle guidance unit 105, the vehicle management unit 102 deletes information on the vehicle 401 from the guidance list (step S601). . In addition, the vehicle management unit 102 deletes the monitoring list of the vehicle 401 (step S602).

Thus, the control device 100 ends the operation of the processing of the guidance list (FIG. 4) and the monitoring list after the completion of the vehicle 401 guidance.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing an outline of the operation of searching for a lost vehicle in the control device 100 according to the first embodiment. The process according to this flowchart may also be executed based on the program control by the CPU 11 described above.

As shown in FIG. 20, first, the vehicle guidance unit 105 has a lost child search flag in which the MAC address information of the communication unit of the vehicle is registered as “1” in order to confirm the current position of the vehicle. Create an individual list. Moreover, the vehicle guidance part 105 transmits to the communication apparatus of the parking area used as a representative of each block, and notifies it to try communication with the said vehicle (step S701). The parking area that represents each block is determined in advance in consideration of the structure and arrangement of the parking lot 500. In addition, the communication device in the parking area, which is a representative of each block, performs the second communication when receiving the individual list whose lost child search flag is “1”, that is, when the lost child vehicle search operation is performed. In the second communication, if there is the vehicle in the vicinity of the block, the communication device in the parking area that is a representative of each block always has one of them regardless of where the vehicle is in the parking lot 500. The communication strength is set such that it can communicate with the communication device in the parking area that is representative of each block. Accordingly, the communication device in the parking area that is representative of one block can communicate with the communication device in the parking area that is representative of another block, and detect the vehicle. The parking area that is representative of each block is preferably a parking area in which a communication device is installed at a position close to the center of the block.

Next, when the control device 100 receives a notification of vehicle discovery (that is, a search result list) from one of the communication devices in the parking area that is a representative of each block that has received the notification (YES in step S702), the vehicle The guide unit 105 notifies the parking route determination unit 104 to set the block to which the discovered parking area of the communication device belongs as a start block and the target block as the same block as when the vehicle is guided. Furthermore, the vehicle management unit 102 updates the guidance list again, that is, executes step S203 and subsequent steps (step S703). Here, the vehicle discovery notification notified by the communication device in the parking area is transmission of a search result list. That is, the notification includes information on the discovered parking area, the MAC address of the communication unit of the discovered vehicle, and the vehicle discovery flag. When the control device 100 cannot receive the vehicle discovery notification from the communication device in the parking area that is representative of each block (NO in step 702), the vehicle guiding unit 105 does not have the vehicle in the parking lot 500. The vehicle management unit 102 is notified of the completion of the vehicle guidance (step S704).

Thus, the control device 100 ends the lost vehicle search operation.

Next, effects of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The vehicle guidance system in the present embodiment described above can specify the position of the vehicle with extremely high accuracy.

The reason is that the following configuration is included. That is, first, the communication device 201 communicates with a communication device or a vehicle communication unit in a nearby parking area. For example, the intensity of the output radio wave of the first communication performed by the communication unit 2011 of the communication device 201 can be suppressed to such an extent that communication with a nearby parking area or a vehicle communication unit is possible. Accordingly, the first communication performed by the communication unit 2011 is limited to a region where the communicable range is narrow.

Also, the control device 100 determines a guide route from the current position of the vehicle to the target block. Furthermore, the control apparatus 100 notifies the identification information of a vehicle to the communication apparatus 201 of the parking area located in the determined guidance route. Further, the communication device 201 notified of the identification information detects the vehicle and guides it to the target block. As described above, when the vehicle is guided, the communication device 201 that communicates with the vehicle is specified by the control device 100 as a communication device in the parking area on the guidance route, and communicates with the vehicle. Therefore, the vehicle guidance system can obtain an effect that the position of the vehicle can be specified with extremely high accuracy when communication with the communication unit 410 of the vehicle is established.

Further, the vehicle position detection means is not limited to the method of specifying the vehicle position by one-to-one communication between the parking area and the vehicle communication unit. For example, the vehicle position detection means may be a method of reading the communication strength between a plurality of nearby parking areas and a vehicle communication unit and identifying the position of the vehicle based on the obtained radio field intensity from the plurality of parking areas.

Moreover, the vehicle guidance system in this embodiment mentioned above can reduce the load of the whole system.

The reason is that the following configuration is included. That is, firstly, the control device 100 controls the vehicle guidance in the parking lot 500 in which a block is set for each of one or a plurality of parking areas, and therefore includes a target block including a parking area to which a vehicle is guided. The guidance route from the current position of the vehicle to the target block is determined. Furthermore, the control apparatus 100 notifies the identification information of a vehicle to the communication apparatus 201 of the parking area located in the determined guidance route. Secondly, the communication device 201 notified of the identification information detects the vehicle and controls the lighting device 301 located on the guidance route so as to guide the vehicle to the target block. That is, the search and guidance of the vehicle by the communication device 201 to which the identification information is notified from the control device 100 are only the communication device 201 and the lighting device 301 in the parking area on the guidance route. The vehicle can be guided autonomously by receiving the vehicle identification information without receiving each one. As a result, unnecessary communication is suppressed and the communication band can be used efficiently, so that the vehicle guidance system can reduce the load on the entire system.

In addition, the vehicle guidance system in the above-described embodiment can obtain an effect that a network can be constructed relatively easily. Because the communication device in the parking area performs multi-hop communication with the control device 100, the communication device in the parking area can output with the communication unit of the adjacent parking area or the communication unit of the neighboring vehicle. It is only necessary to be able to communicate. That is, the communication device in the parking area does not need to have a communication output that can communicate with the parking area other than the communication unit of the adjacent parking area or the communication unit of the nearby vehicle or the control device 100 alone. In the operation of searching for a lost vehicle by the control device 100, the communication device in the parking area that is representative of each block needs to be set to the following communication strength. The strength is that if the vehicle is in the vicinity of the block, the vehicle can communicate with the vehicle, and the parking lot 500 is always a representative of any one block regardless of the position of the parking lot 500. The communication strength is such that it can communicate with the communication device in the area. However, even in this case, the communication device in the parking area that is representative of each block does not need to have a communication output that can communicate with the parking area in other blocks that are not nearby or the control device 100 alone.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, the description overlapping with the above description is omitted as long as the description of the present embodiment is not obscured.

FIG. 21 is a schematic top view showing an example of the configuration of the vehicle guidance system 1010 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 21, the vehicle guidance system 1010 according to the present embodiment includes a control device 110 instead of the control device 100 as compared with that of the first embodiment. Moreover, the vehicle guidance system 1010 in this embodiment newly includes a display device 111 at the entrance of the parking lot 500.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the control device 110. The control device 110 according to the present embodiment includes a vehicle management unit 112 instead of the vehicle management unit 102 and a vehicle guidance unit 115 instead of the vehicle guidance unit 105 as compared with that of the first embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a device provided in the parking area 501 in the present embodiment. In addition, the configuration illustrated in FIG. 23 is applied not only to the parking area 501 but also to all parking areas. The parking area 501 in the present embodiment includes a communication device 211 instead of the communication device 201, and a lighting device 311 instead of the lighting device 301. The communication device 211 includes a lighting device control unit 2023 instead of the lighting device control unit 2013.

The illumination device 311 is an illumination that can emit a plurality of colors. Moreover, it is desirable that the illumination can emit a plurality of colors simultaneously.

The display device 111 displays the illumination color notified from the vehicle management unit 112 to the vehicle 401 when the vehicle 401 enters the parking lot 500. Accordingly, the display device 111 causes the vehicle driver to recognize that the vehicle travels in the parking lot 500 according to the illumination of this color.

When the vehicle management unit 112 newly receives vehicle information, the vehicle management unit 112 adds vehicle information (the MAC address of the vehicle communication unit) to the guidance list in step S202. At this time, the vehicle management unit 112 further determines an illumination color for guiding the vehicle and adds it to the guidance list. When a plurality of vehicle information is registered in the guidance list, the vehicle management unit 112 assigns different illumination colors to each. In addition, the vehicle management unit 112 notifies the display device 111 of the determined illumination color.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an example of a guidance list in the present embodiment. Compared with the guidance list shown in FIG. 4, a column of illumination colors is newly added. As the illumination color, one of the colors that can be emitted by the illumination device 311 is selected, and the selection method may be any method.

In step S303, the vehicle guidance unit 115 creates information for controlling the lighting device in the parking area on the guidance route as an individual list, and transmits the information to the communication device in the parking area on the guidance route. At this time, the vehicle guiding unit 115 further adds an illumination color for guiding the vehicle to the individual list based on the contents of the guidance list. FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an example of an individual list in the present embodiment. Compared to the individual list shown in FIG. 8, a column of illumination colors is newly added.

The lighting device control unit 2023 controls the lighting device 311 to the first operating state in step S402. Moreover, the illuminating device control part 2023 controls the illuminating device 311 to a 2nd operation state by step S404. The illumination color at this time is based on the contents of the individual list received by the communication apparatus 201.

Next, effects of the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The vehicle guidance system in the present embodiment described above can simultaneously guide a plurality of vehicles without being confused.

The reason is that the following configuration is included. That is, firstly, the lighting device is a lighting that can emit a plurality of colors, and the vehicle management unit 112 assigns a different lighting color to each vehicle when a plurality of pieces of vehicle information are registered in the guidance list. 2ndly, the display apparatus 111 which notifies the color of the light to guide previously notified from the vehicle management part 112 at the time of the guidance start of the vehicle 401 which enters the parking lot 500 is further provided. Accordingly, the display device 111 causes the vehicle driver to recognize that the vehicle travels in the parking lot 500 according to the illumination of this color. Thirdly, the lighting device control unit 2022 guides the vehicle with the lighting color specified based on the contents of the individual list. As a result, when a plurality of vehicles are mixed in the parking lot 500, it is possible to guide each vehicle with a different color illumination. Therefore, the vehicle guidance system does not confuse the plurality of vehicles. The effect that it can guide simultaneously is acquired.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, the description overlapping with the above description is omitted as long as the description of the present embodiment is not obscured.

FIG. 26 is a schematic top view showing an example of the configuration of the vehicle guidance system 1020 according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 26, the vehicle guidance system 1020 in the present embodiment includes a control device 120 instead of the control device 100, as compared with that in the first embodiment. Moreover, the vehicle guidance system 1020 in this embodiment newly includes an input device 121 at the entrance of the parking lot 500.

FIG. 27 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the control device 120. Compared with that of the first embodiment, the control device 120 in this embodiment includes a vehicle management unit 122 instead of the vehicle management unit 102 and a parking area determination unit 113 instead of the parking area determination unit 103.

The input device 121 receives user needs information, which is information about which block the vehicle 401 entering the parking lot 500 wants to park. The user needs information is not limited to information specifying a desired block, but may be information that can extract a tendency of a block to be parked, such as a passage, an elevator, or other moving means after parking, and the like. The information on the block to be parked included in the user needs information is also called a desired parking block. Further, the means for inputting is not limited to the method of causing the input device 121 to directly input, but may be a method of inputting by navigation between the vehicle 401 or communication between the information device including the smartphone and the input device 121. When the user needs information is received, the input device 121 is promptly transmitted to the vehicle management unit 122 of the control device 120.

When the vehicle management unit 122 newly receives vehicle information, the vehicle management unit 122 adds vehicle information (the MAC address of the vehicle communication unit) to the guidance list in step S202. At this time, the vehicle management unit 122 further receives the user need information of the vehicle, determines a user need block that matches the user need information, and adds it to the guidance list. If the user needs information is information (desired parking block) that specifies a desired block, the vehicle management unit 122 registers the user needs information as it is as a user needs block. If the user needs information is information that can extract the tendency of the block to be parked, the vehicle management unit 122 registers the block that best matches the tendency as the user needs block. FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an example of a guidance list in the present embodiment. Compared with the guidance list shown in FIG. 4, a column of user need blocks is newly added.

The parking area determination unit 113 determines a target block to be guided in step S205 and notifies the vehicle management unit 102 of it. At this time, the parking area determination unit 113 refers to the user need block of the vehicle in the guidance list and confirms whether there is an empty parking area in the user need block. If there is no empty parking area, it is checked whether there is an empty parking area in order from the block closest to the user needs block. If a block with an empty parking area is found, the found block is determined as the target block.

Further, the parking area determination unit 113 performs the guidance list update process again when there is no vacancy in the target block for guiding the vehicle in step S501. Similarly, at this time, the parking area determination unit 113 first checks whether there is an empty parking area from the user needs block of the vehicle in the guidance list, and if there is an empty parking area, determines it as a target block. If there is no empty parking area, it is checked whether there is an empty parking area in order from the block closest to the user needs block.

Next, effects of the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The vehicle guidance system in the present embodiment described above can be guided to a parking area more in line with the desire of the vehicle driver.

The reason is that the following configuration is included. That is, when receiving the notification of the desired parking block from the vehicle 401, the control device 120 determines a target block to be guided to the vehicle 401 based on the notification and a guide route from the current position of the vehicle 401 to the target block. Specifically, first, the input device 121 receives user needs information including a desired parking block, which is information on a block to be parked, for the vehicle 401 entering the parking lot 500. Secondly, the vehicle management unit 122 determines a user need block that best matches the user need information and adds it to the guidance list. Thirdly, the parking area determination unit 113 checks whether there is an empty parking area in the user needs block. If there is no empty parking area, the vehicle management unit 122 checks whether there is an empty parking area in order from the block closest to the user needs block. If a block with an empty parking area is found, the found block is determined as the target block. Thereby, since the desire of the vehicle 401 entering the parking lot 500 is reflected in the target block determination, the vehicle guidance system can obtain an effect that it can be guided to the parking area more in line with the desire of the driver of the vehicle.

In addition, the second embodiment and the third embodiment may be implemented in combination.

Next, the basic configuration of the embodiment of the present invention will be described. The vehicle guidance system of the embodiment includes a control device and a communication device.

The control device controls guidance of the vehicle in a parking lot partitioned by blocks including one or a plurality of parking areas for parking the vehicle.

The communication device communicates with a lighting device installed in each parking area and a communication device or a vehicle communication means in a nearby parking area.

Further, the control device determines a target block including a parking area to which the vehicle is guided, a guide route from the current position of the vehicle to the target block, and identifies the vehicle identification information to the communication device of the parking area located on the guide route. To be notified.

Then, the communication device notified of the identification information detects the vehicle and controls the lighting device located on the guidance route so as to guide the vehicle to the target block.

In this embodiment, when the vehicle is guided, the communication device 201 that communicates with the vehicle is specified by the control device 100 as a communication device in the parking area on the guidance route, and communicates with the vehicle. Therefore, the vehicle guidance system can obtain an effect that the position of the vehicle can be specified with extremely high accuracy when communication with the communication unit 410 of the vehicle is established.

Also, the vehicle guidance system in this embodiment can reduce the load on the entire system.

The reason is that the following configuration is included. That is, first, the control device determines a target block including a parking area to which the vehicle is guided and a guide route from the current position of the vehicle to the target block. Further, the control device notifies the vehicle identification information to the communication device in the parking area located on the determined guidance route. Further, the communication device notified of the identification information detects the vehicle and controls the lighting device located on the guidance route so as to guide the vehicle to the target block. That is, the search and guidance of the vehicle by the communication device notified of the identification information from the control device is only the communication device and the lighting device in the parking area on the guidance route, and without receiving the search instruction from the control device one by one. The vehicle can be guided autonomously by receiving the vehicle identification information. As a result, unnecessary communication is suppressed and the communication band can be used efficiently, so that the vehicle guidance system can reduce the load on the entire system.

As described above, each component in each embodiment of the present invention can be realized by a computer apparatus and firmware based on program control as well as by realizing its function in hardware. The program is provided by being recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a magnetic disk or a semiconductor memory, and is read by the computer when the computer is started up. The read program causes the computer to function as a component in each of the embodiments described above by controlling the operation of the computer.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to each embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. Various changes that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present invention within the scope of the present invention.

For example, each component described in each of the above embodiments does not necessarily need to be an independent entity. For example, for each component, a plurality of components may be realized as one module, or one component may be realized as a plurality of modules. Each component is configured such that a component is a part of another component, or a part of a component overlaps a part of another component. Also good.

In each of the embodiments described above, a plurality of operations are described in order in the form of a flowchart. However, the order of description does not limit the order in which the plurality of operations are executed. For this reason, when each embodiment is implemented, the order of the plurality of operations can be changed within a range that does not hinder the contents.

Furthermore, in each embodiment described above, a plurality of operations are not limited to being executed at different timings. For example, another operation may occur during the execution of a certain operation, or the execution timing of a certain operation and another operation may partially or entirely overlap.

Furthermore, in each of the embodiments described above, it is described that a certain operation becomes a trigger for another operation, but the description does not limit all relationships between the certain operation and other operations. For this reason, when each embodiment is implemented, the relationship between the plurality of operations can be changed within a range that does not hinder the contents. The specific description of each operation of each component does not limit each operation of each component. For this reason, each specific operation | movement of each component may be changed in the range which does not cause trouble with respect to a functional, performance, and other characteristic in implementing each embodiment.

Some or all of the above embodiments can be described as in the following supplementary notes, but are not limited thereto.

(Additional remark 1) The control apparatus for controlling the guidance of the vehicle in the parking lot divided by the block containing the 1 thru | or several parking area for parking a vehicle,
A lighting device installed in each parking area, and a communication device that communicates with a communication device or a vehicle communication means in a nearby parking area,
The control device determines the target block including the parking area to which the vehicle is to be guided and the guide route from the current position of the vehicle to the target block, and sends the vehicle identification information to the communication device of the parking area located on the guide route. Notify
The vehicle guidance system which controls the illuminating device located in a guidance path | route so that the communication apparatus notified of identification information may detect a vehicle and guide to a target block.

(Supplementary note 2) The vehicle guidance system according to supplementary note 1, wherein the communication device changes the output of the lighting device as a result of communication between the communication device and the vehicle communication unit that matches the identification information.

(Supplementary note 3) The communication device in the parking area located on the guidance route communicates with the communication unit of the vehicle, and information on the result of communication with the communication unit of the vehicle is used for multi-hop communication with other adjacent communication devices. The vehicle guidance system according to appendix 1 or 2, which is transmitted to the control device by

(Supplementary note 4) If the parking area of the target block becomes unparkable before the vehicle arrives at the target block determined, the control device can search and park the parking status of the blocks near the target block. 4. The vehicle guidance system according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 3, wherein a new new target block is determined and a guidance route from the current position of the vehicle to the new target block is determined.

(Supplementary Note 5) When the vehicle leaves the guidance route to the target block before arriving at the target block that the vehicle guides, the communication device in the predetermined parking area communicates with the communication unit of the vehicle. The vehicle guidance system according to any one of appendices 1 to 4, which specifies a current position of the vehicle.

(Supplementary note 6) The vehicle guidance according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 5, wherein the lighting device is a lighting capable of emitting a plurality of colors, and further includes a display device that notifies a color of the illumination that is guided in advance when the guidance of the vehicle starts system.

(Supplementary note 7) When the control device receives a notification of the desired parking block from the vehicle, the control device determines a target block to be guided to the vehicle based on the notification, and a guide route from the current position of the vehicle to the target block. The vehicle guidance system according to any one of the above.

(Supplementary note 8) The control device controls the guidance of the vehicle in a parking lot partitioned by a block including one or a plurality of parking areas for parking the vehicle, and the communication device is installed in each parking area. A target block that includes a parking area where the lighting device communicates with a communication device or a vehicle communication means in a nearby parking area, and the control device guides the vehicle, and a guide route from the current position of the vehicle to the target block The communication device in the parking area located on the guidance route is notified of the vehicle identification information, and the communication device notified of the identification information detects the vehicle and lights on the guidance route so as to guide to the target block. A vehicle guidance method for controlling a device.

(Supplementary note 9) The vehicle guidance method according to supplementary note 8, wherein the communication device changes the output of the lighting device as a result of communication between the communication device and the vehicle communication unit that matches the identification information.

(Additional remark 10) The communication apparatus of the parking area located in a guidance path | route communicates with the communication part of a vehicle, and the information of the result of having communicated with the communication part of a vehicle is multi-hop communication with another adjacent communication apparatus. The vehicle guidance method according to appendix 8 or 9, wherein the vehicle guidance method is transmitted to the control device.

(Appendix 11) If all the parking areas of the target block become unparkable before the vehicle arrives at the determined target block, the control device searches the parking status of blocks near the target block and can park 11. The vehicle guidance method according to any one of appendices 8 to 10, wherein a new target block is determined and a guidance route from the current position of the vehicle to the new target block is determined.

(Supplementary note 12) If the vehicle leaves the guidance route to the target block before arriving at the target block to be guided, the communication device in the predetermined parking area communicates with the communication unit of the vehicle, and as a result of the communication, 12. The vehicle guidance method according to any one of appendices 8 to 11, wherein the current position of the vehicle is specified.

(Supplementary note 13) The vehicle guidance according to any one of supplementary notes 8 to 12, further comprising a display device configured to provide illumination capable of emitting a plurality of colors, and to notify a color of the illumination to be guided in advance when the guidance of the vehicle is started. Method.

(Supplementary Note 14) When the control device receives a notification of the desired parking block from the vehicle, the control device determines a target block to be guided to the vehicle based on the notification and a guidance route from the current position of the vehicle to the target block. The vehicle guidance method according to any one of the above.

(Supplementary Note 15) A target block including a parking area to which the vehicle is guided, a guide route from the current position of the vehicle to the target block are determined, and the vehicle identification information is transmitted to the communication device of the parking area located on the guide route. A computer-readable recording medium for recording a program for causing a control device to execute processing for controlling vehicle guidance in a parking lot partitioned by a block including one or a plurality of parking areas for parking the vehicle by notifying .

The present invention has been described above using the above-described embodiment as an exemplary example. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. That is, the present invention can apply various modes that can be understood by those skilled in the art within the scope of the present invention.

This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-063947 filed on March 26, 2015, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein.

10 Communication interface 11 CPU
12 Output device 13, 121 Input device 14 Main storage device 15

Secondary storage device

50, 51, 52, 59

Block

100, 110, 120 Control device 101 Full

information management unit

102, 112, 122

Vehicle management unit

103, 113 Parking Area determination unit 104 Parking

route determination unit

105, 115

Vehicle guidance unit

106, 410, 2011 Communication unit 111

Display device

201, 211

Communication device

301, 311

Lighting device

400, 401 Vehicle 500

Parking lot

501, 502, 503, 504, 505 , 506, 507, 508 Parking area 1000, 1010, 1020 Vehicle guidance system 2012 Vehicle detection unit 2013, 2022 Lighting device control unit

Claims

A control device for controlling guidance of the vehicle in a parking lot partitioned by a block including one or more parking areas for parking the vehicle;
A lighting device installed in each of the parking areas, a communication device in a nearby parking area or a communication device that communicates with communication means of the vehicle,
The control device determines a destination block including a parking area to which the vehicle is guided, a guidance route from the current position of the vehicle to the destination block, and the communication device of the parking area located on the guidance route To the vehicle identification information,
The communication device notified of the identification information detects the vehicle and controls the illumination device located on the guidance route to guide the vehicle to the target block.
The vehicle guidance system according to claim 1, wherein the communication device changes the output of the lighting device as a result of communication between the communication device and the vehicle communication means that matches the identification information.
The communication device of the parking area located on the guidance route communicates with the communication unit of the vehicle, and information on the result of the communication with the communication unit of the vehicle is multi-hop with the other adjacent communication device. The vehicle guidance system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle guidance system is transmitted to the control device by communication.
If the parking area of the target block becomes unparkable before the vehicle arrives at the determined target block, the control device searches the parking status of blocks near the target block and parks The vehicle guidance system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a possible new target block is determined, and a guidance route from the current position of the vehicle to the new target block is determined.
When the vehicle leaves the guide route to the target block before arriving at the target block to be guided, a communication device in a predetermined parking area communicates with the communication means of the vehicle, and as a result of the communication, The vehicle guidance system according to claim 1, wherein a current position of the vehicle is specified.
6. The vehicle guidance system according to claim 1, wherein the illumination device further includes a display device configured to provide illumination capable of emitting a plurality of colors and notify a color of illumination to be guided in advance at the start of guidance of the vehicle. .
The control device, when receiving a notification of a desired parking block from the vehicle, determines a target block to be guided to the vehicle based on the notification and a guide route from the current position of the vehicle to the target block. The vehicle guidance system according to any one of 1 to 6.
A control device controls the guidance of the vehicle in a parking lot partitioned by a block including one or more parking areas for parking the vehicle;
A communication device communicates with a lighting device installed in each of the parking areas and a communication device in a nearby parking area or communication means of the vehicle,
Furthermore, the control device determines a destination block including a parking area to be guided to the vehicle, a guidance route from the current position of the vehicle to the destination block, and the communication device of the parking area located on the guidance route To the vehicle identification information,
The communication device that is notified of the identification information detects the vehicle and controls the illumination device located on the guidance route to guide the vehicle to the target block.
9. The vehicle guidance method according to claim 8, wherein the communication device changes the output of the lighting device as a result of communication between the communication device and the vehicle communication means that matches the identification information.
The communication device of the parking area located on the guidance route communicates with the communication unit of the vehicle, and information on the result of the communication with the communication unit of the vehicle is multi-hop with another adjacent communication device. The vehicle guidance method according to claim 8 or 9, which is transmitted to the control device by communication.
A target block including a parking area to which the vehicle is guided, a guide route from the current position of the vehicle to the target block are determined, and the vehicle identification information is transmitted to the communication device of the parking area located on the guide route. A computer-readable program for recording a program for causing the control device to execute processing for controlling vehicle guidance in a parking lot partitioned by a block including one or a plurality of the parking areas for parking the vehicle recoding media.