JP7601642B2 - Facility Management System - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a facility management system that enables smooth management of facilities such as parking lots, and in particular to a management system that uses codes such as two-dimensional codes to manage the facility's usage status, etc.

There is a parking management system in which a two-dimensional code is attached to each parking space, and the user operates a mobile device to photograph the two-dimensional code and read the identification information of the parking space (Patent Document 1). In this parking management system, the identification information of the parking space is sent to a server device along with parking start and end information detected by the mobile device, and is used to calculate parking fees, etc.

The system in Patent Document 1 has a complex process for determining when parking begins and ends, is highly dependent on mobile devices, and is not very reliable against fraud.

JP 2018-205853 A

The present invention was made in consideration of the above points, and aims to provide a facility management system that makes it easy to determine when parking starts and ends, while being highly reliable in preventing fraud.

The facility management system for achieving the above object includes a facility terminal that processes usage data including a unique ID and time information into a code and displays the code on a display, a mobile terminal that has a user ID and acquires the usage data from the code, and a management server that receives the usage data from the mobile terminal and manages usage and settles accounts related to the user ID. Here, the code is coded pattern information, such as a two-dimensional code represented by a QR code (registered trademark).

According to the facility management system, usage data including a unique ID and time information is sent from the mobile device to the management server via a code, eliminating the need for complex processing to determine when parking begins and ends, and providing a facility management system that is more reliable in terms of payments, etc., while reducing dependency on mobile devices and users.

According to a specific aspect of the present invention, in the above-mentioned equipment management system, the equipment terminal processes the usage status data including the current time into a periodically changing code and displays it on the display. In this case, the code generation process is simplified, and the timing at which the code is captured by the mobile terminal can be associated with a unique ID for authentication.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the mobile terminal transmits usage status data corresponding to the start time of use and usage status data corresponding to the end time of use to the management server. In this case, the management server can confirm the start time of use and the end time of use, determine the usage time of the equipment, and calculate the fee corresponding to the usage time. Note that if the code includes information about the current time, this information about the current time is the timing when the mobile terminal photographs the display, and can be used to determine the start time of use and the end time of use.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the mobile terminal transmits usage data and a user ID to a management server, the management server transmits fee information corresponding to the usage data to the mobile terminal, and the mobile terminal performs a payment process based on the fee information. In this case, payment is made based on the start time and end time of use transmitted from the mobile terminal to the management server.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the facility terminal has a storage device that records a log of the start and end times of use. If the timing at which the mobile terminal photographs the display is used as the start and end times of use, it would be possible to commit fraud by intentionally shifting the timing of the photograph, so as a countermeasure, the start and end times of use can be recorded according to a different standard, which can be used as material to prevent fraud.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the management server manages the user ID of the mobile terminal when accepting a reservation for a service of the equipment in which the equipment terminal is installed, and sets different fees for using the equipment depending on whether or not a reservation has been made. In this case, the equipment management system can be operated efficiently by giving preferential treatment to those who make reservations.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the equipment terminal is a vehicle compartment terminal device installed in a vehicle compartment of a parking lot. The management system is applied to the parking lot and is used to manage the vehicle compartment usage time, etc.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a facility management system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a conceptual plan view illustrating a parking lot device. (A) is an oblique view illustrating an in-vehicle device installed in each vehicle cabin, (B) is a conceptual diagram illustrating the structure of the in-vehicle device, and (C) is a conceptual block diagram illustrating an information processing device that controls the operation of the in-vehicle device. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a management control device. FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustrating a management server, and FIG. 2B is a block diagram illustrating a user terminal. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an overview of the operation of the facility management system.

[First embodiment]
Hereinafter, a facility management system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

The facility management system 100 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is a parking lot management system that manages the operation of the parking lot PA. The facility management system 100 is composed of a parking lot device 10 installed in the parking lot PA, a management server 80 installed at a location away from the parking lot PA, and user terminals UT1, UT2, ... which are mobile terminals carried by users or people who reserve the parking lot PA. The management server 80 and the user terminals UT1, UT2, ... are connected to be able to communicate via a communication network NT. This communication network NT is specifically the Internet. The management server 80 can indirectly manage the parking lot device 10 via the user terminal UT1, etc., and the parking lot device 10 itself does not need to be connected to the communication network NT. For convenience of explanation, a single parking lot PA is shown in FIG. 1, but the facility management system 100 of this embodiment manages the operation of multiple parking lots in parallel, including the parking lot PA shown in the figure.

The user terminal UT1 acquires the usage status data SI directly from the vehicle compartment management terminal 22 installed in each vehicle compartment PS that constitutes the parking lot PA. The usage status data SI is acquired not by radio wave communication but by reading a two-dimensional coded image. The usage status data SI acquired by the user terminal UT1 etc. is transferred to the management server 80 and used for settling the usage fee for the parking lot PA etc.

The parking lot device 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. The parking lot device 10 has a number of vehicle compartment devices 20 provided for each vehicle compartment PS that constitutes the parking lot PA, and a management control device 18 that manages the operation of these vehicle compartment devices 20. The parking lot PA includes a number of parking areas AR1 to AR3, and each of the parking areas AR1 to AR3 is provided with a number of vehicle compartments PS. The parking lot device 10 has a guide device 12 and a surveillance camera 14 associated with the passage PW, etc. The guide device 12 operates under the control of the management control device 18, and provides guidance such as direction indication to a vehicle MO traveling on the passage PW to guide the vehicle MO to an empty floor. The surveillance camera 14 operates under the control of the management control device 18, and can photograph and record vehicles passing through the passage PW in a situation where fraudulent use is expected, specifically, within a certain period of time from when an exit from a specific vehicle compartment PS is detected.

As shown in Figures 3(A) and 3(B), the vehicle compartment device 20 installed in the vehicle compartment PS has a vehicle compartment management terminal 22 and a vehicle detection device 24. The vehicle compartment management terminal 22 is a vehicle compartment terminal device that enables management on a vehicle compartment basis, and is located at the back of the vehicle compartment PS. The vehicle detection device 24 is located closer to the entrance of the vehicle compartment PS than the wheel stopper block 11.

The vehicle detection device 24 operates under the control of the vehicle compartment management terminal 22. Although detailed description of the vehicle detection device 24 is omitted, it has a sensor 24a including a loop coil, a detection circuit 24b, etc., and operates by receiving power from the vehicle compartment management terminal 22. The vehicle detection device 24 determines whether or not a vehicle is stored in the vehicle compartment PS in which it is installed, and transmits the determination result to the vehicle compartment management terminal 22. Note that the vehicle detection device 24 is not limited to one that detects an electric field, but can be replaced with one that detects the presence or absence of a vehicle using infrared rays, ultrasound, etc.

The vehicle compartment management terminal (vehicle compartment terminal device) 22 is an equipment terminal installed in each vehicle compartment PS, and not only monitors changes in the status of the vehicle compartment PS, such as when a vehicle enters or leaves the garage, but also functions as an interface for users. The vehicle compartment management terminal 22 includes a camera 31, a first display 32, a second display 33, and an information processing device 34. The camera 31 operates under the control of the information processing device 34 and photographs the vehicle compartment PS. The first display 32 operates under the control of the information processing device 34 and displays a two-dimensional code TC relating to the usage status, and the second display 33 operates under the control of the information processing device 34 and displays information consisting of characters and figures.

The information processing device 34 operates the first display 32 to display a two-dimensional code TC that is an encoded version of usage data SI (see FIG. 1) that includes information specific to the vehicle compartment PS. The information processing device 34 also operates the second display 33 to display guidance information, such as important information to users of the parking lot when using the parking lot. The information processing device 34 can also determine the vehicle registration number of a vehicle that has entered the vehicle compartment PS by using an image processing circuit, for example, from an image of the vehicle's license plate captured by the camera 31.

When the information processing device 34 detects an entry into the vehicle compartment PS, it starts displaying the two-dimensional code TC on the display surface 32a of the first display 32. The two-dimensional code TC is generated by processing the usage status data related to the vehicle compartment PS, and the original usage status data includes a unique ID and time information. Here, the unique ID includes the management number of the vehicle compartment PS in which the vehicle compartment management terminal (equipment terminal) 22 is installed, and includes information for identifying the parking lot PA. The time information includes the usage start time (entry time) when the vehicle detection device 24 detects the entry of the vehicle in the vehicle compartment PS, and the current time when the two-dimensional code TC is generated. Here, the two-dimensional code TC is generated periodically at time intervals of, for example, 5 minutes or 10 minutes, and the usage status data on which the two-dimensional code TC is based does not change in the information portion related to the unique ID and the usage start time (entry time), but the information portion related to the current time changes from moment to moment, and the display of the two-dimensional code TC is periodically updated. When generating the two-dimensional code TC, a signature portion obtained by hashing and encrypting the usage status data can also be attached. This allows the authenticity of the data read from the two-dimensional code TC to be confirmed on the user terminal UT1 or management server 80 side, and prevents tampering with the two-dimensional code TC. The usage data itself to be converted into the two-dimensional code TC may be encrypted and decrypted in the management server 80. In this case, the contents of the two-dimensional code TC are not checked on the user terminal UT.

When the information processing device 34 detects an exit from the vehicle space PS based on the output of the vehicle detection device 24, it stops displaying the two-dimensional code TC on the first display 32a after a predetermined time (e.g., five minutes) has elapsed. The predetermined time is set to allow a sufficient grace period for the user to photograph the two-dimensional code TC using the user terminal UT after exiting. When the information processing device 34 detects an exit from the vehicle space PS and an entry into the vehicle space PS before the predetermined time has elapsed, it determines that this is a new entry and starts displaying a new two-dimensional code TC on the first display 32a. When the information processing device 34 detects an exit from the vehicle space PS, it can change the display of the two-dimensional code TC according to the current time, but can also fix the display of the two-dimensional code TC to one corresponding to the end of use time (exit time).

Figure 3 (C) is a conceptual block diagram explaining the information processing device 34. The information processing device 34 has a main control circuit 34a, a memory circuit 34b, and a communication circuit 34c. The main control circuit 34a operates based on a program stored in the memory circuit 34b. This program includes a function to operate the camera 31, displays 32, 33, etc. via the communication circuit 34c, a function to check the latest usage data and generate a two-dimensional code TC from the latest usage data, and a function to monitor the detection results of the vehicle detection device 24, and also has a function to communicate with the management control device 18 that bundles multiple vehicle interior devices 20 via the communication circuit 34c to receive commands and transmit information.

The memory circuit 34b is a storage device that records a log of the start and end times of use of the vehicle compartment PS under the control of the main control circuit 34a. Here, the start and end times of use are the entry and exit times determined based on the output of the vehicle detection device 24. The logs of the start and end times of use are sent to the higher-level management control device 18 and managed in a centralized manner. If a user uses the timing of photographing the first display 32 with the user terminal UT as the end time of use, fraud can be committed by intentionally shifting the timing of the photograph. As a countermeasure to this, the entry and exit times obtained based on a different standard can be recorded as the start and end times of use, and this can be used as material to prevent fraud.

With reference to FIG. 4, has a main control device 18a, a storage device 18b, and a communication device 18c. The main control device 18a communicates with the vehicle compartment devices 20, performs overall control so that each vehicle compartment device 20 operates appropriately, and operates the guidance device 12 and the surveillance camera 14 as appropriate. A program that operates the management control device 18 is stored in the software storage section 18z of the storage device 18b. When the main control device 18a detects an exit from the vehicle compartment device 20 installed in any vehicle compartment PS, it operates the surveillance camera 14 around the corresponding vehicle compartment PS for a certain period of time and stores the captured images in the storage device 18b. The captured images are stored in association with the logs of the start and end times of use of the corresponding vehicle compartment PS.

Figure 5 (A) is a conceptual diagram explaining the management server 80. The management server 80 is a computer that operates under the management of a system administrator, and receives usage data from the user terminal UT to manage usage and settle accounts related to the user ID. Specifically, the management server 80 identifies the unique ID of the parking space and the user ID, and manages parking lot usage time, settles fees, accepts reservations, etc. The management server 80 has a main control device 81, a storage device 82, and a communication device 84. The management server 80 communicates with the user terminal UT via the communication network NT shown in Figure 1 using the communication device 84. The storage device 82 stores a program that operates the management server 80, enabling the operation of the facility management system 100.

When a user finishes using the parking lot, the management server 80 accepts a request for settlement processing from the user terminal UT held by the user and performs electronic payment online. When the management server 80 receives a request for settlement processing from the user terminal UT, it receives a set of usage status data obtained by decrypting the two-dimensional code TC, and also receives the user ID as member information. The management server 80 calculates the usage fee from the data related to the start and end times of use, i.e., the entry time and the current time, contained in the set of usage status data, and transmits fee information including the usage fee to the user terminal UT. The management server 80 receives payment-related information from the user terminal UT as a response to the fee information, and requests payment from the system of a financial business operator that handles electronic money, etc. In order to enable the above operations, the storage device 82 stores a parking lot management database 82a, which is provided with a parking lot information area 82d, a user information area 82f, a payment information area 82g, etc. In the parking lot management database 82a, usage status data received so far is stored for each unique ID. The user information area 82f records a user ID and terminal information linked to the user ID as information about the user. By referring to the user information area 82f, the management server 80 can determine whether the user terminal UT connected to the management server 80 belongs to a valid member who has a user ID. The payment information area 82g manages the user ID that identifies the user, the usage time, fee information, settlement results, etc., linked to the unique ID of each vehicle compartment as payment information. In addition, the storage device 82 stores application software and data for making electronic payments online in response to a request from the user terminal UT.

The management server 80 can accept a reservation registration request for parking lot use from a user terminal UT held by a user. When accepting a reservation registration, the management server 80 manages the user ID linked to the user terminal UT and records the user ID and reservation period in the parking lot information area 82d. When making an online electronic payment after using the parking lot corresponding to the reservation, it is possible to set a difference in the usage fee depending on whether or not a reservation has been made, and to refuse to accept the online payment.

When the parking lot device 10 is connected to the communication network NT, the management server 80 can notify the parking lot device 10 of a reservation for parking lot use online. The management server 80 can receive a log of the start time and end time of parking lot use from the parking lot device 10 along with captured images. On the other hand, when the parking lot device 10 is not connected to the communication network NT, the management server 80 or an organization or organization associated with it can notify the parking lot device 10 or its manager of a reservation for parking lot use by indirect means such as email, telephone contact, or mail. The management server 80 can receive a log of the start time and end time of parking lot use from the parking lot device 10 by indirect means.

Figure 5 (B) is a conceptual diagram explaining the user terminal UT. The user terminal UT is a mobile terminal carried by a user of the facility management system 100 shown in Figure 1. A user ID is set in the user terminal UT by prior registration with the management server 80. The user terminal UT has a main control device 71, a storage device 72, an interface device 73, and a communication device 74. The user terminal UT communicates with the management server 80 via the communication network NT shown in Figure 1 by the communication device 74. In the software storage section 72a of the storage device 72 incorporated in the user terminal UT, multiple software programs including a parking lot usage application are stored as application software that runs on the basic program that operates the user terminal UT. The parking lot usage application connects to the management server 80 using the user ID stored in the storage device 72, enabling usage processing including parking lot reservations and settlement. The parking lot use application has a reader function that reads the two-dimensional code TC and reproduces the usage status data, and transmits a set of usage status data including a unique ID that identifies the parking space, the entry time, the current time, etc., to the management server 80. Here, the current time is the timing when the two-dimensional code TC is captured using the user terminal UT, and can be called the self-reported departure time or end time of use. The user terminal UT that transmitted the usage status data receives fee information from the management server 80 and performs a payment process to approve the payment of the fee to the management server 80. Note that the parking lot use application does not need to be stored in the storage device 72 in its entirety, and may be a web application or a cloud application. In addition, various well-known payment systems that use smartphones, called smartphone payment, can be used to pay the fee using the parking lot use application. Payment can be made from a pre-charged amount managed by a payment application linked to the parking lot use application, or payment can be made to an account using a credit card or debit card whose card information has been entered in advance into the payment application.

With reference to Figure 6, we will explain a series of operations related to the use and management of the parking lot, which are performed by the management server 80, the user terminal UT, etc.

First, in the reservation scene SC1, in response to the user's operation, the user terminal UT transmits a reservation registration request for parking lot use to the management server 80 (step S11), and the management server 80 accepts the reservation registration, records it in the storage device 82, and transmits a registration completion notification to the user terminal UT (step S12). The registration completion notification includes information that identifies the parking lot and information regarding the period of use of the parking lot.

At the start of use SC2, the vehicle entry detection is performed in the vehicle compartment device 20 of the parking lot PA using the vehicle detection device 24 (step S21). When the vehicle compartment device 20 detects entry, it starts displaying the two-dimensional code TC on the first display 32 (step S22). The two-dimensional code TC is generated from a set of usage status data as described above, and the set of usage status data includes the unique ID of the vehicle compartment, the entry time as the start of use, and the current time when the two-dimensional code TC is generated. The display of the two-dimensional code TC is updated periodically and approximately reflects the current time at which it is being displayed. Note that the user of the parking lot only needs to enter the vehicle compartment and does not need to operate a device such as a user terminal UT when starting use.

In the end-of-use scene SC3, the user who has returned to the parking lot operates the user terminal UT to start the parking lot use application, indicates the intention to leave, and reads the two-dimensional code TC displayed on the first display 32 (step S31). The user terminal UT reproduces a set of usage status data from the two-dimensional code TC, connects to the management server 80 using the user ID, and transmits to the management server 80 the unique ID, entry time, current time (corresponding to the exit time or end time of use), etc., contained in the set of usage status data (step S32). At this time, the management server 80 checks that the time difference between the exit time contained in the usage status data and the current time managed by the management server 80 is not large, and if the time difference is large, it can notify the user terminal UT of a warning. The management server 80 calculates the usage fee from the received set of usage status data and notifies the fee information including the usage fee (step S33), and the user terminal UT performs a settlement process to approve the payment of the fee to the management server 80 (step S34). With the approval of the user terminal UT, the management server 80 requests payment from the financial service provider's system and receives the usage fee (step S35). If a reservation has been made for use of the parking lot, the management server 80 presents a discounted usage fee to the user terminal UT and receives payment. Alternatively, if no reservation has been made for use of the parking lot, for example if a payment is attempted without a member user ID, the management server 80 can charge a usage fee higher than normal. In other words, the facility management system 100 is not limited to being used exclusively for reservations. An area consisting of parking spaces PS exclusively for reservations can also be provided in the parking lot PA.

The user causes the vehicle to leave the parking space before or after the two-dimensional code TC is read. The vehicle compartment device 20 operates the vehicle detection device 24, and the leaving of the vehicle is detected based on the output of the vehicle detection device 24 (step S36). When the leaving of the vehicle is detected, the vehicle compartment device 20 waits a predetermined time and then stops displaying the two-dimensional code TC on the first display 32 (step S37).

The facility management system 100 of the first embodiment described above includes a vehicle room management terminal (facility terminal) 22 that processes usage data SI, including a unique ID and time information, into a two-dimensional code TC and displays it on the first display 32, a user terminal (mobile terminal) UT that has a user ID and acquires usage data from the two-dimensional code TC, and a management server 80 that receives usage data from the user terminal UT and manages usage and settles payments related to the user ID. According to this facility management system 100, usage data including a unique ID and time information is transmitted from the user terminal (mobile terminal) UT to the management server 80 by the two-dimensional code TC, eliminating the need for complex processing to determine the start and end of parking, and providing a facility management system 100 that has high reliability for settlement and the like while reducing dependency on the user terminal UT or the user.

〔others〕
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The above describes the case where the facility management system 100 is a parking lot management system, but the management of the facility management system 100 is not limited to parking lots, and can also be related to the use of bicycle parking lots and entry and exit to various facilities such as entertainment facilities.

The two-dimensional code can be replaced with a one-dimensional code such as a barcode, but is not limited to this and can be replaced with various graphical codes.

In the above, the two-dimensional code TC displayed on the first display 32 is read by the user terminal UT when use ends, but it is also possible to add a step in which the two-dimensional code TC displayed on the first display 32 is read by the user terminal UT when use begins. In this case, the two-dimensional code TC may not include information regarding the start time of use or the time of entry.

The vehicle cabin management terminal (vehicle cabin terminal device) 22 installed in the vehicle cabin does not need to incorporate the camera 31 or second display 33 as essential components and can be omitted.

In the above, it has been described that the management server 80 mediates the payment, but the system can also be such that the payment is completed by the user terminal UT and the management server 80 is notified that the payment has been completed. In this way, the confirmation of the payment processing by the user terminal UT by the management server 80 is also included in the payment processing in the management server 80.

The explanation in Figure 6 is based on the assumption that a reservation is made before use begins, but user registration and reservation registration can be performed on the management server 80 from the user terminal UT after use begins and before use ends.

10...Parking lot device, 14...Surveillance camera, 18...Management control device, 20...Vehicle room device, 22...Vehicle room management terminal, 24...Vehicle detection device, 31...Camera, 32...First display, 33...Second display, 34...Information processing device, 34a...Main control circuit, 34b...Memory circuit, 34c...Communication circuit, 71...Main control device, 72...Memory device, 73...Interface device, 74...Communication device, 80...Management server, 81...Main control device, 82...Memory device, 82a...Parking lot management database, 82d...Parking lot information area, 82f...User information area, 82g...Payment information area, 84...Communication device, 100...Facility management system, MO...Vehicle, NT...Communication network, PA...Parking lot, PS...Vehicle room, SI...Usage status data, SP...Vehicle room, TC...Two-dimensional code, UT1, UT2, UT...User terminal

Claims (4)

an equipment terminal that processes usage status data including a unique ID and time information into a code and displays the code on a display;
a mobile terminal having a user ID and acquiring the usage data from the code;
a management server that receives the usage data from the mobile terminal and manages the usage status and settles the settlement for the user ID;
the facility terminal processes the usage status data including the current time into the periodically changing code and displays the code on the display;
the mobile terminal transmits to the management server the usage status data corresponding to a usage start time and the usage status data corresponding to a usage end time;
The equipment terminal has a storage device that records a log of the start time of use and the end time of use determined based on the output of a vehicle detection device . the mobile terminal transmits the usage data and the user ID to the management server;
the management server transmits fee information corresponding to the usage data to the mobile terminal;
The facility management system according to claim 1 , wherein the mobile terminal performs a settlement process based on the fee information. 3. The facility management system according to claim 1, wherein the management server manages the user ID of the mobile terminal when accepting a reservation for a service of the facility in which the facility terminal is installed, and sets different fees for use of the facility depending on whether or not a reservation is made. The facility management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the facility terminal is a vehicle compartment terminal installed in a vehicle compartment of a parking lot.

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