JP7629796B2 - Mechanical parking facility, mechanical parking system, monitoring center for mechanical parking facility, program, and control method for mechanical parking facility - Google Patents

Description

The technology disclosed herein relates to a mechanical parking facility, a mechanical parking system, a monitoring center for the mechanical parking facility, a program, and a control method for the mechanical parking facility.

Patent Document 1 describes a mechanical parking facility that can be operated using a mobile device. In more detail, the mechanical parking facility of Patent Document 1 is equipped with a communication unit that can communicate with a mobile device (e.g., a smartphone) owned by the user. By connecting a mobile device to the mechanical parking facility, the user can call up a pallet when entering or leaving the facility by operating the mobile device. While the pallet is being called up, notes regarding entry or exit are displayed on the mobile device, and when placing a vehicle on the pallet when entering the facility, guidance information regarding the vehicle's stopping position is displayed on the mobile device. Users can obtain various information regarding parking through their mobile devices.

In addition, in the mechanical parking facility described in Patent Document 1, after the user gets off the vehicle and checks that the surrounding area is safe, the door closes by operating a control panel installed near the entrance and exit.

Patent Document 2 also describes a mechanical parking facility that can be operated using a mobile device. In more detail, the mechanical parking facility of Patent Document 2 displays an operation screen on a mobile device (e.g., a tablet device) owned by the user that is the same as the operation panel of the mechanical parking facility. The user can enter or leave the mechanical parking facility by operating the mobile device in the same way as when operating the operation panel of the mechanical parking facility.

In the mechanical parking facility of Patent Document 2, video footage from a surveillance camera installed in the boarding/deboarding compartment that records the interior of the compartment is displayed on a mobile device. By viewing the surveillance camera video displayed on the mobile device, users can check the safety of the interior of the boarding/deboarding compartment and close the entrance/exit door on the mobile device.

JP 2015-108227 A JP 2020-70695 A

As described in Patent Document 2, before closing the doors of the boarding and disembarking area, a safety check must be performed to ensure that no one is inside the area. The safety check may be performed by users directly visually inspecting the inside of the boarding and disembarking area, or, as described in Patent Document 2, may be performed based on video or images captured by a camera installed inside the boarding and disembarking area.

However, images from fixed cameras installed in the boarding and disembarking areas may have blind spots due to vehicles in the area, for example. Therefore, simply using fixed cameras installed in the boarding and disembarking areas is not enough to ensure safety.

The technology disclosed here increases the accuracy of safety checks within the boarding and disembarking areas of mechanical parking facilities.

The technology disclosed here uses the camera function of a mobile device, such as a smartphone, owned by the user to take pictures of the inside of the boarding and disembarking area, eliminating blind spots and improving the accuracy of safety confirmation.

Specifically, the technology disclosed herein relates to a mechanical parking facility.
A mobile device that uses a camera function to take pictures of the inside of the boarding and disembarking section of the mechanical parking facility by operating a predetermined application, and a communication unit that can directly or indirectly communicate with the mobile device;
a control unit that closes a door provided at the boarding/alighting section when the operation unit outputs a close signal,
The control unit closes the door when it has confirmed through the communication unit that the operation unit has output a close signal and that the portable device has taken an image of the inside of the boarding and disembarking area.

According to this configuration, the inside of the boarding and disembarking section of the mechanical parking facility is photographed using a mobile device. The mobile device has a camera function. The mobile device also has a communication function that allows direct or indirect communication with the communication section. The mobile device may communicate using short-range wireless communication (e.g., Bluetooth (registered trademark), etc.), or may communicate using wide-area communication via an Internet line, for example. The mobile device does not have to be a device dedicated to this mechanical parking facility. The mobile device may be, for example, a commercially available smartphone, tablet terminal, etc. The mobile device may be, for example, a mobile device owned by a user of the mechanical parking facility. In the following, the mechanical parking facility of the above configuration will be described using an example in which a user of the mechanical parking facility uses a commercially available mobile device that he or she owns, but the subject of the photographing is not limited to the user of the mechanical parking facility. For example, it may be a staff member of the mechanical parking facility. In addition, the mobile device is not limited to a commercially available mobile device owned by the user.

The user uses the camera function of the mobile device to take pictures inside the boarding and disembarking area. The user can take pictures inside the boarding and disembarking area by changing the position and angle of the picture. Unlike fixed cameras installed in the boarding and disembarking area, the mobile device can take pictures inside the boarding and disembarking area without blind spots caused by vehicles, etc. Also, because a mobile device is used, when the vehicle enters the parking lot, the user can open the door of the vehicle in the boarding and disembarking area and take pictures inside the vehicle.

The user can check whether there is anyone in the boarding and disembarking area while taking the picture and/or based on the captured image. As a result, the certainty that there is no one in the boarding and disembarking area is increased.

When the user confirms that the boarding and disembarking area is empty by taking a photo using a mobile device, the user operates the operation unit. The operation unit may be, for example, a driver's control panel installed in the mechanical parking facility, or it may be an operation button that the application displays on the mobile device. The operation unit outputs a close signal.

The control unit closes the door when the operation unit outputs a close signal and the control unit confirms through the communication unit that the portable device has taken an image of the inside of the boarding and alighting area. As described above, by taking an image of the inside of the boarding and alighting area using the portable device, there are no blind spots and it is highly certain that the inside of the boarding and alighting area is unoccupied, so the control unit can close the door while ensuring that the inside of the boarding and alighting area is unoccupied.

This mechanical parking facility has the advantage that it can be constructed by adding a communication unit, etc., even in existing mechanical parking facilities that do not have fixed cameras installed in the boarding and disembarking areas.

The portable device may output the close signal as the operation unit when a predetermined operation is performed on the portable device on which the application is running after the image is captured.

This allows the user to take a picture of the inside of the boarding and disembarking area using a mobile device, and then close the area using the mobile device. Because the same mobile device can be used to take pictures of the inside of the boarding and disembarking area and to close the area, operability for the user is improved.

The portable device may be configured, for example, so that the closing operation cannot be performed unless an image of at least the inside of the boarding and disembarking area is captured. In this way, when the operation unit outputs a close signal, the control unit can also confirm that the portable device has captured an image of the inside of the boarding and disembarking area.

The application may specify images to be captured within the boarding and disembarking area.

With this, when a user uses a mobile device to take pictures of the inside of the boarding and disembarking area, by taking the specified image, the required image can be taken, that is, an image that can confirm that there are no blind spots in the boarding and disembarking area and that no one is there. The application guides the user in taking pictures via the mobile device, further increasing the certainty that there is no one in the boarding and disembarking area.

An identifier is attached to at least a floor or a wall in the boarding/disembarking section,
The application may specify that an image to be taken includes the identifier.

By taking a picture at a position and angle that includes the identifiers of the floor or wall in the image, as specified by the application, the user can take an image without any blind spots in the boarding and disembarking area. Even a user with little knowledge can properly confirm that the boarding and disembarking area is unoccupied.

The technology disclosed herein also relates to a mechanical parking system.
a mobile device that uses a camera function to take pictures of the inside of the boarding and disembarking area of the mechanical parking facility by running a predetermined application;
A communication unit capable of communicating with the portable device;
an operation unit that outputs a close signal when a closing operation for closing a door provided at the boarding/disembarking section is performed;
A control unit that closes the door,
The control unit closes the door when it has confirmed through the communication unit that the operation unit has output a close signal and that the portable device has taken an image of the inside of the boarding and disembarking area.

By taking pictures of the inside of the boarding and disembarking area using a mobile device, it is possible to increase the certainty that no one is inside the area. The mechanical parking system closes the door when there is no one inside the area, ensuring the safety of the mechanical parking facility.

By providing a photography guide function to the mechanical parking system, it is possible to properly confirm that the boarding and disembarking areas are unoccupied, even if a specialized attendant is not always present at the mechanical parking facility, enabling the mechanical parking facility to be operated safely.

The communication unit may receive images captured inside the boarding and disembarking area sent by the mobile device.

In this way, for example, an attendant who is located away from the mechanical parking facility can check whether there are people in the boarding and disembarking area based on the transmitted images. As mentioned above, by using a mobile device, the user can properly photograph the inside of the boarding and disembarking area without any blind spots, so that even from a distance, the user can accurately check whether there are people in the boarding and disembarking area.

The mechanical parking system includes a determination unit that outputs a determination result of whether or not the boarding/alighting section is unoccupied based on an image captured by the portable device,
The control unit may close the door when the operation unit outputs a close signal and the determination unit outputs a determination result indicating that no one is present.

For example, the determination unit may be installed in a monitoring center located away from the mechanical parking facility, and a staff member at the monitoring center may determine the presence or absence of a person in the boarding/alighting area based on images captured by a mobile device. For example, if the staff member determines that there is no person in the boarding/alighting area, the staff member may operate the determination unit to output a determination result that there is no person in the boarding/alighting area, and if the staff member determines that there is a person in the boarding/alighting area, the staff member may operate the determination unit to output a determination result that there is a person in the boarding/alighting area.

The control unit closes the door when the operation unit outputs a close signal and the determination unit outputs a determination result that no one is present. This allows the door to be closed when no one is present in the boarding/alighting area.

The disclosed technology further relates to a monitoring center for a mechanical parking facility. The monitoring center comprises:
The Communications Department and
A determination unit that outputs a determination result of whether or not the boarding/alighting section of the mechanical parking facility is unoccupied through the communication unit,
The communication unit receives an image of the inside of the boarding and disembarking section of the mechanical parking facility taken by a mobile device on which a predetermined application is running using a camera function,
The determination unit outputs a determination result, based on the image received by the communication unit, as to whether or not the boarding and alighting area is unoccupied through the communication unit.

If an attendant is stationed at the monitoring center with this configuration, the attendant can determine whether or not there is anyone in the boarding and disembarking area based on the images received by the communication unit, and can output the determination result through the determination unit and the communication unit. The mechanical parking facility can close the doors when it receives the determination result that there is no one there.

The monitoring center can monitor multiple mechanical parking facilities, so each mechanical parking facility can be operated safely without the need for an attendant to be stationed at each facility.

The technology disclosed herein is an application program installed in a mobile device used in the mechanical parking system described above . This program:
Using the camera function of the mobile device, an image of the inside of the boarding and disembarking section of the mechanical parking facility is taken,
Using the communication function of the portable device, an image of the inside of the boarding and disembarking area is taken and transmitted to the communication unit of the mechanical parking facility.

With this configuration, the mobile device can be used in conjunction with the mechanical parking facility to check whether there are people inside the boarding and disembarking area. This can increase the accuracy of checking the safety of the boarding and disembarking area of the mechanical parking facility.

The technology disclosed herein relates to a method for controlling a mechanical parking facility.
receiving a close signal outputted for closing a door provided at a boarding/disembarking section of the mechanical parking facility;
receiving information related to a mobile device, on which a predetermined application is running, taking an image of the inside of the boarding and disembarking section using a camera function;
closing the door when the close signal and the information are received;
It is equipped with:

This method uses a mobile device to take pictures of the inside of the boarding and disembarking area, which increases the accuracy of checking safety inside the area.

The information related to the photographing of the inside of the boarding and disembarking area may be an image photographed inside the boarding and disembarking area, or may be only information indicating that the inside of the boarding and disembarking area has been photographed. For example, a signal transmitted by a user operating a button on a mobile device that becomes operable as a result of photographing the inside of the boarding and disembarking area is included in the information related to the photographing of the inside of the boarding and disembarking area.

The control method may further include a step of providing the application to the mobile device in response to a request from the mobile device.

As described above, the mechanical parking facility, mechanical parking system, mechanical parking facility monitoring center, program, and mechanical parking facility control method use a mobile device to take pictures of the inside of the boarding and disembarking area and check whether there are people inside the area, thereby increasing the accuracy of checking safety inside the area.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of a boarding and disembarking section of a mechanical parking facility. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a mechanical parking system. FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a control procedure for establishing communication between a mobile device and a mechanical parking facility. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an entry control procedure of the mechanical parking system. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for exit control of the mechanical parking system. FIG. 6 shows an example of a screen relating to a shooting guide displayed on a mobile device. FIG. 7 shows an example of a screen relating to a shooting guide displayed on a mobile device. FIG. 8 shows an example of a screen that provides guidance on the shooting position and shooting angle. FIG. 9 shows an example of a screen relating to a shooting guide displayed on a mobile device. FIG. 10 shows an example of a screen related to a closing operation displayed on a portable device. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an entry control procedure of a mechanical parking system that does not include a monitoring center. FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for exit control in a mechanical parking system that does not include a monitoring center. FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of parking entry control of a mechanical parking system in which unattended parking determination is performed using a portable device. FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for controlling leaving a parking space of a mechanical parking system in which unoccupied parking is determined by a portable device. FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for controlling entry into a mechanical parking system in which a portable device and a monitoring center communicate directly with each other. FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for controlling leaving a parking lot in a mechanical parking system in which a portable device and a monitoring center communicate directly with each other.

Below, embodiments of a mechanical parking system, a mechanical parking facility, a monitoring center for a mechanical parking facility, a program, and a control method for a mechanical parking facility are described with reference to the drawings. The systems described here are merely examples.

(Overall configuration of mechanical parking system)
Fig. 1 illustrates an example of the boarding and disembarking section 10 of a mechanical parking facility 1. The technology disclosed herein can be applied to various types of mechanical parking facilities 1, such as a tower type, an underground type, and a level reciprocating type. Fig. 2 illustrates an example of the configuration of a mechanical parking system 100. The mechanical parking system 100 includes a mechanical parking facility 1, a portable device 5, and a monitoring center 6. In the example configuration of Fig. 2, the mechanical parking facility 1, the portable device 5, and the monitoring center 6 are each connected to an Internet line 40.

For ease of explanation, the top of the paper in Figure 1 will be referred to as the front, the bottom as the rear, the left as the left, and the right as the right, based on the vehicle V entering the boarding and disembarking area 10 when entering the garage.

(Configuration of mechanical parking facilities)
The boarding/alighting section 10 is a place where users get on and off the vehicle V. In the configuration example of FIG. 1, the mechanical parking facility 1 is a so-called pallet-type parking facility. The pallet-type parking facility includes a pallet 16 on which the vehicle V is placed, and a pallet driving means 14 (see FIG. 2) for transporting the pallet 16. A user loads the vehicle V to be loaded onto the pallet 16 at the boarding/alighting section 10 and disembarks. The user also boards the vehicle V to be removed that is placed on the pallet 16 at the boarding/alighting section 10. The pallet driving means 14 transports the pallet 16 on which the vehicle V is placed, or the empty pallet 16 on which no vehicle V is placed, between the boarding/alighting section 10 and a plurality of storage units not shown. Note that the mechanical parking facility 1 is not limited to the pallet type.

The boarding and alighting section 10 is equipped with an entrance/exit opening 12 and a door 13 that opens and closes the entrance/exit opening 12. The entrance/exit opening 12 is provided at the rear of the boarding and alighting section 10. The vehicle V enters the boarding and alighting section 10 through the entrance/exit opening 12 and leaves the boarding and alighting section 10 through the entrance/exit opening 12. The door 13 opens when entering and leaving the vehicle and is closed at other times. Details will be described later, but before closing the door 13 when entering and leaving the vehicle, it is necessary to perform a safety check to ensure that no one is inside the boarding and alighting section 10.

In the configuration example of FIG. 1, a photoelectric sensor 21 is installed in the boarding/alighting section 10. A plurality of photoelectric sensors 21 are arranged in the boarding/alighting section 10. The photoelectric sensors 21 detect objects, including people and pets, in the boarding/alighting section 10. Specifically, two photoelectric sensors 21 with optical axes extending in the front-to-rear direction are arranged at a distance in the left-to-right direction to the left of the pallet 16. In addition, two photoelectric sensors 21 with optical axes extending in the front-to-rear direction are arranged at a distance in the left-to-right direction to the right of the pallet 16. Note that there may be only one photoelectric sensor 21 on each side of the pallet 16.

A storage entrance sensor 22 is disposed near the storage entrance 12 of the boarding/alighting section 10, and the optical axis extends in the left-right direction across the storage entrance 12. The storage entrance sensor 22 detects the entry and exit of people or vehicles V to and from the boarding/alighting section 10.

A photoelectric sensor 21 with an optical axis extending in the left-right direction is disposed at the rear of the boarding/disembarking area 10. This photoelectric sensor 21 detects people and objects, and also detects the rear end of the vehicle V to be stored, to detect whether the vehicle V is parked in its designated position on the pallet 16.

A photoelectric sensor 21 with an optical axis extending in the left-right direction is disposed at the front of the boarding/alighting area 10. This photoelectric sensor 21 detects people and objects, and also detects the front end of the vehicle V to be stored, to detect whether the vehicle V is protruding from its designated position.

A vehicle detection sensor 23 with an optical axis extending in the left-right direction across the pallet 16 is disposed in the center of the boarding/disembarking area 10 in the front-rear direction. The vehicle detection sensor 23 detects whether a vehicle V is parked on the pallet 16. Note that the sensors 21, 22, and 23 installed in the boarding/disembarking area 10 may be sensors of other types.

The pallet driving means 14 includes a drive device that drives the pallets 16, opens and closes the door 13 of the entrance/exit 12, and the aforementioned sensors 21, 22, and 23. The pallet driving means 14 is driven and controlled by a programmable controller 15. The operation (motion) of the mechanical parking facility 1, which moves the pallets 16, etc., is controlled by the programmable controller 15.

The operation panel 17 is connected to the programmable controller 15. As shown in FIG. 1, the operation panel 17 is disposed outside the boarding/disembarking area 10 and to the right of the entrance/exit gate 12. When a user operates the operation panel 17, an operation signal corresponding to the operation is input to the programmable controller 15, and the programmable controller 15 causes the mechanical parking facility 1 to perform an entrance operation or an exit operation. As described later, an operation signal obtained by operating the portable device 5 instead of operating the operation panel 17 can be input to the programmable controller 15 via the communication unit (51, 56, 34, 35) to perform an entrance operation or an exit operation.

The mechanical parking facility 1 is equipped with an entry/exit control device 30. The entry/exit control device 30 is equipped with a control unit 31, a short-range wireless communication unit 34, and a wide-area communication unit 35. The control unit 31 has a central processing unit (hereinafter simply referred to as "CPU") 32, and a memory unit 33 including ROM and RAM that stores computer programs executed by the CPU 32 and various data, etc.

The control unit 31 has a CPU 32 connected to the programmable controller 15 and controls the programmable controller 15. The control unit 31 also stores information about entered vehicles V and users, and information about exited vehicles V and users in the memory unit 33. The memory unit 33 stores a management list related to the mechanical parking facility 1. The management list includes information about preregistered users, information about the users' vehicles V, and information about the entry and exit of the vehicles V.

The short-range wireless communication unit 34 has a transmission/reception function for performing two-way wireless communication with the mobile device 5 in compliance with the short-range wireless communication standard called Bluetooth (registered trademark). The short-range wireless communication unit 34 may also perform two-way wireless communication with the mobile device 5 in compliance with other communication standards.

The wide area communication unit 35 has a transmission/reception function for two-way communication via a wide area communication network, such as an Internet line 40.

As described below, the control unit 31 controls the entrance and exit operations of the mechanical parking facility 1 through the programmable controller 15 based on various signals from the mobile device 5 connected to the mechanical parking facility 1 via two-way wireless communication.

(Mobile terminal configuration)
A commercially available mobile phone (e.g., a smartphone) can be used as the mobile device 5. In this configuration example, the mobile device 5 is assumed to be owned by the user of the mechanical parking facility 1.

The portable device 5 includes, for example, a short-range wireless communication unit 56 for performing two-way wireless communication in compliance with the above-mentioned short-range wireless communication standard. The portable device 5 also includes a wide-area wireless communication unit 51 for making calls and connecting to the Internet, a microphone 52 and speaker 53 mainly for calls, an operation input unit 54, a display unit 55 for displaying characters and images on the screen, the short-range wireless communication unit 56, and a control unit 57 for controlling these. Here, the operation input unit 54 and the display unit 55 are configured by a touch panel display 58. In the portable device 5, all necessary programs and information to be stored are stored in a memory unit 59.

The mobile device 5 is equipped with a camera 510 and can capture still images and moving images and store them in the memory unit 59. The captured images can also be transmitted to the outside via the wide-area wireless communication unit 51 or the short-range wireless communication unit 56.

In addition, application software (hereinafter referred to as the "parking use app"), which is a specific program for using the mechanical parking facility 1, is installed on the mobile device 5. For example, the mobile device 5 accesses a site that provides the parking use app via the Internet line 40, and installs the parking use app downloaded from the site. In other words, the parking use app is provided to the mobile device 5 in response to a request from the mobile device 5.

A user who uses the parking utilization app to use the mechanical parking facility 1 has previously registered as a member with respect to the mechanical parking system 100. As described above, information about the registered member, specifically an ID code that identifies the member and information about the vehicle V that will enter the mechanical parking facility 1, is stored in the memory unit 33 of the mechanical parking facility 1, and is also stored in the memory unit 59 of the mobile device 5 on which the parking utilization app is installed.

(Configuration of monitoring center)
The monitoring center 6 includes a computer 60. The computer 60 includes a wide area communication unit 61, a determination unit 62, a learning unit 63, and a storage unit 64. The wide area communication unit 61 can communicate with the mobile device 5 or the entry/exit control device 30 of the mechanical parking facility 1 via the Internet line 40.

The determination unit 62 uses image recognition technology to determine whether or not there is a person inside the boarding and alighting section 10 of the mechanical parking facility 1. More specifically, the determination unit 62 has an unmanned determination model. The determination unit 62 inputs an image taken inside the boarding and alighting section 10 into the unmanned determination model, and outputs the result of determining whether or not there is a person inside the boarding and alighting section 10. The unmanned determination model can be constructed in advance as a model that outputs whether or not a person is captured in the image (i.e., there is a person inside the boarding and alighting section 10) or not (i.e., there is no person inside the boarding and alighting section 10) by learning a large amount of image data related to the presence or absence of a person in advance using, for example, deep learning technology, and can be implemented in the determination unit 62.

The unmanned presence/absence determination model may be constructed as a model capable of determining not only the presence or absence of a person in an image, but also the presence or absence of an animal, such as a pet, in an image. Throughout this specification, claims, and drawings, the object of determination by the unmanned presence/absence determination model is not limited to a person, and may include animals, such as a pet.

The unmanned determination model is not limited to models constructed using deep learning technology and AI technology other than deep learning (e.g., supervised learning, unsupervised learning, or reinforcement learning). Unmanned determination models can be constructed using various image processing technologies. For example, the unmanned determination model may be constructed as a model that outputs whether or not a person (or an object other than a vehicle) is captured in an image based on the difference between an image captured inside the boarding and alighting section 10 when entering or leaving the warehouse and an image captured inside the unmanned boarding and alighting section 10.

The memory unit 64 stores images captured inside the boarding and disembarking area 10. The learning unit 63 uses the images stored in the memory unit 64 to perform machine learning (including deep learning) of the unmanned determination model. The learning unit 63 performs machine learning of the unmanned determination model, thereby improving the determination accuracy of the unmanned determination model.

Next, we will explain in detail the entry control and exit control in the mechanical parking system 100 configured as described above, with reference to the drawings.

(Linked control of mobile devices and mechanical parking facilities)
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for establishing two-way communication between the portable device 5 and the mechanical parking facility 1 and linking the portable device 5 and the mechanical parking facility 1.

When the user starts the parking utilization app on the mobile device 5, the mobile device 5 turns on short-range wireless communication (step S101). When the mobile device 5 enters a range in which it can communicate with the mechanical parking facility 1, the parking utilization app may be automatically started and short-range wireless communication may be turned on. The mechanical parking facility 1 determines whether or not it has received a communication signal from the mobile device 5 (step S201), and if it has received a communication signal, the mechanical parking facility 1 sends a reply to the mobile device 5 (step S202). The mobile device 5 determines whether or not it has received a reply from the mechanical parking facility 1 (step S102), and if it has received a reply, the mobile device 5 sends the user's ID stored in the memory unit 59 (step S103). Instead of the mobile device 5 automatically sending the user's ID, the mobile device 5 may send the user's ID based on the user manually inputting his or her own ID. The mechanical parking facility 1 receives the ID sent from the mobile device 5 (step S203). If necessary, the mechanical parking facility 1 may perform processing related to the user's ID (for example, a process to check whether the ID is stored in the memory unit 33, or a process to authenticate the user, including having the user enter a password, etc.).

The mechanical parking facility 1 compares the received ID with the management list stored in the memory unit 33, and determines whether or not the vehicle V corresponding to the received ID is parked in the mechanical parking facility 1 (step S204). If it is parked, the user is expected to take the vehicle V out, and the process proceeds to the exit control in step S208. The control process of the mechanical parking system 100 proceeds to the flow of FIG. 5. If it is not parked, the user is expected to take the vehicle V in, and the process proceeds to step S205.

In step S205, the mechanical parking facility 1 determines whether or not the vehicle V can be entered. If entry is possible, the process proceeds to entry control in step S207. The control process of the mechanical parking system 100 proceeds to the flow of FIG. 4. If entry is not possible, the mechanical parking facility 1 transmits entry not possible information to the mobile device 5 (step S206). The mobile device 5 receives the entry not possible information (step S104), and the process ends.

(warehousing control)
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the control of the portable device 5, the mechanical parking facility 1, and the monitoring center 6 regarding the entry control in step S207 in FIG.

First, in step S211, the mechanical parking facility 1 calls an empty pallet 16, and in the following step S212, it is determined whether the empty pallet 16 has arrived at the boarding and disembarking area 10. If the empty pallet 16 has arrived, the process proceeds from step S212 to step S213. In step S213, the mechanical parking facility 1 transmits arrival information of the empty pallet 16. The mobile device 5 determines whether it has received arrival information of the empty pallet 16 (step S111), and if it has been received, the process proceeds from S111 to S112.

In step S214, the mechanical parking facility 1 opens the door 13. A message urging the user to open the door may be displayed on the mobile device 5 that received the arrival information of the empty pallet 16 in step S111, and after the user checks for safety around the door 13, the user operates the operation button displayed on the mobile device 5 to send an instruction to open the door 13 to the mechanical parking facility 1, and the mechanical parking facility 1 that receives this instruction opens the door in step S214. The user drives the vehicle V through the entrance/exit 12 into the boarding/disembarking section 10 and places the vehicle V on the pallet 16. Based on the detection of the various sensors 21, 22, and 23, the user parks the vehicle V in a designated position. The user then gets out of the vehicle V.

After disembarking, the user uses the mobile device 5 to take a picture of the inside of the boarding and disembarking area 10. In step S112, the parking utilization app of the mobile device 5 provides the user with guidance on how to take pictures. FIG. 6 illustrates an example of an initial screen D1 of the photography guidance displayed on the display unit 55 of the mobile device 5. In the example of the initial screen of FIG. 6, the user is instructed to stand at each of the four corners of the boarding and disembarking area 10, front, rear, left, and right, and to take a picture of the center of the boarding and disembarking area 10. The screen D1 has four buttons: a "right rear" button, a "left rear" button, a "right front" button, and a "right rear" button. The user selects the four buttons in order. When the user performs a button selection operation, the process of the flow in FIG. 4 proceeds from step S112 to step S113, and the parking utilization app activates the camera 510 of the mobile device 5. In addition, the following screen is displayed on the mobile device 5.

Figure 7 shows an example of a shooting guide screen D2 that is displayed on the mobile device 5 when the "Right rear" button is selected. The screen D2 displays an image captured by the camera function of the mobile device 5, and three frames 18 are displayed so as to overlap the image.

When the user selects the "Rear Right" button, he or she stands in the rear right corner of the boarding/alighting area 10 and takes a picture of the center of the boarding/alighting area 10 from there. Here, as shown in FIG. 1, identifiers 11 that can be identified by image recognition, which will be described later, are attached to predetermined locations on the floor and walls of the boarding/alighting area 10. For example, the identifiers 11 are attached to a total of eight locations, two locations on each of the front, rear, left and right walls, and two locations on each of the left and right sides of the pallet 16, for a total of four locations.

In the illustrated example, the identifier 11 is a two-dimensional code (e.g., a QR code (registered trademark)). On the photography guide screen D2, the user is guided to photograph the inside of the boarding and alighting area 10 at an angle where the identifiers 11 affixed to the floor and wall fit into each of the three displayed frames 18. In other words, the parking utilization app specifies the image to be photographed. The user follows the guidance to adjust the orientation of the portable device 5 and photograph the inside of the boarding and alighting area 10.

Figure 8 (a) shows an example of a screen when the "right rear" button is selected, (b) shows an example of a screen when the "left rear" button is selected, (c) shows an example of a screen when the "right front" button is selected, and (d) shows an example of a screen when the "left front" button is selected. When the "left rear" button is selected, the user stands in the left rear corner of the boarding and alighting area 10 and takes a picture of the center of the boarding and alighting area 10 from there. When the "right front" button is selected, the user stands in the right front corner of the boarding and alighting area 10 and takes a picture of the center of the boarding and alighting area 10 from there. When the "left front" button is selected, the user stands in the left front corner of the boarding and alighting area 10 and takes a picture of the center of the boarding and alighting area 10 from there.

The three frames 18 are located at the bottom center, the upper left, and the upper right of each screen. The frame 18 at the bottom center corresponds to the identifier 11 attached to the floor of the boarding and disembarking area 10. The frames 18 at the upper left or upper right each correspond to the identifier 11 attached to the wall of the boarding and disembarking area 10. Note that the operation of selecting the four buttons in step S112 may be omitted, and the location where the image was taken may be automatically determined based on the information of the identifier 11 included in the captured image, and the remaining locations where no image has been taken may be displayed (photography guide) so that the remaining locations where image taking has not been performed can be identified.

The parking utilization app guides the user in taking photos, allowing the user to use the mobile device 5 to take photos of the inside of the boarding and alighting area 10 without any blind spots. The captured images are used for image recognition, as described below, and since even users with little knowledge about safety checks inside the boarding and alighting area 10 can take appropriate images, the mechanical parking system 100 can accurately determine whether or not there is a person inside the boarding and alighting area 10.

When vehicle V is parked, the parking utilization app instructs the user to take pictures of the interior of the vehicle V in addition to photographing the exterior of the vehicle V, as shown in FIG. 9 for example. The user follows the instructions, opens the door of the vehicle V, and photographs the interior of the vehicle. The image of the interior of the vehicle may be one or multiple images. By using the portable device 5, the user can easily take pictures of the interior of the vehicle. By taking pictures of the interior of the vehicle, it is possible to confirm that no one is inside the vehicle V to be parked.

Once the user has taken the necessary images, the mobile device 5 transmits the captured images (step S114). The images may be transmitted all at once when the parking utilization app determines that all necessary images have been taken, or may be transmitted each time a photograph is taken.

In step S215, the mechanical parking facility 1 determines whether all images have been received, for example, in the case of entry, at least five images, including four images of the exterior of the vehicle and at least one image of the interior of the vehicle. If all images have been received, the process proceeds to step S216. In step S216, the mechanical parking facility 1 transfers the images to the monitoring center 6.

The monitoring center 6 judges whether an image has been received through the wide area communication unit 61 (step S311). If an image has been received, the process proceeds from step S311 to step S312. The judgment unit 62 outputs the result of judging whether or not there is a person in the boarding and alighting unit 10 by inputting the received image into the unmanned determination model. The monitoring center 6 then transmits the judgment result to the mechanical parking facility 1 (step S313). The monitoring center 6 also stores the image used for the unmanned determination in the memory unit 64. As described above, the learning unit 63 performs machine learning of the unmanned determination model using the images stored in the memory unit 64. In addition, the stored images can be used, for example, to analyze the cause when an unexpected situation occurs, or to statistically investigate the implementation status of safety confirmation.

When the mechanical parking facility 1 receives the judgment result from the monitoring center 6, it transfers the judgment result to the mobile device 5 (step S217).

The mobile device 5 receives the result of the judgment by the judgment unit 62 of the monitoring center 6 and judges whether or not it is judged that there is no one in the parking lot (step S115). If there is no one in the parking lot, the process proceeds to step S116. If there is no one in the parking lot, the process returns to step S112. The user confirms that there is no one in the boarding and alighting area 10, takes an image of the inside of the boarding and alighting area 10 again, and transmits the image to the mechanical parking facility 1 (steps S112 to S114). The mechanical parking facility 1 transfers the image (steps S215, S216), and the judgment unit 62 of the monitoring center 6 judges again whether there is no one in the boarding and alighting area 10 based on the re-taken image (steps S311 to S314). If it is judged that there is no one in the parking lot, the image judged to be not unoccupied may be displayed on the mobile device 5 to allow the user to check the parking lot and take action, or if it is clearly an erroneous detection by the judgment unit, the user may input that it is an erroneous detection and proceed to step S116.

If it is determined that no one is present, the user closes the door 13 on the mobile device 5 (step S116). FIG. 10 shows an example of the close operation screen D4 on the mobile device 5. The parking utilization app makes the "close door" button inoperable (e.g., grayed out) on the close operation screen D4 as shown in the left figure while it is not determined that no one is present, and makes the "close door" button operable as shown in the right figure if it is determined that no one is present. After confirming that no one is present in the boarding and alighting area 10, the user operates the "close door" button on the mobile device 5. If the button is operated, the process proceeds from step S116 to step S117, and the mobile device 5 transmits a door close signal to the mechanical parking facility 1.

The mechanical parking facility 1 determines whether or not a door close signal has been received from the portable device 5 (step S218). If a door close signal has been received, the process proceeds from step S218 to step S219, and the mechanical parking facility 1 closes the door 13. This control method for the mechanical parking facility 1 includes a step of receiving a close signal output to close the door 13 (S218), a step of receiving information relating to the portable device 5, on which a specific application is running, using its camera function to capture an image of the inside of the boarding and disembarking area 10 (S215, S311), and a step of closing the door 13 if the close signal and information have been received (S219).

After step S217, if the mechanical parking facility 1 determines that no one is present in the boarding/alighting area 10, it waits for a close signal from the portable device 5, and if the mechanical parking facility 1 determines that no one is present, it waits for a re-taken image to be sent.

(Shipping control)
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the control of the mobile device 5, the mechanical parking facility 1, and the monitoring center 6 regarding the leaving control in step S208 in FIG.

First, in step S221, the mechanical parking facility calls up the pallet 16 on which the vehicle V corresponding to the user's ID is placed. The subsequent steps S222 to S224 are essentially the same as steps S212 to S214 in the flow of FIG. 4.

When the pallet 16 arrives at the boarding/disembarking section 10 and the door 13 opens, the user gets into the vehicle V and causes the vehicle V to exit the boarding/disembarking section 10 through the entrance/exit 12. When the vehicle V exits, the user gets off the vehicle V and photographs the interior of the boarding/disembarking section 10 (see Figures 6 to 8). Steps S122 to S123 in the portable device 5 are substantially the same as steps S112 to S113 in the flow of Figure 4. Note that in the exit control, since the vehicle V is not in the boarding/disembarking section 10, photographing of the interior is not performed. In addition, since there are no blind spots due to the vehicle V, the number of locations to be photographed may be reduced to, for example, one or two.

When the user has taken all the images inside the boarding and disembarking area 10, the mobile device 5 transmits the captured images (four images in this case) to the mechanical parking facility 1 (step S124). The mechanical parking facility 1 transfers the received images to the monitoring center 6 (steps S225, S226).

When the monitoring center 6 receives an image (step S321), the determination unit 62 inputs the received image into the unoccupied determination model, and outputs the determination result as to whether or not there is an occupant in the boarding/alighting area 10 (step S322), in the same manner as described above. The monitoring center 6 transmits the determination result to the mechanical parking facility 1 via the wide area communication unit 61 (step S323), and also stores the image (step S324).

The mechanical parking facility 1 transfers the result of the monitoring center 6's determination to the portable device 5 (step S227). If there is no one in the boarding/alighting area 10, the mechanical parking facility 1 waits for a close signal from the portable device 5. If there is no one in the area, the mechanical parking facility 1 waits for the transmission of a re-taken image.

If the monitoring center 6 determines that the vehicle is not unattended on the mobile device 5, the process returns from step S125 to step S122 to retake an image. If the determination result is that the vehicle is unattended, the mobile device 5 waits for the user to perform a closing operation (step S126), and when the user performs a closing operation, the mobile device 5 transmits a close signal to the mechanical parking facility 1 (step S127). The mechanical parking facility 1 that receives the door close signal closes the door 13 (steps S228, S229). This method of controlling the mechanical parking facility includes a step of receiving a close signal output to close the door 13 (S228), a step of receiving information related to the fact that the mobile device 5, on which a specific application is running, has taken an image of the inside of the boarding and disembarking area 10 using its camera function (S225, S321), and a step of closing the door 13 when the close signal and information are received (S229).

In this way, the mechanical parking system 100 uses the camera function of the portable device 5 to take pictures inside the boarding and alighting area 10. Unlike a fixed camera installed inside the boarding and alighting area 10, the user can take pictures inside the boarding and alighting area 10 without any blind spots. In addition, the parking utilization app guides the user in taking pictures, so that the user can take pictures inside the boarding and alighting area 10 from an appropriate position and angle.

When the mechanical parking facility 1 confirms through the short-range wireless communication unit 34 or the wide-area communication unit 35 that the portable device 5 has output a close signal and that the portable device 5 has photographed the inside of the boarding and alighting area 10 (steps S216, S217, S226, S227), it closes the door 13. By photographing the inside of the boarding and alighting area 10 using the portable device 5, it is highly certain that no one is inside the boarding and alighting area 10, so the mechanical parking system 100 can close the door 13 while ensuring that no one is inside the boarding and alighting area 10.

In addition, in the mechanical parking system 100 configured as described above, the determination unit 62 of the monitoring center 6 determines the presence or absence of a person in the boarding/alighting area 10 based on the image. Since the determination unit 62 makes the determination without involving a person, it can accurately determine that the boarding/alighting area 10 is unoccupied.

Therefore, by combining the use of the portable device 5 to take a photograph of the inside of the boarding/alighting area 10 and the determination by the determination unit 62 of whether or not there is anyone inside the boarding/alighting area 10 based on that image, the mechanical parking system 100 can determine with even higher accuracy that there is no one inside the boarding/alighting area 10, and can close the door 13 of the boarding/alighting area 10 based on that determination.

Here, the determination unit 62 of the monitoring center 6, in addition to determining whether or not there is a person in the boarding and disembarking area 10, may also determine whether the identifier 11 is present in an appropriate position in the image, in other words, whether or not the image has been taken in an appropriate position and at an appropriate angle. As shown in the figure, the identifier 11 consisting of a two-dimensional code can be identified by image recognition, so the determination unit 62 can compare the position of the identifier 11 in the captured image with the position of the frame 18. The determination unit 62 can determine whether or not the identifier 11 is located within the frame 18.

If the determination unit 62 determines that the identifier 11 is not located within the frame 18, the mechanical parking system 100 can prompt the user through the mobile device 5 to retake the image of the inside of the boarding and disembarking area 10. In other words, the parking utilization app can specify the image to be taken again.

In addition, instead of the determination unit 62 of the monitoring center 6 determining the position of the identifier 11, the parking utilization app of the mobile device 5 may determine whether the identifier 11 is located within the frame 18 while the user is taking a picture, and may prompt the user to take the picture inside the boarding and disembarking area 10 again, if necessary.

The identifier 11 is not limited to the two-dimensional code described above. Any type of identifier 11 may be used as long as it can be identified by image recognition. In addition, the position and direction within the boarding and disembarking area 10 may be determined from a captured image, for example, by AI, without using an identifier.

In addition, the monitoring center 6 is not limited to monitoring one mechanical parking facility 1, but can monitor multiple mechanical parking facilities 1 located in various locations. By providing a determination unit 62 in the monitoring center 6, the monitoring center 6 can determine whether the boarding and disembarking sections 10 of each of the multiple mechanical parking facilities 1 are unmanned. Even if an attendant is not always present at each mechanical parking facility 1, this mechanical parking system 100 can safely operate each mechanical parking facility 1. In addition, if the determination unit 62 provided in the monitoring center 6 is a model constructed using AI technology, there is also the advantage that the model can be easily updated.

Another advantage of this mechanical parking system 100 is that it can be constructed by adding a communication unit, etc., to an existing mechanical parking facility 1 that does not have a fixed camera installed in the boarding and disembarking area 10.

(First Modification of Mechanical Parking System)
In the mechanical parking system 100 shown in Fig. 2, the monitoring center 6 judges whether or not there is a person in the boarding/disembarking section 10, but the judgment section may be provided in a place other than the monitoring center 6. Although not shown in the figure, for example, the mechanical parking facility 1 may be provided with a judgment section that judges whether or not there is a person based on an image. In this case, the monitoring center 6 can be omitted from the mechanical parking system 100.

Figure 11 illustrates an example flowchart of entry control of a mechanical parking system 100 in which the mechanical parking facility 1 is equipped with a determination unit. The flowchart in Figure 11 corresponds to the flowchart in Figure 4.

Steps S231 to S234 are the same as steps S211 to S214 in the flow of FIG. 4. The mechanical parking facility 1 calls an empty pallet 16 (step S231), and when the empty pallet 16 arrives at the boarding/alighting section 10, the mechanical parking facility 1 transmits arrival information of the empty pallet to the mobile device 5 (steps S232, S233). The mechanical parking facility 1 opens the door 13 (step S234). When the mobile device 5 receives the arrival information of the empty pallet 16, the process proceeds from S131 to S132. The user drives the vehicle V into the boarding/alighting section 10 and parks the vehicle V in a designated position on the pallet 16. The user then gets out of the vehicle V.

Steps S132 to S134 are the same as steps S112 to S114 in the flow of Figure 4. The portable device 5 guides the user in taking pictures (step S132) and activates the camera 510 (step S133). As described above, the user takes pictures of the inside of the boarding and disembarking area 10 from a specified position and at a specified angle (see Figures 6 to 9). Once the user has taken the specified image using the portable device 5, the portable device 5 transmits the taken image (step S134).

The mechanical parking facility 1 determines whether all images have been received (step S235). If all images have been received, the process proceeds from step S235 to step S236. In step S236, the determination unit of the mechanical parking facility 1 inputs the received images into an unattended determination model and outputs a determination result as to whether or not there is an unattended person in the boarding/alighting area 10. The mechanical parking facility 1 also transmits the determination result to the mobile device 5 via the short-range wireless communication unit 34, and stores the images, for example, in the memory unit 33 (step S237). The learning unit of the mechanical parking facility 1 uses the stored images to perform machine learning of the unattended determination model.

The portable device 5 receives the judgment result from the judgment unit of the mechanical parking facility 1. If there is no occupant, the process proceeds from step S135 to step S136. If there is no occupant, the process returns to step S132, where the user confirms that the boarding and alighting area 10 is unoccupied and photographs the boarding and alighting area 10 again (steps S132 to S134). The judgment unit of the mechanical parking facility 1 once again judges whether there is no occupant in the boarding and alighting area 10 based on the re-photographed image.

If it is determined that the user is unattended, the user performs a close operation of the door 13 using the close operation screen D4 in FIG. 10 (step S136). When the user performs the operation, the mobile device 5 transmits a door close signal to the mechanical parking facility 1 (step S137).

The mechanical parking facility 1 determines whether or not a door close signal has been received from the portable device 5 (step S238), and if the door close signal has been received, the mechanical parking facility 1 closes the door 13 (step S239). This method of controlling the mechanical parking facility includes a step of receiving a close signal output to close the door 13 (S238), a step of receiving information relating to the portable device 5, in which a specific application is running, using its camera function to capture an image of the inside of the boarding and disembarking area 10 (S235), and a step of closing the door 13 if the close signal and information have been received (S239).

Figure 12 illustrates a flowchart of the exit control of the mechanical parking system 100 in which the mechanical parking facility 1 is equipped with a determination unit. Figure 12 corresponds to the flow in Figure 5.

Steps S241 to S244 are the same as steps S221 to S224 in the flow of FIG. 5. The mechanical parking facility 1 calls the pallet 16 on which the vehicle V corresponding to the user's ID is placed (step S241), and when the pallet 16 arrives at the boarding and alighting section 10, the mechanical parking facility 1 transmits arrival information of the pallet 16 to the mobile device 5 (steps S242, S243). The mechanical parking facility 1 opens the door 13 (step S244). When the mobile device 5 receives the arrival information of the pallet 16, the process proceeds from S141 to S142. The user gets into the vehicle V and causes the vehicle V to exit the boarding and alighting section 10. The user then gets out of the vehicle V.

Steps S142 to S144 are the same as steps S122 to S124 in the flow of Figure 5. The portable device 5 guides the user to take pictures (step S142) and starts the camera 510 (step S143). As described above, the user takes pictures of the inside of the boarding and disembarking area 10 from a specified position at a specified angle (see Figures 6 to 8). Once the user has taken the specified image using the portable device 5, the portable device 5 transmits the taken image (step S144).

As in the case of entrance control, when the mechanical parking facility 1 receives all the images (step S245), the determination unit of the mechanical parking facility 1 inputs the received images into the unattended determination model and outputs the determination result as to whether or not there is an occupant in the boarding/alighting area 10 (step S246). The mechanical parking facility 1 transmits the determination result to the mobile device 5 via the short-range wireless communication unit 34, and stores the images, for example, in the memory unit 33 (step S247). The learning unit of the mechanical parking facility 1 uses the stored images to perform machine learning of the unattended determination model.

The portable device 5 receives the result of the determination by the determination unit of the mechanical parking facility 1. If no one is present, the process returns to step S142 to retake an image. If no one is present, the process waits for the user to perform a closing operation (step S146, FIG. 10), and when the user performs a closing operation, the portable device 5 transmits a close signal to the mechanical parking facility 1 (step S147). The mechanical parking facility 1 that receives the door close signal closes the door 13 (steps S248, S249). This method of controlling the mechanical parking facility includes a step of receiving a close signal output to close the door 13 (S248), a step of receiving information related to the fact that the portable device 5, in which a specific application is running, has taken an image of the inside of the boarding and disembarking area 10 using its camera function (S245), and a step of closing the door 13 when the close signal and information are received (S249).

Similarly to the above, the mechanical parking system 100 of this configuration can determine with a high degree of accuracy that there is no one inside the boarding/alighting area 10 by combining photographing the inside of the boarding/alighting area 10 using the mobile device 5 with unoccupied determination using AI, and can close the door 13 of the boarding/alighting area 10 based on that determination. In addition, by providing a determination unit in each mechanical parking facility 1, it is possible to avoid multiple determination processes being concentrated at the same time, which is expected to reduce the processing load.

(Second Modification of Mechanical Parking System)
The portable device 5 may include a determination unit. Fig. 13 and Fig. 14 are flowcharts illustrating an entry control and an exit control of the mechanical parking system 100 in which the portable device 5 determines whether the vehicle is unoccupied.

The flowchart in FIG. 13 corresponds to the flowchart in FIG. 4 or FIG. 11. Steps S251 to S254 are the same as steps S211 to S214 in the flow in FIG. 4, and step S151 is the same as step S111 in the flow in FIG. 4.

After placing the vehicle V to be stored on the pallet 16 in the boarding/disembarking area 10, the user follows the photography guide on the portable device 5 to take a specified image (steps S152, S153, see Figures 6 to 9). The judgment unit of the portable device 5 inputs the captured image into the unmanned determination model and outputs the judgment result as to whether or not there is no one in the boarding/disembarking area 10 (step S154). If the judgment result of the unmanned determination model is that there is no one in the boarding/disembarking area 10, the process proceeds from step S155 to step S156, and the portable device 5 waits for the user to close the door. If there is no one in the area, the process returns to step S152, and the portable device 5 prompts the user to take another image, as described above.

When the user performs a door closing operation on the mobile device 5 (step S156, see FIG. 10), the mobile device 5 transmits a door closing signal to the mechanical parking facility 1 (step S157). When the mechanical parking facility 1 receives the door closing signal (step S255), it closes the door 13 (step S256). Since the closing signal includes information related to the mobile device 5 running a specific application taking an image of the inside of the boarding and alighting area 10 using its camera function, this control method for the mechanical parking facility includes a step of receiving a closing signal output to close the door 13 (S255), a step of receiving information related to the mobile device 5 running a specific application taking an image of the inside of the boarding and alighting area 10 using its camera function (S255), and a step of closing the door 13 when the closing signal and information are received (S256).

The flowchart in FIG. 14 corresponds to the flowchart in FIG. 5 or FIG. 12. Steps S261 to S264 are the same as steps S221 to S224 in the flow in FIG. 5, and step S161 is the same as step S121 in the flow in FIG. 4.

The user who has caused the vehicle V to be taken out of the boarding and disembarking section 10 disembarks from the vehicle V. The user also follows the photographing guide of the portable device 5 to photograph the specified image (steps S162, S163, see Figs. 6 to 8). Here, the judgment unit of the portable device 5 may specify the image (location and angle) to be photographed in real time based on the identifier 11 in the image. The judgment unit of the portable device 5 inputs the photographed image to the unmanned determination model and outputs the judgment result of whether or not there is no one in the boarding and disembarking section 10 (step S164). If the judgment result of the unmanned determination model is that there is no one in the boarding and disembarking section 10, the process proceeds from step S165 to step S166, and the portable device 5 waits for the user to close the door. If there is no one in the car, the process returns to step S162, and the portable device 5 prompts the user to photograph again as described above.

When the user performs a door closing operation on the mobile device 5 (step S166, see FIG. 10), the mobile device 5 transmits a door closing signal to the mechanical parking facility 1 (step S167). When the mechanical parking facility 1 receives the door closing signal (step S265), it closes the door 13 (step S266). Since the closing signal includes information related to the mobile device 5 running a specific application taking an image of the inside of the boarding and alighting area 10 using its camera function, this control method for the mechanical parking facility includes a step of receiving a closing signal output to close the door 13 (S265), a step of receiving information related to the mobile device 5 running a specific application taking an image of the inside of the boarding and alighting area 10 using its camera function (S265), and a step of closing the door 13 when the closing signal and information are received (S266).

As with the above, the mechanical parking system 100 with this configuration can determine with a high degree of accuracy that there is no one inside the boarding/alighting area 10 by combining photographing the inside of the boarding/alighting area 10 using the mobile device 5 with unoccupied determination using AI, and can close the door 13 of the boarding/alighting area 10 based on that determination.

In the portable device 5, unless the judgment unit outputs a judgment result that the boarding/alighting area 10 is unoccupied, the door 13 cannot be closed and a close signal cannot be output. By receiving a close signal from the portable device 5, the mechanical parking facility 1 can confirm through the short-range wireless communication unit 34 that the portable device 5 has output a close signal and that the portable device 5 has photographed the inside of the boarding/alighting area 10. The mechanical parking facility 1 can close the door 13 while ensuring that the boarding/alighting area 10 is unoccupied. According to this modified example, a system can be easily constructed by adding a communication unit, etc. to, for example, an existing mechanical parking facility.

(Third modified example of mechanical parking system)
4 and 5, the mechanical parking facility 1 transfers images and the like between the portable device 5 and the monitoring center 6. Alternatively, the mechanical parking system 100 may be configured so that the portable device 5 and the monitoring center 6 directly transmit and receive images and the like.

In addition, in this modified example, although not shown in the figure, the control for establishing two-way communication between the mobile device 5 and the monitoring center 6 is performed in accordance with the flow in Figure 3.

Figures 15 and 16 show examples of a flow chart for entry control and a flow chart for exit control of a mechanical parking system 100 configured so that the mobile device 5 and the monitoring center 6 directly transmit and receive images, etc.

The flowchart in FIG. 15 corresponds to the flowchart in FIG. 4. Steps S271 to S274 in FIG. 15 are the same as steps S211 to S214 in FIG. 4, and steps S171 to S173 are the same as steps S111 to S113 in FIG. 4.

The portable device 5 transmits an image taken by the user using the portable device 5 to the monitoring center 6 through the wide-area wireless communication unit 51 (step S174). The monitoring center 6 determines whether an image has been received from the portable device 5 (step S371), and if an image has been received, the process proceeds from step S371 to step S372. The determination unit 62 of the monitoring center 6 inputs the image into an unmanned determination model to output a determination result as to whether or not the boarding and disembarking section 10 is unmanned (step S372). The monitoring center 6 transmits the determination result to the portable device 5 through the Internet line 40, and the portable device 5 directly receives the determination result from the monitoring center 6 through the wide-area wireless communication unit 51. If the determination result indicates that there is no one in the vehicle, the process proceeds from step S175 to step S176, and the portable device 5 waits for the user to close the vehicle. When the user performs the closing operation (step S176), the portable device 5 transmits a door close signal to the mechanical parking facility 1 through the short-range wireless communication unit 56 (step S177). When the mechanical parking facility 1 receives the door close signal from the portable device 5 (step S275), it closes the door 13 (step S276). This method of controlling the mechanical parking facility includes a step of receiving a close signal output to close the door 13 (S275), a step of receiving information relating to the portable device 5, in which a specific application is running, using its camera function to photograph the inside of the boarding and disembarking area 10 (S371), and a step of closing the door 13 when the close signal and information are received (S276).

The flowchart in FIG. 16 corresponds to the flowchart in FIG. 5. Steps S281 to S284 in FIG. 16 are the same as steps S221 to S224 in FIG. 5, and steps S181 to S183 are the same as steps S121 to S123 in FIG. 5.

The portable device 5 transmits an image taken by the user using the portable device 5 to the monitoring center 6 through the wide-area wireless communication unit 51 (step S184). The monitoring center 6 determines whether an image has been received from the portable device 5 (step S381), and if an image has been received, the process proceeds from step S381 to step S382. The determination unit 62 of the monitoring center 6 inputs the image into an unmanned determination model to output a determination result as to whether or not the boarding and disembarking section 10 is unmanned (step S382). The monitoring center 6 transmits the determination result to the portable device 5 through the Internet line 40, and the portable device 5 directly receives the determination result from the monitoring center 6 through the wide-area wireless communication unit 51. If the determination result indicates that there is no one present, the process proceeds from step S185 to step S186, and the portable device 5 waits for the user to close the door. When the user performs the closing operation (step S186), the portable device 5 transmits a door close signal to the mechanical parking facility 1 through the short-range wireless communication unit 56 (step S187). When the mechanical parking facility 1 receives the door close signal from the portable device 5 (step S285), it closes the door 13 (step S286). This method of controlling the mechanical parking facility includes a step of receiving a close signal output to close the door 13 (S285), a step of receiving information relating to the portable device 5, in which a specific application is running, using its camera function to photograph the inside of the boarding and disembarking area 10 (S381), and a step of closing the door 13 when the close signal and information are received (S286).

Even in this third modified example, unless the judgment unit of the portable device 5 outputs a judgment result that no one is inside the boarding and alighting area 10, the door 13 cannot be closed and a close signal cannot be output. By receiving a close signal from the portable device 5, the mechanical parking facility 1 can confirm through the short-range wireless communication unit 34 that the portable device 5 has output a close signal and that the portable device 5 has photographed the inside of the boarding and alighting area 10. The mechanical parking facility 1 can close the door 13 by ensuring that no one is inside the boarding and alighting area 10.

Although not shown in the figure, instead of sending a door close signal from the portable device 5 to the mechanical parking facility 1, the portable device 5 may send a door close signal to the monitoring center 6, and the monitoring center 6, upon receiving the door close signal, may forward the door close signal to the mechanical parking facility 1. In this case, the establishment of two-way communication between the portable device 5 and the mechanical parking facility 1 can be omitted. Even in this configuration example, the mechanical parking facility 1 can confirm that the portable device 5 has output a close signal and that the portable device 5 has photographed the inside of the boarding and disembarking area 10 based on the door close signal forwarded from the monitoring center 6. According to this modified example, a system can be easily constructed, for example, by adding a communication unit to an existing mechanical parking facility.

(Fourth Modification of Mechanical Parking System)
In the above-mentioned mechanical parking system, when the mobile device 5 receives the judgment result of the judgment unit and the boarding/disembarking unit 10 is unoccupied, the mobile device 5 switches whether or not the door 13 can be closed. In contrast to this, for example, when the mechanical parking facility 1 receives a door close signal from the mobile device 5, if the boarding/disembarking unit 10 is unoccupied, the door 13 may be closed. Specifically, for example, in the flowchart of FIG. 4, the mechanical parking facility 1 omits step S217 in which the judgment result from the monitoring center 6 is transferred to the mobile device 5. In addition, the mobile device 5 omits the judgment step of step S115 and transmits a door close signal to the mechanical parking facility 1 in response to the user's operation, regardless of the judgment result of the judgment unit 62. When the mechanical parking facility 1 receives the judgment result from the monitoring center 6 and judges that the boarding/disembarking unit 10 is unoccupied and receives a door close signal, the mechanical parking facility 1 closes the door 13 (step S219). Note that a similar change may be made in the flowchart of FIG. 5 and the like.

Also, instead of performing the closing operation of the door 13 on the portable device 5, the user may perform the closing operation of the door 13 on the operation panel 17 of the mechanical parking facility 1. In other words, the portable device 5 is used only for taking pictures inside the boarding/alighting section 10, and the user performs the closing operation of the door 13 on the operation panel 17 installed near the entrance/exit 12 of the boarding/alighting section 10. Specifically, for example, in the flowchart of FIG. 4, the mechanical parking facility 1 omits step S217 in which the determination result from the monitoring center 6 is transferred to the portable device 5. Also, each step of steps S115 to S117 in the portable device 5 is omitted. Also, instead of step S218 in which the mechanical parking facility 1 waits for the reception of a door close signal from the portable device 5, the operation panel 17 determines whether the door 13 has been closed, and the mechanical parking facility 1 closes the door 13 when the closing operation of the door 13 has been performed and it is determined that there is no one in the boarding/alighting section 10 (step S219). Similar changes may also be made to the flowcharts in Figure 5 and elsewhere.

(Fifth Modification of Mechanical Parking System)
In the above-mentioned mechanical parking system, the determination unit uses an unmanned determination model to determine whether or not there is a person in the boarding/alighting area 10. Alternatively, the determination whether or not there is a person in the boarding/alighting area 10 may be performed by a person based on an image captured by the mobile device 5. For example, an attendant may be stationed in the monitoring center 6, and the attendant may determine whether or not there is a person in the boarding/alighting area 10 based on the image.

An attendant is stationed at the monitoring center 6. When the wide area communication unit 61 of the monitoring center 6 receives an image of the inside of the boarding and alighting area 10 from the monitored mechanical parking facility 1 or from the mobile device 5 of a user of the monitored mechanical parking facility 1, the determination unit 62 displays the received image, for example, on a display installed in the monitoring center 6. The attendant determines whether or not there is anyone in the boarding and alighting area 10 based on the image displayed on the display. The parking utilization app provides photography guidance on the mobile device 5, so that there are no blind spots in the image transmitted to the monitoring center 6. The attendant can appropriately determine whether or not there is anyone in the boarding and alighting area 10 even remotely.

The attendant manually inputs the judgment result to the judgment unit 62. The judgment unit 62 transmits the input judgment result, i.e., whether the boarding/alighting area 10 is unoccupied or not, to the mechanical parking facility 1 or the mobile device 5 via the wide area communication unit 35.

If there is no one inside the boarding and disembarking area 10, as described above, the mechanical parking facility 1 closes the door 13 based on the door close signal output when the user operates the mobile device 5 or the like.

The monitoring center 6 can remotely monitor multiple mechanical parking facilities 1 using the Internet line 40. By stationing an attendant at the monitoring center 6, each of the multiple mechanical parking facilities 1 can be operated unmanned while ensuring safety.

In addition, in each of the configuration examples described above, the mobile device 5 may capture moving images instead of still images.

1 Mechanical parking facility 10 Boarding and alighting section 11 Identifier 13 Door 17 Operation panel (operation section)
100 Mechanical parking system 30 Entry/exit control device (control unit)
34 Short-distance wireless communication unit 35 Wide-area communication unit 5 Portable device 51 Wide-area wireless communication unit 54 Operation input unit (operation unit)
56 Short-distance wireless communication unit 61 Wide-area communication unit 62 Determination unit 6 Monitoring center

Claims (13)

A mobile device that uses a camera function to take pictures of the inside of the boarding and disembarking section of the mechanical parking facility by operating a predetermined application, and a communication unit that can directly or indirectly communicate with the mobile device;
a control unit that closes a door provided at the boarding/alighting section when the operation unit outputs a close signal,
The control unit closes the door when the control unit confirms through the communication unit that the operation unit outputs a close signal and that the portable device has taken an image of the inside of the boarding and disembarking area.
Mechanical parking facilities. 2. The mechanical parking facility according to claim 1,
a predetermined operation is performed on the portable device on which the application is running after the photographing, whereby the portable device outputs the close signal as the operation unit.
Mechanical parking facilities. In the mechanical parking facility according to claim 1 or 2,
The application specifies an image to be taken in the boarding and disembarking area.
Mechanical parking facilities. 4. The mechanical parking facility according to claim 3,
An identifier is attached to at least a floor or a wall in the boarding/disembarking section,
the application designates an image to be taken such that the identifier is included in the image;
Mechanical parking facilities. a mobile device that uses a camera function to take pictures of the inside of the boarding and disembarking area of the mechanical parking facility by running a predetermined application;
A communication unit capable of communicating with the portable device;
an operation unit that outputs a close signal when a closing operation for closing a door provided at the boarding/disembarking section is performed;
A control unit that closes the door,
The control unit closes the door when the control unit confirms through the communication unit that the operation unit outputs a close signal and that the portable device has taken an image of the inside of the boarding and disembarking area.
Mechanical parking system. 6. The mechanical parking system according to claim 5,
The application specifies an image to be taken in the boarding and disembarking area.
Mechanical parking system. 7. The mechanical parking system according to claim 6,
An identifier is attached to at least a floor or a wall in the boarding/disembarking section,
the application designates an image to be taken such that the identifier is included in the image;
Mechanical parking system. In the mechanical parking system according to any one of claims 5 to 7,
The communication unit receives an image of the inside of the boarding and alighting area transmitted by the portable device.
Mechanical parking system. In the mechanical parking system according to any one of claims 5 to 8,
A determination unit that outputs a determination result of whether or not the boarding and alighting section is unoccupied based on an image captured by the portable device,
The control unit closes the door when the operation unit outputs a close signal and the determination unit outputs a determination result indicating that the door is unoccupied.
Mechanical parking system. The Communications Department and
A determination unit that outputs a determination result of whether or not the boarding/alighting section of the mechanical parking facility is unoccupied through the communication unit,
The communication unit receives an image of the inside of the boarding and disembarking section of the mechanical parking facility taken by a mobile device on which a predetermined application is running using a camera function,
The determination unit outputs a determination result, based on the image received by the communication unit, as to whether or not the boarding and alighting section is unoccupied, through the communication unit.
Monitoring center for mechanical parking facilities. An application program installed in a portable device used in the mechanical parking system according to claim 5 ,
Using the camera function of the mobile device, an image of the inside of the boarding and disembarking section of the mechanical parking facility is taken,
Using a communication function of the mobile device, the mobile device transmits information that an image of the inside of the boarding and disembarking area has been taken to a communication unit of the mechanical parking facility or a monitoring center.
program. receiving a close signal outputted for closing a door provided at a boarding/disembarking section of the mechanical parking facility;
receiving information related to a mobile device, on which a predetermined application is running, taking an image of the inside of the boarding and disembarking section using a camera function;
closing the door when the close signal and the information are received;
A method for controlling a mechanical parking facility comprising the steps of: The method for controlling a mechanical parking facility according to claim 12,
providing the application to a mobile device in response to a request from the mobile device;
A method for controlling mechanical parking facilities.

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