DE102021105580A1 - Method for providing a free parking space - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for providing a free parking space (4a, 4b, 4c) for a vehicle (6a, 6b) looking for a parking space, in which, in the event that at least one other vehicle (8a, 8b, 8c) occupies at least one free parking space (4a, 4b, 4c) is found, from this vehicle (8a, 8b, 8c) finding a parking space information about the at least one free parking space (4a, 4b, 4c) using vehicle-to-vehicle communication in its Environment is sent, whereby in the event that a parking space (4a, 4b, 4c) under the at least one found free parking space (4a, 4b, 4c) for at least one vehicle (6a, 6b) looking for a parking space in the area is suitable, this suitable free parking space (4a, 4b, 4c) is claimed by this at least one vehicle (6a, 6b) looking for a parking space using vehicle-to-vehicle communication in the at least one vehicle (8a, 8b, 8c) looking for a parking space, with the at least one parking space finding vehicle (8a, 8b, 8c), a claim is received from the at least one parking space-seeking vehicle (6a, 6b), wherein this at least one parking space-finding vehicle (8a, 8b, 8c) using vehicle-to-vehicle communication a Information that this suitable parking space (4a, 4b, 4c) is now claimed is sent to its surroundings.

Description

The invention relates to a method for providing a free parking space, a parking space management system and a computer program product.

In principle, it is possible to inform a driver of a vehicle who is looking for a parking space for his vehicle about a free parking space. In this regard, it can be displayed for a multi-storey car park, for example, how many free parking spaces are still available in this multi-storey car park.

The pamphlet DE 10 2016 005 483 A1 describes a method for managing at least one parking space.

A method for assisting a vehicle owner is from the reference DE 10 2017 011 774 A1 known.

The pamphlet U.S. 2019/197898 A1 describes a dynamic vehicle-to-vehicle parking space finder.

Against this background, it was an object to make it easier to find a parking space.

This object is achieved by a method, a parking lot management system and a computer program product having the features of the independent patent claims. Embodiments of the method, the parking lot management system and the computer program product emerge from the dependent patent claims and the description.

The method according to the invention is intended for providing a free parking space for a vehicle looking for a parking space on and/or in a parking facility, which vehicle is looking for a parking space or for which its driver is looking for a parking space on and/or in the parking facility. In the event that at least one additional or other vehicle finds or discovers at least one free parking space by sensors, at least one additional vehicle that is now finding a parking space or its computing unit automatically receives at least one piece of information and/or a message, e.g. a message with information about the at least one free parking space, e.g. about its nature and its position, is sent and/or broadcast to all other vehicles in its vicinity using direct vehicle-to-vehicle communication. This at least one item of information and/or message is received by at least one vehicle searching for a parking space among all vehicles ready to receive this at least one item of information and/or message in the vicinity of the at least one vehicle finding a parking space. If a parking space among the at least one free parking space found is suitable or suitable for at least one parking space-seeking vehicle in the area, this suitable free parking space is found by this at least one parking space-seeking vehicle or its processing unit using direct vehicle-to-vehicle communication in the case of the at least one vehicle finding a parking space via at least one additional piece of information and/or message, for example another message with additional information, automatically claimed for itself and thus also reserved in one embodiment. Furthermore, this at least one further message and/or information with a claim and thus in an embodiment also a reservation for this free parking space is received from the at least one vehicle finding a parking space, with the at least one vehicle finding a parking space using the direct vehicle-to-vehicle Communication of at least one additional item of information and/or message, e.g. another message with additional information about the fact that this suitable parking space is now claimed or assigned, e.g. reserved, to this at least one vehicle looking for a parking space and/or to all vehicles in is sent and/or broadcast in its environment.

In an embodiment, this method checks which vehicle, among the at least one vehicle searching for a parking space, is searching for a parking space and the at least one vehicle searching for a parking space makes a claim for the appropriate parking space, ie the information or message with which the appropriate parking space is claimed, e.g. reserved. received or received first. This parking space-finding vehicle, which first received or received the claim in information and/or a message from the parking space-seeking vehicle, uses direct vehicle-to-vehicle communication to provide further information about the fact that this suitable parking space is now being claimed or .is assigned to this at least one vehicle looking for a parking space and/or to all che vehicles, ie to all vehicles looking for a parking space, but also to all vehicles finding a parking space, automatically sent and/or broadcast in its vicinity.

It is possible for the at least one parking space-finding vehicle to send several messages in succession, which provide information about free parking spaces or parking spaces, with such messages being sent periodically one after the other at a frequency provided for this purpose, with these messages being updated with regard to the presence of free parking spaces, information about which parking space is currently free. If a first message is informed that a specific parking space is free at a first time, e.g. still free, with this parking space being occupied later, information is provided at a second, later time in a second, additional message about this now occupied parking space, whereby this parking space is no longer mentioned. Furthermore, a respective message from the at least one parking space-finding vehicle only provides information about a free parking space if it can be detected by sensors, i. H. can usually be detected by sensors at all.

If sensory detection of a respective parking space based on the at least one vehicle is not possible, no information is provided about this space, regardless of whether it is free or occupied.

In addition, it is possible for the free parking space under the at least one free parking space to be found or discovered first by a first vehicle under the at least one parking space-finding vehicle. Information or a message about a first finding or discovery of this one free parking space is automatically sent and/or broadcast by the first vehicle that finds a parking space using direct vehicle-to-vehicle communication to all vehicles in its vicinity. This information about the first discovery of this one free parking space is received by at least one vehicle among all vehicles in the area. In the event that at least one other parking space-finding vehicle that found this free, usually still free, parking space later than the first parking space-finding vehicle, information about its usually subsequent finding or discovery of this already discovered or found parking space is omitted . In this case, information about this one free parking space that has been discovered is only provided once in total, namely after it has been first discovered, and information about this is not given again after any further discovery. If this free parking space is subsequently occupied by a vehicle looking for a parking space and later becomes free again, it is possible that this parking space, after it has become free again, will first be found again by at least one vehicle, in particular a parking space-finding vehicle, which is in this If all vehicles in its vicinity are informed via direct vehicle-to-vehicle communication that this parking space is again and/or currently free.

In one embodiment, the at least one item of information that is sent and/or broadcast via the at least one free parking space has at least one parameter that describes the position of this at least one parking space, for example a free parking space. This exact position or an exact location of the at least one free parking space in the vicinity of the at least one parking space-finding vehicle is determined using a usually satellite-based positioning system, for example GPS. This at least one piece of information or the at least one parameter can also describe this at least one free parking space with regard to its nature. It is also possible for this at least one parameter to describe an area or size of the at least one free parking space. It is also possible for this at least one parameter to describe and/or include additional information about whether the at least one free parking space is covered and/or in the shade. Alternatively or additionally, the at least one parameter includes additional information about whether the at least one free parking space includes an electric charging station, so that this at least one free parking space is assigned such an electric charging station. It is also conceivable that the at least one parameter includes information about the subsoil from which this free parking space is formed, i. e.g. whether it is tarred or gravel, for example, with a covering of this at least one free parking space being described in more detail. This at least one parameter relating to the at least one free parking space is communicated or transmitted by the at least one parking space-finding vehicle to its environment.

Taking this at least one parameter into account, it is possible for the at least one vehicle searching for a parking space to take into account a free parking space from among the at least one free parking space that is suitable and/or suitable for the at least one vehicle searching for a parking space, e.g. in terms of area this at least one parameter is selected from the at least one free parking space and claimed for itself.

It is possible for the at least one free parking space to be searched for and found by the at least one parking space-finding vehicle under different operating conditions of this at least one parking space-finding vehicle. It is possible that the at least one free parking space is found or discovered when the at least one parking space-finding vehicle is stationary because, for example, at least one parking space that is initially still occupied next to this at least one parking space-finding vehicle is parked in another neighboring parking space , becomes free. If the at least one parking space-finding vehicle, which is initially still parked in a parking space and occupies it, leaves this parking space, the parking space initially still occupied by it becomes free and is automatically found or discovered in the process. It is also possible for the at least one free parking space to be discovered or found during a journey of the at least one vehicle finding a parking space when it drives past it.

In a further embodiment, it is conceivable that a free parking space, after it has become free and as long as it remains free, is found by only one vehicle finding a parking space or by a number of vehicles finding a parking space. As an alternative to this, it is possible for a number of free parking spaces to be found by only one vehicle finding a parking space or by a number of vehicles finding a parking space. Accordingly, it is possible that there is only one vehicle searching for a parking space in the vicinity of the at least one vehicle searching for a parking space, or that there are several vehicles searching for a parking space in its vicinity. A size, for example a radius, of the area is determined by a minimum range or by a maximum range of the direct vehicle-to-vehicle communication. For purely technical reasons, only those vehicles that can receive sent or broadcast information or messages about this at least one free parking space are usually also informed, which is possible regardless of whether a vehicle is actively participating in the process or not. If a vehicle in the area does not actively participate in the method, but passively participates in it, depending on the definition, because it receives the information described via the vehicle-to-vehicle communication, it or its processing unit can ignore such information.

In the method described above, only those vehicles, i. H. the at least one parking space-seeking vehicle and the at least one parking space-finding vehicle involved, which participate in the direct vehicle-to-vehicle communication provided for the method, since only these named vehicles have a free parking space and a claim provided for in the context of the method, in Design reservation, be informed of this initially still free parking space. However, it cannot be ruled out that a free parking space, about which the at least one vehicle finding a parking space is informed, is discovered and occupied by another vehicle or its driver, whereby this other vehicle is at least not directly involved in the process, usually does not participate because it is not involved in the direct vehicle-to-vehicle communication provided for this purpose. Usually, the information about the at least one free parking space is received by all vehicles in the vicinity of the at least one vehicle that is designed to carry out the vehicle-to-vehicle communication. Even in the event that a vehicle looking for a parking space has claimed the free parking space that is suitable for it before other vehicles looking for a parking space in the vicinity of the at least one vehicle looking for a parking space and thus also reserved it, it usually has no legal claim to this free parking space, so that it is possible for at least one other vehicle looking for a parking space to be parked in this at least one free parking space, although the at least one free parking space is or has already been occupied by at least one other vehicle looking for a parking space.

The parking space management system according to the invention is intended to provide a free parking space for a vehicle looking for a parking space in and/or on a parking facility, with the vehicle automatically searching for a parking space, for example automatically, or with a parking space being searched for by its driver. The parking lot management system has a number of processors, for example control units, each processor being designed to run a computer program product, usually a computer or software program, a number of sensors and a number of communication units that are distributed over a number of vehicles. In this case, each vehicle has a computing unit, at least one sensor and one communication unit each, which is designed to carry out vehicle-to-vehicle communication. In this case, the at least one sensor of at least one vehicle is designed to automatically and sensorily detect an environment of this at least one vehicle, usually using electromagnetic waves. In the event that at least one free parking space is found by the at least one vehicle or by its at least one sensor, a respective computing unit of this at least one parking space-finding vehicle is designed to use the at least one respective communication unit of the at least one park causing the vehicle that finds space to send and/or broadcast at least one item of information or message about the at least one free parking space using direct vehicle-to-vehicle communication to all vehicles in its vicinity via electromagnetic waves. Furthermore, a respective communication unit of at least one vehicle looking for a parking space among all vehicles in the area is designed to receive this at least one piece of information or message. A respective processing unit of this parking space-seeking vehicle, whose respective communication unit has received the at least one message about the at least one free parking space, is designed to process this information. If the respective processing unit of this at least one vehicle looking for a parking space decides independently or automatically, and/or if the driver of this at least one vehicle looking for a parking space decides that a parking space under the at least one free parking space found for the at least one vehicle looking for a parking space in the area is suitable or is suitable, with the driver entering a corresponding input into the processing unit, the respective processing unit of this vehicle looking for a parking space is designed to cause the respective communication unit of this vehicle looking for a parking space to find this suitable or free parking space for this at least one vehicle looking for a parking space using the direct vehicle -to-vehicle communication in the case of the at least one parking space-finding vehicle for oneself and to reserve it in an embodiment and to send at least one further message or piece of information for this purpose. The respective communication unit of the vehicle searching for a parking space is designed to receive a claim, for example a reservation, sent via the additional information for the free suitable parking space from the respective communication unit of the at least one vehicle searching for a parking space. Furthermore, the respective computing unit of this parking space-finding vehicle is designed to cause the respective communication unit of this parking space-finding vehicle, using direct vehicle-to-vehicle communication, to send additional information to all vehicles that this suitable parking space is now claimed or assigned broadcast and/or broadcast in its vicinity.

It is possible that an embodiment of the presented parking space management system is designed or provided for carrying out an embodiment of the presented method for providing a parking space. It is also possible that the components of the parking lot management system with which the method can be executed or can be executed, i.e. the communication units, the computing units and the sensors, are distributed among several vehicles in a vehicle fleet and interact synergistically to provide the parking lot management system. A respective communication unit can also be embodied or referred to as a car-to-car or C2C communication unit, with the vehicles involved in the method communicating with one another directly and thus without detours via their communication units. The method is usually carried out by vehicles and/or for vehicles that are designed and/or can be designated as motor vehicles.

The computer program product according to the invention or a corresponding software program product has a program code that can be installed or is to be installed or installed and/or executable or is to be executed on a computing unit of a vehicle. When executing the program code of the computer program product, a computing unit is designed to carry out or execute at least one step of an embodiment of the method according to the invention described above.

This computer program product, for example a computer program, is usually offered by a provider for downloading or downloading onto a respective computing unit and for installing on the respective computing unit. It is possible for the computer program product to be designed and/or to be designated as application software or application (app). It is possible for every vehicle on whose computing unit the computer program product is installed and located in the vicinity of the at least one parking space-finding vehicle to automatically participate in and/or be involved in the method described. The processing unit of a respective vehicle can also be designed and/or referred to as a data processing unit, which is designed to automatically execute the computer program product, for example the application software.

An optimized and decentralized parking space management is carried out with the method and the parking space management system. Through direct vehicle-to-vehicle communication and thus vehicle-to-vehicle or V2V technology, it is possible for a vehicle to detect and thus determine parking spaces for other vehicles that are looking for parking spaces and information communicates to these other vehicles about free parking spaces found. This means, among other things, that a time-consuming search for a parking space and/or the installation of complex control systems will no longer be necessary in the future. So that a type of provision and/or allocation of a parking space as described above can proceed successfully, the communication processes between the vehicles described above are provided, and are usually decisive. Using these communication processes and exchanging the information described, e.g. also the claim, it is possible to find free parking spaces, communicate their availability and usually provide an allocation of parking spaces without a management unit that could otherwise be assigned to a parking area, e.g. to set.

A component of the method and/or parking lot management system is an optimized optimization of the provision and thus allocation of free parking spaces to the respective needs of the participating vehicles. If a vehicle looking for a parking space is, for example, electrically driven and, in addition to the parking space, is looking for an electric charging station assigned to the parking space and/or requires a parking space that is particularly large in terms of area, this is taken into account with the at least one parameter that describes the at least one free parking space more precisely. This at least one parameter can also include additional information about an intended parking time during which the at least one vehicle looking for a parking space is expected to occupy a parking space. It is also possible for the vehicles to decentrally determine at least one suitable or suitable free parking space, which is occupied, the needs of the vehicles being taken into account, such needs being suggested for a free parking space and acceptance of such a suggestion by a respective claim include.

In an embodiment of the method, it is provided that a moving vehicle which, for example, enters a parking lot or a street with parking spaces along its edges, automatically uses its at least one sensor or a corresponding sensor system while driving through the parking lot or the street available parking spaces, it is also possible that other parameters as specifications of a respective parking space, for example. Its size or the availability of a charging station, for example. The vehicles then communicate the information about free parking spaces to their surroundings. In this case, a list of suitable free or available parking spaces can be provided by a number of vehicles if they record a number of free parking spaces. Furthermore, an interest in a specific free parking space suitable for the vehicle is reported back by driving off the vehicle searching for a parking space, usually by providing the request. In one embodiment, it is possible for the at least one vehicle searching for a parking space to continue to report its approach to the free parking space, also using direct vehicle-to-vehicle communication, with the at least one additional piece of information and/or message to the at least one vehicle finding a parking space, wherein the free parking space of at least one other vehicle in the vicinity, d. H. another vehicle searching for a parking space, finding a parking space and/or parking, is regarded as occupied, it being possible for no other vehicle to additionally receive the information and thus a suggestion about the free parking space.

In one embodiment or scenario of the method, an initiation can be performed. It is possible here for predefined measurement criteria and therefore parameters to be used to determine whether a use case, according to which a free parking space is appropriate or suitable for a vehicle looking for a parking space, is and/or is being used. The at least one parameter that describes a respective free parking space in more detail includes the size of the free parking space, a parking density of the parking facility, e.g. a parking area, in and/or on which the free parking space is located, a frequency of vehicles looking for a parking space and/or or a time saving. The at least one parameter is determined by those vehicles looking for a parking space that are already in the parking area and are themselves looking for a free parking space and thus a free parking space and/or by those vehicles looking for a parking space that drive out of a parking space and thus out of a parking space after parking and thus leave this or this.

It is possible for a vehicle to first determine the parking density of the parking lot when it is in the parking lot and/or is driving through it. The parking density provides information about how many of the total available parking spaces in the car park are occupied or occupied at a given point in time. Depending on a value determined in each case, the vehicle located in the parking lot system only actively searches for free parking spaces when the parking density exceeds a limit value provided for this purpose. Furthermore, this vehicle only informs about free parking spaces in and/or on the parking facility when the parking density is one exceeds the limit provided for this purpose, since the number of free parking spaces is low only above such a limit of the parking density and a conventional search for free parking spaces is or is made more difficult.

With the method or an implementation of the method for providing and thus u. to find free parking spaces, the use of direct vehicle-to-vehicle communication via the communication units of the vehicles and sensors already located in the vehicles is provided, with a central unit or entity and furthermore peripheral sensors being dispensed with, whereby etc. costs of an owner of a parking area can be reduced. Furthermore, it results that a suitable free parking space or a corresponding parking space can be found and used quickly, with the number of vehicles looking for a parking space being reduced and an arrangement of vehicles looking for a parking space and/or parking vehicles being optimized. By reducing the time it takes to search for free parking spaces or parking spaces, e.g. a reduction in accidents due to carelessness is possible. Furthermore, comfort for drivers as occupants of the vehicles can be increased. This also relates to a reduction in consumption of electrical energy, for example a reduction in fuel consumption, and a reduction in emissions. In this way, parking in different parking areas, for example in open parking areas, such as at a public festival, in-plant loading points or also park-and-ride parking areas and/or shift parking areas can be improved.

In an embodiment of the method, it is possible for moving vehicles in their environment, e.g. when driving through a parking lot and/or a street, to permanently search for available or free parking spaces using their sensors or their sensors and other parameters or specifications for discovered free parking spaces, e.g. their size and/or availability of charging stations. This information is then communicated to all vehicles in the area. If an approaching vehicle identifies a parking space suitable for this approaching vehicle searching for a parking space from a plurality of free parking spaces or a list of such free parking spaces, it is designed to report back an interest in this suitable parking space via the claim. The vehicle looking for a parking space is also designed to report back its approach to the free parking space, e.g. by using it, with this free parking space being viewed as occupied by other vehicles in the area, e.g. by parked vehicles, so that no other vehicle can receives the information and thus a suggestion for the free parking space. In one embodiment of the method, a central unit that otherwise provides a list of available parking spaces can be dispensed with. Such a list can at most be maintained by a respective vehicle, in particular a vehicle finding a parking space and/or a vehicle looking for a parking space, since an exchange of information about free parking spaces within the framework of the method is concentrated on direct vehicle-to-vehicle communication.

The method can be carried out, for example, when there is a lot of traffic and/or at peak times when looking for a parking space in a heavily used parking lot area and/or on a street whose edges are heavily parked is unpleasantly time-consuming. The method can be used to supplement and/or replace further measures, with such a further measure being able to involve a vehicle searching directly or independently for a parking space, with this vehicle using its own sensor finding a suitable parking space or a suitable one when driving through a parking lot area Looks for a parking space and parks in it independently. According to a further measure, it is provided that parking areas, for example multi-storey car parks, are equipped with an infrastructure in order to monitor parking space occupancy and to communicate with arriving vehicles.

It goes without saying that the features mentioned above and those still to be explained below can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

• 1 zeigt in schematischer Darstellung Fahrzeuge, für die eine Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens mit einer Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Parkplatzmanagementsystems durchgeführt wird.

The invention is shown schematically on the basis of embodiments in the drawing and is described schematically and in detail with reference to the drawing.

• 1 shows a schematic representation of vehicles for which an embodiment of the method according to the invention is carried out with an embodiment of the parking lot management system according to the invention.

1 shows a schematic representation of a parking area 2, which is located next to a road and can be assigned to a supermarket, for example. In this case, this parking area 2 includes several parking spaces arranged in rows next to one another, with most of these parking spaces already having parking spaces vehicles are occupied. In this case, only some free parking spaces 4a, 4b, 4c or parking spaces are assigned reference symbols for better clarity. Several vehicles are driving on the street next to the parking area 2, only two of these vehicles 6a, 6b being assigned reference symbols for a better overview. These vehicles 6a, 6b are also referred to as vehicles 6a, 6b looking for a parking space, which are approaching the parking lot area 2, since these vehicles 6a, 6b or their drivers are looking for free parking spaces 4a, 4b, 4c in the parking lot area 2. Furthermore shows 1 on paths between the rows of parking spaces further vehicles 8a, 8b, 8c, which are also referred to as parking space-finding vehicles 8a, 8b, 8c, whereby for the sake of clarity in 1 only some vehicles 8a, 8b, 8c finding a parking space are assigned reference symbols.

It is provided that each vehicle 6a, 6b, 8a, 8b, 8c has a computing unit that is designed for data processing, at least one sensor or a sensor system for detecting an environment of the vehicle 6a, 6b, 8a, 8b, 8c and a Has communication unit. The at least one sensor is usually designed to detect the surroundings of a respective vehicle 6a, 6b, 8a, 8b, 8c on the basis of electromagnetic waves and/or on the basis of ultrasound, with the at least one sensor on the basis of electromagnetic waves usually being used as a Camera, is designed as a radar sensor or as a lidar sensor. A respective communication unit of a respective vehicle 6a, 6b, 8a, 8b, 8c is designed to carry out direct vehicle-to-vehicle communication, such a communication unit of a vehicle 6a, 6b, 8a, 8b, 8c being connected to a further communication unit of another Vehicle 6a, 6b, 8a, 8b, 8c via electromagnetic waves signals and thus information, eg. Data, directly and without detours mutually exchanges.

A total of all computing units, communication units and sensors of all vehicles 6a, 6b, 8a, 8b, 8c here forms the embodiment of the parking lot management system according to the invention. To execute the following based on 1 Variants of the embodiment of the method according to the invention described in more detail, it is provided in an embodiment that a computer program with a program code is installed on each computing unit of each vehicle 6a, 6b, 8a, 8b, 8c, with the execution of this computer program, e.g. an application or a so-called App, at least one step of the presented embodiment of the method is executed, for example controlled, and thus controlled and/or regulated.

The presented embodiment of the method according to the invention for providing at least one free parking space 4a, 4b, 4c in the parking lot area 2 is carried out by at least one vehicle 6a, 6b looking for a parking space and at least one vehicle 8a, 8b, 8c looking for a parking space. This embodiment of the method according to the invention comprises the two variants of the embodiment of the method according to the invention described in detail below.

A first variant of this embodiment of the method is actively carried out at least by a vehicle 6a looking for a parking space and a vehicle 8a finding a parking space, with other vehicles 6b, 8b, 8c usually only participating passively in this variant of the method, since they receive the messages or Receive information via vehicle-to-vehicle communication.

In this case, a sequence of messages described below begins with an initiation. The vehicle 8a finding a parking space uses its at least one sensor or its sensor system, e.g. a radar sensor, a lidar sensor and/or a camera, to determine and/or ascertain a free parking space 4a or a free parking space in the parking lot area 2 more precisely, with Parameters regarding a size of this free parking space 4a, its nature and placement or position on the parking area 2 are recorded or determined. Another additional parameter that is taken into account is whether the free parking space 4a is covered and/or whether it has an electrical charging station or an electrical charging point. Furthermore, information or a message about the free parking space 4a is sent via vehicle-to-vehicle communication to all other vehicles 6a, 6b, 8b, 8c in the vicinity of the vehicle 8a that is finding a parking space, in the vicinity of parking lot area 2 and in parking lot area 2 , So also to other vehicles 8b, 8c, which are located in the parking area 2, transmitted and thus reported.

Furthermore, all vehicles 6a, 6b, 8b, 8c in the area receive this information, with vehicles 6a, 6b looking for a parking space, which are outside of the parking lot area 2 looking for a free parking space 4a, 4b, 4c, thereby receiving status information and the free parking spaces 4a, 4b, 4c on the entire parking lot area 2 are pointed out. The parking space-seeking vehicle 6a and / or its driver based on the transmitted information of the parking space-finding driver zeugs 8a decide whether a found or discovered and thus available or free parking space 4a or a corresponding parking space is suitable or not. If the driver decides that the free parking space 4a is suitable or not, he enters this into the computing unit via a human-machine interface. If the free parking space 4a is suitable for the parking space-seeking vehicle 6a, this sends further information, ie a confirmation and/or a claim, e.g communicated as free. Upon receipt of this information or a corresponding message by the parking space-finding vehicle 8a, this sends new information or a message to the parking space-seeking vehicle 6a and/or to all other vehicles 6b, 8b, 8c, with this information stating that the previously free reported parking space 4a is now occupied or claimed. This variant of the embodiment of the method, including an exchange of information or messages, is thus ended.

In a second variant or implementation of the embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is provided that vehicles 8a, 8b, 8c finding a parking space drive through paths between parking spaces 4a, 4b, 4c on the parking lot area 2 and do not have their own free parking spaces 4a, 4b, 4c or Searching for parking spaces, but still being able to discover empty or free parking spaces 4a, 4b, 4c with their sensors, with these parking space-finding vehicles 8a, 8b, 8c finding free parking spaces 4a, 4b, 4c and other properties or parameters of free parking spaces 4a, 4b , 4c, such as an exact position and/or size of a respective free parking space 4a, 4b, 4c or a possibility of access to a charging station or charging station. Vehicles 6a, 6b looking for a parking space receive information or messages about available free parking spaces 4a, 4b, 4c in the parking lot area 2 and parameters about the nature of a respective free parking space from the vehicles 8a, 8b, 8c finding the parking space via vehicle-to-vehicle communication 4a, 4b, 4c. In this case, a first parking space-seeking vehicle 6a sends a further message or information about a specific free parking space 4a that is suitable for this first parking space-seeking vehicle 6a, to that first parking space-seeking vehicle 8a that has disseminated the information about this free parking space 4a, and requests a reservation of the free parking space 4a or the free parking space, with the first vehicle 6a looking for a parking space claiming the free parking space 4a for itself. The first vehicle 8a to find a parking space, which has reported the free parking space 4a, then sends a confirmation to the vehicle 6a looking for a parking space and, optionally, additional general information or a message to the other vehicles 6b, 8b, 8c that are e.g. immediate or in the vicinity and informs them that the free parking space 4a is now to be regarded as occupied.

With the method presented, decentralized parking space management is possible. This is suitable, for example, for large car parks without an infrastructure-supported parking guidance system. Provision is made here for vehicles that are in the parking lot to examine their parking density, taking into account how many parking spaces of the total available parking spaces are free and how many parking spaces are occupied. In this case, it is possible for the vehicles to search for free parking spaces, with a discovered free parking space being examined for further properties, generally with regard to its nature. Furthermore, vehicles finding a parking space periodically send messages with a list of free parking spaces or parking spaces. If an arriving vehicle with a parking space request is in the vicinity of the parking facility, it receives the list of parking spaces and selects a suitable parking space. It is also possible for an arriving vehicle to report back its interest in a specific free parking space, usually from the list. In one embodiment, the allocation of free parking spaces is controlled and thus controlled and/or regulated by the vehicle on the parking facility that discovered it. A vehicle looking for a parking space can drive to the parking space reported as free and park there. It is possible that on the way there it will continue to look for free parking spaces and maintain communication that provides information about alternative free parking spaces.

It is taken into account here that a vehicle is located in the parking lot according to its own location, for example depending on GPS information, and activates its sensors to search for parking spaces. It is also possible for the vehicle to measure the parking density, ie the number of occupied parking spaces or free parking spaces, as it drives through the parking lot. If the number of occupied parking spaces or the parking density should exceed a limit value provided for this purpose, which can be 80%, for example, information about free parking spaces is sent by the vehicle. It takes into account how many parking spaces are occupied or free on a definable drive-through route. It also takes into account how long the vehicle is in the parking lot. An active search for free parking spaces can be carried out, for example, if the parking density has exceeded the limit provided for this purpose. In this regard, reference is made to the first Table 1 below, which describes exemplary roles or functions of different vehicles as part of the procedure. This applies to functions of vehicles leaving the parking facility, functions of vehicles that are approaching this parking facility and functions of vehicles looking for parking spaces. Furthermore, Table 1 describes a starting process and end state associated with it, ie with a respective function or role. Various parameters can be provided for this start or end state in the method, which enable the start and end of the method, as listed in Table 1, for example.

In this regard, it is also taken into account that a particular vehicle is not assigned a fixed role, since it can either find a free parking space or search for a free parking space and can switch between the three roles or functions described above.

In an embodiment of the method, it is provided that a vehicle driving through the parking lot searches for free parking spaces and analyzes the parking lot in this regard, with the parking density being determined. If free parking spaces or parking spaces are found, it is possible for the vehicle that finds the parking space to periodically send messages for which a fixed frequency of e.g. 0.2 Hz is possible, with the messages being sent at intervals of several seconds, e.g 5 seconds, sequentially sent and updated. The periodically sent messages include lists of free parking spaces and additional information about their condition. A vehicle that is looking for a parking space can use the received messages to evaluate existing parking spaces or free parking spaces and check whether a specific parking space is interesting or suitable for this vehicle looking for it. This is possible by automatically applying an algorithm provided for this purpose or by input from a driver of the vehicle. If a suitable parking space has been identified for the searching vehicle, this specifically sends a message to the aforementioned vehicle driving through, which has discovered the parking space and sent messages about it. This specifically sent message includes a request to drive to a specific parking space from the list. The vehicle driving through that has discovered the free parking space is designed to monitor and process feedback from searching vehicles on parking spaces. It is possible that this vehicle, which has discovered the free parking space, confirms the request of the searching vehicle, which is possible by providing a corresponding, targeted confirmation of the parking space request. Furthermore, the parking space is deleted from the list of free parking spaces, with subsequent messages no longer providing information about this now reserved and/or occupied parking space. The vehicle looking for the parking space can now drive to the free parking space and park and/or be parked on it.

In an embodiment of the method, it is taken into account that communication between the vehicles breaks down during a parking lot allocation process. This can result in a free parking space not being able to be assigned. In this case, the vehicle that is looking for a free parking space continues its search. The passing vehicle that detects a parking space continues to classify it as available and continues to send information about it.

If several vehicles looking for parking spaces are interested in the same parking space and inform the parking space-finding vehicle, the free parking space or the corresponding parking space is assigned to the parking space-looking vehicle from which the parking space-finding vehicle first received the request for the specific free parking space has, for this first vehicle looking for a parking space being transmitted by the parking space-finding vehicle a confirmation of the free parking space. All other vehicles looking for a parking space will not receive such a confirmation. In an embodiment, such a confirmation of a free parking space is sent only once to the vehicle searching for a parking space that first claimed this free parking space from the vehicle finding a parking space and thus before any other vehicle.

If a parking space that was initially communicated as free should be occupied in the meantime, the vehicle finding a parking space that has discovered this parking space stops reporting or reporting that the parking space is free. A vehicle looking for a parking space, which should have expressed its interest in the now occupied parking space, is informed accordingly that the parking space is now occupied, it being possible for this vehicle looking for a parking space to be offered a new free parking space or a new free parking space.

If one and the same parking space is reported as free by several vehicles finding a parking space, it follows that responsibility for the allocation of this parking space is not clearly defined, which is why there is a risk that the same parking space will be allocated twice. This can be countered by the fact that vehicles finding a parking space also inform each other about free parking spaces that have been found, as a result of which double reporting of a free parking space can be avoided. If a searching vehicle should be offered the same parking space by several vehicles, an agreement between the vehicles in this regard is still possible, with the vehicles directly exchanging messages with one another.

The second table 2 below shows different possible formats for messages from vehicles that can be used to provide information about free parking spaces and with which free parking spaces can be claimed. According to the outline in Table 2, two types of data frames are possible. According to a first data frame "ANI" general message information is taken into account. A list of free parking spaces is provided according to a second data frame “LFP”. Table 1 Designation: Abandoned Vehicle vehicle approaching vehicle on the lookout Target: exit parking lot Would like to park in the parking lot Would like to park in the parking lot Status: - Go through the parking lot - Approaching the parking lot - Already driving through the parking lot →On the way to the exit - Would like to park in a parking facility →Looks for a parking space - Leaves empty parking lot Activity in the use case: Can communicate own abandoned and other registered free parking space(s). Controls parking space allocation. Selects a parking space and asks for a parking space assignment. Park there after allocation and look for parking spaces when driving through. Searches the car park for parking spaces and asks for a parking space assignment of your own choice. Park there. Initiation parameters: Must be in parking lot 1. Driver initiates parking space search process 1. Vehicle to be abandoned for analog search a) determine high parking density or: 2. Requests possible from a distance of <=500 meters to the parking lot 2. For inquiry analog vehicle approaching b) Receive park communications from others final parameters Distance to parking lot > 100 meters found a parking space found a parking space Table 2 data frame contents optional format size [bits] ANI Data items: - Message identification number (UniqueMSGID) text 72 - Vehicle Identification Number (TemporaryD) text 32 - Message timestamp (MOTY) Counting 20 - Parking facility identification number (ParkingID) Counting 16 Overview: Identification data for message and vehicle identification ≈ 140 bits LFP Data items: - Position data of the parking space (Position3D) - Latitude, longitude and altitude Counting 31+32+16 - Position accuracy 32 - dimensions of the parking space (optional) × Counting length and width 10+12 - Free data field for further information (optional) × text 420 - Charging station?, parking interest/allocation, etc. Overview: List of up to 40 entries with available parking spaces and other information; Size at maximum utilization 1 entry: ≈ 560 bits 40 entries ≈ 22,400 bits Message size: ≈ 22,500 bits ≈ 2,800 bytes

Reference List

2

parking area

4a, 4b

parking spot

4c

6a, 6b

vehicle

8a, 8b

vehicle

8c

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• DE 102016005483 A1 [0003]
• DE 102017011774 A1 [0004]
• US 2019197898 A1 [0005]

Claims (8)

Method for providing a free parking space (4a, 4b, 4c) for a vehicle (6a, 6b) looking for a parking space, in which, if at least one other vehicle (8a, 8b, 8c) requires at least one free parking space (4a, 4b , 4c) is found, information about the at least one free parking space (4a, 4b, 4c) is sent from this at least one parking space-finding vehicle (8a, 8b, 8c) to its surroundings using vehicle-to-vehicle communication, In the event that a parking space (4a, 4b, 4c) below the at least one free parking space (4a, 4b, 4c) found is suitable for at least one vehicle (6a, 6b) looking for a parking space in the area, this suitable free parking space ( 4a, 4b, 4c) is claimed by this at least one vehicle (6a, 6b) looking for a parking space using vehicle-to-vehicle communication in the at least one vehicle (8a, 8b, 8c) finding a parking space, with the at least one vehicle finding a parking space (8a, 8b, 8c) a claim is received from the at least one vehicle (6a, 6b) looking for a parking space, and this at least one vehicle (8a, 8b, 8c) looking for a parking space receives information using vehicle-to-vehicle communication that this suitable parking space (4a, 4b, 4c) is now claimed is sent into its environment. procedure after claim 1 , in which it is checked from which parking space-seeking vehicle (6a, 6b) among the at least one parking space-seeking vehicle (6a, 6b) the at least one parking space-seeking vehicle (8a, 8b, 8c) the claim for the appropriate parking space (4a, 4b, 4c ) received first, from this parking space-finding vehicle (8a, 8b, 8c), which received the claim for the appropriate parking space (4a, 4b, 4c) first, using vehicle-to-vehicle communication, the information about it, that this suitable parking space is now claimed is sent to its surroundings. procedure after claim 1 or 2 , in which a free parking space (4a, 4b, 4c) under the at least one free parking space (4a, 4b, 4c) is searched for by a first parking space-finding vehicle (8a, 8b, 8c) under the at least one parking space-finding vehicle (8a, 8b, 8c ) is found first, with information about a first finding of this free parking space (4a, 4b, 4c) being sent to its surroundings by the first vehicle (8a, 8b, 8c) to find the parking space using vehicle-to-vehicle communication, in the event that at least one other parking space-finding vehicle (8a, 8b, 8c) that found this parking space (4a, 4b, 4c) later than the first parking space-finding vehicle (8a, 8b, 8c), information about its finding this parking space that has already been found (4a, 4b, 4c). Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the information which is sent via the at least one free parking space (4a, 4b, 4c) comprises at least one parameter which describes this at least one free parking space (4a, 4b, 4c), wherein this at least one parameter includes a position of the at least one free parking space (4a, 4b, 4c) in the area, and/or wherein the at least one parameter also includes additional information about an area of the at least one free parking space (4a, 4b, 4c) , additional information as to whether the at least one free parking space (4a, 4b, 4c) is covered and/or in the shade, and/or additional information as to whether the at least one free parking space (4a, 4b, 4c) includes an electric charging station, wherein the at least one parameter is communicated. procedure after claim 4 , in which a free parking space (4a, 4b, 4c) below the at least one free parking space (4a, 4b, 4c) is claimed by the at least one vehicle (6a, 6b) looking for a parking space, taking into account the at least one parameter. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the at least one free parking space (4a, 4b, 4c) is occupied by the at least one parking space-finding vehicle (8a, 8b, 8c) when stationary, when leaving a parking space (4a, 4b, 4c) or is found while driving. Parking lot management system for providing a free parking space (4a, 4b, 4c) for a vehicle (6a, 6b) looking for a parking space, wherein the parking lot management system has a plurality of computing units, a plurality of sensors and a plurality of communication units that refer to a plurality of vehicles (6a, 6b, 8a, 8b, 8c ) are distributed, wherein at least one sensor of at least one vehicle (8a, 8b, 8c) is designed to detect an environment of this at least one vehicle (8a, 8b, 8c), wherein in the event that the at least one vehicle ( 8a, 8b, 8c) at least one free parking space (4a, 4b, 4c) is found by sensors, a computing unit of this at least one vehicle (8a, 8b, 8c) finding a parking space is designed to do so, a communication unit of the at least one vehicle (8a, 8b, 8c) to send information about the at least one free parking space (4a, 4b, 4c) to its surroundings using vehicle-to-vehicle communication, with a communication unit of at least one vehicle (6a, 6b ) in the environment is designed to receive this information, with a processing unit of this parking space-seeking vehicle (6a, 6b) being designed to process this information, in the event that this processing unit independently and / or based on an input from a driver of the vehicle (6a, 6b) looking for a parking space decides that a parking space (4a, 4b, 4c) below the at least one free parking space (4a, 4b, 4c) found is suitable for the at least one vehicle (6a, 6b) looking for a parking space in the area is, the computing unit of this at least one vehicle (6a, 6b) looking for a parking space is designed to communicate with the communication unit of this at least one vehicle (6 a, 6b) to cause this suitable free parking space (4a, 4b, 4c) for this at least one vehicle (6a, 6b) looking for a parking space using vehicle-to-vehicle communication for the at least one vehicle (8a, 8b, 8c), wherein the communication unit of this at least one parking space-seeking vehicle (8a, 8b, 8c) is designed to claim the free suitable parking space (4a, 4b, 4c) from the at least one parking space-seeking vehicle (6a, 6b). received, the computing unit of this at least one vehicle (8a, 8b, 8c) finding a parking space being designed to cause the communication unit of this at least one vehicle (8a, 8b, 8c) to find a parking space using vehicle-to-vehicle communication about the fact that this suitable parking space (4a, 4b, 4c) is now claimed to send to its surroundings. Computer program product with a program code that can be executed on a computing unit of a vehicle (6a, 6b, 8a, 8b, 8c), the computing unit according to the parking lot management system claim 7 is assigned and adapted to at least one step of a method according to one of Claims 1 until 6 to perform.

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