AU2015332661B2 - Method and system for controlling an automobile parking apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a system and a method for controlling the movement of an automobile parking apparatus that has a drive for the movement of a pallet holding the vehicle to be parked. A control unit is provided for the drive. An output is used to output an access code, and a mobile controller is used to input an input code. The input code is wirelessly transmitted to the control unit, and the control unit enables movement of the palate only if the input code corresponds to the access code.

Description

"Method and system for controlling an automobile parking apparatus"

The invention relates to a method and a system for controlling an automobile parking apparatus.

Known automobile parking apparatuses have at least one pallet, which can be moved by a controllable drive, for accommodating the vehicle to be parked. Usually, an automobile parking apparatus consists of one or more parking systems, which for their part each have a drive for at least one pallet. In this respect, an automobile parking apparatus as described has at least one pallet. In doing so, the automobile parking apparatus preferably has vertically movable pallets. At the same time, such, in particular category-defining, automobile parking apparatuses are equipped such that the (one, two, three or four) pallets are stored and guided in a rack. Such automobile parking apparatuses are also described as parkers, double or multiple parkers. However, automobile parking apparatuses, with which the (in particular single) pallets are slid vertically or horizontally, e.g. guided on rails, are also known. Such automobile parking apparatuses are also described as (automatic) parking systems. For controlling the movement of the automobile parking apparatus, the automobile parking apparatus has at least one parking system controller. This is normally used to enable the platforms to be raised and lowered and, if necessary, is also equipped with further functionalities, such as for example the opening of a barrier or a gate or similar.

The parking system controller is operated by means of different variants disclosed in the prior art. Firstly, a control knob or control lever is provided on the parking system controller. This variant means that the user must be at the location of the parking system controller, as a rule in the immediate vicinity of the moving pallets, and can easily observe and also monitor the movement of the pallets, and immediately intervene if problems occur during the movement. A disadvantage with this variant is that either a multiplicity of individual control desks has to be provided at the individual parking systems that together form the automobile parking apparatus, which is of course expensive. Also, the convenience is low, as the user must normally insert a key in a lock, by means of which he identifies himself and can only then initiate the movement of the pallet; in addition, the user must alight from the automobile to operate the parking system.

However, cordless remote controls for operating or controlling

parking systems are also disclosed in the prior art. Here,

discrimination is made between wireless and infrared remote

controls. The use of infrared remote controls is unreliable

and also inconvenient. The user often sits in the automobile

and wants to move the parking position/pallet by means of the

infrared remote control; however, the infrared light beam is

deflected by the glass window of the vehicle so that it does

not reach the receiver of the parking system controller. Also,

with an infrared transmitter, the receiver must be accurately

sighted, as a relatively narrowly bundled light cone in the

infrared wavelength range is radiated here.

Wireless remote controls are better to use, as the wireless

transmitter outputs its signal over a large dihedral angle

segment and accurate sighting of the receiver is therefore

unnecessary here. However, a wireless remote control also

enables the parking system to be operated from a location

which does not allow visual monitoring of the parking system,

as the radio waves can penetrate sight barriers. Wireless remote controls cannot therefore be recommended for safe operation and control of an automobile parking apparatus.

It would be of benefit to find a way of controlling the generic automobile parking apparatus which is on the one hand safe and on the other convenient.

Reference to cited material or information contained in the text should not be understood as a concession that the material or information was part of the common general knowledge or was known in Australia or any other country.

Each document, reference, patent application or patent cited in this text is expressly incorporated herein in their entirety by reference, which means that it should be read and considered by the reader as part of this text. That the document, reference, patent application, or patent cited in this text is not repeated in this text is merely for reasons for conciseness.

Throughout the specification and claims, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, the present invention provides a method for controlling the movement of an automobile parking apparatus which has a drive for moving the pallet for accommodating the vehicle to be parked, wherein a control unit is provided for the drive, and an access code is issued at an output, an input code is entered at a mobile controller, the input code is wirelessly transmitted to the control unit, and the control unit releases the pallet to move only if the input code corresponds to the access code.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a

method for controlling the movement of an automobile parking

apparatus - which has a drive for moving at least one pallet for

accommodating the vehicle to be parked,

- wherein a control unit is provided for the drive, and

- an access code is issued at an output,

- an input code is entered at a mobile controller,

- the input code is wirelessly transmitted to the control

unit, and

wherein

- an access code is issued at an output, which is to be re

entered via the mobile controller by a user who must therefore

note this issued access code and actively enter or note it in

the mobile controller; and

- the control unit releases the pallet to move only if the

input code corresponds to the access code.

In a further preferred embodiment, the present invention

provides a method for controlling the movement of an

automobile parking apparatus

- which has a drive for moving at least one pallet for

accommodating the vehicle to be parked,

- wherein a control unit is provided for the drive, and

- an input code is entered at a mobile controller,

- the input code is wirelessly transmitted to the control

unit,

- wherein an access code is issued at an output which is to be

re-entered via the mobile controller by a user who must

therefore note this issued access code and actively enter or

note it in the mobile controller;

- wherein a localized and a basic authentication are achieved

simultaneously, whereas the localized authentication includes

that the user is located at least in the perception range of

the output of the automobile parking apparatus while the

access code is being entered; and

- the control unit releases the pallet to move only if the

input code corresponds to the access code.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides a system for controlling an automobile parking apparatus with a mobile controller, which is characterized in that the system comprises an automobile parking apparatus with at least one pallet, which can be moved by a controllable drive, for accommodating the vehicle to be parked, and a control unit, wherein said control unit has a receiving unit that is suitable for the wireless receipt of information, a code generator, an output, a code comparator and a parking apparatus controller, and the code generator generates an access code, the output issues this code, the receiving unit receives an input code transmitted by the mobile controller, and the code comparator compares the access code and input code and, if these codes are identical, permits control of the parking apparatus controller by the mobile controller.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a system for controlling the movement of an automobile parking apparatus with a mobile controller, in particular for carrying out the method of the invention as herein described, wherein the system comprises an automobile parking apparatus with at least one pallet, which can be moved by a controllable drive, for accommodating the vehicle to be parked, and wherein the system comprises a control unit, wherein said control unit has a receiving unit that is suitable for the wireless receipt of information, a code generator, an output, a code comparator and a parking apparatus controller, and wherein the code generator generates an access code, the output issues the code, the code to be re-entered via the mobile controller by a user who must therefore note this issued access code and actively enter or note it in the mobile controller, the receiving unit receives an input code transmitted by the mobile controller, and the code comparator compares the access code and input code and, if these codes are identical, permits control of the parking apparatus controller by the mobile controller, and inparticular a dead-man monitoring device for the movement of the pallet is provided.

In an advantageous embodiment, a dead-man monitoring device is provided for moving the pallet. At this point, reference is made to the different strategies and embodiments of the dead man monitoring device described in this application.

Preferably, the system is used for carrying out the method described above.

An advantage of the invention lies in the fact that the benefits of a wireless transmitter can be used with wireless communication. The advantages of using a wireless transmitter lie in the fact that the radio waves can penetrate through glass, for example, that is to say the user can conveniently remain sitting in the automobile when the automobile parking apparatus is to be operated. With a wireless transmitter, accurate sighting of the receiver is unnecessary, as a sufficiently homogeneous radiation occurs in the direction of the parking system controller with a wireless transmitter.

The trick of the invention lies in the fact that an access

code, which is to be re-entered via the wireless controller,

is issued by the output. The user must therefore note this

issued access code and actively enter or note it in a mobile

controller.

This has two advantages: a localized and a basic

authentication are achieved simultaneously.

A localized authentication means that the user is located at

least in the perception range of the output (for example

within visual or audible range) of the automobile parking

apparatus while the access code is being entered. This ensures

that the operator is in visual range of the parking system

while the pallet is being moved and can therefore directly

monitor its movement. If the user is too far away from the

parking system, the access code output cannot be heard or seen

and operation is not possible.

A basic authentication considers that only the authorized user

possesses a mobile controller which is technically matched to

the automobile parking apparatus (for example appropriate

radio frequency, transmission protocol or software on the

controller/terminal/smartphone) and which enables the pallets

to be moved.

The proposal according to the invention, which is realized on

the one hand in the described method and on the other in the

proposed system, for one thing combines safe operation of the automobile parking apparatus, as movement of the pallets does not take place unobserved, with the high convenience of the wireless mobile controller used. The system can therefore be controlled both in the automobile and after alighting from the automobile, and accurate alignment of the transmitter with the receiver is unnecessary.

Without restricting the invention thereto, the use of a

wireless transmitter is of advantage, as the radio waves

easily penetrate the glass of the windshield and do not

require accurate sighting of the receiver. As the user

discerns (sees and/or hears) the access code at the output and

enters it via the wireless connection, this ensures that the

user is also located in the visual range of the automobile

parking apparatus, and operation, i.e. movement of the pallets

or other moving elements, takes place safely. In the case of

an audible output, the volume can be selected such that the

user is close to (within sight of) the automobile parking

apparatus!

The invention elegantly combines improved convenience with

safe operation of generic automobile parking apparatuses.

At the same time, the invention is not restricted to the use

of radio as the transmission channel between the mobile

controller and the control unit. All other wavelength ranges

can, of course, be used for the purposes of the invention, for

example also infrared transmitters or similar.

Furthermore, in the proposal it is also advantageously provided that the mobile controller is configured in the form of a hand-held transmitter or a mobile terminal, such as for example a mobile telephone or smartphone, mobile computer or tablet computer. Advantageously, the mobile controller is spatially unattached and can be removed from the control unit.

A substantial advantage of the invention lies in the fact that

both classical hand-held transmitters and other mobile

terminals which are otherwise known, such as a mobile

telephone or smartphone etc., can be used in parallel in the

system according to the invention. The execution of the

proposed method, or the safe and reliable operation of the

automobile parking apparatus thus equipped, is possible with

both types of mobile controller. In doing so, the user can

choose whether he would like a simple manual transmitter which

he leaves in the automobile, or whether he loads an

appropriate program as an app on his mobile terminal, which

possibly also allows further, additional functionalities.

Furthermore, it is provided that the mobile controller is

configured in the form of electronic circuit, such as an RFID

circuit for example.

This is a very simple and therefore also cost-effective

embodiment of the mobile controller, but a comparatively

simple control can be realized with such a circuit, in

particular an RFID circuit (also referred to as transponder).

Such circuits are usually equipped with unique identification

numbers, and the functionalities of this circuit ("Raise

pallet" or "Lower pallet") can be specified via these

identification numbers. This information, together with

information on the user and his parking position in the

automobile parking apparatus etc., is stored in a file which

the control unit can access.

The drive is actuated when this circuit, or transponder, has a

data connection to the control unit. In an elegant manner, at

the same time, the circuit, in particular the transponder,

includes a transmitting and receiving antenna, by means of which a data connection to the control unit can be set up. A movement of the pallet then occurs as long as the circuit is connected to the control unit (with an appropriate transmitting and receiving unit).

Beneficially, the user has two different circuits, wherein a first circuit is coded or provided for the raise movement and a second circuit for the lower movement.

In a preferred embodiment of the proposal, it is provided that the system has a local radio network for communication between the mobile controller and the receiving unit, and the control unit also has a transmitting unit in addition to the receiving unit. Modern mobile terminals are equipped with different communications means. For example, these include an infrared transmitter, the Bluetooth connection or also the so-called WLAN capability, that is to say the capability of the mobile terminal to be incorporated into a local radio network in accordance with the known standard, which is generally described as WLAN or as Wi-Fi).

Here, reference is explicitly made to the fact that no Internet connection (which hereinafter is also described as computer-supported network) is necessary for communication between the mobile terminal and the automobile parking apparatus or its control unit, and the use of the mobile terminal, such as a smartphone for example, is also possible here, particularly when there is no wireless-supported or wired Internet connection. The setting-up of a wireless supported network, such as the WLAN, does not require the presence of the Internet! The invention therefore has a considerable advantage, as generic automobile parking apparatuses are often installed in a fixed position in the basements of buildings where there is no mobile reception available, that is to say no telephone wireless network, and the use of the mobile terminal, a smartphone, via the Internet breaks down. It is also unnecessary to connect the control unit of the automobile parking apparatus to the Internet or to the telephone line, which is often very laborious as it would be necessary to provide separate telephone lines in the basement for this purpose and additional operating costs would also be incurred in order to set up an access of the automobile parking apparatus to the Internet. The elegant design of the invention employs and uses the nowadays ubiquitous smartphone (and naturally also all other mobile terminals such as a mobile telephone, mobile computer or tablet computer without hereby intending this list to be definitive), even with systems which are not connected to the Internet. The free programmability of the programs (the apps) used on the cellphone can equally be used!

At the same time, the system is equipped such that both simple hand-held transmitters and complex, mobile terminals such as smartphones can be used in parallel. The appropriate communications channels are provided, that is to say for the operation and use of simple hand-held transmitters a receiving unit at the control unit is sufficient, as the flow of information, the access code and the control instructions to the system controller only take place unidirectionally. The local radio network described above is optionally set up for the operation of smartphones, which, of course, can also use the single radio channel of the hand-held transmitter, which network then also includes a transmitting unit at the control unit to enable a correspondingly more complex, bidirectional communication between the mobile controller and the control unit.

Furthermore, it is provided that a time slot is provided for

the release. The mobile controller is used, for example, such

that, at the beginning, a request signal is sent from the

mobile controller to the control unit of the automobile

parking apparatus. This request signal signals to the control

unit that an operation of the system is required and, if

necessary, the necessary preparations are carried out at this

time, for example sufficient hydraulic pressure is built up

etc. After the control unit has received this request signal,

the access code is issued, for example indicated on a display.

The control unit expects the correct input code to be entered

within an adjustable time slot after issuing the access code.

Within this time slot, the acceptance of an appropriate input

code is released and also subsequent control commands are only

possible within a corresponding (the same or an additional)

time slot in order to guarantee safe operation of the system.

Of course, it is also possible to dispense with the

transmission of a request signal. An appropriate access code

is then continuously offered at the output, for example.

Instead of an actively transmitted request signal, the

automobile parking apparatus then recognizes, for example

autonomously and automatically, when an operation is required.

For example, the control unit is equipped with appropriate

sensors, for example movement sensors or noise sensors. If a

noise or a movement is detected, it is assumed that a vehicle

is to be parked. An input code is then offered at the output.

In an advantageous embodiment, it is provided that an

authentication of the mobile controller is carried out before

the release, the release depends upon a positive

authentication check, and optionally the authentication is

also saved.

In an elegant manner, for this purpose it is provided that the

control unit includes an authentication unit which evaluates

the authentication information transmitted by the mobile

controller and optionally also saves it in a memory.

In addition to the localized and basic authentication

described in the introduction (which is at least checked, i.e.

carried out, with the authentication unit described above), a personal authentication, that is to say an authentication of the user, is also basically possible therewith. With the help of this information, the user can be offered an exactly specified parking position for example. It is also possible to document the use of the system therewith, i.e. which user has used the automobile parking apparatus, when and how. The authentication unit provided enables very safe operation of the automobile parking apparatus and its controller, as an operation, i.e. control of the pallets or their drives, is only possible when the authentication has been positively completed. Here, the personal authentication is carried out, for example, by transmitting the user name or by transmitting the number of the hand-held transmitter, wherein an appropriate file is then stored in the authentication unit of the control unit in order to check whether this user or this hand-held transmitter is authorized to be able to carry out a corresponding control command here.

In a further preferred embodiment, it is provided that the output is located at least in close proximity to the moving pallet. The access code is therefore issued in the vicinity of the location where a pallet is moved and the user can observe and monitor this very movement requested by him. In this respect, the term "close proximity" can also be described as "visible range" without however restricting the term thereto. This additional proposal assists to guarantee safe operation of the system which, of course, depends on the specific constructional circumstances and where the automobile parking apparatus (in particular the moving elements thereof, such as for example a rack etc.) is installed, on account of which an exact longitudinal distance cannot be specified for this.

Here, the arrangement is chosen such that the user has to

position himself with respect to the output so that he can

also discern the issued information, the access code, and in

doing so simultaneously keep an eye on and observe the

movement of the pallet actuated and controlled by him. If an

operational fault should then occur, the user can respond

thereto, as he immediately recognizes the operational fault in

the automobile parking apparatus. In addition, a dead-man

control can of course also be provided here, as a result of

which the operation becomes even safer.

The invention is aimed at choosing an output which can also be

discerned by the user. Here, the output can be visual or

audible, for example, on account of which it is advantageous

to provide a display or a loudspeaker as the output.

Furthermore, advantageously it is provided in the proposal

that a series of different symbols is specified at the output,

for example the display, as an access code. The user is

thereby requested to enter the sequence, that is to say the

series of different symbols, into his mobile controller.

Different colors, characters, numbers, letters, graphics or

other elements, which are understood here by the term "symbol", can be used for this purpose without restricting

this list.

An audible series of symbols is, of course, also possible; a

Morse signal or also different tone levels are to be

understood here as a symbol.

Instead of a (time-sequential) series of different symbols issued at the output, it is alternatively provided that a complete symbol formed from multiple different symbols is displayed at the output as an access code. For example, the color combination red-blue-yellow is displayed simultaneously at the output/display and the user must press the red, blue and yellow button sequentially or simultaneously and thus enter the access code at his mobile controller.

It is clear that there is a multiplicity of variants here as to how the access code or entry code can be designed; all these variants fall under the invention. In an elegant manner, an access code which, on the one hand, can be entered quickly and, on the other, also guarantees adequate operational safety, is chosen here. Simple access codes are therefore preferred.

Advantageously, it is also provided in the proposal that both a radio signal and an optical signal are transmitted from the mobile controller to the control unit after activation by the user, wherein the control unit is equipped with both a receiving unit for the radio signal and for the optical signal, and the control unit releases the pallet to move when the receiving unit for the optical signal receives a signal, or, if only the receiving unit for the radio signal receives a signal, an access code is issued at the output. As a result of this proposal, convenience is further increased without curtailing operational safety. The optical signal requires a free, in particular obstruction-free, stretch between the transmitter, the mobile controller and the receiving unit which is provided at the control unit. In this situation, it is assumed that the user has the movement of the pallet or automobile parking apparatus in view, and the mobile controller has a connection to the control unit via the optical signal. In this case, no access code has to be issued at the output, as the actual purpose of issuing the access code is to ensure that the user has a clear view of the moving pallet or automobile parking apparatus and of the output which is preferably arranged in close proximity.

If only the radio signal of the two issued signals reaches the control unit, then it must be assumed that the user does not have a clear view of the automobile parking apparatus or the pallet, and a movement of the pallet also has to stop for reasons of operational safety. The user will notice this, of course, in that, in spite of his making an entry, the pallet does not move as required. He then moves to a position from which he can see the output (and the pallet), then discerns the signals at the output and supplements his request with the access code.

Here, a wavelength spectrum, which has a high absorption rate or reflection rate in solids such as concrete, steel, glass, brickwork or similar, is regarded as an optical signal. Typical representatives (without wanting to restrict the invention thereto) are, for example, infrared wavelength ranges.

In a preferred embodiment of the proposal, it is provided that the input code is entered when the user types it in or when the input code is recorded by the camera that is provided in the mobile controller.

In doing so, the entry is made in different ways and is not restricted to manual input alone. Here, the term "entry" includes any possible recording of the access code displayed at the output in the mobile controller and, of course, also includes semi-automated or automated variants, such as by means of a camera for example. In this case, for example, the mobile controller, a smartphone or similar has a camera, and a program (app) which enables an appropriate evaluation of the access code recorded by the camera runs on the smartphone. As a result, the input code is then generated and transmitted to the control unit. Alternatively, it is possible for the image recorded by the camera to be transmitted to the control unit where it is evaluated appropriately. This proposal is smart, makes multiple use of resources which are present in any case, and also significantly increases the convenience of operation of an automobile parking apparatus which is so equipped.

Surprisingly, the the invention may also be achieved by using

a mobile terminal such as a mobile telephone, a smartphone, a

mobile computer, a tablet computer or similar as the mobile

controller for controlling an automobile parking apparatus.

As, in the meantime, these devices provide adequate computing

power, they can also be used to monitor and control relatively

complex applications, thus achieving safer operation of

generic automobile parking apparatuses.

In particular, the deployment and use of such a mobile

terminal in the method and system described above is

advantageously clear.

Furthermore, in a favorable manner, the use of a mobile

terminal as described is provided in that communication

between the mobile terminal and the automobile parking

apparatus or the control unit and the automobile parking

apparatus occurs only via a local radio network or otherwise

wirelessly, e.g. by radio or by infrared data transmission and

not via a computer-supported network such as the Internet.

Surprisingly, this functionality is namely not required for

the use of this mobile terminal.

The invention further provides a method for controlling the

movement of an automobile parking apparatus with a mobile

controller, wherein the automobile parking apparatus has a

drive for moving at least one pallet for accommodating the

vehicle to be parked and wherein a control unit is provided

for the drive and is linked with the receiving unit of an

interface area, and wherein the mobile controller is first

moved into the interface area, e.g. placed against or on it,

and a data connection is then established between the

interface area and the mobile controller, and hereafter the

control commands for the movement of the pallet of the

automobile parking apparatus are entered via the mobile

controller, wherein said control commands are transmitted via

the link to the interface area and from the interface area

into the control unit, and wherein the data link is monitored

by a dead-man monitoring device.

The system according to the invention may also be used for

controlling an automobile parking apparatus with a mobile

controller, in particular for carrying out the method

described above, wherein the system comprises an automobile

parking apparatus with at least one pallet, which can be moved

by a controllable drive, for accommodating the vehicle to be

parked, and wherein the system comprises a control unit,

wherein said control unit is connected to an interface area

having at least one receiving unit that is suitable for the

wireless receipt of information, and wherein the system has a

mobile controller with a transmitting unit which is to be

brought into the interface area by the user to control the

drive.

At the same time, this proposal according to the invention

elegantly combines convenient operation or control with a high

degree of safety. The convenient operation or control takes

place via the mobile controller, a mobile terminal, which is

preferably configured as a mobile telephone, smartphone,

mobile computer or tablet computer. The free programmability

and the wide distribution of this class of mobile terminals

are advantages which are used when realizing the system

associated with the invention as well as in the implementation

of the method. With this proposal, it is possible to realize a

dead-man control for the operation of automobile parking apparatuses which are controlled with a smartphone and similar mobile controller/terminal. In doing so, it is sufficient if the mobile controller/terminal is brought into the interface area. Here, the term "interface area" includes at least two aspects: on the one hand, a connection is established between the mobile controller and the control unit via the interface. The interface area therefore also has a technical task, in particular the interface area is equipped at least with a receiving unit, which, in particular, feeds the received data to the controller. Furthermore, the term "area" describes a localized zone, that is to say a space, in which this interface also actually works.

As technology for the interface, recourse is made, for example, to wireless, radio-supported communications systems, which, beneficially, are provided as standard in the terminals described above. Examples of these are so-called near field communication and also Bluetooth technology.

Near Field Communication (abbreviation NFC) is a transmission standard for the contactless exchange of data over short distances of a few centimeters using wireless technology. It was developed to enable data to be exchanged without special logging-on between two temporarily paired devices which are held close to one another without errors occurring with the alternating assignment of the pairs. With this technology, a separate radio network is not necessarily required; communication occurs between the terminal located in the interface area and the interface.

Distance-sensitive communication can also be realized with the

help of so-called Bluetooth technology, wherein a plurality of

terminals can access the control unit with the help of this

protocol. By appropriate control of the power, the spatial

width of the interface area can also be defined and adjusted

from a few centimeters to approx. 50 cm, 1 or 2 m.

The interface area is chosen to be relatively small to thereby

force the user who uses, that is to say controls, the

automobile parking apparatus to be in the immediate vicinity

of the interface or the control unit and also the moving

platforms. The user is therefore able to directly monitor the

movement of the platform and, if necessary, also intervene in

the event of a fault.

The short-range connection technology ensures that the user is

in the immediate vicinity of the platform and thus allows a

dead-man control to be realized. On the one hand, control only

takes place when the user and his mobile controller/terminal

are located in the interface area and a deliberate action by

the user at the parking apparatus, that is to say for example

a button is pressed to move the platform, is actually carried

out.

It is therefore beneficial that, in the method, it is provided

that a short-range radio or infrared communication technology

(or general optical information transmission system), such as near field communication (NFC) or Bluetooth, is used for the link.

Here, in particular, it is provided that the link is interrupted and/or the drive deactivated when the mobile controller is removed from the interface area and/or when no more entries are made on the mobile controller.

A deliberate withdrawal of the user leads to an interruption of the link and therefore to an end of the movement, as well as, in the event of inactivity on the part of the user, it is assumed that the user is no longer concentrating on the movement of the platform and a (temporary) termination of the movement is safer.

In an advantageous embodiment, a dead-man monitoring device is provided for moving the pallet. At this point, reference is made to the different strategies and embodiments of the dead man monitoring device described in this application.

The use of a dead-man monitoring device in technical systems, which in particular have moving elements and are not usually protected by a gate or similar against unauthorized access, has long been known. The trick of this proposal lies in particular in the fact that particularly the mobile controller, for example a mobile terminal such as the cell phone or smartphone or tablet computer, is also used for realizing the dead-man monitoring device. Here, the dead-man monitoring device is preferably configured in the vicinity of the automobile parking apparatus or as part of the control unit, but without reducing the proposal or this invention to these realization forms. As modern smartphones or other mobile terminals can be programmed at will, it is, of course, also possible to realize the dead-man monitoring device to a major extent on the mobile terminal, for example in intelligent software, and then to only output appropriate information, which then leads to an emergency stop or similar actions, on that part of the dead-man monitoring device which faces the control device. This results in the dead-man monitoring device being realized to a major extent on the control unit but also to a certain extent on the mobile controller.

However, it must also be noted that, in further embodiments of

the proposal, a dead-man monitoring device is realized fully

on the control unit side and, in particular, only observes or

monitors the presence or activity of the mobile controller,

which, as described, is very variable, and, on the occurrence

of appropriate events, by an appropriate design of the

algorithms, concludes that a fault has occurred in terms of

the dead-man control and then initiates appropriate stored

scenarios. Such a realization form is also possible, for

example, with a transponder.

In an advantageous embodiment, it is therefore provided that

the dead-man monitoring device has a bearing surface, and the

dead-man monitoring device prevents a movement of the pallet

when the mobile controller is not located against, in front of

or on the bearing surface. The orientation of the bearing

surface is very variable (for example horizontal, inclined at

an angle, steeply inclined or also oriented vertically) and,

in particular, is to be designed such that it forces the user

to hold his mobile controller or mobile terminal against the

bearing surface itself in his hand and thereby carry out a

deliberate action. If the mobile controller is no longer

against the bearing surface (for example because the user is

distracted and lowers his hand or because the user drops the

mobile controller or terminal), a case of dead-man control has occurred and a further movement of the automobile parking apparatus or pallet is automatically prevented.

In another variant of the embodiment of the dead-man monitoring device, it is provided that the movement of the pallet is prevented when no entry is made in the mobile controller or the mobile controller is not moved. This relies on a positive action of the user at the mobile controller or terminal and, if such an activity is not determined, a case of dead-man control is assumed.

It is therefore provided, for example, that a program, by means of which the direction of movement of the pallet can be selected and controlled, is located on the mobile controller or mobile terminal. In doing so, the programming is chosen such that a movement of the pallet only occurs when the associated button is also pressed. This would then be the entry to be monitored. Another variant would be that a shaking movement of the mobile terminal, which can also be discerned by the mobile terminal as such, has to occur (modern smartphones have appropriate acceleration sensors) and if such a shaking movement should not occur a case of dead-man control is assumed.

It is clear that a dead-man monitoring device can also combine a plurality of the above-mentioned variants with one another. At the same time, it is also clear to the person skilled in the art that there is a multiplicity of different concepts for realizing a dead-man monitoring device which are all covered by the present invention.

It is clear that the movement of the pallet can be stopped at widely differing points by the dead-man monitoring device. For example, the drives lend themselves for this; however, fast- acting brakes, valves and similar can also be provided in order to realize a rapid emergency stop. For example, the use of mechanical stops, which are to be swiveled into the movement path of the pallet, or similar is also conceivable.

In addition, the use of such mobile terminals opens up a

multiplicity of further options as described below.

Furthermore, the the invention provides the following method

for the transmission of information. This relates to a method

for the transmission of information, such as for example

system, state, operating or error data or similar of an

automobile parking apparatus or some other fixed system which

is not connected to a computer-supported network such as the

Internet, wherein a mobile terminal, such as for example a

mobile telephone, smartphone, mobile computer or tablet

computer, communicates by wires or wirelessly with the control

unit of the automobile parking apparatus or fixed system, in

doing so the information is transmitted from the control unit

to the mobile terminal, and the data are transmitted from the

mobile terminal via the computer-supported network to a target

computer.

The trick of the invention lies in the fact that use is made

of the mobility of the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal

does not usually have a connection to the telephone network,

and therefore also no Internet connection, in an underground

garage, the typical place of installation of the generic

automobile parking apparatus. Nevertheless, it is however

active and is used for controlling the automobile parking

system. When used in this way, the information described above

can be transmitted and, as soon as the mobile terminal has

dialed into the telephone network again, this information can be transmitted via the computer-supported network (the

Internet) to a target computer.

At this point, it must be noted that this aspect of the

invention is, of course, not restricted to the special

application of an automobile parking apparatus but can, of

course, be used with any other controlled, fixed system which

is not connected to the Internet, and is advantageous in the

same way.

As the operational safety of a corresponding automobile

parking apparatus is significantly increased by this proposal

according to the invention, this proposal also contributes to

an increase in safety of such an automobile parking apparatus.

The transportation of information is, of course, possible in

both directions. Therefore, a further aspect of the invention

comprises a method for the transmission of information, such

as for example set-up data, system parameters or control

programs or similar, from a central computer connected to a

computer-supported network such as the Internet to the control

unit of an automobile parking apparatus or some other fixed

system, wherein the information is transmitted via the

computer-supported network to a mobile terminal and the

information is then transmitted from the mobile terminal by

wires or wirelessly to the control unit of the automobile

parking apparatus or fixed system which is not connected to

the computer-supported network.

An Internet-based communications method for automobile parking

apparatuses or similar systems, which are themselves not

connected to the Internet, is therefore proposed!

It is advantageous here that the number of users, and

therefore the usage frequency, with automobile parking

apparatuses is relatively large and therefore a transmission

of information is sufficiently probable, as the information to

be transmitted is distributed in a redundant manner on a

plurality of mobile terminals, which can be controlled on the

basis of an appropriate user file (user A is authorized for

automobile parking apparatus XYZ, etc.). As a rule, the

information exchanged here is not time-critical and therefore

does not have to be available in real time. However, this

information supports the work for the maintenance and

monitoring of such automobile parking systems. The load on the

service personnel is reduced and they can be deployed in an

optimum manner.

Advantageously, it is provided that a transmission of

information to the mobile terminal and/or the control unit

only takes place following a positive authentication check.

The authentication check ensures that only the correct data

are loaded onto the mobile terminal or control unit.

Furthermore, it is provided that information is transmitted

during a control operation of the automobile parking apparatus

or system, wherein the mobile terminal is used for the control

operation. As a rule, the authentication check has been

completed at this time, and the control operation, which

requires a certain time, can be used twice. As a rule, the

user notices nothing of this data transmission and is neither

hindered nor impaired in his control of the system.

Furthermore, the invention provides a method for controlling

the movement of an automobile parking apparatus which has a

drive for moving at least one pallet for accommodating the

vehicle to be parked and a control region is provided in front of the automobile parking apparatus, and the control unit releases the pallet to move only if the user with the mobile controller is in the control region.

The invention further provides a system which is intended for

controlling an automobile parking apparatus with a mobile

controller is proposed, wherein the system comprises an

automobile parking apparatus with at least one pallet, which

can be moved by a controllable drive, for accommodating the

vehicle to be parked, as well as a control unit, and the

system has a mobile controller with a receiving unit which the

user can move into the interface area to control the drive.

This is a very convenient proposal, as ultimately the system

or the method automatically detects whether or not a movement

of the pallet can be carried out. If the user with his mobile

controller, which here is part of the system, is not located

in the control region, then there is a risk that the user does

not have direct visual contact with the automobile parking

apparatus and logically is unable to monitor the movement of

the platform.

Here, elegantly, use is again made of functions which modern

mobile terminals such as smartphones have. An arrangement is

provided of one or more control region(s) which are then

recognized by the sensors or elements (e.g. antennas or

receiving units) of the mobile terminal, and then, for

example, evaluated by evaluation software installed on the

mobile terminal. In doing so, elegantly, the system is

realized such that the control region is in a geometrical

arrangement with respect to the automobile parking apparatus

which enables the automobile parking apparatus to be

controlled safely by the user. Naturally, it is fundamentally

possible for such a system to have a plurality of different control regions in order, for example, to also operate larger automobile parking apparatuses sequentially and safely. A plurality of cells of control regions, which are likewise covered by this proposal, can therefore be provided.

The movement of the pallet is only released when the user with

the mobile controller/terminal is located in the control

region. This condition is determined by the mobile

controller/terminal! Here, for example, it is provided that

the software of the mobile terminal allows access to the

control unit of the automobile parking apparatus when this

condition is satisfied. Alternatively, it is possible that,

when this condition is satisfied, a data connection to the

control unit is set up or appropriate presence information is

entered in the control unit which then releases the movement

the pallet.

In an advantageous embodiment, here too a dead-man monitoring

device is provided for the movement of the pallet. At this

point, reference is made to the different strategies and

embodiments of the dead-man monitoring device described in

this application.

Elegantly, it is provided that the system has at least one

sector transmitter, and the control region is established

depending upon the field strength of the at least one sector

transmitter. The distance of the measuring location from the

sector transmitter can be determined by the magnitude of the

field strength. The field strength therefore implies

information relating to the location. If the signals of a

plurality of sector transmitters are considered or evaluated,

then an exact definition or limitation of the control region

is also possible. Elegantly, the mobile terminal, which has an appropriately sensitive and evaluating receiving unit, can always be used here for this purpose.

In another variant, the control region is defined by one or

more movement sensors, for example, and the control unit

releases control via the mobile controller when the user is

located in the control region, i.e. only then, for example, is

an authentication sent to the automobile parking apparatus and

a data connection set up.

In this context, it is particularly pointed out that all

features and characteristics described with regard to the

system for controlling an automobile parking system or the

advantageous use of a mobile terminal, and also avenues of

approach, can also be transferred accordingly with regard to

the formulation of the method according to the invention for

controlling the movement of an automobile parking system or

the method for transmitting information and can be used within

the meaning of the invention, and are seen as being also

disclosed. The same also applies in the reverse direction;

this means that constructional features, that is to say

features pertaining to the device, only mentioned with regard

to the method (method for controlling the movement of an

automobile parking system or method for transmitting

information) can also be taken into account and claimed within

the framework of the system claims, and are likewise included

in the disclosure.

The same applies in a similar manner to the use according to

the invention. Insofar as features of the two methods (method

for controlling the movement of an automobile parking system

or method for transmitting information) and of the system are

mentioned, these can also be claimed with regard to the use

and are seen as being also disclosed.

The same also applies to the two systems described according

to the invention and to the associated methods according to

the invention, i.e. characteristics which are only described

for one system/method can also be used in the same way with

the other system/method.

The invention and its different exemplary embodiments can be

used with parkers, double or multiple parkers as well as with

parking systems.

The invention is shown schematically in the drawing, in

particular in an exemplary embodiment. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows the system according to the invention in

a schematic view

Fig. 2 shows a detail according to Figure 1

Fig. 3 shows the method according to the invention in

a schematic view

Fig. 4a, 4b each show a view of a detail of the exemplary

embodiment of the system according to the

invention

Fig. 5 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the

system according to the invention in a plan

view.

In the figures, identical or corresponding elements are in

each case designated by the same references and, unless

expedient, are therefore not described again. The disclosures

contained in the overall description can be transferred analogously to identical parts with the same references or same component designations. The positional information chosen in the description, such as for example top, bottom, side etc., relates to the figure directly described and shown, and in the event of a positional change, is to be conferred analogously on the new position. Furthermore, individual characteristics or combinations of characteristics from the different exemplary embodiments shown and described can also constitute independent, inventive solutions or solutions according to the invention in their own right.

The system 1 according to the invention is shown schematically in Fig. 1. As already described, it consists of the automobile parking apparatus 2 and a mobile controller 3. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the automobile parking apparatus 2 consists of at least one parking system 22. The parking system 22 has two pallets 21, 21a, 21b arranged above one another, on which the vehicles 20, 20a, 20b to be parked stand. As an example, a working cylinder 24 driven by a hydraulic motor, or a rope or chain hoist driven by an electric motor is used as the drive (not shown) for the vertical movement (see double arrow 23).

A control unit 4 is provided for controlling the automobile parking apparatus 2 or the parking system 22. It is connected to the drive of the respective parking system 22 by means of a data cable 49. As already discussed, an automobile parking apparatus 2 comprises a plurality of parking systems 22 arranged in parallel, which, for their part, have at least one pallet 21 for parking vehicles.

The control unit 4 is described in more detail in Fig. 2. The control unit 4 has a receiving unit 40, which receives information from the mobile controller 3. A plurality of different types of mobile controller 3 are provided and shown here as an example. In a first, simple variant, a simple hand held transmitter 3a is provided as the mobile controller 3. As shown, this hand-held transmitter 3a has five buttons (buttons

A, B, C, up button and down button).

If the user now requires a movement of the pallet 21 because,

for example, his vehicle 20 is to be brought from an upper to

a lower exit position, then the output 42 of the control unit

4, here for example a display 42, indicates a series of

different symbols. For example, the letter sequence A-C-B

appears on the display 42. This sequence corresponds to the

access code. The user discerns this output visually and enters

this symbol sequence A-C-B into his hand-held transmitter 3a.

This corresponds to the input code. If the input code

transmitted from the hand-held transmitter 3a to the control

unit 4 now corresponds to the access code, then the control

unit allows the mobile controller 3 to access the parking

apparatus control 44 (a part of the control unit 4, see Fig.

2). The user can now lower the appropriate pallet 21 by means

of the "down" button. Such control is only possible during a

certain time slot for safety reasons. If the user has not

started the control within this time slot, then a new access

code is indicated at the output/display 42.

The appropriate control command to the drives is transmitted

from the control unit 4 to the drive via the data cable 49.

As already discussed, not only can the system or method

according to the invention be carried out with a simple hand

held wireless transmitter 3a, but, in the same way, also by

means of a considerably more convenient mobile terminal 3b,

such as the smartphone shown here for example.

In doing so, communication between the smartphone 3b and the control unit 4 can take place using the same channel as with the hand-held wireless transmitter 3a. It is more elegant, however, if, instead of this simple, unidirectional operation, a local radio network 5 is used which, on the one hand, provides a standardized protocol for transmitting data, that is to say guarantees safe operation, and also at the same time allows communication in both directions.

The design of the control unit 4 is shown schematically in Figure 2. A receiving unit 40 accepts the data transmitted from the mobile controller 3 and initially routes them to an authentication unit 45. On the one hand, the authentication unit 45 consists of a file in which the data of the users who are authorized to control this automobile parking apparatus are stored. At the same time, the authentication unit also comprises a comparator, i.e. a check is carried out as to whether the information entered actually originates from an authorized user. If the information is from an unauthorized user, access to the parking apparatus control 44 is of course refused at this point. This can be signaled by an appropriate message or visual display. In addition, connected to the authentication unit 45 is a memory 46, in which the access of the user to the control unit 4 is simultaneously protocolled in detail.

The control unit 4 also has a code generator 41. This is a random generator which issues symbols at the output 42, here a display 42, in a random manner. In the simple exemplary embodiment of an output 42 shown here, a visual display 42 consisting of three different lamps A, B, C is provided without, however, restricting the invention thereto. As already described, there is a multiplicity of variants as to which symbols are used and how they are displayed. All these variants are covered by the present invention.

The method for transmitting information is shown schematically in Fig. 3. The situation according to Fig. 1 is shown by the rectangle 10. This is intended to express that an automobile parking apparatus 2 is normally located in an area of a building which is decoupled from the cellphone network (and therefore also from the Internet), for example in an underground garage. As already discussed, communication between the mobile terminal, the smartphone 3b, and the control unit 4 takes place via the local radio network 5, a WLAN or Wi-Fi. The automobile parking apparatus 2 is not connected to the Internet. However, the local network 5 is available. While the parking system 22 is now moved, as described, with the mobile terminal 3b, information, such as for example system, state, operating or error data, is transmitted from the control unit 4 to the mobile terminal 3b. This situation is indicated by a 1 in a circle, which describes the first location of using the mobile terminal 3b in the method according to the invention for transmitting information.

The second step of the method according to the invention for transmitting information is indicated by a 2 in a circle. The same mobile terminal 3b (as in position 1 in the circle) has now moved with the user and his vehicle out of the underground garage, for example, and is located once more in the area of the cellphone network and sets up a connection 62 to the transmitting/receiving station or antenna 60 of the cellphone network. In this case, the cellphone network 62 is also part of the computer-supported network 6, the Internet. As soon as this data connection to the Internet 6 has been re established, the mobile terminal 3b transmits the information recorded in the underground garage to a target computer 61 which is on the Internet 6. In this way, it is possible to send information from a system which is not connected to the Internet to a target computer which is on the Internet. This communications channel can, of course, also be used in the other direction.

Different variants of the dead-man monitoring device 7 are shown in Figure 4a and 4b. As already explained, it is provided, for example, that the dead-man monitoring device 7 is (predominantly) part of the control unit 4.

Particularly in Figure 4a, it is shown that the dead-man monitoring device 7 is equipped with a bearing surface 70 which is oriented horizontally and on which the user places his mobile controller 3, in particular his mobile terminal 3b (for example a smartphone). The dead-man monitoring device 7 is equipped with near field communication technology (NFC) or a comparable protocol which is also supported by the mobile controller 3.

In this way, it is possible for the receiving unit 40 of the dead-man monitoring device 7, which in this case is also identical to the receiving unit 40 of the control unit 4, to exchange data (in particular bidirectionally) with the mobile controller 3 (shown by the waves) and to prevent a movement of the pallet 21 when, for example, no control inputs are made on the mobile controller 3, as it is then to be assumed that the controller 3 has only been set down on the bearing surface 70 but, in fact, no movement of the pallet 21 is to take place.

Another variant of the embodiment of the dead-man monitoring device 7 is shown in Figure 4b. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the bearing surface 70 is provided oriented vertically and does not form an option for setting down the mobile terminal 3b or mobile controller 3. The user is therefore encouraged to actively hold his mobile terminal 3b against the bearing surface 70, and again the mobile terminal 3b sets up a data connection to the receiving unit 40 of the control unit 4 or dead-man monitoring device 7. Here, this activity of the user is sufficient to realize the dead-man monitoring, as if the user lowers his arm because, for example, he is distracted or faints, the data connection to the receiving unit immediately breaks and the dead-man monitoring device 7 immediately prevents a further movement of the pallet 21.

In a first exemplary embodiment, the dead-man monitoring device 7 is realized entirely on the control unit 4. In doing so, the control unit 4 only allows the pallet to move when a positive signal of the dead-man monitoring device 7 is present, which, for example, is interrogated as an appropriate data edge (simple Y/N interrogation).

When the dead-man monitoring device 7 is embodied one hundred percent on the control unit 4, this also monitors that appropriate input or presence information is available from the mobile controller 3; all the rest of the logic is realized by the control unit 4.

In an alternative embodiment, the dead-man monitoring device 7 is partially realized on the control unit 4 on the one hand and on the mobile controller 3 on the other, for example in such a way that a program of the dead-man monitoring device, which provides the necessary instructions for the user and thereafter only transmits the information "user active" or "user interactive" to the control unit 4, runs on the mobile controller 3 or mobile terminal 3b. The control unit 4 effects a movement of the pallet 21 depending on this information.

It is, of course, possible to combine these two concepts

described with one another. The person skilled in the art will

also recognize further concepts for realizing a dead-man

monitoring device 7, which ultimately has to monitor the

activity of the user and, in the event of apparent inactivity

of the user for whatever reason, prevents a further movement

of the pallet 21.

A further exemplary embodiment according to the invention is

shown in plan view in Figure 5. The common access area to the

individual parking systems 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, which together

form the automobile parking apparatus 2, is shown by 25. A

user, who is holding a mobile controller 3, preferably a

mobile terminal 3b such as a smartphone, in his hand, is shown

by 9. He is located in the access area 25 in front of parking

system 22c and wishes, for example, to lower this parking

system 22c in order to get to his vehicle.

The movement of just this parking system 22c (or also an

automobile parking apparatus 2 in general) is realized by the

system described here in a very convenient and at the same

time safe manner. A control region 8 is situated in the access

area 25 in front of the parking system 22c. The user 9 is only

able to control the parking system 22c in the control region

8. Here, for example, the control region 8 is chosen such that

the user can actually only move the parking system 22c when he

is located in the immediate vicinity in front of the parking

system 22c or the automobile parking apparatus 2 (this is

often regarded as a synonym within the framework of this

application) and is therefore in direct eye contact with the

parking system 22c or the automobile parking apparatus 2, and, in the event of a fault thereof, can stop the movement of the platforms 21.

A plurality of sector transmitters, which radiate a directional radio signal (for example in the radio frequency band, although other frequency bands are also conceivable, for example in the optical range as defined in this application), are specified by 80, 80a, 80b and 80c. The limits of the directional radio signals are indicated by differently dashed lines and are chosen such that the four parking systems 22 shown here each lie in the radio field of the respective sector transmitters 80, 80a, 80b and 80c.

The use of a directional radio signal saves energy. However, the invention is not restricted thereto; the sector transmitter can, however, also radiate homogenous radio waves in all spatial directions in order to achieve the effect according to the invention.

It is clear that the respective field strength of the sector transmitter reduces with increasing distance from the sector transmitter. If a field strength is now detected at a first distance, conclusions can be drawn regarding the field strength that is to be expected at a certain distance from a sector transmitter. By this means, it is possible to define the limits of the control regions 8 (only one is shown in Figure 5 so as not to impair clarity; it is of course possible to define a plurality of such control regions or cells of control regions). It can be clearly seen that the radio fields of the different sector transmitters overlap one another and therefore this redundant design allows a very accurate definition of the respective control regions 8 and therefore, in the case of large-area automobile parking apparatuses, which have a large number of parking systems, the user 9 must in fact be located exactly in front of the respective parking system that he wishes to operate. Firstly, the redundant design allows higher positional accuracy of the respective limits of the control regions 8 on the one hand and, on the other, also increased operational safety in the event that a sector transmitter 80, 80a, 80b and 80c fails.

The claims submitted with the application and submitted later are without prejudice for the achievement of further protection.

It must further be noted that the embodiments and variants of the invention described in the various embodiments and shown in the figures can be combined with one another at will. In doing so, individual or several characteristics can be interchanged as required. These combinations of characteristics are likewise disclosed.

The counter-references stated in the dependent claims refer to the further embodiment of the subject matter of the main claim by way of the characteristics of the respective sub-claim. However, these are not to be understood as a renunciation of the achievement of independent, objective protection for the characteristics of the referenced sub-claims.

Characteristics which have been disclosed only in the description, and also individual characteristics from claims which include a multiplicity of characteristics, may be incorporated into the independent claim/claims at any time as being of significance essential to the invention for differentiation from the prior art, including when such characteristics have been mentioned in conjunction with other characteristics or achieve particularly favorable results in conjunction with other characteristics.

Claims (14)

Claims:

1. A method for controlling the movement of an automobile

parking apparatus

- which has a drive for moving at least one pallet for

accommodating the vehicle to be parked,

- wherein a control unit is provided for the drive, and

- an input code is entered at a mobile controller,

- the input code is wirelessly transmitted to the

control unit,

- wherein an access code is issued at an output which is

to be re-entered via the mobile controller by a user

who must therefore note this issued access code and

actively enter or note it in the mobile controller;

- wherein a localized and a basic authentication are

achieved simultaneously, whereas the localized

authentication includes that the user is located at

least in the perception range of the output of the

automobile parking apparatus while the access code is

being entered; and

- the control unit releases the pallet to move only if

the input code corresponds to the access code.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a time slot is

provided for the release, and/or an authentication of the

mobile controller is carried out before the release, and

the release depends upon a positive authentication check,

and the authentication is optionally also saved.

3. The method according to one of the preceding claims,

wherein a series of different symbols is provided at the

output as an access code, and/or a complete symbol formed

from multiple different symbols is displayed at the output

as an access code.

4. The method according to one of the preceding claims,

wherein both a radio signal and an optical signal are

transmitted from the mobile controller to the control unit

after activation by the user, wherein the control unit is

equipped with both a receiving unit for the radio signal

and for the optical signal, and the control unit releases

the pallet to move when the receiving unit for the optical

signal receives a signal, or an access code is issued at

the output if only the receiving unit for the radio signal

receives a signal.

5. The method according to one of the preceding claims,

wherein the input code is entered when the user types it in

or when the input code is recorded by the camera that is

provided in the mobile controller.

6. A system for controlling the movement of an automobile

parking apparatus with a mobile controller, in particular

for carrying out the method according to one of the

preceding claims, wherein the system comprises an

automobile parking apparatus with at least one pallet,

which can be moved by a controllable drive, for

accommodating the vehicle to be parked, and wherein the

system comprises a control unit, wherein said control unit

has a receiving unit that is suitable for the wireless

receipt of information, a code generator, an output, a code

comparator and a parking apparatus controller, and wherein

the code generator generates an access code, the output

issues the code, the code to be re-entered via the mobile

controller by a user who must therefore note this issued

access code and actively enter or note it in the mobile

controller, the receiving unit receives an input code

transmitted by the mobile controller, and the code

comparator compares the access code and input code and, if

these codes are identical, permits control of the parking apparatus controller by the mobile controller, and in particular a dead-man monitoring device for the movement of the pallet is provided.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the mobile

controller is configured in the form of a hand-held

transmitter, an electronic circuit such as an RFID circuit

or a mobile terminal such as a mobile telephone or

smartphone, mobile computer or tablet computer, and/or the

control unit comprises an authentication unit which

evaluates the authentication information transmitted by the

mobile controller and optionally also saves it in a memory.

8. The system according to one of claims 6 and 7, wherein the

system has a local radio network for communication between

the controller and the receiving unit, and the control unit

also has a transmitting unit in addition to the receiving

unit, and/or the output is located in close proximity to

the moving pallet, and/or a display or a loudspeaker is

provided as the output.

9. The method according to one of claims 1 through 5 or 11

through 12, wherein a mobile terminal, such as a mobile

telephone, smartphone, mobile computer, tablet computer or the like is used as the mobile controller for controlling the automobile parking apparatus.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein communication

between the mobile terminal and the automobile parking

apparatus or the control unit of the automobile parking

apparatus occurs only via a local radio network or

otherwise wirelessly, e.g. by radio or by infrared data

transmission (e.g. near-field communication or Bluetooth)

and not via a computer-supported network such as the

Internet.

11. A method for controlling the movement of an automobile

parking apparatus with a mobile controller, wherein the

automobile parking apparatus has a drive for moving at

least one pallet for accommodating the vehicle to be parked

and wherein a control unit is provided for the drive and is

linked with the receiving unit of an interface area, and

wherein the mobile controller is first moved into the

interface area by being placed against or on it, and a data

connection is then established between the interface area

and the mobile controller, and hereafter the control

commands for the movement of the pallet of the automobile

parking apparatus are entered via the mobile controller, wherein said control commands are transmitted via the link to the interface area and from the interface area into the control unit, and wherein the data link is monitored by a dead-man monitoring device.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein a short-range

radio or infrared communication technology, such as near

field communication (NFC) or Bluetooth, is used for the

link, and/or the link is interrupted and/or the drive

deactivated when the mobile controller is removed from the

interface area and/or when no more entries are made on the

mobile controller.

13. A system for controlling an automobile parking apparatus

with a mobile controller, in particular for carrying out

the method according to one of the preceding claims 11

through 12, wherein the system comprises an automobile

parking apparatus with at least one pallet, which can be

moved by a controllable drive, for accommodating the

vehicle to be parked, and wherein the system comprises a

control unit, wherein said control unit is connected to an

interface area having at least one receiving unit that is

suitable for the wireless receipt of information, and

wherein the system has a mobile controller with a transmitting unit which the user can move against the interface area to control the drive, and wherein in particular a dead-man monitoring device for the movement of the pallet is provided.

14. The system according to one of claims 6, 7 and 8, wherein

the dead-man monitoring device has a bearing surface, and

the dead-man monitoring device prevents a movement of the

pallet when the mobile controller is not located against,

in front of or on the bearing surface and/or the dead-man

monitoring device prevents the movement of the pallet when

no entry is made in the mobile controller or the mobile

controller is not moved.