DE102015202812A1 - Parking Management System - Google Patents

Abstract

A parking management system 10 comprising: - a park management system (PMS) back-end service 45 for collecting information from one or more parking spaces, - at least one parking management sensor node 30 installed on a parking lot 21, 22 of a parking area 20, detecting the presence of a vehicle 60 happens in a parking lot 21, 22 using the parking management sensor node 30; At least one gateway system 40 installed in physical proximity of the parking lot 21, 22, the gateway system 40 communicating with the at least one sensor node 30 at one end and transmitting information to and from the PMS backend service.

Description

The present invention relates to a parking lot management system having an innovative sensor network.

State of the art

• • Kostspieliger Einbau und Ausbau: Sensorknoten sind über den Parklücken eingebaut und erfordern nicht nur Vorrichtungen, um sie am Platz zu halten, sondern auch weitläufige elektrische Verkabelung. Diese Kosten werden durch die für solche Einbauten, wie auch für das Ausbauen am Ende der Pachtdauer des Parkplatzbetreibers notwendigen Ressourcen an Arbeitskräften vermehrt.
• • Unflexibles Netz: Sensorknoten, die eingebaut worden sind, sind nicht leicht rekonfigurierbar, d. h. Sensorknoten können nicht in einfacher Weise zugefügt oder entfernt werden. Bestehende Innenraumlösungen sind aufgrund der Schwierigkeiten, Sensorknoten über Außenparkplätzen zu befestigen, außen nicht anwendbar.
• • Sendeleistung. Sensoren senden die Sensordaten nur zu einer höheren Instanz oder mittels einer Art von Maschennetz. Dies erfordert viele energieverbrauchenden Übertragungs-Vorgänge.
• • Funkversorgung. Das benutzte Funkgerät besitzt eine kurze Reichweite, wodurch Wiederholungsmechanismen oder vielfache Gateways notwendig sind, um größere Flächen oder mehrstückige Gebäude zu versorgen. Daher steigen die Einbaukosten oder es werden mehr Verarbeitungsschnitte benötigt und mehr Übertragungen werden in den Sensorknoten benötigt, was zu einem gesteigerten Energieverbrauch führt.

To effectively manage parking lots, a sensor network is required to determine if parking spaces are available. A sensor network for this purpose consists of sensor nodes at individual parking spaces to determine their availability, and usually a central back-end system that processes this information to determine and display the number of empty spaces still available and where to find them. Existing sensor networks are mainly found indoors, z. As in multi-piece parking garages or underground garages, and have several shortcomings as described below.

• • Costly installation and removal: Sensor nodes are installed over the parking spaces and not only require fixtures to hold them in place, but also extensive electrical wiring. These costs are increased by the labor resources required for such installations, as well as for the removal at the end of the rental period of the car park operator.
• • Unflexible network: sensor nodes that have been installed are not easily reconfigurable, ie sensor nodes can not be easily added or removed. Existing interior solutions are due to the difficulties to attach sensor nodes on outdoor parking, outside not applicable.
• • transmission power. Sensors send the sensor data only to a higher level or via a kind of mesh network. This requires many energy consuming transmission operations.
• • radio coverage. The radio used has a short range, which requires repeating mechanisms or multiple gateways to service larger areas or multi-piece buildings. Therefore, the cost of installation increases or more processing cuts are needed and more transfers are needed in the sensor nodes, resulting in increased power consumption.

General description of the inventions

In order to overcome the deficiencies described above, the invention proposes a parking management system with an innovative sensor network.

• • einen Parkverwaltungssystem-(PMS – Parking Management System)Back-End-Dienst, der im Back-End abläuft und Informationen aus einem oder mehreren Parkplätzen sammelt;
• • wenigstens einen Parkverwaltungssensorknoten;
• • wenigstens ein Gateway-System, das in physikalischer Nähe von Parkplätzen eingebaut ist. Das Gateway-System kommuniziert mit wenigstens einem Parkverwaltungssensorknoten an einem Ende und übermittelt Informationen von und zu dem PMS-Back-End-Dienst.

The park management system according to the invention comprises:

• • a Parking Management System (PMS) back-end service that runs in the back-end and collects information from one or more parking spaces;
• At least one parking management sensor node;
• • at least one gateway system installed in physical proximity to parking lots. The gateway system communicates with at least one park management sensor node at one end and communicates information to and from the PMS backend service.

It should be understood that the back-end service is an application running on a remote device (server). The sensors are connected to the PMS back-end service and the service will evaluate the condition of the sensors to provide this information to other applications / users (eg parking lot location, pricing, navigation services etc.).

Preferably, each sensor node comprises a housing suitable for the installation of the sensor node on the floor of the monitored by the sensor node parking lot. Each sensor node is energized by a suitable power source (eg, battery, possibly combined with energy harvesting capabilities) that allows each sensor node to be set up for up to several years of operation. Power management is optimized by using active and passive sensor (s) (eg, magnetic sensor, radar, etc.) that are activated only when necessary, preferably by using an advantageous energy saving algorithm running locally on the sensor node. In addition, a low power radio transceiver (eg LoRa) is used for data communication. Detecting the presence of a vehicle in a parking lot is done by using the sensors.

For each sensor node, a suitable wireless transceiver (eg LoRa) is selected to achieve good coverage throughout the park area (whether indoors or outdoors) or even through concrete walls or within multiple floors in overground or underground parking garages , These types of transceivers combine low transmission power with high sensitivity.

All information from the sensor nodes is sent to one or more central gateways installed in the parking garage and / or area. Evaluation of the parking data can either be performed by the gateway itself and / or forwarded to a back-end service for further evaluation and / or application (s).

• • Die Sensorknoten umfassen einen passiven Sensor, der eine Integritätsprüfung unter Verwendung eines aktiven Sensors, z. B. eines radarbasierenden Sensors, ultraschallbasierenden Sensors oder Trägheitssensoren umfasst, mit einer Bewegungs-Aufwachfunktion: Wenn durch den passiven Sensor eine Bewegung erkannt wird, aktiviert er den aktiven Sensor, der eine genauere Messung bereitstellen wird;
• • Die Sensorknoten umfassen einen Magnetometer-Sensor als den passiven Sensor und umfassen zusätzlich einen Radar-Sender/Empfänger als aktiven Sensor zum Auswerten, ob die Sensordaten erwiesen sind. Während angenommen werden kann, dass der Radar-Sender/Empfänger 100% sichere Erkennung bereitstellt, kann er aufgrund seines vergleichsweise hohen Energieverbrauchs nicht die ganze Zeit angeschaltet sein. Durch Kombinieren eines passiven und aktiven Sensorkonzepts kann hohe Erkennungszuverlässigkeit wie auch niedriger Energieverbrauch erreicht werden.
• • Sensorknoten nach einer der oben beschriebenen Wahlmöglichkeiten, die zusätzlich eine Weitbereichs, Kleinleistungs-Funktechnologie benutzen (wie beispielsweise LoRa, Sigfox usw.) zur Anschlussfähigkeit zwischen den Parkverwaltungssensoren und dem Gateway;

Together, the PMS, the gateway (s) and the sensor nodes form a sensor network. Of the Park management sensor nodes having built-in connectivity coupled to a gateway may preferably perform one or more of the following choices:

• The sensor nodes comprise a passive sensor that performs an integrity check using an active sensor, e.g. A radar-based sensor, ultrasound-based sensor or inertial sensors, with a motion wake-up function: when motion is detected by the passive sensor, it activates the active sensor, which will provide a more accurate measurement;
• The sensor nodes comprise a magnetometer sensor as the passive sensor and additionally include a radar transmitter / receiver as an active sensor for evaluating whether the sensor data is proven. While it can be assumed that the radar transceiver provides 100% secure detection, it can not be turned on all the time because of its comparatively high power consumption. By combining a passive and active sensor concept, high recognition reliability as well as low energy consumption can be achieved.
• Sensor nodes according to one of the options described above, which additionally use a wide-area, low-power radio technology (such as LoRa, Sigfox, etc.) for connectivity between the parking management sensors and the gateway;

The gateway may be an intermediate, preferably a common gateway solution that forwards all received data packets to a network server. A network gateway is a network node equipped for docking with another network using different protocols. A gateway may include devices such as protocol converters, resistor matchers, bit rate converters, fault isolators or signal converters where necessary to provide system interoperability. It also requires the establishment of mutually acceptable administrative procedures between the two networks.

The requirement that a system be built according to the options described above is the use of at least one parking sensor node for each parking space and at least one gateway for each parking area. A parking lot may consist of a plurality of parking areas such as several floors or floors in a multi-piece parking garage. In certain cases, a gateway may cover multiple parking areas, if geographical distance permits.

Advantages of the invention

The proposed parking management system has a number of significant advantages over existing systems:
Wireless System: The invention overcomes existing deficiencies through the use of energy efficient sensor nodes that can be easily installed and removed from the parking lot floor. This eliminates the need for electrical cabling and adds the ability to perform park management on both outdoor and indoor sites, as well as allowing a quick installation procedure. As an example, the LoRa wireless technology can be used to fabricate long-range wireless communication with lower infrastructure costs, while at the same time providing longer battery life due to the low transmit power combined with low data rates. In addition, there is the possibility for star or mesh network architectures. Also a mixed star / mesh architecture is possible.

Economical Implementation: Compared to existing systems, significantly lower installation costs are required due to the use of wireless technology and appropriate power sources. In addition, the use of simple sensors (consumer quality), z. As MEMS sensors, ultrasonic, radar, ... sensors, as a main means of vehicle detection cost-effective than existing implementations with cameras. An appropriate choice of wireless technology also means that in best cases only one gateway would be required for an entire parking facility.

• • im Innenraum, durch Ankleben der Basis am Betonboden in mehrstückigen Parkhäusern; oder
• • im Freien, durch z. B. Anschrauben der Basis am Asphalt von Parkplätzen am Straßenrand; oder
• • Vergraben nur des Sensorknotens unter der Erdoberfläche, wobei dies besonders für Orte mit starker mechanischer Beanspruchung zu bevorzugen ist, z. B. Parkplätze für schwere Fahrzeuge.

Universal application: The sensor nodes are easy to install on a wide variety of surfaces, such as: B .:

• • in the interior, by gluing the base to the concrete floor in multi-storey car parks; or
• • outdoors, by z. B. screwing the base to the asphalt of parking lots at the roadside; or
• • Burying only the sensor node under the earth's surface, which is particularly preferable for places with heavy mechanical stress, eg. B. Parking for heavy vehicles.

According to the invention, the same system can be used for the management of parking spaces both indoors and outdoors. In addition, the system also allows a car park operator to easily create and manage temporary parking for one-time events such as concerts, gatherings or exhibitions, such as: B. by temporarily adding additional sensor nodes to the network. Furthermore, the system can be easily used to retrofit existing parking areas, facilitated by its low infrastructure and ease of installation requirements.

• 1) Differenzierte Abrechnungsmodelle, z. B. basierend auf Nutzung des Parkplatzes mit einem kleinen oder einem großen Auto
• 2) Zuweisen von Strafzetteln für Parkverstöße auf wirkungsvolle und schnelle Weise für a. Fristverstöße durch Überprüfen kontinuierlicher Belegungszeit b. Bereiche, wo Parken verboten ist, durch Einbauen von Sensoren in diesen Bereichen und Reagieren auf Belegungsbenachrichtigung
• 3) Wagennavigation zum nächsten leeren Parkplatz
• 4) Automatische Auswertung von Parkplatzbelegung zum Anpassen der Preise an den Bedarf.

The parking lot management system according to the invention also enables advantageous business models including:

• 1) Differentiated accounting models, eg. B. based on use of the parking lot with a small or a large car
• 2) Assign parking lot violations in an effective and fast way for a. Deadline violations by checking continuous occupancy b. Areas where parking is prohibited by installing sensors in these areas and responding to occupancy notification
• 3) Car navigation to the next empty parking lot
• 4) Automatic evaluation of parking space allocation to adjust the prices to the needs.

Brief description of the figures

1 shows a schematic of a parking lot management system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

There will be a parking area 20 shown comprising a plurality of parking spaces 21 . 22 some of which are by a vehicle 60 are occupied. Every parking space 21 . 22 includes a parking sensor 30 , Every parking sensor 30 forms a sensor node in a network consisting in the present example of the sensor node 30 and a gateway 40 , Optionally, the gateway is the park management system backend service 45 connected, in turn, to the Internet 50 can be connected. The parking sensors 30 as well as the gateway 40 carry out wireless communication.

The parking sensor nodes 30 can z. B. passive sensors, which is an integrity test using an active sensor, for. A MEMS sensor, a radar-based sensor, an ultrasound-based sensor, or inertial sensors, including a motion wake-up function. Alternatively, the sensor nodes 30 comprise a magnetometer sensor as the passive sensor and comprise a radar transmitter / receiver for evaluating detailed sensor data. Also, the parking sensor nodes 30 combine these alternatives.

Preferably, the communication of the parking sensor nodes happens 30 with the gateway 40 over a wide area, low power radio technology (such as LoRa, Sigfox, etc.).

The parking sensors 30 recognize if a parking space is occupied 22 or not 21 and transmit this information to the gateway 40 , From the gateway 40 This information becomes PMS 45 transfer where they are evaluated. The PMS 45 can provide information about free parking 21 and their places directly for incoming vehicles or z. B. for an Internet platform, where drivers with their mobile devices online for free parking 21 can search.

It is also possible to use a system according to the invention 10 to use in a so-called automatic supervised parking system where vehicles 60 be driven automatically (eg by autonomous driving, remote control or transport robots) to a specific parking space 22 ,

One skilled in the art will readily understand that the example described is just one possible way of carrying out the invention and how the basic idea of the invention can be extended to other parking space geometries.

Claims (11)

Park management system ( 10 ) comprising: - a park management system (PMS) back-end service ( 45 ) for collecting information from one or more parking spaces, - at least one parking management sensor node ( 30 ) installed in a parking lot ( 21 . 22 ) of a parking area ( 20 ), wherein detection of the presence of a vehicle ( 60 ) in a parking lot ( 21 . 22 ) using the park management sensor nodes ( 30 ) happens; At least one gateway system ( 40 ) installed in physical proximity of the parking lot ( 21 . 22 ), whereby the gateway system ( 40 ) with the at least one sensor node ( 30 ) communicates at one end and provides information to and from the PMS back-end service ( 45 ) transmitted. Park management system ( 10 ) according to claim 1, wherein at least one sensor node ( 30 ) comprises a passive sensor and an integrity test using an active sensor. Parking management system according to claim 2, wherein at least one sensor node ( 30 ) comprises a magnetometer sensor as the passive sensor and a radar transmitter / receiver for performing the integrity check. Parking management system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sensor nodes ( 30 ) and the gateway ( 40 ) a wide area, low power radio technology for communication between the park management sensor nodes ( 30 ) and the gateway ( 40 ) to use. Parking management system according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least one gateway ( 40 ) is an intermediate point. Park management system ( 10 ) according to claim 5, characterized by a common gateway solution that forwards all received data packets to a network server. Park management system ( 10 ) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that each sensor node ( 30 ) comprises a housing which is suitable for the sensor node ( 30 ) to the bottom of the parking lot ( 21 . 22 ) is inserted to pass through the respective sensor node ( 30 ) to be monitored. Parking management system according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that each sensor node ( 30 ) is energized by a power source that is connected to each sensor node ( 30 ) can be set up for up to several years of operation. A parking management system according to claim 8, characterized by a power management system that utilizes active and passive sensors for each sensor node ( 30 ), wherein the active sensors are activated only after the passive sensor detects a change in the presence of a vehicle ( 60 ) in a parking lot ( 21 . 22 ). Parking management system according to claim 9, characterized by a power saving algorithm located locally on each sensor node ( 30 ) expires. Parking management system according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that at least one parking sensor node ( 30 ) and / or at least one gateway system ( 40 ) comprises a low power radio transmitter / receiver used for data communication.

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