DE102018209029A1 - Method and system for providing parking spaces or stopping places - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for providing parking spaces or stopping places is disclosed, wherein free parking spaces and / or stopping places are determined by sensors of vehicles that are parked or passing by, transmitted to an external server unit via a communication link and stored by the server unit, the parking spaces or stored in the external server unit Stopping places of at least one vehicle or at least one person depending on a destination are provided by a control unit of the at least one vehicle or by a portable device as information or for making a selection. A system is also disclosed.

Description

The invention relates to a method for providing parking spaces or stopping places and to a system for determining and providing parking spaces or stopping places.

State of the art

Different driver assistance functions are already known, which are based on ultrasonic sensors. Using the ultrasonic sensors, parking spaces can be measured and suggested to the driver to park his vehicle. An automated or semi-automated parking assistant can then assist the driver in performing the parking operation in the free parking space.

Furthermore, driver assistance functions are known which can detect and measure possible parking spaces with the aid of camera sensors. Such a system is for example from the DE 10 2013 004 493 A1 known. Such detected parking spaces can then be transferred to an external server unit.

Video-based systems are also known which record and process moving images of a plurality of in-vehicle cameras in order to perform parking assistance. The edited images are presented to the driver for assisting the parking operation. Such systems can be configured as rear view cameras or as all-round visibility systems.

However, the described systems can only be used when a free parking space has been found. The search for a free parking space can unnecessarily increase the duration of a journey and thus the operating time of the vehicle.

Disclosure of the invention

The object underlying the invention can be seen to propose a method and a vehicle system, which accelerate a search for a parking space.

This object is achieved by means of the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of each dependent subclaims.

According to one aspect of the invention, a method for providing parking spaces or stopping places is provided.

In one step, free parking spaces and / or parking spaces are determined by sensors of vehicles that park or pass by. The determined free parking spaces and or stopping places are transmitted to an external server unit via a communication link and stored by the server unit.

The parking places or stopping places deposited in the external server unit are provided to at least one vehicle or at least one person depending on a destination by a control unit of the at least one vehicle or by a portable device as information or making a selection.

The parking spaces or stopping places required for the method can preferably be recorded in the form of pictures or moving pictures or videos, for example if a free parking space is detected by any vehicle connected to the external server unit. For example, vehicles with a reversing camera or all-round vision system, despite a Ausparkvorgangs record images of the parking lot and transmit to the external server unit. Transmission of images can be done through the communication link. For this purpose, at least one parking vehicle or a vehicle passing by a free parking space can have a communication unit. The communication link can be established based on a GSM, UMTS, LTE or WLAN standard. The images of parking spaces transmitted to the external server unit may preferably be provided with a position and a time stamp and stored in a memory.

The inventive method makes it possible for the at least one driver or the at least one person to provide the current view and selection of parking spaces and parking spaces per image. The images were taken in advance by the cameras installed in vehicles and can be continuously updated.

Already during the route planning or before the start of the journey, the driver or a person can be shown an image of a typical parking lot or a collection of images or a composite image of parking spaces of each parking area in the vicinity of the destination for selection. The at least one person can be a driver, a passenger or a future passenger of the vehicle. The display of the provided parking spaces or stopping places can preferably take place directly in the vehicle or on a portable device of the at least one person. The portable device may be a smartphone, a tablet, a computer and the like. In addition to a visual display and selection of parking spaces, so can entry and exit points in the area of Parking lot to be chosen. In this way, suitable pick-up / drop-off locations can be selected for co-drivers or passengers, or the choice of a suitable entry or exit location can be defined in advance for highly autonomous driving.

In the vicinity of the destination area or of the destination, images of free parking spaces are preferably displayed as so-called points of interest. This can be displayed for example in a navigation device of the vehicle. In addition, further information, such as parking trajectory and whether a trunk is easily accessible, can be displayed. In this case, it is also possible to signal to the driver whether parking takes place forwards or backwards.

By means of the method according to the invention, the driver can already prepare in advance for the type of parking space and, because of the free parking spaces provided in the immediate vicinity of the destination, the parking procedure can be accelerated.

In accordance with one embodiment of the method, at least one filter is applied to the parking lots or stops deposited in the external server unit prior to making a suggestion. The display of the images of parking lots and / or stopping places can already be restricted in advance by filtering on the vehicle characteristics and preferences of the driver. In the pictures or short video sequences also appropriate additional information can be superimposed, such as a typical parking trajectory or the best loading position for purchases. The filter can preferably be applied vehicle-specific. For highly autonomous vehicles, the passenger can choose a well-fitting entry and exit point via the display of the images. Analogously, based on the provided parking spaces or stopping places, pick-up and drop-off locations for passengers or passengers can be determined in advance.

According to a further embodiment of the method, the parking spaces and / or holding positions typical for at least one person are provided as information from the external server unit. If the destination is still far away, the driver is preferably shown one or more images of typical free parking near the destination. This gives the driver a very early impression of the parking space. In particular, it can be clarified to the driver whether the parking spaces at the destination are a parking garage, a parking lot or a road. If the driver does not like the expected typical parking space or stopping place, alternative parking spaces can be displayed or provided to him.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the method, free parking spaces and / or holding positions of the at least one person or the vehicle currently stored in the server unit are transmitted from a defined distance to the destination. If the driver approaches his destination, he can currently be offered free parking spaces by way of a picture matching the vehicle and his preferences. For example, a favorite parking space may be marked in red. The driver can choose from the provided images of the free parking spaces, which he likes best. Based on the selection of the parking lot, the preferences of the driver may be updated or created and subsequently stored by the external server unit or an in-vehicle control unit. Preferably, after the selection of the parking space or the stopping place, the driver can be directed to his selection or to the position of his selection.

According to a further embodiment of the method, images or moving images of the free parking spaces and / or stopping places are recorded by in-vehicle camera sensors and transmitted to the external server unit via the communication link and provided by the external server unit. Alternatively or additionally, images of parking spaces or stopping places can also be determined by sensors of an infrastructure and transmitted to the external server unit. These images can be sent directly or in a processed version, for example, to the driver for his current destination in the form of a proposal. The displayed images of parking lots or parking spaces can help the driver with the orientation and detection of parking spaces. With the aid of image processing algorithms, these images can also be used for accurate localization and marking of the parking space in a parking assistance system. The entrance of the parking garage can also be marked instead of or in addition to the parking spaces in the parking garage in the parking assistance system. As a result, the localization of the parking lot can be further simplified.

According to a further embodiment of the method, the images are processed in-vehicle or out-of-vehicle by the server unit. In particular, the images of the parking lots or stopping places can be processed locally by the vehicles which determine the parking spaces or are processed externally by the server unit. For example, the images can be equalized in perspective. Through a so-called stitching multiple images can be combined to form a large image. In addition, number plates and faces on the pictures can be blurred. As another way of reprocessing The images can be the cropping and scaling of the images.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the method, the parking spaces and / or parking spaces determined by the parking or passing vehicles are provided with at least one attribute. The images created by the parking spaces or the stopping places can be equipped with defined attributes for the parking space. Such attributes may be, for example, a position, a width, a length, presence of curbs and curb dimensions, any obstacles, possible parking position and a parking trajectory. These attributes can already be determined during the acquisition of the images by appropriate vehicle sensors and attached to the image. The entire information can then be stored in an image database or in a memory of the external server unit and updated continuously.

According to another embodiment of the method, a parking space or stopping place provided by the external server unit to the at least one person is preselected as a new destination based on preferences of the person. When selecting a desired parking space or in a rejection or selection of an unproven parking space can be learned from the preferences of the driver. The summary of these learned ratings may allow a global rating of parking spaces.

According to a further embodiment of the method, the at least one person is provided with a selection of potential parking spaces and / or stopping places. In this case, a parking space or stopping place is selected by the at least one person as a new destination. This allows the driver or person to choose comfortably and unrestricted based on a selection of available free parking spaces.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a system for providing parking spaces and / or stopping places for at least one vehicle is provided. The system has at least one vehicle for detecting free parking spaces and / or stopping places by means of a vehicle sensor system. At least one external server unit is used to store the detected free parking spaces and / or stopping places and to provide the stored free parking spaces. Furthermore, the system comprises at least one vehicle or person for receiving from the provided free parking spaces and / or stopping places depending on a predetermined destination of the vehicle or a place of entry or exit of the person.

By means of the system according to the invention, drivers and / or passengers can already form a picture of the current local environment when selecting parking spaces or entry-level locations or exit locations. This allows them to optimally assess suitable locations and find them more efficient. In particular, a longer search for a suitable parking space by driving on different places without the knowledge of the free parking can be omitted.

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Systems,
• 2 eine schematische Darstellung eines typischen Parkplatzes zum Informieren eines Fahrers gemäß dem erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren,
• 3 eine schematische Auswahl an freien Parkplätzen in einem Parkhaus gemäß dem erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren und
• 4 eine schematische Auswahl an freien Parkplätzen an einer Straße gemäß dem erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren.

In the following, preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in greater detail on the basis of greatly simplified schematic representations. Show here

• 1 a schematic representation of a system according to the invention,
• 2 a schematic representation of a typical parking lot for informing a driver according to the method according to the invention,
• 3 a schematic selection of free parking lots in a parking garage according to the inventive method and
• 4 a schematic selection of free parking lots on a street according to the inventive method.

In the figures, the same constructive elements each have the same reference numerals.

In the 1 a schematic representation of a system according to the invention 1 illustrated. The system 1 for providing parking spaces P and / or stopping places H , The parking P can also hold places H his. The system 1 has at least one vehicle 2 for detecting free parking spaces P and or stopping places H on. This is done by a vehicle sensor. The detected parking spaces P or stopping places H are sent to an external server unit 4 transmitted and there in a store 6 deposited. The server unit 4 represents the free parking P and stopping places H all coupled vehicles 8th ready. This is preferably done via the communication link 10 , To establish the communication connection 10 between the server unit 4 and a vehicle 8th points the vehicle 8th a communication unit 12 on.

The vehicle 8th can use the provided parking P or stops H by a control unit 14 process and via an infotainment system 16 of the vehicle 8th to show a driver. Based on the vehicle sensors 18 of the vehicle 8th can the vehicle 8th to a parking space selected by the driver P or stopping place H be navigated. The navigation to the parking lot P or stopping place H Can be done manually by the driver or autonomously by the vehicle 8th respectively.

The 2 shows a schematic representation of a typical parking lot for informing a driver according to the inventive method. It is in particular an infotainment system 16 of the vehicle 8th shown in which a picture of a typical parking lot at the destination of the trajectory T is displayed to the driver. The destination is even further away. As a result, the driver can get an impression very early on, as the parking situation is designed at the destination. Already vacant parking spaces at this stage P . H It does not make sense to point out, as they can already be occupied by the time they arrive.

In the 3 a schematic selection of free parking spaces in a parking garage is illustrated according to the method according to the invention. The vehicle 8th is in the picture just before the finish, leaving the driver free parking spaces P . H per picture suitable for the vehicle 8th and the driver's preferences. The favored parking space is already marked here in the form of a border.

The driver can choose from the pictures of the free parking spaces. With the help of the selection the preferences can be learned or adapted. This can be done, for example, by the server unit 4 respectively. After the selection, the driver becomes the free parking space P . H directed. In this case, the trajectory preferably changes T of the vehicle slightly, so accurate navigation to the parking lot P or the stopping place H takes place.

The 4 shows a schematic selection of free parking spaces P on a road according to the inventive method. Shortly before the finish, the driver gets free parking spaces via the infotainment system 16 suitable for the vehicle 8th and the driver's preferences. The favored parking space is already marked here. The driver can select from the images of the free parking spaces P, H and navigate to a position of the selected free parking space P or stopping place H.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

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

Cited patent literature

• DE 102013004493 A1 [0003]

Claims (10)

Method for providing parking spaces (P) or stopping places (H), wherein - Free parking (P) and / or stopping places (H) determined by sensors (18) of ausparkenden or passing vehicles (2), transmitted to an external server unit (4) via a communication link (10) and stored by the server unit (4) become, - The stored in the external server unit (4) parking (P) or holding places (H) at least one vehicle (8) or at least one person depending on a destination by a control unit (14) of the at least one vehicle (8) or by a portable Device as an information or to make a selection. Method according to Claim 1 wherein at least one filter is applied to the parking spaces (P) or stops (H) deposited in the external server unit (4) before making a suggestion. Method according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the at least one person typical parking (P) and / or holding positions (H) are provided as information from the external server unit (4). Method according to one of Claims 1 to 3 , wherein at a defined distance to the destination currently in the server unit (4) deposited free parking (P) and / or holding positions (H) of the at least one person or the vehicle (8) are transmitted. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 4 in which images or moving images of the free parking spaces (P) and / or stopping places (H) are recorded by in-vehicle camera sensors (18) and transmitted to the external server unit (4) via the communication link (10) and provided by the external server unit (4) become. Method according to Claim 5 wherein the images are processed in-vehicle or out-of-vehicle by the server unit (4). Method according to one of Claims 1 to 6 in which the parking spaces (P) and / or stopping places (H) determined by the parking or passing vehicles (2) are provided with at least one attribute. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 7 wherein a parking space (P) or stopping place (H) provided by the external server unit (4) to the at least one person is preselected as a new destination based on preferences of the person. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 8th wherein the at least one person is provided with a selection of potential parking spaces (P) and / or stopping places (H), wherein a parking space (P) or stopping place (H) is selected by the at least one person as a new destination. System (1) for providing parking spaces (P) and / or stopping places (H) and performing the method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one vehicle (2) for detecting free parking spaces (P) and / or stopping places (H ) by a vehicle sensor system (18), at least one external server unit (4) for storing the detected free parking spaces (P) and / or stopping places (H) and for providing the stored free parking spaces (P) and / or stopping places (H) and having at least one vehicle (8) or a person for receiving from the provided free parking spaces (P) and / or stopping places (H) depending on a predetermined destination of the vehicle (8) or an entry or exit point of the person.

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