GB2421622A

GB2421622A - System for locating and utilising free car parking spaces

Info

Publication number: GB2421622A
Application number: GB0525281A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christian Danz; Dirk Schmid; Philipp Lehner; Gunther Schaaf
Original assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Current assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Priority date: 2004-12-23
Filing date: 2005-12-12
Publication date: 2006-06-28
Anticipated expiration: 2025-12-12
Also published as: GB2421622B; FR2880168A1; GB0525281D0; DE102004062021A1; FR2880168B1; DE102004062021B4

Abstract

A system for identifying and utilising free car park spaces comprises the steps of road users determining the position and size of a space as they drive past, transferring the data to a central point for collation, making the collated data available to a driver seeking a space and when the driver successfully parks in an identified space charging a fee. Preferably, the driver identifying the space may also receive a proportion of the fee. The information sent to the road may be displayed on a navigation device in the vehicle. The information may also be filtered by size so only spaces that can accommodate their car are displayed.

Description

R. 310753 ystem for using free parking spaces

Prior art

The invention is based on a system for using free parking spaces. Road users determine the position and dimensions of free parking spaces as they drive past them, and transmit the data which is collected in this way to a central point.

The central point makes this data available to road users who are looking for a parking space. A method for such a system was proposed in DE 102 00 40 18 204.3.

Reservation systems for parking spaces are known, for instance from DE 100 19 202 Al. An occupied state in a multistorey car park is detected by means of ultrasound sensors at each parking space, and displayed to those who are looking for a parking space when they drive into the multistorey car park.

From DE 196 16 447 C2, a method for determining the length of parking spaces is known. The determined length is displayed, and if it exceeds a preselected minimum length, the driver can adjust his or her driving behaviour accordingly and indicate readiness to park.

Advantages of the invention With the actions according to Claim 1, i.e. road users continuously determine the position and dimensions of free parking spaces as they drive past them, R. 310753 - the data which is Collected in this way is transmitted to a central point, - after registration with the central point, this data is made available to road users who are looking for a parking space after marking with a time stamp, - in the case of success, e.g. on the basis of determining the Position of the road user who was looking for a parking space after parking, or on the basis of a lump sum for use, e.g. in the form of a subscription, fees are charged to this person, - mapping of parking spaces which are made available promptly to road users who are looking for a parking space is possible.

A fee must be paid only in the case of success.

Additionally, a proportion of the fee can be refunded if a road user has himself or herself contributed to the communication of parking spaces. The mapping of parking spaces can run concurrently in the background during a journey, using GPS and a navigation system, without a road user having to intervene or being distracted. Invoicing for the fees is possible without great expense, e.g. via an e- cash account or together with making use of external cost- causing navigation services such as communicating added value services (updating on-board navigation data, display of preselected POIs (points of interest), etc.). Invoicing can also be done simply on the basis of a lump sum for use, e.g. in the form of a subscription.

R. 310753 For data transmission communication facilities which exist in any case, such as GSM or UMTS devices, can be accessed.

The increasing traffic density and building on free areas are constantly reducing the space for traffic, Particularly in the centres of conurbations The space which is available for parking is reduced, and the search for a suitable parking space is a strain on the driver in addition to the constantly increasing traffic. Here the parking space measurement function, in association with parking space communication according to the invention, supports the driver in the search for a sufficiently large parking space. The semiautonomous parking assistant (SPA) then helps the driver to drive quickly into the parking space. In this way, long and/or unsuccessful parking events can be avoided.

Advantageous versions are shown in the subclairns.

Drawings Fig. 1 shows an overview of the system according to the invention for using free parking spaces.

Description of embodiments

A road user 6 with a device 5 for measuring parking spaces is, for instance, equipped with six ultrasound sensors in the front and SIX ultrasound sensors in the rear, to measure the parking space before parking and monitor it during parking. Data is captured using the side sensors R. 310753 while driving past a parking space. The length of a parking space 1S calculated by means of the parking space controller i. The information which is made available by the navigation device 4 is used by the parking space controller 1 to assess the validity of the determined parking space (masking out no parking zones, etc.). The measured parking spaces are stored for a certain time in the parking space controller 1 or in the navigation device 4, and then transmitted, collected en bloc, to the central point 2 or server, e.g. via GSM or UNTS communication links 3.

The ultrasound-based parking space measurement runs in the background for the whole time of a journey, i.e. free parking spaces are constantly determined on the basis of GPS and the navigation device, up to a speed range of about km/h, or if a so-called "blind spot detection" system is used, even higher.

The data which is transmitted to the data server 2 is time- stamped there in a database, and if required identified, e.g. with a note of the originator for invoicing or refunding fees, and then stored. From there, road users 6 who are looking for a parking space, after registration with the central point 2, can obtain information about parking spaces which exist near them for a fee, e.g. via a UMTS downlink. Vehicle-specific data, in particular the length of the driver's own vehicle, is taken into account in the selection of suitable parking spaces, e.g. at the time of registration with the central point. The free parking spaces are identified to the road user who is looking for a parking space, related to the destination, e.g. on the display of his or her navigation device in a R. 310753 map (shown as for usual POIs). By navigation, the road user can let himself or herself be guided to the parking space, using on-board navigation data or data which is additionally transmitted by the central point 2. A payment for the parking space service must be made only in the case of success. Success can be proved, for instance, on the basis of determining the position of the vehicle if it was still actually possible to drive into the offered parking space. Instead of fee charging via individual use fees, a single payment to the operator of the server when the function is activated in the vehicle, or a time-defined l!subscriptionP! to this service, with the possibility of cancellation by the road user, is possible. The fees can be invoiced via an e-cash account, advantageously together with other chargeable added value services, as described above.

For communicating free parking spaces, proportionate refunds can be made to the road users, usefully on the same e-cash account from which the use fees for communicating free parking spaces were charged.

Claims

R. 310753 Claims 1. System for using free parking spaces, with the

following features: - road users (6) continuously determine the position and dimensions of free parking spaces as they drive past them, - the data which is collected in this way is transmitted to a central point (2), after registration with the central point (2), this data is made available to road users (6) who are looking for a parking space after marking with a time stamp, - in the case of success, e.g. on the basis of determining the position of the road user (6) who was looking for a parking space after parking, or on the basis of a lump sum for use, e.g. in the form of a subscription, fees are charged to this person.
2. System according to Claim i, characterized in that the data is identified by the central point (2), in particular for the purpose of invoicing for fees or refunding them.
3. System according to one of Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that a proportionate refund of the fee can be made to the road user on the basis of whose reported data a parking space was communicated.

R. 310753
4. System according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the data which is transmitted to the central point (2) is assessed as valid parking spaces.
5. System according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the data which is made available by the central point (2) is identified, in particular for invoicing for fees or refunding them.
6. System according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a road user (6) who is looking for a parking space receives the data which is made available by the central point (2), related to his or her destination, displayed in his or her navigation device (4), e.g. identified in a map as a parking space.
7. System according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a road user (6) who is looking for a parking space has vehicle_specific data, in particular the length of the driver's own vehicle, register at the central point (2), 50 that the latter transmits to him or her only data which is useful to him or her.