GB2551331A

GB2551331A - Parking system, sensor, electronic tag, and methods therefor

Info

Publication number: GB2551331A
Application number: GB1610153.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Lewis Jonathan
Original assignee: Telensa Holdings Ltd
Current assignee: Telensa Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 2016-06-10
Filing date: 2016-06-10
Publication date: 2017-12-20
Also published as: GB201610153D0

Abstract

A parking system comprising a parking area (parking lot, garage, car park) with at least one parking space (parking spot, parking stall), at least one fixed sensor, 452, for sensing the parking space, a first communication circuit, 458, an electronic tag (eTag e.g. an RFID tag), 440, comprising a second communication circuit, 442, and located in a mobile vehicle (e.g. car, automobile, truck, motorbike), 404, for parking in the parking area; wherein at least one of the fixed sensor and electronic tag comprises a processor, 456, 446, coupled to the first or second communication circuit and configured to directly associate the fixed sensor with the electronic tag to identify the at least one parking space in the parking area being occupied by the vehicle. Additional independent claims add that the sensor is configured to detect movement / motion in the parking space. A central management system may be linked to the sensor and used to arrange parking charges, or to check vehicle parking permissions.

Description

Title: PARKING SYSTEM, SENSOR, ELECTRONIC TAG, AND METHODS

THEREFOR

Description

Field of the Invention [001] The field of this invention relates to parking systems, sensors, electronic tags, and methods therefor.

Background of the Invention [002] Modern parking areas use a variety of technologies to help motorists find unoccupied parking spaces using parking guidance and information systems in order to find car parking spaces and/or retrieve their vehicles, and thereby improve their experience. This includes adaptive lighting, sensors, indoor positioning system (IPS) and mobile payment options. In the context of identifying car parking spaces within a parking area, sensors are typically used to identify whether a car parking space is occupied or available.

[003] There is a wide range of sensor technologies available for detecting whether a vehicle is occupying a car parking space. One example is passive or active infrared (IR) detectors/sensors that operate by transmitting energy from either a light emitting diode (LED) or a laser diode. Further examples include ultrasonic detectors/sensors that use inductive loop technology and magnetic detectors that also uses inductive loop technology to sense when an object disturbs a magnetic field. A yet further example is Microwave detectors/sensors that operate by measuring the energy reflected from target vehicles within a field of view. A yet further example is wideband spread-spectrum radar that provides extremely accurate range discrimination and can also penetrate many types of materials, including concrete. It has a range of about 20 feet, so it is useful in predicting whether or not a parking space is occupied.

[004] There are a growing number of companies selling sensors that detect cars parked in on-street parking bays, or parked in bays in a car park as shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 illustrates an overview of a known parking sensor based system 100. Here a mobile vehicle 104 parks over a magnetic sensor 106, which sends a message 102 to a base station 108 that indicates the mobile vehicle 104 is stationed over the magnetic sensor 106. The base station 108 then transmits the message 122 to a central management system 120. The central management system 120 may then use this information to determine availability of car parking spaces in the car park, and distribute 124 this information to signs 110 or consumer mobile applications, for example.

[005] An extension to the basic scheme of FIG. 1 is to provide drivers with electronic tags (eTags) that they keep in their vehicle. When a vehicle parks over a sensor, then the sensor informs a central parking system that a vehicle is parked in a particular bay. In some instances, the sensor senses an electronic tag (eTAG) that is typically based on radio-frequency identification (RFID) transponders and is mounted on the inside of the vehicles' windscreen. The eTag typically includes some information related to the vehicle, which is relayed to the central parking system via the sensor. The major technical problem with the eTag approach, particularly in identifying a use or availability of on-street parking or car park parking bays, is how to identify that a specific eTag is located over a specific sensor. This known problem is currently solved using one of the following approaches: (i) Motorway Toll Systems use booths, pre-payment lanes and, in these schemes, vehicles are issued with a radio frequency identifier (RFID) tag. High power, directional RF transceivers/antennas are installed in the payment lanes so that a car passing through them with an authorised RFID tag can be ‘read’. In a general, on-street parking scenario, this solution is not possible due to the large cost and size of the RF antennas that would be required to identify a use or availability for each parking space. Furthermore, for an on-street parking case, it is impractical to install high power transmitters along the street to cover every parking location. (ii) US2013253879 (Nedap) describes a system whereby a motion sensor in the eTag can be used to determine a time that a car stops moving. This information is routed wirelessly to a central management system. Additionally, sensor information related to eTags that sensors within the parking area detect, is also routed to a central management system. The central management system then correlates the timing of these items of information in order to estimate that a vehicle has parked in a particular parking bay linked to the sensor. By identifying the eTag stopping event(s) and a car detection event from a sensor, it is hoped that an eTag can uniquely be associated with that sensor. In effect, US2013253879 describes a system whereby there is a central correlation of independent data that is received separately from the vehicle and the sensor in order to attempt to identify which vehicle is located in which parking bay. In an area with a high density of parking spaces it may be difficult to associate a vehicle with a sensor in this way, especially at a time when many vehicles are parking and/or leaving.

[006] One simple solution to the problem would be to use a short range radio link to communicate between the eTag and the parking bay sensor. However there is a huge variation in radio path attenuation between the tag and sensor due to differences in car construction, windscreen structure, position of tag in the car and position of the car relative to the sensor. As a result, it is often not possible to uniquely associate a particular eTag with a sensor. This problem is illustrated in FIG. 2.

[007] FIG. 2 illustrates an accuracy problem associated with known parking sensor based systems 150. Here, a series of sensors 106, 152, 172 are positioned in the ground. An eTag 156 is placed inside the windscreen of the vehicle 104. However, if a radio path sensor solution is used, one or both of sensors 152, 172 may register the eTag 156 of the vehicle 104 as being located near or over their particular sensor, as well as sensor 106, or indeed instead of sensor 106 if there is a barrier there between.

[008] Thus, each currently-used approach has its own drawbacks and problems. A magnetic sensor may lack the sensitivity to detect certain vehicles or may be sensitive to interference or noise from sources other than a car parked in its bay. RFID-based systems are impractically large and expensive for almost all on-street parking. A centrally-implemented correlation approach requires communication with a central server, which a local solution can avoid. A simple radio link between a sensor and an eTag in a vehicle may not provide a sufficiently accurate indication of location.

[009] Thus, none of the known techniques describe an adequate solution to identifying a use or availability for each individual parking space in a densely populated parking area, such as found in car parks. Furthermore, none of the known techniques describe an adequate solution to associate (say using an eTag approach) a particular vehicle with a particular individual parking space in a densely populated parking area.

Summary of the Invention [0010] Accordingly, the invention seeks to mitigate, alleviate or eliminate one or more of the above mentioned disadvantages, either singly or in any combination. Aspects of the invention provide a wireless communication unit, and a method therefore, as described in the appended claims.

[0011] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is described a parking system comprising: a parking area with at least one parking space; at least one fixed sensor sensing the at least one parking space and comprising a first communication circuit configured to be associated; and an electronic tag comprising a second communication circuit and located in a mobile vehicle for parking in the parking area. At least one of the fixed sensor and electronic tag comprises a processor coupled to the first or second communication circuit and configured to directly associate the at least one parking space sensed by the fixed sensor with the electronic tag, in response to the first communication circuit communicating with the second communication circuit, to identify the at least one parking space in the parking area being occupied by the mobile vehicle.

[0012] In this manner, a local association between the electronic tag and a fixed sensor may provide an adequate solution to identifying a use or availability for each individual parking space in a densely populated parking area, such as found in car parks.

[0013] According to an optional example, the parking system may further comprise a central management system operably coupled to at least one of the fixed sensor and the electronic tag and configured to track availability and usage of one or more parking spaces in the parking area.

[0014] According to an optional example, at least one of the first communication circuit of the fixed sensor and second communication circuit of the electronic tag may further comprise a transmitter configured to transmit association information resulting from an association with the mobile vehicle being located in the at least one parking space to the central management system.

[0015] According to an optional example, the central management system may comprise an electronic circuit comprising a processor configured to receive the association information and in response thereto perform at least one of the following: arrange for a parking charge for use of the at least one parking space; determine whether the mobile vehicle has permission to park in the at least one parking space.

[0016] According to an optional example, the communication between the electronic tag and the one or more sensor(s) may collate multiple items of information related to the association in a single location within or adjacent to the parking space accommodating the mobile vehicle in order to determine an association.

[0017] According to an optional example, the processor of the at least one fixed sensor may be configured to establish information related to a presence of one or more mobile vehicles or electronic tags using at least one of: an electronic tag identification circuit, a vehicle presence detection circuit, a timing of detection, a distance measurement, a timed pattern of movement of the electronic tag.

[0018] According to an optional example, the first communication circuit communicating with the second communication circuit comprises an exchange of data between the electronic tag and the at least one fixed sensor, indicative of at least one from a group of: a measurement of a distance between the electronic tag and the at least one fixed sensor, a timing of a transmission or reception of communication between the electronic tag and the at least one fixed sensor.

[0019] According to an optional example, a plurality of fixed sensors may be configured to perform radio ranging to determine the measurement of the distance between the electronic tag and the respective fixed sensor. In some examples, the plurality of fixed sensors may be configured to perform radio ranging, for example using ultra-wideband, UWB, radio communications, to determine the measurement of the distance between the electronic tag and the respective fixed sensor. In some examples, radio ranging may further comprise using UWB with a further sensed data to determine an association, for example where the further sensed data comprises data describing one or more of the following: a radio path length, a magnetic reluctance, a change in reluctance, an optical distance, parallax data.

[0020] According to an optional example, the processor may be coupled to a radio ranging circuit and the radio ranging circuit is only enabled once the mobile vehicle has been detected in a vicinity of the at least one parking space.

[0021] According to an optional example, the parking system may further comprise a radio ranging circuit located remote from, and operably coupled to, the at least one fixed sensor and configured to exchange radio ranging data with either the electronic tag or the at least one fixed sensor, to identify a distance measurement between the electronic tag and the at least one fixed sensor [0022] According to an optional example, the at least one fixed sensor may be located remotely from the at least one parking space and configured to sense a plurality of parking spaces [0023] According to an optional example, the at least one fixed sensor may employ a video based technology.

[0024] According to a second aspect of the invention, a fixed sensor is operably coupled to a central management system and associated with at least one parking space in a parking area, the fixed sensor comprising: a sensing circuit configured to sense movement in at least one parking space; a first communication circuit; and a processor; operably coupled to the to the sensing circuit and the first communication circuit and configured to identify an electronic tag located in a mobile vehicle when the mobile vehicle has parked in the at least one parking space and directly associate the at least one parking space sensed by the fixed sensor with the electronic tag, in response to the first communication circuit communicating with the electronic tag, to identify the at least one parking space in the parking area being occupied by the mobile vehicle.

[0025] According to an optional example, the fixed sensor may further comprise a transmitter operably coupled to the processor and configured to transmit association information resulting from an association with the mobile vehicle being located in the at least one parking space to the central management system.

[0026] According to an optional example, the processor may be configured to establish information related to a presence of one or more mobile vehicles or electronic tags using at least one of: an electronic tag identification circuit, a vehicle presence detection circuit, a timing of detection, a distance measurement, a timed pattern of movement of the electronic tag.

[0027] According to an optional example, the fixed sensor may further comprise a radio ranging circuit operably coupled to the processor and configured to determine a measurement of a distance between the electronic tag and the fixed sensor.

[0028] According to an optional example, the radio ranging circuit may be configured to use ultra-wideband, UWB, radio communications. In some examples, the processor may be configured to use further sensed data and UWB radio ranging data to determine an association. In some examples, the further sensed data may comprise one or more of the following: a radio path length, a magnetic reluctance, a change in reluctance, an optical distance, parallax data.

[0029] According to an optional example, the radio ranging circuit may be only enabled once the mobile vehicle has been detected in a vicinity of the at least one parking space.

[0030] According to an optional example, the sensing circuit may be configured to sense a plurality of parking spaces.

[0031] According to a third aspect of the invention, an electronic tag located in a mobile vehicle and operably coupled to a central management system, the electronic tag comprising: a second communication circuit configured to communicate with a first communication circuit of a fixed sensor configured to sense movement in at least one parking space of a parking area; and a processor configured to: identify the fixed sensor associated with at least one parking space in a parking area in response to the communication; and directly associate the mobile vehicle with the at least one parking space, to identify the at least one parking space in the parking area being occupied by the mobile vehicle.

[0032] According to an optional example, the electronic tag may further comprise a transmitter operably coupled to the processor and configured to transmit association information resulting from an association with the mobile vehicle being located in the at least one parking space to the central management system.

[0033] According to an optional example, the electronic tag may further comprise an output port configured to be coupled to a user interface within the mobile vehicle, wherein the processor is further configured to generate an output signal to be provided to the user interface to indicate a successful association. In some examples, the output signal generated by the processor that is indicative of a successful association may create one from a group consisting of: a visual indication; an audio indication, a subsequent communication to the user.

[0034] According to an optional example, the processor may be further configured to receive an input from an accelerometer that indicates a state of the mobile vehicle and transitions an operational state of the electronic tag into or out of a lowest idle or sleep state according to the received input.

[0035] According to an optional example, the input may comprise one of: (i) ‘Parked but not associated with a sensor’; (ii) ‘Not parked’; (iii) ‘Parked and associated with a sensor’.

[0036] According to a fourth aspect of the invention, a method for a parking system is described. The parking system comprises a parking area with at least one parking space and at least one fixed sensor sensing the at least one parking space and at least one mobile vehicle having an electronic tag parking in the at least one parking space. The method comprises: sensing the at least one parking space by the at least one fixed sensor; exchanging communications between the at least one fixed sensor and the electronic tag; and associating the at least one parking space in the parking area sensed by the fixed sensor with the electronic tag, in response to the communication to identify the at least one parking space in the parking area being occupied by the mobile vehicle.

[0037] According to an optional example, the parking system may comprise a central management system operably coupleable to at least one of the fixed sensor and electronic tag, the method further comprising: transmitting the association information resulting from an association with the mobile vehicle being located in the at least one parking space to the central management system from at least one of the fixed sensor and electronic tag; and tracking, by the central management system, availability and usage of one or more parking spaces in the parking area based on the received association information.

[0038] According to an optional example, the method may further comprise receiving the association information at the central management system and, in response thereto, performing at least one of the following: arranging for a parking charge for use of the at least one parking space; determining whether the mobile vehicle has permission to park in the at least one parking space.

[0039] According to a fifth aspect of the invention, a method for a parking system is described. The parking system comprises a parking area with at least one mobile vehicle comprising an electronic tag parking in the parking area. The method comprises at a fixed sensor: sensing movement in at least one parking space; communicating with an electronic tag in the at least one parking space; identifying an electronic tag located in a mobile vehicle when the mobile vehicle has parked in the at least one parking space; associating the at least one parking space with the electronic tag, in response to the communication, to identify the at least one parking space in the parking area being occupied by the mobile vehicle.

[0040] According to an optional example, the parking system may comprise a central management system operably coupleable to the fixed sensor. The method may further comprise transmitting the association information resulting to the central management system.

[0041] According to a sixth aspect of the invention, a method for a parking system is described. The parking system comprises a parking area with at least one mobile vehicle comprising an electronic tag parking in the parking area. The method comprises at the electronic tag: identifying a fixed sensor associated with at least one parking space in a parking area; communicating with the fixed sensor; and associating in response to the communication the mobile vehicle with the at least one parking space, to identify the at least one parking space in the parking area being occupied by the mobile vehicle.

[0042] According to an optional example, the parking system may comprise a central management system operably coupleable to the electronic tag. The method may further comprise transmitting the association information resulting to the central management system.

[0043] According to an optional example, the method may further comprise: generating a signal indicative of a successful association; and providing the signal to a user interface in the mobile vehicle to indicate a successful association.

[0044] According to an optional example, the method may further comprise: receiving an input from an accelerometer that indicates a state of the mobile vehicle; and transitioning an operational state of the electronic tag into a lowest idle or sleep state according to the received input.

[0045] These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from, and elucidated with reference to, the embodiments described hereinafter.

Brief Description of the Drawings [0046] Further details, aspects and embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers are used to identify like or functionally similar elements. Elements in the FIGs are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale.

[0047] FIG. 1 illustrates an overview of a known parking sensor based system.

[0048] FIG. 2 illustrates an accuracy problem associated with known parking sensor based systems.

[0049] FIG. 3 illustrates a first example overview of a parking sensor based system with intelligence located within an eTag, according to a first example embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] FIG. 4 illustrates a second example overview of a parking sensor based system with intelligence located within a sensor, according to a second example embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] FIG. 5 illustrates a first example state/flow diagram of a parking sensor based system with intelligence located within an eTag, according to the first example embodiment of the present invention.

[0052] FIG. 6 illustrates a second state/flow diagram of a parking sensor based system with intelligence located within a sensor, according to the second example embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] FIG. 7 illustrates an example handshake process between an eTag and a sensor system in a parking sensor based system, according to the second example embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] FIG. 8 illustrates an example flowchart of a method for a parking system, according to example embodiments of the present invention.

Detailed Description [0055] As the illustrated examples of the present invention may for the most part, be implemented using electronic components and circuits known to those skilled in the art, details will not be explained in any greater extent than that considered necessary as illustrated below, for the understanding and appreciation of the underlying concepts of the present invention and in order not to confuse or distract from the teachings of the present invention.

[0056] Although examples of the invention are described with reference to various methods and system architectures for uniquely associating at least one eTag with a sensor in a parking area when the eTag is located and remains substantially over the sensor, it is envisaged that the concepts described herein may be embodied in any scenario or system where an eTag may be associated with a particular sensor to confirm where the eTag (and hence vehicle) is located. For example, alternatively, it is envisaged that the concepts described herein can be applied to any system where the sensor may be located elsewhere but within range, e g. above or adjacent the car, as such locations may be more easily accessible when installing sensors (and any associated equipment). In some examples, it is envisaged that the concepts described herein can be applied to identification of an eTag within a sensing area of a sensor or multiple sensors and the sensor(s) is/are configured to identify that the vehicle is parked in a particular parking bay.

[0057] In the example concepts herein described, the term ‘associate’, when applied to a communication between an electronic tag and at least one sensor, encompasses at least one entity (the electronic tag and/or the at least one sensor) using information from a measurement that it has carried out in conjunction with information received from the other entity (from a measurement it has carried out) to perform an association calculation.

[0058] In the example concepts herein described, the term ‘electronic tag’ encompasses any identifier located in, or attached to a mobile vehicle that identifies the mobile vehicle, which may include a Tag or a built in identifier (ID) unit or a smart phone, or the like, such that the device that includes the electronic tag is enabled to communicate with the sensor.

[0059] In the example concepts herein described, the term ‘sensor’ encompasses any electronic component capable of detecting an object, such as a mobile vehicle. In some examples, the sensor may be a ground sensor, for example located in each parking bay, or a video based sensor covering a range of parking bays, or the like. In some examples, the sensor may use any suitable technology for example radio, magnetic, video, and in some examples may be configured to sense one or more from a range of parameters for example radio path length, magnetic reluctance, a change in reluctance, optical distance/parallax, etc.

[0060] In the example concepts herein described, it is envisaged that several parking spaces may be ‘covered’ by one sensor, in that the sensor may be able to associate with multiple electronic tags of multiple mobile vehicles. In other example concepts herein described, it is envisaged that several sensors may be able to provide information relating to one space (or spaces), and that multiple sensors may be able to associate with an electronic tag of a mobile vehicle relating to any given parking space.

[0061] Examples of the invention are described with reference to a parking system that comprises: a parking area; a fixed sensor configured to be associated with at least one parking space in the parking area; and an electronic tag located in a mobile vehicle for parking in the parking area; wherein at least one of the fixed sensor and electronic tag comprises a processor configured to identify the at least one parking space in the parking area being occupied by the mobile vehicle (e.g. to ‘associate’ the parking space with the eTag in the vehicle). In this manner, by associating directly a fixed sensor with the electronic tag a more reliable approach to identifying which vehicles are parked in which spaces is provided. Furthermore, undertaking processing locally (e.g. at the sensor or the electronic tag) reduces the backhaul (wired or long range wireless) bandwidth requirements that is a limitation of current approaches, whereby the fixed sensor(s) and the electronic tag(s) each route information back to the central management system for processing on a global basis.

[0062] In some examples, a communication link between the fixed sensor and the electronic tag may be established, and information derived from this link (for example timing or signal strength information from either device) then used in the associating of the two electronic components. In some examples, the parking area may support one sensor per parking space, whereas in other examples the parking area may support one sensor per multiple parking spaces or multiple sensors per one or multiple parking spaces. In some examples, a unidirectional communication link may be established, for example where a presence of a tag is sensed by a sensor and the sensor includes the capability to associate that sensor to the sensed tag.

[0063] In the following description, ‘parking place’ is understood to mean a parking spot or a parking bay or parking space for a single vehicle. ‘Parking arrangement’ is understood to mean an array of a number of parking places, such as, for instance, a parking lot, a parking garage, a parking Zone, a parking lane or the like. ‘Vehicle’ is understood to mean any type of vehicle that can be placed in a parking place, such as, for instance, a passenger car, a motorcycle, a van, a campervan, a many-seated taxi, a trailer, etc.

[0064] In some examples, it is envisaged that both information derived by the eTag and information derived by the sensor relating to the potential proximity of the vehicle to the parking place is analysed in performing the associating of the parking space and the vehicle. For example, the sensor may detect the eTag, and/or the eTag may detect the sensor. In some examples, they may both be configured to measure parameters relating to each other, such as signal delay or signal strength. Both sets of information may then be used in an ‘association’; whether or not the association is performed in either one or the other or both.

[0065] Various network topologies are proposed for enabling this, with the intelligence to determine any such association being located at either, the eTag, the sensor or within a remote entity of a central management system. In some examples, a bi-directional communication link may be established, for example where a proximity between the tag and sensor instigates a communication there between, with one or both of the tag and sensor being then capable of creating an association there between. Either or both of the tag and sensor may also be configured to transmit the association information back to a central management system. Depending on the location of the decision making algorithm, data describing the result of the association can be communicated to the central management system via various routes: (i) If the associating intelligence is contained within the eTag, the eTag could communicate directly with the central management system or via a radio network. This architecture is described in FIG. 3. (ii) If the intelligence is contained within the sensor, the sensor could communicate directly with the radio network or via the eTag. For example, the sensor may communicate via the eTag if the eTag is, say, a smartphone with a suitable ‘app’ and has a cellular link; as the eTag may have a better radio path to the base station. Nevertheless, a preferred approach is for the sensor to handle all of the backhaul communications, as it is likely to have a larger and more reliable power source (being fixed), and possibly a fixed wireline connection to a central management system. More importantly, if the association data is sent from the sensor, irrespective of which entity decides on the ‘association’, then the system state is less prone to error. This architecture is described in FIG. 4.

[0066] Furthermore, in some examples, a number of different information exchanging topologies are enabled by these different communications topologies, such as: (i) The sensor could simply pass information to the eTag (in a uni-directional manner). The eTag has the car ID, which it may append to a sensor message. One advantage of this arrangement is that the communications only need to be uni-directional between the sensor and tag. The tag could then pass combined information to a central system. (ii) The tag could simply pass information to the sensor (in a uni-directional manner). In some examples, the communications may be bi-directional to support acknowledgements, even though the user data may be only sent one in one direction. The sensor could then pass the association information to a central management system. (iii) The tag and sensor could exchange information and both pass back the same information, or different elements of the overall information set, to the central management system. For example, association information resulting from one or more measurement by each entity, following an association calculation, may be exchanged.

[0067] Different communications topologies allow for low cost or more reliable or lower power implementations. The first two approaches ((i)-(ii)) may be employed to save cost and/or power, whereas the third approach (iii) may be employed to increase reliability and/or security. For example passing all long range communications via the sensor may reduce power consumption in the tag.

[0068] In some examples, the information provided within the association process may be expanded. For example, the association may include optional credentials held in the eTag (for example where the parking space is restricted to disabled-only, or a payment is due, etc.). In this context, it is envisaged that the eTag may reside within a ‘smartphone’, which may include a car-based platform with smartphone-like capabilities, such as Google Auto™.

[0069] In some examples, information related to the association process, for example whether or not a successful association has occurred, may be locally displayed to a driver of the vehicle or a parking attendant.

[0070] Referring now to FIG. 3, a first example overview of a parking sensor based system 300 with intelligence located within an eTag 340 is illustrated, according to a first example embodiment of the present invention In this example, the eTag 340 is located in a mobile vehicle, is configured to determine whether (or not) the mobile vehicle may be associated with a parking space monitored by one or more parking sensor(s) and is operably coupleable to a parking management system 320 to which it can relay the association information.

[0071] In this example, a sensor unit 306 comprises a sensor 352 operably connected to a processor 356. The processor 356 is configured to interpret signals generated by the sensor unit 306 and communicate 350 with an eTag 340 of a mobile vehicle 304 via a communication circuit 358, which includes a transmitter and/or a receiver. The sensor 352 detects the mobile vehicle 304, and more particularly detects the eTag 340 of the mobile vehicle 304 moving into the vicinity of the sensor 352. In particular, sensor 352 detects when mobile vehicle 304 parks in a parking space monitored by (or located over or adjacent to) a sensor unit 306. In response thereto, the sensor 352 outputs a signal to the processor 356. In this example, the processor 356 may then communicate with the eTag 340, with the communication indicating sensed signal information from the sensor 352.

[0072] In this example, the eTag 340 comprises a processor 346 configured to process a communication from the sensor unit 306, received via a communication circuit 342, which includes a transmitter and/or a receiver. The communication relates to at least one parking space in a parking area. The processor 346 then performs computations required to establish whether (or not) the mobile vehicle has parked in the at least one parking space (e.g. processor 346 of eTag 340 ‘associates’ the eTag with the parking space (or associates itself with one or more sensor(s) covering the parking space).

[0073] In accordance with some examples of the invention, an indication may be provided to a user interface 348 in the mobile vehicle 304 to indicate to a driver that a successful association event (associating) has occurred. In this manner, the user interface 348 may include a display to present the association information to the driver visually (e.g. an LED or an indication on the vehicle dashboard). Alternatively, the user interface 348 may provide an audible indication, such as a beep, or via another communication method, such as a text message, an email or via a connected application to a mobile phone.

[0074] In some examples, a transmitter of the eTag 340 may be configured to transmit association information to a parking management system 320 following an association calculation that the mobile vehicle is located in at least one parking space. This transmission of association information may be effected wirelessly, either directly 312, or indirectly 302, 322 via a base station, such as a wireless mobile phone base station 308.

[0075] The central management system 320 may then use this information to determine availability of car parking spaces in the car park, and distribute 324 this information to signs 310 or consumer mobile applications, for example. In accordance with some examples of the invention, a notification of a successful association between eTag 340 and a parking space monitored by the sensor unit 306, having been sent to the central management system 320, may be subsequently used for payment/car parking charge purposes, for example.

[0076] Thus, in accordance with some examples of the invention an intelligent, multistate eTag 340 is described. In some examples, the intelligent, multi-state eTag 340 is able to transition to an optimal operational state to minimise power consumption whenever possible. For example, a given vehicle will probably spend most of its time at a fixed point (e g. in a garage at home). An accelerometer 344 within or coupled to the eTag 340 can be used to determine when the car is moving and wakeup the eTag 340 from an idle or a deep sleep state. In some examples of the invention, to determine that a car is moving, a general motion can be detected using, say, the accelerometer 344 or more accurately an use of the engine can be detected using accelerometer 344 or some acoustic means, which is subsequently used to wake up the eTag 340 based on one of these factors.

[0077] The three general states of the intelligent, multi-state eTag 340 can be defined: (i) ‘Parked but not associated with a sensor or parking space’; (ii) ‘Not parked’; (iii) ‘Parked and associated with a sensor’.

[0078] The tag can have different behaviour in these three states. For example in state (i) the device can be put to sleep until the vehicle moves. In state (iii) the tag could have different behaviour e.g. to send a reconfirmation signal, either periodically or occasionally, to reconfirm their co-location, say via a short range radio link. In some examples of the invention, the confirmation and/or occasional or periodic re-confirmation of an eTag and sensor association may be effected by supporting a uni-directional or bi-directional communication link between the eTag and sensor. This is in contrast to the central correlation of independent data from the vehicle and the sensor, as proposed in Nedap.

[0079] Some inventive concepts described herein include identifying when no activity from the tag is required and so it can go into its lowest idle state or sleep state.

[0080] In some examples of the invention, when in state (ii), the electronic tag may be configured to periodically search for a signal, e.g. a (dedicated) beacon signal, from a parking sensor. This is desirable as the car may make several movements over a sensor before coming to rest. It is desirable to detect the sensor at an early stage in the parking process as the timing of arrival is an important event to accurately time stamp. The reason for this is that event timing (such as when a car parks or when the engine turns off) can be used to associate a tag with a sensor by comparing multiple event records between eTags 340 and sensor units 306. A parking manoeuvre can take some time before the car final comes to rest. As a result it is useful for the eTag 340 to be continually looking for a sensor when it is not parked.

[0081] Referring now to FIG. 4, a second example overview of a parking sensor based system 400 with intelligence located within a sensor unit 406 is illustrated, according to a second example embodiment of the present invention. In this example, an eTag 440 is located in a mobile vehicle 404, and is configured to communicate with a sensor unit 406. In this example, the sensor unit 406 is configured to determine whether (or not) the mobile vehicle 404 may be associated with a parking space monitored by the sensor unit 406. In this example, the sensor unit 406 is operably coupleable to a parking management system 420 to which it can relay the association information.

[0082] In this example, the eTag 440 comprises a processor 446 configured to process a communication from the sensor unit 406, received via a communication circuit 442, which includes a transmitter and/or a receiver. The communication relates to at least one parking space in a parking area. In some examples, an accelerometer 344 within or coupled to the eTag 440 can be used to determine when the car is moving and accordingly wakeup the eTag 440 from a deep sleep state or an idle state. Such (sleep or idle) inactive states of the eTag may, in some herein described examples, be used interchangeably, for example where the ‘depth of sleep’ (e.g. interval between waking) may be different. Thus, an eTag that is in an idle or sleep state may transition into or from a paired state.

[0083] In some examples of the invention, to determine that a car is moving, a general motion can be detected using, say, the accelerometer 444 or more accurately an use of the engine can be detected using accelerometer 444 or some acoustic means, which is subsequently used to wake up the eTag 440 based on one of these factors.

[0084] In this example, a sensor unit 406 comprises a sensor 452 operably connected to a processor 456. The processor 456 is configured to interpret signals generated by the sensor unit 406 and communicate with eTag 440 of the mobile vehicle 404 via a communication circuit 458, which includes a transmitter and/or a receiver. The sensor 452 detects the mobile vehicle 404, and more particularly detects the eTag 440 of the mobile vehicle 404 moving into the vicinity of the sensor 452. In particular, sensor 452 detects when mobile vehicle 404 parks in a parking space monitored by (or located over or adjacent to) a sensor unit 406. In response thereto, the sensor 452 outputs a signal to the processor 456. In this example, the processor 456 may then calculate whether the mobile vehicle 404 is occupying (and for example stationary within) the parking space monitored by the sensor unit 406. In response thereto, the processor 456 associates the parking space with the eTag 440 of the mobile vehicle 404, and may send a message 450 to the central management system 420 that the mobile vehicle 404 (for example identified by eTag 440) is associated with a parking space monitored by the sensor unit 406.

[0085] Here, the sensor unit 406 may be configured to transmit association information to a central management system 420 as a result from determining an association with the mobile vehicle 404 being located in at least one parking space. This transmission of association information may be effected wirelessly, either directly 411, or indirectly 402, 422 via a base station, such as a wireless mobile phone base station 408, or via 412, say, a mobile phone in the mobile vehicle 404.

[0086] The central management system 420 may then use this information to determine availability of car parking spaces in the car park, and distribute 424 this information to signs 410 or consumer mobile applications, for example. In accordance with some examples of the invention, a notification of a successful association between eTag 440 and a parking space monitored by the sensor unit 406, having been sent to the central management system 420, may be subsequently used for payment/car parking charge purposes, for example.

[0087] In accordance with some examples of the invention, following the processor 456 in the sensor unit 406 determining that an association condition has been reached, the processor 456 may provide an indication to a user interface 448 in the mobile vehicle 404 via communication circuit 458 to indicate to a driver that a successful association event (associating) has occurred. In this manner, the user interface 648 may include a display to present the association information to the driver visually (e g. an LED or an indication on the vehicle dashboard). Alternatively, the user interface 648 may provide an audible indication, such as a beep, or via another communication method, such as a text message, an email or via a connected application to a mobile phone.

[0088] In these examples of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the sensor 352, 452 performs two functions. A first function is to detect the presence of a vehicle. The second function is to provide some form of communications (either uni-directional or bi-directional) with the electronic tag in order to enable the tag to be associated with the sensor. There are many different ways to achieve this communications function.

[0089] In some examples of the invention, and in order to save power in the sensor, it may be possible to only start transmitting to the tag when a car is detected. This transmission could be to simply broadcast information or it could be a beacon signal or it could be a wakeup request to the eTag.

[0090] Referring now to FIG. 5, a first example state/flow diagram of a parking sensor based system with intelligence located within an eTag is illustrated, according to the first example embodiment of the present invention. An eTag, such as eTag 340 from FIG. 3, is in a mobile vehicle and is in a sleep mode state 502. In this example, the eTag may be woken up from the sleep mode state 502, for example following an accelerometer having determined that the mobile vehicle has stopped in 504. If the accelerometer does not determine that the mobile vehicle has stopped, the state diagram loops back in 508, for example if the accelerometer determines that there is no change in a given number of, say, x seconds, to 502 with the eTag remaining in the sleep mode state 502. Once woken, the eTag enters a listening state in 506. In a listening state in 506, the eTag awaits a parking identifier (ID) request and a handshake with a sensor, for example a processor in or coupled to the sensor, in 510. If a periodic handshake with the sensor fails, say twice, in 516, the eTag assumes that the mobile vehicle has not remained within a parking space covered by the sensor, or the parking ID has not been consistent that indicates a transition between parking spaces, the eTag remains in the listening state in 506. If the periodic handshake between the eTag and the sensor does not fail, potentially after one or more re-tries, in 516, then it is assumed that the eTag and the sensor (and identified parking space) are paired/associated in 512. The eTag and the sensor (and identified parking space) remain paired/associated in 514 until the periodic handshake fails, say, twice.

[0091] Referring now to FIG. 6 illustrates a second state/flow diagram 600 of a parking sensor based system with intelligence located within a sensor is illustrated, according to the second example embodiment of the present invention. A sensor such as sensor unit 406 from FIG. 4, is in a state whereby it has not identified a presence of a mobile vehicle in 601. If this changes, and, say, a magnetometer in the sensor indicates a presence of a parked car in 604, the sensor creates an association/pairing between the parking space monitored by the sensor and the parked car (or the eTag located in the mobile vehicle) in 606. In this example, the eTag awaits a parking identifier (ID) request and a handshake with a sensor, for example a processor in or coupled to the sensor, in 510. If a periodic handshake with the sensor fails, say twice, in 516, the eTag assumes that the mobile vehicle has not remained within a parking space covered by the sensor, or the parking ID has not been consistent that indicates a transition between parking spaces, the eTag remains in the listening state in 506. If the periodic handshake between the eTag and the sensor does not fail, say twice, in 516, then it is assumed that the eTag and the sensor (and identified parking space) are paired/associated in 512. The eTag and the sensor (and identified parking space) remain paired/associated in 514 until the periodic handshake fails, say, twice.

[0092] In some examples of the invention, for example with respect to FIG. 5 or FIG. 6, it may be desirable to reconfirm that a car is parked over a sensor. This is to assist the sensor detecting when the car has left the space, which in some examples may be important for increasing the accuracy of the association process or for billing purposes. In order to achieve this, the sensor and eTag may perform a periodic reconfirmation with each other via, say, a radio link. Periodic reconfirmation of a mobile vehicle location additionally helps to identify missed departure events to be spotted. The timing of this can be established by a protocol or the previously described method can be used for ensuring that communication is always successful. If a reconfirmation does not occur then the car is deemed to have departed.

[0093] In some examples, for example as a result of periodic reconfirmation, it may also be useful to determine when a car leaves a place. This can be used to trigger billing or can be used to aid estimation of the state of the parking system. Various techniques can be used. For example when a car’s engine is turned on or it starts to move then timing information of this event can be used.

[0094] In some examples of the invention, it may be useful to analyse the state of all of the parking sensors in a given area. This could either be to increase the confidence of each tag/parking space association or to help statistical analysis of the overall parking state in order to direct a traffic warden to places that illegal parking is likely to be occurring. For example, if two cars arrive at roughly the same time in a given area then there may be uncertainty about which car is in which space. However one car may leave at a different time to the other. At that point it may be possible to increase the certainty of the original observations. In effect, this provides a more accurate determination of the location of spaces in Nedap’s system, by using current data to clarify inaccuracies with the historical data. Extending this concept to the whole set of parking sensors in a given area allows increased accuracy by analysing the state of the overall system in an ongoing manner. Various algorithms including the Viterbi algorithm can be used to analyse the state of the system as a whole.

[0095] In some examples of the invention, in order to achieve a higher accuracy than known correlation techniques, examples of the invention may employ different techniques, e.g. first, using coarse detection, to identify that a vehicle is present; and secondly to employ fine estimation using an arrival time determination.

[0096] In some examples, in addition to the idle state shown in FIG. 5, the eTag may also sleep in a Paired state. In this example, when a sensor senses a vehicle entering its space (or one of the spaces that it is monitoring) it transmits a beacon, say every 10msec. per 100msec. In the remaining 90msec the sensor listens for a handshake from an eTag. If the sensor does receive an eTag handshake (i.e. one that renders the sensor not available for further association), it suspends its beacon for one minute, re-starting the beacon at a time that will ‘hit’ the end of the eTag’s one minute sleep period. However, if the sensor does not receive an eTag handshake (after, say, a few tries) it stops transmitting the beacon. In some examples, if the sensor senses the vehicle departing the sensor may stop transmitting the beacon. In other examples, the sensor may wait for a handshake failure to confirm the departure of the vehicle.

[0097] Similarly, a paired (and therefore sleeping) eTag awakens every one minute and listens for 110msec. If the paired eTag hears a beacon: it tries to handshake (up to a few times). If it is successful, it may go back to sleep. In some examples, the eTag may then repeat this listen / handshake process at intervals of, say, typically one or a few minutes, whilst synchronised with the associated sensor. If the eTag fails (up to a few times) to have a successful handshake process, it assumes that it is not in a parking space (and takes appropriate action). In some examples, the eTag may then leave it’s idle or sleep state (but may subsequently re-enter it as shown in the figures). If the eTag fails to hear a beacon: it may follow the same process as the above handshake failure.

[0098] Referring now to FIG. 7 an example timing diagram 700 illustrates a handshake process between an eTag and a sensor unit in a parking sensor based system, according to the first or second example embodiment of the present invention. In this example and with reference to Fig. 5, an eTag, such as eTag 340, 440 from FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, is configured in state 512 to wake up from an idle or sleep state every 60 seconds, and listen for a broadcast synchronisation signal from one or more sensor units, such as sensor units 306, 406 from FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. In this example, each sensor unit, at least when it has sensed a vehicle, broadcasts a 10msec synchronisation signal 702 every 100 msecs. In this manner, with the eTag waking up and listening for a period of 110msec., it will receive the 10msec synchronisation signal at least once. Once the eTag has received the 10msec synchronisation signal 702, it initiates a simple communication handshake process with the sensor unit to confirm that the two devices should become, or remain, associated/paired. In the intervening periods 704, between broadcast 10msec synchronisation signals 702, the sensor units await a communication from the eTag that initiates a simple handshake process. After successful handshake between the eTag and the sensor, the sensor may pause transmission of the synchronisation signal, since the eTag pauses its search for a synchronisation transmission. Thereafter, repeat the above process may repeat, in this example, every 60s.

[0099] It is envisaged that the above timing examples are for explanatory purposes only, and that other examples may use longer or shorter timing periods. In some alternative examples, the timing after one or more failed handshakes might be re-established based on the timing of the successful handshake, or might continue on the cycle already established, or any other suitable approach.

[00100] Thus, in this manner, a radio protocol may be established in which the sensor sends a set of periodic synchronisation signals spaced in time (possibly in response to a car detection event). The electronic tag will wakeup periodically and listen for one of these signals. The duty cycle of the sensor transmissions and electronic tag wakeup may be configured to maximise the electronic tag sleep duration, whilst ensuring an adequate probability that the electronic tag sees one of the signals from the sensor.

[00101] Referring now to FIG. 8, an example flowchart 800 of a method for a parking system is illustrated, according to example embodiments of the present invention. The parking system comprises a parking area with at least one mobile vehicle having an electronic tag and parking in a parking space in the parking area. The example flowchart 800 comprises linking, in 802, a fixed sensor with at least one parking space in the parking area. The fixed sensor is then configured to sense for vehicle(s) in the at least one parking space in the parking area, in 804. A mobile vehicle enters the at least one parking space in the parking area, in 806. At 808, the sensor senses the eTag (or mobile vehicle) as residing in a parking space. Once sensed, at 810, the sensor and the eTag exchange communications. At 812, and based on the exchanged communications, at least one of the sensor and the eTag calculate whether the vehicle is parked in the parking space, and in response thereto directly associates the sensor and/or parking space with the eTag.

[00102] In 814, the sensor or the eTag transmits the association information to a central management system, and optionally informs the driver of the vehicle, for example via a user interface in the vehicle. In 818, the central management system may use the association information to determine one or more of whether the vehicle has permission to park in the parking space, whether a charge needs to be levied against the vehicle for occupying the parking space and/or updating a non-availability of the parking space in a parking system database, say.

[00103] Once associated, in 816, a protocol may be initiated to periodically re-confirm the eTag and mobile vehicle are still occupying the parking space. If the periodic re-confirmation determination in 820 fails, it is assumed that the vehicle has left the parking space and the central management system is informed, in 822. The flowchart then returns to 806, in waiting for another mobile vehicle to occupy the parking space. If the periodic re-confirmation determination in 820 does not fail, it is assumed that the eTag and mobile vehicle still occupy the parking space and the association remains valid, and the process loops, say with the protocol attempting re-confirmation every, say, 60 sec as described in FIG. 7.

[00104] In some examples, one or more measurements may be obtained that are directed to the relative positions of the eTag and the sensor. These measurements (or in the simplest case of an in-road sensor under a single slot, just one type of measurement) may be used to effect an association. In this manner, one or more measurements may provide increased reliability in the association process in order to remove ambiguity and minimise errors.

[00105] In some examples, a radio ranging technique may be used to exchange data between two end points over a communications channel, which in these examples may include a direct measurement of a distance between tag and sensor. The ranging data is generated at one or both ends of the communications channel.

[00106] In some examples, and to save power, a radio ranging technique may be only enabled once a vehicle has been detected (by whatever mechanism). In a first example, radio ranging may be achieved using ultra-wideband (UWB) radio using, for example, Time of

Arrival or Time Difference of Arrival mechanisms wherein the timing of transmission and reception of any or all UWB communication between eTag and sensor is measured by one or both of the etag and the sensor. This timing data may be communicated over the UWB channel in order that it may be compared at one or both ends of the communications channel where the ranging data is calculated.

[00107] In some examples, a hybrid radio ranging technique may be employed, for example using, say, UWB with other sensor techniques. In some examples, the UWB radio ranging technique may be used with a sensor that may be configured to use any suitable technology for example radio, magnetic, video, and in some examples may be configured to sense one or more from a range of parameters for example radio path length, magnetic reluctance, a change in reluctance, optical distance/parallax, etc.

[00108] In a second example, radio ranging may be achieved using a “Time of Arrival” (ToA) approach, in order to try to position a vehicle in one or two dimensions (e.g. in a 1-D lane or within an 2-D area), irrespective of how many measurements are taken.

[00109] When a single measurement is used, and if the eTag is, say, less than a given distance threshold (e g. lm) from a sensor, then it may be considered to be associated with that tag. In this case it would be highly unlikely for another car to be closer to the sensor. However, if the measured distance is determined as being greater than the threshold it may be difficult to unambiguously locate the vehicle and the thereby associate reliably the eTag with a specific space.

[00110] Thus, in some examples, a second measurement may be taken in order to improve the ‘association’ calculation reliability. In some instances, this second measurement may be a determination of the eTag’s distance to a second sensor. For example if it is equidistant between two sensors then it may be necessary for the system to make a decision about which space to associate the eTag with, or to define the eTag as being between two spaces.

[00111] In some examples, a second sensor that is used for ranging may not be the same as, or co-located with, a first sensor that may be located directly under a parking space (for example a magnetic or IR sensor). Thus, it is envisaged that a ‘ranging sensor’ may be located wherever it is most useful, and perhaps not just used by one or multiple parking bays.

[00112] In some examples, a third measurement may be taken, or needed. In some parking scenarios, it is possible for distance measurements from two sensors to result in uncertainty.

Even accurate distance measures from two sensors will lead to two possible locations. In a linear parking scenario (such as cars parked along the side of the road) then this does not matter as the car can be assumed to be parked in a linear set of locations. However, in parking scenarios such as car parks with several rows then the uncertainty could indicate two possible parking spaces. In that case, and in cases where distance measurements are unreliable, some examples of the system may obtain a third measurement in order to remove any ambiguity, or reduce uncertainty.

[00113] In some examples, multiple types of measurement information may be employed, within either, or both, sensor information and information stored in the eTag, for example, has the eTag detection or vehicle presence detection indicated that an identification has occurred (e.g. with a binary decision as to: ‘is it there or not?’). It is envisaged that a second type of measurement to be used may be a detection timing (e.g. when did the detection occur?). It is envisaged that a third type of measurement to be used may include a range measurement (say in metres). It is envisaged that a fourth type of measurement to be used may include a timed pattern of movement of the eTag (for example a relationship connected with recent accelerometer readings), which may allow a correlation with measurements from other sensors. If the correlation is strong, a match may be inferred.

[00114] Thus, it is envisaged in some examples that sensor information, which can contribute to the underlying association decision, may emanate from in-road sensors or radioranging sensors as described above. It is also envisaged in some examples that sensor information may come from other sources, such as from a video-based sensor (perhaps mounted on a lamp post), which may be configured to recognise an apparent presence or absence of a vehicle in one (typically one of several) slots and provide information to help with the local association of an eTag with a parking space or one or more sensor(s).

[00115] In the forgoing specification, an invention has been described with reference to specific illustrated examples. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

[00116] The connections as discussed herein may be any type of connections suitable to transfer signals from or to the respective nodes, units or devices, for example via intermediary components. Accordingly, unless implied or stated otherwise, the connections may for example be direct connections or indirect connections. The connections may be illustrated or described in reference to being a single connection, a plurality of connections, unidirectional connections or bidirectional connections. However, different illustrated examples may vary the implementation of the connections. For example, separate unidirectional connections may be used rather than bidirectional connections and vice versa. Also, plurality of connections may be replaced with a single connection that transfers multiple signals serially or in a time multiplexed manner. Likewise, single connections carrying multiple signals may be separated out into various different connections carrying subsets of these signals. Therefore, many options exist for transferring signals.

[00117] Although specific conductivity types or polarity of potentials have been described in the examples, it will be appreciated that conductivity types and polarities of potentials may be reversed.

[00118] Any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality is effectively ‘associated such that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve a particular functionality can be ‘associated with’ each other such that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermediary components. Likewise, two components so associated can also be viewed as being ‘operably connected’, or ‘operably coupled’ to each other to achieve the desired functionality.

[00119] Furthermore, those skilled in the art will recognise that boundaries between the above described operations are merely illustrative. The multiple operations may be combined into a single operation, a single operation may be distributed in additional operations and operations may be executed at least partially overlapping in time. Moreover, alternative embodiments may include multiple instances of a particular operation, and the order of operations may be altered in various other embodiments.

[00120] Furthermore, the illustrated examples may be implemented as circuitry located in a single integrated circuit or within the same device. Alternatively, the illustrated examples may be implemented as any number of separate integrated circuits or separate devices interconnected with each other in a suitable manner. However, other modifications, variations and alternatives are also possible. The specifications and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than in a restrictive sense.

[00121] It will be appreciated that, for clarity purposes, the above description has described embodiments of the invention with reference to different functional units and processors. However, it will be apparent that any suitable distribution of functionality between different functional units or processors, for example with respect to the sensor, or eTag, may be used without detracting from the invention. Hence, references to specific functional units are only to be seen as references to suitable means for providing the described functionality, rather than indicative of a strict logical or physical structure or organization.

[00122] Although the present invention has been described in connection with some embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein. Rather, the scope of the present invention is limited only by the accompanying claims. Additionally, although a feature may appear to be described in connection with particular embodiments, one skilled in the art would recognize that various features of the described embodiments may be combined in accordance with the invention. In the claims, the term ‘comprising’ does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps.

[00123] Furthermore, although individually listed, a plurality of means, elements or method steps may be implemented by, for example, a single unit or processor. Additionally, although individual features may be included in different claims, these may possibly be advantageously combined, and the inclusion in different claims does not imply that a combination of features is not feasible and/or advantageous. Also, the inclusion of a feature in one category of claims does not imply a limitation to this category, but rather indicates that the feature is equally applicable to other claim categories, as appropriate.

[00124] Furthermore, the order of features in the claims does not imply any specific order in which the features must be performed and in particular the order of individual steps in a method claim does not imply that the steps must be performed in this order. Rather, the steps may be performed in any suitable order. In addition, singular references do not exclude a plurality. Thus, references to ‘a’, ‘an’, ‘first’, ‘second’, etc. do not preclude a plurality.

[00125] Thus, an improved solution is described for identifying a use or availability for each individual parking space in a densely populated parking area, such as found in car parks. The improved solution describes a number of mechanisms to associate an eTag located in a particular vehicle with a particular individual parking space and one or more associated sensor(s), wherein the aforementioned disadvantages with prior art arrangements have been substantially alleviated.

Claims

Claims (GB)

1. A parking system comprising: a parking area with at least one parking space; at least one fixed sensor sensing the at least one parking space and comprising a first communication circuit configured to be associated; and an electronic tag comprising a second communication circuit and located in a mobile vehicle for parking in the parking area; wherein at least one of the fixed sensor and electronic tag comprises a processor coupled to the first or second communication circuit and configured to directly associate the at least one parking space sensed by the fixed sensor with the electronic tag, in response to the first communication circuit communicating with the second communication circuit, to identify the at least one parking space in the parking area being occupied by the mobile vehicle.

2. The parking system according to Claim 1 wherein the parking system further comprises a central management system operably coupled to at least one of the fixed sensor and the electronic tag and configured to track availability and usage of one or more parking spaces in the parking area.

3. The parking system according to Claim 2 wherein at least one of the first communication circuit of the fixed sensor and second communication circuit of the electronic tag further comprises a transmitter configured to transmit association information resulting from an association with the mobile vehicle being located in the at least one parking space to the central management system.

4. The parking system according to any of preceding Claims 2 to 3 wherein the central management system comprises an electronic circuit comprising a processor configured to receive the association information and in response thereto perform at least one of the following: arrange for a parking charge for use of the at least one parking space; determine whether the mobile vehicle has permission to park in the at least one parking space.

5. The parking system according to any preceding Claim wherein the communication between the electronic tag and the one or more sensor(s) collates multiple items of information related to the association in a single location within or adjacent to the parking space accommodating the mobile vehicle in order to determine an association.

6. The parking system according to any preceding Claim wherein the processor of the at least one fixed sensor is configured to establish information related to a presence of one or more mobile vehicles or electronic tags using at least one of: an electronic tag identification circuit, a vehicle presence detection circuit, a timing of detection, a distance measurement, a timed pattern of movement of the electronic tag.

7. The parking system according to any preceding Claim wherein the first communication circuit communicating with the second communication circuit comprises an exchange of data between the electronic tag and the at least one fixed sensor, indicative of at least one from a group of: a measurement of a distance between the electronic tag and the at least one fixed sensor, a timing of a transmission or reception of communication between the electronic tag and the at least one fixed sensor.

8. The parking system according to Claim 7 wherein a plurality of fixed sensors are configured to perform radio ranging to determine the measurement of the distance between the electronic tag and the respective fixed sensor.

9. The parking system according to Claim 8 wherein radio ranging is performed using ultra-wideband, UWB, radio communications.

10. The parking system according to Claim 9 wherein radio ranging further comprises using UWB with a further sensed data to determine an association.

11. The parking system according to Claim 10 wherein the further sensed data comprises data describing one or more of the following: a radio path length, a magnetic reluctance, a change in reluctance, an optical distance, parallax data.

12. The parking system according to any of preceding Claims 7 to 11 wherein the processor is coupled to a radio ranging circuit and the radio ranging circuit is only enabled once the mobile vehicle has been detected in a vicinity of the at least one parking space.

13. The parking system according to any of preceding Claims 1 to 6 further comprising a radio ranging circuit located remote from, and operably coupled to, the at least one fixed sensor and configured to exchange radio ranging data with either the electronic tag or the at least one fixed sensor, to identify a distance measurement between the electronic tag and the at least one fixed sensor.

14. The parking system according to any preceding Claim wherein the at least one fixed sensor is located remotely from the at least one parking space and configured to sense a plurality of parking spaces.

15. The parking system according to Claim 14 wherein the at least one fixed sensor employs a video based technology.

16. A fixed sensor operably coupled to a central management system and associated with at least one parking space in a parking area, the fixed sensor comprising: a sensing circuit configured to sense movement in at least one parking space; a first communication circuit; and a processor; operably coupled to the to the sensing circuit and the first communication circuit and configured to identify an electronic tag located in a mobile vehicle when the mobile vehicle has parked in the at least one parking space and directly associate the at least one parking space sensed by the fixed sensor with the electronic tag, in response to the first communication circuit communicating with the electronic tag, to identify the at least one parking space in the parking area being occupied by the mobile vehicle.

17. The fixed sensor of Claim 16 further comprising a transmitter operably coupled to the processor and configured to transmit association information resulting from an association with the mobile vehicle being located in the at least one parking space to the central management system.

18. The fixed sensor of Claim 16 or Claim 17 wherein the processor is configured to establish information related to a presence of one or more mobile vehicles or electronic tags using at least one of: an electronic tag identification circuit, a vehicle presence detection circuit, a timing of detection, a distance measurement, a timed pattern of movement of the electronic tag.

19. The fixed sensor of any of preceding Claims 16 to 18 further comprising a radio ranging circuit operably coupled to the processor and configured to determine a measurement of a distance between the electronic tag and the fixed sensor.

20. The fixed sensor of Claim 19 wherein the radio ranging circuit is configured to use ultra-wideband, UWB, radio communications.

21. The fixed sensor of Claim 20 wherein the processor is configured to use further sensed data and UWB radio ranging data to determine an association.

22. The fixed sensor of Claim 21 wherein the further sensed data comprises one or more of the following: a radio path length, a magnetic reluctance, a change in reluctance, an optical distance, parallax data.

23. The fixed sensor according to any of preceding Claims 19 to 22 wherein the radio ranging circuit is only enabled once the mobile vehicle has been detected in a vicinity of the at least one parking space.

24. The fixed sensor according to any of preceding Claims 16 to 23 wherein the sensing circuit is configured to sense a plurality of parking spaces.

25. An electronic tag located in a mobile vehicle and operably coupled to a central management system, the electronic tag comprising: a second communication circuit configured to communicate with a first communication circuit of a fixed sensor configured to sense movement in at least one parking space of a parking area; and a processor configured to: identify the fixed sensor associated with at least one parking space in a parking area in response to the communication; and directly associate the mobile vehicle with the at least one parking space, to identify the at least one parking space in the parking area being occupied by the mobile vehicle.

26. The electronic tag of Claim 25 further comprising a transmitter operably coupled to the processor and configured to transmit association information resulting from an association with the mobile vehicle being located in the at least one parking space to the central management system.

27. The electronic tag of Claim 25 or Claim 26 further comprising an output port configured to be coupled to a user interface within the mobile vehicle, wherein the processor is further configured to generate an output signal to be provided to the user interface to indicate a successful association.

28. The electronic tag of Claim 27 wherein the output signal generated by the processor that is indicative of a successful association creates one from a group consisting of: a visual indication; an audio indication, a subsequent communication to the user.

29. The electronic tag of any of preceding Claims 25 to 28 wherein the processor is further configured to receive an input from an accelerometer that indicates a state of the mobile vehicle and transitions an operational state of the electronic tag into or out of a lowest idle or sleep state according to the received input.

30. The electronic tag of Claim 29 wherein the input comprises one of: (i) ‘Parked but not associated with a sensor’; (ii) ‘Not parked’; (iii) ‘Parked and associated with a sensor’.

31. A method for a parking system that comprises a parking area with at least one parking space and at least one fixed sensor sensing the at least one parking space and at least one mobile vehicle having an electronic tag parking in the at least one parking space, the method comprising: sensing the at least one parking space by the at least one fixed sensor; exchanging communications between the at least one fixed sensor and the electronic tag associating the at least one parking space in the parking area sensed by the fixed sensor with the electronic tag, in response to the communication to identify the at least one parking space in the parking area being occupied by the mobile vehicle.

32. The method of Claim 31 wherein the parking system comprises a central management system operably coupleable to at least one of the fixed sensor and electronic tag, the method further comprising: transmitting the association information resulting from an association with the mobile vehicle being located in the at least one parking space to the central management system from at least one of the fixed sensor and electronic tag; and tracking, by the central management system, availability and usage of one or more parking spaces in the parking area based on the received association information.

33. The method of Claim 32 further comprising receiving the association information at the central management system and, in response thereto, performing at least one of the following: arranging for a parking charge for use of the at least one parking space; determining whether the mobile vehicle has permission to park in the at least one parking space.

34. A method for a parking system comprising a parking area with at least one mobile vehicle comprising an electronic tag parking in the parking area, the method comprising at a fixed sensor: sensing movement in at least one parking space; communicating with an electronic tag in the at least one parking space; identifying an electronic tag located in a mobile vehicle when the mobile vehicle has parked in the at least one parking space; associating the at least one parking space with the electronic tag, in response to the communication, to identify the at least one parking space in the parking area being occupied by the mobile vehicle.

35. The method of Claim 34 wherein the parking system comprises a central management system operably coupleable to the fixed sensor, the method further comprising transmitting the association information resulting to the central management system.

36. A method for a parking system comprising a parking area with at least one mobile vehicle comprising an electronic tag parking in the parking area, the method comprising at the electronic tag: identifying a fixed sensor associated with at least one parking space in a parking area; communicating with the fixed sensor; and associating in response to the communication the mobile vehicle with the at least one parking space, to identify the at least one parking space in the parking area being occupied by the mobile vehicle.

37. The method of Claim 36 wherein the parking system comprises a central management system operably coupleable to the electronic tag, the method further comprising transmitting the association information resulting to the central management system.

38. The method of Claim 36 or Claim 37 further comprising: generating a signal indicative of a successful association; and providing the signal to a user interface in the mobile vehicle to indicate a successful association.

39. The method of any of preceding Claims 36 to 38 further comprising: receiving an input from an accelerometer that indicates a state of the mobile vehicle; and transitioning an operational state of the electronic tag into a lowest idle or sleep state according to the received input.

40. The method of Claim 39 wherein the input comprises one of: (i) ‘Parked but not associated with a sensor’; (ii) ‘Not parked’; (iii) ‘Parked and associated with a sensor’.