SE1230003A1 - ShowPark, system and method of parking assistance in an open urban environment - Google Patents

Abstract

Parking is an important but also time/environmental/resource-intensive activity with relevance in modern cities, as parking policies and access to parking play a major role in the management of transport and street systems in urban environments. The invention represents a method, a system and a solution for locating, monitoring, controlling and reporting available parking spaces. It is based on technology with receivers of GPS signals and/or sensors for detecting objects in the immediate vicinity. The information is communicated through a cable system, the Internet and/or over the mobile network to one or more applications at one or more servers and is used together with other information to collectively report available parking spaces on streets, squares and in parking garages with the desired characteristics in the user's client tool and to serve as a source of information for people, companies and organizations such as the state and municipality for traffic planning, traffic monitoring or the like. A number of additional services can be connected to the invention, such as e.g. check against parking regulations, pre-booked parking spaces, etc. The solution entails major cost and environmental savings.

Description

15 20 25 30 Swedish Transport Administration. This must be set against the fact that the city is not growing at the same time as it is estimated that we will be 105,000 citizens in 10 years and 261,000 in the loan.

At the same seminar, Anna Wersäll from the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce stated in her speech on the business community's view of traffic problems in the region that Stockholm has grown with an entire Oslo since 1970 without new capacity on roads and tracks. Furthermore, congestion and insecurity in traffic is a growing problem and the housing shortage increases the pressure on the traffic system.

Charlie Magnusson reported for BILSweden in Almedalen in 2011 that the passenger car represents 80.0% of passenger transport in Sweden (railway 8.2%, bus 7.1%, etc). It should be added that in an international perspective, Sweden represents a country with a well-developed municipal transport system.

Jessica Alenius reported for BILSweden in Almedalen in 2011 that access to the cities is increasing, vulnerability in the traffic is increasing, traffic chaos is increasing and the housing shortage is increasing. Jessica further reported that new investments in infrastructure as a share of GDP have fallen from over 1.9% in 1980 to below 1.5% in 2006 and as a consequence that the delays for those who commute to work in the big cities cost society SEK 8.5 billion annually (TRAFA 2011) and that the increased congestion creates large societal costs (SEK 300 per hour when traffic is at a standstill according to Jonas Eliasson 2008). J essica's question was where can we build? Jessica replied that there are large areas under the surface and specifically that we would work with tunnels for road traffic, tunnels for train traffic and parking spaces.

A study at Purdue University (2010) reported that Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin had a total area of paved parking lots totaling 486 square miles (1,257 square kilometers), which corresponded to more than 2.5 spaces per car and almost 5% of all urban land in the area. No garages were included in these figures and the conclusion was that there was enough space, but that the spaces were not where they were needed when they were needed.

Research (see Kate Aublin, "The Hidden Costs of America's Parking Problem", 2010-05-21) has shown that about 30 percent of traffic jams are caused by cars seeking parking, which means not only a waste of time but also air pollution and resources. / energy consumption. Calculations have shown that the cars in an area of 15 blocks in Los Angeles travel 950,000 miles (1.5 million km) annually, burn 47,000 liters of fuel and emit 730 tons of carbon dioxide per year just to look for parking spaces! On the Upper West Side of New York, the numbers are only slightly better: 10 15 20 25 30 "drivers on Columbus Avenue cross a total of 366,000 miles (590.00 km) per year, producing 325 tons of carbon dioxide, at a cost of $ 130,000 per year in lost fuel and more than 50,000 hours spent in traffic circles.So not only is the search for parking spaces bad for the environment, it is also expensive.

It follows from the above that parking is an important issue in modern cities and that parking policy and access to and control of parking play a significant role in the management of the transport system in urban environments. The number of parking spaces, the availability of and its location, affects both the level of service in the community and the congestion and efficiency. It is also important to add that it is reflected in well-being, safety and the environment, and for the functionality of the whole society.

The following sections present hypothetical effects of the search process for parking spaces from three different perspectives; the time perspective, the environmental aspect and the cost perspective.

The calculations are based on the fact that we have just over 4.3 million registered cars in Sweden and that last year we passed one billion cars globally.

Time aspects The time an individual spends by driving around and looking for available parking spaces to park their car before a meeting, performing a errand, or the like, constitutes a non-value-adding amount of time. The individual benefit and thus the societal benefit would instead have been higher if the father could have spent time with his child and the societal benefit or benefit for the company would have been higher if the auditor had spent time with the client's income statement than the time spent circulating around the city streets and squares. a parking space. Another example is that parking companies invest large amounts of time to control paid parking fees. A more automated solution for e.g. the control of a residential car park would save large amounts of time and resources.

Quantifying the time problem requires a number of assumptions and is probably quite complex, but a simple example is that 5 minutes per week and car searching for a parking space corresponds to just over 1.1 billion non-value-creating minutes per year in Sweden alone. The cost of the non-productive use of time corresponds to a societal cost of SEK 6.8 billion per year for Sweden (calculated on the basis of an average salary, ancillary salary cost and distributed overhead per hour of SEK 360), and is well in line with published estimated societal costs. Globally, the same assumption corresponds to 260 billion wasted minutes, a time that, recalculated with Swedish wage costs, corresponds to a global social cost of just under 1.6 trillion. 10 15 20 25 30 Environmental aspects From an environmental perspective, the car represents a major polluter! The car pollutes air, water and land and some examples of frightening facts are that: 0 China and the United States represent half of the C02 pollutants in the world. ~ 70% of air pollution in Chinese cities comes from cars and trucks. 0 C02 emissions from American cars and trucks correspond to one million tonnes per day. ø 80 people die every day in the USA due to pollution created by the car. o Air pollution in China's 14 largest cities kills 50,000 newborns. 0 The same air pollutants in China are responsible for 400,000 cases of respiratory diseases.

A report from the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency reports an average level of CO2 pollution of 174 grams per kilometer driven (no consideration is given to nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons or particles). If the Swedish car fleet were to reduce emissions to an average of 120 grams per kilometer, a proposal that is currently being discussed in the European Parliament, carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced by approximately 4.9 million tonnes each year. This corresponds to seven percent of Sweden's total greenhouse gas emissions.

A separate calculation shows that a reduction of one kilometer per car and week in the search process for parking spaces would reduce the total amount of CO2 pollutants by just over 39 billion grams per year in Sweden alone. Globally, the assumption with the kilometer corresponds to a reduction of C02 pollutants by just over 9 million TONs per year.

Economic aspects The car also represents direct costs for the individual or company for things such as petrol, tire wear, windscreen wipers, etc. For society, there are also costs for wear and tear on roads, signaling systems, maintenance, the occasional collision, etc.

The Swedish Tax Agency has set a deductible kilometer cost of 1.85 for the use of a car in companies.

The same kilometer cost for two kilometers and car per week corresponds to a potential cost saving of approximately SEK 836 million for individuals and or companies per year in Sweden alone. The societal cost for wear and tear on roads is calculated on the basis of a report from Svensk Kollektivtrafik to about 3.5 million, but without costs for e.g. traffic accidents included.

The congestion also represents a societal cost of SEK 7 billion per year or SEK 4,000 per inhabitant and year (Stockholm's traffic situation, Ulrika Honauer, Swedish Transport Administration, 2011-10-05). 10 15 20 25 30 KNOWLEDGE TECHNOLOGY There are solutions for traffic planning, an example is wvvwtra fl kennu which according to its own statement makes it easier to travel in Stockholm (or Gothenburg, Skaraborg, Skåne, Kalmar / Öland). You get an overall and current picture of the traffic situation so that your trip becomes easier to plan, regardless of whether you drive, walk, cycle or take public transport. Very briefly, it gives a picture of the actual traffic situation with maps, events, cameras and information about road status.

It also shows where there are entrance car parks and places for things like disabled parking, but does not provide any information about accessibility and answers absolutely nothing about vacant parking on streets and squares.

There are also solutions for parking garages, with examples such as the application of Parkeringsbolaget or P-IN in Gothenburg. With just over 100 signs, P-IN shows the way to vacant parking spaces in the 14 largest parking facilities in central Gothenburg. A mobile application has been created for the iPhone that shows where there are parking spaces in the parking garages, how to drive there, what the hourly cost is and which cards you can pay with and in some cases it is also shown how many free spaces there are. However, there is no connection to pairings outside the limited number of parking garages that are connected to the application.

From an international perspective, patents have been published for a large number of systems for searching and parking solutions, below are some examples: 0 US 2011191266 - Navigation device and method for providing information on parking area o Solution based on a method with an engine, a car battery, a solar cell and a battery control tool. o JP 2010281614 - Parking position search system o Solution based on a process with an electronic key that can be carried and a radio that can transmit an ID. o KR 20100122003 - System for parking position search using hot code and method thereof o Solution based on a process that determines a parked position through a “hot code”, a QR code, and a mobile phone. o WO 2009091626 - Method and apparatus for searching for local parking 10 15 20 25 30 o Solution based on a model with GPS to find the best route between point A and point B. 0 US 2009204319 - Real time parking search and point-to -point direction generator o Solution that "googles" databases with parking information to find places where it is possible to park. o CN 101441812 - City parking position prescribing induction system based on wireless sensing network o Solution based on a process of finding and reserving parking spaces wirelessly in parking garages, parking garages or other controlled and restricted parking areas. This solution is considered by the applicant to be the closest known technology.

The conclusion is that there are solutions for searching, finding and booking parking spaces in parking garages or other controlled domains, but that there is no standardized and scalable solution for finding vacant parking spaces in an open urban environment, where by open urban environment we refer to ordinary streets and squares, unlike parking garages, parking garages or other controlled and restricted parking areas.

SUMMARY There is currently no standardized and scalable solution for finding vacant parking spaces in an open urban environment, where by open urban environment we refer to ordinary streets and squares, unlike parking garages, or other controlled and parking garage limited parking areas.

This problem is solved according to different embodiments by methods and systems for locating and informing users of a client tool about vacant parking spaces and / or spaces with specific properties, in an open urban environment.

The presented methods and systems achieve both environmental benefits, reduced costs for the user and for society, as well as time savings for the user, as users, preferably drivers of vehicles, do not have to drive around unnecessarily in the search for a parking space.

According to various embodiments, the system according to the invention provides the possibility of communicating warning signals via the client tool when parking obstructions are identified. Furthermore, the system enables automated parking monitoring, for example for use by parking companies, and opportunities for improved traffic planning, traffic management and / or traffic monitoring. LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the system, where the one-way or two-way communicating units are GPS receivers.

Figure 2 shows an embodiment of the system, where the one- or two-way communicating units are sensors.

Figure 3 is a schematic view of information transmission according to an embodiment.

Figure 4 is a schematic view of information transmission according to an embodiment.

Figure 5 is a schematic view of information transmission according to an embodiment.

Figure 6 shows the deployment of one-way or two-way communicating units according to an embodiment.

Figure 7 shows the placement of one- or two-way communicating units according to an embodiment.

Figure 8 shows a schematic view of the system according to an embodiment.

Figure 9 shows information transfer to a system arranged for parking monitoring, traffic planning and / or traffic monitoring, according to an embodiment.

Figure 10 shows information transfer according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Introduction The process begins with devices for one-way or two-way communication, according to different embodiments of receivers or sensors comprising or communicatively connected to transmitters. In future, these will be referred to in the application as only recipients or sensors. a) receivers and / or alternatives b) sensors placed on, under or in close proximity to the ground. The receivers (a) for the purpose of receiving GPS signals and (b) the sensors for the purpose of sensing objects at close range. The GPS signals (a) can be received unhindered to the receiving device (GPS signals from fl your satellites provide better precision) if there is “free movement” between the satellites and the receivers. The signals can also be obstructed by a car, a container, or the like, indicating a "busy" place.

The sensors (b) detect if the place is "empty" or if it is already used by a car, container, or the like. The recipients and the sensors can work together and the choice of method or methods depends on the relevant area, regulations, decision-makers, financing 10 15 20 25 30 35 and more. Both receivers, sensors and all other included components are adapted to the local environment to be able to operate in both cold, heat, rain, drought, etc., according to a local specification that is also anchored with the economic conditions.

The receivers and / or sensors can be placed in different ways depending on the region, local regulations, climate, financing, etc. A model is a process in which a cutting tool digs a notch in the ground to lay a "cord", coupling strips (eg as a Märklin rail) in a later step, or similar equipped with receivers / sensors at certain intervals in a later step to close the channel with deployed receivers / sensors, e.g. through asphalt, glue, or the like. Another model is where a tool shoots down or applies receiver / transmitter in, on or around the ground given a space that follows what the street or square looks like and how far it should be between each receiver / sensor to register each available parking space. All or parts of the system can be connected to existing networks for power supply, e.g. by connecting to the network for traffic signals. A third method is to attach receivers and / or transmitters to the ceiling, on house walls, in lampposts, traffic lights, or the like, in an area with the possibility of this.

The receiving devices, which have received GPS signals, or the sensors known by their immediate surroundings, or equivalent technology, transmit (own functionality for transmission or additional transmitters) information such as the device's identity, position, property, et cetera, on to one or server your server / s with one or fl your applications. The transmission can take place over the mobile network, the Internet, through a connection / "cable" (eg through existing networks for traffic controls, electrical systems, such as a LAN, WAN, or equivalent), or the like.

The application (s) run the received information against other information or other points of interest, such as current street level in the relevant area, where and when you have cleaning nights, streets or places that have a ban on parking, places with properties such as. chargers for electric cars, gas stations, and the like.

The information is then passed on, e.g. wirelessly over the mobile phone network or over the Internet, to the user's client tool, which may be a mobile phone, laptop, tablet, or the like.

The information can be both sent or retrieved. The user's client tool has one or fl your applications installed that can interpret and report the information, use an application or service over the Internet for the same purpose, or the like. At the user, vacancies and / or occupied places, properties, etc. are reported, against e.g. a map through which the user knows where there are available parking spaces without being physically present.

The client tool can be connected so that it also uses the user's GPS coordinates, which makes it possible for the system to report places e.g. in the immediate vicinity. The user must be able to control how he wants the information reported and be able to work with additional services such as proximity to a desired service, best route, cost proposals, m.m. 8 10 15 20 25 30 Additional value that the system, which knows the user's position, warns the user in real time of e.g. parking ban and cleaning nights when he drives into a place with that property. Such a warning can be communicated via the client tool's user interface, for example in the form of graphics, sound or light.

The application on the server must also contain information for collecting all available spaces in parking garages or garages belonging to parking companies, municipalities, companies, property owners, or the like. Through this invention, all vacant parking spaces, whether on streets, squares or parking garages, can thus be reported in real time in one and the same place. The invention comes with a solution that offers great benefits for dealing with the problems mentioned in the problem description itself; reduce the time required to find a parking space, significantly reduce environmental degradation and reduce costs for consumption or wear and tear of resources, as well as for scenarios with people who have difficulty interpreting signs and rules (can I stand here? where can I not stand? when?) , ie directly reduce idiotic parking lots, and the like.

Furthermore, the system makes it possible to build on with functionality and logic for things such as the parking companies being able to see where a vehicle is that has not made its payment or that is abusing parking rules, e.g. stands in a place with a parking ban. An example would be that the user gets a parking space or parking right in a residential car park or guest car park by purchasing an indicator unit, here called a "blip", with a unique ID number, which is placed in the car. Through this, a central unit can monitor all parking spaces, fees paid, vehicles that violate applicable parking rules, etc., in order to dispatch those who drive the regular patrol.

This increases efficiency while reducing the number of miles and fuel consumption. Furthermore, the state, municipality or other stakeholder should receive help with statistics, traffic management and traffic planning for better accessibility or other capacity measures.

There must also be opportunities to build up a structure with the booking and the accompanying control of specific parking spaces. An example could be reserving a specified space within a residential car park. With a check of the place, the entitled holder can ensure that there is an underlying check that continuously monitors that no one uses the place against current regulations, with an action program for those who do (eg guards who impose fines). 10 15 20 25 30 General description of embodiments Figure 1 - Receipt of GPS signals (a) Shows deployed one- or two-way communicated units, here in the form of receivers (100) of GPS signals (A) on streets, squares, roofs, or similar. The receivers receive GPS signals from satellites (200) where it is "free forward" for reception. The GPS receiver receives signals through glass and plastic, but the signal does not pass through metal. Where the receiver is covered (B), e.g. of the metal in a car, container or the like (300), the reception is thus disturbed. With our invention it follows that through the recipients we can register where there are empty / vacant places (C) on streets and squares and where the places are occupied by cars, containers, or the like.

Figure 2 - Registration via sensors (b) Shows deployed one- or two-way communicated units, here in the form of sensors (400) on streets and squares, roofs, or the like. The sensors detect where there are objects in the immediate vicinity (D), i.e. a car, container, or the like. Places where there are no objects in the immediate vicinity (E) represent places that may be possible to use for parking. Another way of expressing this is that the sensors register if the sight is "free", which means that there is a free parking space in connection with the sensor's location.

Figure 3 - Transmission of information via connection The information received from the one-way or two-way communicated units (10) according to different embodiments is further communicated to one or fl your server / s (500) with one or fl your applications (550) by an extension or connection (F), e.g. an ordinary cord or the like that can be connected to e.g. the municipality's traffic or light system and along which the one- or two-way communicating units (10) are attached. The set can be equated with a LAN, WAN, or equivalent.

The application receives information such as GPS information, device identity, property nearby, et cetera. By matching the received information against access to street level, cleaning days, loading bays, or places with properties (575) such as. charging unit for electric cars, proximity to petrol station, whether parking on site or street is chargeable or not, if the parking fee exceeds a user-set threshold, etc., the application can report all places that are not used or which are available for parking given the user's desired characteristics. 10 10 15 20 25 30 Figure 4 - Transmission of information over the Internet / GPRS / GSM / 3G / 4G or similar technology The information received from the one-way or two-way communicated units (110) according to various embodiments is further communicated via the Internet, wirelessly via the mobile telephone network to a server (500) with one or more applications (550) over Internet, GPRS, GSM, 3G, 4G or similar future communication platforms (G).

The application receives information such as the identity of the unit, property in the vicinity, et cetera. By matching the received information against access to street level, cleaning days, loading bays, or places with properties (575) such as. charging unit for electric cars, proximity to petrol station, whether parking on site or street is chargeable or not, if the parking fee exceeds a user-set threshold, etc., the application can report all places that are not used or which are available for parking given the user's desired characteristics.

Figure 5 - The information is made available to the user's client tool The application or applications on the server or servers communicate information to the user's client tool (600), e.g. computer, mobile phone, "TomTom", iPad, or similar. The client uses an application (620), e.g. a map solution, where the places are reported according to the customer's wishes. The last can be markings for positions in an area that represents “vacancies” or markings where the places are occupied (300 marks the occupied place in Figure 5).

Additions can be made for places with properties such as charging unit for electric cars.

The client can also be connected to an application or service online (640) that reports the information to the user in the same way as an application in the client tool. Furthermore, the server and applications may be associated with additional information reception services and / or provide information to other persons, companies or organizations for their services (660). Examples of the latter can be for traffic planning at the city and municipality, for the parking companies to check paid fees, or the like.

Figure 6 - Release of receivers and / or sensors Through a cutting tool, a channel can be cut out in e.g. the asphalt on streets and squares (700). In the cut / dug canal you can put an extension in the form of a "cord", receiver / sensors (710) at a distance that is suitable for the local environment given things adaptable connection strips, or similar that contain as street intersections, parking permits, car size, traffic signals, driving directions, 11 10 15 20 25 30 et cetera. Alternatively, such an extension can be placed in the form of a "cord", adaptable coupling strips, or the like that contain receivers / sensors (710) at a distance suitable for the local environment given things such as intersections, parking permits, car size, traffic signals, driving instructions, et cetera, directly adjacent to the ground. According to one embodiment, the extension can be attached directly to the ground by means of an attaching medium such as glue or tape. According to one embodiment, the extension is a thin cord with small receivers / sensors with unique ID numbers that can be read or alternatively communicated. The system of receivers / sensors can also be connected to existing networks, e.g. connected to existing networks for traffic signals, for e.g. power supply or communication of information according to previous instructions (720).

Figure 7 - Release of receivers and / or sensors o Another example of release of receivers / processors. Through a tool (800), the receiver / transmitter is placed in, on or near the ground / roof / fastening device for adaptation to the entire system according to other instructions.

Figure 8 - Compilation (excl. Exposure of receivers / sensors) o Shows the entire fl fate, with: 1. Receiving GPS signals 2. Sensors that sense objects in its vicinity 3. The information is transmitted to one or fl era servers with one or fl era applications over a connection / cable (such as a LAN, WAN, eg the municipal control system for traffic signals) 4. The information is transmitted to one or fl your servers with one or fl your applications over the mobile network, Internet, or similar 5. The application / applications refines the received information with e.g. properties, matching to street level, parking rules, et cetera. 6. The application (s) may also retrieve or provide additional information, services or the like from other persons, companies or the municipality for its route planning or organizations, such as the parking companies for its parking monitoring 12 10 15 20 25 30 7. The information is made available to the user on the tool selected by the user, e.g. a smartphone, an iPad, a laptop or the like, and reports vacancies / occupied places and their properties, e.g. which dots on a map, sends warning signals for e.g. parking ban, cleaning night, stop ban, garage exit, other exit, cargo zone and the like.

Figure 9 - Automated parking monitoring ° Shows fl the fate to further automate parking monitoring, e.g. for a parking company's surveillance of a "residential car park". Users who have or buy parking rights in an area place an indicator unit, here called a "blip" (910), with an ID number in the car. The system detects the parking spaces, vehicles and ID number in the "blippers" (A) and sends information (B) to the receiving unit (920), which may be with the P-company, or another receiving party. The information sent to the receiving unit can be a report of cars parked without blips (930) and cars with blips (940), with or without matching to location. The parking company or receiving party can match the received information against their registers of users with parking rights in the designated area. The parking company can see both centrally on a monitor, locally on a client tool, or otherwise, where there are cars that do not have parking rights and can dispatch / direct their inspectors to the site with high precision and the inspection can be automated to a large extent. The system sees who is not paid without the inspector having to look through each windshield for parking permits.

Figure 10 - Automated control and warning signal An additional service (980) in the system for users on the way to park (A) in a vacant space. Application or applications sense the user's position through GPS or equivalent in the user's client tool (B). Application or applications match the user's position against available information such as tolled or free of charge, no parking, no parking, no parking, exit, cargo zone, cleaning night, or the like (C). The user can set up their own regulations for their own preferences regarding control and / or warning signals, what the user wants to be warned about and what not. When matching between position and desired property, application or applications send information to the client tool and capture the user's attention through a warning signal in the form of graphics, sound, light, or other. 13 10 15 20 25 30 The embodiments according to the above figures are further explained below.

Exemplary embodiments Here are listed various embodiments to provide a standardized and scalable solution for finding vacant parking spaces in an open urban environment. Open urban environment refers to ordinary streets and squares, unlike parking garages, parking garages or other controlled and limited parking areas.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a system for parking assistance in an open urban environment, comprising: one- or two-way communicating units, positioned in such a way that each of these units represents a parking space in an open urban environment, where each unit can communicate, through active and / or passive communication, information indicating whether each parking space is vacant or busy; a central unit adapted to communicate with the deployed one-way or two-way communicating units via a first communication network; a client tool comprising a user interface through which a user is presented information regarding available and / or occupied parking spaces, where the client tool is adapted to receive information regarding available and / or occupied parking spaces from the central unit via a second communication network.

According to one embodiment, the client tool is adapted to receive information about properties connected to parking spaces, such as e.g. Parking ban and / or cleaning night, and react with signals. According to another way of expressing it, the application or applications that send the client tool, which draws the user's attention to features such as parking bans, cleaning nights, etc. are implemented in the client tool signals to by communicating information to the user via the client tool interface.

The communication / warning signal can be in the form of graphics, sound, light or other suitable form of communication.

The first and second communication networks over which different parts of the system communicate with each other can be either one and the same communication network or two different communication networks. The communication network or networks used may be, for example, the Internet, one or more mobile telephone networks - such as GPRS, GSM, 3G or 4G - one or more of your local area networks, a cable system or a combination of two or more of these options.

According to one embodiment, the one-way or two-way communicating units comprise receivers of GPS signals. By reading the quality, for example the signal strength, of a received GPS signal sent from a GPS satellite, you get an indication of whether the parking space adjacent to the current GPS receiver is vacant or busy. . If there is a car, a container or the like on the site, for example, the signal strength will be low or non-existent, which indicates to the system that the site is occupied.

According to an alternative embodiment, the one- or two-way communicating units comprise sensors which detect if there are objects in their vicinity. The sensors can be, for example, induction-based sensors, direct sensing photocells, magnetic sensors, or the like.

According to one embodiment, logic in the system, for example implemented in the central unit, can set the status of a parking space to vacant or busy, depending on the indication communicated. This status is continuously updated for each parking space, as new data is received.

According to one embodiment, the central unit consists of one or fl of your servers provided with software designed for the purpose, for example comprising a database for storing information about parking spaces, their status and other properties.

The user interface can, for example, be one of the following: - A user interface accessed via a website - A user interface accessed via an Internet application - A user interface accessed via a mobile application - A user interface implemented in the user's vehicle and accessed via interaction options built into the vehicle According to one embodiment, the information regarding vacant and / or occupied parking spaces is combined with supplementary information before it is presented with the help of the client tool. According to this embodiment, the system may, for example in the central unit, also include or communicate with one or fl your applications (550) may match the received information against another received or retrieved information or other properties (575) of the parking lot, according to example higher up.

The supplementary information may, for example, be a selection of the following: - when cleaning nights occur on different streets, - parking ban, - stop ban - loading zone - exit 15 10 15 20 25 30 - planned demonstration - proximity to or position of charger units for electric car and / or - proximity to or position for petrol station - information on location or street is chargeable or not - information on charge level.

According to one embodiment, the system can also be adapted to receive or retrieve information from additional services for travel planning or cost proposals. This information can be communicated to the user via the client tool.

According to one embodiment, the central server also has access to information regarding vacant and / or occupied parking spaces in parking garages, parking garages or other controlled and limited parking areas, in addition to the information on available and / or occupied parking spaces in an open urban environment. In this case, information about vacant and / or occupied parking spaces in parking garages, parking garages or other controlled and restricted parking areas can be communicated to the user via the client tool, as a complement to the information regarding parking spaces in the open urban environment.

According to one embodiment, the system contains interfaces to one or more of your systems arranged for parking monitoring, traffic planning and / or traffic monitoring. Via these interfaces, the information regarding vacant and / or occupied parking spaces can be communicated, so that the information can be used for e.g. the parking companies, and / or for the community for traffic planning, traffic management and / or traffic monitoring.

According to one embodiment, the one-way or two-way communicating units are also adapted to read a unique ID number of an indicator unit which is within a predetermined reading distance from the one-way or two-way communicating unit, where the distance corresponds to the indicator unit being within that parking area which the respective one-way or two-way communicating unit represents. This embodiment is used for automated parking monitoring, where the indicator unit, also referred to as a "blip" higher up in the text, shows that the car has a parking permit. According to one embodiment, the information from the indicator units for automated parking monitoring is used, where a) the system sends retrieved information about available / occupied parking spaces and read ID numbers to a central receiving unit which is located at or is 16 10 15 20 25 30 communicatively connected to a unit with a parking company or other parking monitoring operator, and b) the parking monitoring operator matches the information received against his or her payment register or similar registers.

In other words, someone engaged in parking monitoring, such as a parking company, can automatically receive information via the one-way or two-way communicating units about which parking spaces are occupied by, for example, a car or a container supplemented with information about whether there is an indicator unit that corresponds a parking permit located within the boundary of the occupied parking space. If a occupied place does not contain an indicator unit corresponding to a parking permit, a parking attendant is sent to the place to check if there is an incorrectly parked car.

According to one embodiment, the client tool is also adapted to send warning signals indicating obstacles to parking. Obstacles to parking may, for example, include a selection of the following: - parking ban - cleaning night - stop ban - exit - loading zone According to another way of expressing it, the application or applications implemented in the client tool can send signals to the client tool which alert the user to properties such as a parking ban, cleaning night and more by communicating information to the user via the client tool's interface.

The communication / warning signal can be in the form of graphics, sound, light or other suitable form of communication.

According to one embodiment, the client tool presents information regarding vacant and / or occupied parking spaces within a certain specified environment. For example, the client tool can present the status of parking spaces in the environment around a user's vehicle. The user's position can be obtained, for example, by reading the user's GPS position. The presentation of information can, for example, be updated each time new information enters the system, or each time the user has traveled a predetermined distance from the previous position. Furthermore, the application or applications according to an embodiment can send signals to the client tool that alert the user about properties such as parking ban and cleaning night.

According to one embodiment, the client tool is adapted to receive information regarding available and / or occupied parking spaces from the central unit in response to a request from the client tool. This request can be achieved, for example, by the user using interaction possibilities linked to the user interface and actively choosing to have the information presented. Another alternative is that the client tool automatically sends a request in connection with the client tool being activated / started or by the client tool sending the request continuously during the entire time it is active.

According to one embodiment, a user of the system can choose to reserve a parking space that has the status vacant and thus can be booked. The user reserves a free parking space by using interaction possibilities linked to the user interface, after which the booked parking space gets the status occupied in the system. In other words, a booking request from users triggers the central unit to set the status of the current parking space to busy. When the parking space is booked and has had the status occupied, it will be displayed as occupied in all other users' systems, or alternatively not visible at all if only available spaces are displayed. There may be a time linked to the booking, for example in the order of 5 minutes or 15 minutes, depending on what is appropriate. When this time has elapsed, the status of the parking space is set again based on information received. In other words: if the driver has arrived and parked within the time limit, the place is occupied and the status is set to occupied, the driver has chosen another place and no car or other object, such as a container is on the site, the status is again set to free .

According to one embodiment, the one- or two-way communicating units are located underground in connection with parking spaces in an open urban environment. According to an alternative embodiment, the one- or two-way communicating units are located in direct connection to the ground, in connection with parking spaces in an open urban environment. According to this embodiment, the extension can be attached directly to the ground by means of an attaching medium such as glue or tape. The one-way or two-way communicating units which are located under the ground or in direct connection with the ground can be attached along one and the same extension, or be separate units. According to different embodiments, the extension can be a cord, a coupling strip or a Märklin rail-like structure or a thin cord with small receivers / sensors with unique ID numbers that can be read or alternatively communicated. If the extension is placed under the ground, it may have sunk into the ground in the manner described above. If separate units are used, they can be sunk into the ground in the manner described above. According to one embodiment, the system can be connected to an existing network for power supply, for example the network for traffic signals.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of parking assistance in an open urban environment, comprising the following steps: receiving in a central unit, via a communication network, information concerning vacant and / or occupied parking spaces from one- or two-way communicating units, placed in such a manner that each of these units represents a parking space in an open urban environment; send the information regarding available and / or occupied parking spaces from the central unit to a client tool via a second communication network; and present the information regarding available and / or occupied parking spaces to a user using a user interface in the client tool.

According to one embodiment, the information concerning vacant and / or occupied parking spaces is combined with supplementary information before it is presented with the aid of the client tool, as described in connection with the system above.

According to yet another embodiment, the information regarding available and / or occupied parking spaces is sent from the central unit to the client tool in response to the central unit receiving a request from the client tool, as described in connection with the system above. 19

Claims (1)

1. 0 15 20 25 PATENT REQUIREMENTS 1) A system for parking assistance in an open urban environment, comprising: 3) a) b) c) One- or two-way communicating units, positioned in such a way that each of these units represents an open parking space urban environment, where each unit can communicate, through active and / or passive communication, information indicating whether each parking space is vacant or busy; A central unit adapted to communicate with the deployed one-way or two-way communicating units via a first communication network; and A client tool comprising a user interface through which a user is presented information regarding vacant and / or occupied parking spaces, wherein the client tool is adapted to receive information regarding vacant and / or occupied parking spaces from the central unit via a second communication network. A system according to claim 1, wherein the information concerning vacant and / or occupied parking spaces is combined with supplementary information that affects the parking possibility in the open urban environment before it is presented with the aid of the client tool. A system according to the preceding claim, wherein the supplementary information is a selection of the following: a) b) <1) d) e) f) g) h) i) j) when cleaning nights occur on different streets parking ban proximity to or position for charger unit for electric car proximity to or position for petrol station planned demonstration stop ban loading zone exit toll-free zone toll-free zone 10 15 20 25 30 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) A system according to any one of the preceding claims, which also includes additional services for travel planning or cost proposals. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the central server also has access to information concerning vacant and / or occupied parking spaces in parking garages, parking garages or other controlled and limited parking areas. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising interfaces arranged for communicating the information concerning vacant and / or occupied parking spaces and any information arranged for a supplementary system of parking monitoring, traffic planning, traffic management and / or traffic monitoring. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the client tool presents information concerning vacant and / or occupied parking spaces as well as any supplementary information within a certain specified environment, for example the environment around a user's vehicle. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the client tool is adapted to receive information regarding vacant and / or occupied parking spaces from the central unit in response to a request from the client tool. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a parking space having the status vacant can be booked for a user by using interaction possibilities connected to the user interface, after which the booked parking space has the status included in the system. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one-way or two-way communicating units comprise receivers of GPS signals and where the indication of whether the respective parking space is free or not is obtained by reading the quality, for example the signal strength, of a received GPS signal sent from a GPS satellite. A system according to any one of claims 1-9, wherein the one- or two-way communicating units comprise sensors which detect if there are objects in their vicinity. A system according to claim 11, wherein the sensors are a selection of the following: a) induction-based sensors b) direct sensing photocells c) magnetic sensors 10 15 20 25 13) A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the central unit consists of one or fl are servers. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second networks, respectively, are a selection of the following: a) Internet b) Mobile telephone networks, such as GPRS, GSM, 3G or 4G c) Local network d) A cable system 15) A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the user interface is one of the following: a) A user interface accessed via a website b) A user interface accessed via an Internet application c) A user interface accessed via a mobile application d) A user interface implemented in the user's vehicle and which is reached via interaction possibilities built into the vehicle 16) A system according to any one of the preceding claims, where the one- or two-way communicating units are located underground adjacent to parking spaces in an open urban environment. A system according to any one of claims 1-15, wherein the one-way or two-way communicating units are located in direct connection to the ground, in connection with parking spaces in an open urban environment. A system according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the one-way or two-way communicating units are attached along one and the same extension. A system according to any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein the system is connected to an existing network for power supply. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one-way or two-way communicating units are also adapted to read a unique ID number of an indicator unit which is located within a predetermined reading distance from the one-way or two-way communicating unit, where the distance corresponds to that the indicator unit is located within the parking area represented by the respective one-way or two-way communicating unit. 21) The system according to the preceding requirements adapted for automated parking monitoring, where a) the system sends obtained information about available / occupied parking spaces and read ID numbers to a central receiving unit that is located at or is communicatively connected to a unit at a parking company or other operator for parking surveillance, and (b) the parking surveillance operator matches the information received against its payment register or other register. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the client tool is also adapted to send warning signals indicating obstacles to parking. The system according to the preceding claim, wherein the obstacle to parking includes a selection of the following: a) parking ban b) cleaning night c) stop ban d) exit e) load zone 24) The system according to claim 22 or 23, wherein the warning signal is a selection of as follows: a) graphics b) sound c) light 25) A method of parking assistance in an open urban environment, comprising the following steps: a) receiving in a central unit, via a communication network, information concerning vacant and / or occupied parking spaces from one- or two-way communication units, positioned in such a way that each of these units represents a parking space in an open urban environment; b) send the information regarding free and / or occupied parking spaces from the central unit to a client tool via a second communication network, and c) present the information regarding available and / or occupied parking spaces to a user using a user interface in the client tool. A method according to claim 18, wherein the information concerning vacant and / or occupied parking spaces is combined with supplementary information before it is presented with the aid of the client tool. A method according to claim 18, wherein the information regarding available and / or occupied parking spaces is sent from the central unit to the client tool in response to the central unit receiving a request from the client tool.