WO2003000520A1

WO2003000520A1 - Parking guidance and vehicle control system

Info

Publication number: WO2003000520A1
Application number: PCT/US2002/019678
Authority: WO
Inventors: Chul Jin Yoo
Original assignee: Tis, Inc.
Priority date: 2001-06-21
Filing date: 2002-06-21
Publication date: 2003-01-03

Abstract

A parking guidance and vehicle control system (10). The present invention provides information regarding the relative availability of parking spaces within a parking facility and traffic conditions of neighboring streets and exits of the parking facility. Furthermore, the present invention provides information regarding vehicle location and emergency locations within a parking garage or other parking facility. The system relies on sensing equipment (1), which relays data to controllers and a central computer (10A), which determines the occupancy status of a plurality of spaces. The sensors (1) can also detect and relay information regarding traffic conditions at exits and neighboring streets of the parking facility. The information is displayed at strategically located displays (42) inside and outside of the parking facility. The information obtained from the sensors (1) at each parking space may be used to provide information to the parking management office and may also be used to post to the Internet (15) in real time.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

Parking Guidance and Vehicle Control System BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Vehicle Parking is becoming more and more difficult. It is not unusual to see drivers who are confronting a hard time to find a vacant parking space particularly in crowded city garages causing frustration to drivers. Furthermore, building sizes have expanded and continue to grow. For example, there are numerous new mega-stores, airports, multi-plex shopping malls throughout the world. In turn, the parking lots of these mega-facilities have substantially increased in size as well. Oftentimes, parking lot users are left with the increasingly difficult task to remember where they parked their vehicle. Another disadvantage of having these large parking facilities is that their vastness and size create more safety and security concerns. People are being abducted or attacked and their vehicles are being damaged in alarming numbers in parking facilities.

Parking management has spent huge amounts of money on visual aides to stimulate the parking lot user's memory, as well as on safety features, especially for "far-off parking spots or zones. Congestion at parking exits and entrances has also become a nuisance at large parking facilities. Despite various efforts and ideas specified in other patents, it is hard to find a good example, which is efficient and practical, to clarify these kind of problems.

The present invention is an improvement over the inventions shown and described in pending U.S. Application Serial No. 09/243,451 (filed on February 3, 1999) and U.S. Patent No. 6,107,942 which issued on August 22, 2000 (Application Serial No. 09/339,514 filed on June 24, 1999) by adding advanced and improved version to increase users' conveniences and safety, and to help parking lot operators manage their parking facilities more efficiently. Event Communication Method

One of the unique methodologies of the present invention is the Event communication, which differs from the polling method described in U.S. Patent No. 5,432,508 (to Jackson), which describes a polling method to detect the parking presence by checking each sensor installed in the entire parking lot one by one, sequentially. This polling method contains several problems. First of all, when the system uses the polling method for its communication, the speed of the system is proportionate to the number of sensors. In other words, the more Space Sensors the system contains, the slower speed the system performs at. Additionally, since the system constantly checks each Space Sensor in sequence regardless whether the occupancy status changes from occupancy to vacancy or vice-versa, it continuously transmits and receives the necessary data. Furthermore, since the communication line is always busy, it hardly allows the system to use the line for any other purposes.

With using this Event method, however, the system transmits data only when the status of sensors is changed, which means only when the event of either occupancy or vacancy occur at each space. Since this method only transmits necessary data of any event changes, it saves substantial communicating time to check and inform. Another benefit using this method is that the system can use the same line for other functions such as an alarm system. Alarm System

In large facilities such as airports, shopping malls or office buildings, the safety issues are important. The significance of safety issues sharply rises during the night. With the limited management man-power, parking lot attendants are limited to respond to emergencies in a prompt manner, and users hardly find where to inform of the emergency in large garages. The present invention contains the alarm system, which alerts the parking lot attendants immediately, and helps provide needed action for users. By activating the alarm button located beneath each Parking Lamp:

1. Parking Lamp alters to an emergency indicator by constantly blinking red to green, or green to red with alarm sounds until the system is reset.

2. Automatic WARNING pop-up screen appears in Office Monitor Display indicating the exact emergency locations to parking lot attendants together with alarming sounds.

3. If CCTV is installed in the parking lot, the camera at the corresponding area is pre-programmed to turn and record the emergency location at the time of the emergency button activation. This recording method would eliminate the possible wearing-out of VCRs and recording tapes. In addition, the parking lot managers or attendants can view through the CCTV monitor exactly what happens, and communicate with security officers at the location in real time. Additionally or alternatively, a security feature can be added through the use of a vehicle location verifier equipped with an emergency alarm system. By adding this emergency alarm system to a vehicle location verifier allows the user to activate a switch in a transmitter to alert security or parking management of a situation that may need assistance, and allows for security to pinpoint the user's exact location. Thus, parking lot attendants or security can react promptly by sending someone to the scene of the emergency or situation without the user having to locate an alarm button on the lamp post or garage pillar.

Control Function

One of the managing functions of the present invention is to control the displays of available number of spaces and to restrict parking entrances. To designate parking spaces for specified vehicles (e.g. ambulances in hospital parking or vehicles for supplying goods or services), or to restrict visitor parking during maintenance work, the system controls the guidance displays. The host computer systematically controls the Local Displays to exclude the number of designated parking spaces from the total number of available parking spaces. Furthermore, the corresponding Local Displays of a designated area says "Controlled" or similar expressions to prohibit incoming vehicles to park by space, by area, by block, by floor or as a whole. Especially for maintenance or any other construction work, the system pre-programs the time-period for this work in advance so that it automatically controls and decontrols Displays. Reset

The Jackson patent also describes the counting method in which the system counts the number of vehicles passing through aisle sensors installed in each aisle entrance and exit. Counting the number of vehicles passing through aisle sensors cannot always be guaranteed to be equal to the real number of parked vehicles within each aisle or within the entire parking lot. The hypothesis of this method is that one can calculate the number of available parking spaces by adding entering vehicles to and subtracting exiting vehicles from the total number of parking spaces. However, passing objects other than vehicles can interrupt the counts in aisle sensors. Thus, the counts from aisle sensors are not 100 % reliable or accurate due to other object interferences, the driving directions of vehicles, the sizes of them and the speeds.

No matter how accurate the sensors are, they may generate errors that are accumulated over time, and at some point, these accumulated errors cannot provide reliable information display source for users to make decisions. Thus the accumulated counting errors may provide false information to users. The present invention uses a Reset Function to prevent these accumulated errors. When there are not many vehicles passing through aisles, the managers or system operators can either manually modify or automatically update the number of available parking spaces by comparing the number of entered vehicles counted by aisle sensors to the number of parked vehicles counted by sensors in each space within the pre-determined network system. Internet

One of the functions of the present invention is to allow prospective users of a parking lot to be able to check its availability and traffic conditions at their departing points prior to their departures through the Internet. By using a specified website, users save their time and effort to find the best available parking hours of a day, and days of a week either in real time or by its historical data in the system, while avoiding traffic congestions, too. Additionally, users can obtain multiple parking lot situation information at one consolidated website. Although it is possible to operate individual websites for each parking lot, multiple parking lots in an adjacent area can be consolidated into one single website to provide a better and more abundant parking information source to users.

Users (drivers) can also check the parking availability not only using the Internet but also using wireless communication devices such as cell phones or other handheld devices in the form of text or digital voice messages.

The remote access and diagnosis of the system over the Internet of the present invention allows for parking lot managers to manage their parking lots effectively and promptly. They can manage multiple parking facilities not only independently but also at one control center, while reducing the required manpower, and aggregating consolidated revenue accurately. To manage precise real-time parking information, it is crucial not to allow the system downtime, and to replace or repair the system promptly. Therefore, the self-diagnostic function is a critical requirement for any parking management system, allowing the system supplier to remotely access and diagnose the system in a fast and effective way to minimize possible errors or the downtimes of the system. Consolidated Parking Guidance Display on Streets and Roads

This aspect of the present invention is to guide drivers (prospective users) by displaying the parking availability or traffic information of multiple parking lots in a certain downtown area with a consolidated display device installed at noticeable places such as main streets or intersections. Outside Street Traffic Information Display Within a Parking Facility

Traffic congestion frequently occurs in a busy downtown parking lot that has multiple exits. It is not unusual for commuters to wait at an exit area for their turn to exit into oncoming traffic, thus creating congestion from a line that has formed. The present invention can provide a traffic display function inside the parking facility to inform users of the overall outside street traffic conditions so as to guide users (drivers) to select the exit with the least congested outside traffic. The displays are located at every exit or adjacent-exit area so that users (drivers) may choose an alternate route to exit. The sensors are installed at outside streets to detect the traffic speeds and the frequency of passing vehicles to inform the analyzed results to the users (drivers) who are inside the parking lot. Another feature of the present invention is the use of a vehicle location verifier with an emergency alarm. The wireless vehicle location verifier can also be equipped with a parking fee payment function. The wireless transmitter can be used as a prepaid parking ticket, in which a user identification number is given to each transmitter. This function gives comfort to users and reduces vehicle congestion at exts.

Vehicle Location Verifier Equipped With Emergency Alarm System

The Parking Guidance and Management System of the present invention can include a vehicle location verifier. By adding this feature to the present invention, the convenience of parking facility users is maximized. The vehicle locator transmitter assists users in verifying the location of their vehicles using a wireless device (transmitter/receiver), thus eliminating the necessity of recording or memorizing their vehicle location. Additionally, the alarm function of the vehicle locator transmitter which can be performed through the communication between the transmitter carried by the driver, and the receiver embodied in or interlocked with the alarm system which is located inside the parking lot. When integrated and used with the payment function, the transmitter can reduce the vehicle congestion rate at parking lot exits.

The present invention adds more advanced and improved methods and functions to the previous parking management systems. The general objectives of the present invention are further to guide and manage vehicle parking more precisely and efficiently while providing practical benefits for parking lot operators as well as maximizing conveniences for users:

One object of the present invention is that it uses an Event method, which provides prompt and effective communications between Space Sensors installed in each parking space and their corresponding Space Controllers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a Parking Lamp indicating each parking space availability — which is also connected with the alarm button — to emit green lights when the spaces are vacant, and emit red lights when spaces are occupied, and to blink the green and red lights repeatedly to indicate emergency locations. Such indication of emergency location is to prevent crimes, to provide user assistance in emergency situations such as medical emergency, battery wear-out, vehicle collision, or other SOS situations. When the alarm button is activated, the alarm sound and lights are set off to alert the emergency location to pedestrians in the adjacent area as well as to the parking management office, thus providing an immediate and appropriate assistance from parking lot attendants to the button activator. If the parking lot is equipped with CCTV monitoring system, the camera can swivel toward the direction in order to record the emergency location.

Another object of the invention is to provide an alarm switch embodied in the vehicle location verifier to alert security or parking management when an emergency situation occurs by using a wireless transmitter from where the user is currently located.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide parking lot operators, when the need to control vehicle parking for maintenance, construction work or other purposes arises, the ability to adjust the number of available parking spaces shown in Local Displays and Main Displays in the system; restricting and/or limiting vehicle entrances by showing the text message such as "Controlled", "Reserved", "Under construction", "Maintenance" or other messages for the corresponding spaces or zones; and can set the time to display the controlled period and time.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a reset function. When detecting the vehicle presence, errors may occur due to types of vehicles, behaviors of driving, inaccuracies and malfunctions of sensors. To provide reliable parking information, the present invention applies a method to prevent and correct accumulated counting errors by automatic comparison between the number of parked vehicles in each space and the number of entered vehicles through each passage loop installed in the system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an internet or call center for the following: a. Prospective users of a parking lot can connect to its website and check the real time space availability and historical records of the most vacant times or days prior to their arrival to the parking facility. The users can also take the conveniences in the form of text or in digital voice messaging; b. For a parking lot management operating multiple parking facilities, the integrated monitoring and managing are provided in one location; and c. For system providers, remote access and maintenance are provided for regular maintenance check-up services or the system software upgrades.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide consolidated displays of multiple parking lots. The present invention combines and displays the status of multiple parking lots in one integrated display to guide users to find the closest available parking facility, thus to help reducing traffic congestion of nearby streets.

Another object of the present invention is to provide outside traffic information displays of neighboring streets within a parking lot. A parking lot which has multiple exits, is facilitated with the integrated outside street traffic information at Local Displays in each exit, thus drivers can select less crowded street exits and help reduce traffic congestion of these exits and streets. Furthermore, the vehicle location transmitter can be equipped with a pre-pay function that reduces the congestion at exits by adding a parking fee payment function to the wireless transmitter.

Yet another object of the invention is to eliminate the inconvenience of memorizing or searching for the users' vehicle when the user leaves the parking facility or returns to the parking facility. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a general schematic showing how the system operates in a multi-level or multi-sectional parking facility containing multi-aisles.

Figure 2 is a flow diagram showing the way in which data is communicated within the system.

Figure 3 is a flow chart showing how sensors detect vehicles and communicate with the controller.

Figure 4 is a flow chart showing how the system of the present invention automatically corrects cumulated counting errors within the system.

Figure 5 is a general schematic showing how the vehicle location verifier operates in the multi-level or multi-sections parking guidance and vehicle control system facility.

Figure 6 is a flow diagram illustrating the way in which vehicle location transmitter data is communicated within the parking guidance and vehicle control system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 is the system schematic to which the present invention is applied. Space Sensor 1 is connected to Space Controller [Cl(i)-2], where (i) is (1) .... (n), through parallel circuit using serial communication method. This Space Sensor 1 transmits the vehicle detection signal to Space Controller [Cl(i)-2] through Event method only when a vehicle enters a vacant parking space or when a vehicle leaves an occupied parking space. A Space Controller [Cl(i)-2] connects Space Sensors 1 as many addresses as designated. For example, Space Sensor 1 uses 8- Bit address, then up to 32 Space Sensor 1 can be connected to one Space Controller [Cl(i)-2]. The Parking Lamp 5 is installed on each pillar of the parking facility. The green light of the Parking Lamp 5 will be turned on if any of these 3-4 spaces allocated by the parking lamp is vacant, and the red light will be turned on if all of the spaces are occupied in between the pillar. Alarm System Using Parking Lamp

Referring again to Figure 1 , Alarm buttons 3 are installed on each pillar at the parking lamps 5 and in places where users can easily find them in emergency situations. Alarm buttons 3 are connected to Space Controller [Cl(i)-2], and when alarm buttons 3 are pressed, Space Controller [Cl(i)-2] transmits alarm signals to Block Controller [C2 (l)-4], where (1) is (1) ... (j), and Block Controller [C2 (l)-4] sends the signal to Host Computer 10 at the first priority. As soon as the Host computer 10 receives the alarm signal, the screen indicating the emergency location appears on the office monitor and sends the sound of alarm to parking management office. Parking Lamps 5 of emergency area turn to the emergency indicator, which constantly emits red and green lights alternately, and the alarm 6 of emergency area sounds the emergencies to others. And even though it is not depicted in Figure 1 , the function to record the emergencies right after the activation of alarm button 3 can be included in CCTV installed parking lots.

Depending upon the structure and size of parking lots, several aisles is made of a Block. The system is primarily managed based on these Block Controllers [C2 (1)-4J. The data of passing vehicles detected by Aisle Controller [Bl(k)-7], where (k) is (1) .... (m), is transmitted to Block Controller [C2 (l)-4], and the required number of Aisle Controller [Bl(k)-7] to be installed depends on the number of entrances and exits of parking facilities. Aisle Controller [Bl(k)-7] counts entering vehicles and exiting vehicles separately according to vehicle's moving direction; calculates the number of entered vehicles in a block based on the counts; and transmits the results to Block Controller [C2 (l)-4]. Block Controller [C2 (l)-4] receives the parked vehicle data from Space Controller [Cl(i)-2] and the entered vehicle data from Aisle Controller [Bl(k)- 7]; calculates the available parking spaces within the block; and transmits the results to Block Displays 9 in each entrance of the block to inform the parking availability to entering vehicle to the block. A block can be classified as a floor, or an area of a parking lot, and the number of blocks can be modified based on the size and the structure of parking lots.

All Block Controllers [C2 (l)-4] are connected to Host Computer 10 and transmits the vehicle parking and/or passing information in real time. Host computer 10 records and stores entering and exiting hours of vehicles for each parking space, and uses this stored data for Management Information System. Parking data can be classified and analyzed by day, by week, or by month, and to be used for determining appropriate parking fees and other critical management issues. Host Computer 10 sends the collected parking data to the entrance displays 11 so that users view the parking availability at a glance while they are entering. Figure 2 shows the flow of data within the system. The main focus of Figure 2 is on the Event communication method between Space Controller [Cl(i)-2] and Space Sensor 1, Reset function and control function executed by Host Computer 10. The vehicle parking data, aisle passing vehicle data, and the neighboring vehicle data are explained in detail above in reference to Figure 1. Internet

Host Computer 10 is generally an industrial server that has a capability to be connected to the Internet easily. It is well known to create a web page with the sophisticated web software. With this, parking status can be shown on the Internet as a part of the parking system and prospective users can access the web page of the parking lot and get real-time parking status prior to their arrival.

Using the Internet 15, parking management system can integrate multiple parking lots for effective parking lot management and for convenient data and services of users. Users can also access and view the current parking lot status not only with their computers, but also through wireless communication devices such as cell-phones or PDAs with text or voice messages.

For parking lot mangers, this function gives even greater benefit. A parking manager who controls several parking facilities at different locations can remotely access the host computer of each parking facility by connecting the host computers 10 over the Internet 15. All the systems can be remotely accessed and diagnosed. All the sensors and controllers have self- diagnostic circuits within themselves and if any of the diagnosis fails, they report to the host computer 10. The host computer 10 immediately sends the diagnosis fail information to the central office. The remote diagnosis can be automatically performed for a pre-set period. Integrated Parking Guide Display

Integrated Parking Guide Display shows the parking status of several local parking facilities. Located in centralized areas, such as downtown streets or highway exits, this Display is also connected and controlled by the web server used for the parking lot website operation, and indicates the availabilities and the locations of each parking lot.

The Display can be connected to parking web server using network cables or wireless communication devices.

Neighboring Street Traffic Information Displays

Street Sensors 13 installed in the neighboring streets of the parking lot detects the vehicle movement, and Street Controller 14 analyses the vehicle movement and traffic conditions. If the movement is slow and steady, the traffic is analyzed to be heavy; and if the movement is fast and frequent, the traffic is analyzed to be light. This traffic information is conveyed to Host Computer 10 from Street Controller 14. Host Computer 10 guides the drivers (users) to less crowded exits, reducing congestion in exits. Event communication method

Figure 3 is a flow chart of event communication method between Space Sensors 1 and Space Controller [Cl(i)-2]. Space Sensor 1 uses Status as 0 for vacant space, and 1 for occupied space at step 16. At step 17 Time is used as a Delay Multiplier based on the communication status between Space Controller [Cl(i)-2] and Space Sensor 1, and Time is set to 1 as default. Space Sensor 1 checks the vehicle detection signal at step 18, and it compares Status changes at step 19. If the vehicle is detected in the parking space and Status is equal to 1, Space Sensor 1 finds that there was the vehicle and it is still at the parking space. So, it keeps checking until Status at step 19 is different than the vehicle detection signal at step 18. If Status is not equal to 1, which means that the vehicle is just parked in the space, Space Sensor 1 sets Status to 1 at step 20 and checks Bus at step 23. On the other hand, if the vehicle is not detected and Status is 0 at step 21, Space Sensor 1 keeps checking until a vehicle parks. If Status is not 0, Space Sensor 1 finds that the vehicle has just left the parking space and sets Status to 0 at step 22. If there is any change in Status, Space Sensor 1 checks Bus at step 23. If Bus 23 is busy, Space Sensor 1 sets Delay to value of Time (Delay Multiplier) multiplied by 70mS (Delay Coefficient) at step 24. The assumptions of setting Delay coefficient to 70mS is that the standard communication speed of Space Controller is lOOmS, and the 70mS is the closest coefficient value for probability. Delay multiplier Time will be increased gradually until the communication is completed. If Bus 23 is not busy, Space Sensor 1 detecting the Status change occupies Bus 23, and requests to transmit data at step 27 with its own address to Space Controller [Cl(i)-2]. If Space Controller is not ready at step 28, then Space Sensor 1 keeps requesting data transmission back to step 27. If Space Controller [Cl(i)-2] is ready at step 28 to receive the requests, Space Sensor 1 transmits data at step 29 and waits for acknowledgement (ACK at step 30) from Space Controller. If Space Sensor 1 does not receive ACK at step 30, it resends the data again until it receives ACK at step 30. Control Function and Reset Function

In order to modify accumulated errors and to restart the system in case of power outage, Host Computer 10 resets the system either automatically or manually. Assume that the present invention is applied to a parking lot with previously parked vehicles. In Figure 4, Host Computer 10 detects each parking space at step 31 and sets the number of presently parked vehicles to the number of entered vehicles at step 32. If any vehicles are detected in aisles at step 33, it subtracts the number of exiting vehicles at step 34 from the total number of entered vehicles, and adds the number of entering vehicles at step 35 to the total number of entered vehicles within Block at step 36. If the passing vehicle is an exiting vehicle, and the number of entered vehicles becomes smaller than the number of parked vehicles, Host Computer 10 can judge it as an error, and resets the total number of entered vehicles to the same number as the number of parked vehicles.

Except for system errors, it is not possible that the number of entered vehicles is smaller than the number of parked vehicles. When there are not any passing vehicles at step 33 in aisles for a certain period of time (Reset Time), the Host Computer 10 compares the number of parked vehicles at step 39 with entered vehicles, and resets at step 32 the number of entered vehicles to the number of parked vehicles if those two numbers are not equal. Reset time is set to a time period assumed that there is no possibility of a vehicle not parking and staying in the aisles over the time period. The reset time may differ for various parking lots. Reset can also be set manually with the management program in Host Computer 10 as needed.

Vehicle Location Verifier Equipped With Emergency Alarm System in Parking Facilities

Figure 5 is an example of many possible parking lot structures, and is taken for illustrative purpose; the type of parking lot structure of the present invention is not limited to a particular type. There are no limitations on the components, the location of installation, type of device (transmitter/ receiver), or sensing area. The vehicle location verifier is basically composed of a Host Computer 10a, Transmitter 40, Receiver 41 and Location Display Panel 42. For the transmitter 40 there are three types of transmitting methods that the driver can use; (1) a card or ticket type transmitter issued at parking lot entrances that can be recorded to Host computer 10a with the card/ticket readers located at numerous parking areas by the user; (2) a remote door lock type transmitter or prepaid transmitter using for toll gate pass that the user usually carries; or (3) a vehicle information system programmed and built in each vehicle.

The card or ticket type transmitter can also be used as a parking ticket in which the identification number and the parking time can be simultaneously recorded in the Host Computer 10a by swiping it at nearby readers installed. If the card or ticket is issued to the user, the user (driver) activates the reader at his/her parking area. When user exits, the exit receiver 46 receives the signal, verifies the user identification number from the transmitter 40, compares the parking data (parking time) stored in database of the Host Computer 10a, and opens the parking gate.

The remote vehicle door lock type or the prepaid for toll gate transmitter is also used for paying the parking fee, but needs to be issued as a prepaid type, and enter the parking lot without issuing additional parking tickets. After the driver parks in the vacant parking space, he activates the location button (#1 button) in the transmitter 40 to send the signal (the user identification number) to the receiver 41 integrated with the emergency alarm button (also used as a vacancy indicator) installed in each pillar of parking space. The user identification number is sent to Host Computer 10a along with the vehicle location information. Host Computer 10a stores the user identification number and the vehicle location information in the database. When the user activates the location button (#1 button) of his transmitter 40, the Host Computer 10a receives the signal, verifies the vehicle location and the parking data such as parking time, and indicates those data in the Location Display Panel 42 whenever a user requests.

In emergency situations, if the user activates the emergency button (#2 button) installed in the transmitter 40 from where he or she is currently located in the system, the location receiver 41 receives the signal and activates the alarm system, which alerts the situation to parking lot attendants as well as emitting emergency lights and sounds as an option. The alarm button installed in the transmitter 40 can better protect the user without the offender's recognition in terms of security than the alarm button installed in the pillar.

The Vehicle Information System programmed and built inside the vehicle ( also commonly referred to as TCU (Telematics Control Unit), acts as the total information center, which provides all the needed data for the driver such as the road information or vehicle service information. When in an emergency situation, it also notifies the emergency to the nearest police station or hospitals. When parking availability and location finding system is applied into this Vehicle Information System, it emits the unique vehicle identification number to the Entrance Receiver 45. The Entrance Receiver 45 then sends this data to the Host Computer 10a and the parking gate is opened only for the verified vehicle.

After the vehicle is parked in the vacant space, the Vehicle Information System sends its Identification number to Location Receiver 41. This vehicle identification number is then sent to Host Computer 10a with the vehicle location information. When the driver wants to find his vehicle to remove it from the parking facility, he can determine the vehicle location by typing in his vehicle identification number using a keyboard (or other data entry or input device, such as a card reader) which is part of of the Location Display Panel 42. Host Computer 10a compares this vehicle number with the user identification and displays the location of the vehicle in the Location Display Panel 42. To enable the location display panel 4 to function, the panel 4, the receiver 3, and card or ticket reader are in communication (by wired connection or wireless means) with Host Computer in the system.

Referring now to Figure 6, the vehicle location verifier and alarm system is illustrated in a flow diagram as integrated into a parking facility system. Entering a parking lot

Following the diagram (according to which the steps are indicated in circles), at step 1 in the event that the user enters the parking lot without a transmitter 40 but wants to use a temporary transmitter instead of using a card or ticket for better security in case of an emergency, the ticket dispenser located in the entrance gate at step 2 can issue a transmitter 40 to him/her. The user activates the location button (#1 button) installed in the transmitter 40, and sends the user identification number to the entrance receiver 45 to mark the time of entrance. The entrance receiver, then, sends this data to Host Computer 10a.

When the user enters the parking lot with the portable transmitter such as a door lock type, Host Computer 10a compares the pre-paid amount and opens the gate. However, the transmitter 40 has to be integrated with the frequency in the main system. When the vehicle having with a vehicle location system enters the parking lot, the user activates the parking function at the gate, or sends its vehicle identification number to the Entrance Receiver 45 automatically. Submitting and recording the vehicle location: After step 3 parking in an available space following the signals of Parking Guidance and Management System, the driver at step 4 activates the location button in the transmitter 40 aiming to register the nearest location receiver 41 installed in the pillars of the parking lot.

For the vehicle with a vehicle information system, activating the parking function or closing the door can act as a signal to transmit the vehicle location system. Location receiver 41 can also be installed inside the box of emergency button that is located under the vacancy indicator, and each location receiver 41 has its own location identification number. When the corresponding Location Receiver 41 at step 5 receives the user identification number from the transmitter 40, it sends the data (user identification number and location identification number) to Host Computer 10a. Location receiver 41 emits sound, turns on the vacancy indicator lamp or lights LED installed in the transmitter to confirm the signal of registration.

Host Computer 10a at step 6 stores the user or vehicle identification number, location identification number and parking data (parking time) in the database. If the user activates the location button (#1 button) in the transmitter 40 in front of the Location Display Panel 42, strips the users' card or ticket, or types in the vehicle identification number (vehicle registration number or social security number) using the keyboard in the Display Panel 42 when the users' vehicle is equipped with vehicle location finding system, to step 7 verify the vehicle location, then the receiver installed inside the Location Display Panel 42 receives the user (or vehicle) identification number and sends the data to Host Computer 10a.

Host Computer 10a at step 8 compares the user identification number received from the Display Panel receiver with the ones stored in its database, at step 9 sends the data to Location Display Panel 42 in text, graphic or vocal forms (LED, LCD, Monitor or digital voice) to notify the vehicle location information to users. Displays in the Location Display Panel 42 can indicate parking time, payment information as well as vehicle location information depending on preprogrammed request as much as Host Computer 10a has in its database.

Supporting Emergency Situation

At step 10, when the user is in emergency situation, he/she can at step 11 activate emergency button (#2 button) embodied in the transmitter 40; and the nearest Location Receiver 41 at step 5 receives the emergency signal and transmits to Host Computer 10a. As soon as Host computer 10a at step 6 receives the emergency signal, it at step 15 activates the alarm sound of the corresponding area as an option, and turns on the vacancy indicating lamp to alert the situation as an option, too. At the same time, the emergency location where the activation was initiated at step 15 is relayed to parking lot attendant's office to allow the attendants to promptly act accordingly. Furthermore, if the parking lot is equipped with swivel type CCTV, it at step 15 records the emergency situation to leave the evidence.

Payment At Exits

At step 13, when exiting the parking lot, the transmitters 40 possessed by user can be used as a parking ticket (pre-paid or regular ticket). At the cashier's terminal, when the user submits the transmitter 40, Host Computer 10a compares the user (or vehicle) identification number in the database. However, the system limits the threshold time (e.g. within 3 minutes or 5 minutes) to open the gate.

Host Computer 10a stores the user's payment data such as pre-paid amount or the allowable period, and at step 14 sends this data to Exit Receiver 46. Exit Receiver 46 compares the user identification number with the user's payment data, and opens the parking gate only when the current amount due does not exceed the pre-paid amount. If the amount due exceeds the pre-paid amount, the cashier at cashier's terminal is notified, and in turn informs the user to pay the balance.

The following are disclosed herein:

1. Event Communication Method

Sensors at each parking space request to communicate only when the status of the vehicle detection is changed.

When the communication line is busy, the sensors in each parking space wait for the next communication using Delay function in the software system.

2. Emergency Alarm Button and System

For users' safety and convenience, Parking Lamp can be altered to Emergency Alarm Indicator.

Upon activating alarm button, the Emergency Alarm in the corresponding area is activated. - Upon activating alarm button, the vacancy/ occupancy indicating lamp changes into emergency alarm lamp.

Upon activating alarm button, the pop-up screen appears in the host computer's monitor to show where the emergency occurs.

Upon activating alarm button, the alarm system alerts parking lot attendants by emitting emergency sound.

Upon activating alarm button, CCTV records the emergency locations as well as views the location to Office Display

3. Control function

The purpose of using control function is to designate parking spaces for special vehicles and to restrict parking spaces or designated areas for maintenance work. The controlled space is to be excluded from the available parking space information.

- The system controls the parking spaces by aisle, by block, by floor or by the entire parking lot based on specific needs.

- The displays (signboards) indicate the location of controlled area by aisle, by block, by floor or by the entire parking lot..

- The system can be pre-set the time (hour or period) by aisle, by block, by floor or by the entire parking lot.

4. Reset function

- Compare the number of parked vehicles to the number of entered vehicles in corresponding aisles, blocks, floors within the pre-determined system network .

- Define and set the period when many vehicles aren't passing the pre-determined zones. If the number of entered vehicles in a pre-determined zone is smaller than the number of parked vehicles in the corresponding zone, the number of entered vehicles in Local Display is changed to the number equal to the parked vehicles.

- If there aren't any passing vehicles in a certain period of time and if the number of entered vehicles is greater than the number of parked vehicles, the number of entered vehicles is changed to the number equal to the parked vehicles.

- Reset function may be operated and executed manually or automatically depending on specific needs.

5. Parking Management System using the Internet

- Remotely informs the real time parking status as well as historical data using the Internet server. - Views the consolidated parking status of multiple parking lots in the Internet server.

- Informs the real time parking status through text or digital voice messages using wireless devices such as cell phones, PDAs and etc.

- Performs Integral management information of multiple parking lots through consolidated central system using the Internet

- Operates, manages and maintains parking lots over the Internet (Remote Access)

- Diagnoses parking management system over the Internet (Remote Diagnosis)

6. Integrated and consolidated parking displays

- Install parking lot displays in major streets.

- Display the parking status of multiple parking lots in one display.

7. Traffic Information Displays of outside streets from inside the system where there are multiple exits

- Using sensors installed in the neighboring streets of a parking lot, analyze and inform the traffic conditions

- Using CCTV installed in the neighboring streets of a parking lot, show the traffic conditions.

- Inform the traffic information to users from inside the parking lot through text messages or on monitors.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous alternatives, modifications, and variations of the embodiments shown can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. In particular, the invention has been described with reference to various telecommunication devices and methods. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention described herein is applicable to systems in which either hard wired lines of communication or wireless communications, or a combination thereof, are used.

Claims

I claim:

1. A guidance system for a parking facility having a plurality of parking spaces for which the occupancy of at least some of said spaces cannot readily be visually detected by a user at an entrance to said facility, said system comprising: a plurality of monitored parking spaces equipped with sensors to detect the presence of a vehicle in one of said monitored spaces, said system includes a central computer and display generating controller associated with a plurality of displays, said computer being adapted to receive and store data from said controllers based upon the data signals from said sensors; said computer checks said sensors periodically to monitor changes in the occupancy status of each monitored parking space; said system includes a reset function that compares the number of parked vehicles to the number of entered vehicles periodically at pre-determined times and resets at least one of said parked vehicle numbers or entered vehicles numbers so that they are equal.

2. A guidance system in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said computer sends received and stored data to a global communications network in real time.

3. A guidance system in accordance with claim 2 wherein: said global communications network includes wireless handheld devices.

4. A guidance system in accordance with claim 1 wherein: each of said monitored spaces has at least two sensors which detect the presence or absence of a vehicle.

5. A guidance system in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said plurality of displays includes at least one first display at various locations inside the parking facility showing information regarding availability of monitored spaces, at least one second display at various street locations outside of the parking facility regarding availability of monitored spaces, and at least one third display at various locations in one or more linked parking facilities showing information regarding traffic conditions at various exits and exit streets.

6. A guidance system in accordance with claim 5 wherein: said system includes traffic congestion sensors located at various exits and at various neighboring streets adjacent to said exits.

7. A guidance system in accordance with claim 1 wherein: a system information display and input device is connected to said central computer, and said system information display and input device allow a manager of said system to read and output data from said computer.

8. A guidance system in accordance with claim 7 wherein: said computer includes a timer which together with data from said sensors can create data regarding the usage rate of each monitored parking space in said facility, and usage rates of sections within said facility.

9. A guidance system in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said computer includes a control function used to designate pre-determined parking spots for pre-determined times and exclude them from said system's available parking space information.

10. A guidance system in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said system includes an alarm button located at various locations within the parking facility; said computer is adapted to receive and store data based upon the alarm button signals; said system includes signal lamps adapted to alert of an emergency situation once the alarm button is pushed.

11. A guidance system in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said system includes a parking location verifier system comprised of: a wireless transmitter that transmits data to a receiver that transmits said data to a host computer; said computer being adapted to receive and store said data from said receiver based upon the data signals from said transmitter; said computer being adapted to transmit said data to a display device; and said display device being operable by a user to obtain stored information identifying a location of said user's vehicle to assist said user in locating a previously parked vehicle.

12. A location verifier system in accordance with claim 11 wherein: said transmitter includes an emergency transmission button; said computer being adapted to receive and store said emergency transmission data from said receiver based upon the data signals from said transmitter; and said computer being adapted to transmit said data to a display device in order to allow a manager of said system to read and pinpoint the user's exact location once the emergency transmission button is pushed.

13. A location verifier system in accordance with claim 12 wherein: said location verifier system includes a fee payment function used to designate a pre-determined fee payment in association with said transmitter.

14. A location verifier system for a parking facility having a plurality of parking spaces and vehicles occupying said parking spaces for which the location of a vehicle cannot readily be visually detected by a user of said facility, said system comprising: a wireless transmitter that transmits data to a receiver that transmits said data to a host computer; said computer being adapted to receive and store said data from said receiver based upon the data signals from said transmitter; said computer being adapted to transmit said data to a display device; and said display device being operable by a user to obtain stored information identifying a location of said user's vehicle to assist said user in locating a previously parked vehicle.

15. A location verifier system in accordance with claim 14 wherein: said transmitter includes an emergency transmission button; said computer being adapted to receive and store said emergency transmission data from said receiver based upon the data signals from said transmitter; and said computer being adapted to transmit said data to a display device in order to allow a manager of said system to read and pinpoint the user's exact location once the emergency transmission button is pushed.

16. A location verifier system in accordance with claim 15 wherein: said location verifier system includes a fee payment function used to designate a pre-determined fee payment in association with said transmitter.