Identifying vehicles in a parking bay
First Claim
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1. A method of identifying a vehicle in a parking bay, the method comprising:
- detecting, using a proximity sensor, a presence of a first vehicle within the parking bay;
communicating proximity data from the proximity sensor to a processing device, the processing device communicatively coupled to the proximity sensor;
determining, by the processing device, that the first vehicle is present within the parking bay;
detecting, using a camera communicatively coupled to the processing device, a first license plate of the first vehicle within the parking bay;
determining, by the processing device, a first candidate license plate identification of the first license plate;
determining, by the processing device, whether the first candidate license plate identification matches a stored license plate identification;
determining, by the processing device, whether the first candidate license plate identification corresponds to a pending pick-up order;
automatically checking in the first vehicle, by the processing device, for pick-up of the pending pick-up order when the first candidate license plate identification matches the stored license plate identification and when the first candidate license plate identification corresponds to the pending pick-up order;
receiving, by the processing device, from a concierge tool communicatively coupled to the processing device, a manual input indicating that the pick-up order is completed, the concierge tool comprising an electronic device;
setting, by the processing device, a status of the first vehicle as a departing vehicle in response to receiving from the concierge tool the manual input that the pick-up order is completed; and
after receiving the manual input indicating that the pick-up order is completed;
detecting a second time, using the camera, the first license plate of the first vehicle;
determining a second time, by the processing device, the first candidate license plate identification of the first license plate;
determining, by the processing device, that the status of the first vehicle is a departing vehicle; and
determining, by the processing device, to ignore the first candidate license plate identification.
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Abstract
Systems and associated methods are disclosed to reduce wait time experienced by customers during order fulfillment and pick-up. The system utilizes cameras and automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) to quickly identify vehicles associated with customer accounts and pending pick-up orders upon arrival. Proximity detectors provide an additional layer of vehicle detection. A concierge tool provides manual inputs from a user relating to vehicle or customer status. The system provides for synthesis and fusion of these diverse input types to accurately detect and identify arriving and departing customers.
7 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of identifying a vehicle in a parking bay, the method comprising:
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detecting, using a proximity sensor, a presence of a first vehicle within the parking bay; communicating proximity data from the proximity sensor to a processing device, the processing device communicatively coupled to the proximity sensor; determining, by the processing device, that the first vehicle is present within the parking bay; detecting, using a camera communicatively coupled to the processing device, a first license plate of the first vehicle within the parking bay; determining, by the processing device, a first candidate license plate identification of the first license plate; determining, by the processing device, whether the first candidate license plate identification matches a stored license plate identification; determining, by the processing device, whether the first candidate license plate identification corresponds to a pending pick-up order; automatically checking in the first vehicle, by the processing device, for pick-up of the pending pick-up order when the first candidate license plate identification matches the stored license plate identification and when the first candidate license plate identification corresponds to the pending pick-up order; receiving, by the processing device, from a concierge tool communicatively coupled to the processing device, a manual input indicating that the pick-up order is completed, the concierge tool comprising an electronic device; setting, by the processing device, a status of the first vehicle as a departing vehicle in response to receiving from the concierge tool the manual input that the pick-up order is completed; and after receiving the manual input indicating that the pick-up order is completed; detecting a second time, using the camera, the first license plate of the first vehicle; determining a second time, by the processing device, the first candidate license plate identification of the first license plate; determining, by the processing device, that the status of the first vehicle is a departing vehicle; and determining, by the processing device, to ignore the first candidate license plate identification. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of identifying a vehicle in a parking bay, the method comprising:
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receiving, by customer identification circuitry, from automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) circuitry coupled to a camera, at least a first license plate identification of a first vehicle in a parking bay, the camera capturing images of the parking bay; categorizing, by the customer identification circuitry, the first vehicle as an arriving customer; receiving, from a concierge tool comprising an electronic device communicatively coupled to the customer identification circuitry, a manual input indicating that a pick-up order corresponding to the first vehicle is completed; after receiving the manual input that the pick-up order is completed; receiving a second time, by the customer identification circuitry from the ALPR circuitry, the first license plate identification of the first vehicle in the parking bay; categorizing, by the customer identification circuitry, the first vehicle as a departing customer; and determining, by the customer identification circuitry, to ignore the first license plate identification in response to categorizing the first vehicle as a departing customer. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for identifying a vehicle in a parking bay, the system comprising:
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automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) circuitry; a camera coupled to the automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) circuitry, the camera configured to; capture an image of a vehicle in a parking bay; and generate a license plate identification of the vehicle in the parking bay; a concierge tool comprising an electronic device configured to receive inputs from a user; and customer identification circuitry communicatively coupled to the ALPR circuitry and the concierge tool, the customer identification circuitry configured to; receive, from the ALPR circuitry, a first license plate identification; categorize a first vehicle corresponding to the first license plate identification as an arriving customer; and receive, from the concierge tool, a manual input indicating that a pick-up order corresponding to the first vehicle is completed; after receiving the manual indication that the pick-up order is completed; receive a second time, from the ALPR circuitry, the first license plate identification of the first vehicle in the parking bay; categorize the first vehicle as a departing vehicle; and determine to ignore the first license plate identification in response to categorizing the first vehicle as a departing vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification