Autonomous vehicle parking using vehicle user information

• US 10,373,495 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2017
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DoorDash, Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Goldberg, Itzhack, McGregor, Harry R., Moore, Christopher B., Mosqueda Mejia, Jose R., Sondhi, Neil
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafi, Muhammad
• Application Number:
  US15/401,150
• Publication Number:
  US 20180196429A1
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 701 23
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0285 Parking performed automatically
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0011 associated with a remote control arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/146 where the parking area is a limited parking space, e.g. parking garage, restricted space
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/147 where the parking area is within an open public zone, e.g. city centre
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/148 Management of a network of parking areas

Abstract

In an approach, a processor receives a notification that an autonomous vehicle is parked at a first location within a parking area, wherein the autonomous vehicle is associated with a user. A processor receives a first set of information, wherein the first set of information comprises a first expected location of the user prior to returning to the parking area. A processor determines a second location to park the autonomous vehicle based on the first set of information. A processor causes the autonomous vehicle to move to the second location.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by one or more processors, a notification that an autonomous vehicle is parked at a first location within a parking area, wherein the autonomous vehicle is associated with a user and a user profile;

calculating, by one or more processors, a first return time of the user to the parking area and a first return location of the user based on at least one of a first set of information from the user profile, information associated with the parking area, and information provided by an establishment that utilizes the parking area;

determining, by one or more processors, a second location to park the autonomous vehicle based on the first return time of the user, the first return location of the user, and a usage threshold of the parking area, wherein the usage threshold is based on a level of traffic entering and exiting the parking area at vehicle and user entrances and exits; and

causing, by one or more processors, the autonomous vehicle to move to the second location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of information from the user profile includes information retrieved from at least one social media account of the user.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying, by one or more processors, that the usage threshold of parking area has been exceeded;

determining, by one or more processors, a third location to park the autonomous vehicle that is farther away from vehicle and user entrances and exits of the parking area than the second location; and

prior to causing the autonomous vehicle to move to the second location, causing, by one or more processors, the autonomous vehicle to move to the third location.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by one or more processors, a second set of information from the user profile, wherein the second set of information comprises a second return location of the user;

determining, by one or more processors, a third location to park the autonomous vehicle based on the second set of information; and

causing, by one or more processors, the autonomous vehicle to move to the third location.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by one or more processors, a second set of information from the user profile, wherein the second set of information comprises a second return location of the user;

calculating, by one or more processors, a second return time of the user to the parking area based, at least in part, on the second set of information;

determining, by one or more processors, a second time to park the autonomous vehicle at a third location based on the second set of information;

determining, by one or more processors, the third location to park the autonomous vehicle based on the second set of information; and

causing, by one or more processors, the autonomous vehicle to move to the third location at the second time.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by one or more processors, that the user is going to return to the parking area after a period of time;

determining, by one or more processors, a third location to park the autonomous vehicle based on the first set of information and the period of time, wherein the third location experiences lower traffic than the second location; and

prior to causing the autonomous vehicle to move to the second location, causing, by one or more processors, the autonomous vehicle to move to the third location.

7. A computer program product comprising:

one or more computer readable storage media and program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to receive a notification that an autonomous vehicle is parked at a first location within a parking area, wherein the autonomous vehicle is associated with a user and a user profile;

program instructions to calculate a first return time of the user to the parking area and a first return location of the user based on at least one of a first set of information from the user profile, information associated with the parking area, and information provided by an establishment that utilizes the parking area;

program instructions to determine a second location to park the autonomous vehicle based on the first return time of the user, the first return location of the user, and a usage threshold of the parking area, wherein the usage threshold is based on a level of traffic entering and exiting the parking area at vehicle and user entrances and exits; and

program instructions to cause the autonomous vehicle to move to the second location.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the first set of information from the user profile includes information retrieved from at least one social media account of the user.

9. The computer program product of claim 7, further comprising:

program instructions to identify that the usage threshold of parking area has been exceeded;

program instructions to determine a third location to park the autonomous vehicle that is farther away from vehicle and user entrances and exits of the parking area than the second location; and

prior to the program instructions to cause the autonomous vehicle to move to the second location, program instructions to cause the autonomous vehicle to move to the third location.

10. The computer program product of claim 7, further comprising:

program instructions to receive a second set of information from the user profile, wherein the second set of information comprises a second return location of the user;

program instructions to determine a third location to park the autonomous vehicle based on the second set of information; and

program instructions to cause the autonomous vehicle to move to the third location.

11. The computer program product of claim 7, further comprising:

program instructions to receive a second set of information from the user profile, wherein the second set of information comprises a second return location of the user;

program instructions to calculate a second return time of the user to the parking area based, at least in part, on the second set of information;

program instructions to determine a second time to park the autonomous vehicle at a third location based on the second set of information;

program instructions to determine the third location to park the autonomous vehicle based on the second set of information; and

program instructions to cause the autonomous vehicle to move to the third location at the second time.

12. The computer program product of claim 7, further comprising:

program instructions to determine that the user is going to return to the parking area after a period of time;

program instructions to determine a third location to park the autonomous vehicle based on the first set of information and the period of time, wherein the third location experiences lower traffic than the second location; and

prior to the program instructions to cause the autonomous vehicle to move to the second location, program instructions to cause the autonomous vehicle to move to the third location.

13. A computer system comprising:

one or more computer processors;

one or more computer readable storage media;

program instructions stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more processors, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to receive a notification that an autonomous vehicle is parked at a first location within a parking area, wherein the autonomous vehicle is associated with a user and a user profile;

program instructions to calculate a first return time of the user to the parking area and a first return location of the user based on at least one of a first set of information from the user profile, information associated with the parking area, and information provided by an establishment that utilizes the parking area;

program instructions to determine a second location to park the autonomous vehicle based on the first return time of the user, the first return location of the user, and a usage threshold of the parking area, wherein the usage threshold is based on a level of traffic entering and exiting the parking area at vehicle and user entrances and exits; and

program instructions to cause the autonomous vehicle to move to the second location.

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the first set of information from the user profile includes information retrieved from at least one social media account of the user.

15. The computer system of claim 13, further comprising:

program instructions to identify that the usage threshold of parking area has been exceeded;

program instructions to determine a third location to park the autonomous vehicle that is farther away from vehicle and user entrances and exits of the parking area than the second location; and

prior to the program instructions to cause the autonomous vehicle to move to the second location, program instructions to cause the autonomous vehicle to move to the third location.

16. The computer system of claim 13, further comprising:

program instructions to receive a second set of information from the user profile, wherein the second set of information comprises a second return location of the user;

program instructions to determine a third location to park the autonomous vehicle based on the second set of information; and

program instructions to cause the autonomous vehicle to move to the third location.

17. The computer system of claim 13, further comprising:

program instructions to receive a second set of information from the user profile, wherein the second set of information comprises a second return location of the user;

program instructions to calculate a second return time of the user to the parking area based, at least in part, on the second set of information;

program instructions to determine a second time to park the autonomous vehicle at a third location based on the second set of information;

program instructions to determine the third location to park the autonomous vehicle based on the second set of information; and

program instructions to cause the autonomous vehicle to move to the third location at the second time.