Method And System For Locating An Available Vehicle Parking Space

• US 20110241898A1
• Filed: 04/06/2010
• Published: 10/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Busch, Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 8,427,342 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/932.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/14 indicating individual free spaces in parking areas

Abstract

A method and system of the invention locates an available vehicle parking space. In the method, parked information indicative of a parked condition is stored in a first vehicle. The first vehicle may detect a change in condition from the parked condition to a vacating condition. The first vehicle then communicates the change in condition from the first vehicle to a neighboring searching vehicle and the searching vehicle detects the change.

Claims

1. A method of locating an available vehicle parking space comprising the steps of:

storing in a first vehicle parked information indicative of a parked condition;

detecting in the first vehicle a change in condition from the parked condition to a vacating condition;

communicating the change in condition from the first vehicle to a neighboring searching vehicle; and

,

detecting the change in the searching vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the parked information comprises steering information.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the parked information comprises one or more steering maneuvers.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the parked information comprises steering, direction of travel and engine sequence information.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the parked information comprises a location of the available parking space.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the parked information comprises engine operating parameters.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the change in condition comprises engine cranking.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the change in condition comprises a steering change.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the change in condition comprises a speed change.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the change in condition comprises a direction change.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the change in condition comprises a series of changes selected having at least two changes selected from the group of steering, engine cranking, speed, and direction.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein communicating is limited to a geographical area surrounding the first vehicle.

13. The method of claim 5 wherein detecting comprises displaying in the searching vehicle, the location.

14. The method of claim 5 wherein detecting comprises displaying in the searching vehicle, an indication of direction toward the location.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein detecting comprises displaying in the searching vehicle, a distance to the location.

16. A system for locating an available vehicle parking space comprising:

an event recorder located in a first vehicle;

a memory associated with the event recorder;

a transmitter associated with the memory, the transmitter transmitting data from the memory to limited area;

a receiver located in a second vehicle;

a display associated with the receiver;

the display having an indication of direction to the first vehicle.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the display comprises an indication of distance to the first vehicle.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the display comprises an indication of a location of the first vehicle.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein the event recorder is operatively connected to at least one sensor selected from the group of a speed sensor, a direction sensor, a steering wheel angle sensor, and an engine sensor.