OCCUPANCY SENSING
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- transmitting a measurement-cycle ultrasonic signal from a signal transmitter toward a monitored space;
receiving signals at a signal receiver, wherein the signals comprise a sequence of measurement-cycle echo signals based on the transmitted measurement-cycle ultrasonic signal, each measurement-cycle echo signal having an associated signal strength;
integrating data corresponding to the associated signal strengths for at least a portion of the sequence of measurement-cycle echo signals over time to produce an integrated measurement-cycle echo signal value; and
comparing the integrated measurement-cycle echo signal value to an integrated calibration-cycle echo signal value that corresponds to the monitored space being empty.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method includes transmitting a measurement-cycle ultrasonic signal from a signal transmitter toward a monitored space. Signals are received at a signal receiver. The signals include a sequence of measurement-cycle echo signals based on the transmitted measurement-cycle ultrasonic signal. Each measurement-cycle echo signal has associated signal strength. The method includes integrating data corresponding to the associated signal strengths for at least a portion of the sequence of measurement-cycle echo signals over time to produce an integrated measurement-cycle echo signal value. The method also includes comparing the integrated measurement-cycle echo signal value to an integrated calibration-cycle echo signal value that corresponds to the monitored space being empty.
12 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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transmitting a measurement-cycle ultrasonic signal from a signal transmitter toward a monitored space; receiving signals at a signal receiver, wherein the signals comprise a sequence of measurement-cycle echo signals based on the transmitted measurement-cycle ultrasonic signal, each measurement-cycle echo signal having an associated signal strength; integrating data corresponding to the associated signal strengths for at least a portion of the sequence of measurement-cycle echo signals over time to produce an integrated measurement-cycle echo signal value; and comparing the integrated measurement-cycle echo signal value to an integrated calibration-cycle echo signal value that corresponds to the monitored space being empty. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20)
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16. A method comprising:
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monitoring whether a plurality of parking spaces are empty or occupied using a plurality of monitoring devices, wherein monitoring the plurality of parking spaces comprises using each monitoring device to; transmit, from a signal transmitter, a measurement-cycle ultrasonic signal from a signal transmitter toward a corresponding one of the parking spaces; receive, at a signal receiver, signals that comprise a sequence of measurement-cycle echo signals based on the transmitted measurement-cycle ultrasonic signal, each measurement-cycle echo signal having an associated signal strength; integrate data corresponding to the associated signal strengths for at least a portion of the sequence of measurement-cycle echo signals over time to produce an integrated measurement-cycle echo signal value; and compare the integrated measurement-cycle echo signal value to an integrated calibration-cycle value that corresponds to the corresponding one of the parking spaces being empty. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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21. A monitoring device comprising:
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an ultrasonic transmitter configured to transmit a measurement-cycle ultrasonic signal from a signal transmitter toward a monitored space; an ultrasonic receiver configured to receive signals comprising a sequence of measurement-cycle echo signals based on the transmitted measurement-cycle ultrasonic signal, each measurement-cycle echo signal having an associated signal strength; and a processor configured to integrate data corresponding to the associated signal strengths for at least a portion of the sequence of measurement-cycle echo signals over time to produce an integrated measurement-cycle echo signal value and to compare the integrated measurement-cycle echo signal value to an integrated calibration-cycle echo signal value that corresponds to the monitored space being empty. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A system comprising:
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a plurality of monitoring devices at different positions in a parking facility, wherein each monitoring device is configured to monitor an associated one of a plurality of parking spaces in the parking facility and comprises; an ultrasonic transmitter configured to transmit a measurement-cycle ultrasonic signal from a signal transmitter toward a corresponding one of the monitored parking spaces; an ultrasonic receiver configured to receive signals comprising a sequence of measurement-cycle echo signals based on the transmitted measurement-cycle ultrasonic signal, each measurement-cycle echo signal having an associated signal strength; and a processor configured to integrate data corresponding to the associated signal strengths for at least a portion of the sequence of measurement-cycle echo signals over time to produce an integrated measurement-cycle echo signal value and to compare the integrated measurement-cycle echo signal value to an integrated calibration-cycle echo signal value that corresponds to the monitored space being empty, wherein every one of the monitoring devices is configured to transmit a corresponding one of the measurement-cycle ultrasonic signals at substantially the same time. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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30. The system of 29 wherein each one of the plurality of monitoring devices is configured to determine whether the corresponding one of the monitored parking space is empty or occupied based on the comparison and is configured to provide a human-detectable indication to as to an outcome of the determination,
wherein the human-detectable indication is detectable from a position that is displaced from the parking space and within a traffic lane that is adjacent to the parking space.
Specification