Method and system for mapping vehicle parking

• US 6,885,312 B1
• Filed: 05/28/2002
• Issued: 04/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kirkpatrick, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, LAM P
• Application Number:
  US10/154,913
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 340/932.2, 340933-934, 340/937, 340942-943, 340/988, 340/990, 340/995, 701/200
• US Class Current: 340/932.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/14 indicating individual free spaces in parking areas

Abstract

A method and system for determining the vacancy of a parking space is described that allows a customer to remotely receive information about parking space availability before arriving at a parking lot or structure. This system allows the customer to determine whether there are parking spaces available to park a vehicle and where such parking space(s) are located before the customer arrives at the parking lot or structure.

Claims

1. A method of broadcasting remote information relating to parking lot space availability, the method comprising:

determining the parking lot space availability of a first section of the parking lot;

determining the parking lot space availability of a second section of the parking lot;

transmitting the parking lot availability of the first section from a first transmitter to a first transmitting area;

transmitting the parking lot availability of the second section from a second transmitter to a second transmitting area;

receiving at a receiver the parking lot availability of the first and second sections when the receiver is within the first and second transmitting areas, respectively; and

reserving an available parking lot space based upon received parking lot availability.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiver has substantial uses other than receiving.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the receiver comprises a personal data assistant.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiver that has no substantial use other than receiving.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiver has an identifying code, the code being unique to the device and capable of being broadcast from the receiver.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting the received remote information as text.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting the received parking lot availability of the first and second sections as a map.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting the received parking lot availability of the first and second sections as a voice.

9. A method of transmitting information related to a parking space, the method comprising:

determining a first vacancy status indicating whether a first parking space is vacant and a second vacancy status indicating whether a second parking space is vacant;

generating a first signal related to the first vacancy status and a second signal related to the second vacancy status;

sending the first signal to a first transmitter;

sending the second signal to a second transmitter;

transmitting the first signal remotely from the first transmitter within a first transmitting area;

transmitting the second signal remotely from the second transmitter within a second transmitting area;

receiving the first and second signals by a receiver when the receiver is within the first and second transmitting areas, respectively; and

displaying the first and second signals as information related to the first vacancy status of the first parking space and the second vacancy status of the second parking space;

wherein the receiver has an identifying code, the code being unique to the receiver and capable of being broadcast from the receiver.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the receiver has other primary uses and also displays the information.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the receiver comprises a personal data assistant.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the receiver has no substantial use other than to display the information.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the information is displayed as text.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the information is displayed as a map.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the information is displayed as a voice.

42. The method of claim 9, wherein determining whether a parking space is vacant further comprises using a weight sensor to determine whether a parking space is vacant.

43. The method of claim 9, wherein determining whether a parking space is vacant further comprises using infrared light to determine whether a parking space is vacant.

44. The method of claim 9, further comprising reserving parking at the first parking space vacancy when the first parking space is determined to be vacant.

16. A method for operating a parking facility, the method comprising:

providing a receiver to a customer entering the facility;

transmitting information from a first transmitter related to availability of parking spaces in a first parking section;

transmitting information from a second transmitter related to availability of parking spaces in a second parking section;

receiving that information relating to the first and second parking sections by the receiver; and

conveying that information to a user.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the receiver has other primary uses and also displays the information relating to the first and second parking sections.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the receiver comprises a personal data assistant.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the receiver has no substantial use other than to display the information relating to the first and second parking sections.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the receiver has an identifying code, the code being unique to the receiver and capable of being broadcast from the receiver.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the information relating to the first and second parking sections is displayed as text.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the information relating to the first and second parking sections is displayed as a map.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein the information relating to the first and second parking sections is displayed as a voice.

24. A system for relaying information about parking space vacancy, the system comprising:

a first device for determining a first vacancy status of a first parking space;

a second device for determining a second vacancy status of a second parking space;

a first signal generator for generating a first signal that contains information relating to the first vacancy status;

a second signal generator for generating a second signal that contains information relating to the second vacancy status;

a first transmitter for receiving the first signal from the first signal generator and transmitting the first signal in a first transmitting area;

a second transmitter for receiving the second signal from the second signal generator and transmitting the second signal in a second transmitting area; and

a receiver for receiving the first and second signals when the receiver is located within the first and second transmitting areas, respectively;

wherein the receiver has an identifying code, the code being unique to the receiver and capable of being broadcast from the receiver.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the receiver has other primary uses and also receives the first and second signals.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the receiver is a personal data assistant.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the receiver has no substantial use other than to receive the first and second signals.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein the receiver is portable.

29. The system of claim 24, wherein the receiver is an integral component of a vehicle.

30. The system of claim 24, wherein information from the first and second signals is displayed as text on the receiver.

31. The system of claim 24, wherein information from the first and second signals is displayed as a map on the receiver.

32. The system of claim 24, wherein information from the first and second signals is displayed as a voice from the receiver.

33. A system for relaying information about parking space vacancy, the system comprising:

means for determining a first vacancy status of a fist parking space;

means for determining a second vacancy status of a second parking space;

means for generating a first signal that contains information relating to the first vacancy status;

means for generating a second signal that contains information relating to the second vacancy status;

means for receiving the first signal from said means for generating a first signal;

means for receiving the second signal from said means for generating a second signal;

means for transmitting the first signal remotely in a first transmitting area;

means for transmitting the second signal remotely in a second transmitting area;

means for receiving the first and second signals when the means for receiving the first and second signals is within the first and second transmitting areas, respectively; and

means for providing information from the first and second signals to a user;

wherein the means for receiving the first and second signals when the means for receiving the first and second signals is within the first and second transmitting areas has a unique identifying code, which is broadcast.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the means for receiving the first and second signals when the means for receiving the first and second signals is within the first and second transmitting areas has other primary uses and also receives the first and second signals.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the means for receiving the first and second signals when the means for receiving the first and second signals is within the first and second transmitting areas comprises a personal data assistant.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein the means for receiving the first and second signals when the means for receiving the first and second signals is within the first and second transmitting areas has no substantial use other than to receive the first and second signals.

37. The system of claim 33, wherein the means for receiving the first and second signals when the means for receiving the first and second signals is within the first and second transmitting areas is portable.

38. The system of claim 33, web the means for receiving the first and second signals when the means for receiving the first and second signals is within the first and second transmitting areas is an integral component of a vehicle.

39. The system of claim 33, wherein the means for providing information is via text display.

40. The system of claim 33, wherein the means for providing information is via a map.

41. The system of claim 33, wherein the means for providing information is via a voice.