Parking guidance method and system

• US 6,970,101 B1
• Filed: 04/21/2003
• Issued: 11/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brian D. Holt, James C. Squire, Jenny L. Dinneen, Troy J. Siemers, Tsung-Ta Ho
• Original Assignee: Brian D. Holt, James C. Squire, Jenny L. Dinneen, Troy J. Siemers, Tsung-Ta Ho
• Inventors: Squire, James C, Siemers, Troy J, Dinneen, Jenny L, Ho, Tsung-ta, Holt, Brian D
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHUNG
• Application Number:
  US10/419,375
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 340/932.2, 340/942, 340/525, 340/928, 340/309.16, 340/933, 701/117, 235/90, 705/13, 705/418
• US Class Current: 340/932.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/14 indicating individual free spaces in parking areas

Abstract

A method of matching a vehicle with a vacant parking space in a parking facility having numerous parking spaces. The method includes storing identifying characteristics of each of the parking spaces in a database. To request a parking space, a garage customer inputs data concerning his or her preferences for parking. The inventive method then determines which of the plurality of parking spaces are vacant, matches the data inputted by the user with the data identifying characteristics of each of the parking spaces determined to be vacant, and determines which of the parking spaces determined to be vacant most closely matches the data inputted by the user. The closest parking space is reserved for parking by the user.

Claims

1. A method of matching a vehicle with a vacant parking space of a plurality of parking spaces said method comprising the steps of:

a) storing data identifying characteristics of each of said plurality of parking spaces in a database;

b) inputting data concerning preferences for parking by a user;

c) determining which of said plurality of parking spaces are vacant;

d) matching said data input by said user with said data identifying characteristics of each of said plurality of parking spaces determined to be vacant;

e) determining which of said parking spaces determined to be vacant most closely matches said data input by said user;

f) reserving said parking space determined for said user; and

g) indicating said parking space is available, if a time limit passes and said parking space is vacant, wherein said time limit is less than a maximum time amount said user is allowed to continuously park in said parking space.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said data identifying characteristics comprises a set of descriptors, including, a total of parking spaces in said parking garage, a size of said parking space, position of said parking space relative to particular points of interest, whether said parking space is for use by handicapped, safety of said parking space.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of determining which of said plurality of parking spaces are vacant is determined based upon signals received from parking sensors installed in each of said plurality of parking spaces.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said plurality of parking sensors are motion detection sensors.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said plurality of parking sensors are infrared frequency sensors.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein said plurality of parking sensors are switches turned on and off by a garage staff according to the availability of each parking space.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of determining which of said plurality of parking spaces are vacant is determined by manually indicating availability of each parking space.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said data concerning preferences includes data regarding predetermined number of preferences for the user.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said step of inputting is performed through a plurality of input peripheral devices installed in the parking garage.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said step of inputting is performed through a plurality of computing devices.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said step of inputting is performed through a plurality of vehicle sensors positioned at an entrance to the parking garage, said plurality of vehicle sensors determining size of a vehicle.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing the user with a list of vacant parking spaces matched to user preferences.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said step of providing produces a printed ticket listing vacant parking spaces.

14. A parking guidance system comprising:

a plurality of parking spaces;

a database, wherein said database stores identifying characteristic data of each of said plurality of parking spaces;

an input device, wherein said input device enables a user to input parking preference data;

a processor operably coupled to said database and to said input device, wherein said processor determines a vacant parking space pool, wherein said vacant parking space pool includes one or more parking spaces in said plurality of parking spaces that are vacant;

wherein said processor also matches said parking preference data with said identifying characteristic data of each parking space in said vacant parking space pool;

wherein said processor also determines a preferred parking space, wherein said preferred parking space is the parking space in said vacant parking space pool whose identifying characteristic data most closely matches said parking preference data;

wherein said processor also reserves said preferred parking space; and

wherein said processor also indicates said preferred parking space is available, if a time limit passes and said preferred parking space is vacant wherein said time limit is less than a maximum time amount said user is allowed to continuously park in said parking space.

15. The parking guidance system of claim 14, wherein said identifying characteristic data comprises a set of descriptors, including, a total of parking spaces in said parking garage, a size of said parking space, position of said parking space relative to particular points of interest, whether said parking space is for use by handicapped, safety of said parking space.

16. The parking guidance system of claim 14, further comprising:

a parking sensor operably coupled to said processor, wherein said parking sensor senses whether a parking space of said plurality of parking spaces is vacant.

17. The parking guidance system of claim 16, wherein said parking sensor is a motion detection sensor.

18. The parking guidance system of claim 16, wherein said parking sensor is an infrared frequency sensor.

19. The parking guidance system of claim 14, further comprising:

an output device operably coupled to said processor, wherein said output device provides the user with a list of vacant parking spaces.

20. The parking guidance system of claim 19, wherein said output device provides a printed ticket including said list.