Method and system for locating an available vehicle parking space

• US 8,427,342 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2010
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: BMW AG (Bayerische Motoren Werke AG)
• Inventors: Busch, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LAURA N
• Application Number:
  US12/755,066
• Publication Number:
  US 20110241898A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,113 Days
• Field of Search: 340/932.2, 340/933, 455/41.2
• 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 memory a first vehicle steering information indicative of a parked condition;

detecting in the first vehicle a change in condition from the steering information to a vacating condition using a processor;

communicating the change in condition from the first vehicle and a location of the available vehicle parking space to a neighboring searching vehicle using a communication link, when the processor detects the change in steering information from the parked condition; and

,

detecting the change in the searching vehicle and the location of the available vehicle parking space using the communication link;

wherein the communication link pushes the location of the available vehicle parking space which is received by the searching vehicle when positioned within a specified radius from the location of the available vehicle parking space.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the steering information comprises one or more steering maneuvers.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing in the memory of the first vehicle direction of travel and engine sequence information.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing in the memory of the first vehicle engine operating parameters.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the change in condition further comprises engine cranking.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the change in condition further comprises a speed change.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the change in condition further comprises a direction change.

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

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

10. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting comprises displaying in the searching vehicle, the location.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting comprises displaying in the searching vehicle, an indication of direction toward the location.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein detecting comprises displaying in the searching vehicle, a distance to the location.

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

a sensor positioned in a first vehicle to collect data associated with a position of a steering wheel in a parked condition or a vacating condition of the first vehicle;

a processor connected to the sensor that uses the position of the steering wheel to determine when the first vehicle is in the parked condition or the vacating condition;

a memory associated with the processor;

a transmitter associated with the memory, the transmitter transmitting data from the memory to a limited area within a specified radius from a location of the available vehicle parking space;

a receiver located in a second vehicle; and

a display associated with the receiver, the display having an indication of direction to the first vehicle.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the display comprises an indication of distance to the first vehicle.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the display comprises an indication of a location of the first vehicle.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the sensor is selected from the group of a speed sensor, a direction sensor, a steering wheel angle sensor, and an engine sensor.

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

storing in memory 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 using a processor;

communicating the change in condition from the first vehicle and a location of the available vehicle parking space to a neighboring searching vehicle using a communication link, when the processor detects the change in condition from the parked condition; and

,

detecting the change in the searching vehicle and the location of the available vehicle parking space using the communication link;

wherein (a) the communication link pushes the location of the available vehicle parking space which is received by the searching vehicle when positioned within a specified radius from the location of the available vehicle parking space, and (b) the change in condition comprises a series of changes having at least two changes including a steering change and another change selected from the group of engine cranking, speed, and direction.