Estimating parking space occupancy using radio-frequency identification

• US 8,754,783 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2010
• Issued: 06/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Jordan, Dwight
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent
• Application Number:
  US12/905,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20120092189A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,341 Days
• Field of Search: 340/932.2, 340/572.1, 340/10.1, 705/1.1, 705/32, 705/13, 707/802
• US Class Current: 340/932.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/14 indicating individual free spaces in parking areas
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/142 external to the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/146 where the parking area is a limited parking space, e.g. parking garage, restricted space

Abstract

An example system configured to determine a status of a parking space includes an RFID reader, and at least one RFID tag positioned at the parking space. The RFID reader interrogates the RFID tag. The RFID reader determines that the parking space is unoccupied when the RFID reader receives a response from the RFID tag. The RFID reader determines that the parking space is occupied when the RFID reader fails to receive the response from the RFID tag.

Claims

1. A system configured to determine a status of a parking space, the system comprising:

an RFID reader; and

a plurality of RFID tags positioned at the parking space sized to accommodate a single vehicle;

wherein the RFID reader interrogates the RFID tags;

wherein the RFID reader determines that the parking space is unoccupied when the RFID reader receives a response from the RFID tags;

wherein the RFID reader determines that the parking space is occupied when the RFID reader fails to receive the response from one or more of the RFID tags, and the RFID reader determines where within the parking space the single vehicle is parked; and

wherein the RFID reader indicates an error when one or more of the RFID tags fail to respond within a given period of time, the error indicating a possible malfunction of the system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the RFID reader periodically interrogates the RFID tags.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the RFID tags are embedded in a floor of the parking space.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein a vehicle positioned in the parking space obscures communication between the RFID reader and the RFID tags when the parking space is occupied.

5. A parking garage, comprising:

a plurality of parking spaces;

at least one RFID reader;

at least one antenna coupled to the RFID reader; and

a plurality of RFID tags positioned in one of the parking spaces sized to accommodate a single vehicle, wherein the RFID tags are embedded into a floor of the one parking space;

wherein the RFID reader uses the antenna to interrogate the RFID tags;

wherein the RFID reader determines that one of the parking spaces is unoccupied when the RFID reader receives a response from the RFID tags;

wherein the RFID reader determines that one of the parking spaces is occupied when the RFID reader fails to receive the response from the RFID tags, and the RFID reader determines where within the parking space the single vehicle is parked; and

wherein the RFID reader indicates an error when the RFID tags fails to respond within a given period of time, the error indicating a possible malfunction of the system.

6. The parking garage of claim 5, wherein the RFID reader periodically interrogates the RFID tags.

7. The parking garage of claim 5, wherein a vehicle positioned in the parking space obscures communication between the RFID reader and the RFID tags when one of the parking spaces is occupied.