Parking method and system

• US 8,928,494 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2012
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eliyahu Strugo, Matan Aivas
• Original Assignee: Matan Aivas, Ori Danieli
• Inventors: Aivas, Matan, Danieli, Ori
• Primary Examiner(s): BLOUNT, ERIC
• Application Number:
  US13/719,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20140062727A1
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 340/932.2
• US Class Current: 340/932.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/144 on portable or mobile units, e.g. personal digital assistant [PDA]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/146 where the parking area is a limited parking space, e.g. parking garage, restricted space

Abstract

A parking system including a database having (a) a number of parking spaces in a zone, (b) a ratio having a number of vehicles using a certain parking service from a pre-defined general population divided by a number of vehicles of the pre-defined general population, and (c) a number of vehicles using the parking service and which are currently parking in the zone, and a calculator configured to calculate from the database an estimation of available parking spaces within the zone, thereby enabling a user to obtain information regarding availability of parking spaces in given locations, compared with other locations.

Claims

1. A parking system, comprising:

a database comprising;

(a) a number of parking spaces in a zone;

(b) a ratio, comprising a number of vehicles using a parking service from a pre-defined general population, divided by a number of vehicles of said pre-defined general population; and

(c) a number of vehicles using said parking service and which are currently parking in said zone; and

a calculator configured to calculate from said database an estimation of available parking spaces within said zone;

thereby enabling a user to obtain information regarding availability of parking spaces in said zone.

2. A parking system according to claim 1, wherein said estimation of available parking spaces within said zone comprises “

M−

N*W”

, wherein;

“

M”

comprises said number of parking spaces in said zone;

“

W”

comprises said ratio; and

“

N”

comprises said number of vehicles using said parking service and parking in said zone.

3. A parking system according to claim 2, wherein said zone comprises a member selected from a group including:

parking spaces, streets of a city, and parking lots.

4. A parking system according to claim 1, wherein said system is configured to send said user a recommended parking location and price thereof, updated in real time or at a future time.

5. A parking system according to claim 1, wherein said system is configured to report a parking price to said user according to a calculation of a differential fee, depending on the parking load by area, and specific time of parking in real time or at a future time.

6. A parking system according to claim 5, wherein said system is configured to identify times when there is a shortage of available parking spaces in said area, and thereby to determine said differential parking fee, so that said fee increases when there are fewer available parking spaces at said zone, and decreases when there are more available parking spaces at said zone.

7. A parking system according to claim 1, wherein said system is configured to report to said user.

8. A parking system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicles of said users use a system containing a GPS through said users'"'"' mobile phones.

9. A parking system according to claim 1, wherein said system comprises a database of said parking service provider, and facilitates a connection with said current system.

10. A parking system according to claim 9, wherein said database of said parking service provider is selected from the group comprising of:

“

Pango+”

, and “

Cell O Park Advanced Parking Systems”

.

11. A parking system according to claim 1, wherein said system is configured to direct said user'"'"'s vehicle through a selected route in the city streets, thereby directing said user close to his destination and to an available parking space.

12. A parking method, comprising the steps of:

providing a database comprising;

(a) a number of parking spaces in a zone;

(b) a ratio, comprising a number of vehicles of pre-defined general population using a parking service divided by a number of vehicles of said pre-defined general population; and

(c) a number of vehicles using said parking service and which are currently parking in said zone; and

calculating from said database an estimation of available parking spaces within said zone;

thereby enabling a user to obtain information regarding availability of parking spaces in said zone.

13. A parking method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of:

sending said user a recommended parking location and price thereof, updated in real time or at a future time.

14. A parking method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of:

reporting said user a parking price thereof, according to a calculation of a differential fee, depending on the parking load by area, and specific time of parking in real time or at a future time.

15. A parking method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of:

identifying times when there is a shortage of available parking spaces in said area, and thereby determining said differential fee, so that said fee increases when there are fewer available parking spaces at said zone, and decreases when there are more available parking spaces at said zone.

16. A parking method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of:

facilitating a connection with a database of said parking service.

17. A parking method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of:

directing said user'"'"'s vehicle through a selected route in the city streets, thereby directing said user close to his destination and to an available parking space.