Parking space finder based on parking meter data

• US 9,123,058 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2012
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AutoConnect Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Flextronics America LLC (Flextronics International Limited)
• Inventors: Ricci, Christopher P.
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V
• Application Number:
  US13/678,710
• Publication Number:
  US 20130141252A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 340/932.2, 340/933, 340/539.1, 340/937, 340/938, 340/904, 340/905, 340/942, 340/990, 705/13, 705/418, 235/378, 235/384, 701408-410
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/11 Instrument graphical user interfaces or menu aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
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• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1476 Handwriting
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/164 Infotainment
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/166 Navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/566 Mobile devices displaying vehicle information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/5894 SIM cards
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/5899 Internet
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/691 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/50 Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle B60K35/231 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/80 Arrangements for controlling instruments
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• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 : based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
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• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 : Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 : for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
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• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/59 : inside of a vehicle, e.g. relating to seat occupancy, driver state or inner lighting conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/10 : Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/15 : Biometric patterns based on physiological signals, e.g. heartbeat, blood flow
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• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/006 : Indicating maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 : communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/02 : Registering or indicating driving, working, idle, or waiting time only apparatus forming part of taximeters G07B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/08 : Registering or indicating performance data other than driving, working, idle, or waiting time, with or without registering driving, working, idle or waiting time
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• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 : using electronic data carriers
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• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/00 : Electric signal transmission systems G08C17/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 : from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0116 : from roadside infrastructure, e.g. beacons
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/012 : from other sources than vehicle or roadside beacons, e.g. mobile networks
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0129 : for creating historical data or processing based on historical data
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• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0137 : for specific applications
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• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09 : Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions railroad crossing signals B61L; reflectors E01F, G08B; indicating arrangements for variable information by selection or combination of individual elements G09F9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 : where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096725 : where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 : where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 : where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 : where the origin of the information is another vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 : where the route is computed onboard
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• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 : based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 : involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41422 : located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 : Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 : for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 : for in-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 : Service provisioning or reconfiguring
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• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 : Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 : Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 : Moving wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Methods and systems for a complete vehicle ecosystem are provided. Specifically, systems that when taken alone, or together, provide an individual or group of individuals with an intuitive and comfortable vehicular environment. The present disclosure builds on integrating existing technology with new devices, methods, and systems to provide a complete vehicle ecosystem.

Claims

1. A parking space finder system comprising:

a server including a processor and memory that;

receives information from one or more parking meters regarding a current status;

receives a parking space query from a communications device associated with a vehicle regarding parking space availability of the parking space finder system;

sends, in response to receiving the parking space query, a location information query to the communications device associated with the vehicle, wherein the location information query is a request for a current geographic location of the communications device;

receives the current geographic location of the communications device;

determines a predetermined geographic area around the vehicle, based at least partially on the current geographic location of the communications device and rules stored in the memory;

determines parking space availability within the predetermined geographic area around the vehicle; and

forwards to the communication device information about available parking spaces determined within the predetermined geographic area around the vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a reservation coordinator that receives a request from the communications device to reserve a parking space.

3. The system of claim 1, further comparing a replenishment module that allows a parking meter to be replenished remotely via the communications device.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a mapping module that assembles parking meter status information for display on a map.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a perimeter module wherein the perimeter module is configured to determine the predefined geographic area around the vehicle based on one or more of preferences and a response to a query.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a data aggregation module that receives parking meter status information from the one or more parking meters, the status information including one or more of:

expired, time remaining, out of order, parking space free, parking space occupied, and unknown.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications device can reserve a parking space in response to a parking spot available message from the server.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more parking meters is mapped to a geographic location.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein a status module updates a parking meter status based on one or more of a change in status, meter expiration and space occupancy with this information forwardable to the communications device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein a GPS location of an available parking meter is forwarded to the communications device.

11. A parking space finder method comprising:

receiving information from one or more parking meters regarding a current status;

receiving a parking space query from a communications device associated with a vehicle regarding parking space availability;

sending, in response to receiving the parking space query, a location information query to the communications device associated with the vehicle, wherein the location information query is a request for a current geographic location of the communications device;

receiving the current geographic location of the communications device;

determining a predetermined geographic area around the vehicle, based at least partially on the current geographic location of the communications device and rules stored in memory;

determining parking space availability within the predetermined geographic area around the vehicle; and

forwarding to the communication device information about available parking spaces determined within the predetermined geographic area around the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising;

receiving a request from the communications device to reserve a parking space.

13. The method of claim 11, further comparing allowing a parking meter to be replenished remotely via the communications device.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising assembling parking meter status information for display on a map.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining the predefined geographic area around the vehicle based on one or more of preferences and a response to a query.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving parking meter status information from the one or more parking meters, the status information including one or more of:

expired, time remaining, out of order, parking space free, parking space occupied, and unknown.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the communications device can reserve a parking space in response to a parking spot available message from the server.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein each of the one or more parking meters is mapped to a geographic location.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein a status module updates a parking meter status based on one or more of a change in status, meter expiration and space occupancy with this information forwardable to the communications device.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein a GPS location of an available parking meter is forwarded to the communications device.