Parked car location

• US 9,194,710 B1
• Filed: 06/24/2014
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Iyer, Rakesh Narayan
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, Alex C
• Application Number:
  US14/313,378
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 701/468
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3632 Guidance using simplified or iconic instructions, e.g. using arrows G01C21/365 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3647 Guidance involving output of stored or live camera images or video streams
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3655 Timing of guidance instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3667 Display of a road map G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds

Abstract

A user may be provided with a representation of their vehicle on the user'"'"'s mobile device. The vehicle'"'"'s location may be determined based on one or more signals received from the mobile device and/or the motor vehicle. The device may generate a notification or otherwise store an indication of the motor vehicle'"'"'s position. A representation of the motor vehicle'"'"'s location may be provided to the user on the mobile device.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving, by a mobile device, a plurality of signals from the mobile device and a motor vehicle, wherein the mobile device is connected to the motor vehicle and wherein the plurality of signals comprise a GPS signal, a disconnect signal, and a gear sensor;

generating a probability that the motor vehicle is parked based on the plurality of signals;

determining that the motor vehicle is parked based on the probability;

generating a notification that indicates a position of the motor vehicle based on the GPS signal;

storing the notification on a computer readable memory of the mobile device;

receiving a second GPS signal, wherein the second GPS signal is proximal to the position of the motor vehicle; and

presenting the notification of the position of the motor vehicle based on the receipt of the second GPS signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of signals comprises at least one of a parking brake sensor and a speed sensor.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising comparing the position of the motor vehicle to the second GPS signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification comprises an indication of a vehicle elevation based on the position of the motor vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a prompt that requests permission to store the vehicle position; and

receiving a response to the prompt directing the mobile device to store the position of the motor vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification comprises a visual display of a position of the mobile device relative to the position of the motor vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of signals is weighted.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the motor vehicle is parked.

9. A system, comprising:

a computer readable memory for storing a plurality of signals from a mobile device and a motor vehicle, wherein the mobile device is connected to the motor vehicle and wherein the plurality of signals comprise a GPS signal, a disconnect signal, and a gear sensor;

a processor connected to the computer readable memory, the processor configured to;

receive, by the mobile device, the plurality of signals from the mobile device and the motor vehicle;

generate a probability that the motor vehicle is parked based on the plurality of signals;

determine that the motor vehicle is parked based on the probability;

generate a notification that indicates a position of the motor vehicle based on the plurality of signals;

store the notification on a computer readable memory of the mobile device;

receive a second GPS signal, wherein the second GPS signal is proximal to vehicle position; and

present the notification of the vehicle position based on the receipt of the second GPS signal.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of signals comprises at least one of a parking brake sensor and a speed sensor.

11. The system of claim 9, the processor further configured to compare the vehicle position to the second GPS signal.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the notification comprises an indication of a vehicle elevation based on the position of the motor vehicle.

13. The system of claim 9, the processor further configured to:

generate a prompt that requests permission to store the vehicle position; and

receive a response to the prompt directing the mobile device to store the position of the motor vehicle.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the notification comprises a visual display of a position of the mobile device relative to the position of the motor vehicle.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of signals is weighted.

16. The system of claim 9, the processor further configured to determine the motor vehicle is parked.

17. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

generating a probability that a motor vehicle is parked based on at least a first GPS signal and a disconnect signal, wherein the first GPS signal and the disconnect signal are received by a mobile device that was connected to the infotainment system of a motor vehicle;

determining that the motor vehicle is parked based on the probability;

determining a position of the motor vehicle based on the first GPS signal;

determining, based on a second GPS signal, that the mobile device is a threshold distance away from the position of the motor vehicle at a first time reference;

storing an indication of the position of the motor vehicle;

determining, based on a third GPS signal, that the mobile device is proximal to the position of the motor vehicle at a second time reference; and

providing a representation of the position of the motor vehicle relative to the mobile device based on the first GPS signal and the third GPS signal.