Methods and systems for tracking a vehicle's position using a plurality of light sensors
First Claim
1. A method of tracking a vehicle'"'"'s position within a parking area using a plurality of light sensors, the method comprising:
- assigning a vehicle identifier to the vehicle upon entry of the vehicle into the parking area, wherein the parking area is monitored by the plurality of light sensors;
providing, by a tracker computing device to a first of the plurality of light sensors, the vehicle identifier;
when the vehicle is parked in a parking spot within the parking area, receiving, by the tracker computing device from a second of the plurality of light sensors, information indicative of the parking spot where the vehicle is parked within the parking area, andafter the vehicle is parked in the parking spot;
receiving, by the tracker computing device from a user of the vehicle, the vehicle identifier;
determining, by the tracker computing device, based on the vehicle identifier, the parking spot where the vehicle is parked within the parking area; and
providing to the user, by the tracker computing device, output indicative of the determined parking spot where the vehicle is parked.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided herein for tracking vehicles'"'"' locations within a parking area. A vehicle identifier may be assigned to a vehicle entering the parking area. A plurality of light sensors may be employed in the parking area to guide the vehicle to an unoccupied parking spot and/or to determine where the vehicle is ultimately parked. In some embodiments, the plurality of light sensors may each be configured to receive and retransmit locally, e.g., to neighboring light sensors, the vehicle identifier on detection of physical presence of the vehicle. In this manner, the vehicle identifier “travels” with the vehicle among the plurality of light sensors to the vehicle'"'"'s final parking spot. A driver later reclaiming a vehicle may provide a vehicle identifier to a parking kiosk, which may provide output indicative of the vehicle'"'"'s location in the parking area.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of tracking a vehicle'"'"'s position within a parking area using a plurality of light sensors, the method comprising:
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assigning a vehicle identifier to the vehicle upon entry of the vehicle into the parking area, wherein the parking area is monitored by the plurality of light sensors; providing, by a tracker computing device to a first of the plurality of light sensors, the vehicle identifier; when the vehicle is parked in a parking spot within the parking area, receiving, by the tracker computing device from a second of the plurality of light sensors, information indicative of the parking spot where the vehicle is parked within the parking area, and after the vehicle is parked in the parking spot; receiving, by the tracker computing device from a user of the vehicle, the vehicle identifier; determining, by the tracker computing device, based on the vehicle identifier, the parking spot where the vehicle is parked within the parking area; and providing to the user, by the tracker computing device, output indicative of the determined parking spot where the vehicle is parked. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A first light sensor for use in tracking a vehicle'"'"'s position in a parking area, comprising:
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a light-sensing module configured to detect physical presence of a vehicle; a communication interface; and a tracking module coupled with the light-sensing module and the communication interface and configured to; receive, over the communication interface, a vehicle identifier assigned to a vehicle; and provide, over the communication interface, the vehicle identifier to one or more others of a plurality of light sensors used to track the vehicle'"'"'s position within the parking area responsive to detection of the physical presence of the vehicle by the first light sensor, wherein the tracking module is configured to receive, over the communication interface, the vehicle identifier from one or more neighboring light sensors of the plurality of light sensors on detection by the one or more neighboring light sensors of physical presence of the vehicle, wherein the tracking module is further configured to provide, to the one or more others of the plurality of light sensors in response to receiving the vehicle identifier from the one or more neighboring light sensors more than a predetermined number of times, an announcement that a passing object is a vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A vehicle position tracking system, comprising:
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a tracker computing device; and a plurality of light sensors in communication with the tracker computing device to monitor a parking area for physical presence of vehicles; wherein the tracker computing device is configured to; assign a vehicle identifier to a given vehicle on passage of the given vehicle through an entry into the parking area; provide, to a first of the plurality of light sensors, the vehicle identifier; when the given vehicle is parked in a parking spot within the parking area, receive, from a second of the plurality of light sensors, information indicative of the parking spot where the given vehicle is parked within the parking area and, after the given vehicle is parked in the parking spot; receive from a user of the given vehicle, the vehicle identifier; determine, based on the vehicle identifier, the parking spot where the given vehicle is parked within the parking area; and provide to the user output indicative of the determined parking spot where the given vehicle is parked.
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Specification