Estimating Parking Space Occupancy Using Radio-Frequency Identification

• US 20120092189A1
• Filed: 10/15/2010
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: Federal Signal Corporation
• Inventors: Jordan, Dwight
• Granted Patent: US 8,754,783 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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

at least one RFID tag positioned at the parking space;

wherein the RFID reader interrogates the RFID tag;

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

wherein the RFID reader determines that the parking space is occupied when the RFID reader fails to receive the response from the RFID tag.

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

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

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of RFID tags positioned at the parking space.

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

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the RFID reader indicates an error when the RFID tag fails to respond within a given period of time.

7. A parking garage, comprising:

a plurality of parking spaces;

at least one RFID reader;

at least one antenna coupled to the RFID reader; and

at least one RFID tag positioned in one of the parking spaces;

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

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

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 tag.

8. The parking garage of claim 7, wherein the RFID reader periodically interrogates the RFID tag.

9. The parking garage of claim 7, wherein the RFID tag is embedded in a floor of the parking garage.

10. The parking garage of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of RFID tags positioned at each of the parking spaces.

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

12. The parking garage of claim 7, wherein the RFID reader indicates an error when the RFID tag fails to respond within a given period of time.

13. A method for determining an occupancy of a parking space within a parking garage, the method comprising:

interrogating an RFID tag located at the parking space;

determining that the parking space is unoccupied when a response from the RFID tag is received; and

determining that that the parking space is occupied when the response from the RFID tag is not received.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising periodically interrogating the RFID tag.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising embedding the RFID tag into a floor of the parking space.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising locating a plurality of RFID tags at the parking space.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising allowing a vehicle positioned in the parking space to obscure communication with the RFID tag when the parking space is occupied.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising indicating an error when the RFID tag fails to respond within a given period of time.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising calculating the occupancy of the parking garage based on whether or not the parking space is occupied.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising reporting the occupancy of the parking garage.