PARKING SPACE MANAGEMENT

• US 20170229017A1
• Filed: 07/10/2015
• Published: 08/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: BARTSCH, Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 10,032,377 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/144 on portable or mobile units, e.g. personal digital assistant [PDA]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/147 where the parking area is within an open public zone, e.g. city centre
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/168 Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

Based on the interaction between a mobile end device and a parked vehicle, it is determined whether a parked car will soon exit a parking space within a period of time. A report is selectively sent to a server in accordance with the determination. The report indicates the imminent exit of the motor vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for indicating an imminent exit from a parking space by a parked motor vehicle, the method comprising:

determining a movement profile of a mobile terminal device, where the movement profile comprises a time-averaged direction of movement of the mobile terminal device;

checking, based on an interaction between the mobile terminal device and the parked motor vehicle and based on the movement profile of the mobile terminal device, whether an exit from a parking space by the motor vehicle is prospectively imminent within a time period; and

selectively dispatching a message to a server depending on the check, indicating the imminent exit from the parking space.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a distance between the motor vehicle and the mobile terminal device during the interaction between the mobile terminal device and the parked motor vehicle, wherein the check comprises;

performing a threshold value comparison between the determined distance and a predefined threshold value,

wherein the dispatch of the message is performed selectively depending on the threshold value comparison.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transferring a position of the motor vehicle and/or a position of the mobile terminal device between the motor vehicle and the mobile terminal device during the interaction between the mobile terminal device and the parked motor vehicle,

wherein the determination of the movement profile of the mobile terminal device takes place relatively with reference to the position of the parked motor vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a control message between the mobile terminal device and the motor vehicle during the interaction between the mobile terminal device and the parked motor vehicle, wherein the control message indicates an operating condition of a motor vehicle component.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

defining the time period based on a distance between the parked motor vehicle and a further motor vehicle searching for a parking space.

3. (canceled)

7. A device configured to indicate an imminent exit from a parking space by a parked motor vehicle, the device comprising:

a processing unit configured to check whether an exit from a parking space by the motor vehicle is prospectively imminent within a time period based on an interaction between a mobile terminal device and the parked motor vehicle and based on a movement profile of the mobile terminal device, wherein the movement profile comprises a time-averaged direction of movement of the mobile terminal device, and

an interface configured to dispatch a message selectively to a server depending on the check, wherein the message indicates the imminent exit from the parking space.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the device is configured to carry out a method comprising:

determining the movement profile of the mobile terminal device, where the movement profile comprises the time-averaged direction of movement of the mobile terminal device;

checking, based on the interaction between the mobile terminal device and the parked motor vehicle and based on the movement profile of the mobile terminal device, whether the exit from the parking space by the motor vehicle is prospectively imminent within the time period; and

selectively dispatching the message to the server depending on the check, indicating the imminent exit from the parking space.

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)