VEHICULAR PARKING ASSIST SYSTEM THAT DETERMINES A PARKING SPACE BASED IN PART ON PREVIOUSLY PARKED SPACES

• US 20190195647A1
• Filed: 03/04/2019
• Published: 06/27/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Johnson, Nathaniel S., VanOphem, Paul A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,718,624 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19647 Systems specially adapted for intrusion detection in or around a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19697 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/143 inside the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/147 where the parking area is within an open public zone, e.g. city centre
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

A vehicular parking assist system includes a location sensor disposed at a vehicle that at least in part determines a current geographical location of the vehicle. An ECU is disposed in the vehicle and stores a database of parking space locations where the vehicle has previously been parked. The vehicular parking assist system receives wireless communications from a remote server pertaining to parking spaces at or near the current geographical location of the vehicle. Responsive at least in part to (i) an output of the location sensor, (ii) the stored database of parking space locations where the vehicle has previously been parked and (iii) the received wireless communications from the remote server, the vehicular parking assist system determines a likelihood of finding an empty parking space at or near the current geographical location of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicular parking assist system, said vehicular parking assist system comprising:

a location sensor disposed at a vehicle equipped with said vehicular parking assist system, wherein said location sensor at least in part determines a current geographical location of the equipped vehicle;

an electronic control unit (ECU) disposed at the equipped vehicle;

wherein said ECU stores a database of parking space locations where the equipped vehicle has previously been parked;

wherein said vehicular parking assist system receives wireless communications from a remote server pertaining to parking spaces at or near the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle; and

wherein, responsive at least in part to at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) an output of said location sensor, (ii) the stored database of parking space locations where the equipped vehicle has previously been parked and (iii) the received wireless communications from the remote server, said vehicular parking assist system determines a likelihood of finding an empty parking space at or near the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle.

2. The vehicular parking assist system of claim 1, wherein said vehicular parking assist system ranks potential parking spaces in order of likely availability.

3. The vehicular parking assist system of claim 1, wherein said location sensor comprises a vision system of the equipped vehicle, the vision system comprising at least one camera having a field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle.

4. The vehicular parking assist system of claim 1, wherein said location sensor comprises a component of a global positioning system.

5. The vehicular parking assist system of claim 1, wherein said vehicular parking assist system receives wireless communications pertaining to parking behavior of other vehicles at or near the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle.

6. The vehicular parking assist system of claim 1, wherein said vehicular parking assist system receives wireless communications pertaining to prices for parking at parking spaces at or near the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle.

7. The vehicular parking assist system of claim 1, comprising a user input that is actuatable by an occupant of the equipped vehicle, and wherein, responsive to actuation of the user input, said vehicular parking assist system determines the likelihood of finding an empty parking space at or near the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle.

8. The vehicular parking assist system of claim 1, wherein said vehicular parking assist system provides a map of an area surrounding the equipped vehicle that highlights parking space locations where the equipped vehicle has previously been parked.

9. The vehicular parking assist system of claim 8, wherein said vehicular parking assist system receives wireless communications pertaining to locations of parking spaces where other vehicles have previously been parked.

10. The vehicular parking assist system of claim 9, wherein the provided map highlights the locations of parking spaces where other vehicles have previously been parked.

11. The vehicular parking assist system of claim 10, wherein the provided map highlights the parking space locations where the equipped vehicle has previously been parked differently than the highlighting of the locations of parking spaces where other vehicles have previously been parked.

12. The vehicular parking assist system of claim 10, wherein said vehicular parking assist system receives wireless communications pertaining to parking fees associated with the highlighted locations.

13. The vehicular parking assist system of claim 1, wherein said vehicular parking assist system transmits parking information pertaining to where the equipped vehicle has parked to a remote server for use by other vehicles.

14. The vehicular parking assist system of claim 1, wherein said vehicular parking assist system receives wireless communications pertaining to a density of parked vehicles in an area at or near the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said vehicular parking assist system determines the likelihood of finding an empty parking space in that area based at least in part on the wireless communications pertaining to the density of parked vehicles.

15. The vehicular parking assist system of claim 1, wherein said vehicular parking assist system determines the likelihood of finding an empty parking space at or near the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle responsive at least in part to at least two selected from the group consisting of (i) an output of said location sensor, (ii) the stored database of parking space locations where the equipped vehicle has previously been parked and (iii) the received wireless communications from the remote server.

16. The vehicular parking assist system of claim 1, wherein said vehicular parking assist system determines the likelihood of finding an empty parking space at or near the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle responsive at least in part to (i) an output of said location sensor, (ii) the stored database of parking space locations where the equipped vehicle has previously been parked and (iii) the received wireless communications from the remote server.

17. A vehicular parking assist system, said vehicular parking assist system comprising:

a location sensor disposed at a vehicle equipped with said vehicular parking assist system, wherein said location sensor at least in part determines a current geographical location of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said location sensor comprises one selected from the group consisting of (i) a vision system of the equipped vehicle, the vision system comprising at least one camera having a field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle, and (ii) a global positioning system;

an electronic control unit (ECU) disposed at the equipped vehicle;

wherein said ECU stores a database of parking space locations where the equipped vehicle has previously been parked;

wherein said vehicular parking assist system receives wireless communications from a remote server pertaining to parking spaces at or near the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle;

wherein, responsive at least in part to at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) an output of said location sensor, (ii) the stored database of parking space locations where the equipped vehicle has previously been parked and (iii) the received wireless communications from the remote server, said vehicular parking assist system determines a likelihood of finding an empty parking space at or near the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle; and

wherein said vehicular parking assist system ranks potential parking spaces in order of likely availability.

18. The vehicular parking assist system of claim 17, wherein said vehicular parking assist system receives wireless communications pertaining to parking behavior of other vehicles at or near the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle.

19. The vehicular parking assist system of claim 17, wherein said vehicular parking assist system receives wireless communications pertaining to prices for parking at parking spaces at or near the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle.

20. The vehicular parking assist system of claim 17, comprising a user input that is actuatable by an occupant of the equipped vehicle, and wherein, responsive to actuation of the user input, said vehicular parking assist system determines the likelihood of finding an empty parking space at or near the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle.

21. The vehicular parking assist system of claim 17, wherein said vehicular parking assist system provides a map of an area surrounding the equipped vehicle that highlights parking space locations where the equipped vehicle has previously been parked.

22. The vehicular parking assist system of claim 17, wherein said vehicular parking assist system determines the likelihood of finding an empty parking space at or near the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle responsive at least in part to at least two selected from the group consisting of (i) an output of said location sensor, (ii) the stored database of parking space locations where the equipped vehicle has previously been parked and (iii) the received wireless communications from the remote server.

23. The vehicular parking assist system of claim 17, wherein said vehicular parking assist system determines the likelihood of finding an empty parking space at or near the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle responsive at least in part to (i) an output of said location sensor, (ii) the stored database of parking space locations where the equipped vehicle has previously been parked and (iii) the received wireless communications from the remote server.

24. A vehicular parking assist system, said vehicular parking assist system comprising:

a location sensor disposed at a vehicle equipped with said vehicular parking assist system, wherein said location sensor at least in part determines a current geographical location of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said location sensor comprises one selected from the group consisting of (i) a vision system of the equipped vehicle, the vision system comprising at least one camera having a field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle, and (ii) a global positioning system;

an electronic control unit (ECU) disposed at the equipped vehicle;

wherein said ECU stores a database of parking space locations where the equipped vehicle has previously been parked;

wherein said vehicular parking assist system receives wireless communications from a remote server pertaining to parking spaces at or near the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle;

wherein, responsive at least in part to at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) an output of said location sensor, (ii) the stored database of parking space locations where the equipped vehicle has previously been parked and (iii) the received wireless communications from the remote server, said vehicular parking assist system determines a likelihood of finding an empty parking space at or near the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle; and

wherein said vehicular parking assist system transmits parking information pertaining to where the equipped vehicle has parked to a remote server for use by other vehicles.

25. The vehicular parking assist system of claim 24, wherein said vehicular parking assist system receives wireless communications pertaining to parking behavior of other vehicles at or near the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle.

26. The vehicular parking assist system of claim 24, wherein said vehicular parking assist system receives wireless communications pertaining to prices for parking at parking spaces at or near the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle.

27. The vehicular parking assist system of claim 24, comprising a user input that is actuatable by an occupant of the equipped vehicle, and wherein, responsive to actuation of the user input, said vehicular parking assist system determines the likelihood of finding an empty parking space at or near the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle.

28. The vehicular parking assist system of claim 24, wherein said vehicular parking assist system provides a map of an area surrounding the equipped vehicle that highlights parking space locations where the equipped vehicle has previously been parked.

29. The vehicular parking assist system of claim 24, wherein said vehicular parking assist system determines the likelihood of finding an empty parking space at or near the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle responsive at least in part to at least two selected from the group consisting of (i) an output of said location sensor, (ii) the stored database of parking space locations where the equipped vehicle has previously been parked and (iii) the received wireless communications from the remote server.

30. The vehicular parking assist system of claim 24, wherein said vehicular parking assist system determines the likelihood of finding an empty parking space at or near the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle responsive at least in part to (i) an output of said location sensor, (ii) the stored database of parking space locations where the equipped vehicle has previously been parked and (iii) the received wireless communications from the remote server.