System and method for automated parking

• US 6,646,568 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2001
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kumhyr, David Bruce, MacPhail, Margaret Gardner
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T.
• Application Number:
  US09/964,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20030058081A1
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 340/932.2, 340/905, 340/928, 340/995, 340/937, 340/933, 340/904, 340/991
• US Class Current: 340/932.2
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/04 comprising devices to free a barrier, turnstile, or the like turnstiles with registering means G07C9/10; coin-freed aspects G07F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/14 indicating individual free spaces in parking areas

Abstract

A parking control system is disclosed. The parking control system comprises a plurality of vehicles. A portion of the plurality of vehicles occupies parking spaces in a parking lot. At least one of the vehicles is attempting to park in a parking space of the parking lot. At least one of the plurality of vehicles is capable of a two-way communication. The parking control system also includes a parking controller. The parking controller receives and provides information to the plurality of vehicles. The parking controller can communicate the most appropriate parking space to the vehicle that is attempting to park. In a method and system in accordance with the present invention, a parking controller monitors a parking lot and can be in direct contact with the vehicles. The parking controller receives and transmits information to and from the vehicles and allows for an overall view of the parking lot to be understood. Accordingly, through the use of the parking controller system, parking is controlled more accurately and automatically.

Claims

1. A parking control system comprising:

a plurality of vehicles, a portion of the plurality of vehicles occupying parking spaces in a parking lot;

at least one of the vehicles attempting to park in a parking space of the parking lot;

the at least one of the plurality of vehicles being capable of a two-way communication; and

a parking controller, the parking controller for receiving information from and providing information to the plurality of vehicles, wherein the parking controller can communicate the most appropriate parking space to the at least one vehicle, wherein the communications to the parking controller include roles and permissions which have been assigned to the vehicle, and wherein if the roles and permissions are violated, an appropriate action is taken by the parking control system.

2. The parking control system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle automatically sends information to the parking controller concerning location and vehicle information.

3. The parking control system of claim 2 wherein the vehicle includes a GPS location system, a voice communication system, and at least one vehicle operation system, wherein information concerning the vehicle operation can be communicated from any combination of the GPS location, the voice communication system and the vehicle information system.

4. The parking control system of claim 1 wherein the appropriate action could be any combination of rendering the at least one vehicle inoperative, notifying an agency or notifying an entity responsible for the at least one vehicle.

5. The parking control system of claim 1, wherein the parking controller determines the most appropriate parking space based at least in part on the communicated roles and permissions.

6. The parking control system of claim 5, wherein one of a plurality of different sets of roles and permissions is assigned to a vehicle based on current circumstances.

7. A The parking control system of claim 6, wherein the different sets of roles and permissions based on current circumstances include one set of roles and permissions that is assigned when a crime is being investigated, and another set of roles and permissions that is assigned when a crime is not being investigated.

8. The parking control system of claim 5, wherein different vehicles may have different roles and permissions from each other.

9. The parking control system of claim 8, wherein the different roles and permissions assigned to different vehicles is based on the use of the vehicle.

10. The parking control system of claim 9, wherein the use of the vehicle includes emergency services or law enforcement.

11. The parking control system of claim 8, wherein the different roles and permissions assigned to different vehicles is based on at least one characteristic of each vehicle.

12. The parking control system of claim 11 wherein the at least one characteristic includes the size of the vehicle, such that vehicles over a predetermined size do not have permission to park in parking spaces designated for compact vehicles.

13. The parking control system of claim 8 wherein the vehicle may park in a handicapped parking space designated for handicapped vehicle users if the vehicle has a permission to park in the handicapped parking space.

14. A method for controlling a vehicle by a parking control system, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) assigning roles and permission sets to the vehicle;

(b) communicating the roles and permission sets to the parking control system; and

(c) determining an appropriate parking space for the vehicle based upon the roles and permission sets, wherein if the roles and permissions sets are violated an appropriate action is taken by the parking control system.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the roles and permission sets are changeable based upon circumstances.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the vehicle includes a GPS locationsystem, a wireless communication system, and a vehicle information system, wherein information concerning the vehicle can be communicated from any combination of the GPS location, the voice communication system and the vehicle information system.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the vehicle can negotiate a permission based upon the GPS location system, the at least one vehicle operation system and the wireless communication system.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the appropriate action could be any combination of rendering the at least one vehicle inoperative, notifying an agency or notifying an entity responsible for the at least one vehicle.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein one of a plurality of different sets of rolesand permissions is assigned to the vehicle based on current circumstances.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the different sets of roles and permissions include one set of roles and permissions assigned when a crime is being investigated, and another set of roles and permissions assigned when a crime is not being investigated.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein different vehicles may have different roles and permissions from each other.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the different roles and permissions assigned to different vehicles is based on the use of the vehicle.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the use of the vehicle includes emergency services or law enforcement.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the different roles and permissions assigned to different vehicles is based on at least one characteristic of each vehicle.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the at least one characteristic includes the size of the vehicle, such that vehicles over a predetermined size do not have permission to park in parking spaces designated for compact vehicles.

26. The method of claim 21 wherein the vehicle may park in a handicapped parking space designated for handicapped vehicle users if the vehicle has a permission to park in the handicapped parking space.

27. A parking control system comprising:

a plurality of vehicles, a portion of the plurality of vehicles occupying parking spaces in a parking lot;

at least one of the vehicles attempting to park in a parking space of the parking lot;

the at least one of the plurality of vehicles being capable of a two-way communication; and

a parking controller, the parking controller including a plurality of participant objects, the parking controller for receiving and providing information to the plurality of vehicles, via at least one of the plurality participant objects, wherein the parking controller can communicate the most appropriate parking space to the at least one vehicle, wherein the communications to the parking controller includes roles and permissions which have been assigned to the at least one vehicle and wherein if the roles and permissions are violated an appropriate action is taken by the parking control system.

28. The parking control system of claim 27 wherein the vehicle automatically sends information to a participant object of the parking controller concerning location and vehicle information.

29. The parking control system of claim 28 wherein the vehicle includes a GPS location system, a voice communication system, and at least one vehicle operation system, wherein information concerning the vehicle operation can be communicated from any combination of the GPS location, the voice communication system and the vehicle information system.

30. The parking control system of claim 27 wherein the appropriate action could be any combination of rendering the at least one vehicle inoperative, notifying an agency or notifying an entity responsible for the at least one vehicle.

31. A method for controlling a vehicle by a parking control system, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) assigning roles and permission sets to the vehicle;

(b) communicating the roles and permission sets to a participant object of the parking control system; and

(c) determining an appropriate parking space for the vehicle based upon the roles and permission sets, wherein if the roles and permissions sets are violated an appropriate action is taken by the parking control system.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the roles and permission sets within the participant object are changeable based upon circumstances.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein the vehicle includes a GPS location system, a wireless communication system, and a vehicle information system, wherein information concerning the vehicle can be communicated from any combination of the GPS location, the voice communication system and the vehicle information system.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the vehicle can negotiate a permission based upon the GPS location system, the at least one vehicle operation system and the wireless communication system.

35. The method of claim 31 wherein the appropriate action could be any combination of rendering the at least one vehicle inoperative, notifying an agency or notifying an entity responsible for the at least one vehicle.

36. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for controlling a vehicle by a parking control system, the program instructions for:

(a) assigning roles and permission sets to the vehicle;

(b) communicating the roles and permission sets to the parking control system; and

(c) determining an appropriate parking space for the vehicle based upon the roles and permission sets, wherein if the roles and permissions sets are violated an appropriate action is taken by the parking control system.

37. A parking control system comprising:

a plurality of vehicles, a portion of the plurality of vehicles occupying parking spaces in a parking lot;

at least one of the vehicles attempting to park in a parking space of the parking lot;

the at least one of the plurality of vehicles being capable of a two-way communication; and

a parking controller, the parking controller for receiving and providing information to the plurality of vehicles, wherein the parking controller can communicate the most appropriate parking space to the at least one vehicle, wherein the communications to the parking controller from the vehicle includes roles and permissions assigned to the vehicle and wherein if the permission is violated an appropriate action is taken by the parking control system, wherein the roles and permissions set of the at least one vehicle is changeable based upon a specific circumstance.