Parking space locator

• US 7,834,778 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2005
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Browne, Alan L., Altan, Osman D., Rheaume, Douglas P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland; Donnie L
• Application Number:
  US11/207,514
• Publication Number:
  US 20070040701A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,915 Days
• Field of Search: 340/932.2
• US Class Current: 340/932.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/14 indicating individual free spaces in parking areas
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/143 inside the vehicles

Abstract

A method for identifying available parking spaces. The method includes receiving data about a parking space from a vehicle, the data including a geographic indicator associated with the parking space. The data is stored in a database of available parking spaces. A geographic location is received from a parking space requestor. The database is searched for an available parking space within a proximity of the geographic location. If an available parking space within a proximity of the geographic location is located in the database, a geographic indicator associated with the available parking space is transmitted to the parking space requester.

Claims

1. A method for identifying available parking spaces, the method comprising:

receiving data about a parking space from a first vehicle, the data including a geographic indicator associated with the parking space;

storing the data in a database of available parking spaces;

receiving a geographic location from a parking space requestor of a second vehicle;

searching the database for an available parking space within a proximity of the geographic location; and

if an available parking space within a proximity of the geographic location is located in the database, determining a parking rule associated with the available parking space and transmitting a geographic indicator associated with the available parking space and the parking rule to the parking space requestor.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the storing includes using mapping software to verify that the parking space is a valid parking space and storing the data in the database if the parking space is a valid parking space.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the parking space is a parking space without signage.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the parking space is a parking space with signage.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising using mapping software and the geographic indicator associated with the available parking space to determine the parking rule associated with the available parking space.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising communicating a possible current violation or imminent violation of the parking rule to the parking space requestor.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving information about a planned length of stay from the parking space requestor;

and using mapping software and the geographic indicator associated with the available parking space to determine a maximum length of stay for the available parking space, wherein the transmitting is performed if the maximum length of stay is greater than the planned length of stay.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting maps associated with the available parking space to the requestor.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the data is received from one or more of a vehicle occupant, a sensor, a radar and a camera located on the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the data is also received from one or more of a sensor and a camera located on a traffic device.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the data is also received from one or more of a parking garage system and a satellite based visioning system.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the data is received automatically in response to a vehicle exiting or entering a parking space.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein one or more of the parking spaces in the database are included in an advertisement.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising reserving the available parking space for the requestor.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein one or more of the parking spaces in the database are predicted to be available in the future and the method further comprises facilitating a bidding process for the parking spaces that will be available in the future.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the parking space requestor is charged a fee for the locating the available parking space.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the vehicle is provided a credit for the data about a parking space.

18. A method for determining rules associated with a parking space, the method comprising:

receiving a geographic location from a requestor vehicle;

using mapping software to determine a parking rule associated with the geographic location; and

transmitting the parking rule to the requestor vehicle.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the parking rule relates to a geographic locale.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the geographic location is a geographic locale and the parking rule includes suggested parking locations in the geographic locale.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the parking rule relates to a parking space.

22. The method of claim 18 further comprising communicating a possible current violation or imminent violation of the parking rule to the parking space requestor.

23. A system for identifying available parking spaces, the system comprising:

a storage medium for storing a database of available parking spaces; and

a control unit in communication with the storage medium and including instructions for facilitating;

receiving data about a parking space from a first vehicle, the data including a geographic indicator associated with the parking space;

storing the data in the database;

receiving a geographic location from a parking space requestor of a second vehicle;

searching the database for an available parking space within a proximity of the geographic location; and

if an available parking space within a proximity of the geographic location is located in the database, determining a parking rule associated with the available parking space and transmitting a geographic indicator associated with the available parking space and the parking rule to the parking space requestor.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the storage medium and the control unit are located on the second vehicle and the parking space requestor is an occupant of the second vehicle.

25. The system of claim 23 further comprising a network in communication with the control unit, wherein the geographic location is received via the network and the geographic identifier is transmitted via the network.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the network is a wireless fidelity network.

27. A computer program product for identifying available parking spaces, the computer program product comprising:

a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method, the method including;

receiving data about a parking space from a first vehicle, the data including a geographic indicator associated with the parking space;

storing the data in a database of available parking spaces;

receiving a geographic location from a parking space requestor of a second vehicle;

searching the database for an available parking space within a proximity of the geographic location; and

if an available parking space within a proximity of the geographic location is located in the database, determining a parking rule associated with the parking space and transmitting a geographic indicator associated with the available parking space and the parking rule to the parking space requestor.