Zone controller

• US 8,830,088 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2013
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TCS International, Inc. (Q-Free ASA)
• Original Assignee: TCS International, Inc. (Q-Free ASA)
• Inventors: Hod, Arie, Wirt, Valerie
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US13/755,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20140169134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: 340/932.2, 340/933, 340/943, 705/13, 367/93, 367/95
• US Class Current: 340/932.2
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/04 Systems determining presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2015/932 for parking operations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52004 Means for monitoring or calibrating short-range imaging G01S7/5205
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/04 using optical or ultrasonic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/146 where the parking area is a limited parking space, e.g. parking garage, restricted space

Abstract

A method includes transmitting a measurement command from a controller to an occupancy sensor with an address that corresponds to an occupancy sensor identifier. The measurement command causes the occupancy sensor to transmit an ultrasonic signal into a parking space, receive echo signals reflected back to the occupancy sensor, and determine, based on the echo signals, whether the associated parking space is occupied or empty. The method includes subsequently sending a status check to the occupancy sensor and receiving a response that includes the occupancy sensor'"'"'s determination as to whether the associated parking space is occupied or empty. The method also includes calibrating the occupancy sensors from the controller.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

transmitting a measurement command from a computer-based controller to a selected one of a plurality of occupancy sensors, wherein the selected one of the occupancy sensors has an address that corresponds to an address in an occupancy sensor identifier,

wherein the measurement command is adapted to cause the occupancy sensor to transmit an ultrasonic signal into an associated one of a plurality of monitored parking spaces in a parking facility, receive a plurality of echo signals reflected back to the occupancy sensor from surfaces in or around the associated parking space, and determine, based on the plurality of echo signals received, whether the associated parking space is occupied or empty;

after transmitting the measurement command, sending a status check to the occupancy sensor from the computer-based controller; and

receiving a response to the status check at the computer-based controller, wherein the response includes the occupancy sensor'"'"'s determination as to whether the associated parking space is occupied or empty.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

advancing the address in the occupancy sensor identifier, and

returning to the transmitting step in claim 1.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after transmitting the measurement command, setting an indication at the computer-based controller that no additional measurement commands need to be transmitted to the occupancy sensor.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

storing the received response in a computer-based memory for subsequent access and retrieval by a personal computer or electronic parking sign.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

storing an indication in the computer-based memory that an occupancy status associated with the associated parking space has changed from an earlier status of either occupied or empty if the response to the measurement command indicates that the change has occurred,

wherein the personal computer or electronic parking sign assesses whether there has been any such changes by reviewing the stored indications of changes in the computer-based memory, before retrieving any new data from the computer-based controller related to the associated paring space.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising calibrating one or more of the occupancy sensors from the computer-based controller, wherein calibrating comprises:

transmitting a measurement for calibration purposes command from the computer-based controller to one of the occupancy sensors having an address that corresponds to an address in an occupancy sensor identifier,

wherein the measurement for calibration purposes command is adapted to cause the occupancy sensor to transmit an ultrasonic calibration signal into an associated one of the plurality of monitored parking spaces in the parking facility, receive a plurality of resulting echo signals reflected back to the occupancy sensor from surfaces in or around the associated parking space, and determine, based on the plurality of resulting echo signals received, a calibration measurement value that corresponds to the associated parking space having a particular status;

starting a timer to count off a predetermined amount of time;

if the computer-based controller has received a response to the measurement for calibration purposes command from the occupancy sensor within the predetermined amount of time, storing the response in a computer-based memory;

otherwise, if the computer-based controller has not yet received the response to the measurement for calibration purposes command from the occupancy sensor within the predetermined amount of time, setting an indication in the computer-based memory that a calibration error has occurred for the occupancy sensor.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the particular status of the associated parking space is empty.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving the response to the measurement for calibration purposes command from the occupancy sensor within the predetermined amount of time; and

after receiving the response, determining whether a sufficient number of calibration measurements have been obtained for the occupancy sensor that corresponds to the associated parking space,

wherein the sufficient number of calibration measurements is some number greater than one.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

if it is determined that an insufficient number of calibration measurements have not obtained for the occupancy sensor that corresponds to the associated parking space, then advancing a counter that keeps track of the number of calibration measurements that have been taken for a particular occupancy sensor, and returning to the transmitting a measurement for calibration purposes command step of claim 6.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

if it is determined that the number of calibration measurements obtained for the occupancy sensor of the associated parking space is sufficient, then calculating a baseline calibration value.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein calculating the baseline calibration value comprises:

determining which calibration measurement value appeared most among the number of calibration measurements for the occupancy sensor of the associated parking space.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

calculating a quality indicator associated with the baseline calibration value.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein calculating the quality indicator comprises:

assigning a grade to the baseline calibration value based on how many of the calibration measurement values were the same as the baseline echo measurement value.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

calculating a baseline calibration value by determining which calibration measurement value appeared most among the number of calibration measurements for the occupancy sensor of the associated parking space; and

calculating a quality indicator associated with the baseline calibration value by assigning a grade to the baseline calibration value based on how many of the calibration measurement values were the same as the baseline echo measurement value; and

transmitting the baseline calibration value and the quality indicator to the occupancy sensor of the associated parking space.

15. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

after receiving a response to each of a plurality of measurement for calibration purposes commands from the occupancy sensor, advancing an address in the occupancy sensor identifier and returning to the transmitting a measurement for calibration purposes command step in claim 6.

16. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

prior to the transmitting step, sending a broadcast command to all of the occupancy sensors that are coupled to the computer-based controller, to react in a manner that a human operator can recognize.

17. A controller for a parking space occupancy monitoring system, the controller comprising:

a computer-based processor; and

a computer-based memory coupled to the computer-based processor, wherein the computer-based processor is configured to;

transmit a measurement command from the controller to a selected one of a plurality of occupancy sensors, wherein the selected occupancy sensor has an address that corresponds to an address in an occupancy sensor identifier,

wherein the measurement command is adapted to cause the occupancy sensor to transmit an ultrasonic signal into an associated one of a plurality of monitored parking spaces in a parking facility, receive a plurality of echo signals reflected back to the occupancy sensor from surfaces in or around the associated parking space, and determine, based on the plurality of echo signals received, whether the associated parking space is occupied or empty;

after transmitting the measurement command, send a status check to the occupancy sensor from the controller; and

receive a response to the status check at the controller, wherein the response includes the occupancy sensor'"'"'s determination as to whether the associated parking space is occupied or empty.

18. The controller of claim 17, wherein the computer-based processor is further adapted to calibrate one or more of the plurality of occupancy sensors, wherein the calibration process comprises:

transmitting a measurement for calibration purposes command from the controller to a particular one of the occupancy sensors, wherein the particular occupancy sensor has an address that corresponds to an address in the occupancy sensor identifier,

wherein the measurement for calibration purposes command is adapted to cause the occupancy sensor to transmit an ultrasonic calibration signal into an associated one of the plurality of monitored parking spaces in the parking facility, receive a plurality of resulting echo signals reflected back to the occupancy sensor from surfaces in or around the associated parking space, and determine, based on the plurality of resulting echo signals received, a calibration measurement value that corresponds to the associated parking space having a particular status;

starting a timer to count off a predetermined amount of time;

if the computer-based controller has received a response to the measurement for calibration purposes command from the occupancy sensor within the predetermined amount of time, storing the response in a computer-based memory;

otherwise, if the computer-based controller has not yet received the response to the measurement for calibration purposes command from the occupancy sensor within the predetermined amount of time, setting an indication in the computer-based memory that a calibration error has occurred for the occupancy sensor.

19. A method comprising:

transmitting a measurement for calibration purposes command from a computer-based controller to one of a plurality of occupancy sensors having an address that corresponds to an address in an occupancy sensor identifier,

wherein the measurement for calibration purposes command is adapted to cause the occupancy sensor to transmit an ultrasonic signal into an associated one of the plurality of monitored parking spaces in the parking facility, receive a plurality of resulting echo signals reflected back to the occupancy sensor from surfaces in or around the associated parking space, and determine, based on the plurality of resulting echo signals received, a calibration measurement value that corresponds to the associated parking space having a particular status;

starting a timer to count off a predetermined amount of time;

if the computer-based controller has received a response to the measurement for calibration purposes command from the occupancy sensor within the predetermined amount of time, storing the response in a computer-based memory;

otherwise, if the computer-based controller has not yet received the response to the measurement for calibration purposes command from the occupancy sensor within the predetermined amount of time, setting an indication in the computer-based memory that a calibration error has occurred for the occupancy sensor.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the particular status of the associated parking space is empty.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving the response to the measurement for calibration purposes command from the occupancy sensor within the predetermined amount of time; and

after receiving the response, determining whether a sufficient number of calibration measurements have been obtained for the occupancy sensor that corresponds to the associated parking space,

wherein the sufficient number of calibration measurements is some number greater than one.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

if it is determined that an insufficient number of calibration measurements have not obtained for the occupancy sensor that corresponds to the associated parking space, then advancing a counter that keeps track of the number of calibration measurements that have been taken for a particular occupancy sensor, and returning to the transmitting a measurement for calibration purposes command step of claim 6.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

if it is determined that the number of calibration measurements obtained for the occupancy sensor of the associated parking space is sufficient, then calculating a baseline calibration value.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein calculating the baseline calibration value comprises:

determining which calibration measurement value appeared most among the number of calibration measurements for the occupancy sensor of the associated parking space.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein calculating the quality indicator comprises:

assigning a grade to the baseline calibration value based on how many of the calibration measurement values were the same as the baseline echo measurement value.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

calculating a quality indicator associated with the baseline calibration value.

27. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

calculating a baseline calibration value by determining which calibration measurement value appeared most among the number of calibration measurements for the occupancy sensor of the associated parking space; and

calculating a quality indicator associated with the baseline calibration value by assigning a grade to the baseline calibration value based on how many of the calibration measurement values were the same as the baseline echo measurement value; and

transmitting the baseline calibration value and the quality indicator to the occupancy sensor of the associated parking space.

28. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

after receiving a response to each of a plurality of measurement for calibration purposes commands from the occupancy sensor, advancing an address in the occupancy sensor identifier and returning to the transmitting a measurement for calibration purposes command step in claim 6.

29. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

prior to the transmitting step, sending a broadcast command to all of the occupancy sensors that are coupled to the computer-based controller, to react in a manner that a human operator can recognize.

30. A controller for a parking space occupancy monitoring system, the controller comprising:

a computer-based processor; and

a computer-based memory coupled to the computer-based processor, wherein the computer-based processor is configured to;

transmit a measurement for calibration purposes command from a computer-based controller to one of a plurality of occupancy sensors having an address that corresponds to an address in an occupancy sensor identifier,

wherein the measurement for calibration purposes command is adapted to cause the occupancy sensor to transmit an ultrasonic signal into an associated one of the plurality of monitored parking spaces in the parking facility, receive a plurality of resulting echo signals reflected back to the occupancy sensor from surfaces in or around the associated parking space, and determine, based on the plurality of resulting echo signals received, a calibration measurement value that corresponds to the associated parking space having a particular status;

start a timer to count off a predetermined amount of time;

if the computer-based controller has received a response to the measurement for calibration purposes command from the occupancy sensor within the predetermined amount of time, store the response in a computer-based memory;

otherwise, if the computer-based controller has not yet received the response to the measurement for calibration purposes command from the occupancy sensor within the predetermined amount of time, set an indication in the computer-based memory that a calibration error has occurred for the occupancy sensor.