Computer-implemented system and method for spontaneously identifying and directing users to available parking spaces

• US 9,087,453 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2013
• Issued: 07/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Conduent Business Services, LLC (Conduent, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center, Inc. (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Krivacic, Robert T., Hoover, Roger, Isaacs, Ellen, Glasnapp, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski, John R
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHITTINGTON, JESS G
• Application Number:
  US13/783,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20140249742A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/28 Databases characterised by their database models, e.g. relational or object models
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/14 indicating individual free spaces in parking areas

Abstract

A computer-implemented system and method for spontaneously identifying and directing motorists to available parking spaces is provided. Parking spaces are tracked to determine a status of each space. A destination of a user is received. At least one parking space is identified as available and near the destination of the user. An estimated arrival time of the user to the available parking space is determined. An arrival threshold is applied to the estimated arrival time of the user and a reservation offer for the available space is sent to the user when the estimated arrival time satisfies the arrival threshold.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented system for identifying available parking spaces, comprising:

a tracking module to track a status of parking spaces;

a destination receipt module to receive a destination of a user;

a parking identification module to determine one or more available parking spaces for the user, comprising;

a location module to locate parking spaces near the destination based on a distance threshold; and

a destination selection module to identify those parking spaces near the destination that are available;

a parking selection module to identify at least a portion of the available parking spaces for providing to the user, comprising;

a storage module to store a predetermined arrival threshold for each of the tracked parking spaces, wherein each arrival threshold comprises an amount of time that the associated parking space will be held for the user based on one or more of a popularity and cost of that parking space;

an arrival determination module to determine an estimated arrival time of the user to each of the available parking spaces;

a threshold application module to apply the arrival threshold associated with each of the available parking spaces to the estimated arrival time of the user to that available parking space;

a space selection module to select from all the available parking spaces, only those available parking spaces with arrival thresholds that are satisfied by the user'"'"'s estimated arrival time;

an offer module to send to the user, a reservation offer for each of the available parking spaces selected from all of the available parking spaces;

and a processor to execute the modules.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the arrival determination module determines the estimated arrival time, comprising:

a route identification module to identify a route from a location of the user to the destination and to obtain an initial;

estimated arrival time based on the identified route; and

an arrival adjustment module to adjust the initial estimated arrival time based on travel characteristics to determine the estimated arrival time.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the travel characteristics comprise at least one of travel route, traffic, distance, speed, speed limit, and detours.

4. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a reservation module to book a reservation for the available space when the user affirmatively replies to the reservation offer.

5. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

associating one or more parking preferences with the user, wherein the parking preferences include at least one of parking distance, type of parking, parking site, and fee.

6. A system according to claim 5, further comprising:

the parking identification module to identify a newly-available parking space;

a comparison module to compare characteristics of the newly-available parking space with the user preferences; and

the offer module to offer the newly-available parking space to the user when the newly-available parking space is more similar to the user preferences than the available parking space.

7. A system according to claim 6, further comprising:

a reservation module to receive a further reservation request from the user for the newly-available parking space; and

a reservation cancellation module to cancel the reservation of the available parking space.

8. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an availability module to determine an availability of at least one of the parking spaces based on at least one of a sensor, camera, payment data, and reservation data.

9. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display to display a status of the parking spaces via parking indicators comprising one or more of a digital notification via a user device and located on at least one of a parking device and parking kiosk.

10. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a direction module to provide directions to the available parking space.

11. A method for identifying available parking spaces, comprising the steps of:

tracking a status of parking spaces;

receiving a destination of the user;

determining one or more available parking spaces for the user, comprising;

locating parking spaces near the destination based on a distance threshold; and

identifying those parking spaces near the destination that are available;

identifying at least a portion of the available parking spaces for providing to the user, comprising;

storing a predetermined arrival threshold for each of the tracked parking spaces, wherein each arrival threshold comprises an amount of time that the associated parking space will be held for the user based on one or more of a popularity and cost of that parking space;

determining an estimated arrival time of the user to each of the available parking spaces;

applying the arrival threshold associated with each of the available parking spaces to the estimated arrival time of the user to that available parking space; and

selecting from all the available parking spaces, only those available parking spaces with arrival thresholds that are satisfied by the user'"'"'s estimated arrival time; and

sending to the user, a reservation offer for each of the available parking spaces selected from all of the available parking spaces,

wherein the steps are performed by a suitably-programmed computer.

12. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

determining the estimated arrival time, comprising;

identifying a route from a location of the user to the destination;

obtaining an initial estimated arrival time based on the identified route; and

adjusting the initial estimated arrival time based on travel characteristics to determine the estimated arrival time.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the travel characteristics comprise at least one of travel route, traffic, distance, speed, speed limit, and detours.

14. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

booking a reservation for the available space when the user affirmatively replies to the reservation offer.

15. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

associating one or more parking preferences with the user, wherein the parking preferences include at least one of parking distance, type of parking, parking site, and fee.

16. A method according to claim 15, further comprising:

identifying a newly-available parking space;

comparing characteristics of the newly-available parking space with the user preferences; and

offering the newly-available parking space to the user when the newly-available parking space is more similar to the user preferences than the available parking space.

17. A method according to claim 16, further comprising:

receiving a further reservation request from the user for the newly-available parking space; and

canceling the reservation of the available parking space.

18. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

determining an availability of at least one of the parking spaces based on at least one of a sensor, camera, payment data, and reservation data.

19. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

displaying a status of the parking spaces via parking indicators comprising one or more of a digital notification via a user device and located on at least one of a parking device and parking kiosk.

20. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

providing directions to the available parking space.