Prediction of free parking spaces in a parking area

• US 9,275,547 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2013
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bahgat, Mohamed A., Emam, Ossama S., Hanafy, Ayman S., Noeman, Sara A.
• Primary Examiner(s): McNally, Kerri
• Application Number:
  US14/075,626
• Publication Number:
  US 20150130638A1
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.72, 340/539.13, 340/441, 340/692, 340/932.2, 340/943
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 7/01 Probabilistic graphical models, e.g. probabilistic networks
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0175 by photographing vehicles, e.g. when violating traffic rules
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/14 indicating individual free spaces in parking areas
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/146 where the parking area is a limited parking space, e.g. parking garage, restricted space

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a computer implemented method, computer program product, and system for management of parking spaces in a parking area. Identifying an individual entering a parking area and a vehicle in the parking area that corresponds to the identified individual. Determining a distance between the identified individual and the identified vehicle in the parking area. Determining whether the identified individual is moving toward the identified vehicle. Responsive to determining that the identified individual is moving toward the identified vehicle, determining whether the determined distance is less than an associated distance threshold condition. In another embodiment, detecting a parking ticket entering the parking area and identifying an individual and a vehicle in the parking area that correspond to the detected parking ticket.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for management of parking spaces in a parking area carried out by one or more processors, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying an individual entering a parking area and a vehicle in the parking area that corresponds to the identified individual, wherein the individual is identified utilizing images and video received from cameras located in the parking area;

determining a distance between the identified individual and the identified vehicle in the parking area;

determining whether the identified individual is moving toward the identified vehicle based on monitored movement of the identified individual in the parking area;

responsive to determining that the identified individual is moving toward the identified vehicle, determining whether the determined distance is less than an associated distance threshold condition;

responsive to determining that the determined distance is less than the associated distance threshold condition, providing an indication that the parking space of the identified vehicle is ready to be free based on one or more of;

a number of passengers of the identified vehicle that have arrived at the parking space of the identified vehicle, a number of passengers of the identified vehicle that are moving toward the parking space of the identified vehicle, and a statistical model associated with the identified vehicle; and

wherein the statistical model provides a probability of a departure time of a vehicle from the parking area relative to the arrival time of the vehicle to the parking area.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the step of identifying the individual entering the parking area and the vehicle in the parking area that corresponds to the identified individual, further comprises the steps of:

detecting a parking ticket entering the parking area; and

identifying an individual and a vehicle in the parking area that correspond to the detected parking ticket,

wherein the parking ticket is associated with a vehicle currently parked in the parking area.

3. The method in accordance with claim 2, wherein the step of detecting the parking ticket entering the parking area further comprises the step of detecting the parking ticket entering the parking area utilizing sensors located in the parking area.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether the identified individual is moving toward the identified vehicle, further comprises the steps of:

monitoring movement of the identified individual in the parking area; and

determining whether the determined distance between the identified individual and the identified vehicle in the parking area is decreasing.

5. The method in accordance with claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the detected parking ticket requires a fee to be paid; and

responsive to receiving an indication that the required fee has been paid, providing an indication that the parking space of the identified vehicle is ready to be free.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of:

responsive to determining that the determined distance is not less than the associated distance threshold condition, determining an updated distance between the identified individual and the identified vehicle in the parking area.

7. A computer program product for management of parking spaces in a parking area, the computer program product comprising:

one or more computer-readable hardware storage devices and program instructions stored on the one or more computer-readable hardware storage devices, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to identify an individual entering a parking area and a vehicle in the parking area that corresponds to the identified individual, wherein the individual is identified utilizing images and video received from cameras located in the parking area;

program instructions to determine a distance between the identified individual and the identified vehicle in the parking area;

program instructions to determine whether the identified individual is moving toward the identified vehicle based on monitored movement of the identified individual in the parking area;

responsive to determining that the identified individual is moving toward the identified vehicle, program instructions to determine whether the determined distance is less than an associated distance threshold condition;

responsive to determining that the determined distance is less than the associated distance threshold condition, program instructions to provide an indication that the parking space of the identified vehicle is ready to be free based on one or more of;

a number of passengers of the identified vehicle that have arrived at the parking space of the identified vehicle, a number of passengers of the identified vehicle that are moving toward the parking space of the identified vehicle, and a statistical model associated with the identified vehicle,

wherein the statistical model provides a probability of a departure time of a vehicle from the parking area relative to the arrival time of the vehicle to the parking area.

8. The computer program product in accordance with claim 7, wherein program instructions to identify the individual entering the parking area and the vehicle in the parking area that corresponds to the identified individual further comprise program instructions to:

detect a parking ticket entering the parking area; and

identify an individual and a vehicle in the parking area that correspond to the detected parking ticket,

wherein the parking ticket is associated with a vehicle currently parked in the parking area.

9. The computer program product in accordance with claim 7, wherein program instructions to determine whether the identified individual is moving toward the identified vehicle further comprise program instructions to:

monitor movement of the identified individual in the parking area; and

determine whether the determined distance between the identified individual and the identified vehicle in the parking area is decreasing.

10. The computer program product in accordance with claim 8, further comprising program instructions, stored on the one or more computer-readable hardware storage devices, to:

determine whether the detected parking ticket requires a fee to be paid; and

responsive to receiving an indication that the required fee has been paid, provide an indication that the parking space of the identified vehicle is ready to be free.

11. The computer program product in accordance with claim 7, further comprising program instructions, stored on the one or more computer-readable hardware storage devices, to:

responsive to determining that the determined distance is not less than the associated distance threshold condition, determine an updated distance between the identified individual and the identified vehicle in the parking area.

12. A computer system for management of parking spaces in a parking area, the computer system comprising:

one or more computer processors;

one or more computer-readable hardware storage devices; and

program instructions stored on the one or more computer-readable hardware storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to identify an individual entering a parking area and a vehicle in the parking area that corresponds to the identified individual, wherein the individual is identified utilizing images and video received from cameras located in the parking area;

program instructions to determine a distance between the identified individual and the identified vehicle in the parking area;

program instructions to determine whether the identified individual is moving toward the identified vehicle based on monitored movement of the identified individual in the parking area;

responsive to determining that the identified individual is moving toward the identified vehicle, program instructions to determine whether the determined distance is less than an associated distance threshold condition;

responsive to determining that the determined distance is less than the associated distance threshold condition, program instructions to provide an indication that the parking space of the identified vehicle is ready to be free based on one or more of;

a number of passengers of the identified vehicle that have arrived at the parking space of the identified vehicle, a number of passengers of the identified vehicle that are moving toward the parking space of the identified vehicle, and a statistical model associated with the identified vehicle,

wherein the statistical model provides a probability of a departure time of a vehicle from the parking area relative to the arrival time of the vehicle to the parking area.

13. The computer system in accordance with claim 12, wherein the program instructions to identify the individual entering the parking area and the vehicle in the parking area that corresponds to the identified individual comprise program instructions to:

detect a parking ticket entering the parking area; and

identify an individual and a vehicle in the parking area that correspond to the detected parking ticket,

wherein the parking ticket is associated with a vehicle currently parked in the parking area.

14. The computer system in accordance with claim 12, wherein the program instructions to determine whether the identified individual is moving toward the identified vehicle comprise program instructions to:

monitor movement of the identified individual in the parking area; and

determine whether the determined distance between the identified individual and the identified vehicle in the parking area is decreasing.

15. The computer system in accordance with claim 13, further comprising program instructions to:

determine whether the detected parking ticket requires a fee to be paid; and

responsive to receiving an indication that the required fee has been paid, provide an indication that the parking space of the identified vehicle is ready to be free.

16. The computer system in accordance with claim 12, further comprising program instructions to:

responsive to determining that the determined distance is not less than the associated distance threshold condition, determine an updated distance between the identified individual and the identified vehicle in the parking area.