Computer-implemented system and method for providing directions to available parking spaces via dynamic signs

• US 9,613,532 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2015
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Conduent Business Services, LLC (Conduent, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Conduent Business Services, LLC (Conduent, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smullin, Sylvia, Krivacic, Robert T.
• Primary Examiner(s): MCNALLY, KERRI L
• Application Number:
  US14/746,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20150287322A1
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 3409322
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3685 the POI's being parking facilities
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/142 external to the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/147 where the parking area is within an open public zone, e.g. city centre

Abstract

A computer-implemented system and method for providing directions to available parking spaces via dynamic signs is provided. A plurality of available parking spaces is determined. Two or more parking signs in a proximate location are identified. One sign is located prior to the other sign. At least one of the available parking spaces is selected from the plurality of parking spaces for providing directions via the identified signs. A direction of the available parking space is determined for each of the parking signs in relation to that parking sign. The direction of the available parking space from each parking sign is displayed on that parking sign.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented system for providing directions to available parking spaces via dynamic signs, comprising:

an availability server to determine a plurality of available parking spaces;

at least one parking server to identify two or more parking signs in proximate location, wherein one sign is located prior to the other sign, select at least one of the available parking spaces from the plurality of parking spaces for providing directions via the identified signs, and determine for each parking sign, a direction of the available parking space in relation to that parking sign; and

a display module to display on each of the parking signs the direction of the available parking space from that parking sign.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the parking server selects the at least one available parking space from the plurality of parking spaces based on one or more of cost, distance, location, duration, and quantity.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the directions are displayed via an arrow on each of the identified parking signs.

4. A system according to claim 3, further comprising:

a distance display module to display a distance measure for the at least one available parking space within the arrow of at least one of the identified parking signs.

5. A system according to claim 3, further comprising:

a distance display module to display a color of the arrow as an indication of distance of the available parking space from at least one of the identified parking signs.

6. A system according to claim 3, wherein a length of the arrow is adjusted based on a distance of the available parking space from at least one of the identified parking signs.

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

a duration display module to display on at least one of the identified parking signs, an icon representing a duration of the available parking space.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein a size of the icon based on a length of the duration for the available parking space.

9. A computer-implemented method for providing directions to available parking spaces via dynamic signs, comprising:

determining a plurality of available parking spaces;

identifying two or more parking signs in a proximate location, wherein one sign is located prior to the other sign;

selecting at least one of the available parking spaces from the plurality of parking spaces for providing directions via the identified signs;

determining for each parking sign, a direction of the available parking space in relation to that parking sign; and

displaying on each of the parking signs the direction of the available parking space from that parking sign.

10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising:

selecting the at least one available parking space from the plurality of parking spaces based on one or more of cost, distance, location, duration, and quantity.

11. A method according to claim 9, further comprising:

displaying the direction for each identified parking sign via an arrow.

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

displaying a distance measure for the available parking space within the arrow.

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

displaying a color of the arrow as an indication of distance of the available parking space from at least one of the identified parking signs.

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

adjusting a length of the arrow based on a distance of the available parking space from at least one of the identified parking signs.

15. A method according to claim 9, further comprising:

displaying on at least one of the identified parking signs, an icon representing a duration of the available parking space.

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

adjusting a size of the icon based on a length of the duration for the available parking space.

17. A dynamic parking sign, comprising:

a display, comprising;

a street location at which the display is located;

at least one arrow representing a direction of one or more available parking spaces from the street location, wherein the one or more available parking spaces are identified as being located within a predefined distance of the street location at which the display is located; and

a duration icon representing a duration of the one or more available parking spaces.

18. A dynamic parking sign according to claim 17, wherein the display further comprises at least one of:

a cost icon representing a cost of the one or more available parking spaces; and

an availability icon representing an availability of parking spaces located within the predefined distance of the street location at which the display is located.

19. A dynamic parking sign according to claim 18, wherein at least one of the duration icon, cost icon, and availability icon are adjusted within the display to represent a length of duration, amount of cost, and amount of parking availability, respectively, by varying a size or length of the icons, coloring the icons, or flashing the icons or a color of the icons.

20. A dynamic parking sign according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the arrows is adjusted within the display to represent a distance of the at least one available parking space from the street location by varying a size or length of the at least one arrow, coloring the at least one arrow, flashing the at least one arrow or a color of the at least one arrow, or displaying a stem of the at least one arrow as segments, wherein a number of the segments represents the distance.