Abstract:
A system and method is described for determining the most efficient space or cell for a user within a group of spaces or cells. A preferred embodiment implements an automated available unit locator for a multiple unit network comprising an occupancy sensor for determining an occupancy status or availability of each unit in the multiple unit network. The locator also has an apparatus for calculating the most efficient available unit based, at least in part, on the occupancy status of each unit. The location of the calculated most efficient available unit is then communicated to the user with a communication interface.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    This application relates to space management, and more particularly to a system and method for selectively determining space availability within a multiple-space network.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Multiple-unit networks permeate the industrialized world. A multiple-unit network generally comprises a system of cells or units (e.g., parking spaces, storage lockers, safety deposit boxes, and the like) gathered in a multiple-unit configuration (e.g., a parking lot, storage area of a train station, a bank, an amusement park etc.). In the typical case, a user generally either tries to find an available unit or, if the user has already occupied the space, he or she may have to find the cell or unit they are using. When the network comprises only a few such units, the search process does not generally last very long. However, in the situation of a multi-storied parking garage or a room with a thousand storage lockers, it may take a user a substantial amount of time to locate an available unit or space. Additionally, where a parking lot is connected to a large facility, such as an airport, a seemingly “close” parking space, may, in fact, turn out to be extremely inconvenient to the user&#39;s eventual airport destination.  
           [0003]    Another disadvantage with networks, such as current parking lots, is the throughput efficiency of the parking lot. For example, if three drivers enter a parking garage in sequence, the first driver typically dictates the speed and efficiency with which all three drivers find a space to park. If the third driver leases an assigned space in the garage, his or her travel time from garage entrance to assigned space will generally be unpredictable based on the attitude and abilities of the other two drivers. One driver may proceed slowly, stopping at every cross section to check for available spaces, even when it is unlikely for a space to be available based on elements such as the time of day, classification of the surrounding parking spaces (i.e., reserved spaces when the driver is not a space lessor), and the like. The unpredictability of space locations along with the unpredictability of a driver may seriously delay drivers attempting to park and reach their destination in a timely fashion.  
           [0004]    In some circumstances, a driver may enter a garage that is already completely full and waste a large amount of time driving through the entire garage only to find no spaces. Handicapped drivers may also face difficulties finding available handicapped parking that may not be placed in obvious locations.  
           [0005]    Another example of a multiple-unit network is a storage facility at a transportation terminal. Airports, train stations, and bus stations typically have storage lockers available to travelers for temporarily storing luggage or other items not necessary to be with the traveler at all times or that the traveler simply does not want to carry for the moment. Because many such facilities use lockers that may generally appear closed, it is usually extremely difficult to find an available locker without having to try each one, one at a time. Additionally, an empty locker may be empty because it is broken or out of service. The only current method for finding an available locker which is not broken is to physically check each locker. This method costs time and may adversely effect a travelers ability to complete a task before he or she is required to continue traveling.  
           [0006]    Advances have been made in the parking industry toward automation and space availability determination. An example of such advancement is present at the Baltimore-Washington International Airport. Sensors have been placed within the parking garage that sense when each space is occupied or empty. Through a computer system connected to these sensors, the number of spaces available are displayed to motorists using strategically placed signs. A typical sign will indicate the number of spaces open and typically display an arrow pointing in the direction of the open spaces. As the spaces in a particular parking section are completely filled, the sign changes display to indicate the unavailable status.  
           [0007]    Such smart parking systems, while just recently being implemented in the United States, have existed in Europe for many years. Smart parking system companies, such as the Swiss company Schick Electronics, SA, suggest implementations of reserve parking, in which specific motorists are given specific spaces that are reserved only for that motorist as he or she enters the garage.  
           [0008]    While such smart parking systems have advanced the convenience and efficiency of current parking space management techniques, they still fall short of fully integrating a system for providing increased efficiency features for both the owners of the parking garage and the motorists utilizing the garages.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    In consideration of the problems present in the current systems and methods for determining available spaces in a group of spaces, it would be beneficial to have an automated space locator for determining the best available space for each user. The present invention is directed to a system and method for directing a user to the space or cell within a group of spaces or cells that is most efficient for the user. A preferred embodiment of the present invention implements an automated available unit locator for a multiple unit network comprising an occupancy sensor for determining an occupancy status of each unit in the multiple unit network. The locator also has an apparatus for calculating the most efficient available unit responsive at least in part to the occupancy status of each unit. Once the locator calculates the most efficient available unit the location of the calculated unit is communicated to a user with a communication interface. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1A is a perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention configured to coordinate spaces in a parking lot;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1B is a close up perspective view of an access station as part of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1A;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2A is a perspective view illustrating an alternative embodiment of the present invention configured to coordinate spaces in a parking lot;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2B is a close up perspective view of a single parking space as configured in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3A is a perspective view illustrating a further alternative embodiment of the present invention configured to manage available storage lockers;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3B is a close up perspective view illustrating a locker machine access station as part of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 3A;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3C is a close up perspective view illustrating an individual locker as part of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 3A; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is a flow chart describing the steps performed in implementing a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1A illustrates one potential application for a preferred embodiment of the present invention configured to work with a parking lot. Parking lot  10  comprises group of parking spaces  11 . Access to parking lot  10  is controlled by lift gate  12 . Access station  100  preferably acts as the interface point with users desiring to enter parking garage  10 . Each of group of parking spaces  11  is preferably equipped with sensors  101  that detect the occupancy, and thus the availability, of each of group of parking spaces  11 .  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1B is a close up view of access station  100 . Apparatus  102  and processor  103  preferably process the availability and/or occupancy information from sensors  101  (FIG. 1A) in order to derive the most efficient available space. As a user approaches access station  100 , he or she may preferably interface with any of buttons  104  and  105 , or keypad  106  to select any destination or enter any other information useful to parking. In addition to the availability and/or occupancy information, apparatus  102  and processor  103  may also preferably use the user-entered data to calculate the most efficient space.  
         [0020]    For example, in FIG. 1A, if parking lot  10  were connected to an airport, the user may preferably enter the airline he or she is using to depart, or may even preferably enter the flight information for someone the user is there to pick up. Using this information and the availability and/or occupancy information from sensors  101 , apparatus  102  and processor  103 , from FIG. 1B, preferably calculate the most efficient available space for the user to park in. This most efficient available space would preferably comprise the space closest to the user&#39;s ultimate destination. Access station  100  would preferably communicate the location of the calculated space to the user and open lift gate  12  to allow the user to access parking lot  10 .  
         [0021]    It should be noted that in alternative embodiments, different means for providing a user interface may be implemented. In some embodiments, access station  100  may preferably incorporate voice recognition technology to allow the user to speak all necessary information directly to access station  100 . In other embodiments, an image reader may be used to read user documents which may be useful for parking purposes, such as an airline ticket. In such alternative embodiments, the user would insert his or her airline ticket into the image reader. The image reader then preferably reads the flight information from the ticket, communicates with a centralized database, determines the gate information, and then calculates the most efficient available space using all of this information. In such an embodiment, access station  100  may preferably issue a ticket (not shown) that indicates the user&#39;s scheduled gate.  
         [0022]    As shown in FIG. 1B, access station  100  preferably communicates the calculated most efficient available space to the user through any number of different and available ways. The user may preferably receive a ticket (not shown) from slot  107  which indicates the location of the most efficient available space of group of parking spaces  11  (FIG. 1A). Additionally or alternatively, display  108  may preferably display a map of parking lot  10  (FIG. 1A) allowing the user to find the location of the communicated space. Display  108  may also preferably display an interactive map that animates the specific location of the most efficient space. Display  108  may accomplish this by preferably providing lighted map directions or may even play a video to the user to show the desired location. In alternative embodiments, display  108  may preferably display all available spaces in addition to the most efficient space. Additionally or alternatively, access station  100  may preferably play an audio file describing the location of the space using speaker  109 . Using this location information, the user preferably knows how to find the most efficient space in which to park.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 2A illustrates a further alternative embodiment of the present invention configured with parking lot  20 . Parking lot  20  may be accessed via lift gate  12  and is preferably equipped with lighted arrow marker  200  that illuminates the path to best available parking cell  202 . This allows access station  100  to preferably show the user the location and direction to best available parking cell  202 . As the user receives the location of best available parking cell  202  from access station  100 , arrow marker  200  preferably lights up specifically directing the user to its location.  
         [0024]    It should be noted that in additional embodiments of the present invention, each of the parking cells in parking lot  20  is preferably equipped with cell display  201  for displaying the location of the cell. For example, if all of the parking cells were numbered, cell display  201  in best available parking cell  202  would preferably light up the number corresponding to best available parking cell  202 . Such an element may preferably be used in conjunction with or in the alternative to arrow marker  200  to direct the user through parking lot  20  to locate best available parking cell  202 .  
         [0025]    As shown in FIG. 2B, it should further be noted that in other additional embodiments, a user may preferably be specifically assigned to best available parking cell  202 . In the present embodiment, access station  100  (FIG. 2A) issues a ticket with a magnet strip to store the assigned location for best available parking cell  202 . The additional alternative embodiment preferably includes verifier  203  in each of the cells in parking lot  20  (FIG. 2A) to verify the reservation. In operation, when the user receives the location of best available parking cell  202 , both arrow marker  200  and cell display  201  preferably activate, directing the user to best available parking cell  202 . After a user parks in best available parking cell  202 , he or she presents the ticket to be read by verifier  203 . If verifier  203  indicates the user parked in the wrong cell, both arrow marker  200  and cell display  201  would preferably remain activated, showing the user that he or she parked in the wrong spot. If the user had parked in the correct spot, verifier  203  preferably deactivates arrow marker  200  and cell display  201 .  
         [0026]    Referencing back to FIG. 2A, it should be noted that in such a reservation system, access station  100  would preferably designate best available parking cell  202  as occupied in order to keep it from being calculated as the most efficient cell or space for another user. This prevents two users from being assigned the same location to the same cell or space. In order to improve the efficiency of the cell management system, access station  100  preferably provides a predefined or predetermined amount of time for the user to find and occupy best available parking cell  202  before best available parking cell  202  is released and re-designated unoccupied. The predefined amount of time is preferably long enough to allow a slow user to find and occupy the cell. Therefore, if a user enters parking lot  20  and then decides to exit before finding and occupying best available parking cell  202 , best available parking cell  202  would only preferably be unavailable for the predetermined time before being made available again for another user.  
         [0027]    In an alternative embodiment of the present invention depicted in FIG. 2A, one or more of remote stations  21  are added to parking lot  20  at different and various pedestrian access points. A user parks in best available parking cell  202  and proceeds to his or her destination. When the user returns to parking lot  20 , he or she may have forgotten where he or she has parked. In order to find best available parking cell  202  again, the user may allow remote station  21  to read the ticket or card provided by access station  100 . Remote station  21  displays the location of best available parking cell  202  to the user based on any information contained on the ticket or card&#39;s magnetic strip. This provides better security for users both in knowing where their cars are located and, thus, spending less time wandering in a parking lot, but also allows users to determine if their cars have been stolen more quickly, saving valuable time in contacting authorities for assistance.  
         [0028]    The present invention may also be applied to other groups of spaces such as in a network of storage lockers. FIG. 3A illustrates storage lockers  30 . The system is preferably managed at locker machine  31 . As shown in FIG. 3B, locker machine  31  preferably comprises display screen  34 , interface keys  35 , money receptacle  33 , and card dispenser  36 . A user desiring to rent a locker preferably interacts with interface keys  35  and pays a rental fee by inserting money into money receptacle  33 . Locker machine  31  preferably dispenses key card  32  to the user which directs the user to storage locker  300  (FIGS. 3A and 3C). The location may also preferably be displayed on display screen  34  as described above. Once key card  32  has been dispensed, locker machine  31  preferably removes storage locker  300  (FIGS. 3A and 3C) from availability in order to prevent another user being assigned the same space.  
         [0029]    Turning to FIG. 3C, the user goes to storage locker  300  and deposits any and all property that the user desires to place in storage locker  300 . Using handle  302 , the user preferably closes the door to storage locker  300 . When locker  300  has been closed the user will preferably insert key card  32  (FIG. 3B) into key slot  301 . Key card  32  (FIG. 3B) preferably has a magnetic strip that is read by key slot  301  and which will activate a locking mechanism in handle  302 . The user then preferably removes key card  32  (FIG. 3B) from key slot  301  and may leave the area with storage locker  300  closed and locked. If the user desires to open storage locker  300 , he or she may preferably insert key card  32  (FIG. 3B) into key slot  301 . The magnetic strip on key card  32  (FIG. 3B) will then preferably unlock storage locker  300  allowing the user to retrieve its contents.  
         [0030]    As shown in FIG. 3A, it should be noted that a user typically may rent a storage locker only for a limited time based on the amount of money deposited. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the magnetic strip on key card  32  also preferably includes timing information which will allow the system to calculate the amount of time the user is allowed to access storage locker  300 . This system prevents previous users from accessing lockers that may contain new users&#39; property. In alternative embodiments, key card  32  may include use information for restricting a user to only a single or pre-determined number of uses associated with the amount of money deposited.  
         [0031]    It should also be noted that key card  32 , shown in FIG. 3A, may alternatively use other methods of information storage, such as a bar code, infrared code, or other similar information code for communicating information in an automated manner.  
         [0032]    The system also preferably uses the timing information to control the user&#39;s access to storage locker  300 , as shown in FIG. 3C. If the user keeps his or her material in storage locker  300  past the rented time, storage locker  300  will not open for the user when key card  32  (FIG. 3B) is inserted into key slot  301 . The storage system will preferably require the user to provide additional money for the additional rental time. The system may preferably allow the user to deposit the money directly at storage locker  300 , or may preferably require the user to deposit the additional money at locker machine  31  (FIGS. 3A and 3B).  
         [0033]    It should be noted that in alternative embodiments, a smart card containing a semiconductor microchip may preferably be used instead of a magnetic striped ticket or card. In such embodiments, key slot  301  and key card  32  (FIG. 3B), which may be fabricated with a contact point, capacitive coupling, or the like, allowing the electronic communication of all appropriate and required information stored on the smart card.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the steps performed in implementing a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The availability information of each available space or cell in a group of cells is sensed in step  400 . In step  401 , input from a user is received. The best available cell is then calculated in step  402  using the sensed availability information and the user&#39;s input. In step  403 , the location corresponding to the calculated best available cell is communicated to the user. Once the location of the best cell is communicated to the user, the system removes the availability of that cell in step  404 . Using the location information communicated in step  403 , the user finds and occupies the best available cell in step  405 . If the user either does not find the best available cell or decides not to use the best available cell, the system re-establishes the availability of the best available cell in step  406  in order to make that cell available to other potential users.  
         [0035]    It should be noted that while the examples described herein were limited to parking lots and storage lockers, the present invention is not limited only to such embodiments. The present invention may be applied to any number of different systems and/or networks of spaces and/or cells for efficiently locating the best available options for a user.