Patent Publication Number: US-2021182580-A1

Title: System and method for validation of a parking spot

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The subject matter described herein relates, in general, to a system and method for detecting and validating a parking spot for a vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The background description provided is to present the context of the disclosure generally. Work of the inventor, to the extent it may be described in this background section, and aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present technology. 
     Vehicles, when not in use, are generally parked in a spot where parking is allowed. In some cases, the use of the parking spot has no restrictions. In other cases, there may be restrictions or even prohibitions against parking a vehicle in a certain spot. These restrictions may include restrictions relating to the status of the driver (e.g., expectant mother, handicap, disabled veteran, and the like), the time of day, status of the vehicle (e.g., delivery vehicle, emergency vehicle, or personal vehicle), etc. Additionally, certain restrictions may be lifted by purchasing a voucher for the right to park in the parking spot for a certain period of time. 
     SUMMARY 
     This section generally summarizes the disclosure and is not a comprehensive explanation of its full scope or all its features. 
     In one embodiment, a system for parking validation includes at least one sensor, at least one processor, and a memory device. The at least one sensor and the memory device are operably connected to the at least one processor. The memory device may include an image capture module, a text recognition module, and a parking determination module. The modules cause the at least one processor to obtain at least one image of from the sensor, recognize text located within the at least one image, determine parking-related information from the text, determine at least one parking spot associated with the parking-related information, and determine when the at least one parking spot associated with the parking-related information is at least one of available for parking, not available for parking, and available for parking with a voucher. 
     In another embodiment, a method for parking validation includes the steps of obtaining at least one image of from a sensor, recognizing text located within the at least one image, determining parking-related information from the text, determining at least one parking spot associated with the parking-related information, and determining when the at least one parking spot associated with the parking-related information is at least one of available for parking, not available for parking, and available for parking with a voucher. 
     In yet another embodiment, a non-transitory computer-readable medium for parking validation and including instructions that when executed by at least one processor cause the at least one processor to obtain at least one image of from a sensor, recognize text located within the at least one image, determine parking-related information from the text, determine at least one parking spot associated with the parking-related information, and determine when the at least one parking spot associated with the parking-related information is at least one of available for parking, not available for parking, and available for parking with a voucher. 
     Further areas of applicability and various methods of enhancing the disclosed technology will become apparent from the description provided. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate various systems, methods, and other embodiments of the disclosure. It will be appreciated that the illustrated element boundaries (e.g., boxes, groups of boxes, or other shapes) in the figures represent one embodiment of the boundaries. In some embodiments, one element may be designed as multiple elements or multiple elements may be designed as one element. In some embodiments, an element shown as an internal component of another element may be implemented as an external component and vice versa. Furthermore, elements may not be drawn to scale. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a general overview of the system and method for detecting and validating a parking spot; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a freestanding parking sign and a parking sign that is integrated with the parking spot; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a field-of-view of a scene captured by the system; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a field-of-view of a scene captured by the system including several parking signs; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a general overview of the system and method for detecting and validating a parking spot, where the parking spot is located within a parking lot; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a field-of-view of a scene captured by the system that includes the parking lot of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a more detailed view of the system for detecting and validating a parking spot; and 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a method for detecting and validating a parking spot. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A system and method for detecting and validating a parking spot includes a sensor, such as a camera, that has a field of view that may include a sign or some indicator indicating the allowance, restriction, and/or prohibition for parking a vehicle in a parking spot. The system and method may capture an image of the sign and extract text from the sign. The system and method may determine the allowance, restriction, and/or probation for parking a vehicle in an associated parking spot from the extracted text. If the vehicle wishes to park in the parking spot, the system and method may also be able to purchase a voucher if required to park in the parking spot. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a general overview of the system and method for detecting and validating a parking spot will be provided.  FIG. 1  illustrates an environment  10  having a vehicle  12  that includes a system  14  for detecting and validating a parking spot. In addition to the vehicle  12 , the environment  10  illustrates the vehicle  12  located on a street  16 . The right side of the street  16  includes a parking area  18  for parking vehicles. The parking area  18 , in this example, is street-side parking, where vehicles wishing to utilize the parking offered in the parking area  18  parallel park their vehicle. Of course, it should be understood, as will be explained more fully later in this description, that the parking area  18  may take any one of several different forms, such as parking lots, parking garages, and the like. 
     The parking area  18 , in this example, includes four parking spots  20 ,  22 ,  24 , and  26 . The parking spots  20  and  22  are occupied by vehicles  28  and  30 , respectively. The parking spots  24  and  26  are unoccupied. The environment  10  also includes a sign  32  that describes any allowances, restrictions, and/or prohibitions for utilizing the parking spots  20 ,  22 ,  24 , and/or  26  of the parking area  18 . In this example, the sign  32  is a street sign. However, it should also be understood that the sign  32  may take any one of several different forms. The sign  32  may be any type of sign that is capable of communicating allowances, restrictions, and/or prohibitions for utilizing a spot for parking. The sign  32  may be incorporated into the street  16  and/or parking space itself or could be a freestanding sign, as shown. For example, referring to  FIG. 2 , a sign  33  is shown as a freestanding sign, as well as another example of a sign  35  shown to be integrated within the parking spot and/or street. In this example, the sign  33  indicates that a vehicle may only park in the spot  37  associated with the sign  33  if the vehicle has a handicap-parking pass. The sign  35  also communicates the same information, where a vehicle may only park in the spot  37  associated with the sign  35  if the vehicle has a handicap-parking pass. In some situations, more than one sign may be utilized, such as both a freestanding sign and a sign that is integrated into a parking spot or street. In other situations, only one type of sign may be utilized. 
     Returning attention to the vehicle  12  of  FIG. 1 , the vehicle  12  may take any one of several different forms. In this example, the vehicle  12  is shown to be an automobile. However, it should be understood that the vehicle  12  may include other types of vehicles, such as trucks, sport utility vehicles, heavy-duty trucks, emergency vehicles, mining vehicles, agricultural vehicles, military vehicles, and the like. Moreover, the vehicle  12  could be any type of vehicle that is capable of transporting persons and/or objects from one location to another. Furthermore, it should be understood that the vehicle  12  may not be limited to land-based vehicles but could also include other types of vehicles as well, such as aircraft and seagoing vessels. 
     Furthermore, the vehicle  12  may be an autonomous vehicle. An autonomous vehicle may be a vehicle that requires little to no human intervention to properly operate the vehicle  12 . Conversely, the vehicle  12  may be a non-autonomous vehicle that requires human input to operate the vehicle properly. Further still, the vehicle  12  may have multiple modes and may be able to function as both an autonomous vehicle in one mode and a non-autonomous vehicle in another mode or combination thereof. 
     The vehicle  12  may have a sensor system  40  that includes at least one sensor that has a field-of-view  42 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , the field-of-view  42  of  FIG. 1  is shown. In this example, the field-of-view  42  includes the sign  32  and the available parking spots  24  and  26 . The field-of-view also includes a moving vehicle  44  that is located forward of the vehicle  12 , as well as the vehicle  28  and  30 . 
     The sign  32  may include text  46  that relates to the allowance, restrictions, and/or prohibitions for utilizing the parking spots, such as parking spots  24  and  26 . In this example, the text  46  is in the form of written words. However, it should be understood that the text  46  may take any one of several different forms, such as symbols that may be utilized instead of words or in combination with words to express any allowance, restrictions, and/or prohibitions. Additionally, it should also be understood that the text  46  may be readable only to a machine and may not be readily human-perceivable. For example, text  46  may take the form of a barcode (e.g., quick response (QR) code, datamatrix code, etc.) or other type of similar mechanism. Further still, the text  46  may be in the form of a radio transmission from a device, where the radio transmission includes information relating to the allowance, restrictions, and/or prohibitions of utilizing parking spots. One example of a device that transmits signals electronically could be a radio-frequency identification (RFID) type device. However, anyone of several different devices may be utilized. 
     Furthermore, it should be understood that the sign  32  may be more than one sign and may be a collection of signs. For example, referring to  FIG. 4 , illustrated are signs  32 A,  32 B,  32 C, and  32 D having text  46 A,  46 B,  46 C, and  46 D, respectively. In this example, the sign  32 A includes text  46 A related to a prohibition of double parking at all times. The text  46 A of the sign  32 A relates to the signs  32 B,  32 C, and  32 D. As such, the parking associated with the signs  32 B,  32 C, and  32 D prohibits double parking in parking spots associated with those signs. 
     The sign  32 B has text  42 B indicating no stopping at any time for one set of parking spots. The signs  32 C and  32 D both relate to another set of parking spots. Here, the sign  32 C has text  46 C that states no stopping between 7:00 AM to 9:30 AM and 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM, Monday through Friday. The sign  32 D also puts additional prohibitions on the parking spots associated with the sign  32 C. In this example, the text  46 D indicates that the spots are associated with a loading zone for commercial vehicles only between 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Saturday. As such, the system  14  may determine which signs  32 A,  32 B,  32 C, and/or  32 D are associated with which parking spots. In this example, the signs  32 A,  32 C, and  32 D relate to one set of parking spots, while the signs  32 A and  32 B relate to another set of parking spots. As such, the sign  32 A relates to all the signs  32 B,  32 C, and  32 D. The system  14  may be able to capture images of one or more signs, such as the signs  32 A,  32 B,  32 C, and/or  32 D and extract text, indicators, and/or images that indicate which parking spots relate to the signs  32 A,  32 B,  32 C, and/or  32 D. For example, indicators could include the waymarkers  56 B,  56 C, and/or  56 D from the signs  32 B,  32 C, and/or  32 D, respectively. The waymarkers  56 B,  56 C, and  56 D may point to which parking spots the parking information is referring to. The system  14  may then determine which parking spots are associated with which signs based on the waymarkers  56 B,  56 C, and/or  56 D. 
     Returning to  FIG. 3 , in this example, the text  46  includes an indication regarding a time duration  50  that one may park their vehicle in the parking spots  24  or  26 , a time of day restriction  52  indicating the hours of the day and/or days that one may park their vehicle in the parking spots  24  and  26 , and exceptions  54  regarding if there any exceptions to the restriction  52  or time duration  50 . The text  46  also includes a waymarker  56  that indicates the general location of the parking spots that relate to the text  46  of the sign  32 . 
     In this example, the text  46  indicates that a vehicle may park for two hours between the hours of 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Saturday. The text  46  also indicates that these restrictions do not apply if you have a residential permit. Furthermore, the text  46  provides the waymarker  56  (e.g., to the left of the sign  32 ) indicating the general location of the parking spots  20 ,  22 ,  24 , and  26  that are related to the text  46  of the sign  32 . 
     As will be explained in greater detail in the paragraphs that follow, the system  14  of the vehicle  12  may capture information from the sign  32  and extract text within the sign  32 . The system may determine any parking spots associated with the sign  32  and any allowances, restrictions, and/or prohibitions for parking in the parking spots associated with the sign  32 . Furthermore, the system may have additional capabilities that allow for the purchase of a voucher that allows one to park in a parking spot if required, as indicated in the text extracted from the sign  32 . 
     It should be understood that the system  14  of the vehicle  12  may be utilized in other types of situations that involve parking, such as parking lots and parking structures and is not just limited to street-side parking. For example, referring to  FIG. 5 , a vehicle  112  having a system  114  is shown. It should be understood that in this figure, like reference numerals have been utilized to refer to like items. As such, the vehicle  112  having the system  114  of  FIG. 5  may be similar to the vehicle  12  having the system  14  of  FIG. 1 , respectively. 
     In this example, the vehicle  112  is located on a road  142 . The road  142  leads to an entrance  141  of a parking lot  143  that has a plurality of spaces, including available parking spots  124  and  126  that are available for parking. In addition, the parking lot  143  also includes a sign  132  that provides details regarding parking within any of the spots located within the parking lot  143 . For example, referring to  FIG. 6 , the sign  132  includes text  146  that indicates the hours of operation  152  and a requirement to pay information  153  (e.g., purchase a voucher) to utilize any of the open spots, such as parking spots  124  and  126 . The system  114  may capture an image using a sensor system  140  of the sign  132 , extract any text within the sign  132 , and determine if parking is available and/or any requirements for a voucher. In this example, the system  114  determines the hours of operation of the parking lot and the requirement for payment of a voucher. As stated before, the system  114  may perform payment of the voucher to allow the vehicle  112  to park within the parking lot  143 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , a more detailed view of the system  14  is provided. In this example, the system  14  includes a processor  250 . The processor  250  may be a single processor or may be multiple processors working in concert. If multiple processors are utilized, the processors may be located within the system  14  or may be located outside the system  14  in a distributed fashion. The sensor system  40 , which may correspond to the sensor system  40  of  FIG. 1  and/or the sensor system  140  of  FIG. 5 , may include one or more sensors, for sensing the environment located around the vehicle  12 , such as signs  32  and  132 . 
     Here, the sensor system  40  includes one or more cameras  252 , a radar sensor  254 , a LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensor  256 , a sonar sensor  258 , and an RFID reader  259 . These sensors may be capable of sensing the environment surrounding the vehicle  12 . It should be understood that the sensor system  40  is but one example of a sensor system and different types and/or combinations of sensors may be utilized, not just those described. 
     In one example, the camera  252  may be utilized to capture images of the signs  32  and/or  132  and may provide this information to the processor  250 , where the processor  250  may extract text and or other symbols from the signs  32  and/or  132 . With regards to the RFID reader  259 , the signs  32  and/or  132  may be embedded with an RFID transmitter that transmits information related to the signs  32  and/or  132  to the RFID reader  259 . 
     The radar sensor  254  and/or the sonar sensor  258  may locate objects by receiving an echo of a signal that is bounced off one or more objects. The LIDAR sensor  256  utilizes reflected light that is reflected from one or more objects. Depending on the size, shape, and other identifying information (e.g. braille text, raised text, etc.), the radar sensor  254 , the sonar sensor  258 , and/or the LIDAR sensor  256  may be able to extract information from detected objects, such as the signs  32  and/or  132 . 
     In addition to these sensors, the sensor system  40  may also include other sensors, such as an accelerometer  260 , a gyroscope  262 , and a compass  264 , which may be utilized to determine the movement of the system  14  within the vehicle  12  or any other device which the system  14  is located within. 
     The system  14  may also include a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) device  266 , which may be in communication with an antenna  268 . The GNSS device  266  may be a satellite navigation system that provides autonomous geo-spatial positioning with global coverage. The GNSS device  266  may include any one of several different GNSS systems, such as GPS (Global Positioning System), GLONASS (Globalnaya Navigatsionnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema), Galileo, Beidou, or other regional systems. The GNSS device  266  may be connected to an antenna  268  that is capable of receiving one or more signals  270  from one or more satellites  272 . Based on the one or more signals  270  from one or more satellites  272 , the GNSS device  266  may determine the relative location of the system  14 . This relative location may be in the form of a coordinate system that may indicate the latitude, longitude, and/or altitude of the vehicle  12 , or any other type of system, that has the GNSS device  266  installed within. 
     The system  14  may also include a network access device  274  that is in communication with the processor  250 . The network access device  274  may be an electronic circuit that connects, either automatically or manually, the processor  250  to a network. The network access device  274  may be in communication with the processor  250  using one of a variety of different networks and/or communication protocols. Examples may include a controller area network (CAN), local area network (LAN), media orientated systems transport (MOST), or any other network capable of providing an electronic communication pathway between the network access device  274  and the processor  250 . 
     The network access device allows the system  14  and, therefore, the processor  250  to communicate with one or more devices that are connected or in communication with a network  276 . The network  276  may be a distributed network such as the Internet, cloud-computing device, or any other device that may be in communication with the network  276 . The network access device  274  may be in communication with the network  276  via the use of an antenna  278  that is in communication with the network access device  274 . In one example, the antenna  278  may be a cellular antenna configured to connect with one or more cellular networks, such as analog cellular networks and/or digital cellular networks, such as 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G networks and future iterations thereof. The antenna  278  may also be other types of antennas or combinations thereof, such as antennas that are configured to connect with Wi-Fi networks (IEEE 802.1X), Bluetooth networks, and/or V2X networks such as V2V, V2C, V2I, and combinations thereof. As will be explained in greater detail, the network access device  274  allows the system  14  to communicate with other devices to perform any one of several different functions, such as purchasing a voucher to allow a vehicle to park within a parking spot. 
     The system  14  may also include a memory device  280  for storing digital information that is either utilized or generated by the processor  250 . As such, the memory device  280  may be any type of memory device capable of storing information, such as a solid-state memory device, magnetic storage device, optical storage device, and the like. Furthermore, it should be understood that the memory device  280  may be multiple memory devices of the same or even different types distributed throughout the system  14  or even distributed outside the system  14 . In addition, the memory device  280  may be integrated within the processor  250  or may be separate from the processor  250  as shown. 
     In this example, the memory device  280  includes an image capture module  282 , a text recognition module  284 , and a parking determination module  286 . Each of the modules  282 ,  284 , and/or  286  may contain instructions that cause the processor  250  to perform any one of several different methodologies disclosed in this specification. In one example, the image capture module  282  includes instructions that cause the processor  250  to capture an image using one or more sensors making up the sensor system  40 . In one example, the image capture module  282  causes the camera  252  to capture images, such as images of the signs  32  and/or  132 . These captured images may be stored within the memory device  280  or elsewhere. 
     The text recognition module  284  may cause the processor  250  to recognize text from an image captured by the camera  252 . In this example, the text recognition module  284  causes the processor  250  to recognize text, such as text  46  and/or  146 . The parking determination module  286  may cause the processor  250  to determine the parking spots associated with any signs captured by the image capture module  282 , as well as determining the availability of parking based on text recognized by the text recognition module  284 . As stated previously, the processor  250  of the system  14  may determine the presence of text, such as text  46  that may relate to whether a parking spot is available, the duration of the parking, the location of the parking spots associated with the text  46 , and any allowances, restrictions, and/or prohibitions for utilizing the parking spots. Based on the determination regarding any allowances, restrictions, and/or prohibitions for utilizing the parking spots, the system  14  will determine whether a parking spot is available if a voucher is purchased. The parking determination module  286  causes the processor  250  to determine from the text if any voucher can be purchased. 
     If a voucher can be purchased to allow for parking, the system  14  may communicate with a parking system  300  by the network  276  utilizing the network access device  274 . In one example, the parking system  300  may have a processor  302  in communication with a memory device  304  and a network access device  306  that allows for the parking system  300  to communicate with the network  276  and, therefore, the system  14 . The parking system  300  may be an electronic system that can sell vouchers for utilizing parking spaces in one or more spots. The sign  32  and/or  132  may provide information regarding which parking system  300  to purchase a voucher from. In one example, the parking determination module  286  may electronically purchase a voucher from the parking system  300 . If the purchasing of a voucher is successful, this may allow the vehicle that is associated with the system  14  the ability to park within a parking spot that is associated with the voucher that was recently purchased. 
     The parking determination module  286  may also cause the processor  250  to communicate with other devices that are in communication with the network  276 . In one example, if it is determined that the voucher that has been purchased by the parking system  300  has a temporal limit, the system  14  may notify another device  310 , which may be a mobile device of a person responsible for the vehicle containing the system  14  or otherwise associated with the system  14 . For example, if it is determined that the time limit for parking a parking spot is about to expire or has expired, the system  14  may communicate with the other device  310  to inform the appropriate person that the vehicle may be parking in a spot in which it no longer has permission to park within. In one example, the other device  310  may be a mobile phone, tablet computer, a notebook computer, or other computing device that incorporates the system  14 . The system  14  may communicate with the user to indicate that their parking is about to expire. The user may be able to indicate via the device  310  to purchase additional parking vouchers if possible, to avoid any ticketing of the vehicle. 
     The system  14  may also communicate with other types of systems, such as a central server  320  that is capable of collecting information regarding parking spots. For example, the central server  320  may include a processor in communication with the memory device  324  and a network access device  326 . The network access device  326  allows the central server  320  to communicate with the network  276  and, therefore, the system  14 . In addition, the central server  320  may include a data store  328 . The data store  328  is, in one embodiment, an electronic data structure such as a database that is stored in the memory device  324  or another memory and that is configured with routines that may be executed by the processor  322  for analyzing stored data, providing stored data, organizing stored data, and so on. 
     The central server  320  may receive information regarding parking spot information from the system  14  and other systems like the system  14  installed in other vehicles and/or devices. As stated before, the system  14  can be found in numerous other devices, such as other vehicles and/or other devices, such as mobile phones, tablet devices, notebook computers, and the like. The central server  320  may collect information from the system  14  and systems like the system  14  regarding the location of parking spots. Based on this collected information, the central server  320  may be able to determine an overall confidence interval that the detected parking spot is an actual parking spot by using crowdsourcing type information collected from the system  14  and systems like the system  14 . This information may then be provided back to the system  14  to confirm that the parking spot is indeed a parking spot or perhaps request that the system  14  double-check to confirm that the parking spot is indeed available. The same could be true regarding information collected from signs, such as signs  32  and  132 . The central server  320  may collect information regarding signs collected from the system  14  and systems like the system  14 . 
     The central server  320  may determine what the signs  32  and/or  132  communicate by reviewing what the system  14  and systems like the system  14  have already determined. An overall confidence interval may be determined, indicating what information the signs  32  and/or  132  actually state. As such, if the system  14  determines that the sign  32  and/or  132  is indicating something different than what was stored by the central server  320 , the central server  320  could inform the system  14  of the potential incorrect interpretation of the signs  32  and/or  132  and request that the system  14  performs further analysis to determine what information the sign is attempting to communicate. 
     As stated before, the system  14  could be located within a vehicle, such as a vehicle  12 . However, it should be understood that the system  14  may be located within any other suitable device. For example, the system  14  could be a mobile device that may perform any of the functionalities described in the present disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , one example of a method  400  for parking validation will be discussed from the perspective of the system  14  of  FIGS. 1 and 7 . While the method  400  is discussed in combination with the vehicle  12 , it should be appreciated that the method  400  is not limited to being implemented within the vehicle  12  and is instead one example of a system that may implement the method  400 . For example, as stated above, the method  400  may be utilized by a mobile device. 
     The method  400  begins at step  402 , where the image capture module  282  causes the processor  250  to obtain at least one image from the sensor system  40 . The at least one image may be captured by the camera  252  of the sensor system  40 . In step  404 , the text recognition module  284  causes the processor  250  to recognize text located within the captured image. Here, the captured image may include text located on the sign, such as the sign  32  shown in  FIG. 3 . The text recognition module  284  may be able to extract text from the image captured in step  402 . 
     In step  406 , the parking determination module  286  causes the processor  250  to determine parking-related information from the text extracted in step  404 . The parking-related information may include information regarding any allowances, prohibitions, and/or restrictions for parking in one or more parking spots. In step  408 , the parking determination module  286  causes the processor  250  to determine at least one parking spot associated with parking-related information previously mentioned in step  406 . For example, the parking determination module  286  determines which parking spots are associated with the parking-related information determined in step  406 . This may be determined by utilizing one or more indicators in a sign captured from the sensor, as discussed in step  402 . For example, referring back to  FIG. 3 , the indicator could include the waymarker  56 , pointing to which parking spots the parking information is referring to. 
     In step  410 , the parking determination module  286  may cause the processor  250  to inform the driver or another system that controls the vehicle that the parking spot associated with parking-related information is either available for parking, not available for parking and/or available for parking with a voucher. This information may be provided to a driver via an output device  257  (as shown in  FIG. 7 ) or other devices  310  that may be in communication with the processor  250 . The output device  257  may take any one of a number of different forms and may be an audible or visual output device, such as a speaker or display or combination thereof. Furthermore, it should be understood that instead of providing information to the driver of the vehicle, information could be provided to an autonomous vehicle system that functions to operate the vehicle instead of, or in addition to, a human driver. 
     In step  412 , the parking determination module  286  causes the processor  250  to determine whether the vehicle  12  has parked in the parking spot. If the vehicle  12  has not parked in the parking spot, the method will return to step  402 . Otherwise, the method will proceed to step  414 . The vehicle  12  may determine the availability of a parking spot that requires the purchase of a voucher. As such, in step  414 , the parking determination module  286  determines whether the parking spot requires a voucher. This can be determined by utilizing information on the sign, such as the information  153  shown on sign  132  of  FIG. 6 . If no voucher is required, the method will proceed to step  418 . However, if a voucher is required, this method  400  will proceed to step  416 , where the parking determination module  286  may cause the processor  250  to request and receive a voucher. This may occur by having the processor  250  communicate with parking system  300  via the network  276 . Here, the processor  250  may request a voucher and may potentially pay for a voucher using any one of several different payment These different payment protocols could include electronic fund transfer protocols, such as debit transfers, credit card transfers, automatic teller machine (ATM) transfers, electronic check, automated clearinghouse, real-time gross settlement systems, and the like. For example, the system  14  may have credit card information or other account information associated with the vehicle  12  that allows the system  14  and/or the driver the vehicle  12  to purchase a voucher from the parking system  300 . In another example, the central server  320  could also include information regarding payment methods and include a credit system to communicate with parking system  300 . 
     In step  418 , the parking determination module  286  determines whether the parking spot has a time limit associated with the parking spot. Essentially, the time limit associated with the parking spot could include a duration that one is allowed to park their vehicle in the parking spot. For example, as indicated in  FIG. 3 , the sign  32  indicates duration information  50  or other time-related information in the text  46 . If there is no time limit to the parking spot, the method  400  may end or may return to step  402 . 
     However, if the parking spot does have a time limit, the method proceeds to step  420 , where the parking determination module  286  causes the processor  250  to determine if a time limit associated with the parking spot has expired or has nearly expired. The term expired may mean that the vehicle  12  has either parked in the parking spot up to or past a limited duration (i.e., two hours). Nearly expired may mean sometime before the expired time. Nearly expired may include five, ten, etc. minutes or some other time before the expiration time that the vehicle  12  is allowed to park. If the time limit has not expired or is not nearly expired, the method  400  will return to step  420 . Otherwise, the method  400  will proceed to step  422 , where the system  14  may inform the driver of the time limit expiration. For example, the parking determination module  286  may cause the processor  250  to inform the driver carrying a mobile device, such as the device  310 , that the parking for their vehicle  12  may be expiring soon or has already expired. By doing so, the driver may be able to purchase additional parking time or will have the ability to timely move the vehicle to another spot to not incur any penalties. 
     It should be appreciated that any of the systems described in this specification can be configured in various arrangements with separate integrated circuits and/or chips. The circuits are connected via connection paths to provide for communicating signals between the separate circuits. Of course, while separate integrated circuits are discussed, in various embodiments, the circuits may be integrated into a common integrated circuit board. Additionally, the integrated circuits may be combined into fewer integrated circuits or divided into more integrated circuits. 
     In another embodiment, the described methods and/or their equivalents may be implemented with computer-executable instructions. Thus, in one embodiment, a non-transitory computer-readable medium is configured with stored computer-executable instructions that when executed by a machine (e.g., processor, computer, and so on) cause the machine (and/or associated components) to perform the method. 
     While for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the illustrated methodologies in the figures are shown and described as a series of blocks, it is to be appreciated that the methodologies are not limited by the order of the blocks, as some blocks can occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other blocks from that shown and described. Moreover, less than all the illustrated blocks may be used to implement an example methodology. Blocks may be combined or separated into multiple components. Furthermore, additional and/or alternative methodologies can employ additional blocks that are not illustrated. 
     Detailed embodiments are disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are intended only as examples. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the aspects herein in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of possible implementations. 
     The flowcharts and block diagrams in the figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments. In this regard, each block in the flowcharts or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. 
     The systems, components and/or processes described above can be realized in hardware or a combination of hardware and software and can be realized in a centralized fashion in one processing system or in a distributed fashion where different elements are spread across several interconnected processing systems. Any kind of processing system or another apparatus adapted for carrying out the methods described herein is suited. A combination of hardware and software can be a processing system with computer-usable program code that, when being loaded and executed, controls the processing system such that it carries out the methods described herein. The systems, components and/or processes also can be embedded in a computer-readable storage, such as a computer program product or other data programs storage device, readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform methods and processes described herein. These elements also can be embedded in an application product which comprises all the features enabling the implementation of the methods described herein and, which when loaded in a processing system, is able to carry out these methods. 
     Furthermore, arrangements described herein may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer-readable media having computer-readable program code embodied, e.g., stored, thereon. Any combination of one or more computer-readable media may be utilized. The computer-readable medium may be a computer-readable signal medium or a computer-readable storage medium. The phrase “computer-readable storage medium” means a non-transitory storage medium. A computer-readable medium may take forms, including, but not limited to, non-volatile media, and volatile media. Non-volatile media may include, for example, optical disks, magnetic disks, and so on. Volatile media may include, for example, semiconductor memories, dynamic memory, and so on. Examples of such a computer-readable medium may include, but are not limited to, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape, other magnetic medium, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a CD, other optical medium, a RAM, a ROM, a memory chip or card, a memory stick, and other media from which a computer, a processor or other electronic device can read. In the context of this document, a computer-readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. 
     The following includes definitions of selected terms employed herein. The definitions include various examples and/or forms of components that fall within the scope of a term, and that may be used for various implementations. The examples are not intended to be limiting. Both singular and plural forms of terms may be within the definitions. 
     References to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “one example,” “an example,” and so on, indicate that the embodiment(s) or example(s) so described may include a particular feature, structure, characteristic, property, element, or limitation, but that not every embodiment or example necessarily includes that particular feature, structure, characteristic, property, element or limitation. Furthermore, repeated use of the phrase “in one embodiment” does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, though it may. 
     “Module,” as used herein, includes a computer or electrical hardware component(s), firmware, a non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores instructions, and/or combinations of these components configured to perform a function(s) or an action(s), and/or to cause a function or action from another logic, method, and/or system. A module may include a microprocessor controlled by an algorithm, a discrete logic (e.g., ASIC), an analog circuit, a digital circuit, a programmed logic device, a memory device including instructions that when executed perform an algorithm, and so on. A module, in one or more embodiments, may include one or more CMOS gates, combinations of gates, or other circuit components. Where multiple modules are described, one or more embodiments may include incorporating the multiple modules into one physical module component. Similarly, where a single module is described, one or more embodiments distribute the single module between multiple physical components. 
     Additionally, module, as used herein, includes routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, and so on that perform tasks or implement data types. In further aspects, a memory generally stores the noted modules. The memory associated with a module may be a buffer or cache embedded within a processor, a RAM, a ROM, a flash memory, or another suitable electronic storage medium. In still further aspects, a module as envisioned by the present disclosure is implemented as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a hardware component of a system on a chip (SoC), as a programmable logic array (PLA), as a graphics processing unit (GPU), or as another suitable hardware component that is embedded with a defined configuration set (e.g., instructions) for performing the disclosed functions. 
     In one or more arrangements, one or more of the modules described herein can include artificial or computational intelligence elements, e.g., neural network, fuzzy logic, or other machine learning algorithms. Further, in one or more arrangements, one or more of the modules can be distributed among a plurality of the modules described herein. In one or more arrangements, two or more of the modules described herein can be combined into a single module. 
     Program code embodied on a computer-readable medium may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline, optical fiber, cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of the present arrangements may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object-oriented programming language such as Java™, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The program code may execute entirely on the user&#39;s computer, partly on the user&#39;s computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user&#39;s computer and partly on a remote computer, or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user&#39;s computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). 
     The terms “a” and “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The phrase “at least one of . . . and . . .” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As an example, the phrase “at least one of A, B, and C” includes A only, B only, C only, or any combination thereof (e.g., AB, AC, BC, or ABC). 
     Aspects herein can be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope hereof.