Patent Publication Number: US-9852628-B2

Title: Vacant parking spot notification

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for vacant parking spot notification using a wireless communication network. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Finding an available parking spot while driving a vehicle in a busy parking lot or a multi-level parking structure may be difficult and time-consuming. An operator of the arriving vehicle may not be aware that a departing vehicle located in a different row of the parking lot or on a different level of the parking structure is about to vacate a parking spot. 
     SUMMARY 
     A vacant parking spot notification system for a vehicle includes a controller programmed to, in response to receiving a user initiated signal indicative of the user&#39;s intent to cause a parked vehicle to vacate a parking spot and confirmation that operating parameters reflective of vehicle departure are present, broadcast geographic coordinates of the vehicle. 
     A vacant parking spot notification system for a vehicle includes a controller programmed to, in response to receiving a user initiated signal indicative of the user&#39;s intent to cause a parked vehicle to vacate a parking spot and confirmation that a change in vehicle odometer value exceeds a predetermined value, broadcast geographic coordinates of the vehicle. 
     A method for vacant parking spot notification in a vehicle includes, in response to receiving a user initiated signal indicative of the user&#39;s intent to cause a parked vehicle to vacate a parking spot and confirmation that operating parameters reflective of vehicle departure are present, broadcasting by a controller geographic coordinates of the vehicle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A-1B  are block diagrams illustrating a vacant parking spot notification system; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating a vehicle configured to perform vacant parking spot notification using wireless communication; and 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating an algorithm for performing vacant parking spot notification using wireless communication. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. 
     In a departing vehicle equipped with a vacant parking spot notification system, a wireless handheld transmitter may send a signal to the departing vehicle indicating that a parking spot it currently occupies is about to become available. The departing vehicle may confirm that the parking spot it previously occupied has been vacated. If the parking spot has been vacated, a geographic position of the parking spot is transmitted from the departing vehicle to an arriving vehicle. This may be the same as the geographic location of the departing vehicle at a time when the signal indicating that the parking spot that it currently occupies is about to become available is received by the departing vehicle. The transmission may, for example, take place directly after the determination of the parking spot that is about to become available, or the data can be stored and only transferred after a request to identify a vacant parking spot has been made by the arriving vehicle. The position may be determined by a satellite-based navigation system, such as a global positioning system (GPS). 
     The data regarding the available parking spot may be transmitted, for example by a wireless vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication system, or, for example, by radio frequency (RF), wireless local access network (WLAN), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (Wimax), Bluetooth, short message service (SMS), or other information systems. The communication may take place directly from vehicle to vehicle or via other network users, for example infrastructure devices or control centers which collect data and, if appropriate, process the data and pass it onto an arriving vehicle. Additional data indicative of the location of the available parking spot, such as a parking structure level, lot, row, zone number, and so on, may also be transmitted. 
     In reference to  FIGS. 1A-1B , block diagrams illustrating a vacant parking spot notification system  10  are shown. An arriving vehicle  12  is a vehicle searching for a vacant parking spot among a plurality of parked vehicles  14  in a parking lot or a parking garage. A departing vehicle  16  sends a signal to the arriving vehicle  12  indicating a geographic position of an available parking spot. The geographic position of the available parking spot may correspond to a geographic location, e.g., GPS coordinates, of the departing vehicle  16  prior to, for example, a change in a state of one or more operating parameters of the departing vehicle  16 , such as, but not limited to, odometer value, transmission gear selection, ignition ON/OFF state, vehicle speed, change in a geographic location after a predetermined period of time and so on. 
     In reference to  FIG. 1B , the vacant parking spot notification system  10  includes the departing vehicle  16  equipped with a remote keyless entry (RKE) system  18  configured to communicate with a wireless handheld transmitter, hereinafter a key fob  20 . The key fob  20  is configured to send a signal to the RKE system  18  indicating that a parking spot currently occupied by the departing vehicle  16  is about to become available. The RKE system  18  is in communication with a parking notification module  32  configured to, in response to receiving a signal indicating that the currently occupied parking spot is about to become available, broadcast a geographic position of the recently vacated parking spot to the arriving vehicle  12 . While the key fob  20  is described as being in communication with the RKE system  18 , communication with various other vehicle control modules and systems, such as an RF receiver, a passive anti-theft system, and an immobilizer system, is also contemplated. 
     In another example, the departing vehicle  16  may instead be equipped with a dedicated parking spot notification button (not shown), e.g., on a dashboard, configured to transmit a signal to an appropriate vehicle control module (not shown) of the departing vehicle  16  indicating that the parking spot it currently occupies is about to become available. In yet another example, the dedicated parking spot notification button may be a soft button on a touch-sensitive display of the departing vehicle  16 . In an example, a user of the departing vehicle  16  may activate the dedicated parking spot notification button or the soft button at a time when they are preparing to vacate the parking spot. 
     As will be described in further detail in reference to  FIG. 2 , the key fob  20  may be a pocket-sized fob capable of operating different ignition cycles of a vehicle and locking/unlocking doors through a transponder or a mechanical key. In one example, the key fob  20  may be an RF transmitter that is capable of broadcasting at a predefined frequency, e.g., 315 MHz, with a predefined communication protocol. The broadcast signals may be coded or encrypted in order to identify the broadcast signal with the particular vehicle and particular vehicle function being controlled. 
     The key fob  20  is equipped with one or more pushbuttons  22 A-E that send encoded RF signals to the RKE system  18  requesting various functions that include, but are not limited to, lock, unlock, trunk control, panic alarm activation and deactivation, and remote start. For example, lock and unlock buttons  22 B,  22 C, respectively, may allow a vehicle to be locked and unlocked. A trunk button  22 D may allow a vehicle trunk to be locked and unlocked and a panic button  22 E may allow a user to activate the vehicle horn and/or headlights. 
     The RKE system  18  may be in communication with a vehicle computing system (VCS) (not shown) and/or body control module (BCM) (not shown) via a multiplexed data link communication bus, such as a High/Medium Speed Controller Area Network (CAN) bus, a Local Interconnect Network (LIN), or any such suitable data link communication bus generally situated to facilitate data transfer between control modules in a vehicle. The RKE system  18 , in response to receiving a request for a given vehicle function, e.g., a request to unlock vehicle doors, may transmit a command to the VCS and/or the BCM to fulfill that function. 
     In reference to  FIG. 2 , a vehicle equipped with the vacant parking spot notification system  10  is shown. The key fob  20  may include, but is not limited to, a processor  24 , a memory  26 , and a transponder  28 . Different hardware configurations may exist for the key fob  20 . In one example, the key fob  20  may further include one or more fob transceivers (not shown). The fob transceivers may be used to communicate with a vehicle computing system, telematics unit, instrument cluster, or any other module. The transceivers may be configured to communicate via wired and wireless links. Wireless links may include, but are not limited to, Bluetooth, RF, Wi-Fi, near field communication (NFC), etc. Wired links may include, but are not limited to, Universal Serial Bus (USB), Firewire, Serial, etc. Transponders may combine functionality with transceivers. Processor and memory may also be reconfigured to be in series or parallel communication with the transceivers. 
     The processor  24  may be any type of hardware or circuit capable of performing the method steps described, for example, a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination designed to perform the functions described herein, such as, but not limited to, a system functionality check. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration. 
     The memory  26  may be connected with the processor  24  or embedded as part of the processor  24 . This memory may be used for storing the various information or data used in the determinative or selective processes, as discussed in greater detail below. The memory may also be used for storing instructions of a system functionality check, passive anti-theft unique identifiers, and unique identification flags, such as those utilized in Ford&#39;s MyKey system. The memory can be both persistent and non-persistent. Memory can include random access memory (RAM), such as but not limited to, DRAM, SRAM, T-RAM, Z-RAM, TTRAM, etc. The memory may also include read only memory, such as but not limited to, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, etc. 
     The transponder  28  may communicate with the departing vehicle  16  in coordination with the pushbuttons  22 A-E of the key fob  20  to, for example, lock/unlock doors, activate different ignition cycles, activate trunk release, and validate custom setting features, similar to Ford&#39;s MyKey. The transponder  28  is in communication with a remote keyless entry (RKE) transceiver module  30  of the RKE system  18 . The transponder  28  may be used in conjunction with a vehicle packaged with a keyless ignition system, such as but not limited to a push-start system, or a classic ignition switch that uses a mechanical key, or any other suitable alternative. 
     In one example, the transponder  28  may communicate with a passive anti-theft system to allow remote keyless entry when in close proximity with a vehicle&#39;s transmitter (not shown). The vehicle transmitter may generate a radio signal detectable by the transponder  28  when it is in close proximity to the departing vehicle  16 . If the transponder  28  replies with a valid code, the passive anti-theft system will allow access control of the departing vehicle  16 , such as but not limited to, locking and unlocking vehicle doors. Additionally, the valid code may allow operational control of the departing vehicle  16 , such as, but not limited to, allowing the engine to be started. If an invalid code is sent, the access and operational control of the departing vehicle  16  may not be allowed. 
     The transponder  28  of the key fob  20  may also be an active transponder powered by a built-in energy source, such as a battery. The key fob may or may not include a mechanical key to operate the vehicle ignition. Additionally, the key fob  20  may or may not have passive remote keyless entry. Alternative embodiments of the key fob  20  may include various combinations that may or may not include a mechanical key, passive remote keyless entry, or both. In another alternative, a transmitter or transceiver may be used in place of a transponder. 
     As described previously, the key fob  20  may be in communication with the RKE transceiver module  30  of the RKE system  18 . In one example, the RKE transceiver module  30  may include a short-range wireless transmitter/receiver (not shown) that is capable of transmitting and receiving short-range signals to and from the key fob  20  that is typically carried by a vehicle user. The RKE transceiver module  30  may be further configured to compare a unique identifier sent from the key fob  20  to ensure secure wireless operation between the departing vehicle  16  and the key fob  20  or any other suitable means of identification. In one example, the key fob  20  may further be in communication with other vehicle control modules and systems, such as a passive anti-theft system, to ensure secure wireless operation between the departing vehicle  16  and the key fob  20 . 
     The RKE transceiver module  30  may communicate with the VCS and/or (BCM) configured to store a variety of functions that can be invoked by a plurality of pushbuttons  22 A-E of the key fob  20 . In one example, the BCM may unlock the doors, in response to receiving a request to unlock the doors from the RKE transceiver module  30 . A combination of and/or sequential selection of the commanding pushbuttons on the key fob  20  may allow for additional functions. For example, if a user presses the unlock pushbutton  22 C, the driver door will unlock, and if the user presses the unlock pushbutton  22 C twice, all the doors on the vehicle will unlock. Another example of a user combining inputs of the key fob pushbuttons to achieve additional commanding vehicle functions includes, but is not limited to, pressing the lock pushbutton  22 B twice within a predetermined period to hear an audible verification that the doors on the vehicle are locked. 
     In one example, at least one pushbutton of the key fob  20  may be configured to perform a first function, e.g., panic, when vehicle ignition is off and to perform a second function, e.g., parking spot availability notification, when vehicle ignition is on. The varying functionality of the at least one pushbutton of the key fob  20  may depend on a state of various operating parameters of the departing vehicle  16 , such as, but not limited to, odometer value, transmission gear selection, ignition ON/OFF state, vehicle speed, change in a vehicle geographic location and so on. 
     The RKE transceiver module  30  is in communication with a parking notification module  32 . The parking notification module  32  includes a location module  34 , a broadcast module  36 , and a departure module  38 . While various separate controllers are illustrated, it should be understood that any configuration of control modules should be considered within the scope of the present disclosure. References to a “controller” or “at least one controller” hereinafter are intended to refer to at least one of the location module  34 , broadcast module  36 , and departure module  38 , or any combination thereof. In one example, the key fob  20  may be in communication with the VCS of the departing vehicle  16  and may house one or more of the various separate controllers. 
     The location module  34  receives a signal from the RKE transceiver module  30  indicating that the departing vehicle  16  is about to leave its current geographic location. The location module  34  determines the current geographic location of the departing vehicle  16 . For example, the departing vehicle  16  may be equipped with a GPS unit  40  in communication with the location module  34 . The GPS unit  40  is configured to detect and capture GPS coordinates of the departing vehicle  16 . The GPS unit  40 , in response to a request from the location module  34 , provides the current geographic location, e.g., GPS coordinates, of the departing vehicle  16  to the location module  34 . In one example, the GPS unit  40  is incorporated as part of a navigation system of the departing vehicle  16 . 
     The location module  34  is in communication with the broadcast module  36 . The broadcast module  36  receives a geographic position, e.g., GPS coordinates, of the available parking spot and broadcasts it via a communication network. The geographic position of the available parking spot may correspond to the geographic location of the departing vehicle  16  at a time the location module  34  sent a request to the GPS unit  40  to determine the geographic location of the departing vehicle  16 . The broadcast module  36  may use a V2V network to transmit the geographic position of the available parking spot to the arriving vehicle  12 . In another example, the broadcast module  36  may transmit the geographic position of the available parking spot via a wireless network to a central station (not shown) for further distribution to one or more vehicles looking for a vacant parking spot. In one example, the broadcast module  36  may broadcast additional data related to the available parking spot, such as a parking structure level, lot, row, zone number and so on. 
     The broadcast module  36  is in communication with the departure module  38 . Prior to broadcasting the geographic position of the available parking spot, the broadcast module  36  may send a request to the departure module  38  to confirm that the departing vehicle  16  left the current geographic location. The departure module  38  determines whether the departing vehicle  16  left the current geographic location by analyzing one or more departure indicators, i.e., operating parameters reflective of vehicle departure. For example, the departure module  38  may be in communication with one or more systems and modules (not shown) of the departing vehicle  16 , such as a body control module (BCM), a navigation system, a telematics system, instrument panel cluster (IPC), steering column control module (SCCM), a transmission control module (TCM), engine control module (ECM), braking system control module (BSCM), and so on, and may request information related to one or more operating parameters of the departing vehicle  16 . The operating parameters may include, but are not limited to, odometer value, ignition ON/OFF state, transmission gear selection state, brake pedal and brake pedal position state, vehicle speed, acceleration, vehicle geographic location, engine temperature, and so on. 
     In another example, the departure module  38  may receive information related to one or more operating parameters of the departing vehicle  16  from one or more sensors (not shown), such as an accelerator pedal position sensor (APPS), brake pedal and brake pedal position sensor (BPPS), a gear selector that communicates a gear selection (PRNDL) signal, engine temperature sensor, G-sensor, and so on. The input signals may be communicated from the vehicle system components themselves, or device-specific controllers, or may be received from various vehicle system sensors, antennas, or manual inputs, such as those described above. 
     The departure module  38  determines whether the departing vehicle  16  left the current geographic location by analyzing one or more of the received input signals. In one example, the departure module  38  determines that the departing vehicle  16  left the current geographic location in response to receiving one or more input signals indicating that vehicle odometer value change exceeds a predetermined value. In another example, the departure module  38  determines that the departing vehicle  16  left the current geographic location in response to receiving one or more input signals indicating that transmission gear selection changed from a first predetermined value to a second predetermined value, e.g., from parked gear (P) to reverse gear (R). In yet another example, the departure module  38  determines that the departing vehicle  16  left the current geographic location in response to receiving one or more input signals indicating that a new geographic location of the departing vehicle  16  differs from a previously captured geographic location by a predetermined value. 
     In still another example, the departure module  38  determines that the departing vehicle  16  left the current geographic location in response to receiving input signals indicating a change in odometer value, gear selection, or vehicle location within a predetermined period. For example, the departure module  38  may start a countdown timer at a time when it receives a request for a confirmation that the departing vehicle  16  left the current geographic location. The departure module  38  may send a signal to the broadcast module  36  indicating that the departing vehicle  16  did not leave the current geographic location, in response to the countdown timer expiring before the departure module  38  receives one or more input signals confirming that the departing vehicle  16  vacated the parking spot. 
     The departure module  38  may send a signal to the broadcast module  36  confirming that the departing vehicle  16  left the current geographic location in response to receiving input signals confirming that the departing vehicle  16  vacated the parking spot before the expiration of the countdown timer. The broadcast module  36  broadcasts geographic position, e.g., GPS coordinates, of the vacant parking spot, in response to receiving a signal from the departure module  38  confirming that the departing vehicle  16  vacated the parking spot. The geographic position may correspond to the geographic location of the departing vehicle  16  at a time the location module  34  sent a request to the GPS unit  40  to determine the geographic location of the departing vehicle  16 . 
     In an example, the broadcast module  36  may transmit the geographic position of the vacant parking spot to the arriving vehicle  12  use a V2V network or transmit the geographic position of the vacant parking spot via a wireless network to a central station for further distribution to one or more vehicles looking for a vacant parking spot. The broadcast module  36  may be further configured to broadcast data indicative of the geographic position of the available parking spot, such as, but not limited to, a parking structure level, lot, row, zone number, and so on. In another example, the broadcast module  36  may stop broadcasting the geographic position, e.g., GPS coordinates, of the available parking spot after a predetermined period. 
     In reference to  FIG. 3 , a control strategy  42  for providing a vacant parking spot notification using wireless communication is shown. The control strategy  42  may begin at block  44  where the parking notification module  32  of the departing vehicle  16  receives a signal indicating that the departing vehicle  16  is about to leave the geographic location it currently occupies. For example, the location module  34  of the parking notification module  32  may receive a signal from the RKE transceiver module  30  indicating that the departing vehicle  16  is about to leave the current geographic location. 
     The parking notification module  32  detects the current geographic coordinates at block  46 , in response to receiving a signal indicating that the departing vehicle  16  is about to leave the geographic location it currently occupies. For example, the location module  34  in communication with the GPS unit  40  may request the current GPS coordinates of the departing vehicle  16 . The location module  34  may then selectively forward the current geographic location to the broadcast module  36 . 
     At block  48  the parking notification module  32  analyzes one or more departure indicators, i.e., vehicle operating parameters that may be indicative of the departing vehicle  16  having vacated its current geographic location. For example, the departure module  38  in communication with a plurality of systems, modules, and sensors of the departing vehicle  16  may receive information related to one or more operating parameters of the departing vehicle  16 . The operating parameters may include, but are not limited to, odometer value, transmission gear selection, ignition ON/OFF state, brake pedal and brake pedal position state, vehicle speed, acceleration, vehicle geographic location, engine temperature, and sensor inputs, such as the APPS, BPPS, gear selector that communicates a gear selection (PRNDL) signal, engine temperature sensor, G-sensor, and so on. 
     The parking notification module  32  determines at block  50  whether the departing vehicle  16  vacated the current geographic location. For example, the departure module  38  may determine that the departing vehicle  16  left the current geographic location in response to receiving input signals indicating one or more of the following operating parameters: a new odometer value of the departing vehicle  16  differs from a previous a previously captured odometer value by a predetermined value, a transmission gear state changed from a first predetermined gear state to a second predetermined gear state, a new geographic location of the departing vehicle  16  differs from the previously captured geographic location by a predetermined distance, and so on. 
     In another example, the departure module  38  determines that the departing vehicle  16  left the current geographic location in response to receiving input signals indicating a change in vehicle odometer value, transmission gear, vehicle location or vehicle speed within a predetermined period. In such an example, the departure module  38  determines that the departing vehicle  16  did not leave the current geographic location in response to failing to receive input signals indicating a change in vehicle odometer value, transmission gear, vehicle location or vehicle speed within a predetermined period. The control strategy  42  returns to block  44  in response to the departure module  38  sending a signal to the broadcast module  36  indicating that the departing vehicle  16  did not leave the current geographic location. 
     At block  52  the parking notification module  32  broadcasts a geographic position, e.g., GPS coordinates, of the available parking spot in response to confirming that the departing vehicle  16  vacated the parking spot. The geographic position may correspond to the geographic location of the departing vehicle  16  at a time the location module  34  sent a request to the GPS unit  40  to determine the geographic location of the departing vehicle  16 . For example, the broadcast module  36  of the parking notification module  32  may transmit the geographic position of the vacant parking spot to the arriving vehicle  12  using a V2V network or transmit the current geographic location of the departing vehicle  16  via a wireless network to a central station for further distribution to one or more vehicles looking for a vacant parking spot. 
     The broadcast module  36  may further broadcast data related to geographic position of the available parking spot, such as, but not limited to, a parking structure level, lot, row, zone number and so on. In one example, the broadcast module  36  may stop broadcasting the geographic position, e.g., GPS coordinates, of the available parking spot after a predetermined period. At this point the control strategy  42  may end. In some embodiments the control strategy  42  described in  FIG. 3  may be repeated in response to receiving a signal indicating that the departing vehicle  16  is about to leave the current geographic location or in response to receiving another signal. 
     While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.