Patent Publication Number: US-2016232789-A1

Title: Method of Guiding a User to a Suitable Parking Spot

Description:
The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 62/113,680 filed on Feb. 9, 2015. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to navigating systems. More specifically, the present invention is a method which may be used to recognize potential parking spots and direct a user to an identified suitable parking spot. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     GPS units and smartphones with similar capabilities are widely used to help people get from one place to another. While these products are relatively efficient in getting users to a destination, they are not capable of directing users to an open parking spot. This can be a major hassle for the user, especially in cities or at crowded events where parking may be scarce. In such situations, it is not uncommon for users to be forced to park far away from their desired location. It is also not uncommon for users to park far away from their destination, only to find that there is a much closer spot that they could have taken. 
     Accordingly, there is a present need for a method of directing users to a destination and finding a parking spot that is close to said destination. The present invention is a method and that solves this problem by providing users with live updates on where to find a convenient parking spot. This is done through analyzing streets and parking lots via satellite monitoring or other comparable methods. The method accesses information from satellite pictures determines if a user can fit into a potential parking spot. The user is able to register their car such that the vehicle dimensions can be readily compared with the calculated size of a spot. The preferred embodiment of the present invention is a mobile application and is able to detect potential hazards, as well as areas in which parking is not authorized. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a system diagram of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart describing the general process of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart describing the steps of a first embodiment of sending the parking search request, wherein the first embodiment is characterized by being triggered by a parking search radius. 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart describing the steps of a second embodiment of sending the parking search request, wherein the second embodiment is characterized by being after receiving a user input. 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart describing the steps of locating potential parking spots through the use of a maximum search radius. 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart describing the steps of locating potential parking spots using an elevated camera. 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart describing the steps of executing a filtering process using an elevated camera. 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart describing the steps of executing a filtering process using an elevated camera and a size threshold. 
         FIG. 9  is a flowchart describing the steps of locating potential parking spots using an elevated measuring instrument. 
         FIG. 10  is a flowchart describing the steps of executing a filtering process using an elevated measuring instrument. 
         FIG. 11  is a flowchart describing the steps of executing a filtering process using an elevated measuring instrument and a size threshold. 
         FIG. 12  is a flowchart describing the steps of executing a filtering process by identifying potential parking hazards 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the present invention is a method of guiding a user to a suitable parking spot. The present invention is used to detect suitable parking spots and direct users to the location of such spots. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method is performed by a system which comprises at least one remote server and a portable computing device (Step A). The remote server is used to manage various tasks related to the recognition and verification of suitable parking spots. The remote server is communicably coupled to the portable computing device. The portable computing device is used to relay the location of the user to the remote server and functions as a means of interfacing with the system. The system of the preferred embodiment further comprises a geospatial vehicle detection system (Step B). The geospatial vehicle detection system is used to recognize locations in which a user can park their vehicle. The remote server is communicably coupled to the geospatial vehicle detection system. This connection allows real-time information to be sent to the remote server for analysis. 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , the overall process for the method allows the present invention to effectively and efficiently find a suitable parking spot, a parking search request for a desired location is sent from the portable computing device to the remote server (Step C). In many situations, the user&#39;s desired location or current location may not have adequate parking. Accordingly, the parking search request may apply to an area surrounding the desired location. Potential parking spots are located near the desired location with the geospatial vehicle detection system (Step D). To ensure that the user will be directed to a suitable parking spot, the potential parking spots must be further analyzed. At least one filtering process is executed with the remote server in order to identify suitable parking spots amongst the potential parking spots (Step E). The at least one filtering process can help to ensure that several requirements are met. This can include, but is not limited to, ensuring that the user&#39;s vehicle fits within the potential parking spots, ensuring that the user can legally park in the potential parking spots, and ensuring that the user can safely park in the potential parking spots. After being properly identified, the suitable parking spots are displayed through the portable computing device (Step F). This allows the user to select which suitable parking spot is most convenient to park in. 
     In reference to  FIG. 3 , the present invention has two main embodiments related to triggering the parking search request. In the first embodiment of the parking search request, a parking search radius is provided. The parking search radius is centered around the desired location and is used detect if the user is close to the desired location. Similar to a standard global positioning system (GPS) device, the portable computing device is used to prompt the user to select a travel trip. A final destination of the travel trip is designated as the desired location. In order to monitor the whereabouts of the user and provide accurate driving instructions, the current geospatial location is retrieved from the portable computing device in real-time. As the user progresses towards the desired location, the current geospatial location is updated. Step D is initiated if the current geospatial location is within the parking radius. This allows the present invention to automatically find a suitable parking spot for the user as they approach the desired location. 
     In the second embodiment of the parking search request, shown in  FIG. 4 , the user is prompted to execute step D through the portable computing device. This may be done through voice recognition, manual input, or any other suitable means. Similar to the first embodiment of the parking search request, the current geospatial location is retrieved from the portable computing device in real-time. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment because the current geospatial location is designated as the desired location before executing step D. By setting the current geospatial location as the desired location, the user is able to immediately begin the process of finding a suitable parking spot. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a maximum search radius is provided to prioritize how potential parking spots are located (Step G). The maximum search radius is centered around the desired location and may be sized based on user preference or simply by a system default. In reference to  FIG. 5 , the system searches for the potential parking spots within the maximum search radius during step D (Step H). If there are a large number of potential parking spots within the maximum search radius, the user will likely be able to find a suitable parking spot that located conveniently near the desired location. However, there may not always be an abundance of parking available. If the potential parking spots are not found within the maximum search radius, the maximum search radius is expanded (Step I). In the event that the potential parking spots are still not found, steps H and I are repeated until the potential parking spots are found within the maximum search radius (Step J). By following these steps, the system searches for potential parking spots which are the most convenient for the user and adjusts the search if necessary due to limited parking availability. 
     After a parking search request has been sent to the remote server, there are several methods which may be used to locate potential parking spots. As can be seen in  FIG. 6 , a first embodiment of the geospatial vehicle detection system is an elevated camera. The elevated camera is positioned proximal to the desired location in order to capture top-down photographs of potential parking spots. The elevated camera may be mounted onto a satellite, a drone, a plane, or any aerial vehicle. Alternatively, the elevated camera may be mounted atop a building, a street lamp, or some other tall structure. At least one baseline photograph is captured with the elevated camera. The at least one baseline photograph is used as a point of comparison for photographs taken in real-time. When the remote server receives a parking search request, at least one current photograph is captured with the elevated camera during step D. The current photograph is used to accurately gauge the present availability of parking near the desired location. The baseline photograph is compared to the current photograph in order to identify visual differences between the baseline photograph and the current photograph. The visual differences may be identified using photo-recognition technology. The visual differences are designated as the potential parking spots and may be further examined before being considered suitable parking spots. 
     In reference to  FIG. 7 , the elevated camera is also used in the at least one filtering process. In order to filter unsuitable parking spots from the potential parking spots, vehicle dimensions are retrieved through the portable computing device. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the user is able to manually select the type of vehicle being used. With a vehicle selected, the vehicle dimensions which correspond to the selected vehicle may be retrieved. The user may be given the option to store one or more selected vehicles on the portable computing device for easy access. Instead of automatically retrieving the vehicle dimensions based on a selected vehicle, the user may alternatively be prompted to enter vehicle dimensions through the portable computing device. Actual dimensions for each of the potential parking spots are measured by visually analyzing the current photograph. The vehicle dimensions are compared to the actual dimensions for each of the potential parking spots in order to identify the suitable parking spots amongst potential parking spots. In order for a potential parking spot to be considered a suitable parking spot, the vehicle dimensions must be smaller than the actual dimensions of the potential parking spot. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a size threshold is provided for the vehicle dimensions. The size threshold is used to account for extra space needed to get into and out of a parking spot. In reference to  FIG. 8 , the actual dimensions for each of the potential parking spots is compared to the size threshold in order to filter out unsuitable spots from the plurality of potential parking spots. The unsuitable spots are smaller than a minimum allowable size for the suitable parking spots and therefore would not be a viable parking option. 
     In a second embodiment of the geospatial vehicle detection system, shown in  FIG. 9 , an elevated measuring instrument is provided as the geospatial vehicle detection system. The elevated measuring instrument is positioned proximal to the desired location in order to make detailed measurements of potential parking spots. The elevated measuring instrument can include, but is not limited to, sound navigation and ranging (Sonar) technology and light detection and ranging (Lidar) technology. At least one baseline measurement is captured with the elevated measuring instrument. The at least one baseline measurement is used as a point of comparison for measurements taken in real-time. When the remote server receives a parking search request, at least one current measurement is captured with the elevated measuring instrument, during step D. The current measurement is used to accurately gauge the present availability of parking near the desired location. The baseline measurement is compared to the current measurement in order to identify dimensional differences between the baseline measurement and the current measurement. The dimensional differences may be signified by the height difference between the road and a vehicle. The dimensional differences are designated as the potential parking spots and may be further examined before being considered suitable parking spots. 
     In reference to  FIG. 10 , the elevated measuring instrument is also used in the at least one filtering process. In order to filter unsuitable parking spots from the potential parking spots, vehicle dimensions are retrieved through the portable computing device. The vehicle dimensions are compared to the at least one current measurement for each of the potential parking spots in order to identify the suitable parking spots amongst potential parking spots. In order for a potential parking spot to be considered a suitable parking spot, the vehicle dimensions must be smaller than the actual dimensions of the potential parking spot. 
     In reference to  FIG. 11 , the size threshold may also be applied for measurements taken by the elevated measuring instrument. The current measurements for each of the potential parking spots are compared to the size threshold in order to filter out unsuitable spots from the plurality of potential parking spots. The unsuitable spots are smaller than a minimum allowable size for the suitable parking spots and therefore would not be a viable parking option. 
     In reference to  FIG. 12 , parking verification information is provided for the at least one filtering process. The parking verification information is used to determine if a potential parking spot is a suitable parking spot or an unsuitable parking spot. Potential parking hazards are extracted from the parking verification information and are used to identify potential parking spots as unsuitable parking spots. The parking verification information may come in various forms, including aerial photographs, city records, and traffic photographs. The potential parking hazards extracted from the parking verification information may include the locations of fire hydrants, fire lanes, and restricted areas. Further, the parking verification information may include measurements which detect a sidewalk or a dip in the height of a curb. The dip in the height of a curb would signify the presence of a driveway or crosswalk. The potential parking hazards are compared to each of the potential parking spots in order to filter out unsuitable spots amongst the potential parking spots. By eliminating each of the unsuitable parking spots, a suitable parking spot may be selected and pursued. 
     Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.