Patent ID: 7893847

Claim:
A system for determining availability of vehicle parking, comprising: a sensor system configured to monitor a plurality of parking spaces, the sensor system including at least one sensor element that generates a sensor data output signal; and a parking availability determiner that receives the sensor data output signal and generates parking availability information; wherein the parking availability determiner is configured to determine from the received sensor data output signal at least one parking space of the plurality of parking spaces that is occupied, to include an indication in the parking availability information that the determined at least one parking space is occupied, and if at least one further parking space is included in the plurality of parking spaces other than the determined at least one parking space, to include an indication in the parking availability information that the at least one further parking space is available for parking; wherein each parking space of the plurality of parking spaces is marked with a corresponding symbol; wherein the at least one sensor element includes an image capturing device configured to capture an image of the plurality of parking spaces, and to generate image data corresponding to the captured image, the image data being included in the sensor data output signal; and wherein the parking availability determiner is configured to analyze the image data to detect each parking space having the corresponding symbol at least partially obstructed in the captured image, and to include an indication in the parking availability information that each parking space having an at least partially obstructed corresponding symbol is occupied.