Claims:We Claim:
1. A method of determining at least one parking slot in a parking space, said method comprising:
receiving parking slot availability information from a plurality of parked vehicles in said parking space by a central processor located in one host vehicle of said plurality of parked vehicles using a vehicle to vehicle network protocol, said plurality of parked vehicles forming a vehicle network and communicating with each other through said vehicle to vehicle network protocol; and
updating said parking slot availability information in a database present in said central processor in real time, said database being accessible by said plurality of parked vehicles in said vehicle network.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said parking slot availability information is received by said central processor at regular intervals.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said parking slot availability information comprises location co-ordinates of at least one parking slot in said parking space.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said updating of said database is performed using a counter that counts total number of parking slots comprised in said parking slot availability information in real time.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said parking slot availability information is determined using a plurality of driver assistance sensors located in said plurality of parked vehicles in said parking space.

6. A method of assisting an oncoming vehicle for determining at least one parking slot in a parking space, said method comprising:
transmitting a free space request signal, to a central processor located in at least one host vehicle parked in said parking space, by said oncoming vehicle using a vehicle to vehicle network protocol; and
receiving parking slot availability information from said central processor, by said oncoming vehicle, said parking slot availability information indicating at least one parking slot for assisting said oncoming vehicle for parking in said parking space.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein, said parking slot availability information comprises location co-ordinates of said at least one parking slot in said parking space.

8. A method of assisting an oncoming vehicle for parking in a parking space, said method comprising:
receiving parking slot availability information from a plurality of parked vehicles in said parking space by a central processor located in one host vehicle of said plurality of parked vehicles using a vehicle to vehicle network protocol, said plurality of parked vehicles forming a vehicle network and communicating with each other through said vehicle to vehicle network protocol;
updating said parking slot availability information in a database present in said central processor in real time, said database being accessible by said plurality of parked vehicles in said vehicle network;
receiving a free space request signal from said oncoming vehicle, by said central processor, using said vehicle to vehicle network protocol; and
broadcasting said parking slot availability information to said oncoming vehicle using said vehicle to vehicle network protocol to indicate at least one parking slot for assisting said oncoming vehicle for parking in said parking space.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said parking slot availability information is received from said plurality of parked vehicles at regular intervals.

10. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said parking slot availability information comprises location co-ordinates of said at least one parking slot in said parking space.

11. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said updating of said parking slot availability information is performed using a counter that counts total number of parking slots comprised in said parking slot availability information in real time.

12. The method as claimed in claim 8 further comprising:
adding said oncoming vehicle to said vehicle network in response to receiving said free space request signal, from said oncoming vehicle, by said central processor.

, Description:Field of the invention
[0001] This invention is related to a method of determining at least one parking slot in a parking space.

Background of the invention
[0002] As number of vehicles increases, insufficiency for parking space arises. In such a situation there is a need to ensure that the parking spaces are utilized efficiently. Various parking management solutions for utilizing parking spaces efficiently are employed at the parking spaces.
[0003] According to KR100654847, various local controllers are being placed at varying locations of the parking lot. A central controller is being connected to all the local controllers. The local controllers determine the parking spaces using sensors and the determined parking spaces are transmitted to the central controller. The central controller further displays the parking spaces. Further, the car parked in a parking space may include ultrasonic signals for determining parking space availability. However, this technique requires use of additional sensors like the ultrasonic sensor.
[0004] Hence there is a need for determining parking space availability and thus ensuring parking space is utilized efficiently.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings
[0005] Figure 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method of determining at least one parking slot in a parking space, in accordance with one embodiment of this disclosure;
[0006] Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of assisting an oncoming vehicle for determining at least one parking slot in a parking space, in accordance with one embodiment of this disclosure; and
[0007] Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of assisting an oncoming vehicle for parking in a parking space, in accordance with another embodiment of this disclosure.

Detailed Description
[0008] The present disclosure discloses a method of determining at least one parking slot in a parking space. The method comprises receiving parking slot availability information from a plurality of parked vehicles in the parking space by a central processor located in one host vehicle of the plurality of parked vehicles using a vehicle to vehicle network protocol, the plurality of parked vehicles forming a vehicle network and communicating with each other through the vehicle to vehicle network protocol and updating the parking slot availability information in a database present in the central processor in real time, the database being accessible by the plurality of parked vehicles in the vehicle network.
[0009] The present disclosure also discloses a method of assisting an oncoming vehicle for parking in a parking space. The method comprises transmitting a free space request signal, to a central processor located in at least one host vehicle parked in the parking space, by the oncoming vehicle using a vehicle to vehicle network protocol and receiving parking slot availability information from the central processor, by the oncoming vehicle, the parking slot availability information indicating at least one parking slot for assisting the oncoming vehicle for parking in the parking space.
[0010] The present disclosure further discloses a method of assisting an oncoming vehicle for parking in a parking space. The method comprises receiving parking slot availability information from a plurality of parked vehicles in the parking space by a central processor located in one host vehicle of the plurality of parked vehicles using a vehicle to vehicle network protocol, the plurality of parked vehicles forming a vehicle network and communicating with each other through the vehicle to vehicle network protocol, updating the parking slot availability information in a database present in the central processor in real time, the database being accessible by the plurality of parked vehicles in the vehicle network, receiving a free space request signal from the oncoming vehicle, by the central processor, using the vehicle to vehicle network protocol and broadcasting the parking slot availability information to the oncoming vehicle using the vehicle to vehicle network protocol to indicate at least one parking slot for assisting the oncoming vehicle for parking in the parking space.
[0011] Figure 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method of determining at least one parking slot in a parking space, in accordance with one embodiment of this disclosure.
[0012] At step 105, parking slot availability information is received from a plurality of parked vehicles in the parking space by a central processor. Parking slot availability information refers to total number of parking slots available for parking an oncoming vehicle. In addition to the total number of parking slots available, the parking slot availability information comprises location co-ordinates of each parking slot. The central processor is located in one host vehicle which is one among the parked vehicles present in the parking space.
[0013] The parking slot availability information is obtained using various driver assistance sensors installed in the parked vehicles. For example, if one vehicle is being parked in the parking space, then the driver assistance sensors present in the vehicle are adapted to sense presence of any obstacles within a pre-defined threshold area. If presence of any such obstacle is undetected by the driver assistance sensors then it is considered that a parking slot is available.
[0014] Similarly, every such vehicle installed with such driver assistance sensors are adapted to determine availability of parking slots. The availability of parking slots determined by each vehicle parked in the parking space is thus received by the central processor that is located in one host vehicle parked in the parking space.
[0015] The parking slot availability information from each of the vehicles parked in the parking space is received by the central processor using a vehicle to vehicle network protocol. That is, the vehicles parked in the parking space communicate with the central processor using the vehicle to vehicle network protocol. Such vehicle to vehicle network protocol are wireless protocols, for example, but not limited to, dedicated short range communication (DSRC).
[0016] The parking slot availability information from each of the vehicles is received by the central processor at regular intervals. That is, the driver assistance sensors are adapted to scan for availability of parking slots at regular intervals. For achieving this functionality, the driver assistance sensors are connected to the battery in a manner such that the driver assistance sensors are permanently turned-ON or the driver assistance sensors are programmed to be turned-ON at regular interval. Such turning-ON of the driver assistance sensors is achieved by connecting the driver assistance sensors to KL30 pin of the battery and a switch for operating the driver assistance sensors based on the battery power. Thus the central processor receives such parking slot availability information at regular intervals.
[0017] The vehicles parked in the parking space form a vehicle network with the host vehicle comprising a central processor. Such vehicle network enables all the vehicles to communicate with each other using the vehicle to vehicle network protocol. Therefore, if one vehicle detects availability of a parking slot, then such availability of the parking slot information may also be received by other vehicles in addition to the central processor.
[0018] It should be noted that, if the host vehicle comprising the central processor performs an exit from the parking space, then another vehicle in the vehicle network will now render as the host vehicle and the processor present in this host vehicle will be considered as the central processor. This central processor will now receive the parking slot availability information from the parked vehicles in the parking space.
[0019] In one embodiment, two or more central processors located in two or more vehicles, respectively, may be adapted to receive parking slot availability information from the vehicles parked in the parking space.
[0020] The parking slot availability information is received by the central processor so that total number of parking slots available at a given instant of time is maintained for enabling oncoming vehicle to instantaneously obtain a parking slot when the oncoming vehicle arrives into the parking space.
[0021] At step 110, the parking slot availability information is updated in a database that is present in the central processor. Updating the parking slot availability information in the database occurs in real time. The database is stored in a memory unit of the central processor and is accessible by the vehicles present in the vehicle network.
[0022] In one embodiment, the database is updated using data held by a counter. The counter is present in the central processor and is used for dynamic counting of the parking slot availablity information obtained from each vehicle in response to the central processor receiving the parking slot availability information from the vehicles parked in the parking space. Therefore, the central processor reads the data held by the counter and further writes that data into the database. Hence, the total number of parking slots available at a given instant is stored in the database.
[0023] In another embodiment, the total number of parking slots available at a given instant can be obtained directly by reading data from the counter in the absence of the database. Similar to the above case, the counter is accessible by all the vehicles present in the vehicle network. Hence, every vehicle in the vehicle network is aware of the total number of parking slots available at a given instant of time.
[0024] The database may be updated at regular intervals or dynamically when the counter value changes. Updating the database includes increase in the total number of parking slots available when a free space is obtained and decrease in the total number of parking slots available when a free space is occupied by the oncoming vehicle.
[0025] In one example, consider ten vehicles parked in the parking space. Of the ten vehicles parked, driver assistance sensors in five vehicles may determine availability of parking slot because the driver assistance sensors in each of the five vehicle do not detect presence of any obstacles within a pre-defined threshold area. Hence, five parking slots are considered to be available. Hence, each of the five vehicles transmit the parking slot availability information to the central processor located in the host vehicle. As the central processor receives such parking slot availability information from each of the five vehicles, the counter is dynamically updated. Hence, the data held by the counter is five. The central processor thus reads this counter data and further writes the same data into the database. In addition to the number of parking slots available, the parking slot availability information sent by each of the five vehicles also comprises location co-ordinates of each parking slot. Such location co-ordinates enables the oncoming vehicle to locate the parking slot in the parking space accurately.
[0026] Further, if one of the parking slot is occupied by an oncoming vehicle, then only four vehicles will now be transmitting the parking slot availability information to the central processor. Therefore, the central processor thus receives parking slot availability information from the four vehicles. Hence, the counter now updates its data to four. The central processor reads this data from the counter and further writes this data into the database. Further, the location co-ordinates of each of the four parking slots are also updated in the database.
[0027] Therefore, the method disclosed in this embodiment enables a technique to determine parking slot availability information which also includes the location co-ordinates of each parking slot, in real time, by one of the vehicle (host vehicle) parked in the parking space. Further, using vehicle to vehicle communication, each vehicle in the parking space also communicates with each other for exchanging the parking slot availability information. Hence, there is no need for specific devices such as camera, various sensors, and processors that are required to be installed in various points of the parking spaces for determining such parking space information.
[0028] Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of assisting an oncoming vehicle for determining at least one parking slot in a parking space, in accordance with one embodiment of this disclosure.
[0029] At step 205, a free space request signal is transmitted to a central processor located in at least one host vehicle parked in the parking space. The free space request signal is transmitted by the oncoming vehicle using a vehicle to vehicle network protocol.
[0030] The free space request signal is an electrical signal that is transmitted by a transmitter present in the oncoming vehicle. The free space request signal indicates that the oncoming vehicle is attempting to obtain a parking slot for parking in a parking space.
[0031] The free space request signal is transmitted by the oncoming vehicle when the oncoming vehicle enters the parking space. Vehicle to vehicle network protocol is used for transmitting such free space request signal by the oncoming vehicle. Such transmission of free space request signal by the oncoming vehicle also enables the oncoming vehicle to become a part of the vehicle network so that the oncoming vehicle can communicate with other vehicles parked in the parking space.
[0032] In one embodiment, the free space request signal can also be transmitted to two or more central processors located in two or more host vehicles respectively.
[0033] At step 210, the oncoming vehicle receives the parking slot availability information from the central processor in response to transmitting the free space request signal. The parking slot availability information indicates at least one parking slot for assisting the oncoming vehicle for parking in the parking space. Since, the parking slot availability information also includes location co-ordinates of at least one parking slot, the oncoming vehicle utilizes the location co-ordinates for directing itself to the parking slot accurately.
[0034] The parking slot availability information from the central processor is received by the oncoming vehicle through the vehicle to vehicle network protocol. Such reception of the parking slot availability information causes the oncoming vehicle to include itself in the vehicle network.
[0035] In one case, the oncoming vehicle fails to receive the parking slot availability information from the central processor besides the transmission of the free space request signal to the central processor. Such failure to receive the parking slot availability information occurs due to the non-availability of the parking slot in the parking space. In such cases, the oncoming vehicle is prevented from including itself in the vehicle network.
[0036] In cases where there are two or more central processors present in the parking space then the oncoming vehicle may receive the parking slot availability information from those two or more central processors. In such cases, the oncoming vehicle may choose to utilize data obtained from any one of the central processors. Such selection can be done based on one or more parameters such as, but not limited to, closest position of the parking slot with respect to the current position of the oncoming vehicle. Degree of proximity of the parking slot from the current position of the oncoming vehicle is indicated by the location co-ordinates.
[0037] Therefore, the method disclosed in this embodiment enables an oncoming vehicle to obtain a parking slot by broadcasting a request signal indicating a request for parking slot when the oncoming vehicle enters the parking space. The central processor present in one host vehicle in the parking space receives this request signal and further responds to the request signal by transmitting the parking slot availability information so that the oncoming vehicle is notified of the available parking space and also is aware of exact location of the parking slot using the location co-ordinates data present in the parking slot availability information. Therefore, this method enables the vehicles to communicate with each other for assisting the oncoming vehicles to obtain parking slot in a parking space.
[0038] Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of assisting an oncoming vehicle for parking in a parking space, in accordance with another embodiment of this disclosure.
[0039] At step 305, a central processor receives parking slot availability information from a plurality of parked vehicles in the parking space. The central processor is located in one host vehicle of the parked vehicles present in the parking space. Parking slot availability information refers to total number of parking slots available so that an oncoming vehicle entering into the parking space can be parked. In addition to the total number of parking slots available, the parking slot availability information comprises location co-ordinates of each parking slot.
[0040] The parking slot availability information is obtained using various driver assistance sensors installed in the parked vehicles. The driver assistance sensors installed in the vehicle are adapted to sense presence of any obstacles within a pre-defined threshold area. If the driver assistance sensors do not detect any presence of such obstacle then it is considered that a parking slot is available.
[0041] Similarly, every such vehicle installed with such driver assistance sensors are adapted to determine availability of parking slots. The availability of parking slots determined by each vehicle parked in the parking space is thus received by the central processor that is located in one host vehicle which is one among the other vehicles parked in the parking space.
[0042] The parking slot availability information from each of the vehicles parked in the parking space is received by the central processor using a vehicle to vehicle network protocol. Such vehicle to vehicle network protocol are wireless protocols, for example, but not limited to, dedicated short range communication (DSRC). The parking slot availability information from each of the vehicles is received by the central processor at regular intervals. That is, the driver assistance sensors are adapted to scan for availability of parking slots at regular intervals.
[0043] The vehicles parked in the parking space form a vehicle network with the host vehicle comprising the central processor. Such vehicle network enables all the vehicles to communicate with each other using the vehicle to vehicle network protocol. Therefore, if one vehicle detects availability of a parking slot, then such availability of the parking slot information may also be received by other vehicles in addition to the central processor.
[0044] It should be noted that, if the host vehicle comprising the central processor performs an exit from the parking space, then another vehicle in the vehicle network will now render as the host vehicle and the processor present in this host vehicle will be considered as the central processor. This central processor will now receive the parking slot availability information from the parked vehicles in the parking space.
[0045] In one embodiment, two or more central processors located in two or more vehicles, respectively, may be adapted to receive parking slot availability information from the vehicles parked in the parking space.
[0046] The parking slot availability information is received by the central processor so that total number of parking slots available at a given instant of time is maintained.
[0047] At step 310, the parking slot availability information is updated in a database that is present in the central processor. Updating the parking slot availability information in the database occurs in real time. The database is stored in a memory unit of the central processor and is accessible by the vehicles present in the vehicle network.
[0048] In one embodiment, a counter is used for updating the database. The counter is present in the central processor and is adapted to dynamically count the parking slots available based on the parking slot availability information obtained by the central processor from each vehicle. Hence, data held by the counter is read by the central processor and further this data is written into the database by the central processor. Hence, the total number of parking slots available at a given instant is stored in the database.
[0049] In another embodiment, the total number of parking slots available at a given instant can be obtained directly by reading the data from the counter in the absence of the database. As the counter is accessible by all the vehicles present in the vehicle network, every vehicle in the vehicle network is made aware of the total number of parking slots available at a given instant of time.
[0050] The database may be updated at regular intervals or dynamically when the counter value changes. Updating the database includes increase in the total number of parking slots available when a free space is obtained and decrease in the total number of parking slots available when a free space is occupied by the oncoming vehicle.
[0051] In one example, consider ten vehicles parked in the parking space. Of the ten vehicles parked, driver assistance sensors in five vehicles may determine availability of parking slot because the driver assistance sensors in each of the five vehicle do not detect presence of any obstacles within a pre-defined threshold area. Hence, five parking slots are considered to be available. Hence, each of the five vehicles transmit the parking slot availability information to the central processor located in the host vehicle. As the central processor receives such parking slot availability information from each of the five vehicles, the counter is dynamically updated. Hence, the data held by the counter is five. The central processor thus reads this counter data and further writes the same data into the database. In addition to the number of parking slots available, the parking slot availability information sent by each of the five vehicles also comprises location co-ordinates of each parking slot. Such location co-ordinates enables the oncoming vehicle to locate the parking slot in the parking space accurately.
[0052] Further, if one of the parking slot is occupied by an oncoming vehicle, then only four vehicles will now be transmitting the parking slot availability information to the central processor. Therefore, the central processor thus receives parking slot availability information from the four vehicles. Hence, the counter now updates its data to four. The central processor reads this data from the counter and further writes this data into the database. Further, the location co-ordinates of each of the four parking slots are also updated in the database.
[0053] At step 315, a free space request signal is received by the central processor from an oncoming vehicle. The vehicle to vehicle network protocol is used by the oncoming vehicle to transmit the free space request signal to the central processor. The free space request signal provides an indication to the central processor that the oncoming vehicle is attempting to obtain a parking slot for parking in a parking space when the oncoming vehicle enters the parking space.
[0054] It should be noted that, such transmission of free space request signal by the oncoming vehicle enables the oncoming vehicle to become a part of the vehicle network so that the oncoming vehicle can communicate with other vehicles parked in the parking space.
[0055] At step 320, the parking slot availability information is broadcasted, by the central processor, to the oncoming vehicle in response to reception of the free space request signal. Broadcasting of the parking slot availability information, by the central processor, is performed using vehicle to vehicle network protocol.
[0056] The parking slot availability information, broadcasted, is thus received by the oncoming vehicle and hence the oncoming vehicle is indicated of at least one parking slot for assisting the oncoming vehicle to park in the parking space.
[0057] Therefore, according to the embodiment explained in conjunction with Figure 3, parking space availability information is generated by the vehicles parked in the parking space at a given instant of time. Further, the parking space availability information, generated, is used by an oncoming vehicle to exactly locate the parking slot when the oncoming vehicle enters the parking space. Since the parking space availability information is generated by the vehicles already parked in the parking space, there is no need for additional cameras and sensors for generating such information. Further, since the oncoming vehicle is adapted to receive and interpret the parking space availability information generated by the central processor (parked vehicles), need for a separate controller to provide such guidance to the oncoming vehicle for parking is eliminated.
[0058] It must be understood that the embodiments explained in the above detailed description is only illustrative and does not limit the scope of this invention. Any modification in the embodiments are envisaged and form a part of this invention. The scope of this invention is limited only by the claims.