Vehicle repositioning system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10322719-B2
Application number	US-201615259172-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 8, 2016
Priority date	Sep 8, 2016
Publication date	Jun 18, 2019
Grant date	Jun 18, 2019

Abstract

A vehicle system to reduce parking tickets is described. The vehicle system includes a communication interface that receives vehicle operator preferences regarding ticketing risk and parking preferences. A processing device calculates an instruction signal which is sent to an autonomous mode controller. The autonomous mode controller moves the vehicle to a pick up location or a new parking spot as a function of the instruction signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle system comprising:
a communications interface that receives vehicle operator preferences from one of a cell phone and an infotainment system, and parking meter expiration information from a parking meter; a processing device configured to assess a ticketing risk, the ticketing risk determined from a plurality of factors which are additive, the factors selected from a list including peak working hours; inclement weather; other parking meters expiring soon; an APP indicating expiring cars being ticketed; and a social/sporting event or holiday, the processing device configured to generate an instruction signal, where the instruction signal is a function of the ticketing risk; and an autonomous mode controller configured to receive the instruction signal and operate a vehicle as a function of the instruction signal.

2. A vehicle system as in claim 1 where the instruction signal directs the autonomous mode controller to move the vehicle to a new parking spot based on a cost preference.

3. A vehicle system as in claim 1 where the instruction signal directs the autonomous mode controller to circle the vehicle.

4. A vehicle system as in claim 1 where the instruction signal directs the vehicle to move to a new parking spot.

5. A vehicle system as in claim 4 where the instruction signal directs the vehicle to move a new parking spot based on price.

6. A vehicle system as in claim 1 wherein the communication interface is a cell phone.

7. A vehicle system as in claim 1 wherein the instruction signal is a function of at least one of peak working hours, inclement weather, other parking meters, other cars being ticketed and current local events.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Dudar Aed M
• Bohr Scott A

Classifications

• G08G1/144 Primary

  on portable or mobile units, e.g. personal digital assistant [PDA] · CPC title

• G08G1/096716

  where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control · CPC title

• G07B15/02 Primary

  taking into account a variable factor such as distance or time, e.g. for passenger transport, parking systems or car rental systems (G07B15/06 takes precedence; taximeters G07B13/00; parking meters per se G07F17/24) · CPC title

• G08G1/096775

  where the origin of the information is a central station · CPC title

• G06Q10/00 Primary

  Administration; Management · CPC title