device and method for operating a parking lot

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016155331-A1
Application number	US-201514956647-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 2, 2015
Priority date	Dec 2, 2014
Publication date	Jun 2, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A device for operating a parking lot, includes a communication interface, which is configured to receive a parking inquiry for a vehicle in the parking lot from a user of a communication network via the communication network, and a processor, which, in response to the received parking inquiry, configured to ascertain a parking position in the parking lot for the vehicle based on an instantaneous and/or expected number of vehicles situated in an entrance area of the parking lot, the communication interface being configured to transmit the ascertained parking position via the communication network to the user so that the vehicle may park in the ascertained parking position. Also described is a method for operating a parking lot and a computer program therefor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A device for operating a parking lot, comprising:
a communication interface to receive a parking inquiry for a vehicle in the parking lot from a user of a communication network via the communication network; and a processor, which, in response to the received parking inquiry, is configured to ascertain a parking position in the parking lot for the vehicle based on an instantaneous and/or expected number of vehicles situated in an entrance area of the parking lot; wherein the communication interface is configured to transmit the ascertained parking position via the communication network to the user so that the vehicle may park in the ascertained parking position.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to ascertain the parking position in that the processor assigns to every possible parking position in the parking lot a length of time for reaching the same starting from the entrance area, and assigns to every trajectory point of a trajectory leading from the entrance area to the particular parking position a point in time at which a vehicle will pass the same following a start, that parking position being selected as the parking position to be transmitted from the possible parking positions so that the vehicle of the parking inquiry does not block a driving area of a following vehicle when the same crosses a trajectory point of the vehicle of the parking inquiry.

3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to ascertain the parking position in that the processor selects, from every possible parking position in the parking lot, that parking position as the parking position to be transmitted which is situated behind a nodal point which is different from a nodal point situated in front of a parking position for a prior vehicle of a prior parking inquiry.

4 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured to compare the instantaneous and/or expected number of vehicles in the entrance area to a predefined threshold value, the processor being configured to ascertain the parking position based on the comparison.

5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to ascertain a respective new parking position for parked vehicles as a function of a capacity utilization of the parking lot, the communication interface being configured to transmit the new parking positions via the communication network to the parked vehicles so that the parked vehicles may autonomously re-park corresponding to the new parking position.

6 . A method for operating a parking lot, the method comprising:
receiving a parking inquiry for a vehicle in the parking lot is received from a user of a communication network via the communication network; and ascertaining, in response to the received parking inquiry, a parking position in the parking lot for the vehicle based on an instantaneous and/or expected number of vehicles situated in an entrance area of the parking lot; wherein the ascertained parking position is transmitted via the communication network to the user so that the vehicle may park in the ascertained parking position.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the parking position is ascertained by assigning to every possible parking position in the parking lot a length of time for reaching the same starting from the entrance area, and by assigning to every trajectory point of a trajectory leading from the entrance area to the particular parking position a point in time at which a vehicle will pass the same following a start, that parking position being selected as the parking position to be transmitted from the possible parking positions so that the vehicle of the parking inquiry does not block a driving area of a following vehicle when the same crosses a trajectory point of the vehicle of the parking inquiry.

8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the parking position is ascertained in that, from every possible parking position in the parking lot, that parking position is selected as the parking position to be transmitted which is situated behind a nodal point which is different from a nodal point situated in front of a parking position for a prior vehicle of a prior parking inquiry.

9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the instantaneous and/or expected number of vehicles in the entrance area is compared to a predefined threshold value, the parking position being ascertained based on the comparison.

10 . The method of claim 6 , wherein a respective new parking position for parked vehicles is ascertained as a function of a capacity utilization of the parking lot, the new parking positions being transmitted via the communication network to the parked vehicles so that the parked vehicles may autonomously re-park corresponding to the new parking position.

11 . A computer readable medium having a computer program, which is executable by a processor, comprising:
a program code arrangement having program code for operating a parking lot, the by performing the following:
receiving a parking inquiry for a vehicle in the parking lot is received from a user of a communication network via the communication network; and
ascertaining, in response to the received parking inquiry, a parking position in the parking lot for the vehicle based on an instantaneous and/or expected number of vehicles situated in an entrance area of the parking lot;
wherein the ascertained parking position is transmitted via the communication network to the user so that the vehicle may park in the ascertained parking position.

Assignees

• Bosch Gmbh Robert

Inventors

• Mielenz Holger

Classifications

• G08G1/14 Primary

  indicating individual free spaces in parking areas · CPC title

• G08G1/146 Primary

  where the parking area is a limited parking space, e.g. parking garage, restricted space · CPC title