Parking Notification Systems And Methods For Identifying Locations Of Vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018144622-A1
Application number	US-201715423793-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 3, 2017
Priority date	Nov 18, 2016
Publication date	May 24, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A parking notification system for identifying a location of a vehicle includes a controller, a processor, a non-transitory computer readable memory, a camera, and a machine-readable instruction set. The controller includes the processor and the non-transitory computer readable memory. The camera is communicatively coupled to the controller, where the camera automatically captures image data and transmits the image data to the controller. The machine-readable instruction set is stored in the non-transitory computer readable memory and causes the processor to determine when the vehicle enters a parking area, activate the camera in response to determining that the vehicle has entered the parking area, receive the image data from the camera once activated, determine when the vehicle is parked, determine parking information from the image data, and transmit the parking information automatically to an output of the controller in response to determining that the vehicle is parked.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A parking notification system for identifying a location of a vehicle, the parking notification system comprising:
a controller comprising a processor and a non-transitory computer readable memory; a camera communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the camera automatically captures image data and transmits the image data to the controller; a machine-readable instruction set stored in the non-transitory computer readable memory that causes the parking notification system to perform at least the following when executed by the processor:
determine when the vehicle enters a parking area;
activate the camera in response to determining that the vehicle has entered the parking area;
receive the image data from the camera once activated;
determine when the vehicle is parked;
determine parking information from the image data; and
transmit the parking information automatically to an output of the controller in response to determining that the vehicle is parked.

2 . The parking notification system of claim 1 , further comprising a global positioning system communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the global positioning system provides location information to the controller for determining when the vehicle enters the parking area.

3 . The parking notification system of claim 2 , wherein the machine-readable instruction set further causes the processor to store at least one of: the image data, the location information, and the parking information in the non-transitory computer readable memory.

4 . The parking notification system of claim 1 , wherein the output of the controller is communicatively coupled to a wireless communication module configured to wirelessly transmit the parking information, and the machine-readable instruction set further causes the processor to provide the parking information to the wireless communication module for wireless transmission.

5 . The parking notification system of claim 1 , wherein the output of the controller is communicatively coupled to a display module configured to display the parking information on the display module, and the machine-readable instruction set further causes the processor to provide the parking information to the display module.

6 . The parking notification system of claim 5 , wherein the machine-readable instruction set further causes the processor to request confirmation of the parking information on the display module.

7 . The parking notification system of claim 1 , further comprising a vehicle speed sensor communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the vehicle speed sensor provides a vehicle speed signal to the processor, and the machine-readable instruction set further causes the processor to determine the vehicle has entered the parking area when the vehicle speed signal is below a threshold speed value.

8 . The parking notification system of claim 1 , further comprising a vehicle speed sensor communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the vehicle speed sensor provides a vehicle speed signal to the processor, and the machine-readable instruction set further causes the processor to determine the vehicle is parked when the vehicle speed signal is below a threshold speed value.

9 . The parking notification system of claim 1 , further comprising an occupant sensor communicatively coupled to the controller for determining when the vehicle is parked, wherein the occupant sensor provides an occupant sensor signal indicative of a presence or an absence of a driver to the processor.

10 . The parking notification system of claim 9 , wherein the occupant sensor is a weight sensor positioned within a driver seat for determining the presence of the driver in the vehicle.

11 . A method for locating a parked vehicle, comprising:
determining a vehicle entered a parking area; activating a camera in response to determining that the vehicle has entered the parking area; receiving image data from the camera once activated; determining parking information from the image data; determining when the vehicle is parked; and transmitting the parking information automatically in response to determining that the vehicle is parked.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising determining a vehicle location from the image data wherein the image data is received by the camera.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the parking information is obtained from a global positioning system.

14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising displaying the parking information on a display within the vehicle when the vehicle is parked.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein determining the parking information from the image data comprises processing the image data with an image recognition system, wherein the image recognition system is configured to analyze the image data, acquire the parking information from the image data, and provide the parking information in a readable format.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein transmitting the parking information comprises transmitting an email comprising the parking information.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein transmitting the parking information comprises providing the parking information to a parking application accessible by a portable electronic device.

18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein transmitting the parking information is triggered by a signal from an input device.

19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein transmitting the parking information is triggered automatically upon determining the parking information from the image data.

20 . A parking notification system for identifying a location of a vehicle, the parking notification system comprising:
a controller comprising a processor and a non-transitory computer readable memory; a camera communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the camera is configured to capture image data and transmit the image data to the controller; a global positioning system communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the global positioning system provides location information to the controller; a wireless communication module configured to wirelessly transmit information, wherein the wireless communication module is communicatively coupled to the processor; an occupant sensor communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the occupant sensor provides an occupant sensor signal indicative of a presence or an absence of a driver to the processor; and a machine-readable instruction set stored in the non-transitory computer readable memory that causes the parking notification system to perform at least the following when executed by the processor:
determine when the vehicle enters a parking area based at least in part on the location information;
activate the camera in response to determining that the vehicle has entered the parking area;
receive the image data from the camera once activated;
determine when the vehicle is parked based on at least one of the image data captured by the camera and the location information provided by the global positioning system;
determine parking information from the image data;
determine the presence of the driver in the vehicle based on the occupant sensor signal; and
transmit the parking information with the wireless communication module in response to the occupant sensor signal.

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America
• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Gage Sergei
• Sitarski Nicholas S
• Mai-Krist Ida T

Classifications

• H04N7/188

  Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position (signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253) · CPC title

• H04N1/00103

  specially adapted for radio transmission, e.g. via satellites (H04N1/00098 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G08G1/005

  including pedestrian guidance indicator · CPC title

• H04N1/00122 Primary

  of text or character information only · CPC title

• H04W4/02

  Services making use of location information · CPC title