Monitoring a parking permit of a motor vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9584776-B2
Application number	US-201414319030-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2014
Priority date	Jul 15, 2013
Publication date	Feb 28, 2017
Grant date	Feb 28, 2017

Abstract

With a method according to the invention for monitoring a parking permit of a motor vehicle, it is determined whether the motor vehicle is in a parking situation in which a parking authorization pass is necessary for a parking permit, and on the occurrence of such a parking situation the presence of a parking authorization pass is checked for and a first information signal is output to a driver of the motor vehicle in the absence of the parking authorization pass. The invention also relates to a device for monitoring a parking permit of a motor vehicle.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system comprising a processor and a memory, the processor disposed to execute instructions stored in the memory, the instructions including instructions for:
detecting that a motor vehicle is in a parking situation in which a parking authorization pass is necessary for a parking permit, wherein the parking situation is determined based at least in part on one or more of data about use of a manual or automatic gear shift, operation of pedals of the motor vehicle, and activation of a parking assistance system;
on detecting the parking situation, checking for a parking authorization pass;
if no parking authorization pass is detected, providing a first information signal to a driver of the motor vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the parking situation is determined based in part on location data of the motor vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein checking for the parking authorization pass includes using a camera directed towards a presentation area of the motor vehicle.

4. The system of claim 3 , the instructions further including instructions for using the camera for at least one of a driver assistance system and a driver monitoring system in a travelling mode of the motor vehicle.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein checking for the parking authorization pass includes checking for at least one of a shape, a brightness, and a color of the parking authorization pass.

6. The system of claim 3 , the instructions further including instructions for:
checking for a presentation position of the parking authorization pass; and
outputting to the driver a second information signal upon determining an inadequate presentation position for visibility from outside of the motor vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
checking whether the parking authorization pass verifies the necessary parking permit for the determined parking situation; and
outputting to the driver a third information signal in the event of an inadequate parking permit.

8. The system of claim 1 , the instructions further including instructions for:
determining that the parking permit is a temporary parking permit;
checking a currently still-available validity time t P of the parking permit; and
outputting a fourth information signal to the driver if an end time point of the temporary parking permit has been reached or if a warning time that precedes the end time point of the temporary parking permit by a lead time has been reached.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the lead time is an expected period of time t R for the driver to return to the motor vehicle.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one information signal is transmitted wirelessly.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Stefan Frederic
• Gussen Uwe
• Arndt Dr Habil Christoph

Classifications

• G08G1/09626 Primary

  where the origin of the information is within the own vehicle, e.g. a local storage device, digital map · CPC title

• H04N7/188 Primary

  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

• 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