A parking assignment system that comprises: a parking assignment device; a computer system running software comprising a parking assignment algorithm wherein the parking assignment algorithm is stored on a computer readable medium; and a sensor; wherein said computer system is in communication with said sensor; wherein said computer system is in communication with said parking assignment device; wherein said parking assignment algorithm is configured to optimally assign a parking space; wherein said parking assignment device is configured to accept input that comprises data from said sensor and communicate said data from said sensor to said computer system; wherein said computer system is configured to use said data from said sensor to track available parking spots; and wherein said computer system is configured to accept input comprising a user's parking preferences and assign an optimal parking space according to said parking assignment algorithm.

An auto valet parking system operates a car in a parking lot and including: a parking lot map database which manages route information to each parking space; a vacant space information database which manages full and vacant information for each parking space; a facility migration information database which accumulates facility migration information indicative of behaviors of a parking lot user; a first unit which detects the full and vacant information for each parking space, searches for a route to the parking space and automatically parks the car in the parking space based on the route information; a second unit notifies the parking lot user of information on a parking position through a mobile terminal; and a third unit which searches for the vacant space as close as possible to conditions based on the facility migration information, and reflects the vacant space on the first unit.

A control apparatus is communicably connected to a vehicle, the control apparatus including a controller configured to: upon receiving a use request for a delivery service of luggage using a trunk of the vehicle, identify a parking space that the vehicle is scheduled to park at; and determine whether a door of the trunk will be openable when the vehicle is in a parked state at the parking space.

System and techniques for a visual vehicle parking occupancy sensor are described herein. A color image, including a parking space, is received from a camera. A cascaded search for vehicle features in a hue-saturation-value (HSV) converted version of the color image is performed to produce search results. A search for macro vehicle features in the color image is also performed to produce an indication of found macro vehicle features when the search results are of a first type. An occupancy indicator is provided based on the search results when the search results are of a second type and based on the indication otherwise.

[Problem] To determine a moving route as appropriate by selecting from a plurality of service providing sites in view of circumstances in which it is or is not allowed to wait.

[Solution] A current position obtaining unit 101 obtains the current position of a vehicle 1. A first location candidate obtaining unit 102 obtains a first location. A second location candidate obtaining unit 103 obtains a second location (e.g., an on-street parking lot). A state information obtaining unit 104 obtains, as state information, first location state information and second location state information. The first location state information is information regarding the state of provision of a vehicle parking service at the first location. The second location state information is information regarding the state of provision of a vehicle parking service at the second location. A route setting unit 105 sets a moving route for the vehicle 1 on the basis of the state information obtained by the state information obtaining unit 104.

A method for reducing a hazard to and/or by a vehicle situated on a parking lot, including the following: checking a communication link between a vehicle situated on a parking lot and a parking lot management system for operating the parking lot while the vehicle is driving at least partially assisted on the parking lot with the aid of the parking lot management system; and initiating one or multiple measures in the event of a disrupted or absent communication link to reduce a hazard to the and/or by the vehicle due to the disrupted or absent communication link. Also described is a corresponding device, a vehicle, a parking lot management system, and a computer program.

A sensor apparatus for a parking space for motor vehicles. The sensor apparatus includes a parking occupancy sensor for detecting an occupancy state of a parking space for motor vehicles, and at least one sensor for measuring an environmental property of the parking space. A method for creating a digital parking area map and a method for ascertaining a parking position for a motor vehicle, as also described. An apparatus and a computer program are also described.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for cognitive parking guidance. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for cognitive parking guidance includes initially receiving in memory of a computer either an express or implied definition of a navigation waypoint for a specified vehicle. The method also includes retrieving from over a computer communications network into the memory of the computer, a set of available parking spaces within a pre-specified distance of the navigation waypoint and loading into the memory of the computer a context of the vehicle. The method yet further includes filtering the available parking spaces in the set into a subset of one or more available parking spaces in accordance with the context. Finally, the method includes displaying a location of a selected one of the parking spaces in the subset in a display of the computer.

An automated valet parking system identifies a node section where a target vehicle is located based on position information on nodes corresponding to passages in a parking place and on a vehicle position, identifies target nodes that are a predetermined number of the nodes including a next-passing node that is one of not-yet-passed nodes of the target vehicle and is the node that the target vehicle will pass next on a target route, acquires node information associated with the target nodes based on the target nodes and parking place map information, and gives an instruction to the target vehicle by sending the node information on driving boundaries and targets associated with the target nodes to the target vehicle based on the results of a node information acquisition unit, a node section identification unit, and a target node identification unit.

A vehicle flow monitoring system for detecting both a car count and direction of movement of vehicles passing a point of interest. The vehicle flow monitoring system generally includes a car counter which may include a microcontroller and a pair of distance sensors. Each of the distance sensors is oriented toward a unique point of interest. Each of the distance sensors includes a threshold distance reading which is used to detect whether a vehicle has passed underneath the car counter. The system may determine direction of travel of the vehicle based on which of the distance sensors is passed by the vehicle first. The microcontroller may assign an Event ID to each time a vehicle passes each of the sensors, with the Event ID being used to identify when and if the vehicle should be counted, or whether a non-vehicle object has passed the car counter.