A navigation system for a parking area comprises a plurality of nodes and a server communicating with the nodes. Each node comprises a camera capturing images of the parking area and a low power radio transmitting a radio signal. The server analyzes the images to propose a parking space and provides an arrival sequence of waypoints to the parking space. Each of the waypoints comprises strength and time of flight values of the radio signals.

A navigation device, which works as a position information providing device for providing information on positions to a user, includes a terminal ECU that can log in management servers, each of which manages a social networking service (SNS) to which information can be posted, via a line network. The terminal ECU logs in the management servers via the line network in synchronization with a start operation of the navigation device to acquire the whole or a part of posting information on positions posted to the SNS by network users and accumulated in the management servers.

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.

A vehicle position guidance system includes a terminal position measurement section, a vehicle position measurement section, a calculator, and a guide. The terminal position measurement section measures a position of a terminal carried by a user. The vehicle position measurement section measures a position of a parked vehicle. The calculator obtains a route using position information related to the terminal and position information related to the parked vehicle. The guide assists the user in entering the vehicle by selectively using a first guidance and a second guidance depending on whether a distance is long or short between the terminal and the parked vehicle on the route. The first guidance provides guidance to the position of the parked vehicle using the terminal. The second guidance provides guidance to the position of the parked vehicle through a notification using a vehicle on-board device of the parked vehicle.

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.

The technology involves pickups of riders by autonomous vehicles in a manner that ensures the rider is picked up within an estimated time of arrival (ETA). For instance, in accordance with customer authorization, the autonomous vehicle may loiter or otherwise stay within a certain proximity (e.g., distance or time) to guarantee rider pickup within a predetermined time. One vehicle may be assigned to a rider for a set timeframe or multiple vehicles may be allocated to a particular event. Either approach may be used to ensure rider pickup with minimal waiting. One benefit is to avoid user-initiated ride requests when the customer is ready to depart a location, because a vehicle will already be present and ready to take the rider to their desired destination. Loitering may include prepositioning a vehicle at a given place, or driving autonomously to be nearby as needed.

A method for providing a current location of a vehicle includes detecting and determining whether a smart key approaches the vehicle. Identification information of the smart key is received from the detected smart key. Information related to the current location is transmitted to an external device upon recognizing the inherent identification information to provide guidance to the current location of the vehicle through the external device.

Aspects of the present disclosure are generally related to one or more systems, methods, and devices for forecasting the likelihood of locating available parking spaces at various remote locations, and navigating a vehicle to the available parking space. In some examples, aspects of the present disclosure may utilize a variety of data sources (e.g., historical data, surveyed data, and real-time parking availability data) in order to predict the likelihood of locating the available parking space within the confines of an available hours of service (HOS) requirement of a driver of the vehicle.

An information processing apparatus includes a controller configured to acquire occupant information regarding an occupant in a vehicle trying to park in a parking lot, and identify a parking position appropriate for the vehicle in the parking lot based on the occupant information.

A parking facility management server for a parking facility, including a communication interface, which is designed to receive a request via a communication network from a user of the communication network to carry out at least one vehicle-specific service for a vehicle in the parking facility, and a processor, which is designed to process the request, in order to check whether or not the at least one service may be carried out in the parking facility for the vehicle in accordance with the request, the processor being further designed to ascertain a response as a function of the check. The communication interface further being designed to transmit the response via the communication network back to the user, the processor further being designed to plan and to coordinate the carrying out of the service in the event of a positive response that at least one service may be carried out.