METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DRIVING A VEHICLE TO A FREE PARKING SPACE IN A PARKING FACILITY

Abstract

A method for driving a vehicle to a free parking space in a parking facility having a plurality of parking spaces, each parking space assigned a parking space marking that stores at least one piece of information about the occupancy of the parking space, includes the vehicle, when pulling into a parking space, marking the space as occupied via the parking space marking and, when pulling out of the parking space, marking the space as free again via the parking space marking. A corresponding parking facility, vehicle, and system by which to carry out such a method are also provided.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A method for driving a vehicle to a free parking space in a parking facility, wherein the parking facility includes a plurality of parking spaces that each is assigned a respective parking space marking, and wherein each of the parking space markings stores at least one piece of information about an occupancy of the respective parking space to which the respective marking is assigned, the method comprising: the vehicle, when pulling into one of the parking spaces, marking the respective parking space as occupied using the parking space marking assigned to the respective parking space; and the vehicle, when pulling out of the respective parking space, marking the respective parking space as free using the parking space marking assigned to the respective parking space.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein: a vehicle passageway of the parking facility extends beside, and spans, the parking spaces; vehicle passageway markings, via which the vehicle is able to detect a lane are assigned to the vehicle passageway; the method further comprises: the vehicle, while driving on the vehicle passageway, reading out the parking space markings of the parking spaces abutting portions of the vehicle passageway on which the vehicle drives; and in response to detection, based on the reading out, of a free parking space, the vehicle leaving the vehicle passageway and pulling into the free parking space.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the vehicle passageway markings include a piece of information about the direction of the lane.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the vehicle passageway markings include at least one of magnets embedded in the vehicle passageway and as RFID tags assigned to the vehicle passageway.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the parking space markings are RFID tags.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein additional position markings, which provide pieces of information about at least one of a position and possible lanes, are assigned to the parking facility.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the additional position markings are RFID tags.

18. A parking facility comprising: a plurality of parking spaces that each is assigned a respective parking space marking, wherein each of the parking space markings: stores at least one piece of information about an occupancy of the respective parking space to which the respective marking is assigned; is configured to be updated by a vehicle, when the vehicle pulls into the respective parking space to which the respective marking is assigned, to mark the respective parking space as occupied; and is configured to be updated by the vehicle, when the vehicle pulls out the respective parking space to which the respective marking is assigned, to mark the respective parking space as free.

19. A vehicle comprising: a read/write device; and processing circuitry, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to use the read/write device to: when the vehicle pulls into one of a plurality of parking spaces of a parking facility that each is assigned a respective parking space marking storing information about an occupancy of the respective parking space to which the respective marking is assigned, mark the parking space marking assigned to the respective parking space to indicate that the respective parking space is occupied; and when the vehicle pulls out of the respective parking space, mark the respective parking space to indicate that the respective parking space is free.

20. A system comprising: a parking facility that includes a plurality of parking spaces that each is assigned a respective parking space marking that stores information about an occupancy of the respective parking space to which the respective marking is assigned; and a vehicle that includes a read/write device and processing circuitry, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to use the read/write device to: when the vehicle pulls into one of the parking spaces, mark the parking space marking assigned to the respective parking space to indicate that the respective parking space is occupied; and when the vehicle pulls out of the respective parking space, mark the respective parking space to indicate that the respective parking space is free.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] FIG. 1 schematically shows a parking facility including a plurality of parking spaces, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] FIG. 1 illustrates a parking facility 10, which includes a plurality of parking spaces 14, according to an example embodiment of the present invention. Parking facility 10 abuts a road 1 and includes an entrance 2, via which a vehicle 20 can reach parking facility 10, and an exit 4, via which a vehicle 20 can leave parking facility 10 again.

[0035] A driver of vehicle 20, after driving his/her vehicle 20 up to entrance 2, can leave vehicle 20 there, and activate the automatic parking process.

[0036] To assist the automatic parking process, vehicle 20 includes a control unit 40 and a reading/writing device 42. Reading/writing device 42 is configured to read out, and possibly re-write, parking space markings 30 assigned to parking spaces 14. Reading/writing device 42 is furthermore designed to read out vehicle passageway markings 32, which are integrated into a vehicle passageway 12 of parking facility 10.

[0037] In the specific embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, vehicle passageway markings 32 are designed in the form of magnets embedded in vehicle passageway 12. Vehicle passageway markings 32, or the corresponding magnets, partially have differing polarities, which means that magnetic north points up in a portion of the magnets, and magnetic north points down in a portion of the magnets. Due to the polarity of the magnets and with the aid of vehicle passageway markings 32, vehicle passageway 12 is divided into two lanes, namely a right lane 37 and a left lane 38, right lane 37 leading into parking facility 10 and left lane 38 leading out of parking facility 10. In FIG. 1, the driving direction is indicated by an arrow denoted by reference numeral 36.

[0038] After vehicle 20 has entered entrance 2 and the driver has left vehicle 20, the automatic parking process is activated. Controlled by control unit 40, vehicle 20 now drives along right lane 37 identified by vehicle passageway markings 32. Vehicle 20 drives past parking space markings 30 of parking spaces 14 abutting right lane 37. In the situation illustrated in FIG. 1, vehicle 20 initially drives past two parking spaces 16 occupied by other vehicles 22, which it detects as occupied via reading/writing device 42 based on the pieces of information stored in parking space markings 30. Next, vehicle 20 drives past a free parking space 18, which vehicle 20 detects as free via reading/writing device 42 in that corresponding parking space marking 30 of parking space 14 is read out.

[0039] Since vehicle 20 has detected a free parking space 18, it now leaves right lane 37 and pulls into free parking space 18. Prior to the start of the parking maneuver, corresponding parking space marking 30 of parking space 14 is re-written via reading/writing device 42, so that parking space marking 30 now stores the piece of information “parking space occupied.” After the process of pulling into the parking space has been completed, vehicle 20 waits until it is needed again by its driver or owner.

[0040] When vehicle 20 is needed again, it can be called by its driver or by its owner to a pick-up location. In the specific embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the pick-up location is identical to exit 4 of parking facility 10. To call vehicle 20, the driver can use an appropriate remote control unit, which, for example, is part of the vehicle key or is designed as an application on a mobile telephone. In another example embodiment, a pick-up time is programmed into control unit 40 before vehicle 20 is transferred to the operator of parking facility 10, so that vehicle 20 begins to automatically pull out of the parking space at the preprogrammed time.

[0041] When pulling out of a parking space 14, vehicle 20 exits the space and reaches vehicle passageway 12 of parking facility 10 again. There, vehicle 20 can identify lanes 37, 38 of vehicle passageway 12 again via reading/writing device 42, selecting left lane 38 leading out of parking facility 10 in the direction of exit 4. Vehicle 20 again detects left lane 38 via vehicle passageway markings 32 assigned to vehicle passageway 12. After reaching exit 4, vehicle 20 is available for pick-up by its driver.

[0042] Additional markings can be assigned to parking facility 10 for the identification of the positions of entrance 2 and exit 4. In the specific embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, a respective position marking 34 is provided for this purpose in the area of entrance 2 and exit 4. Via position markings 34, vehicle 20 is able to receive pieces of information about the location of entrance 2 or exit 4, as well as further pieces of information, for example about lanes 37 and 38 available in parking facility 10. In an example embodiment, position markings 34 are used for notifying vehicle 20 or control unit 40 that markings 30, 32, for carrying out the method, are available in parking facility 10, and thus an automatic parking process can be offered.

[0043] The present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments and aspects described herein. Rather, a plurality of modifications are possible, based on the description and claims, which are within the capabilities of those skilled in the art.