Optimizing parking locations

1 . A method of selecting an optimized parking location for a vehicle, comprising, with a data processor of a system for selecting an optimized parking location within the vehicle:

presenting, via a human machine interface (HMI), a list of parking preference options to a user within the vehicle;

collecting, via the HMI, parking preferences for the user for each of the options presented in the list of parking preference options;

identifying a destination of the vehicle;

identifying a current location of the vehicle;

collecting data from a plurality of sensors within the vehicle related to a number of passengers within the vehicle and cargo within the vehicle;

collecting, via a wireless communication module within the vehicle, data from external sources and creating a list of potential parking spaces;

filtering the list of potential parking spaces based on availability;

collecting, via the wireless communication module within the vehicle, and sensors within the vehicle, data related to environmental and contextual conditions for each of the potential parking spaces;

accessing, with the data processor, a user model based on historical data of parking events for the vehicle;

further filtering the list of potential parking spaces based on user preferences, data related to environmental and contextual conditions, and the user model and creating a filtered list of potential parking spaces;

ranking each of the potential parking spaces in the filtered list based on the parking preferences of the driver, the data related to environmental and contextual conditions, and the user model;

selecting, from the filtered list of potential parking spaces, a sub-set of potential parking spaces based on rank;

displaying, via the HMI, the sub-set of potential parking spaces to the user;

receiving, from the user, via the HMI, a selection of one of the displayed sub-set of potential parking spaces; and

at least one of:

initiating, via communication with a vehicle controller, autonomous travel to and parking within the selected one of the sub-set of potential parking spaces;

displaying, via the HMI, directions to the selected one of the sub-set of potential parking spaces; and

collecting, via the wireless communication module within the vehicle, data from external sources related to availability of parking spaces within a parking structure at the identified destination; and

one of:

determining, with the data processor, based on the user model, that the identified destination is familiar to the user, and displaying a sub-set of potential parking spaces to the user only when the number of available parking spaces at the parking structure at the destination is less than a first pre-determined threshold; or

determining, with the data processor, based on the user model, that the identified destination is un-familiar to the user, and displaying a sub-set of potential parking spaces to the user only when the number of available parking spaces at the parking structure at the destination is less than a second pre-determined threshold.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further including, upon arrival of the vehicle at the selected one of the sub-set of potential parking spaces:

collecting, with the sensors within the vehicle, data related to environmental and contextual conditions at the selected one of the sub-set of potential parking spaces;

re-ranking the list of filtered potential parking spaces and updating the sub-set of potential parking spaces;

displaying, with the HMI, the updated sub-set of potential parking spaces; and receiving, from the user, via the HMI, one of:

a selection, by the user, to continue parking in the selected one of the sub-set of potential parking spaces; or

a selection, of one of the displayed updated sub-set of potential parking spaces that the user now wishes to park within; and

at least one of:

initiating, via communication with a vehicle controller, autonomous travel to and parking within the selected one of the updated sub-set of potential parking spaces; and

displaying, via the HMI, directions to the selected one of the updated sub-set of potential parking spaces.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further including, upon arrival of the vehicle at the selected one of the sub-set of potential parking spaces:

receiving, from the user, via the HMI, a rejection of the selected one of the sub-set of potential parking spaces;

prompting, with the HMI, an explanation for the rejection; and

updating the user model based on rejection of the selected one of the sub-set of potential parking spaces and the explanation provided by the user.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the collecting, with the data processor, via the HMI, parking preferences for the user for each of the options presented in the list of parking preference options further includes collecting, with the data processor, via the HMI:

a ranking for each of the options presented in the list of parking preference options; and

a classification for the user's preference for each of the options presented in the list of parking preference options.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the displaying, via the HMI, the sub-set of potential parking spaces to the user further includes displaying, with a hybrid head-up-display system, upon an inner surface of a windshield of the vehicle, text and graphics adapted to identify and provide information related to the sub-set of potential parking spaces.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the collecting, via the HMI, parking preferences for the user for each of the options presented in the list of parking preference options further includes:

receiving, from the user, via the HMI, a preference for the data processor to, when a destination for the vehicle has been identified, send instructions to the vehicle controller to automatically and autonomously:

navigate the vehicle to a highest ranked one of the sub-set of potential parking spaces; and

park the vehicle within the highest ranked one of the sub-set of potential parking spaces.

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the collecting, via the HMI, parking preferences for the user for each of the options presented in the list of parking preference options further includes:

receiving, from the user, via the HMI, a preference for the data processor to, when a destination for the vehicle has been identified and a selection of one of the sub-set of potential parking spaces has been received from the user, send instructions to the vehicle controller to automatically and autonomously:

navigate the vehicle to the selected one of the sub-set of potential parking spaces; and

park the vehicle within the selected one of the sub-set of potential parking spaces.

8 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the displaying, via the HMI, the sub-set of potential parking spaces to the user further includes displaying, with at least one of the HMI and the hybrid head-up-display system, explanations for the ranking of each of the displayed sub-set of potential parking spaces.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the displaying, with at least one of the HMI and the hybrid head-up-display system, explanations for the ranking of each of the displayed sub-set of potential parking spaces further includes displaying a comparison of parking characteristics of each of the sub-set of potential parking spaces to user preferences.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein

the determining, with the data processor, based on the user model, that the identified destination is familiar to the user, and displaying a sub-set of potential parking spaces to the user only when the number of available parking spaces at the parking structure at the destination is less than a first pre-determined threshold further includes displaying a sub-set of potential parking spaces to the user only when the number of available parking spaces at the parking structure at the destination is less than ten percent; and

the determining, with the data processor, based on the user model, that the identified destination is un-familiar to the user, and displaying a sub-set of potential parking spaces to the user only when the number of available parking spaces at the parking structure at the destination is less than a second pre-determined threshold further includes displaying a sub-set of potential parking spaces to the user only when the number of available parking spaces at the parking structure at the destination is less than fifty percent.

11 . The method of claim 1 , further including, updating, with the data processor, the user model based on:

inputs, from the user, collected by the data processor, via the HMI;

selection, by the user, of one of the sub-set of potential parking spaces;

rejection, by the user, of a selected one of the sub-set of potential parking spaces by a user; and

completion of parking within the selected one of the sub-set of potential parking spaces.

12 . The method of claim 1 , further including, repeating the creating a filtered list of potential parking spaces, the ranking each of the potential parking spaces in the filtered list, the selecting, from the filtered list of potential parking spaces, a sub-set of potential parking spaces based on rank, and the displaying, via the HMI, the sub-set of potential parking spaces to the user at a pre-determined interval until the vehicle has parked.

13 . A system for selecting an optimized parking location for a vehicle, comprising:

a data processor adapted to control the system;

a human machine interface (HMI) adapted to present a list of parking preference options to a user within the vehicle and to collect, from the user, parking preferences for the user for each of the options presented in the list of parking preference options;

the data processor further adapted to:

identifying a destination of the vehicle;

identifying a current location of the vehicle;

collect data from a plurality of sensors within the vehicle related to a number of passengers within the vehicle and cargo within the vehicle;

collect, via a wireless communication module within the vehicle, data from external sources and create a list of potential parking spaces;

filter the list of potential parking spaces based on availability;

collect, via the wireless communication module within the vehicle, and the plurality of sensors within the vehicle, data related to environmental and contextual conditions for each of the potential parking spaces;

access a user model based on historical data of parking events for the vehicle;

further filter the list of potential parking spaces based on user preferences, data related to environmental and contextual conditions, and the user model and creating a filtered list of potential parking spaces;

rank each of the potential parking spaces in the filtered list based on the parking preferences of the driver, the data related to environmental and contextual conditions, and the user model;

select, from the filtered list of potential parking spaces, a sub-set of potential parking spaces based on rank;

display, via the HMI, the sub-set of potential parking spaces to the user with an explanation for the rankings;

receive, from the user, via the HMI, a selection of one of the displayed sub-set of potential parking spaces; and

at least one of:

initiate, via communication with a vehicle controller, autonomous travel to and parking within the selected one of the sub-set of potential parking spaces; and

display, via the HMI, directions to the selected one of the sub-set of potential parking spaces;

repeat the creating a filtered list of potential parking spaces, the ranking each of the potential parking spaces in the filtered list, the selecting, from the filtered list of potential parking spaces, a sub-set of potential parking spaces based on rank, and the displaying, via the HMI, the sub-set of potential parking spaces to the user at a pre-determined interval until the vehicle has parked;

collect, via the wireless communication module within the vehicle, data from external sources related to availability of parking spaces within a parking structure at the identified destination; and

one of:

determine, based on the user model, that the identified destination is familiar to the user, and display a sub-set of potential parking spaces to the user only when the number of available parking spaces at the parking structure at the destination is less than a first pre-determined threshold; or

determine, based on the user model, that the identified destination is un-familiar to the user, and display a sub-set of potential parking spaces to the user only when the number of available parking spaces at the parking structure at the destination is less than a second pre-determined threshold.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein, upon arrival of the vehicle at the selected one of the sub-set of potential parking spaces, the data processor is further adapted to:

collect, with the plurality of sensors within the vehicle, data related to environmental and contextual conditions at the selected one of the sub-set of potential parking spaces;

re-rank the list of filtered potential parking spaces and update the sub-set of potential parking spaces;

display, with the HMI, the updated sub-set of potential parking spaces; and receive, from the user, via the HMI, one of:

a selection, by the user, to continue parking in the selected one of the sub-set of potential parking spaces; or

a selection, by the user, of one of the displayed updated sub-set of potential parking spaces that the user now wishes to park within; and

at least one of:

initiate, via communication with the vehicle controller, autonomous travel to and parking within the selected one of the updated sub-set of potential parking spaces; and

display, via the HMI, directions to the selected one of the updated sub-set of potential parking spaces.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein, upon arrival of the vehicle at the selected one of the sub-set of potential parking spaces, the data processor is further adapted to:

receive, from the user, via the HMI, a rejection of the selected one of the sub-set of potential parking spaces;

prompt, with the HMI, an explanation for the rejection; and

update the user model based on rejection of the selected one of the sub-set of potential parking spaces and the explanation provided by the user.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein when collecting, via the HMI, parking preferences for the user for each of the options presented in the list of parking preference options, the data processor is further adapted to collect, with the data processor, via the HMI:

a ranking for each of the options presented in the list of parking preference options; and

a classification for the user's preference for each of the options presented in the list of parking preference options; and

a preference for the data processor to one of:

when a destination for the vehicle has been identified, send instructions to the vehicle controller to automatically and autonomously navigate the vehicle to a highest ranked one of the sub-set of potential parking spaces, and park the vehicle within the highest ranked one of the sub-set of potential parking spaces; or

when a destination for the vehicle has been identified and a selection of one of the sub-set of potential parking spaces has been received from the user, send instructions to the vehicle controller to automatically and autonomously navigate the vehicle to the selected one of the sub-set of potential parking spaces, and park the vehicle within the selected one of the sub-set of potential parking spaces.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein when displaying, via the HMI, the sub-set of potential parking spaces to the user, the data processor is further adapted to display, with a hybrid head-up-display system, upon an inner surface of a windshield of the vehicle, text and graphics adapted to identify and provide information related to the sub-set of potential parking spaces.

18 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the data processor is further adapted to:

display a sub-set of potential parking spaces to the user only when the number of available parking spaces at the parking structure at the destination is less than ten percent; and

display a sub-set of potential parking spaces to the user only when the number of available parking spaces at the parking structure at the destination is less than fifty percent.

19 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the data processor is further adapted to updated the user model based on:

inputs, from the user, collected by the data processor, via the HMI;

selection, by the user, of one of the sub-set of potential parking spaces;

rejection, by the user, of a selected one of the sub-set of potential parking spaces by a user; and

completion of parking within the selected one of the sub-set of potential parking spaces.

20 . A vehicle having a system for selecting an optimized parking location for the vehicle, comprising:

a data processor adapted to control the system; and

a human machine interface (HMI) adapted to present a list of parking preference options to a user within the vehicle and to collect, from the user, parking preferences for the user for each of the options presented in the list of parking preference options;

the data processor further adapted to:

identifying a destination of the vehicle;

identifying a current location of the vehicle;

collect data from a plurality of sensors within the vehicle related to a number of passengers within the vehicle and cargo within the vehicle;

collect, via a wireless communication module within the vehicle, data from external sources and create a list of potential parking spaces;

filter the list of potential parking spaces based on availability;

collect, via the wireless communication module within the vehicle, and the plurality of sensors within the vehicle, data related to environmental and contextual conditions for each of the potential parking spaces;

access a user model based on historical data of parking events for the vehicle;

further filter the list of potential parking spaces based on user preferences, data related to environmental and contextual conditions, and the user model and creating a filtered list of potential parking spaces;

rank each of the potential parking spaces in the filtered list based on the parking preferences of the driver, the data related to environmental and contextual conditions, and the user model;

select, from the filtered list of potential parking spaces, a sub-set of potential parking spaces based on rank;

display, via the HMI, the sub-set of potential parking spaces to the user with an explanation for the rankings;

receive, from the user, via the HMI, a selection of one of the displayed sub-set of potential parking spaces; and

at least one of:

initiate, via communication with a vehicle controller, autonomous travel to and parking within the selected one of the sub-set of potential parking spaces; and

display, via the HMI, directions to the selected one of the sub-set of potential parking spaces;

repeat the creating a filtered list of potential parking spaces, the ranking each of the potential parking spaces in the filtered list, the selecting, from the filtered list of potential parking spaces, a sub-set of potential parking spaces based on rank, and the displaying, via the HMI, the sub-set of potential parking spaces to the user at a pre-determined interval until the vehicle has parked;

collect, via the wireless communication module within the vehicle, data from external sources related to availability of parking spaces within a parking structure at the identified destination; and

one of:

determine, based on the user model, that the identified destination is familiar to the user, and display a sub-set of potential parking spaces to the user only when the number of available parking spaces at the parking structure at the destination is less than a first pre-determined threshold; or

determine, based on the user model, that the identified destination is un-familiar to the user, and display a sub-set of potential parking spaces to the user only when the number of available parking spaces at the parking structure at the destination is less than a second pre-determined threshold.