Method and system for locating an available vehicle parking space
View Patent ↗A method and system of the invention locates an available vehicle parking space. In the method, parked information indicative of a parked condition is stored in a first vehicle. The first vehicle may detect a change in condition from the parked condition to a vacating condition. The first vehicle then communicates the change in condition from the first vehicle to a neighboring searching vehicle and the searching vehicle detects the change.
1. A method of locating an available vehicle parking space comprising the steps of:
storing in memory a first vehicle steering information indicative of a parked condition;
detecting in the first vehicle a change in condition from the steering information to a vacating condition using a processor;
communicating the change in condition from the first vehicle and a location of the available vehicle parking space to a neighboring searching vehicle using a communication link, when the processor detects the change in steering information from the parked condition; and,
detecting the change in the searching vehicle and the location of the available vehicle parking space using the communication link;
wherein the communication link pushes the location of the available vehicle parking space which is received by the searching vehicle when positioned within a specified radius from the location of the available vehicle parking space.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the steering information comprises one or more steering maneuvers.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of storing in the memory of the first vehicle direction of travel and engine sequence information.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of storing in the memory of the first vehicle engine operating parameters.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the change in condition further comprises engine cranking.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the change in condition further comprises a speed change.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the change in condition further comprises a direction change.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the change in condition comprises a series of changes having at least two changes including a steering change and another change selected from the group of, engine cranking, speed, and direction.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein communicating is limited to a geographical area surrounding the first vehicle.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting comprises displaying in the searching vehicle, the location.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting comprises displaying in the searching vehicle, an indication of direction toward the location.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein detecting comprises displaying in the searching vehicle, a distance to the location.
13. A system for locating an available vehicle parking space comprising:
a sensor positioned in a first vehicle to collect data associated with a position of a steering wheel in a parked condition or a vacating condition of the first vehicle;
a processor connected to the sensor that uses the position of the steering wheel to determine when the first vehicle is in the parked condition or the vacating condition;
a memory associated with the processor;
a transmitter associated with the memory, the transmitter transmitting data from the memory to a limited area within a specified radius from a location of the available vehicle parking space;
a receiver located in a second vehicle; and
a display associated with the receiver, the display having an indication of direction to the first vehicle.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the display comprises an indication of distance to the first vehicle.
15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the display comprises an indication of a location of the first vehicle.
16. The system of claim 13 wherein the sensor is selected from the group of a speed sensor, a direction sensor, a steering wheel angle sensor, and an engine sensor.
17. A method of locating an available vehicle parking space comprising the steps of:
storing in memory a first vehicle parked information indicative of a parked condition;
detecting in the first vehicle a change in condition from the parked condition to a vacating condition using a processor;
communicating the change in condition from the first vehicle and a location of the available vehicle parking space to a neighboring searching vehicle using a communication link, when the processor detects the change in condition from the parked condition; and,
detecting the change in the searching vehicle and the location of the available vehicle parking space using the communication link;
wherein (a) the communication link pushes the location of the available vehicle parking space which is received by the searching vehicle when positioned within a specified radius from the location of the available vehicle parking space, and (b) the change in condition comprises a series of changes having at least two changes including a steering change and another change selected from the group of engine cranking, speed, and direction.