System and method for minimizing walking in multi-storey parking lot

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a system and method of minimizing walking in a multi-storey parking lot. The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for minimizing walking inside a multi-storey parking lot. An example method, which may be performed by a processor, may include determining a first walking distance between a first unoccupied parking space on a first parking floor of a multi-floor parking lot and a destination located outside the multi-floor parking lot, and may also include determining a second walking distance between a second unoccupied parking space on a second parking floor of the multi-floor parking lot and the destination located outside the multi-floor parking lot. The first walking distance is compared to the second walking distance, and guidance is provided to drive to one of the first unoccupied parking space or the second unoccupied parking space based on a shorter one of the first walking distance and the second walking distance. The guidance may be provided via an infotainment system of the vehicle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] According to a general overview, embodiments described in this disclosure generally relate to systems and methods for minimizing walking inside a multi-story parking garage. Background Art

[0002] A typical driver looking for a parking space in a parking lot will usually rush to the first unoccupied parking space in sight. In some cases, the driver may harbor the hope that another unoccupied parking space may be available elsewhere in the parking lot and closer to the destination (store, business, building entrance, etc.). However, instead of risking searching for such an unoccupied parking space and losing the parking space in sight, the driver may park in an available unoccupied parking space and walk to the destination, which in some cases may prove to be an extra distance. Summary of the invention

[0003] An example method executable by a processor may include determining, by the processor, a first walking distance between a first unoccupied parking space on a first parking level of a multi-storey car park and a destination located outside the multi-storey car park. The method also includes determining a second walking distance between a second unoccupied parking space on a second parking level of the multi-storey car park and the destination located outside the multi-storey car park. The first walking distance is compared to the second walking distance, and guidance is provided to drive to one of the first unoccupied parking space or the second unoccupied parking space based on the shorter of the first walking distance and the second walking distance. In an example embodiment, the guidance is provided in the form of visual and / or audible instructions via an infotainment system in a vehicle and / or via a personal device of a driver of the vehicle. The personal device may be a smartphone carried by the driver of the vehicle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] Detailed description is set forth below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference numerals may indicate similar or identical items. Various embodiments may utilize elements and / or components other than those shown in the accompanying drawings, and some elements and / or components may not be present in various embodiments. The elements and / or components in the accompanying drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Throughout this disclosure, singular and plural terms may be used interchangeably, depending on the context.

[0005] Figure 1 An example vehicle including a parking assist system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0006] Figure 2 A first example scenario in which a parking assistance system may be used according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0007] Figure 3A second example scenario in which a parking assistance system may be used according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0008] Figure 4 A third example scenario in which a parking assistance system may be used according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0009] Figure 5 A flow chart illustrating a first example method of obtaining parking assistance in a multi-story car park according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0010] Figure 6 A flow chart illustrating a second example method of obtaining parking assistance in a multi-story car park according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0011] Figure 7 Some functional components that may be included in a vehicle including a parking assist system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure are shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] The present disclosure will be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments of the present disclosure are shown. However, the present disclosure can be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the example embodiments set forth herein. It will be understood by those skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made to various embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by any of the above-mentioned example embodiments, but should only be limited according to the attached claims and their equivalents. The following description is presented for illustrative purposes and is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the precise form disclosed. It should be understood that alternative embodiments can be used in any desired combination to form additional hybrid embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, any of the functionality described with respect to a particular device or component can be performed by another device or component. In addition, although specific device characteristics have been described, embodiments of the present disclosure may involve many other device characteristics. In addition, although embodiments have been described in language specific to structural features and / or method actions, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to the specific features or actions described. Instead, specific features and actions are disclosed as illustrative forms for implementing the embodiments.

[0013] Certain words and phrases are used herein only for convenience, and such words and terms should be interpreted as referring to various objects and actions that are generally understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art in various forms and equivalents. For example, words such as "layer", "floor" and "level" can be used interchangeably in the present disclosure. Phrases such as "ground floor", "ground floor", "ground floor parking level" and "ground floor parking level" can be used interchangeably in this article. It should also be understood that the phrase "first floor" as used herein refers to a floor or level located above the ground floor. The terms "walking distance" and "interval distance" can be used interchangeably in the present disclosure. More specifically, the phrase "interval distance" as used herein can be quantified in various ways in various embodiments. Therefore, in a first embodiment, the interval distance can be determined based on the walking of an individual with average physical attributes (height, walking stride, etc.). In another embodiment, the interval distance can be determined based on measurements such as yards, feet and meters.

[0014] In addition, it must be understood that the term "information" as used herein generally refers to digital content (images, data, etc.) that can be operated by a processor to perform various operations according to the present disclosure. The digital content may include, for example, images captured by any of various types of cameras, and may also include sensor signals generated by any of various types of sensors. The camera and / or sensor may be located in a multi-storey car park and / or in a vehicle. Images as mentioned herein may be obtained by using various types of image capture devices (still cameras, digital cameras, video cameras, smart phones, etc.). Various forms of images / photos may include still photos, video clips, real-time video, movies, still frames, etc. A still frame is a single static image that can be obtained from a video clip or video stream. A video clip is generally composed of a group of images captured sequentially over a period of time. Therefore, the following description of a single image is also applicable to, for example, a video clip. The term "vehicle" as used in the present disclosure may relate to any of various types of vehicles, such as, for example, cars, vans, sport utility vehicles, trucks, electric vehicles, gasoline vehicles, and hybrid vehicles. In addition, the description provided herein is applicable to various vehicles incorporating various kinds of driving automation, such as, for example, the six levels of driving automation defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) ranging from Level 0 (fully manual) to Level 5 (fully autonomous). More specifically, it must be understood that the various actions performed by the driver of the vehicle as described herein may be performed by a controller of the autonomous vehicle independently of the driver or in collaboration with the driver. It must also be understood that, in accordance with the present disclosure, words such as "implementation", "application", "scenario", "situation" and "situation" as used herein are abbreviated versions of the phrase "in an example ("implementation", "application", "scenario", "situation", "method" and "situation"). It must also be understood that the word "example" as used herein is intended to be non-exclusive and non-limiting in nature.

[0015] Figure 1 A vehicle 105 including a parking assist system 125 is shown according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The parking assist system 125 may include a processor 126 configured to execute computer executable instructions stored in a memory 127 to perform various operations according to the present disclosure. The vehicle 105 may also include components such as, for example, a vehicle controller 130, a communication system 115, and an infotainment system 135.

[0016] The vehicle controller 130 is operable to perform various operations related to the vehicle 105, such as, for example, controlling engine operation (fuel injection, speed control, emission control, braking, etc.), managing climate control (air conditioning, heating, etc.), activating airbags, and issuing messages (check engine light, bulb failure, low tire pressure, etc.), and is also used to perform various operations according to the present disclosure.

[0017] In the example scenario shown, the vehicle 105 is a driver-operated vehicle. In another example scenario, the vehicle 105 is an autonomous vehicle, and the vehicle controller 130 performs some or all of the various operations that may replicate those performed by the driver 110 of the vehicle 105. More specifically, according to the present disclosure, the vehicle controller 130 of the autonomous vehicle may perform various operations in cooperation with the parking assistance system 125 to identify unoccupied parking spaces that minimize walking in a multi-story parking lot. Such operations performed by the vehicle controller 130 may replicate the actions performed by the driver 110.

[0018] The infotainment system 135 may include a combination of various entertainment items such as a radio, streaming audio solutions, etc., and a USB access port for digital audio devices. The infotainment system 135 may also include other types of items such as, for example, a navigation system and a graphical user interface (GUI) displayed on a display screen. The driver 110 may use the GUI to interact with the parking assistance system 125 and perform various operations according to the present disclosure. Some example operations may include receiving visual and / or audible guidance via the infotainment system 135 to travel to an unoccupied parking space inside a multi-story parking garage. In an example embodiment, the guidance may be turn-by-turn instructions such as those typically provided by a global positioning satellite (GPS) navigation system.

[0019] In some embodiments, at least some components of the parking assistance system 125 may be located in a personal device 121 carried by the driver 110 and / or a passenger 120 of the vehicle 105. The components may be provided in the form of a software application that may be downloaded to the personal device 121. In an example scenario, the software application may be executed by the driver 110 and / or the passenger 120 to obtain guidance (images and / or audible instructions) along a walking route from the vehicle 105 to a destination located outside a multi-story car park. The guidance provided via the personal device 121 for the walking route may be step-by-step instructions, such as are typically provided by a GPS navigation system for walking.

[0020] The communication system 115 of the vehicle 105 is configured to wirelessly communicate with various devices such as, for example, a computer 160, a cloud computer 150, an Internet of Things (IoT) communication system 145, and a parking assistance system 141 provided in the vehicle 140. The parking assistance system 141 provided in the vehicle 140 may be substantially the same as the parking assistance system 125 provided in the vehicle 105, and may be configured to perform substantially the same functions as those performed by the parking assistance system 125.

[0021] The vehicle 140 may be, for example, another vehicle moving around or parked in a multi-storey car park in which the vehicle 105 is looking for an unoccupied parking space. In an example scenario, the vehicle 140 may provide information about one or more unoccupied parking spaces that may exist in the multi-storey car park to the vehicle 105 when the driver 110 of the vehicle 105 attempts to park in the multi-storey car park by using the parking assistance system 141. According to the present disclosure, the parking assistance system 125 of the vehicle 105 may evaluate the received information and identify unoccupied parking spaces that minimize the walking distance of the driver 110 inside the multi-storey car park.

[0022] Wireless communication may be performed via device-to-device communication and / or via the network 155. The device-to-device communication may involve, for example, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication that may be used by the communication system 115 of the vehicle 105 to communicate with the parking assistance system 141 of the vehicle 140, and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication that may be used by the communication system 115 of the vehicle 105 to communicate with the IoT communication system 145.

[0023] The network 155 may include any network or combination of networks, such as, for example, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a telephone network, a cellular network, a cable network, a wireless network, and / or a private / public network (such as the Internet). At least a portion of the network 155 includes a wireless communication link, such as, for example, a cellular communication link, a WiFi communication link, an ultra-wideband (UWB) communication link, and a Communication link.

[0024] The computer 160 may be any of various types of computers, such as, for example, a server computer, a client device, a personal computer, and / or a distributed computer (a plurality of computers operating in cooperation with each other as a single computing entity). In an example embodiment, the computer 160 is a server computer configured to store information about parking spaces in a multi-storey car park and other information such as, for example, about buildings located within walking distance of the multi-storey car park. The information (which may include occupancy and / or vacancy information of individual parking spaces) may be wirelessly transmitted to the parking assistance system 125 of the vehicle 105.

[0025] The cloud computer 150 can be used independently or together with the computer 160 to store information about parking spaces in a multi-storey car park and other information such as, for example, about buildings located within walking distance of the multi-storey car park. The stored information may include, for example, the position coordinates of individual occupied and / or unoccupied parking spaces in the multi-storey car park.

[0026] The IoT communication system 145 may be configured to perform various functions, such as, for example, transmitting information about parking spaces in a multi-story parking garage received from a device such as, for example, the computer 160 and / or the cloud computer 150 to the parking assistance system 125. The IoT communication system 145 may also be configured to relay information transmitted by the parking assistance system 125 to a device such as the computer 160, the cloud computer 150, and / or another IoT roadside unit (not shown).

[0027] Figure 2 A first example scenario in which the parking assistance system 125 may be used according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. In this example scenario, the vehicle 105 described above may enter a multi-storey car park 200 through an example vehicle entrance 201 on a ground floor. The multi-storey car park 200 may be any of a variety of structures, such as, for example, a parking garage attached to a building (business, hospital, shopping mall, etc.) or a parking garage located at a walking distance from a business, hospital, shopping mall, etc.

[0028] In the illustrated scenario, the multi-storey car park 200 includes four parking floors and is located within walking distance of the building 275. Three of the four parking floors are higher than the bottom floor parking floor. In this example, an elevator 256 is located at one end of the multi-storey car park 200. The elevator 256 can be used by people who rise to any of the various layers or descend to the bottom floor from any of the various layers. In other scenarios, the elevator 256 can be located elsewhere. Stairwells (not shown) can also be provided for people who choose to walk up or down one or more flights of stairs. The pedestrian exit 220 located on the bottom floor of the multi-storey car park 200 can be used by pedestrians who commute between the multi-storey car park 200 and the building 275. In this example, the pedestrian exit 220 is located near the elevator door 236 of the elevator 256.

[0029] In an example embodiment, the computer 160 described above may be located on-site at the multi-storey car park 200 (in a computer room, compartment, booth, etc.) and configured to access various devices, such as, for example, the IoT communication system 145 and the cloud computer 150. The various components of the IoT communication system 145 may be distributed at various locations inside the multi-storey car park 200. For example, various relays, repeaters, antennas may be provided on each floor of the multi-storey car park 200 to allow vehicles located inside the multi-storey car park 200 to communicate by using V2I technology. In some embodiments, alternative communication technologies may be employed, such as Ultra-wideband, Wi-Fi, or optical communications.

[0030] In some scenarios, GPS signals may not be available in the interior area of ​​the multi-storey car park 200, and it may be impractical to use GPS coordinates for the location information of various objects. In such scenarios, alternative forms of location identification may be employed. For example, specific parking spaces inside the multi-storey car park 200 may be identified based on physical landmarks, such as parking space 39 near column 12 on the 3rd floor, for example.

[0031] Information collecting devices such as cameras and sensors may be provided at various locations in the multi-storey car park 200 to obtain real-time information about the availability of parking spaces in the multi-storey car park 200. Cameras that may be mounted on the walls of the multi-storey car park 200 at each level may be selected to provide a field of view covering all parking spaces at each level. For example, the camera 206 may be used to capture images of all parking spaces in the 4th level. The images may be transmitted to the computer 160 to be stored in a database of the computer 160. A processor (not shown) in the computer 160 may evaluate the images to identify one or more unoccupied parking spaces, and provide information to the parking assistance systems of various vehicles upon request to assist the drivers of these vehicles in finding one of the unoccupied parking spaces and parking therein.

[0032] Information about parking space availability may also be provided to the computer 160 by sensor devices, such as, for example, pressure sensors embedded in the floor of each parking space. An example pressure sensor 207 senses the weight of a vehicle parked in a parking space and provides information to the computer 160 about parking spaces being unavailable for vehicles entering the multi-storey car park 200. Another example pressure sensor 208 may provide information to the computer 160 about unoccupied parking spaces on the second parking level.

[0033] In the example scenario, when the vehicle 105 enters the multi-storey car park 200, the parking assistance system 125 of the vehicle 105 begins a procedure for locating an unoccupied parking space. More specifically, the procedure involves locating an unoccupied parking space that minimizes the walking distance from the unoccupied parking space to the destination of the driver 110 (or passenger 120) of the vehicle 105. In the example shown, the destination is the entrance 276 of the building 275. Minimizing the walking distance is usually achieved by locating an unoccupied parking space that requires the least amount of walking to reach the pedestrian exit 220 of the multi-storey car park 200. Walking only occurs in the xy plane relative to the ground level. Walking is eliminated by using the elevator 256 to travel in the vertical direction (along the z-axis of the xyz plane 215) because the occupants of the elevator 256 usually stand in one place when the elevator 256 moves. Thus, in some scenarios, an unoccupied parking space that requires the least amount of walking may be located on one of the levels above the ground floor of the multi-storey car park 200 .

[0034] When the vehicle 105 enters the multi-storey car park 200 via the vehicle entrance 201, the driver 110 of the vehicle 105 may want to park in an unoccupied parking space 205 located closest to the vehicle entrance 201 and within the driver's 110 line of sight. However, in doing so, the driver 110 must walk a first spacing distance 210 between the unoccupied parking space 205 and the pedestrian exit 220 of the multi-storey car park 200. According to the present disclosure, the driver 110 may resist the temptation and initiate a procedure to locate a suitable unoccupied parking space that may involve less walking. In an example embodiment, the procedure may be initiated via an operation performed on the touch screen of the infotainment system 135 before the vehicle 105 enters the multi-storey car park 200 or after the vehicle 105 enters the multi-storey car park 200.

[0035] In some scenarios, initiating the procedure before entering the multi-storey car park 200 may allow the parking assistance system 125 to recommend a vehicle entrance other than the vehicle entrance 201 to reach an unoccupied parking space. In another example embodiment, the procedure may be initiated via an operation performed on a touch screen of the personal device 121 before the vehicle 105 enters the multi-storey car park 200 or after the vehicle 105 enters the multi-storey car park 200.

[0036] An example procedure for locating a suitable unoccupied parking space may include the parking assistance system 125 establishing wireless communication with the computer 160 and / or the cloud computer 150 to obtain information about one or more unoccupied parking spaces in the multi-story parking lot 200. The information may include location information (GPS coordinates, physical landmarks, etc.) of the unoccupied parking spaces, and may also include information about the horizontal spacing distance between each of the unoccupied parking spaces on the ground floor and the pedestrian exit 220, and the horizontal spacing distance between each of the unoccupied parking spaces on the floors above the ground floor and the door of the elevator 256 on each corresponding floor. The horizontal spacing distance may be determined by the computer 160, the cloud computer 150, and / or the parking assistance system 125.

[0037] Another example procedure may include the parking assistance system 125 establishing wireless communication with one or more other vehicles in the multi-storey parking lot 200 to obtain information about one or more unoccupied parking spaces in the multi-storey parking lot 200. In an example scenario, the parking assistance system 125 may use V2V communication to obtain such information from a parking assistance system 141 provided in the vehicle 140. The vehicle 140 may be parked in the multi-storey parking lot 200, or may detect two or more unoccupied parking spaces while moving around the multi-storey parking lot 200 to find unoccupied parking spaces. The parking assistance system 141 provided in the vehicle 140 may detect the two or more unoccupied parking spaces based on evaluating images captured by one or more cameras (not shown) in the vehicle 140.

[0038] Parking assist system 125 may then identify the shortest of the horizontal separation distances and may provide guidance to driver 110 to travel to an unoccupied parking space associated with the shortest horizontal distance.

[0039] In the example shown, the first separation distance 210 is just greater than the second separation distance 230 between the unoccupied parking space 225 on the first upper level and the door of the elevator 256 on the first upper level. The second separation distance 230 is just greater than the third separation distance 245 between the unoccupied parking space 240 on the second upper level and the door of the elevator 256 on the second upper level. The third separation distance 245 is just greater than the fourth separation distance 246 between the unoccupied parking space 255 on the third upper level and the door of the elevator 256 on the third upper level.

[0040] The first vertical distance 235 between the first upper level and the bottom floor of the multi-storey car park 200, the second vertical distance 250 between the second upper level and the bottom floor of the multi-storey car park 200, and the third vertical distance 260 between the third upper level and the bottom floor of the multi-storey car park 200 are ignored by the parking assistance system 125 when determining the shortest walking distance. Therefore, in the example scenario shown, the unoccupied parking space 255 on the third upper level provides the shortest walking distance to the destination. The shortest walking distance includes a walking path 270 between a point 221 at a pedestrian exit 220 of the multi-storey car park 200 and an entrance 276 of a building 275. The walking path 270 is common to all of the example walking distances described above and can be ignored by the parking assistance system 125 when determining the shortest cumulative walking distance between the unoccupied parking space 255 on the third upper level and the entrance 276 of the building 275.

[0041] In an example embodiment, after determining the shortest cumulative walking distance, the parking assist system 125 of the vehicle 105 provides guidance to the driver 110 in the form of turn-by-turn driving instructions displayed, for example, on a display screen of the infotainment system 135 to reach an unoccupied parking space 255 on the third upper level.

[0042] In an example embodiment, some or all of the components of the parking assistance system 125 may be provided in the personal device 121, for example, in the form of a downloadable software application. In this case, the software application may be launched in the personal device 121 and used to obtain step-by-step walking instructions from the unoccupied parking space 255 to the elevator door 257 on the third upper level and from the elevator door 236 on the ground floor to the pedestrian exit 220 and then to the entrance 276 of the building 275.

[0043] Figure 3A second example scenario in which the parking assistance system 125 may be used according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The multi-storey car park 300 shown in this figure is substantially similar to the multi-storey car park 200 described above, except that there is an additional pedestrian exit 305 on the ground floor (in addition to the pedestrian exit 220). The spacing distance 310 between the unoccupied parking space 205 on the ground floor and the additional pedestrian exit 305 is shorter than the first spacing distance 210 between the unoccupied parking space 205 and the pedestrian exit 220.

[0044] Additionally, in this example scenario, there is only one other unoccupied parking space 320 located on the uppermost level of the multi-storey car park 300. Determining the shortest walking distance between any unoccupied parking space in the multi-storey car park 300 and the entrance 276 of the building 275 now involves comparing the first cumulative walking distance between the unoccupied parking space 205 on the ground floor and the entrance 276 of the building 275 with the second cumulative walking distance between the unoccupied parking space 320 on the uppermost level and the entrance 276 of the building 275.

[0045] In this case, the second cumulative walking distance may or may not be shorter than the first cumulative walking distance because the walking path 270 between point 221 at the pedestrian exit 220 of the multi-storey car park 300 and the entrance 276 of the building 275 differs in length compared to the walking path 315 between point 316 at the additional pedestrian exit 305 of the multi-storey car park 300 and the entrance 276 of the building 275.

[0046] Thus, determining the shortest cumulative walking distance between the multi-storey car park 300 and the entrance 276 of the building 275 includes determining the length of the walking path 270 and the length of the walking path 315. The vertical distance (along the z-axis) between the uppermost floor and the bottom floor is ignored because the walking involved when moving downward in the elevator 256 is negligible.

[0047] In the example embodiment, the length of walking path 270 is determined by using a first set of position coordinates of point 221 and a second set of position coordinates of entrance 276 of building 275. The length of walking path 315 is determined by using a third set of position coordinates of point 316 and a second set of position coordinates of entrance 276 of building 275.

[0048] In the example embodiment, entry 276 is defined by a first set of Cartesian coordinates (x0, y0), point 221 is defined by a second set of Cartesian coordinates (x1, y1), and point 316 is defined by a third set of Cartesian coordinates (x2, y2). The corresponding z0, z1, and z3 values ​​are zero because all position coordinates are defined at the bottom layer.

[0049] The length (L1) of the walking path 270 can be determined by applying the Pythagorean theorem to the second set of Cartesian coordinates and the first set of Cartesian coordinates. The equation for doing so is:

[0050]

[0051] The length (L2) of the walking path 315 can be determined by applying the Pythagorean theorem to the third set of Cartesian coordinates and the first set of Cartesian coordinates. The equation for doing so is:

[0052]

[0053] The first cumulative walking distance between the unoccupied parking space 320 on the uppermost floor of the multi-storey car park 300 and the entrance 276 of the building 275 is equal to the sum of the spacing distance 325 and the distance L1. The second cumulative walking distance between the unoccupied parking space 205 on the lower floor of the multi-storey car park 300 and the entrance 276 of the building 275 is equal to the sum of the spacing distance 310 and the distance L2.

[0054] In an example embodiment, after determining the shorter of the first cumulative walking distance and the second cumulative walking distance, the parking assist system 125 of the vehicle 105 provides guidance to the driver 110 in the form of turn-by-turn driving instructions displayed, for example, on a display screen of the infotainment system 135 to reach a corresponding one of the unoccupied parking spaces 320 on the uppermost level or the unoccupied parking spaces 205 on the lower level.

[0055] In an example embodiment, some or all of the components of the parking assist system 125 may be provided in the personal device 121, for example, in the form of a downloadable software application. In this case, the software application may be launched in the personal device 121 after the vehicle 105 is parked and used to obtain turn-by-turn walking instructions to reach the entrance 276 of the building 275.

[0056] Figure 4 A third example scenario in which the parking assistance system 125 may be used according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The multi-storey car park 400 shown in the figure has a ground floor parking level and three parking levels located below the ground floor parking level. A pedestrian exit 445 is located at the ground floor, and an elevator 456 can be used to travel up to the ground floor parking level from any of the lower parking levels.

[0057] In the example shown, a first spacing distance 410 between an unoccupied parking space 405 on the ground floor parking level and a pedestrian exit 445 is greater than a second spacing distance 420 between an unoccupied parking space 415 on the first lower parking level and an elevator door 421 on the first lower parking level. The second spacing distance 420 is greater than a third spacing distance 430 between an unoccupied parking space 425 on the second lower parking level and an elevator door 422 on the second lower parking level. The third spacing distance 430 is just greater than a fourth spacing distance 436 between an unoccupied parking space 435 on the third lower parking level and an elevator door 423 on the third lower parking level.

[0058] When determining the shortest walking distance, the vertical distance between the lower parking levels and the ground floor is ignored by the parking assistance system 125. Thus, in the illustrated example scenario, the unoccupied parking space 435 on the third lower parking level provides the shortest walking distance to the destination. The shortest walking distance includes a walking path 440 between a point 441 at a pedestrian exit 445 of the multi-storey car park 400 and the entrance 276 of the building 275. The walking path 440 is common to all pedestrians moving between the multi-storey car park 400 and the building 275 and may be ignored by the parking assistance system 125 when determining the shortest cumulative walking distance between any unoccupied parking space in the multi-storey car park 400 and the entrance 276 of the building 275.

[0059] In an example embodiment, after determining the shortest cumulative walking distance, the parking assist system 125 of the vehicle 105 provides guidance to the driver 110 to reach an unoccupied parking space 435 on the third lower parking level in the form of turn-by-turn driving instructions, for example, displayed on a display screen of the infotainment system 135.

[0060] Figure 5 A flowchart 500 is shown that demonstrates a first example method of obtaining parking assistance in a multi-story car park according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In this example, the multi-story car park has a single vehicle entrance and a single pedestrian exit on the ground floor. Flowchart 500 (and flowchart 600 described below) illustrate a series of operations that may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination thereof. In the context of software, the operations represent computer-executable instructions stored on one or more non-transitory computer-readable media (such as memory 127), which perform the enumerated operations when executed by one or more processors (such as processor 126). In general, computer-executable instructions include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform specific functions or implement specific abstract data types. The order in which the operations are described is not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number of the described operations may be performed in a different order, omitted, combined in any order, and / or performed in parallel. The following description may refer to Figures 1 to 4 Certain components and objects are shown, but it should be understood that this is done for the purpose of explaining certain aspects of the present disclosure and that the description is equally applicable to many other embodiments.

[0061] At box 505, before the vehicle enters the multi-storey car park or after the vehicle enters the multi-storey car park, a parking assistance system provided in the vehicle obtains information about one or more unoccupied parking spaces available in the multi-storey car park. The information may be obtained, for example, from a server computer and / or a cloud computer. In an example embodiment, the server computer and / or the cloud computer may obtain information about the availability of parking spaces in the multi-storey car park based on evaluating images and / or videos captured by cameras located in the multi-storey car park. In one case, the images may be captured continuously in real time. In another case, the information may be collected dynamically whenever vehicle activity is detected in the multi-storey car park, such as, for example, when a vehicle leaves the multi-storey car park. In this case, one or more cameras may capture images when triggered by signals received from pressure sensors located in the respective parking spaces.

[0062] At block 510 , a first walking distance between an unoccupied parking space on a ground floor of a multi-story parking garage and a pedestrian exit on the ground floor is determined.

[0063] At block 515 , it is determined whether any unoccupied parking spaces are available on another level (either an upper level or a lower level) of the multi-story parking garage.

[0064] If it is determined at block 515 that no unoccupied parking space is available at another level, then at block 520 the parking assist system provides guidance to park the vehicle in an unoccupied parking space on the bottom level.

[0065] If it is determined at block 515 that another unoccupied parking space is available on another level of the multi-story parking garage, then at block 525 the upper / lower level having an unoccupied parking space closest to the elevator door on the upper / lower level is identified.

[0066] At block 530 , a second walking distance between an unoccupied parking space on another floor and an elevator door on the other floor is determined.

[0067] At block 535, a third walking distance between the elevator door on the ground floor and the pedestrian exit on the ground floor is determined.

[0068] At block 540 , the cumulative walking distance is obtained by adding the second walking distance to the third walking distance.

[0069] At box 545, it is determined whether the cumulative walking distance determined at box 540 is shorter than the first walking distance determined at box 510. If the cumulative walking distance is longer than the first walking distance, at box 520, the parking assist system provides guidance to park the vehicle in an unoccupied parking space on the ground floor.

[0070] If the cumulative walking distance is shorter than the first walking distance, then at box 550, determine whether to consider one or more factors. Such factors may be in addition to or in lieu of the shorter distance consideration indicated at box 545. A first example factor may be an object carried or towed by the driver (and / or passenger) of the vehicle after parking and leaving the vehicle. The object may be, for example, a piece of luggage, a child, a pet, or a heavy package. A second example factor may be a physical attribute of the driver and / or passenger. In some cases, the driver and / or passenger may have a physical impairment and / or may need to use a wheelchair. A third example factor may be time-related, where the driver / passenger is in a hurry and desires to park the vehicle as quickly as possible.

[0071] If the determination at box 550 indicates that one or more of such factors are to be considered and parking the vehicle based on the shortest walking distance is to be avoided, then at box 520 the parking assist system provides guidance to park the vehicle in an unoccupied parking space on the ground floor.

[0072] If the determination at block 550 indicates that such factors do not apply, then at block 555 the parking assist system provides guidance to park the vehicle in an unoccupied parking space on another parking level.

[0073] Figure 6 A flowchart 600 is shown illustrating a second example method of obtaining parking assistance in a multi-storey car park according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In this example, the multi-storey car park has a single vehicle entrance and two pedestrian exits on the ground floor.

[0074] At box 605, before the vehicle enters the multi-storey car park or after the vehicle enters the multi-storey car park, a parking assistance system provided in the vehicle obtains information about one or more unoccupied parking spaces available in the multi-storey car park. The information may be obtained, for example, from a server computer and / or a cloud computer. In an example embodiment, the server computer and / or the cloud computer may obtain information about the availability of parking spaces in the multi-storey car park based on evaluating images and / or videos captured by cameras located in the multi-storey car park. In one case, the images may be captured continuously in real time. In another case, the information may be collected dynamically whenever vehicle activity is detected in the multi-storey car park, such as, for example, when a vehicle leaves the multi-storey car park. In this case, one or more cameras may capture images when triggered by signals received from pressure sensors located in the respective parking spaces.

[0075] At block 610 , a first walking distance between an unoccupied parking space on a bottom floor of a multi-story parking garage and a first pedestrian exit on the bottom floor is determined.

[0076] At block 615 , a second walking distance between a first pedestrian exit on the ground floor and a destination located outside the multi-story car park is determined.

[0077] At block 620 , a first cumulative walking distance is determined by adding the second separation distance to the first separation distance.

[0078] At box 625 , it is determined whether any unoccupied parking spaces are available on another level (an upper level or a lower level) of the multi-story parking garage.

[0079] If it is determined at block 625 that no unoccupied parking space is available at another level, then at block 630 the parking assist system provides guidance to park the vehicle in an unoccupied parking space on the bottom level.

[0080] If it is determined at block 625 that another unoccupied parking space is available on another level of the multi-story parking garage, then at block 635, the corresponding parking level having an unoccupied parking space closest to the elevator door on the upper and / or lower parking levels is identified. For example, the second parking level may have an unoccupied parking space located at a first spacing distance from the elevator door on the second parking level, and the third parking level may have an unoccupied parking space located at a second spacing distance from the elevator door on the third parking level. The second spacing distance may be shorter than the first spacing distance. Thus, in this example, at block 635, the third parking level is identified.

[0081] At block 640, a third walking distance is determined between an unoccupied parking space on the upper and / or lower parking level (identified at block 635) and an elevator door on the upper and / or lower parking level (identified at block 635). In the above example, the third walking distance corresponds to the walking distance between an unoccupied parking space on the third parking level and the elevator door.

[0082] At block 645, a fourth walking distance between the elevator door on the bottom floor and the second pedestrian exit on the bottom floor is determined.

[0083] At block 650 , a fifth walking distance between the second pedestrian exit and a destination located outside the multi-story car park is determined.

[0084] At block 655 , a second cumulative walking distance is calculated by adding the third walking distance, the fourth walking distance, and the fifth walking distance.

[0085] At block 660 , it is determined whether the second cumulative walking distance is shorter than the first cumulative walking distance.

[0086] If at block 660 , it is determined that the second cumulative walking distance is not shorter than the first cumulative walking distance, then at block 630 , the parking assist system provides guidance to park the vehicle in an unoccupied parking space on the ground floor.

[0087] If at box 660, it is determined that the second cumulative walking distance is shorter than the first cumulative walking distance, then at box 665, it is determined whether one or more factors are to be considered. Such factors may be in addition to or in lieu of the shorter distance consideration indicated at box 660. Some example factors are described above with reference to box 550 of flow chart 500, and are equally relevant here. An additional example factor in this scenario is the difference in terrain (if any) between a first walking path from a first exit on the ground floor to a destination and a second walking path from a second exit on the ground floor to a destination. For example, the first walking path may be substantially flat, while the second walking path may include a slope or gradient that may be difficult for a driver and / or passenger of a vehicle to traverse due to a physical impairment or carrying objects with them.

[0088] If the determination at block 660 indicates that one or more of such factors are to be considered and parking the vehicle based on the shortest walking distance is to be avoided, then at block 630 the parking assist system provides guidance to park the vehicle in an unoccupied parking space on the ground floor.

[0089] If the determination at block 660 indicates that such factors do not apply, then at block 670 the parking assist system provides guidance to park the vehicle on the parking level having an unoccupied parking space closest to the elevator door on the upper or lower parking level.

[0090] Figure 7 Some functional components that may be included in an example vehicle 105 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure are shown. Example components may include a vehicle controller 130, an infotainment system 135, a communication system 115, and a parking assist system 125. The various components are communicatively coupled to each other via one or more buses such as an example bus 711. The bus 711 may be implemented using various wired and / or wireless technologies. For example, the bus 711 may be a vehicle bus that uses a controller area network (CAN) bus protocol, a media oriented systems transport (MOST) bus protocol, and / or a CAN flexible data (CAN-FD) bus protocol. Some or all of the bus 711 may also use a bus protocol such as Ultra-wideband, Wi-Fi, The Matter protocol can be implemented using wireless technologies such as NFC or near field communication. In an example embodiment, the Matter protocol, which is a unified IP-based connection protocol, can be used. The Matter protocol provides interoperability between various devices, including artificial intelligence robots, drones, and Internet of Things (IoT) platforms.

[0091] The vehicle controller 130 is operable to perform various operations related to the vehicle 105, such as, for example, controlling engine operation (fuel injection, speed control, emission control, braking, etc.), managing climate control (air conditioning, heating, etc.), activating airbags, and issuing messages (check engine light, bulb failure, low tire pressure, etc.), and is also used to perform various operations according to the present disclosure.

[0092] The infotainment system 135 may include a display system 701 having a GUI for performing various operations. The GUI may be used, for example, by the driver 110 to interact with the parking assist system 125 and perform actions associated with parking the vehicle 105 in a multi-storey car park.

[0093] The communication system 115 may include a device configured to allow the parking assistance system 125 to communicate with, for example, Figure 1 The computer 160, cloud computer 150, IoT communication system 145, and the example parking assistance system 141 (of the example vehicle 140) are shown to communicate with various components such as, for example, wireless transmitters, wireless receivers, and / or wireless transceivers. The communication may be performed using any of a variety of communication formats (such as, for example, WiFi, cellular, TCP / IP, Ultra-wideband, Wi-Fi, Ultra-wideband (UBW), and Near Field Communication (NFC), communication is performed via wireless signals directly or via a network 155 .

[0094] In one embodiment, the parking assist system 125 may be a stand-alone device (e.g., enclosed in a housing). In another embodiment, some or all of the components of the parking assist system 125 may be housed, merged, or may share functionality with the vehicle controller 130. For example, an integrated unit combining the functionality of the parking assist system 125 with the functionality of the vehicle controller 130 may be operated by a single processor and a single memory device. In the example configuration shown, the parking assist system 125 includes a processor 126 and a memory 127.

[0095] The memory 127, as one example of a non-transitory computer-readable medium, may be used to store an operating system (OS) 725, a database 720, and various code modules such as a parking assistance system module 710. The code modules are provided in the form of computer-executable instructions that can be executed by the processor 126 to perform various operations according to the present disclosure.

[0096] The database 720 may be used to store information such as, for example, location coordinates and separation distances associated with a multi-storey car park.

[0097] The parking assist system module 710 may be executed by the processor 126 to perform various operations according to the present disclosure, including performing the operations included in the example flowchart 500 and the example flowchart 600 described above.

[0098] In the above disclosure, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings that form a part of the above disclosure, which illustrate specific embodiments in which the present disclosure may be practiced. It should be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. References in the specification to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," "an example embodiment," "an example embodiment," etc. indicate that the described embodiment may include specific features, structures, or characteristics, but each embodiment may not necessarily include the specific features, structures, or characteristics. In addition, such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. In addition, when specific features, structures, or characteristics are described in conjunction with an embodiment, whether or not explicitly described, those skilled in the art will recognize such features, structures, or characteristics in conjunction with other embodiments.

[0099] Implementations of the systems, devices, apparatuses, and methods disclosed herein may include or utilize one or more devices including hardware such as, for example, one or more processors and system memory as discussed herein. More specifically, it must be understood that the various operations described above with respect to the parking assistance system 125 of the vehicle 105 may be performed by various other devices such as, for example, the computer 160 (and vice versa). The computer 160 may perform these operations independently or in cooperation with the parking assistance system 125.

[0100] Embodiments of the devices, systems, and methods disclosed herein may communicate via a computer network. A "network" is defined as one or more data links that support the transmission of electronic data between computer systems and / or modules and / or other electronic devices. When information is delivered or provided to a computer via a network or another communication connection (hardwired, wireless, or any combination of hardwired or wireless), the computer appropriately treats the connection as a transmission medium. The transmission medium may include a network and / or a data link that can be used to carry a desired program code means in the form of a computer executable instruction or data structure and can be accessed by a general or special purpose computer. Combinations of the foregoing should also be included within the scope of non-transitory computer-readable media.

[0101] Computer executable instructions include, for example, instructions and data that, when executed at a processor, cause the processor to perform a certain function or group of functions. Computer executable instructions may be, for example, binary code, intermediate format instructions (such as assembly language), or even source code. Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and / or method actions, it should be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the features or actions described above. Rather, the described features and actions are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

[0102] A memory device, such as memory 127, may include any one or combination of volatile memory elements, such as random access memory (RAM, such as DRAM, SRAM, SDRAM, etc.) and non-volatile memory elements, such as ROM, hard drive, magnetic tape, CDROM, etc. In addition, the memory device may incorporate electronic, magnetic, optical, and / or other types of storage media. In the context of this document, a "non-transitory computer readable medium" may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, device, or apparatus. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of computer readable media would include the following: a portable computer floppy disk (magnetic), a random access memory (RAM) (electronic), a read-only memory (ROM) (electronic), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM, EEPROM, or flash memory) (electronic), and a portable compact disk read-only memory (CD ROM) (optical). It should be noted that the computer-readable medium may even be paper or another suitable medium on which the program is printed, as the program may be captured electronically, for example via an optical scan of the paper or other medium, and then compiled, interpreted or otherwise processed in a suitable manner if necessary, and then stored in a computer memory.

[0103] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present disclosure can be practiced in a network computing environment with many types of computer system configurations, including built-in vehicle computers, personal computers, desktop computers, laptop computers, message processors, handheld devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, mobile phones, PDAs, tablet computers, pagers, routers, switches, various storage devices, etc. The present disclosure can also be practiced in a distributed system environment, where both local and remote computer systems linked by a network (by hardwired data links, wireless data links, or by any combination of hardwired data links and wireless data links) perform tasks. In a distributed system environment, program modules can be located in both local memory storage devices and remote memory storage devices.

[0104] In addition, where appropriate, the functions described herein may be performed in one or more of the following: hardware, software, firmware, digital components, or analog components. For example, one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) may be programmed to perform one or more of the systems and programs described herein. Certain terms are used throughout the specification and claims to refer to specific system components. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, components may be referred to by different names. This document is not intended to distinguish between components that have different names but the same function.

[0105] It should be noted that the sensor embodiments discussed above may include computer hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof to perform at least a portion of their functionality. For example, the sensor may include computer code configured to be executed in one or more processors, and may include hardware logic / circuitry controlled by the computer code. These example devices are provided herein for illustrative purposes and are not intended to be limiting. As known to those skilled in the relevant art, the embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in other types of devices.

[0106] At least some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to computer program products that include such logic stored (e.g., in software form) on any computer usable medium. Such software, when executed in one or more data processing devices, causes the devices to operate as described herein.

[0107] Although various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, it should be understood that various embodiments of the present disclosure are presented only by way of example and not by way of limitation. It will be understood by those skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by any of the above-mentioned example embodiments, but should only be limited according to the attached claims and their equivalents. The foregoing description has been presented for the purpose of illustration and description. The foregoing description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the precise form disclosed. In view of the above teachings, many modifications and variations are possible. In addition, it should be noted that any or all of the aforementioned optional embodiments may be used in any desired combination to form additional hybrid embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, any of the functionality described with respect to a particular device or component may be performed by another device or component. In addition, although specific device characteristics have been described, embodiments of the present disclosure may involve many other device characteristics. In addition, although embodiments have been described in a language specific to structural features and / or method actions, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to the specific features or actions described. Rather, specific features and actions are disclosed as illustrative forms of implementing the described embodiments. Unless otherwise specifically stated or otherwise understood within the context when used, conditional language, such as, in particular, "can," "might," "may," or "may" is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments may include certain features, elements, and / or steps, while other embodiments may not include certain features, elements, and / or steps. Therefore, such conditional language is generally not intended to imply that one or more embodiments require each feature, element, and / or step in any way.

[0108] According to an embodiment, the first parking level is one of the parking levels above or below the ground floor of a multi-storey car park, and wherein the processor is configured to access the memory and execute computer-executable instructions to perform further operations, the further operations comprising: determining a first spacing distance between a first unoccupied parking space on the first parking level and a door of an elevator on the first parking level; determining a second spacing distance between a destination on the ground floor and one of the door of the elevator or a pedestrian exit of the multi-storey car park; and determining a second walking distance by combining the first spacing distance and the second spacing distance.

[0109] According to an embodiment, said second separation distance is determined by applying the Pythagorean theorem to a pair of Cartesian coordinates.

[0110] According to an embodiment, the shorter of the first walking distance and the second walking distance comprises a ride in an elevator of the multi-storey car park.

[0111] According to an embodiment, the device comprising a display screen is one of an infotainment system of a vehicle or a personal device carried by an occupant of said vehicle.

[0112] According to an embodiment, the processor is configured to access the memory and execute the computer executable instructions to perform further operations, the further operations comprising: sending turn-by-turn navigation assistance to the personal device to assist in walking to the destination.

Claims

1. A method comprising: determining, by a processor, a first walking distance between a first unoccupied parking space on a first parking level of a multi-storey car park and a destination located outside the multi-storey car park; determining, by the processor, a second walking distance between a second unoccupied parking space on a second parking level of the multi-storey car park and the destination located outside the multi-storey car park; comparing, by the processor, the first walking distance to the second walking distance; as well as Guidance is provided, by the processor, to drive to one of the first unoccupied parking space or the second unoccupied parking space based on the first walking distance and the second walking distance.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the shorter of the first walking distance and the second walking distance comprises a ride in an elevator of the multi-storey car park.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first parking level is located on a ground floor of the multi-storey car park, the second parking level is one of a parking level above or below the ground floor, and wherein determining the second walking distance comprises: determining, by the processor, a first spacing distance between the second unoccupied parking space on the second parking level and a first door of an elevator on the second parking level; determining, by the processor, a second separation distance between a second elevator door on the lower floor and a first pedestrian exit of the multi-storey car park on the lower floor; determining, by the processor, a third separation distance between the first pedestrian exit of the multi-storey car park and the destination located outside the multi-storey car park; as well as The second walking distance is determined by the processor by combining the first separation distance, the second separation distance, and the third separation distance. The method of claim 3 , wherein the third separation distance is determined by applying the Pythagorean theorem to a pair of Cartesian coordinates.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein determining the first walking distance comprises: determining, by the processor, a fourth separation distance between the first unoccupied parking space on the ground floor and the first pedestrian exit of the multi-storey car park; as well as The first walking distance is determined by the processor by combining the fourth separation distance and the third separation distance.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein determining the first walking distance comprises: determining, by the processor, a fourth separation distance between the first unoccupied parking space on the ground floor and a second pedestrian exit of the multi-storey car park; determining, by the processor, a fifth separation distance between the second pedestrian exit of the multi-storey car park and the destination located outside the multi-storey car park; as well as The first walking distance is determined by the processor by combining the fourth interval distance and the fifth interval distance.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining at least one of the first walking distance or the second walking distance comprises: determining, by the processor, on at least one of the first parking level or the second parking level, a first separation distance between a first door of an elevator on the at least one of the first parking level or the second parking level and a corresponding one of the first unoccupied parking space or the second unoccupied parking space; determining, by the processor, a second spacing distance between a second elevator door on the bottom floor of the multi-storey car park and a first pedestrian exit of the multi-storey car park; determining, by the processor, a third separation distance between the first pedestrian exit of the multi-storey car park and the destination located outside the multi-storey car park; as well as The at least one of the first walking distance or the second walking distance is determined by the processor by combining the first separation distance, the second separation distance, and the third separation distance.

8. A method comprising: determining, by a processor, a first set of position coordinates of a first unoccupied parking space on a first parking level of a multi-story parking garage; determining, by the processor, a second set of position coordinates of a second unoccupied parking space on a second parking level of the multi-story parking garage; determining, by the processor, a third set of position coordinates of a destination located outside the multi-storey car park; determining, by the processor, a first separation distance between the first set of position coordinates and the third set of position coordinates; determining, by the processor, a second separation distance between the second set of position coordinates and the third set of position coordinates; comparing, by the processor, the first separation distance with the second separation distance; as well as A walking route is determined, by the processor, based at least on the shorter of the first separation distance and the second separation distance.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first set of position coordinates is a first set of Cartesian coordinates, wherein the second set of position coordinates is a second set of Cartesian coordinates, wherein the third set of position coordinates is a third set of Cartesian coordinates, and wherein the first separation distance comprises a first diagonal distance determined by applying the Pythagorean theorem to the third set of Cartesian coordinates and a fourth set of Cartesian coordinates corresponding to a pedestrian exit of the multi-storey car park.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the first parking level is located on a ground floor of the multi-storey car park and the second parking level is one of a parking level above or below the ground floor, and wherein determining the walking route by the processor is further based on at least one of a physical attribute of an occupant of the vehicle, an object carried by the occupant of the vehicle, or a topography of the walking route.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein each of the first parking level and the second parking level is one of parking levels above or below a ground floor of the multi-story parking garage.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein determining the walking route comprises: identifying, by the processor, one of the first unoccupied parking space or the second unoccupied parking space based on the shorter of the first separation distance and the second separation distance; determining, by the processor, that the one of the first unoccupied parking space or the second unoccupied parking space is located on one of the first parking level or the second parking level that is one of a parking level above or below a ground floor of the multi-story parking garage; determining, by the processor, a first walking distance between the one of the first unoccupied parking space or the second unoccupied parking space and an elevator on the one of the first parking level or the second parking level that is one of parking levels above or below the ground floor of the multi-story parking garage; determining, by the processor, a second walking distance between the elevator and the destination on the bottom floor; determining, by the processor, a walking distance based on combining the first walking distance and the second walking distance; as well as The processor displays the walking route and the walking distance on a display screen of a device.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising: selecting, by the processor, the first unoccupied parking space based on the shorter of the first separation distance and the second separation distance; determining, by the processor, that the first unoccupied parking space is located on a ground floor of the multi-storey car park; determining, by the processor, a first separation distance between the first unoccupied parking space and a first pedestrian exit on the ground floor of the multi-storey car park; determining, by the processor, a second separation distance between the first unoccupied parking space and a second pedestrian exit on the bottom floor of the multi-storey car park; comparing, by the processor, the first separation distance with the second separation distance; determining, by the processor, that the first separation distance is shorter than the second separation distance; as well as The first pedestrian exit is selected, by the processor, for inclusion in the walking route.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: determining, by the processor, a second separation distance between the first pedestrian exit and the destination on the ground floor; determining, by the processor, a walking distance based on combining the first separation distance and the second separation distance; as well as The processor displays the walking route and the walking distance on a display screen of a device.

15. A vehicle comprising: A device, the device comprising a display screen; as well as A parking assistance system, the parking assistance system comprising: a memory storing computer-executable instructions; and a processor configured to access the memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to perform operations including: determining a first walking distance between a first unoccupied parking space on a first parking level of a multi-storey car park and a destination located outside the multi-storey car park; determining a second walking distance between a second unoccupied parking space on a second parking level of the multi-storey car park and the destination located outside the multi-storey car park; comparing the first walking distance to the second walking distance; and Guidance to drive to one of the first unoccupied parking space or the second unoccupied parking space is provided via the device and based on the shorter of the first walking distance and the second walking distance.

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