Method for geolocating a parking space and a supermarket trolley, vehicle, server and associated systems.

Abstract

A method for geolocating a parking space (434) for a motor vehicle in a parking lot (430) and a shopping cart (421) in a supermarket, characterized in that it comprises the following initial steps, implemented in a motor vehicle (100): Verification if the number of dates on which the motor vehicle (100) was in the parking lot (430) during a given period exceeds a first threshold; then verification if, while the motor vehicle (100) is in motion, the distance between the motor vehicle (100) and the parking lot (430) is less than a second threshold; then sending a request to a server (200) if all checks are successful; receiving a response to the request from the server (200), the response comprising: a geographic location of the parking space (434) for the motor vehicle; and a geographic location of the shopping cart (421). Figure 1 (for the abstract)

Description

Title of the invention: Method for geolocating a parking space and a supermarket trolley, vehicle, server and associated systems.

[0001] The invention relates to the use of a motor vehicle to travel to a point of sale or storage comprising parking spaces and supermarket trolleys. There is a need to facilitate such use.

[0002] For this purpose, the invention relates to a method for geolocating (in other words; determining or allocating or obtaining) a parking space for a motor vehicle in a parking lot and (geolocating, in other words; determining or allocating or obtaining) a supermarket trolley (in the parking lot or outside the parking lot), characterized in that it comprises the following first steps, implemented in a motor vehicle; • Checking whether the dates during which the motor vehicle was in (in other words; on) the parking lot, during a period (of time) (for example, a month), are in number greater than a first (predetermined) threshold (for example, between 3 and 5), then • Verification whether, while (in other words: when or during) the motor vehicle is moving (on a roadway), a distance between the motor vehicle and the parking lot is less than a second (predetermined) threshold (for example, between 100 meters and 10 kilometers), then • Sending a request to a server via a radio frequency communication network, provided: • That the dates are greater than the first threshold, and • That the distance between the motor vehicle and the parking lot is lower than the second threshold, • Then, reception, from the server, via a radiofrequency communication network, of a response to the request, the response to the request comprising: • A geographical location of the motor vehicle parking space, • A geographical location of the supermarket trolley. • Then, sending an instruction to a component of the motor vehicle from the geographical location of the motor vehicle parking space and the geographical location of the supermarket trolley.

[0003] Thus, the invention allows the motor vehicle, when it is traveling near a point of sale where it has visited frequently recently, to receive a geolocation of a parking space and a supermarket trolley.

[0004] Thus, the driver of the motor vehicle can be informed of these locations and / or the motor vehicle can be guided towards these locations.

[0005] By a radiofrequency communication network, we mean for example a mobile telephone network, or alternatively, a network of the so-called “WIFI” type.

[0006] For example, the shopping trolley and / or the parking space and the parking lot are included in a point of sale, for example a supermarket. Alternatively, they are included in a shared storage point.

[0007] The geographic location of the parking space and / or the geographic location of the shopping cart may comprise a latitude and a longitude. Alternatively, it may be a parking area identifier or a shopping cart storage area identifier.

[0008] For example, the step of sending an instruction to a component of the motor vehicle comprises the following steps: • Determination of an image (more generally, of a message) from the geographical location of the parking space and / or the geographical location of the supermarket trolley, • Sending, to a screen (more generally, to a rendering device) of the motor vehicle, an instruction commanding the screen to display the image (more generally: commanding a rendering of the message by the rendering device).

[0009] For example, the image includes a representation of the geographic location of the parking space and / or the geographic location of the shopping cart.

[0010] The image may comprise a representation of a route or guidance instructions (which do not necessarily comprise the geographical location of the parking space and / or the geographical location of the shopping trolley) for reaching the geographical location of the parking space and / or the geographical location of the shopping trolley.

[0011] Alternatively or in combination, the step of sending an instruction to a component of the motor vehicle comprises a step of controlling the reproduction, by a loudspeaker, of an audio message obtained from these locations.

[0012] Alternatively or in combination, the step of sending an instruction to a component of the motor vehicle comprises a step of controlling a steering and a propulsion of the motor vehicle so as to (automatically) guide the motor vehicle towards the geographical location of the parking space and / or the geographic location of the supermarket trolley.

[0013] It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to carry out the step of verifying whether the dates during which the motor vehicle was in the parking lot, during a period, are greater in number than a first threshold, without requiring further description, and also that this step can be carried out in different ways. However, by way of example, this step may comprise the following steps: • Receipt of an initial geographical location of the motor vehicle from a satellite geolocation module of the motor vehicle, for example of the so-called “GPS” type, on a date • Verification whether the first geographical location of the motor vehicle is in the parking lot from a geographical representation (in other words: from a geographical location or from a map or plan) of the parking lot (for example in memory of the motor vehicle, for example in a road map), • Dates including the date (and therefore being stored) if the first geographical location of the motor vehicle is in the parking lot.

[0014] According to a variant, it is the road infrastructure which informs the motor vehicle that it is in the parking lot via a radio frequency communication network or which then transmits the date or dates to the vehicle.

[0015] Also, it will be clear to those skilled in the art how to carry out the step of verifying whether a distance between the motor vehicle and the parking lot is less than a second threshold, without further description and that this step can be carried out in different ways. However, by way of example, this step may comprise receiving a second geographical location of the motor vehicle from a satellite geolocation module of the motor vehicle, for example of the so-called “GPS” type. The distance between the motor vehicle and the parking lot is then obtained from this second geographical location and a geographical location of the parking lot (in memory, for example of the electronic device implementing the invention or of the motor vehicle).

[0016] Alternatively, a road infrastructure may implement this verification or determine this distance, and transmit the result to the motor vehicle. For example, in this case, this distance may be obtained from a measurement of a propagation time of a radio signal between the vehicle and the parking lot.

[0017] The distance may be a straight line distance (Euclidean, for example), or for example, a length of a shortest path between the motor vehicle (in other words: the second geographical location) and the parking lot in a road map, (for example in memory of the electronic device implementing the invention or in memory of the motor vehicle).

[0018] According to one embodiment, the first steps further comprise a step of sending (implemented by the motor vehicle), to the server, via a radiofrequency communication network, an identifier of the motor vehicle (for example a vehicle registration number), for example in the request.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the method further comprises the following second steps, implemented in (in other words: by) the server (in other words: in a server): • Reception of the request, via a radio frequency communication network, then • Search (in other words: determination), in a first memory of the server, of an identifier of the motor vehicle parking space, the motor vehicle parking space being free (in other words: not occupied), the motor vehicle parking space being free provided that data, stored in the first memory of the server, indicates that the motor vehicle parking space is free (This data can be read in memory, during this step), and • Search (in other words: determination), in a second memory of the server, of an identifier of the supermarket trolley, the supermarket trolley being free (in other words: not in use), the supermarket trolley being free provided that data, stored in the second memory of the server, indicates that the supermarket trolley is free (this data can be read in memory, during this step), then • Then, writing, in the first memory of the server, data (in other words; information) indicating that the motor vehicle parking space is not free (in other words: no longer free), and • Writing, in the second memory of the server, data (in other words; information) indicating that the supermarket trolley is not free (in other words: no longer free), and • (after the step of searching for the parking space identifier, of course) Reading, in the first memory of the server, the geographical location of the motor vehicle parking space, the geographical location of the motor vehicle parking space being associated with the identifier of the motor vehicle parking space in the first memory of the server, • (after the step of searching for the supermarket trolley identifier of course) Reading, in the second memory of the server, the geographical location of the supermarket trolley, the geographical location of the supermarket trolley being associated with the supermarket trolley identifier in the second server memory, • Then, sends, to the motor vehicle, via a radiofrequency communication network, the geographical location of the motor vehicle parking space and the geographical location of the supermarket trolley, and possibly the identifier of the motor vehicle parking space and / or the identifier of the supermarket trolley (in this case, among the first steps, the step of receiving a response to the request may be followed, for example, by a step of sending, to a screen (or more generally, to a rendering device) a command for a display (or more generally, a rendering) of the identifier of the motor vehicle parking space and / or the identifier of the supermarket trolley).

[0020] It will be clear to those skilled in the art that, prior to the step of reading the geographical location of the supermarket trolley, the geographical location of the supermarket trolley, in the server's memory, can be updated or refreshed using various methods. For example, this geographical location can be received from the supermarket trolley. This geographical location can be established by a satellite geolocation module (for example, of the so-called "GPS" type) of the supermarket trolley (before the supermarket trolley sends this geographical location to the server). As variants, for example, the geographical location of the supermarket trolley can be established, by the server, by radio triangulation of the position of the supermarket trolley, by sensors, or from images making it possible to detect and locate the supermarket trolley.Alternatively, as soon as a particular trolley is free, it is stored in a storage area. In this case, there is no need to geolocate it precisely. The location of the supermarket trolley is then that of the storage area, for example.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the second steps comprise, after the step of searching, in the second memory of the server, for the identifier of the supermarket trolley, a step of sending, via a radiofrequency communication network, to the supermarket trolley (421), (by the server,) a command to display the identifier of the motor vehicle by a screen of the supermarket trolley (and the method may comprise a step of displaying, by the screen of the supermarket trolley, the identifier of the vehicle).

[0022] According to a first variant (or also), such a display can be implemented by the parking space or by a display panel at the entrance to the parking lot.

[0023] According to another variant, the identifier of the motor vehicle is not displayed.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the step of searching for an identifier of the motor vehicle parking space precedes the step of searching for an identifier of the supermarket trolley, and the supermarket trolley is the one closest to the geographical location of the motor vehicle parking space, among a plurality of free supermarket trolleys, (in a straight line, or in pedestrian routes of the parking lot).

[0025] The step of searching, in a first memory of the server, for an identifier of the parking space can use various methods or various criteria. The identifier of the parking space can be, for example: • An identifier of a free location closest to a sales area (to the point of sale), and / or • A covered location in case of rain or intense sun (weather conditions can be received via a radio frequency communication network), and / or • The cheapest parking space. • A location closest to a free supermarket trolley.

[0026] Of course, the second steps may comprise a step of detecting a release of the parking space (for example using sensors and a camera of the parking space or a human-machine interface of the parking space (a button or a touch screen for example), via a human-machine interface of the motor vehicle, a detection of a movement of the motor vehicle) and a step of detecting a release of the supermarket trolley (for example using a sensor, a camera in the supermarket or a human-machine interface of the supermarket trolley (a button or a touch screen for example), or via a human-machine interface of the motor vehicle).

[0027] The invention also relates to a computer program comprising instructions executable by a microprocessor or a microcontroller, for the implementation of the first steps, or for the implementation of the second steps, when it is executed by the microprocessor or the microcontroller.

[0028] The invention also relates to an electronic device configured to implement the first steps as well as a motor vehicle comprising the electronic device.

[0029] The invention finally relates to a server configured to implement the second steps and a system comprising the motor vehicle and the server.

[0030] The characteristics and advantages of the computer program, the electronic device, the vehicle, the server and / or the system are identical or analogous to those of the method according to the invention (without it being necessary to repeat them here).

[0031] When the electronic device, motor vehicle, server, parking space, or supermarket trolley is "configured to" (or "capable of") performing or implementing a step or operation, or receives an instruction to implement a step or operation, this implies, for example, that the element comprises means for performing the step or operation. These means preferably comprise electronic means, for example a computer program, data in memory, specialized electronic circuits, wired or wireless connections, a microprocessor and / or a microcontroller.

[0032] For example, the electronic device comprises for example a microprocessor and / or a microcontroller and / or the computer program capable of being executed by the microprocessor and / or the microcontroller.

[0033] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the detailed description which follows, comprising embodiments of the invention given as non-limiting examples and illustrated by the appended drawings, in which: • [Fig.l] represents an electronic device, a motor vehicle, a server and a system according to an embodiment of the invention, • [Fig.2] represents an implementation of the method according to the invention, according to a exemplary embodiment, by the electronic device, the motor vehicle, the server and the system of [Fig.l].

[0034] In [Fig.l], certain elements are, of course, seen through transparency.

[0035] Detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention, with reference to Figures 1 to 2.

[0036] [Fig.l] represents a system 1000 comprising a motor vehicle 100 and a server 200.

[0037] The motor vehicle 100 comprises a microprocessor 110 and, connected to the microprocessor 110: • A 140 screen, and • A 130 satellite geolocation module.

[0038] With reference to [Fig.2], in step S00, the microprocessor 110 records dates, 5 in number, in its memory 111, during which the motor vehicle 100 is in the parking lot 430 of the supermarket 400 during the month of May 2025, in particular from the position of the motor vehicle 100 received from the satellite geolocation module 130, periodically during the month of May.

[0039] Steps S10 to S150 below take place when the motor vehicle 100 is traveling on a roadway, on June 1, 2025.

[0040] In step S10, the microprocessor 110 establishes that the number of dates in memory 111 recorded during step S00 is greater than 4.

[0041] In step S20, the microprocessor 110 establishes that a straight-line distance between the motor vehicle 100 and the parking lot 430 is less than 1 kilometer.

[0042] In step S30, the microprocessor 110 sends, as a result of steps S10 and S20, a request, comprising the registration number of the vehicle 100, to the server 200, via the mobile telephone network 300.

[0043] In step S40, the server 200 receives the request via the mobile telephone network 300.

[0044] In step S50, the server 200, which stores the latitude and longitude of the sales area 410, searches, in table 1 (below) in memory 230 of the server 200, the identifier of the free parking space closest to the sales area 410 of the supermarket 400. Table 1 includes, for example, the list of identifiers 1431, 1432, 1433 and 1434 of the parking spaces 431, 432, 433 and 434 respectively. Each parking space identifier is associated, in table 1, with the latitude and longitude of the parking space and with information (in the column entitled “free”) indicating whether the parking space is free or not (NB: the latitudes and longitudes are indicated in table 1 symbolically, for example by XI instead of 41 24.2028). [Tables 1] Identifier Latitude Longitude Free 1431 XI Y1 Yes 1432 X2 Y2 No 1433 X3 Y3 No 1434 X4 Y4 Yes

[0045] In step S50, the server 200 thus determines that it is the parking replacement identifier 1434 434 which identifies the free parking space closest to the sales area 410.

[0046] The parking space identifiers may be the space numbers marked on the roadway in the parking spaces.

[0047] In step S60, the server 200 searches, in a table 2 in memory 220 of the server 200, the identifier of the free supermarket trolley closest to the parking space 434. Table 2 includes, for example, the list of identifiers 1421, 1422, 1423 of the supermarket trolleys 421, 422 and 423. Each identifier of a supermarket trolley is associated, in table 2, with the latitude and longitude of the supermarket trolley and with information indicating whether the parking space is free or not (NB: the latitudes and longitudes are indicated in table 2 symbolically, as in table 1). [Tables 2] Identifier Latitude Longitude Free 1421 X5 Y5 Yes 1422 X6 Y6 Yes 1423 X7 Y7 No

[0048] In particular, the information associated, in table 2, with the identifier 1423 indicates that the supermarket trolley 423 is not free. The supermarket trolley 423 is thus being used in the sales area 410 by a customer.

[0049] In table 1, the latitude and longitude associated with each cart identifier has been updated prior to step S60.

[0050] In step S60, the server 200 thus determines that it is the identifier 1421 of the supermarket trolley 421 which identifies the supermarket trolley closest to the parking location 434.

[0051] In step S70, the server 200 writes, in table 1, information (“no” in the column entitled “free”) indicating that the parking space 434 is not free.

[0052] In step S80, the server 200 sends, via the mobile telephone network 300, to the supermarket trolley 421, a command to display the registration number of the motor vehicle 100 by a screen of the supermarket trolley 421 (which then displays it).

[0053] In step S90, the server 200 writes, in table 2, information (“no” in the column entitled “free”) indicating that the supermarket trolley 421 is not free.

[0054] In step S100, the server 200 reads the latitude X4 and the longitude Y4 in the table 1

[0055] In step SI 10, the server 200 reads the latitude X5 and the longitude Y5.

[0056] In step S120, the server 200 sends to the microprocessor 110 (in other words: to the vehicle 100) latitude X4, longitude Y4, latitude X5, longitude Y5, identifier 1434 and identifier 1421, via the mobile telephone network 300.

[0057] In step S130, the microprocessor 110 receives, from the server 200, via the mobile telephone network 300, the latitude X4, the longitude Y4, the latitude X5, the longitude Y5, the identifier 1434 and the identifier 1421.

[0058] In step S140, the microprocessor 110 sends to the screen 140 instructions to display on the screen 140: • A route to parking space 434 and to shopping cart 421, from latitude X4, longitude Y4, latitude X5, and longitude Y5, • Identifier 1434 and identifier 1421.

[0059] To make [Fig. 1] easier to read, the parking lot 430 only has 4 parking spaces and the supermarket 400 only 3 supermarket trolleys, but of course, in reality, the number of parking spaces and supermarket trolleys will be much higher.

[0060] Tables 1 and 2 can for example be stored in blockchains.

Claims

Claims

1.

2. Method for geolocating a parking space (434) for a motor vehicle in a parking lot (430) and a trolley (421) for supermarket, characterized in that it comprises the following first steps, implemented in a motor vehicle (100); Verification (S 10) whether the dates during which the motor vehicle (100) was in the parking lot (430), during a period, are greater in number than a first threshold, then Verification (S20) whether, while the motor vehicle (100) is traveling, a distance between the motor vehicle (100) and the parking lot (430) is less than a second threshold, then Sending (S30) a request to a server (200), via a radiofrequency communication network (300), provided: That the dates are greater than the first threshold, and That the distance between the motor vehicle (100) and the parking lot (430) is lower than the second threshold, Reception (S 130), from the server (200), via a radio frequency communication network (300), of a response to the request, the response to the request comprising: A geographical location of the parking space (434) of a motor vehicle. A geographical location of the su cart supermarket (421). Then, sending an instruction (S 140) to a component of the motor vehicle (140) from the geographical location of the motor vehicle parking space (434) and the geographical location of the supermarket trolley (421). Geolocation method according to the preceding claim, in wherein the first steps further comprise a step of sending, to the server (200), via a radiofrequency communication network (300), an identifier of the motor vehicle (100).

3. Geolocation method according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising the following second steps, implemented in the server (200): • Reception (S40) of the request, via a radiofrequency communication network (300), then • Search (S50), in a first memory (230) of the server (200), for an identifier (1434) of the motor vehicle parking space (434), the motor vehicle parking space (434) being free, the motor vehicle parking space (434) being free provided that data, stored in the first memory (230) of the server (200), indicates that the motor vehicle parking space (434) is free, and • Search (S60), in a second memory (220) of the server (200), for an identifier (1421) of the supermarket trolley (421), the supermarket trolley (421) being free, the supermarket trolley (421) being free provided that data, stored in the second memory (220) of the server (200), indicates that the supermarket trolley (421) is free, • Then, writing (S70), in the first memory (230) of the server (200), of data indicating that the parking space (434) of the motor vehicle is not free, and • Writing (S90), in the second memory (220) of the server (200), of data indicating that the supermarket trolley (421) is not free, and • Reading (S 100), in the first memory (230) of the server (200), the geographical location of the motor vehicle parking space (434), the geographical location of the motor vehicle parking space (434) being associated with the identifier (1434) of the motor vehicle parking space (434) in the first memory (230) of the server (200), and • Reading (SI 10), in the second memory (220) of the server, of the geographical location of the supermarket trolley (421), the geographical location of the supermarket trolley (421) being associated with the identifier (1421) of the supermarket trolley (421) in the second memory (220) of the server (200), • Then, sends (S 120), to the motor vehicle (100), via a radiofrequency communication network (300), the geographical location of the motor vehicle parking space (434) and the geographical location of the supermarket trolley (421).

4. Geolocation method according to the preceding claim, taken as a dependency of claim 2, in which the second steps comprise, after the step of searching (S60), in the second memory (220) of the server (200), for the identifier of the supermarket trolley (421), a step of sending (S80), via a radiofrequency communication network (300), to the supermarket trolley (421), a command for a display of the identifier of the motor vehicle (100) by a screen of the supermarket trolley (421).

5. Geolocation method according to claim 3 or 4 in which the step of searching (S50) for an identifier of the motor vehicle parking space (434) precedes the step of searching (S60) for an identifier of the supermarket trolley (421) and in which the supermarket trolley is the one closest to the geographical location of the motor vehicle parking space (434) among a plurality of free supermarket trolleys.

6. A computer program comprising instructions, executable by a microprocessor or microcontroller, for implementing the first steps according to claim 1 or 2 when executed by the microprocessor or microcontroller.

7. An electronic device (110) configured to implement the first steps of claim 1 or 2.

8. Motor vehicle (100) comprising the electronic device according to the preceding claim.

9. Server (110) configured to implement the second steps according to any one of claims 3 to 5.

10. A system (1000) comprising the motor vehicle (100) of claim 8 and the server (200) of claim 9.

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