System and method for re-sorting vehicles to desired parking order

Abstract

Fig 2 An automated vehicle parking management system (1100, fig 1) for a single-lane driveway 2415 associated with a house 2410 determines current and desired parking order of vehicles 2200A,B,C and d

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION The present disclosure pertains broadly to the field of automated vehicle systems, and more specifically, to a system for managing vehicle movements in single-lane driveways to minimize blockages and optimize parking order. BACKGROUND The field of the invention pertains to vehicle parking, specifically in single-lane driveways. Single-lane driveways are common in many households and are often required to accommodate multiple vehicles. These driveways, however, are not designed to support the convenient exit of all vehicles at any given time. The vehicle parked closest to the street, often referred to as the front-most vehicle, can potentially block all other vehicles parked behind it. This creates a bottleneck situation where the blocked vehicles are unable to leave the driveway. The conventional method of resolving this issue involves manually moving the blocking vehicles out of the driveway, allowing the blocked vehicle to exit. This process, often referred to as “parking out,” requires the blocking vehicles to temporarily park on the street, wait until the blocked vehicle has exited, and then return to the driveway in a process known as “parking in.” This solution, while straightforward, is not without its drawbacks. One of the main challenges associated with the manual solution is the amount of time and effort it requires. Each vehicle may belong to a different driver, each with their own unique schedule. In scenarios where a driver finds their vehicle unexpectedly blocked, they may need to enlist the help of other household members to move the blocking vehicles, or move all the vehicles themselves. This can result in unforeseen delays and disrupt the daily routines of all involved. Furthermore, the manual solution does not account for situations where the drivers of the blocking vehicles are not available to move their vehicles. This can lead to further delays and inconvenience. The unpredictable nature of these situations makes it difficult for drivers to plan their schedules effectively, adding to the stress and frustration of dealing with blocked vehicles. Therefore, there is a need to address the issues discussed above by introducing a more efficient and convenient method of managing vehicle parking in single-lane driveways. This method should minimize the time and effort required to move vehicles, while also accommodating the unpredictable schedules of different drivers. It should also provide a solution for situations where the drivers of the blocking vehicles are not available to move their vehicles. SUMMARY The primary objective of the present disclosure is to provide a vehicle parking management system that automates the re-sorting process for vehicles parked in a single-lane driveway. This system is designed to determine the current parking order, establish a desired parking order, and execute a series of vehicle maneuvers to rearrange the vehicles accordingly. Another objective of the present disclosure is to enhance the safety and efficiency of the resorting process by considering traffic conditions on the street. The system determines the respective street location for each vehicle to wait after moving out of the driveway based on traffic information, reducing the risk of collision with passing vehicles. Yet another objective of the present disclosure is to minimize the total number of vehicle movements needed to rearrange the vehicles from the current parking order to the desired parking order. This is achieved by determining the optimal side of the street for each vehicle to wait before moving back into the driveway. Still another objective of the present disclosure is to provide an intuitive user interface that allows users to define the desired parking order and schedule the re-sorting process. This user interface can be accessed through a mobile device, enabling users to manage their vehicle parking remotely. Further objective of the present disclosure is to utilize Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) methods and sensor perception data from the vehicles to determine the current parking order. This feature ensures accurate and efficient re-sorting of the vehicles. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the vehicle parking management system includes a communication system that communicates with the vehicles when they are parked in the single-lane driveway. A processing system determines the current and desired parking orders and devises a series of vehicle maneuvers to rearrange the vehicles. These maneuvers include moving the vehicles out of the driveway onto the street, having them wait on the street, and then moving them back into the driveway in the desired order. The system then transmits movement commands to the vehicles to execute these maneuvers. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the vehicle parking management system receives registration information to register the vehicles as being associated with the household. The system also includes a user interface system that receives user input defining the desired parking order. This user interface system can receive the user input from a mobile device and can also receive a schedule for rearranging the vehicles. In a further aspect of the present disclosure, the vehicle parking management system uses sensor perception data from the vehicles to determine the current parking order. This perception data can be used to reason the order of the vehicles. For example, a vehicle with a clear view of the road ahead is likely the frontmost vehicle, while a vehicle that detects vehicles to its front and rear is likely in the middle of the order. The present disclosure provides significant advantages by automating the vehicle parking process in a single-lane driveway. It enhances safety by considering traffic conditions, improves efficiency by minimizing the number of vehicle movements, and offers a user-friendly interface for managing the parking order. The foregoing paragraphs have been provided by way of general introduction and are not intended to limit the scope of the following claims. The described embodiments, together with further advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 provides a block diagram which illustrates a vehicle parking management system for resorting a parking order of vehicles in a driveway, according to an embodiment hereof. FIG. 2 depicts an example environment having a plurality of vehicles parked in a single-lane driveway associated with a household, wherein the vehicles may interact with a vehicle parking management system, according to an embodiment hereof. FIG. 3 illustrates an example mobile device having a mobile application that allows users to specify information such as a current parking order, a desired parking order, or other information, according to an embodiment hereof. FIG. 4 provides a flow diagram which illustrates an example method for re-sorting parked vehicles, according to an embodiment hereof. FIG. 5A depicts a “parked-ouf ’ state for vehicles being guided by a vehicle parking management system, according to an embodiment hereof. FIGS. 5B-5C depict various states in which vehicles are performing a “park-in” state by returning to the driveway in a desired parking order, according to an embodiment hereof. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention pertains to a vehicle parking management system, specifically designed to automate the reordering process of vehicles parked in a single-lane driveway. This system allows vehicles to be rearranged from their current parking order to a desired parking order, thus optimizing space and improving convenience. The system is configured for use in a household setting, and it can function on a cloud-based backend, on a vehicle, a mobile device, or a combination thereof. The underlying principle of this parking management system lies in its ability to determine a current parking order for multiple vehicles parked in a single-lane driveway, ascertain a desired parking order for the said vehicles, and establish a series of vehicle maneuvers to rearrange the vehicles from the current order to the desired one. This is achieved by transmitting movement commands to the vehicles, guiding them to follow the series of maneuvers. The vehicle parking management system may sequentially move vehicles out of the single-lane driveway and onto a street, which serves as an outlet for the driveway. This process is referred to as "park-out". The vehicles then wait on the street before parking back onto the driveway in a sequence that results in the desired parking order, a process known as "park-in". During the park-out process, the system determines a respective street location for each vehicle to wait on the street after moving out of the single-lane driveway, based on, e.g., traffic information indicating the condition on the street. The vehicle parking management system may minimize the total number of vehicle movements (also referred to as strokes) required to rearrange the vehicles from the current parking order to the desired one. For example, the system may decide a respective location for each parked-out vehicle to wait on the street, including which side of the street the parked-out vehicle should wait on before moving back to the single-lane driveway, so as to minimize a total number of maneuvers for the parked-out vehicles to return to the single-lane driveway in the desired parking order. In some embodiments, the parking management may involve an initial setup of the system that requires confirmation that the vehicles belong to the same household. This is done by, e.g., a user adding vehicles to their household using a mobile device application. The vehicles are linked to the user's account and may use an internet connection. The user may also use his or her mobile device to define a bounding box of their driveway. Furthermore, in the same mobile device application, the user may select the bounding box of their driveway. In the nominal configuration, this may be done by precisely adjusting a rectangle roughly centered on the GPS location estimate. In other configurations, the driveway may have been previously mapped by the vehicle(s), thus its precise location is known. The vehicle parking management system can detect the vehicles in the driveway using a variety of methods. These include the vehicles reporting their individual locations, the vehicles connecting to a local wireless network, perception cues recorded by the vehicles upon initial setup, and perception algorithms analyzing vehicle sensor measurements. The vehicle locations may be coarse estimates (e.g. via GPS) or more precise estimates (e.g. based on the last localization estimate on a mapped road, based on a localization estimate within a mapped driveway, etc.). In another example, the vehicles are able to connect to a local wireless network, e.g. the household WiFi. This may also be accomplished by Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) methods and protocols. Upon initial setup, the vehicles recorded notable perception cues of the driveway and its surrounding area. If the vehicle detects enough of those perception cues (e.g. visual markers, LIDAR / RADAR features), it can assume to be in the driveway. In other instances, perception algorithms analyze vehicle sensor measurements to confirm that the vehicle is on a driveway (i.e. not on a road, not in a garage, etc.). It is implementation-specific how the processing is split between the vehicle and the cloud-based backend. In some embodiments, the household vehicles can report the current parking order. If the vehicle locations are sufficiently precise, the vehicle order can be determined by the vehicles' distances relative to the connecting road. In some cases, the vehicles provide their perception data to the cloud-based backend, which then determines the vehicle order. Based on this perception data, the vehicle order may be reasoned. For example, a vehicle that has a clear view of a road ahead is likely the frontmost vehicle. A vehicle that detects vehicles to its front and rear is likely within the middle of the order. A vehicle that only vehicles between itself and the road is likely the rearmost vehicle. In some implementations, the vehicles exploit the properties of wireless communication to deduct their ranges relative to each other or the household. For example, range can be deducted by transmission delays, phase lag, signal strength, etc. This method may utilize Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) or Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication and protocols. Similarly, it may utilize Bluetooth or WiFi connections between the vehicle(s) and / or household. In some embodiments, the re-sorting of the vehicles in the single-lane driveway may be triggered by a user (the user can request a re-sorting of the vehicles), can be part of a user-defined schedule, or can be automatically suggested. The mobile device can be used to select the frontmost vehicle, which is the one expected to depart next. The rest of the vehicle order can be selected or auto-filled by the mobile device application. The user can also manually define a schedule or have one automatically suggested by the application. Once the desired parking order is set, the automated resorting sequence can start immediately, may be triggered by the user, or may start at a scheduled time. Depending on the vehicles' level of automation, the user may need to be nearby to supervise or manually take over if necessary. This is checked by confirming the user's mobile device location or ensuring that they are connected to the same local wireless network. As discussed below in more detail, the re-sorting of vehicles may involve a park-out process (in which vehicles are commanded by the vehicle parking management system to move out of the driveway and wait on the street) and a park-in process (in which vehicles are commanded by the vehicle parking management system to move back into the driveway). During the park-out process, the vehicles' environmental perception and active safety systems are active to avoid collisions. In one example, the parked-out vehicles may drive on a travel lane, activate their four-way flashers, and wait idly until they are requested to park back in. The first parked-out vehicle may leave space for later vehicles to wait behind them on the street. During the park-in process, each parked-in vehicle may face forwards or backwards depending on the user's preference or what maneuver was calculated to be most practical by the application's cloud-based backend. The system offers several advantages. For instance, it takes into account traffic condition on the street, and environmental conditions sensed by the vehicles, to avoid risks of collision with vehicles passing on the street, and to avoid blocking traffic on the street. Furthermore, the maneuvers can be determined to minimize the total number of movements in rearranging the vehicles from the current parking order to the desired parking order. FIG. 1 provides a schematic overview of the vehicle parking management system 1100. It illustrates the integration of components such as the processing system 1130, the communication system 1120, and the user interface system 1140. These components are interconnected to form a cohesive system that manages, analyzes, and automates the re-sorting of parked vehicles 1200 in a single-lane driveway. In an embodiment, the communication system 1120 enables communication with the parked vehicles 1200. In some instances, the user interface system 1140 may communicate with a mobile device 1300 of a user, to receive user input used to, e.g., define the boundaries of the single-lane driveway, define preferences for re-sorting of parked vehicles, define scheduling preferences for when the re-sorting occurs, or any other user input. The processing system 1130, as depicted in FIG. 1, may include one or more processors (e.g., as part of a cloud-based server) for controlling re-sorting of a plurality of parked vehicles. In one example, the processing system 1130 is configured to determine the current parking order of the vehicles 1200 when they are parked in the single-lane driveway. Furthermore, it may determine a user’s desired parking order, and determine a series of vehicle maneuvers for causing the vehicles to be rearranged from the current parking order to the desired parking order. This may include determining an order / sequence for the plurality of vehicles to “park-out” of the driveway, determining a respective street location for each parked-out vehicle to wait on the street after moving out of the single-lane driveway. Such a determination may be based on traffic information that indicates the traffic condition on the street. The processing system 1130 may be capable of analyzing traffic conditions, such as the speed of other vehicles passing through the street, and calculating the most efficient series of maneuvers to minimize the total number of vehicle movements for the vehicles to “park-out” and then “park-in”. The communication system 1120 of the vehicle parking management system 1100 may be configured to communicate with the parked vehicles 1200. The communication system 1120 may include, e.g., networking equipment which allows the processing system 1130 to communicate with the vehicles 1200 via a network connection. The communication system 1120 facilitates the transmission of movement commands to the vehicles 1200, causing them to follow the series of vehicle maneuvers determined by the processing system 1130. This ensures that the vehicles are rearranged from the current parking order to the desired parking order efficiently and safely, reducing the risk of collision with other vehicles passing through the street. The user interface system 1140, as shown in FIG. 1, may provide users with an ability to intuitively interface with the vehicle parking management system 1100. It allows users to, e.g., define the desired parking order, as well as a schedule for rearranging the vehicles from the current parking order to the desired parking order. The user interface system 1140 enhances user engagement by making the management of vehicle parking both informative and accessible. In an embodiment, the vehicles 1200 may be belong to one or more users (e.g., drivers) of a common household, and may be equipped with an internet connection linked to the users’ account. The vehicles may be capable of reporting their individual locations and providing vehicle perception data to the processing system 1130. The vehicles 1200 may also follow the movement commands transmitted by the communication system 1120, moving out of the singlelane driveway onto the street, waiting on the street, and moving back into the driveway in a movement order that causes the vehicles to be rearranged from the current parking order to the desired parking order. In some instances, the vehicle parking management system 1100, or more specifically its user interface system 1140, can interact with a mobile device 1300. The mobile device 1300 can be used by a user to add vehicles to their household, select the bounding box of their driveway, define a desired parking order (e.g., by selecting the desired frontmost vehicle), and define a schedule for rearranging the vehicles. The mobile device 1300 enhances the functionality of the vehicle parking management system 1100 by allowing users to manage their vehicle parking from anywhere at any time. In conclusion, FIG. 1 illustrates a vehicle parking management system 1100 that automates the re-sorting process for vehicles parked in a single-lane driveway, taking into account traffic conditions on the street and environmental conditions sensed by the vehicles, to avoid risk of collision with vehicles passing on the street, and to avoid blocking traffic on the street. The system 1100 determines maneuvers for the vehicles to park-out and park-in, in a manner that minimizes the total number of movements in rearranging the vehicles from the current parking order to the desired parking order. FIG. 2 illustrates a plurality of parked vehicles 2200A, 2200B, and 2200C which may be parked within a single-lane driveway 2410 associated with a household 2420, and which may interact with the vehicle parking management system 1100 to achieve a re-sorting from a current parking order (shown in FIG. 2) to a desired parking order (shown in FIG. 2). In FIG. 2, the vehicles 2200A, 2200B, and 2200C are represented as parked in the single-lane driveway 2410, displaying the current parking order. The driveway 2410, connected to the street 2430 via the driveway outlet 2413, provides an environment for the system 1100 to execute its re-sorting process. This driveway outlet 2413 forms one end of the driveway 2410, and forms an intersecting or connecting point between the driveway 2410 and the street 2430. The dead-end 2415 of the driveway may form an opposite end of the driveway 2410, and may mark the boundary of the driveway 2410 and indicates the limit of the parking area for the vehicles. In an embodiment, the vehicle parking management system 1100 is capable of determining a current parking order for the vehicles 2200A, 2200B, and 2200C. This may be done based on the vehicles 2200A, 2200B, 2200C reporting their respective locations to the system 1100, based on user input specifying the parking order of the vehicles, or in some other manner. For example, FIG. 3 illustrates mobile application user interface 3310 of a mobile phone 3300 that allows a user to interact with the vehicle parking management system 1100. The interface displays a representation of the single-lane driveway and enables the user to specify both the current parking order and the desired parking order of the vehicles. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the user can input the current parking order as Vehicle A, Vehicle B, and Vehicle C, representing their positions from the outlet of the driveway to the inner, dead-end side of the driveway. Additionally, the mobile application user interface 3310 allows the user to specify a desired parking order different from the current order. For instance, the user might want to rearrange the vehicles to a new order of Vehicle C, Vehicle A, and Vehicle B. This desired order can be input using similar interface elements as those used for specifying the current order. In this example, the mobile application then communicates this information to the vehicle parking management system 1100, which uses it to determine the necessary maneuvers for rearranging the vehicles from the current parking order to the desired parking order. This user-friendly interface ensures that the system can accurately plan the resorting process based on the user's specific needs and preferences. In the example of FIG. 3, the mobile device 3300 can be any type of portable electronic device (e.g., smartphone) capable of running a mobile application and communicating with the vehicle parking management system 1100. It could be a smartphone, a tablet, or any other similar device. In some instances, the mobile application user interface 3310 is configured to receive registration information for registering the vehicles as being associated with the household. This can be done by the user adding vehicles to their household using the mobile device application. Once the vehicles are registered, they are linked to the user's account and are expected to have an internet connection. This functionality allows the user interface 3310 to identify and display only the vehicles that are associated with the user's household. In some examples, the vehicle re-sorting may be automatically suggested. For example, the application’s cloud-based backend may detect certain routines. If “Vehicle A” is detected to always depart the driveway at 8:00 on weekdays, the application may suggest a schedule where “Vehicle A” is resorted to be the frontmost vehicle at 7:45 on weekdays. FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart for a method 4000 of re-arranging or re-sorting the parking order of vehicles in a single-lane driveway associated with a household using a vehicle parking management system. This method may be performed by, e.g., the processing system 1130 of the vehicle parking management system 1100 of FIG. 1. In an embodiment, the method 4000 starts at step 4100 with the determination of the existing parking order. In this step, the vehicle parking management system identifies the current arrangement of the vehicles parked in the single-lane driveway. This could involve the system receiving data from each vehicle about its current location within the driveway, or the system could use sensors or cameras to visually determine the positions of the vehicles. As an example of step 4100, the vehicle parking management system 4100 may determine a current parking order for for vehicles 2200A, 2200B, and 2200C in the driveway 2410. In this case, the system 1100 may receive location data from each vehicle. Based on this data, the system determines that vehicle 2200A is closest to the street 2430, followed by vehicle 2200B in the middle, and vehicle 2200C at the innermost position of the driveway 2410. Thus, the system 1100 establishes the current parking order as 2200A, 2200B, 2200C. In another example, step 4100 involves the system 1100 receiving user input that specifies the current parking order. Referring to FIG. 3, a user can use the mobile device 3300 to input the current parking order through the application interface. The user might indicate that Vehicle A (corresponding to 2200A in FIG. 2) is closest to the street, followed by Vehicle B (2200B), and then Vehicle C (2200C). The mobile device 3300 then transmits this user-specified parking order to the system 1100, which uses this information to establish the current parking order for subsequent steps in the method 4000. The next step, 4200, involves determining the desired parking order. This could be based on user preferences or a predefined schedule. For example, the user might want the vehicle they plan to use next to be parked closest to the exit of the driveway. Alternatively, the system might have a schedule that specifies which vehicle should be parked at the front at specific times of the day. The user could input this information via a mobile device application, or the vehicle parking management system could learn this based on previous parking patterns. Referring to FIG. 3, an example of step 4200 is illustrated where a user specifies the desired parking order using the mobile device 3300. In this instance, the user interface on the mobile device 3300 allows the user to input a new arrangement for the vehicles. The user indicates that they want Vehicle C to be located closest to the driveway outlet, followed by Vehicle A, and then Vehicle B. This desired order differs from the current order shown in FIG. 2, where Vehicle A (2200A) is closest to the street, followed by Vehicle B (2200B), and then Vehicle C (2200C). The mobile device 3300 then communicates this desired parking order to the vehicle parking management system 1100, which uses this information to plan the necessary maneuvers for rearranging the vehicles. The desired parking order may thus be different than the current parking order. The re-sorting process associated with step 4200 can be initiated by the user, scheduled according to the user's preferences, or automatically suggested by the system 1100. For instance, the mobile device may be used to select the desired frontmost vehicle, which is the one expected to depart next and hence needs to be unblocked. Once the desired parking order is set, the user can trigger the automated resorting sequence to start immediately. The level of automation of the vehicles dictates whether the user needs to be nearby to supervise or manually takeover if necessary. If the vehicles' level of automation is high, a scheduled resorting may proceed even when the user is away or unavailable. In lower levels of automation, the application ensures that the user is nearby to trigger the sequence. Once the existing and desired parking orders have been determined, the method proceeds to step 4300, which involves determining a series of maneuvers to rearrange the vehicles from the current parking order to the desired parking order. The maneuvers may be carried by at least a subset of the vehicles (e.g., at least vehicles 2200A and 2200B, or at least all three vehicles 2200A, 2200B, 2200C). The vehicle parking management system uses algorithms to calculate the most efficient sequence of movements for the vehicles to achieve the desired parking order. This series of maneuvers could involve each vehicle sequentially moving out of the single-lane driveway and onto a street, waiting on the street, and then parking back onto the driveway in an order that results in the desired parking order. FIGS. 5A-5D illustrate a series of maneuvers for performing the re-arranging of vehicles to the desired parking order, showing the step-by-step process of vehicles moving out of the driveway, waiting on the street, and returning to the driveway in the new desired order. The system may also consider traffic conditions on the street when determining the series of maneuvers. For example, it might use traffic information indicating the speed of other vehicles on the street to determine where on the street each vehicle should wait after moving out of the driveway. The system might also decide which side of the street the vehicle should wait on before moving back to the driveway based on traffic conditions. This consideration of traffic conditions helps to ensure that the vehicles do not pose a risk of collision with other vehicles on the street and do not block traffic. In step 4400, the vehicle parking management system may transmit movement commands to the vehicles to cause them to follow the series of maneuvers. The vehicle parking management system communicates these commands to the vehicles via a communication system 1200. The vehicles then execute the commands, moving out of the driveway, waiting on the street, and parking back onto the driveway in the desired order. This method allows for an efficient and safe reordering of vehicles in a single-lane driveway. By considering traffic conditions on the street and using an optimal series of maneuvers, the system minimizes the total number of vehicle movements and reduces the risk of collision with other vehicles on the street. The ability to rearrange vehicles based on user preferences or a predefined schedule also adds to the convenience for the user. As illustrated in FIG. 5 A, steps 4300 and 4400 may automate the re-sorting process of vehicles 2200A, 2200B, and 2200C parked in the single-lane driveway 2410. FIG. 5A specifically depicts the initial phase of vehicle maneuvers for the re-sorting process, known as the "park-out" process. In this phase, the system 1100 commands the vehicles to sequentially move out of the driveway 2410 onto the adjacent street 2430. The vehicles execute these commands in a predetermined order, carefully maneuvering out of the driveway while maintaining safe distances from each other and any potential obstacles. This park-out process clears the driveway 2410, preparing for the subsequent rearrangement of vehicles into the desired parking order. In this example, the street 2430 is depicted as an adjacent structure to the single-lane driveway 2410, providing an outlet for the vehicles to move out, wait, and subsequently park back into the driveway in a sequence that achieves the desired parking order. The street 2430 plays a significant role in the execution of the vehicle maneuvers, as it serves as a temporary holding area for the vehicles during the re-sorting process. The vehicle management system 1100 determines respective street locations for each vehicle based on traffic information, thereby reducing the risk of collision and ensuring seamless re-sorting. In certain embodiments, the system 1100 is designed to minimize the total number of vehicle movements, thus enhancing the efficiency of the re-sorting process. For instance, it may determine which side of the street 2430 each vehicle should wait before moving back to the driveway 2410, based on the current and desired parking orders. In some embodiments, the system 1100 utilizes advanced optimization algorithms to minimize the total number of vehicle movements during the re-sorting process. This includes determining which side of the street 2430 the parked-out vehicle is to wait before moving back to the singlelane driveway 2410. In an embodiment, the width of the street 2430, the speed of other vehicles, and the overall traffic condition are factors taken into account when determining the respective street locations for the parked-out vehicles. The vehicle parking management system 1100, as depicted in this intermediate step, demonstrates a nuanced understanding of the spatial and traffic considerations involved in the vehicle resorting process. Its ability to dynamically determine vehicle maneuvers based on real-time conditions underlines its effectiveness in managing the parking order of vehicles in a single-lane driveway associated with a household. FIGS. 5B-5D illustrate the "park-in" process, which follows the initial "park-out" phase. In this process, vehicles 2200A, 2200B, and 2200C return to the driveway 2410 in a carefully orchestrated movement order that results in the vehicles being arranged in the desired parking order. FIG. 5B shows an intermediate step where Vehicles 2200A and 2200C are positioned on the street 2430, having completed its park-out maneuver, while vehicle 2200B has been maneuvered into the innermost part of the driveway 2410. The system 1100 coordinates the movements of the vehicles, ensuring they re-enter the driveway 2410 through the outlet 2413 in the correct sequence. FIG. 5C depicts a subsequent snapshot of the park-in process, where vehicle 2200B has reentered the driveway 2410, followed by vehicle 2200A. The remaining vehicles on the street 2430 may be prepared to follow suit, guided by the system 1100's commands. FIG. 5D illustrates a later snapshot after the park-in process is complete. In this snapshot, all vehicles 2200A, 2200B, and 2200C have returned to the driveway 2410 and are now arranged in the desired parking order, from the driveway outlet 2413 to the dead-end 2415. This new arrangement achieves the desired parking order, and thus completes a re-sorting process. The automated vehicles finalize their park in sequence in the desired driveway order. The frontmost vehicle (the vehicle closest to the outlet 2413) is now unblocked and free to depart. During the park-out and park-in processes, the vehicles' environmental perception and active safety systems are active to avoid collision. They may use a navigation or HD map to safely navigate the street 2430, ensuring that the street is sufficiently wide to accommodate a resorting maneuver. The parked-out vehicles may drive on a travel lane, activate their four-way flashers, and wait idly until they are requested to park back in. In an embodiment, the vehicle parking management system 1100, which can be located on a cloud-based back-end, on a vehicle, or a mobile device, determines the current parking order of the vehicles 2200A and 2200B in the driveway 2410. It also determines the desired parking order for these vehicles. The system 1100 subsequently determines a series of vehicle maneuvers for causing the vehicles to be rearranged from the current parking order to the desired parking order. As illustrated in FIG. 5A, the series of vehicle maneuvers involves the vehicles 2200A, 2200B, and 2200C sequentially moving out of the driveway 2410 and onto the street 2430, which serves as the outlet 2413 for the driveway. After moving out of the driveway 2410, the vehicles wait on the street 2430. Once it is suitable, the vehicles park back onto the driveway 2410 in an order that results in the desired parking order. As stated above, each vehicle that moves out of the driveway 2410 and onto the street 2430 is assigned a respective street location where it waits. The system 1100 determines this location based on traffic information that indicates the traffic condition on the street 2430. For instance, the traffic information can indicate the speed of other vehicles passing through the street 2430, and the street location for one of the parked-out vehicles can be determined so as to reduce the risk of collision with the other vehicles passing through the street. The present disclosure introduces a vehicle parking management system that enhances parking management through precise and real-time coordination of parking maneuvers of vehicles in a single-lane driveway. This system is designed with a processing system, communication system, and user interface system, all configured to manage, analyze, and automate the parking of vehicles. The processing system is configured to determine the current parking order when the vehicles are parked in the single-lane driveway. It determines a desired parking order and a series of vehicle maneuvers for causing the vehicles to be rearranged from the current parking order to the desired parking order. This includes determining a respective street location for each vehicle to wait on the street after moving out of the single-lane driveway, based on traffic information that indicates the traffic condition on the street. The processing system is capable of analyzing traffic conditions, such as the speed of other vehicles passing through the street, and calculating the most efficient series of maneuvers to minimize the total number of vehicle movements. The communication system is an integral part of the vehicle parking management system. It is configured to communicate with the vehicles when they are parked in the single-lane driveway. The communication system facilitates the transmission of movement commands to the vehicles, causing them to follow the series of vehicle maneuvers determined by the processing system. This ensures that the vehicles are rearranged from the current parking order to the desired parking order efficiently and safely, reducing the risk of collision with other vehicles passing through the street. The user interface system is designed to provide users with intuitive control over the vehicle parking management system. It allows users to define the desired parking order, as well as a schedule for rearranging the vehicles from the current parking order to the desired parking order. The user interface system enhances user engagement by making the management of vehicle parking both informative and accessible. Each vehicle, as part of the vehicle parking management system, is equipped with an internet connection and is linked to the user’s account. They are capable of reporting their individual locations and providing perception data to the processing system. The vehicles also follow the movement commands transmitted by the communication system, moving out of the driveway onto the street, waiting on the street, and moving back into the driveway in a movement order that causes the vehicles to be rearranged from the current parking order to the desired parking order. In some instances, the vehicle parking management system can interact with a mobile device. The mobile device can be used by a user to add vehicles to their household, select the bounding box of their driveway, select the desired frontmost vehicle, and define a schedule for rearranging the vehicles. The mobile device enhances the functionality of the vehicle parking management system by allowing users to manage their vehicle parking from anywhere at any time. Alternative embodiments of the vehicle parking management system include variations in sensor technology, such as the integration of advanced predictive analytics algorithms. These algorithms use historical data to forecast future parking order patterns, enabling proactive management of vehicle parking. Additionally, machine learning techniques can be applied to continually improve the accuracy and effectiveness of the system's recommendations. The system’s modular design allows for easy expansion or upgrades. Additional sensors can be added as needed without disrupting the existing setup, and software updates can be implemented remotely to introduce new functionalities or enhancements. This scalability ensures that the parking management system can adapt to evolving technological advancements and parking management practices. The efficiency of implementing such a vehicle parking management system is significant. By optimizing parking order, the system not only reduces time spent on manual reordering of vehicles but also lowers the risk of collision associated with uncoordinated vehicle movements. This contributes to broader safety goals, making it an appealing solution for households with multiple vehicles and a single-lane driveway. The vehicle parking management system offers extensive applications, ranging from small residential driveways to large commercial facilities with single-lane driveways. It can be particularly beneficial in scenarios where frequent reordering of vehicles is required, such as households with multiple vehicles and varying departure schedules. The system’s ability to provide detailed parking order insights and actionable advice makes it a valuable tool for any driveway management operation looking to reduce time and enhance safety. These embodiments are only illustrative of the inventive concepts contained herein. Other embodiments and modifications may be made to the compositions and methods without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure should not be limited to the embodiments described herein but should be defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A vehicle parking management system for a single-lane driveway associated with a household, the vehicle parking management system comprising:a communication system configured, when a plurality of vehicles are parked in the single-lane driveway, to communicate with the plurality of vehicles;a processing system configured, when the plurality of vehicles are parked in the single-lane driveway, to perform the following:determine a current parking order in which the plurality of vehicles are parked in the single-lane driveway;determine a desired parking order for the plurality of vehicles to be parked in the single-lane driveway, the desired parking order being different than the current parking order;determine a series of vehicle maneuvers for causing at least a subset of multiple vehicles from the plurality of vehicles to: (i) move out of the single-lane driveway onto a street next to the single-lane driveway, (ii) wait on the street, and (iii) move from the street back into the singlelane driveway in a movement order that causes the plurality of vehicles to be rearranged from the current parking order to the desired parking order; andtransmit, via the communication system, movement commands to at least the subset of multiple vehicles, to cause at least the subset of multiple vehicles to follow the series of vehicle maneuvers for rearranging the plurality of vehicles from the current parking order to the desired parking order,wherein determining the series of maneuvers includes determining, for each vehicle of the subset of multiple vehicles, a respective street location for the vehicle to wait on the street after moving out of the single-lane driveway, wherein the respective street location is determined based on traffic information that indicates traffic condition on the street.

2. The vehicle parking management system of claim 1, wherein the traffic information indicates speed of other vehicles on the street moving past the household.

3. The vehicle parking management system of claim 1, wherein the series of maneuvers are determined to minimize a total number of vehicle movements for rearranging the plurality of vehicles from the current parking order to the desired parking order.

4. The vehicle parking management system of claim 1, wherein determining the respective street location for each vehicle of the subset of multiple vehicles includes determining which side of the street on which the vehicle is to wait before moving back to the single-lane driveway.

5. The vehicle parking management system of claim 1, wherein the processing system is configured to receive registration information for registering the plurality of vehicles as being associated with the household.

6. The vehicle parking management system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface system configured to receive, from a user associated with the household, user input that defines the desired parking order.

7. The vehicle parking management system of claim 6, wherein the user interface system is configured to receive the user input from a mobile device of the user, wherein the user input further defines a schedule for rearranging the plurality of vehicles from the current parking order to the desired parking order.

8. The vehicle parking management system of claim 1, wherein the processing system is configured to utilize Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) methods to determine respective locations of the plurality of vehicles while they are parked in the single-lane driveway.

9. The vehicle parking management system of claim 1, wherein the processing system is configured to utilize sensor perception data from the plurality of vehicles to determine the current parking order of the plurality of vehicles.

10. A method for managing vehicle parking for a single-lane driveway associated with a household, the method comprising:determining a current parking order in which a plurality of vehicles are parked in the single-lane driveway;determining a desired parking order for the plurality of vehicles to be parked in the single-lane driveway, the desired parking order being different than the current parking order;determining a series of vehicle maneuvers for causing at least a subset of multiple vehicles from the plurality of vehicles to: (i) move out of the single-lane driveway onto a street next to the single-lane driveway, (ii) wait on the street, and (iii) move from the street back into the singlelane driveway in a movement order that causes the plurality of vehicles to be rearranged from the current parking order to the desired parking order; andtransmitting, via the communication system, movement commands to at least the subset of multiple vehicles, to cause at least the subset of multiple vehicles to follow the series of vehicle maneuvers for rearranging the plurality of vehicles from the current parking order to the desired parking order,wherein determining the series of maneuvers includes determining, for each vehicle of the subset of multiple vehicles, a respective street location for the vehicle to wait on the street after moving out of the single-lane driveway, wherein the respective street location is determined based on traffic information that indicates traffic condition on the street.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer system, cause the computer system to:determine an current parking order in which a plurality of vehicles are parked in a single-lane driveway associated with a household;determine a desired parking order for the plurality of vehicles to be parked in the single-lane driveway, the desired parking order being different than the current parking order;determine a series of vehicle maneuvers for causing at least a subset of multiple vehicles from the plurality of vehicles to: (i) move out of the single-lane driveway onto a street next to the single-lane driveway, (ii) wait on the street, and (iii) move from the street back into the singlelane driveway in a movement order that causes the plurality of vehicles to be rearranged from the current parking order to the desired parking order; andtransmit, via the communication system, movement commands to at least the subset of multiple vehicles, to cause at least the subset of multiple vehicles to follow the series of vehicle maneuvers for rearranging the plurality of vehicles from the current parking order to the desired parking order,wherein determining the series of maneuvers includes determining, for each vehicle of the subset of multiple vehicles, a respective street location for the vehicle to wait on the street after moving out of the single-lane driveway, wherein the respective street location is determined based on traffic information that indicates traffic condition on the street.

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