Cloud-Based Smart Parking Reservation System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current smart parking solutions face challenges such as high infrastructure costs, inefficiencies in finding available parking spots, and lack of context-awareness, leading to increased driving time, traffic, and pollution.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that determines a user's destination, receives information on available parking spots, allows for online reservation and check-in, and automatically manages check-out and payment, using a connected vehicle platform without the need for extensive infrastructure, and incorporates dynamic pricing based on real-time supply and demand.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If hardware sensor technology with IT infrastructure is used to detect parking availability, then parking detection accuracy is improved, but infrastructure cost and barrier to entry increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparking detection accuracyVSAvoidinfrastructure cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses virtual copying of parking spot status through a cloud-based database that tracks parking availability without requiring physical sensors at each spot. The system creates a digital representation of parking status by monitoring vehicle check-in/check-out events, eliminating the need for expensive hardware infrastructure while maintaining accurate parking detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical sensor-based detection system with a software-based cloud service that uses vehicle-to-cloud communication. Instead of using physical sensors to detect parking status, the system uses electronic communication between vehicles and cloud servers to track and share parking availability information, significantly reducing infrastructure requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If context-aware parking reservation system is implemented, then parking efficiency and driving time are improved, but system complexity and data processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparking efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal cloud service that handles multiple functions including parking availability tracking, vehicle location monitoring, reservation processing, and payment management through a single integrated system. This multi-functional approach consolidates complexity into one platform rather than requiring separate systems for each function, making the solution scalable and manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a cloud service as an intermediary between vehicles and parking spots. This intermediary layer processes and manages the complexity of coordinating parking reservations, tracking vehicle locations, and handling transactions without requiring direct complex interactions between vehicles and individual parking facilities, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If dynamic pricing based on real-time supply and demand is implemented, then parking optimization is improved, but data processing and system response time requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparking utilization optimizationVSAvoiddata processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous monitoring and updating of parking availability status in the cloud database as vehicles check in and out. This continuous action ensures that supply and demand data is always current, enabling real-time dynamic pricing adjustments without requiring batch processing or introducing significant delays, as the system continuously maintains up-to-date information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS11842302B2Method, device, cloud service, system, and computer program for smart parking a connected vehicle
Publication Date: 2023.12.12 BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG
  • US11842302B2 patent drawing
  • US11842302B2 patent drawing
  • US11842302B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method for smart parking a connected vehicle is disclosed. The method determines a destination of a user's vehicle based on the user's input or historic travel data of the user. The method receives information on available parking spots in a predefined area near the user's destination based on a parking database. The method receives an input to reserve a desired parking spot among the available parking spots. The method initiates an online check-in of the reserved parking spot in the parking database.