Mobile Device Parking Detection via Sensor Fusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle parking systems face inefficiencies due to limited space utilization and ineffective tracking of parking availability, leading to compatibility issues between vehicles and parking stalls, especially in densely populated areas.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing GPS and tilt/inertia sensors in mobile computing devices to accurately detect vehicle presence and absence in parking locations, enabling real-time tracking and organization of available and unavailable spaces, and providing users with routing and confirmation prompts for parking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional parking systems are used without sensor tracking, then system complexity is reduced, but parking availability tracking precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile computing device serves multiple functions: it acts as both the user interface for drivers and the sensor collection platform. The device's existing sensors (GPS, accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer) are repurposed for parking detection, eliminating the need for dedicated infrastructure sensors while achieving precise parking status tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the driver's own mobile device to detect and report parking status. The device's sensors automatically track vehicle presence, movement, and orientation without requiring external sensors or manual input from the driver, enabling self-service parking detection.
2Reliability
If more sensors are deployed to track parking status, then detection reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single mobile computing device integrates multiple sensor functions (position tracking via GPS, movement detection via accelerometer, orientation detection via gyroscope and magnetometer) that would traditionally require separate dedicated sensors. This multi-functional approach maintains high detection reliability while minimizing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple detection modalities (GPS position data, accelerometer movement data, gyroscope orientation data, magnetometer heading data) into a unified parking status determination system. By merging these sensor inputs, the system achieves reliable detection without requiring additional specialized sensors.
3Productivity
If manual parking status reporting is used, then system complexity is reduced, but productivity and space utilization efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects and reports parking status without requiring manual input from drivers. The mobile device's sensors continuously monitor vehicle presence, movement, and orientation, automatically determining when a vehicle is parked or has left, which significantly improves space utilization efficiency through real-time automated tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where sensor data is constantly monitored and analyzed to update parking status. The processed information is fed back to the parking management system in real-time, enabling dynamic optimization of space utilization and providing up-to-date availability information to drivers.
4Adaptability or versatility
If parking location dimensions are standardized, then ease of operation is improved, but adaptability to different vehicle sizes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system determines vehicle size based on the actual space occupied by each vehicle in its parking location using sensor data (GPS position, accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer). Each parking location's characteristics are locally assessed based on the specific vehicle present, allowing the system to adapt to different vehicle sizes while maintaining ease of operation through automated detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The parking location characteristics are not fixed but dynamically determined based on real-time sensor data. The system continuously monitors vehicle position, movement, and orientation to adaptively assess which parking locations are suitable for each vehicle, providing dynamic adaptability to different vehicle sizes and shapes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances space utilization by accurately determining parking status, optimizing parking location selection, and improving user experience through automated tracking and confirmation processes.
Implementation Method 1
receive, repeatedly, a GPS signal as a mobile computing device is moved to the one of the at least one parking locations
Implementation Method 2
receive a tilt/inertia and speed signal from a tilt/inertia sensor of the mobile computing device
Data Source
AI summary
A parking system may include a number of parking locations, where the availability of each parking location may be tracked based on detection of whether a vehicle is in the parking location. Accordingly, a parking system may organize parking locations based on availability and unavailability. In some cases, mobile device sensors may be used to determine whether a mobile device has left the vehicle in the parking location (e.g., and thus the parking location is still unavailable) or whether the mobile device has left the parking location in the vehicle (e.g., and thus the parking location is now available). In some cases, the parking system may organize available and unavailable parking locations, facilitate user listing of parking locations, track of available and unavailable parking locations, and track different characteristics of different parking locations (e.g., such as location, size, cost, availability, etc.), among other examples.