Mobile Device Parking Notification via Movement Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional transport parking systems lack precision in identifying available parking spaces, especially for oversized vehicles, and are costly, with sensors and display devices prone to damage over time.
Innovation Solution
A mobile application that uses GPS and location data to track transport movements, identifying changes in speed and direction to determine when a vehicle has parked or vacated a space, thereby identifying available parking spots and notifying users.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional sensors and display devices are used to notify transport operators of parking availability, then parking information can be provided, but the system becomes costly and the devices are prone to damage over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses mobile devices (smartphones, tablets) as copies of dedicated parking notification systems. Instead of installing specialized sensors and display devices in parking areas, the system leverages widely available mobile devices that users already carry, eliminating the need for expensive dedicated hardware while maintaining notification functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables users to self-monitor parking availability and vehicle location using their own mobile devices. The mobile application automatically tracks vehicle position, detects parking events, and provides notifications without requiring external sensor infrastructure, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating dependency on vulnerable dedicated devices
2Measurement precision
If car counting procedures with sensors are used to match parking spots to vehicles, then parking availability can be tracked, but the system fails to identify when oversized vehicles occupy multiple spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical sensor-based detection systems with GPS-based electronic tracking. Mobile devices equipped with GPS continuously report location data, allowing the system to precisely determine vehicle position and calculate the area occupied. This electronic approach naturally handles vehicles of any size by measuring actual geographic coordinates rather than relying on fixed sensor zones
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from two-dimensional sensor grid detection to three-dimensional geographic coordinate tracking. By using GPS latitude and longitude data, the system can accurately map vehicle boundaries and determine space occupation in real space, enabling precise identification of oversized vehicles that occupy multiple parking spaces regardless of their dimensions
3Device complexity
If mobile device location data is used to identify parking availability, then the system becomes cost-effective, but precision in identifying available spaces must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where mobile devices repeatedly report location data at scheduled intervals and upon movement detection. The server processes this ongoing data stream, compares current position with previous positions, and updates parking availability status in real-time. This continuous feedback ensures high precision in identifying available spaces while using only standard mobile device hardware
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic location reporting combined with event-triggered updates. Mobile devices report their position at regular time intervals and immediately when movement is detected through accelerometer or GPS velocity changes. This periodic monitoring approach maintains high precision in tracking vehicle position and parking status while minimizing data transmission and processing requirements, making the system cost-effective
Data Source
AI summary
Tracking movements of mobile devices may provide insight into parking space availability for transports deemed to be associated with those mobile devices. One example method of operation may include tracking movements of mobile devices within a predefined geographical area, identifying a first movement of a first mobile device as being limited to a predetermined threshold distance, identifying a second movement of the first mobile device as having a movement speed that is greater than a movement speed of the first movement, and designating the mobile device as being inside a transport leaving a parking spot.