Mobile Device Parking Status Detection via Location Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current solutions for identifying parking spaces are inconvenient and often require proactive user input, limiting their effectiveness in providing real-time information on available parking locations to drivers.

Innovation Solution

A mobile communications device equipped with a locator unit, parking status determination unit, and communication unit that automatically determines parking status without user input, shares this information with a parking community, and receives reports to provide users with indicators of available spaces through various means such as maps, audio signals, and messages, using GPS and other location technologies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If dedicated communication systems are implemented in vehicles to detect parking departure signs, then parking space identification capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveparking space identification capabilityVSAvoidcommunication system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile communications device automatically determines parking status without requiring dedicated vehicle communication systems. The device uses its own locator unit to track location changes and autonomously determines when the vehicle is parked or moving, eliminating the need for complex vehicle-integrated detection systems while maintaining accurate parking space identification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a standard mobile communications device that serves multiple functions: location tracking via locator unit, parking status determination, communication with the parking community processor, and providing parking information to the user. This multi-functional approach replaces specialized dedicated communication systems with a universal device already present in most vehicles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If mobile terminals are equipped with location services to define parking areas, then parking information accuracy is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to requiring proactive user input

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveparking information accuracyVSAvoiduser input requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The parking status determination unit automatically monitors location changes using the locator unit and determines parking status without any proactive user input. The system continuously tracks the vehicle's location and autonomously determines when the vehicle enters or exits a parking space, eliminating the need for users to manually activate or confirm parking information requests.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-configures the mobile communications device with the necessary location tracking capabilities and parking determination algorithms before use. The locator unit continuously monitors position data and the determination unit is pre-programmed to automatically recognize parking status changes, so the system is ready to provide accurate parking information immediately without requiring user setup or input.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If automatic parking status determination is implemented without user input, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability may worsen due to potential false detection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic operation capabilityVSAvoidparking status detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors location data from the locator unit and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust parking status determination. By continuously tracking location changes and comparing them against predefined parking area boundaries, the system can reliably distinguish between temporary stops and actual parking events, reducing false detections while maintaining automatic operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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

Enables efficient and automatic identification of parking spaces, reducing the inconvenience of finding parking by providing real-time information to drivers and improving the accuracy of parking space availability through community reporting and predictive analytics.

Implementation Method 1

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGPS satellite signal reception and processing:

Data Source

PatentUS9830819B2System and method for identifying parking spaces for a community of users

Publication Date: 2017.11.28 ANAGOG

AI summary

A mobile communications device includes a locator unit to receive and process information regarding a current location for the mobile communications device, a parking status determination unit to determine a parking status for the device based on at least changes in the current location, and a communication unit to forward the parking status to a parking community processor. A method includes determining a parking status of a vehicle associated with a person as a function of movement of a personal mobile communications device.