Navigation System Parking Guidance via Vending Machine Data Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current navigation systems for vehicle drivers often fail to efficiently locate available parking spaces near a selected destination, especially when these spaces are on-street or in areas unfamiliar to the driver, as they primarily provide information on large public parking garages that may be distant from the destination.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize a network of space allocation devices, such as ticket vending machines, to communicate parking availability information between vehicles and navigation systems, allowing drivers to select and route to the closest available parking zone based on real-time data from multiple parking zones, including on-street and nearby areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If navigation systems only provide information on large public parking garages, then the system complexity is reduced, but the accuracy of parking location recommendations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces ticket vending machines as intermediary devices that collect and store parking availability data from multiple parking zones. These machines act as mediators between the navigation system and the parking spaces, allowing the system to access detailed local parking information without directly monitoring each parking zone, thus maintaining system simplicity while improving recommendation accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-collects parking availability information from multiple zones and stores it in ticket vending machines before the driver needs it. This preliminary action allows the navigation system to provide accurate real-time parking recommendations without having to query each parking zone at the moment of need, reducing computational complexity while maintaining high accuracy.
2Device complexity
If drivers search for parking spaces manually at the destination and nearby streets, then no additional system infrastructure is needed, but the time required to locate parking increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where ticket vending machines continuously update parking availability information based on real-time data from multiple parking zones. This feedback loop provides drivers with current parking status information, enabling them to make informed decisions about where to park without manual searching, thus reducing time loss while maintaining relatively simple infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the mechanical process of manual parking search with an automated information provision system. Instead of drivers physically searching for parking spaces, the navigation system provides processed information about available parking zones, substituting manual exploration with automated data delivery and reducing the time required to locate parking.
3Measurement precision
If navigation systems provide real-time parking availability from multiple zones, then the accuracy of parking location recommendations is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the parking information system into separate functional segments: ticket vending machines that collect and store data from individual parking zones, and a navigation system that processes and presents this information to drivers. This segmentation allows each component to perform its function independently, improving the overall accuracy of parking recommendations while managing device complexity through modular architecture.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for assisting a driver to locate a parking space includes identifying a user-selected destination with a navigation system of a first vehicle. While the driver of the first vehicle is being guided by the navigation system towards the selected destination, parking availability information is acquired (S104) from a first space allocation device (e.g., ticket vending machine), associated with a first parking zone. The parking availability information includes parking availability information for at least one second parking zone associated with a respective second, space allocation device, remote from the first space allocation device. The second parking availability information for the second parking zone(s) is communicated to the first space allocation device by at a respective second navigation system of at least one second vehicle. A parking zone is selected, based on the user-selected destination and acquired parking availability information transmitted from the first space allocation device.