Vehicle Navigation Map Overlay for On-Street Parking Availability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drivers face difficulty in determining street parking availability while driving, as existing solutions require visual scanning and may be unsafe to use while driving.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that overlays parking availability data on a vehicle's navigation map, indicating the number of on-street parking spots available at upcoming intersections, using a vehicle computing system to query a parking server and display this information in real-time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If drivers visually scan the area to find parking, then parking location information can be obtained, but driving safety deteriorates due to distraction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system (vehicle computing system with navigation map overlay) that mediates between the driver and parking availability information. Instead of directly scanning the environment, the driver receives processed parking information through the navigation system, which acts as an intermediary that presents information in a safe, glanceable format integrated with the familiar map interface.
2Ease of operation
If drivers manually evaluate parking options, then parking selection can be made, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-processing and presenting parking availability information for multiple potential parking locations along the route before the driver needs to make a decision. The navigation system proactively displays parking spot counts at upcoming intersections and streets, allowing drivers to evaluate options in advance rather than reacting when arriving at destinations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical manual evaluation process with an automated information presentation system. Instead of drivers manually scanning and counting parking spots, the vehicle computing system automatically queries parking data and presents processed information overlays on the navigation map, substituting manual mechanical evaluation with automated digital information processing.
3Loss of information
If parking applications are used on cellular phones, then parking information can be accessed, but driving safety worsens due to unsafe usage while driving
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the parking information application with the vehicle's native navigation system. Instead of using a separate cellular phone application that requires manual interaction, the parking information is integrated into the navigation map interface that drivers are already accustomed to using, combining two functions (navigation and parking information) into a single unified system that maintains safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a copy of the familiar navigation map interface to display parking information. Rather than requiring drivers to switch to a different application interface on their phone, the parking information is presented as an overlay on the existing navigation map, copying the familiar visual language and interaction patterns that drivers already know, thereby maintaining safety through interface consistency.
Data Source
AI summary
A parking server is queried for parking data descriptive of locations of available on-street parking spots. On a map indicating a current location of a vehicle and an upcoming intersection to be traversed by the vehicle, a depiction of parking availability is overlaid, indicating, for each leg of the intersection, a number of on-street parking spots available down the respective leg according to the parking data.