Vision-Based Parking Session Termination via Camera Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pay-by-phone parking systems, such as 'start-stop' and 'start-duration,' face inconveniences for users and compliance issues for service providers due to potential overcharging or undercharging, as users may forget to stop the session or estimate incorrect parking durations.
Innovation Solution
A system integrating stationary cameras and smartphone apps that automatically identify vehicles in parking spaces, confirm parking sessions, and calculate charges based on occupancy data, allowing for automatic session termination and payment processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If users manually start and stop parking sessions via pay-by-phone app, then payment flexibility is improved, but user convenience deteriorates due to forgotten stop actions causing overcharging
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects when a vehicle leaves the parking space using camera imaging and image processing, and automatically terminates the parking session and calculates charges without requiring user intervention. The parked vehicle itself 'services' the termination process by its absence being detected, eliminating the need for users to manually stop the session.
2Ease of operation
If users estimate parking duration in advance, then session setup is simplified, but charging accuracy deteriorates leading to overcharging or undercharging
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the manual time estimation mechanism with an automated optical detection system. Cameras continuously monitor the parking space and image processing algorithms automatically detect vehicle presence/absence, substituting human estimation with machine-based precise timing that accurately reflects actual parking duration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback through camera monitoring that tracks vehicle presence in real-time. This feedback loop provides accurate occupancy data that automatically adjusts the charging calculation based on actual parking duration, ensuring precise billing regardless of initial user estimates.
3Reliability
If manual enforcement is used to monitor parking compliance, then regulatory control is improved, but service complexity and costs worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual enforcement personnel with an automated surveillance system consisting of cameras and image processing algorithms. These automated devices continuously monitor parking spaces, automatically detect violations, and generate enforcement data, eliminating the need for human enforcement officers while maintaining reliable regulatory control.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and devices send, from an application to an image processor, an identity of a vehicle parking space and/or an identity of a vehicle parked in the vehicle parking space. Such methods and devices obtain an image of the parked vehicle, using a fixed camera, and send the image to the image processor. These methods and devices then confirm the identity of the vehicle parked in the vehicle parking space, and send a confirmation to the application. These methods and devices display the confirmation on the graphic user interface of the user portable computing device (using the application). These methods and devices automatically end the timed payment session for the vehicle parking space based on images of the scene obtained through the camera showing the identified vehicle not occupying the vehicle parking space, using the image processor.