System and Method for Locating Available Parking Spaces

Abstract

This application is directed to a system and method for locating parking spaces. A user can enter the desired location for parking and the application will transmit the information to a parking information database server. The server will return the location of parking spaces and probability of space availability. In addition, the database includes detailed parking information to include price, hours, and any special restrictions. These results can be depicted as a list or graphically displayed on a street map, satellite map or hybrid map views. Filters can be applied to find a specific type of parking available. The application provides real-time availability information in areas where the infrastructure to generate such data is available via sources such as on-street sensors or parking lot barrier systems. The system uses various secondary information to adjust historical observations of space availability in order to make provide accurate space predictions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for locating parking spaces, comprising:
 transmitting electronically a requested location where parking is desired to a database server over a communication medium;   calculating a probable parking space location in the vicinity of the requested location based on a historical parking information stored in a database electronically connected to the database server;   transmitting the location and probability of a parking space over the communication medium.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the requested location for parking is entered and transmitted from a portable electronic device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the probable parking locations are depicted on an electronic depiction of a street map. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the database server predicts parking space availability based on a plurality of floating car data that captures vehicle movement information from vehicles driving around the requested location looking for a space. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the database server predicts parking space availability based on a plurality of floating car data, wherein said floating cellular data captures the arrival and departure of vehicles from the requested location based on change of speed of a plurality cellular signals to indicate pedestrian versus vehicle movement. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the database server predicts parking availability trends for a requested location based on historical parking space counts collected throughout the day and extrapolates future availability based on said trends. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the database server adjusts predictions of real-time parking space availability from the historical availability trends using inputs such as current day of the week, month, time of the day, weather, state of the public transport system, planned events, real-time availability in adjacent parking lots and streets, real-time parking payment transactions, real-time Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) transactions, real-time traffic and floating car data, real-time imagery (satellite or camera-based), real-time space availability as reported by parking enforcement systems, real-time space availability as reported by a user. 
     
     
         8 . A computer implemented method suitable for implementation on a processor comprising:
 transmitting electronically a requested location where parking is desired to a database server over a communication medium;   calculating a probable parking space location in the vicinity of the requested location based on a historical parking information stored in a database electronically connected to the database server;   transmitting the location and probability of a parking space over the communication medium. wherein said transmitting and calculating is performed by a processor.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the requested location for parking is entered and transmitted from a portable electronic device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the probable parking locations are depicted on an electronic depiction of a street map. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the database server predicts parking space availability based on a plurality of floating car data that captures vehicle movement information from vehicles driving around the requested location looking for a space. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the database server predicts parking space availability based on a plurality of floating car data, wherein said floating cellular data captures the arrival and departure of vehicles from the requested location based on change of speed of a plurality cellular signals to indicate pedestrian versus vehicle movement. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the database server predicts parking availability trends for a requested location based on historical parking space counts collected throughout the day and extrapolates future availability based on said trends. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the database server adjusts predictions of real-time parking space availability from the historical availability trends using inputs such as current day of the week, month, time of the day, weather, state of the public transport system, planned events, real-time availability in adjacent parking lots and streets, real-time parking payment transactions, real-time Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) transactions, real-time traffic and floating car data, real-time imagery (satellite or camera-based), real-time space availability as reported by parking enforcement systems, real-time space availability as reported by a user. 
     
     
         15 . A system for locating parking spaces, comprising:
 An electronic device in communication with a database server,   the database server connected to a database, wherein the database server is capable of predicting parking space information for an area based on information on the database; wherein the database contains a plurality of parking space data.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the electronic device is incorporated into a vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the database server incorporates parking space information from a plurality of floating car data into the space availability calculation for an area, wherein said floating car data captures vehicle movement information from vehicles driving around a block looking for a space. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the database server incorporates information from a plurality of floating car data into the space availability forecast for an area, wherein said floating cellular data captures the arrival and departure of vehicles from said area based on change of speed of the cellular signal to indicate pedestrian versus vehicle movement. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the database server calculates parking availability trends for a parking lot or a street based on historical parking space counts collected throughout the day and extrapolates future availability based on said trends. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the database server makes real-time parking space availability adjustments to the historical availability trends using inputs such as current day of the week, month, time of the day, weather, state of the public transport system, planned events, real-time availability in adjacent parking lots and streets, real-time parking payment transactions, real-time Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) transactions, real-time traffic and floating car data, real-time imagery (satellite or camera-based), real-time space availability as reported by parking enforcement systems, real-time space availability as reported by a user.