Techniques for organizing vehicle parking

Abstract

A parking system may include a number of parking locations, where the availability of each parking location may be tracked based on detection of whether a vehicle is in the parking location. Accordingly, a parking system may organize parking locations based on availability and unavailability. In some cases, mobile device sensors may be used to determine whether a mobile device has left the vehicle in the parking location (e.g., and thus the parking location is still unavailable) or whether the mobile device has left the parking location in the vehicle (e.g., and thus the parking location is now available). In some cases, the parking system may organize available and unavailable parking locations, facilitate user listing of parking locations, track of available and unavailable parking locations, and track different characteristics of different parking locations (e.g., such as location, size, cost, availability, etc.), among other examples.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for detecting parking of a vehicle comprising:
 a. receiving, repeatedly, a GPS signal as a mobile computing device is moved to a parking location;   b. comparing, repeatedly, the GPS signal to the parking location;   c. determining whether the mobile computing device is within a prescribed distance of the one parking location;   d. displaying on the mobile computing device, when the mobile computing device is within the prescribed distance, entry information for how to access the parking location comprising at least one of text, photo, audio, and video information, the entry information including instructions for accessing the parking location;   e. in response to displaying the entry information, displaying on the mobile computing device, when the mobile computing device is within the prescribed distance, a first confirmation prompt;   f. receiving a first confirmation input in response to the first confirmation prompt;   g. receiving a tilt/inertia and speed signal from a tilt/inertia sensor of the mobile computing device; and   h. determining, in response to said tilt/inertia and speed signal and said GPS signal, whether the vehicle is parked at the parking location.   
     
     
         2 . The method for detecting parking of a vehicle of  claim 1  further comprising, prior to receiving the GPS signal as the mobile computing device is moved to the parking location:
 a. receiving a data set wherein the data set comprises at least a location for the parking location, maximum vehicle size information for the parking location, a list of amenities the parking location, at least one customer review for the parking location, pricing information for the parking location, and availability for the parking location; 
 b. receiving a filtering criteria, including a vehicle size; 
 c. filtering the data set received using the filtering criteria to define a filtered set, wherein the filtered set includes the parking location; 
 d. displaying the filtered set on a map; 
 e. displaying a location of the mobile computing device on the map with the filtered set; 
 f. receiving a selection of the parking location displayed on the map; and 
 g. displaying a textual description, photograph, pricing, and user reviews for the parking location. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method for detecting parking of a vehicle of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a. receiving the vehicle size; 
 b. storing the vehicle size in a memory in the mobile computing device; 
 c. retrieving the vehicle size from the memory; and 
 d. comparing the vehicle size to the maximum vehicle size to determine if the vehicle will fit within the parking location. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method for detecting parking of a vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to receiving the GPS signal as the mobile computing device is moved to the parking location:
 a. launching an application on the mobile computing device;   b. receiving the GPS signal;   c. determining a location of the mobile computing device as a function of the GPS signal;   d. transmitting the location of the mobile computing device to a server and requesting at least one parking location within the prescribed distance of the location of the mobile computing device; and   e. selecting the parking location from the at least one parking location within the prescribed distance.   
     
     
         5 . The method for detecting parking of a vehicle of  claim 1  further comprising, prior to receiving the GPS signal as the mobile computing device is moved to the parking location:
 a. displaying an input option for an immediate booking or a future booking of the parking location; 
 b. receiving a selection of the immediate booking or the future booking; 
 c. displaying, when the selection for the future booking is received, an input options for the future booking comprising a future date and time selection; 
 d. receiving, when the selection for the future booking is received, an input for the future booking comprising the future date and time selection; 
 e. displaying an input option for a duration time at the parking location; and 
 f. receiving an input for the duration time at the parking location. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method for detecting parking of a vehicle of  claim 5  further comprising:
 a. checking whether the parking location is available for the duration time, and, when the selection for the future booking is received, the input for the future date and time selection. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method for detecting parking of a vehicle of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a. determining, in response to said tilt/inertia and speed signal and said GPS signal, whether the mobile computing device is no longer in the vehicle; 
 b. determining that the mobile computing device has returned to the vehicle after a period of time; 
 c. displaying on the mobile computing device a second confirmation prompt; 
 d. receiving a second confirmation response in response to the second confirmation prompt; and 
 e. transmitting the period of time having been determined to a server. 
 
     
     
         8 . A system for detecting parking of a vehicle comprising:
 a mobile computing device configured for network communication and comprising;   a display;   a GPS receiver;   a tilt/inertia sensor; and   an application configured to run on the mobile computing device, wherein the mobile computing device is configured to perform the steps of:   a. receiving, repeatedly, a GPS signal as a mobile computing device is moved to a parking location;   b. comparing, repeatedly, the GPS signal to the parking location;   c. determining whether the mobile computing device is within a prescribed distance of the one parking location;   d. displaying on the mobile computing device, when the mobile computing device is within the prescribed distance, entry information for how to access the parking location comprising at least one of text, photo, audio, and video information, the entry information including instructions for accessing the parking location;   e. in response to displaying the entry information, displaying on the mobile computing device, when the mobile computing device is within the prescribed distance, a first confirmation prompt;   f. receiving a first confirmation input in response to the first confirmation prompt;   g. receiving a tilt/inertia and speed signal from a tilt/inertia sensor of the mobile computing device; and   h. determining, in response to said tilt/inertia and speed signal and said GPS signal, whether the vehicle is parked at the parking location.   
     
     
         9 . The system for detecting parking of a vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the mobile computing device is further configured to, prior to receiving the GPS signal as the mobile computing device is moved to the parking location, perform the steps of:
 a. receiving a data set wherein the data set comprises at least a location for the parking location, maximum vehicle size information for the parking location, a list of amenities the parking location, at least one customer review for the parking location, pricing information for the parking location, and availability for the parking location;   b. receiving a filtering criteria, including a vehicle size;   c. filtering the data set received using the filtering criteria to define a filtered set, wherein the filtered set includes the parking location;   d. displaying the filtered set on a map;   e. displaying a location of the mobile computing device on the map with the filtered set;   f. receiving a selection of the parking location displayed on the map; and   g. displaying a textual description, photograph, pricing, and user reviews for the parking location.   
     
     
         10 . The system for detecting parking of a vehicle of  claim 9  wherein the mobile computing device is further configured to perform the steps of:
 a. receiving the vehicle size; 
 b. storing the vehicle size in a memory in the mobile computing device; 
 c. retrieving the vehicle size from the memory; and 
 d. comparing the vehicle size to the maximum vehicle size to determine if the vehicle will fit within the parking location. 
 
     
     
         11 . The system for detecting parking of a vehicle of  claim 8  wherein the mobile computing device is further configured to perform the steps of:
 a. launching an application on the mobile computing device; 
 b. receiving the GPS signal; 
 c. determining a location of the mobile computing device as a function of the GPS signal; 
 d. transmitting the location of the mobile computing device to a server and requesting at least one parking location within the prescribed distance of the location of the mobile computing device; and 
 e. selecting the parking location from the at least one parking location within the prescribed distance. 
 
     
     
         12 . The system for detecting parking of a vehicle of  claim 8  wherein the mobile computing device is further configured to, prior to receiving the GPS signal as the mobile computing device is moved to the parking location, perform the steps of:
 a. displaying an input option for an immediate booking or a future booking of the parking location; 
 b. receiving a selection of the immediate booking or the future booking; 
 c. displaying, when the selection for the future booking is received, an input options for the future booking comprising a future date and time selection; 
 d. receiving, when the selection for the future booking is received, an input for the future booking comprising the future date and time selection; 
 e. displaying an input option for a duration time at the parking location; and 
 f. receiving an input for the duration time at the parking location. 
 
     
     
         13 . The system for detecting parking of a vehicle of  claim 12  wherein the mobile computing device is further configured to perform the steps of:
 a. checking whether the parking location is available for the duration time, and, when the selection for the future booking is received, the input for the future date and time selection. 
 
     
     
         14 . The system for detecting parking of a vehicle of  claim 8  wherein the mobile computing device is further configured to perform the steps of:
 a. determining, in response to said tilt/inertia and speed signal and said GPS signal, whether the mobile computing device is no longer in the vehicle; 
 b. determining that the mobile computing device has returned to the vehicle after a period of time; 
 c. displaying on the mobile computing device a second confirmation prompt; 
 d. receiving a second confirmation response in response to the second confirmation prompt; and 
 e. transmitting the period of time having been determined to a server. 
 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing code for detecting parking of a vehicle, the code comprising instructions executable by a processor to:
 a. receive, repeatedly, a GPS signal as a mobile computing device is moved to a parking location;   b. compare, repeatedly, the GPS signal to the parking location;   c. determine whether the mobile computing device is within a prescribed distance of the one parking location;   d. display on the mobile computing device, when the mobile computing device is within the prescribed distance, entry information for how to access the parking location comprising at least one of text, photo, audio, and video information, the entry information including instructions for accessing the parking location;   e. in response to displaying the entry information, display on the mobile computing device, when the mobile computing device is within the prescribed distance, a first confirmation prompt;   f. receive a first confirmation input in response to the first confirmation prompt;   g. receive a tilt/inertia and speed signal from a tilt/inertia sensor of the mobile computing device; and   h. determine, in response to said tilt/inertia and speed signal and said GPS signal, whether the vehicle is parked at the parking location.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , the code further comprising instructions executable by the processor, prior to receiving the GPS signal as the mobile computing device is moved to the parking location, to:
 a. receive a data set wherein the data set comprises at least a location for the parking location, maximum vehicle size information for the parking location, a list of amenities the parking location, at least one customer review for the parking location, pricing information for the parking location, and availability for the parking location;   b. receive a filtering criteria, including a vehicle size;   c. filter the data set received using the filtering criteria to define a filtered set, wherein the filtered set includes the parking location;   d. display the filtered set on a map;   e. display a location of the mobile computing device on the map with the filtered set;   f. receive a selection of the parking location displayed on the map; and   g. display a textual description, photograph, pricing, and user reviews for the parking location.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 16 , the code further comprising instructions executable by the processor to:
 a. receive the vehicle size;   b. store the vehicle size in a memory in the mobile computing device;   c. retrieve the vehicle size from the memory; and   d. compare the vehicle size to the maximum vehicle size to determine if the vehicle will fit within the parking location.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , the code further comprising instructions executable by the processor to:
 a. launch an application on the mobile computing device;   b. receive the GPS signal;   c. determine a location of the mobile computing device as a function of the GPS signal;   d. transmit the location of the mobile computing device to a server and requesting at least one parking location within the prescribed distance of the location of the mobile computing device; and   e. select the parking location from the at least one parking location within the prescribed distance.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , the code further comprising instructions executable by the processor, prior to receiving the GPS signal as the mobile computing device is moved to the parking location, to:
 a. display an input option for an immediate booking or a future booking of the parking location;   b. receive a selection of the immediate booking or the future booking;   c. display, when the selection for the future booking is received, input options for the future booking comprising a future date and time selection;   d. receive, when the selection for the future booking is received, an input for the future booking comprising the future date and time selection;   e. display an input option for a duration time at the parking location; and   f. receive an input for the duration time at the parking location.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 19 , the code further comprising instructions executable by the processor to:
 a. check whether the parking location is available for the duration time, and, when the selection for the future booking is received, the input for the future date and time selection.