EP3311371A1 - Management of a parking place - Google Patents

Abstract

A parking place is arranged for the parking of motor vehicles. A method for managing the parking place comprises steps of determining a maximum number of motor vehicles which can be parked on the parking place, counting motor vehicles arriving and leaving, determining a number of motor vehicles parked on the parking place on the basis of the counted motor vehicles, and determining a number of motor vehicles which can be additionally parked on the parking place.

Description

 Description title

 Management of a parking lot

The invention relates to the management of a parking lot. In particular, the invention relates to the management of a parking lot, which is set up for parking motor vehicles.

State of the art

A parking lot is set up to accommodate a number of vehicles that can be parked on it. It is not specifically specified in which way or in which order the motor vehicles should be parked in the parking lot. An arrangement of motor vehicles in the parking lot may therefore change.

In contrast to an organized car park, where parking spaces are indicated, each of which can be occupied by a motor vehicle, it is difficult to manage it in an unorganized parking lot. In particular, it may be difficult to determine a number of motor vehicles that can be parked in the parking lot at a given time.

The invention has for its object to provide a technique for managing a parking lot, which is set up for parking motor vehicles. The invention solves this problem by means of the subjects of the independent claims. Subclaims give preferred embodiments again.

Disclosure of the invention A parking lot is set up for parking motor vehicles. A method of managing the parking lot includes steps of determining a maximum number of parkable vehicles in the parking lot, counting driving and departing vehicles, determining a number of parked vehicles in the parking lot based on the counted vehicles, and determining a number of motor vehicles can also be parked in the parking lot.

Counting the approaching and departing motor vehicles requires only a modest effort for sensors that are installed at entrances and exits of the parking lot. It is not necessary to scan the entire parking lot, for example by means of a camera installed at a higher altitude, nor to provide a plurality of sensors for detecting individual motor vehicles in the parking lot. Although the determination of the additionally parkable in the parking garage motor vehicles may have some uncertainty, but often a provision in the first approximation is sufficient for many practical purposes. For example, a public parking lot attached to a public transport stop ("Park and Ride") may be managed in this manner, for example, the certain number of additionally parkable motor vehicles may be displayed on a display panel outside the parking lot.

The method is particularly suitable for use in a parking lot for the disorderly parking of motor vehicles, lacks the limits for parking spaces for parking individual vehicles. Here, the maximum number of parkable in the parking lot of vehicles depending on a current occupancy situation, so it should be checked regularly.

To determine the maximum number, two different variants are possible. In a first variant, the maximum number is determined based on an average of the vehicles parked in the parking lot over time. By observing the determined number of parked in the parking lot motor vehicles can be determined when the parking lot is fully occupied. This can be the case, for example, when the number of people parked is limited Motor vehicles no longer changes, although a small number of vehicles drives the parking lot and an equal number of him leaves.

In another variant, the maximum number is determined on the basis of a total available area of the parking space and an assumed average size of a motor vehicle. This variant can be easier to process. In addition, special circumstances can be taken into account more easily, for example the omission of parking spaces, when snow is cleared in the winter and accumulated on the area of the parking lot. Other influences such as a temporary blockage of a part of the parking lot, for example due to construction work, are also easy to model.

Preferably, in the area-based variant of the determination of the maximum number of traffic routes are taken into account, which are not available for the parking of motor vehicles. The space required for the traffic routes of the parking lot can be determined depending on the degree of filling.

In both variants, the maximum numbers can run cyclically over time. For example, the maximum number may be lower in winter than in summer. Shorter cycles are also possible, for example, weekly, daily or hourly. The determined maximum number may be determined based on the cycle with respect to a current time. The determination accuracy of the method can thus be increased. In a further embodiment, a reliability of the determination of

Number of additionally parkable motor vehicles determined. Since the determined number may not exactly correspond to reality, the reliability of the determination may affect the reliability of the particular number. The reliability of the particular number of additionally parkable motor vehicles can be particularly low if it represents a very small proportion of the maximum number of parkable vehicles in the parking lot. For example, if theoretically one hundred motor vehicles can be parked in the parking lot and it is determined that there is room for another motor vehicle, the probability of a correct statement is small. If, on the other hand, it is determined that eighty or ninety motor vehicles can still be parked, the likelihood of an accurate statement is significant. lent bigger. The reliability may be provided along with the number, for example, to provide an improved decision basis to a driver seeking a location for parking his motor vehicle. It is particularly preferred that the specific number be additionally offable

Motor vehicles is released in real time. In particular, the number may be displayed on a display panel in the area of the parking lot or on an advancing street. Additionally or alternatively, the number can also be published electronically, for example by a web service, by data radio or in a cloud.

A computer program product comprises program code means for carrying out the method described above when the computer program product runs on a processing device or is stored on a computer-readable data carrier.

An apparatus for managing the above-described parking lot includes a first counter for counting vehicles approaching the parking lot, a second counter for counting vehicles leaving the parking lot, and processing means for determining a number of parked vehicles in the parking lot on the basis of the counted ascended and crazy motor vehicles. In this case, the processing device is set up to determine a number of motor vehicles, which can additionally be parked in the parking lot, on the basis of the counted motor vehicles and a maximum number of parkable vehicles in the parking lot.

Brief description of the figure

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the attached figure, which shows a parking space with a management device.

Detailed description of embodiments

FIG. 1 shows a parking lot 100 with a management device 105. The parking space 100 is preferably set up for disorderly parking means that for individual vehicles 1 10 that can be parked in the parking lot 100, is not or not exactly prescribed how the motor vehicles 1 10 are to be arranged. In particular, the width or length of a parking space that may occupy a motor vehicle 110 may be undefined. Also, a pattern according to which 100 rows or other arrangements of motor vehicles 1 10 are formed in the parking lot, may be arbitrary. In this case, each driver of each motor vehicle 1 10 make his contribution to the formation of an organizational structure.

The parking lot 100 includes a driveway 15 and an exit 120. In the present illustration, both physically coincide; However, they can also be provided separately from each other. In addition, multiple entrances 1 15 or more exits 120 may be provided.

The management device 105 is configured to determine a number of motor vehicles that can be parked in the parking lot 100 at a given time. For this purpose, the management device 105 comprises a processing device 125, which is connected to a first counting device 130 for counting motor vehicles 1 10 ascending in the parking lot 100 and to a second counting device 135 for counting motor vehicles 1 10 departing from the parking space 100. Each of the counters 130, 135 can realize any scanning principle, for example by means of a light barrier, a camera, a radar or lidar sensor, by means of an induction loop, by means of ultrasound or by means of a capacitance sensor. On the basis of the counted motor vehicles, the processing device 125 determines how many motor vehicles 110 are located in the parking lot 100.

Based on a maximum number of parkable in the parking lot 100 motor vehicles 1 10 then a number of vehicles can be determined, which can be parked in addition to the parking lot 100. This number can be displayed graphically or numerically, for example, via the display panel 140. Alternatively or additionally, the specific number can also be published, for example, in a digital manner, for example as a web service or in a cloud. In order to determine how many vehicles 1 10 can be parked on the parking space 100 at maximum, an area of the parking space 100 can be divided by an average area required for parking a motor vehicle 110. Preferably, the area of the parking lot 100 is previously reduced by the area of traffic lanes 145 required to avoid jamming between motor vehicles 110. In this case, the available surface of the parking lot 100 may also be subject to fluctuations, for example if, after a prolonged rainfall, a part of the parking space 100 can not be used due to stagnant water. A portion of the parking lot 100 may also be unusable because, for example, snow has been cleared and piled up on a portion of the parking lot 100.

In another variant, the maximum number of parkable in the parking lot 100 motor vehicles 1 10 determined by the number of actually parked motor vehicles 1 10 is observed.

If the parking lot 100 is completely occupied by motor vehicles 10, the number of motor vehicles 1 10 located in the parking space 100 usually no longer increases. An effect of vainly looking for Absteilflächen drivers who whose vehicles are 1 10 are doing on traffic areas 145, can be neglected.

How well matches the certain number of additional parkable vehicles 1 10 in the parking lot 100 with the still parked on the parking lot 100 motor vehicles 1 10, usually depends on a degree of filling of the parking lot 100 from. In the exemplary representation of FIG. 1, two additional motor vehicles 110 have been determined which can be accommodated in the parking lot 100. In the series parked motor vehicles 1 10 in the left area of the parking lot 100 of Figure 1 is a corresponding gap that can be occupied by another motor vehicle 1 10. On the right side, however, no gap is formed because adjacent motor vehicles 1 10 of this series have too large distances from each other. The determined number Z therefore deviates by 1 from the actual number of motor vehicles 1 10 that can still be recorded in the parking lot. This corresponds to an absolute error of only 1, but a relative error of 50%. The lower the degree of filling of the parking space 100, the more likely it is that a sufficiently small motor vehicle 110 can still be found that can utilize a remaining residual area that is smaller than the average area required by a motor vehicle 110. However, if the filling level of the parking lot 100 approaches 100%, the possibilities of dense parking are almost exhausted.

A reliability or confidence can be determined with which the certain number of cars still parking in the parking lot 100 is correct. In a further embodiment, a probability of the given number being determined may also be determined. This value may be provided along with the particular number of additional parkable vehicles 110. In the illustration of Figure 1, an exemplary traffic light-like structure is shown on the display panel 140 in the right-hand area, indicating the reliability of the particular displayed value. Alternatively to the symbolic representation, a graphic can also be used.

Claims

claims 1 . A method of managing a parking lot (100) adapted to park motor vehicles (1 10), the method comprising the steps of:  - Determining a maximum number of parkable in the parking lot (100) motor vehicles (1 10);  - Counting approaching and departing motor vehicles (1 10);  - determining a number of parked in the parking lot (100) motor vehicles (1 10) based on the counted motor vehicles (1 10);  - Determining a number of motor vehicles (1 10), which can be additionally parked in the parking lot (100). 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the parking lot for the disorderly parking of motor vehicles (1 10) is set up. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the maximum number is determined based on an average of the vehicles parked in the parking lot (100) over time. 4. The method claim 1 or 2, wherein the maximum number is determined on the basis of a total available area of the parking lot (100) and an assumed average size of a motor vehicle (1 10). 5. The method of claim 4, wherein traffic routes (145) are taken into account, which are not available for the parking of motor vehicles (1 10). Method according to one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the maximum numbers over time run cyclically and the determined maximum number on the basis of Cycle is determined with respect to a current time. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a reliability of the determination of the number of additionally parkable motor vehicles (1 10) is determined. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the specific number of additionally parkable motor vehicles (1 10) is published in real time. Computer program product with program code means for carrying out the method according to one of the preceding claims, when the computer program product runs on a processing device (145) or is stored on a computer-readable data carrier. Device for managing a parking space (100) adapted for parking motor vehicles (1 10), the device comprising:  - A first counter (1 15) for counting on the parking lot (100) ascending motor vehicles (1 10);  - A second counter (120) for counting from the parking lot (100) departing motor vehicles (1 10); and  - a processing device (145) for determining a number of parked in the parking lot (100) motor vehicles (1 10) on the basis of the counted up and driven motor vehicles (1 10), Wherein the processing means (145) is further adapted to control a number of motor vehicles (110) which may additionally be parked in the parking lot (100) on the basis of the counted vehicles (110) and a maximum number of parking spaces ( 100) to be set off motor vehicles (1 10).