EP2567371B1 - Method for determination of vacant parking area close to a vehicle and pertinent vehicular assistance system - Google Patents

Description

• wenigstens einem zentralen Rechenzentrum, in welchem der Parkraum erfasst ist; und
• einer Mehrzahl an dezentral in Fahrzeugen angeordneten Nutzerendgeräten, welche mit dem Rechenzentrum kommunizieren und welche jeweils mit wenigstens einem Standortbestimmungsmodul wirkverbunden sind;

wobei mittels eines jeweiligen Nutzerendgerätes wenigstens ein Einpark-Standortsignal des zugehörigen Fahrzeugs an das Rechenzentrum übermittelt wird, wenn das Fahrzeug geparkt worden ist, wonach im Rechenzentrum das Einpark-Standortsignal mit dem dort erfassten Parkraum abgeglichen wird, um in dem Parkraum zwischen beparkbarem, freiem Parkraum und nicht beparktem, besetzten Parkraum unterscheiden zu können, so dass der freie Parkraum und/oder der besetzte Parkraum erfasst wird/werden,
wobei mittels eines jeweiligen Nutzerendgerätes eines zugehörigen Fahrzeugs Anfragen über freien Parkraum an das Rechenzentrum übermittelt werden, wobei die Anfragen die aktuelle Fahrzeugposition umfassen, und
wobei von der aktuellen Position dieses Kraftfahrzeugs abhängige Informationen über kraftfahrzeugnah beparkbaren, freien Parkraum vom Rechenzentrum an das anfragende Nutzerendgerät übermittelt werden.The invention relates to a method for determining parking space that can be parked close to the motor vehicle, using free parking space

• at least one central data center in which the parking space is detected; and
• a plurality of user terminals arranged remotely in vehicles, which communicate with the data center and which are each operatively connected to at least one location determination module;

wherein by means of a respective user terminal at least one parking location signal of the associated vehicle is transmitted to the data center, when the vehicle has been parked, after which the parking location signal is matched in the data center with the parking space detected there, in the parking space between parkable, free parking space and un-parked, occupied parking space so that the free parking space and / or the occupied parking space is / are detected,
wherein by means of a respective user terminal of an associated vehicle requests for free parking space are transmitted to the data center, wherein the requests include the current vehicle position, and
wherein information dependent on the current position of this motor vehicle can be transmitted to the requesting user terminal via parking space that can be parked close to the motor vehicle.

1. (a) wenigstens ein zentrales Rechenzentrum mit einer Sendeeinheit, einer Empfangseinheit und einer Datenverarbeitungseinheit sowie mit einer Speichereinheit, in welcher eine Datenbank gespeichert ist, in welcher der Parkraum hinterlegt ist; und
2. (b) eine Mehrzahl an dezentral in Fahrzeugen angeordneten Nutzerendgeräten mit einem Sender und einem Empfänger, welche mit der Empfangseinheit und der Sendeeinheit des Rechenzentrums kommunizieren, mit einem Standortbestimmungsmodul, insbesondere in Form eines GPS-Empfängers, welches zum Erfassen der geographischen Koordinaten des zugehörigen Fahrzeugs zumindest in einer Parkposition desselben ausgebildet ist, und mit einem Parkzustandserfassungsmodul, welches erkennt, wenn das zugehörige Fahrzeug geparkt bzw. ausgeparkt worden ist;

wobei

• der Sender eines jeweiligen Nutzerendgerätes zum Übermitteln wenigstens eines Einpark-Standortsignals und/oder wenigstens einen Auspark-Standortsignals an die Empfangseinheit des Rechenzentrums, wenn das zugehörige Fahrzeug geparkt bzw. ausgeparkt worden ist, sowie zum Anfragen über freien Parkraum an die Empfangseinheit des Rechenzentrums ausgebildet ist, wobei die Anfragen die aktuelle Fahrzeugposition umfassen, und
• der Empfänger eines jeweiligen Nutzerendgerätes zum Empfangen von, von der aktuellen Position des zugehörigen Kraftfahrzeugs abhängigen Informationen über kraftfahrzeugnah beparkbaren, freien Parkraum von der Sendeeinheit des Rechenzentrums ausgebildet ist;
  und wobei
• die Datenverarbeitungseinheit des Rechenzentrums zum Abgleichen eines von einem jeweiligen Nutzerendgerät empfangenen Einpark-Standortsignal und/oder Auspark-Standortsignal mit dem in der Datenbank hinterlegten Parkraum derart ausgebildet ist, um zwischen beparkbarem, freiem Parkraum und beparktem, besetzten Parkraum zu unterscheiden und somit den freien Parkraum und/oder den besetzten Parkraum zu erfassen, und
• die Sendeeinheit des Rechenzentrums zum Übermitteln von, von der aktuellen Position eines jeweiligen Kraftfahrzeugs abhängigen Informationen über kraftfahrzeugnah beparkbaren, freien Parkraum an den Empfänger des anfragenden Nutzerendgerätes des zugehörigen Fahrzeugs ausgebildet ist.

The invention further relates to a vehicle assistance system which is suitable in particular for carrying out such a method for determining parking space that can be parked close to the motor vehicle, comprising

1. (A) at least one central data center with a transmitting unit, a receiving unit and a data processing unit and with a memory unit in which a database is stored, in which the parking space is deposited; and
2. (B) a plurality of decentralized in vehicle user terminals with a transmitter and a receiver, which communicate with the receiving unit and the transmitting unit of the data center, with a location determination module, in particular in the form of a GPS receiver, which for detecting the geographical coordinates of the associated vehicle formed at least in a parking position thereof, and with a parking state detection module, which detects when the associated vehicle has been parked or parked;

in which

• the transmitter of a respective user terminal for transmitting at least one parking location signal and / or at least one Auspark-location signal to the receiving unit of the data center when the associated vehicle has been parked or parked, as well as for inquiring about free parking space is formed to the receiving unit of the data center , wherein the requests include the current vehicle position, and
• the receiver of a respective user terminal is adapted to receive information dependent on the current position of the associated motor vehicle via a free parking space which can be parked close to the motor vehicle by the transmitting unit of the data center;
  and where
• the data processing unit of the computer center is adapted for matching a parking location signal received from a respective user terminal and / or parking park location with the parking space stored in the database in order to differentiate between parkable, free parking space and parked, occupied parking space and thus the free parking space and / or to detect the occupied parking space, and
• the transmitting unit of the computer center is adapted to transmit information dependent on the current position of a respective motor vehicle via a free parking space which can be parked close to the motor vehicle to the receiver of the requesting user terminal of the associated vehicle.

Finally, the invention is directed to a user terminal of such a vehicle assistance system.

In motor vehicles, it is known to provide them with location determination modules, in particular in the form of navigation systems, which are able to communicate satellite-supported via GPS ("Global Positioning System") with administrative units or data centers, on the one hand the exact geographical location of the device or the motor vehicle determine yourself. By means of the navigation system and GPS various functionalities can be realized, namely on the one hand the communication only between Vehicle and GPS, on the other hand, but also the transmission of the current whereabouts of the motor vehicle to a third party; the latter, for example, when it concerns trucks, whose whereabouts are to be transmitted to a freight forwarder.

To increase the accuracy of the position information of the motor vehicle additionally available - currently mainly in cities - available wireless communication networks, such as wireless networks or other systems that are suitable for providing geographic location coordinates with the highest possible accuracy can be used. Furthermore, the coupled use (XPS) of one hand WLAN systems, on the other hand GPS known and can be used, for example, to determine the geographical location coordinates of motor vehicles centimeter or even millimeter accurate. As additional communication devices for receiving and transmitting information to or from the motor vehicle, mobile communication devices such as telephones or computers with Internet access are used. In addition, it is known to use a relatively novel long-turn evolution (LTE) based data transmission system that outperforms the data rates of common UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) based systems.

Despite the large number of such already widely used communication devices, which are available to the driver of a motor vehicle or also to administrators of motor vehicles, there are still unresolved information tasks in the motor vehicle or generally in the field of passenger and freight traffic. Such information deficits concern, for example, the communication-assisted finding of parking space or parking spaces for various motor vehicles which are actually available for a respective vehicle, ie are free and insofar can be parked and, in particular, are located as close as possible to a vehicle seeking a parking space.

The DE 198 56 478 C1 describes a method for automatically acquiring information related to occupied parking space in a traffic network, wherein from a vehicle-side user terminal to a data center parking space information is transmitted, representing both a parking phase of the vehicle and the vehicle location, after which information is generated by the central, which relate to the still free parking space, and according to which information is transmitted from the data center to the vehicle-side user terminal in relation to the parkable, still free parking space.

The WO 2008/061540 A1 describes a method for the determination of parking space which can be parked close to the motor vehicle, which comprises a central data center in which the parking space is detected. The data center is on the one hand designed to receive information about free parking spaces, which are transmitted by means of stationary sensors arranged below the road surface. Vehicles looking for a parking space can send inquiries to the data center via mobile communications, which contain the vehicle location and the vehicle size, wherein the vehicle location can be transmitted by means of a GPS transmitter based on location coordinates. Depending on the position of the requesting vehicle, the data center outputs a free parking space, wherein - after completed Parking - a parked location signal is transmitted from the stationary sensor associated with each parking space to the data center to verify that the parking space in the local database is occupied. A disadvantage is in particular that the known method is able to detect only individual parking spaces in total, namely by the sensor assigned to a respective parking space "free" or "occupied" transmitted to the computer center. In addition, the method necessarily requires a number of parking spaces corresponding number of fixedly arranged in the pavement sensors, so that this method - if at all - only in a relatively limited space, such as in a parking garage, can be economical.

The object of the invention is to develop a method and a vehicle assistance system suitable for determining parking free parking space of the type mentioned above, such that it is possible for the driver of a motor vehicle to travel within the shortest possible time and under cover a shortest possible way with the greatest possible probability to find a suitable parking space, in particular both individual parking spaces and group parking spaces including a plurality of located on the roadside, unmarked parking spaces should be detected.

• Erfassen der geographischen Koordinaten des Parkraumes in dem Rechenzentrum, wobei der im Rechenzentrum anhand von geographischen Koordinaten erfasste Parkraum die geographischen Koordinaten von Gruppenstellplätzen, wie insbesondere einer Mehrzahl von am Straßenrand befindlichen, nicht markierten Stellplätzen, umfasst;
• Klassifizieren des im Rechenzentrum erfassten Parkraumes in Bezug auf mehrere Parkraumkategorien;
• Übermitteln wenigstens einer zusätzlichen Information mittels eines jeweiligen Nutzerendgerätes an das Rechenzentrum anlässlich des Anfragens über freien Parkraum, wobei die wenigstens eine zusätzliche Information zumindest eine fahrzeugspezifische Information aus der Gruppe Fahrzeugart, Fahrzeuggröße und Fahrzeugtyp und/oder wenigstens eine nutzerspezifische Information umfasst, und wobei das mittels eines jeweiligen Nutzerendgerätes an das Rechenzentrum übermittelte Einpark-Standortsignal des zugehörigen Fahrzeugs mehrere geographische Koordinaten des Fahrzeugs in der Parkposition, zumindest in Form der vier Eckkoordinaten des Fahrzeugs, umfasst;
• Abgleichen des Einpark-Standortsignals mit den im Rechenzentrum erfassten Koordinaten des Parkraumes und Abgleichen der mittels eines jeweiligen Nutzerendgerätes übermittelten, wenigstens einen zusätzlichen Information mit den klassifizierten Parkraumkategorien im Rechenzentrum, wobei die im Rechenzentrum von jeweiligen Nutzerendgeräten empfangenen Einpark-Standortsignale zugehöriger Fahrzeuge, welche auf Gruppenstellplätzen geparkt worden sind, verwendet werden, um den Abstand dieser Fahrzeuge von Endkoordinaten der Gruppenstellplätze und/oder den Abstand zwischen jeweils zwei dort geparkten Fahrzeugen und auf diese Weise die von der Parkposition dieser Fahrzeuge abhängigen geographischen Koordinaten von innerhalb des Gruppenstellplatzes zur Verfügung stehenden einzelnen Stellplätzen zu ermitteln, so dass zwischen Parkraumkategorien, welche der zusätzlichen Information entsprechen, und Parkraumkategorien, welche der zusätzlichen Information nicht entsprechen, unterschieden und der freie Parkraum, dessen Parkraumkategorie der zusätzlichen Information entspricht und/oder nicht entspricht, ermittelt wird; und
• Übermitteln von Informationen über denjenigen kraftfahrzeugnah beparkbaren, freien Parkraum vom Rechenzentrum an das anfragende Nutzerendgerät, dessen Parkraumkategorie der wenigstens einen zusätzlich übermittelten Information entspricht, wobei der kraftfahrzeugnah beparkbare, freie Parkraum dieser Parkraumkategorie mittels des Nutzerendgerätes angezeigt wird.

In procedural terms, this object is achieved by a method of the type mentioned, which is characterized by the following steps:

• Detecting the geographic coordinates of the parking space in the data center, the data center in the data center parking space acquired from geographical coordinates comprises the geographical coordinates of group parking spaces, in particular a plurality of roadside unmarked parking spaces;
• Classifying the parking space detected in the data center with respect to several parking space categories;
• Transmitting at least one additional information by means of a respective user terminal to the data center on the occasion of requesting free parking space, wherein the at least one additional information at least one vehicle-specific information from the group vehicle type, vehicle size and vehicle type and / or at least one user-specific information includes, and wherein the a respective user terminal to the data center transmitted parking location signal of the associated vehicle several geographic coordinates of the vehicle in the parking position, at least in the form of the four corner coordinates of the vehicle includes;
• Matching the parking location signal with the coordinates of the parking space detected in the data center and matching the at least one additional information transmitted by a respective user terminal with the classified parking space categories in the data center, the parking location signals of associated vehicles received in the data center by respective user terminals being stored in group locations have been parked, used to the distance of these vehicles of Endkoordinaten the group parking spaces and / or the distance between two vehicles parked there and in this way dependent on the parking position of these vehicles geographic coordinates of available within the group parking space individual parking spaces determine, so that between parking space categories, which discriminate the additional information and parking space categories which do not correspond to the additional information, and the free parking space whose parking space category corresponds to the additional information and / or does not correspond is determined; and
• Transmission of information about those parked near the motor vehicle, free parking space from the data center to the requesting user terminal whose parking space category corresponds to the at least one additional transmitted information, wherein the close to the car parkable, free parking space of this parking space category is displayed by means of the user terminal.

• in der Datenbank des Rechenzentrums die geographischen Koordinaten des Parkraumes hinterlegt sind, wobei der im Rechenzentrum anhand von geographischen Koordinaten erfasste Parkraum die geographischen Koordinaten von Gruppenstellplätzen, wie insbesondere einer Mehrzahl von am Straßenrand befindlichen, nicht markierten Stellplätzen, umfasst;
• der in der Datenbank des Rechenzentrums hinterlegte Parkraum in Bezug auf mehrere Parkraumkategorien klassifiziert ist;
• in einem jeweiligen Nutzerendgerät wenigstens eine zusätzliche Information hinterlegt ist, wobei die wenigstens eine zusätzliche Information zumindest eine fahrzeugspezifische Information aus der Gruppe Fahrzeugart, Fahrzeuggröße und Fahrzeugtyp und/oder wenigstens eine nutzerspezifische Information umfasst, und wobei das mittels eines jeweiligen Nutzerendgerätes an das Rechenzentrum übermittelte Einpark-Standortsignal des zugehörigen Fahrzeugs mehrere geographische Koordinaten des Fahrzeugs in der Parkposition, zumindest in Form der vier Eckkoordinaten des Fahrzeugs, umfasst;
• der Sender eines jeweiligen Nutzerendgerätes zum Übermitteln der zusätzlichen Information an die Empfangseinheit des Rechenzentrums zumindest anlässlich des Anfragens über freien Parkraum ausgebildet ist;
• die Datenverarbeitungseinheit des Rechenzentrums zum Abgleichen des Einpark-Standortsignals mit den im Rechenzentrum erfassten geographischen Koordinaten des Parkraumes und zum Abgleichen der mittels eines jeweiligen Nutzerendgerätes übermittelten, wenigstens einen zusätzlichen Information mit den in der Datenbank klassifizierten Parkraumkategorien ausgebildet ist, wobei die im Rechenzentrum von jeweiligen Nutzerendgeräten empfangenen Einpark-Standortsignale zugehöriger Fahrzeuge, welche auf Gruppenstellplätzen geparkt worden sind, verwendet werden, um den Abstand dieser Fahrzeuge von Endkoordinaten der Gruppenstellplätze und/oder den Abstand zwischen jeweils zwei dort geparkten Fahrzeugen und auf diese Weise die von der Parkposition dieser Fahrzeuge abhängigen geographischen Koordinaten von innerhalb des Gruppenstellplatzes zur Verfügung stehenden einzelnen Stellplätzen zu ermitteln, so dass zwischen Parkraumkategorien, welche der zusätzlichen Information entsprechen, und Parkraumkategorien, welche der zusätzlichen Information nicht entsprechen, unterschieden und somit der freie Parkraum, dessen Parkraumkategorie der zusätzlichen Information entspricht und/oder nicht entspricht, ermittelt wird;
• die Sendeeinheit des Rechenzentrums zum Übermitteln von Informationen über denjenigen kraftfahrzeugnah beparkbaren, freien Parkraum, dessen Parkraumkategorie der wenigstens einen zusätzlich übermittelten Information entspricht, an den Empfänger des anfragenden Nutzerendgerätes ausgebildet ist; und
• das jeweilige Nutzerendgerät eine Anzeigeeinrichtung aufweist, welches zum, insbesondere graphischen, Anzeigen des kraftfahrzeugnah beparkbaren, freien Parkraumes dieser Parkraumkategorie ausgebildet ist.

In terms of device technology, the invention also provides for solving this problem in a vehicle assistance system of the type mentioned above, that

• the geographic coordinates of the parking space are stored in the database of the data center, the parking space detected in the data center on the basis of geographical coordinates comprising the geographical coordinates of group parking spaces, in particular a plurality of roadside unmarked parking spaces;
• the parking space stored in the database of the data center is classified in terms of several parking space categories;
• at least one additional information is stored in a respective user terminal, the at least one additional information comprising at least one vehicle-specific information from the group vehicle type, vehicle size and vehicle type and / or at least one user-specific information, and wherein the a respective user terminal to the data center transmitted parking location signal of the associated vehicle several geographic coordinates of the vehicle in the parking position, at least in the form of the four corner coordinates of the vehicle includes;
• the transmitter of a respective user terminal for transmitting the additional information to the receiving unit of the data center is formed at least on the occasion of requesting free parking space;
• the data processing unit of the computer center is designed to match the parking location signal with the geographic coordinates of the parking space detected in the data center and to reconcile the at least one additional information transmitted by a respective user terminal with the parking space categories classified in the database, those in the data center of respective user terminals received parking-location signals associated vehicles, which have been parked in group parking spaces, used to the distance of these vehicles from Endkoordinaten the group parking spaces and / or the distance between any two vehicles parked there and in this way dependent on the parking position of these vehicles geographic coordinates determine individual parking spaces available within the group parking space, so that between parking space categories which correspond to the additional information, and P room categories which do not correspond to the additional information, and thus the free parking space whose parking space category corresponds to the additional information and / or does not correspond is determined;
• the transmitting unit of the computer center for transmitting information about those close to the motor vehicle, free parking space whose parking space category corresponds to the at least one additionally transmitted information is formed at the receiver of the requesting user terminal; and
• the respective user terminal has a display device which is designed for, in particular graphic, display of the parking area of this parking space category which can be parked close to the motor vehicle.

Finally, the invention also relates to a user terminal of a vehicle assistance system of the aforementioned type designed for determining parking space that can be parked close to the vehicle, which is preferably implemented in or integrated into a navigation device of the vehicle.

With "data center" in the context of the invention, a central management unit is addressed, which is equipped in particular with transmitting and receiving units, data processing unit, such as computers or the like, and storage units. In the latter, a database is expediently stored in which the geographical coordinates of parking space are stored. The geographic coordinates, in turn, may, for example, be mapped or e.g. also be specified under pure specification of latitude and longitude.

With "parking space" can, as explained in more detail below, on the one hand individual parking spaces, on the other hand also parking space groups be designated.

According to the invention, the parking space detected in the database of the data center is divided into different parking space categories or classified dedications, these parking space categories or deductions may be specific to each vehicle and / or user specific. In this case, for example, in the database each parking space or each parking space group may be assigned a value or a function which stands for a specific parking space category. Corresponding parking space assignments or categories are stored in the vehicle-side user terminals in the form of additional information, so that it is possible for a driver to request by means of his vehicle-side user terminal to the data center - if necessary or in an automated form - that he is looking for free parking space , After not only the current position of the vehicle is transmitted to the data center together with this request, but also the at least one additional information - be it vehicle-specific and / or user-specific - can be determined in the data center, which of the available, free parking are also particularly suitable for the requesting vehicle by the sent additional information is compared with the parking space categories stored there. Consequently, in response to his request, the driver may be provided with information about the free park space that can be parked close to the vehicle whose parking space category corresponds to / correspond to his / her individual additionally transmitted information, this free parking space of this parking space category being displayed by means of its user terminal.

The reliability of finding a free parking space is thus compared to the prior art according to the cited above DE 198 56 478 C1 considerably increased by between for the respective vehicle or for the respective Users or drivers can be distinguished and determined in this way, not only the free, but the individually suitable and free parking, which can then target the parking seekers targeted, which is associated with a reduced expenditure of time and energy.

As already mentioned, the parking space detected in the data center on the basis of geographical coordinates comprises, according to the invention, the geographical coordinates of group parking spaces, such as a plurality of unmarked parking spaces located at the roadside, the parking location signals of associated vehicles received in the data center by respective user terminals have been parked such group parking spaces used to the distance of these vehicles of Endkoordinaten the group parking spaces and / or the distance between two vehicles parked there and in this way the dependent of the parking position of these vehicles geographic coordinates of available within the group parking individual To determine parking spaces. Of course, the detection of such parking space in the data center database comprising group parking spaces may, depending on the geometry, comprise any suitable geographic coordinates, such as the corner coordinates of the parking space groups in the case of approximately right-angular group parking spaces or in addition, e.g. in the case of curved, as on the edge of road arcs or curves arranged group parking spaces, include multiple intermediate coordinates, of course, both Cartesian and circular coordinates can be used.

The by means of a respective user terminal to the data center transmitted parking location signal of the associated Vehicle comprises a plurality of geographical coordinates of the vehicle in the parking position, at least in the form of the four - or, for example, only three - corner coordinates of the vehicle, so that the data center in any case the important information about the vehicle size of the parked vehicle is transmitted and, for example, on the one hand a relevant test on the other hand, if necessary, an examination of the parking position with regard to planned or unavailable parking positions is possible.

The method according to the invention can be carried out in a territorially limited space, such as within a parking garage, a public or commercial parking lot with a plurality of parking spaces or the like, or even within one or more (inner) cities or within one or more states.

In an advantageous embodiment it can be provided that at least one Auspark location signal of the associated vehicle is transmitted to the data center by means of a respective user terminal, when the vehicle has been parked, after which the corresponding, previously identified as occupied parking space is detected as free parking space in the data center. Consequently, in the data center, not only when a previously vacant parking space has been occupied (a parking location signal has been received) but also when a previously occupied parking space has become vacant (a parking outage signal has been received) can be detected. , So that the invention can be applied to any, freely accessible parking space, and not only primarily on anyway free at certain times Expensive parking space (eg company parking, parking garages with fixed closing times, etc.).

In a further advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that the geographic coordinates of parking space are modified in the data center if previously available parking space is permanently or temporarily unmarked and / or if new, not yet detected parking space is additionally available, as e.g. on the one hand in the case of construction sites, relocation work, etc., on the other hand, in the case of the emergence of new parking space may be the case. The database of the data center is kept up-to-date in this way, whereby in particular any newly added parking space is in turn assigned a corresponding parking space category or designation.

For the classification of the parking space in the different parking space categories, several criteria are available. Thus, according to a preferred embodiment, it may be provided that classifying the parking space detected in the data center with respect to several parking space categories at least one vehicle-specific parking space category from the group suitability of the respective parking space category for a particular vehicle type, suitability of the respective parking space category for a particular vehicle size, suitability of the respective Parking space category for a particular vehicle type, and / or at least one user-specific parking space category based on an authorization of the respective parking space category for a particular vehicle user includes.

• Fahrzeuggröße bzw. Parkraumgröße, insbesondere auf Basis der Eckkoordinaten des erfassten Parkraumes,

gewählt werden. In Bezug auf die vorteilhafte Erfassung der Parkraumgröße sei darauf hingewiesen, dass z.B. alle vier Eckkoordinaten (insbesondere einerseits des Parkraumes im Rechenzentrum, andererseits des Fahrzeugs im jeweiligen Nutzerendgerät) oder beispielsweise auch nur drei, wie die gegenüberliegenden, Eckkoordinaten sowie eine weitere Eckkoordinate erfasst werden können, was in der Regel ausreichend ist, um die Position eines im Wesentlichen rechteckigen Körpers zu definieren.As far as appropriate vehicle-specific parking space categories are concerned, these may preferably be selected from the group - vehicle type or determination of the respective parking space for a particular type of vehicle, in particular from the group of passenger cars, lorries, buses, motorcycles and teams; and or

• Vehicle size or parking space size, in particular based on the corner coordinates of the detected parking space,

to get voted. With regard to the advantageous detection of the parking space size, it should be noted that, for example, all four corner coordinates (in particular the parking space in the data center, on the other hand of the vehicle in the respective user terminal) or, for example, only three, such as the opposite corner coordinates and another corner coordinate can be detected , which is usually sufficient to define the position of a substantially rectangular body.

• Nutzergruppen, wie Einsatzfahrzeuge, insbesondere von Feuerwehr, Polizei und/oder Rettungsfahrzeuge, Taxis, Anwohner, Menschen mit Behinderung, Frauen und/oder Männer; und/oder
• einzelne Nutzer, wie private Nutzer einzelner Stellplätze,

umfassen. Wie bereits erwähnt, sind zumindest einige dieser Parkraumkategorien oder -widmungen einerseits in der Datenbank des Rechenzentrums dem dort erfassten Parkraum zugewiesen, andererseits fahrzeug- oder nutzerspezifisch - in Form der zusätzlichen Information - in einem jeweiligen Nutzerendgerät hinterlegt, um bei einer entsprechenden Anfrage nach geeignetem, freien Parkraum die geeignete Auswahl treffen zu können.As regards alternatively or preferably additionally provided, suitable vehicle-specific parking space categories, these may preferably be selected from the group

• User groups, such as emergency vehicles, in particular fire departments, police and / or rescue vehicles, taxis, residents, people with disabilities, women and / or men; and or
• individual users, such as private users of individual parking spaces,

include. As already mentioned, at least some of these parking space categories or allocations are assigned in the database of the data center to the parking space detected there, on the other hand vehicle or user-specific - in the form of the additional information - deposited in a respective user terminal in order to request a suitable, free parking space to make the appropriate choice.

In an advantageous development, it can be provided that the at least one additional piece of information, which includes at least one vehicle-specific information from the group vehicle type, vehicle size and vehicle type and / or at least user-specific information, from the respective user terminal, in particular together with the parking location signal the data center is overridden when the associated vehicle has been parked, after which it is determined whether or not the vehicle has been parked in parking space with a corresponding parking space category. If this additional - vehicle or user-specific - information is transmitted from a respective user terminal to the data center not only on the occasion of a query for free parking space but also automatically when the parking location signal is generated, it is therefore possible to determine whether the associated vehicle - eg unauthorized - has been parked in a parking lot not intended for him, such as a private car on a emergency vehicle, bus, disabled parking or the like.

• gänzlich oder teilweise auf nicht beparkbarem Raum und/oder
• gänzlich oder teilweise auf Parkraum einer nicht der von dem Nutzerendgerät des Fahrzeugs übermittelten, fahrzeugspezifischen und/oder nutzerspezifischen Information entsprechenden Parkraumkategorie befindet,

ein Warnsignal an das jeweilige Nutzerendgerät gesendet wird, welches mittels des Nutzerendgerätes angezeigt wird. Dem Fahrer eines in nicht vorgesehener Weise abgestellten Fahrzeugs - sei es innerhalb eines Parkraumes, welcher nur für das jeweilige Fahrzeug nicht geeignet ist, oder sei es innerhalb eines nicht beparkbaren Raumes, welcher für Fahrzeuge gleich welcher Art, Größe, Typs oder Nutzers nicht geeignet ist - kann auf diese Weise angezeigt werden, dass er nicht regelkonform entsprechend der zugehörigen Parkraumkategorie oder -widmung parkt.In this context, an advantageous development can furthermore provide that the geographical coordinates of non-storable space are also detected in the data center, in which case a parking location signal has been transmitted to the data center by means of a respective user terminal of an associated vehicle Vehicle has been parked, and is detected by matching this parking location signal with the detected in the data center geographic coordinates of unpowered space that the parking location of the motor vehicle

• in whole or in part on non-storable space and or
• is located wholly or partly on parking space of a parking space category not corresponding to the vehicle-specific and / or user-specific information transmitted by the user terminal of the vehicle,

a warning signal is sent to the respective user terminal, which is displayed by means of the user terminal. The driver of a parked vehicle in an unintended manner - be it within a parking space, which is only suitable for the respective vehicle, or be it within a non-storable space, which is not suitable for vehicles of any type, size, type or user - can be displayed in this way so that it does not park in accordance with the corresponding parking space category or designation.

In addition, it is possible that, in addition, in particular with a time delay after transmission of the warning signal to the respective user terminal, a further signal to another receiving device, such as in particular a police or regulatory agency, is transmitted. This further signal can of course also other information, such as - if it is basically parkable, but parked by the respective vehicle or vehicle groups not properly parked parking space - the appropriate parking space category (eg "driveway", "fire zone", "no holding" etc. ). In this context, "regular parking" can be understood, on the one hand, as the parking regulations as they result from the Highway Code, on the other hand, however, can also include rules that result from private law, for example, rules by the owner of a private parking lot have been set up. It can also be here temporary rules, such as the blocking of a parking lot due to temporary measures.

According to another advantageous refinement, it can be provided that the classification of the parking space detected in the data center with respect to several parking space categories also includes a distinction between paid parking space and parking space that is not subject to charges, wherein the information transmitted by the data center to a requesting user terminal of a vehicle can be verified via free parking Parking space include additional information about paid parking space and possibly on the amount of parking fees, which are also displayed by means of the user terminal. Consequently, the parking space recorded in the database of the data center can be assigned a further parking space category ("not fee-based", sub-classified according to fee amount), whereby - here usually independent of the request with a respective user terminal with transmitted, additional information - This further information can be transmitted to the user terminal together with the information on those parked near the motor vehicle, free parking space can be transmitted to the user terminal, eg by indicating the proportion of paid parking space in the overall parking space deemed suitable.

In addition, it may be provided in this case that a, in particular automatically feasible, payment of parking fees by means of the user terminal or a mobile device coupled thereto, such as performing a debit procedure of the fee, when parking the vehicle within a parking fee Parking space and / or running when removing the vehicle from a paid parking space. Such a payment process can be triggered, for example, by the sending / receiving of a parking location signal and / or parking park location signal, provided that this location coincides with the geographical coordinates of a paid parking space.

With regard to the definition of "close to the vehicle", it may be provided, for example, that a motor vehicle-near environment of a vehicle inquire by means of its user terminal in the data center by defining a radius with a predetermined or selectable radius, e.g. 50 m, 100 m, 200 m, etc., to define the current vehicle position. In an advantageous embodiment, such a circumference can be freely selectable by means of the user terminal, which for this purpose may have a corresponding input device, such as a voice or manual input device, as it is well known as such.

As already indicated, the parking space detected in the data center on the basis of geographical coordinates may also include the geographical coordinates of individual parking spaces, such as locally marked parking spaces.

The transmission of the parking or Auspark-location signals, the requests for free parking space and the information about near the vehicle parkable parking space can preferably be directly or indirectly, such as via the Internet, using a wireless radio connection, wherein the radio connection via a radio interface of the user terminal or is established via a mobile device communicating herewith, which communicates with the user terminal wireless, in particular via a short-range radio interface, or is coupled in a wired manner, wherein the radio connection in particular supports a mobile radio standard with increased download rate, preferably LTE (Long Term Evolution Technology) or LTE Advance. The transmission can therefore be done directly via radio, directly as from phone to phone or via mobile phone on the Internet to the data processing unit of the data center, with a so-called cloud computing is possible.

In an advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that the information on parkable near the car parking space of the respective parking space category are transmitted from the data center in the form of markings, which are displayed on a graphical navigation map of the user terminals, the mark in particular an optical, possibly between paid parking space and non-premium parking space is distinctive, such as a permanent or temporary color change or a light signal. Furthermore, it can be provided that, as an alternative or in addition to the information about free parking space of the respective parking space category, which can be parked close to the motor vehicle, information about non-parking space and / or parking space that can be parked but already parked is transmitted from the data center in the form of markings, which are also displayed on the graphic Navigation map of the user terminals are displayed, the mark is in particular a visual, possibly between parking fee-paying parking space and not chargeable parking space, highlighting, such as a permanent or temporary color change or a light.

The determination of the geographical coordinates of a respective vehicle in the parking position is preferably carried out by means of the location determination module, in particular in the form of a GPS receiver, the user terminal, wherein the coordinates of the vehicle in the parking position in particular via wireless local area networks (WLAN) from the respective user terminal to the Data center can be transmitted.

Furthermore, an advantageous embodiment provides that the start and the end of a parking operation of a respective vehicle are detected by the associated user terminal and the parking location signal or the Auspark location signal is transmitted by the user terminal, in particular automatically, to the data center, i. the transmission of the parking and Auspark-location signals is preferably done in an automated manner.

• Abschalten bzw. Anschalten des Motors des zugehörigen Fahrzeugs; und/oder
• Aktivieren bzw. Deaktivieren der Handbremse des zugehörigen Fahrzeugs; und/oder
• Einrasten bzw. Ausrasten der Gangschaltung des zugehörigen Fahrzeugs mit Automatikgetriebe in eine bzw. aus einer Parkstellung.

In this context, provision can be made, in particular, for the start or the end of a parking operation to be detected as a result

• Switching off or on the engine of the associated vehicle; and or
• Activating or deactivating the handbrake of the associated vehicle; and or
• Engaging or disengaging the gear shift of the associated vehicle with automatic transmission in or out of a parking position.

Of course, the sending of the parking or Auspark-location signal can be triggered if only one or more of the aforementioned trigger conditions are met at the same time. Furthermore, in particular the sending of the parking or Auspark-location signal of course in the data center to the effect with the deposited there, Classified parking space categories are compared, whether it is the transmitted location at all to potential parking space or - if in the database of the data center in particular the geographical coordinates of non-storable space are stored and also these are preferably classified, eg, inter alia, in a category " Lane "etc. - whether it is explicitly not unpowered space in which a temporary stop of vehicles is to be expected, in which case the on / off parking location signal can also be ignored.

Furthermore, provision may be made for at least the parking and parking park location signals to be encoded during their transmission by means of the user terminal for the purpose of anonymization in order to satisfy any data protection requirements. In this context, however, it is possible that the parking and Auspark-location signals are decoded as needed, in particular for the purpose of prosecution, for example in the event of a vehicle theft or an administrative offense.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the method according to the invention is carried out in real time, wherein in particular the parkable, free parking space in the data center continually updated on the basis of the parking and Auspark-location signals transmitted by the user terminals and currently transmitted to this user terminal on a request from a user terminal becomes. In addition, of course, a continuous update on the display device of the user terminal may be appropriate.

• eine schematische Ansicht zur Veranschaulichung eines Ausführungsbeispiels der Erfindung.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawings. The only figure shows:

• a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing, a data center 1 in the form of a central administrative unit is reproduced in a schematic form which, inter alia, comprises a database 2 stored in a storage unit, in which the geographical coordinates of parking space 3a, 3b and, if applicable are also recorded by non-storable space 4 -, for example in the form of corner coordinates of individual 3a or group parking bays 3b. The latter, especially if they are curves (not shown), can also be additionally covered by intermediate coordinates in order to ensure a higher territorial detection accuracy. The respective geographical coordinates of parking space 3a, 3b (and possibly of non-storable space 4) may be arranged in the database 2, for example in a road map system.

The parking space 3a, 3b stored in the database 2 of the data center 1 is also classified or dedicated with respect to different parking space categories, these parking space categories at least one vehicle-specific parking space category from the group suitability of the respective parking space category for a particular vehicle, suitability of the respective parking space category for a certain vehicle size, suitability of the respective parking space category for a particular vehicle type and / or at least one user-specific parking space category based on an authorization of the respective parking space category for a particular vehicle user. If in the present case, for example, the parking space 3a is a coach parking space and the parking space 3b is a line bus parking space, the parking space 3a may have the parking space categories "suitability for a certain vehicle size" (eg based on the detected geographic corner coordinates) "suitability for a particular parking space Type of vehicle "(eg" bus ")," suitability for a certain user group "(eg" coach ") and optionally further parking space categories apply to the parking space 3b, where instead of the user-specific parking space category" coach "the user-specific parking space category" bus " is noted. Of course, in the database 2 of the data center 1 also a variety of other, alternative parking space categories (eg, "cars", "motorcycle", "handicapped", etc.) and / or cumulative parking space categories (eg "fee", "not chargeable") etc be used to categorize or dedicate the available parking space.

In the situation shown are located both in the parking space 3a and in the parking space 3b several vehicles 5 (here eg travel and bus), each with a vehicle-side user terminal (not shown in detail) are equipped with the data center 1 wirelessly communicated. Each user terminal also includes a vehicle-side location-sensing module, such as a GPS receiver, which also communicates with it, in particular the exact geographic coordinates, such as a GPS receiver. Corner coordinates, the associated vehicle 5 can determine. In addition, at least one additional piece of information is stored in each user terminal, which likewise comprises at least one vehicle-specific information from the group of vehicle type, vehicle size and vehicle type and / or at least one user-specific information.

In the diagrammatically reproduced situation, the database 2 of the data center 1 has already noted that a plurality of vehicles 5 has already been parked in the parking space 3a, 3b detected there. In this way, in particular, the (still) free parking space is detected, which is shown schematically with blackened rectangles.

If, for example, the vehicle 5 'has just reached its parking position, then its user terminal transmits a parking location signal to the computer center 1 (arrow A), which causes the previously free parking space in the parking space 3a in the database 2 to be marked occupied, which is schematized with white rectangles. However, the user terminal of the vehicle 5 'preferably transmits not only the parking location signal but additionally the additional information stored there, e.g. "Vehicle size", "bus", "coach", so that in the data center by matching the respective parking location signal including the additional information with the detected in the data center 1 geographic coordinates of storable space 3a, 3b and possibly unpollable space 4 including the respective Parking space category can be detected whether the parking location of the bus 5 'is located wholly or partially not room at all parkable or parking space of not the of the user terminal of the bus 5' transmitted, vehicle-specific and / or user-specific information corresponding parking space category. If so, the data center 1 can issue a warning message to the vehicle-side user terminal of the bus 5 '. When the bus 5 'leaves its parking position again, its user terminal sends a parking location signal to the data center 1, which causes the previously designated as occupied parking space within the parking space 3a in the database 2 to be detected as free again. The database 2 is always kept up to date in real time in this way.

If, for example, the vehicle 5 ", for example a coach, is in search of a free parking space, then its driver can use the vehicle-side user terminal, For example, manually by pressing a button, by voice input or the like, submit a request for free parking space to the data center 1 (arrow B). Such a request comprises on the one hand the current location of the vehicle 5 "(determined by the location determination module coupled to the vehicle terminal), on the other hand the additional information, ie the at least one vehicle-specific information from the group vehicle type, vehicle size and vehicle type and / or the at least one user-specific information In addition, if necessary, a radius around the current vehicle position, eg, "200 m" can be transmitted to the data center by the user terminal, within which the driver can provide free parking space Such a radius can, as just mentioned, be user-terminal-side selectable, or predefined on the part of the user terminal or of the data center 1.

If the computer center 1 has received the query (arrow B) from the user terminal of the bus 5 ", then in a local data processing unit based on the stored in the database 2 geographic coordinates of the parking space 3a, 3b and due to receiving various parking and Auspark location signals On the one hand, the distinction between parked and unparked free parking space, which is also detected by vehicles 5, 5 ', determines which parking space is "free" within the respective radius (eg 200 m) of bus 5 and is thus fundamentally available to bus 5. On the other hand, it becomes available In addition, the additional information (eg here: "vehicle size", "bus", "coach"), on the occasion of the request from the user terminal of the bus 5 "having been transmitted to the data center 1 are aligned with the classified parking space categories stored in the database 2 to distinguish between parking space categories corresponding to this additional information and parking space categories which do not correspond to this additional information In this case, it can be established that only the sufficiently large parking spaces suitable for buses 5 "in the area of the parking space 3a are suitable for the coach 5" (coincidence in all three parking space categories), while the buses are sufficiently large and suitable for buses as such. but for lines buses provided for parking spaces within the parking space 3b excrete (match in only two of three parking space categories). In this way, the free parking space whose parking space category corresponds to the additional information (s) (and possibly also that which does not correspond to it) is determined.

Finally, as indicated by arrow C, the information about that free parking space suitable for motor vehicles whose parking space category (s) corresponds to the additionally transmitted information (s) is transmitted from the data center 1 to the requesting user terminal of the bus 5 ", This can be done on a conventional display device 6 of the user terminal, for example cartographically on a navigation map, as they are already widely used in conventional navigation devices use.

Claims (19)

1. Process for determining parkable free parking area (3a, 3b) close to motor vehicle with the use of

   - at least one central computing centre (1), in which the parking area (3a, 3b) is contained; and

   - a plurality of user terminals arranged in vehicles (5) in a decentralized manner, which communicate with the computing centre (1) and which are each functionally connected with at least one location determination module;

   wherein at least one parking location signal of the corresponding vehicle (5) is transmitted by means of a corresponding user terminal to the computing centre (1) when the vehicle (5) has been parked, after which the parking location signal is compared in the computing centre (1) with the parking area (3a, 3b) contained therein in order to make a distinction in the parking area (3a, 3b) between parkable, free parking area and unparkable, occupied parking area, so that the free parking area and/or the occupied parking area is detected,
   wherein inquiries are transmitted to the computing centre (1) by means of a corresponding user terminal of a corresponding vehicle (5), wherein the inquiries comprise the current position of the vehicle (5), and wherein information on parkable free parking area close to the motor vehicle (5), which information depends on its current position, is transmitted from the computing centre (1) to the user terminal making the inquiry, wherein the process comprises the following steps:

   - Detection of the geographic coordinates of the parking area (3a, 3b) in the computing centre (1), wherein the parking area (3a, 3b) contained in the computing centre (1) on the basis of geographic coordinates comprises the geographic coordinates of groups of parking spaces (3b), especially of a plurality of unmarked parking spaces being located at the roadside;

   - Classification of the parking area (3a, 3b) contained in the computing centre (1) with respect to a plurality of parking area categories;

   - Transmission of at least one additional information by means of a corresponding user terminal to the computing centre (1) at the time of the inquiry about free parking area, wherein the at least one additional information comprises at least one vehicle-specific information from the group comprising the type of vehicle, vehicle size and vehicle model and/or at least one user-specific information, and wherein the parking location signal of the corresponding vehicle (5) being transmitted by means of the corresponding user terminal to the computing centre (1) comprises a plurality of geographic coordinates of the vehicle (5) in its parking position, at least in the form of the four corner coordinates of the vehicle (5);

   - Comparison of the parking location signal with the coordinates of the parking area (3a, 3b), which are contained in the computing centre (1), and comparison of the at least one additional information transmitted by means of a corresponding user terminal with the classified parking area categories in the computing centre (1), wherein the parking position signals of corresponding vehicles (5) that are parked on groups of parking spaces (3b), which are received in the computing centre (1) from the corresponding user terminals, are used to determine the distance of these vehicles (5) from end coordinates of the groups of parking spaces (3b) and/or to determine the distance between two vehicles (5) each being parked there and in this manner to determine the geographic coordinates of individual parking spaces available within the group of parking spaces (3b), said geographic coordinates being dependent on the parked positions of these vehicles (5), so that a distinction is made between parking area categories that correspond to the additional information and parking area categories that do not correspond to the additional information and the free parking area, whose parking area category corresponds and/or does not correspond to the additional information, is determined; and

   - Transmission of information on the parkable free parking area close to the vehicle from the computing centre (1) to the user terminal making the inquiry, whose parking area category corresponds to the at least one additionally transmitted information, wherein the parkable free parking area of this parking area category close to the motor vehicle is displayed by means of the user terminal.
2. Process in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one parking-exit location signal of the corresponding vehicle (5) is transmitted by means of a corresponding user terminal to the computing centre (1) when the vehicle (5) has exited the parking area, after which the corresponding parking area, previously identified as occupied, is detected in the computing centre (1) as a free parking area.
3. Process in accordance with claim 1 or 2, wherein the geographic coordinates of the parking area (3a, 3b) are modified in the computing centre (1) when parking area (3, 3b) that was previously available is permanently or temporarily unparkable and/or when new, not yet contained parking area (3a, 3b) is additionally available.
4. Process in accordance with one of the claims 1 through 3, wherein the classification of the parking area (3a, 3b)contained in the computing centre (1) with respect to a plurality of parking area categories comprises at least one vehicle-specific parking area category from the group comprising suitability of the parking area category in question for a certain type of vehicle, suitability of the parking area category in question for a certain vehicle size, suitability of the parking area category in question for a certain vehicle model and/or at least one user-specific category on the basis of an authorization of a certain vehicle user for the parking area category in question.
5. Process in accordance with claim 4, wherein the vehicle-specific parking area category is selected from the group comprising

   - the type of vehicle or determination of the parking area in question for a certain type of vehicle, especially from the group comprising passenger cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles and sidecar motorcycles; and/or

   - vehicle size or parking area size, especially on the basis of the corner coordinates of the parking area contained;
   and/or wherein the user-specific parking area category comprises

   - user groups, such as emergency vehicles, especially of fire companies, police and/or rescue vehicles, taxis, local residents, people with disabilities, women and/or men; and/or

   - individual users, such as private users of individual parking areas.
6. Process in accordance with one of the claims 1 through 5, wherein the at least one additional information, which comprises at least one vehicle-specific information from the group comprising the type of vehicle, vehicle size and vehicle model, and/or at least one user-specific information, is transmitted by the corresponding user terminal to the computing centre (1), especially together with the parking location signal, when the corresponding vehicle (5) has been parked, after which it is determined whether the vehicle (5) has been parked in a parking area (3a, 3b) with a corresponding parking area category or not.
7. Process in accordance with one of the claims 1 through 6, wherein the geographic coordinates of unparkable area are, furthermore, contained in the computing centre (1), wherein a warning signal is sent to the corresponding user terminal, which signal is displayed by means of the user terminal, in the case in which a parking location signal has been transmitted to the computing centre (1) by means of a corresponding user terminal of a corresponding vehicle (5) when that vehicle (5) has been parked and it is recognized by comparison of this parking location signal with the geographic coordinates of unparkable space (4), which coordinates are contained in the computing centre (1), that the parking location of the vehicle (5)

   - is located fully or partly in an unparkable area (4) and/or

   - is located fully or partly on a parking area (3a, 3b) of a parking area category not corresponding to the vehicle-specific and/or user-specific information transmitted from the user terminal of this vehicle (5).
8. Process in accordance with claim 7, wherein another signal is, furthermore, transmitted, especially with a time delay after the transmission of the warning signal to the corresponding user terminal, to another receiver, especially a police or security service.
9. Process in accordance with one of the claims 1 through 8, wherein the classification of the parking area (3a, 3b) contained in the computing centre (1) with respect to a plurality of parking area categories comprises, furthermore, a distinction between parking area subject to a fee and parking area not subject to a fee, wherein the information transmitted from the computing centre (1) to a user terminal of a vehicle (5) making an inquiry about parkable free parking area (3a, 3b) close to the vehicle comprises additional information on parking area subject to a fee and optionally on the amount of the parking fee, which information is additionally displayed by means of the user terminal, and wherein, in particular, a payment process for paying the parking fee is carried out by means of the user terminal or a mobile wireless device coupled therewith, for example, by performing a fee debiting, when parking the vehicle (5) within a parking area being subject to a fee and/or when removing the vehicle (5) from a parking area being subject to a fee.
10. Process in accordance with one of the claims 1 through 9, wherein the parking area (3a, 3b) contained in the computing centre (1) on the basis of geographic coordinates comprises the geographic coordinates of individual parking areas (3a), for example, locally marked parking places.
11. Process in accordance with one of the claims 1 through 10, wherein the transmission of the parking or parking-exit location signals, of the inquiries on free parking area as well as of the information on parkable parking area (3a, 3b) close to the vehicle takes place directly or indirectly, for example, via the Internet, by means of a wireless radio connection, wherein the radio connection is established via a radio interface of the user terminal or via a mobile wireless device communicating herewith, which is coupled with the user terminal in a wireless manner, especially via a short-range radio interface, or in a wired manner, wherein the radio connection supports especially a mobile wireless standard with increased download rate, preferably LTE (Long Term Evolution Technology) or LTE-Advance.
12. Process in accordance with one of the claims 1 through 11, wherein the information on parkable free parking area (3a, 3b) of the corresponding parking area category close to the vehicle is transmitted from the computing centre (1) in the form of markings, which are displayed on a graphic navigation card (6) of the user terminal, wherein the marking is especially an optical highlighting, possibly distinguishing between parking area subject to a fee and parking area not subject to a fee, such as a permanent or temporary change in colour or a light signal.
13. Process in accordance with claim 12, wherein as an alternative or in addition to the information on parkable free parking area (3a, 3b) of the corresponding parking area category close to the vehicle, information on unparkable area and/or on parkable, but already occupied parking area (3a, 3b) is transmitted from the computing centre (1) in the form of markings, which are displayed on the graphic navigation card (6) of the user terminal, wherein the marking is especially an optical highlighting, possibly distinguishing between parking area subject to a fee and parking area not subject to a fee, such as a permanent or temporary change in colour or a light signal.
14. Process in accordance with one of the claims 1 through 13, wherein the determination of the geographic coordinates of a corresponding vehicle (5) in a parked position is performed by means of the location determination module, especially in the form of a GPS receiver, of the user terminal, wherein the coordinates of the vehicle (5) in the parked position are transmitted to the computing centre (1) especially via wireless local networks (WLAN).
15. Process in accordance with one of the claims 1 through 14, wherein the start and the end of a parking operation of a corresponding vehicle (5) are detected by means of the corresponding user terminal and the parking location signal or the parking-exit location signal, respectively, is transmitted automatically to the computing centre (1) by means of the user terminal, wherein, in particular, the start and the end of a parking operation are detected as a consequence of

    - shutting off or starting the engine of the corresponding vehicle (5); and/or

    - activating or deactivating the hand brake of the corresponding vehicle (5); and/or

    - engaging or disengaging the gear shift lever of the corresponding vehicle (5) with automatic transmission into or out of a parking position.
16. Process in accordance with one of the claims 1 through 15, wherein at least the parking and parking-exit location signals are coded during their transmission by means of the user terminal for the purpose of anonymization, wherein, in particular, the parking and parking-exit location signals are decoded if need be, especially for the purpose of criminal prosecution, for example, in case of theft of a vehicle or infringement of the regulations.
17. Process in accordance with one of the claims 1 through 16, wherein it is carried out in real time, wherein especially the parkable free parking area (3a, 3b) is updated continuously in the computing centre (1) on the basis of parking and parking-exit location signals transmitted from the user terminals and is transmitted in the updated form upon inquiry from a user terminal to said user terminal.
18. Vehicle assistance system for determining parkable free parking area (3a, 3b) close to a motor vehicle (5), especially for carrying out the process in accordance with one of the preceeding claims, comprising

    (a) at least one central computing centre (1) with a transmission unit, with a receiving unit and with a data processing unit as well as with a memory unit, in which a data bank (2), in which the geographic coordinates of the parking area (3a, 3b) are stored, is stored; and

    (b) a plurality of user terminals arranged in a decentralized manner in vehicles (5) with a transmitter and with a receiver, which communicate with the receiving unit and with the transmitting unit of the computing centre (1), with a location determination module, especially in the form of a GPS receiver, which is designed to detect the geographic coordinates of the corresponding vehicle (5) at least in a parked position thereof, and with a parked state detection module, which recognizes when the corresponding vehicle (5) has been parked or has exited the parking area;

    wherein

    - the transmitter of a particular user terminal is designed to transmit at least one parking location signal and/or at least one parking-exit location signal to the receiving unit of the computing centre (1) when the corresponding vehicle (5) has been parked or has exited the parking area, as well as to send an inquiry about free parking area (3a, 3b) to the receiving unit of the computing centre (1), wherein the inquiries comprise the current position of the vehicle, and

    - the receiver of a corresponding user terminal is designed to receive information on parkable free parking area (3a, 3b) close to the vehicle, which information depends on the current position of the corresponding vehicle (5), from the transmitting unit of the computing centre (1);

    and wherein

    - the data processing unit of the computing centre (1) is designed to compare a parking location signal and/or parking-exit location signal received from a corresponding user terminal with the parking area (3a, 3b) stored in the data bank (2) such that distinction is made between parkable free parking area and parked, occupied parking area and thus to detect the free parking area and/or the occupied parking area, and

    - the transmission unit of the computing centre (1) is designed to transmit information on parkable free parking area (3a, 3b) close to the vehicle, which information depends on the current position of a corresponding vehicle (5), to the receiver of the user terminal of the corresponding vehicle (5), which said user terminal is making the inquiry,

    and wherein

    - the geographic coordinates of the parking area (3a, 3b) are stored in the data bank (2) of the computing centre (1), wherein the parking area (3a, 3b) contained in the computing centre (1) on the basis of geographic coordinates comprises the geographic coordinates of groups of parking spaces (3b), especially of a plurality of unmarked parking spaces located at the roadside;

    - the parking area (3a, 3b) stored in the data bank (2) of the computing centre (1) is classified with respect to a plurality of parking area categories;

    - at least one additional information is stored in a corresponding user terminal, wherein the at least one additional information comprises at least one vehicle-specific information from the group comprising the type of vehicle, vehicle size and vehicle model and/or at least one user-specific information, and wherein the parking location signal of the corresponding vehicle (5), which is transmitted to the computing centre(1) by means of a corresponding user terminal, comprises a plurality of geographic coordinates of the vehicle (5), at least in the form of the four corner coordinates of the vehicle (5);

    - the transmitter of a corresponding user terminal is designed to transmit the additional information to the receiving unit of the computing centre (1) at least at the time of the inquiry about free parking area (3a, 3b);

    - the data processing unit of the computing centre (1) is designed to compare the parking location signal with the geographic coordinates of the parking area (3a, 3b) which are contained in the computing centre (1), and to compare the at least one additional information transmitted by means of a corresponding user terminal with the parking area categories classified in the data bank (2), wherein the parking location signals of corresponding vehicles (5) parked in groups of parking spaces (3b), which signals are received in the computing centre (1) from corresponding user terminals, are used to determine the distance of these vehicles from end coordinates of the groups of parking spaces (3b) and/or the distance between two vehicles (5) each being parked there and to determine in this manner the geographic coordinates of individual parking spaces available within the groups of parking spaces (3b), which coordinates being dependent on the parked positions of these vehicles (5), so that distinction is made between parking area categories that correspond to the additional information and parking area categories that do not correspond to the additional information, and the free parking area, whose parking area category corresponds and/or does not correspond to the additional information, is thus determined;

    - the transmitting unit of the computing centre (1) is designed to transmit information on the parkable free parking area (3a, 3b) close to the vehicle, whose parking area category corresponds to the at least one additionally transmitted information, to the receiver of the user terminal making the inquiry; and

    - the corresponding user terminal has a display means (6) which is designed for the, in particular graphic, display of the parkable free parking area of that category close to the vehicle.
19. Vehicle assistance system for determining parkable free parking area in accordance with claim 18, wherein the user terminal is implemented in a navigation device of the vehicle (5).

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