WO2016142095A1 - Reservation system and a reservation method - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a reservation system for a parking space for a motor vehicle, comprising an interface for reserving the parking space for said motor vehicle, a controllable physical access barrier for the motor vehicle at said parking space, an identification device for identifying the motor vehicle in the region of the access barrier, and a processing device which determines whether the parking space has been reserved for the identified motor vehicle and which deactivates said access barrier.

Description

 Description title

 Reservation system and reservation procedure

The invention relates to a reservation system and a reservation method. In particular, the invention relates to the reservation of a parking space for a motor vehicle.

State of the art

For parking a motor vehicle public or private parking spaces can be provided. Since the creation and maintenance of the parking space may incur costs, access to such a parking space is usually regulated. For example, a parking space can be permanently assigned to a predetermined motor vehicle. The parking space can also be part of a parking lot where the parking space can be rented on time.

It happens again and again that an unauthorized motor vehicle occupies a parking space or a motor vehicle is parked on a different parking space than that for which there is a parking authorization.

The invention is therefore based on the object of specifying a reservation system, a reservation method and a computer program product, which can enforce the parking of a motor vehicle on a parking space reserved for the motor vehicle. The invention solves this problem by the subject matters of the independent claims. Subclaims give preferred embodiments again.

Disclosure of the invention A reservation system for a parking space for a motor vehicle comprises an interface for reserving the parking space for the motor vehicle, a controllable physical access barrier for the motor vehicle at the parking space, an identification device for identifying the motor vehicle in the area of the access barrier and a processing device for determining that the parking space is reserved for the identified motor vehicle and to disable the access barrier.

The authorization of the motor vehicle to be parked in the parking space may be a prerequisite for allowing physical access of the motor vehicle to the parking space. Thus it can be prevented that any other than the intended motor vehicle is parked in the parking lot. By arranging the identification device in the area of the access barrier, it is also possible to prevent another than the authorized motor vehicle from occupying the parking space after deactivating the physical access barrier.

The access barrier can be realized, for example, by a barrier, a retractable bollard, a drainable chain, a foldable bar, a gate, a grid or other controllable device.

It is generally preferred that the identification device identifies the motor vehicle on the basis of a feature that is exchanged during the reservation of the parking space via the interface.

In one embodiment, the identification device comprises an automatic number plate recognition. The motor vehicle can be uniquely identified both when the reservation is made and by the identification device on the basis of its official license plate. The identification can be done optically quickly and safely. The indication of the registration number at the interface can also be simple and fast.

In a further embodiment, the interface is set up to issue a permission slip with an identification, wherein the identification device comprises a reader for the authorization slip. The entitlement certificate may, for example, be a parking card or a printed one Parking ticket include. By presenting the authorization slip on the reader, the identification can easily take place. For example, in one embodiment, the credential may carry a bar code or a two-dimensional binary optical code that is optically scanned by the reader.

In another embodiment, the entitlement certificate comprises an RFID tag and the reader comprises an RFI D reader. The issue and the scanning of the authorization can be done wirelessly. This makes the entitlement certificate easier to handle.

In yet another embodiment, the motor vehicle comprises a transmitting device for wireless transmission of an identification of the motor vehicle to the identification device. In particular, use may be made of vehicle-to-infrastructure (C2I) techniques. The wireless transmission can take place, for example, by means of WLAN, Bluetooth or mobile data radio.

In this case, it is generally preferred that the transmitted information include an identifier that was output at the interface when the reservation was made. The information output at the interface may replace a common physical tokens or other tokens or tokens In one embodiment, the information output at the interface may be transportable on a mobile computer or on a smartphone from the usual skills of one

Smartphones are used. In particular, one of the wireless data interfaces of a standard smartphone may be used to communicate with the interface. In a further embodiment, a device is installed on board the motor vehicle, which is set up to communicate wirelessly with the interface of the system. In this way, the reservation can be obtained, for example, only when the motor vehicle is located directly in front of the parking space. It is then no longer necessary to move the motor vehicle or a person to the interface, which is physically located at a predetermined location. The information obtained from the interface may be presented to the identification device in any manner, such as optically or by radio waves. A method for reserving a parking space for a motor vehicle comprises steps of preparing a reservation of the parking space for the motor vehicle; identifying the motor vehicle in the area of a controllable access barrier for the motor vehicle at the parking space; determining that the parking space is reserved for the identified motor vehicle and disabling the access lock.

In a further embodiment, it can also be determined that the motor vehicle occupies the parking space, whereupon it can be prevented that the parking space is reserved again.

The method may be run in reverse order to remove the motor vehicle from the parking space in one of the specified variations or in one of several possible refinements, which will be described in more detail below. If the provision of a reservation for the parking space is associated with costs, the costs for the duration of the parking of the motor vehicle in the parking space can be determined when the motor vehicle is removed. A payment process can then be carried out manually or automatically.

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

Brief description of the figures

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the attached figures, in which:

 1 shows an overview of a reservation system for a parking space for a motor vehicle; and

Fig. 2 shows variants for controllable physical access barriers for the motor vehicle at the parking lot. Detailed description of embodiments

FIG. 1 shows an overview of a reservation system 100. The reservation system 100 is set up to control the parking of a motor vehicle 105 on a parking space 110 or to enforce a predetermined regulation when the parking space 110 is occupied. The system 100 may relate to one or more parking spaces 110. In this case, the system 100, for example, in the private sector, wherein the parking space 1 10 a motor vehicle 105 is assigned, or in the commercial sector, for example, when operating a public parking lot, are used.

The system 100 comprises an interface 15, an access barrier 120, an identification device 125 and a processing device 130.

The interface 1 15 may for example comprise a reservation machine, which is provided at a predetermined location in the vicinity of one of the parking spaces 1 10. In another embodiment, the interface 1 15 comprises a computer interface which can be reached, for example, via a network such as the Internet or the mobile radio network. In this case, the interface 1 15 by means of a computer, a portable computer or a

Smartphones are operated. In another embodiment, the interface 1 15 is part of a reservation system 100, which may include multiple interfaces 15. Other types of interfaces 1 15 are also conceivable.

The access barrier 120 is mounted in the area of the parking space 110 in such a way that it can physically enable or prevent the access of the motor vehicle 105 to the parking space 110. Exemplary access barriers 120 will be explained in more detail below with reference to FIG.

The identification device 125 is set up to scan from the motor vehicle 105 an identification which is as unambiguous as possible. In one variant, the identification device 125 operates optically and can, for example, scan or recognize a license plate with an official license plate number of the motor vehicle 105. In another embodiment, for example, a vehicle type and a vehicle color can be recognized. Other optical characteristics le can also be sampled. By way of example, when a reservation is made at the interface 15, optical information can be output, for example in the form of a parking card with a printed pattern which can be optically scanned by the identification device 125.

However, other scanning options are available. For example, a parking card with an RFI D tag can be output by the interface 15, wherein the identification device 125 comprises an RFID reader in order to wirelessly read out an identification of the RFI D tag.

In still another embodiment, the motor vehicle 105 may have a transmitting device 135, via which an identification of the motor vehicle 105 is sent to the identification device 125. The transmitting device 135 can send out a one-off, permanent identification or, as part of the reservation process, issue an identification at the interface 1 15, which is transmitted in the sequence by the transmitting device 135. The transmitting device 135 may be part of a vehicle-to-infrastructure interface. Different technologies can be used, for example Bluetooth, NFC, WLAN, 3G, UMTS, LTE or others.

The processing device 130 preferably comprises a programmable microcomputer and is configured to receive from the identification device 125 an identification of the motor vehicle 105 when it is in the area of the access barrier 120 or the identification device 125. Thereupon, the processing device 130 compares the identification with another identification that is associated with a reservation of the parking space 110. If the identifications match, the processing device 130 can control the access barrier 120 to allow access of the motor vehicle 105 to the parking space 110.

In other embodiments, the reservation of the parking space 1 10 may for example be assigned to more motor vehicles 105, so that, for example, a tenant of the parking space 1 10 several different vehicles 105 his family can optionally park on the parking space 1 10. The reservation can also be assigned a time specification, so that the

Motor vehicle 105, for example, only in a predetermined time window on the Parking space 1 10 may enter. Outside of this time window, the processing device 130 can prevent the physical access to the parking space 1 10 from being released by the access lock 120. If the motor vehicle 105 has gone to the parking space 1 10, the system

100 scan this example, by means of the identification device 125. In this case, a renewed reservation of the occupied parking space 1 10 can be prevented until the motor vehicle 105 has been removed from the parking space 1 10 again. For occupancy checking, an occupancy sensor 140 can also be provided as an alternative to the identification device 125. The occupancy sensor

140 may include, for example, a photocell, an ultrasonic distance sensor, or other known sensor.

In a further embodiment, the "BUSY" signal can also be emitted by the transmitting device 135 on board the motor vehicle 105 when the motor vehicle 105 has arrived on the parking space 110.

Leaves the motor vehicle 105 the parking space 1 10, the process described can be run in reverse order, so that the parking space 1 10 after the extension of the motor vehicle 105 is marked as "FREE" and a

Reservation of the parking space 1 10 is made possible again. In any case, after the motor vehicle 105 has been extended, the physical access barrier 120 should be reactivated in order to prevent an unintentional or abusive occupation of the parking space 110 by a motor vehicle 105 without reservation.

FIG. 2 shows variants for controllable physical access barriers 120 for motor vehicle 105 in system 100 of FIG. 1. Figure 2A shows a retractable barrier, which may preferably be raised or lowered electrically. Optionally, the lock is marked in signal colors to prevent erroneous driving over. In one variant, an electro-hydraulic actuation can take place.

Figure 2B shows a chain to secure one or more parking spaces 1 10. The chain is mounted on two posts and can be drained at least on one side, so that they can be easily rolled over with the motor vehicle 105. To prevent access to one of the parking spaces 1 10, the chain is then pulled up again.

Figure 2C shows an electrically foldable guard. The guard can be mounted in an access area to the parking space 1 10 or on the parking space 1 10 itself. The bracket is dimensioned so that when it is folded down, it can be run over by the motor vehicle 105.

Figure 2D shows a retractable post, which can also be installed in the access area or on the parking space 1 10 itself. The post can be moved in and out vertically, for example by means of an electric drive, a pneumatic or a hydraulic drive. In all cases, it is preferred that the activation or deactivation of the access barrier 120 can be controlled electrically by the processing device 130.

Claims

claims 1 . A reservation system (100) for a parking space (110) for a motor vehicle (105), the reservation system (100) comprising:  - An interface (1 15) to reserve the parking space (1 10) for the motor vehicle (105);  - A controllable physical access barrier (120) for the motor vehicle (105) at the parking space (1 10);  - An identification device (125) for identifying the motor vehicle (105) in the region of the access barrier (120); and  - A processing device (130) for determining that the parking space (1 10) for the identified motor vehicle (105) is reserved and to disable the access barrier (120). The reservation system (100) of claim 1, wherein the identification means (125) comprises an automatic license plate identifier. 3. reservation system (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the interface (1 15) is adapted to issue a certificate of entitlement with an identification and the identification means (125) comprises a reader for the entitlement certificate. The reservation system (100) of claim 3, wherein the entitlement certificate comprises an RFID tag and the reader comprises an RFID reader. 5. reservation system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the motor vehicle (105) comprises a transmitting device (135) for wireless transmission of an identification of the motor vehicle (105) to the identification device (125). 6. reservation system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the interface (1 15) wirelessly and for use by means of a mobile Computer is set up. 7. A method for reserving a parking space (1 10) for a motor vehicle (105), the method comprising the following steps:  - Creating a reservation of the parking space (1 10) for the motor vehicle (105);  - Identifying the motor vehicle (105) in the region of a controllable access barrier (120) for the motor vehicle (105) at the parking space (1 10); - determining that the parking space (1 10) is reserved for the identified motor vehicle (105), and  - Disabling the access lock (120). 8. The method according to the preceding claim, further comprising determining that the motor vehicle (105) occupies the parking space (1 10) and preventing the parking space (1 10) is reserved again. 9. Computer program product with program code means for performing the method according to any one of claims 7 or 8, when the computer program product runs on a processing device (130) or is stored on a computer-readable medium.