Disclosure of Invention
One object of the present disclosure is to prevent a user from missing a parking time specified for time-limited parking by acquiring a distance from a parking spot and a walking speed of the user and reminding the user to return to the parking spot at an appropriate time.
Thus, according to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a reminder system for time-limited parking, the reminder system comprising:
an information acquisition unit configured to acquire information of an expiration time of a vehicle at a time-limited parking space;
a user journey obtaining unit configured to obtain journey information of a user leaving the time-limited parking space;
a calculating unit, configured to calculate an average walking speed of the user in a current area and obtain current position information of the user based on the travel information of the user leaving the time-limited parking space, and estimate a time point when the user returns to the time-limited parking space based on the average walking speed of the user in the current area and the current position of the user;
an execution unit configured to issue a prompt message to the user in response to the estimated time point when the user returns to the time-limited parking space being less than a threshold from the vehicle's deadline in the time-limited parking space.
According to one embodiment, the information acquisition unit acquires information of the expiration time of the vehicle at the time-limited parking space from the vehicle or the parking space facility, or acquires information of the expiration time of the vehicle at the time-limited parking space through the user input.
According to one embodiment, the vehicle obtains information of the vehicle's deadline at the time-limited parking space by means of a sensor, such as a camera.
According to one embodiment, issuing the prompt to the user includes displaying a remaining time period from the vehicle's deadline at the time-limited parking space, and/or displaying a navigation route to the time-limited parking space.
According to one embodiment, the journey information for the user to leave the limited-time parking space is obtained by a mobile device of the user.
According to one embodiment, the average walking speed of the user in the current area is the walking speed of the user over a distance.
According to one embodiment, the execution unit is further configured to, in response to the estimated point in time at which the user returns to the time-limited parking space being later than the deadline for the vehicle at the time-limited parking space, initiate an online payment to the time-limited parking space manager to extend the deadline for the vehicle at the time-limited parking space, and preferably report the extended deadline to the user.
According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a mobile device comprising a reminder system for time-limited parking according to the first aspect of the present disclosure.
According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a reminding method for time-limited parking, the method including:
(1) acquiring information of the deadline of a vehicle in a time-limited parking space;
(2) acquiring the travel information of the user leaving the time-limited parking space;
(3) calculating the average walking speed of the user in the current area and acquiring the current position information of the user based on the travel information of the user leaving the time-limited parking space, and estimating the time point of the user returning to the time-limited parking space based on the average walking speed of the user in the current area and the current position of the user;
(4) and responding to the fact that the estimated time point of the user returning to the time-limited parking space is less than a threshold value from the deadline of the vehicle in the time-limited parking space, and sending prompt information to the user.
According to one embodiment, in (1), the information of the expiration time of the vehicle at the time-limited parking space is acquired from the vehicle or the parking space facility, or the information of the expiration time of the vehicle at the time-limited parking space is acquired through the user input.
According to one embodiment, the vehicle obtains information of the vehicle's deadline at the time-limited parking space by means of a sensor, such as a camera.
According to one embodiment, in (4), issuing the prompt to the user includes displaying a remaining time period from an expiration time of the vehicle in the time-limited parking space, and/or displaying a navigation route to the time-limited parking space.
According to one embodiment, in (2), the journey information of the user leaving the limited-time parking space is obtained by a mobile device of the user.
According to one embodiment, in (3), the average walking speed of the user in the current area is the walking speed of the user over a distance.
According to one embodiment, the method in (4) further comprises, in response to the estimated point in time at which the user returns to the time-limited parking space being later than the deadline for the vehicle at the time-limited parking space, initiating an online payment to the time-limited parking space manager to extend the deadline for the vehicle at the time-limited parking space, and preferably reporting the extended deadline to the user.
According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program which, when executed by a processor, implements the method of reminding for time-limited parking according to the third aspect of the present disclosure.
By utilizing the reminding system and the reminding method for the time-limited parking, the user is reminded to return to the vehicle parking spot in advance, so that the user can return to the vehicle parking spot before the parking time specified by the time-limited parking is reached.
Detailed Description
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure are described with reference to the drawings. The following detailed description and drawings are included to illustrate the principles of the disclosure, which is not to be limited to the preferred embodiments described, but is to be defined by the claims. The disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, some of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The following description refers to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements in different drawings unless otherwise indicated. The aspects described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all aspects of the present disclosure. Rather, these aspects are merely examples of systems and methods according to various aspects of the present disclosure recited in the appended claims.
Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of areminder system 100 for time-limited parking according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in fig. 1, thereminding system 100 for time-limited parking includes an information obtaining unit 110, a user journey obtaining unit 120, a calculating unit 130 and an executing unit 140.
In fig. 1, the information acquisition unit 110 is configured to acquire information of an expiration time of a vehicle in a time-limited parking space. For a parking space with a limited time, it is common to display on or around the parking space instructions about the usage of the parking space, such as time of parking with a limited time, notice, parking fee, payment method, etc. Therefore, the text or image information can be acquired through the sensor, and the information about the parking time limit in the parking space related description can be acquired by identifying the keywords or the representation image in the text or image information. For a parking lot, such instructions may be presented at the entrance and/or at the parking space. For roadside parking spaces, such a specification may be presented at each parking space. In one example, a time-limited parking space may be a parking space that is time-limited for a certain period of time to park, such as from 6:00 pm to 7:00 am, or from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. In another example, a time-limited parking space may also be a parking space having a limited parking duration, such as a 2 hour parking limit, a 3 hour parking limit, etc. In yet another example, the time-limited parking space may also be a parking space having a user-selected parking duration, e.g. the user selects to park for 4 hours and pays a fee. For a time-limited parking space with a limited parking duration, the information obtaining unit 110 may calculate an expiration time of the vehicle at the time-limited parking space according to the current time and the parking duration. The information obtaining unit 110 also obtains information whether the time-limited parking space supports an extended parking time.
In one example, the information acquisition unit 110 acquires information of the expiration time of the vehicle at the time-limited parking space from the vehicle. And the vehicle acquires the information of the deadline time of the vehicle in the time-limited parking space through a camera device installed on the current vehicle. In one example, the information acquiring unit 110 acquires information of the deadline of the parking space in the time limit from a parking space facility or an online server, such as a parking lot server or a server of a building where the parking lot is located, or a server of a roadside parking space management department. By making a wireless connection with the parking space facility, the information acquisition unit 110 may acquire information of the deadline of the vehicle at the time-limited parking space from the parking space facility, for example, a parking lot server. For example, in the case of parking using mobile-side parking software, the mobile-side parking software can conveniently acquire such information from a parking facility. The information of the deadline of the time-limited parking space can be stored in an online server, and the mobile-end parking software acquires the information from the online server through wireless communication. The online server may acquire information on the deadline of the time-limited parking space from a parking facility, or may upload and store such information by using the parking facility or a vehicle side of the parking space. In one example, information of the expiration time of the vehicle at the time-limited parking space is obtained through the user input. In one example, the user may input information of the deadline of the time-limited parking space through mobile-side parking software. For a parking space for which the user selects the parking duration and pays the parking fee, after the user inputs the selected parking duration and pays, the information obtaining unit 110 obtains the deadline of the time-limited parking space input by the user.
In fig. 1, the user journey acquisition unit 120 is configured to acquire journey information of the user leaving the limited-time parking space. In one example, the travel information for the user to leave the limited-time parking space is obtained via a mobile device of the user. The mobile device may be a smartphone, a tablet, a smartwatch, and/or smart glasses. For example, the position of the user can be obtained in real time through a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), Wi-Fi and a base station, and the travel information of the user leaving the time-limited parking space can be obtained through the change of the position along with the time. For example, a smart phone typically has a positioning function, and a user position can be located in real time by retrieving positioning data of, for example, a Global Positioning System (GPS) sensor built in the phone. The distance the user has walked over a period of time can be obtained from the positioning data.
In fig. 1, the calculation unit 130 is configured to calculate an average walking speed of the user in the current area and obtain current location information of the user based on the travel information of the user leaving the time-limited parking space, and estimate a time point when the user returns to the time-limited parking space based on the average walking speed of the user in the current area and the current location of the user. In one example, the average walking speed of the user in the current area is the walking speed of the user over a distance. For example, the average walking speed of the user in the current area may be obtained by dividing the distance traveled by the user by the time. Preferably, the time does not include a time taken for the user to stop halfway. For stop-and-go situations, the distance over which the user walks continuously and the time taken to walk can be selected to calculate the walking speed. The walking speed can refer to the speed of ordinary walking of ordinary people, such as 4-5km/h, and it is not normal that the walking speed deviates too much from the speed range in normal walking. In addition, his/her historical walking speed may be recorded as a reference for a particular user. Regarding the walking speed, the user should also consider how many articles the user carries, or in the case of carrying an infant, the walking speed is usually slow.
According to the position of the user, the distance between the user and the time-limited parking space can be calculated, and the time required for the user to return to the time-limited parking space can be estimated by dividing the distance by the walking speed of the user. Generally, electronic map software may provide a walking navigation path from one location to another, and give a distance and/or an estimated time. The calculation unit 130 may obtain the distance from the user to the limited-time parking space through the electronic map.
In fig. 1, the execution unit 140 is configured to issue a prompt message to the user in response to that the estimated time point of the user returning to the time-limited parking space is less than a threshold from the vehicle's deadline in the time-limited parking space. The threshold may be set manually, for example 15 minutes, 10 minutes or 5 minutes. A plurality of threshold values can be set, and a prompt tone can be sent out after the threshold values are reached; preferably, the alert tone becomes larger each time a threshold is reached. In one example, the prompt to the user includes, in addition to the above-mentioned prompt tone, displaying a remaining time period from the vehicle's deadline at the time-limited parking space, and/or displaying a navigation route to the time-limited parking space. And in the process that the user returns to the time-limited parking space, reminding the user that the time is sufficient or insufficient and the speed needs to be accelerated according to the remaining distance and the remaining time.
In one example, to save computational resources, the execution unit 140 preferably starts to determine whether the estimated time point when the user returns to the time-limited parking space is less than the threshold value from the vehicle's deadline at the time-limited parking space, for example, after 1/2 or 1/3 remains from the vehicle's deadline at the time-limited parking space, or 30 or 20 minutes further from the vehicle's deadline at the time-limited parking space. In another example, the execution unit 140 preferably determines whether the estimated time point when the user returns to the time-limited parking space is less than the threshold value from the vehicle's deadline in the time-limited parking space every 1 minute or 2 minutes.
If the time-limited parking space supports extended parking time, the execution unit 140 may trigger initiation of an online payment to the time-limited parking space manager to extend the deadline of the vehicle at the time-limited parking space, and preferably report the extended deadline to the user, in case the user is unlikely to catch up to the parking space or in case the user initiates and/or confirms.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that thereminder system 100 for time-limited parking may be installed on or applied to a mobile device in the form of an application or application software (APP) or the like. The mobile device may be a smartphone, a tablet, a smartwatch, and/or smart glasses.
A reminding method for time-limited parking according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a reminding method S100 for time-limited parking according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The reminding method S100 for time-limited parking is performed by the remindingsystem 100 for time-limited parking described above.
As shown in fig. 2, in S110, information of the expiration time of the vehicle in the time-limited parking space is acquired. For a parking space with a limited time, it is common to display on or around the parking space instructions about the usage of the parking space, such as time of parking with a limited time, notice, parking fee, payment method, etc. Therefore, the text or image information can be acquired through the sensor, and the information about the parking time limit in the parking space related description can be acquired by identifying the keywords or the representation image in the text or image information. For a parking lot, such instructions may be presented at the entrance and/or at the parking space. For roadside parking spaces, such a specification may be presented at each parking space. In one example, a time-limited parking space may be a parking space that is time-limited for a certain period of time to park, such as from 6:00 pm to 7:00 am, or from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. In another example, a time-limited parking space may also be a parking space having a limited parking duration, such as a 2 hour parking limit, a 3 hour parking limit, etc. In yet another example, the time-limited parking space may also be a parking space having a user-selected parking duration, e.g. the user selects to park for 4 hours and pays a fee. For a time-limited parking space defining a parking duration, in S110, an expiration time of the vehicle in the time-limited parking space may be calculated according to the current time and the parking duration. In S110, information on whether the time-limited parking space supports the prolonged parking time is also obtained.
In one example, information of the vehicle's expiration time at the time-limited parking space may be obtained from the vehicle. And the vehicle acquires the information of the deadline time of the vehicle in the time-limited parking space through a camera device installed on the current vehicle. In one example, the information of the expiration time of the vehicle in the limited parking space may be obtained from a parking space facility or an online server, such as a parking lot server or a server of a building in which the parking lot is located, or a server of a roadside parking space management department. By wirelessly connecting with the parking space facility, the information of the deadline of the vehicle in the time-limited parking space can be acquired from the parking space facility, such as a parking lot server. For example, in the case of parking using mobile-side parking software, the mobile-side parking software can conveniently acquire such information from a parking facility. The information of the deadline of the time-limited parking space can be stored in an online server, and the mobile-end parking software acquires the information from the online server through wireless communication. The online server may acquire information on the deadline of the time-limited parking space from a parking facility, or may upload and store such information by using the parking facility or a vehicle side of the parking space. In one example, information of the expiration time of the vehicle at the time-limited parking space is obtained through the user input. In one example, the user may input information of the deadline of the time-limited parking space through mobile-side parking software. For the parking space with the parking duration selected by the user and the parking fee paid by the user, the deadline of the time-limited parking space input by the user is obtained after the user inputs the selected parking duration and pays the parking duration.
In S120, the travel information of the user leaving the time-limited parking space is obtained. In one example, the travel information for the user to leave the limited-time parking space is obtained via a mobile device of the user. The mobile device may be a smartphone, a tablet, a smartwatch, and/or smart glasses. For example, the position of the user can be obtained in real time through a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), Wi-Fi and a base station, and the travel information of the user leaving the time-limited parking space can be obtained through the change of the position along with the time. For example, a smart phone typically has a positioning function, and a user position can be located in real time by retrieving positioning data of, for example, a Global Positioning System (GPS) sensor built in the phone. The distance the user has walked over a period of time can be obtained from the positioning data.
In S130, an average walking speed of the user in the current area is calculated based on the travel information of the user leaving the time-limited parking space and current position information of the user is obtained, and a time point when the user returns to the time-limited parking space is estimated based on the average walking speed of the user in the current area and the current position of the user. In one example, the average walking speed of the user in the current area is the walking speed of the user over a distance. For example, the average walking speed of the user in the current area may be obtained by dividing the distance traveled by the user by the time. Preferably, the time includes a time taken for the user to stop halfway. For stop-and-go situations, the distance over which the user walks continuously and the time taken to walk can be selected to calculate the walking speed. The walking speed can refer to the speed of ordinary walking of ordinary people, such as 4-5km/h, and it is not normal that the walking speed deviates too much from the speed range in normal walking. In addition, his/her historical walking speed may be recorded as a reference for a particular user. Regarding the walking speed, the user should also consider how many articles the user carries, or in the case of carrying an infant, the walking speed is usually slow.
According to the position of the user, the distance between the user and the time-limited parking space can be calculated, and the time required for the user to return to the time-limited parking space can be estimated by dividing the distance by the walking speed of the user. Generally, electronic map software may provide a walking navigation path from one location to another, and give a distance and/or an estimated time. Therefore, the distance between the user and the time-limited parking space can be acquired through the electronic map.
In S140, in response to that the estimated time point when the user returns to the time-limited parking space is less than a threshold from the deadline of the vehicle in the time-limited parking space, a prompt message is sent to the user. The threshold may be set manually, for example 15 minutes, 10 minutes or 5 minutes. A plurality of threshold values can be set, and a prompt tone can be sent out after the threshold values are reached; preferably, the alert tone becomes larger each time a threshold is reached. In one example, the prompting message is sent to the user, and in addition to the above-mentioned prompting tone, the method further comprises displaying a remaining time period from the expiration time of the vehicle in the time-limited parking space, and/or displaying a navigation route to the time-limited parking space. And in the process that the user returns to the time-limited parking space, reminding the user that the time is sufficient or insufficient and the speed needs to be accelerated according to the remaining distance and the remaining time.
In one example, in order to save computational resources, it is preferable to start to determine whether the estimated time point when the user returns to the time-limited parking space is less than the threshold value from the vehicle's deadline at the time-limited parking space, for example, when 1/2 or 1/3 remains from the vehicle's deadline at the time-limited parking space, or when 30 or 20 minutes remains from the vehicle's deadline at the time-limited parking space. In another example, it is preferably determined every 1 minute or 2 minutes whether the estimated time point at which the user returns to the time-limited parking space is less than the threshold value from the vehicle's deadline at the time-limited parking space.
If the time-limited parking space supports extended parking time, in case that it is not possible for the user to catch up to the parking space or in case of user initiation and/or confirmation, it may also be triggered to initiate an online payment to the time-limited parking space manager to extend the deadline of the vehicle at the time-limited parking space, and preferably to report the extended deadline to the user.
The method of the present disclosure may be accomplished using a computer program that is initiated in response to a vehicle parking, acquires information of an expiration time of the vehicle at a time-limited parking space in S110, and acquires information of a trip of a user from the time-limited parking space in S120; in S130, calculating an average walking speed of the user in a current area and acquiring current position information of the user based on the travel information of the user leaving the time-limited parking space, and estimating a time point when the user returns to the time-limited parking space based on the average walking speed of the user in the current area and the current position of the user; in S140, in response to that the estimated time point when the user returns to the time-limited parking space is less than a threshold from the deadline of the vehicle in the time-limited parking space, a prompt message is sent to the user. Accordingly, the present disclosure may also include a computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program which, when executed by a processor, implements the method described in embodiments of the present disclosure.
It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the division and sequence of the steps in the method for reminding a time-limited stop of a vehicle according to the present disclosure is merely illustrative and not restrictive, and that various omissions, additions, substitutions, modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
The technical features of the above embodiments can be arbitrarily combined, and for the sake of brevity, all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are not described, but should be considered as the scope of the present specification as long as there is no contradiction between the combinations of the technical features.
While the present disclosure has been described in connection with embodiments, it is to be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing description and drawings are merely illustrative and not restrictive of the disclosed embodiments. Various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit of the disclosure.