US20070061192A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20070061192A1
Application number: US11/555,915
Authority: US
Inventors: David Chew
Original assignee: Stratech Systems Pte Ltd
Current assignee: Stratech Systems Pte Ltd
Priority date: 2003-09-03
Filing date: 2006-11-02
Publication date: 2007-03-15
Also published as: EP1661104A1; US20050083212A1; US7893848B2; US20090309760A1; JP2007504551A; MY147105A; WO2005022485A1

Abstract

A method for use in the management of vehicle parking in a vehicle parking area having a plurality of vehicle parking spaces, the method comprising determining the locations of vacant vehicle parking spaces; and displaying the locations of vacant vehicle parking spaces to people seeking to park vehicles.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to vehicle parking. In particular, it relates to apparatus and method for locating, identifying and tracking vehicles in a car park.

BACKGROUND

A driver encounters many problems while parking vehicles in a huge car park. For instance, in a crowded huge multi-storey car park, it is difficult for a driver to remember where his/her vehicle is parked. Often it is a frustrating experience to search for his/her vehicle. Quite often, it is difficult for a driver to locate an empty parking space to park his/her vehicle in a huge car park, despite being informed that numerous parking spaces are available. Precious time is wasted by drivers when he/she cannot remember where the vehicle is parked or not being in a position to trace an empty parking space. The present car parking systems are not efficient enough for a car park operator to ease the problems mentioned above. Slow vehicle retrieval and delay in searching for empty lots results in problems, such as delayed exit of vehicles, increased car park jams, less effective parking capacity, and poor car park utilisation. Furthermore, motorists are at great inconvenience, and may even result in discouraging others from parking in such car parks. For the car park operators, these problems translate directly to revenue loss. This in turn, reduces the revenue of the shop keepers or businessmen who are present in a building having such a car park.

Presently, some car parks have addressed the above problems to some extent. Some car parks provide empty lot information. For example, a car park is divided into many different zones and vehicle detection sensors are installed between each zone to count the numbers of vehicles coming in and going out of a zone. These vehicle sensors provide information to derive the number of vehicles parked inside each zone. Other systems involve the installation of vehicle detection sensors (infra red, proximity, or light sensors, etc) for each parking lot, thus providing parking lot availability information. However, the existing car park systems have many drawbacks, including inability to determine when specific lots become available, high infrastructural costs, high per car park lot equipment, high installation and maintenance costs. Moreover, existing methods are based on the principle of counting of vehicles or the occupation of lots.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for use in the management of vehicle parking in a vehicle parking area having a plurality of vehicle parking spaces. The method comprises determining the locations of vacant vehicle parking spaces and displaying the locations of vacant vehicle parking spaces to people seeking to park vehicles.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for use in the management of vehicle parking in a vehicle parking area having a plurality of vehicle parking spaces. The method comprises determining one or more identifying features of each of a plurality of vehicles located in vehicle parking spaces, receiving a request to locate a specific vehicle with at least one of said one or more identifying features, determining one or more possible locations for said specific vehicle based on said at least one of said one or more identifying features and the determined one or more identifying features of each of a plurality of vehicles, and displaying said one or more possible locations in response to said request. The one or more identifying features may comprise one or more of: the number plate, the color, the make and the model of a vehicle.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for use in the management of vehicle parking in a vehicle parking area having a plurality of vehicle parking spaces. The apparatus comprises a detection unit for determining the locations of vacant vehicle parking spaces and a display unit. The display unit displays the locations of vacant vehicle parking spaces to people seeking to park vehicles. The detection unit may comprise a plurality of camera elements and an image processing unit for processing images obtained by the camera elements. Each camera element surveying one or more of the vehicle parking spaces. Each camera element may be arranged such that different cells of an image from the camera element is associated with one vehicle parking space, and the image processing determines the location of the vacant vehicle spaces based on individual cells of the images. The display unit may comprise one or more audio display devices and/or one or more visual display devices. The display unit may be arranged to communicate with one or more remote devices for facilitating displaying the locations of the vacant parking spaces. The remote devices may comprise on-vehicle devices.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for use in the management of vehicle parking in a vehicle parking area having a plurality of vehicle parking spaces. The apparatus comprises a first detection unit for determining one or more identifying features of each of a plurality of vehicles located in vehicle parking spaces, an interface unit for receiving a request to locate a specific vehicle with at least one of said one or more identifying features, a processing unit for determining one or more possible locations for said specific vehicle based on said at least one of said one or more identifying features and the determined one or more identifying features of each of a plurality of vehicles, and a display unit for displaying said one or more possible locations in response to said request. The system may further comprise a second detection unit for determining the locations of vacant vehicle parking spaces. The display unit further displays the locations of vacant vehicle parking spaces to people seeking to park vehicles. The first and second detection units may be implemented in a single detection unit. The one or more identifying features may comprise one or more of: the number plate, the color, the make and the model of a vehicle. The first and/or second detection units may comprise a plurality of camera elements and an image processing unit for processing images obtained by the camera elements, each camera element surveying one or more of the vehicle parking spaces. Each camera element may be arranged such that different cells of an image from the camera element is associated with one vehicle parking space, and the image processing determines the location of the vacant vehicle spaces based on individual cells of the images. The display unit may comprise one or more audio display devices and/or one or more visual display devices. The display unit may be arranged to communicate with one or more remote devices for facilitating displaying the locations of the vacant parking spaces. The remote devices may comprise on-vehicle devices.

In accordance with a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for automatically providing the occupancy status of specific, individual car park spaces, and identifying the vehicles that occupy them. The method comprises processing one or more images of the car park spaces to provide information regarding the locations and numbers of empty and occupied car park spaces, and guidance information to their locations and processing one or more images of the vehicles occupying car park spaces, to identify one or more of their features, thereby to enable the accurate locating of the vehicles, and to provide guidance information to their locations. Processing one or more images of the vehicles occupying car park spaces may comprise processing said images of the vehicles to determine one or more of: the number plate, the color, the make and the model of the vehicle in each image.

In accordance with a sixth aspect of the present invention there is provided a computer readable data storage medium having stored thereon computer code means for instructing a computer to execute a method for use in the management of vehicle parking in a vehicle parking area having a plurality of vehicle parking spaces. The method comprises determining the locations of vacant vehicle parking spaces and displaying the locations of vacant vehicle parking spaces to people seeking to park vehicles.

In accordance with a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer readable data storage medium having stored thereon computer code means for instructing a computer to execute a method for use in the management of vehicle parking in a vehicle parking area having a plurality of vehicle parking spaces. The method comprises determining one or more identifying features of each of a plurality of vehicles located in vehicle parking spaces, receiving a request to locate a specific vehicle with at least one of said one or more identifying features, determining one or more possible locations for said specific vehicle based on said at least one of said one or more identifying features and the determined one or more identifying features of each of a plurality of vehicles, and displaying said one or more possible locations in response to said request.

In accordance with an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer readable data storage medium having stored thereon computer code means for instructing a computer to execute a for automatically providing the occupancy status of specific, individual car park spaces, and identifying the vehicles that occupy them. The code comprises processing one or more images of the car park spaces to provide information regarding the locations and numbers of empty and occupied car park spaces, and guidance information to their locations, and processing one or more images of the vehicles occupying car park spaces, to identify one or more of their features, thereby to enable the accurate locating of the vehicles, and to provide guidance information to their locations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is further described by way of non-limitative examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a System Concept Diagram of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows an example embodiment of a high level process flow diagram for use with the embodiment shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example embodiment of the invention complementing an integrated deployment of a Car Park System; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a computer system in accord with a preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The System Concept Diagram100 of an embodiment of the invention is presented inFIG. 1. The embodiment of the invention describes an apparatus and method for automatically providing the occupancy status of specific, individualcar park lots101 or spaces, and identifying each of thevehicles103 that occupy them. The provision of occupancy status of thecar park lots101 is achieved by processing one or more images of thecar park lots101 to provide information regarding the locations and numbers of empty and occupiedcar park lots101, and guidance information to locate thecar park lots101. The identification ofvehicles103 is achieved by processing one or more images of thevehicles103, which may include identifying the license plate (i.e., a series of number and/or characters) ofvehicles103, providing the accurate location (e.g., in which car park lot and where is that lot within the entire car park) ofvehicles103 by identifying by one or more of their features (e.g. colour, model, brand etc of a car), and providing guidance information to locate thevehicles103. The apparatus and method can be extended to provide vehicle-related information, such as parking lot booking/reservation, parking enforcement, car park surveillance, vehicle look-up, traffic flow analysis, and congestion regulation.

Acamera network105 having a plurality ofcameras107 is installed inside and/or outside of a vehicle parking facility to monitor continuously some or all of theparking lots101 and/or vehicle lanes for the presence/absence and movement of objects, people andvehicles103. Thecamera network105 may be wired orwireless106.

The images acquired by thecamera sensor network105 are transmitted through wired orwireless network111 to a network of Image Processing and Camera Control Units (IPCCUs)113 via an array of video multiplexes/switches109. TheIPCCUs network113 comprises a pluralitydiscrete IPCCUs115 each of which may be assigned to process the images from thecamera network105. Each of theIPCCUs115 process the images that are channeled to them using built-in advanced adaptive self-learning image-processing algorithms that are stored in the memory of theIPCCU115. These algorithms deduce the status of the car park, and transmit the car park status through wired orwireless network117 to theLocator Central Controller125.

Apart from theIPCCUs115, the image-processing algorithms may also be located in the locatorcentral controller125, the video multiplex/switch109 orcamera units107. However, a typical design will involve placing most (if not all) of the image processing algorithms (e.g. those for car park lot status determination and vehicle image acquisition and feature processing) at theIPCCUs115. In some cases, thecentral controller125 may also host certain image processing algorithms. TheIPCCU115 andcentral controller125 could be provided in the same machine.

Given the car park status from theIPCCUs115, thecentral controller125 facilitates value-added services and extends them to the users, which include, but not limited to, car park customers, operators and owners. To deliver these services to the users, the locatorcentral controller125 uses a variety of means to interact with the users and/or external systems. These interactive means include, but not limited to, in-vehicle units131, audio devices121,video devices119,mobile devices139,computers133, LED panels, plasma display panels, andsignage123, located e.g. at a junction within the car park, or at a self-service kiosk. Thesignage123 may guide a driver in the direction of empty parking lots. The communication between the locatorcentral controller125 and external interactive means may be wired or

wireless

127,128.

A High Level Process Flow Diagram200 of an example embodiment of the invention is presented inFIG. 2. The flow diagram200 comprises three basic blocks, namely acamera sensor network202, an image processing andcamera control unit204, and acentral controller206. The process flow starts atstep201. Atstep208, a camera sensor from a plurality ofcamera sensor network202 in a car park repeatedly captures a sequence of a respective car park cell images. The captured cell images are sent for processing at a respective IPCCU from a plurality ofIPCCUs204, the processing being done at fixed or dynamic time intervals. At theIPCCUs204, images received atstep205 are processed and segmented into vehicle and non-vehicle objects.

Atstep209, the non-vehicle objects are further processed to determine the event status by analysing the current and previous images and the image database is updated. Previous non-vehicle object databases are stored and retrieved atstep203. Incident status database are stored and retrieved atstep211. Atstep217, each of the non-vehicle object is identified by its features and the incident status of the car park is formulated and updated in the database.

Atstep215, the vehicle objects are further processed to determine the event status by analysing the current and previous images and the image database is updated. Previous vehicle object databases are stored and retrieved atstep207. Parking status database are stored and retrieved atstep213. Atstep219, each of the vehicle object is identified by its features and the parking status of the car park is formulated and updated in the database.

The combined output from step217 (details of the incident status) and219 (details of parking status) are channelled to a respective central controller (of a plurality of central controllers206) and are stored in a respective central controller atstep221.

From the data stored atstep221, services, such as vacantlot location application223, parked vehicle location application225, vacant lot booking application227, vehicle look-upapplication229, carpark surveillance application231, trafficflow enquiry application233,congestion pricing application235, etc are made available on a respective graphic user interface (GUI). Atstep237, the processing is terminated.

The above embodiment of the invention, besides being deployed as a standalone system, can be used to complement a car park system.FIG. 3 shows an example embodiment of anintegrated deployment system300.

Thecar park system300, regulatesvehicles325 entering and leavingparking facility306 by charging the users a parking fee. In order to provide supplemental value added services to the drivers and the car park operators, thesystem300 is deployed in parallel with thecar park system100 described in the above embodiment. Supplemental services include but not limited to, vacant lots locating, parked vehicles locating, vacant lots reservation, vehicle safety surveillance, illegal parking enforcement, parked vehicle look-up, traffic flow forecast, and congestion control.

In the example embodiment of the integrateddeployment system300, afield controller305 and anIPCCUs307 are shown to be independently deployed. Alternatively, thefield controller305 and theIPCCU307 can be integral. The integrated car park system in the example embodiment uses separate network of

cameras

311,317 to identify vehicles. Alternatively thecar park system100 as described above and theintegrated deployment system300 can potentially share the same cameras network.

Avehicle325 enters the car park at entry points333 and exits the car park at exit points331. The entry point has abarrier319 to block vehicles before entering thecar park306. Similarly, the exit point has abarrier315 to block vehicles before exiting thecar park306.

Thefield controller305 controls the opening and closing of the

barriers

315,319 depending on whether payment for parking was done before a vehicle exits the car park.

Thefield controllers305,IPCCUs307 and

central controllers

301,303 are typically located in a car parkcentral control room302. The communication between thefield controllers305,IPCCUs307 and central controllers is through a commonprivate communication network304. Thisnetwork304 can be either wired such as, but not limited to, LAN and Serial, or wireless such as, but not limited to, wireless LAN802.11a. The communication between thecameras311 mounted inside the car park may be wired orwireless337, whilst the communication between thecameras317 mounted outside the car park may be wired orwireless339.

The car parkcentral controller301 regulates the entry and exit ofvehicles325, and the locatorcentral controller303 tracks and monitors thevehicles325 while they are within thecar park premises306. Although the car parkcentral controller301 and the locatorcentral controller303 is shown to be standalone and independent systems, in case the car parkcentral controller301 is a microprocessor-based system, the two

central controllers

301,303 can share the same microprocessor-based system i.e. the

controllers

301,303 can be integral.

The embodiment of the invention employs computer vision and information technology to detect and analyse events inside andoutside car parks306 which, in turn, activates sub-systems based on the analysis to provide value-added services to the customers, operators and owners of car parks.

Cameras

311,317 are respectively mounted on the inside and outside of acar park premises306. Thecar park306 is divided into an array of physically labeled cells for monitoring and identification purposes. Each car park cell, at any given time, may contain objects, people and/orvehicles325. Each cell is being monitored and analysed repeatedly at a pre-defined time interval for one or more event status. These event status for vehicles parking, include, but not limited to, lot-vacant, lot-occupied, lot-in-transit, no-vehicle, vehicle-towards, vehicle-away, and vehicle-stop. The event status for car park surveillance, include, but not limited to, no-human, human-towards, human-away, crowd-towards, crowd-away, and crowd-stop.

Given the event status related to vehicle parking being defined continuously by theIPCCU307 for each car park cell, the real-time parking status of the entire car park can be derived and stored in the database of the

central controller

301,303. This information of the car park status is updated on a regular time interval to facilitate accurate retrieval of information when needed.

1. Number of vacant lots in the car park
2. Location of a vacant lot by its lot ID
3. Location of a parked vehicle by its unique features
4. Congestion level at a particular car park cell

1. Alert level of a particular car park cell based on density and pattern of movement
2. Alert level of a particular parked vehicle based on unusual movement pattern around the vehicle

With the above status parameters defined in real-time, the following services of the embodiment of the invention can be deployed:

1. Parking vacancy locating system to assist the drivers to identify and locate vacant lots
2. Parked vehicle locating system to assist the drivers to identify and locate their parked vehicles
3. Parking reservation system to allow remote booking of vacant parking lots
4. Parking enforcement system to prevent illegal parking or use of facility
5. Intelligent car park surveillance system to detect unusual events in the car park, for example: noticeable sweating, loitering, fidgeting movements, damaging vehicles, etc.
6. Graphical vehicle search system for visual identification of vehicles
7. Traffic flow analysis system to broadcast congested areas within the car park premise
8. Congestion pricing system for balancing the utilisation of the car park

To deliver the above services to the users, one of more of the following information disseminating techniques can be employed:

1. In-vehicle information devices via wireless communication
2. Mobile devices such as PDA and mobile phones via wireless communication
3. Desktop and lap top computer systems over Intranet and Internet
4. Roadside and in-building infrastructure such as LED panels and plasma screens
5. Auto-pay stations and self-service kiosks via LAN
6. Car park attendants and customer service representatives over the counter

Thecameras311 can be used for surveillance, e.g. for detecting abnormal movement of people or anything from the list of unusual events mentioned above. For example, if a person were found loitering in any particular area for more than a certain period of time, a PTZ (Pan Tilt Zoom) camera would automatically zoom in to capture an image of the person and alert the relevant authorities. The system can also store the image for further reference. This would help in apprehending suspicious characters and to reduce car theft and vandalism.

Main components of the above example embodiment are listed below:

1. Camera Sensor Network

A single or network of

cameras

311,317 to monitor a region of interest inside and/or outside of acar park306 and to provide the features mentioned above.

The camera sensor network provides image/data acquisition by

cameras

311,317 installed to cover one or morecar park lots335. Some

cameras

311,317 are installed for monitoring the lanes or other non-parking areas within the car park to provide value added services mentioned above.

For multi-cameras deployment, at least one video switches/

multiplexers

309,321,323 is required to channel the images to theIPCCUs307. For single camera deployment, images can be streamed directly to theIPCCU307 or the

Central Controllers

301,303. In the case of single camera deployment the use of, video switch/

multiplexer

309,321,323 becomes optional.

Some or all the

cameras

311,317 can be mounted on PTZ platforms, if necessary. The means to control these PTZ platforms may be a function of the cameras if the cameras are equipped with embedded microprocessors, or can be remotely controlled by theIPCCUs307.

Cameras

311,317 built-in with an embedded microprocessor, can be dynamically programmed to pre-evaluate the quality of each image taken, and intelligently adjust the PTZ to obtain additional images until an image with acceptable quality is found. If no acceptable image is obtained after a predefined period of time, the system proceeds to the next task and a notification is activated to prompt the operator for appropriate action.

Some or all

cameras

311,317 can be high-performance cameras that are capable of monitoring the region of interest with some or none of the PTZ functions.

Apart from cameras, it is possible to include other sensors in the system. The camera may also be network compatible, such that it can be interfaced directly to theIPCCU307 or

central controllers

301,303 via e.g. anIP network304.

The connection from the

cameras

311,317 to the switches/

multiplexers

309,321,323, and from the switches/

multiplexers

309,321,323 to IPCCUs307 can be either wired, or

wireless

337,339.

2. Image Processing and Camera Control Unit (IPCCU)

A microprocessor-based system converts the images transmitted from the video switches/

multiplexers

309,321,323 directly from the

cameras

311,317, and implements the primary features mentioned above.

For each switch/

multiplexer

309,321,323, oneIPCCUs307 is be needed to process the images and channel the outcomes to the

Central Controller

301,303 of the embodiment of the invention. If no switch/

multiplexer

309,321,323 is deployed, the images will be channeled directly from the cameras to either theIPCCU307 or the

Central Controller

301,303. In the latter case, the

Central Controller

301,303 assumes the role of theIPCCU307.

EachIPCCU307 employs proprietary advanced adaptive self-learning image processing algorithms to perform real-time identification/classification/location ofvehicles325, and real-time detection/location of vacant/occupied parking lots335. The system also determines the identity of the vehicle at eachoccupied parking lot335.

If the

cameras

311,317 are mounted on a PTZ platform do not have embedded microprocessors, theIPCCU307 assumes the role of controlling the PTZ platform.

If the

cameras

311,317 or video switches/

multiplexers

309,321,323 have built-in embedded microprocessors, the embedded microprocessors could potentially perform the processing functions of theIPCCU307. In such case, there is no need forIPCCU307.

IPCCUs

307 communicates with the

Central Controller

301,303 through either a wired, or awireless network304.Possible networks304 include, but not limited to, Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), Wireless LAN 802.11a, and WIFI 802.11b.

3.

Central Controller

301,303

A microprocessor-based system that accepts information from the IPCCUs as input, re-configures the information, and implements secondary and other features of the example embodiment. There can be more than one

central controller

301,303 in a system.

The

central controller

301,303 in the example embodiment employs proprietary advanced software engineering to implement software applications that allow the users to locate vacant lots, locate parked vehicles, book vacant lots, enforce parking rules, detect incidents, look-up parked vehicles, analyse traffic flow, and regulate car park utilisation.

For the purpose of exchanging information with the users,

central controller

301,303 can be built with interface for devices such as, but not limited to, in-vehicle units131, audio devices121,video devices119,mobile devices139,computers133, LED panels, plasma display panels, and self-service kiosk123. The communication between the

central controllers

301,303 and the devices can be either wired or wireless.

To enable the connection with external devices and systems, central controller can be equipped with communication channels such as, but not limited to, serial ports, parallel ports, Universal Serial Buses (USB), least lines, Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), Local Area Network (LAN), and Wide Area Network (WAN). The central controller could also host web services for a user to access the stated service via the Internet.

As an alternative tovacant lot335 detection, it may be, for example, possible to use light sensors installed at eachlot335 to detect the present of vehicle at thelot335, or induction loop sensors embedded under the surface of the flooring to countvehicles325 entering and leaving a parking zone.

Secondary components of an embodiment of the invention are listed below:

1. In-Vehicle Units (IUs)131 and On-board Units (OBUs) for accessing incident and parking status
2.Computer terminals133 and Self-service Kiosks123 for accessing incident and parking status
3. Hand-heldmobile devices139 such as, but not limited to mobile phones and PDAs for accessing incident and parking status
4. Roadside display medium such as, but not limited to LED and plasma-display panels for disseminating incident and parking status
5. Audio andVisual devices119,121 for generating alerts based on incident and parking status
6. Other IT systems such as, but not limited to web server, modems, leased lines, hubs, switches, routers and appliances that help disseminating incident and parking status to the general public.

The invention, as embodied can locate a vehicle by its visual features (i.e., not requiring to place any identification tag or label on any part of the vehicle) including possibly its license plate identifier (i.e., a series of number and/or characters), and map it to a specific location including possibly a particular parking lot inside or outside of a car park.

Although the above embodiment relates to use of the invention in a car park, the present invention may also have other applications, including in the monitoring, verification, and enforcement of street parking.

In case of the application to street parking, an example embodiment may have cameras strategically located at buildings or other high vantage points along the street to monitor parking lots along the street. These cameras provide real-time information on vacant and occupied lots along the street, similar to those provided for car parks in a building or open air. For example, if a driver is looking for an empty lot to park his car, a display board can inform him whether there is any vacant lot in the side road before he turns into it.

As a driver is about to reverse into a parking lot, the camera detects this phenomenon and triggers a PTZ camera to capture the license plate of the vehicle. After the car is properly parked, the system will capture the time, which will be the commencement of parking fee. Similarly, when a car is about to leave a parking lot, this phenomenon is noticed by the scanning camera and the PTZ camera is activated to monitor the event and captures the time that the car leaves the parking lot.

Payment of parking charges can be through cash card, where a booth can be positioned at the driver's side of the road for him to insert the cash card into a reader. Alternatively, if the city has implemented Electronic Toll Collection for use of its roads and highways, a similar device can be triggered by the camera system to deduct the parking charges.

There will also be information kiosks conveniently located along the streets for the drivers to enquire about the location where he has parked his car, and how much parking charge has been incurred before he reaches to his/her car.

The primary usage of the information from an example embodiment of the invention may be for real-time identification or classification of vehicles, locating of the vehicles within the car park premises, and enabling the look-up of vehicles based on a set of search criteria.

The basic functionality of the example embodiment described include:



Real-time	Real-time identification of vehicles by one or more features
identification/	(e.g. model label, colour, contour, size) obtained through the
classification of	processing of one or more images of the vehicles in real-time,
vehicles	which may include their license plate identifier (i.e., a series
	of number and/or characters). By associating the features
	with a set of predefined classification information, the class of the
	vehicles can be derived.
Real-time detection	Real-time detection of vehicle-presence at a predefined
of vehicle-presence	location within the premises of a car park by processing one
at a predefined	or more images of the predefined location. The predefined
location within the	locations can be labeled car park lots within the car park. In
premise of a car	such case, the number of empty and occupied lots within the
park	car park at any given time can be determined.
Real-time looking-	Real-time mapping of identified and/or classified vehicles to
up of vehicles	predefined locations detected with vehicle-presence. With
within the premise	this mapping, vehicles within the car park premise can be
of a car park	located based on a fully or partially matched set of search
	criteria. This set of search criteria shall consist of the features
	of the vehicles, which may include their license plate identifier
	(i.e., a series of number and/or characters).

Other usage of the information from the described embodiment may be for parking lot booking/reservation, parking and vehicle locating guidance, and illegal parking enforcement.

Further features of the example embodiment of the invention may include:



Real-time parking	Real-time parking lot booking/reservation service can be
lot booking/	provided to users through various possible customer service
reservation service	channels, including telephone, mobile phone, internet, kiosk,
	SMS, etc.
Real-time parked	Knowing the location of the enquiry source and the location
vehicle locating	of the vehicle, a predefined set of directional instructions can
guidance service	be provided to show the best way from the location of the
	inquiry source to the location of the vehicle. This can be
	accomplished through the use of information dissemination means
	such as electronic signage.
Real-time vacant	Knowing the location of entrances to the car park as well as
parking lot locating	the vacant lots' location, directional instructions can be
guidance service	provided for users to locate an available, booked or reserved
	lot. This can be accomplished through the use of an
	information dissemination means such as electronic signage.
Real-time illegal	By mapping the vehicle to their parking location, the policy
parking enforcement	of reserved parking can be managed and enforced.
service

Yet other features of an example embodiment may include several value-added services, including:



Intelligent	Monitor the objects, people and vehicles at a predefined
surveillance of car	location within a car park premise, and apply advanced
park for effective	image-processing algorithms to intelligently analyse the
management of	activities at that location to detect incidents such as abnormal
incidents within the	events, crimes, vehicle breakdowns, call-for-help, or
car park premise	suspicious behaviours.
Display and	Display graphical live car park images that is linked to the
indexing of live car	digital map of the car park to assist the users, such as the
park images for	driver, the customer service personnel, the valet service attendance,
efficient look-up of	security officer, or others, to visually locate and
vehicles	identify the vehicle of interest.
Broadcasting of car	Broadcast the traffic flow conditions inside the car park by
park's traffic flow	means of signage and/or other visual indicators to the users.
condition for easing	These include indicating congested lanes (paths or routes)
of traffic congestion	within the car park along which vehicles searching for lots or
within the car park	exiting the car park may take. This is based on the images
	and visual information produced by the cameras and image
	processing programs. This information may also be a result
	of data from other subsystems or sensors. This value-add
	feature can be used together with Secondary Feature #3.
Strategic charging	Apply differential parking charges to vehicles based on their
and guidance of	parked locations, and/or strategically direct in-coming
parking vehicles for	vehicles to less popular car park locations so that parked
effective utilisation	vehicles are effectively distributed across the car park.
of car park lots.

The method and system of the example embodiment can be implemented on acomputer system800, schematically shown inFIG. 4. It may be implemented as software, such as a computer program being executed within thecomputer system800, and instructing thecomputer system800 to conduct the method of the example embodiment.

Thecomputer system800 comprises acomputer module802, input modules such as a keyboard804 andmouse806 and a plurality of output devices such as adisplay808, andprinter810.

Thecomputer module802 is connected to acomputer network812 via asuitable transceiver device814, to enable access to e.g. the Internet or other network systems such as Local Area Network (LAN) or Wide Area Network (WAN).

Thecomputer module802 in the example includes aprocessor818, a Random Access Memory (RAM)820 and a Read Only Memory (ROM)822. Thecomputer module802 also includes a number of Input/Output (I/O) interfaces, for example I/O interface824 to thedisplay808, and I/O interface826 to the keyboard804.

The components of thecomputer module802 typically communicate via andinterconnected bus828 and in a manner known to the person skilled in the relevant art.

The application program is typically supplied to the user of thecomputer system800 encoded on a data storage medium such as a CD-ROM or floppy disk and read utilising a corresponding data storage medium drive of adata storage device830. The application program is read and controlled in its execution by theprocessor818. Intermediate storage of program data maybe accomplished usingRAM820.

It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the present invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive.