Description:
Complete Specification:
The following specification describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed

Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a system and a method to manage a queue in a parking area equipped with an automatic valet parking (AVP) infrastructure.

[0002] Background of the invention

[0003] Long taxi queue is a common problem in all busy traffic hubs, such as big airports and train stations. Both passengers and vehicle (taxi) drivers suffer from long queue time. There are available smart airport/ train station taxi management system which measures and predicts the movement of people and vehicles in airports, and therefore inform both passengers and taxi drivers about estimated waiting time and reduce queue time to some extent, however, the queue for taxi/ vehicle driver cannot be eliminated due to the bottleneck that passenger movement is much slower than that of vehicle. Taxi drivers in busy airports often wait up to hours till they could finally pick up customers, which leads to economic losses for taxi drivers, taxi operators, as well as airport operators.

[0004] In the prior art US2019212737 AA, an automated valet system is disclosed or an autonomous vehicle to perform an autonomous trip. A mobile communication device establishes a connection with an autonomous vehicle. The mobile communication device transmits a request for the autonomous vehicle to perform an autonomous trip. The autonomous trip includes the autonomous vehicle traveling from a first location to a second location without operator input. The autonomous trip is to be initiated by the autonomous vehicle based on the reception of the request.

[0005] As an improvement to the aforementioned prior art, the present invention proposes a system and a method to manage a queue in a parking area equipped with an automatic valet parking (AVP) infrastructure. The present disclosure in one of its advantages offers a solution to taxi/cab management in an airport/rain station/shopping mall etc. A taxi-queue parking area is upgraded with an AVP infrastructure, which could offer vehicles in the parking area with autonomous driving function. When a taxi arrives at the gate of the AVP area, the driver could get off from the taxi in the “Drop-off Zone”.

[0006] In this case, the taxi driver can rest in a“Driver Resting Zone” while his/her taxi car enters an autonomous driving queue area. The queue management system can communicate with the driver (via a smart phone or any other communication device) about an “estimated resting time” so that the driver could plan his resting activity accordingly. While the driver is at rest, they will also be able to monitor his/ her taxi’s exact position and its driving path on the smart phone. The taxi shall autonomously drive in the Taxi queue Area and finally park at a “Taxi Parking Zone”. When the taxi is about to arrive at the “Passenger Pick-up Zone”, the taxi driver gets a notification in advance that he/she should walk to the “Taxi parking Zone” to pick-up the passenger and car.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings
[0007] An embodiment of the invention is described with reference to the following accompanying drawings:
[0008] Figure 1 depicts a system to manage a vehicle-queue in a parking area equipped with an automatic valet parking (AVP) infrastructure
[0009] Figure 2 depicts a flowchart for a method to manage at least one vehicle-queue in a parking area equipped with an automatic valet parking (AVP) infrastructure.

Detailed description of the drawings:

[0010] Automated valet parking (AVP) facility/service enables a vehicle to drive and park without any human interaction. An automated valet parking facility combines both in-vehicle sensors (ultrasound sensors) and infrastructure-based technology.

[0011] A car can be dropped off at the gate of a parking area that has been modified to allow AVP functionality. The parking area uses laser range finders to track cars and sensors in the ground to automatically notify free parking positions. The car relies on the onboard parking assistance systems and other autonomous driver assistance systems (ADAS) features to control the maneuver. When the car is identified and allowed to enter the park area, it automatically connects to a WLAN. Through this WLAN the car communicates with the parking area. The car gets the information about where to find a free parking lot and will be guided by the laser range finders and camera systems installed in the parking lot.

[0012] The AVP facility infrastructure function will also automatically guide the car from the parking position back to the gate when the driver requests it.
[0013] The present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to accompanying drawings. Throughout all the figures, same or corresponding elements may generally be indicated by same reference numerals. These depicted embodiments are to be understood as illustrative of the invention and not as limiting in any way. It should also be understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale and that the embodiments are sometimes illustrated by graphic symbols, phantom lines, diagrammatic representations, and fragmentary views. In predetermined instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention, or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted.
[0014] Referring to Figure (1), the same depicts a system (10) to manage at least one vehicle-queue (2) in a parking area (3) equipped with an automatic valet parking (AVP) infrastructure (4). It is to be understood that the parking area (3) and the automatic valet parking (AVP) infrastructure (4) together form an AVP facility. The at least one queue refers to the vehicles in the parking area (3) queued up.

[0015] The parking area (3) comprises a drop-off zone (3a) where a vehicle(5) is directed to the at least one vehicle-queue (2) after a driver (6) gets out of the vehicle(5). Said vehicle (5) is equipped with AVP functionality. In an example, the drop-off zone (3a) may be an area where a cab driver (6) gets out of the vehicle, such that the vehicle is autonomously driven to the at least one vehicle queue (2) in the parking area (3).

[0016] The parking area (3) further comprises a pick-up zone (3b)w here the driver (6) gets into the vehicle and picks up a passenger. The parking area (3) may further comprise a resting zone where the driver (6) waits for the vehicle to reach the pick-up zone (3b). It is to be understood, that apart from the drop-off zone (3a) and the pick-up zone (3b) there may be a parking zone (3c) where the vehicles not to be lined in vehicle-queue may be parked.

[0017] The parking area (3) is equipped with an AVP infrastructure (4). Typically, the AVP infrastructure (4) as known in the art includes sensors, communication devices, alarm devices, display devices, and a server device that controls those devices. The word ‘infrastructure (4)’ may also be alternated with a control center that controls gates of a parking lot, vehicles existing within a parking lot, etc. The AVP infrastructure (4) may include communication circuits to enable communication with external devices and a processors for performing computation operations. The AVP infrastructure (4) further includes sensors for detecting nearby objects and for measuring surrounding parameters. All determinations and computations in the AVP infrastructure (4) may be performed by the processors included in the infrastructure (4).

[0018] The AVP infrastructure (4) is adapted to receive a pick up request from the passenger (7) through a passenger-device. In an example, the passenger-device may be an electronic device capable of wireless communication with the AVP infrastructure (4) over a wireless network.

[0019] The AVP infrastructure (4) is adapted to estimate a resting time for the driver (6) based on a position of the vehicle in the at least one vehicle-queue (2), and the pick up request received from the passenger (7). The position of all the vehicles in the vehicle-queue is communicated to the AVP infrastructure (4). The ‘resting time’ is the time between the time driver (6) gets off the vehicle and the vehicle reaches to the pick-up zone (3b) in order for the driver (6) to pick up the passenger (7). The same (resting time) is estimated based on the position of the vehicle in the vehicle-queue as the vehicles in the vehicle-queue sequentially reach the pick-up zone (3b) one-after another.

[0020] The AVP infrastructure (4) is further adapted to communicate the estimated resting time through a driver-device. In an example, the driver-device may be an electronic device capable of wireless communication with the AVP infrastructure (4) over a wireless network.

[0021] The AVP infrastructure (4) is adapted to notify the driver (6) AVP the passenger (7) when the vehicle reaches the pick-up zone (3b). In an example, the passenger (7) may make the pick-up request for a later time (pre-booking). The passenger (7) may also have a provision to select the driver (6) based on parameters such as fares charged by the driver (6), the type of the vehicle of the driver (6), resting time proposed by the driver (6) and the like. Similarly, in an example, the driver (6) may also have a provision to select a passenger (7) based on the fares proposed by the passenger, the booked time of the passenger (7)to be picked up and the like. In an example, the driver (6) may also have the provision to send a ‘resting-time’ request to the AVP infrastructure (4) in situations where the driver (6) needs to rest for longer or in situations where the driver (6) may not be available for a period of time.

[0022] The AVP infrastructure (4) comprises at least one sensor (8). The at least one sensor (8) is adapted to detect nearby objects for measuring surrounding parameters as explained above. The AVP infrastructure (4) comprises at least one communication device (9) adapted to communicate with the vehicle, the passenger-device and the driver -device. The at least one communication device is adapted to communicate wirelessly over a wireless network.

[0023] The AVP infrastructure (4) further comprises a control unit (11). In an example, the control unit (11) is adapted to control the communication devices and sensors. The control unit (11) comprises the processor to performing computation operations along with associated memory to store the embedded software.

[0024] The control unit (11) is configured to direct the vehicle to a space in the at least one vehicle-queue (2) wherein, the-at least one vehicle-queue (2) comprises a first and a second vehicle-queue (2a, 2b) such that a first number of vehicles in the first vehicle-queue (2a) is greater than a second number of vehicles in the second vehicle-queue (2b). In an example the controller may direct an incoming vehicle from the drop-off zone (3a) to the first and second vehicle-queue (2b) based on the number of vehicles and free space in the parking area (3). In another example, the incoming vehicles may be directed to the parking zone depending upon the number of vehicles in the vehicle-queue or in a situation where the resting time as estimated or requested by the drive. As explained above, the resting time request by the driver (6) may be made in situations where the driver (6) needs to rest for longer or in situations where the driver (6) may not be available for a period of time.

[0025] The control unit (11) directs the vehicle from the second vehicle-queue (2b) to the pick-up zone (3b) when the passenger (7) makes a premium pick-up request from the passenger (7)device. The premium request may be made based on a ‘premium payment’ or based on scenarios where the passenger (7) is willing to pay a fare price over a base fare price. In such situations, if the passenger (7) needs urgent or early pick up, the control unit (11) may direct the vehicle in the second vehicle-queue (2b) (shorter vehicle-queue with less number of vehicles compared to the first vehicle-queue (2a)) to be directed to pick-up zone (3b).

[0026] It is to be understood that multiple vehicle-queues(2a, 2b, 2c, 2d…so on) may be present in the parking area (3). In an example, there may be a dedicated area to park vehicles near the pick-up zone (3b) for premium pick up requests. Multiple embodiments and use cases of the present disclosure are possible and the embodiments shown and use cases described in the present invention should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention.

[0027] Referring to Figure 2, the same depicts a flow chart for a method to manage at least one vehicle-queue (2) in a parking area (3) equipped with an automatic valet parking (AVP) infrastructure (4). The method (100) as described below may be implemented by the system (10) as described in Figure 1 above, in the present disclosure.

[0028] The method (100) includes the first step (101) of receiving a pick up request from the passenger, by the AVP infrastructure (4), through a passenger-device followed by the step (102) of estimating a resting time for the driver (6), by the AVP infrastructure (4), based on a position of the vehicle in the at least one vehicle-queue (2), and the pick up request received from the passenger. The next step (103) is communicating the estimated resting time to the driver (6), by the AVP infrastructure (4), to a driver-device followed by step (104) of notifying the driver (6) and the passenger, by the AVP infrastructure (4), when the vehicle reaches the pick-up zone (3b).

[0029] The method (100) further comprises the step (105) of directing the vehicle to a space in the at least one vehicle-queue (2), by a control unit (11) in the AVP infrastructure (4). The-at least one vehicle-queue (2) comprises a first and a second vehicle-queue (2a, 2b) such that a first number of vehicles in the first vehicle-queue (2a) is greater than a second number of vehicles in the second vehicle-queue. This is followed by step (106) of directing the vehicle to the pick-up zone (3b), by the control unit (11), from the at least one vehicle-queue (2) to the parking zone.

[0030] The AVP infrastructure (4) communicates with the vehicle, the passenger (7) device and the driver (6) device through a communication device in the AVP infrastructure (4) that is capable of wirelessly communicating over a wireless network. Further, The control unit (11) directs the vehicle from the second vehicle-queue (2b) to the pick-up zone (3b)when the passenger (7)makes a premium pick-up request from the passenger-device. The premium request may be made based on a ‘premium payment’ or based on scenarios where the passenger (7)is willing to pay a fare price over a base fare price. In such situations, if the passenger (7) needs urgent or early pick up, the control unit (11) may direct the vehicle in the second vehicle-queue (2b)(shorter vehicle-queue with less number of vehicles compared to the first vehicle-queue (2a)) to be directed to pick-up zone (3b).

[0031] The working of the present invention is described further. The same serves only an exemplary purpose to assist a person skilled in the art understand and implement the present invention. The same is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

[0032] In an example, a parking area is equipped with an AVP infrastructure, which could offer vehicles in the parking area with autonomous driving function. When the driver with the vehicle arrives at the “Drop-off Zone”, the driver can get off from the vehicle while the vehicle is directed to the vehicle-queue by the control unit. The vehicle could be directed to either first queue or the second queue (or the third queue/fourth queue and so on) depending upon the on the number of vehicles and free space in the parking area, the resting time as estimated by the AVP infrastructure or requested by the driver, the type of passenger pick-up request (the pick up request may be a premium pick up based on scenarios where the passenger is willing to pay a fare price over a base fare price). The estimated resting time is communicated to the driver. When the passenger to be picked up from the pick up zone arrives at the pick up zone, the driver is notified of the same. The driver then goes to the pick up zone to pick up the vehicle and the passenger.

[0033] Apart from the advantages apparent and described in the present disclosure, the present disclosure may further provide relaxation to taxi drivers from driving in congested taxi queue area and allow them to have a resting time. The same will also prevent chaos and congestion in the airports and streamline the pick up process. Further, the present disclosure will accelerate taxi/cab movements and reduce queue time and will help cut the cost of airport taxi regulator staff.

, Claims:We Claim:
1. A system(10) to manage at least one vehicle-queue (2) in a parking area (3) equipped with an automatic valet parking (AVP) infrastructure (4) , the parking area comprising:
-a drop-off zone (3a) where a vehicle (5) is directed to the at least one vehicle-queue after a driver (6) gets out of the vehicle, said vehicle equipped with AVP functionality,
-a pick-up zone (3b) where the driver gets into the vehicle and picks up a passenger (7),
characterized in the system, the AVP infrastructure (4) adapted to:
-receive a pick up request from the passenger (7) through a passenger-device;
-estimate a resting time for the driver based on –
a position of the vehicle(5) in the at least one vehicle-queue, and
the pick up request received from the passenger(7);
-communicate the estimated resting time to the driver(6) through a driver-device; and
-notify the driver(6) and the passenger (7)when the vehicle reaches the pick up zone (3b).

2. The system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the parking area(3) further comprises a resting zone (3c) where the driver(6) waits for the vehicle to reach a pick up zone (3b).

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, the AVP infrastructure (4) comprises:
-at least one sensor (8);
-a communication device (9) adapted to communicate with the vehicle, the passenger device and the driver-device ;
-a control unit (11) configured to :
-direct the vehicle to a space in the at least one vehicle-queue wherein,
the-at least one vehicle-queue(2) comprises a first and a second vehicle-queue (2b)(2a, 2b) such that a first number of vehicles in the first vehicle queue(2a) is greater than a second number of vehicles in the second vehicle queue (2b); and
-direct the vehicle to the pick up zone (3b) from the at least one vehicle-queue (2a, 2b).

4. The system(10) as claimed in Claim2, wherein, the control unit directs the vehicle from the second vehicle-queue (2b)(2b) to the pick-up zone when the passenger (7) makes a premium pick-up request from the passenger device.

5. A method (100)to manage at least one vehicle-queue in a parking area equipped with an automatic valet parking (AVP) infrastructure, the parking area comprising:
-a drop-off zone where a vehicle is directed to the at least one vehicle-queue after a driver gets out of the vehicle, said vehicle equipped with AVP functionality,
-a pick-up zone where the driver gets into the vehicle and picks up a passenger,
the method(100) characterized by the steps of:
-receiving a pick up request from the passenger, by the AVP infrastructure, through a passenger-device (101);
-estimating a resting time for the driver, by the AVP infrastructure, based on –
a position of the vehicle in the at least one vehicle-queue, and
the pick up request received from the passenger (102) ;
-communicating the estimated resting time to the driver, by the AVP infrastructure, to a driver-device (103);
-notifying the driver and the passenger, by the AVP infrastructure, when the vehicle reaches the pick up zone(104).

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, the method comprising the further steps of:
-directing the vehicle to a space in the at least one vehicle-queue, by a control unit in the AVP infrastructure (105),
wherein,
the-at least one vehicle-queue comprises a first and a second vehicle-queue (2b)such that a first number of vehicles in the first vehicle-queue is greater than a second number of vehicles in the second vehicle-queue, and
-directing the vehicle to the pick up zone, by the control unit, from the at least one vehicle-queue to the parking zone (106).

7. The method (100) as claimed in Claim 5, wherein, communicating with the vehicle, the passenger device and the driver-device, by a communication device in the AVP infrastructure.
8. The method as claimed in Claim 5, wherein, directing the vehicle from the second vehicle-queue (2b)to the pick-up zone, by the controller, when the passenger makes a premium pick-up request from the passenger device(100).