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 direct at least one vehicle from a parking zone to a vehicle wash facility in a parking infrastructure

[0002] Background of the invention

[0003] In large parking facilities where users park their vehicles for longer duration, the users can be provided a better experience by facilitating automatic vehicle wash along with parking where the vehicle may be automatically moved to the vehicle wash facility based on user request and the vehicle can then be parked back to its designated place.

[0004] In the prior art CN116645816 A, a parking garage management system and method is disclosed for integrated automatic vehicle washing, and the method comprises the steps: querying whether a user of a vehicle has a user instruction about whether the vehicle needs to be washed or not based on the license plate number of the vehicle entering the parking garage in response to the vehicle entering the parking garage; responding to a user instruction of a user about whether the vehicle needs to be washed during parking, and correspondingly issuing an instruction of transmitting the vehicle entering the garage to a vehicle washing device or a parking space to the parking garage; and in response to the fact that the user does not have a user instruction about whether the vehicle needs to be washed in the current parking, judging whether the vehicle needs to be washed in the current parking according to one or both of a vehicle parking and washing strategy pre-configured by the user and a trained vehicle parking and washing intelligent decision-making model, and an instruction for transmitting the vehicle entering the garage to the vehicle washing device or the parking space is correspondingly issued to the parking garage.
[0005] In the present invention, the user experience is enhanced by providing automatic vehicle wash over an automatic valet parking (AVP) functionality. The user can select vehicle wash option for their vehicle. Based on these vehicle wash requests by the users, a traffic load in the vehicle wash facility can be managed based on the availability of vehicle wash facility. Once the wash is complete, the vehicle will be driven back to one of the available parking spaces and the user would be notified that the vehicle wash is completed. The user/driver may be billed according to the services availed in the parking facility, that is, based on whether the user/driver has opted for parking facility or not the user/driver may be billed.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings
[0006] An embodiment of the invention is described with reference to the following accompanying drawings:
[0007] Figure 1 depicts a system to direct at least one vehicle from a parking zone to a vehicle wash facility.
[0008] Figure 2 depicts a flowchart for a method to direct at least one vehicle from a parking zone to a vehicle wash facility.

Detailed description of the drawings:

[0009] 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. Alternatively, the vehicles without in-vehicle sensors might be guided/navigated in an AVP-facility through infrastructure based sensors.

[0010] A vehicle can be dropped off at the gate of a parking area that has been modified to allow AVP functionality. The parking area uses sensors such as cameras, Lidar, radar and the like to assist vehicles in navigation and parking maneuver. to track vehicles and sensors in the ground to automatically notify free parking positions. According to an embodiment, the vehicle may rely on the onboard parking assistance systems and other autonomous driver assistance systems (ADAS) features to control the maneuver. When the vehicle is identified and allowed to enter the park area, it automatically connects to a WLAN. Through this WLAN the vehicle communicates with the parking area. The vehicle 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. The AVP facility infrastructure function will also automatically guide the vehicle from the parking position back to the gate when the driver requests it.

[0011] 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.

[0012] Referring to Figure (1), the same depicts a system to direct at least one vehicle (2) from a parking zone (3) to a vehicle wash facility (4) in a parking infrastructure (10). According to an aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, the Parking infrastructure (10) may be an automatic valet parking (AVP) infrastructure. Typically, the AVP infrastructure as known in the art includes sensors, communication devices, alarm devices, display devices, and a server device that controls those devices. The word ‘infrastructure’ 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 may include communication circuits to enable communication with external devices and processors for performing computation operations. The AVP infrastructure further includes sensors for detecting nearby objects and for measuring surrounding parameters. All determinations and computations in the AVP infrastructure may be performed by the processors included in the infrastructure.
[0013] According to the present invention, the parking infrastructure (10) comprises a parking zone (3) to park at least one vehicle (2). It is to be understood that multiple vehicles may be parked in the parking zone (3). These multiple vehicles may be, not limited to, two-wheelers such as motorcycles or scooters, three-wheelers such as auto-rickshaws, four-wheelers such as cars, and the like. The parking zone (3) may have sensors (including cameras) installed to detect parking availability/ slot occupancy.
[0014] According to the present invention, the parking infrastructure (10) comprises a vehicle wash facility (4). The vehicle wash facility (4) may comprise wash bays comprising water sprayers, brushes and rollers. The cleaning operation performed in the vehicle wash facility (4) may be automated or manual or a hybrid of automated and manual.

[0015] The parking infrastructure (10) comprises a controller (1). According to the present invention, the controller (1) may comprise processors to perform computation operations along with associated memory to store the embedded software. It is to be understood that the parking infrastructure (10) comprising the controller (1) may comprise Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) based entry/exit control mechanism, with automated control gate or boom barrier etc., slot sensors, all connected through a network. The controller (1) is in communication with said network.
[0016] Said network facilitates a wireless communication between the controller (1) and at least one vehicle (2) and, the controller (1) and at least one electronic device (6). The at least one vehicle (2) and the at least one electronic device (6) may be adapted to transmit and receive a signal according to a wireless communication protocol.

[0017] The network may facilitate transmission and reception of signals based on the wireless communication protocol including, not limitedly, wireless LAN (WLAN), digital living network alliance (DLNA), wireless broadband (Wibro), world interoperability for microwave access (Wimax), global system for mobile communication (GSM), code division multi access (CDMA), code division multi access 2000 (CDMA2000), enhanced voice-data optimized or enhanced voice-data only (EV-DO), wideband CDMA (WCDMA), high speed downlink packet access (HSPDA), high speed uplink packet access (HSUPA), IEEE802.16, long term evolution (LTE), long term evolution-advanced (LTE-A), wireless mobile broadband service (WMBS), Bluetooth, infrared data association (IrDA), ultra-wideband (UWB), ZigBee, near field communication (NFC), ultra sound communication (USC), visible light communication (VLC), Wi-Fi, and Wi-Fi direct. Examples of the cable communication protocol include, but not limited to, wired local area network (LAN), wired wide area network (WAN), power line communication (PLC), USB communication, Ethernet communication, serial communication, and optical/coaxial cable communication.

[0018] Further, in an example, the at least one vehicle (2) may comprise smart infotainment system to communicate with the controller (1) and to facilitate vehicle-to-vehicle communication through the said network. In an example, the at least one electronic device (6) may be a smart phone, a laptop or any other electronic device (6) capable of communicating wirelessly through the network as explained above.

[0019] Said controller (1) is adapted to detect an unclean condition of the at least one vehicle (2) in the parking zone (3). The unclean condition of the at least one vehicle (2) is detected by the controller (1) based on an input from at least one camera in the parking infrastructure (10), said at least one camera in communication with the controller (1).

[0020] The controller (1) is configured to implement a neural-network-based image classification model, said image classification model trained to predict the unclean condition of the vehicle. Said image classification model is trained with a first set of images comprising vehicles in the unclean condition and a second set of images comprising vehicles in clean condition. In an example, a trained image classification model may be deployed. In another example, the image classification model may capable of ‘incremental learning’ or ‘online learning’ with sensor data in real time. The model may be evaluated and fine tuned to achieve better accuracy. In an example, the image classification model may be further trained to analyze if a vehicle is ‘dirty’ or ‘dusty’ wherein, ‘dirty’ and ‘dusty’ represent two levels within the unclean condition of the vehicle. It is to be understood that that video classification models capable of frame-level processing may also be used. For that matter, any neural network based models capable of differentiating the clean/ un-clean condition of the vehicle based on inputs from cameras may be used. The same is not to be construed as limiting the scope of this invention.

[0021] Once the unclean condition of the at least one vehicle (2) is detected, the controller (1) communicates the unclean condition of the at least one vehicle (2) to at least one electronic device (6) through the network. In an example, a user of the at least one electronic device (6) may be the driver of the at least one vehicle (2). Based on this communication, the user might opt to avail the vehicle wash facility (4). The controller (1) is adapted to receive at least one vehicle (2) wash request from the at least one electronic device (6) through the network.
[0022] Alternatively, the user may opt for vehicle wash before the unclean condition of the at least one vehicle (2) is detected by the controller (1). That is, the at least one vehicle may be straightaway directed to the wash facility before detection of unclean condition of the at least one vehicle if the controller receives the vehicle wash request before detecting the unclean condition of the at least one vehicle. In an example, the user may opt only for vehicle wash facility and not parking facility.

[0023] The controller (1) is adapted to direct the at least one vehicle (2) from the parking zone (3) to the vehicle wash facility (4). The at least one vehicle (2) is triggered to be driven to the vehicle wash facility (4) in at least one of an automated mode comprising an Automated Valet Parking (AVP) feature.
[0024] The controller (1) determines a traffic load in the parking infrastructure (10) based on a number of vehicle wash request from the at least one electronic device (6) and directs the at least one vehicle (2) from the parking zone (3) to the vehicle wash facility (4) based on said determined traffic load. It is to be understood that multiple vehicle wash requests may lead to multiple vehicle-queues in the parking zone (3), wherein, vehicles will be queued up to be sent to the vehicle wash facility.

[0025] The controller determines the traffic load based on the number of vehicle wash requests and accordingly queues up the at least one vehicle to be directed to the vehicle wash facility. In an example, there may be separate vehicle queues for vehicles waiting to be washed under ‘premium wash requests’. If there are any premium vehicle wash requests the controller may direct the vehicles to these separate queues. According to an aspect of the present enclosure, the controller (1) directs a first vehicle from the parking zone (3) to the vehicle wash facility (4) before a second vehicle upon receiving a premium vehicle wash request from the at least one electronic device (6). The premium vehicle wash request may be made based on a ‘premium payment’ or based on scenarios where the user is willing to pay a fare price over a base fare price. In such situations, if the user needs urgent or early vehicle wash, the controller (1) may direct a vehicle from a shorter vehicle-queue with less number of vehicles waiting to receive vehicle wash to the vehicle wash facility (4).

[0026] A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the controller (1) is also adapted to direct the vehicle back to the parking zone(3) once the vehicle has been washed. The same is a logical consequence of the implementation of the present invention and not being explained further for the sake of brevity.

[0027] It is further stated 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.

[0028] Referring to Figure 2, the same depicts a flow chart for a method direct at least one vehicle from a parking zone to a vehicle wash facility in a parking infrastructure. The method (100) direct at least one vehicle from a parking zone to a vehicle wash facility in a parking infrastructure , as described below may be implemented by the system (10) as described in Figure 1 above, in the present disclosure.

[0029] The method (100) includes the first step (101) of detecting an unclean condition of the at least one vehicle, by the controller, said at least one vehicle in the parking zone. This is followed by the step (102) of communicating, by the controller, the unclean condition of the at least one vehicle to at least one electronic device through the network. The step (103) is receiving at least one vehicle wash request from the at least one electronic device through the network. This is followed by the step (104) of directing, by the controller, the at least one vehicle from the parking zone to the vehicle wash facility.

[0030] The controller is further adapted to detect the unclean condition of the at least one vehicle based on an input from at least one camera in the parking infrastructure, said at least one camera in communication with the controller. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the controller (1) is also adapted to direct the vehicle back to the parking zone(3) once the vehicle has been washed. The same is a logical consequence of the implementation of the present invention and not being explained further for the sake of brevity.

[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 a working example, the at least one vehicle is parked in a parking zone in the parking infrastructure. Said parking infrastructure may be equipped with AVP functionality and the at least one vehicle may be of at a pre-defined level of driving autonomy. Alternatively, the at least one vehicle may be driven manually. When the at least one vehicle arrives at the parking zone, the controller detects the unclean condition of the vehicle based on the image classification model and communicates the same to the at least one electronic device. Said at least one electronic device may be of driver(s)/user(s) of the vehicle. Based on the communication, the user(s) may opt for a vehicle wash functionality by requesting through at least one electronic device. The controller determines a traffic load based on the number of vehicle wash requests and accordingly queues up the at least one vehicle to be directed to the vehicle wash facility. In an example, there may be separate vehicle queues for vehicles waiting to be washed under ‘premium wash requests’. If there are any premium vehicle wash requests the controller may direct the vehicles to these separate queues.
, Claims:We Claim:
1. A controller (1) to direct at least one vehicle(2) from a parking zone(3) to a vehicle wash facility(4) in a parking infrastructure (10), said controller in communication with a network(5), said controller(1) adapted to:
-detect an unclean condition of the at least one vehicle(2) in the parking zone;
-communicate the unclean condition of the at least one vehicle to at least one electronic device (6) through the network(5);
-receive at least one vehicle wash request from the at least one electronic device (6) through the network(5); and
-direct the at least one vehicle(2) from the parking zone(3) to the vehicle wash facility (4).

2. The controller (1) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein, the network (5) facilitates a wireless communication between:

- the controller(1) and the at least one vehicle(2), and
-the controller(1) and the at least one electronic device(6),
the at least one vehicle and the at least one electronic device adapted to transmit and receive a signal according to a wireless communication protocol.

3. The controller(1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the unclean condition of the at least one vehicle is detected by the controller (1) based on an input from at least one camera in the parking infrastructure, said at least one camera in communication with the controller.

4. The controller(1) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein, the controller is configured to implement a neural-network-based image classification model, said image classification model trained to predict the unclean condition of the vehicle.

5. The controller as claimed in Claim 4, wherein, said image classification model (1a) is trained with a first set of images comprising vehicles in the unclean condition and a second set of images comprising vehicles in the clean condition.

6. The controller (1)as claimed in Claim 1, wherein, the controller (1) determines a traffic load in the parking infrastructure(10) based on a number of vehicle wash request from the at least one electronic device (6) and directs the at least one vehicle(2) from the parking zone (3) to the vehicle wash facility(4) based on said determined traffic load.

7. The controller (1)as claimed in Claim 1, wherein, the controller directs the first vehicle from the parking zone(3) to the vehicle wash facility(4) before a second vehicle upon receiving a premium vehicle wash request from the at least one electronic device.

8. The controller(1) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein, the at least one vehicle(2) is triggered to be driven to the vehicle wash facility in at least one of an automated mode comprising an Automated Valet Parking (AVP) feature.

9. A method(100) to direct at least one vehicle from a parking zone to a vehicle wash facility in a parking infrastructure by a controller, said controller in communication with a network, the method characterized by ,
-detecting an unclean condition of the at least one vehicle, by the controller, said at least one vehicle in the parking zone (101);
-communicating, by the controller, the unclean condition of the at least one vehicle to at least one electronic device through the network;
-receiving at least one vehicle wash request from the at least one electronic device through the network(102); and
-directing, by the controller, the at least one vehicle from the parking zone to the vehicle wash facility(103).

10. The method(100) as claimed in claim 9, exwherein, detecting by the controller, the unclean condition of the at least one vehicle based on an input from at least one camera in the parking infrastructure, said at least one camera in communication with the controller.