Parking Space Finder Lucia Wiguno April 8, 20004

Background Imagine driving in the busy metropolitan area, you can just use your cell-phones or the navigation system in your car to locate a parking space. Parking will be easier, faster, and more convenient Imagine driving in the busy metropolitan area, you can just use your cell-phones or the navigation system in your car to locate a parking space. Parking will be easier, faster, and more convenient

System overview The system will first detect whether the spot is empty or occupied. If it’s occupied then a controller will activate the transponder and start scanning the tag that is attached in the front window of the car, this works exactly the same way as ez- pass. This system will not only be great as part of payment but it also gives us further access and application to the information obtained from the tags.

System overview (continued) Each spot will be considered individually so the system will be installed in each one of them The new parking meter will contain a controller and a time- stamp that will do the tracking. The information obtained from the tags will then be transferred to the main computer and processed for further application

Components of the system Detection Detection Sensors that can detect pressure are used to detect whether a spot is empty or not Sensors that can detect pressure are used to detect whether a spot is empty or not Sensors communicate with each other using transmitter and antennas Sensors communicate with each other using transmitter and antennas Assign one sensor to be the sink node that acts as a cluster master. It will coordinate the information and then connected to a controller which will scan the tags in the front window of the car Assign one sensor to be the sink node that acts as a cluster master. It will coordinate the information and then connected to a controller which will scan the tags in the front window of the car

Detection In each parking spot, two mats will be installed, the mats will have sensors that can detect pressure, antennas, and transmitters In each parking spot, two mats will be installed, the mats will have sensors that can detect pressure, antennas, and transmitters One of the mat will be connected directly to the parking meter that contains the controller One of the mat will be connected directly to the parking meter that contains the controller

How do the sensors work? In this scheme a car can only do parallel parking. When it is parking the rear wheels will reach the parking spot first, the rear wheels will give pressure to the mats. Once pressure is detected then the transmitter will send a message to the antenna on the other mat. The mat which receives this message then know that it is expecting to detect the pressure from the front wheel. The time it takes to transmit the message should be less than the time it takes the front wheels to press the mat. This process of transmitting will be done continuously. The same procedure is done when the car is leaving the parking spot. Once a car is detected in the spot then the mat will activate the controller in the parking meter and the controller will then scan the ID in the tag In this scheme a car can only do parallel parking. When it is parking the rear wheels will reach the parking spot first, the rear wheels will give pressure to the mats. Once pressure is detected then the transmitter will send a message to the antenna on the other mat. The mat which receives this message then know that it is expecting to detect the pressure from the front wheel. The time it takes to transmit the message should be less than the time it takes the front wheels to press the mat. This process of transmitting will be done continuously. The same procedure is done when the car is leaving the parking spot. Once a car is detected in the spot then the mat will activate the controller in the parking meter and the controller will then scan the ID in the tag

Components of the system (continued) Tracking and collecting data Tracking and collecting data Each car will have a tag (Ez-pass) which is a passive transponder so there are no batteries in the transponder. Each car will have a tag (Ez-pass) which is a passive transponder so there are no batteries in the transponder. The transponder transmits its unique identification number to a controller when it is moved into magnetic field generated by a send antenna. The antenna will generate current to power the tag. The transponder transmits its unique identification number to a controller when it is moved into magnetic field generated by a send antenna. The antenna will generate current to power the tag.

Tracking and data collection The controller scans the ID from the transponder and stores the data in its memory The controller scans the ID from the transponder and stores the data in its memory Data will be transferred to the main computer. The controller will be connected to the main computer using the direct line or wireless connection Data will be transferred to the main computer. The controller will be connected to the main computer using the direct line or wireless connection We will also put a time stamp in this controller so that it can record the time it takes for a car to park in the spot We will also put a time stamp in this controller so that it can record the time it takes for a car to park in the spot The process of scanning will be done continuously until the car leaves the spot The process of scanning will be done continuously until the car leaves the spot

Data processing Data from the controller will be sent directly and continuously to the computer. Data contains the ID which tells which car parks in the spot so that the owner’s account registered under this ID will be deducted according to how long he parks in the spot. Data from the controller will be sent directly and continuously to the computer. Data contains the ID which tells which car parks in the spot so that the owner’s account registered under this ID will be deducted according to how long he parks in the spot. Data in the main computer will then be processed further, for example: we can create web service where user can put in queries to find out which parking spots are empty in a certain area Data in the main computer will then be processed further, for example: we can create web service where user can put in queries to find out which parking spots are empty in a certain area

Application The information about the parking spot can be processed such that those cars which have navigation system can then access this information The information about the parking spot can be processed such that those cars which have navigation system can then access this information This information can also be access through the cell-phones. The information will first need to be accessible through the web service. This information can also be access through the cell-phones. The information will first need to be accessible through the web service.

Application (continued) How does it work with a cell-phone? How does it work with a cell-phone? For those who don’t have navigation system in their cars, they can use their cell-phones. They need to dial a certain number from the cell-phones (just like dialing 411). The operators will answer the phones, they will have the access to the information through the web service and they will direct the callers to the empty spot. For those who don’t have navigation system in their cars, they can use their cell-phones. They need to dial a certain number from the cell-phones (just like dialing 411). The operators will answer the phones, they will have the access to the information through the web service and they will direct the callers to the empty spot.

Application (continued) Access through the cell-phones is preferable because if an operator is directing a caller to an empty spot then during the same period, another operator is not able to direct a different caller to the same spot. There is more control with the cell- phones. In the case of navigation system, we can’t track an approaching car that is also targeting the same spot. Access through the cell-phones is preferable because if an operator is directing a caller to an empty spot then during the same period, another operator is not able to direct a different caller to the same spot. There is more control with the cell- phones. In the case of navigation system, we can’t track an approaching car that is also targeting the same spot.