Parking management system and method using lighting system

摘要

A system and a method for detecting availability of a parking space in a parking facility are provided. A first method has the steps of providing a lighting system having at least one visible-light source for illumination of at least part of the parking space. Providing an available space time-of-flight trace. Providing an availability threshold value. Illuminating the at least part of the parking space using the at least one visible-light source. Emitting a status visible-light signal from the visible-light source in the predetermined direction toward the predetermined target in the parking space. Capturing a status reflection trace at the visible-light source. Determining a time-of-flight difference value by comparing the status reflection trace to the available space time-of-flight trace. Comparing the time-of-flight difference value with the availability threshold value and determining a status of the parking space to be one of available and not available. Another method has the steps of providing a lighting system having at least one visible-light source for illumination of at least part of the parking space. Providing a camera. Providing an available space region value. Providing an availability threshold value. Illuminating the at least part of the parking space using the at least one visible-light source. Emitting visible light from the visible-light source in the predetermined direction to the predetermined target in the parking space. Capturing a reflection of the emitted visible light at the camera and determining a status region value. Determining a region difference value by comparing the status region value to the available space region value. Comparing the region difference value with the availability threshold value and determining a status of the parking space to be one of available and not available.