Concept for checking a sensor system for detecting an occupancy state of a parking space for errors

A device for checking a sensor system for detecting an occupancy state of a parking space for motor vehicles, which is included in a motor vehicle, for errors, wherein the device is designed to:

• provide a reference data set for a parking space ascertained independently of the sensor system to be checked, the reference data set including a reference occupancy state of the parking space, the reference occupancy state being assigned a first detection point in time which indicates when the reference occupancy state was detected;
• receive an occupancy state of the parking space detected with the aid of the sensor system of the motor vehicle via a communication network, the occupancy state being assigned a second detection point in time which indicates when the occupancy state was detected with the aid of the sensor system, the second detection point in time being chronologically after the first detection point in time;
• ascertain a time difference between the first and the second detection points in time;
• compare the ascertained time difference to a predetermined time difference threshold value;
• and
• when the ascertained time difference is less than or less than/equal to the predetermined time difference threshold value, compare the detected occupancy state of the parking space to the reference occupancy state to check the sensor system for errors.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium on which is stored a computer program, including program code for checking a sensor system for detecting an occupancy state of a parking space for motor vehicles, which is included in a motor vehicle, for errors, the computer program, when executed by a processor, causing the processor to perform:

• providing a reference data set for a parking space ascertained independently of the sensor system to be checked, the reference data set including a reference occupancy state of the parking space, the reference occupancy state being assigned a first detection point in time which indicates when the reference occupancy state was detected;
• receiving an occupancy state of the parking space detected with the aid of the sensor system of the motor vehicle via a communication network, the occupancy state being assigned a second detection point in time which indicates when the occupancy state was detected with the aid of the sensor system, the second detection point in time being chronologically after the first detection point in time;
• ascertaining a time difference between the first and the second detection points in time;
• comparing the ascertained time difference to a predetermined time difference threshold value;
• and
• when the ascertained time difference is less than or less than/equal to the predetermined time difference threshold value, comparing the detected occupancy state of the parking space to the reference occupancy state to check the sensor system for errors.