Method and apparatus for estimating a parking event based on device signal observations

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs,
• the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,
• receive a signal strength profile of a user device with respect to a location-fixed communication equipment, wherein the signal strength profile comprises signal strength data for the user device measured over a time series by the location-fixed communication equipment;
• process the signal strength profile to determine a signal event over the time series;
• and
• identifying a mobility event with respect to a mode of transportation occurring in a geographic area covered by the location-fixed communication equipment based on the signal event.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for generating parking occupancy data using a machine learning model, carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to at least perform the following steps:

• receiving signal strength data for a plurality of user devices located with a geographic area covered by a location-fixed communication equipment providing the signal strength data;
• processing the signal strength data to determine one or more signal fluctuations;
• and
• identifying one or more park-in events, one or more park-out events, or a combination thereof occurring in the geographic area based on the one or more signal fluctuations.