Vehicle parking availability map systems and methods

A parking availability map method, comprising:

• using a sensor-based parking space detection system coupled to a vehicle, detecting and identifying open and occupied parking spaces within a predetermined vicinity of the vehicle;
• and
• using a parking space data system, one or more of receiving open and occupied parking space data from the sensor-based parking space detection system and receiving a parking space availability query from a user disposed remotely from the parking space data system, and, responsive to the parking space availability query, transmitting parking space availability information to the user.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium stored in a memory and executed by a processor to perform the steps comprising one or more of:

• receiving open and occupied parking space data from a sensor-based parking space detection system, wherein the sensor-based parking space detection system is coupled to a vehicle and operable for detecting and identifying open and occupied parking spaces within a predetermined vicinity of the vehicle;
• and
• receiving a parking space availability query from a remote user, and, responsive to the parking space availability query, transmitting parking space availability information to the user.