Low-power vehicle detection
First Claim
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1. A method of operating a parking meter, the method comprising:
- (a) detecting an object in proximity to a parking meter by a proximity sensor, the detecting being based on a change in a proximity measurement at the meter, wherein the proximity sensor is selected from the group consisting of;
a radio transceiver, a magnetometer, an optical sensor, and a pressure sensor;
(b) activating a directional sensor in response to detecting the object;
(c) receiving sensor data at a meter processor from the directional sensor, the received sensor data indicating a predetermined direction to the detected object relative to the parking meter;
(d) determining a presence of the object, or lack thereof, in the predetermined direction based on a proximity measurement by the proximity sensor and the sensor data; and
(e) upon a determination of the presence of the object, or the lack thereof, storing an indication of the presence of the object, or the lack thereof, along with a time of the determination.
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Abstract
A parking meter detects an object in proximity, based on a change in a proximity measurement at the meter, activates a directional sensor in response to detecting the object, receives sensor data at a meter processor from the directional sensor, wherein the received sensor data indicates a predetermined direction to the detected object relative to the meter. The parking meter determines a presence of the object, or lack thereof, in the predetermined direction based on the sensor data, and upon a positive determination of the presence of the object, stores an indication of the presence of the object along with a time of the positive determination.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of operating a parking meter, the method comprising:
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(a) detecting an object in proximity to a parking meter by a proximity sensor, the detecting being based on a change in a proximity measurement at the meter, wherein the proximity sensor is selected from the group consisting of;
a radio transceiver, a magnetometer, an optical sensor, and a pressure sensor;(b) activating a directional sensor in response to detecting the object; (c) receiving sensor data at a meter processor from the directional sensor, the received sensor data indicating a predetermined direction to the detected object relative to the parking meter; (d) determining a presence of the object, or lack thereof, in the predetermined direction based on a proximity measurement by the proximity sensor and the sensor data; and (e) upon a determination of the presence of the object, or the lack thereof, storing an indication of the presence of the object, or the lack thereof, along with a time of the determination. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A parking meter comprising:
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(a) a proximity sensor configured to detect an object in proximity to the parking meter based on a proximity measurement, and configured to produce a trigger signal in response to the detection of the object, wherein the proximity sensor is selected from the group consisting of;
a radio transceiver, a magnetometer, an optical sensor, and a pressure sensor;(b) a directional sensor configured to detect the object in a predetermined direction relative to the parking meter; and (c) a control module coupled to the proximity sensor and the directional sensor and configured to; i. receive the trigger signal from the proximity sensor and, in response to receiving the trigger signal, activate the directional sensor, ii. receive sensor data from the directional sensor, iii. determine a presence of the object, or lack thereof, in the predetermined direction based on the proximity measurement and the received sensor data, and iv. upon a determination of the presence of the object, or lack thereof, store an indication of the presence of the object, or lack thereof, along with a time of the determination. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification