System and method for providing distributed on-street valet parking with the aid of a digital computer

• US 10,417,912 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2015
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Conduent Business Services, LLC (Conduent, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Conduent Business Services, LLC (Conduent, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stefik, Mark Jeffrey, Bell, Alan G., Eldershaw, Craig, Good, Lance E., Greene, Daniel H., Torres, Francisco Eduardo, Uckun, Serdar, Cummins, David Preston, Partridge, Kurt
• Primary Examiner(s): Epstein, Brian M
• Application Number:
  US14/936,564
• Publication Number:
  US 20160063863A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,408 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/265 Personal security, identity or safety
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/00 Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/02 taking into account a variable factor such as distance or time, e.g. for passenger transport, parking systems or car rental systems G07B15/06 takes precedence; taximeters G07B13/00; parking meters per se G07F17/24; car rental systems per se G07B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0021 Access to services on a time-basis
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/246 provided with vehicle proximity-detectors detecting hidden masses, e.g. metal detectors, G01V, e.g. G01V3/00; proximity switches per se H03K17/00; traffic control systems G08G1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/12 Manually actuated calamity alarm transmitting arrangements emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm, activators, e.g. details of alarm push buttons mounted on an infrastructure
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/14 indicating individual free spaces in parking areas
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/142 external to the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/147 where the parking area is within an open public zone, e.g. city centre
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/148 Management of a network of parking areas
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A computer-implemented system and method for providing multi-locational curbside valet parking service is provided. A multiplicity of motor vehicle parking spaces are managed by a server. A plurality of smart parking devices and vehicle occupancy sensors are interfaced with the server. Use of a plurality of the parking spaces is reserved for a valet service. A reservation request for the use of the plurality of the parking spaces is accepted for use by the valet service for a period of time. Occupancy of the reserved parking spaces by a motor vehicle is sensed through the vehicle occupancy sensor. A valet drop-off location of at least one of the parking spaces that is reserved for the use of the valet service and is not occupied by a motor vehicle is identified. The valet drop-off location and a location of a lock box are provided to the motorist through a user interface.

Claims

1. A system for providing distributed on-street valet parking with the aid of a digital computer, comprising:

a server configured to manage a multiplicity of motor vehicle parking spaces disbursed over a plurality of physically-separate and openly-disbursed parking locations, the server configured to interface over a computer network and comprising a memory and a computer processor, the computer processor operatively coupled to the memory and configured to execute computer executable program modules;

a plurality of smart parking devices that are each located proximate to and which correspond to at least one of the parking spaces, each of the smart parking devices interfaced with the server via the computer network;

a plurality of vehicle occupancy sensors that are also each located proximate to and which correspond to least one of the parking spaces, each of the vehicle occupancy sensors interfaced with the server via the computer network;

a plurality of parking availability indicators that are each associated with each one of the parking spaces, each of the parking availability indicators interfaced with the server via the computer network, each of the parking availability indicators comprising a plurality of indications that correspond to an availability of each of the associated parking spaces for parking based upon actual, reserved and restricted use of the parking space;

a reservations module executed by the server and configured to reserve through the server use of a plurality of the parking spaces for a valet service, comprising;

a request module configured to accept a reservation request for the use of the plurality of the parking spaces that are specified by locations associated with the parking spaces, through the server, for use by the valet service for a period of time; and

an occupancy module configured to sense occupancy of the parking spaces that are reserved for the use of the valet service, through the vehicle occupancy sensor that corresponds to each of the parking spaces that are reserved for the use of the valet service, during the time period, and to provide the occupancy to the server via the network;

an availability module executed by the server and configured to indicate, through the parking availability indicators that correspond to each of the parking spaces that are reserved for use of the valet service, reserved use only of each of the parking spaces that are reserved for the use of the valet service; and

an on-street valet module executed by the server and configured to assist a curbside valet through the server in use of one or more of the parking spaces that have been reserved for use of the valet service, comprising;

a location module executed by the server and configured to identify the location of at least one of the plurality of the parking spaces reserved for the valet service, wherein the at least one parking space is not occupied by a motor vehicle;

an identification module executed by the server and configured to provide the location of the at least one parking space that was identified as reserved and not occupied to the curbside valet to a device used by the curbside valet that is interfaced with the server via the computer network via the network; and

an information receipt module executed by the server and configured to receive from the curbside valet a parking identification card of a user associated with a motor vehicle to occupy the at least one parking space and to initiate tracking of the motor vehicle.

2. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a check-in module executed by the server and configured to record, through the smart parking device that corresponds to the location of the at least one parking space that was identified as reserved and not occupied to the curbside valet, occupancy of the at least one parking space by a motorist'"'"'s motor vehicle and a time when the motorist is likely to return for a motor vehicle left with the curbside valet, and to notify, through that smart parking device, the curbside valet to park the motor vehicle of the motorist near to a valet pickup location as the time of the likely return of the motorist approaches as provided to the corresponding smart parking device from the server via the network.

3. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a lockbox located near to the location of the at least one parking space that was identified as reserved and not occupied to the curbside valet; and

a check-in module executed by the server and configured to record, through the smart parking device that corresponds to the location of the at least one parking space that was identified as reserved and not occupied to the curbside valet, occupancy of the at least one parking space by a motorist'"'"'s motor vehicle and a time when the motorist is likely to return for a motor vehicle left with the curbside valet, wherein a key for the motor vehicle is left in the lockbox by the curbside valet for retrieval by the motorist.

4. A system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of:

a designation module executed by the server and configured to monitor through the server occupancy of the plurality of the parking spaces by a motorist'"'"'s motor vehicle, which have been designated by the curbside valet as a valet drop-off location; and

a designation module executed by the server and configured to monitor through the server occupancy of the plurality of the parking spaces by a motorist'"'"'s motor vehicle, which have been designated by the curbside valet as located nearby a valet drop-off location.

5. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

the identification module executed by the server and configured to provide the location of the at least one parking space that was identified as reserved and not occupied to the curbside valet close to a destination identified by a motorist, as provided to a device used by the curbside valet that is interfaced with the server via the computer network;

a check-in module executed by the server and configured to record, through the smart parking device that corresponds to the location of the at least one parking space that was identified as reserved and not occupied to the curbside valet, occupancy of the at least one parking space by a motorist'"'"'s motor vehicle and a time when the motorist is likely to return for a motor vehicle left with the curbside valet, and to notify, through that smart parking device, the curbside valet to park the motor vehicle of the motorist near to a valet pickup location as the time of the likely return of the motorist approaches as provided to the corresponding smart parking device from the server via the network;

a customer module executed by server and configured to provide the location of the at least one parking space that was identified as reserved and not occupied from a device used by the curbside valet to a device used by a motorist.

6. A method for providing distributed on-street valet parking with the aid of a digital computer, comprising:

providing a server configured to interface over a computer network and comprising a memory and a computer processor, the computer processor operatively coupled to the memory and configured to execute computer execute modules, wherein the server manages a multiplicity of motor vehicle parking spaces disbursed over a plurality of physically-separate and openly-disbursed parking locations;

interfacing, by the computer processor via the computer network, a plurality of smart parking devices that are each located proximate to and which correspond to at least one of the parking spaces;

interfacing, by the computer processor via the computer network, a plurality of vehicle occupancy sensors that are also each physically located proximate to and which correspond to at least one of the parking spaces;

interfacing, by the computer processor via the computer network, a plurality of parking availability indicators that are each associated with at least one of the parking spaces, each of the parking availability indicators comprising a plurality of indications that correspond to an availability of each of the associated parking spaces for parking based upon actual, reserved and restricted use of the parking space;

reserving, by the server, use of a plurality of the parking spaces for a valet service, comprising;

accepting, by the server, a reservation request for the use of the plurality of the parking spaces that are specified by locations associated with the parking spaces for use by the valet service for a period of time; and

sensing occupancy of the parking spaces that are reserved for the use of the valet service by a motor vehicle, through the vehicle occupancy sensor that corresponds to each of the parking spaces that are reserved for the use of the valet service, during the time period, and providing the occupancy to the server via the network;

indicating reserved use only of each of the parking spaces that are reserved for the use of the valet service, by the parking availability indicator that corresponds to each of the parking spaces that are reserved for the use of the valet service;

assisting a curbside valet through the server in use of one or more of the parking spaces that have been reserved for use of the valet service, comprising;

identifying to a device used by the curbside valet that is interfaced with the server via the computer network the location of at least one of the plurality of the parking spaces reserved for the valet service, wherein the at least one parking space is not occupied by a motor vehicle;

providing the location of the at least one parking space that was identified as reserved and not occupied to the device used by the curbside valet; and

receiving from the curbside valet a parking identification card of a user associated with a motor vehicle to occupy the at least one parking space to initiate tracking of the motor vehicle.

7. A method according to claim 6, further comprising:

recording through the smart parking device that corresponds to the location of the at least one parking space that was identified as reserved and not occupied to the curbside valet, occupancy of the at least one parking space by a motorist'"'"'s motor vehicle and a time when the motorist is likely to return for a motor vehicle left with the curbside valet; and

notifying through that smart parking device, the curbside valet to park the motor vehicle of the motorist near to a valet pickup location as the time of the likely return of the motorist approaches as provided to the corresponding smart parking device from the server via the network.

8. A method according to claim 6, further comprising:

recording through the smart parking device that corresponds to the location of the at least one parking space that was identified as reserved and not occupied to the curbside valet, occupancy of the at least one parking space by a motorist'"'"'s motor vehicle and a time when the motorist is likely to return for a motor vehicle left with the curbside valet,

wherein a key for the motor vehicle is left in a lockbox located near to the location of the at least one parking space that was identified as reserved and not occupied to the curbside valet.

9. A method according to claim 6, further comprising at least one of:

monitoring through the server occupancy of the plurality of the parking spaces by a motorist'"'"'s motor vehicle, which have been designated by the curbside valet as a valet drop-off location; and

monitoring through the server occupancy of the plurality of the parking spaces by a motorist'"'"'s motor vehicle, which have been designated by the curbside valet as located nearby a valet drop-off location.

10. A method according to claim 6, further comprising:

providing the location of the at least one parking space that was identified as reserved and not occupied to the curbside valet close to a destination identified by a motorist to a device used by the curbside valet that is interfaced with the server via the computer network;

recording through the smart parking device that corresponds to the location of the at least one parking space that was identified as reserved and not occupied to the curbside valet, occupancy of the at least one parking space by a motorist'"'"'s motor vehicle and a time when the motorist is likely to return for a motor vehicle left with the curbside valet;

notifying through that smart parking device, the curbside valet to park the motor vehicle of the motorist near to a valet pickup location as the time of the likely return of the motorist approaches as provided to the corresponding smart parking device from the server via the network; and

providing the location of the at least one parking space that was identified as reserved and not occupied from a device used by the curbside valet to a device used by a motorist.

11. A system for providing distributed on-street valet parking with the aid of a digital computer, comprising:

a server configured to manage a multiplicity of motor vehicle parking spaces disbursed over a plurality of physically-separate and openly-disbursed parking locations, the server configured to interface over a computer network and comprising a memory and a computer processor, the computer processor operatively coupled to the memory and configured to execute computer executable program modules;

a plurality of smart parking devices that are each located proximate to and which correspond to at least one of the parking spaces, each of the smart parking devices interfaced with the server via the computer network;

a plurality of vehicle occupancy sensors that are also each located proximate to and which correspond to least one of the parking spaces, each of the vehicle occupancy sensors interfaced with the server via the computer network;

a plurality of parking availability indicators that are each associated with each one of the parking spaces, each of the parking availability indicators interfaced with the server via the computer network, each of the parking availability indicators comprising a plurality of indications that correspond to an availability of each of the associated parking spaces for parking based upon actual, reserved and restricted use of the parking space;

a reservations module executed by the server and configured to reserve through the server use of a plurality of the parking spaces for a valet service, comprising;

a request module configured to accept a reservation request for the use of the plurality of the parking spaces that are specified by locations associated with the parking spaces, through the server, for use by the valet service for a period of time; and

an occupancy module configured to sense occupancy of the parking spaces that are reserved for the use of the valet service by a motor vehicle, through the vehicle occupancy sensor that corresponds to each of the parking spaces that are reserved for the use of the valet service, during the time period, and to provide the occupancy to the server via the network;

an availability module executed by the server and configured to indicate, through the parking availability indicators that correspond to each of the parking spaces that are reserved for use of the valet service, reserved use only of each of the parking spaces that are reserved for the use of the valet service; and

a tracking module executed by the server and configured to assist the valet service through the server in use of the parking spaces that have been reserved, comprising;

a location module executed by the server and configured to identify the location of at least one of the plurality of the parking spaces reserved for the valet service, wherein the at least one parking space is not occupied by a motor vehicle;

an identification module executed by the server and configured to provide the location of the at least one parking space that was identified as reserved and not occupied to the valet service;

an information receipt module executed by the server and configured to receive from a curbside valet a parking identification card of a user associated with a motor vehicle to occupy the at least one parking space to initiate tracking of the motor vehicle; and

an occupancy module executed by the server and configured to track occupancy of the at least one parking space by the motorist'"'"'s motor vehicle based on the parking identification card and a time when the motorist is likely to return for a motor vehicle left with the curbside valet.

12. A system according to claim 11, further comprising:

a check-out module executed by the server and configured to notify, through one of the smart parking devices, the valet service of the location of the at least one parking space upon receipt of the identification information for the motorist through that smart parking device and to instruct the valet service to park the motor vehicle of the motorist near to a valet pickup location as the time of the likely return of the motorist approaches as provided to the that smart parking device from the server via the network.

13. A system according to claim 11, further comprising:

a check-in module executed by the server and configured to record, through the smart parking device that corresponds to the location of at least one parking space that has been designated as a drop-off location for the valet service, occupancy of at least one parking space by a motorist'"'"'s motor vehicle at a location other than that of the at least one parking space and a time when the motorist is likely to return for a motor vehicle left with the valet service.

14. A system according to claim 11, further comprising at least one of:

a designation module executed by the server and configured to monitor through the server occupancy of the plurality of the parking spaces by a motorist'"'"'s motor vehicle, which have been designated by the valet service as a valet drop-off location; and

a designation module executed by the server and configured to monitor through the server occupancy of the plurality of the parking spaces by a motorist'"'"'s motor vehicle, which have been designated by the valet service as located nearby a valet drop-off location.

15. A system according to claim 11, further comprising:

the identification module executed by the server and configured to provide the location of the at least one parking space that was identified as reserved and not occupied to the curbside valet close to a destination identified by a motorist, as provided to a device used by the curbside valet that is interfaced with the server via the computer network;

a check-in module executed by the server and configured to record, through the smart parking device that corresponds to the location of the at least one parking space that was identified as reserved and not occupied to the curbside valet, occupancy of the at least one parking space by a motorist'"'"'s motor vehicle and a time when the motorist is likely to return for a motor vehicle left with the curbside valet, and to notify, through that smart parking device, the curbside valet to park the motor vehicle of the motorist near to a valet pickup location as the time of the likely return of the motorist approaches as provided to the corresponding smart parking device from the server via the network;

a customer module executed by server and configured to provide the location of the at least one parking space that was identified as reserved and not occupied from a device used by the curbside valet to a device used by a motorist.

16. A method for providing distributed on-street valet parking with the aid of a digital computer, comprising:

providing a server configured to interface over a computer network and comprising a memory and a computer processor, the computer processor operatively coupled to the memory and configured to execute computer execute modules, wherein the server manages a multiplicity of motor vehicle parking spaces disbursed over a plurality of physically-separate and openly-disbursed parking locations;

interfacing, by the computer processor via the computer network, a plurality of smart parking devices that are each located proximate to and which correspond to at least one of the parking spaces;

interfacing, by the computer processor via the computer network, a plurality of vehicle occupancy sensors that are also each physically located proximate to and which correspond to at least one of the parking spaces;

interfacing, by the computer processor via the computer network, a plurality of parking availability indicators that are each associated with at least one of the parking spaces, each of the parking availability indicators comprising a plurality of indications that correspond to an availability of each of the associated parking spaces for parking based upon actual, reserved and restricted use of the parking space;

reserving, by the server, use of a plurality of the parking spaces for a valet service, comprising;

accepting, by the server, a reservation request for the use of the plurality of the parking spaces that are specified by locations associated with the parking spaces for use by the valet service for a period of time; and

sensing occupancy of the parking spaces that are reserved for the use of the valet service by a motor vehicle, through the vehicle occupancy sensor that corresponds to each of the parking spaces that are reserved for the use of the valet service, during the time period, and providing the occupancy to the server via the network;

indicating reserved use only of each of the parking spaces that are reserved for the use of the valet service, by the parking availability indicator that corresponds to each of the parking spaces that are reserved for the use of the valet service;

assisting the valet service through the server in use of the parking spaces that have been reserved, comprising;

identifying the location of at least one of the plurality of the parking spaces reserved for the valet service, wherein the at least one parking space is not occupied by a motor vehicle;

providing the location of the at least one parking space that was identified as reserved and not occupied to the valet service to a device used by the valet service that is interfaced with the server via the computer network;

receiving from a curbside valet a parking identification card of a user associated with a motor vehicle to occupy the at least one parking space; and

tracking occupancy of the at least one parking space by the motorist'"'"'s motor vehicle based on the parking identification card and a time when the motorist is likely to return for a motor vehicle left with the curbside valet.

17. A method according to claim 16, further comprising:

notifying through one of the smart parking devices, the valet service of the location of the at least one parking space upon receipt of the identification information for the motorist through that smart parking device; and

instructing the valet service to park the motor vehicle of the motorist near to a valet pickup location as the time of the likely return of the motorist approaches as provided to the that smart parking device from the server via the network.

18. A method according to claim 16, further comprising:

recording through the smart parking device that corresponds to the location of at least one parking space that has been designated as a drop-off location for the valet service, occupancy of at least one parking space by a motorist'"'"'s motor vehicle at a location other than that of the at least one parking space and a time when the motorist is likely to return for a motor vehicle left with the valet service.

19. A method according to claim 16, further comprising at least one of:

monitoring through the server occupancy of the plurality of the parking spaces by a motorist'"'"'s motor vehicle, which have been designated by the valet service as a valet drop-off location; and

monitoring through the server occupancy of the plurality of the parking spaces by a motorist'"'"'s motor vehicle, which have been designated by the valet service as located nearby a valet drop-off location.

20. A method according to claim 16, further comprising:

providing the location of the at least one parking space that was identified as reserved and not occupied to the curbside valet close to a destination identified by a motorist to a device used by the curbside valet that is interfaced with the server via the computer network;

recording through the smart parking device that corresponds to the location of the at least one parking space that was identified as reserved and not occupied to the curbside valet, occupancy of the at least one parking space by a motorist'"'"'s motor vehicle and a time when the motorist is likely to return for a motor vehicle left with the curbside valet;

notifying through that smart parking device, the curbside valet to park the motor vehicle of the motorist near to a valet pickup location as the time of the likely return of the motorist approaches as provided to the corresponding smart parking device from the server via the network; and

providing the location of the at least one parking space that was identified as reserved and not occupied from a device used by the curbside valet to a device used by a motorist.