Parking status control system and method
First Claim
1. An automated parking space monitoring system configured to monitor a plurality of parking spaces, said monitoring system comprising:
- A. a database comprising a unique space identification associated with each of said parking spaces;
B. a plurality of vehicle presence detectors, wherein each vehicle presence detector is configured to provide an indication of the presence of a vehicle in an associated one of said parking spaces;
C. one or more transceivers configured to generate an authorization signal as a function of a set of valid inputs;
D. a communication means, associated with one or more of said parking spaces and configured to receive;
1) vehicle presence indications from a corresponding set of vehicle presence detectors; and
2) authorization signals from said transceivers; and
E. a controller coupled to said database and said communication means, said controller configured to selectively authorize use of an occupied space, from said plurality of parking spaces, as function of;
1) a space identification corresponding to said occupied space;
2) a vehicle presence indication associated with said occupied space; and
3) an authorization signal associated with said occupied space, wherein said communication means includes at least one of a wireless communication link or a wired communication link.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A parking status control system and method allow a parking space, or plurality of parking spaces, to be automatically monitored to detect unauthorized occupancy. The system and method may be applied to metered parking spaces or to other situations where controlled access to a parking space or area is desired. The presence or lack of a vehicle in a monitored parking space is determined using a vehicle presence detector, which communicates a signal indicative of such presence to a central system. A user or vehicle based authorization module is configured to transmit an authorization input to facilitate automated satisfaction of a space authorization device, e.g., payment of a parking meter. If there is occupancy, but no proper authorization input, the central system declares a violation and communicates the violation to another system or individual charged with taking corrective action.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. An automated parking space monitoring system configured to monitor a plurality of parking spaces, said monitoring system comprising:
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A. a database comprising a unique space identification associated with each of said parking spaces;
B. a plurality of vehicle presence detectors, wherein each vehicle presence detector is configured to provide an indication of the presence of a vehicle in an associated one of said parking spaces;
C. one or more transceivers configured to generate an authorization signal as a function of a set of valid inputs;
D. a communication means, associated with one or more of said parking spaces and configured to receive;
1) vehicle presence indications from a corresponding set of vehicle presence detectors; and
2) authorization signals from said transceivers; and
E. a controller coupled to said database and said communication means, said controller configured to selectively authorize use of an occupied space, from said plurality of parking spaces, as function of;
1) a space identification corresponding to said occupied space;
2) a vehicle presence indication associated with said occupied space; and
3) an authorization signal associated with said occupied space, wherein said communication means includes at least one of a wireless communication link or a wired communication link. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An automated parking space monitoring system configured to monitor a plurality of parking spaces, said monitoring system comprising:
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A. a database comprising a unique space identification associated with each of said parking spaces;
B. a plurality of vehicle presence detectors, wherein each vehicle presence detector is configured to provide an indication of the presence of a vehicle in an associated one of said parking spaces;
C. one or more transceivers configured to generate an authorization signal as a function of a set of valid inputs;
D. a communication means, associated with one or more of said parking spaces and configured to receive;
1) vehicle presence indications from a corresponding set of vehicle presence detectors; and
2) authorization signals from said transceivers; and
E. a controller coupled to said database and said communication means, said controller configured to selectively authorize use of an occupied space, from said plurality of parking spaces, as function of;
1) a space identification corresponding to said occupied space;
2) a vehicle presence indication associated with said occupied space; and
3) an authorization signal associated with said occupied space, wherein said controller is further configured to generate a violation signal as a function of said vehicle presence indication and the absence of said authorization signal. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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12. An automated parking space monitoring system configured to monitor a plurality of parking spaces, said monitoring system comprising:
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A. a database comprising a unique space identification associated with each of said parking spaces;
B. a plurality of vehicle presence detectors, wherein each vehicle presence detector is configured to provide an indication of the presence of a vehicle in an associated one of said parking spaces;
C. one or more transceivers configured to generate an authorization signal as a function of a set of valid inputs;
D. a communication means, associated with one or more of said parking spaces and configured to receive;
1) vehicle presence indications from a corresponding set of vehicle presence detectors; and
2) authorization signals from said transceivers; and
E. a controller coupled to said database and said communication means, said controller configured to selectively authorize use of an occupied space, from said plurality of parking spaces, as function of;
1) a space identification corresponding to said occupied space;
2) a vehicle presence indication associated with said occupied space; and
3) an authorization signal associated with said occupied space, wherein said controller includes an interface with the Internet and includes means to communicate information and messages from the Internet and World Wide Web to and from said transceiver.
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15. A monitor device, for use with a parking space monitoring system configured to selectively authorize use of uniquely identified parking spaces, said parking space monitoring system including a set vehicle presence detectors associated with said parking spaces and one or more transceivers, each transceiver configured to generate a space-specific authorization signal for a given on of said parking spaces, wherein said parking space monitoring system is further configured to generate a space-specific violation signal in response to the presence of a vehicle in said parking space and absence of said authorization signal, said monitor device comprising:
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A. a processor coupled to a storage device and a power source;
B. a receiver coupled to said processor and configured to receive said violation signal; and
C. a set of output mechanisms coupled to said processor and configured to output signals indicative of receipt of said violation signal, wherein said output device includes a display configured to render an indication of said parking space corresponding to said violation signal.
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23. A portable transceiver, for use with a parking space monitoring system configured to selectively authorize use of a parking space, from a database of uniquely identified parking spaces, said portable transceiver comprising:
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A. a processor coupled to a storage device and a power source;
B. a set of user input devices, configured to facilitate entry of a set of valid inputs, said valid inputs including at least one of an identification of a user, an identification of said transceiver, or parking credit, credit, or debit account information;
C. a signal generator configured to generate an authorization signal as a function of said set of valid inputs, wherein said authorization signal and a vehicle presence indication from a space oriented vehicle detector are required by said parking space monitoring system to authorize use of said parking space; and
D. a transmitter configured to transmit said authorization signal in response to manipulation, said transmission via a communication means that includes a wireless path.
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33. A parking meter associated with at least one parking space, for use with a parking space monitoring system including vehicle presence detectors associated with a plurality of uniquely identified parking spaces represented in a database, said parking space monitoring system configured to selectively authorize use of said parking spaces, said parking meter comprising:
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A. a meter transceiver, including;
1) a processor coupled to a storage device and a power source;
2) a signal generator configured to generate an authorization signal as a function of a set of valid inputs, wherein said authorization signal and a vehicle presence indication from a corresponding vehicle presence detector are required by said parking space monitoring system to authorize use of said parking space; and
3) a communication means configured to transmit said authorization signal via a network;
B. a set of user input devices, configured to facilitate entry of at least some of said set of valid inputs, said set of valid inputs including at least one of an identification of a user, an identification of said transceiver, or parking credit information, credit account information, or debit account information; and
C. a set of output devices, configured to present output information. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A method of monitoring a plurality of parking spaces, said method comprising:
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A. detecting with a vehicle presence detector a vehicle in an occupied space, from said plurality of parking spaces, and generating a vehicle presence indication corresponding to said occupied space;
B. generating with a transceiver an authorization signal as a function of a set of valid inputs; and
C. communicating said vehicle presence indication and said authorization signal via one or more communication means to a controller that is coupled to a database comprising a unique space identification associated with each of said parking spaces; and
D. authorizing, by said controller, use of said occupied parking space as a function of a space identification corresponding to said occupied space and said vehicle presence indication and said authorization signal. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification