Enchanced parking meter utilizing user identification technology

• US 20030132840A1
• Filed: 12/27/2002
• Published: 07/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Reuben Bahar
• Original Assignee: Reuben Bahar
• Inventors: Bahar, Reuben
• Granted Patent: US 7,019,670 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/541
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/04 Systems determining presence of a target based on relative movement of target G01S13/56
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/127 Shopping or accessing services according to a time-limitation
• 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 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• 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

Abstract

An enhanced parking meter system utilizing user identification technology to achieve improved efficiencies in the enforcement and regulation of parking meters. A user and/or vehicle is identified by communication of user data into the parking meter system. If the meter becomes expired with the vehicle remaining in the parking space, a citation will be electronically processed, in accordance with the user data, and thereafter delivered to the user or vehicle owner. Recognition of the user and/or vehicle further enables the system to limit the individual'"'"'s and/or vehicle'"'"'s parking time in front of a particular meter or designated cluster of meter. This would help regulate traffic within a municipality district as well as prevent people from parking in a metered location for excessive periods of time.

Claims

1. A parking meter system comprising the following components in addition to a parking meter and at lease one parking space:

a data processing element which processes data;

a detector which detects the presence of a vehicle in said parking space;

a data receiving element which receives user data communicated to said system, said system able to identify a user, said vehicle, or a combination thereof, by recognizing said communicated user data, said user data being communicated at or near said meter;

payment receiving element which provides a payment and payment amount signal responsive to a payment made by said user;

a timing element responsive to the presence of a vehicle, the communication of said user data, the payment and payment amount signal of the payment receiving element, or a combination thereof which indicates a time duration associated with use of said parking meter.

2. The parking meter of claim 1 further including an element which sends a time out signal when the combination of the payment and payment amount signal and the duration of the vehicle presence indicate a time out condition.

3. The parking meter of claim 1 further comprising:

a transceiver which transmits and receives data.

4. The parking meter of claim 1, wherein said data is transmitted and received between said system and at least one parking enforcement communication element.

5. The parking meter of claim 4, wherein said parking enforcement communication element comprises a mobile hand held computer, a remotely situated central computer station, or a combination thereof.

6. The parking meter system of claim 1, wherein said data is transmitted and received between said system and an area supervisor, said area supervisor remotely situated from said system and comprising a transceiver for transmitting and receiving data.

7. The parking meter system of claim 6, wherein said area supervisor is configured as a data communication medium between at least one of said systems and at least one parking enforcement communication element.

8. The parking meter system of claim 6, wherein said area supervisor further comprises:

a data storage element for storing said data.

9. The parking meter system of claim 7, wherein said parking enforcement communication element comprises a mobile hand held computer, a remotely situated central computer station, or a combination thereof.

10. The parking meter system of claim 1 further comprising:

a data storage element which stores said data.

11. The parking meter system of claim 1, wherein said data receiving element is a data card reader.

12. The parking meter system of claim 1 further comprising:

a data display screen which displays informative data.

13. The parking meter system of claim 12, wherein said informative data displayed includes data pertaining to a parking cycle.

14. The parking meter system of claim 12, wherein said informative data displayed includes advertisements.

15. The parking meter system of claim 1 further comprising:

an identification element containing said user data, said identification element being independent of said system and kept within the possession of said user, said vehicle, or a combination thereof.

16. The parking meter system of claim 15, wherein said identification element comprises a pre-paid parking card.

17. The parking meter system of claim 16, wherein said pre-paid parking card includes said user data and a payment source for purchasing parking time from said system.

18. The parking meter system of claim 1, further including a reset element which initiates a new parking control cycle upon detection of a new vehicle entering said parking space.

19. The parking meter system of claim 1, further including a delay mechanism which provides a predetermined grace time for said user to make payment or exit said parking space prior to said system initiating a time out phase.

20. The parking meter system of claim 1, wherein said user data includes data that can personally identify said user, data that identifies said vehicle, data that identifies said vehicle owner, data that pertains to a financial account related to said user, data containing history of said user or said vehicle, or a combination thereof.

21. The parking meter system of claim 1, wherein upon initiation of a time out phase a citation file is generated in accordance with data pertaining to the parking violation and said user data communicated to said system via said user'"'"'s identification element, said citation file being processed into a citation and delivered to said user.

22. The parking meter system of claim 1 further comprising:

a printing element capable of printing a citation, said printed citation thereafter residing in a compartment of said parking meter for said user to claim.

23. The parking meter system of claim 1, wherein said system limits a user'"'"'s parking time to a predetermined maximum allowance, said payment receiving element refusing to accept payment for parking at said meter when conditions indicate that said user has exceeded their maximum parking time allowance.

24. The parking meter system of claim 1, wherein said system is capable of aiding law enforcement locate individuals identified by said system, said individuals having communicated their user data into said system.

25. The parking meter system of claim 1, wherein said system provides enforcement of restricted district permit parking.

26. The parking meter system of claim 1, wherein said system generates statistical data pertaining to ongoing parking cycles which occur at said meter during a day, week, month, year, or a combination thereof.

27. The parking meter system of claim 1, wherein said system is configured to collect user data from a user of said system.

28. The parking meter system of claim 1, wherein said system is configured to collect statistical data pertaining to said user'"'"'s activities at or near the meter location.

29. The parking meter system of claim 1, wherein said payment is made to said system via an electronic transaction.

30. The parking meter system of claim 1, wherein said data processing element, detector, data receiving element, payment receiving element, timing element, or a combination thereof, may comprise an independent enhancement unit that can be installed onto said parking meter.

31. A parking meter comprising the following components in addition to at lease one parking space:

a data processing element which processes data;

a data receiving element which receives user data communicated to said meter, said meter able to identify a user, a vehicle, or a combination thereof, by recognizing said communicated user data, said user data being communicated at or near said meter;

housing element which provides an enclosure for said meter.

32. The parking meter of claim 31 further comprising:

a detector which detects the presence of a vehicle in said parking space.

33. The parking meter of claim 31 further comprising:

a payment receiving element which provides a payment and payment amount signal responsive to a payment made by said user.

34. The parking meter of claim 31 further comprising:

a payment receiving element and a timing element responsive to the presence of a vehicle, the communication of said user data, a payment and payment amount signal of the payment receiving element, or a combination thereof which indicates a time duration associated with use of said parking meter.

35. The parking meter of claim 34 further including an element which sends a time out signal when the combination of the payment and payment amount signal and the duration of the vehicle presence indicate a time out condition.

36. The parking meter of claim 31 further comprising:

a timing element responsive to the presence of a vehicle, the communication of said user data, or a combination thereof, which indicates a time duration associated with use of said parking meter.

37. The parking meter of claim 31 further comprising:

a transceiver which transmits and receives said data.

38. The parking meter of claim 31 further comprising:

a data storage element which stores said data.

39. The parking meter of claim 31, wherein said data receiving element is a data card reader.

40. The parking meter of claim 31 further comprising:

a data display screen which displays informative data.

41. The parking meter of claim 40, wherein said informative data displayed includes data pertaining to a parking cycle.

42. The parking meter of claim 40, wherein said informative data displayed includes data pertaining to benefits made available to said user.

43. The parking meter of claim 40, wherein said informative data displayed includes advertisements.

44. The parking meter of claim 31 further comprising:

an identification element containing said user data, said identification element being independent of said meter and kept within the possession of said user, said vehicle, or a combination thereof.

45. The parking meter of claim 31, further including a reset element which initiates a new parking control cycle upon detection of a new vehicle entering said parking space.

46. The parking meter of claim 31, wherein said system generates statistical data pertaining to ongoing parking cycles which occur at said meter during a day, week, month, year, or a combination thereof.

47. The parking meter of claim 31, wherein said meter is configured to collect user data from a user of said meter.

48. The parking meter of claim 31, wherein said meter is configured to collect statistical data pertaining to said user'"'"'s activities at or near the meter location.

49. The parking meter of claim 31, wherein said at least one of said meters is situated in a parking facility, said parking facility comprising at least one parking space and being remotely situated from the structure that said user intends to visit.

50. The parking meter of claim 31, wherein said at least one of said meters is situated within the structure that said user intends to visit, said structure being remotely situated from the parking facility wherein said parking facility comprises at least one parking space.

51. The parking meter Of claim 31, wherein said user data includes data that can personally identify said user, data that identifies said vehicle, data that identifies said vehicle owner, data that pertains to a financial account related to said user, data containing history of said user or said vehicle, or a combination thereof.

52. A parking meter enhancement unit for mounting on a parking meter comprising the following components:

a data processing element which processes data;

a data receiving element which receives user data communicated to said enhancement unit, said enhancement unit able to identify a user, a vehicle, or a combination thereof, by recognizing said communicated user data, said user data being communicated at or near said meter enhancement unit;

53. The enhancement unit of claim 52 further comprising:

a detector which detects the presence of a vehicle in said parking space.

54. The enhancement unit of claim 52 further comprising:

a payment receiving element which provides a payment and payment amount signal responsive to a payment made by said user.

55. The enhancement unit of claim 52 further comprising:

a payment receiving element and a timing element responsive to the presence of a vehicle, the communication of said user data, a payment and payment amount signal of the payment receiving element, or a combination thereof, which indicates a time duration associated with use of said parking meter.

56. The enhancement unit of claim 55 further including an element which sends a time out signal when the combination of the payment and payment-amount signal and the duration of the vehicle presence indicate a time out condition.

57. The parking meter of claim 52 further comprising:

a transceiver which transmits and receives said data.

58. The parking meter of claim 52 further comprising:

a data storage element which stores said data.

59. The parking meter of claim 52 further comprising:

a power source which provides power to said enhancement unit.

60. The enhancement unit of claim 52 further comprising:

a data display screen which displays informative data.

61. The enhancement unit of claim 52, further including a reset element which initiates a new parking control cycle upon detection of a new vehicle entering said parking space.

62. The enhancement unit of claim 52 further comprising:

a housing element which provides an enclosure for said enhancement unit.

63. The enhancement unit of claim 52, wherein said user data includes data that can personally identify said user, data that identifies said vehicle, data that identifies said vehicle owner, data that pertains to a financial account related to said user, data containing history of said user or said vehicle, or a combination thereof.

64. A method of issuing a citation for a parking violation occurring at a parking meter, said method comprising the steps of:

a. detecting the presence of a vehicle in a parking space;

b. initiating a new parking cycle at said parking space;

c. identifying said user, said vehicle, or a combination thereof, by recognizing user data, said user data communicated to said parking meter via said user'"'"'s identification element;

d. providing a payment receiving element which accepts payment from said user;

e. generating a citation for said user when the combination of the payment and payment amount signal and the duration of the vehicle)presence indicate a time out condition, said citation corresponding to said communicated user data and being issued without the need for an enforcement officer to physically arrive at the meter location;

f. delivering said citation to said user, vehicle owner, or a combination thereof.

65. The method of claim 64, further comprising a predetermined grace time for said user to make payment or exit said parking space prior to said system initiating a time out phase.

66. The method of claim 64, wherein said delivery of said citation is accomplished by printing said citation from a printing element of said parking meter, said printed citation thereafter residing in a compartment of said parking meter for said user to claim.

67. The method of claim 64, wherein said user data includes data that can personally identify said user, data that identifies said vehicle, data that identifies said vehicle owner, data that pertains to a financial account related to said user, data containing history of said user or said vehicle, or a combination thereof.

68. A method for limiting the duration in which a user of a parking meter may park at said meter, said method comprising the steps of:

a. detecting the presence of a vehicle in a parking space;

b. initiating a new parking cycle at said parking space;

c. identifying said user, said vehicle, or a combination thereof, by recognizing user data, said user data communicated to said parking meter via said user'"'"'s identification element;

d. rejecting payment made to said parking meter when conditions indicate that said user, said vehicle, or a combination thereof, has exceeded a maximum allowable parking time limit at said parking meter;

69. The method of claim 68, wherein said user data includes data that can personally identify said user, data that identifies said vehicle, data that identifies said vehicle owner, data that pertains to a financial account related to said user, data containing history of said user or said vehicle, or a combination thereof.

70. A method for collecting user data from a user of a parking meter, said method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a parking space for a user to park a vehicle;

b. providing a data receiving element for receiving user data communicated to said parking meter;

c. receiving said communicated user data, said user data communicated to said parking meter via said user'"'"'s identification element;

d. retrieving said communicated user data.

71. The method of claim 70 further comprising the step of:

providing incentive for said user to communicate said user data into said meter.

72. The method of claim 70, wherein said received user data is stored in a data storage element of said parking meter.

73. The method of claim 70 further including collection of statistical data from said meter, said statistical data pertaining to said user'"'"'s activities at or near the meter location.

74. The method of claim 70, wherein said at least one meter is situated in a parking facility, said parking facility comprising at least one parking space and being remotely situated from the structure that said user intends to visit.

75. The method of claim 70, wherein said at least one meter is situated within the structure that said user intends to visit, said structure being remotely situated from the parking facility wherein said facility comprises at least one parking space.

76. The method of claim 70, wherein said user data includes data that can personally identify said user, data that identifies said vehicle, data that identifies said vehicle owner, data that pertains to a financial account related to said user, data containing history of said user or said vehicle, or a combination thereof.