Parking system for sending messages

• US 20040094619A1
• Filed: 11/07/2003
• Published: 05/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CDS Worldwide Pty Ltd.
• Original Assignee: CDS Worldwide Pty Ltd.
• Inventors: Silberberg, Michael E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,237,716 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/382
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/127 Shopping or accessing services according to a time-limitation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0284 Time or distance, e.g. usage of parking meters or taximeters
• 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

The present invention provides a parking system having a parking meter in close proximity to a corresponding parking bay in which a user'"'"'s vehicle is able to be parked. A payment receiving means is further provided for receiving payment and thereafter establishing a parking period in which the vehicle is able to be legitimately parked in the bay. There is provided a communication means for sending a message to the user'"'"'s mobile phone prior to the expiry of the parking period. The message alerts the user that the parking period will soon expire and that the user must either move the vehicle before the expiry of the parking period or make an additional payment, if allowable, to remain legitimately parked.

Claims

1. A parking system comprising:

a parking meter for location in close proximity to a corresponding parking bay in which a user'"'"'s vehicle is able to be parked;

a payment receiving means for receiving payment and thereafter establishing a parking period in which th vehicle is able to be legitimately parked in the bay;

a communication means for sending a message to the user'"'"'s mobile phone prior to the expiry of the parking period, said message alerting the user that the parking period will soon expire and that the user must either move the vehicle before the expiry of the parking period or make an additional payment, if allowable, to remain legitimately parked.

2. A parking system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said payment receiving means comprises at least one of:

a coin receipt means for accepting coinage;

a note receipt means for accepting notes;

a card reader for receiving credit card or smart card payments; and

/or

a receiver for receiving a mobile telephone call wherein the user can pay electronically using the mobile telephone.

3. A parking system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said payment receiving means comprises:

a coin receipt means for accepting coinage;

a note receipt means for accepting bank notes;

a card reader for receiving credit card or smart card payments; and

a receiver for rec iving a telephone call wher after the user can pay lectronically using a telephone.

4. A parking system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the payment receiving means is provided by the parking meter.

5. A parking system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the parking meter has an input pad for entering a user'"'"'s mobile telephone number.

6. A parking system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the input pad is a keypad or a touch screen display.

7. A parking system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the communication means is located in the parking meter and, in use, is connected to a remote central station via a wireless link.

8. A parking system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the communication means is located at a remote location and, in use, is connected to the parking meter via a wireless link.

9. A parking system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the parking system includes a processor for:

storing a mobile telephone number provided by the user;

calculating the parking period based on the payment received; and

compiling the message to be sent.

10. A parking system as claimed in claim 9 wherein compiling the message involves retrieving a message and the user'"'"'s mobile telephone number from a storage medium.

11. A parking system as claimed in claim 1 wher in the message is a short text message (SMS) message.

12. A parking system for sending messages to a receiver via a wireless communication link comprising:

a timer means for establishing when a pre-determined time condition is met for a user'"'"'s vehicle parked within a parking area regulated by said parking system, said user having an account which is linked to said receiver; and

a communication means for sending a message to said receiver when said pre-determined time condition is met and said user'"'"'s vehicle remains parked within said parking area.

13. A parking system as claimed in claim 12 wherein said parking area is a parking bay in which said vehicle can park, said parking bay being in close proximity to a corresponding parking meter.

14. A parking system as claimed in claim 13 wherein once said user has paid a fee for parking said vehicle, said account has a credited time balance which decreases over time, and said pre-determined time condition is when said time balance remaining is less than a fixed period before expiry.

15. A parking system as claimed in claim 14 wherein said receiver is a transceiver and upon receipt of said message by said transceiver, said user can send a return message to said communication means for increasing said time balance of said account.

16. A parking system as claimed in claim 13 wherein said pre-determined time condition is when said vehicle has been parked in said parking bay for greater than a fixed period, said fixed period being before the expiration of a maximum allowable time limit.

17. A parking system as claimed in claim 13 wherein said pre-determined time condition is when the time of day is within a fixed period before a pending change in a maximum allowable time limit for parking said vehicle in said parking bay, said change being related to the time of day.

18. A parking system as claimed in claim 12 wherein said receiver is a mobile telephone and said account has a record of said mobile telephone'"'"'s number thereby linking said account to said mobile telephone.

19. A parking system as claimed in claim 18 wherein said message is a pre-recorded voice message or short message service (SMS) message.

20. A parking system as claimed in claim 12 wherein said parking area is a car park comprising a plurality of parking spaces in which said vehicle can park.

21. A parking system as claimed in claim 20 wherein said pre-determined time condition is when the time of day is within a fixed period before said car park closes for the day.

22. A parking system as claimed in claim 20 wherein said pre-determined time condition when said vehicle has been parked in said car park for a time greater than a fixed period.