Method, Apparatus and System for Parking Overstay Detection

• US 20070285281A1
• Filed: 05/09/2005
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vehicle Monitoring Systems Pty Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Vehicle Monitoring Systems Pty Ltd.
• Inventors: Welch, Fraser
• Granted Patent: US 7,825,826 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/932.200
• 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 17/246 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: G08G 1/14 indicating individual free spaces in parking areas

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses and systems for identifying overstay of a vehicle in a parking space are disclosed herein. The method comprises the steps of detecting presence of a vehicle in a parking space using a detection apparatus, processing and storing data relating to presence of the vehicle in the detection apparatus, wirelessly waking-up the detection apparatus, wirelessly retrieving at least a portion of the data from the detection apparatus, and identifying overstay of the vehicle in the parking space based on the retrieved data. Wireless wake-up of a detection apparatus may be irregularly performed by an occasionally present data collection apparatus, Apparatuses and systems are disclosed for performing the foregoing method.

Claims

1-33. -33. (canceled)

34. :

A method performed by a subterraneous detection apparatus for identifying overstay of a vehicle in a parking space, said method comprising the steps of;

detecting presence of a vehicle in said parking space;

processing and storing data relating to presence of said vehicle in said parking space;

determining whether said vehicle has overstayed a defined time duration in said parking space; and

wirelessly transmitting data relating to identified instances of overstay of said vehicle in said parking space.

35. :

The method of claim 34, wherein said step of wirelessly transmitting is performed in response to receipt of a wireless wake-up signal.

36. :

The method of claim 35, wherein wireless wake-up signals are received irregularly with respect to time.

37. :

The method of claim 35, wherein said wireless wake-up signal is received from a portable data collection apparatus.

38. :

The method of claim 35, wherein said wireless wake-up signal is received from a portable data collection apparatus located in a moving vehicle.

39. :

The method of claim 34 or claim 35, wherein said detection apparatus performs said step of detecting by measuring changes in the earth'"'"'s magnetic field resulting from presence or absence of a vehicle in said parking space

40. :

The method of claim 34 or claim 35, wherein said step of processing and storing data relating to presence of the vehicle comprises one or more of the steps from the group of steps consisting of;

determining presence duration of the vehicle in said parking space and storing a record thereof; and

determining vehicle movements in and out of said parking space and storing time-stamped records thereof.

41. :

The method of claim 34 or claim 35, comprising the further step of determining an overstay duration of the vehicle in said parking space and storing a record thereof.

42. :

The method of claim 34 or claim 35, comprising the further step of wirelessly communicating with a detection apparatus in another parking space.

43. :

The method of claim 34 or claim 35, comprising the further step of selecting said defined time duration from a plurality of stored time durations based on the current time.

44. :

A battery-powered apparatus for subterraneous installation for identifying overstay of a vehicle in a parking space, said apparatus comprising;

a detector adapted to detect presence of a vehicle in the parking space;

a processor coupled to said detector, said processor adapted to process and store data received from said detector and to determine whether said vehicle has overstayed a defined time duration in said parking space;

a radio receiver coupled to said processor for receiving wake-up signals; and

a radio transmitter coupled to said processor for transmitting data relating to identified instances of overstay of said vehicle in said parking space.

45. :

The battery-powered apparatus of claim 44, wherein said radio transmitter wirelessly transmits said data in response to receipt of a wake-up signal from a data collection apparatus located remotely from said parking space.

46. :

The battery-powered apparatus of claim 45, wherein wireless wake-up signals are received at irregular intervals in time.

47. :

The battery-powered apparatus of claim 44 or claim 45, further comprising a real-time clock coupled to said processor.

48. :

The battery-powered apparatus of claim 47, wherein said processor is adapted to select said defined time duration from a plurality of stored time durations on the basis of data received from said real-time clock.

49. :

The battery-powered apparatus of claim 48, comprising a radio receiver for receiving parking time duration data associated with said parking space.

50. :

The battery-powered apparatus of claim 44 or claim 45, wherein said detector comprises one or more detection devices selected from the group of detection devices consisting of;

a magnetometer device for detecting changes in the earth'"'"'s magnetic field;

a pulse induction device for metal detection; and

an ultrasonic device for measuring distance.

51. :

The battery-powered apparatus of claim 44 or claim 45, wherein said detector comprises a magnetometer that measures magnetic field variations in an axis parallel to the earth'"'"'s surface.

52. :

The battery-powered apparatus of claim 47, wherein said transmitted data comprises one or more data items selected from the group of data items consisting of;

presence duration of the vehicle in said parking space;

time-stamped movements of the vehicle into and out of said parking space; and

overstay of the vehicle in said parking space.

53. :

The battery-powered apparatus of claim 44 or claim 45, wherein said radio receiver and said radio transmitter are further adapted for communication with another such battery-powered apparatus.

57. :

The system of claim 50, wherein said plurality of battery-powered detection apparatuses each comprise a battery-powered detection apparatus according to claim 44.

54. :

A system for identifying overstay of vehicles in parking spaces, said system comprising;

a plurality of battery-powered detection apparatuses for identifying overstay of vehicles in respective parking spaces when subterraneously installed; and

a data collection apparatus for wirelessly retrieving data from said plurality of battery-powered detection apparatuses said data collection apparatus comprising;

a radio transmitter for transmitting wake-up signals to ones of said plurality of battery-powered detection apparatuses;

a radio receiver for receiving data from woken-up ones of said plurality of battery-powered detection apparatuses;

a memory unit for storing data and instructions to be performed by a processing unit; and

a processing unit coupled to said radio transmitter, said radio receiver and said memory unit;

said processing unit programmed to process said data received via said radio receiver and to indicate incidences of vehicle overstay to an operator;

said data relates to identified instances of vehicle overstay in a respective parking space.

55. :

The system of claim 54, wherein said data is received from one of said battery-powered detection apparatuses in response to receipt of a wake-up signal transmitted from said date collection apparatus.

56. :

The system of claim 55, wherein said data collection apparatus is portable.

58. :

The system of claim 55, further comprising at least one radio repeater for repeating radio signals between said detection apparatuses and said data collection apparatus.

59. :

The system of claim 55, wherein said data collection apparatus comprises a radio transmitter for transmitting parking time duration data associated with a parking space to one or more of said plurality of detection battery-powered apparatuses.

60. :

The system of claim 55, wherein said plurality of battery-powered detection apparatuses comprise a transmitter and receiver for communicating with other ones of said plurality of battery-powered detection apparatuses.