PARKING ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD USING WIRELESS IN-GROUND SENSORS
First Claim
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1. A method of vehicle parking control and enforcement in respect of a plurality of unmetered parking spaces, said method comprising:
- a) providing a plurality of in-ground sensors in spaced in-ground locations in said umetered parking spaces, each in-ground sensor associated with a related parking space and comprising a vehicle sensing element, a microprocessor, a clock and a timer coupled with and controlled by the microprocessor, a memory communicating with the microprocessor and containing parking information respecting said related parking space, and wireless communication means coupled to the microprocessor;
b) upon one of said vehicle sensors sensing the presence of a vehicle in a parking space, communicating the presence of a vehicle in said related parking space to said microprocessor;
c) said microprocessor starting the timing of a parking period for said related parking space based on said parking rules;
d) if said parking information provides that said related parking space is a no-parking space at the time said vehicle was sensed, wirelessly communicating a violation signal to a parking authority if said vehicle is still sensed in said related parking space after a pre-determined standby interval from when said vehicle was sensed;
e) if said parking information provide that said related parking space is a time-limited parking space for a specified duration at the time said vehicle was sensed, continuing to time the elapsed parking time until said microprocessor receives a signal from said vehicle sensor that said vehicle has left said related parking space, or until said specified duration has expired; and
f) if said vehicle is still in said related parking space after said specified duration has expired, wirelessly communicating a violation signal to a parking authority.
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Abstract
A vehicle parking control and enforcement system for a plurality of unmetered parking spaces is provided wherein in-ground vehicle sensors are coupled with a microcontroller or microprocessor to detect the presence or absence of a vehicle in a parking space, determine whether the vehicle is in violation of the parking regulations and communicate a violation to a parking authority. The in-ground vehicle sensors may also include a digital camera.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method of vehicle parking control and enforcement in respect of a plurality of unmetered parking spaces, said method comprising:
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a) providing a plurality of in-ground sensors in spaced in-ground locations in said umetered parking spaces, each in-ground sensor associated with a related parking space and comprising a vehicle sensing element, a microprocessor, a clock and a timer coupled with and controlled by the microprocessor, a memory communicating with the microprocessor and containing parking information respecting said related parking space, and wireless communication means coupled to the microprocessor; b) upon one of said vehicle sensors sensing the presence of a vehicle in a parking space, communicating the presence of a vehicle in said related parking space to said microprocessor; c) said microprocessor starting the timing of a parking period for said related parking space based on said parking rules; d) if said parking information provides that said related parking space is a no-parking space at the time said vehicle was sensed, wirelessly communicating a violation signal to a parking authority if said vehicle is still sensed in said related parking space after a pre-determined standby interval from when said vehicle was sensed; e) if said parking information provide that said related parking space is a time-limited parking space for a specified duration at the time said vehicle was sensed, continuing to time the elapsed parking time until said microprocessor receives a signal from said vehicle sensor that said vehicle has left said related parking space, or until said specified duration has expired; and f) if said vehicle is still in said related parking space after said specified duration has expired, wirelessly communicating a violation signal to a parking authority. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of vehicle parking control and enforcement in respect of a plurality of unmetered parking spaces, said method comprising:
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a) providing a plurality of in-ground sensors in spaced in-ground locations in said umetered parking spaces, each in-ground sensor associated with a related parking space and comprising a vehicle sensing element, a microprocessor, a memory communicating with the microprocessor and containing parking information respecting said related parking space, namely the electronic identification of the vehicle authorized to park in said related space and wireless communication means coupled to the microprocessor; b) providing each vehicle authorized to park in one of said related parking spaces with an electronic tag readable by said in-ground sensor and containing said electronic identification; c) one of said vehicle sensors sensing the presence of a vehicle in a parking space, said in-ground sensor detecting said electronic identification of said vehicle and comparing said electronic identification of said vehicle to said parking information stored in said memory; and d) if said electronic identification of said vehicle differs from said parking information stored in said memory, or said vehicle has no electronic identification, wirelessly communicating a violation signal to a parking authority.
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12. A system for vehicle parking control and enforcement in respect of a plurality of unmetered parking spaces, comprising:
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a) plurality of unmetered parking spaces; b) a plurality of in-ground sensors in spaced in-ground locations in said umetered parking spaces, each in-ground sensor associated with a related parking space and comprising a vehicle sensing element, a microprocessor, a clock and a timer coupled with and controlled by the microprocessor, a memory communicating with the microprocessor and containing parking information respecting said related parking space, and wireless communication means coupled to the microprocessor; c) means provided in said microprocessor for; i) upon receiving from one of said vehicle sensors a signal indicating the presence of a vehicle in a parking space; ii) starting the timing of a parking period for said related parking space based on said parking information; iii) if said parking information provides that said related parking space is a no-parking space at the time said vehicle was sensed, wirelessly communicating a violation signal to a parking authority if said vehicle is still sensed in said related parking space after a pre-determined standby interval from when said vehicle was sensed; iv) if said parking information provides that said related parking space is a time-limited parking space for a specified duration at the time said vehicle was sensed, continuing to time the elapsed parking time until said microprocessor receives a signal from said vehicle sensor that said vehicle has left said related parking space, or until said specified duration has expired; v) and if said vehicle is still in said related parking space after said specified duration has expired, wirelessly communicating a violation signal to a parking authority.
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Specification