SYSTEMS, METHODS, APPARATUSES, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR FACILITATING RESERVATION FOR A PARKING SPACE WITH A NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION-ENABLED DEVICE

• US 20110320243A1
• Filed: 06/28/2011
• Published: 12/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mastercard International Incorporated (MasterCard Incorporated)
• Inventors: Khan, Mohammad
• Granted Patent: US 9,697,651 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• 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

Abstract

Methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer readable media for facilitating reservation for a parking space with a near field communications (NFC)-enabled device are provided. A system can include an NFC-enabled parking meter associated with a parking space and a controller in communication with the NFC-enabled parking meter for measuring time and processing payment. A system can include an NFC-enabled device that upon interfacing with the NFC-enabled parking meter communicates with the controller to create a reservation of a parking space.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating reservation for a parking space with a near field communications (NFC)-enabled device, the system comprising:

an NFC-enabled parking meter associated with a parking space;

a controller for measuring time and processing payment; and

an NFC-enabled device that upon interfacing with the NFC-enabled parking meter communicates with the controller to create a reservation of a parking space.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a timer and, upon interfacing with the NFC-enabled parking meter, the timer is started for the reservation via a single NFC tap.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the NFC-enabled device provides a prepayment for an allotment of time for the parking space.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the controller provides an alert to display a message on the NFC-enabled device to provide notification of a pending lapse of the allotment of time for the parking space.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the NFC-enabled device provides an interface to pay an additional prepayment for an extended allotment of time for the parking space.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein, the timer is stopped and the NFC-enabled device provides payment for use of the parking space upon interfacing the NFC-enabled device with the NFC-enabled parking meter via a second NFC tap.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the NFC-enabled parking meter releases the parking space upon interfacing the NFC-enabled device with the NFC-enabled parking meter via the second NFC tap.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the NFC-enabled parking meter comprises a display to show whether the timer is running.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the NFC-enabled parking meter is in communication with a backend server.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller is located at the backend server.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is located at the NFC-enabled parking meter.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein upon interfacing with the NFC-enabled parking meter, the controller provides location specific marketing to the NFC-enabled device for display on the NFC-enabled device.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the NFC-enabled parking meter comprises a display for displaying whether the parking space is under a reservation or has been released.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the NFC-enabled parking meter comprises a wireless transceiver for interfacing with the NFC-enabled device.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver comprises one of a wireless device reader or an NFC passive tag.

16. A method for facilitating reservation for a parking space with a near field communications (NFC)-enabled device, the method comprising:

interfacing an NFC-enabled device with an NFC-enabled parking meter associated with one or more parking spaces to receive data from the NFC-enabled parking meter regarding a parking space;

reserving the parking space associated with the NFC-enabled parking meter through the NFC-enabled device; and

receiving an electronic confirmation for the reservation of the parking space at the NFC-enabled device.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising, upon reserving the parking space, initiating a start of a timer associated with the NFC-enabled parking meter via, a single NFC tap of the NFC-enabled device.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising prepaying for an allotment of time for the parking space via the single NFC tap of the NFC-enabled device.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing an alert to the NFC-enabled device to provide notification of a pending lapse of the allotment of time for the parking space.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing an interface on the NFC-enabled device to pay an additional prepayment for an extended allotment of time for the parking space.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising stopping the timer and paying for use of the parking space upon interfacing with the NFC-enabled parking meter via a second NFC tap of the NFC-enabled device.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising releasing the parking space via the second NFC tap of the NFC-enabled device.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising receiving an electronic confirmation for the payment for use of the parking space at the NFC-enabled device.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the paying for the parking space comprises electronically paying with a payment card from a wallet application on the NFC-enabled device.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein receiving an electronic confirmation for the payment comprises receiving a short messaging service (SMS) message.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein receiving an electronic confirmation for the payment comprises receiving a multimedia messaging service (MMS) message.

27. The method of claim 16, further comprising, at the NFC-enabled parking meter, communicating with a backend server to provide an identification number to track the identity of a user associated with the NFC-enabled device.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the NFC-enabled device is a mobile device and the identification number is a phone number associated with the mobile device.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising, upon reserving the parking space, initiating a start of a timer at the backend server to track usage time of the parking space.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising prepaying for an allotment of time for the parking space via communication between the backend server and the NFC-enabled device.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising providing an alert from the backend server to the NFC-enabled device to provide notification of a pending lapse of the allotment of time for the parking space.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising providing an interface on NFC-enabled device to pay an additional prepayment for an extended allotment of time for the parking space.

33. The method of claim 27, further comprising providing a payment account that is associated with the identification number associated with the NFC-enabled device, the payment account being stored on the backend server and charging the payment account based on time usage of the parking space.

34. The method of claim 27, further comprising stopping the timer and paying for use of the parking space via communication between the NFC-enabled device and the backend server.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising releasing the parking space via communication between the NFC-enabled device and the backend server.

36. The method of claim 27, further comprising receiving an electronic confirmation for the payment for use of the parking space at the NFC-enabled device from the backend server.

37. The method of claim 27, further comprising providing location specific marketing to the NFC-enabled device for display on the NFC-enabled device.

38. The method of claim 16, further comprising monitoring a status of the parking space with an information collection device

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising communicating the status of the parking space from the information collection device to a backend server.

40. The method of claim 16, further comprising displaying on a display disposed on the NFC-enabled parking meter whether the parking space is under a reservation or has been released.

41. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon comprising computer executable instructions that when executed by a processor of a computer control the computer to perform steps comprising:

interfacing an NFC-enabled device with an NFC-enabled parking meter associated with one or more parking spaces to receive data from the NFC-enabled parking meter regarding a parking space;

reserving the parking space associated with the NFC-enabled parking meter through the NFC-enabled device; and

receiving an electronic confirmation for the reservation of the parking space at the NFC-enabled device.

42. A parking meter apparatus for facilitating reservation for a parking space with a near field communications (NFC)-enabled device, the parking meter comprising:

a parking meter housing positionable proximate to a parking space; and

a wireless device transceiver disposed in the parking meter housing, the wireless device transceiver being configured to receive and transmit signal from and to an NFC-enabled device regarding a parking space to permit reservation of the parking space associated with the NFC-enabled parking meter through the NFC-enabled device.

43. The parking meter apparatus of claim 42, further comprising a controller in communication with the wireless device transceiver and disposed in the parking meter housing, the controller configured for measuring time and processing payment.

44. The parking meter apparatus of claim 42, further comprising a display disposed on the parking meter housing and in communication with the wireless device transceiver, the display capable of displaying information regarding a status of the parking space.

45. The parking meter apparatus of claim 42, wherein the wireless transceiver comprises a wireless device reader.

46. The parking meter apparatus of claim 42, wherein the wireless transceiver comprises an NFC passive tag.