CITY PARKING SERVICES WITH AREA BASED LOYALTY PROGRAMS

• US 20110320256A1
• Filed: 07/11/2011
• Published: 12/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Societe Stationnement Urbain Developpements et Etudes
• Original Assignee: Societe Stationnement Urbain Developpements et Etudes
• Inventors: Rowe, Richard, Florucci, Jean-Louis
• Application Number:
  US13/180,288
• Publication Number:
  US 20110320256A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.33
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0457 the tickets being sent electronically
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/047 using payment protocols involving electronic receipts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/127 Shopping or accessing services according to a time-limitation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/405 Establishing or using transaction specific rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0205 Location or geographical consideration
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0234 Rebates after completed purchase
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• 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 17/242 provided with token dispensing devices
• 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 1/005 including pedestrian guidance indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/127 to a central station ; Indicators in a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/133 within the vehicle ; Indicators inside the vehicles or at stops
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/144 on portable or mobile units, e.g. personal digital assistant [PDA]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/147 where the parking area is within an open public zone, e.g. city centre
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/202 Dispatching vehicles on the basis of a location, e.g. taxi dispatching
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 : Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 : Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/38 : for collecting sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/42 : for mass transport vehicles, e.g. buses, trains or aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/44 : for communication between vehicles and infrastructures, e.g. vehicle-to-cloud [V2C] or vehicle-to-home [V2H]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

Apparatus and methods related providing city services, such as parking, are described. Methods and apparatus for providing parking rewards programs are described. The methods and apparatus can include maintaining accounts for participants in the rewards program, tracking purchases of parking and other participant activities and determining parking awards based upon the activities. The parking rewards programs can be used to incentivize behaviors that balance the use of the parking space commodity according to the needs of different stakeholders, such as the city, residents, merchants and visitors. For example, parking awards and the criteria used for earning awards can be used to encourage particular behaviors while a parking space is being utilized, such as shopping, the use of public transportation or efficient trip planning.

Claims

1. A method in a server including a processor, a memory and a network interface comprising:

generating a parking rewards account for a participant in parking rewards program;

receiving, via the network interface, an indication of a purchase of parking associated with the parking rewards account wherein the indication includes a purchase amount and a time period for the purchase of parking;

receiving, via the network interface, an indication of an activity including information about the activity and a time activity occurred;

determining the activity occurred within the time period for the purchase of parking;

when the activity is determined to have occurred during the time period for the purchase of parking, determining an amount of award points earned for the activity; and

storing to the memory information associated with the purchase of parking including the time period, information about the activity that occurred during the time period for the purchase of parking and the amount of award points earned for the activity to the memory wherein the award points are redeemable for parking awards.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request to open the parking rewards account;

generating a registration interface and a unique account identifier for the parking rewards account;

receiving user identification information and vehicle identification information; and

storing the user identification and vehicle identification information to the parking rewards account.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an amount of award points earned for the purchase of parking and storing the amount of award points earned for the purchase of parking to the memory.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating an award point total to include the amount of award points earned for the activity and

storing the award point total to the memory.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining the award point total exceeds a threshold for earning a parking award,

crediting the earned parking award to the parking awards account, and

deducting an amount of points associated with earned parking award from the award point total.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

displaying a list of parking awards each parking award redeemable for an amount of the award points;

receiving a selection of a first parking award from the list;

crediting the first parking award to the parking rewards account and deducting a first amount of award points associated with the first parking award from the award point total.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the activity includes a use of a city service.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the activity includes a purchase of a service or merchandise from a non-government merchant or a service provider.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication from a parking enforcement device that a parking violation has occurred for a vehicle associated with the parking rewards account;

storing a record of the parking violation to the parking rewards account.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a request to pay all or a portion of a penalty amount associated with the parking violation with award points accumulated in the parking rewards account.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

reviewing information stored in the parking rewards account including a historical record of parking purchases and based upon the information, sending a message to the parking enforcement device to issue a warning ticket for the parking violation instead of a violation ticket including a fine.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

reviewing information stored in the parking rewards account including a historical record of parking purchases and based upon the information, sending a message to the parking enforcement device to issue a violation ticket with a reduced fine amount.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request from a merchant to credit an amount of award points to the parking awards account; and

storing the amount of award points to the parking awards account.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication that an account holder of the rewards program account has utilized a city service, determining an award point amount associated with the use of the city service and updating an award point total to include the award point amount.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a location associated with the purchase of parking and determining an award point amount for the purchase based upon the location.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining additional award points are to be offered for parking in a particular parking location, sending to a remote device an indication that the additional award points are offered and the parking location.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the determination to offer the additional award points is based upon a determination of traffic conditions within a city.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a parking award has been earned wherein the parking award is valid for redemption only in a certain zone of a city.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a parking award has been earned wherein the parking award is one of a parking credit or a discount on a parking purchase.

20. A server including a processor, a memory and a network interface wherein the server is configured to execute computer code for:

1) generating a parking rewards account for a participant in parking rewards program;

2) receiving, via the network interface, an indication of a purchase of parking associated with the parking rewards account wherein the indication includes a purchase amount and a time period for the purchase of parking;

3) receiving, via the network interface, an indication of an activity including information about the activity and a time activity occurred;

4) determining the activity occurred within the time period for the purchase of parking;

5) when the activity is determined to have occurred during the time period for the purchase of parking, determining an amount of award points earned for the activity; and

6) storing to the memory information associated with the purchase of parking including the time period, information about the activity that occurred during the time period for the purchase of parking and the amount of award points earned for the activity to the memory wherein the award points are redeemable for parking awards.

21. A method in a server including a processor, a memory and a network interface comprising:

generating a rewards account for a participant in a rewards program;

receiving, via the network interface, an indication of a purchase of parking associated with the rewards account wherein the indication includes a purchase amount;

determining a first amount of award points earned for the parking purchase;

storing to the rewards account the first amount of award points earned for the parking purchase;

receiving, via the network interface, an indication of a purchase of a transportation service;

determining a second amount of award points earned for the transportation purchase;

storing to the rewards account the second amount of award points earned for the parking purchase;

based upon the first amount of award points and second amount of award points determining an award redeemable for free or discounted parking; and

storing information regarding the award to the rewards account.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

via the network interface, sending a message to the participant including information about the award.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the transportation service is selected from the group consisting of a bus, a bicycle sharing, car sharing, a water-based transportation service or a train.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

based upon the first amount of award points and second amount of award points determining an award redeemable for free or discounted transportation service.