Computer-Implemented System And Method For Offering Merchant And Shopper-Friendly Parking Reservations

• US 20120095791A1
• Filed: 08/24/2011
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Conduent Business Services, LLC (Conduent, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center, Inc. (Xerox Holdings Corp.), Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Stefik, Mark Jeffrey, Bell, Alan G., Eldershaw, Craig, Good, Lance E., Greene, Daniel H., Torres, Francisco Eduardo, Uckun, Serdar, Cummins, David Preston
• Granted Patent: US 8,671,002 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/265 Personal security, identity or safety
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/00 Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00
• 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 17/0021 Access to services on a time-basis
• 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: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/12 Manually actuated calamity alarm transmitting arrangements emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm, activators, e.g. details of alarm push buttons mounted on an infrastructure
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/14 indicating individual free spaces in parking areas
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/142 external to the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/147 where the parking area is within an open public zone, e.g. city centre
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/148 Management of a network of parking areas
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A computer-implemented system and method for offering merchant and shopper-friendly parking reservations through validated parking is provided. Motor vehicle parking spaces are managed through a server. Smart parking devices and vehicle occupancy sensors are interfaced to the server. Use of the parking space is managed. Occupancy of one of the parking spaces by a motor vehicle is sensed through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor and the location of the parking space is provided to the server. An identity of the driver of the motor vehicle is determined through the nearest smart parking device and the identity of the driver is provided to the server. Use of the parking space is validated. The parking space'"'"'s location and the driver'"'"'s identity are retrieved at the location of a merchant. Payment for at least part of the use of the parking space from the merchant is provided through the server.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for offering merchant and shopper-friendly parking reservations through validated parking, comprising:

managing a multiplicity of motor vehicle parking spaces through a server, comprising;

interfacing a plurality of smart parking devices that are each physically proximate to least one of the parking spaces; and

interfacing a plurality of vehicle occupancy sensors that are also each physically proximate to least one of the parking spaces; and

managing use of the parking space, comprising;

sensing occupancy of one of the parking spaces by a motor vehicle through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor and providing the location of the parking space to the server; and

determining an identity of the driver of the motor vehicle through the nearest smart parking device and providing the identity of the driver to the server; and

validating use of the parking space, comprising;

retrieving the parking space'"'"'s location and the driver'"'"'s identity at the location of a merchant; and

providing payment for at least part of the use of the parking space from the merchant through the server.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

issuing a parking coupon to the driver, the parking coupon comprising at least one of a printed coupon, an encoded coupon, and a digital ticket;

reading the parking coupon through the nearest smart parking device in lieu of determining an identity of the driver of the motor vehicle; and

providing the parking space payment at a later time after the reading of the parking coupon by the smart parking device.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising one of:

providing the parking space payment courtesy of the merchant in exchange for the driver'"'"'s patronage; and

providing the parking space payment at the discretion of the merchant comprising one or more of a minimum purchase and a visit to the merchant of minimum duration.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the identity of the driver is provided through an electronic banking card, comprising at least one of a credit card and a debit card, further comprising:

accepting the electronic banking card through the merchant; and

providing the parking space payment upon successful matching of the electronic banking card to the parking space through the server.

5. A method according to claim 3, further comprising:

equipping the merchant with a point-of-sale device in wireless communication with the server; and

communicating information from the electronic banking card to the server via the point-of-sale device.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing either a physical token or digital token of validation from the merchant to the customer, the physical token comprising at least one of a printed token and an encoded token, the digital token comprising an electronically-transmitted encoding; and

providing the parking space payment receiving either of the physical token or the digital token into the smart parking device.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing advertising for local merchants on a display provided as part of the smart parking devices nearest to the parking spaces.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the use of the parking spaces is subject to escalating pricing that proportionately rises as the length of the use increases independent of any validating of the use of the parking space.

9. A method for offering merchant and shopper-friendly parking reservations through customer priority parking, comprising:

managing a multiplicity of motor vehicle parking spaces through a server, comprising;

interfacing a plurality of smart parking devices that are each physically proximate to least one of the parking spaces;

interfacing a plurality of vehicle occupancy sensors that are also each physically proximate to least one of the parking spaces; and

interfacing a plurality of parking availability indicators that are each associated with at least one of the parking spaces;

reserving use of one or more of the parking spaces, comprising;

accepting a request for a customer priority parking reservation from a merchant, comprising times and dates over which the reservation period would be in effect, and confirming that the merchant is eligible to reserve the requested parking spaces;

granting the request provided the requested parking space is available throughout the reservation period over any other reservations stored in the server.

managing use of the parking space through the server, comprising;

activating the parking availability indicators associated with the reserved parking spaces throughout the reservation period in a merchant priority parking mode;

sensing occupancy of one of the parking spaces by a motor vehicle through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor and providing the location of the parking space to the server; and

determining an identity of the driver of the motor vehicle through the nearest smart parking device and providing the identity of the driver to the server; and

validating use of the parking space, comprising;

retrieving the parking space'"'"'s location and the driver'"'"'s identity at the location of a merchant; and

providing payment for at least part of the use of the parking space from the merchant through the server.

10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising:

conditioning the granting of the parking request upon payment for the reserved parking spaces by the merchant in advance of the reservation period.

11. A method according to claim 9, further comprising:

limiting the validation of the use of the parking spaces to only those drivers that are customers of the merchant.

12. A method according to claim 9, further comprising:

offering the use of the parking spaces to only selected customers of the merchant; and

limiting the validation of the use of the parking spaces to only those selected customers.

13. A method for offering merchant and shopper-friendly parking reservations through merchant-guided changes, comprising:

managing a multiplicity of motor vehicle parking spaces through a server, comprising;

interfacing a plurality of smart parking devices that are each physically proximate to least one of the parking spaces;

interfacing a plurality of vehicle occupancy sensors that are also each physically proximate to least one of the parking spaces; and

interfacing a plurality of parking availability indicators that are each associated with at least one of the parking spaces;

reserving use of one or more of the parking spaces, comprising;

accepting a request for a customer priority parking reservation from a merchant, comprising times and dates over which the reservation period would be in effect and merchant-guided changes in regular parking constraints, and confirming that the merchant is eligible to reserve the requested parking spaces; and

granting the request provided the requested parking space is available throughout the reservation period over any other reservations stored in the server. and

managing use of the parking space through the server, comprising;

activating the parking availability indicators associated with the reserved parking spaces throughout the reservation period in a merchant priority parking mode; and

managing the use of the parking space subject to the merchant-guided changes.

14. A method for offering merchant and shopper-friendly parking reservations through tourist privileges, comprising:

managing a multiplicity of motor vehicle parking spaces located in a tourist area of an urban environment through a server, comprising;

interfacing a plurality of smart parking devices that are each physically proximate to least one of the parking spaces; and

interfacing a plurality of vehicle occupancy sensors that are also each physically proximate to least one of the parking spaces; and

authorizing use of the parking spaces by visitors to the tourist area of the urban environment, comprising;

issuing a multiplicity of tourist parking identification cards to an agency authorized to provide tourist parking privileges, which are then physically provided to one or more of the visitors; and

activating the tourist parking identification cards by pairing each tourist parking identification card with a digital ticket issued to the agency; and

managing the use of the parking spaces, comprising;

sensing occupancy of one of the parking spaces by a motor vehicle through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor; and

determining an identity of the driver of the motor vehicle through the nearest smart parking device.

15. A method according to claim 14, further comprising:

providing payment for at least part of the use of the parking space from the agency through the server conditioned upon the driver'"'"'s identify being provided through an activated tourist parking identification card.

16. A method according to claim 14, further comprising:

linking the tourist parking identification card to an electronic banking card, comprising at least one of a credit card and a debit card, for at least one of the visitors;

matching the driver'"'"'s identity to the at least one visitor; and

providing the parking space payment through the electronic banking card.

17. A method according to claim 14, further comprising:

including tourist privileges with one or more of the parking spaces, comprising at least one of;

extending time limits on parking in the parking spaces;

reserving a plurality of the parking spaces for exclusive use by holders of the tourist privileges;

offering reduced parking rates on parking in the parking spaces;

offering a day pass for free parking on parking in the parking spaces;

offering an all-day rate on parking in the parking spaces; and

extending discounts with merchants located in the tourist area.

18. A method according to claim 14, further comprising:

interfacing a plurality of parking availability indicators that are each associated with at least one of the parking spaces;

activating the parking availability indicators associated with the parking spaces; and

providing a visual indication through the smart parking devices nearest to the parking spaces.

19. A computer-implemented method for providing individualized parking reservations, comprising:

managing a multiplicity of motor vehicle parking spaces through a server, comprising;

interfacing a plurality of smart parking devices that are each physically proximate to least one of the parking spaces;

interfacing a plurality of vehicle occupancy sensors that are also each physically proximate to least one of the parking spaces; and

interfacing a plurality of parking availability indicators that are each associated with at least one of the parking spaces;

reserving use of one of the parking spaces, comprising;

accepting a request for a parking reservation from an individual, comprising a time and date over which a reservation period would be in effect;

granting the request provided the requested parking space is available during the reservation period over any other reservations stored in the server;

managing use of the reserved parking space during the reservation period, comprising;

activating the parking availability indicator associated with the reserved parking space contemporaneous to the reservation period;

sensing occupancy of the requested parking space by a motor vehicle through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor;

verifying an identity of a driver of the motor vehicle against the reservation through the nearest smart parking device; and

permitting the use of the reserved parking space upon matching the driver'"'"'s identity to the individual to whom the parking reservation was granted.

20. A method according to claim 19, further comprising at least one of:

denying the use of the reserved parking space if not by the individual; and

suggesting an alternate parking space to the individual denied.

21. A method according to claim 19, further comprising at least one of:

providing a black out period between the parking reservation and any other immediately preceding or succeeding parking reservations;

providing an early arrival period comprising a short period of time beginning prior to the start of the parking reservation; and

providing a grace period comprising a short period of time beginning at the start of the parking reservation.

22. A method according to claim 19, further comprising at least one of:

offering the parking reservation for a fixed period at a fixed price;

offering the parking reservation for an open-ended period at an increased price;

offering the parking reservation for an open-ended period at an escalating price;

offering the parking reservation for an open-ended period on an initially free basis;

offering the parking reservation subject to possession of a special parking permit; and

offering the parking reservation at a discounted rate.

23. A method according to claim 19, further comprising at least one of:

reserving a specific parking space for the individual;

reserving a preferred type of parking space for the individual;

reserving adjacent parking spaces for the individual;

reserving a parking space within a given distance of a particular location for the individual;

reserving a parking space with in-and-out privileges for the individual; and

reserving a parking space with an open grace period for the individual.