Computer-Implemented System And Method For Offering Residential Parking Reservations

• US 20120095812A1
• 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, Hoover, Roger Phylos, Krivacic, Robert Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,671,014 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/13
• 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 providing recurring residential parking reservations is provided. Motor vehicle parking spaces located in a residential area are managed through a server. Smart parking devices, vehicle occupancy sensors, and parking availability indicators are interfaced to the server. Use of the parking spaces by a resident is reserved on a recurring basis throughout a subscription period. A parking reservation, including recurring times and dates, is requested. The request is granted provided the parking space is available over any other reservations stored in the server. Use of the reserved parking space is managed throughout the subscription period. Occupancy of the requested parking space is sensed through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor. A motorist'"'"'s identity is verified through the nearest smart parking device. The use of the reserved parking space is denied if not by the resident and parking non-availability is indicated during each recurring time and date.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing recurring residential parking reservations, comprising:

managing a multiplicity of motor vehicle parking spaces located in a residential 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;

reserving use of one of the parking spaces by a resident of the residential area on a recurring basis throughout a subscription period, comprising;

accepting a request for a parking reservation, comprising recurring times and dates over which the subscription period would be in effect, and confirming that the resident is eligible to reserve the requested parking space;

granting the request provided the requested parking space is available during each recurring time and date throughout the subscription period over any other reservations stored in the server; and

managing use of the reserved parking space throughout the subscription period, comprising;

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

verifying an identity of a motorist against the reservation through the nearest smart parking device; and

denying the use of the reserved parking space if not by the resident and indicating parking non-availability of the requested parking space during each recurring time and date.

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

accepting bids from a plurality of bidding residents for the requested parking space up to a predetermined date as an auction, each bid comprising a home address of the bidding resident and recurring times and dates over which the subscription period would be in effect;

prior to the predetermined date, confirming that each bidding resident is eligible to reserve the requested parking space; and

on the predetermined date, selecting a winning bid of the space auction corresponding to the bidding resident for whom the requested parking space is reserved for the subscription period.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein each bid further comprises a bid amount, further comprising:

conducting the auction as a space auction by periodically offering a contract for the requested parking space for which the bids can be accepted; and

selecting the winning bid based on one of the highest bid amount and through a lottery.

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

conducting the auction as a multiple allocation auction, wherein the bids further comprise one or more of a plurality of recurring times, a plurality of dates, and a plurality of requested parking spaces; and

evaluating the bids based on each bidding resident'"'"'s needs and anticipated revenue generated from each of the requested parking spaces.

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

conducting the auction as a multiple allocation sealed second bid auction, wherein the bids are sealed and further comprise one or more of a plurality of recurring times, a plurality of dates, a plurality of requested parking spaces, and a bid amount for each of the requested parking spaces;

evaluating the sealed bids based on each bidding resident'"'"'s needs and anticipated revenue generated from each of the requested parking spaces;

selecting the winning bid for each requested parking space based on the highest bid amount and setting the cost of parking as the second highest bid amount for the winning requested parking space; and

limiting the maximum number of the winning bids awarded to each resident.

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

conducting the auction as an auction with subsidies, wherein one or more of the bids is awarded with a subsidy;

weighting the bids with a subsidy more heavily than the non-subsidized bids; and

selecting the winning bid based on one of the bid carrying the greatest weight.

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

awarding the subsidies to one or more of those residents comprising a handicapped condition, being elderly, and living closest to the requested parking space.

8. A computer-implemented method for providing guest parking reservations, comprising:

managing a multiplicity of motor vehicle parking spaces located in a residential area 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

reserving use of one of the parking spaces for a guest of a resident of the residential area, comprising;

accepting a request for a parking reservation, comprising a guest'"'"'s identity, and confirming that the resident is eligible to reserve the requested parking space;

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

managing use of the reserved parking space, comprising;

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

verifying an identity of a motorist as the guest against the parking reservation through the nearest smart parking device; and

denying the use of the reserved parking space if not by the guest.

9. A method according to claim 8, further comprising at least one of:

associating a parking code with the reservation, which is provided to the resident, and facilitating check-in to the reservation by receiving the parking code during the verification of the identity of a motorist;

associating information regarding the guest'"'"'s identity with the reservation and facilitating check-in to the reservation by matching the information during the verification of the identity of a motorist;

associating a physical digital record with the reservation, which is provided to the resident, and facilitating check-in to the reservation by receiving a facsimile of the physical digital record through a user interface of the nearest smart parking device during the verification of the identity of a motorist; and

associating a digital ticket with the reservation, which is provided electronically to the resident, and facilitating check-in to the reservation by receiving an electronic transmission of the digital ticket through the nearest smart parking device during the verification of the identity of a motorist.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the physical digital record comprises at least one of a barcode, QR code, and unique digital record.

11. A method according to claim 8, further comprising:

contacting the resident through the server while verifying the identity of the motorist, wherein the use of the reserved parking space is conditioned upon the resident confirming the motorist'"'"'s identity as the guest.

12. A method according to claim 8, further comprising:

conveying a message from the motorist to the resident through the nearest smart parking device;

accepting a remote instruction from the resident through the server; and

authenticating the use of the reserved parking space by the motorist upon receipt of the remote instruction at the nearest smart parking device.

13. A method according to claim 8, 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 reserved parking space at the beginning of the time during which the reserved parking space is reserved for the guest;

providing a visual indication through the smart parking device nearest to the reserved parking space upon the approach and at the request of the motorist; and

navigating the motorist to the reserved parking space through an onboard navigation device through directions electronically received from the server.

14. A computer-implemented method for facilitating rental of a private parking space by an urban resident, comprising:

managing a multiplicity of motor vehicle parking spaces located in a residential area 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;

supplementing the motor vehicle parking spaces with a private parking space under legitimate control by a resident of the residential area;

managing use of the private parking space through the server and the smart parking device nearest to the private parking space; and

indicating parking availability of each parking space through the nearest parking availability indicator based upon at least one of the current time, any motor vehicle occupancy, applicable parking regulations, and any unfulfilled reservations for the parking space.

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

reserving use of the private parking spaces by a motorist, comprising;

accepting a reservation request for the private parking space and granting the request if available over any other reservations stored in the server for the requested private parking space;

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

verifying at least one of the identity of the motorist and the motor vehicle against the reservation through the nearest smart parking device.

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

designating times and dates during which the private parking space is available for use by motorists other than the resident; and

managing use of the private parking space during the designated times and dates through the server and the smart parking device nearest to the private parking space; and

indicating parking availability of the private parking space through the nearest parking availability indicator based the designated times and dates.

17. A method according to claim 14, wherein revenue is earned through use of the private parking space by motorists other than the resident, further comprising:

providing compensation to the resident on a periodic basis in relation to actual revenue earned.

18. A method according to claim 14, wherein the private parking space is located at least one of curbside, on a driveway, in a cutout in front of a driveway, in a parking lot, on a street, and off a street, each of which is under the legitimate control of the resident.