PARKING MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20120245981A1
• Filed: 03/22/2012
• Published: 09/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Premier Parking LLC
• Original Assignee: Spire Parking
• Inventors: Volz, Constance M.
• Application Number:
  US13/426,742
• Publication Number:
  US 20120245981A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/13
• 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

Abstract

Various arrangements for offering vehicle parking are presented. Utilization data and interest data regarding a parking space of a parking facility may be tracked and stored. An amount of time the parking space of the parking facility has been used based on the utilization data stored about the parking space. An amount of interest in the parking space may be determined based on the interest data. In accordance with a set of defined rules, a price for the parking space may be determined based at least on the amount of time and the interest. The parking space may be offered to a customer at the determined price.

Claims

1. A method for offering vehicle parking, the method comprising:

storing, by a computer system, utilization data regarding a parking space of a parking facility;

determining, by the computer system, an amount of time the parking space of the parking facility has been used based on the utilization data stored about the parking space;

setting, by the computer system, in accordance with a set of defined rules, a price for the parking space based at least on the amount of time; and

offering, by the computer system, to a customer, the parking space at the price based at least one the amount of time.

2. The method for offering vehicle parking of claim 1, the method further comprising:

determining, by the computer system, an amount of interest in the parking space, wherein;

setting, by the computer system, in accordance with the set of defined rules, the price for the parking space is additionally based at least on the amount of interest in the parking space.

3. The method for offering vehicle parking of claim 2, further comprising:

storing, by the computer system, an indication of a number of inquiries regarding the parking space received from customers, wherein determining the amount of interest is at least partially based on the number of inquiries.

4. The method for offering vehicle parking of claim 2, wherein:

the amount of interest is for a type of parking space at the parking facility; and

the parking space is of the type of parking space.

5. The method for offering vehicle parking of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the computer system, an inquiry from the customer regarding the parking space via a map of the parking facility.

6. The method for offering vehicle parking of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the computer system, an inquiry from the customer regarding a requested parking space;

determining, by the computer system, the requested parking space is unavailable; and

selecting, by the computer system, the parking space for offering based on characteristics common between the requested parking space and the parking space.

7. The method for offering vehicle parking of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting, by the computer system, the customer to offer the parking space to from a plurality of customers based on a customer classification present within a user profile of the customer.

8. The method for offering vehicle parking of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the computer system, a refusal from the customer in response to the offering of the parking space;

selecting, by the computer system, a second customer, wherein the second customer is associated with a lower customer classification within a second user profile of the second customer than a customer classification present within a first user profile of the customer;

offering, by the computer system, to the second customer, the parking space, wherein the price is based at least in part on the customer classification present within the second user profile of the second customer.

9. The method for offering vehicle parking of claim 1, wherein setting, by the computer system, in accordance with the set of defined rules, the price for the parking space based at least on the amount of time further comprises:

setting, by the computer system, in accordance with the set of defined rules, prices for a plurality of parking spaces within the parking facility at least partially based on corresponding amounts of time that each parking space of the plurality of parking spaces is used.

10. The method for offering vehicle parking of claim 1, further comprising:

collecting, by the computer system, the utilization data that indicates use of the parking space based on vehicle entries and exits from the parking facility.

11. A computer program product residing on a non-transitory processor-readable medium for offering vehicle parking, the computer program product comprising processor-readable instructions configured to cause a processor to:

cause utilization data regarding a parking space of a parking facility to be stored;

determine an amount of time the parking space of the parking facility has been used based on the utilization data stored about the parking space;

calculate in accordance with a set of defined rules, a price for the parking space based at least on the amount of time; and

cause the parking space to be offered at the price based at least one the amount of time.

12. The computer program product for offering vehicle parking of claim 11, the computer program product further comprising processor-readable instructions configured to cause the processor to:

determine an amount of interest in the parking space, wherein the processor readable instructions configured to cause the processor to set in accordance with the set of defined rules, the price for the parking space, additionally uses the amount of interest in the parking space to set the price for the parking space.

13. The computer program product for offering vehicle parking of claim 12, the computer program product further comprising processor-readable instructions configured to cause the processor to:

cause an indication of a number of inquiries regarding the parking space received from customers to be stored, wherein determining the amount of interest is at least partially based on the number of inquiries.

14. The computer program product for offering vehicle parking of claim 12, wherein:

the amount of interest is for a type of parking space at the parking facility; and

the parking space is of the type of parking space.

15. The computer program product for offering vehicle parking of claim 11, the computer program product further comprising processor-readable instructions configured to cause the processor to:

select a customer to offer the parking space to from a plurality of customers based on a customer classification present within a user profile of the customer.

16. A system for offering vehicle parking, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory communicatively coupled with and readable by the processor and having stored therein processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

store utilization data regarding a parking space of a parking facility;

determine an amount of time the parking space of the parking facility has been used based on the utilization data stored about the parking space;

set in accordance with a set of defined rules, a price for the parking space based at least on the amount of time; and

offer the parking space at the price based at least one the amount of time.

17. The system for offering vehicle parking of claim 16, wherein the processor-readable instructions further comprise processor-readable instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

determine an amount of interest in the parking space, wherein the processor readable instructions configured to cause the processor to set in accordance with the set of defined rules, the price for the parking space, additionally uses the amount of interest in the parking space to set the price for the parking space.

18. The system for offering vehicle parking of claim 17, wherein the processor-readable instructions further comprise processor-readable instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

cause an indication of a number of inquiries regarding the parking space received from customers to be stored, wherein determining the amount of interest is at least partially based on the number of inquiries.

19. The system for offering vehicle parking of claim 17, wherein

the amount of interest is for a type of parking space at the parking facility;

and

the parking space is of the type of parking space.

20. The system for offering vehicle parking of claim 16, wherein the processor-readable instructions further comprise processor-readable instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

set in accordance with the set of defined rules, prices for a plurality of parking spaces within the parking facility at least partially based on corresponding amounts of time that each parking space of the plurality of parking spaces is used.