PARKING METER EXPIRED ALERT

• US 20130135118A1
• Filed: 11/16/2012
• Published: 05/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AutoConnect Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Flextronics America LLC (Flextronics International Limited)
• Inventors: Ricci, Christopher P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,922,393 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/932.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/11 Instrument graphical user interfaces or menu aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/146 Instrument input by gesture
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1464 3D-gesture
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1472 Multi-touch gesture
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1476 Handwriting
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/164 Infotainment
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/166 Navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/566 Mobile devices displaying vehicle information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/5894 SIM cards
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/5899 Internet
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/691 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/11 Graphical user interfaces or menu aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/146 Input by gesture
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1464 3D-gesture
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1472 Multi-touch gesture
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1476 Handwriting
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/164 Infotainment
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/166 : Navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/21 : using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/566 : Mobile devices displaying vehicle information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/5894 : SIM cards
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/5899 : Internet
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/691 : Housings
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/81 : Fastening of instruments, e.g. to dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 : Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 : Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 : characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/50 : Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle B60K35/231 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 : Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/80 : Arrangements for controlling instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/85 : Arrangements for transferring vehicle- or driver-related data
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• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01512 : Passenger detection systems
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• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/08 : related to drivers or passengers
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• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 : Geographical information databases
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• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/629 : to features or functions of an application
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• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 : Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 : based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 : using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 : Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 : for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 : Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
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• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 : Drag-and-drop
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• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 : Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 : Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 : Interprogram communication
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/02 : Knowledge representation; Symbolic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/048 : Fuzzy inferencing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0265 : Vehicular advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 : Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/26 : Government or public services business processes related to the transportation industry G06Q50/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/006 : Mixed reality object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/59 : inside of a vehicle, e.g. relating to seat occupancy, driver state or inner lighting conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/10 : Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/15 : Biometric patterns based on physiological signals, e.g. heartbeat, blood flow
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/28 : Recognition of hand or arm movements, e.g. recognition of deaf sign language static hand signs G06V40/113
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/006 : Indicating maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 : communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/02 : Registering or indicating driving, working, idle, or waiting time only apparatus forming part of taximeters G07B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/08 : Registering or indicating performance data other than driving, working, idle, or waiting time, with or without registering driving, working, idle or waiting time
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 : Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 : using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0833 : using audio means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 : using electronic data carriers
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• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/00 : Electric signal transmission systems G08C17/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 : from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0116 : from roadside infrastructure, e.g. beacons
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/012 : from other sources than vehicle or roadside beacons, e.g. mobile networks
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0129 : for creating historical data or processing based on historical data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0133 : for classifying traffic situation
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0137 : for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0141 : for traffic information dissemination
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/017 : identifying vehicles G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09 : Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions railroad crossing signals B61L; reflectors E01F, G08B; indicating arrangements for variable information by selection or combination of individual elements G09F9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 : where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096725 : where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 : where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 : where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 : where the origin of the information is another vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 : where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 : where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/143 : inside the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/16 : Anti-collision systems road vehicle drive control systems for predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision otherwise than by control of a particular sub-unit B60W30/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/14 : Network analysis or design
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• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 : involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41422 : located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 : Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
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• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 : for in-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 : Service provisioning or reconfiguring
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• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 : Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
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Abstract

Methods and systems for a complete vehicle ecosystem are provided. Specifically, systems that when taken alone, or together, provide an individual or group of individuals with an intuitive and comfortable vehicular environment. The present disclosure builds on integrating existing technology with new devices, methods, and systems to provide a complete vehicle ecosystem.

Claims

1. A parking meter expired alert system comprising:

a database that stores information that associates a communication device with a parking meter; and

a status module that monitors an operational status of the parking meter and forwards a communication to the communication device when the parking meter expires.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the status module sends a communication to the communication device when a certain amount of time remains on the parking meter.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication is one or more of an email, a text message, a SMS message and a phone call.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication device is associated with the parking meter manually, by near-field communications, wirelessly or based on proximity.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a replenishment module that allows a user to replenish the parking meter with an associated account.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the replenishment module confirms payment.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the status module provides updated time remaining information to the communication device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the database receives disassociation information and, with the cooperation of the controller, disassociates the parking meter from the communication device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein an expiration notice is forwarded to another entity.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the parking meter displays an identification of a vehicle parked in the associated space.

11. A method to send a parking meter expired alert comprising:

storing information that associates a communication device with a parking meter; and

monitoring an operational status of the parking meter and forwarding a communication to the communication device when the parking meter expires.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein a status module sends a communication to the communication device when a certain amount of time remains on the parking meter.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the communication is one or more of an email, a text message, a SMS message and a phone call.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the communication device is associated with the parking meter manually, by near-field communications, wirelessly or based on proximity.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising remotely replenishing the parking meter with an associated account.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein confirmation of payment is sent to the communication device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein updated time remaining information is sent to the communication device.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving disassociation information and, with the cooperation of a controller, disassociating the parking meter from the communication device.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein an expiration notice is forwarded to another entity.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the parking meter displays an identification of a vehicle parked in the associated space.