PARKING METER AND A DEVICE THEREFOR

• US 20130238406A1
• Filed: 03/05/2013
• Published: 09/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IPS Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: IPS Group Incorporated
• Inventors: King, David William, Schwarz, Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 8,862,494 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/127 Shopping or accessing services according to a time-limitation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• 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 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/248 Housing construction casings for coin-freed apparatus G07F9/10

Abstract

A single bay parking meter device is provided which accepts payment by means of a credit or debit card, an electronic purse, or coins. The device has a power supply unit, a solar power charging arrangement and power management, such that it does not need power supply cables to be installed for each meter. The parking meter device also transmits financial data to a financial institution in a wireless manner, also to avoid the need for cabling. The parking meter device is receivable in the base of a conventional single bay parking meter, such that the new parking meter device may be retrofitted to existing coin operated installed single bay parking meters, using a new cover that is also engageable with the conventional housing base.

Claims

1. A single space parking meter device comprising:

a wireless communications element configured to;

a. communicate electronic payment information to a financial system, the electronic payment information comprising payment deducted at the end of a parking time period;

b. communicate management information to a management center, the management information comprising one or more of;

malfunction information, tampering information, and location information; and

c. communicate expiration information to the management center;

the device adapted to retrofit a conventional single space parking meter by being receivable into the housing base and engaging with the housing base to replace the housing cover and the mechanism contents of the housing.

2. The parking meter of claim 1, wherein the electronic payment information is communicated directly to a financial system.

3. The parking meter of claim 1, wherein the electronic payment information is communicated indirectly to a financial system.

4. The parking meter of claim 1, wherein the wireless communications element utilizes one or more of:

a cellular telephone network, a Wi-Fi, and an IP embedded wireless network.

5. The parking meter of claim 1, wherein the electronic payment information is associated with one or more of:

a credit card, debit card, a mobile phone, virtual wallet, and a toll road electronic pass or other electronic purse.

6. The parking meter of claim 1, further comprising a vehicle sensor for detecting a vehicle in the single parking space.

7. The parking meter of claim 6, further comprising a module configured to detect an electronic payment device associated with a vehicle in the space and deducting an appropriate amount for a parking time period.

8. A single space parking meter device comprising:

a wireless communications element capable of;

a. communicating electronic payment information to a financial system;

b. communicating management information to a management center, the management information comprising one or more of;

malfunction information, tampering information, and location information; and

c. communicating expiration information to the management center;

the device adapted to retrofit a conventional single space parking meter by being receivable into the housing base and engaging with the housing base to replace the housing cover and the mechanism contents of the housing.

9. The parking meter of claim 8, wherein the electronic payment information is from one or more of:

a credit card, debit card, a mobile phone, virtual wallet, and a toll road electronic pass.

10. The parking meter of claim 8, wherein the wireless communications element communicates via one or more of:

a cellular telephone network, a Wi-Fi, and an IP embedded wireless network.

11. The parking meter of claim 8, wherein the electronic payment information is associated with a parking time period, the payment before the parking time period.

12. The parking meter of claim 8, wherein the electronic payment information is associated with a parking time period, the payment after the parking time period.

13. A single space parking management platform comprising:

a. a plurality of single space parking meter devices, each device comprising a wireless communications element configured to;

i. communicate electronic payment information to a financial system;

ii. communicate management information to a management center, the management information comprising one or more of;

malfunction information, tampering information, and location information; and

iii. communicate expiration information to the management center;

b. a server processor configured to provide a management center application comprising;

i. a software module configured to receive electronic payment information from at least one of the single space parking meter devices;

ii. a software module configured to receive management information from at least one of the single space parking meter devices; and

iii. a software module configured to receive duration and expiration information from at least one of the single space parking meter devices.

14. The platform of claim 13, wherein the electronic payment information comprises payment deducted at the beginning of a parking time period or payment deducted at the end of a parking time period.

15. The platform of claim 13, wherein at least one of the single space parking meter devices is a device adapted to retrofit a conventional single space parking meter by being receivable into the housing base and engaging with the housing base to replace the housing cover and the mechanism contents of the housing.

16. The platform of claim 13, wherein the software modules receive information directly from the at least one single space parking meter device.

17. The platform of claim 13, wherein the software modules receive information indirectly from the at least one single space parking meter device.