SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPLEMENTING AN EXCEPTION TO A PARKING RESTRICTION

• US 20130261958A1
• Filed: 11/05/2010
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grid Smarter Cities Limited
• Original Assignee: Activ8Vps Limited
• Inventors: Herron, Neil Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 9,836,975 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/428
• 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 17/24 for parking meters
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/143 inside the vehicles

Abstract

An apparatus and method for implementing an exception to a parking restriction, the exception being a parking area defined by one or more coordinates, includes monitoring an area including the parking area; detecting a vehicle in the monitored area; determining whether the detected vehicle is positioned within the parking area; and determining whether the vehicle has permission to park in the parking area. The parking area is not marked on the road.

Claims

1. A method for implementing an exception to a parking restriction, the exception being a parking area defined by one or more coordinates, the method comprising the steps of:

monitoring an area including the parking area;

detecting a vehicle in the monitored area;

determining whether the detected vehicle is positioned within the parking area; and

determining whether the vehicle has permission to park in the parking area;

wherein the parking area is not marked on the road.

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

receiving vehicle position information indicating the current position of a vehicle; and

guiding the vehicle into the parking area by indicating the location of the parking area and the position of the vehicle on a display.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of charging an operator or user of the vehicle for permission to park in the parking area.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of issuing a fine or penalty in respect of the vehicle if it is determined that the vehicle does not have permission to park in the parking area.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein a fine or penalty issued in respect of the vehicle is annulled if the vehicle is determined to have permission to park in the parking area.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the exception to the parking restriction applies at a predetermined time or times, and/or to predetermined vehicles and or users, and/or to predetermined classes of users and/or vehicles.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of monitoring the area is performed using a camera.

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein the step of determining whether said vehicle has permission to park in the parking area at the time of detecting said vehicle includes:

determining an identification number of the vehicle from image data captured by the camera;

checking the identification number against identification numbers stored in a permission table.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether the detected vehicle is positioned within said parking area and/or the step of determining whether the detected vehicle has permission to park in the parking area includes:

receiving data transmitted by the vehicle and/or a device located proximal the vehicle.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein said data includes at least one of the following:

position information indicating the position of the vehicle and/or the device;

parking area usage information including a time or times at which the vehicle is parked in the parking area and/or at which the vehicle enters and/or exits the parking area; and

/or

identification information identifying the vehicle.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the position information is determined by a global navigation satellite system.

15. A method according to claim 11, wherein said data includes data received by the vehicle from a kerbside transmitter.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the kerbside transmitter is at least one of a radio-frequency transmitter, a radio-frequency identification tag, a Wi-Fi™

or Bluetooth™

transmitter.

19. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for permission to park a vehicle in said parking area;

checking whether the parking area is available; and

entering identification information of said vehicle in a permission table if the parking area is available.

20. A method according to claim 1, including transmitting location information indicating the location of the parking area, and permission information indicating whether the vehicle has permission to use the parking area including a time or times at which the vehicle has permission to use the parking area.

3. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

17-18. -18. (canceled)

21-23. -23. (canceled)

24. A method for indicating an exception to a parking restriction, the exception being a parking area defined by one or more coordinates, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving location information relating to the location of the parking area;

receiving vehicle position information indicating the current position of the vehicle; and

indicating the location of the parking area and the vehicle position on a display;

wherein the parking area is not marked on the road.

25-35. -35. (canceled)

36. An apparatus for implementing an exception to a parking restriction, the exception being a parking area defined by one or more coordinates, the apparatus comprising:

at least one monitoring device for monitoring an area including the parking area;

at least one detection device for detecting a vehicle in the monitored area;

at least one position determination device for determining whether a detected vehicle is positioned within the parking area; and

at least one permission determination device for determining whether the detected vehicle has permission to park in the parking area;

wherein the parking area is not marked on the road.

37. An apparatus according to claim 36, further comprising:

at least one position receiving device for receiving vehicle position information indicating the position of a vehicle; and

a display for indicating the location of the parking area and the position of the vehicle, for guiding the vehicle into the parking area.

46. An apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the position determining device and/or the permission determining device comprises:

at least one data receiving device for receiving data transmitted by the vehicle and/or a device located proximal the vehicle.

47. An apparatus according to claim 46, wherein the data receiving device is a GPRS receiver.

51. An apparatus according to claim 46, wherein the data includes data read by the vehicle from a kerbside transmitter.

53. An apparatus according to claim 51, wherein the kerbside transmitter is a radio-frequency transmitter, an RFID, Wi-Fi™

or Bluetooth™

transmitter.

38-45. -45. (canceled)

48-50. -50. (canceled)

52. (canceled)

54-75. -75. (canceled)