METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ELECTRONIC PAYMENT FOR PARKING IN GATED GARAGES

• US 20150025947A1
• Filed: 09/11/2014
• Published: 01/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Transparent Wireless Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Transparent Wireless Systems, LLC
• Inventors: DUTTA, Santanu, Rydbeck, Nils, Chakravartti, Partha
• Granted Patent: US 10,068,386 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/145 Payments according to the detected use or quantity
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/326 Payment applications installed on the mobile devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• 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: G07B 15/04 comprising devices to free a barrier, turnstile, or the like turnstiles with registering means G07C9/10; coin-freed aspects G07F17/00
• 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

Abstract

The methods describe the use of Handset Apps in garages currently using paper tickets or ID tokens in ways that minimize disruption to the existing infrastructure. The techniques include automatic recognition of garage/gate ID, automatic identification of paper ticket ID without optical scanning, and direct payment in manually operated garages, including those using valet parking.

Claims

1. A method of paying for parking at a garage or a gated parking facility having at least one entrance gate and at least one exit gate controlled by a garage server or computer, a paper ticket dispenser associated with at least one entrance gate and a ticket reader associated with the at least one exit gate, wherein the ticket dispenser issues a ticket having a ticket identification to a user entering the garage or gated parking facility and the ticket reader reads the ticket identification prior to the user exiting the garage or gated parking facility, the method comprising:

performing a payment transaction for a particular vehicle with a wireless communications device having a device identification at a particular garage and/or gate without communicating any information printed on the ticket.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the ticket identification of the ticket issued to a particular user holding a particular wireless communications device is determined by the garage server on the basis of which ticket has an actual issuance time that best matches an estimated ticket issuance time estimated by the wireless communications device of the particular user, wherein the estimated ticket issuance time and the device identification are communicated to the garage server in a message from a parking application server, which is operably connected to the wireless communications device, and wherein the actual ticket issuance time is communicated to the garage server without using the wireless communications device and parking application server.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising estimating the ticket issuance time with an RF beacon signal transmitted by a beacon module located proximate to the ticket dispenser and wherein the wireless communications device receives the RF beacon signal.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein exit is authorized by the garage server for a user at any gate if the ticket identification of the ticket presented by the user to the ticket reader at the at least one exit gate has been determined.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the ticket identification of a ticket presented to a ticket reader at the at least one exit gate is linked to the device identification of the wireless communications device based on receipt by the garage server of a message from a parking application server which is operably connected to the wireless communications device, wherein:

the elapsed time between the reading of the ticket and the receipt of the message is less than a predetermined period, and

the message contains the device identification of the wireless communications device.

6. The method of claim 5 where exit is authorized by the garage server if the linking is successful and the message is received from a trusted parking application server.

7. A method of payment for parking a vehicle in gated or closed garages using a portable wireless communications device or a wireless communications device built into the vehicle'"'"'s electronic system comprising:

automatically identifying the gated or closed garage and/or a gate to which the wireless communications device is proximate and communicating the identification to a parking application server.

8. The method of claim 7, where the automatic identification of the garage and/or gate comprises:

the wireless communications device autonomously determining its own position and indicating it on a display;

a user providing corrections to the indicated position if desired;

an indicated position being communicated to a parking application server, responsive to which the server sending a message to the wireless communications device containing a list of proximate garages and their locations; and

the user selecting a particular one of the indicated garages.

9. The method of claim 7, where the automatic identification of the garage and/or gate is performed with an RF beacon signal which transmits, from a beacon transmitter, an identification identifying the garage and/or the gate, wherein there is no communication link between the beacon transmitter and a garage computer configured to control the gate.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the beacon transmitter operating the beacon in a low energy advertising mode.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein, responsive to the receipt of information from the wireless communications device about its location, the parking application server sends the wireless communications device bulletin board information about one or more garages proximate to the wireless communications device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the bulletin board information includes one or more of the following items:

garage occupancy levels, parking rates and special promotions.

13. A method of parking payment wherein an amount is entered by a user on a wireless communication device and communicated to a parking application server, responsive to which, the parking application server sends payment confirmation messages to both the wireless communications device and a data terminal accessible to a garage employee, wherein the messages contain common elements.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the common elements include an authentication code which comprises an alphanumeric code or a pattern displayable on the user'"'"'s wireless communications device and the garage employee'"'"'s data terminal, wherein a match between the authentication code or pattern displayed on the user'"'"'s wireless communications device and the garage employee'"'"'s data terminal is accepted as a proof of payment.

15. The method of claim 14 where the code or pattern changes between different messages in a manner that is difficult to predict.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the common elements include vehicle attributes comprising a license plate number and/or an image of the vehicle.

17. A method of sharing bulletin board information about an establishment, through an establishment server, with proximate wireless communications devices which are operably connected to a service provider server, comprising:

communicating locations of the wireless communications devices to the service provider server;

sharing the bulletin board information from the establishment server with the service provider server; and

sending the bulletin board information of one or more establishments proximate to the wireless communications devices from the service provider server to the wireless communications devices.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the establishment is a parking garage.

19. A system for payment for parking a vehicle in gated or closed garages, comprising:

a paper ticket issuer at a point of entry to the garage and a paper ticket reader at a point of exit from the garage;

a portable wireless communications device or a wireless communications device built into the vehicle'"'"'s electronic system;

a parking applications server operably connected to the wireless communications device;

a garage server configured to control garage gates and operably connected to the parking applications server;

a first RF beacon comprising a beacon transmitter located proximate to an entrance and/or exit gate and transmitting an identification of the garage and/or the entrance and/or exit gate; and

a second RF beacon located proximal to the ticket issuer such that its coverage is maximum proximal to the point where a vehicle is located when the ticket is issued;

wherein;

the system is configured to automatically identify the garage and/or gate to which the wireless communications device is proximate either via the first RF beacon or through autonomous position location by the wireless communications device;

there is no communication link between the first RF beacon transmitter and the garage server; and

the identity of an issued ticket is determined without optical scanning of the ticket.

20. The system of claim 19 where the first and second RF beacons are the same.

21. The system of claim 19, where one or both of the RF beacons use Bluetooth Low Energy signals.