Computer-Implemented System And Method For Providing Management Of Motor Vehicle Parking Spaces During Scheduled Street Sweeping

• US 20150091741A1
• Filed: 12/04/2014
• Published: 04/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Conduent Business Services, LLC (Conduent, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center, Inc. (Xerox Holdings Corp.), Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Stefik, Mark Jeffrey, Bell, Alan G., Eldershaw, Craig, Good, Lance E., Greene, Daniel H., Torres, Francisco Eduardo, Uckun, Serdar, Cummins, David Preston
• Granted Patent: US 11,308,804 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/932.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/265 Personal security, identity or safety
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/00 Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00
• 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 17/0021 Access to services on a time-basis
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/12 Manually actuated calamity alarm transmitting arrangements emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm, activators, e.g. details of alarm push buttons mounted on an infrastructure
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/14 indicating individual free spaces in parking areas
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/142 external to the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/147 where the parking area is within an open public zone, e.g. city centre
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/148 Management of a network of parking areas
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A system and method for managing a multiplicity of motor vehicle parking spaces through a server is provided. Smart parking devices and vehicle occupancy sensors that are each physically proximate to and which correspond to at least one of the parking spaces is interfaced with the server. Parking availability indicators that are each associated with at least one of the parking spaces is interfaced with the server. Street sweeping activity affecting the parking spaces is planned and comprising times and dates over which street sweeping of the parking spaces will occur. Any requests for reserving the use of the parking spaces during the street sweeping activity is denied. The parking availability indicators are activated associated with the parking spaces affected by the street sweeping activity. Occupancy of each of the parking spaces by a motor vehicle is sensed through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented system for providing management of motor vehicle parking spaces during scheduled street sweeping, comprising:

a centrally-located server configured to manage a multiplicity of motor vehicle parking spaces, to interface over a computer network, and to comprise a memory and a computer processor, the computer processor operatively coupled to the memory and configured to execute computer executable program modules, comprising;

a plurality of smart parking devices that are each physically proximate to and which correspond to at least one of the parking spaces interfaced with the server via the computer network;

a plurality of vehicle occupancy sensors that are also each physically proximate to and which correspond to at least one of the parking spaces interfaced with the server via the computer network; and

a plurality of parking availability indicators that are each associated with at least one of the parking spaces interfaced with the server via the computer network;

a street sweeping module configured to plan street sweeping activity affecting the parking spaces through the server, comprising;

a schedule module configured to schedule the street sweeping activity comprising times and dates over which street sweeping of the parking spaces will occur; and

a request rejection module configured to deny any requests for reserving the use of the parking spaces during the street sweeping activity; and

the server configured to manage use of the parking space contemporaneous to the street sweeping activity, comprising;

a parking indicator module configured to activate the parking availability indicators associated with the parking spaces affected by the street sweeping activity; and

the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor configured to sense occupancy of each of the parking spaces by a motor vehicle.

2. A system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of:

a check-in module configured to generate a reminder to the driver prior to the street sweeping activity at check in through the smart parking device; and

a message module configured to send by the server a reminder to the driver prior to the street sweeping activity and subsequent to the check in through a mobile computing device.

3. A system according to claim 2, further comprising:

an alternative module configured to offer alternative parking spaces to the driver as part of the reminder.

4. A system according to claim 2, further comprising:

a reminder option module configured to offer an option for the driver to specify how far ahead of time the reminder is sent.

5. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a progress tracking module configured to track progress of the street sweeping activity on a per city block basis; and

a space tracking module configured to decrease the number of parking spaces not available for parking upon completion of the street cleaning activity for those parking spaces.

6. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an exemption module configured to permit the driver to remain in the parking space as an exemption during the street cleaning activity upon payment of an additional fee.

7. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an identity module configured to identify a special status of the driver of the motor vehicle at check in through the smart parking device; and

a special status module configured to permit the driver to remain in the parking space with the special status.

8. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

the vehicle occupancy sensor configured to sense inoccupancy of the parking space through the vehicle occupancy sensor;

a schedule module configured to identify the parking space is still subject to the street sweeping activity; and

the parking availability indicator configured to indicate unavailability of the parking space.

9. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a notification module configured to receive notification from a vehicle performing the street sweeping activity that the street sweeping is completed for the parking space;

an update module configured to update availability of the parking space;

the smart parking device configured to indicate the updated availability of the parking space; and

the parking availability indicator configured to indicate the updated availability of the parking space.

10. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a start module configured to identify the beginning of a time period of the street sweeping activity;

the vehicle occupancy sensor configured to sense occupancy of the parking space subject to the street sweeping activity; and

an enforcement module configured to notify a parking enforcement authority for a violation on the parking space.

11. A computer-implemented method for providing management of motor vehicle parking spaces during scheduled street sweeping, comprising:

managing a multiplicity of motor vehicle parking spaces through a centrally-located server, the server configured to interface over a computer network and comprising a memory and a computer processor, the computer processor operatively coupled to the memory and configured to execute computer executable program modules, comprising;

interfacing by the computer processor via the computer network a plurality of smart parking devices that are each physically proximate to and which correspond to at least one of the parking spaces;

interfacing by the computer processor via the computer network a plurality of vehicle occupancy sensors that are also each physically proximate to and which correspond to at least one of the parking spaces; and

interfacing with the server via the computer network a plurality of parking availability indicators that are each associated with at least one of the parking spaces;

planning street sweeping activity affecting the parking spaces through the server, comprising;

scheduling the street sweeping activity comprising times and dates over which street sweeping of the parking spaces will occur; and

denying any requests for reserving the use of the parking spaces during the street sweeping activity; and

managing by the server use of the parking space contemporaneous to the street sweeping activity, comprising;

activating the parking availability indicators associated with the parking spaces affected by the street sweeping activity; and

sensing occupancy of each of the parking spaces by a motor vehicle through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor.

12. A method according to claim 11, further comprising at least one of:

generating by the server a reminder to the driver prior to the street sweeping activity at check in through the smart parking device; and

sending by the server a reminder to the driver prior to the street sweeping activity and subsequent to the check in through a mobile computing device.

13. A method according to claim 12, further comprising:

offering by the server alternative parking spaces to the driver as part of the reminder.

14. A method according to claim 12, further comprising:

offering by the server an option for the driver to specify how far ahead of time the reminder is sent.

15. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

tracking by the server progress of the street sweeping activity on a per city block basis; and

decreasing by the server the number of parking spaces not available for parking upon completion of the street cleaning activity for those parking spaces.

16. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

permitting by the server the driver to remain in the parking space as an exemption during the street cleaning activity upon payment of an additional fee.

17. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

identifying a special status of the driver of the motor vehicle at check in through the smart parking device; and

permitting by the server the driver to remain in the parking space with the special status.

18. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

sensing inoccupancy of the parking space through the vehicle occupancy sensor;

identifying by the server the parking space is still subject to the street sweeping activity; and

indicating unavailability of the parking space through the parking availability indicator.

19. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

receiving notification from a vehicle performing the street sweeping activity that the street sweeping is completed for the parking space;

updating by the server availability of the parking space; and

indicating the updated availability of the parking space through the smart parking device and parking availability indicator.

20. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

identifying by the server a beginning of a time period of the street sweeping activity;

sensing occupancy of the parking space subject to the street sweeping activity through the vehicle occupancy sensor; and

notifying a parking enforcement authority for a violation on the parking space.