CITY PARKING SERVICES WITH AREA BASED LOYALTY PROGRAMS

• US 20180068337A1
• Filed: 11/07/2017
• Published: 03/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mentis Services France
• Original Assignee: Mentis Services France
• Inventors: Fiorucci, Jean-Louis, Rowe, Richard E.
• Granted Patent: US 10,867,312 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0457 the tickets being sent electronically
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/047 using payment protocols involving electronic receipts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/127 Shopping or accessing services according to a time-limitation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/405 Establishing or using transaction specific rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0205 Location or geographical consideration
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0234 Rebates after completed purchase
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• 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 17/242 provided with token dispensing devices
• 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: G08G 1/005 including pedestrian guidance indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/127 to a central station ; Indicators in a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/133 within the vehicle ; Indicators inside the vehicles or at stops
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/144 on portable or mobile units, e.g. personal digital assistant [PDA]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/147 where the parking area is within an open public zone, e.g. city centre
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/202 Dispatching vehicles on the basis of a location, e.g. taxi dispatching
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 : Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 : Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/38 : for collecting sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/42 : for mass transport vehicles, e.g. buses, trains or aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/44 : for communication between vehicles and infrastructures, e.g. vehicle-to-cloud [V2C] or vehicle-to-home [V2H]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

Apparatus and methods related providing city services, such as parking, are described. Methods and apparatus for providing parking rewards programs are described. The methods and apparatus can include maintaining accounts for participants in the rewards program, tracking purchases of parking and other participant activities and determining parking awards based upon the activities. The parking rewards programs can be used to incentivize behaviors that balance the use of the parking space commodity according to the needs of different stakeholders, such as the city, residents, merchants and visitors. For example, parking awards and the criteria used for earning awards can be used to encourage particular behaviors while a parking space is being utilized, such as shopping, the use of public transportation or efficient trip planning.

Claims

1. A method in server including a processor, a memory and a network communication interface comprising:

receiving, via the network communication interface, first parking transaction information associated with a purchase of parking for a first time period and a unique identifier associated with a first mobile device;

receiving, via the network communication interface, a first unique activity code and validation information wherein the first unique activity code and the validation information is generated from a first electronic device configured to wirelessly communicate, over a short distance, unique activity codes and the validation information to mobile devices including the first unique activity code to the first mobile device wherein the short distance is within a maximum range of communication of 4 centimeters;

based upon the unique identifier associated with the first mobile device, identifying a first user account from among a plurality of user accounts;

based upon the first unique activity code, determining whether a parking activity occurred during the time period;

based upon the validation information, determining whether the first electronic device is authentic; and

when it is determined the parking activity occurred during the time period and the first electronic device is authentic, determining a parking reward associated with the first user account.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, via the network communication interface, parking sensor information from a plurality of parking sensors, each parking sensor including a sensor configured to detect a presence of a vehicle in an area proximate to the sensor, a power supply and a first communication interface configured to communicate parking sensor information associated with the presence of the vehicle;

based upon the parking sensor information, determining locations of available parking; and

sending, via the network communication interface, the locations of available parking to mobile devices including the first mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a portion of the parking sensor information is received from a parking base station, the parking base station including a first processor, a first memory, a power supply, a second communication interface configured to receive the parking sensor information from the plurality of parking sensors, a wireless communication interface configured to communicate wirelessly with nearby mobile devices including receiving parking transaction information from the nearby mobile devices, a third communication interface to communicate the parking transaction information and the portion of the parking sensor information to the server.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first electronic device is configured to communicate with the mobile devices using a near-field communication protocol.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a time signal and based upon the time signal determining whether the parking activity occurred during the time period.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first electronic device is further configured to generate the time signal which is wirelessly communicated to the first mobile device when the first mobile device is within the maximum range of communication of 4 centimeters.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving from the first electronic device the unique identifier associated with the first mobile device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving from the first electronic device the first unique activity code.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving from the first electronic device information describing an activity associated with the first unique activity code.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, via the first mobile device, first parking sensor information from a first parking sensor from among the plurality of parking sensors.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving location information from the first mobile device and based upon the location information, determining a parking award.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the location information is determined from a GPS sensor located on the first mobile device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the location information is based upon a known location of the first electronic device.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a plurality of parking activities occur during the time period.

15. The method of claim 14, based upon the plurality of parking activities, determining a first parking award.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein a value of the first parking award increases as a number of the plurality of parking activities increases.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the first electronic device is located on a bus or a train and wherein the parking activity is associated with taking a bus ride or a train ride during the time period.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the first electronic device is located proximate to a location where a government service is provided and wherein the parking activity is associated with utilizing the government service during the time period.

19. A method in server including a processor, a memory and a network communication interface comprising:

receiving, via the network communication interface, first parking transaction information associated with a purchase of parking for a first time period and a unique identifier associated with a first mobile device;

receiving, via the network communication interface from a first electronic electronic device, a first unique activity code, validation information and the unique identifier associated with the first mobile device wherein the first electronic device is configured to i) generate the first unique activity code and the validation information, ii) wirelessly communicate, over a short distance, unique activity codes and the validation information to mobile devices including the first unique activity code to the first mobile device and iii) receive, wirelessly, over the short distance, the unique identifier associated the first mobile device wherein the short distance is within a maximum range of communication of 4 centimeters;

based upon the unique identifier associated with the first mobile device, identifying a first user account from among a plurality of user accounts;

based upon the first unique activity code, determining whether a parking activity occurred during the time period;

based upon the validation information, determining whether the first electronic device is authentic; and

when it is determined the parking activity occurred during the time period and the first electronic device is authentic, determining a parking reward associated with the first user account.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving, via the network communication interface, parking sensor information from a plurality of parking sensors, each parking sensor including a sensor configured to detect a presence of a vehicle in an area proximate to the sensor, a power supply and a first communication interface configured to communicate parking sensor information associated with the presence of the vehicle;

based upon the parking sensor information, determining locations of available parking; and

sending, via the network communication interface, the locations of available parking to mobile devices including the first mobile device.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein a portion of the parking sensor information is received from a parking base station, the parking base station including a first processor, a first memory, a power supply, a second communication interface configured to receive the parking sensor information from the plurality of parking sensors, a wireless communication interface configured to communicate wirelessly with nearby mobile devices including receiving parking transaction information from the nearby mobile devices, a third communication interface to communicate the parking transaction information and the portion of the parking sensor information to the server.