PARKING LOCATOR SYSTEM PROVIDING VARIABLY PRICED PARKING FEES

• US 20180075485A1
• Filed: 11/15/2017
• Published: 03/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mentis Services France
• Original Assignee: Mentis Services France
• Inventors: Rowe, Richard E., Fiorucci, Jean-Louis
• Granted Patent: US 10,643,242 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0237 at kiosk
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0259 based on store location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0268 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/14 indicating individual free spaces in parking areas
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/141 with means giving the indication of available parking spaces

Abstract

A parking locator system providing variably priced parking includes one or more parking sensors and one or more parking kiosks. The parking sensors may generate parking information identifying one or more occupied parking spaces and one or more unoccupied parking spaces within a vicinity. Promotion information including one or more discounts to parking fees may be received at the parking kiosks. The parking kiosks may display the discounted parking fees and receive payment of the same. The discounts to parking fees may expire at particular times. The size of the discounts may be set based on traffic congestion, which may be determined based on the number of occupied parking spaces within the vicinity.

Claims

1. A method in a server comprising,

receiving, by a processor, first location information and second location information, from a mobile device wherein the first location information identifies where a parking space is desired and the second location information identifies a current location of the mobile device wherein the second location information is global positioning information measured from a GPS sensor on the mobile device;

receiving, by the processor, parking information from a plurality of sensors distributed throughout a city wherein the parking information identifies unoccupied parking spaces;

based upon first location information, determining, by the processor, a first set of one or more unoccupied parking spaces within a predefined area around the first location;

sending, by the processor, to the mobile device a map including indicators of the first set of one or more unoccupied parking spaces and the current location of the mobile device;

receiving, by the processor, identification information associated with a parking space;

based upon the identification information, determining, by the processor, a vicinity which surrounds the parking space;

receiving, by the processor, first promotional material from a first merchant wherein the first promotional material includes a first merchant location and one or more target areas wherein the one or more target areas define areas in which the first merchant wants the first promotional material to be distributed, and wherein said first promotional material is configured to be retrieved based upon a first selection criteria by the first merchant, the first selection criteria including the one or more target areas overlapping with the vicinity;

receiving, by the processor, second promotional material associated with a second merchant wherein the second promotional material is distributed to drive vehicle traffic outside of the vicinity to where the second merchant is located, and wherein said second promotional material is configured to be retrieved based upon second selection criteria specified by an entity separate from the second merchant, the second selection criteria including vehicle traffic conditions in the vicinity;

retrieving, by the processor, at least one promotional material selected from among the first promotional material and the second promotional material based upon the vicinity, the first selection criteria specified by the first merchant and the second selection criteria specified by the entity; and

sending, by the processor, the at least one promotional material to the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first location information is received via a text message.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, based upon the first location information, determining the predefined area.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification information is received from a parking kiosk.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification information is received from the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification information is received from a parking locator configured to generate the parking information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one promotional material is valid during a particular time period to encourage one or more drivers to visit one or more areas outside of the vicinity at the particular time period.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving identification information associated with a user.

9. The method of claim 8, retrieving the at least one promotional material selected from among the first promotional material and the second promotional material based upon the identification information.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising based upon the identification information, determining an account associated with the user;

retrieving from the account a plurality of locations where the user has previously purchased parking and retrieving, the at least one promotional material selected from among the first promotional material and the second promotional material based upon the plurality of locations where the user has previously purchased parking.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining an identity of a user which has purchased parking associated with the parking space.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising sending a location of the parking space and identity information associated with the user to a second remote device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising prior to sending the location of the parking space and the identity information to the second remote device, receiving identification information associated with a second user and determining whether the second user is authorized to receive the location of the parking space and the identify information.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising, determining the second user is authorized based upon a list of authorized users stored in an account associated with the user.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request to purchase parking associated with the parking space.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one promotional material is only sent after the parking is purchased.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least on promotional material includes a discount on a purchase of a product.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving location information associated with a user and retrieving the at least one promotional material selected from among the first promotional material and the second promotional material based upon the location information.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the first promotional material includes a first target area and a second target area, separate from the first target area, and wherein the first merchant location is in one of the first target area or the second target area.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification information is received from a parking meter.