Portable time metering device
First Claim
1. A time metering device useful as an in-car parking meter for metering parking time in any one of a plurality of zones, the device comprising:
- a plurality of bank registers, each bank register having stored therein a monetary value and each of the plurality of zones corresponding to a one bank register;
means for selectively determining whether a sufficient monetary value is stored in a corresponding bank register of a selected zone to allow parking in the selected zone for a specified amount of time;
means for selectively determining a total amount of the specified amount of time parked in the selected zone; and
,means for deducting from the monetary value of the corresponding bank register in accordance with the total amount of the time parked.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable time metering device particularly adaptable as an in-car parking meter for parking in a plurality of zones comprises a plurality of bank registers, each bank register having stored therein information representing a monetary value and each of the plurality of zones corresponding to one bank register. The device selectively determines whether a sufficient monetary value is stored in a corresponding bank register of a selected zone to allow parking in the zone. The device further determines a total amount of time parked in a selected zone if parking is allowed. The total amount of time is then used to deduct an amount from the monetary value of the corresponding bank. The device also includes a communication component for transmitting and receiving data.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A time metering device useful as an in-car parking meter for metering parking time in any one of a plurality of zones, the device comprising:
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a plurality of bank registers, each bank register having stored therein a monetary value and each of the plurality of zones corresponding to a one bank register; means for selectively determining whether a sufficient monetary value is stored in a corresponding bank register of a selected zone to allow parking in the selected zone for a specified amount of time; means for selectively determining a total amount of the specified amount of time parked in the selected zone; and
,means for deducting from the monetary value of the corresponding bank register in accordance with the total amount of the time parked. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A device comprising:
a microprocessor including; a plurality of bank registers, each bank register having stored therein a monetary value and corresponding to at least one of a plurality of parking zones, each parking zone corresponding to one bank register, means for selectively determining whether a sufficient monetary value is stored in a corresponding bank register of a selected zone to allow parking in the selected zone for a specified amount of time, means for metering the specified amount of time in the selected zone; means for selectively determining a total time parked in the selected zone based on metered time, means for calculating a deduction value based on the total time parked, the selected zone, and means for deducting the deduction value from the monetary value; means for selectively displaying the monetary value, the selected zone and the metered time; and
,means for communicating with the microprocessor to facilitate input of monetary values to the plurality of bank registers. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A time metering device useful for metering parking time in any one of a plurality of zones, the device comprising:
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a plurality of bank registers, each bank register having stored therein a monetary value and corresponding to at least one of a plurality of parking zones, each parking zone corresponding to only one bank register; means for selecting a zone; means for determining which of the plurality of bank registers corresponds to the selected zone; means for determining a maximum time limit for the selected zone; means for determining whether the corresponding bank register has a sufficient monetary value stored therein to accommodate the maximum time limit; means for determining an alternative time limit if the monetary value is not sufficient to accommodate the maximum time limit; means for decrementing one of the maximum time limit and the alternative time limit to obtain a desired time limit; means for metering time based on the desired time limit; means for determining a total time parked based on the metered time; means for calculating a deduction value based on the total time parked; means for deducting the deduction value from the monetary value of the corresponding bank register. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A time metering device useful for metering parking time in any one of a plurality of zones, the device comprising:
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a plurality of bank registers, each bank register having stored therein a monetary value and corresponding to at least one of a plurality of parking zones, each parking zone corresponding to only one bank register; means for selecting a zone; means for determining which of the plurality of bank registers corresponds to the selected zone in accordance with stored information; means for determining a maximum time limit for the selected zone in accordance with stored information; means for determining whether the corresponding bank register has a sufficient monetary value stored therein to accommodate the maximum time limit in accordance with the stored information; means for determining an alternative time limit if the monetary value is not sufficient to accommodate the maximum time limit in accordance with the stored information; means for decrementing one of the maximum time limit and the alternative time limit to obtain a desired time limit; means for metering time based on the desired time limit; means for determining a total time parked based on the metered time; means for calculating a deduction value based on the total time parked, the selected zone and the stored information; means for deducting the deduction value from the monetary value of the corresponding bank register. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A time metering device useful for metering parking time in any one of a plurality of zones, the device comprising:
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a microcomputer including a plurality of bank registers, each bank register having stored therein a monetary value and corresponding to at least one of a plurality of parking zones, each parking zone corresponding to only one bank register, means for selecting a zone, means for determining which of the plurality of bank registers corresponds to the selected zone, means for determining a maximum time limit for the selected zone, means for determining whether the corresponding bank register has a sufficient monetary value stored therein to accommodate the maximum time limit, means for determining an alternative time limit if the monetary value is not sufficient to accommodate the maximum time limit, means for decrementing one of the maximum time limit and the alternative time limit to obtain a desired time limit, means for metering time based on the desired time limit, means for determining a total time parked based on the metered time, means for calculating a deduction value based on the total time parked, and means for deducting the deduction value from the monetary value of the corresponding bank register; a display for selectively displaying the selected zone, the maximum time limit, the alternative time limit, the monetary value, and the metered time; and
,a communication transceiver for inputting the monetary value in the each bank register.
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20. A method of time metering for use in a system including a plurality of bank registers, each bank register having stored therein a monetary value and corresponding to only one of a plurality of parking zones, and a storage means having information stored therein, the method comprising steps of:
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selecting a zone; determining which of the plurality of bank registers corresponds to the selected zone in accordance with the stored information; determining a maximum time limit for the selected zone in accordance with the stored information; determining whether the corresponding bank register has a sufficient monetary value stored therein to accommodate the maximum time limit in accordance with the stored information; determining an alternative time limit if the monetary value is not sufficient to accommodate the maximum time limit in accordance with the stored information; decrementing one of the maximum time limit and the alternative time limit to obtain a desired time limit; metering time based on the desired time limit; determining a total time parked based on the metered time; calculating a deduction value based on the total time parked, the selected zone and the stored information; and
,deducting the deduction value from the monetary value of the corresponding bank register.
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Specification