Networked computerized parking system of networked computerized parking meters and a method of operating said system
First Claim
1. A networked computerized parking system of networked computerized parking meters connected via a number of electric-transferring cables to a local power source and connected via a number of fiber optic network connections to a number of other networked computerized parking meters and to a central database computer, with each networked computerized parking meter having a number of essential components comprising:
- (a) a main body mounted on and connected to a base, said main body comprising a top, a front surface, and a tightly-fastened, removable back surface for facilitating service work, and said base comprising a bottom;
(b) a mother board, having a front and a back, positioned inside the main body, with the number of electric-transferring cables and the number of fiber optic network connections connected to the back of the mother board and leading downwards to exit from the bottom of the networked computerized parking meter and with a number of rechargeable batteries connected to the mother board as a supplementary power source;
(c) a motion detector, with a front placed on a section of the front surface of the networked computerized parking meter and with a back connected to a portion of the front of the mother board via motion detector cable, for detecting both arrival time and departure time of a vehicle;
(d) a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen located inside the networked computerized parking meter, with a front occupying a section of the front surface of the networked computerized parking meter and a back connected to a portion of the front of the mother board via ribbon cable, said LCD screen indicating information comprising any remaining, unused parking time, identification data related to any parking time card being used, parking rate and any amount of parking time allowed;
(e) a numeric code pad, with a front and a back, said front of the numeric code pad, comprising ten numeric buttons from "0" to "9", an "ENTER" button and a "CANCEL" button, said numeric code pad occupying a section of the front surface of the networked computerized parking meter, and said back of the numeric code pad connected via ribbon cable to a portion of the front of the mother board; and
(f) a magnetic strip reader, with a back connected via ribbon cable to a portion of the front of the mother board and with a front, said magnetic strip reader being located in front of the mother board, being positioned inside the networked computerized parking meter, and having a card insertion opening extending from the front of the magnetic strip reader towards the front surface of the networked computerized parking meter and creating an opening for insertion of parking charge cards;
such that;
parking charge cards are charged for used parking time only, and the motion detector terminates use of the parking charge cards upon removal of the vehicle.
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Abstract
This invention provides a networked computerized parking system of networked computerized parking meters that are connected via a number of electric-transferring cables to a local power source and via a number of fiber optic network connections to one another and to a central database computer. Each networked computerized parking meter comprises: a main body connected to a base, a front surface, a back surface, a bottom and a top; a mother board positioned inside the main body, with the number of electric-transferring cables and the number of fiber optic network connections exiting from the bottom of the networked computerized parking meter; a parking violation light connected via detector cable to the mother board; a motion detector connected to the mother board via detector cable; a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen connected to the mother board via ribbon cable; a numeric code pad, comprising ten single-digital numeric, "ENTER" and "CANCEL" buttons, connected via ribbon cable to the mother board; and a magnetic strip reader connected via ribbon cable to the mother board, with a card insertion opening extending from the magnetic strip reader towards the front surface of the networked computerized parking meter. The motion detector determines start and completion of parking of a vehicle in vicinity of the networked computerized parking meter and refunds any unused, remaining parking fee from any parking charge card back to itself. A method of application of the networked computerized parking system is also presented.
192 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A networked computerized parking system of networked computerized parking meters connected via a number of electric-transferring cables to a local power source and connected via a number of fiber optic network connections to a number of other networked computerized parking meters and to a central database computer, with each networked computerized parking meter having a number of essential components comprising:
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(a) a main body mounted on and connected to a base, said main body comprising a top, a front surface, and a tightly-fastened, removable back surface for facilitating service work, and said base comprising a bottom; (b) a mother board, having a front and a back, positioned inside the main body, with the number of electric-transferring cables and the number of fiber optic network connections connected to the back of the mother board and leading downwards to exit from the bottom of the networked computerized parking meter and with a number of rechargeable batteries connected to the mother board as a supplementary power source; (c) a motion detector, with a front placed on a section of the front surface of the networked computerized parking meter and with a back connected to a portion of the front of the mother board via motion detector cable, for detecting both arrival time and departure time of a vehicle; (d) a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen located inside the networked computerized parking meter, with a front occupying a section of the front surface of the networked computerized parking meter and a back connected to a portion of the front of the mother board via ribbon cable, said LCD screen indicating information comprising any remaining, unused parking time, identification data related to any parking time card being used, parking rate and any amount of parking time allowed; (e) a numeric code pad, with a front and a back, said front of the numeric code pad, comprising ten numeric buttons from "0" to "9", an "ENTER" button and a "CANCEL" button, said numeric code pad occupying a section of the front surface of the networked computerized parking meter, and said back of the numeric code pad connected via ribbon cable to a portion of the front of the mother board; and (f) a magnetic strip reader, with a back connected via ribbon cable to a portion of the front of the mother board and with a front, said magnetic strip reader being located in front of the mother board, being positioned inside the networked computerized parking meter, and having a card insertion opening extending from the front of the magnetic strip reader towards the front surface of the networked computerized parking meter and creating an opening for insertion of parking charge cards; such that; parking charge cards are charged for used parking time only, and the motion detector terminates use of the parking charge cards upon removal of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. The method of operating a networked computerized parking system of networked computerized parking meters individually controlled by a mother board placed inside each networked computerized parking meter and connected to a central database computer, each mother board determining parking rate for each parking space, unique identification of each networked computerized parking meter, comprising geographic location and unique identification number of each networked computerized parking meter, last date of service for each networked computerized parking meter, and parking status, parking rate and maximum amount of parking time of each networked computerized parking meter, said method comprising:
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(a) parking a vehicle in a parking space in front of a networked computerized parking meter with a turned-on parking violation light; (b) state of occupation of the parking space by the vehicle being constantly determined by a motion detector located on a front surface of the networked computerized parking meter, said motion detector, operated through the mother board, scanning in front of the networked computerized parking meter to locate the parked vehicle and notifying the central database computer of occupation of the parking space upon passage of a set period of time from locating of the parked vehicle; (c) placing a parking charge card, comprising prepaid parking cards, parking credit account cards and credit cards, in a card insertion opening of a magnetic strip reader of the networked computerized parking meter, with information, comprising account information, being scanned off a magnetic strip on the parking charge card by the magnetic strip reader connected to the mother board in the networked computerized parking meter, with any scanned information being sent to the mother board and with some scanned information being sent to the central database computer; (d) pressing a personal identification number on a numeric code pad connected to the mother board to obtain credit on the parking charge card and entering any correct personal identification number by pressing an "ENTER" button on the numeric code pad while correcting any errors in entrance of the personal identification number that may show on a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen connected to the mother board by pressing a "CANCEL" button, said personal identification number being transferred to the mother board and checked through the central database computer; (e) upon verification of the personal identification number and any information read off the magnetic strip of the parking charge card through the central database computer, a timer being commenced if the networked computerized parking meter functions properly and the parking violation light being automatically turned off, said timer used for starting a requested parking time allowance upon noting parking payment rate and maximum parking time allowed by; A. upon usage of a prepaid parking card, subtracting the requested parking time allowance, using the magnetic strip reader, from a parking time allowance of the prepaid parking card and indicating the unused, remaining parking time allowance on the prepaid parking card, as long as; (i) the requested parking time allowance is at most equal to the maximum parking time allowed on the timer by the central database computer, and (ii) the requested parking time allowance is at most equal to the parking time allowance of the prepaid parking card, with the parking time allowance lowering automatically in set time intervals until a "zero" position is reached by a pointer on the timer or on the LCD screen, or B. upon usage of a credit card, including but not limited to a credit card and a parking credit account card, for which bills are received periodically; (i) on the LCD screen, adding up total parking time being used while indicating "Computerized Parking Meter" ("CPM"), or on the timer, starting the timer while moving the pointer to the "CPM" position, (ii) continuing to add up used parking time as long as sum of the used parking time does not exceed the maximum parking time allowed for said parking space by the central database computer, (iii) lowering the parking time allowance to the "zero" position upon reinsertion of the credit card, entrance of a cancellation request on the numeric code pad by the user, and removal of the credit card, and (iv) crediting any unused, remaining parking fee to the credit card upon entrance of the cancellation request, and with the information visible on the LCD screen disappearing after a few seconds until any button on the numeric code pad is pressed; and (f) turning on the parking violation light on the front surface of the networked computerized parking meter upon reaching of the "zero" position by the pointer of the timer or on the LCD screen, notifying the central database computer as well as any passing police officers of a parking violation if the vehicle remains parked for a period longer than a few minutes, and continuing to charge parking credit account cards or credit cards as long as the vehicle remains parked. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification