Automated vehicle parking system for a plurality of remote parking facilities
First Claim
1. An automated vehicle parking system for access and revenue control of a plurality of remote parking facilities, each facility having controlled entrance lanes and controlled exit lanes, the system including:
- a vehicle detection device with each of the remote parking facilities for detecting a vehicle as the vehicle approaches the facility entrance lane;
a lane controller system with each of the remote parking facilities coupled to the vehicle detection device for identifying the vehicle and generating a recognition signal;
a computer database with each of the remote parking facilities for storing parking information concerning all vehicles that use the automated system;
a first computer associated with each of the remote parking facilities and coupled to the lane controller and the database for receiving the recognition signal and generating appropriate parking response signals from the database to the lane controller system, said first computer calculating a parking fee for each vehicle;
a central facility; and
a communication system including a second computer in said central facility coupled to the first computer to enable the second computer to communicate with said first computer at each of the remote parking facilities and to periodically calculate a single parking fee statement for a given vehicle whether parked at one or more of the plurality of remote parking facilities and to advise each remote facility first computer of the total fees due to that remote facility for each vehicle during specified periods.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automated vehicle parking system for a plurality of remote parking facilities that communicates with a vehicle approaching or leaving the remote facility with RF signals, or the like, that identifies the vehicle and sends the vehicle identification number, time of day, and lane number to a first computer at the remote facility for calculating the parking cost of a given vehicle based on rates for said given individual vehicle stored in the first computer of each of the plurality of remote parking facilities and having a central computer coupled to each remote facility for providing a single bill to a user of several remote facilities and advising each remote facility first computer of the total fees due for all users of that remote facility during specified periods.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An automated vehicle parking system for access and revenue control of a plurality of remote parking facilities, each facility having controlled entrance lanes and controlled exit lanes, the system including:
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a vehicle detection device with each of the remote parking facilities for detecting a vehicle as the vehicle approaches the facility entrance lane; a lane controller system with each of the remote parking facilities coupled to the vehicle detection device for identifying the vehicle and generating a recognition signal; a computer database with each of the remote parking facilities for storing parking information concerning all vehicles that use the automated system; a first computer associated with each of the remote parking facilities and coupled to the lane controller and the database for receiving the recognition signal and generating appropriate parking response signals from the database to the lane controller system, said first computer calculating a parking fee for each vehicle; a central facility; and a communication system including a second computer in said central facility coupled to the first computer to enable the second computer to communicate with said first computer at each of the remote parking facilities and to periodically calculate a single parking fee statement for a given vehicle whether parked at one or more of the plurality of remote parking facilities and to advise each remote facility first computer of the total fees due to that remote facility for each vehicle during specified periods. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An automated vehicle parking system including a plurality of remote parking facilities each of which has an entrance and an exit, the system including:
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a vehicle detector at each remote parking facility for generating a detector signal when a vehicle approaches the entrance to the facility; a lane controller coupled to the detector at each remote parking facility for receiving the detector signal and generating an identification request signal; a sensor at the entrance of each remote parking facility and coupled to the lane controller for transmitting the identification request as an RF signal to the detected vehicle; a transponder in the vehicle for responding to the transmitted sensor identification request signal by returning an identification code to the sensor; said lane controller receiving the identification code from the sensor, generating the time of day, and a signal representing the lane number; a first computer at each remote parking facility that is coupled to the lane controller for receiving the vehicle identification code, the time of day, and lane number and generating an appropriate response to the lane controller, the lane controller automatically admitting the vehicle to the parking facility, or denying the vehicle admittance in accordance with the response from the first computer, said first computer calculating a parking fee for each vehicle using the facility; and a second centralized computer coupled to the first computer at each of the remote parking facilities for communicating with each of the first computers and preparing a single periodic parking fee statement for each vehicle that uses one or more of the remote parking facilities. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A method for access and revenue control of a plurality of remote parking facilities, each having at least one controlled entrance lane and at least one controlled exit lane, the method comprising the steps of:
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generating a vehicle detection signal at each of the plurality of remote parking facilities with a detection device when a vehicle approaches the remote parking facility entrance; identifying vehicles authorized to use the remote parking facility with a lane controller system and generating an authorization signal; storing parking information in a first computer database concerning the vehicles authorized to the use the remote parking facility; generating appropriate parking responses to the lane controller system upon receiving the authorization signal; and communicating with the database of the first computer in each of the remote parking facilities with a central computer and compiling a single parking fee statement with the central computer for a user of one or more of the remote parking facilities. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification