Electronic parking and dispatching management method and apparatus

• US 5,751,973 A
• Filed: 09/16/1992
• Issued: 05/12/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Amtech Systems LLC (Roper Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: At/Comm Incorporated
• Inventors: Hassett, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, Gail O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huntley, David
• Application Number:
  US07/945,523
• Time in Patent Office: 2,064 Days
• Field of Search: 364/400, 364/401, 364/406, 364/424.02, 235/384, 235/382, 235/382.5, 340/825.31, 340/825.32, 340/928
• US Class Current: 705/13
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/765 with exchange of information between interrogator and responder
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2219/10 Environmental application, e.g. waste reduction, pollution control, compliance with environmental legislation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• 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: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0104 Measuring and analyzing of parameters relative to traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/123 indicating the position of vehicles, e.g. scheduled vehicles; Managing passenger vehicles circulating according to a fixed timetable, e.g. buses, trains, tramstransmission of navigation instructions to vehicles G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/127 to a central station ; Indicators in a central station

Abstract

Method and apparatus for the automatic management of vehicle access to a restricted access area. The system includes at least one base transceiver positioned at least at one location providing an entrance to and an exit from said restricted access area. The system also includes a plurality of vehicle borne transponders, and an independent management computer. As vehicles attempt to access the restricted area, the base transceiver, the vehicle transponders, and the independent management computer communicate to monitor and regulate the vehicle access. According to one embodiment, the invention automatically manages access to a commercial parking facility. In another embodiment, the invention automatically dispatches taxicabs from a corral area. In a further embodiment, the invention controls vehicle access to facilities such as gated communities, and employee and student parking areas.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring and managing vehicle access to a restricted access area comprising,

a base transceiver including means for repeatedly transmitting radio frequency signals toward vehicles utilizing said area, said signals including information signals including a current date and time, and a fee rate schedule,

a plurality of vehicle transponders, each of said transponders having an associated identification code and being located in a vehicle requiring access to said restricted access area, each of said vehicle transponders including a vehicle data processor, a vehicle memory, a vehicle transceiver, and means for intercoupling said data processor, said memory and said vehicle transceiver so that said information signals transmitted from said base transceiver can be received, and processed in said vehicle data processor and at least a subset of said information signals can be stored in said vehicle memory in at least one of, received and processed form, said vehicle memory including means for storing a parking credits signal representative of a monetary quantity available for paying any fees associated with entering into and remaining in said restricted access area, and

said vehicle data processor including, means for tracking an elapsed time that said vehicle is within said restricted access area, said time being in relation to said current date and time received from said base transceiver, means for calculating a usage fee based on said fee rate schedule and said elapsed time and for periodically debiting said parking credits signal to reflect said fee,

said vehicle transceiver including means for transmitting an information signal to said base transceiver including a signal representing said transponder identification code, and

independent data processor means coupled to said base transceiver for two-way communication with said base transceiver.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1 in which said apparatus includes one said base transceiver positioned at an entrance location providing an entrance to said restricted access area and one said base transceiver positioned at an exit location providing an exit to said restricted access area.

3. A system in accordance with claim 1 in which said vehicle transponder includes means for detecting when said vehicle is exiting said restricted access area.

4. A system in accordance with claim 3 in which said vehicle processor includes means for determining a usage fee upon exiting said restricted access area, based on said fee schedule, and for debiting said parking credits signal accordingly.

5. A system in accordance with claim 1 in which said vehicle transceiver includes means for signaling said base transceiver when said vehicle is exiting said restricted access area.

6. A system in accordance with claim 1 in which said vehicle processor includes means for calculating said usage fee a last time, upon exiting said restricted access area, based on said elapsed time and said fee schedule, and for debiting said parking credits signal accordingly.

7. A system in accordance with claim 1 in which said independent data processor means includes polling means for polling particular vehicles in said restricted access area, via said base transceiver, to determine for each said particular vehicle a current quantity of parking credits available to pay said fee.

8. A system in accordance with claim 7 in which said independent processor includes means for alerting an attendant if said monetary quantity becomes negative.

9. A system in accordance with claim 1 in which said vehicle processor means includes means for storing in said vehicle memory means a running total of said fee charged, and said transponder means includes display means for displaying to a vehicle operator at least one of a present quantity of parking credits and said running total.

10. A system in accordance with claim 1 in which said apparatus includes gating means, electronically coupled to and controlled by said independent processor means, for stopping vehicles, having an insufficient number of parking credits available, from entering said restricted access area.

11. A system in accordance with claim 1 in which said apparatus includes gating means, electronically coupled to and controlled by said independent processor means, for stopping vehicles, having an insufficient number of parking credits available, from exiting said restricted access area.

12. A system in accordance with claim 1 in which said base transceiver transmitted radio frequency signals include an information signal representing a request for estimated length of stay, and wherein said vehicle transponder includes display means for displaying said request for estimated time of stay to a vehicle operator, and operator input means for entering an estimated time of stay for transmitting by way of said vehicle transceiver and said base transceiver to said independent processor means.

13. A system in accordance with claim 12 in which said independent processor means includes means for transmitting a location message to said vehicle transponder, by way of said base transceiver, in response to said estimated time of stay, said position message indicating to said operator a particular portion of said restricted access area to park said vehicle.

14. A system in accordance with claim 13 in which said vehicle transponder means includes display means for displaying said location message to said vehicle operator.

15. A method for monitoring and managing vehicle access to a restricted access area comprising the steps of,

prior to said vehicle accessing said restricted access area storing in said vehicle transponder a parking credits signal representative of a monetary quantity available for paying any fees associated with entering into and remaining within said restricted access area,

repeatedly transmitting radio frequency signals toward vehicles accessing said restricted access area from a base transceiver, said radio frequency signals including information signals indicating a current date and time, and a fee rate schedule,

receiving said transmitted radio frequency signal at a vehicle receiver carried by a vehicle responder in at least one of a plurality of vehicles accessing said restricted access area,

processing at said vehicle responder said received signals to identify said message transmitted from said base transceiver,

storing at said vehicle responder at least one of said received or processed signals in a memory in said vehicle,

tracking at said vehicle responder the elapsed time that said vehicle is within said restricted access area, said elapsed time being determined in relation to said received current date and time,

calculating from said received fee rate schedule and said elapsed time a usage fee,

periodically debiting said parking credits signal to reflect said calculated usage fee.