System and method for preventing auto thefts from parking areas
DCFirst Claim
1. A method of warning of theft of vehicles from a vehicle parking area having an entrance and an exit, the method comprising:
- (a) at the entrance, automatically machine sensing a characteristic of the vehicle as it enters the parking area;
(b) machine dispensing a ticket to the driver of a vehicle at the entrance;
(c) machine recording data representing the obtained characteristic in association with data representing an identification of the dispensed ticket;
(d) at the exit, machine reading the ticket and retrieving the data representing the vehicle characteristic associated with the ticket;
(e) automatically machine sensing the characteristic of the vehicle at the exit;
(f) automatically, in a computer system, comparing the characteristic sensed in (e) at the exit with the characteristic obtained in (d) derived from reading the ticket; and
(g) in the event of a mismatch, generating a warning signal.
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Abstract
A method and system to prevent auto theft from parking areas, such as airport parking lots, includes a ticket dispenser, at an entry gate, which issues a numbered ticket to each driver. The driver is advised to carry the ticket with him and not to leave it in the car. At the same time the ticket is issued, the a part of its license plate number, is automatically determined and entered into computer memory, in association with the ticket number. At the exit, the ticket is presented by the driver, read by a ticket reader, and its associated license plate data is retrieved from computer memory. Also at the exit, part of the license plate of the car is again automatically obtained and compared with the license plate data retrieved from the computer memory. In the event of a mismatch, a warning signal is generated.
46 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method of warning of theft of vehicles from a vehicle parking area having an entrance and an exit, the method comprising:
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(a) at the entrance, automatically machine sensing a characteristic of the vehicle as it enters the parking area; (b) machine dispensing a ticket to the driver of a vehicle at the entrance; (c) machine recording data representing the obtained characteristic in association with data representing an identification of the dispensed ticket; (d) at the exit, machine reading the ticket and retrieving the data representing the vehicle characteristic associated with the ticket; (e) automatically machine sensing the characteristic of the vehicle at the exit; (f) automatically, in a computer system, comparing the characteristic sensed in (e) at the exit with the characteristic obtained in (d) derived from reading the ticket; and (g) in the event of a mismatch, generating a warning signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of warning that vehicles are being stolen from parking areas, comprising:
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(a) machine reading a license plate number of a vehicle at an entry area of the parking area using an electro-optical license plate reader; (b) associating data representing the vehicle license plate number with a ticket; (c) dispensing the ticket, at the entry area, to the vehicle'"'"'s occupant; (d) machine sensing the same license plate number of the vehicle at an exit area of the parking area using an electro-optical license plate reader; (e) reading the ticket at the exit area; (f) attempting, in a computer system, to match the vehicle license plate number sensed at the exit area with the data representing the characteristic associated with the ticket; and (g) in the event of a mismatch, generating a warning signal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification