Vehicle parking system

• US 6,246,337 B1
• Filed: 09/04/1998
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Baran Advanced Technologies (86) Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Baran Advanced Technologies (86) Ltd.
• Inventors: Kaner, Avigdor, Rosenberg, Armand David
• Primary Examiner(s): TONG, NINA C
• Application Number:
  US09/051,178
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 705/13, 705/418, 235/378, 340/825.31, 340/932.2, 340/539, 340/933, 340/902.R, 340/904.R, 340/905, 340/425.5, 455/556, 455/557
• US Class Current: 340/932.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0652 e-cash with decreasing value according to a parameter, e.g. time
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/127 Shopping or accessing services according to a time-limitation
• 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: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/14 indicating individual free spaces in parking areas

Abstract

A vehicle parking network comprises a transmitter-responder device (TRD) for each subscriber and a complementary box which can be coupled to the TRD and only to it, and permits it to communicate with a central computer. The complementary box is provided with identification marks that can be scanned from the outside and includes a microcontroller, memory means and timing means. Once the vehicle is parked, the TRD is used to obtain from the computer a parking authorization and an allowed parking time. Then a legitimate parking sign is displayed and the parking time is downcounted until the allowed time has been completed or until the vehicle leaves the parking space. If communication with the computer cannot be established, the complementary box carries out an assumed parking procedure, stores its data in a buffer memory, and later transmits them to the computer for verification and registration. The computer communicates the data of each parking to the Public Authority charged with collecting the parking fees. Examples of TRD'"'"'s are cellular phones, message records, pagers, private alarms and vehicle location units (VLU). If a VLU is used, the central computer obtains vehicle location data from the control center of the vehicle location system, monitors the vehicle position, and carries out the parking procedure.

Claims

1. A parking authorization method, comprising the steps of:

transmitting a parking authorization request signal from a transmitter-responder device in a vehicle to a central computer located remote from said vehicle;

receiving said parking authorization request signal at said central computer and allocating parking time based upon said request;

transmitting a parking authorization signal which includes said allocated parking time from said central computer to a complementary box in the vehicle;

extracting said allocated parking time from said parking authorization signal;

storing said allocated parking time in a memory of said complementary box; and

down counting said allocated parking time stored in said complementary box; and

calculating the cost of said authorized parking time at said central computer.

2. The parking method of claim 1 further comprising the step of generating an authorized parking signal at said complementary box upon receiving the parking authorization signal from said central computer.

3. The parking method of claim 2 further comprising the step of transmitting said authorized parking signal to an enforcement unit located remote from said vehicle.

4. The parking method of claim 3 further comprising the step of transmitting said authorized parking signal from said complementary box to said enforcement unit by wireless electromagnetic wave transmission signals.

5. The parking method of claim 1 further comprising the step of lighting an LED when said authorized parking signal indicates that allocated parking time remains in said complementary box.

6. The parking method of claim 1 further comprising the step of linking said transmitter-responder device to said complementary box before said parking authorization may be requested.

7. The parking method of claim 6 wherein said linking step is accomplished through use of electromagnetic waves.

8. The parking method of claim 6 wherein said transmitting a parking authorization request signal step further comprises the steps of:

transmitting transmitter-responder device identifying data to said complementary box;

operating on said transmitter-responder device identifying data with a complementary box identifying code to generate said parking authorization request signal.

9. The parking method of claim 8 wherein said parking authorization request signal includes data identifying the location of a parking space for which parking authorization is requested.

10. The parking method of claim 9 wherein said transmitter-responder device is a vehicle location unit.

11. The parking method of claim 1 wherein said transmitting said authorized parking signal steps are accomplished by electromagnetic wave transmission over satellite links.