System and method for charging for vehicle parking

• US 6,493,676 B1
• Filed: 03/17/1999
• Issued: 12/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nessim Igal Levy
• Original Assignee: Nessim Igal Levy
• Inventors: Levy, Nessim Igal
• Primary Examiner(s): Choi, Kyle J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NORMAN, MARC E
• Application Number:
  US09/270,514
• Time in Patent Office: 1,364 Days
• Field of Search: 705/13, 705/417, 705/418
• US Class Current: 705/13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0284 Time or distance, e.g. usage of parking meters or taximeters
• 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: G07C 1/30 Parking meters registering or indicating waiting time of vehicles by means driven by the vehicle G07C5/02; coin-freed parking meters G07F17/24

Abstract

A system and method for charging for vehicle parking is provided. The parking system includes a plurality of mobile parking units, each of the mobile parking units having an unique identification for installation in a vehicle and a parking control center for communicating with each of the mobile parking units. Each of the mobile parking units checks its location whenever the vehicle is not moving and if the location coincides with a known parking area, a charge for parking is activated until the vehicle resumes traveling.

Claims

1. A system for charging for vehicle parking, comprising:

a plurality of mobile parking units, each of said plurality of mobile parking units installed in a vehicle and having an unique identification; and

a parking control center for communicating with each of said mobile parking units,

input and output channels connected to at least one of a group of control elements including the vehicle ignition switch, the vehicle doors and volume (space) sensor, said control elements indicating whether or not the vehicle is immobile,

wherein each of said plurality of mobile parking units, checks its location whenever the vehicle is not moving and if the location coincides with a known parking area, charging for parking is activated until the vehicle resumes traveling, and

wherein each of said plurality of mobile parking units further comprises;

an electronic map database containing at least the geographic location of parking spaces in at least one specific region of operation;

a Geographic Information System (GIS) interpreter for interpreting the data within said electronic map database; and

a means for calculating the cost of parking.

2. A system for charging for vehicle parking, comprising:

a plurality of mobile parking units, each of said plurality of mobile parking units installed in a vehicle and having an unique identification; and

a parking control center for communicating with each of said mobile parking units,

wherein each of said plurality of mobile parking units, checks its location whenever the vehicle is not moving and if the location coincides with a known parking area, charging for parking is activated until the vehicle resumes traveling;

wherein each of said plurality of mobile parking units comprises;

a vehicle location device for determining the geographic location and speed of each of said plurality of mobile parking units;

a transceiver connected to a modem, for communicating with said parking control center; and

a computer unit for coupling to said vehicle location device and said transceiver; and

wherein said computer unit comprises;

a central processor; and

a smart card reader coupled to said central processor, and

input/output (I/O) channels coupled to said central processor, said input channels having at least one sensing elements connected thereto, said sensing elements indicating whether or not the vehicle is immobile.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein said at least one sensing elements comprise at least one of a group of sensors connected to the vehicle ignition switch, the vehicle doors and the internal volume of the vehicle.

4. A system for charging for vehicle parking, comprising:

a plurality of mobile parking units, each of said plurality of mobile parking units installed in a vehicle and having an unique identification; and

a parking control center for communicating with each of said mobile parking units,

wherein each of said plurality of mobile parking units, checks its location whenever the vehicle is not moving and if the location coincides with a known parking area, charging for parking is activated until the vehicle resumes traveling;

wherein said parking control center comprises;

a control computer; and

a transceiver coupled to a modem which is coupled to said control computer,

and wherein said computer unit further comprises input/output (I/O) channels coupled to said central processor, said input channels having at least one sensing elements connected thereto, said sensing elements indicating whether or not the vehicle is immobile.

5. A system according to claim 4 wherein said parking control center further comprises:

an electronic map database containing at least the geographic location of parking spaces in at least one specific region of operation;

a Geographic Information System (GIS) interpreter for interpreting the data within said electronic map database; and

a means for calculating the cost of parking.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein said electronic map database further containing data associated with each of said parking spaces.

7. A method for charging for vehicle parking comprising the steps of:

recording the time and location whenever the vehicle is immobile;

if the location coincides with a known parking area, calculating the parking charges for the total period of time said vehicle remains immobile;

and transmitting said recorded time and location to a central processor over input/output channels coupled to said central processor,

wherein said input channels having at least one sensing elements connected thereto, said sensing elements indicating whether or not the vehicle is immobile.

8. A method according to claim 7 and further comprising the step of displaying an indication that parking is being charged for.

9. A method according to claim 7 and further comprising the step of identifying the geographic location and speed of said vehicle.

10. A method according to claim 7 and wherein said vehicle comprises a mobile parking unit installed therein.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the step of recording the time and location comprises the step of the vehicle owner manually entering at least one of said time and location into said mobile parking unit.

12. A method according to claim 10 wherein said mobile parking unit comprises a non-volatile memory unit for storing a prepaid monetary value for parking.

13. A method according to claim 12 and comprising the step of said control center transmitting said prepaid monetary value to the non-volatile memory unit of said mobile parking unit.

14. A method according to claim 12 wherein said mobile parking unit comprises a card reader and a keyboard and comprising the step of the vehicle owner using a credit card in said card reader and entering the prepaid monetary value to be entered into said non-volatile memory unit by means of said keyboard.

15. A method according to claim 14 and further comprising the step of said mobile parking unit transmitting said entered amount to said control center.

16. A method according to claim 14 and further comprising the step of the vehicle owner entering the parking location by means of said keyboard.

17. A method according to claim 16 and further comprising the step of said mobile parking unit transmitting said parking location to said control center.

18. A method according to claim 16 and further comprising the steps of:

said mobile parking unit transmitting said parking location to a credit card company; and

said credit card company debiting the monetary value corresponding to the parking charges for said parking location.

19. A method according to claim 14 and further comprising the steps of:

said mobile parking unit transmitting said entered amount to a credit card company for credit approval; and

if credit is approved, said mobile parking unit storing the prepaid monetary value into said non-volatile memory unit.

20. A method according to claim 12 wherein said mobile parking unit comprises a card reader and a keyboard and comprising the step of the vehicle owner using a debit card in said card reader and entering the prepaid monetary value to be entered into said non-volatile memory unit by means of said keyboard.

21. A method according to claim 7 and further comprising the step of using a vehicle location device installed in said vehicle for determining the geographic location and speed of each of said vehicles.

22. A method according to claim 21 wherein said vehicle location device is contained within said mobile parking unit.

23. A method according to claim 7 wherein the step of calculating comprises the step of:

comparing said geographic location with an electronic map database containing the location of parking spaces in the region of operation; and

calculating the cost of parking for said geographic location according to the cost of parking per unit of said immobile time for said parking space.

24. A method according to claim 23 wherein said calculating step is performed by said mobile parking unit.

25. A method according to claim 24 wherein said calculating step further comprises the step of:

said mobile parking unit communicating the calculated charges to a remote control center.

26. A method according to claim 25 wherein said calculating step further comprises the step of:

said mobile parking unit communicating the location of said vehicle to said remote control center.

27. A method according to claim 25 wherein said remote control center bills the vehicle owner for said calculated parking charges.

28. A method according to claim 7 wherein said calculating step is performed by said mobile parking unit and said calculating step comprises the steps of:

said mobile parking unit comparing said geographic location with an electronic map database containing the location of parking spaces in the region of operation and communicating the parking time and the parking location of said vehicle to said remote control center; and

said remote control center calculating the parking charges.

29. A method according to claim 7 wherein the step of calculating comprises the step of:

said mobile parking unit communicating the parking time and location to said control center; and

said control center comparing said geographic location with an electronic map database containing the location of parking spaces in the region of operation; and

said control center calculating the cost of parking for said geographic location according to the cost of parking per unit of said immobile time for said parking space.

30. A method for charging for vehicle parking comprising the steps of:

recording the time and location whenever the vehicle is immobile;

and if the location coincides with a known parking area, calculating the parking charges for the total period of time said vehicle remains immobile,

wherein said step of recording the time of the vehicle'"'"'s immobility further comprises at least one of the steps of;

recording the time said vehicle'"'"'s ignition is switched off;

recording the time the vehicle'"'"'s doors are opened and closed; and

recording the time the volume within the vehicle is disturbed.

31. A method for charging for vehicle parking comprising the steps of:

recording the time and location whenever the vehicle is immobile;

and if the location coincides with a known parking area, calculating the parking charges for the total period of time said vehicle remains immobile,

non-volatile memory unit of a mobile parking unit stores a plurality of prepaid monetary values for different parking locations,

wherein said mobile parking unit is comprised in said vehicle;

wherein said non-volatile memory unit is comprised in said mobile parking unit for storing a prepaid monetary value for parking; and

wherein said mobile parking unit comprises a card reader and a keyboard and comprising the step of the vehicle owner using a debit card in said card reader and entering the prepaid monetary value to be entered into said non-volatile memory unit by means of said keyboard.

32. A method for charging for vehicle parking comprising the steps of:

recording the time and geographic location whenever the vehicle is immobile;

if the location coincides with a known parking area, calculating the parking charges for the total period of time said vehicle remains immobile, and

transferring an electronic map database to a mobile parking unit by any of a group of removable media including floppy disk, a PCMCIA card, CD-ROM and DVD-ROM,

wherein said mobile parking unit is installed in said vehicle, and said electronic map database is installed in said mobile parking unit;

wherein the step of calculating comprises the step of;

comparing said geographic location with an electronic map database containing the location of parking spaces in the region of operation; and

calculating the cost of parking for said geographic location according to the cost of parking per unit of said immobile time for said parking space.

33. A method for charging for vehicle parking comprising the steps of:

recording the time and geographic location whenever the vehicle is immobile;

if the location coincides with a known parking area, calculating the parking charges for the total period of time said vehicle remains immobile, and

transmitting an electronic map database to a mobile parking unit from a control center,

wherein the step of calculating comprises the step of;

comparing said geographic location with said electronic map database containing the location of parking spaces in the region of operation; and

calculating the cost of parking for said geographic location according to the cost of parking per unit of said immobile time for said parking space, and

wherein said mobile parking unit is comprised in said vehicle, and said electronic map database is comprised in said mobile parking unit.

34. A method according to claim 33 wherein said transmission comprises the step of the vehicle user requesting said transmission.

35. A method according to claim 33 wherein said transmission comprises the step of said mobile parking unit requesting said transmission whenever said vehicle is immobile and is located within a region for which a map database is not stored.

36. A mobile parking unit for installation in a vehicle comprising:

a vehicle location device for determining the geographic location and speed of said mobile parking unit;

a transceiver connected to a modem, for communicating with said parking control center; and

a computer unit for coupling to said vehicle location device and said transceiver, wherein said computer unit further comprises input/output (I/O) channels coupled to said central processor, said input channels having at least one sensing elements connected thereto, said sensing elements indicating whether or not the vehicle is immobile.

37. A mobile parking unit according to claim 36, wherein said computer unit comprises:

a central processor; and

a smart card reader coupled to said central processor.

38. A mobile parking unit according to claim 36, wherein said mobile parking unit further comprises:

an electronic map database containing at least the geographic location of parking spaces in at least one specific region of operation;

a Geographic Information System (GIS) interpreter for interpreting the data within said electronic map database; and

a means for calculating the cost of parking.

39. A mobile parking unit according to claim 38, wherein said electronic map database further contains data associated with each of said parking spaces.

40. A mobile parking unit according to claim 39, wherein said cost of parking is determined by said calculating means in accordance with said geographic location of said mobile parking unit and the time for which each of said mobile parking unit is immobile.

41. A mobile parking unit according to claim 36, wherein mobile parking unit further comprises an indication unit for displaying an indication that parking is being charged for.

42. A mobile parking unit according to claim 36, wherein said vehicle location device comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver having an antenna coupled thereto.

43. A mobile parking unit according to claim 36, wherein said at least one sensing elements comprise at least one of a group of sensors connected to the vehicle ignition switch, the vehicle doors and the internal volume of the vehicle.

44. A mobile parking unit for installation in a vehicle comprising:

a vehicle location device for determining the geographic location and speed of said mobile parking unit;

a transceiver connected to a modem, for communicating with said parking control center; and

a computer unit for coupling to said vehicle location device and said transceiver,

wherein said mobile parking unit further comprises;

an electronic map database containing at least the geographic location of parking spaces in at least one specific region of operation;

a Geographic Information System (GIS) interpreter for interpreting the data within said electronic map database;

a means for calculating the cost of parking; and

input and output channels connected to at least one of a group of control elements including the vehicle ignition switch, the vehicle doors and volume (space) sensor, said control elements indicating whether or not the vehicle is immobile.

45. A system for charging for vehicle parking, comprising:

a plurality of mobile parking units, each of said plurality of mobile parking units installed in a vehicle and having an unique identification; and

a parking control center for communicating with each of said mobile parking units,

wherein each of said plurality of mobile parking units, checks its location whenever the vehicle is not moving and if the location coincides with a known parking area, charging for parking is activated until the vehicle resumes traveling, and

wherein each of said plurality of mobile parking units further comprises;

an electronic map database containing at least the geographic location of parking spaces in at least one specific region of operation;

a Geographic Information System (GIS) interpreter for interpreting the data within said electronic map database;

a means for calculating the cost of parking; and

input and output channels connected to at least one of a group of control elements including the vehicle ignition switch, the vehicle doors and volume (space) sensor, said control elements indicating whether or not the vehicle is immobile.

46. A system for charging for vehicle parking, comprising:

a plurality of mobile parking units, each of said plurality of mobile parking units installed in a vehicle and having an unique identification; and

a parking control center for communicating with each of said mobile parking units,

wherein each of said plurality of mobile parking units, checks its location whenever the vehicle is not moving and if the location coincides with a known parking area, charging for parking is activated until the vehicle resumes traveling, and

wherein each of said plurality of mobile parking units comprises;

a vehicle location device for determining the geographic location and speed of each of said plurality of mobile parking units;

a transceiver connected to a modem, for communicating with said parking control center; and

a computer unit for coupling to said vehicle location device and said transceiver, said computer unit comprising;

a central processor;

a smart card reader coupled to said central processor; and

an input/output (I/O) channels coupled to said central processor, said input channels having at least one sensing elements connected thereto, said sensing elements indicating whether or not the vehicle is immobile.

47. A system according to claim 46, wherein said at least one sensing elements comprise at least one of a group of sensors connected to the vehicle ignition switch, the vehicle doors and the internal volume of the vehicle.

48. A method for charging for vehicle parking comprising:

recording the time and location whenever the vehicle is immobile; and

if the location coincides with a known parking area, calculating the parking charges for the total period of time said vehicle remains immobile;

wherein said recording the time of the vehicle'"'"'s immobility further comprises at least one of the steps of;

recording the time said vehicle'"'"'s ignition is switched off;

recording the time the vehicle'"'"'s doors are opened and closed; and

recording the time the volume within the vehicle is disturbed.

49. A method for charging for vehicle parking comprising:

recording the time and location whenever the vehicle is immobile;

and if the location coincides with a known parking area, calculating the parking charges for the total period of time said vehicle remains immobile;

wherein said vehicle comprises a mobile parking unit installed therein;

wherein said mobile parking unit comprises;

a non-volatile memory unit for storing a prepaid monetary value for parking; and

a card reader and a keyboard; and

wherein the vehicle owner using a debit card in said card reader and entering the prepaid monetary value to be entered into said non-volatile memory unit by means of said keyboard; and

wherein said non-volatile memory unit of said mobile parking unit stores a plurality of prepaid monetary values for different parking locations.

50. A method for charging for vehicle parking comprising:

recording the time and location whenever the vehicle is immobile;

and if the location coincides with a known parking area, calculating the parking charges for the total period of time said vehicle remains immobile;

wherein said calculating comprises;

comparing said geographic location with an electronic map database containing the location of parking spaces in the region of operation; and

calculating the cost of parking for said geographic location according to the cost of parking per unit of said immobile time for said parking space; and

further comprising transferring said electronic map database to said mobile parking unit by any of a group of removable media including floppy disk, a PCMCIA card, CD-ROM and DVD-ROM.

51. A method for charging for vehicle parking comprising:

recording the time and location whenever the vehicle is immobile;

and if the location coincides with a known parking area, calculating the parking charges for the total period of time said vehicle remains immobile;

wherein said calculating comprises;

comparing said geographic location with an electronic map database containing the location of parking spaces in the region of operation; and

calculating the cost of parking for said geographic location according to the cost of parking per unit of said immobile time for said parking space; and

said control center transmitting said electronic map database to said mobile parking unit.

52. A method according to claim 51 wherein said transmission comprises the step of the vehicle user requesting said transmission.

53. A method according to claim 51 wherein said transmission comprises the step of said mobile parking unit requesting said transmission whenever said vehicle is immobile and is located within a region for which a map database is not stored.

54. A mobile parking unit for installation in a vehicle comprising:

a vehicle location device for determining the geographic location and speed of said mobile parking unit;

a transceiver connected to a modem, for communicating with said parking control center;

a computer unit for coupling to said vehicle location device and said transceiver;

an electronic map database containing at least the geographic location of parking spaces in at least one specific region of operation;

a Geographic Information System (GIS) interpreter for interpreting the data within said electronic map database;

a means for calculating the cost of parking; and

input and output channels connected to at least one of a group of control elements including the vehicle ignition switch, the vehicle doors and volume (space) sensor, said control elements indicating whether or not the vehicle is immobile.

55. A mobile parking unit for installation in a vehicle comprising:

a vehicle location device for determining the geographic location and speed of said mobile parking unit;

a transceiver connected to a modem, for communicating with said parking control center;

a computer unit for coupling to said vehicle location device and said transceiver;

an electronic map database containing at least the geographic location of parking spaces in at least one specific region of operation;

a Geographic Information System (GIS) interpreter for interpreting the data within said electronic map database; and

a means for calculating the cost of parking;

wherein said computer unit further comprises input/output (I/O) channels coupled to said central processor, said input channels having at least one sensing elements connected thereto, said sensing elements indicating whether or not the vehicle is immobile.

56. A mobile parking unit according to claim 55, wherein said at least one sensing elements comprise at least one of a group of sensors connected to the vehicle ignition switch, the vehicle doors and the internal volume of the vehicle.