Urban parking system
First Claim
1. An urban parking system comprising:
- a wireless network covering a large local geographic area;
a large number of payment terminals provided in said area each located near a plurality of parking spaces, each said payment terminal comprising data collection means for gathering parking data from a motorist, said parking data including at least one of vehicle identification data and parking space identification data;
communication means for transferring said parking data from said data collection means to said wireless network in response to payment being made at said payment terminals;
a plurality of portable terminals for use by parking wardens inspecting said parking spaces of said area, said portable terminals including wireless communication means, a memory for storing said parking data, and a user interface means; and
broadcast means associated with said wireless network for transmitting said parking data substantially upon receipt from said communication means simultaneously to said plurality of portable terminals in said area;
wherein said plurality of portable terminals for use by parking wardens inspecting said parking spaces of said area receives said parking data continuously from the broadcast means in the background without interruption.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless network covering a large local geographic area is used to link a large number of payment terminals provided in the same area. Each payment terminal is located near a plurality of parking spaces, either at the curbside or in municipal lots. Parking data is gathered from motorists at the payment terminals, the parking data including vehicle identification data or parking space identification data. The parking data is sent from the payment terminals to the wireless network in response to payment made at the payment terminals. A plurality of portable terminals are provided for use by parking wardens inspecting the parking spaces of the local geographic area. The wireless network is used to transmit the parking data substantially upon receipt from the payment terminals to the portable terminals in the local geographic area.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An urban parking system comprising:
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a wireless network covering a large local geographic area;
a large number of payment terminals provided in said area each located near a plurality of parking spaces, each said payment terminal comprising data collection means for gathering parking data from a motorist, said parking data including at least one of vehicle identification data and parking space identification data;
communication means for transferring said parking data from said data collection means to said wireless network in response to payment being made at said payment terminals;
a plurality of portable terminals for use by parking wardens inspecting said parking spaces of said area, said portable terminals including wireless communication means, a memory for storing said parking data, and a user interface means; and
broadcast means associated with said wireless network for transmitting said parking data substantially upon receipt from said communication means simultaneously to said plurality of portable terminals in said area;
wherein said plurality of portable terminals for use by parking wardens inspecting said parking spaces of said area receives said parking data continuously from the broadcast means in the background without interruption. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of communicating vehicle parking data in an urban parking system, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a wireless network covering a large local geographic area;
providing a large number of payment terminals provided in said area each located near a plurality of parking spaces;
gathering parking data from motorists at said payment terminals, said parking data including at least one of vehicle identification data and parking space identification data;
transferring said parking data from said payment terminals to said wireless network in real-time as payment is made at said payment terminals;
providing a plurality of portable terminals for use by parking wardens inspecting said parking spaces of said area; and
using said wireless network to transmit said parking data received from each motorist upon receipt from said payment terminals simultaneously to said plurality of portable terminals In said area;
wherein said transferring of said parking data from said payment terminals to said plurality of portable terminals is performed continuously without interruption.
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15. An urban parking system for use with a public wireless data network, said system comprising:
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a large number of payment terminals provided in a large local geographic area covered by said network and each located near a plurality of parking spaces, each said payment terminal comprising wireless modem means and data collection means for gathering parking data from a motorist, said parking data including at least one of vehicle identification data and parking space identification data, said wireless modem means transferring said parking data from said data collection means to said wireless network substantially as payment is made;
a plurality of portable terminals for use by parking wardens inspecting said parking spaces of said area, said portable terminals including wireless communication means communicating with said public wireless data network, a memory for storing said parking data, and a user interface means; and
broadcast means associated with said wireless network for transmitting said parking data upon receipt from said wireless modem means simultaneously to said plurality of portable terminals in said area;
wherein said plurality of portable terminals for use by parking wardens inspecting said parking spaces of said area receives said parking data continuously from the broadcast means in the background without interruption.
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Specification