Automobile parking verification system (APVS)
DCFirst Claim
1. A system for checking and verifying the status of automobiles parked in a parking facility comprising:
- a host computer having a master database, said master database further including pertinent information relating to each vehicle parked in the parking facility, said pertinent information including the type and characteristics of the vehicle, and a parking spot assigned to each vehicle approved to park in the facility;
said master database having a billing database, said billing database having information including information about the type of vehicle, the operator of a vehicle, said billing information further including a plurality of fee structures for a corresponding plurality of long term periods, said long term periods comprising weekly, monthly, and yearly periods, said billing information capable of confirming that fees are paid and that a vehicle is permitted to park on premises;
said host having a first means for transferring and receiving information in said master database;
said master database comprising a sub-database configured for positioning in at least one of the host computer or separate computer, said sub-database having information, the information including the characteristics of the vehicle, the characteristics including the type of vehicle, said information including the parking spot assigned to each vehicle approved to park in the facility and corresponding billing to confirm the category of vehicle, said information including billing information which consists of an indicator of whether the authorization for the vehicle is active or delinquent regarding a weekly, monthly, or yearly parking term;
the means for transferring being configured to communicate with a verification database;
the sub-database functioning as a verification database;
identification means to be affixed to the automobiles parked in the parking facility;
at least one portable unit for checking the parking facility, wherein said portable unit is configured for;
(a) comparing and relating the information on said identification means with the pertinent information in said first database; and
(b) determining whether the vehicle is the same category of vehicle that is authorized to park in the facility, including determining if the vehicle is parked in the authorized spot, and determining whether the billing status for the vehicle is accurate regarding the type of vehicle, and determining whether the authorization for the vehicle is active or delinquent regarding a weekly, monthly or yearly parking term by confirmation from the billing database and of the approval status;
said portable means having a second means for transferring and receiving information.
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Abstract
The present invention is directed toward a method and apparatus for efficiently and accurately checking a parking facility to verify that the vehicles parked therein are legitimately parked. The present invention utilizes computer technology, various software applications, such as database applications, and various data transfer technologies that enable a parking facility to maintain accurate and updated records for the vehicles parked in their facility. The present invention eliminates the occurrence of fraud or improper usage of the parking facility and facilitates the regulation of overdue customer accounts. Furthermore, the present invention dramatically reduces the time previously required to check a parking facility by providing both on-site and remote access to pertinent information relating to automobiles parked therein.
52 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system for checking and verifying the status of automobiles parked in a parking facility comprising:
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a host computer having a master database, said master database further including pertinent information relating to each vehicle parked in the parking facility, said pertinent information including the type and characteristics of the vehicle, and a parking spot assigned to each vehicle approved to park in the facility;
said master database having a billing database, said billing database having information including information about the type of vehicle, the operator of a vehicle, said billing information further including a plurality of fee structures for a corresponding plurality of long term periods, said long term periods comprising weekly, monthly, and yearly periods, said billing information capable of confirming that fees are paid and that a vehicle is permitted to park on premises;
said host having a first means for transferring and receiving information in said master database;
said master database comprising a sub-database configured for positioning in at least one of the host computer or separate computer, said sub-database having information, the information including the characteristics of the vehicle, the characteristics including the type of vehicle, said information including the parking spot assigned to each vehicle approved to park in the facility and corresponding billing to confirm the category of vehicle, said information including billing information which consists of an indicator of whether the authorization for the vehicle is active or delinquent regarding a weekly, monthly, or yearly parking term;
the means for transferring being configured to communicate with a verification database;
the sub-database functioning as a verification database;
identification means to be affixed to the automobiles parked in the parking facility;
at least one portable unit for checking the parking facility, wherein said portable unit is configured for;
(a) comparing and relating the information on said identification means with the pertinent information in said first database; and
(b) determining whether the vehicle is the same category of vehicle that is authorized to park in the facility, including determining if the vehicle is parked in the authorized spot, and determining whether the billing status for the vehicle is accurate regarding the type of vehicle, and determining whether the authorization for the vehicle is active or delinquent regarding a weekly, monthly or yearly parking term by confirmation from the billing database and of the approval status;
said portable means having a second means for transferring and receiving information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
at least one verification computer, wherein said sub-database is maintained on said verification computer;
said verification computer having a third means for transferring and receiving information;
and said portable unit is configured for comparing and relating the information on said identification means with the pertinent information in said sub-database.
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5. The system of claim 4, further comprising
a sub-host computer for storing said pertinent vehicle information, said sub-host maintained the parking facility to be checked; a cradle for downloading said pertinent vehicle information onto said portable unit.
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6. The system of claim 1, said portable unit further comprising data reading means;
- a display; and
input means.
- a display; and
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7. The system of claim 5, wherein said first, second and third means for transferring information are selected from the group consisting of modems, hot wires, radio frequencies, or infrared signals.
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8. The system of claim 1, wherein said portable unit is a portable computing device with a bar code scanner or a lap top computer with an integrated bar code scanner.
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9. The system of claim 1,
said host computer further comprises a first software configured for selecting and organizing data for checking a parking facility; - and
said portable unit further comprises a second software configured for updating and organizing information gathered during the checking of the parking facility.
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10. The system of claim 5,
said host computer further comprises a first software configured for selecting and organizing data for checking a parking facility; -
said portable unit further comprises a second software configured for updating and organizing information gathered during the checking of the parking facility; and
said verification computer further comprises a third software configured for updating information and issuing parking facility check reports.
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11. The system of claim 5, wherein said host computer, said verification computer, and said sub-host computer are connected via a network connection.
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12. A method for checking and verifying the status of automobiles parked in a parking facility comprising the steps of:
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maintaining a master database on a host computer, said database having pertinent information relating the automobiles parked in the parking facility, said pertinent information including the type and characteristics of the vehicle, and a parking spot assigned to each vehicle approved to park in the facility;
maintaining a sub-database on said host computer, said second database having information relating to checking a parking facility, said information including the characteristics of the vehicle, the characteristics including the type of vehicle, said information including the parking spot assigned to each vehicle approved to park in the facility and corresponding billing to confirm the category of vehicle, said information including short term and long term billing account information which consists of an indicator of whether the authorization for the vehicle is active or delinquent regarding a weekly, monthly, or yearly parking term;
affixing an identification means to the automobiles parked in the parking facility, the identification means having a first configuration for short term parking and a second configuration for long term parking;
transferring said sub-database to a portable unit, wherein said portable unit is configured for;
(a) checking said parking facility with said portable unit, wherein said portable unit relates said identification means with said pertinent information, said checking including identifying an account associated with the identification means and determining whether the account is for short term parking or long term parking; and
(b) determining whether the vehicle is the same category of vehicle that is authorized to park in the facility, including determining if the vehicle is parked in the authorized spot, and determining whether the billing status for the vehicle is accurate regarding the type of vehicle, and determining whether the authorization for the vehicle is active or delinquent regarding a weekly, monthly or yearly parking term by confirmation from the billing database and of the approval status;
verifying and storing on said portable unit the status of each automobile parked in the parking facility. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 21)
said checking further comprises inputting information on said identification means; updating and organizing results of said checking of the parking facility sending results of said check to said host computer;
entering into said first database the results of said check;
taking appropriate action with respect to delinquent cars.
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14. The method of claim 12, wherein
implementing a first software configured for selecting and organizing relevant data for said checking of said parking facility, wherein said first software is maintained on said first host computer and used with said first database; - and
implementing a second software configured for updating and organizing information gathered during said checking of said parking facility, wherein said second software is maintained on said portable unit.
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15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of
maintaining said host computer at a central location; -
providing said portable unit to a supervisor who will check the parking facility;
downloading said results of said check onto a sub-host computer with a cradle which is maintained at the parking facility, wherein said results of said check are sent from said sub-host to said host via transfer means.
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21. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of
obtaining information relating vehicles parked long term and short term in the facility; -
checking the status of said vehicles parked long term and short term; and
taking appropriate action with respect to said long term and short term vehicles having a closed account.
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16. A method for checking and verifying the status of automobiles parked in a parking facility comprising the steps of:
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maintaining a master database on a host computer, said database having pertinent information relating the automobiles parked in the parking facility, said pertinent information including the type and characteristics of the vehicle, and a parking spot assigned to each vehicle approved to park in the facility;
maintaining a sub-database on said verification computer, said second database comprising only information relevant to checking the parking facility, said information including, the characteristics of the vehicle, the characteristics including the type of vehicle, said information including the parking spot assigned to each vehicle approved to park in the facility and corresponding billing to confirm the category of vehicle, said information including short term and long term billing account information which consists of an indicator of whether the authorization for the vehicle is active or delinquent regarding a weekly, monthly, or yearly parking term;
affixing an identification means to the automobile parked in the parking facility, said identification being adapted for identifying a billing account associate with each vehicle, each billing account being configured for identifying a plurality of vehicles;
transferring said first database to said verification computer;
selecting and organizing, from first database, information relevant to checking a parking facility;
entering said relevant information into said second database;
transferring said second database to a portable unit at the parking facility to be checked, wherein said portable unit is configured for;
(a) checking said parking facility with said portable unit, wherein said portable unit relates said identification means with said pertinent information, said checking including identifying an account associated with the identification means and determining whether the account is for short term parking or long term parking; and
(b) determining whether the vehicle is the same category of vehicle that is authorized to park in the facility, including determining if the vehicle is parked in the authorized spot, and determining whether the billing status for the vehicle is accurate regarding the type of vehicle, and determining whether the authorization for the vehicle is active or delinquent regarding a weekly, monthly or yearly parking term by confirmation from the billing database and of the approval status; and
verifying and storing on said portable unit the status of each automobile parked in the parking facility. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
said checking further comprises inputting information on said identification means; updating and organizing results of said checking of the parking facility;
sending said results of said check to said verification computer.
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18. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of
implementing a first software configured for selecting and organizing relevant data for said check of said parking facility, wherein said first software is maintained on said first host computer and used with said first database; -
implementing a second software configured for updating and organizing information gathered during said checking of said parking facility, wherein a said second software is maintained on said portable unit; and
implementing a third software configured for updating information and preparing parking check reports.
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19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of
maintaining said host computer at a central location; -
maintaining said verification computer a second central location;
providing said portable unit to a supervisor who will check the parking facility;
downloading said results of said check onto a sub-host computer with a cradle which is maintained at the second central location, where in said results of said check are transferred from said sub-host to said verification computer.
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20. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of
obtaining information relating vehicles parked long term and short term in the facility; -
checking the status of said vehicles parked long term and short term; and
taking appropriate action with respect to said long term and short term vehicles have a closed account.
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Specification