Method for managing a parking lot

• US 7,123,166 B1
• Filed: 10/08/2004
• Issued: 10/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael N. Haynes, Pamela E Haynes
• Original Assignee: Michael N. Haynes, Pamela E Haynes
• Inventors: Haynes, Pamela E., Haynes, Michael N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope, Daryl C
• Application Number:
  US10/961,128
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 340/932.2, 340/933, 340/937, 348/143, 348/148, 348/152
• US Class Current: 340/932.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/14 indicating individual free spaces in parking areas

Abstract

A method is disclosed for managing a parking lot. In one disclosed embodiment, the method includes receiving parking lot data. The embodiment of the disclosed method also includes transforming the parking lot data into parking lot information, the parking lot information including information about a moving parking lot object. Further, the embodiment of the disclosed method includes transmitting a map of the parking lot to a mobile interaction device, and transmitting the parking lot information to the mobile interaction device.

Claims

1. A method for managing a parking lot, comprising:

via a processor, transforming received parking lot data comprising video data and audio data into parking lot information comprising information about a plurality of overlapping moving parking lot objects, the parking lot information comprising an identification of at least one of the plurality of overlapping moving parking lot objects, the identification determined by the processor; and

transmitting the parking lot information to an interaction device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving data from the interaction device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving vehicle data from the interaction device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transforming vehicle data into vehicle information that comprises non-audio information.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request for the parking lot information.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

charging a fee for the parking lot information.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying an available parking space.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying an optimal parking space.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request for access to a parking space.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request to reserve a parking space.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

reserving a parking space.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accepting a reservation for a parking space.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

designating a reserved parking space as filled.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning a parking space.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising;

discouraging a vehicle from entering a parking space.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

charging a fee for access to the parking lot.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

charging a fee for access to a parking space.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

charging a fee for reserving a parking space.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

metering use of a parking space.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein said transforming step includes:

recognizing a parking lot object.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein said transforming step includes:

identifying a parking lot object.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein said transforming step includes:

converting a parking lot object into a symbolic object.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting information regarding a non-moving parking lot object.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting information to the interaction device based on an identity of a parking lot object.

25. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a location of a parking lot object to the interaction device.

26. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adjusting parking lot lighting based on the parking lot data.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adjusting parking lot lighting based on data received from the interaction device.

28. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting information regarding a parking lot event.

29. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

communicating the parking lot information via a web page.

30. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a location of a vehicle.

31. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a status of a vehicle.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein the parking lot data comprises vehicle-related audio data.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein the parking lot data comprises vehicle-related video data.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein the parking lot data comprises weather data.

35. The method of claim 1, wherein the parking lot information comprises audio information.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein the parking lot information comprises visual information.

37. The method of claim 1, wherein the parking lot information comprises weather information.

38. The method of claim 1, wherein the parking lot information comprises a map.

39. The method of claim 1, wherein the parking lot information comprises visual representations of static objects.

40. The method of claim 1, wherein the parking lot information comprises visual representations of moving objects.

41. The method of claim 1, wherein the interaction device is a vehicle interaction device.

42. The method of claim 1, wherein the interaction device is permanently attached to a vehicle.

43. The method of claim 1, wherein the interaction device is not permanently attached to a vehicle.

44. The method of claim 1, wherein the interaction device is portable.

45. A computer-readable medium storing thereon instructions for:

transforming parking lot data comprising video data and audio data into parking lot information comprising information about a plurality of overlapping moving parking lot objects, the parking lot information comprising an identification of at least one of the plurality of overlapping moving parking lot objects, the identification determined by the processor; and

transmitting the parking lot information to an interaction device.

46. A system for managing a parking lot, comprising:

a processor adapted to;

transform received parking lot data comprising video data and audio data into parking lot information comprising information about a plurality of overlapping moving parking lot objects, the parking lot information comprising an identification of at least one of the plurality of overlapping moving parking lot objects, the identification determined by the processor; and

provide the parking lot information for transmission to an interaction device.

47. A method for managing a parking lot, comprising:

via a processor, transforming parking lot data comprising video data and audio data into parking lot information that comprises information other than an availability status, a quantity, a time, and a location of one or more parking spaces, the parking lot information comprising information about a plurality of overlapping moving parking lot objects, the parking lot information comprising an identification of at least one of the plurality of overlapping moving parking lot objects, the identification determined by the processor; and

transmitting the parking lot information to a mobile interaction device.