Parking barrier with accident event logging and self-diagnostic control system
First Claim
1. A control system for a parking barrier system comprising:
- a barrier for blocking an entrance or exit of a parking area;
an actuator connected to said barrier for moving said barrier;
a plurality of sensors for sensing parameters associated with operation of said parking barrier system and events associated with operation of said parking barrier system;
a controller connected to said actuator and said plurality of sensors for monitoring and collecting signals and data from the actuator and sensors;
a memory for said controller for recording the collected signals and data;
a timer connected to said controller, wherein said timer outputs a present date and time of day to said controller, wherein an event sensed by said actuator, or said plurality of sensors, or both said actuator and said plurality of sensors is time stamped with a date and time of day, as output by said timer, and wherein the event is analyzed by the controller and determined at least one event from a group consisting of accident events and performance events, including fault events, abnormal events, security concern events, maintenance events, and fraud events, and wherein the controller creates specific logs for said events and event data is stored in at least one specific log in said memory for access by a system user; and
a means for accessing the collected signals and data.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A parking area entrance or exit barrier includes a control system which receives inputs from various accessories associated with the operation of the barrier, and which provides control signals to the various accessories of the barrier. One of the accessories includes a sensor attached to the barrier. The sensor senses an accident event, such as contact between the barrier and a vehicle. Whenever an accident event is sensed, the control system creates an accident event log of information concerning the accident event. The accident event log may include video images of the barrier, a position of the barrier, a movement direction and speed of the barrier, and an approximated speed of the vehicle. The control system may also monitor a performance of the various accessories of the barrier and create a performance log relating to any malfunction of the accessories. The performance of the accessories may also indicate tampering or fraudulent activities concerning the parking barrier, such as an attendant stealing parking fees. The accident event log and/or performance log may be transmitted to a central service facility. Further, the central service facility can remotely change operating parameters of the control system.
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Citations
64 Claims
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1. A control system for a parking barrier system comprising:
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a barrier for blocking an entrance or exit of a parking area; an actuator connected to said barrier for moving said barrier; a plurality of sensors for sensing parameters associated with operation of said parking barrier system and events associated with operation of said parking barrier system; a controller connected to said actuator and said plurality of sensors for monitoring and collecting signals and data from the actuator and sensors; a memory for said controller for recording the collected signals and data; a timer connected to said controller, wherein said timer outputs a present date and time of day to said controller, wherein an event sensed by said actuator, or said plurality of sensors, or both said actuator and said plurality of sensors is time stamped with a date and time of day, as output by said timer, and wherein the event is analyzed by the controller and determined at least one event from a group consisting of accident events and performance events, including fault events, abnormal events, security concern events, maintenance events, and fraud events, and wherein the controller creates specific logs for said events and event data is stored in at least one specific log in said memory for access by a system user; and a means for accessing the collected signals and data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A control system for a parking barrier system comprising:
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a barrier for controlling access of an object into or out of a parking area; an actuator connected to said barrier accessory for activating or deactivating said barrier accessory; a plurality of accessories associated with operation of said parking barrier system and events associated with operation of said parking barrier system; a controller connected to said actuator and said plurality of accessories for monitoring and collecting signals provided by the actuator and accessories to determine operational aspects of the parking barrier system; a memory for said controller for recording the collected signals a timer for providing a present date and time of day to said controller, wherein the signals or sequences of the signals provided by the actuator or said accessories, or both said actuator and said accessories and time of day are time stamped with a date and time of day, as output by said timer, and wherein date and time stamped signal or sequence of signal data is analyzed by the controller and determined to be at least one event from a group consisting of accident events and performance events, including fault events, abnormal events, security concern events, maintenance events, and fraud events, and wherein the controller creates specific logs for said events and event data is stored in at least one specific log in said memory for access by a system user; and a means for accessing the data. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A method of controlling a parking barrier system comprising:
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operating a barrier to block an entrance or exit of a parking area; using an actuator to move the barrier; operating sensors to sense parameters associated with operation of said parking barrier system and events associated with operation of said parking barrier system; operating a controller to monitor and collect actuating and sensing signals and data from the actuator and sensors; using a memory to record the collected signals and data; using a timer connected to said controller to output a present date and time of day to said controller, and to time stamp events associated with the sensed signals and data, and wherein date and time stamped signal or sequence data is analyzed by the controller and determined to be at least one event from a group consisting of accident events and performance events including fault events, abnormal events, security concern events, maintenance events and fraud events; operating the controller to create specific logs for said events and for storing time stamped events and event data in at least one specific log and event data in said memory for access by a system user; and providing access to the collected signals and data. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53)
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54. A method of controlling a parking barrier system comprising:
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controlling access of an object into or out of a parking area by operating a barrier; operating of an actuator connected to said barrier by activating or deactivating said barrier; operating a plurality of accessories associated with operation of said parking barrier system and events associated with operation of said parking barrier system; operating a controller connected to said actuator and said plurality of accessories for monitoring and collecting signals provided by the actuator and accessories to determine operational aspects of the parking barrier system; using a memory for said controller to record the collected signals; using a timer for providing a present date and time of day to said controller, wherein the signals or sequences of the signals provided by the actuator or accessories and time of day are time stamped with a date and time of day, as output by said timer, and wherein date and time stamped signal or sequence of signal data is analyzed by the controller and determined to be at least one event from a group consisting of accident events and performance events including fault events, security concern events, abnormal events, maintenance events and fraud events, and wherein the controller creates specific logs for said events and event data and said events and event data are stored in at least one specific log in said memory for access by a system user; and providing a means for accessing the data. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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Specification