Wireless mesh network parking measurement system

• US 7,714,742 B1
• Filed: 08/31/2006
• Issued: 05/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Streetline Technology LLC
• Original Assignee: Streetline Networks
• Inventors: Dykstra, Scott, Cheng, Shih yu, Dykstra, Tod, Noworolski, Jan Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yacob; Sisay
• Application Number:
  US11/513,721
• Time in Patent Office: 1,349 Days
• Field of Search: 340/932.2, 340/531, 701/1, 701/2, 705/13, 370/331, 177/136
• US Class Current: 340/932.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/14 indicating individual free spaces in parking areas

Abstract

A real-time parking activity measurement system comprising multiple, self-powered, mesh networked wireless vehicle sensors, a collection device, and a host computer. The wireless mesh network architecture allows the wireless vehicle sensors to be more reliable and to be more energy efficient by at least an order of magnitude compare to traditional wireless point-to-point and star-topology architectures. This architecture also enables the expansion of the measurement area without any additional infrastructure besides the necessary addition of wireless vehicle sensors.

Claims

1. A parking measurement system comprising:

a. a collection device configured to collect data generated from a wireless mesh network;

b. at least one host computer;

c. a plurality of self-powered wireless vehicle sensors, wherein each said self-powered wireless vehicle sensor is associated with at least one parking space and is configured to function also as a wireless mesh network device in said wireless mesh network, wherein each said wireless vehicle sensor is disposed to route a first data from its own vehicle sensor and a second data from other said wireless mesh network devices to said collection device;

d. a plurality of wireless parking payment sensors, wherein each said wireless parking payment sensor is associated with at least one parking space and is configured to function also as a wireless mesh network device in said wireless mesh network, wherein each said wireless parking payment sensor is disposed to route a first data from its own parking payment sensor and a second data from other said wireless mesh network devices to said collection device; and

e. a communication device disposed to provide communication between said host computer and said collection device, wherein said host computer is a sufficiently programmed computer to convert raw parking activity data collected by said collection device into data that is used by other parking applications or interface software on another sufficiently programmed computer, wherein said parking measurement system is disposed to be expandable by implementing other said self powered wireless vehicle sensors within a communication range of at least one other said self powered wireless vehicle sensor in said parking measurement system.

2. The parking measurement system of claim 1, wherein said at least one other sub-sensor comprises a magnetic field sensor.

3. The parking measurement system of claim 1, wherein at least one other sub-sensor comprises an IR sensor.

4. The parking measurement system of claim 1, wherein at least one other sub-sensor comprises a capacitive sensor.

5. The parking measurement system of claim 1, wherein at least one other sub-sensor comprises a solar sensor.

6. The parking measurement system of claim 1, wherein said wireless sensors are disposed in predetermined locations and intervals, wherein information provided by at least one said wireless sensor is compiled with said predetermined wireless sensor location and intervals to determine vehicle proximity, presence or payment in non-delineated parking spaces.

7. The parking measurement system of claim 1, wherein said sensors further comprise a self-calibrating element.

8. The parking measurement system of claim 1, wherein said collection device is powered by an external power source.

9. The parking measurement system of claim 1, wherein said host computer compiles said parking event data and outputs statistics of said parking events, wherein said statistics comprise temporal parking demand.

10. The parking measurement system of claim 1, wherein said at least one other sub-sensor comprises a magnetic field sensor and a solar sensor.

11. The parking measurement system of claim 1, wherein said at least one other sub-sensor comprises a magnetic field sensor and an IR sensor and a solar sensor.