Parking meter

• US 7,874,482 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2007
• Issued: 01/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malisa Phoiliang
• Original Assignee: Malisa Phoiliang
• Inventors: Mitschele, Frederick L.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THIEN MINH
• Application Number:
  US11/747,908
• Publication Number:
  US 20080277468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,353 Days
• Field of Search: 235/376, 235/377, 235/379, 235/380, 235/384, 705/13, 705/418
• US Class Current: 235/384
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0652 e-cash with decreasing value according to a parameter, e.g. time
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/127 Shopping or accessing services according to a time-limitation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/02 taking into account a variable factor such as distance or time, e.g. for passenger transport, parking systems or car rental systems G07B15/06 takes precedence; taximeters G07B13/00; parking meters per se G07F17/24; car rental systems per se G07B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/24 for parking meters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02

Abstract

A parking system using parking meters which accept payment by credit card or smart cards. The user can start the parking payment period by swiping a credit card in the reader. A fixed pre-payment is charged to the card. The payment period is terminated when the same card is swiped a second time. The pre-paid charge is cancelled and the card is charged only for the actual elapsed time.

Claims

1. A method of operating a pay parking system comprising a plurality of parking spaces, a plurality of parking meters, each parking meter comprising a credit card reader, a timer and a processor coupled to said credit card reader, said method comprising:

a) commencing the timing of a parking payment period by said credit card reader reading a credit card;

b) authorizing a fixed pre-payment amount to said credit card;

c) timing the parking period;

d) ceasing the timing of said parking period upon reading said credit card a second time;

e) cancelling said fixed pre-payment amount charge;

f) calculating the charge amount for the time elapsed between steps a) and d);

g) charging said credit card the amount calculated in step f);

wherein said pay parking system further comprises a plurality of vehicle sensors each associated with one of said parking spaces and adapted to wirelessly communicate with an associated parking meter, said method comprising the further steps of;

h) upon one of said vehicle sensors sensing the presence of a vehicle in a parking space, starting a pre-payment grace period;

i) if the pre-payment grace period expires while the vehicle is still in the parking space, indicating a violation;

j) if a credit card is read in respect of the parking space during the pre-payment grace period, commencing the timing of the parking payment period;

k) ceasing the timing of said parking period upon said vehicle sensor sensing that said vehicle has left the parking space;

l) cancelling said fixed pre-payment amount charge;

m) calculating the charge amount for the time elapsed between steps j) and k);

n) charging said credit card the amount calculated in step m).

2. A method of operating a pay parking system comprising a plurality of parking spaces;

a plurality of parking meters, each parking meter comprising a smart card reader, wireless communication means for communicating with a central server, a processor coupled to said smart card reader and said wireless communication means, and a timer coupled to said processor; and

a plurality of smart cards each comprising data storage means for storing a unique identifier and a variable credit balance, said method comprising;

a) a user authorizing a credit card payment to said central server in association with a unique identifier of a first smart card;

b) authorizing a fixed pre-payment amount to said credit card;

c) said user causing said first smart card to be read at one of said meters;

d) said meter communicating with said central server;

e) said central server communicating to said meter the amount of said credit card payment; and

f) said smart card reader adding the amount of said credit card payment to the credit balance on said first smart card;

wherein said pay parking system further comprises a plurality of vehicle sensors each associated with one of said parking spaces and adapted to wirelessly communicate with an associated parking meter, further comprising the steps of;

g) upon one of said vehicle sensors sensing the presence of a vehicle in a parking space, starting a pre-payment grace period;

h) if the pre-payment grace period expires while the vehicle is still in the parking space, indicating a violation;

i) if a smart card is read in respect of the parking space during the pre-payment grace period, commencing the timing of the parking payment period and charging a fixed pre-payment amount to said smart card;

j) timing the parking period;

k) ceasing the timing of said parking period upon said vehicle sensor sensing that said vehicle has left the parking space;

l) calculating the charge amount for the time elapsed between steps i) and k);

m) if the charge calculated in step l) is less than the pre-payment amount charged in step i) then communicating a credit in the amount of the difference between the pre-payment amount charged in step i) and the charge calculated in step l) to said central server in association with the unique identifier of said smart card; and

n) said central server crediting the credit balance of said smart card the amount of said communicated credit.

3. A pay parking system for controlling a plurality of parking spaces, comprising:

a) a plurality of parking meters, each parking meter comprising a credit card reader, a timer and a processor coupled to said credit card reader;

b) means provided in said processor for

i) commencing the timing of a parking payment period by said credit card reader reading a credit card;

ii) authorizing a fixed pre-payment amount to said credit card;

iii) timing the parking period;

iv) ceasing the timing of said parking period upon reading said credit card a second time;

v) cancelling said fixed pre-payment amount charge;

vi) calculating the charge amount for the time elapsed between steps I) and iv);

vii) charging said credit card the amount calculated in vi);

and further comprising;

c) a plurality of vehicle detection means each associated with one of said parking spaces for detecting the presence or absence of a vehicle in said one of said parking spaces, and comprising means for communicating a signal indicative of the presence or absence of a vehicle in said one of said parking spaces to the parking meter associated with said one of said parking spaces.

4. The pay parking system as defined in claim 3 wherein the processor initiates the timer for a predetermined standby interval upon receiving a signal from the vehicle detection means that a vehicle is present in the associated parking space, wherein said processor is adapted to terminate the timing of the standby interval upon receiving a signal from the credit card reader.