Parking meter and a device therefor

• US 8,862,494 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2013
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IPS Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: IPS Group Incorporated
• Inventors: King, David William, Schwarz, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Erb, Nathan
• Application Number:
  US13/786,387
• Publication Number:
  US 20130238406A1
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 705/13, 705/418
• US Class Current: 705/13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/127 Shopping or accessing services according to a time-limitation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• 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 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/248 Housing construction casings for coin-freed apparatus G07F9/10

Abstract

A single bay parking meter device is provided which accepts payment by means of a credit or debit card, an electronic purse, or coins. The device has a power supply unit, a solar power charging arrangement and power management, such that it does not need power supply cables to be installed for each meter. The parking meter device also transmits financial data to a financial institution in a wireless manner, also to avoid the need for cabling. The parking meter device is receivable in the base of a conventional single bay parking meter, such that the new parking meter device may be retrofitted to existing coin operated installed single bay parking meters, using a new cover that is also engageable with the conventional housing base.

Claims

1. A single space new parking meter device, comprising:

a wireless communications element configured to;

a. communicate electronic payment information to a financial system, the electronic payment information comprising non-cash payment automatically deducted at the end of a parking time period, the automatic deduction optionally repeated at the end of each subsequent time period up to a maximum permitted parking time;

b. communicate management information to a management center, the management information comprising one or more of;

malfunction information, tampering information, and location information; and

c. communicate expiration information to the management center;

a timing mechanism for measuring time spent parking; and

a payment mechanism for accepting payment for parking;

wherein at least a portion of the timing mechanism and/or at least a portion of the payment mechanism extends into an interior space of a housing base of a formerly separate single space old parking meter device, the housing base having surfaces defining the interior space, the interior space having an open top;

wherein the new parking meter device is configured to retrofit the old parking meter device by being receivable into the housing base of the old parking meter device through the open to such that the extending portion of the new parking meter device is at least partially enclosed in the interior space of the housing base and by engaging with the housing base to replace;

(1) the rest of the original exterior housing of the old parking meter device, and (2) the original interior contents of the old parking meter device; and

wherein the retrofitting results in a post-retrofitted parking meter device comprising the new parking meter device and the housing base of the old parking meter device.

2. The new parking meter device of claim 1, wherein the electronic payment information is communicated directly to the financial system.

3. The new parking meter device of claim 1, wherein the electronic payment information is communicated indirectly to the financial system.

4. The new parking meter device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communications element utilizes one or more of:

a cellular telephone network, a Wi-Fi, and an IP embedded wireless network.

5. The new parking meter device of claim 1, wherein the electronic payment information is associated with one or more of:

a credit card, debit card, a mobile phone, virtual wallet, and a toll road electronic pass or other electronic purse.

6. The new parking meter device of claim 1, further comprising a vehicle sensor for detecting a vehicle in a single parking space.

7. The new parking meter device of claim 6, further comprising a module configured to detect an electronic payment device associated with a vehicle in the single parking space and deduct an appropriate amount for a parking time period.

8. A single space new parking meter device, comprising:

a wireless communications element configured to communicate electronic payment information to a financial system, the electronic payment information comprising non-cash payment automatically deducted at the end of a parking time period, the automatic deduction optionally repeated at the end of each subsequent time period up to a maximum permitted parking time;

a timing mechanism for measuring time spent parking; and

a payment mechanism for accepting payment for parking;

wherein at least a portion of the timing mechanism and/or at least a portion of the payment mechanism extends into an interior space of a housing base of a formerly separate single space old parking meter device, the housing base having surfaces defining the interior space, the interior space having an open top;

wherein the new parking meter device is configured to retrofit the old parking meter device by being receivable into the housing base of the old parking meter device through the open to such that the extending portion of the new parking meter device is at least partially enclosed in the interior space of the housing base and by engaging with the housing base to replace;

(1) the rest of the original exterior housing of the old parking meter device, and (2) the original interior contents of the old parking meter device; and

wherein the retrofitting results in a post-retrofitted parking meter device comprising the new parking meter device and the housing base of the old parking meter device.

9. The new parking meter device of claim 8, wherein the electronic payment information is from one or more of:

a credit card, debit card, a mobile phone, virtual wallet, and a toll road electronic pass.

10. The new parking meter device of claim 8, wherein the wireless communications element communicates via one or more of:

a cellular telephone network, a Wi-Fi, and an IP embedded wireless network.

11. A single space parking management system, comprising:

a. a plurality of single space new parking meter devices, each new parking meter device comprising;

a wireless communications element configured to;

i. communicate electronic payment information to a financial system, the electronic payment information comprising non-cash payment automatically deducted at the end of a parking time period, the automatic deduction optionally repeated at the end of each subsequent time period up to a maximum permitted parking time;

ii. communicate management information to a management center, the management information comprising one or more of;

malfunction information, tampering information, and location information; and

iii. communicate expiration information to the management center;

a timing mechanism for measuring time spent parking; and

a payment mechanism for accepting payment for parking;

wherein at least a portion of the timing mechanism and/or at least a portion of the payment mechanism extends into an interior space of a housing base of a formerly separate single space old parking meter device, the housing base having surfaces defining the interior space, the interior space having an open top;

wherein the new parking meter device is configured to retrofit the old parking meter device by being receivable into the housing base of the old parking meter device through the open to such that the extending portion of the new parking meter device is at least partially enclosed in the interior space of the housing base and by engaging with the housing base to replace;

(1) the rest of the original exterior housing of the old parking meter device, and (2) the original interior contents of the old parking meter device; and

wherein the retrofitting results in a post-retrofitted parking meter device comprising the new parking meter device and the housing base of the old parking meter device;

b. a server processor configured to execute a management center application comprising;

i. a software module configured to receive the electronic payment information from at least one of the single space new parking meter devices;

ii. a software module configured to receive the management information from at least one of the single space new parking meter devices; and

iii. a software module configured to receive duration information and the expiration information from at least one of the single space new parking meter devices.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the software modules receive information directly from the at least one single space new parking meter device.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the software modules receive information indirectly from the at least one single space new parking meter device.