System and method for direct transfer of electronic parking meter data
First Claim
1. A single space parking meter kit comprising:
- a first single space meter mechanism comprising;
an inner housing;
an electronic display screen supported by the inner housing of the first single space meter mechanism;
a wireless communication subsystem supported by the inner housing of the first single space meter mechanism configured to wirelessly communicate with a parking management system;
an electronic meter control system controlling the electronic display screen and the wireless communications subsystem of the first single space meter mechanism; and
a removable read-write memory device accessible from outside of the inner housing of the first single space meter mechanism, the removable memory device including location identification information that uniquely identifies the physical, geographic location of the first single space meter mechanism within a parking system and payment information representative of parking payments received by the first meter mechanism; and
a second single space meter mechanism comprising;
an inner housing;
an electronic display screen supported by the inner housing of the second single space meter mechanism;
a wireless communication subsystem supported by the inner housing of the second single space meter mechanism configured to wirelessly communicate with the parking management system;
an electronic meter control system controlling the electronic display screen and the wireless communications subsystem of the second single space meter mechanism;
a meter identification number; and
a port configured to receive the removable read-write memory device;
wherein the control system of the second single space meter mechanism is configured to access the location identification information and the payment information from the removable read-write memory device following receipt of the read-write memory device by the port and to communicate both the location identification information and the identification number of the second single space meter to the parking management system such that the identification number of the second single space meter is associated with the location identification information and the payment information;
wherein the payment information from the first single space meter mechanism is directly transferred to the second meter mechanism.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A single space electronic parking meter mechanism for inserting into an outer parking meter housing is provided. The mechanism includes an inner housing, a payment receiving structure supported by the inner housing and an electronic display screen supported by the inner housing. The mechanism also includes a wireless communication subsystem supported by the inner housing configured to wirelessly communicate with a parking management system and an electronic meter control system controlling the electronic display and the wireless communications subsystem. The mechanism includes a memory device receiving port externally accessible through the inner housing and a read-write removable memory device physically accessible from outside of the inner housing and configured to be coupled to the memory device receiving port. The removable memory device including operation mode information that is read by the electronic meter control system to select an operation mode of the meter mechanism.
110 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A single space parking meter kit comprising:
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a first single space meter mechanism comprising; an inner housing; an electronic display screen supported by the inner housing of the first single space meter mechanism; a wireless communication subsystem supported by the inner housing of the first single space meter mechanism configured to wirelessly communicate with a parking management system; an electronic meter control system controlling the electronic display screen and the wireless communications subsystem of the first single space meter mechanism; and a removable read-write memory device accessible from outside of the inner housing of the first single space meter mechanism, the removable memory device including location identification information that uniquely identifies the physical, geographic location of the first single space meter mechanism within a parking system and payment information representative of parking payments received by the first meter mechanism; and a second single space meter mechanism comprising; an inner housing; an electronic display screen supported by the inner housing of the second single space meter mechanism; a wireless communication subsystem supported by the inner housing of the second single space meter mechanism configured to wirelessly communicate with the parking management system; an electronic meter control system controlling the electronic display screen and the wireless communications subsystem of the second single space meter mechanism; a meter identification number; and a port configured to receive the removable read-write memory device; wherein the control system of the second single space meter mechanism is configured to access the location identification information and the payment information from the removable read-write memory device following receipt of the read-write memory device by the port and to communicate both the location identification information and the identification number of the second single space meter to the parking management system such that the identification number of the second single space meter is associated with the location identification information and the payment information; wherein the payment information from the first single space meter mechanism is directly transferred to the second meter mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A computerized parking management system for processing, storing and communicating data within a wirelessly communicating parking system, the parking system including a plurality of single-space parking meters each equipped with an electronic meter mechanism, the parking management system comprising:
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a control computer; a parking system database controlled by the control computer, the database including a unique meter ID representative of each electronic meter mechanism within the parking system and a unique location ID representative of the physical, geographic location of each single-space parking meter within the parking system; and wireless communications hardware controlled by the control computer configured to transmit data wirelessly to the plurality of single space parking meters within the parking system; wherein, following replacement of a pre-existing electronic meter mechanism with a new electronic meter mechanism at one of the single space parking meters, the control computer is configured to receive a new meter ID communicated wirelessly from the new meter mechanism that identifies the new electronic meter mechanism; wherein the control computer is configured to associate the new meter ID with the location ID for the single space meter that has received the new electronic meter mechanism within the parking system database. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A method of replacing a pre-existing electronic meter mechanism with a new electronic meter mechanism comprising:
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opening an outer meter housing that surrounds the pre-existing electronic meter mechanism; directly transferring location ID information representative of the physical, geographic location of the outer meter housing from the pre-existing electronic meter mechanism to a memory device physically associated with the new electronic meter mechanism; directly transferring payment information representative of parking payments received by the preexisting meter mechanism to the new meter mechanism; and transmitting the location ID information wirelessly from the new meter mechanism to a parking management system. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of replacing a pre-existing electronic meter mechanism with a new electronic meter mechanism comprising:
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delivering a new meter mechanism to a recipient, the new meter mechanism comprising; an inner housing; an electronic display screen supported by the inner housing; a wireless communication subsystem supported by the inner housing configured to wirelessly communicate with a parking management system; an electronic meter control system controlling the electronic display and the wireless communications subsystem; a port configured to receive data directly from the pre-existing meter mechanism; wherein the new meter mechanism is configured such that the recipient of the new meter mechanism is permitted to directly transfer location ID information representative of the physical, geographic location of an outer meter housing from the pre-existing electronic meter mechanism to the new electronic meter mechanism; wherein the new meter mechanism is configured to transmit the location ID information wirelessly directly from the new meter mechanism to the parking management system. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification