Parking meter system
First Claim
1. A parking meter, comprising:
- a weather resistant housing, the housing having a first side and a second side;
a processor disposed inside of the housinga memory disposed inside of the housing and coupled to the processor;
a network interface disposed in the housing and coupled to the processor;
a graphical user interface disposed in the housing and facing outward from the first side of the housing;
a first camera disposed in the housing and facing outward from the first side of the housing, the first camera coupled to the processor;
a microphone disposed in the housing;
a speaker disposed in the housing;
a second camera disposed in the housing and facing outward from the second side of the housing towards a first parking space, the second camera coupled to the processor;
a first status light disposed on the housing and coupled to the processor; and
a payment acceptor disposed in the housing,wherein the processor is configured to;
detect a vehicle'"'"'s presence in the first parking space;
capture an identification of the vehicle in the first parking space;
transmit the identification to a remote computer system via the network interface;
time an initial grace period;
receive payment for a parking time period;
determine that a parking violation has occurred due to at least one of the initial grace period expiring without receiving payment for the parking time period and the parking time period expiring without the vehicle exiting the first parking space;
actuate the status light to provide a visual indication that a violation has occurred;
transmit notice of the parking violation to the remote computer system via the network interface, the notice including the vehicle'"'"'s identification and a time of the violation;
accept payment of a fine for the parking violation via the payment acceptor;
transmit notice of payment of the fine to the remote computer system via the network interface;
transmit a time of the vehicle'"'"'s exit from the first parking space to the remote computer system via the network interface; and
reset the parking time period to zero upon the vehicle'"'"'s exit from the first parking space; and
receive updated parking rate parameters from the remote computer system via the network interface.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A parking meter includes a housing, processor, memory, network interface, graphical user interface, first camera disposed in the housing and facing outward from the first side of the housing, microphone, speaker, second camera disposed in the housing and facing outward from the housing towards a parking space, a status light, and a payment acceptor. The meter is configured to sense a vehicle'"'"'s presence in the parking space, capture an identification of the vehicle, transmit the identification to a remote networked computer system, determine that a parking violation has occurred, transmit the notice to the remote computer system, accept payment of fines, transmit notice of fine payment to the remote computer system, transmit a time of the vehicle'"'"'s exit from the first parking space to the remote computer system via the network interface, and reset the parking time period to zero upon the vehicle'"'"'s exit from the parking space.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A parking meter, comprising:
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a weather resistant housing, the housing having a first side and a second side; a processor disposed inside of the housing a memory disposed inside of the housing and coupled to the processor; a network interface disposed in the housing and coupled to the processor; a graphical user interface disposed in the housing and facing outward from the first side of the housing; a first camera disposed in the housing and facing outward from the first side of the housing, the first camera coupled to the processor; a microphone disposed in the housing; a speaker disposed in the housing; a second camera disposed in the housing and facing outward from the second side of the housing towards a first parking space, the second camera coupled to the processor; a first status light disposed on the housing and coupled to the processor; and a payment acceptor disposed in the housing, wherein the processor is configured to; detect a vehicle'"'"'s presence in the first parking space; capture an identification of the vehicle in the first parking space; transmit the identification to a remote computer system via the network interface; time an initial grace period; receive payment for a parking time period; determine that a parking violation has occurred due to at least one of the initial grace period expiring without receiving payment for the parking time period and the parking time period expiring without the vehicle exiting the first parking space; actuate the status light to provide a visual indication that a violation has occurred; transmit notice of the parking violation to the remote computer system via the network interface, the notice including the vehicle'"'"'s identification and a time of the violation; accept payment of a fine for the parking violation via the payment acceptor; transmit notice of payment of the fine to the remote computer system via the network interface; transmit a time of the vehicle'"'"'s exit from the first parking space to the remote computer system via the network interface; and reset the parking time period to zero upon the vehicle'"'"'s exit from the first parking space; and receive updated parking rate parameters from the remote computer system via the network interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of monitoring and managing parking via a parking meter comprising:
- a housing;
a processor disposed inside of the housing;
a memory disposed inside of the housing and coupled to the processor;
a graphical user interface coupled to the processor; and
a network interface disposed in the housing and coupled to the processor, the method comprising;sensing a vehicle'"'"'s presence in a first parking space; determining by the processor an identification of the vehicle via a camera; communicating via the network interface the identification of the vehicle to a remote networked computer system; determining by the processor that a parking violation has occurred due to at least one of an initial grace period expiring without receiving a payment and a parking time period expiring without the vehicle exiting the first parking space prior the parking period expiring; communicating notice of the parking violation to the remote networked computer system; displaying on the graphical user interface of the meter that a violation has occurred, the amount of fine due, and a discount fine amount if the fine is paid before the vehicle departs the first parking space; communicating status of payment of the fine to the remote computer system via the network interface; transmitting a time of the vehicle'"'"'s exit from the first parking space to the remote computer system via the network interface; resetting the parking time period to zero upon the vehicle'"'"'s exit from the first parking space; and receiving updated parking rate parameters by the processor from the remote computer system via the network interface. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
- a housing;
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22. A method of managing parking via a parking meter comprising:
- a housing;
a processor disposed inside of the housing;
a memory disposed inside of the housing and coupled to the processor, and a graphical user interface coupled to the processor, the method comprising;receiving a selection of a parking time quantity by a user by the user providing an input to the meter; calculating a total parking fee in response to a selected amount of parking time, wherein the total parking fee comprises a first parking rate for a first portion of the selected amount of time and a second parking rate for a second portion of the selected amount of parking time, the second parking rate being different than the first parking rate; displaying the first parking rate and a first subtotal fee portion for the first portion of the selected amount of time on the graphical user interface; displaying the second parking rate and a second subtotal fee portion for the second amount of time on the graphical user interface; and display the total parking fee on the graphical user interface. - View Dependent Claims (23)
- a housing;
Specification