Computer-implemented system and method for offering merchant and shopper-friendly parking reservations through tourist privileges
First Claim
1. A method for offering merchant and shopper-friendly parking reservations through tourist privileges with the aid of a digital computer, comprising:
- managing a multiplicity of motor vehicle parking spaces located in a tourist area of an urban environment through a server, comprising;
remotely interfacing a plurality of smart parking devices with the server that are each physically proximate to least one of the parking spaces; and
remotely interfacing a plurality of vehicle occupancy sensors with the server that are also each physically proximate to least one of the parking spaces;
remotely interfacing with the server parking indicators, each associated with one of the parking spaces and comprising color-coded indicators, wherein each color-coded indicator is associated with a status of one such parking space; and
authorizing with the server use of the parking spaces by visitors to the tourist area of the urban environment, comprising;
registering a multiplicity of tourist parking identification cards in a parking account stored on the server for an agency authorized to provide tourist parking privileges for a multiplicity of tourist parking spaces located in a tourist area of an urban environment, wherein the tourist parking identification cards are issued to one or more of visitors to the tourist area; and
pairing each tourist parking identification card with a digital ticket comprising parking authorization in the tourist parking spaces that is electronically issued by the server to the agency;
activating the tourist parking identification cards upon receipt of the digital ticket; and
managing the use of the parking spaces, comprising;
remotely sensing occupancy of one of the parking spaces by a motor vehicle through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor and providing the occupancy to the server;
receiving from a driver associated with the motor vehicle one of the tourist parking identification cards issued to one of the visitors via one of the smart parking devices;
authenticating the received tourist parking identification card and the digital ticket associated with the tourist parking identification card;
directing fees for the occupied parking space to the agency; and
displaying one of the color indicators associated with an unavailable status via the parking indicator for the occupied parking space.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A computer-implemented system and method for offering merchant and shopper-friendly parking reservations through tourist privileges is provided. Motor vehicle parking spaces located in a tourist area of an urban environment are managed through a server. Smart parking devices and vehicle occupancy sensors are each proximate to at least one of the parking spaces. Tourist parking identification cards are issued to an agency authorized to provide tourist parking privileges, which are then provided to the visitors. The parking identification cards are activated by pairing each identification card with a digital ticket issued to the agency. The parking spaces are managed by sensing occupancy of one of the parking spaces by a motor vehicle through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor and by determining an identity of the driver of the motor vehicle through the nearest smart parking device.
166 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for offering merchant and shopper-friendly parking reservations through tourist privileges with the aid of a digital computer, comprising:
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managing a multiplicity of motor vehicle parking spaces located in a tourist area of an urban environment through a server, comprising; remotely interfacing a plurality of smart parking devices with the server that are each physically proximate to least one of the parking spaces; and remotely interfacing a plurality of vehicle occupancy sensors with the server that are also each physically proximate to least one of the parking spaces; remotely interfacing with the server parking indicators, each associated with one of the parking spaces and comprising color-coded indicators, wherein each color-coded indicator is associated with a status of one such parking space; and authorizing with the server use of the parking spaces by visitors to the tourist area of the urban environment, comprising; registering a multiplicity of tourist parking identification cards in a parking account stored on the server for an agency authorized to provide tourist parking privileges for a multiplicity of tourist parking spaces located in a tourist area of an urban environment, wherein the tourist parking identification cards are issued to one or more of visitors to the tourist area; and pairing each tourist parking identification card with a digital ticket comprising parking authorization in the tourist parking spaces that is electronically issued by the server to the agency; activating the tourist parking identification cards upon receipt of the digital ticket; and managing the use of the parking spaces, comprising; remotely sensing occupancy of one of the parking spaces by a motor vehicle through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor and providing the occupancy to the server; receiving from a driver associated with the motor vehicle one of the tourist parking identification cards issued to one of the visitors via one of the smart parking devices; authenticating the received tourist parking identification card and the digital ticket associated with the tourist parking identification card; directing fees for the occupied parking space to the agency; and displaying one of the color indicators associated with an unavailable status via the parking indicator for the occupied parking space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for offering merchant and shopper-friendly parking reservations through tourist privileges with the aid of a digital computer, comprising:
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a non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising program code; and a computer processor and memory on a server with the computer processor coupled to the storage medium, wherein the computer processor is configured to execute the program code to perform steps to; register a multiplicity of tourist parking identification cards in a parking account stored on the server for an agency authorized to provide tourist parking privileges for a multiplicity of tourist parking spaces located in a tourist area of an urban environment, wherein the tourist parking identification cards are issued to one or more of visitors to the tourist area; pair each tourist parking identification card with a digital ticket comprising parking authorization in the tourist parking spaces that is electronically issued by the server to the agency; activate with the server the tourist parking identification cards; a plurality of vehicle occupancy sensors configured to remotely interface with the server and that are each physically proximate to least one of the tourist parking spaces, at least one of the vehicle occupancy sensors remotely sensing occupancy of one of the tourist parking spaces by a motor vehicle and providing the occupancy to the server; and a plurality of smart parking devices configured to remotely interface with the server and that are each physically proximate to least one of the tourist parking spaces, one of the smart parking devices nearest to the occupied tourist parking space receiving from a driver associated with the motor vehicle one of the tourist parking identification cards issued to one of the visitors, authenticating the received tourist parking identification card and the digital ticket associated with the tourist parking identification card, and directing fees for the tourist parking space to the agency; and parking indicators, each associated with one of the tourist parking spaces and comprising color-coded indicators, wherein each color-coded indicator is associated with a status of one such tourist parking space and one of the color indicators for the tourist parking space is displayed to provide an unavailable status for the tourist parking space. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification