System and method for providing information through a display of parking devices with the aid of a digital computer

• US 10,839,685 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2014
• Issued: 11/17/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Conduent Business Services, LLC (Conduent, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Conduent Business Services, LLC (Conduent, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stefik, Mark Jeffrey, Bell, Alan G., Eldershaw, Craig, Good, Lance E., Greene, Daniel H., Torres, Francisco Eduardo, Uckun, Serdar, Cummins, David Preston
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, George
• Application Number:
  US14/203,530
• Publication Number:
  US 20140195281A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,444 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/265 Personal security, identity or safety
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/00 Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00
• 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 17/0021 Access to services on a time-basis
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/246 provided with vehicle proximity-detectors detecting hidden masses, e.g. metal detectors, G01V, e.g. G01V3/00; proximity switches per se H03K17/00; traffic control systems G08G1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/12 Manually actuated calamity alarm transmitting arrangements emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm, activators, e.g. details of alarm push buttons mounted on an infrastructure
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/14 indicating individual free spaces in parking areas
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/142 external to the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/147 where the parking area is within an open public zone, e.g. city centre
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/148 Management of a network of parking areas
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A computer-implemented system and method for providing information through a display of parking devices is provided. A multiplicity of motor vehicle parking spaces is managed through a server. Smart parking devices, vehicle occupancy sensors, and parking availability indicators are associated with at least one of the parking spaces. Use of the parking spaces is managed through the server. The parking availability indicators associated with the parking spaces are activated. Occupancy of at least one of the parking spaces by a motor vehicle is sensed through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor and the location of the parking space is provided to the server. An identity of the driver of the motor vehicle is determined through the nearest smart parking device and the identity of the driver is provided to the server. Information associated with the identity of the driver is displayed on the smart parking device.

Claims

1. A method for providing information through a display of parking devices with the aid of a digital computer, comprising:

managing a multiplicity of motor vehicle parking spaces with a server, comprising;

remotely interfacing a plurality of smart parking devices with the server that are each physically proximate to at least one of the parking spaces;

remotely interfacing a plurality of vehicle occupancy sensors with the server that are also each physically proximate to at least one of the parking spaces; and

remotely interfacing a plurality of parking availability indicators with the server that are each associated with at least one of the parking spaces and comprise a color-coded indicator associated with a parking status for a parked vehicle and a parking status for that parking space when empty;

managing use of the parking spaces with the server, comprising;

based on instructions received from the server, remotely activating the parking availability indicators associated with the parking spaces and displaying for at least one of the parking spaces, one of the color-coded indicators based on a status of that parking space and whether a vehicle is parked in that parking space;

identifying a reservation associated with one of the parking spaces;

monitoring time to commencement of the reservation;

applying a time threshold to the monitored time;

when the monitored time satisfies the threshold, displaying a different color-coded indicator to represent a countdown of time to the reservation during which drivers can park in the parking space for a limited amount of time;

identifying a duration of time to the reservation that falls within a predetermined time period;

designating the duration of time as a blackout period prior to the reservation during which vehicles cannot park in the parking space when empty;

providing a different color-coded indicator representing the blackout period of no parking in the parking space prior to the reservation;

remotely sensing occupancy of at least one of the parking spaces by a motor vehicle through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor and providing the occupancy to the server; and

remotely determining an identity of a driver of the motor vehicle through the nearest smart parking device and providing the identity of the driver to the server; and

based on instructions received from the server, remotely displaying on the nearest smart parking device parking information based on whether the parking space is associated with a reservation, comprising;

displaying on the nearest smart parking device reservation information and a different color-coded indicator to indicate the reservation exists; and

displaying on the nearest parking device a notice preventing parking by the driver when a reservation exists for a different driver and the time countdown to the reservation has expired.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

based on instructions received from the server, remotely displaying on the nearest smart parking device at least one of public service announcements, advertisements, messages from the server, messages from a user that made a reservation for one or more of the parking spaces for other drivers;

a maximum amount of time allowed for the parking space, an amount time remaining before parking expires, and an amount of time remaining before an applicable time constraint is met.

3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising:

selecting for the displaying on the smart parking device advertisements from at least one of a promotion by a business physically located near the smart parking device on which the advertisement is being displayed and directions to the business.

4. A method according to claim 2, further comprising:

allowing the driver to interact with the displayed advertisements through the user interface of the nearest smart parking device; and

receiving at the server from the driver through the nearest smart parking device at least one of a reservation and a purchase based on the displayed advertisement.

5. A method according to claim 2, further comprising:

determining with the server an appropriate time for displaying each of the advertisements; and

providing to the nearest smart parking device one such advertisement for display on the nearest smart parking device at the determined appropriate time.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving through the user interface of the nearest smart parking device, a token from the driver that was provided by a local business;

verifying with the server conditions for parking associated with the token;

validating the driver'"'"'s parking through the nearest smart parking device and the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor based on the verified conditions; and

sending a bill through the server to a remotely-interfaced user device of the local business for at least a portion of a parking duration by the driver.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the token comprises one of a hardcopy document, barcode, and QR code.

8. A method according to claim 6, wherein the token is provided as a promotion or advertisement by the local business.

9. A method according to claim 6, further comprising:

requesting through the nearest smart parking device payment for any remaining portion of the parking duration not covered by the token.

10. A method according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of:

detecting the driver identity through the nearest smart parking device via at least one of an electronic bank card, driver'"'"'s license, parking identification card, and biometric input received from the driver;

detecting the driver identity through the nearest smart parking device by scanning the driver'"'"'s face or a license plate of the motor vehicle via a camera comprised in the nearest smart parking device; and

detecting the driver identity through the nearest smart parking device by retrieving a radio frequency identification tag on the motor vehicle.

11. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

accessing a parking account of the driver with the server using the driver identity;

applying any customized parking services listed in the parking account to the parking period and payment of the parking space.

12. A method for offering merchant business-friendly parking with the aid of a digital computer, comprising:

managing a multiplicity of motor vehicle parking spaces with a server, comprising;

remotely interfacing a plurality of smart parking devices with the server that are each physically proximate to at least one of the parking spaces;

remotely interfacing a plurality of vehicle occupancy sensors with the server that are also each physically proximate to at least one of the parking spaces; and

remotely interfacing a plurality of parking availability indicators with the server that are each associated with at least one of the parking spaces and comprise a color-coded indicator associated with a parking status for a parked vehicle and a parking status for that parking space when empty;

managing use of one of the parking spaces with the server, comprising;

based on instructions received from the server, remotely activating the parking availability indicator associated with the parking space and displaying for at least one of the parking spaces, one of the color-coded indicators based on a status of that parking space and whether a vehicle is parked in that parking space;

identifying a reservation associated with the parking space;

identifying a duration of time to the reservation that falls within a predetermined time period;

designating the duration of time as a blackout period prior to the reservation during which vehicles cannot park in the parking space when empty

providing a different color-coded indicator representing the blackout period of no parking in the parking space prior to the reservation;

remotely sensing occupancy of the parking space by a motor vehicle through the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor and providing the occupancy to the server;

initiating a check-in state based on the occupancy and displaying a different color-coded indicator to represent a predetermined time period associated with the check-in state, wherein the predetermined time period comprises a countdown for the check-in state;

determining an identity of the driver through the nearest smart parking device and providing the identity to the server;

accessing a parking account of the driver with the server using the driver identity;

applying any parking services customized for the driver and listed in the parking account to the parking period and payment of the parking space; and

displaying another one of the color-coded indicators to indicate a change in status from the check-in state to an occupied state of the parking space based on the occupancy by the motor vehicle.

13. A method according to claim 12, further comprising:

based on instructions received from the server, remotely displaying on the nearest smart parking device at least one of public service announcements, advertisements, messages from the server, messages from a user that made the reservation for one or more of the parking spaces for other drivers;

a maximum amount of time allowed for the parking space, an amount time remaining before the selected parking duration expires, and an amount of time remaining before an applicable time constraint is met.

14. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

selecting for the displaying on the smart parking device advertisements from at least one of a promotion by a business physically located near the smart parking device on which the advertisement is being displayed and directions to the business.

15. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

allowing the driver to interact with the displayed advertisements through the user interface of the nearest smart parking device; and

receiving at the server from the driver through the nearest smart parking device at least one of the reservation and a purchase based on the displayed advertisement.

16. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

determining with the server an appropriate time for displaying each of the advertisements; and

providing to the nearest smart parking device one such advertisement for display on the nearest smart parking device at the determined appropriate time.

17. A method according to claim 12, further comprising:

receiving through the user interface of the nearest smart parking device, a token from the driver that was provided by a local business;

verifying with the server conditions for parking associated with the token;

validating the driver'"'"'s parking through the nearest smart parking device and the nearest vehicle occupancy sensor based on the verified conditions; and

sending a bill through the server to a remotely-interfaced user device of the local business for at least a portion of a parking duration by the driver.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the token comprises one of a hardcopy document, barcode, and QR code.

19. A method according to claim 12, further comprising:

receiving identification information from the driver through the nearest smart parking device and providing the identification information to the server;

obtaining a parking history with the server for the driver using the identification information;

determining from the parking history with the server whether the driver has parked in a predetermined vicinity of the parking space within a predetermined time period; and

based on instructions received from the server, charging higher escalated rates through the nearest smart parking device when the driver parked in the vicinity during the predetermined time period.