Method, system and storage medium for monitoring parking meters

• US 20030222792A1
• Filed: 05/30/2002
• Published: 12/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Triton Industries Incorporated, Triton Security Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Triton Industries Incorporated, Triton Security Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Truckenbrodt, Arthur R., Berman, Larry
• Application Number:
  US10/158,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20030222792A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/932.2
• 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 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

A method for monitoring parking meters. The method comprises selecting a route. The route includes a parking meter identifier. An employee is selected to monitor the route. A meter RFID tag that is affixed to a parking meter that corresponds to the parking meter identifier is scanned, where the scanning is performed using a RFID reader that includes memory and the meter RFID tag includes a first unique serial number. The first unique serial number and a first date/time stamp are stored in the memory. An incident code is selected in response to determining that the parking meter needs repair. A status code is selected in response to selecting an incident code and to a current status of the parking meter. The contents of the memory are transmitted to a host system.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring parking meters, said method comprising:

selecting a route, wherein said route includes a parking meter identifier;

selecting an employee to monitor said route;

scanning a meter RFID tag affixed to a parking meter wherein;

said parking meter corresponds to said parking meter identifier;

said scanning a meter RFID is performed using a RFID reader;

said RFID reader includes memory; and

said meter RFID tag includes a first unique serial number;

storing said first unique serial number and a first date/time stamp in said memory in response to said scanning a meter RFID;

selecting an incident code in response to determining that said parking meter needs repair;

selecting a status code in response to said selecting an incident code and to a current status of said parking meter; and

transmitting the contents of said memory to a host system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said selecting a route includes:

scanning a route RFID tag affixed to an external menu, wherein said scanning a route RFID tag is performed using said RFID reader and wherein said route RFID tag includes a second unique serial number; and

storing said second unique serial number and a second date/time stamp in said memory in response to said scanning a route RFID tag.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said selecting a route includes:

selecting a route number from a computer screen on said RFID reader, wherein said route number is associated with a second unique serial number;

storing said second unique serial number and a second date/time stamp in said memory in response to said selecting a route number.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said selecting an employee to monitor said route includes:

scanning an employee RFID tag affixed to an external menu, wherein said scanning an employee RFID tag is performed using said RFID reader and wherein said employee RFID tag includes a second unique serial number; and

storing said second unique serial number and a second date/time stamp in said memory in response to said scanning an employee RFID tag.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said selecting an employee to monitor said route includes:

selecting an employee from a computer screen on said RFID reader, wherein said employee is associated with a second unique serial number;

storing said second unique serial number and a second date/time stamp in said memory in response to said selecting an employee.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said selecting an incident code includes:

scanning an incident RFID tag affixed to an external menu, wherein said scanning an incident RFID tag is performed using said RFID reader and wherein said incident RFID tag includes a second unique serial number; and

storing said second unique serial number and a second date/time stamp in said memory in response to said scanning an incident RFID tag.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said selecting an incident code includes:

selecting an incident from a computer screen on said RFID reader, wherein said incident is associated with a second unique serial number;

storing said second unique serial number and a second date/time stamp in said memory in response to said selecting an incident.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said selecting a status code includes:

scanning a status code RFID tag affixed to an external menu, wherein said scanning a status code RFID tag is performed using said RFID reader and wherein said status code RFID tag includes a second unique serial number; and

storing said second unique serial number and a second date/time stamp in said memory in response to said scanning a status code RFID tag.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said selecting a status code includes:

selecting a status code from a computer screen on said RFID reader, wherein said status code is associated with a second unique serial number;

storing said second unique serial number and a second date/time stamp in said memory in response to said selecting a status code.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving the contents of said memory at said host system;

storing the contents of said memory in a database in response to said receiving.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

displaying reporting options;

receiving a user selection corresponding to said reporting options;

creating a report in response to said user selection and to said database; and

displaying said report.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising printing said report.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising transmitting said report.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said reporting options include:

a general report;

a missed meters report;

a repairs by route report;

a repairs by meter report; and

a meters seen by employee report.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

displaying maintenance monitoring options;

receiving a user selection corresponding to said maintenance monitoring options; and

performing an activity associated with said user selection in response to receiving said user selection.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said maintenance monitoring options include file options, system options, editors options, reports options and help options.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said file options include import, view log, printer set-up, disable communication, exit supervisory mode and exit.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said system options include serial port set-up, DCD set-up, preferences, set supervisory password and purge old downloads.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein said editors options include edit meters, edit routes, edit incidents, edit employees and edit serial numbers.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein said reports options include a general report, a missed meters report, a repairs by route report, a repairs by meter report and a meters seen by employee report.

21. A method for monitoring parking meters, said method comprising:

displaying maintenance monitoring options;

receiving a user selection corresponding to said maintenance monitoring options; and

performing an activity associated with said user selection in response to receiving said user selection.

22. A system for monitoring parking meters, said system comprising:

a meter RFID tag affixed to a parking meter wherein said meter RFID tag includes a unique serial number;

a RFID reader for scanning said meter RFID tag, wherein said RFID reader includes memory for storing said unique serial number in response to said scanning and a date/time stamp associated with said scanning; and

a communication link for transmitting the contents of said memory to a host system.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein said RFID reader includes a PDA and a PDA adaptor.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein said PDA includes said memory.

25. The system of claim 22 wherein said communication link is a direct connection through a serial port.

26. The system of claim 22 wherein said communication link is a network.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein said network is an intranet.

28. The system of claim 26 wherein said network is a LAN.

29. The system of claim 26 wherein said network is the Internet.

30. The system of claim 22 further comprising:

a host system for receiving the contents of said memory, wherein said host system includes a maintenance monitoring application;

a storage device in communication with said host system, wherein said data storage device stores the contents of said memory in response to said receiving; and

a user system in communication with said host system, wherein said user system includes a user interface to said maintenance monitoring system application and wherein said maintenance monitoring application implements the method comprising;

displaying maintenance monitoring options;

receiving a user selection corresponding to said maintenance monitoring options; and

performing an activity associated with said user selection in response to receiving said user selection and to a database located on said storage device.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein said maintenance monitoring application includes instructions to implement a method further comprising:

receiving the contents of said memory; and

storing the contents of said memory in said database.

32. The system of claim 30 wherein said host system is a PC.

33. The system of claim 30 wherein said host system is a PDA.

34. The system of claim 30 wherein said database is a relational database.

35. The system of claim 30 wherein said user system is a host attached terminal.

36. The system of claim 30 wherein said user system is a PDA.

37. The system of claim 30 wherein said storage device is in communication with said host system via a network.

38. The system of claim 37 wherein said network is the Internet.

39. The system of claim 30 wherein said user system is in communication with said host system via a network.

40. The system of claim 39 wherein said network is the Internet.

41. A storage medium encoded with machine-readable computer program code for monitoring parking meters, the storage medium including instructions for causing a computer to implement a method comprising:

displaying maintenance monitoring options;

receiving a user selection corresponding to said maintenance monitoring options; and

performing an activity associated with said user selection in response to receiving said user selection and to a database.

42. The storage medium of claim 41 further comprising instructions for causing a computer to implement:

receiving a file, wherein said file includes a unique serial number and a corresponding date/time stamp; and

storing said file in said database.