Manless parking control system and method

• US 20040039632A1
• Filed: 04/18/2003
• Published: 02/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Myoung-Kook Han
• Original Assignee: Myoung-Kook Han
• Inventors: Kim, Duk-Soo, Han, Myoung-Kook
• Application Number:
  US10/399,475
• Publication Number:
  US 20040039632A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• 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 17/246 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: G08G 1/14 indicating individual free spaces in parking areas
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/168 Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space

Abstract

A manless parking control system and method is capable of automatically recognizing the arrival and leaving of a vehicle in a predetermined parking area and then automatically charging hourly parking fees to the vehicle driver, through the use of image recognition and wireless communication techniques. The manless parking control system include a camera for taking picture of a predetermined parking area to recognize the arrival and leaving of a vehicle and then for transmitting signals indicative of the result of recognition, a driver-operated wireless settlement terminal for transmitting signals indicative of the identification number of the parking area occupied by the vehicle and a driver'"'"'s personal settlement information, and a parking control server for receiving the signals from the camera and the wireless settlement terminal to calculate and charge parking fees to the driver of the vehicle which has used the predetermined paring area.

Claims

1. A manless parking control system for controlling a parking lot including parking areas, each of which is provided with a serial parking area number, the parking control system comprising:

a camera for taking picture of each of the parking areas, detecting entry and exit of a vehicle in and from each of the parking areas through an image recognition for photographed image data, and transmitting a detection signal corresponding to the entry and exit of a vehicle together with the serial parking number;

a wireless settlement terminal disposed at a predetermined location in the parking lot for transmitting credit card information and a membership identification code, together with the parking area number inputted by a driver of the vehicle; and

a parking control server for storing membership identification codes and settlement information of a plurality of members of the parking lot, receiving the detection signal and the parking area number to record existence or absence of a vehicle in each of the parking areas, and charging a parking fee based on one of the credit card information and the settlement information corresponding to the membership identification code received from the wireless settlement terminal.

2. A manless parking control system as recited in claim 1, wherein the camera comprises:

a photographing module for continuously or periodically taking a picture of each of the parking areas;

an image recognition module containing an image recognition algorithm adapted to recognize the vehicle from the photographed image data and then generate the detection signal;

a communication module capable of transmitting and receiving data;

an image compression module for compressing the image data through a predetermined compression process; and

a main processor unit for controlling the communication module to transmit the detection signal, and, when the image recognition module fails to recognize the vehicle, controlling the image compression module to compress the photographed image data and controlling the communication module to transmit compressed image data.

3. A manless parking control system as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless settlement terminal comprises:

an operating section, by which the driver can input the parking area number and the member identification code;

a card reader module for reading the credit card information; and

a wireless communication module for transmitting one of the read credit card information and the membership identification code together with the parking area number inputted through the operating section.

4. A manless parking control system as recited in claim 1, wherein, when the credit card information and the membership identification code are not received from the wireless settlement terminal within a predetermined time period after a parking is made, the parking control server is adapted to determine that the vehicle is parked without permission and then inform a parking manager of the unauthorized parking together with the number of the parking area in which the vehicle is parked without permission.

5. A manless parking control system for controlling a parking lot including parking areas, each of which is provided with a serial parking area number, the parking control system comprising:

a camera for taking picture of each of the parking areas, detecting entry and exit of a vehicle in and from each of the parking areas through an image recognition for photographed image data, and transmitting a detection signal corresponding to the entry and exit of a vehicle together with the serial parking number;

a driver terminal for wirelessly transmitting the parking area number inputted through a phone connection by a driver of the vehicle; and

a parking control server for storing membership information including mobile phone numbers and settlement information of a plurality of members of the parking lot, receiving the detection signal and the parking area number to record existence or absence of a vehicle in each of the parking areas, and, when the driver terminal is connected and the parking area number is received, tracing a caller'"'"'s phone number for the driver terminal and searching for the membership information corresponding to the caller'"'"'s phone number so as to charge a parking fee.

6. A manless parking control method by use of a manless parking control system including a camera containing an image recognition module capable of recognizing a vehicle from photographed image data, a wireless settlement terminal capable of inputting a parking area number and a membership identification code, reading credit card information, and transmitting credit card information and the membership identification code, together with the parking area number inputted, and a parking control server for storing membership information containing membership identification codes and settlement information of a plurality of members of a parking lot, determining whether a vehicle exists in each parking area, and charging a parking fee, the manless parking control method comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting entry and exit of the vehicle in and from each parking area by the camera, and transmitting a vehicle entry and exit detection signal together with a parking area number for the parking area;

(b) when a parking detection signal for a new vehicle together with the corresponding parking area number is received from the camera, recording the parking area number and a parking start time;

(c) receiving and recording one of the credit card information and the membership identification code together with the parking area number inputted by the driver from the wireless settlement terminal, and, when one of the credit card information and the membership identification code for a parking area in which the vehicle is parked is not received from the wireless settlement terminal within a predetermined time period, informing a parking manager of the unauthorized parking together with the parking area number; and

(d) when a vehicle exit detection signal for a parked vehicle together with the corresponding parking area number is received from the camera, estimating a total parking time from the recorded parking start time to the time of receiving the vehicle exit detection signal, calculating the parking fee corresponding to the total parking time, and charging the parking fee based on one of the credit card information and the settlement information corresponding to the membership identification code.

7. A manless parking control method by use of a manless parking control system including a camera containing an image recognition module capable of recognizing a vehicle from photographed image data, and a parking control server for storing membership information containing mobile phone numbers and settlement information of a plurality of members of a parking lot, determining whether a vehicle exists in each parking area, and charging a parking fee, the manless parking control method comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting entry and exit of the vehicle in and from each parking area by the camera, and transmitting a vehicle entry and exit detection signal together with a parking area number for the parking area;

(b) when a parking detection signal for a new vehicle together with the corresponding parking area number is received from the camera, recording the parking area number and a parking start time;

(c) when a mobile communication terminal of a driver of the vehicle is connected and the parking area number is received, tracing a caller'"'"'s phone number for the mobile communication terminal and searching for the member information corresponding to the caller'"'"'s phone number, so as to charge the parking fee, and, when the parking area number is not received from the mobile communication terminal within a predetermined time period, informing a parking manager of the unauthorized parking together with the number of the parking area in which the vehicle is parked without permission; and

(d) when a vehicle exit detection signal for a parked vehicle together with the corresponding parking area number is received from the camera, estimating a total parking time from the recorded parking start time up to the time of receiving the vehicle exit detection signal, calculating the parking fee corresponding to the total parking time, and charging the parking fee based on the settlement information contained in the membership information.