TIME MONITORING SYSTEM

• US 20090138344A1
• Filed: 02/03/2009
• Published: 05/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hamilton, Rick Allen II, Dawson, Christopher James, Fellenstein, Craig William, Di Luoffo, Vincenzo Valentino
• Application Number:
  US12/364,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20090138344A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0284 Time or distance, e.g. usage of parking meters or taximeters
• 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

Abstract

A system, a method, and a service that monitors the time a space is occupied. The time period for occupation of the space may be prepaid or the fees may accumulate while the space is occupied. The system detects when an occupant enters the space and starts a timer. The system further provides a user interface whereby a user may prepay for an allotted period of time or may accumulate time in the space and then be billed later. Identifying information about the occupant may be acquired by an imaging device. The imaging device may further poll the space to determine if and when the occupant departs from the space. Identifying information may also be acquired through a user interface in which a user may enter identifying information, such as a credit card, a license number, a VIN, a driver'"'"'s license, etc. The fact that the space has been occupied, the identifying information, and any prepaid amounts are transmitted via a communication device to a control station. The control station may monitor events in the space such that when an occupant departs the space, the timer is reset. Alternatively, the control station may issue fees for use of the space, may issue penalties or even call for removal of the occupant from the space if occupation of the space exceeds the amount of time purchased or poses an abuse of the privilege of using the space.

Claims

1-8. -8. (canceled)

9. A one-way communications method of monitoring a parking space proximate to a parking meter allocated to the parking space and determining payment for occupation of the parking space comprising the steps of:

automatically detecting that the parking space has become occupied by an occupying vehicle;

automatically starting a timer comprising a component of a space monitoring system operationally connected to the parking meter and proximate to the parking space;

obtaining identifying information from the occupying vehicle using an imaging device having substantially the parking space within its field of view, the imaging device comprising an operational component of the space monitoring system;

time-stamping the identifying information from the space monitoring system with the initial time of occupation;

transmitting the initial time-stamped identifying information to a control station;

monitoring the parking space using the imaging device to determine if the parking space remains occupied by the same occupying vehicle;

updating the time-stamped identifying information;

when the occupying vehicle leaves the parking space, transmitting the departure time-stamped identifying information to a control station;

resetting the timer;

determining if a fee will be charged based on the duration of time from the initial time-stamped identifying information to the departure time-stamped identifying information; and

if the occupying vehicle remains in the parking space, transmitting the updated time-stamped identifying information and determining what action will be taken for extended occupation of the parking space.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

transmitting the identifying information and a location of the parking space to a service company;

requesting that the service company remove the occupying vehicle from the parking space.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

transmitting the identifying information and a location of the parking space to a service company;

requesting that the service company prevent the occupying vehicle from leaving the parking space until a fee has been paid.

12-16. -16. (canceled)