Parkulator photo parking

• US 6,243,029 B1
• Filed: 07/20/2000
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Natan Tomer
• Original Assignee: Natan Tomer
• Inventors: Tomer, Natan
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US09/620,425
• Time in Patent Office: 320 Days
• Field of Search: 340/932.2, 340/933, 340/937, 340/5.1, 340/5.4, 340/5.42, 340/5.63, 368/90, 235/378, 235/380
• 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: G08G 1/207 with respect to certain areas, e.g. forbidden or allowed areas with possible alerting when inside or outside boundaries

Abstract

The invention is a method of monitoring and assessing a fee for parking a vehicle in a toll parking location where the user pays only for the actual parking time used. The invention includes providing indicia for a toll parking location and unique indicia for a vehicle to be positioned in that parking location. The user notifies a remote central control unit the location indicia, the vehicle unique indicia, and the start time of parking the vehicle in the location. Later, the user notifies the remote central control unit of the vehicle unique indicia, and the finish time of parking the vehicle in the location. The remote central control unit then assesses a fee to the user for the duration of time the vehicle occupied the parking location. A method of monitoring parked vehicles to assure compliance with toll parking regulations is also disclosed. A camera device having optical character recognition capabilities photographs vehicle indicia, plus transmits data to and receives data from the remote central control unit to ensure vehicle compliance with regulations. A ticket is issued to those vehicles violating the parking regulations. The camera device also makes a pictorial record of the violation.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring and assessing a fee for real time parking a vehicle in a toll parking location comprising the steps;

(a) providing indicia for the toll parking location and unique indicia for a vehicle to be positioned in the parking location;

(b) notifying a remote central control unit by the user, the location indicia, the vehicle unique indicia, and the start time of parking the vehicle in the parking location;

(c) notifying a remote central control unit by the user, the vehicle unique indicia, and the finish time of parking the vehicle in the parking location; and

(d) assessing, by the remote central control unit, a fee to the user for the duration of time the vehicle occupied the parking location.

2. A method of monitoring and assessing a fee for real time parking a vehicle in a toll parking location according to claim 1 further comprising the step;

(e) assessing, by the remote central control unit, an additional fee to the user for exceeding a selected parking time duration for the vehicle in the parking location.

3. A method of monitoring and assessing a fee for real time parking a vehicle in a toll parking location according to claim 1 further comprising the steps;

(f) imaging the unique indicia of the vehicle parked in the toll parking location with a camera device having optical character recognition capabilities;

(g) transmitting to the remote central control unit, by the imaging device, the data for the unique indicia of the vehicle parked in the toll parking location; and

(h) receiving from the remote central control unit by the imaging device, confirmatory data on the vehicle parked in the toll parking location.

4. A method of monitoring and assessing a fee for real time parking a vehicle in a toll parking location according to claim 3 further comprising the step;

(i) producing a pictorial record of the vehicle in violation of the toll parking location requirements.

5. A method of monitoring and assessing a fee for real time parking a vehicle in a toll parking location according to claim 3 further comprising the step;

(j) printing a warning ticket document assessing a fine on the vehicle in violation of the toll parking location requirements.

6. A method of monitoring and assessing a fee for real time parking a vehicle in a toll parking location according to claim 1 wherein providing unique indicia for the vehicle includes providing a registration sticker for display on the vehicle.

7. A method of monitoring and assessing a fee for real time parking a vehicle in a toll parking location according to claim 1 wherein notifying a remote central control unit by the user includes at least one of:

contacting the remote central control unit via telephone, cellular phone, WAP and the Internet.

8. A method of monitoring and assessing a fee for real time parking a vehicle in a toll parking location according to claim 1 wherein notifying a remote central control unit by the user includes activating/deactivating a cellular parking validation device contained within the vehicle.

9. A method of monitoring and assessing a fee for real time parking a vehicle in a toll parking location according to claim 8 wherein notifying a remote central control unit by the user includes activating/deactivating a cellular parking validation device having a global positioning system (GPS) therein, the device contained within the vehicle.

10. A method of monitoring and assessing a fee for real time parking a vehicle in a toll parking location according to claim 1 wherein assessing a fee to the user for the duration of time the vehicle occupied the parking location includes determining a parking duration from a parking start time and stop time, applying a cost per unit time for parking duration, and determining a parking fee for the user by the remote central control unit.

11. A method of monitoring and assessing a fee for real time parking a vehicle in a toll parking location comprising the steps;

(a) providing indicia for the toll parking location and unique indicia for a vehicle to be positioned in the parking location;

(b) notifying a remote central control unit by the user, the location indicia, the vehicle unique indicia, and the start time of parking the vehicle in the parking location;

(c) notifying a remote central control unit by the user, the vehicle unique indicia, and the finish time of parking the vehicle in the parking location;

(d) assessing, by the remote central control unit, a fee to the user for the duration of time the vehicle occupied the parking location;

(e) assessing, by the remote central control unit, an additional fee to the user for exceeding a selected parking time duration for the vehicle in the parking location;

(f) imaging the unique indicia of the vehicle parked in the toll parking location with a camera device having optical character recognition capabilities;

(g) transmitting to the remote central control unit, by the imaging device, the data for the unique indicia of the vehicle parked in the toll parking location; and

(h) receiving from the remote central control unit by the imaging device, confirmatory data on the vehicle parked in the toll parking location.

12. A method of monitoring and assessing a fee for real time parking a vehicle in a toll parking location according to claim 11 further comprising the step;

(i) producing a pictorial record of the vehicle in violation of the toll parking location requirements.

13. A method of monitoring and assessing a fee for real time parking a vehicle in a toll parking location according to claim 11 further comprising the step;

(j) printing a warning ticket document assessing a fine on the vehicle in violation of the toll parking location requirements.

14. A method of monitoring and assessing a fee for real time parking a vehicle in a toll parking location according to claim 11 wherein providing unique indicia for the vehicle includes providing a registration sticker for display on the vehicle.

15. A method of monitoring and assessing a fee for real time parking a vehicle in a toll parking location according to claim 11 wherein notifying a remote central control unit by the user includes at least one of:

contacting the remote central control unit via telephone, cellular phone, WAP and the Internet.

16. A method of monitoring and assessing a fee for real time parking a vehicle in a toll parking location according to claim 11 wherein notifying a remote central control unit by the user includes activating/deactivating a cellular parking validation device contained within the vehicle.

17. A method of monitoring and assessing a fee for real time parking a vehicle in a toll parking location according to claim 16 wherein notifying a remote central control unit by the user includes activating/deactivating a cellular parking validation device having a global positioning system (GPS) therein, the device contained within the vehicle.

18. A method of monitoring and assessing a fee for real time parking a vehicle in a toll parking location according to claim 11 wherein transmitting the data for the unique indicia of the vehicle includes transmitting a full image of the unique indicia to the remote central control unit.

19. A method of monitoring and assessing a fee for real time parking a vehicle in a toll parking location according to claim 11 wherein assessing a fee to the user for the duration of time the vehicle occupied the parking location includes determining a parking duration from a parking start time and stop time, applying a cost per unit time for parking duration, and determining a parking fee for the user by the remote central control unit.