Parking status control system and method

• US 6,344,806 B1
• Filed: 02/15/2001
• Issued: 02/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yoram Katz
• Original Assignee: Yoram Katz
• Inventors: Katz, Yoram
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US09/784,519
• Time in Patent Office: 355 Days
• Field of Search: 340/932.2, 340/933, 340/928, 340/938, 340/870.2, 340/870.07, 340/988, 340/991, 340/992, 340/994, 340/904, 705/13, 235/384
• 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 1/14 indicating individual free spaces in parking areas

Abstract

A parking status control system and method allow a parking space, or plurality of parking spaces, to be automatically monitored to detect unauthorized occupancy. The system and method may be applied to metered parking spaces or to other situations where controlled access to a parking space or area is desired. The presence or lack of a vehicle in a monitored parking space is determined using a vehicle presence detector, which communicates a signal indicative of such presence to a central system. A user or vehicle based authorization module is configured to transmit an authorization input to facilitate automated satisfaction of a space authorization device, e.g., payment of a parking meter. If there is occupancy, but no proper authorization input, the central system declares a violation and communicates the violation to another system or individual charged with taking corrective action.

Claims

1. An automated parking space monitoring system configured to monitor a plurality of parking spaces, said monitoring system comprising:

A. a database comprising a unique space identification associated with each of said parking spaces;

B. a plurality of vehicle presence detectors, wherein each vehicle presence detector is configured to provide an indication of the presence of a vehicle in an associated one of said parking spaces;

C. one or more portable remote transceivers configured to generate an authorization signal as a function of a set of valid inputs;

D. a plurality of transponders, wherein each transponder is associated with one or more of said parking spaces and is configured to receive;

(1) vehicle presence indications from a corresponding set of vehicle presence detectors; and

(2) authorization signals from said portable transceivers; and

E. a controller coupled to said database and said transponders, said controller configured to selectively authorize use of an occupied space, from said plurality of parking spaces, as function of;

(1) a space identification corresponding to said occupied space;

(2) a vehicle presence indication associated with said occupied space; and

(3) an authorization signal associated with said occupied space.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein said vehicle presence detector is configured to generate a signal indicative of said parking space being vacant and to cease generation of said signal in response to said presence of said vehicle in said parking space, wherein said space occupied indication is the absence of said signal.

3. A system as in claim 1, wherein said authorization signal includes a transceiver ID.

4. A system as in claim 1, wherein said set of valid inputs includes account information used to pay parking fees.

5. A system as in claim 4, wherein said portable transceiver includes:

a) a debit/credit card reader, wherein said portable transceiver is configured to transmit corresponding credit/debit card information to said controller to facilitate payment of parking fees using said debit/credit card reader.

6. A system as in claim 1, wherein and said set of valid inputs includes a PIN, and said portable transceiver includes:

a) a user input mechanism, configured to facilitate entry of said PIN.

7. A system as in claim 1, wherein said authorization signal includes an indication that a user of said transceiver is affiliated with a group of authorized users, wherein said group of authorized users is chosen from a group comprising:

a) police, fire, or medical personnel;

b) government personnel;

c) monthly pass holders;

d) VIPs; and

e) club members.

8. A system as in claim 1, further comprising:

F. a meter device, located proximate to said parking space and including a meter transceiver configured to communicate with a corresponding one or more of said transponders, wherein said meter device is configured to accept one or more of set of valid inputs.

9. A system as in claim 8, wherein said meter device is configured to accept currency and said set of valid inputs includes currency inputs.

12. A system as in claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to generate a violation signal as a function of said vehicle presence indication and the absence of said authorization signal.

15. A system as in claim 1, wherein said portable transceiver is configured to store parking credits, wherein said authorization signal includes indicia of parking credits and said controller is configured to apply said parking credits to pay fees associated with said occupied parking space.

16. A system as in claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to cease authorization to use said occupied space in response to absence of said vehicle presence indication.

17. A system as in claim 1, wherein said parking space is a space chosen from a group comprising:

a) publicly metered spaces;

b) assigned parking garage spaces; and

c) unassigned parking garage spaces.

10. An automated parking space monitoring system configured to monitor a plurality of parking spaces, said monitoring system comprising:

A. a database comprising a unique space identification associated with each of said parking spaces;

B. a plurality of vehicle presence detectors, wherein each vehicle presence detector is configured to provide an indication of the presence of a vehicle in an associated one of said parking spaces, wherein said vehicle presence detector is an in-ground detector, located proximate to or within said parking space;

C. one or more portable transceivers configured to generate an authorization signal as a function of a set of valid inputs;

D. a plurality of transponders, wherein each transponder is associated with one or more of said parking spaces and is configured to receive;

(1) vehicle presence indications from a corresponding set of vehicle presence detectors; and

(2) authorization signals from said portable transceivers; and

E. a controller coupled to said database and said transponders, said controller configured to selectively authorize use of an occupied space, from said plurality of parking spaces, as function of;

(1) a space identification corresponding to said occupied space;

(2) a vehicle presence indication associated with said occupied space; and

(3) an authorization signal associated with said occupied space.

11. A system as in claim 10, wherein said vehicle presence detector senses the presence of a vehicle in said parking space using a sensing technique from a group of techniques comprising:

a) magnetic sensing;

b) infrared sensing;

c) motion detection sensing;

d) pressure sensing;

e) audio sensing; and

f) video sensing.

13. An automated parking space monitoring system configured to monitor a plurality of parking spaces, said monitoring system comprising:

A. a database comprising a unique space identification associated with each of said parking spaces;

B. a plurality of vehicle presence detectors, wherein each vehicle presence detector is configured to provide an indication of the presence of a vehicle in an associated one of said parking spaces;

C. one or more portable transceivers configured to generate an authorization signal as a function of a set of valid inputs;

D. a plurality of transponders, wherein each transponder is associated with one or more of said parking spaces and is configured to receive;

(1) vehicle presence indications from a corresponding set of vehicle presence detectors; and

(2) authorization signals from said portable transceivers; and

E. a controller coupled to said database and said transponders, said controller configured to selectively authorize use of an occupied space, from said plurality of parking spaces, as function of;

(1) a space identification corresponding to said occupied space;

(2) a vehicle presence indication associated with said occupied space;

(3) an authorization signal associated with said occupied space, wherein said controller is further configured to generate a violation signal as a function of said vehicle presence indication and the absence of said authorization signal; and

F. a monitor device having an output means and configured to receive said violation signal and to present an indicia of a violation status and an identification of said parking space via said output means.

14. A system as in claim 13, wherein said monitor device is further configured to probe a vehicle presence detector, from said plurality of vehicle presence detectors, and determine if said probed vehicle presence detector is operating properly.

18. A method of monitoring a plurality of parking spaces, said method comprising:

A. detecting with a vehicle presence detector a vehicle in an occupied space, from said plurality of parking spaces, and providing a vehicle presence indication corresponding to said occupied space to a transponder;

B. generating with a portable transceiver an authorization signal as a function of a set of valid inputs and providing said authorization signal to said transponder; and

C. communicating said vehicle presence indication and said authorization signal from said transponder to a controller that is coupled to a database comprising a unique space identification associated with each of said parking spaces; and

D. authorizing, by said controller, use of said occupied parking space as a function of a space identification corresponding to said occupied space, said vehicle presence indication and said authorization signal.

19. A method as in claim 18, wherein said vehicle presence detector is configured to generate a signal indicative of said parking space being vacant and wherein providing said vehicle presence indication includes ceasing generation of said signal.

20. A method as in claim 18, wherein part B includes providing a transceiver ID and a PIN as valid inputs.

21. A method as in claim 18, wherein said portable transceiver includes a debit/credit card reader and part B includes entering credit or debit card information via said portable transceiver.

22. A method as in claim 18, wherein part B includes identifying a user of said portable transceiver as a member of a group of authorized users, chosen from a group comprising:

a) police, fire, or medical personnel;

b) government personnel;

c) monthly pass holders;

d) VIPs; and

e) club members.

23. A method as in claim 18, further comprising:

E. in lieu of part B, generating, with a meter device located proximate to said parking space, an authorization signal as a function of a set of valid inputs and providing said authorization signal to said transponder.

24. A method as in claim 23, wherein said valid inputs include at least one of parking credit inputs, currency inputs, credit card inputs, or debit card inputs.

25. A method as in claim 18 wherein part A includes detecting the presence of said vehicle with an in-ground detector located proximate to or within said parking space.

26. A method as in claim 18 wherein part A includes detecting the presence of said vehicle using a sensing technique chosen from a group of techniques comprising:

a) magnetic sensing;

b) infrared sensing;

c) motion detection sensing;

d) pressure sensing;

e) audio sensing; and

f) video sensing.

27. A method as in claim 18, further comprising:

E. generating by said controller a violation signal as a function of the presence of said vehicle presence indication and the absence of said authorization signal.

28. A method as in claim 18, further comprising:

E. probing, with a monitoring device, said vehicle presence detector to determine if said vehicle presence detector is operating properly.

29. A method as in claim 18, wherein said authorization signal includes indicia of parking credits and said controller applies said parking credit to pay parking fees associated with said parking space.

30. A method as in claim 18, wherein said parking space is a space chosen from a group comprising:

a) publicly metered spaces;

b) assigned parking garage spaces; and

c) unassigned parking garage spaces.

31. A portable transceiver for use with a parking space monitoring system configured to selectively authorize use of a parking space, from a database of uniquely identified parking spaces, said portable transceiver comprising:

A. a processor coupled to a storage device and a power source;

B. a credit/debit card reader configured to facilitate payment of parking fees or a purchase of parking credits using a credit or debit card;

C. a user input device, configured to facilitate entry of a set of valid inputs, said valid inputs including at least one of an identification of a user, an identification of said transceiver, or parking credit, credit, or debit account information;

D. a signal generator configured to generate an authorization signal as a function of said set of valid inputs, wherein said authorization signal and a vehicle presence indication from a space oriented vehicle detector are required by said parking space monitoring system to authorize use of said parking space.

E. a user manipulatable activation mechanism, configured to commence transmission of said authorization signal; and

F. a transmitter configured to transmit said authorization signal in response to manipulation of said activation mechanism.