Web-based systems and methods for internet communication of substantially real-time parking data

• US 6,946,974 B1
• Filed: 05/13/2004
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Open Parking LLC
• Original Assignee: Open Parking LLC
• Inventors: Racunas Jr., Robert Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope, Daryl C.
• Application Number:
  US10/709,565
• Time in Patent Office: 495 Days
• Field of Search: 340/932.2, 340/506, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/928, 340/870.02, 340/870.07, 340/870.09, 135/378, 135/384, 194/902, 705/13, 705/418
• US Class Current: 340/932.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0284 Time or distance, e.g. usage of parking meters or taximeters
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096758 where no selection takes place on the transmitted or the received information
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/14 indicating individual free spaces in parking areas

Abstract

A parking system includes an internet-accessible Web server storing substantially real-time parking data associated with occupancy of a plurality of parking spaces. The parking data can be rendered by a display device running a browser application. The Web server transmits the parking data in response to a request sent from the browser application. The Web server communicates with at least one of a detector and a parking terminal configured to collect and transmit parking data.

Claims

1. A parking system comprising:

an Internet-accessible Web server storing substantially real-time parking data associated with occupancy of a plurality of parking spaces, said parking data capable of being tendered by a display device running a browser application, said Web server transmitting said parking data in response to a request sent from said browser application,

wherein said Web server communicates with at least one of a detector and a parking terminal configured to collect and transmit parking data.

2. The parking system of claim 1, wherein said Web server stores billing information.

3. The parking system of claim 1, wherein said Web server stores charging information.

4. The parking system of claim 1, wherein said parking data comprises vacant parking spaces.

5. The parking system of claim 1, wherein said parking date comprises reserved parking spaces.

6. The parking system of claim 1, wherein said parking data corresponds to a plurality of parking lots.

7. The parking system of claim 1, wherein said parking data is rendered on a map.

8. The parking system of claim 1, wherein said parking data is accessed by visiting a Web site and said parking data is rendered in a Web page.

9. The parking system of claim 1, wherein said display device comprises a wireless communications device and said request sent over at least one wireless connection.

10. The parking system of claim 9, wherein

said request is received at an intermediary server,

said intermediary server retrieves said parking data from said Web server, and

said intermediary server transmits said parking data to said wireless communications device.

11. The parking system of claim 9, wherein said wireless communications device comprises at least one of a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant, and a vehicle-mounted device.

12. The parking system of claim 11, wherein said wireless communications device receives a satellite signal over a wireless satellite connection.

13. The parking system of claim 12, wherein said satellite signal comprises broadcast programming.

14. The parking system of claim 1, wherein

said Web server communicates with one or more parking terminals,

each of said one or more parking terminals is associated with a plurality of parking spaces, and

each of said one or more parking terminals is configured to transmit substantially real-time parking data corresponding to said plurality of parking spaces.

15. The parking system of claim 14, wherein said one or more parking terminals transmits substantially real-time parking data over at least one wireless connection.

16. The parking system of claim 14, wherein said one or more parking terminals transmits substantially real-time parking data over a local area network connection.

17. The parking system of claim 14, wherein said parking data comprises parking occupancy data for said plurality of parking spaces.

18. The parking system of claim 14, wherein said parking data comprises charging and billing information.

19. The parking system of claim 1, wherein

said Web server communicates with a plurality of detectors at a parking lot,

said plurality of detectors collects substantially real-time parking occupancy data for a plurality of paring spaces at said parking lot, and

each of said plurality of detectors includes a wireless communications device for transmitting said substantially real-time parking occupancy data to said Web server.

20. A parking system comprising:

plurality of parking terminals, each of said plurality of parking terminals being associated with a plurality of parking spaces, said plurality of parking terminals being configured to transmit substantially real-time parking data associated with said plurality of parking spaces to an Internet-accessible Web server, said Web server configured to transmit said parking data to a display device running a browser application in response to a request sent from said browser application.

21. The parking system of claim 20, wherein said parking data is rendered by said display device on a map.

22. The parking system of claim 20, wherein said parking data is accessed by vising a Web site and said parking data is rendered in a Web page.

23. The parking system of claim 20, wherein said display device comprises a wireless communications device and said request is sent over at least one wireless connection.

24. The parking system of claim 23, wherein

said request is received at an intermediary server,

said intermediary server retrieves said parking data from said Web server, and

said intermediary server transmits said parking data to said wireless communications device.

25. The parking system of claim 23, wherein said wireless communication device comprises at least one of a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant, and a vehicle-mounted device.

26. The parking system of claim 20, wherein said plurality of parking terminals transmits substantially real-time parking data over at least one wireless connection.

27. The paring system of claim 20, wherein said plurality of parking terminals transmits substantially real-time parking data over a local area network connection.

28. The parking system of claim 20, wherein said parking data comprises parking occupancy data for said plurality of parking spaces.

29. The parking system of claim 20, wherein said parking data comprises charging and billing information.

30. A method comprising:

transmitting a request from a browser application running on a display device to an Internet-accessible Web server, said Web server storing substantially real-time parking data associated with occupancy of a plurality of parking spaces;

accessing said Web server

receiving said substantially real-time parking data from said Web server; and

rendering said parking data on said display device with said browser application,

wherein said Web server communicates with at least one of a detector and a parking terminal configured to collect and transmit parking data.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein accessing said Web server comprises visiting a Web site and said parking data is rendered in a Web page.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein said parking data corresponds to a plurality of parking lots.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein said parking data comprises parking occupancy data for said plurality of parking spaces.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein said parking data comprises charging and billing information.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein

transmitting said request is performed in response to a communication from a commuter and said parking data comprises reserved parking spaces.

36. A parking system comprising:

a plurality of detectors configured to collect substantially real-time parking occupancy data corresponding to a plurality of parking spaces at a parking lot, each of said plurality of detectors including a communications device for transmitting said substantially real-time parking occupancy data to an Internet-accessible Web server, said Web server configured to transmit said substantially real-time parking occupancy data to a display device running a browser application in response to a request sent from said browser application.

37. The parking system of claim 36, wherein said plurality of detectors transmits said substantially real-time parking occupancy data over at least one wireless connection.

38. The parking system of claim 36, wherein said plurality of detectors transmits said substantially real-time parking occupancy data over a local area network connection.

39. The parking system of claim 36, wherein said display device comprises a wireless communications device and said request is sent over at least one wireless connection.

40. The parking system of claim 36, wherein said communications device receives a satellite signal over a wireless satellite connection.

41. A method comprising:

establishing an Internet connection having at least one wireless pathway; and

receiving substantially real-time parking data through the at least one wireless pathway, said substantially real-time parking data associated with occupancy of one or more parking spaces.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein said substantially real-time parking data comprises one or more of parking space occupancy information, reserved parking information, charging information, and billing information.

43. A method comprising:

establishing an Internet connection having at least one wireless pathway; and

transmitting substantially real-time parking data through the at least one wireless pathway, said substantially-real time parking data associated with occupancy of one or more parking spaces.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein said parking data comprises one or more of parking space occupancy information, reserved parking information, charging information, and billing information.

45. A parking system comprising:

a wireless communications device capable of receiving substantially real-time parking data from an Internet-accessible Web server through at least one wireless pathway, wherein

said Web server stores substantially real-time parking data associated with a plurality of parking spaces, and

said Web server communicates with at least one of a detector and a parking terminal configured to collect and transmit parking data.

46. The parking system of claim 45, wherein

said wireless communications device transmits a request to an intermediary server,

said intermediary server retrieves said parking data from said Web server, and

said intermediary server transmits said parking data to said wireless communications device.

47. The parking system of claim 45, wherein said wireless communications device comprises at least one of a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant, and a vehicle-mounted device.

48. A parking system comprising:

a wireless communications device capable of transmitting substantially real-time parking data to an Internet-accessible Web server through at least one wireless pathway, wherein

said Web server stores substantially real-time parking data associated with a plurality of parking spaces, and

said wireless communications device comprises at least one of a detector and a parking terminal configured to collect and transmit parking data.