Methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing a locator service

• US 7,979,202 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2009
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Adamczyk, Maria, Silver, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US12/501,696
• Publication Number:
  US 20090276236A1
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 701207-208, 701213-215, 701200-202, 340/988, 340991-992, 340/932.2, 280/761, 705/13
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/127 to a central station ; Indicators in a central station

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing a locator service are provided. A method includes receiving object identification information and location identification information from a vehicle. The location identification information indicates the presence of the vehicle at a parking space. The method also includes creating an occupancy record that includes the object identification information and the location identification information. The method further includes receiving a request to locate the vehicle during an exiting process, the request including at least a portion of the objection identification information. The method further includes retrieving the location identification information from the occupancy record associated with the object identification information, and presenting the location identification information of the parking space to the operator. The location identification information is received at the computer system via a radio frequency identifier associated with the parking space.

Claims

1. A method for implementing a locator service, comprising:

receiving, at a computer system, object identification information and location identification information from a vehicle, the location identification information indicating the presence of the vehicle at a parking space;

creating an occupancy record that includes the object identification information and the location identification information;

receiving a request to locate the vehicle during an exiting process, the request including at least a portion of the objection identification information;

retrieving the location identification information from the occupancy record associated with the object identification information; and

presenting the location identification information of the parking space to an operator of the vehicle;

wherein the location identification information is received at the computer system via a radio frequency identifier associated with the parking space, the radio frequency identifier detecting the presence of the vehicle at the parking space.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the object identification information includes at least one of:

the operator of the vehicle;

an identification associated with the operator; and

a description of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

collecting fees from an operator of the vehicle during the exiting process based upon information in the occupancy record.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein collecting fees includes:

tracking, in the occupancy record, an amount of time the vehicle occupies the parking space; and

associating the amount of time with an occupancy fee.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein collecting fees comprises:

flagging the object identification information in the occupancy record to distinguish the vehicle, and a service package provided to the operator of the vehicle, from other vehicles; and

implementing payment services for the occupancy based upon terms of the service package.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the location identification information is received at the computer system, over a wireless network, via a global positioning system on the vehicle, the global positioning system receiving the location identification information from the radio frequency identifier.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning a unique code to the location identification information to distinguish the corresponding parking space from other parking spaces; and

reserving the parking space having the unique code for preferred customers.

8. A system for implementing a locator service, comprising:

a computer system executing a locator application; and

a storage device in communication with the computer system, the storage device housing occupancy records generated via the locator application, the locator application performing;

receiving, at the computer system, object identification information and location identification information from a vehicle, the location identification information indicating the presence of the vehicle at a parking space;

creating an occupancy record that includes the object identification information and the location identification information;

receiving a request to locate the vehicle during an exiting process, the request including at least a portion of the objection identification information;

retrieving the location identification information from the occupancy record associated with the object identification information; and

presenting the location identification information of the parking space to an operator of the vehicle;

wherein the location identification information is received at the computer system via a radio frequency identifier associated with the parking space, the radio frequency identifier detecting the presence of the vehicle at the parking space.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the object identification information includes at least one of:

the operator of the vehicle;

an identification associated with the operator; and

a description of the vehicle.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the locator application further implements:

collecting fees from an operator of the vehicle during the exiting process based upon information in the occupancy record.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein collecting fees includes:

tracking, in the occupancy record, an amount of time the vehicle occupies the parking space; and

associating the amount of time with an occupancy fee.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein collecting fees comprises:

flagging the object identification information in the occupancy record to distinguish the vehicle, and a service package provided to the operator of the vehicle, from other vehicles; and

implementing payment services for the occupancy based upon terms of the service package.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the location identification information is received at the computer system, over a wireless network, via a global positioning system on the vehicle, the global positioning system receiving the location identification information from the radio frequency identifier.

14. A computer program product for implementing locator services, the computer program product including a computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon for causing a computer system to implement a method, the comprising:

receiving, at the computer system, object identification information and location identification information from a vehicle, the location identification information indicating the presence of the vehicle at a parking space;

creating an occupancy record that includes the object identification information and the location identification information;

receiving a request to locate the vehicle during an exiting process, the request including at least a portion of the objection identification information;

retrieving the location identification information from the occupancy record associated with the object identification information; and

presenting the location identification information of the parking space to an operator of the vehicle;

wherein the location identification information is received at the computer system via a radio frequency identifier associated with the parking space, the radio frequency identifier detecting the presence of the vehicle at the parking space.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the object identification information includes at least one of:

the operator of the vehicle;

an identification associated with the operator; and

a description of the vehicle.

16. The computer program product of claim 14, further comprising instructions for collecting fees from an operator of the vehicle during the exiting process based upon information in the occupancy record.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein collecting fees includes:

tracking, in the occupancy record, an amount of time the vehicle occupies the parking space; and

associating the amount of time with an occupancy fee.

18. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein collecting fees comprises:

flagging the object identification information in the occupancy record to distinguish the vehicle, and a service package provided to the operator of the vehicle, from other vehicles; and

implementing payment services for the occupancy based upon terms of the service package.

19. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the location identification information is received at the computer system, over a wireless network, via a global positioning system on the vehicle, the global positioning system receiving the location identification information from the radio frequency identifier.

20. The computer program product of claim 14, further comprising instructions for performing:

assigning a unique code to the location identification information to distinguish the corresponding parking space from other parking spaces; and

reserving the parking space having the unique code for preferred customers.