Systems and methods for monitoring vehicle parking

• US 8,223,010 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2011
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SIPCO LLC (Ideahub, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SIPCO LLC (Ideahub, Inc.)
• Inventors: Petite, Thomas David, Huff, Richard M
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US13/221,689
• Publication Number:
  US 20110309953A1
• Time in Patent Office: 322 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/932.2, 235/384, 235/382.5, 705/418
• US Class Current: 340/539.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25198 Brouter: transfers data from wireless to wired networks, router: wired to wired
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31162 Wireless lan
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/007 Details of data content structure of message packets; data protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/42 Transmitting or receiving remote control signals via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/51 Remote controlling of devices based on replies, status thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2825 Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/60 for transmitting utility meters data, i.e. transmission of data from the reader of the utility meter
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/38 : for collecting sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 : Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 : Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 : Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to systems and methods of monitoring vehicle parking. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a vehicle parking monitoring system that includes a parking space sensor enabled to detect the presence of at least one vehicle in a first parking space of a first parking area and a parking area transceiver in communication with the parking space sensor, the parking area transceiver configured to receive information from the parking space sensor and transmit the information to a gateway. The parking area transceiver is also configured to receive information from the gateway. The gateway is connected to a wide area network and configured to receive information from the parking area transceiver and transmit the information to the wide area network, the gateway is also configured to receive information from the wide area network and transmit the information to the parking area transceiver. Other aspects, features, and embodiments are also claimed and described.

Claims

1. A vehicle parking monitoring system, comprising:

a parking space sensor enabled to detect the presence of at least one vehicle in a first parking space of a first parking area; and

a parking area transceiver in communication with the parking space sensor, the parking area transceiver configured to receive information from the parking space sensor and transmit the information to a gateway, the parking area transceiver also configured to receive information from the gateway,

wherein the gateway is connected to a wide area network and configured to receive information from the parking area transceiver and transmit the information to the wide area network, the gateway also configured to receive information from the wide area network and transmit the information to the parking area transceiver.

2. The vehicle parking monitoring system in claim 1, further comprising a server enabled to receive the information from the gateway via the wide area network and send information to the gateway via the wide area network.

3. The vehicle parking monitoring system in claim 2, wherein the server is configured to monitor and control the parking of a plurality of vehicles in the first parking area.

4. The vehicle parking monitoring system in claim 3, wherein the server is configured to remotely authorize a payment for the parking of the at least one vehicle in the first parking area.

5. The vehicle parking monitoring system in claim 3, wherein the parking space sensor can monitor a total time period that the at least one vehicle occupies the first parking space and the parking space sensor can communicate that total time period to the server via the parking area transceiver.

6. The vehicle parking monitoring system in claim 3, wherein the server is configured to send an invoice for parking services to a customer with the at least one vehicle in the in the first parking area.

7. The vehicle parking monitoring system in claim 6, wherein the customer is enabled to access the server via the internet to make parking reservations, pre-pay for parking services, or pay for previous parking services.

8. The vehicle parking monitoring system in claim 1, further comprising an ingress sensor in communication with the parking area transceiver, the ingress sensor is enabled to provide a data message to the parking area transceiver when the vehicle enters the first parking area.

9. The vehicle parking monitoring system in claim 8, wherein the ingress sensor is further configured with a credit card reader configured to read a credit card of a customer to enable the vehicle of the customer to access to the first parking area.

10. The vehicle parking monitoring system in claim 8, wherein the ingress sensor is further configured with an alphanumeric keypad interface, and wherein a customer can enter a confirmation number into the alphanumeric keypad interface to enable the vehicle of the customer to access the first parking area.

11. The vehicle parking monitoring system in claim 1, further comprising an egress sensor in communication with the parking area transceiver, the egress sensor is enabled to provide a data message to the parking area transceiver when the vehicle exits the first parking area.

12. The vehicle parking monitoring system in claim 1, further comprising a personal portable transmitter enabled to communicate with the parking area transceiver, wherein the a customer can press a button on the personal portable transmitter to identify the arrival of the vehicle at the first parking area.

13. The vehicle parking monitoring system in claim 12, wherein the parking area transceiver can receive a communication from the personal portable transmitter, and thereby send a data message to identify the arrival of the vehicle at the first parking area.

14. The vehicle parking monitoring system in claim 12, wherein the parking area transceiver can receive a communication from the personal portable transmitter, and thereby send a data message to identify the exit of the vehicle from the first parking area.

15. A vehicle parking monitoring system, comprising:

a parking space sensor enabled to detect the presence of at least one vehicle in a first parking space of a first parking area;

a parking area transceiver in communication with the parking space sensor, the parking area transceiver configured to receive information from the parking space sensor and transmit the information to a gateway, the parking area transceiver also configured to receive information from the gateway;

an ingress sensor in communication with a second parking area transceiver, the ingress sensor is enabled to provide a first data message to the second parking area transceiver when the vehicle enters the first parking area;

an egress sensor in communication with a third parking area transceiver, the egress sensor is enabled to provide a second data message to the parking area transceiver when the vehicle exits the first parking area; and

wherein the gateway is connected to a wide area network and configured to receive information from the first, second, and third parking area transceivers and transmit the information to the wide area network, the gateway also configured to receive information from the wide area network and transmit the information to the first, second, and third parking area transceivers.

16. The vehicle parking monitoring system in claim 15, further comprising a server enabled to receive the information from the gateway via the wide area network and send information to the gateway via the wide area network.

17. The vehicle parking monitoring system in claim 16, wherein the server is configured to monitor and control the parking of a plurality of vehicles in the first parking area.

18. The vehicle parking monitoring system in claim 15, wherein the ingress sensor is further configured with a credit card reader configured to read a credit card of a customer to enable the vehicle of the customer to access to the first parking area.

19. The vehicle parking monitoring system in claim 15, wherein the ingress sensor is further configured with an alphanumeric keypad interface, and wherein a customer can enter a confirmation number into the alphanumeric keypad interface to enable the vehicle of the customer to access the first parking area.

20. The vehicle parking monitoring system in claim 15, further comprising a personal portable transmitter enabled to communicate with the second parking area transceiver, wherein the a customer can press a button on the personal portable transmitter to identify the arrival of the vehicle at the first parking area.