111results about "Parking meters" patented technology

An integrated parking meter system automates the issuance of parking citations. Each parking meter will be equipped with a sonar range finder, mercury type switch and a two way radio that communicates via N-PCS to a host computer back at the control center. When a meter runs out of money it checks to see if a vehicle is present in the parking space. If it is, the meter notifies the host computer that there is a car illegally parked in the space. The host computer correlates the information to identify the exact location of the violator. The host computer then sends this information via wireless network to the parking meter attendants' personal communicator. The parking attendant proceeds to the violator and issues the citation. Included within this technology is the capability to remotely change the rate structure of any or all electronic parking meters. A meter diagnostic feature alerts repair personnel to specific malfunctioning meters. The meter may also set the time remaining on the meter to zero whenever a car leaves the adjacent space.

A method of using a directional sensor for the purposes of detecting the presence of a vehicle or an object within a zone of interest on a roadway or in a parking space. The method comprises the following steps: transmitting a microwave transmit pulse of less than 5 feet; radiating the transmitted pulse by a directional antenna system; receiving received pulses by an adjustable receive window; integrating or combining signals from multiple received pulses; amplifying and filtering the integrated receive signal; digitizing the combined signal; comparing the digitized signal to at least one preset or dynamically computed threshold values to determine the presence or absence of an object in the field of view of the sensor; and providing at least one pulse generator with rise and fall times of less than 3 ns each and capable of generating pulses less than 10 ns in duration.

A system and method for charging for vehicle parking is provided. The parking system includes a plurality of mobile parking units, each of the mobile parking units having an unique identification for installation in a vehicle and a parking control center for communicating with each of the mobile parking units. Each of the mobile parking units checks its location whenever the vehicle is not moving and if the location coincides with a known parking area, a charge for parking is activated until the vehicle resumes traveling.

Provided is a parking count control system using a parking management server which is a parking management control system using a driver terminal unit, the system including: a mobile driver terminal unit capable of performing voice communication or / and wireless Internet; a parking management server receiving parking information about an identifier (ID) of a parking area and a parking time from the driver terminal unit when the parking management server has an access to the driver terminal unit to perform settlement and counting a parking time according to a parking area to notify the driver terminal unit of a parking completion message; a parking terminal unit installed in the parking area or in a plurality of parking areas, receiving parking-related information transmitted from the parking management server to count and display a parking remaining time; and a settlement server connected to the parking management server and processing and authenticating parking-related small amount or credit settlement by request of the parking management server.

A universal adaptor for use with electronic parking meters which provides these electronic parking meters with the ability to detect the presence of a parked vehicle and to adjust the position of the detector for accomplishing the vehicle detection, to gather statistics on the parking spaces and the meters, to alert the parking authority of meters that are expired in connection with vehicles still parked, and zeroing the remaining time off of any meter once the parked vehicle departs.

The field of the present invention is parking meters and more particularly to the use of electronically operated parking meters coupled with a sensor for positively sensing unobtrusively the presence or absence of a vehicle in a specified parking space controlled by the sensor and electronically operated parking meter. An induction coil mounted below the surface of the parking area is used to provide positive signals to the electronically operated parking meter and a cpu upon both the entrance of a vehicle into the parking space and the movement of the vehicle from the parking space. Moreover, the detecting system is battery operated and the battery life is extended by duty cycle operation of the detector system, whereby only a small portion of a detecting cycle is actually employed for detecting the status of the parking space.

A universal adaptor for use with electronic parking meters which provides these electronic parking meters with the ability to detect the presence of a parked vehicle and to adjust the position of the detector for accomplishing the vehicle detection, to gather statistics on the parking spaces and the meters, to alert the parking authority of meters that are expired in connection with vehicles still parked, and zeroing the remaining time off of any meter once the parked vehicle departs.

The present invention relates to an integrated parking management system for automated parking identification, parking fee payment and parking status monitoring comprising: an in-vehicle unit configured to determine a geographic position of a vehicle; a parking management server configured to determine an available parking space and corresponding parking fee based on the geographic position data received from the in-vehicle unit. The system further comprises a handheld unit configured to determine validity of a parking status of the vehicle, and report to the parking management server. The functions of the In Vehicle Unit can also be realized in a software only implementation for integration and execution on alternative platforms.

The invention discloses a private parking space sharing method and a parking space lock. The method includes the steps that firstly, a parking space using request from a user is received; secondly, the user is guided to enter the advance payment procedure of the parking space using charge according to the parking space using request; thirdly, whether advance payment of the parking space using charge is completed or not is monitored, if yes, the fourth step is executed, and if not, monitoring is conducted continuously; fourthly, the parking space lock is controlled to be unlocked for parking, and meanwhile parking timing is started; fifthly, whether a vehicle on a parking space runs away or not is judged, if not, time is kept continuously, and if yes, the sixth step is executed; sixthly, time keeping is stopped, the charge corresponding to the parking duration is deducted from the parking space using charge which is paid in advance, and meanwhile the parking space lock is controlled to reset and parking is forbidden.

An electronic timer system includes a first unit. The first unit includes a memory device configured to store predetermined parking rule data, a timer device configured to determine at least one of a day, a date and a time of day, and an alert device configured to emit an alert in accordance with the predetermined parking rule data and based on at least one of the day, the date and the time of day determined by the timer device. A method includes storing predetermined parking rule data in a memory device, determining at least one of a day, a date and a time of day, and emitting an alert in accordance with the predetermined parking rule data stored in the storing step and at least one of the day, the date and the time of day determined in the determining step.

The invention relates to a system for the management of a parking zone with chargeable parking spaces for vehicles, in particular of a parking zone sited at or on a public road, comprising an automatic machine for the payment of a parking fee for a parking space, said machine being assigned to the parking spaces. A parking-zone management system is provided which can indicate the current occupancy status of the parking spaces of the managed parking zone in an up-to-date manner and as accurately as possible, whereby at least one vehicle detector which is configured for determining the occupancy status of the parking space is arranged on each parking space, and whereby communication means, by means of which data representing the occupancy status can be transmitted, is provided for wireless data transmission between each respective vehicle detector and the automatic parking-fee machine.

An electronic timer system includes a first unit. The first unit includes a memory device configured to store predetermined parking rule data, a timer device configured to determine at least one of a day, a date and a time of day, and an alert device configured to emit an alert in accordance with the predetermined parking rule data and based on at least one of the day, the date and the time of day determined by the timer device. A method includes storing predetermined parking rule data in a memory device, determining at least one of a day, a date and a time of day, and emitting an alert in accordance with the predetermined parking rule data stored in the storing step and the at least one of the day, the date and the time of day determined in the determining step.

A system for automating parking payment including user terminals having wireless communication equipment allowing access to a wireless communication network and including readers / writers of electronic tags, electronic tags to be carried by the users on their vehicles and into which the users can input information concerning a parking event by means of their terminals; and a parking service management center connected to said network.

A parking meter receives data indicative of a remote payment being completed and displays an amount of time purchased by the remote payment for a parking session. The parking meter determines an amount of time remaining in the parking session and powers down at least a portion of a meter communication subsystem subsequent to receiving the data indicative of the remote payment being completed. The parking meter wakes up the powered down portion of the communication subsystem upon determining that the amount of time remaining is below a threshold time, and can receive an indication of additional time being paid for remotely, and can update the displayed time remaining to reflect the additional time.

A comprehensive, integrated system for management of fee for parking businesses, including payment collection and processing for these business, as well as other businesses to which such a system may be applicable.

A proximity detector for detecting the presence of a coin or token in a coin chute, comprising a pair of axially aligned coils disposed on opposed sides of the chute; a common-emitter amplifier having a base and a collector providing a detector output, one of the coils being connected to the collector and the other of the coils being connected to the base.

A method of using a directional sensor for the purposes of detecting the presence of a vehicle or an object within a zone of interest on a roadway or in a parking space. The method comprises the following steps: transmitting a microwave transmit pulse of less than 5 feet; radiating the transmitted pulse by a directional antenna system; receiving received pulses by an adjustable receive window; integrating or combining signals from multiple received pulses; amplifying and filtering the integrated receive signal; digitizing the combined signal; comparing the digitized signal to at least one preset or dynamically computed threshold values to determine the presence or absence of an object in the field of view of the sensor; and providing at least one pulse generator with rise and fall times of less than 3 ns each and capable of generating pulses less than 10 ns in duration.

In a method for capturing and paying parking transactions in parking facilities, a user, when entering the parking facility, reads out with a mobile terminal an entry identifier from an entry control device allocated to the parking facility entry, the mobile terminal stores the entry identifier in a memory or transmits the entry identifier together with an identifier of the mobile terminal to a background system, the user, when exiting the parking facility, reads out with the mobile terminal an exit identifier from an exit control device allocated to the parking facility exit, the mobile terminal transmits the entry and exit identifiers or transmits the exit identifier together with the identifier of the mobile terminal to the background system, the background system calculates the parking duration and fee exclusively based on data of the entry identifier and the exit identifier, and the parking fee is charged to the user.

The invention discloses a metered parking and payment method and a parking timing board which are capable of realizing intelligent timing. The method comprises the following steps of generating a two-dimension code of unique identification; scanning the two-dimension code, acquiring a first parking time and a car owner ID (identity) according to the two-dimension code, and starting parking timing from the first parking time; scanning the two-dimension code again, acquiring a second parking time according to the two-dimension code, and stopping the parking timing from the second parking time; acquiring parking time according to the second parking time and the first parking time; establishing a payment window, and performing payment according to the car owner ID. Based on the parking timing board disclosed by the invention, the problems generated by the parking time and parking fees are effectively solved, and a car owner can really feel easy to park the car and park the car right; by scanning the two-dimension code, parking is performed rapidly; through the payment window, the car owner can directly pay through a mobile terminal or pay by cash, so the common problems of fee disputes, parking time disputes and the like are effectively solved, the benefit of the car owner is ensured, and the efficiency of a parking lot is increased.

A time-indicating apparatus based on the color change property of a reduced redox dye in the presence of oxygen is characterized by the initial introduction into a receptacle of a predetermined metered amount of a redox dye in its oxidized form together with a predetermined effective amount of a reducing agent in an alkaline medium. The conversion of the oxidized form of the redox dye into its reduced form occurs within the sealed receptacle. Precisely controlling the amount of both the oxidized dye and the amount of reducing agent introduced into the receptacle ensures that only a predetermined amount of the reduced form of the redox dye is able to be formed within the receptacle. The amount of reduced dye formed within the receptacle having a predetermined total surface area and the rate at which oxygen is able to enter into the receptacle allows the color transition time interval of the redox dye to the precisely controllable. Methods for making the time-indicating apparatus are also disclosed. Articles such as a container for a time-sensitive product and badge for indicating the expiration of a period of legitimacy incorporating the time-indicating apparatus are also disclosed.

An automated vehicle parking management system, including at least one image acquisition means configured to acquire a series of images over time of at least one parking bay having a designated parking rule; at least one sensor configured to detect presence of a vehicle parked in said at least one parking bay; a sensor module configured to derive arrival and departure triggers for the vehicle parked in the at least one parking bay from information from the at least one sensor indicative of the presence of said vehicle parked in said at least one parking bay; an image acquisition module configured to acquire a buffer of said images of the at least one parking bay upon receipt of said arrival trigger and / or said departure trigger from the sensor module for the vehicle parked in the at least one parking bay, whereby the buffer extends for an allocated series of said images acquired immediately before the arrival trigger and / or the departure trigger to a further allocated series of said images acquired immediately after the arrival trigger and / or the departure trigger, respectively; and a citation module configured to determine whether the vehicle parked in said at least one parking bay contravenes the designated parking rule based on the arrival and the departure triggers received from the sensor module, whereby a parking infringement notice can be issued to a registered owner of the vehicle based on a registration plate of the vehicle recognised from the buffer if the vehicle has been determined as contravening the designated parking rule.

The invention discloses an intelligent parking space timing service system and a control method thereof. The intelligent parking space timing service system is characterized by comprising an urban comprehensive parking space information server and a plurality of parking space timer systems which are in communication connection with the urban comprehensive parking space information server; each parking space timer system comprises a parking space timer body which comprises a central processing unit, a sensor unit, a communication unit, a paying unit, a power source unit and the like; the urban comprehensive parking space information server is in communication connection with a mobile terminal carried by a user through a network. When the intelligent parking space timing service system is in use, the urban comprehensive parking space information server is responsible for statistics and release of urban parking space information, and updates the urban parking space information in real time according to information sent by the parking space timer systems, information search, parking space appointment and other services are provided for the user more conveniently and rapidly, the user can conveniently go out, and meanwhile the road congestion phenomenon caused by temporary parking difficulty in a vehicle concentration area can be effectively changed.

A parking meter system where a vehicle detector is coupled with a microcontroller for detecting the presence or absence of a vehicle in the associated parking space has a plurality of monitoring units communicating with a single unit for accepting payment by coin, credit card or both. In this way the cost of installing and main- taining the system is reduced.

The invention discloses an automatic roadside parking billing and paying system based on time. A parking line frame is arranged on a roadside. The automatic roadside parking billing and paying system based on time is characterized in that a detection coil for detecting the entering and exiting of a vehicle is arranged in the parking line frame; a digital camera is arranged over the front part of the parking line frame and used for automatically capturing and identifying vehicle information; a payment device is arranged on the roadside corresponding to the parking line frame and used for paying parking fees; the detection coil, the digital camera, the payment device and the like are connected with a controller, and the controller is used for managing and recording the automatic billing and paying process of the parked vehicle based on time. The automatic roadside parking billing and paying system based on time has the advantages that the advanced technical means such as automatic parking detection, automatic vehicle information capturing and identifying, automatic billing based on time, card sweeping for one-time payment and process information tracking are adopted, and the technical purpose of automatic billing and paying based on time through unattended operation is achieved. Various technical defects of manual charging and parking meter billing at present are overcome.

A vehicle sensing parking barricade device includes: an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag which is attached to a vehicle for identifying the vehicle; a barricade bar which limits entrance of the vehicle; an RFID reader which is installed in a portion of the barricade bar and receives information from the RFID tag to determine whether or not the vehicle is authenticated to be parked; and a motor driver which receives a signal from the RFID reader 25 to drive the barricade bar 10 to limit the vehicle entrance depending on the vehicle authentication.

A parking citation (144) is disclosed, in relation to a vehicle (136) parked during a first time period in a parking space (108) associated with a parking meter (104), said citation comprising parking citation data (510) for the vehicle (136), and an automatically derived operational status (516) for the parking meter (104) during a time period in which a payment in respect of the first period could have been made, the operational status (516) on the citation (144) establishing whether the parking meter (104) was operative during the first time period. A method and a system for issuing the citation are also disclosed.

The invention relates to the field of information management systems adopting radio frequency identification techniques, particularly to an unoccupied parking space intellectualized configuration system for a parking lot and a configuration method thereof. The system comprises a parking space management dedicated card, a card reader subsystem and a large-size display screen. The parking space management dedicated card comprises a radio frequency identification chip capable of automatically transmitting a wireless signal and an embedded-type microprocessor for performing the information processing, wherein a control panel is connected with the embedded-type microprocessor. The card reader subsystem comprises a wireless card reader used for receiving s signal, wherein the wireless card reader is connected with a PC server which is preset with a management software special for unoccupied parking space information and the PC server is connected with the large-size display screen. The unoccupied parking space intellectualized configuration system achieves the effect of effective and rational utilization of the parking spaces around the commercial places and brings the convenience to people for work and life.