Automated process for accessing, validating, and paying for parking.

Abstract

Automated process for accessing, validating, and paying for parking stays. For use in parking lots containing infrastructure comprising detection means, location identification means, passage control means, presenting a stage (1) of entry access to the parking lot; a stage (2) of calculating the value and validating the stay, which can be done through the use of the user's mobile device and a stage (3) of the vehicle exit release cycle, with all stages having their respective execution phases.

Description

1 / 12 “AUTOMATED PROCESS FOR ACCESS, STAY VALIDATION AND EXIT RELEASE IN PARKING LOT” FIELD OF APPLICATION

[001] The present invention is contained within the field of application of automated access control processes and parking stay validation. More precisely, the present invention presents an innovative automated system and process for access control and validation and / or payment, with the purpose of managing vehicle stays in parking lots, using a personal mobile phone as the sole physical means for all interactions with the automation and process control system, being used as the user's physical means for access and as the physical means for validation and / or payment of the stay, without the need for the user to use or even touch any other devices, equipment or instruments, in addition to being the medium itself that contains the identification code associated with the vehicle for all transactions with the Electronic Process System. DESCRIPTION OF THE STATE OF THE ART

[002] One of the most common urban mobility activities for those who use their own vehicles is stopping and parking them in designated areas, whether for commuting to work, or even in leisure spaces, supermarkets, schools, hospitals, etc.

[003] These places intended for parking vehicles, also known as parking lots, can basically use two types of processes for billing the period used (stay) by users in their spaces, either a manual process or an automated process. Petition 870260082551, dated 08 / 14 / 2026, page 14 / 41 2 / 12

[004] Both the manual and automated processes basically have the same 3 main steps, namely identifying the user by means of their vehicle's license plate at the entrance (step 1), quantifying the parking time and calculating the corresponding invoice payment (step 2), to allow the user's subsequent release at the parking exit (step 3).

[005] In the manual process, an attendant typically performs a visual identification of the vehicle and its license plate, as well as the time of entry into the parking lot, presenting a "ticket" with vehicle data and date / time. The entry data from this ticket will be used to calculate the amount billed at the end of the stay, and the user is responsible for presenting it to the exit attendant in exchange for permission to leave the vehicle.

[006] This manual process has a number of disadvantages, especially when applied to a parking lot with a high flow of vehicles entering and exiting, such as a shopping center, where the consequent result is the formation of queues and delays for both entry and exit of the respective vehicles, in addition to (human) errors in the calculations of the stay and the corresponding valuation, as well as the existence of fraud due to the lack of application of control rules.

[007] The automated process typically uses mechanical and electronic means to associate an electronic code with the vehicle upon entry, which will be used to identify the vehicle during the calculation of the stay, validation and / or payment, as well as for releasing the vehicle from the parking lot.

[008] These automated processes, already known in the state of the art, process digital information, using a digital code associated with the vehicle as a means of identifying it, controlling the process as a whole through this digital code. For processing to occur Petition 870260082551, dated 08 / 14 / 2026, page 15 / 41 3 / 12 For an automated electronic system, it is important to have a properly encoded media associated with the vehicle, which will be used in the three interactions with the automation system, allowing the data contained therein to be processed automatically upon entry, in the calculation of the stay and in the validation (and / or payment) and in the release for exit.

[009] This identification is based on capturing (or recording) a unique code from a medium that is associated with the vehicle, usually at the entry access point. The media and codes can have various formats, such as, for example, a paper ticket with a barcode, a smart card, an RFID tag, typing a code, reading a code on an electronic device, reading the vehicle's license plate, or even biometric identification of the user.

[0010] To capture an identification code, a suitable device is always required, usually electronic, to capture that specific identification code contained in the media, present at the three points of interaction of the “vehicle” with the automation system, located at the entrance, validation and / or payment, and exit.

[0011] To optimize costs and minimize errors, the attendants at the entry, stay calculation, validation and / or payment and exit access are replaced by electromechanical devices that perform the “handling” of the media containing the code, both for delivery and collection of media from users.

[0012] This more efficient automated process in parking lots that allow for a higher flow of vehicles and operate with greater security against fraud demands a high investment in implementation, as well as operational costs (media, consumables) and maintenance costs (electromechanical equipment).

[0013] Thus, the state of the art lacks other automated processes that offer efficiency without the high investment of Petition 870260082551, dated 08 / 14 / 2026, page 16 / 41 4 / 12 implementation and maintenance presented in already known automated processes, as well as allowing their addition and execution in parking lots where such conventional processes already exist. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The present invention aims to present an automated process for entry access, validation and / or payment of stay and exit access in parking lots that requires reduced infrastructure for its implementation.

[0015] Another objective of the present invention is to present an automated process for accessing, validating and / or paying for parking that allows the interaction between the automation system and the user to be carried out solely through the user's own mobile device, i.e., without the need for an additional coded identification medium, nor for physical equipment installed in the parking lot for interaction and processing of this medium, as occurs in currently existing automated processes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The subject matter of this invention will become fully clear in its technical aspects from the detailed description that will be made based on the figures below, in which: Figure 1 presents a block diagram indicating the logical sequence of steps in the automated process of accessing, validating, and paying for parking stays. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] In accordance with the objectives presented through the brief description, the present patent application entitled “AUTOMATED PROCESS FOR ACCESS, STAY VALIDATION AND EXIT RELEASE IN PARKING LOT” presents a process (P) Petition 870260082551, dated 08 / 14 / 2026, page 17 / 41 5 / 12 for parking management (E), which can be implemented in both new parking lots (E) as well as in parking lots (E) that already have automated infrastructure in place.

[0018] The Electronic Process System (P) is based on the use of the user's own mobile device as an identification medium, which will contain a code for associating vehicles and as an access medium for entering and exiting the parking lot (E), validation and / or payment, without the need to use other media and other equipment or instruments to make the physical interaction of the medium with the Electronic Process System (P).

[0019] For the implementation of the process (P), equipment is needed to interface between the electronic system of the process (P), i.e., its logic, the vehicle and the physical environment of the parking lot. This equipment includes detection devices, location identification devices, and passage control devices.

[0020] For didactic purposes, we will refer to the physical area of ​​the roadway where the entrance access is located as the "Entrance Island," and the physical area of ​​the roadway where the exit access is located as the "Exit Island." To allow the implementation of the logic for the interaction of the Electronic Process System (P) with the physical environment of the parking lot, these islands are composed of physical means. Each island consists of a location identification means, two detection means, and a passage control means.

[0021] The location identification method is a coded piece of information containing all the data necessary for the perfect identification of the location of that specific access island, such as: the location of the establishment, as well as the roadway, entrance, exit, and other information that may assist in communication with the Electronic Process System (P). The location identification method basically consists of a coded image. Petition 870260082551, dated 08 / 14 / 2026, page 18 / 41 6 / 12 in a mechanical device. This location identification method can be a simple sticker with a (static) encoded image or even an electronic screen, with an encoded image, static or changeable over time, controlled by the Electronic Process System (P).

[0022] The detection method is intended to detect the presence of a vehicle in the correct position for the Electronic Process System (P) to perform the transaction, and may be a presence sensor, inductive loop, infrared sensor, piezoelectric sensor, etc., or an equivalent method that allows the emission of an electrical signal to the Electronic Process System (P).

[0023] The purpose of a passage control device is to prevent the free flow of vehicles on access islands, basically a physical barrier, allowing flow only when authorized by the Electronic Process System (P). It is usually an electromechanical device called a gate, which has an articulated arm that opens and closes, either allowing or preventing flow, or an equivalent device.

[0024] The process-controlled parking cycle (P) has as its first stage (1) the entry access to the parking lot. The initial phase 1 of this stage (1) consists of creating an electronic code associated with the vehicle at the entry access, which is initiated by the user reading the code contained in the location identification medium using their mobile device, this code being placed on the curb of the entrance island.

[0025] This code, in addition to incorporating all the data necessary for the perfect physical identification of the location, has a second function, which is to initiate phase 2, creating a connection from the personal mobile device via the internet (or WiFi network, or other communication network) with a module of the process system (P), initiating a page of the Electronic Process System (P) (which for didactic purposes we will call the Portal here), and then proceeds to Petition 870260082551, dated 08 / 14 / 2026, page 19 / 41 7 / 12 establish contact with the user's mobile device without requiring any pre-installed application.

[0026] After the phases of identifying the physical access location and establishing the connection between the portal and the user, phase 3 begins, which is the creation of a unique user identification code for that stay. This code must be unique for the current stay, associated with the user's vehicle, and there cannot be another identical code while the vehicle is in the parking lot, ensured by the Electronic Process System (P).

[0027] There are several ways to use the Portal's IT tools to create a unique code associated with the vehicle on the user's mobile device, with the preferred method for process (P) being via a QR code displayed on an electronic screen controlled by the Electronic Process System. The QR image will not only identify the lane location but will also contain a code that will serve as the User's identification code. In conventional automation, the input equipment physically delivers a media, a code, to the user. In this solution, the System (P) delivers an electronic code via image link to the user's mobile device. For each new user, a new code is generated by the System (P) on the electronic screen.

[0028] Another way is an identification code generated by the Electronic Process System (P) portal itself, which is stored on the user's mobile device, for example an electronic code commonly called a cookie, which will be automatically used by the system (P) to generate the virtual ticket.

[0029] Another way is a code generated by the Electronic Process System Portal itself (P) that is stored in an image (for example, of the virtual ticket) that will be stored on the user's mobile device. Petition 870260082551, dated 08 / 14 / 2026, page 20 / 41 8 / 12

[0030] Another way is for the user to generate a code, which is checked step by step by the Electronic Process System Portal (P) to avoid duplicate codes. This code is easy for the user to remember for use in the payment and / or validation of stay and exit stages, for example, based on the vehicle's license plate, mobile device number, dates, and documents. Once generated, this code is stored in an image (for example, of the virtual ticket) that will be stored on the user's mobile device. The number of identification characters depends on the parking lot's vehicle capacity. After the creation of the unique user code, the Electronic Process System (P), through verification with the detection method, checks if the lane where the user started the identification stage (phase 1) has the detection method active (called the "presence area").If the detection method's response is negative, a message is sent by the Portal to the user's mobile device so that they can correct the vehicle's position.

[0031] With confirmation that there is a vehicle in the correct position on the roadway, the Electronic Process System (P) sends a command to the passage control medium authorizing user access, allowing the vehicle to enter the parking lot.

[0032] The Electronic Process System (P) verifies when the vehicle crosses the physical barrier, by means of an electrical signal emitted by the detection means (positioned after the passage control means), indicating that the vehicle has entered the parking area. The Electronic Process System (P) then sends a command to the passage control means preventing the flow of any new vehicles.

[0033] At this moment, the Electronic Process System Portal (P) registers the transaction on the Portal, with the location identification code, the user identification code and date-time, corresponding to an entry “Virtual Ticket”, similar to that used by the system. Petition 870260082551, dated 08 / 14 / 2026, page 21 / 41 9 / 12 conventional control, as well as storing this same information on the user's mobile device, completing step (1), vehicle entry into the parking lot.

[0034] Step (2) of the parking cycle, the calculation of the value and validation of the stay, which can be done using the user's mobile device. Conventional discount methods from automation systems can be used, such as vouchers and / or discount cards, properly coded to be read or even typed into the user's mobile device, or by electronic payment, in full or in part, with a financial card, in the Electronic Process System itself (P).

[0035] The initial phase 1 of this stage (2) is to choose how to connect to the Portal to validate the stay.

[0036] For users more experienced with mobile devices, this step is done by opening a browser and accessing the Electronic Process System Portal (P), proceeding to phase 2 of step (2).

[0037] For less experienced users, it is necessary to scan a specific code on the user's mobile device to validate the stay, codes which are provided on stickers or electronic screens inside the parking lot (E), which contain the parking data in coded form for validation and / or payment of the stay.

[0038] Reading this code by the user's mobile device also initiates phase 2 of step (2), where they connect via the internet to the Electronic Process System (P), on the page referred to here for didactic purposes as the Portal, to begin the phase of calculating the value of the stay, which begins as soon as the Portal completes phase 3, capturing the user's unique identification code. With this unique code, the Portal obtains the entry data, accounting for the length of stay and applying the appropriate business rules, making the value available for validation by the user, phase 4 of step (2), which can be done on the user's own mobile device. Petition 870260082551, dated 08 / 14 / 2026, page 22 / 41 10 / 12

[0039] This step (2) of the parking cycle can also be performed on conventional validation and / or stay payment equipment in conventional automated systems, attendant terminal or self-service terminal, which is always initiated from the user's unique identification code.

[0040] Once the amount to be paid is available, including any vouchers and discount stamps, and / or via a financial card, the payment transaction is made via the mobile device on the Electronic Process System Portal (P), a transaction similar to those already performed by conventional automation systems, thus completing phase 5 of stage (2).

[0041] As soon as the validation and / or payment transaction is made, the Electronic Process System (P) registers the data on the Portal and on the user's mobile device, phase 6 of step (2), and also provides the user with information about the free time to leave the parking lot, thus ending step (2) of the parking cycle. After the validation step (2), within the free time, the user must start step (3), which is the exit release process.

[0042] For stage (3) of the parking cycle, the release of the vehicle exit, the user must go to an exit lane of the parking lot, which for didactic purposes we call the “Exit Island”. As seen, these access islands are composed of physical means for implementing the logic for the interaction of the Electronic Process System (P) with the physical environment of the parking lot, consisting of a location identification means, two detection means and a passage control means.

[0043] When positioned at the exit island, the user must start the first phase of step (3), reading the code contained in the location identification device, using their mobile device, this code being placed on the curb in the exit island's traffic lane. Petition 870260082551, dated 08 / 14 / 2026, page 23 / 41 11 / 12

[0044] This code, in addition to indicating the physical location, initiates phase 2, creating a connection from the personal mobile device via the internet (or WiFi network, or other communication network) with a module of the Electronic Process System (P), initiating the “Portal” page of the process system (P), and establishes contact with the user's mobile device without the need for any pre-installed application.

[0045] The next phase 3 is the “capture” of the user’s unique identification code for that stay by the Portal, with the consequent obtaining of access and validation and / or payment data for the stay (phase 4). If the user has not correctly validated the stay, a message is posted to the user informing them that they must validate and / or pay for the stay.

[0046] If the user has correctly validated and / or paid for the stay, the next phase 5 is for the Electronic Process System (P) to check with the detection device whether the detection device is active in the lane where the user started the location identification step (called the "presence area"). If the detection device's response is negative, a message is sent by the Portal to the user's mobile device so that they can correct the vehicle's position.

[0047] With confirmation that there is a vehicle in the correct position on the lane, the Electronic Process System (P) sends a command to the passage control medium authorizing the user's exit access (phase 6), allowing the vehicle to be released (typically the arm of a gate is opened) to exit the parking lot.

[0048] The Electronic Process System (P) is informed when the vehicle has passed the physical barrier, by means of an electrical signal emitted by the detection device positioned after the passage control device, indicating that the vehicle has left the parking area. The Electronic Process System (P) then sends a command to the passage control device preventing the flow of any new vehicles. Petition 870260082551, dated 08 / 14 / 2026, page 24 / 41 12 / 12

[0049] At this moment, the Electronic Process System Portal (P) registers the transaction on the Portal (parking data, identification codes for access locations, user identification code, stay validation data, dates and times), completing the stay cycle, duly registering the transaction in the Electronic Process System (P) and on the user's mobile device.

[0050] In a variation of process (P), called process (P'), the user can interact directly with the “Portal” without needing to use the mobile device's browser, using a dedicated application on their mobile device, where the steps for creating a connection between the mobile device and the “Portal” are performed automatically by the application.

[0051] The great advantage of process (P) is the possibility of entering various types of parking without the need to issue physical vouchers, using only a mobile phone, and both entry and exit can be managed by the mobile phone itself.

[0052] It should be understood that the present description does not limit the application to the details described herein and that the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or performed in a variety of ways, within the scope of the claims. Although specific terms have been used, such terms should be interpreted in a generic and descriptive sense, and not for the purpose of limitation. Petition 870260082551, dated 08 / 14 / 2026, p. 25 / 41

Claims

1 / 5 CLAIMS 1. “AUTOMATED ACCESS, STAY VALIDATION AND EXIT RELEASE PROCESS IN PARKING LOTS”, for use in parking lots containing infrastructure comprising detection means, location identification means and passage control means, in which vehicle entry and exit access are performed by activating the passage control means and exit release is conditional upon stay validation, characterized by comprising the steps of: reading, at the parking lot entrance, using the user's personal mobile device, a code contained in a location identification means associated with an entry island; establishing communication between the user's personal mobile device and an electronic process system; creating and storing, for the current stay, a unique identification code associated with the user's vehicle;verify, using an initial means of detecting the entry island, whether the vehicle is in the correct position for access authorization; once the correct position of the vehicle is confirmed, send a command to the entry island's passage control system to allow the vehicle to enter the parking lot; upon exiting the parking lot, read, using the user's personal mobile device, a code contained in a location identification system associated with an exit island; re-establish communication between the user's personal mobile device and the electronic process system and capture the unique identification code associated with the current stay; Petition 870260082551, dated 08 / 14 / 2026, page 26 / 41 2 / 5 retrieve data from the stay and verify if there is an exit authorization condition associated with said stay, as well as verify, using an initial means of detecting the exit island, whether the vehicle is in the correct position for release;Once the exit authorization condition and the correct vehicle position are confirmed, send a command to the exit island's passage control system to allow the vehicle to leave.

2. “PROCESS”, according to claim 1, characterized in that the code contained in the location identification medium is placed on the curb of the entrance island.

3. “PROCESS”, according to claim 1, characterized in that the communication established with the electronic process system (P) is communication via the internet, or WiFi network, or other communication network.

4. “PROCESS”, according to claim 3, characterized in that the communication established with the electronic process system (P) initiates a communication page of the electronic process system (P).

5. “PROCESS”, according to claim 1, characterized in that the creation of a unique code associated with the vehicle on the user's mobile device is done by means of a QR code shown on an electronic screen, controlled by the electronic process system (P).

6. “PROCESS”, according to claim 1, characterized in that another way of generating the identification code is by the electronic process system (P) itself, with said code being stored on the user's mobile device, by means of a cookie, for automatic use by the electronic process system (P).

7. “PROCESS”, according to claim 1, characterized in that if the response from the first means of detecting the entry island is negative, a message is sent by the electronic process system (P) to the user's mobile device so that the user corrects the vehicle's position. Petition 870260082551, dated 08 / 14 / 2026, p. 27 / 41 3 / 5 8. “PROCESS”, according to claim 1, characterized in that, after the vehicle enters the parking lot, the electronic process system (P) verifies the crossing of the physical barrier, by means of an electrical signal emitted by a second detection means positioned after the passage control means of the entrance island, and sends a command to the passage control means preventing the flow of any new vehicles.

9. “PROCESS”, according to claim 8, characterized in that after the vehicle passes, the electronic process system (P) registers the transaction, with the location identification code, the user identification code and date-time, and also stores this same information on the user's mobile device, thus completing the entry step.

10. “PROCESS”, according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection for validation of the stay can be made by opening a browser on the mobile device and accessing a communication page of the electronic process system (P).

11. “PROCESS”, according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection for stay validation can also be made by means of the user’s mobile device reading a specific code for stay validation, this code being made available on stickers or on electronic screens inside the parking lot (E), containing in encoded form the parking lot data for stay validation.

12. “PROCESS”, according to claim 1, characterized in that in the stay validation step, the electronic process system (P) obtains the entry data, accounting for the length of stay and applying the stay validation rules.

13. “PROCESS”, according to claim 1, characterized in that when the stay validation is performed, the electronic process system (P) registers the data in the electronic process system (P) and on the user's mobile device. Petition 870260082551, dated 08 / 14 / 2026, p. 28 / 41 4 / 5 14. “PROCESS”, according to claim 1, characterized in that if the user has not correctly validated the stay, a message is sent to the user informing them that they must validate the stay.

15. “PROCESS”, according to claim 1, characterized in that if the response from the first means of detecting the exit island is negative, a message is sent by the electronic process system (P) to the user's mobile device so that the user can correct the vehicle's position.

16. “PROCESS”, according to claim 1, characterized in that after authorization of the exit, the electronic process system (P) is informed when the vehicle has passed the physical barrier, by means of an electrical signal emitted by a second detection means positioned after the exit island passage control means and sends a command to the passage control means, to prevent the flow of subsequent vehicles.

17. “PROCESS”, according to claim 16, characterized in that at the end of the check-out, the electronic process system (P) registers the transaction, containing parking data, identification codes for access locations, the user identification code, stay validation data, dates and times, concluding the stay cycle, registering the transaction in the electronic process system (P) and on the user's mobile device.

18. “PROCESS”, according to claim 1, characterized in that in a variation of the process (P) the user can interact directly with the electronic process system (P) without needing to use the mobile device's browser, through a dedicated interface on their mobile device, where the steps for creating a connection between the mobile device and the electronic process system (P) are performed automatically.

19. “PROCESS”, according to claim 1, characterized in that in a variation of the process, the user himself can generate a code, which is checked step by step by the electronic process system (P), avoiding duplications, the number of identification characters depending on the vehicle capacity of the parking lot.

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