Arrangement and method for access control and fee payment at a billable area

Abstract

An arrangement and method for managing access control and fee payment at a billable area is disclosed, the arrangement comprising: a first barrier at entry to the billable area; a second barrier at, or in walkable distance from, an exit of the billable area; a first biometric reader for reading a biometric identifier of a payor approaching said first barrier and a second biometric reader for reading a biometric identifier of a payor in need of exiting via said second barrier; a biometric processing unit; an exit payment processing unit, operable to be in communication with said biometric processing unit and said respective first and second biometric readers and barriers such that upon receipt of a parking fare p linked to a calculated billable area time usage period t associated with the payor, the second barrier is opened to permit exit from the billable area.

Description

DescriptionTitle of Invention :ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD FOR ACCESS CONTROL AND FEE PAYMENT AT A BILLABLE AREATechnical FieldTHIS INVENTION relates to methods and arrangements including apparatus for collecting fares or entrance fees at one or more control points. The invention extends to checking devices combined with signalling apparatus and electric communication techniques. In particular, this invention relates to a parking lot access control and payment arrangement and method of using same.Background Art

[0001] Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures, such as printed tickets, characterized by identification or security features are commonly used to control access to and facilitate payment of parking fares.

[0002] While apparatus for printing and issuing parking access tickets differ, they all provide an easy method by which access to parking lots and payment for parking can be individualized and handled in a swift and convenient manner.

[0003] Ubiquitous parking lot access and payment systems typically consist of an automatic ticket gate, housing, insertion slot, display unit, approach detection sensor, first barrier at entry, printing unit, control unit, judgment unit, entry processing unit, output control unit, printing control unit, storage unit, guiding unit, accumulation unit, exit payment processing unit, exit processing unit, and second barrier at exit.

[0004] A drawback associated with the above-described technology is that a plethora of paper is processed daily. Each vehicle entering a parking lot receives a paper ticket which is discarded after use, thereby presenting a considerable paper disposal problem. Further, the tickets themselves and printing thereof cost parking lot operators a lot of money on an annual basis. In addition, our natural environment is negatively impacted due to enormous paper consumption, especially at parking lots of large shopping areas.

[0005] The inventors of the invention seek to address the abovementioned problems and aim to, at least in part, propose a solution to same.Summary of Invention

[0006] In broad terms, this invention provides a method for access control and fee payment at a billable area, the method comprising the steps of: providing a first barrier at entry to said billable area and a second barrier at exit; a first biometric reader for reading a biometric identifier of a payor, typically a person who desires to enter said billable area and who approaches said first barrier; a biometric processing unit operable to be in communication with an exit payment processing unit; and a second biometric reader for reading a biometric identifier of a payor eager to exit via said second barrier; inviting a payor to present a biometric identifier to said first biometric reader for transient recording of same; opening said first barrier once said biometric identifier has been read and recorded; inviting a payor eager to exit via said second barrier to present a biometric identifier to said second biometric reader; utilizing said exit payment processing unit to communicate with said biometric processing unit to calculate time t spent within the billable area based on an entry- and exit time difference and associating said time t with a payment due p; utilizing said exit payment processing unit to request said payor to effect payment p; and opening said second barrier once said second- or optionally third biometric reader has read said biometric identifier and said exit payment processing unit confirmed receipt of payment p.

[0007] In an embodiment of the invention, the billable area is selected from a parking lot, museum, art gallery, show, concert, expo-centre, festival, school, university, tourism attraction.

[0008] In an embodiment of the invention, the barrier is a turnstile, sliding gate, boom gate, vertical pivot gate, swing gate, retractable security gate, automatic electric gate, or door.

[0009] In an embodiment of the invention, the inviting step may comprise an electronic voice invitation broadcast via speaker system activated by a vehicle pressure sensor when the payor’s vehicle is parked in front of said first- or second barrier; or visual invitation readable from a screen cooperating with said first-, second-, or optionally third biometric reader.

[0010] The invitation may ask for swiping of a payor’s hand past said first or seconder optionally a third biometric reader; pressing of a finger against a sensing surface of said first or second- or optionally a third biometric reader; or staring into a camera or a camera identifying function of said first or second- or optionally a third biometric reader.

[0011] In accordance with a further aspect of the invention there is provided an arrangement for managing access control and fee payment at a billable area, said arrangement comprising:- a first barrier at entry to said billable area;- a second barrier at, or in walkable distance from, the exit to said billable area;- a first biometric reader for reading a biometric identifier of a payor approaching said first barrier and a second biometric reader for reading a biometric identifier of a payor desirous of exiting via said second barrier;- a biometric processing unit;- an exit payment processing unit, operable to be in communication with said biometric processing unit and said respective first and second biometric readers and barriers such that upon receipt of a parking fare linked to a calculated billable area time usage period t, associated with the payor, said second barrier is opened to permit exit from said billable area.

[0012] Moreover, when the exit from said billable area and the payment processing unit are remotely installed relative to each other within said arrangement, a third biometric reader may be provided, in communication with said biometric processing unit for receiving an opening instruction for said second barrier once abiometric identifier has been scanned of a payor desirous of exiting via said second barrier and after receipt of confirmation of payment Q.

[0013] The biometric reader may be selected from a Fingerprint Recognition device, Iris Recognition device, Face Recognition device, Retina Recognition device, Hand geometry recognition device, and Voice Recognition device.

[0014] In addition, said exit payment processing unit may comprise a housing, insertion slot for accepting card or cash payments, control unit for calculating park time between entry and payment, a display unit for keeping the payor informed about actions taken, a judgment unit for actuating open or close signals to said second barrier depending on payment received, and a printing unit for printing receipts. The biometric processing unit can alternatively be linked with the exit payment processing unit to process payments for registered users via a dedicated software application and with platforms such as Google Pay™ or Apple Pay™.

[0015] There is also provided for the biometric processing unit to include storage means for temporarily storing payor biometric data until payment is processed and payor exit occurred whereupon permanent deletion thereof is effected.

[0016] Furthermore, said exit payment processing unit may be integrally formed and of unitary construction with said second biometric reader. Alternatively, said exit payment processing unit may be located remote from said second biometric reader. Further alternatively, said exit payment processing unit may be linked with the dedicated software application and with platforms such as Google Pay™ or Apple Pay™ to facilitate payment by the payor wishing to exit from the billable area after reading and confirmation of a correlation between a payor registered on the dedicated software application, the payor’s biometric identifier, and calculation of a parking fare linked to a calculated billable area time usage period t spent within the billable area.Brief Description of Drawings

[0017] The invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying non-limiting diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings:

[0018] [Fig.1 ] shows an isometric view of a vehicle approaching a parking lot and a driver of the vehicle utilizing a ubiquitously employed ticket system to receive a ticket upon entry to allow access to the parking lot;

[0019] [Fig.2] shows an isometric view of the driver of Figure 1 utilizing the issued ticket to pay at a ubiquitous pay station for time spent within the parking lot;

[0020] [Fig.3] shows an isometric view of the vehicle of Figure 1 stopping at an exit boom gate and inserting his ticket to gain an exit pass from the parking lot;

[0021] [Fig.4] shows an isometric view of a vehicle approaching a parking lot and a driver of the vehicle utilizing an arrangement for managing access control and fee payment at a billable area, according to the invention, to gain entry to the parking lot;

[0022] [Fig.5] shows an isometric view of the driver of Figure 4 utilizing biometrics to pay at a pay station for time spent within the parking lot; and

[0023] [Fig.6] shows an isometric view of the vehicle of Figure 4 stopping at an exit boom gate and presenting his biometrics to gain an exit pass from the parking lot.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] This description is presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how at least one of the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice.

[0025] Referring to the drawings, Figures 4 to 6 depict an arrangement (10) for managing access control and fee payment at a billable area, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Although the arrangement (10) is represented in the explanatory drawings (Figures 4 to 6) with reference to a parking lot (8), it is envisaged that use of the arrangement (10) spans much broader. In fact, arrangement (10) is anticipated to find use in controlling access to and facilitating payment for time spent within a number of demarcated areas. Some examples include parking lots, museums, art galleries, shows, concerts, expo-centers, festivals, schools, universities, and tourism attractions.

[0027] Although some well-known technology and methodologies are depicted, in overview in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, such as, boom gates (2.1 ), (2.2) and pay station (4), they do form part of the present arrangement (10), shown in Figures 4 to 6. It will be appreciated that these components (2.1 ), (2.2) and (4) are only required to ensure functioning of the access control and payment arrangement (10) of the present invention and are not essentially novel features thereof. A modification of these components are thus believed to also fall within the ambit of the present invention

[0028] However, access control and payment arrangement (10) of the present invention, depicted in Figures 4 to 6 of the drawings, includes additional features that are added and connected to the boom gates (2.1 )(2.2), pay station (4); and, in the case of registered members on the back end via a dedicated software application, typically for a mobile device, and payment digital platforms. These additional features, as will become apparent from reading this description, improve access control operation and facilitate payment in a billable area such as, for example, a parking lot.

[0029] In Figure 4, reference numeral (10) refers to arrangement for managing access control and fee payment at a billable area, in this instance, a parking lot.

[0030] The arrangement (10) includes a first barrier or boom (2.1 ) at entry to the billable area; a second barrier or boom (2.2) shown in Figure 6, at exit of the billable area; a first biometric reader (12.1 ) for reading a biometric identifier such as hand geometry of the payor (6), in this example, a vehicle driver, approaching the first barrier (2.1 ); and a second biometric reader (12.2) for reading a biometric identifier or hand geometry of the payor (6) who wants to exit via the second barrier (2.2). The arrangement (10) also includes a biometric processing unit (not shown), typically comprising a circuit board in communication with a computer program and electrical connections. The program typically comprises source code for:- temporarily recording biometric data of the payor (6) onto data storage means of the arrangement (10); allowing communication between the first and second biometric readers (12.1 ), (12.2); allowing communication between the booms (2.1 ), (2.2).The biometric processing unit is also configured to seamlessly communicate with and actuate the booms (2.1 ), (2.2) to selectively open or close upon receipt of opening or closing instructions from the biometric processing unit.

[0031] The arrangement (10) further includes an exit payment processing unit (14), as shown in Figure 5 operable to be in communication with the biometric processing unit and the respective first and second biometric readers (12.1 ), (12.2) and bamers / booms (2.1 ), (2.2) such that upon receipt of a parking fare Q linked to a calculated billable area time usage period t, associated with the payor (6), the second barrier (2.2) is opened to permit exit from said billable area. In instances where the exit from the billable area and the exit payment processing unit (14) are remote relative to each other, but within reasonable walking distance within the arrangement (10), a third biometric reader (12.3) may be provided, as shown in Figure 6. Reader (12.3) is configured to be in communication with the biometric processing unit for receiving an opening instruction for said second barrier (2.2) once a hand geometry (biometric identifier) has been scanned of a payor (6) desirous of exiting via the second barrier (2.2) and after receipt of confirmation of payment Q.

[0032] While a hand scanning biometric reader (12.1 ), (12.2) for reading a biometric identifier in the form of hand geometry, is shown, it will be appreciated that fingerprint recognition devices may also be employed. This technology captures an individual’s fingerprint patterns, including whorls, arches, and loops. Alternatively, iris recognition devices may be employed to scan and record a biometric identifier of the payor (6). Iris recognition analyses the unique characteristics of the coloured tissue around the pupil, such as rings, furrows, and freckles. Further alternatively, face recognition devices may be used to scan and record a biometric identifier of the payor (6). Facial recognition records face images and analyses features like eye distance, nose position, and jaw edges. Otherwise, retina recognition devices may be employed to scan and record a biometric identifier of the payor (6). This modality uses infrared technology to capture the unique patterns of an individual’s retina blood vessels. It’s highly reliable due to the retina being an internal organ protected from external environments. Else, voice recognition may be employed to scan and record a biometric identifier of the payor (6). Voice biometrics analyse an individual’s voice patterns.

[0033] These measurements are stored temporarily in a database (not shown) for comparison and identification, whereafter it is deleted immediately upon exit of a payor (6) via the second barrier (2.2) to ensure protection of personal information. These measurements are used for secure authentication and identification of the payor (6).

[0034] The invention extends to a biometric processing unit (16) for a parking lot, adapted to be brought into communication with an exit payment processing unit (14) of the parking lot. The biometric processing unit (16) consists of a computing device; a power supply, a circuit board in communication with the computing device; and electrical connections that connect to and operate the first- and second barriers (2.1 ), (2.2) disposed respectively at entry and exit positions of the parking lot, which first- and second barriers are further respectively electronically linked to first- and second biometric readers (12.1 ), (12.3) for respectively reading a biometric identifier of a payor approaching the first- and second barriers (2.1 ), (2.2). It will be appreciated that the computing device will be loaded with a set of instructions fixed or stored in any manner and which, when used directly or indirectly in the computing device, directs its operation to firstly compare transiently recorded biometric data of the payor (5) at the first- and second biometric readers(12.1 ), (12.3); secondly determine whether the transiently recorded biometric data at the first- and second biometric readers (12.1 ), (12.3) match; and thirdly to bring about opening of said second barrier (12.3) when said transiently recorded biometric data do match and communication is received from said exit payment processing unit (14) confirming successful receipt of payment from the payor (5).

[0035] The biometric processing unit (16) as described above may have an exit payment processing unit (14) that comprises a paystation biometric reader apt to read biometric data of the payor (5) at the moment of making payment thereby to confirm that transiently recorded biometric data of the payor (5) at the paystation biometric reader matches or correlates to data recorded at the first biometric reader(12.1 ).

[0036] In another embodiment of the invention, although not shown in the drawings, the biometric processing unit (16) can be connected with, or is connectable to, a software application on a mobile device of the payor (5), which application comprises a digital payment platform to which the payor (5) subscribes, or on whichthe payor (5) is registered, with selective connection to authorised access to payment account details of the payor (5) such that the paystation will be ignored by the payor at exit to the parking lot and funds are automatically deducted from the account of the payor (5) upon recognision by the exit payment processing unit (14) of the payor’s biometrics upon exiting the parking lot. The biometric processing unit (16) is also envisaged to be linked with the exit payment processing unit to process payments for registered users via the software application and with platforms such as Google Pay™ or Apple Pay™ or a dedicated payment accepting platform of the applicant where bank details are entered into the platform in order for the funds to be withdrawn for parking usage after exit from a parking lot registered on the software application. This facilitates payment by the payor wishing to exit from the billable area after reading and confirmation of a correlation between a payor registered on the dedicated software application, the payor’s biometric identifier, and calculation of a parking fare Q linked to a calculated billable area time usage period t spent within the billable area.

[0037] The computer software, source code, and / or instructions may be stored and / or accessed on machine readable transitory and / or non-transitory media that may include: computer components, devices, and recording media that retain digital data used for computing for some interval of time; semiconductor storage known as random access memory ("RAM"); mass storage typically for more permanent storage, such as optical discs, forms of magnetic storage like hard disks, tapes, drums, cards and other types; processor registers, cache memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory; optical storage such as CD, DVD; removable media such as flash memory (e.g. USB sticks or keys), floppy disks, magnetic tape, paper tape, punch cards, standalone RAM disks, zip drives, removable mass storage, off-line, and the like; other computer memory such as dynamic memory, static memory, read / write storage, mutable storage, read only, random access, sequential access, location addressable, file addressable, content addressable, network attached storage, storage area network, bar codes, magnetic ink, and the like.

[0038] The methods and systems described herein may transform physical and / or intangible items from one state to another. The methods and systems described herein may also transform data representing physical and / or intangible items from one state to another.

[0039] The elements described and depicted herein imply logical boundaries between the elements. However, according to software or hardware engineering practices, the depicted elements and the functions thereof may be implemented on machines through computer executable transitory and / or non-transitory media having a processor capable of executing program instructions stored thereon as a monolithic software structure, as standalone software modules, or as modules that employ external routines, code, services, and so forth, or any combination of these, and all such implementations may be within the scope of the present disclosure. Examples of such machines may include, but may not be limited to, personal digital assistants, laptops, personal computers, mobile phones, other handheld computing devices, wired or wireless communication devices, transducers, chips, calculators, satellites, tablet PCs, electronic devices, devices having artificial intelligence, computing devices, networking equipment, servers, routers, and the like. Furthermore, the elements depicted in the drawings may be implemented on a machine capable of executing program instructions. Thus, it will be appreciated that the various steps identified and described above may be varied and that the order of steps may be adapted to particular applications of the techniques disclosed herein. All such variations and modifications are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure. As such, the depiction and / or description of an order for various steps should not be understood to require a particular order of execution for those steps, unless required by a particular application, or explicitly stated or otherwise clear from the context.

[0040] The methods and / or processes described above, and steps associated therewith, may be realized in hardware, software or any combination of hardware and software suitable for a particular application. The hardware may include a general-purpose computer and / or dedicated computing device or specific computing device or particular aspect or component of a specific computing device. The processes may be realized in one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, embedded microcontrollers, programmable digital signal processors or other programmable devices, along with internal and / or external memory. The processes may also, or instead, be embodied in an application specific integrated circuit, a programmable gate array, programmable array logic, or any other device or combination of devices that may be configured to process electronic signals. It willfurther be appreciated that one or more of the processes may be realized as a computer executable code capable of being executed on a machine-readable medium.

[0041] The computer executable code may be created using a structured programming language such as C, an object oriented programming language such as C++, SQL, or any other high-level or low-level programming language (including assembly languages, hardware description languages, and database programming languages and technologies) that may be stored, compiled or interpreted to run on one of the above devices, as well as heterogeneous combinations of processors, processor architectures, or combinations of different hardware and software, or any other machine capable of executing program instructions.

[0042] Thus, in one aspect, methods described above and combinations thereof may be embodied in computer executable code that, when executing on one or more computing devices, performs the steps thereof. In another aspect, the methods may be embodied in systems that perform the steps thereof, and may be distributed across devices in a number of ways, or all of the functionality may be integrated into a dedicated, standalone device or other hardware. In another aspect, the means for performing the steps associated with the processes described above may include any of the hardware and / or software described above. All such permutations and combinations are intended to fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0043] While the disclosure has been disclosed in connection with the preferred embodiments shown and described in detail, various modifications and improvements thereon will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the spirit and scope of the present disclosure is not to be limited by the foregoing examples but is to be understood in the broadest sense allowable by law.

[0044] The use of the terms "a," "an." and "the" and similar referents in the context of describing the disclosure (especially in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms "comprising," "having," "including," and "consisting" are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e.,meaning "including, but not limited to,") unless otherwise noted. Recitations of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein.

[0045] All methods described herein may be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., "such as") provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the disclosure and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the disclosure unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the disclosure.

[0046] While preferred embodiments of the invention are shown and described, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the extent of the invention, but rather it is intended to cover all modifications and alternate methods, including: methods, for manufacturing the arrangement (10) and using the associated method for access control and fee payment at a billable area, falling within the spirit and the scope of the invention.

[0047] The applicant believes that the arrangement (10) and associated method of the present invention, at least in part, addresses shortcomings in conventional access control and payment systems and provides a neat, functional, and cost-effective alternative with less drawbacks than conventional systems and methods.

[0048] The invention for which patent protection is sought is defined in the set of claims that follows herein.

Claims

Claims

1. A method for access control and fee payment at a billable area, the method comprising the steps of: providing a first barrier at entry to said billable area and a second barrier at exit; a first biometric reader for reading a biometric identifier of a payor, typically a person who desires to enter said billable area and who approaches said first barrier; a biometric processing unit operable to be in communication with an exit payment processing unit; and a second biometric reader for reading a biometric identifier of a payor eager to exit via said second barrier; inviting a payor to present a biometric identifier to said first biometric reader for transient recording of same; opening said first barrier once said biometric identifier has been read and recorded; inviting a payor eager to exit via said second barrier to present a biometric identifier to said second biometric reader; utilizing said exit payment processing unit to communicate with said biometric processing unit to calculate time t spent within the billable area based on an entry- and exit time difference and associating said time t with a payment due 2; utilizing said exit payment processing unit to effect payment 2; and opening said second barrier once said exit payment processing unit confirms receipt of payment 2 and said biometric processing unit confirms matching of said biometric identifiers received at said first- and second- or optionally third biometric readers.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein any of the inviting steps comprises an electronic voice invitation broadcast via speaker system activated by a vehicle pressure sensor when the payor’s vehicle is parked in front of said first- or second barrier.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein any of the inviting steps comprises a visual invitation, readable by the payor from a screen cooperating with said first-, second-, or optionally third biometric reader.

4. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said inviting step includes asking for payor action selected from the group consisting of swiping of a payor’s hand past said first or second- or optionally a third biometric reader; pressing of a finger against a sensing surface of said first or second- or optionally a third biometric reader; or staring into a camera or camera identifying function of said first or seconder optionally a third biometric reader.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said billable area is selected from a parking lot, museum, art gallery, show, concert, expo-centre, festival, school, university, tourism attraction.

6. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said barrier is a turnstile, sliding gate, boom gate, vertical pivot gate, swing gate, retractable security gate, automatic electric gate, or door.

7. An arrangement for managing access control and fee payment at a billable area, said arrangement comprising:- a first barrier at entry to said billable area;- a second barrier at, or in walkable distance from, an exit of said billable area;- a first biometric reader for reading a biometric identifier of a payor approaching said first barrier and a second biometric reader for reading a biometric identifier of a payor in need of exiting via said second barrier;- a biometric processing unit;- an exit payment processing unit, operable to be in communication with said biometric processing unit and said respective first- and second biometric readers and first and second barriers such that upon receipt of firstly a parking fare linked to a calculated billable area time usage period t associated with the payor; and secondly upon receipt of confirmation of a match between biometric data transiently recorded at first-, secondbiometric readers, said second barrier is opened to permit exit from said billable area.

8. The arrangement as claimed in claim 7, comprising a third biometric reader which, when the exit from said billable area and said exit payment processing unit are remotely disposed relative to each other within said arrangement, such third biometric reader is provided, in communication with said biometric processing unit for receiving an opening instruction for said second barrier once a biometric identifier has been scanned of a payor in need of exiting via said second barrier and after receipt of confirmation of payment from said payor.

9. The arrangement as claimed in claim 7 or in claim 8, wherein said biometric reader is selected from a Fingerprint Recognition device, Iris Recognition device, Face Recognition device, Retina Recognition device, Hand geometry recognition device, and Voice Recognition device.

10. The arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein said exit payment processing unit comprises a housing, insertion slot for accepting card or cash payments, control unit for calculating park time between entry and payment, a display unit for keeping the payor informed about actions taken, a judgment unit for actuating open or close signals to said second barrier depending on payment received, and a printing unit for printing receipts.

11. The arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the biometric processing unit comprises storage means for temporarily storing payor biometric data until payment is processed and payor exit occurred whereupon permanent deletion thereof is effected.

12. The arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 11 , wherein said exit payment processing unit is integrally formed and of unitary construction with said second biometric reader.

13. The arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 11 , wherein said exit payment processing unit is located remote from said second biometric reader.

14. A biometric processing unit for a parking lot, adapted to be brought into communication with an exit payment processing unit of said parking lot, the biometric processing unit comprising a computing device; a power supply, a circuit board in communication with said computing device; and electrical connections that connect to and operate a first- and second barrier disposed respectively at entry and exit positions of said parking lot, which first- and second barriers are further respectively electronically linked to first- and second biometric readers for respectively reading a biometric identifier of a payor approaching said first- and second barriers, wherein said computing device is loaded with a set of instructions fixed or stored in any manner and which, when used directly or indirectly in said computing device, directs its operation to firstly compare transiently recorded biometric data of the payor at said first- and second biometric readers; secondly determine whether said transiently recorded biometric data match; and thirdly to bring about opening of said second barrier when said transiently recorded biometric data do match and communication is received from said exit payment processing unit confirming successful receipt of payment from the payor.

15. The biometric processing unit of claim 14, wherein said exit payment processing unit comprises a paystation biometric reader apt to read biometric data of said payor at the moment of making payment thereby to confirm that transiently recorded biometric data of said payor at said paystation biometric reader matches data recorded at said first biometric reader.

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