Parking Block Assembly Access Control for Hotel Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hotel parking lots face issues with unauthorized individuals taking parking spots meant for guests, theft of parked vehicles, and damage due to improper parking, as existing systems lack effective access control and monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A parking system featuring a parking block assembly with a lift mechanism, sensor, and mobile device communication, which selectively lowers and raises a parking block based on credential data from authorized guests, preventing unauthorized access and ensuring proper parking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If parking spots are left open without access control, then guests can freely park their vehicles, but unauthorized individuals can take spots meant for guests and vehicles can be stolen
Solution Approach 1:
A parking block assembly acts as an intermediary physical barrier between authorized guests and parking spots. The block is lowered to reserve spots for guests and raised to allow access, mediating between the need for secure reservation and convenient access without requiring complex authentication systems at each spot
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables guests to self-manage their parking spots by controlling the parking block assembly themselves through mobile device communication. Guests can lower blocks to reserve spots and raise them to leave, providing autonomous access control without hotel staff intervention
2Reliability
If visual monitoring is implemented to prevent theft, then parked vehicles can be monitored, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The parking block assembly serves as a passive physical security mechanism that automatically prevents vehicle theft by blocking access to parked vehicles. Instead of active monitoring systems, the lowered block itself provides security through its physical presence, eliminating the need for cameras or active surveillance
Solution Approach 2:
The security function is extracted from complex monitoring systems and embodied in the simple mechanical parking block assembly. The block's primary security role is to physically prevent unauthorized access and vehicle movement, separating the security function from elaborate monitoring infrastructure
3Adaptability or versatility
If guests can park anywhere in the parking lot, then parking flexibility is maximized, but improper parking can cause damage and inconvenience
Solution Approach 1:
Each parking spot is equipped with its own parking block assembly that can be independently controlled. This local control allows guests to reserve specific spots with proper positioning, ensuring each vehicle is parked correctly in its designated area while maintaining overall flexibility in spot selection
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback to guests through mobile device communication when a vehicle is improperly positioned. The block controller detects improper parking conditions and notifies the guest, allowing them to correct the positioning before the block is raised, preventing damage while maintaining parking flexibility
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a method for accommodating parking requirements of a vehicle operator parking a vehicle at a parking spot, including: receiving, in a parking block assembly disposed in an egress area of a parking spot of a parking lot, authorized instructions from a mobile device of the vehicle operator to position a parking block in lowered position, positioning the parking block of the a parking block assembly in the lowered position, and wherein the authorized instructions are provided to the mobile device in advance and enable control of the parking block assembly only during a duration of a stay at the parking spot for the vehicle.