Parking Meter Low Power Radio Data Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data collection methods for single space electronic parking meters are labor-intensive, costly, and inefficient due to the need for manual data capture and high power consumption, especially when using cellular radios, which can lead to incomplete or inaccurate data reconciliation and increased operational expenses.
Innovation Solution
A parking meter management system comprising a single space parking meter with a low power radio and a mobile access point, such as a coin collection cart, that allows for wireless data transmission to a receiver when within proximity, reducing power consumption and simplifying data collection by integrating it with coin collection processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If cellular radios are used in single space parking meters to communicate parking meter information wirelessly, then data collection is automated and remote monitoring is enabled, but power consumption increases significantly and operational costs increase due to expensive data plans
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the wireless communication capability from the parking meter itself and places it in the mobile access point (coin collection cart). The parking meter only contains a simple receiver that receives data when the cart is nearby, eliminating the need for power-intensive cellular radios in the meter while maintaining automated data collection during coin collection operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile access point serves as an intermediary between the parking meter and the central monitoring system. Instead of the parking meter directly communicating via cellular radio, data is transmitted wirelessly from the meter to the moving access point, which then forwards it to the monitoring location, reducing power consumption at the meter while enabling remote communication.
2Device complexity
If manual data collection using hand-held devices is performed by collections officers, then infrastructure costs are reduced, but labor intensity increases and data collection time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service data collection where the parking meter automatically transmits its data to the mobile access point when the cart is within range, without requiring collections officers to manually probe each meter with hand-held devices. This maintains low infrastructure costs while dramatically reducing the time and labor required for data collection.
3Productivity
If data collection is performed separately from coin collection, then data can be captured without interrupting coin collection operations, but data accuracy decreases and reconciliation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges data collection with coin collection operations by integrating the wireless data transmission function into the mobile access point that collects coins. When the cart is at the parking meter collecting coins, data is automatically transmitted simultaneously, ensuring data accuracy and enabling reconciliation without interrupting coin collection operations.
4Use of energy by moving object
If low power radios are used in parking meters to transmit data, then power consumption is reduced, but transmission distance and reliability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spatial dimension of the communication system by using a mobile access point that physically moves to the parking meter location. This allows the low-power radio to transmit data over very short distances reliably, while the mobile cart covers the longer distance between meters and the central monitoring system, achieving both low power consumption and high reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution streamlines data collection, reduces labor and operational costs, and ensures accurate data reconciliation by automating the transmission of parking meter information when the mobile access point is in close proximity, enhancing the efficiency and reliability of managing single space parking meters.
Implementation Method 1
a low power radio for transmitting data to a mobile access point
Data Source
AI summary
There is disclosed a single space parking meter that includes a low powered radio for communicating with a mobile access point. There is also provided a parking meter management system comprising a single space parking meter and a mobile access point. The mobile access point comprises a coin collection cart, and a mobile data collection terminal including a wireless radio for communicating with the wireless radio of the single space parking meter. Also disclosed is a method of managing single space parking meters comprising the steps of collecting and storing meter information in a single space parking meter, receiving at a main electronics board of the single space parking meter a transmit signal, and transmitting the meter information to a mobile access point using a low powered radio of the single space parking meter.