Parking Sign Monitoring Unauthorized Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing area monitoring systems, particularly in urban environments, fail to effectively differentiate between authorized and unauthorized vehicles in reserved parking spaces, leading to user frustration and inefficiencies in vehicle sharing and rental services, and are often vulnerable to vandalism.
Innovation Solution
A sign-based monitoring system equipped with sensors and short-range transceivers that communicate with vehicle beacons to determine vehicle authorization, generating notifications for approved or unapproved vehicles, and using a processor module to differentiate based on sensor data and vehicle identification keys, with optional long-range communication for remote alerts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional surveillance systems are used to monitor parking spaces, then the ability to observe the area is improved, but the cost increases and vulnerability to vandalism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive surveillance systems with inexpensive signs that can be easily replaced if damaged or stolen. Each sign contains minimal components (sensor, transceiver, processor) that are cheap enough to be disposable or easily replaceable, eliminating the need for expensive infrastructure while maintaining monitoring functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential monitoring function from complex surveillance systems and implements it through simple, standalone signs. By removing unnecessary components and focusing only on the core functionality (detecting vehicle presence and authorization), the system achieves reliability without the cost and vulnerability of conventional surveillance infrastructure.
2Reliability
If conventional surveillance systems are used, then area observation is improved, but the ability to identify authorized versus unauthorized vehicles deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the vehicle identification key (read from the vehicle's beacon) and sensor data to determine whether a vehicle is authorized or unauthorized. The processor receives feedback from both sources and makes a determination, providing precise identification capability that conventional surveillance systems lack.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the vehicle identification key stored in the sign's memory) that mediates between the sensor's physical detection and the final authorization determination. This intermediary allows the system to distinguish between authorized and unauthorized vehicles with precision that conventional surveillance cannot achieve.
3Device complexity
If signs are used for parking space identification, then the simplicity and low cost are improved, but the ability to detect and monitor vehicle authorization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sign serves multiple functions: it provides parking space identification, detects vehicle presence through sensors, reads vehicle identification keys, determines authorization status, and communicates with users. By making the sign multi-functional, the system achieves precise authorization detection while maintaining simplicity and low cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The sign autonomously performs monitoring and determination functions without requiring external surveillance infrastructure. The integrated processor and sensor system enable the sign to self-monitor, self-determine vehicle authorization, and self-communicate, achieving precise detection while maintaining simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for monitoring a parking space with a sign. A sensor monitors the parking space and generate sensor data. A short-range transceiver receives a vehicle identification key and communicates over a short-range communication channel. A processor module is communicatively coupled with the sensor and the short-range transceiver. The processor module is configured to determine whether a vehicle in the parking space is an approved vehicle or an unapproved vehicle based on at least one of the sensor data and the vehicle identification key. The processor module generates a first notification when the the approved vehicle is in the parking space and a second notification when unapproved vehicle is in the parking space. The first and second notifications are transmitted by the short-range transceiver over the short-range communication channel.