PORTABLE PRE PAYMENT PARKING SYSTEM

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a pre-payment parking system, and more specifically to a system, which comprises a portable device for reloading parking time to a portable parking meter.

Background

Prepaid parking has so far been approached by different methods in the prior art. One method known in the art is the use of a dedicated in car meter automated machine for parking time reloading of a prepaid parking meter in exchange of money transfer. This method, however, requires construction. of a complicated infrastructure to support such a service, including, inter alia, distribution ,of dedicated machines for parking device reloading, and a complicated* process for verification of money transfer at each point of the transaction.

In still another method known in the art, counting time of parking is carried out by a service center which starts and stops counting upon receiving a call from the owner of the parking vehicle. For this purpose the vehicle owner is required to be registered at the service center, and to make a call or send an SMS using a cellular phone at the beginning and end of parking. The costs for such a service include not only the parking fee, but also charging for two cellular phone calls, which can be quite expensive, and commission fees to the service center. The accumulated costs may sometimes turn to be too high for the vehicle owner, and therefore not economic, especially in short time periods of parking. Enforcement according to this method is also not efficient and costly, requiring identifying a parking vehicle by a barcode or an ID device attached to it, and calling the service center for verification.

Still another method known in the art is termed LPR - License Plate Recognition. In this method the plate number of the vehicle is photographed and sent to a control center, which carries out an identification procedure. This method results in high costs to the local authority.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a more efficient, economic, user- friendly method and system for reloading a parking meter with pre-paid parking time.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for reloading pre-paid parking time to a parking meter and time debiting.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for ensuring authorized use of the parking.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method that significantly reduce (eliminate) the need for parking time allocating machines and the complicated structure entailed.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a portable parking personal meter that is adapted to operate according to the system and method of the present invention.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide information relating to parking capacity, occupancy, and enforcement.

This and other objects of the present invention, shall become clear as the description proceeds.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides a method for reloading parking time to a portable parking meter, which is more efficient, economic, and user-friendly.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a system for an efficient and fast parking time downloading to a parking meter, and time debiting, using different kinds of multiple agents or mediators for reloading parking time to a parking meter. Throughout the text the term parking time is also used in the sense of parking money, and vice versa. That is, reloading and debiting a parking meter, or an agent or mediator, may take place using either using time or money units.

Basically, a system for reloading a parking meter with parking time according to the present invention requires establishing communication between three main elements in either offline or online realtime modes. These three elements are .a control center which, authenticates, gathers and analyze data and distributes parking time, debits accordingly, and runs a database of all parking time transactions made through it, an agent or mediator, to which parking time is downloaded from the control center, and a parking meter, which is reloaded with parking time by the agent or mediator. It should be noted that the agent, must be authorized to access the control center in request for parking time downloading, and to provide accordingly the service of parking time downloading to parking meters. For this purpose the agent comprises a dedicated software for managing parking time downloading from the control center and to the parking meter.

An agent or mediator according to the present invention may be any of: a Dedicated portable Loading Device, hereinafter also termed "DLD", which transmits information to, and reloads parking time from the control center through a docking station; an Authorized Cellular Phone

(ACP), which communicates with the control center through wireless data communication; and an Internet site through which parking time may be downloaded from a remote terminal port. Communication between the DLD or the ACP and the parking meter may be carried out in different modes, including IR or wired communication. It should be noted that by the term ACP is also meant devices other than a cellular phone, which are capable of wirelessly communicating with the control center and downloading parking time on the one hand, and reloading a parking meter with parking time according to the teaching of the present invention. In one aspect of the present invention the control center records data input of each parking time downloading session, and debits a corresponding account accordingly. For this purpose the control center holds a record database, in which parking time downloading session data are stored for all the agents, which are licensed to provide parking time reloading services. A corresponding account data is opened, which, accumulates the debiting for each session and produces a bill for payment .for the agent on Tegular basis. In yet another aspect, the control center may possess a permission to access a bank account of the agent for the direct regular charging of the cellular phone owner's account.

Communication between the cellular phone and the parking device may be established by short range communication means, preferably by an Infra Red (IR) data communication channel or Bluetooth. Throughout this application, reference will be made to IR communication channel. It should be noted, however, that any type of short range communication is applicable as well. For this purpose both the agent and the parking meter comprise IR related hardware and software components for data transmission and receiving in IR frequency, and data conversion, processing, and display. Such short range conventional communication means, which comprise an internal IR photodiode, an IR window, which may be located, for example, at the front of a cellular phone, and IR hardware and software

components, intended for IR signal relay, digital conversion, and display are conventionally provided within cellular phones, and are suitable for this purpose. Moreover, such compatible IR arrangement is also sometimes included in prior art parking meters, and are generally used by the parking supervisors to ensure the validity of the parking device and of the parking itself. The parking meter may further comprise data storage means for the data transferred to it from the agent.

In one aspect of the present invention, a parking meter owner may also be the ACP owner, and reload his parking meter through his own ACP.

For parking time reloading, the parking meter is then placed in line of sight of the ACP or

DLD in case of IR communication, or connected tααt with a dongle cable in case of a wired communication, and perform parking time reloading^operation. It should be noted that such parking time; transmission, which is essentially a- money transaction, is accompanied by a reference number, which is the same number provided to the agent at the time of downloading parking time from the control center. The reference number migrates together with the time downloaded, thereby enabling close monitoring of the transaction until its final destination, and insuring discovery of any attempt of fraud.

Supervision and enforcement of parking according to the present invention is carried out using an enforcement device, which is capable of communicating with the control center on the one hand, and with the parking meter on the other hand. Such an enforcement device may be either a DED (Dedicated Enforcement Device), which is similar to the DLD ₅ however programmed for parking enforcement operations, or an ECP (Enforcement Cellular Phone), also similar to the ACP but programmed for parking enforcement and supervision instead of performing parking time transactions.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of the three elements system for parking time downloading from the control center through a mediator to the parking meter. Fig. 2 is a schematic illustration of the three elements system for parking enforcement.

Fig. 3 schematically illustrates a parking time downloading system where the mediator is a wireless communication device, particularly an Authorized Cellular Phone (ACP).

Fig. 4 is a schematic illustration of a parking meter.

Fig. 5 schematically demonstrates an offline parking time downloading to multiple Dedicated Loading Devices (DLDs) through a docking station.

Fig. 6 schematically illustrates an offline reloading of parking time to multiple parking meters through an Authorized Cellular Phone (ACP).

⁽ Fig. 7 illustrates 'online realtime parking time reloading of a ^; parking meter from' the control center through an Authorized Cellular Phone (ACP). Fig. 8 is an illustration of direct reloading a parking meter with parking time through the internet using connection to a remote terminal port.

Fig. 9 is a schematic flow diagram of reloading parking time to a Dedicated Loading Device

(DLD) from the control center and through a docking station, and data transfer from the DLD to the control center. Fig. 10 is a flow diagram of offline reloading a parking meter with parking time with a

Dedicated Loading Device (DLD).

Fig. 11 is a flow diagram of online realtime reloading of parking time from a control center to a parking meter through an Authorized Cellular Phone (ACP).

Fig. 12 is a flow diagram of an offline parking time reloading to an Authorized Cellular Phone (ACP) and parking time downloading to a parking meter.

Fig. 13 is a schematic illustration of enforcement and supervision of parking time.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates the main three elements of the system of the present invention. In the present invention, both options of downloading parking time or parking money may be used. These two options are equivalent, and throughout the text it is understood that the term "parking time" means also "parking money". The control center (100) downloads parking time to an agent or mediator, hereinafter AMD (200) and receives from it recorded data relating to the parking time previously downloaded to parking meters (300). The AMD (200) whenever in communication with a parking meter (300), loads it with parking time, and receives from it data relating to its parking history. The AMD (200) can be any of the three following devices: (a) a DLD (Dedicated Loading Device) (201), which is particularly designed- to be in communication with the control center (100) and the parking meter (300) for parking time; .downloading; (b) a wireless communication device, hereinafter ; a ACP (Authorized Cellular Phone) (202), which may serve for both offline and- online-realtime parking timedownloading from the control center (100) to the parking meter (300); (c) an Internet site (203) from which parking time can be directly downloaded to the parking meter (300). It should be noted that the AMD (200) may store all the data relating to the parking time transactions passing through it.

Fig. 2 schematically illustrates the main three elements of an enforcement system, intended for supervising and ensuring legal use of the parking time and prevention of fraud. The control center (100) is in communication with enforcement devices (400) operated by inspectors, which may be a DED (401) or an ECP (402), and receives from them data concerning use of parking time of parking meters (300) as obtained. The data transfer may be either in online-realtime or offline modes.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the DLD may operate also as a DED (401). Alternatively, the DLD and the DED may be two separate devices.

Fig. 3 is a schematic illustration of one embodiment of the present invention demonstrating a system for parking time downloading The AMD (200) is a wireless communication device (202), such as a ACP, or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) with cellular communication capabilities, where the control center (100) and the wireless device (202) communicate between them through a cellular data communication line. The communication between ACP (202) and parking meter (300) takes place either through IR or audial tone communication. IR communication requires that both the parking meter (300) and the ACP (202) comprise IR hardware and software support, and IR windows (212) and (310) as illustrated in both the ACP (202) andithe parking meter (300), through which parking time and related data may be transferred in both directions.

Fig. 4 is a schematic illustration of a parking meter (300) in accordance to one embodiment of the present invention. The parking meter (300) comprises On/Off button (320), OK confirmation button (330) for starting parking time metering button.

The Mode window is used for allowing IR communication between the DLD, DED, or ECP and the portable device.

The parking meter performs gathering of data, and local processing thereof, which may then be read either by the DLD, DED, or ECP, and transferred to the control center. The control center in turn processes the information received, and produces different results including, approval of parking time loading, identification of a stolen or forged parking device

according to different data relating to parking time consumption, location, probability of use etc., and statistical information regarding parking time management, control, and traffic.

Fig. 5 schematically illustrates reloading a DLD (201) with parking time in an offline mode. The DLD (201) is placed at a docking station (500), which is connected to the control center

(100). When connected to the docking station (500), the DLD (201) transfers the data relating to the parking time transactions which have been accumulated during a certain period of time, for example at the end of a day. The DLD (201) may place a request to the control center for parking time reloading, and the control center (100) may then transfer the requested parking time to the DLD (201) through the docking station (500). The docking station (500) may generally include also a battery charger for charging the battery of the DLD (201).

Fig. 6 is another embodiment offthe present invention for offline parking time downloading, , ' where the AMD (200) is in thistcase a ACP (202). The ACP is generally a regular cellular phone with some software modifications enabling it to perform the parking time downloading. It, of course, should also include an IR communication or audial tone capabilities. The ACP (202) communicates with the control center (100), through a cellular data communication line, and requests parking time downloading. During the session, the ACP (202) may also transfer data relating to the parking time transactions, which it has performed until the starting of the current session. After reloading with parking time, the ACP (202) may communicate upon request with a multiple number of parking meters (300), and load them with amounts of parking time. Communication between the ACP (202) and the parking meter (300) may take place either with IR or audio tone communication. As mentioned above, IR communication requires hardware and software support for IR data transfer, processing, and a display in both the ACP (202), and the parking meter (300). Tone

signal communication may take place by connecting between the ACP (202) and the parking meter (300), by a means of a dongle cable, connected for example to an audio inlet in both.

Fig. 7 is another embodiment of the present invention, which schematically illustrates an online loading of parking time from the control center (100), through an ACP (202) to a parking meter (300). The ACP (202) in this case serves only as a relay component through which parking time transaction is carried out between the control center (100), and the parking meter (300). In this embodiment also the communication between the ACP (202) and the parking meter (300) may take place through IR or audial tone communication. The ACP (202) may store in its memory the transaction data as a backup.

In a preferred embodiment ofϊthe present invention, the communication, and data transfer between the service center and the cellular phorieϊis. encrypted by a hianner known in the art; thus preventing attempts to breach the data transfer. In this respect, both the service center and the cellular phone comprise means for data encryption and deciphering according to an agreed code.

It should be noted that by the term ACP (202) as described in the present invention, and particularly in the above-described figures is meant a cellular phone, which has been assigned a special code for accessing the control center (100) for the purpose of making parking time transactions and updates, and in which a software enabling such operations has been installed. An ACP (202) as in the present invention is pre-registered at the control center (100), and may be owned by private individuals or agents which sell parking time downloading services to vehicle owners.

Fig. 8 demonstrates another embodiment of the present invention where transaction of parking time reloading between the control center (100), and a parking meter (300) is directly carried out by internet connection. The computer (203) connects to an internet site of the control center (100), which allows direct parking time downloading to the parking meter 5 (300) which is connected to the terminal computer (203) through a USB port. The transaction is carried out by placing a request at the internet site of the control center (100). Such a request may involve, besides the desired amount of parking time, also data as credit card number, bank account, personal details, and/or a password.

10 Fig. 9 describes an offline session for parking time downloading from the control center

(100), through a docking station (500) to a DLD (201). The session is opened (601) first by connecting the DLD to the docking station (602). After connection (and handshaking) is ^ψ f • ^{■ •} . complete, the DLD, transfers to the -control center/ through the docking station data and

,IfK information, all the, "accumulated data _: . and information relating to the parking time

15 transactions which the DLD has in its memory (603). The DLD may then request from the control center for parking time reloading (604), and the control center then verifies the DLD account, credit status, and record (605), and asks for approval (606). If the DLD request is not approved, then the control center denies the request (607). Disapproval of the request may be accompanied with a notice of the credit status, and the amount of parking time that is allowed

20 to the DLD, if any. The DLD may then place another request, within the limits of its credit account. If the request is approved, then the control center transmits to the DLD the amount of parking time requested (608). This amount is transmitted together with a transaction reference number (#) and the date of the transaction. After transmission is completed, the session is closed (609).

25

Fig. 10 is a flow diagram of reloading a parking meter with parking time/money in an offline mode using a DLD (201) as the AMD (200). The DLD (201) opens the session (701), and enters a request for parking time transfer. The DLD (201) checks for availability of the parking time amount requested (704), and returns with an answer. If the answer is no, then the DLD (201) denies the request (703). Alternatively, the DLD (201) may provide together with the negative answer, the amount of parking time that is available, and place another request accordingly (702). If the amount of parking time/money is available then the DLD (201) performs the parking time transaction to the parking meter (706). The DLD (201) transfers to the parking meter the amount of parking time together with the following details: 1. Parking time amount; 2. # _x - the original reference number of the parking time transaction available to the DLD (201), indexed in accordance with the number of the sub-transaction evolved from the original transaction (from the control center (100) to the DLD (201)); 3. date : .of ,. the transaction,* between the DLD (201) and !the i, parking meteπ and 4. the identification code of the DLD (201). After data transfer is' complete the DLD (20l) closes the session (707).

Fig. 11 is a flow diagram describing an online session of parking time reloading of a parking meter, using an ACP (202) as the AMD (200). The ACP initiates a call to the control center (801). The control center authenticates the ACP (802) (and the parking meter as well). In case authentication fails, then the control center denies access from the caller (803). In case authentication succeeds, then the ACP places a request for reloading it with an amount of parking time/money (804). The control center then verifies the ACP account, credit status, and history (805). In case the ACP's request is not approved then the control center denies the ACP request (807). Optionally the control center may present the status of the ACP's account, and redirect it to placing another request within the limits of his credit. If the request is approved, then the control center performs the transaction, transmitting the following to the

ACP: 1. parking time amount; 2. # - the reference of the transaction; and 3. date of the transaction (808). Accordingly, the control session updates his records with the data of this transaction. The ACP then transmits directly, the data transferred to it from the control center to the parking meter (809), including: 1. parking time amount; 2. # _x - the original reference 5 number of the parking time transaction available to the ACP (202), indexed in accordance with the number of the sub-transaction evolved from the original transaction (from the control center (100) to the ACP (202)); 3. date of the transaction; and 4. the identification, ID, of the ACP. Finally, the ACP closes the session (810). The ACP may store the data of each transaction in its memory as a backup.

10

Fig. 12 is an offline parking time reloading of a parking meter using an ACP (202) as the AMD ,(200). The steps of parking time downloading from the control center (100) to the ACP

⁽ ,n ^s (202)j -are. essentially the, same as in the online-realtime -mode of downloading, described in • Fig. L ¹ !:. The difference hereάs that the ACP stores theidata transferred to it from the control

15 center, until it is requested to reload a parking meter (909). These data include the parking time amount, the reference number of the transaction, and the date of the transaction. The ACP may afterwards connect to a parking meter (910), and transmit to it a requested amount of parking time (911). The parking meter receives with this amount also the reference of the original transaction made between the control center and the ACP, and indexed in accordance

20 with the number of the parking meters to which parking time has been downloaded from the ACP, the date of the transaction between the ACP and the parking meter, and the identification code, ID, of the ACP. After transmission is complete, then the ACP closes the session (912).

25 Fig. 13 schematically illustrates a typical situation of parking time supervision and enforcement. An inspector operates an enforcement device (400), which communicates with

a parking meter (300) through an IR interface (410). The parking meter (300) is placed on the window of the vehicle. The enforcement device (400) may be in online communication with the control center (100), or such communication may take place later (offline). Such an enforcement device may therefore be practically a DLD (201), however programmed for data retrieval from parking meters and data transfer to and from the control center. Alternatively, the enforcement device may be cellular phone, similar to the ACP (202) of the present invention, however programmed to communicate either offline or online with the control center and retrieve data from parking meters through an IR interface (410). The parking meter is placed inside the vehicle on its window, and the enforcement device reads the tparking meter identification number, and ensures it is a legal device, for example by comparing it with a list stored in its memory, or by transmitting the parking meter ID to the control centpr. and asking for approval or disapproval. Then the enforcement device reads data from the parking/meter, relating to the present parking of the vehicle. Such data may ;. include the ajnount of parking time/money stored in the parking λneter, the reference numbers of the parking time/money transactions between the parking meter and different ACPs (202) indexed in accordance with the number of transactions made by each ACP (202), these transactions dates, and the ID of each ACP (202).

In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the enforcement device may contain a list of parking meters, which are allegedly involved in fraud, and is thus capable of identifying them during an inspection tour.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention the enforcement device is a DED

(401), similar to the DLD (201), however programmed to perform enforcement activity. Such DED is equipped with IR hardware and software components, and is thus capable of reading data from parking meters. Communication with the control center is carried out through

docking stations, in a way similar to the communication of a DLD with the control center. The DED is connected to a docking station and transmits parking data accumulated during, for example a shift, to the control center. The control center records the data, and provides the DED with updated data, including an updated black list of fraudulent parking meters, transactions reference numbers, etc. The DED may comprise a rechargeable battery, which is recharged when connected to the docking station. When an ECP is used as the enforcement device by a parking inspector, then verification of a parking meter whether existing in the black list or not is carried out in realtime and simultaneously to the reading of data from the parking meter and transmission to the control center. Legal measures can be taken against the vehicle _* owner, in either of the offline and online-realtime situations, as producing a fine, parking report, or invitation to court.

In still another embodiment of the, present invention, the enforcement device^m&y^bte ;a wireless cojrnmunicaiibn device, particularly an Enforcement Cellular, Phone (EGP) similar to the ACP (202) of the present invention, however programmed for enforcement and supervision activities. Such wireless enforcement device may connect directly to the control center, either offline, at the end of an inspection shift for example, or online in realtime, and transmit the parking data, which it reads from parking meters. These data are the same as the data detailed for the DED. The advantage in using a wireless device for enforcement and supervision is the speed of analysis and response to attempts of fraud on the side of parking meter owners.

Example 1 Offline parking time reloading and enforcement: A licensed ACP owner downloads parking time from the control center, to his ACP in the amount equal

to 30$. Then he is requested by a first customer to reload the customer parking meter with parking time in an amount equal to 10$. A second and third customers then ask the ACP owner to reload their parking time with amounts equal to 15$, and 5$, respectively. All customers use the parking times stored in their parking time devices in different times of the day or other period of time, at different parts of the city. A parking supervisor reads the parking times used by each of the above three parking time devices using a DED, and transfers the data to the control center through a docking station at the end of (each) day shift. The control center then compares the (accumulated recorded and reported) parking time used with the parking time downloaded to the ACP, and confirms a match.

Example 2

Online parking time reloading and enforcement: A parking time owner which is also an ACP owner calls the control center in request for parking time downloading in an amount of 10$. The control center authenticates the ACP, checks the owner credit status and account and approves the request. Parking time is transferred to the ACP together with a reference number and the date of transaction, and the ACP transmits it through IR communication directly to the parking meter. The credit account of the ACP owner at the control center is debited, and his bank account is charged accordingly. An ECP with an IR communication system reads the parking data from the parking meter, and transmits them in realtime to the control center. The control center receives the data, compares them to the data of the transaction made, and confirms.

Example 3

Illegal parking time reloading and offline enforcement- A DLD owner reloads his DLD with parking time in an amount of 30$ from the control center, however distributes parking time an amount of 60$ instead. A DED reads the data from the parking meters to which the DLD has downloaded parking time. At the end of a shift the DED is connected to a docking station, and transmits the data to the control center. The control center compares the parking time transactions made between the DLD and the parking meters, with the transactions made between this DLD and the control center, and results in a mismatch. The DLD is then entered to a black list of attempted fraud, and this updated list is transmitted to the DED through the docking station. Sanctions, and punishment measures may then be applied with respect to the DLD owner, due to assumed, fraud.

While some embodiments of the invention have been described by .way of illustration, it will be apparent that the invention can be carried into practice with many modifications, variations and adaptations, and with the use of numerous equivalents or alternative solutions that are within the scope of persons skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the claims.