U.S. patent application number 17/070011 was filed with the patent office on 2021-09-02 for control system for wireless communication parking meter.
The applicant listed for this patent is DUNCAN PARKING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.. Invention is credited to Gavin JONES, Mike NICKOLAUS, Balu SUBRAMANYA.
Application Number | 20210272085 17/070011 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005594425 |
Filed Date | 2021-09-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210272085 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
JONES; Gavin ; et
al. |
September 2, 2021 |
CONTROL SYSTEM FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATION PARKING METER
Abstract
An electronic parking meter mechanism is provided. The
electronic meter mechanism includes an inner housing, an electronic
display screen and a wireless communication subsystem configured to
wirelessly communicate with a parking management system. The
electronic meter mechanism includes a first processor configured to
control the electronic display screen, and a second processor
configured to control communication of data by the wireless
communication subsystem.
Inventors: |
JONES; Gavin; (Pymble,
AU) ; SUBRAMANYA; Balu; (Darnestown, MD) ;
NICKOLAUS; Mike; (Milwaukee, WI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
DUNCAN PARKING TECHNOLOGIES, INC. |
Milwaukee |
WI |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005594425 |
Appl. No.: |
17/070011 |
Filed: |
October 14, 2020 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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16292284 |
Mar 4, 2019 |
10839360 |
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17070011 |
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16039558 |
Jul 19, 2018 |
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16292284 |
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15346860 |
Nov 9, 2016 |
10032150 |
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16039558 |
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13468876 |
May 10, 2012 |
9524498 |
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15346860 |
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61484568 |
May 10, 2011 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07B 15/02 20130101;
G07F 17/24 20130101; Y04S 50/14 20130101; G06Q 20/145 20130101;
H04W 4/70 20180201; G08G 1/141 20130101; G07B 15/00 20130101; G06Q
30/0284 20130101; G07C 5/02 20130101; G07F 17/248 20130101; G07C
1/30 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 20/14 20060101
G06Q020/14; G07C 5/02 20060101 G07C005/02; G07F 17/24 20060101
G07F017/24; G06Q 30/02 20060101 G06Q030/02; G07C 1/30 20060101
G07C001/30; G07B 15/02 20060101 G07B015/02; H04W 4/70 20060101
H04W004/70; G07B 15/00 20060101 G07B015/00; G08G 1/14 20060101
G08G001/14 |
Claims
1. An electronic parking meter mechanism comprising: an inner
housing including a front side and a rear side; an electronic
display screen supported by the inner housing; a first processor
configured to control the electronic display screen; a wireless
communication subsystem supported by the inner housing configured
to wirelessly communicate with a parking management system; and a
second processor configured to control communication of data by the
wireless communication subsystem.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/346,860, filed Nov. 9, 2016, which is a
continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/468,876, filed
May 10, 2012, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,524,498 on Dec. 20,
2016, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 61/484,568 titled "PARKING METER SYSTEMS AND
METHODS," filed May 10, 2011, all of which are incorporated herein
by reference in their entireties.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of
parking meter systems, devices and methods. The present invention
relates specifically to a parking meter system equipped for
wireless communication between the various components of the
parking system.
[0003] Single space parking meters are typically associated with a
single parking space. To utilize an individually metered parking
space, a motorist typically inserts money into the parking meter,
and the parking meter displays an amount of time related to the
amount of money inserted. A multi-space meter typically provides a
single payment location for more than one parking spot, and the
multi-space meter receives payment and tracks meter time for the
multiple parking spots. For either type of meter, the motorist may
park at the metered spot for the amount of parking time purchased.
When the time on the meter expires, the motorist may move their car
or add more time to the meter. If the meter expires and the
motorist remains parked at the meter, a parking enforcement officer
may issue a parking ticket. A city or other entity may operate a
city wide system of single space parking meters and/or multi-space
meters.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Generally, one embodiment of the invention relates to an
electronic parking meter mechanism. The electronic meter mechanism
includes an inner housing, an electronic display screen and a
wireless communication subsystem configured to wirelessly
communicate with a parking management system. The electronic meter
mechanism includes a first processor configured to control the
electronic display screen, and a second processor configured to
control communication of data by the wireless communication
subsystem.
[0005] Another embodiment of the invention relates to an electronic
parking meter mechanism including an inner housing including a
front side and a rear side. The mechanism includes an electronic
display screen supported by the inner housing and a first processor
configured to control the electronic display screen. The mechanism
includes a wireless communication subsystem supported by the inner
housing configured to wirelessly communicate with a parking
management system and a second processor configured to control
communication of data by the wireless communication subsystem.
[0006] Another embodiment of the invention relates to an electronic
parking meter control system configured to communicate with a
single space meter processor that controls the display and time
keeping functions of a single space parking meter. The control
system includes a processor configured to be communicably coupled
to the single space meter processor and wireless communication
hardware communicably coupled to the processor. The processor is
configured to receive data from the single space meter processor
and is configured to control the wireless communications hardware
to transmit the received data to the parking management system.
[0007] Another embodiment of the invention relates to an electronic
parking meter device including an inner housing including a front
side and a rear side and wireless communications hardware supported
by the inner housing configured to wirelessly communicate with a
parking management system. The device includes a credit card
mag-strip reader supported by the inner housing and a currency
reader including a slot for receiving currency located on the front
side of the inner housing, The device includes an electronic
display screen supported by the inner housing including both front
and rear displays and a keypad located below the slot of the
currency reader. The device includes a vehicle sensor configured to
detect a vehicle located within a parking space associated with the
electronic meter mechanism and to generate a signal indicative of
the presence of the vehicle within the parking space. The device
includes a first processor configured to perform parking meter time
keeping functions. The device includes a second processor
configured to receive signals from the credit card mag-strip reader
and the vehicle sensor and to control communications via the
wireless communications hardware.
[0008] Alternative exemplary embodiments relate to other features
and combinations of features as may be generally recited in the
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] This application will become more fully understood from the
following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like
elements in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 shows a parking system according to an exemplary
embodiment.
[0011] FIG. 2 shows a pole-mount vehicle sensor according to an
exemplary embodiment.
[0012] FIG. 3 shows a surface-mount vehicle sensor according to
exemplary embodiments.
[0013] FIG. 4 shows a subterranean sensor according to an exemplary
embodiment.
[0014] FIG. 5 shows a parking system according to an exemplary
embodiment.
[0015] FIG. 6 shows a parking system according to an exemplary
embodiment.
[0016] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a parking system according to
an exemplary embodiment.
[0017] FIG. 8A is a front view of a single-space parking meter
according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0018] FIG. 8B is an exploded view of a single-space parking meter
according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0019] FIG. 9 is a front view of an electronic meter mechanism
according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0020] FIG. 10 is a flow diagram showing the operation of a parking
meter according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0021] FIG. 11 is a flow diagram showing zeroing of a parking meter
according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0022] FIG. 12 is a flow diagram showing control of parking meter
including a maximum time limit according to an exemplary
embodiment.
[0023] FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an electronic meter
mechanism according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0024] FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a controller for a parking
meter according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0025] FIG. 15 shows a controller coupled to the main electronics
board of a single-space meter according to an exemplary
embodiment.
[0026] FIG. 16 shows a controller incorporated in a stand-alone
vehicle sensor according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0027] FIG. 17 shows a controller configured for the control of two
single-space parking meters according to an exemplary
embodiment.
[0028] FIG. 18 shows a detailed block diagram of a controller
configured for the control of two sets of peripheral devices for
two single-space parking meters according to an exemplary
embodiment.
[0029] FIG. 19 shows a controller configured to provide additional
functionality as a retrofit for a single-space meter according to
an exemplary embodiment.
[0030] FIG. 20 shows a controller configured to function as a
gateway for a parking system according to an exemplary
embodiment.
[0031] FIGS. 21A, 21B, 21C, 21D, 21E, 21F, and 21G show a process
for upgrading a single-space parking meter with a new electronic
meter mechanism according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0032] FIG. 22 is a front view of an electronic meter mechanism
according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0033] FIG. 23 is a side view of an electronic meter mechanism
according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0034] FIG. 24 is a rear view of an electronic meter mechanism
according to an exemplary embodiment.
[0035] FIGS. 25A, 25B, 25C, 25D, 25E, 25F, 25G, 25H, and 25I show a
process of upgrading a single-space parking meter with a new
electronic meter mechanism according to an exemplary
embodiment.
[0036] FIG. 26 shows a meter housing cap following revision to
accommodate an electronic meter mechanism that includes front and
rear solar panels.
[0037] FIG. 27 shows a perspective view of an electronic meter
mechanism with a removable memory device according to an exemplary
embodiment.
[0038] FIG. 28 shows the electronic meter mechanism of FIG. 27 with
the removable memory device removed according to an exemplary
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0039] Before turning to the figures, which illustrate the
exemplary embodiments in detail, it should be understood that the
present application is not limited to the details or methodology
set forth in the description or illustrated in the figures. It
should also be understood that the terminology is for the purpose
of description only and should not be regarded as limiting.
[0040] Referring to FIGS. 1, 5, 6 and 7, various exemplary
embodiments of parking system 10 are shown. In the exemplary
embodiment of FIG. 1, parking system 10 includes one or more
single-space parking meters 12, one or more multi-space parking
meters 14, a communication network, shown as wireless network 16,
and a parking system control system, shown as parking management
system 18. Both single-space meters 12 and multi-space meter 14 may
be configured to communicate with parking management system 18 by
directly accessing wireless network 16. In various embodiments,
wireless network 16 may be a mobile telephone system, and meters 12
and 14 may access wireless network 16 utilizing standard mobile
telephone systems (e.g., GSM, GPRS, EDGE, 2.5G, 3G, 4G, etc.).
[0041] As discussed in more detail below, meters 12 and 14 are
configured to communicate parking meter data to parking management
system 18 via wireless network 16, and the communicated parking
meter data is utilized by parking management system 18 to provide
the parking system functionalities discussed herein. For example,
parking management system 18 is a computerized, server system that
provides for processing, storage and management of data within
parking system 10. In one embodiment shown in FIG. 1, parking
management system 18 includes at least one server 19 and wireless
communications subsystem 21. Server 19 is configured to store and
process parking data associated with a particular parking spot
(e.g., current parking space occupancy information, current meter
time, vehicle sensor data, information regarding mode of payment,
vehicle arrival information, vehicle departure information, parking
rates, Location information, etc.), including parking data received
wirelessly from the meters, to generally provide the parking system
functions discussed herein. Wireless communications hardware 21 of
parking management system 18 is configured to allow server 19 to
communicate wirelessly with the various components of parking
system 10 discussed herein.
[0042] Further, server 19 is configured to store and generate data
that may be communicated wirelessly to the various components of
parking system 10, and in this embodiment, wireless communication
hardware 21 is configured to transmit system data or information
from server 19 to the appropriate component of the parking system.
For example, wireless communications hardware 21 is configured to
transmit and meters 12 and 14 are configured to receive information
from parking management system 18 via wireless network 16. The
system data transmitted from parking management system 18 and
received by the parking meters may include parking meter
configuration data, parking rate data, time and date data, testing
and diagnostic data, parking meter software updates, etc. It should
be understood that while the embodiments discussed herein relate
primarily to a parking system that communicates with parking
management system 18 via a wireless communication network 16, in
other embodiments, a wired or a combination wired/wireless
communication network may be used to provide communication to
parking management system 18.
[0043] Parking system 10 also includes one or more vehicle sensors,
shown as pole-mount vehicle sensors 20, curb surface-mount sensor
22 and street surface-mount sensor 24. Generally, sensors 20, 22
and 24 are each associated with a single parking space 26 and are
configured to detect the presence of a vehicle located in the
associated parking space, to detect entry of a vehicle into the
associated parking space and/or to detect the exit of a vehicle
from the associated parking space. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, a
pole-mount sensor 20 is associated with and in communication with
each single-space meter 12, and sensors 22 and 24 are associated
with and in communication with multi-space meter 14. In other
embodiments, a subterranean sensor 28 (see FIG. 4) may be located
beneath the surface of the parking spot in place of street
surface-mount sensor 24. In other embodiments, a curb surface-mount
sensor 22, a street surface-mount sensor 24 or subterranean sensor
28, may be associated with a single-space meter 12 instead of
pole-mount sensor 20. Generally, vehicle sensors 20, 22 and 24 are
directional sensors (i.e., sensor that only senses in a particular
region or direction) and include a targetable detection zone.
Generally, the vehicle sensors are positioned such that the
targetable detection zone is located within the parking space
associated with the meter and is not located in adjacent parking
spaces.
[0044] Vehicle sensors 20, 22, 24 and 28 are configured to detect
one or more aspect (e.g., presence, entry, exit, etc.) of a vehicle
within the parking spot associated with the sensor and to generate
a signal indicative of the detected aspect of the vehicle. The
generated signal is then communicated from the sensor to a
controller associated with the parking meter for the parking spot.
In various embodiments, communication from the sensors to the
associated meter may be either through wired or wireless
communication. As explained in more detail below, the parking meter
may execute various functions in response to the detected aspect of
the vehicle and may send data to and/or receive data from parking
management system 18 in response to the detected aspect of the
vehicle. In addition, data generated by the vehicle sensor
associated with each meter (e.g., data related to the presence of a
vehicle within the space associated with the meter) may be
communicated to parking management system 18 via the wireless
communications hardware of the meter.
[0045] Referring to FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, parking system 10 include a
plurality of single-space meters 12 (e.g., 2, 3, 4, . . . 50, . . .
100, more than 2, more than 10, more than 20, more than 50, more
than 100, etc., single-space meters), and may include one or more
multi-space parking meters 14. In the embodiment shown, each
single-space parking meter 12 includes a vehicle sensor, shown as
vehicle sensor 20, physically coupled to and supported by the
parking meter pole 75. As shown pole 75 includes a lower end
coupled to the ground adjacent to and set back from parking space
26 associated with the meter 12 such that there is a distance or
space located between pole 75 and space 26. With vehicle sensor 20
coupled to pole 75, a space is present between vehicle sensor 20
and parking space 26, and vehicle sensor 20 is configured to detect
an aspect of a vehicle located within parking space 26 across the
space. As shown in FIG. 1, vehicle sensor 20 includes a targetable
detection zone 17, and vehicle sensor 20 is positioned on pole 75
such that the detection zone 17 of vehicle sensor 20 is located
within parking space 26. In another embodiment, vehicle sensor 20
may be physical coupled to and supported by the parking meter
housing. In these embodiments, vehicle sensor 20 is located above
both the street and sidewalk surface and is also set back from the
curb.
[0046] Physically supporting the vehicle sensor in close proximity
to the meter mechanism and electronics of the single-space meter 12
allows for robust electrical communication between the vehicle
sensor and the electronics of the single-space meter. In the
embodiment shown, vehicle sensor 20 is communicably coupled with
the control circuitry of single-space meter 12 (e.g., controller
200 shown in FIG. 13) directly via a dedicated hardwired
connection. The robust electrical connection permitted by the
proximity between the single-space meter electronics and vehicle
sensor 20 allows for shared use of certain components. For example,
in the embodiment shown, both the electronics of the single-space
meter and vehicle sensor 20 share a common power supply (e.g.,
solar cells and battery). In addition, this arrangement allows both
single-space meter 12 and vehicle sensor 20 to utilize a single set
of wireless communications hardware. Specifically, data generated
by vehicle sensor 20 is communicated first to a control system
associated with the mechanism of single-space meter 12, and then is
communicated to parking management system 18 via a wireless
communication link. In this embodiment, the hardwired connection
between vehicle sensor 20 and single-space meter 12 is a combined
data communication link and power connection delivering power to
vehicle sensor 20 from a power source (e.g. batter, solar panel,
etc.) physically located within the outer housing of the single
space meter.
[0047] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 6, in various embodiments, parking
system 10 may also include curb mount vehicle sensors 22 and/or
street mount vehicle sensors 24 that communicate parking space
usage information wirelessly to a multi-space meter 14 or to
parking management system 18. In contrast to pole-mount sensors 20,
curb mount vehicle sensors 22 and/or street mount vehicle sensors
24 include their own power supply and communications hardware. In
the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, curb mount vehicle sensors 22
and/or street mount vehicle sensors 24 are stand-alone sensors
configured for short relatively short range wireless communication
to a multi-space meter 14, and multi-space meter 14 is configured
for cellular communication with parking management system 18.
[0048] Referring to FIGS. 2-4, exemplary embodiments of sensors 20,
22, 24 and 28 are shown. FIG. 2 shows pole-mount vehicle sensor 20.
As shown in FIG. 2, pole-mount vehicle sensor 20 includes a housing
30 having a central cavity 32. During mounting to a single-space
meter 12, the parking meter pole is received within cavity 32 to
couple pole-mount vehicle sensor 20 to single-space meter 12. The
sensing element (e.g., an electromagnetic energy transmitter and
receiver, transceiver, etc.) is located within housing 30. In the
embodiment shown in FIG. 1, housing 30 of vehicle sensor 20
surrounds pole 75, and the upper end of housing 30 is coupled to
the lower end of the outer meter housing (e.g., outer meter housing
70 shown in FIG. 8). In addition, the wired communication link
communicably coupling the sensing element of vehicle sensor 20 to
the processor of the single space meter is located within both
sensor housing 30 and the outer meter housing. Specifically the
portion of the wired communication link coupled to the sensing
element is located within sensor housing 30 and the portion of the
communication link coupled to the processor of the electronic meter
mechanism is located with the outer meter housing. Sensor housing
30 acts to protect and supports the sensing element and the wired
connection to the electronic meter mechanism. In the embodiment in
which a hardwired connection couples vehicle sensor 20 to the
electronic meter mechanism, vehicle sensor 20 does not include
dedicated wireless communications hardware within sensor housing
30. In one embodiment, the vehicle sensors disclosed herein
includes a local vehicle sensor processor the first processes the
signal from the sensing element and then communicates the processed
signal indicative of a vehicle in the parking space to a processor
that controls the wireless communications hardware.
[0049] FIG. 3 shows surface-mount sensors 22 or 24 that may be
coupled to either the curb surface or the surface of the parking
space using a suitable attachment mechanism, such as epoxy. FIG. 4
shows subterranean sensor 28 that may be located below the surface
of parking space 26. Similar to sensors 22 and 24 discussed above,
subterranean sensor 28 communicates with meters 12 and 14 via a
wireless connection and may be used in place of either sensor 22 or
24 in the parking system embodiments discussed herein.
[0050] In one embodiment, sensors 20, 22, 24 and 28 may be sensors
configured to utilize electromagnetic energy to detect the presence
of the vehicle in the parking space, and specifically, sensors 20,
22, 24 and 28 may be a radiofrequency (RF) sensor including a
radiofrequency-based sensing element. In other embodiments, sensors
20, 22, 24 and 28 may be non-electromagnetic sensors In other
embodiments, sensors 20, 22, 24 and 28 may be any sensors suitable
for detecting an aspect of a vehicle in the associated parking
space. For example, sensors 20, 22, 24 and 28 may be infrared
reflectance sensors, ultrasonic sensors, capacitance sensors,
proximity sensors, magnetic sensors, magnetic-flux sensors,
non-intrusive sensors, radar-based sensors, a low power/broad
spectrum radar sensor, time of flight sensors, ranging sensors,
etc. Further, because sensor 24 (or sensor 28) is physically in
contact with parking space 26 (e.g., in contact with the parking
space surface in the case of a surface-mount sensor or beneath
parking space 26 in the case of a subterranean sensor 28), sensor
24 (or sensor 28) may be a weight sensor or movement sensor that is
reactive to a vehicle in parking space 26.
[0051] In addition to generating signals indicative of vehicle
presence, vehicle entry to the parking spot and vehicle exit from a
parking spot, vehicle sensors 20, 22, 24 and 28 may be configured
to generate other signals related to the parking spot or vehicles
located in the parking spot that may be used by parking system 10.
For example, the vehicle sensors may be configured to generate a
signal indicative of a vacant parking spot. In another embodiment,
the vehicle sensors may be configured to generate a signal
indicative of the type of vehicle located in the parking spot. For
example, the vehicle sensor may be configured to generate a signal
indicative of a motorcycle, a signal indicative of a car, a signal
indicative of a truck, etc., being present in parking space 26. As
another example, the vehicle sensor may be configured to generate a
signal indicative of a privately owned vehicle located in parking
space 26 and a different signal indicative of a publicly-owned or
government vehicle located in parking space 26. In other
embodiments, a vehicle sensor may include a digital camera
configured to capture image data of a vehicle located in the
parking spot.
[0052] Referring back to FIG. 1, parking system 10 may include one
or more mobile citation units, shown as handheld unit 34. Handheld
unit 34 communicates with parking management system 18 via wireless
network 16. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, handheld unit 34
includes wireless communications hardware for communication with
parking management system 18 via wireless network 16. Handheld unit
34 is carried by parking enforcement personnel and is used to issue
citations for parking violations. Handheld unit 34 sends various
types of enforcement data (e.g., data indicating issuance of a
citation, data related to the type of citation issued, location of
parking violation, vehicle identification information, etc.) to
parking management system 18 via wireless network 16. Handheld unit
34 also receives various information from parking management system
18. In one embodiment, handheld unit 34 receives information to
facilitate the issuances of citations. For example, handheld unit
34 may receive data indicative of the existence and location of
expired meters. In one embodiment, handheld unit 34 may receive
data regarding which meters within a certain distance from unit 34
are expired. It should be understood that while the figures show a
handheld citation unit, other mobile citation units may be used
within parking system 10. For example, a mobile citation unit may
be mounted within a vehicle driven by enforcement personnel.
[0053] In one embodiment, data generated by the vehicle sensor
associated with each meter (e.g., data related to the presence of a
vehicle within the space associated with the meter) may be
communicated to parking management system 18 via the wireless
communications hardware of the meter, and the data related to
current space occupancy may be communicated from parking management
system 18 to handheld unit 34. In an exemplary embodiment, the data
generated by the vehicle sensors associated with each parking meter
is processed to determine whether a vehicle is currently parked in
the meter's parking space when time on the meter expires. If so it
is determined that a parking violation has occurred. The single
space meter then communicates data indicating that a parking
violation has occurred to parking management system 18. Parking
management system 18 then stores and communicates the data
indicating that a parking violation has occurred to the handheld
unit 34. This data then may be used by the enforcement personnel to
issue a parking ticket. In one embodiment, following issuance of a
parking ticket, data indicating that a parking ticket has been
issued is communicated wirelessly from handheld unit 34 to parking
management system 18 for processing and storage. In one embodiment,
the data indicating that a parking ticket has been issued includes
information identifying the vehicle (e.g., VIN, license plate
information, etc.) that received the citation.
[0054] As can be seen, parking system 10 provides a system
utilizing wireless communication between the three major components
or subsystems (e.g., the meters, the management system, and the
citation units). By providing a system in which the components in
the field (e.g., the meters and the citation units) communicate
wirelessly to parking management system 18, data storage and
processing for parking system 10 can be centralized within parking
management system 18. Further, parking system 10 allows real-time
data from meters system-wide to communicate information to parking
management system 18, which in turn allows up to date information
regarding parking violations to be communicated to citation units
34 system wide.
[0055] Referring to FIG. 5, parking system 10 is shown according to
another exemplary embodiment. In this embodiment, parking system 10
includes a plurality of single-space meters 12 each having a
pole-mounted vehicle sensor 20, a wireless network 16 and a parking
management system 18. This embodiment of parking system 10 includes
a gateway 36, and single-space meters 12 are configured for
short-range communication with gateway 36. In this embodiment,
gateway 36 provides the communication link between multiple meters
12 and parking management system 18 via wireless network 16. In one
such embodiment, single-space meters 12 are configured for
short-range RF communication with gateway 36, and gateway 36 is
configured for communication (e.g., cellular, WIFI, etc.) with
parking management system 18 via wireless network 16. Communication
between meters 12 and gateway 36 may be via any suitable RF
communication technology, standard, or protocol (e.g., WIFI, IEEE
802.15.4, Bluetooth, ZigBee, etc.). Parking system 10 may also
include one or more multi-space parking meter 14 in place of, or in
addition to, single-space meters 12. In such an embodiment, the
multi-space meter may also communicate with gateway 36 using a
wireless, RF technology.
[0056] Referring to FIG. 6, another embodiment of parking system 10
is shown including a gateway 38 and a multi-space meter 40. In this
embodiment, parking system 10 includes one or more stand-alone
vehicle sensors, such as curb surface-mount sensor 22 and street
surface-mount sensor 24, configured to monitor occupancy of the
parking spaces associated with multi-space meter 40. In this
embodiment, gateway 38 receives wireless communication from both
single-space meters 12 and the stand-alone vehicle sensors (i.e.,
sensor 22 and sensor 24). Similar to the embodiment shown in FIG.
5, gateway 38 communicates information received from meters 12 and
sensors 22 and 24 to parking management system 18 via wireless
network 16. Multi-space meter 40 communicates directly with parking
management system 18 via wireless network 16. In this embodiment,
parking management system 18 is configured to properly associate
the data received from the stand-alone vehicle sensors with the
data for the appropriate parking space received from multi-space
meter 40.
[0057] Also as shown in FIG. 6, parking system 10 may be configured
to provide compatibility between parking meters made by different
companies. For example, in one embodiment, parking meters 12 may be
produced by a first company or manufacturer and multi-space meter
40 may be made by a second company or manufacturer. In this
embodiment, sensors 20, 22 and 24 may be compatible with meters
made by different companies. Further, parking management system 18
is configured to receive, store and process data received from
parking meters or vehicle sensors made by different companies. This
allows current, installed single-space and multi-space meters
manufactured by different companies to be upgraded to provide the
wireless communications and vehicle sensing functionalities
discussed herein.
[0058] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, gateway 36 and gateway 38 may be
mounted to an existing structure to provide for unobstructed
transmission of RF signals from the meters to the gateways. For
example, as shown in FIG. 5, a gateway may be mounted to a sign
pole, or as shown in FIG. 6, a gateway may be mounted to a light or
utility pole. In other embodiments gateways 36 and 38 may be
located at other locations such as a roof top, tree or other
structure that allows for unobstructed RF communication from the
meters or standalone vehicle sensors of parking system 10. Further,
gateways 36 and 38 may be located on a structure that provides for
an AC power supply to power the gateway. In one embodiment,
gateways 36 and 38 may be housed within the housing of a
multi-space meter or may otherwise be incorporated into the
electronic system of the multi-space meter. In this embodiment, the
multi-space meter acts to receive information from the single-space
meters and/or stand-alone vehicle sensors and communicates the
information to parking management system 18 via wireless network
16. In another embodiment, gateways 36 and 38 may be mounted to and
supported by the multi-space meter, for example by coupling the
gateway housing to the exterior of the multi-space meter
housing.
[0059] Referring to FIG. 7, a block diagram of parking system 10,
is shown according to an exemplary embodiment, including a
single-space parking meter 12. It should be understood that parking
system 10 may include a plurality of single-space parking meters 12
and one or more multi-space meters as discussed above. As shown in
FIG. 7, parking meter 12 includes a parking meter control system
50, a communication subsystem 52, a display 54, a power supply 56,
a user input device 58, a payment subsystem 60 and a vehicle sensor
62. Parking meter control system 50 is communicably coupled to
communication subsystem 52, display 54, power supply 56, user input
device 58, payment subsystem 60 and vehicle sensor 62. Parking
meter control system 50 may generally be any electronic control
unit suitable to provide the various parking meter functionalities
discussed below. For example control system 50 may include one or
more processing circuits having hardware (e.g., processors, memory,
communication interfaces, etc.) and/or software configured to
control the operation of parking meter 12 as discuss herein. In one
embodiment shown below in FIG. 13, control system 50 includes two
processors that each control various device of meter mechanism
72.
[0060] Communication subsystem 52 includes hardware and/or software
for communicating data between parking meter control system 50 and
parking management system 18 via wireless network 16. As shown in
FIG. 1 communication subsystem 52 may be a communication subsystem
associated with a single-space parking meter 12 that is configured
to communicate data between the associated meter and parking
management system 18 via wireless network 16 utilizing standard
mobile telephone communication systems (e.g., GSM, GPRS, EDGE,
etc.). As shown, in FIGS. 5 and 6, communication subsystem 52 may
include RF communication hardware and software physically coupled
to single-space parking meter 12 and/or associated with a
stand-alone vehicle sensor and a gateway, such as gateway 36 and
38. In this embodiment, data is communicated from single-space
meter 12 or from the stand-alone vehicle sensor to the gateway and
the gateway communicates the information to parking management
system 18. In one embodiment, communication subsystem 52 includes a
wireless communication antenna that is supported, and may be
directly supported, by the inner housing of the electronic meter
mechanism.
[0061] Single-space meter 12 also includes a display 54 that
displays various parking related information (e.g., parking rate,
current time and date, time remaining on meter, a meter expired
message, user operation instructions, hours of meter operation,
etc.) to the user of single-space meter 12. Display 54 may be a
graphical high contrast, low power display. The display may be
color or monochrome. Display 54 may be an LED display or LCD
display. In the embodiment shown best in FIGS. 22 and 24, display
54 includes both a front facing screen on the sidewalk facing side
of the meter and a rear facing screen on the street facing side of
the meter.
[0062] Single-space meter 12 also includes a power supply 56
suitable to power the functions of single-space meter 12 discussed
herein. In one embodiment, power supply 56 may include one or more
solar cells or solar panels and one or more self-sustained energy
storage devices (e.g., rechargeable batteries, ultracapacitors,
etc.). In other embodiments, power supply 56 may be wired AC power
supply. In one embodiment, single-space meter 12 may be configured
to communicate power supply data wirelessly to parking management
system 18 via the meter's wireless communication hardware. Power
supply data may include data related to a battery and/or solar cell
of the meter (e.g., battery charge rate, remaining battery charge,
remaining battery life, real-time current supplied by solar cell,
average current supplied by solar cell, resistance at various
sections within the power supply, error messages indicating battery
failure, error messages indicating solar panel failure, real-time
power consumption, average power consumption, etc.). In one
embodiment, single space meter 12 and/or electronic meter mechanism
72 may include one or more sensors configured to detect vandalism.
In such embodiments the vandalism sensors may be associated with
the electronic meter mechanism, the outer housing of the meter, the
meter pole and/or the sensor housing. In various embodiments, the
vandalism sensors may be configured to detect a strong impact (such
as a hit from a crowbar) or the insertion of a tool into the coin
slot or key hole associated with the meter. In various embodiments,
the vandalism sensor may include or more of a vibration sensor, an
acceleration sensor, optical sensors and/or acoustic sensors.
[0063] Single-space meter 12 also includes a user input device 58
that allows the user to interact with and operate the meter. In one
embodiment, user input device 58 is a four button keypad that
provides tactile feedback and/or audible feedback to the user.
Single-space meter 12 also includes a payment subsystem 60
configured to receive and process payment for parking. In one
embodiment, payment subsystem 60 includes currency reader (e.g., a
money or coin slot and a money detector, a bill slot and bill
detector, etc.), a credit-card, mag-strip reader, a smart card
reader, and/or a "pay by phone" system. Further, single-space meter
12 also includes a vehicle sensor 62 (e.g., pole-mount vehicle
sensors 20, curb surface-mount sensor 22 and street surface-mount
sensor 24 as shown in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, and/or sensor 28 shown in
FIG. 4) that communicates information to control system 50
regarding an aspect of a vehicle in the parking space associated
with meter 12.
[0064] Referring to FIGS. 8A, 8B, 9 and 22-24, single-space meter
12 is shown according to an exemplary embodiment. Referring to
FIGS. 8A and 8B, single-space meter 12 is shown according to an
exemplary embodiment. Single-space meter 12 includes an outer
housing 70 and an electronic meter mechanism 72 (shown outside of
outer housing 70 in FIG. 9). Outer housing 70 acts to protect
electronic meter mechanism 72 and includes a locking mechanism to
prevent unwanted access to meter mechanism 72. Outer housing 70
includes a lower housing portion 71 and a cap portion 73. Cap 73 of
outer housing 70 includes a transparent portion or window 74 which
allows the user to view the display of electronic meter mechanism
72 when it is locked within outer housing 70. Lower portion 71 of
outer housing 70 is coupled to an upper end of a support structure
or pole 75 that supports meter 12. Lower portion 71 of outer
housing 70 has an interior cavity 77 and a front (i.e., sidewalk
facing) face 76 having a payment device opening, shown as an
aperture 78. To assemble meter 12, electronic meter mechanism 72 is
received within cavity 77 and cap 73 is coupled to lower portion 71
such that electronic meter mechanism 72 is secured within housing
70.
[0065] Referring to FIG. 9 and FIGS. 22-24, electronic meter
mechanism 72 is shown outside of meter housing 70. Electronic meter
mechanism 72 includes an inner housing 80 that supports the various
components and electronics of electronic meter mechanism 72. Inner
housing 80 is generally the shell or structure the encases and
supports the electronics of meter mechanism 72. Inner housing 80
also couples to the inner surface of outer housing 70 such that
electronic meter mechanism 72 may be supported by and secured to
outer housing 70. As discussed above, electric meter mechanism 72
includes an electronic display screen, shown as display 54, that
displays information to the user. In one embodiment, display 54
includes a first screen viewable from the front of meter mechanism
72 and a second screen viewable from the rear of meter mechanism
72.
[0066] Generally, meter mechanism 72 includes a payment receiving
structure including one or more payment devices configured to
receive payment from a motorist (e.g., a credit card reader, a
currency reader, a smart card reader, etc.). In addition, meter
mechanism 72 includes a user input device (e.g., a keypad, touch
screen, buttons, switches, etc.) that receives inputs from the
motorist in order to operate the parking meter. Typically, the
payment receiving structure and the user input device is located on
the front side of the inner housing such that the motorist is
located on the sidewalk when applying payment to the meter or
interacting with the user input device.
[0067] The exemplary embodiment of electronic meter mechanism 72
shown in FIG. 9 includes an integrated payment and user-interface
structure 82 that extends outward from the front side of inner
housing 80. Structure 82 includes both at least the physical,
payment receiving components of both the payment subsystem 60 and
the user input device 58. Structure 82 is an extended portion of
the housing that supports both the payment receiving structure and
the user input device of meter mechanism 72. In the embodiment
shown, user input device 58 is a four button interface including up
and down arrow keys, an OK button and a cancel button. Payment
subsystem 60 includes a hybrid card reader including both a smart
card reader 84 and a credit card mag strip reader 86. Payment
subsystem 60 also includes a money slot, shown as coin slot 88, and
located within structure 82 is a currency reader that detects
currency (coins in the example shown) that passes through coin slot
88. In other embodiments, the money slot and currency reader may be
configured to accept and detect paper money. Smart card reader 84
may be configured to read a variety of smart-card type payment
cards, for example, smart-card credit cards, smart-card debit
cards, proprietary parking payment smart cards, etc. Credit card
reader 86 may be configured to read a variety of mag-strip based
payment cards, including, mag-strip credit cards, mag-strip debit
cards, proprietary parking mag-strip payment credit cards, etc. In
another embodiment, payment subsystem 60 also includes an RF based
payment system configured to read an RFID tag associated with the
vehicle (e.g., iPass), and to process a parking payment to a
pre-registered account associated with the vehicle's RFID tag.
[0068] As shown best in FIGS. 22 and 23, inner housing 80 includes
a first arm or portion 280 and a user input housing, shown as
keypad housing 282. Arm portion 280 extends substantially
perpendicular from the front face of inner housing 80, and keypad
housing 282 is coupled to the front edge of portion 280 and extends
downward away from portion 280. The keys of the keypad form the
front face of keypad housing 282. As shown in FIG. 9, the keys of
user interface 58 are located below the coin slot 88 and is located
below a majority of the credit card slot of credit card reader
86.
[0069] A gap 284 (shown best in FIG. 23) is formed between the
front surface 286 of inner housing 80 and the rear surface 288 of
keypad housing 282. When electronic meter mechanism 72 is mounted
to outer housing 70, the front surface of outer housing 70 below
aperture 78 is received within gap 284 such that integrated payment
and user-interface structure 82 extends through outer housing 70
(as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B). This arrangement may help to secure
meter mechanism 72 to housing 70 and may help to properly locate
electronic meter mechanism 72 relative to the outer meter housing
during installation. In one embodiment, the length of arm portion
280 is such that rear surface 288 of keypad housing 282 is in
contact with and flush against the front surface of outer housing
70 below aperture 78 when meter mechanism 72 is within housing 70.
As shown in FIG. 23, the portion of integrated payment and
user-interface structure 82 that includes the mag-strip reader of
credit card reader 86 extends outward from front face 286 of inner
housing 80 beyond key pad 58. The extended length of the housing
portion that supports mag-strip reader of credit card reader 86 in
the direction perpendicular to the front face of inner housing 80
provides sufficient length to allow full insertion of a credit card
into the credit card reader. This relative sizing allows meter
mechanism 72 to include an upgraded payment system (e.g., one
including a credit card reader) and to be installed in a
preexisting outer meter housing 70.
[0070] Referring to FIG. 9, credit card reader 86 includes a slot
87 formed in the front face of structure 82. Slot 87 provides the
entrance that allows a credit card to be inserted into and to be
read by the mag-strip reader of credit card reader 86. As shown,
slot 87 is angled at an angle A relative to the vertical axis of
the front face of structure 82. In the embodiment shown, slot 87 is
angled such that the upper end of the slot is located laterally
inward from the lower end of the slot. Slot 87 extends downward and
laterally outward from its upper end to its lower end. In various
embodiments, angle A is between 30 degrees and 80 degrees,
preferably between 40 and 70 degrees and more preferably between 50
and 60 degrees. In one specific embodiment, angle A is about 55
degrees (e.g., 55 degrees plus or minus half a degree). As shown in
FIG. 9, slot 87 extends below and laterally to the outside of the
upper edge of the keypad. In other embodiments, slot 87 may angled
in the opposite direction such that the upper end of the slot is
located laterally outward from the lower end of the slot. Because
the length of slot 87 is determined by the size of the type of
credit card to be read, angling slot 87 allows for conservation of
space on the front face of structure 82.
[0071] Referring back to FIG. 8A, with electronic meter mechanism
72 located within outer housing 70, the payment-user interface
structure 82 of electronic meter mechanism 72 extends through
aperture 78 such that the user can interact with the payment
systems and the user interface. As shown in FIG. 22, front facing
surface 290 of keypad housing 282 includes the buttons of user
interface 58. As shown in FIG. 23, front facing surface 290 is at
an angle relative to surface 286 and to the vertical plane defined
by display 54, such that front facing surface 290 is facing
slightly upward.
[0072] Referring to FIG. 9 and FIG. 22, electronic meter mechanism
72 includes a front solar panel 90 that provides power to operate
electronic meter 72 and to charge a rechargeable battery located
inside inner housing 80. Inner housing 80 includes a front support,
shown as front shelf 92, upon which front solar panel 90 is
mounted. Further, shelf 92 extends from the front surface (i.e.,
the sidewalk facing surface) of inner housing 80 and is positioned
below (i.e., at a lower position as measured along the vertical
axis of the meter mechanism) display 54 such that shelf 92 is
located below window 74 of outer housing 70. In this embodiment,
shelf 92 is also located above structure 82. In the embodiment
shown, shelf 92 is coupled to the front side of inner housing 80 at
a position substantially underneath (i.e., at a position below
along the same vertical axis) display 54. This arrangement allows
electronic meter mechanism 72 to be mounted inside outer housing 70
while allowing sunlight to strike front solar panel 90. Thus, this
positioning of solar panel 90 allows meter mechanism to be
installed into a pre-existing meter housing in a configuration that
allows sun light to reach panel 90 after the meter mechanism is
secured within outer housing 70. In one embodiment, shelf 91 and
solar panel 90 are positioned relative to the windows in the meter
housing cap to maximize solar irradiance during normal
operation.
[0073] As shown in FIG. 24, electronic meter mechanism 72 also
includes a rear solar panel 91. Rear solar panel 91 is mounted to a
rear support, shown as rear shelf 93, which extends from a rear
surface of inner housing 80 at a position below display 54. As
explained in more detail below regarding FIG. 25 and FIG. 26, rear
solar panel 91 is also mounted to inner housing 80 such that light
may pass through a rear window in meter housing 70 to strike rear
solar panel 91. In other embodiments, electronic meter mechanism 72
may include one solar panel or more than two solar panels.
[0074] Both solar panel support shelves 92 and 93 extend outward
away from display 54 and downward toward structure 82 and toward
the lower edge of the meter housing. This arrangement is such that
the upper surfaces of shelves 92 and 93 are angled (e.g., are
non-horizontal, are not perpendicular to a vertical axis, etc.)
such that the surfaces of both shelves face upward and outward away
from display 54. This positioning provides mounting surfaces for
solar panels 90 and 91 that facilitate capture of light through the
windows 74 of outer housing 70.
[0075] As noted above, electronic meter mechanism 72 also includes
display 54. Display 54 may be a backlit high-contrast display
supporting the display of both text and graphics. Display 54 may be
a monochrome display or a color display. As shown in FIG. 9,
display 54 is supported by inner housing 80 at a position above
(i.e., at a higher position as measured along the vertical axis of
the meter mechanism) payment and user interface structure 82. As
shown in FIG. 9, display 54 includes a left edge and a right edge,
and in the embodiment shown, display 54 is rectangular having upper
and lower edges perpendicular to both the left and right edges. In
one embodiment, the width of solar panels 90 and 91 is greater than
the width of display screen 54 such that the left and right lateral
edges of solar panels 90 and 91 extend laterally beyond the left
and right edges of display 54, respectively.
[0076] Electronic meter mechanism 72 is configured to provide
wireless communication from the meter to parking management system
18. In one embodiment, electronic meter mechanism 72 may include
cellular communications hardware (e.g., GPRS modem, antenna, etc.)
located within and/or coupled to inner housing 80. In another
embodiment, electronic meter mechanism 72 includes RF
communications hardware (e.g., point-to-multipoint RF modem,
antenna, etc.). In another embodiment, electronic meter mechanism
72 includes both cellular communications hardware and RF
communications hardware allowing the mechanism to be incorporated
into either systems using a gateway or using direct meter cellular
communications. In other embodiments, electronic meter mechanisms
72 within parking system 10 may be configured to utilize
multi-point to multi-point or mesh networking communication
systems. In such embodiments, electronic meter mechanisms 72 may be
configured to connect to a primary gateway. In one such networked
embodiment, parking system 10 may be configured to determine the
shortest and/or most reliable path through one or more gateways to
reach parking management system 18. In such embodiments, networked
meter mechanism 72 may be configured to detect or discover those
gateways that are in range. In this embodiment, a node may send a
first message to discover a gateway, and the gateways within range
may respond back at random intervals within a predetermined time
window. The node will then evaluate the link to the gateway and
through the gateway (or gateways) to assess and select the shortest
and/or most reliable path to the server.
[0077] Parking system 10 may utilize the vehicle sensing features
and the communication features described above to provide for
various automated and real-time parking system functions. FIG. 10
is a flow diagram showing the operation of single-space meter 12
and display 54 by the meter controller and parking management
system 18 during the payment sequence of the parking meter. In one
embodiment as shown in FIG. 10, parking system 10 may be configured
to automatically initiate the beginning of the payment sequence and
the display of the appropriate instructions on display 54 based
upon detection of a vehicle within the parking space by the vehicle
sensor.
[0078] Referring to FIG. 10, at step 100, if a vehicle is detected
by the vehicle sensor, a signal is communicated from the sensor to
the meter controller (e.g., parking meter control system 50), and
the meter controller initiates display of the payment instructions.
Alternatively, if at step 102, a user input is received by the user
input device of the parking meter, the meter controller also
initiates display of the payment instructions. At step 104, the
meter displays a message asking the user to select the type of
payment the user wishes to use. In the embodiment of FIG. 10, the
user may select payment by coin, payment by credit card, payment by
smart card or pay-by-phone options. The user may select the method
of payment by interacting with the user interface to select the
desired payment type from a menu shown on the meter display. The
user may also select the method of payment by directly using one of
the payment devices of the meter without first making a selection
via the user input device. For example, the user may select the
payment method by swiping a credit card or by inserting coins into
the coin slot. In one embodiment, parking meter control system 50
is configured to allow a vehicle to park in the space associated
with the meter for a set "grace period" prior to moving to step
104. In this embodiment, parking meter control system 50 is
configured to allow a set amount of free parking time prior to
requiring payment to be applied to the meter. In one embodiment,
free time (e.g., 15 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, etc.) may be
automatically applied to the meter when a vehicle is detected in
the parking space by a vehicle sensor at step 100. In this
embodiment, the motorist may add additional time via payment as
discussed below.
[0079] As shown in the remainder of FIG. 10, based on the user's
payment type selection, the meter displays instructions for the
selected payment type, and the user follows the instructions to put
the appropriate amount of time on the parking meter, and the meter
processes the payment received by the user to apply the payment to
the meter. Specifically, the user or motorist may insert coins, and
at step 106, the single-space meter detects the coins added to the
meter. At step 108, the meter control system adds the appropriate
amount of time for the coins deposited to the meter and displays
the amount of time on the screen. At step 110, the single-space
meter detects whether additional coins have been added and if so
the meter time is updated as needed. At step 112, the single-space
meter detects whether user has attempted to add time using one of
the other payment methods, and if so, the payment processing for a
smart card or credit card is conducted. If no additional payment is
detected, the payment is applied to the meter at step 114 and the
single-space meter monitors the time remaining on the meter and
awaits for input.
[0080] The motorist may add time to the meter using a credit card,
and at step 116, the single-space meter detects whether a credit
card has been inserted into the credit card reader. At step 118,
the meter prompts (e.g., by the display of instructions on screen
54) the user to use the up and down arrow keys to select the amount
of time the user wishes to add to the meter. When the appropriate
amount of time is added to the meter, the single-space meter
detects the user's activation of the enter or OK button, at step
120. At step 122, the single-space meter submits the transaction
data for authorization of the credit card. If the credit card
payment is accepted, at step 124, the total time added to the meter
is displayed, and the payment is applied to the meter at step 114
and the single-space meter monitors the time remaining on the meter
and awaits for input. At step 126, if the credit card traction is
declined, the meter displays an indication that the credit card
payment was not accepted and displays the current time remaining on
the meter if any. If real-time authorization of the credit card is
not available, at step 128, the meter determines whether hatching
of the credit card transaction is available. If batching is
available, at step 124, the total time added to the meter is
displayed, and the payment is applied to the meter at step 114 and
the single-space meter monitors the time remaining on the meter and
awaits for input. If batching is not available, the meter displays
a message that credit card payment is unavailable at step 130.
[0081] At step 104, the user may select the pay by phone options,
and the meter displays instructions to the motorist regarding
payment by phone. At step 132, the payment by phone number is
displayed to the motorist. At step 134, the meter number is
entered, and at step 136, the communication type is determined. If
MSM communication is selected, at step 138 the space number is
entered. At step 140, the user is prompted to enter the amount of
time to be added to the meter, and the payment is applied to the
meter at step 114 and the single-space meter monitors the time
remaining on the meter and awaits for input. At step 142, the user
may selected whether receive text reminders indicating the amount
of time left on the meter.
[0082] In various embodiments, the vehicle sensor is configured to
communicate a signal to the meter controller indicative of whether
a vehicle has left the parking space. In one such embodiment shown
in FIG. 11, at step 150 the vehicle sensor associated with a
parking spot detects that the current vehicle is leaving the
parking space. At step 152, the time remaining on the meter for the
parking spot is set to zero by the controller after the current
vehicle leaves the parking space. Zeroing the time on the meter
when the current vehicle leaves the parking space may lead to an
increase in parking revenue by preventing a subsequent parker from
utilizing meter time from a previous parker.
[0083] In one embodiment, the parking meter may be a single-space
meter, and the signal indicative of the vehicle leaving the parking
spot is communicated to the parking meter control system associated
with that meter. When the signal indicating vehicle departure is
received from the vehicle sensor, the parking meter control system
zeros out the display of remaining time on the meter. As noted
above, in one embodiment, the vehicle sensor is physically coupled
to the meter or the meter pole and communicates the signal via a
hardwired connection to the single-space meter controller.
[0084] In another embodiment, the vehicle sensor may be a
stand-alone vehicle sensor associated with a multi-space meter, and
in this embodiment, the signal indicative of the vehicle leaving
the parking spot may be communicated to the parking meter control
system associated with the multi-space meter. In this embodiment,
the controller of the multi-space meter may zero out the time
associated with the parking spot. In another embodiment, the
vehicle sensor may communicate the signal indicative of the vehicle
leaving the parking spot directly to the parking management system.
In this embodiment, the time associated with the parking space as
maintained by the parking management system may be set to zero.
Further, the parking management system may transmit a signal to the
multi-space meter indicating that the time associated with the
parking space should be set to zero.
[0085] At step 154, the parking meter control system communicates
parking space data to the parking management system. The parking
space data communicated to the parking management system may
include various parking space information including information
related to vehicle departure, information indicating a vacant
parking space, information indicating that no time is left on the
meter, information indicating the length of time that the vehicle
was parked in the parking spot, etc. This data may be utilized by
the parking management system (e.g., parking management system 18)
to provide the various functions discussed herein.
[0086] In one embodiment, parking system 10, either through local
processing of parking data at meters 12 or 14 or through
centralized processing at parking management system 18, is
configured to utilize parking data to enforce maximum parking time
limits. Referring to FIG. 12, a flow-diagram of a process for the
enforcement of a maximum parking time limit is shown. The process
shown may be performed either by local processing of data at the
control system of the single-space or multi-space meter or by
centralized processing of data by the parking management
system.
[0087] At step 160, the control system receives a signal indicating
that a user is attempting to add additional time to the parking
meter using one of the payment methods discussed above. At step
162, a determination is made regarding whether a new vehicle has
entered the parking space. Step 162 may be performed in various
ways. For example, when a vehicle enters the parking space, the
vehicle sensor may detect the entry of a vehicle into the parking
space and transmit this information to meter control system 50
which stores the entry information, and, when the current vehicle
leaves the parking space, the vehicle sensor may sense the vehicle
leaving the space and transmit the exit information to meter
control system 50. When a user attempts to add money to the meter,
the control system checks to determine whether exit information has
been received and stored. If it has, it is determined that a new
vehicle is located in the parking spot, and at step 164, the user
is allowed to add time to the parking meter.
[0088] If no exit data has been received from the vehicle sensor,
the control system determines that the same vehicle has remained in
the parking spot and proceeds to step 166. At step 166, the amount
of time that the current vehicle has been parked in the parking
spot is determined and is compared to the maximum permitted parking
time for the meter. If the current parking duration does not exceed
the maximum permitted parking time for the parking space, the
process moves to step 168 and the user is allowed to add time to
the meter. At step 170, if the current parking duration does exceed
the maximum permitted parking time, the parking meter will not
accept additional payment and will not add additional time to the
meter. Further at step 170, a message may be displayed to the user
via display 54 indicating that the maximum permitted parking time
has been met.
[0089] As noted above, parking system 10 gathers parking related
information from each of the vehicle sensors associated with each
parking space and from the parking meter associated with each
parking space. This information is communicated to parking
management system 18 which stores and process the parking
information.
[0090] In one embodiment, parking management system 18 receives
real-time parking information from each of the parking meters and
each stand-alone vehicle sensor via wireless network 16. Real-time
parking information includes parking space occupancy information
(e.g., whether or not a particular parking space is currently
occupied by a vehicle), vehicle arrival information, and vehicle
departure information. Real-time parking information may also
include parking meter status information, for example, information
regarding whether the meter is expired, unexpired, the amount of
time remaining on the meter, etc. Wireless communication between
the parking management system and the field devices (e.g., the
parking meters and the mobile devices carried by enforcement
personnel and motorists) allows for real time parking information
to be processed and deployed to provide the functionality discussed
below.
[0091] In one embodiment, parking management system 18 communicates
meter status information in real-time to users within the parking
system. In one such embodiment, parking management system 18
transmits real-time information regarding expired, occupied parking
spaces to parking enforcement personnel. The parking enforcement
personnel may use the received data to issue citations, to plan a
meter inspection route, etc.
[0092] In one embodiment, parking enforcement personnel receive the
real-time information via wireless communication between handheld
unit 34 and parking management system 18. In one embodiment,
parking management system 18 may be configured to identify expired
meters in real-time and to send information to a parking
enforcement agent in real-time. When the parking enforcement agent
receives the real-time information regarding expired meters, the
parking enforcement agent may travel to the expired meter to issue
a citation. In one embodiment, parking management system 18 may be
configured to automatically generate a route for the parking
enforcement agent to follow based on real-time identification of
the location of expired meters and transmit the route information
to handheld unit 34 or other mobile device used by the enforcement
agent. Further, parking management system 18 may be configured to
select the route based on various parameters. For example, the
enforcement agent's route may be identified by parking management
system 18 to maximize the number of citations issued, to minimize
the route distance or to minimize the route travel time. In one
embodiment, the parking enforcement agent may select the type of
route they wish to follow using handheld unit 34.
[0093] Parking management system 18 may also be configured to
communicate real-time meter status information to motorists to
facilitate location of an unoccupied parking meter. In one
embodiment, parking management system 18 is configured to
communicate information indicative of unoccupied parking spaces to
a personal navigation system (e.g., a mobile device utilizing map
software, a vehicle having a GPS navigation system, a mobile device
having GPS navigation software, etc.). The personal navigation
system is configured to display the location of unoccupied parking
spaces based on the real-time meter status information received
from parking management system 18. For example, a listing of
unoccupied parking spaces may be displayed and/or the location of
the unoccupied parking spaces may be displayed on the map. The user
may select the desired parking space, and the personal navigation
system then generates a route from the current location to the
selected parking space based on the real-time meter status
information received from parking management system 18. In one
embodiment, the personal navigation system may utilize a user input
to determine current position information. In another embodiment,
the personal navigation system may be configured to automatically
identify current position information by accessing positioning
information, such as GPS. In one embodiment, the personal
navigation system is configured to display an alert to the user if
the parking space becomes occupied by another driver before the
user arrives at the parking spot, and in one such embodiment, the
personal navigation system may automatically reroute the user to
the next nearest unoccupied parking spot based on the real-time
meter status information received from parking management system
18.
[0094] In another embodiment, information indicative of unoccupied
parking spaces may be aggregated based on a particular geographic
area by parking management system 18. For example, the parking
management system 18 may be configured to generate information of
parking space occupancy for a geographic area instead of or in
addition to generating the location of particular unoccupied
parking spots. For example, in one embodiment, a map may be
displayed by a mobile device showing the general availability of
parking spaces in a given block or other area based on the
geographic parking space occupancy information received from
parking management system 18. In one such embodiment, the number of
available parking spots in a block may be displayed on a map of the
personal navigation system. In another embodiment, the number of
available parking spots between two cross-streets along the
person's route may be displayed based on the geographic parking
space occupancy information received from parking management system
18. In another embodiment, an indication of the occupancy rate of
parking spaces along the user route may be displayed based on the
geographic parking space occupancy information received from
parking management system 18. In one embodiment, the parking space
occupancy rate may be displayed utilizing a color-coded system. For
example, streets with 100% occupancy may be highlighted in red on
the map display, streets with 90-99% occupancy may be highlighted
in orange on the map display, streets with 75%-89% occupancy may be
highlighted in yellow on the map display, and streets with
occupancy under 75% may be highlighted in green on the map
display.
[0095] In one embodiment, the personal navigation system is
configured to display information indicative of the proximity of
each identified unoccupied parking spot to the user's ultimate
destination based on the real-time meter status information
received from parking management system 18. For example, a listing
of unoccupied spaces may be ordered by distance from the parking
spot to the user's destination. In another embodiment, a display of
unoccupied parking spaces on the personal navigation system map may
include a display of distance information next to the location of
the parking space on the map. For example, a flag display
indicating the location of the unoccupied parking space may include
a number indicating the distance from the parking space to the
destination. In another embodiment, the flag display may include a
number indicating the distance rank of each unoccupied parking
space to the user's destination (e.g., 1 for first closest, 2 for
second closest, 3 for third closest, 4 for fourth closest,
etc.).
[0096] Parking management system 18 may also be configured to store
parking information received via wireless communication from the
meters of parking system 10. In other embodiments, parking
information may be manually entered into parking management system
18. In another embodiment, parking information may be loaded into
parking management system 18 from another data source (e.g., memory
unit of handheld device 34). Parking management system 18 may
include storage components and database components to store and
organize the received parking information. The historic, stored
parking information within parking management system 18 may be
analyzed to operate or to improve operation of parking system
10.
[0097] In one embodiment, parking space occupancy information may
be analyzed by parking management system 18 to adjust the parking
rate of a particular meter. For example, if a meter is occupied at
more than a desired level (e.g., close to 100% of the time) the
parking rate of the meter may be increased, and if the meter is
occupied at a less than desired level (e.g., less than 50% of the
time) the parking rate may be decreased. The change in parking rate
is determined by parking management system 18 and the new rate is
communicated wirelessly to the meter. In one embodiment, parking
management system 18 may be configured to process occupancy data to
determine what parking rate would result in a desired occupancy
rate. In various embodiments, the desired occupancy rate may be
between 60 and 90 percent, may be between 70 and 90 percent, may be
between 75 and 85 percent or may be about 80 percent. In one such
embodiment, parking management system 18 may be configured to
automatically process occupancy data to determine the parking rate
that would result in the desired occupancy rate, and parking
management system 18 may be configured to automatically communicate
the determined parking rate to the parking meter thereby setting
the meter's current parking rate to match the determined rate. In
one embodiment, if one or more meters of meters within a geographic
area are occupied at more than a desired level (e.g., close to 100%
of the time), the parking rate of one or a plurality of meters
within that geographic area may be increased, and if one or more
meters are occupied at a less than desired level (e.g., less than
50% of the time), the parking rate of one or a plurality of meters
within that geographic area may be decreased.
[0098] In certain parking systems, a single parking rate that
applies to a meter all of the time may result in both periods when
the occupancy rate of the spot is below the desired occupancy rate
and periods when the occupancy rate of the spot is above the
desired occupancy rate. In one embodiment, parking management
system 18 may be configured to process occupancy data for a
predetermined time period and to determine the parking rate that
would result in the desired occupancy rate for the predetermined
time period. In one embodiment, parking management system 18 is
configured to process occupancy data for a particular predetermined
time period (e.g., week day days, week day nights, weekend days,
weekend nights, holidays, days or hours of special events, like
sporting events, etc.) and to determine the parking rate that
results in the desired occupancy rate during the predetermined time
period. Parking management system 18 then communicates this
information wirelessly to each meter to change the parking rate of
the meter.
[0099] Further, the historical parking data may be analyzed by
parking management system 18 to improve parking enforcement
efforts. For example, parking management system 18 may be
configured to determine if a disproportionate number of parking
violations are identified historically in a particular area and/or
during a particular time period, and if so, parking management
system 18 provides an indication that enforcement efforts should be
increased during those times. For example, the indication may be
displayed data indicating where enforcement efforts should be
increased. In another embodiment, parking management system 18 may
automatically communicate information regarding a particular
enforcement patrol route based on the analysis of historic parking
data by parking management system 18. However, if a
disproportionately small number of parking violations are
identified during a particular time period or in a particular area,
parking enforcement resources may be diverted to other areas of
parking system 10 by parking management system 18. In these
embodiments, parking management system 18 may be configured to
process historical parking data to determine desired parking
enforcement routes, to determine the number of enforcement
personnel that should be assigned to a particular area during a
particular time, etc.
[0100] In various embodiments, parking management system 18 may be
configured to utilize wirelessly communicated payment data to
provide additional functionality to parking meter system 10. In one
embodiment, parking management system 18 may be configured to
evaluate or analyze payment data received from single space meters
12 (e.g., data regarding payments received from credit cards, smart
cards, debit cards, pay-by-phone devices, near-field-communication
payment devices, etc.) to identify suspicious or fraudulent payment
activity. In some embodiments, parking management system 18 may be
configured to identify a payment pattern that indicates fraudulent
payments. For example, parking management system 18 may be
configured to identify that a particular payment device (e.g., a
particular credit card, smart card, cell phone, etc.) has been used
to pay for a number of meters in an irregular pattern. In such
embodiments, payment devices that are associated with a fraudulent
payment pattern can be flagged and added to a real-time "blacklist"
maintained by parking management system 18. In such embodiments,
payment approval processing performed by parking management system
18 may include comparing a payment device to devices listed on the
blacklist, and subsequent payments from blacklisted payment devices
can be denied. In other embodiments, parking management system 18
may maintain a list of payment devices (e.g., particular brands of
credit cards, particular credit cards owned by identified
individuals, etc.) that are entitled to a parking discount or free
additional parking time. During payment processing by parking
management system 18, an identifier associated with the payment
device or the owner of the payment device may be compared against
the discount list maintained by parking management system 18 and a
discount applied accordingly.
[0101] Referring to FIG. 13, a block diagram of electronic meter
mechanism 72 is shown according to an exemplary embodiment. In this
embodiment, electronic meter mechanism 72 includes two distinct
processors, shown as peripheral device and communication controller
200 and single-space meter (SSM) controller 202, and the local
processing and control functions of electronic meter mechanism 72
are divided between the two processors. Generally, SSM controller
202 conducts the processing for and controls the display 204, a
user input device, such as keypad 216 or input device 58 shown in
FIG. 9, and the time-keeping functions of the meter (e.g.,
determining current time remaining on meter, decreasing time
remaining as time passes, increasing time remaining as payment is
made, determining expiration of the meter when time expires, etc.),
and communication controller 200 conducts processing for and
controls wireless communication subsystem 210 and vehicle sensor
214. In addition, control of the additional components of
electronic meter mechanism 72 may be split between the two
processors 200 and 202 as shown below in FIG. 13.
[0102] In one embodiment, both controllers 200 and 202 are
controllers specifically configured for control of certain
components of a new electronic meter mechanism. In another
embodiment, controller 200 is a multi-purpose or multi-use
control/communication device that is communicably coupled a
dedicated single-space meter controller 202 in order to supplement
the functionality provided by SSM controller 202 and to equip
electronic meter mechanism 72 with additional peripheral devices
that are not controlled by SSM controller 202. For example, in one
embodiment, SSM controller 202 is a dedicated single-space meter
controller and is coupled to, interfaces and/or controls a user
display 204, a money sensor 206, a smart card reader 208 and keypad
216. In one specific embodiment, SSM controller 202 is the
controller present in a conventional electronic single-space
parking meter and controller 200 is communicably coupled to SSM
controller 202 along with additional components shown in FIG. 13
(e.g., elements 210, 212, 214 and 218) as a retrofit unit to
provide additional functionality to the meter. The division of
control between two processors may provide electronic meter
mechanism 72 with a higher efficiency and lower power requirement,
than if one single processor were used. For example, both
controllers 200 and 202 have a low power state and a high power
state, and the controllers are configured to be in a low power
state when the devices its control are not active and in the high
power state when the devices under its control are active. For
example, controller 202 may transition from the low power to the
high power state when data is to be received or transmitted using
the wireless communications hardware. In another embodiment, single
space meter controller 202 controls the lime keeping functions of
single space meter 12, and controller 200 is configured to control
display 204 and to receive signals from money sensor 206, smart
card reader 208 and keypad 216 in addition to the management of
wireless communication subsystem 210, vehicle sensor 214 and credit
card reader 218, discussed herein.
[0103] SSM controller 202 controls display of information on
display 204 and also receives and process input signals received
from keypad 216. SSM controller 202 is configured to receive
information from keypad 216. SSM controller 202 may use this data
to alter the display of information on display 204 based on the
user inputs and to operate the payment receipt functions of the
meter. As shown in FIG. 9, keypad 216 may be a four button keypad
that allows the user to operate the parking meter. In this
embodiment, SSM controller 202 may communicate information received
from keypad 216 to controller 200, and controller 200 may in turn
communicate the information to parking management system 18 via
wireless communication subsystem 210.
[0104] SSM controller 202 receives an input signal from money
sensor 206 indicating when a user has placed money into the parking
meter. Money sensor 206 may include an inductive coil sensor
configured to detect that presence and denomination of coin placed
in the coin slot of the meter. In another embodiment, money sensor
206 may be an optical sensor associated with a coin slot configured
to detect the presence and the denomination of coins placed in the
coin slot of the meter. In one embodiment, money sensor 206 may
incorporate an inductive coin sensor to detect money entering the
coin slot and an optical sensor to detect a jam or foreign object
located within the coin slot. Money sensor 206 may also include an
optical sensor associated with a paper money slot configured to
detect the presence and the denomination of paper money placed into
the paper money slot of the meter. SSM controller 202 also receives
input from smart card reader 208 indicating that the user has paid
for parking using a smart card.
[0105] Peripheral device and communication controller 200 may be
communicably coupled to a variety of additional parking meter
devices to supplement the functionality provided by SSM controller
202. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, controller 200 is coupled
to, interfaces and/or controls a wireless communication subsystem
210, a power supply system 212, a vehicle sensor 214, and a credit
card reader 218. Thus, with controller 200 coupled to SSM
controller 202, electronic meter mechanism 72 is provided with the
functionalities provided by wireless communication subsystem 210,
power supply system 212, vehicle sensor 214, user interface keypad
216, and credit card reader 218.
[0106] Controller 200 controls wireless communication subsystem 210
to provide electronic meter mechanism 72 with wireless
communication functionality. As discussed in detail above, wireless
communication subsystem 210 provides the communication hardware and
software that allows meter mechanism 72 to send information to and
to receive information from parking management system 18. Signals
indicating that payment has been received from money sensor 206 or
smart card reader 208 may be communicated from SSM controller 202
to controller 200, and controller 200 may in turn communicate this
information to parking management system 18 utilizing wireless
communication subsystem 210. Further, controller 200 may
communicate information received from power supply 212, vehicle
sensor 214 and credit card reader 218 to parking management system
18 using wireless communication subsystem 210. In one specific
embodiment, controller 200 may communicate data to the SSM
controller 202 that indicates the receipt of a credit card payment
has been received, and SSM controller 202 is configured to add time
to the meter and to display additional time based upon the data
related to the receipt of credit card payment.
[0107] As discussed above, wireless communication subsystem 210 may
include hardware and software to communicate directly with parking
management system 18 via cellular telephone communication
standards. In other embodiments, wireless communication subsystem
210 may utilize an RF based communication standard to communicate
with a gateway which in turn communicates with parking management
system 18.
[0108] Controller 200 interfaces with power supply 212 to provide
power to the components of electronic meter mechanism 72. As shown
in FIG. 13, power supply 212 includes a rechargeable battery 220
and one or more solar cells or solar panels 222 (e.g., front solar
panel 90 and/or rear solar panel 91). Battery 220 may be one or
multiple batteries and may power both controller 200 and SSM
controller 202 and the components coupled to each controller, Solar
panel 222 is coupled to battery 220 and acts to recharge battery
220. Solar panel 222 is physically located on the housing of meter
mechanism 72 such that it may receive sunlight transmitted through
the window located on the front and or rear surfaces of the outer
housing of the meter. Controller 200 may receive data related to
various operating states of power supply 212 and may communicate
this data to parking management system 18 via wireless
communication subsystem 210. For example, controller 200 may
receive data regarding the charge state of battery 220, recharge
rate of battery 220, the recharge effectiveness or efficiency of
solar cell 222, etc. This data may be processed by parking
management system 18 to determine whether a battery and/or solar
cell in a particular single-space meter needs to be replaced.
[0109] Controller 200 also interfaces vehicle sensor 214. Vehicle
sensor 214 may be pole-mount vehicle sensors 20, curb surface-mount
sensor 22 or street surface-mount sensor 24 discussed above, or any
other sensing device suitable for vehicle detection of the past,
present or future. Vehicle sensor 214 generates a signal indicative
of the vehicle located in the parking spot associated with
electronic meter mechanism 72 and communicates the signal to
controller 200. Controller 200 may communicate information related
to the vehicle in the parking space to SSM controller 202, and SSM
controller 202 may use this information to operate the devices
under its control. For example, display 204 may be updated by SSM
controller 202 based on the information from vehicle sensor 214 to
prompt the user of the parking meter to select the method of
payment to be used for the parking session. Controller 200 may also
transmit data from vehicle sensor 214 to parking management system
18 using wireless communication subsystem 210. In one embodiment,
processor 200 is configured to process the signal indicative of the
presence of the vehicle within the parking space received from
vehicle sensor 214 to determine whether a vehicle is parked in the
parking space when the meter is expired. In this embodiment,
processor 200 is configured to control wireless communication
subsystem 210 to transmit data indicative of a vehicle parked at an
expired meter to parking management system 18.
[0110] Controller 200 also interfaces with a credit card reader 218
configured to generate a signal indicative of credit card data of
the credit card received by the reader. Credit card reader 218
includes a card detector 224 and a mag-strip reader 226. Card
detector 224 detects the presence of a credit card being inserted
into the slot of the credit card reader and information indicative
of the presence of a credit card is communicated to controller 200.
Controller 200 may communicate this information to SSM controller
202, and SSM controller 202 may update display 204 to indicate that
payment by credit card is being used.
[0111] Controller 200 and/or SSM controller 202 may be configured
to execute a function that allows the user to pay for parking using
the credit card. Mag-strip reader 226 reads the credit card
information from the user's credit card. The credit card
information is communicated from mag-strip reader 226 to controller
200, and controller 200 communicates this information to a credit
card authorization system using wireless communication subsystem
210 for authorization and processing. The credit card authorization
system processes the credit card information, and approval
information from the credit card authorization system is received
by wireless communication subsystem 210 and is communicated to
controller 200. If the payment by credit card is approved,
controller 200 communicates credit card approval to SSM controller
202, and SSM controller 202 updates display 204 and adds time to
the meter as appropriate. If payment by credit card is not
approved, controller 200 communicates lack of credit card approval
to SSM controller 202, and SSM controller 202 updates display 204
with the appropriate message and time is not added to the
meter.
[0112] As shown in FIG. 13, communication between the various
components of electronic meter mechanism 72 is provided by
communication links 246. Communication links 246 may be dedicated
wires or wireless communication connections. Communication links
246 may also represent communication over a network. Communication
links 246 may be communication links provided on a printed circuit
board, an integrated circuit or may be cable connections. One or
more communication links 246 may utilize various standard cable
connections (e.g., Ethernet, USB, RJ-11, etc.), and one or more
communication links 246 may utilize custom or proprietary cable
connections. In one embodiment, communication links 246 may be
hardwired connections or couplings that allow for communication of
data and also for the transmission of power from the power supply
to the various device of the meter mechanism. In various
embodiments, communication links 246 may be any combination of the
types of links discussed herein.
[0113] In one embodiment, a new electronic meter mechanism 72 may
be constructed utilizing a first controller 200 to control a first
group of peripherals (e.g., devices 210, 212, 214 and 218) and a
second controller 202 to control a second group of peripherals
(e.g., devices 204, 206, 208 and 216). In other embodiments, an
existing electronic meter mechanism 72 having an SSM meter
controller 202 that controls a pre-existing group of peripherals
(e.g., devices 204-208 and 216) is upgraded by the addition of
controller 200 and a new group of peripherals (e.g., devices 210,
212, 214 and 218). In this embodiment, controller 200 may be
physically present on a separate board or chip than controller 202,
and controller 200 may be coupled to communicate with controller
202 to provide electronic meter mechanism 72 with the functions
provided by the new group of peripherals. In another embodiment,
the functionality of controller 200 and SSM controller 202 may be
provided by a single controller (e.g., a single processing circuit
including hardware and software to control devices 204-208 and
210-218).
[0114] In one embodiment, display 204 may be an upgraded display
(e.g., a color display, high resolution display, graphical display,
etc.) that is part of a retrofit unit. In one such embodiment,
controller 200 (instead of SSM controller 202) may control the
display of information via display 204 in order to provide updated
software, processing power, etc. needed to control upgraded display
204. In this embodiment, the display control functionality of SSM
controller 202 may be disabled and SSM controller 202 may only
control devices 206, 208 and 216.
[0115] Referring to FIG. 14, a detailed block diagram of peripheral
device and communication controller 200 is shown according to an
exemplary embodiment. Controller 200 may generally be an electronic
control unit suitable to provide electronic meter mechanism 72 with
the various functionalities described herein. For example,
controller 200 may be an embedded system, a dedicated circuit, a
general purpose system or circuit programmed with the functionality
described herein, etc. Controller 200 includes a processing circuit
230, memory 232, a communication module and interface 234, a
single-space meter module 236, a vehicle sensor module 238, a power
supply module 240, a credit card reader module 242. In one
embodiment, controller 200 may include a user input module 244,
which may be disabled in applications in which the user input
device is controlled by SSM controller 202.
[0116] Processing circuit 230 may be a general purpose processor,
an application specific processor (ASIC), a circuit containing one
or more processing components, a group of distributed processing
components, a group of distributed computers configured for
processing, etc., configured to provide the functionality of module
components of controller 200. Memory 232 (e.g., memory unit, memory
device, storage device, etc.) may be one or more devices for
storing data and/or computer code for completing and/or
facilitating the various processes described in the present
disclosure. Memory 232 may include volatile memory and/or
non-volatile memory. Memory 232 may include database components,
object code components, script components, and/or any other type of
information structure for supporting the various activities
described in the present disclosure.
[0117] According to an exemplary embodiment, any distributed and/or
local memory device of the past, present, or future may be utilized
with the systems and methods of this disclosure. According to an
exemplary embodiment, memory 232 is communicably connected to
processing circuit 230 and module components 234-244 (e.g., via a
circuit or any other wired, wireless, or network connection) and
includes computer code for executing one or more processes
described herein. A single memory unit may include a variety of
individual memory devices, chips, disks, and/or other storage
structures or systems.
[0118] Module components 234-244 may be computer code (e.g., object
code, program code, compiled code, script code, executable code,
instructions, programmed instructions, non-transitory programmed
instructions, or any combination thereof), hardware, software, or
any combination thereof, for conducting each module's respective
functions. Module components 234-244 may be stored in memory 232,
or in one or more local, distributed, and/or remote memory units
configured to be in communication with processing circuit 230 or
another suitable processing system.
[0119] Communication module and interface 234 includes one or more
components for communicably coupling controller 200 to the other
components of parking system 10. For example, in the embodiment
shown in FIG. 13, communication module and interface 234 includes
one or more components for communicably coupling controller 200 to
the other components of electronic meter mechanism 72 via
communication links 246. As discussed in more detail below,
communication module and interface 234 includes one or more
components for communicably coupling controller 200 to various
components of parking system 10 in various different
configurations.
[0120] Communication module and interface 234 may include one or
more jacks or other hardware for physically coupling communication
links 246 to controller 200, analog to digital converters, digital
to analog converters, signal processing circuitry, and/or other
suitable components. Communication module and interface 234 may
include hardware configured to connect controller 200 with the
other components of electronic meter mechanism 72 via wireless
connections. Communication module and interface 234 is configured
to support the communication activities of controller 200 (e.g.,
negotiating connections, communication via standard or proprietary
protocols, etc.). Communication module and interface 234 is also
configured to support operation of wireless communication subsystem
210 to provide connectivity and communication between controller
200 and parking management system 18 via a wired or wireless
network.
[0121] Single-space meter module 236 is configured to allow
controller 200 to interface and communicate data with one or more
SSM controllers 202. Vehicle sensor module 238 is configured to
allow controller 200 to interface with, communicate data with
and/or control one or more vehicle sensors 214. Power supply module
240 is configured to allow controller 200 to interface with,
communicate data with and/or control power supply 212. Power supply
module 240 may also be configured to regulate and distribute power
from power supply 212 to power various components of controller
200, or other components of parking system 10 as needed in a
particular arrangement. Credit card reader module 242 is configured
to allow controller 200 to interface with, communicate data with
and/or control credit card reader 218. Credit card reader module
242 is also configured to allow controller 200 to interface with a
credit card authorization system to process credit card payments.
User input module 244 is configured to allow controller 200 to
interface with, communicate data with and/or control keypad
216.
[0122] In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 15-20, peripheral device
and communication controller 200 is a multi-use controller that may
be used to control various combinations of components of parking
system 10. In these embodiments, controller 200 may be configured
such that one design of controller 200 may be used in various
configurations to control and communicate with different
combinations of parking system components. Thus, a "universal"
design of controller 200 provides for flexibility when utilizing
controller 200 to upgrade or to provide functionality to an
existing parking meter system.
[0123] Referring to FIG. 15, an embodiment of peripheral device and
communication controller 200 is shown as a multi-purpose peripheral
board physically coupled to the main electronics board 400 of a
single-space meter, such as single-space meter 12. In this
embodiment, controller 200 provides one, single-space parking meter
with control of additional peripheral devices 210, 212, 214 and 218
(shown in FIG. 13). As shown in FIG. 15, vehicle sensor 214 is a
pole-mounted vehicle sensor 20 located in a lower pod or housing
coupled to the pole of the parking meter (as shown for example in
FIG. 1). In this embodiment, controller 200 is electrically coupled
to and communicates with pole-mounted vehicle sensor 20 via a cable
communication link 246. Cable communication link 246 is coupled at
one end to a connector 402 physically coupled to main electronics
board 400 and is coupled at the other end to pole-mount vehicle
sensor 20.
[0124] Also shown in FIG. 15 a wireless communication antenna 260
is coupled to controller 200. Antenna 260 is part of wireless
communication subsystem 210. As noted in FIG. 15, controller 200
may be configured for various types of wireless communication,
including GPRS communication and local, RF communication. A
processor connector 404 is coupled to controller 200 and provides a
connection location for additional devices not shown in the
embodiment of FIG. 15.
[0125] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 15, main electronics board
400 includes connectors 406, 408, and 410. In one embodiment, a
wired communication link 246 connects main electronics board 400 to
battery 220, and connector 406 couples wired communication link 246
to main electronics board 400. In one embodiment, battery 220 may
include two distinct batteries, a primary battery and a backup
battery. In one embodiment, battery 220 may include two distinct
batteries, a rechargeable battery or battery pack, and a primary
battery or battery pack as a backup source. A solar power cable 412
connects main electronics board 400 to one or more solar panels
222, and connector 408 couples wired communication link 246 to main
electronics board 400. A cable 414 couples both keypad 216 and
credit card reader 218 to main electronics board 400, and connector
410 couples cable 414 to main electronics board 400. In one
embodiment cable 414 is an opto-cable.
[0126] In one embodiment shown in FIG. 16, peripheral device and
communication controller 200 may be used to provide processing,
communication and power supply management functionality for a
stand-alone or meter-detached vehicle sensor, such as curb
surface-mount sensor 22 or street surface-mount sensor 24. In this
embodiment, controller 200 may be physically located within the
sensor housing of either curb surface-mount sensor 22 or street
surface-mount sensor 24. As part of the vehicle sensor assembly,
controller 200 is configured to receive data from a vehicle sensing
element 262 via either a wired or wireless communication. In the
embodiment shown in FIG. 16, vehicle sensing element 262 is coupled
to controller 200 by a wired, cable 420, and back connector 404
provides the interface and physical coupling between controller 200
and cable 420.
[0127] In one embodiment, controller 200 provides for the
communication of data from vehicle sensing element 262 to the
single-space meter, to the multi-space meter or to the gateway
using RF communication, via antenna 260. In another embodiment,
controller 200 provides for direct communication of data from the
vehicle sensor to parking management system 18 using cellular
communication, such as GPRS communication. As shown in FIG. 16,
controller 200 also is coupled to a battery 422 and solar panel 424
via combined communication and power connections 246 and provides
for power supply management for vehicle sensing element 262.
[0128] Referring to FIG. 17, peripheral device and communication
controller 200 is shown configured for the control of two
single-space parking meters. In the embodiment shown, controller
200 is coupled to communicate with SSM controllers 202 of a first
meter 264 and a second meter 266. Controller 200 is also coupled a
first vehicle sensor 268 associated with first meter 264 and a
second vehicle sensor 270 associated with second meter 266. In this
embodiment, a single, controller 200 provides for communication
with both vehicle sensors and for communication with parking
management system 18 for both first meter 264 and second meter 266.
This arrangement may be particularly advantageous when meters 264
and 266 are supported by a single pole and service adjacent parking
spots. In one embodiment, first meter 264 and second meter 266 are
single-space parking meters, and sensors 268 and 270 are pole mount
vehicle sensors 20, mounted to a single support pole that supports
both meters.
[0129] As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 17, controller includes
both a back connector 404 and a front connector 426. A cable 430
couples meter 264 to controller 200, and front connector 426
provide the interface and physically couples cable 430 to
controller 200. A cable 432 couples vehicle sensor 268 to
controller 200, and front connector 426 physically couples cable
432 to controller 200. A cable 436 couples meter 266 to controller
200, and back connector 404 physically couples cable 436 to
controller 200. A cable 438 couples sensor 270 to controller 200,
and back connector 404 physically couples cable 438 to controller
200.
[0130] Referring to FIG. 18, a detailed block diagram of a single
peripheral device and communication controller 200 is shown
providing control of two sets of additional peripheral devices
210-218 (discussed in detail above regarding FIG. 13) for two
single-space parking meters. FIG. 18 shows a single controller 200
interfacing with two single-space meters, a vehicle sensor
associated with each meter, a battery and solar panel associated
with each meter, a keypad associated with each meter and a credit
card reader associated with each meter.
[0131] Specifically, FIG. 18 shows controller 200 coupled to a
first keypad 450 associated with the first single-space parking
meter and to a second keypad 452 associated the second single-space
parking meter. Controller 200 is coupled to a first SSM controller
454 associated with the first single-space parking meter and to a
second SSM controller 456 associated with the second single-space
parking meter. Controller 200 is coupled to a first vehicle sensor
458 associated with the first single-space parking meter and to a
second vehicle sensor 460 associated with the second single-space
parking meter. Controller 200 is coupled to a first credit card
reader 462 associated with the first single-space parking meter and
to a second credit card reader 464 associated with the second
single-space parking meter.
[0132] In the embodiment of FIG. 18, controller 200 is coupled to a
power subsystem 470 that provides power to both the first and
second single-space meters. Controller 200 is configured to
regulate and to control power distribution to the devices of both
the first and second single-space meters from the single power
subsystem 470. Power subsystem 470 includes a primary battery 472,
a rechargeable battery 474, a first solar panel 476 coupled to
rechargeable battery 474 and a second solar panel 478. Controller
200 is also coupled to a single wireless communication subsystem
210. In this embodiment, controller 200 controls wireless
communication between both the first and second single-space meters
and parking management system 18. This arrangement allows a single
controller 200 and a single set of wireless communications hardware
to provide wireless communication with parking management system 18
for two parking meters. In other embodiments, controller 200 is
configured to control at least two single-space meters and to
control wireless communications for at least two single-space
meters.
[0133] Controller 200 is also configured for connection to and
communication with a diagnostic and test system 480. Diagnostic and
test system 480 may be located within parking management system 18
and may utilize the wireless communication functionality of
controller 200 to run diagnostics on either of the single-space
meters or controller 200. In other embodiments, diagnostic and test
system 480 may be a system that is physically coupled to the meter
to run diagnostics on either of the single-space meters or
controller 200.
[0134] Further, FIG. 18 shows controller 200 communicably coupled
to a camera module, shown including a first camera 272 and a second
camera 274, each associated with one of the single-space meters.
Cameras 272 and 274 are configured to capture image data of the
vehicle located in the parking spot associated with each meter, and
specifically may be configured to obtain an image of the license
plate of each vehicle located in each parking spot. This
information may then be communicated to parking management system
18 for processing and for use related to an enforcement activity
(e.g., the mailing of a parking ticket directly to the owner of the
vehicle if parking regulations were violated). Further, controller
200 may be coupled to non-volatile memory 482 to provide for
additional local data storage. In one embodiment, non-volatile
memory 482 may be flash memory of different any size desired for a
particular application (e.g., 1 MB, 2 MB, 3 MB, 5 MB, 10 MB, etc.).
In one embodiment, diagnostics and test system 480 may be testing
and diagnostics software embedded on non-volatile flash memory
482.
[0135] Referring to FIG. 19, peripheral device and communication
controller 200 is shown providing vehicle sensing functionality,
solar cell/battery functionality and communication functionality as
a retrofit unit for a single-space meter. In this embodiment, the
pre-existing single-space meter 407 is connected to controller 200
using an RJ-11 connection 405, and communication between controller
200 and SSM controller 202 occurs via the RJ-11 connection. In
another embodiment, controller 200 provides only vehicle sensing
functionality and solar/battery functionality to meter 407, but
does not provide for communication to parking management system
18.
[0136] Referring to FIG. 20, peripheral device and communication
controller 200 may be configured to act as a gateway (such as
gateway 36 and 38 discussed above) to receive information from
parking meters or from stand-alone vehicle sensors within parking
system 10 and to communicate the received information via a
wireless network to parking management system 18. In this
embodiment, controller 200 is coupled to a power supply having one
or more solar panel and a battery. Controller 200 is also coupled
to a modem, such as wireless modem 278, for cellular communication
(e.g., 2.5 G, 3G, 4G, etc.) with parking management system 18. In
other embodiments, controller 200 utilized as a gateway can
communicate with parking management system 18 using other methods
(e.g., WIFI, various wired connections, etc.).
[0137] Referring to FIG. 21, a process for upgrading a single-space
parking meter 300 with a new electronic meter mechanism, such as
electronic meter mechanism 72, is shown, according to an exemplary
embodiment. Single-space meter 300 includes an existing electronic
meter mechanism 302 having a payment structure 304. In one
embodiment, payment structure 304 of existing electronic meter
mechanism 302 includes a coin slot and a smart card reader, but
does not include a credit card reader having a mag-strip reader. In
another embodiment, payment structure 304 of old single-space meter
300 includes a coin slot, but does not include either a credit card
reader with a mag-strip reader or a smart card reader (see FIG.
25).
[0138] As shown in FIG. 21(A) and FIG. 21(B), existing electronic
meter mechanism 302 is located within an outer meter housing 306,
and outer meter housing 306 defines an internal space that receives
existing electronic meter mechanism 302. A window 308 is located in
an upper portion 310 of housing 306 such that the display of
existing electronic meter mechanism 302 is visible through window
308. To remove existing electronic meter mechanism 302, outer meter
housing 306 is unlocked, and upper portion 310 is moved exposing
existing electronic meter mechanism 302. In the embodiment shown in
FIG. 21(B), upper portion 310 is connected to a lower portion 314
of outer meter housing 306 via a hinge 312, and upper portion 310
is rotated about hinge 312 exposing existing electronic meter
mechanism 302. In other embodiments, upper portion 310 of meter
housing may be coupled to lower portion 314 via other types of
connections or couplings. For example, upper portion 310 may
include a structure (e.g., a dove-tail) that is received within a
corresponding structure of lower portion 314, and upper portion
disengages from or slides off of lower portion 314.
[0139] As can be seen in FIGS. 21(A) and 21(B), payment structure
304 of existing meter mechanism 302 is received within a
preexisting payment opening, shown as aperture 316, located in the
front or sidewalk-facing face of outer meter housing 306. Payment
structure 304 of existing meter mechanism 302 extends through
aperture 316 a short distance such that the front surface of
payment structure 304 is slightly recessed or is substantially
flush with the front surface of outer meter housing 306 and does
not extend out of aperture 316 beyond the front face of the meter
housing.
[0140] As shown in FIG. 21(C), with upper portion 310 moved or
removed, existing electronic meter mechanism 302 is lifted upwardly
and out of meter housing 306 exposing the inner cavity 318 of meter
housing 306. As shown in FIG. 21(D), a new electronic meter
mechanism 72 is placed into cavity 318 of meter housing 306. It
should be noted that new electronic meter mechanism 72 fits within
the same cavity 318 of meter housing 306 as old electronic meter
mechanism 302, without requiring revision, alteration or widening
of cavity 318 or alteration of outer meter housing 306.
[0141] As can be seen in FIG. 21(C), payment/user-interface
structure 82 of electronic meter mechanism 72 extends through
aperture 316 a distance such that the front surface of payment/user
interface structure 82 is spaced a distance from front face of
meter housing 306. In this embodiment, both the entry slot of the
credit card reader and the money slot of the new meter mechanism 72
are accessible through preexisting aperture 316. It should be noted
that payment/user-interface structure 82 is sized such that it fits
through the same aperture 316 as payment structure 304 of the old
electronic meter mechanism 302. Payment/user-interface structure 82
is sized such that it fits through the same aperture 316 as payment
structure 304 of the old electronic meter mechanism 302 without
requiring revision, alteration or widening of aperture 316.
Further, the portion of housing 306 immediately below aperture 316
is received within gap 284 (shown in FIG. 23) of the new meter
mechanism 72.
[0142] Referring to FIG. 21(F) and FIG. 21(G), with new meter
mechanism 72 placed within cavity 318, upper portion 310 is rotated
to the closed position such that new meter mechanism 72 is secured
within meter housing 306 such that the display screen of meter
mechanism 72 is viewable through window 308. It should be noted,
that new meter mechanism 72 is sized such that upper portion 310
can close over new meter mechanism 72 without requiring revision to
upper portion 310. Following closure of upper portion 310, outer
housing 306 may be locked sealing electronic meter housing 72
within housing 306. As can be seen in FIG. 21(E) and FIG. 21(G),
front solar panel 90 of electronic meter mechanism 72 is positioned
such that with upper portion 310 in the closed position, front
solar panel 90 is located within outer meter housing 306 and below
window 308. This configuration allows both light to strike front
solar panel 90 while providing solar panel 90 with the protection
afforded by meter housing 306. Rear solar panel 91 is positioned
such that light that passes through the rear window strikes rear
solar panel 91. In these embodiments, window 308 (and the rear
window) are in substantially the same position or location after
the new meter mechanism is installed and meter housing 306 is
closed.
[0143] Thus, as shown in FIG. 21(A)-21(G), an old electronic meter
mechanism may be replaced with a new meter mechanism 72 providing
an updated or upgraded parking meter that provides the various
functionalities discussed herein. Specifically, in one embodiment,
new meter mechanism 72 provides a parking meter having a credit
card reader, a money sensor, a display, a smart card reader, a user
interface (e.g., a keypad) and a solar panel and battery that fits
inside the same outer housing that held the old meter mechanism
without requiring any revision to the outer meter housing. The
outer housing that holds new meter mechanism has the same size,
shape and internal volume as it did holding the old meter
mechanism. Further, new meter mechanism 72 also provides capability
for wireless communication with parking management system 18 within
the same outer housing that held the old meter mechanism without
requiring any revision to or restructuring of the outer meter
housing, and new meter mechanism 72 also provides for communication
with a vehicle sensor and processing of vehicle sensor data within
the same outer housing that held the old meter mechanism without
requiring any revision to or restructuring of the outer meter
housing. In one embodiment, the upgrade method includes delivering
an upgraded meter mechanism, such as meter mechanism 72, to a
recipient, and the recipient preforms the steps to remove the old
meter and add the new meter to the housing, shown in FIG.
21(A)-21(G). Further, meter mechanism 72 is shaped and is
positioned within the outer meter housing to be accessible from a
wheelchair, and in one specific embodiment, following insertion of
meter mechanism 72 into the outer housing, the user input, payment
devices and display are positioned at a height above the ground and
at an angle in order to be compliant with the Americans with
Disabilities Act.
[0144] Referring to FIG. 25 and FIG. 26, a process for upgrading a
single-space parking meter 340 with a new electronic meter
mechanism, such as electronic meter mechanism 72, is shown,
according to an exemplary embodiment. The process shown in FIG. 25
and FIG. 26 is similar to the process shown FIG. 21 except for the
primary differences discussed below. FIG. 25(A) shows a parking
meter 340, and FIG. 25(B) shows the housing of parking meter 340
being unlocked by key 341. As shown in FIG. 25(C), parking meter
340 includes an upper housing portion or cap 342 that is not
connected via a hinge to the lower meter housing. In the embodiment
shown, upper housing portion 342 includes brackets 344 that engage
corresponding structures in the lower meter housing. Upper housing
portion 342 is removed by disengaging brackets 344 from the lower
housing.
[0145] With upper housing portion 342 removed, old meter mechanism
346 may be removed leaving the lower housing of meter 340 empty as
shown in FIG. 25(D). Parking meter 340 may be upgraded by inserting
or installing a new meter mechanism 72 into the cavity of the lower
housing of meter 340, as shown in FIG. 25(E). Old meter mechanism
346 is an example of a meter mechanism having only a coin payment
mechanism that may be replaced with electronic meter mechanism
72.
[0146] Referring to FIG. 25(F), electronic meter mechanism 72 is
shown received within the meter housing. With electronic meter
mechanism 72 received within the outer meter housing, rear surface
288 (shown in FIG. 23) of keypad housing 282 is positioned
substantially flush against the front surface of the outer meter
housing. As noted above, this engagement may assist in properly
locating electronic meter mechanism 72 relative to the outer meter
housing and may assist is coupling electronic meter mechanism 72 to
the outer meter housing. As shown in FIG. 25(G), rear solar panel
91 is positioned on the shelf extending from below display 54 such
that, when cap 342 is reconnected to the lower meter housing, rear
solar panel 91 is located below the rear window formed in cap 342.
This arrangement allows light to pass through the rear window and
to strike rear solar panel.
[0147] Referring to FIGS. 25(H) and 25(I), front and rear views,
respectively, of meter 340 are shown following installation of
electronic meter mechanism 72. As shown in FIG. 25(H), front solar
panel 90 is located beneath the front window 348 of upper housing
portion 342. As shown in FIG. 25(I), rear solar panel 91 is located
beneath rear window 350 of upper housing portion 342. In one
embodiment, upper housing portion 342 may be placed over electronic
meter mechanism 72 and coupled to the lower housing portion without
requiring revision or modification to the meter housing.
[0148] Alternatively, in some embodiments, depending on the
configuration of the meter housing containing old electronic meter
mechanism 346, some revision to the meter housing may be needed in
order to install electronic meter mechanism 72. For example,
referring to FIG. 26, upper housing portion 342 may include a plate
352. Plate 352 includes a panel 354 containing information (e.g.,
rate information, parking times, etc.) that is visible through rear
window 350 prior to meter upgrade and is positioned in the area
that will be occupied by rear solar panel 91. Thus, in one
embodiment, plate 352 may be removed from upper housing portion 342
during the installation of electronic meter mechanism 72, so that
rear solar panel 91 is not covered by plate.
[0149] Referring to FIG. 27 and FIG. 28, another embodiment of
electronic meter mechanism, shown as electronic meter mechanism
500, is shown according to an exemplary embodiment. Electronic
meter mechanism 500 is substantially similar to meter mechanism 72
except for the differences noted below. Electronic meter mechanism
500 includes a removable memory device 502 and a memory device
port, shown as slot 504. FIG. 27 shows removable memory device 502
received within slot 504. Slot 504 is an opening or aperture that
extends through inner housing 506 that allows removable memory
device 502 to engage electrical contacts of a memory device reader
located inside inner housing 506. In the embodiment shown in FIG.
27, slot 504 is formed through a lateral surface of inner housing
506. Lateral positioning of slot 504 makes slot 504 and memory
device 502 less conspicuous to the user of meter 12, when the meter
mechanism is received within outer housing 42.
[0150] Referring to FIG. 28, memory device 502 includes an outer
section 510 and an inner portion 512 including electrical contacts
514. When installed into slot 504, inner portion 512 is received
within inner housing 506 and electrical contacts 514 are engaged
with opposing contacts of a memory device reader located within
slot 504. The electrical contact provided by electrical contacts
514 allows parking meter control system 50 to read and write data
to memory device 502. Electrical contacts 514 provide a sliding
electrical contact with the corresponding contacts within outer
housing 506. Outer section 510 extends outward beyond the outer
surface of inner housing 506 and provides a gripping surface that
may be gripped to remove or install memory device 502.
[0151] Single space meter 12 includes a removable, read-write
memory device 502. Generally, removable memory device 502 stores
information and/or software that can be utilized by single space
meter 12 to allow single space meter 12 to operate properly based
on the physical location of meter 12 within parking system 10 and
based upon the particular parking system 10 (e.g., meter
configurations specialized for a particular city such display of
city name). As explained in more detail below, memory device 502
may be removed from a first, current or pre-existing meter
mechanism 500 located within a particular outer meter housing 70
and inserted into a socket or port on a new meter mechanism 500
that is to replace the current meter mechanism. The new meter
mechanism 500 reads the data from memory device 502 and utilizes
the data to program the new meter mechanism 500 to function
properly based on the physical location of meter 12 within parking
system 10 and based upon the particular parking system 10.
[0152] In various embodiments, memory device 502 may store location
identification information representative of the physical location
of outer meter housing 70 that the new meter mechanism is being
installed into. Memory device 502 may also include payment
information representative of parking payments received by the
meter. For example payment information may include audit data
indicating the amount of currency that has been received by the
meter and that should be located in the currency holder within
outer meter housing 70. Payment information may also include
information regarding credit card transactions received by the
meter including batched credit card transaction data that were not
able to receive real-time credit card authorization. Memory device
502 may also include meter mechanism configuration data.
Configuration data may include rate information (e.g., information
indicating the parking rate and parking times that the rate
applies), display configuration files (e.g., data that is used by
the meter mechanism controller to display the appropriate
information on the electronic display screen of the meter) and
meter software/firmware (e.g., the appropriate software/firmware
versions that allow the meter mechanism to operate within the
particular parking system).
[0153] Further, meter mechanism 500 includes an integrated payment
and input structure 520 that includes a four button key pad 522.
Key pad 522 is vertically oriented having a front face that is
substantially parallel to the vertical axis of meter mechanism 500.
Further, key pad 522 is located in a depression or recess formed in
key pad housing 524 such that the front surface of key pad 522 is
recess relative to key pad housing 524. Meter mechanism 500
includes a front solar panel 530 located on a front support 526.
Front support 526 is a portion of inner housing 506 that extends
upward from a horizontal surface 528 located below display screen
54 and above key pad 522. Front support 526 includes an upper
surface that supports solar panel 530. As shown in FIG. 27, front
support 526 is positioned and oriented such that solar panel 530 is
in substantially the same position and orientation as solar panel
90 shown in FIG. 9.
[0154] Further modifications and alternative embodiments of various
aspects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the
art in view of this description. Accordingly, this description is
to be construed as illustrative only. The construction and
arrangements, shown in the various exemplary embodiments, are
illustrative only. While the current application recites particular
combinations of features in the various embodiments discussed
herein, various embodiments of the invention relate to any
combination of any of the features described herein, and any such
combination of features may be claimed in this or future
applications. Any of the features, elements, or components of any
of the exemplary embodiments discussed above may be claimed alone
or in combination with any of the features, elements, or components
of any of the other embodiments discussed above.
[0155] Although only a few embodiments have been described in
detail in this disclosure, many modifications are possible (e.g.,
variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions
of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting
arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without
materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the
subject matter described herein. In various exemplary embodiments,
the relative dimensions, including angles, lengths and radii, as
shown in the Figures are to scale. Actual measurements of the
Figures will disclose relative dimensions and angles of the various
exemplary embodiments. Various exemplary embodiments include any
combination of one or more relative dimensions or angles that may
be determined from the Figures. Further, actual dimensions not
expressly set out in this description can be determined by using
the ratios of dimensions measured in the Figures in combination
with the express dimensions set out in this description. Some
elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple
parts or elements, the position of elements may be reversed or
otherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete elements or
positions may be altered or varied. The order or sequence of any
process, logical algorithm, or method steps may be varied or
re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. Other
substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may also be
made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the
various exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of
the present invention.
* * * * *