AU2022200298A1 - GEN II meter system with multiple processors, multiple detection sensor types, fault tolerance methods, power sharing and multiple user interface methods - Google Patents

Abstract

A parking space monitoring system for handling various parking space management conditions, comprising: a parking space monitoring device for a parking space; a piece of electronic equipment having a plurality of microprocessors located within the parking space monitoring device, wherein the microprocessors are configured to monitor and respond to the various parking space management conditions of the parking space monitoring system; a power control mechanism configured to provide power to the piece of electronic equipment and the plurality of microprocessors; a mobile computer having a Global Positioning System (GPS) wherein the (GPS) reports in near real-time a current geographical location of the mobile computer; a remote processing center and communication network, wherein the mobile computer and the parking space monitoring device are communicably connected to the remote processing center by the communication network; and wherein the remote processing center and the parking space monitoring device are configured for dynamically determining the priority of a prospective response to various parking space management conditions using pre-determined parking space management characteristics of the parking space, the current geographical location of the mobile computer, historical various parking space conditions, historical parking space management characteristics, other than the pre-determined parking space management characteristics, of the parking space and historical geographical locations, preceding the current geographical location, of the mobile computer effecting a value maximizing response by a field personnel using the mobile computer maximizing parking management goals.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION

{00011 In a system such as the GenII Meter System (US Provisional Patent

Application Serial No. 61/202201, Filed February 2009) built with multiple

processors contained in a single node provides internal monitoring of the operability

of all units. An alphanumeric identifying message ID for each message is

transmitted from a component to identify intermittent and other communication

errors such as consistently "lost" packets of information within a RAM system

(US Patent Application Serial No. 11/802244, filed 21 May 2007 )for Parking

Management. An alphanumeric identifying message ID for each message

transmitted from a component to identify intermittent and other communication

errors such as consistently "lost" packets of information within a RAM system for

Parking Management. An alphanumeric message Id confirms message delivery

between radio network components in the RAM system for parking. The

alphanumeric message ID confirms message delivery between radio network

components in the RAM system for parking. The above alphanumeric message ID

confirms message delivery between radio network components in the RAM system

for parking. The above alphanumeric message IF confirms message delivery

between radio network components in the RAM system for parking. A switching

mechanism is used as a method of time stamping Parking Meter collections and

sending sets of commands either directly from handheld implements or through a

radio network.

[0002] The provisional patent application Serial No. 61/202201 relates to multiple task specific processors such as an Application Processor, a Meter Controller and a Radio Processor all controlled via a shared SPI bus and using rechargeable batteries and solar power sources for controlling and monitoring a vehicle parking system.

[0003] The invention entitled: Parking System Employing RAM Techniques, Serial No.11/802244, filed 21 May 2007 which relates to the management of vehicle parking systems and in particular to such systems using remote management techniques for enhancing management efficiency and to provide solutions to the parking system that could not otherwise be managed by (1) sensing, collecting, recording and displaying data regarding all aspects of the environment pertaining to the parking system, (2) analyzing the data collected to create actionable outputs responsive to the needs of the public and the management of the parking system; (3) communicating with the various parking system components, and (4) receiving feedback to perform requested operations for the parking system.

[0003a] Any discussion of documents, devices, acts or knowledge in this specification is included to explain the context of the invention. It should not be taken as an admission that any of the material formed part of the prior art base or the common general knowledge in the relevant art on or before the priority date of the claims herein.

[0003b] Comprises/comprising and grammatical variations thereof when used in this specification are to be taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components or groups thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003c] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a parking space monitoring system for handling various parking space management conditions, comprising: a parking space monitoring device for a parking space; a piece of electronic equipment having a plurality of microprocessors located within the parking space monitoring device, wherein the microprocessors are configured to monitor and respond to the various parking space management conditions of the parking space monitoring system; a power control mechanism configured to provide power to the piece of electronic equipment and the plurality of microprocessors; a mobile computer having a Global Positioning System (GPS) wherein the (GPS) reports in near real-time a current geographical location of the mobile computer; a remote processing center and communication network, wherein the mobile computer and the parking space monitoring device are communicably connected to the remote processing center by the communication network; and wherein the remote processing center and the parking space monitoring device are configured for dynamically determining the priority of a prospective response to various parking space management conditions using pre-determined parking space management characteristics of the parking space, the current geographical location of the mobile computer, historical various parking space conditions, historical parking space management characteristics, other than the pre-determined parking space management characteristics, of the parking space and historical geographical locations, preceding the current geographical location, of the mobile computer effecting a value maximizing response by a field personnel using the mobile computer maximizing parking management goals.

[0003d] There is also described a parking space monitoring system for handling various parking space management conditions, including: a parking space monitoring device for a parking space; a piece of electronic equipment having a plurality of microprocessors located within the parking space monitoring device, wherein the microprocessors are configured to monitor and respond to the various parking space management conditions of the parking space monitoring system; a power control mechanism configured to provide power to the piece of electronic equipment and the plurality of microprocessors; a mobile computer having a Global Positioning System (GPS) wherein the (GPS) reports a current geographical location of the mobile computer; a remote processing center and communication network, wherein the mobile computer and the parking space monitoring device are communicably connected to the remote processing center by the communication network; and wherein the remote processing center and the parking space monitoring device are configured for defining and weighing information related to an urgency of a response to the various parking space management conditions formed to different pre-determined parking space management characteristics of the parking space and to the current geographical location of the mobile computer for determining a highest assay opportunity and effective response by a field personnel using the mobile computer to prioritize the assay opportunity.

2a

[0003e] The parking space monitoring system may further include a power supply and solar cells for supplementing additional power shared with at least one external device including parking meters, digital signage and other types of related user interfacing devices.

[0003f] The response to the various parking space management conditions may include current violations, maintenance issues or meter collection requirements.

[0003g] The (GPS) of the mobile computer may report the current geographical location of the mobile computer in order to receive instructions from the remote processing center with respect to current violations, maintenance issues or meter collection requirements that are most proximate to the field personnel using the mobile computer and/or are highest priority.

[0003h] The highest assay opportunity may include at least one of a citation fine amount, violation type, type of equipment failure, historical usage rates in a location being monitored, meter rates, time in violation, current duration of equipment failure, type of residential or commercial parking location, charged parking rates, parking demand, turnover, parking time limits, violation fine levels, historical violation durations and other metrics.

[0003i] The dynamically determining the priority of the response preferably includes weighing at least one of a citation fine amount, violation type, type of equipment failure, historical usage rates in a location being monitored, meter rates, time in violation, current duration of equipment failure, type of residential or commercial parking location, charged parking rates, parking demand, turnover, parking time limits, violation fine levels, historical violation durations and other metrics.

[0003j] The mobile computers and remote processing center may be arranged so that remote access is provided for observation of a location of each worker in a monitored parking space, based on at least part of aggregate data, and identification of an emergent condition at a different location and for direction of a worker to the different location in response to identification of the emergent condition.

[0003k] The parking space monitoring system may further include a separate device employing at least one of an induction loop, magnetometer, RADAR, ultrasonic, infrared viable means, and a radio, said separate device monitoring a parking space's occupancy and communicates the parking space's occupancy status either directly through at least one of the radio, the communication network to which the separate device is connected, and by the remote processing center. The separate device may be installed below grade in the parking spaces of said parking space monitoring system.

2b

[00031] The parking space monitoring system may further include a connected detection unit including said induction loop and installed below grade in the parking spaces of said parking space monitoring system.

[0003m] The various parking space management conditions may include at least one of the following conditions: Space Occupancy; Parking Meter Status; Display of Parking Policy to Motorists; Motorist User Interactions; Maintenance User Interactions; Radio Communications with a Central Management System and Network; and coordination of the operation between the plurality of microprocessors.

[0003n] The networked mobile computers and remote processing center may be arranged so that remote access is provided for observation of a location of each worker in a monitored parking space, based at least in part on the last transmission of GPS data, and identification of an emergent condition at different locations and for direction of a worker to the different location in response to identification of the emergent condition.

[0003o] The parking management goals may comprise revenue maximization and space availability maximization. Further, the separate device may be installed in the parking space monitoring device.

[0003p] There is also described a parking space monitoring system, including multiple microprocessors for handling various parking space management conditions, including at least one of the following conditions: (1) Space Occupancy (vehicle detection); (2) Parking Meter Status; (3) Display of Parking Policy to Motorists; (3) Motorist User Interactions; (4) Maintenance User Interactions; (5) Radio Communications with a Central management system and Network; and (6) Coordination of the operation between various ones of said microprocessors.

[0003q] The parking space monitoring system may further include a power control mechanism for reinitializing individual ones of said multiple microprocessors without affecting the operation of the other of said microprocessors in the parking space monitoring system.

[0003r] The individual operability status of an individual one of said microprocessors may be queried by another of said microprocessors and instructs said power control mechanism to reinitialize a non-responsive microprocessor.

[0003s] The parking space monitoring system may further include mobile computers, a remote processing center and a network to connect said remote processing center to aggregate data and instruct said mobile computers to instruct field personnel of at least one of current violations, maintenance issues or meter collection requirements.

2c

[0003t] The mobile computers may include a Global Positioning System (GPS) whereby said (GPS) reports current geographical location to receive direction as to the instruction of field personnel with respect to current violations, maintenance issues or meter collection requirements are most proximate to the person using said mobile devices.

[0003u] The parking space monitoring system may further include a plurality of parking space monitoring devices, a configuration of said mobile computers, said remote processing center and said plurality of parking space monitoring devices for defining and weighing additional information related to the urgency of action by field personnel and the responding proximity of the person for determining the highest degree of effective response including at least one of the citation fine amount, violation type, type of equipment failure, historical usage rates in the location being monitored, meter rates, time in violation, current duration of equipment failure, and type of residential or commercial parking location.

[0003v] A supervisor may observe the location of each worker in the parking space monitoring device based on the last transmission of GPS data and dispatches each said worker to emergencies, and ensure that each of said workers are in those locations that they have been assigned and that they are actively pursuing their assigned work.

[0003w] The parking space monitoring system may further include at least one of a reed relay switch and other type of switch for use by in-field personnel to wake the parking space monitoring system from a power - saving sleep mode and to initiate a programmable set of instructions, including at least one of : (1) retrieving updated commands from said remote processing center or the local network, (2) sending the unit's configuration and diagnostic information, (3) posting time to a connected parking meter and any other set of operational and troubleshooting tasks the parking space monitoring system is capable of initiating.

[0003x] The parking space monitoring system may further include a separate device employing at least one of an induction loop, magnetometer, RADAR, ultrasonic, infrared viable means, and a radio, said separate device monitoring the parking space's occupancy and communicates the parking space's occupancy status either directly through at least one of (1) said radio, (2) the network to which the devices are connected, and (3) by said remote processing center.

[0003y] The parking space monitoring system may further include a connected detection unit including said induction loop and installed below grade in the parking spaces of said parking space monitoring system.

[0003z] The parking space monitoring system may further include means for tracking and communicating the operational status for each of said multiple microprocessors including

2d at least one of the following error conditions: (1) Unspecified general error - No response; (2) Transfer aborted; (3) Checksum error; (4) Link level protocol error; (5) Transport level protocol error; (6) Application level protocol error; (7) Invalid Transport error; (8) Invalid request type; (9) Invalid data in request; (10) Invalid count was specified in request; (11) Verify error; (12) No transfer buffer available; (13) No memory buffer available; (14) Invalid message length; (15) Error accessing real time clock; (16) Invalid chip 10; (17) Not active; (18) Device is busy; (19) Invalid sequence number; (20) No response to application level request; (21) Device cannot accept input - retry later; (22) Parking meter error: protocol error; (23) Parking meter error: Invalid acknowledgement character received from parking meter; (24) Parking meter error: Listen pulse error; (25) Parking meter error: Meter mode character error; and (26) Parking meter error Parking meter has been disabled.

[0003aa] The parking space monitoring system may further include means for applying sequenced message numbers to each message received by said remote processing center, whereby any messages that fail to be successfully communicated from the parking space monitoring system are identified as missing, said means for subsequently quantifying said messages to indicate the number of missing messages that occur during a particular time frame and examining said messages to identify potential maintenance needs.

[0004] The system of the invention with the GEN II Meter System uses multiple processors contained in a single node to provide internal monitoring of the operability of all units in the system. The invention uses an embedded power control unit such as the one included in the GEN II Meter System to reset any non

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2e responsive processor in the individual node when one of the processors is found to be non-responsive.

[0005] Within a complex system of microprocessors such as the Gen II Meter

System, individual processors may become disabled by undiscovered programming

bugs or unforeseen circumstances. A disabled microprocessor would render the

system incapable of providing accurate data - if any data at all is able to be

transmitted. In order to correct such a failure, a maintenance worker would have to

be dispatched to correct the problem on-site. This results in a cost in terms of labor,

fuel, and/or lost revenues at the meter. The problem could also mean that citations

are contested by motorists resulting in lost revenues from citations as well as costs in

terms of personnel and legal fees to adjudicate such citations.

[0006] Having multiple processors in the same piece of electronic equipment

not only saves power, but also allows independent operation of each unit so that if

any one processor enters a disabled state, the remaining processors remain

operable. Taking advantage of this redundancy, the operable processors can

periodically check the operability of the other processors in its proximity. If it is

found that one of the proximate processors is non-responsive, the operable

processor can re-initialize the non-responsive one by using a command to the power

control unit which switches power to the non-responsive processor off and then

back-on. This re-initialization can often restore the non-responsive processor to

normal operation.

[00071 Use of an alphanumeric identifying message ID for each message

transmitted from a component to identify intermittent and other communication

errors such as consistently "lost" packets of information within a RAM system for

Parking Management.

[00081 Wireless communication systems, such as that envisioned in the RAM

system for Parking are subject to lost message packets. This is an intermittent

condition that may simply be a one-time issue. Similarly, "lost" packets may also

indicate a more significant problem. The difference can be problematic to

distinguish.

[00091 A daily examination of data received for each radio asset is

performed to determine the percentage of packets lost over the last day. The test

should keys off the embedded sequence number associated with each radio message

generated by a radio. These sequence numbers exist within a predefined range and

increment from zero to the upper range limit with each message sent. If a message

sequence number is equal to the upper range limit for one message, the next

message will have a sequence number of zero and restart the incremental process.

This is considered when processing new messages. If an expected sequence number

is not received within 10 messages, it is considered lost. If the resulting lost packet

rate is more than a pre-defined percentage of total messages expected ("lost"

packets + received packets), an alarm state can be triggered and the problem

investigated.

[0010] Use of the above alphanumeric message ID to confirm message

delivery between radio network components in the RAM system for Parking. In

systems such as the RAM system for Parking Management, communications

between radio network components can be interrupted. Additionally, these

messages are often transmitted after a previous message is transmitted. If multiple

messages are sent from one originating radio, but only a portion of them are

received completely, it isn't possible for the originating radio to re-send the

interrupted message without an indication as to which message was interrupted

This results in either the need to transmit all the messages again - causing increased

radio traffic, interference and power drain- or the need to drop the packet and

create data inaccuracies.

[0011] The receiving radio sends an acknowledgement message back to the

originating radio with each message received successfully including the

alphanumeric message ID. Only upon receipt of the acknowledgement record or

aging algorithm does the originating radio discard the message from the queue of

messages to send. If the originating radio receives no acknowledgement message or

instead receives a No - Acknowledgement message with a matching message ID, it

re-sends the message. This ensures that all messages have the maximum chance to

be received from the originating device to the Command and Control Interface in

the RAM System for Parking Management.

[0012] Use of an additional battery to those described in the GEN II Meter

System to supplement or replace traditional non-rechargeable batteries used in

standard electronic parking meters,

[0013] While the Gen II Mete System can generate significantly more power

than is needed by the radio detection and application processor systems, many

electronic parking meters only have connections to allow regular, non-rechargeable

batteries to connect to the meter for the purpose of powering them. Additionally,

standard electronic parking meters burn through batteries within 18 months or

even in as little as 6 months. This results in the need for maintenance personnel to

be mobilized to visit each meter regularly to replace the batteries used to power the

mechanisms. Each replacement costs those managing parking operations in terms of

labor, fuel and battery costs. Additionally, replacement of batteries results in

unusable discharged batteries that need to be disposed. This disposal is costly due to

environmental effects of disposing batteries made of toxic chemicals. The GEN II

Meter System can be paired with a rechargeable battery fitted with appropriate

connection to allow the rechargeable battery to connect to the meter's electronics so

as to either supplement or replace the currently used non-rechargeable batteries.

Use of this power greatly reduces or even negates the number of battery

replacements a manager of a parking operation would need to replace meter

mechanism batteries as well as the incursion of the costs related to battery

replacement.

[00141 Use of meters such as those described in the Gen II Meter System and

the handheld or in-vehicle mounted mobile computers connected to a central

Command and Control Interface as described in the RAM System for Parking to

produce a ranking of both groups of spaces and individual spaces for display on

mobile data terminals in ranked order for use by enforcement, maintenance and

collections personnel.

[0015] Currently enforcement, maintenance and collections are performed

either by following established routes and seeking out specific problems. Other

methods of deployment include using historical records to determine area of high

probability of violations. in-operable meters or meters nearing capacity. The

current methods of managing thee assets incur costs in terms of labor, fuel and lost

revenues due to the inefficiencies inherent in routine inspection methods.

[0016] GPS systems embedded in wither the handheld or in-vehicle

mounted mobile computers or vehicles used by enforcement, maintenance and

collections personnel can provide the specific locations of the field level workers

back to the command and control interface as described in the RAM System for

Parking. The proximity of meter operation exceptions (violations, meter errors or

low meter coin capacity) to those responsible for addressing the exceptions can be

added to other operational elements (number of additional exceptions in that area,

revenue potential, business goals or other criteria) to rank either individual spaces or even collections of meters for attention by field level personnel. By deploying personnel to problems by exception, great efficiency can be achieved. Not only are labor and fuel costs reduced, but equipment repairs are completed more quickly increasing uptime. Additionally, the amount of time needed to identify and cite vibrations is greatly reduced resulting in greater numbers of citations that can be issued.

[00171 Use of data received from the handheld or in-vehicle mounted mobile

computers described in the RAM system for Parking to show proximity of field level

personnel to specific parking spaces with exceptions requiring attention of those

workers.

[0018] Supervisor personnel currently do not have an easy way of

determining where their field level personnel are at a given point of the day.

Supervisors can contact personnel and ask for their location. This method is not

only error prone, but also can't be confirmed. Errors in dispatching personnel to

the nearest locations can result in inefficient routing. That, in turn, creates

additional and unnecessary fuel and labor costs as well as lost revenue opportunities

due to inoperable equipment or not cited violations.

[0019] GPS systems embedded in either the mobile computers or vehicles use

by enforcement, maintenance and collections personnel can provide the specific

location of the field level worker back to the command and control interface as

described in the RAM system for Parking. This information can be displayed on the

interfaces of the command and control interface portal. Various icons can track the handheld unit and any equipped vehicle separately. The history of location information can be displayed as a collection of points and the timestamps from each reading used to illustrate the route taken by the field level worker and/or his vehicle.

Different icons can be used to distinguish between handheld tracking and vehicle

tracking on the same map as the stationary parking meter assets. This gives the

supervisors a confirmed history of each worker as well as a confirmed location of

that worker to current issues in near real - time. By deploying personnel to

problems by proximity, great efficiency can be achieved. Not only are labor and fuel

costs reduced, but equipment repairs are completed more quickly - increasing

uptime. Additionally, the amount of time needed to identify and cite violations is

greatly reduced resulting in greater numbers of citations than can be issued.

[0020] Combining the data used in both paragraphs {0018 & 0019] with

known information regarding charged parking rates, parking demand, turnover,

parking time limits, violation type, violation fine levels, historical violation durations

and other metrics to rank tasks for field workers and the application of an artificial

intelligence to permit a system to uniquely identify the highest assay opportunity

taking into account the worker's location as well as a ranked priority of the other

factors known from current and historical data.

[00211 Parking management activities are complex to prioritize. First,

parking management goals can include revenue maximization, space availability

maximization or many other types of goals. Second, the environment in which

parking management equipment is used is one that is constantly changing. Current methods of identifying exceptions in compliance, operability or vault capacity can not provide the necessary information to guide the workers in the field to the tasks most directed toward the accomplishments of those goals.

[00221 The command and control interface within the Ram system for

parking management can be configured with flexible algorithms that score each

exception on parameters that match the management goals of the parking manager.

These inputs can include but are not limited to, the number of nearby exceptions,

the rate of the space per hour, the number of occupants normally visiting that space

per day, the average duration of violations in that space, the average duration of

stay per motorist, the fines for each type of violation and the type of violation being

observed. Each of these items can be weighted in a manner that reflects the goals of

the parking manager to rank each exception so that each exception can be

addressed in a way that most applies to the goal of the parking manager. This

process is automated through algorithms so that the priority of tasks can be

dynamic - based on the ever-changing environment being managed.

[0023] Reed relay as a method of time stamping Parking Meter collections

and sending sets of commands either directly from handheld computers or through

the network. A meter system like the GEN II Meter System requires an event

triggered form of communication in order to avoid overuse of a limited battery

power. This prevents many on-demand functions from being initiated such as

immediate posting of time by city personnel or initialization of transmission of

meter audit records at the time collections are taken.

[0024] The use a Reed Relay or other form of switch to wake the meter node

allows any number of instructions to be executed on demand. The waking of the

meter node can be used to initiate a pre-established set of commands possibly

including communication to a collector or gateway to receive data and commands

awaiting it there and/or communicate to a proximate handheld to similarly receive

data and commands awaiting it there. Another possible command set can be used to

trigger the meter to transmit its audit information for later comparison to collection

receipts. Additionally, the command set can be used to have the meter node await

customized instructions from the handheld device carried by the field worker. These

command sets would be customized to the activity being performed by the field

worker present at that time.

[00251 Loop Puck

The use of inductance loops can often require the running of lead wires from

many spaces to a common point where the monitoring of a plurality of spaces is

performed. This consolidated point is often a long distance away from the individual

spaces and the distance can cause higher installation costs and - the possibility of

breakage. Additionally, the running of many wire leads from multiple spaces to a

common location can in some situations cause cross-talk - the confusion of a signal

on one line to interfere with the communications of the signal on another line.

[0026] A small detection unit and radio device of the GEN II design can be

packaged in a small container. This unit can be connected to the loop leads and

installed in a cored - out area near the loop itself. The unit would then transmit to a central collector as in the GEN II Meter System, thereby negating the need to cut long channels to consolidate the loop leads in a single location.

[0027] List of Internal Diagnostics and Messaging

The Gen II Meter System is a complex set of subsystems. A failure in

any one of these systems may affect the operability of the entire system monitoring

that space. Without proper monitoring data, timely trouble - shooting and repair is

difficult.

[00281 The GEN II Meter System employs self-monitoring protocols that

cover the following areas of its operation:

(1) Checksum error (2) Link level protocol error (3) Transport level protocol error (4) Application level protocol error (5) Invalid transport address (6) Invalid request type (7) Invalid data in request (8) Invalid count was specified in a request (9) Verify error (FUP only) (10) No transfer buffer available (11) No memory buffer available (12) Invalid message length (13) Error accessing real time clock (14) Invalid chip Id (15) Not active (16) Device is busy (17) Invalid sequence number (18) No response to application level request (19) Device cannot accept input - retry later (20) Parking meter error: Protocol error (21) Parking meter error: invalid acknowledgement character received from parking meter (22) Parking meter error: Listen pulse error (23) Parking meter error: Meter mode character error (24) Parking meter error: Parking meter has been disabled (25) Parking meter error: Invalid event pointer

(26) Parking meter error: Access denied (27) File system error: Directory is full (28) File system error: Storage is full (29) File system error: Bad link in file (30) File system error: No file is open ( in for request operation) (31) File system error: Invalid data count (32) File system error: End of file seen (33) File system error: File not found (34) Invalid sequence number (35) Invalid format in image file (36) Invalid image data (37) Invalid address for memory contents (38) Invalid image format (39) Invalid transaction protocol (reported by bootstrap) (40) Verification error (41) Loaded application code is not valid, cannot be started

[0030] These error codes are communicated to allow specific action to be

taken to repair any problem occurring in the system in a timely manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[00311 Fig. 1 shows the inter-relationships among a Radio Processor,

Application Processor and several controllers;

[0032] Fig. 2 is a block diagrammatic representation of the multiple

processor system of the invention;

[0033] Fig. 3 illustrates a Global Positioning Satellite receiver - equipped

computer connected to the Internet and a Central Command and Controller

Interface (CCCI) for measuring the distance between a Mobile Computer and

combining that distance data with other data from the CCCI for generating outputs

via the internet to provide supervisor access by means of a standard computer; and

[0034] Fig. 4 illustrates a process for interacting with a Central Database to

independently monitor the viability of communications from the Gen II Meter

System of Figure 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] In Figure 1, the Application Processor of the GEN II System (1)

queries the Radio Processor (2) and the entire plurality of other controllers (3, 4, 5)

for their operability status on a periodic basis. If the status of any of the individual

components is deemed unresponsive or fatal to the on-going operation of that

component, the Application Processor initiates a re-initialization of the component.

Similarly, the Radio Processor (2) periodically queries the Application Processor (1)

for its operational status. If the Application Processor is deemed unresponsive, it

can be re-initialized by the Radio Processor.

[0036] In Figure 2, the Solar Cell (6) provides an electrical charge to the

connected Rechargeable Battery (7) to maintain as full a charge as possible for a

long a duration as possible. The Power Logic (8) then monitors the available power

on the Rechargeable Battery (7) to determine if it is supplying enough power to

supply the GEN II Meter Node System (10). If it is not able to do so, the Power

Control Logic (8) switches the power draw over to the Primary Battery (9) to ensure

ongoing operation of the GEN II Meter Node System (10). In the cases where the

Power Control Logic (8) is drawing power from the Rechargeable Battery (7) , the

Power Control Logic (8) also determines if excess power is available from the solar

supplied Rechargeable Battery (7). If excess power is being generated, the Power

Control Logic (8) allows the excess power to be supplied to the Rechargeable

Battery (7) for Digital Parking Meter (11). This battery is added to a primary

battery connected to the Digital Parking M (11) in the GEN II Meter System to

supply the necessary power for the operation of that device.

[0037] In Figure 3, the Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) Receiver

Equipped Mobile Computer (12) is connected to the Internet (13). This device

transmits geographical coordinates on regular intervals by way of the Internet (13)

to the Central Command and Control Interface (15) which then can measure the

distance between the Mobile Computer (12) (and the operator, the field worker) and

issues for which operator is responsible. The distance is then combined with the

other data available in a typical installation of a Command and Control Interface

(CCI), data such as the amount of fines, violation time, time out - of - service,

turnover rates to score each work item based on the user's predefined rankings of

what attributes are most important. The ranked results of work items is then

returned to the mobile computer by way of the internet and the operator of that

mobile computer can clearly identify those issues that are closest and of highest

priority. Additionally, supervisor access combining data regarding the location of

field personnel and relevant issues by way of a Standard Computer (14) connected

to the Internet (13). This standard PC (12) connects to the CCI to retrieve maps

indicating the location of both the remote staff and the work items to ensure that

work is being done in a timely way or manually re-direct personnel to special

problems most effectively.

[00381 In Figure 4, three processes independently interact with a Central

Database (18) to monitor the viability of communications from each GEN II Meter

Node and its supporting network communications equipment. When new messages

are received at (16), they are recorded in the database along with a message

sequence number (17). Once the database has been updated, the message listener

process waits for the next message to process at (19). Independently thereof, a

messaging monitoring process loops through a repeated process at regular intervals

(20). The first step of the process (21) checks the records received for each space and

identify if any gaps exist. If gaps in the records are found, they are indicated by

marking the message record immediately after the sequence number gap as having

a skipped message following the transmission (22) and then continuing the loop on

regular intervals. If no message gaps are found, the next step is to see if older

message gap indications are still valid (i.e. that the missing messages haven't since

been received (23). If messages have been received that fill in gaps in the message

number sequences, the incorrectly marked message gaps are cleared.

Claims (24)

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A parking space monitoring system for handling various parking space management conditions, comprising: a parking space monitoring device for a parking space; a piece of electronic equipment having a plurality of microprocessors located within the parking space monitoring device, wherein the microprocessors are configured to monitor and respond to the various parking space management conditions of the parking space monitoring system; a power control mechanism configured to provide power to the piece of electronic equipment and the plurality of microprocessors; a mobile computer having a Global Positioning System (GPS) wherein the (GPS) reports in near real-time a current geographical location of the mobile computer; a remote processing center and communication network, wherein the mobile computer and the parking space monitoring device are communicably connected to the remote processing center by the communication network; and wherein the remote processing center and the parking space monitoring device are configured for dynamically determining the priority of a prospective response to various parking space management conditions using pre-determined parking space management characteristics of the parking space, the current geographical location of the mobile computer, historical various parking space conditions, historical parking space management characteristics, other than the pre-determined parking space management characteristics, of the parking space and historical geographical locations, preceding the current geographical location, of the mobile computer effecting a value maximizing response by a field personnel using the mobile computer maximizing parking management goals.

2. The parking space monitoring system as in claim 1, further comprising a power supply and solar cells for supplementing additional power shared with at least one external device including parking meters, digital signage and other types of related user interfacing devices.

3. The parking space monitoring system as in claim 1 wherein the response to the various parking space management conditions comprises current violations, maintenance issues or meter collection requirements.

4. The parking space monitoring system as in claim 1 wherein the (GPS) of the mobile computer reports the current geographical location of the mobile computer in order to receive instructions from the remote processing center with respect to current violations, maintenance issues or meter collection requirements that are most proximate to the field personnel using the mobile computer.

5. The parking space monitoring system as in claim 1 wherein the (GPS) of the mobile computer reports the current geographical location of the mobile computer in order to receive instructions from the remote processing center with respect to current violations, maintenance issues or meter collection requirements that are highest priority.

6. The parking space monitoring system as in claim 1 wherein the dynamically determining the priority of the response includes weighing at least one of a citation fine amount, violation type, type of equipment failure, historical usage rates in a location being monitored, meter rates, time in violation, current duration of equipment failure, type of residential or commercial parking location, charged parking rates, parking demand, turnover, parking time limits, violation fine levels, historical violation durations and other metrics.

7. The parking space monitoring system as in claim 1 wherein the mobile computers and remote processing center are arranged so that remote access is provided for observation of a location of each worker in a monitored parking space, based on at least part of aggregate data, and identification of an emergent condition at a different location and for direction of a worker to the different location in response to identification of the emergent condition.

8. The parking space monitoring system as in claim 1, further comprising a separate device employing at least one of an induction loop, magnetometer, RADAR, ultrasonic, infrared viable means, and a radio, said separate device monitoring a parking space's occupancy and communicates the parking space's occupancy status either directly through at least one of the radio, the communication network to which the separate device is connected, and by the remote processing center.

9. The parking space monitoring system as in claim 8 wherein the separate device is installed below grade in the parking spaces of said parking space monitoring system.

10. The parking space monitoring system as in claim 1, wherein the parking space management conditions include at least one of the following conditions: Space Occupancy; Parking Meter Status; Display of Parking Policy to Motorists; Motorist User Interactions; Maintenance User Interactions; Radio Communications with a Central Management System and Network; and coordination of the operation between the plurality of microprocessors.

11. The parking space monitoring system as in claim 1 wherein the networked mobile computers and remote processing center are arranged so that remote access is provided for observation of a location of each worker in a monitored parking space, based at least in part on the last transmission of GPS data, and identification of an emergent condition at different locations and for direction of a worker to the different location in response to identification of the emergent condition.

12. The parking space monitoring system as in claim 1 wherein the parking management goals comprise revenue maximization and space availability maximization.

13. The parking space monitoring system as in claim 8 wherein the separate device is installed in the parking space monitoring device.

14. A parking space monitoring system for handling various parking space management conditions, including: a parking space monitoring device for a parking space; a piece of electronic equipment having a plurality of microprocessors located within the parking space monitoring device, wherein the microprocessors are configured to monitor and respond to the various parking space management conditions of the parking space monitoring system; a power control mechanism configured to provide power to the piece of electronic equipment and the plurality of microprocessors; a mobile computer having a Global Positioning System (GPS) wherein the (GPS) reports a current geographical location of the mobile computer; a remote processing center and communication network, wherein the mobile computer and the parking space monitoring device are communicably connected to the remote processing center by the communication network; and wherein the remote processing center and the parking space monitoring device are configured for defining and weighing information related to an urgency of a response to the various parking space management conditions formed to different pre-determined parking space management characteristics of the parking space and to the current geographical location of the mobile computer for determining a highest assay opportunity and effective response by a field personnel using the mobile computer to prioritize the assay opportunity.

15. The parking space monitoring system as in claim 14, further including a power supply and solar cells for supplementing additional power shared with at least one external device including parking meters, digital signage and other types of related user interfacing devices.

16. The parking space monitoring system as in claim 14 wherein the response to the various parking space management conditions comprises current violations, maintenance issues or meter collection requirements.

17. The parking space monitoring system as in claim 14 wherein the (GPS) of the mobile computer reports the current geographical location of the mobile computer in order to receive instructions from the remote processing center with respect to current violations, maintenance issues or meter collection requirements that are most proximate to the field personnel using the mobile computer.

18. The parking space monitoring system as in claim 14 wherein the (GPS) of the mobile computer reports the current geographical location of the mobile computer in order to receive instructions from the remote processing center with respect to current violations, maintenance issues or meter collection requirements that are highest priority.

19. The parking space monitoring system as in claim 14 wherein the highest assay opportunity includes at least one of a citation fine amount, violation type, type of equipment failure, historical usage rates in a location being monitored, meter rates, time in violation, current duration of equipment failure, type of residential or commercial parking location, charged parking rates, parking demand, turnover, parking time limits, violation fine levels, historical violation durations and other metrics.

20. The parking space monitoring system as in claim 14 wherein the mobile computers and remote processing center are arranged so that remote access is provided for observation of a location of each worker in a monitored parking space, based on at least part of aggregate data, and identification of an emergent condition at a different location and for direction of a worker to the different location in response to identification of the emergent condition.

21. The parking space monitoring system as in claim 14, further including a separate device employing at least one of an induction loop, magnetometer, RADAR, ultrasonic, infrared viable means, and a radio, said separate device monitoring a parking space's occupancy and communicates the parking space's occupancy status either directly through at least one of the radio, the communication network to which the separate device is connected, and by the remote processing center.

22. The parking space monitoring system as in claim 21, further including a connected detection unit including said induction loop and installed below grade in the parking spaces of said parking space monitoring system.

23. The parking space monitoring system as in claim 14, wherein the various parking space management conditions include at least one of the following conditions: Space Occupancy; Parking Meter Status; Display of Parking Policy to Motorists; Motorist User Interactions; Maintenance User Interactions; Radio Communications with a Central Management System and Network; and coordination of the operation between the plurality of microprocessors.

24. The parking space monitoring system as in claim 14 wherein the networked mobile computers and remote processing center are arranged so that remote access is provided for observation of a location of each worker in a monitored parking space, based at least in part on the last transmission of GPS data, and identification of an emergent condition at different locations and for direction of a worker to the different location in response to identification of the emergent condition.