DE9302334U1 - Kit for relieving urban traffic - Google Patents

Description

The traffic problem as a whole is becoming increasingly important in our social life.

Traffic jams, accident rates and especially the parking problem in medium-sized and large cities have reached an alarming level. For this reason, traffic flow must be regulated in order to prevent a traffic collapse.

Just think of certain rush hours in big cities, where the driver of a car can only move in stop-and-go traffic, especially during rush hour.

For this reason, the applicant considers it necessary to solve the inner-city problem in particular by drastically reducing the number of motor vehicles in order not only to reduce the stress caused to drivers, residents and pedestrians by traffic, but also to protect, for example, historical buildings from harmful exhaust fumes etc.

One way of reducing traffic in urban districts is, for example, to maintain parking facilities but, depending on the level of traffic, to increase the fee so that drivers are willing to park their vehicles in outlying areas in order to reach the city centre via well-developed public transport networks.

The present invention is therefore based on the task of using modern means of communication, such as the chip card, which has already been implemented in a similar way in telephone traffic.

The intention is that the chip card with its microprocessor is designed specifically for the vehicle and that when parking, an assigned parking machine deducts the corresponding parking fee amount from a read/write memory of the chip after programming the parking duration.

This of course also means that it is necessary to establish the function of the parking machine in relation to the parking space.

Under this condition, entire cities and their outskirts can be divided into a hierarchical order, i.e. into parking zones, which can be set to the corresponding parking value based on time and day of the week.

In addition, a control device is provided for authorized persons, which allows the entered vehicle data to be recorded via a central station, e.g. by radio, and the legitimacy of the parked vehicle to be called up, or a barcode (or similar) to be scanned via an integrated scanner and stored temporarily in its memory units until the information is sent to the central computer for evaluation. In addition, it is possible for the control device to carry out the evaluation itself and, if necessary, print out a fine.

Of course, the above-mentioned assignment of the parking machine to the parking space must be taken into account here.

Furthermore, it is planned that the data carrier is designed as a chip card, specifically as a microprocessor chip card, which can be topped up with a certain parking amount, for example via the bank or even via the parking machine itself.

In addition, the possibility should be created to design the chip card and the data storage device in general in such a way that it can be used multifunctionally, i.e. that it also has the possibility of being used for making phone calls or similar, which is of eminent benefit, especially for future points of sale.

Finally, if the data storage device is lost or forgotten, it is possible to purchase chip cards or other data storage devices from sales outlets or vending machines, which in the preferred embodiment already have a minimum amount in their read/write memory.

Furthermore, it should be noted that in the procedure presented, the increase of the read/write memory of the data carrier (2) is possible, for example, via cash at the parking machine itself or via a Qn-line connection to the bank.

In addition, data carriers (2) can be used to legitimize the use of certain road networks via corresponding debit machines.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to kit claims 1-32 and Figure 1.

This shows

Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of

Block diagram of the possible kit.

Figure 1 shows a schematic block diagram of the possible kit. The chip card (2) with its microprocessor chip (3) is individually assigned to the vehicle (1) with the content of the permanent memory (33) . The read/write memory (32) contains the available amount of money. This can be booked directly from the financial institution (11) via an online/offline connection (23) or from the parking machine (4) via an on-line/off-line connection (24). In practical use, the vehicle (1) is parked at a parking point (34), giving the vehicle user sufficient time to reach the parking machine (4) responsible for him. This also has a microprocessor (5), has a chip card slot (8) and can be programmed using the alphanumeric keypad (7), whereby the programming result can be read on the display (6) and can be deleted, for example, using a clear key (not shown here). Deletion is of course also possible by removing the chip card (2) from the insertion slot (8). Additional function keys have been omitted.

Furthermore, it can be seen in Figure 1 that, in addition to the money insertion slot (9) in the safe part (10), the cash machine can be programmed to top up the inserted chip card in its read/write memory (32) with the corresponding monetary value, whereby, of course, the connections such as the offline or online connections mentioned above can also be used.

It is important to emphasize that the parking space (34) and the location of the parking machine (4) are given a defined assignment by the symbolized connection (25) in order to ensure that the chip card (2) is not used, for example, in suburban areas and the vehicle (1) ultimately finds its parking space (34) in the city center.

A central computer (29) is addressed via the preferred radio link (31), which is queried by the control device (12) when checking for legitimate parking. In the version shown here, this offers not only the alphanumeric keypad (15) and the display (16), but also a microprocessor (14) which, as mentioned above, queries the central computer (29) via antenna (30) and receives its information on the display (16). The control device (12) is preferably equipped with an integrated printer for fines or similar, which is state of the art. An alternative is the scanner described below.

Of course, it is conceivable that the parking meter (4) is not only found in the designated places, but that it can also be used, possibly modified, in particular in parking garages.

Figure 1 also shows the functional unit (18), which in the variant shown here represents a chip card machine, which releases a correspondingly programmed chip card (2) via the output slot (19) by inserting cash through slot (21) or even by debiting from a chip card and programming the vehicle data via an alphanumeric keypad (20), which authorizes parking.

Finally, it is possible to provide vehicles with a code, such as a barcode (37) or the like, preferably multiple times, and in the variant shown, with a special laser for the workshop on the windows of cars, which contains all the vehicle-relevant data and can be read by a scanner (35) on the control device (12), temporarily stored if necessary, and sent to the control center via a connection (36), whereby the result of a parking violation or a reported theft can be recognized. In the case of parking offenders, a fine notice or the like can be sent to the driver or owner of the vehicle via a printout from the control device (12). Alternatively, a fine notice can be sent from the central computer, as can a theft report.

Another alternative is that the barcode (17) is attached to the vehicle, e.g. by means of a single-use sticker(s), so that it can be read multiple times if necessary.

It should only be mentioned in passing that the chip card (2) can also be used to regulate transit traffic subject to a fee.

The other kit alternatives are described in the claims.

Claims (24)

G 93 02 334.0 ... . # .Ma.nnheim, 27 September 1993 CLAIMS 1. Kit for relieving inner-city traffic, characterized in that that it consists of a data carrier (2) with individual vehicle identification (33) and a storage unit (32) which makes a certain topped up amount deductible, the deduction itself preferably being made via a parking machine (4) which is accordingly programmable and the vehicle being controlled via a control device (12). 2. Kit according to claim 1,
characterized, that a microprocessor chip card (2) is preferably used as the data carrier (2), which contains the vehicle-specific data in its read-only memory (33) and which has a read/write memory (32) which can be filled with a debitable amount of money, preferably from the parking machine (4) itself by entering money (9) or the like, or from the bank (11) or the like. 3. Kit according to at least one of claims 1, 2, characterized in that the microprocessor chip card (2) is arranged in a chip card machine (18). 4. Kit according to at least one of claims 1-3, characterized in that such chip card machines (18) have the option of programming the read-only memory (33) of the microprocessor chip (3) of the chip card (2) or the like with the vehicle-relevant data by means of, for example, an alphanumeric keyboard (20). 5. Kit according to at least one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the parking machine (4) preferably has an alphanumeric keyboard (7), a display (6) and a chip card holder (8) and is furthermore suitable for filling the read/write memory (32) of the chip card (2) with an amount of money (9) via a cash receiving or safe unit (10) and/or a connection to the bank (11) via a programming command, while at the same time it is suitable for communicating preferably online with the central computer (29). 6. Kit according to at least one of claims 1 - 5, characterized in that that the parking machine (4), which can be programmed for its debit value according to its location, contains a timer, which enables the parking costs to be programmed to automatically adapt to the time of day and the corresponding day of the week. 7. Kit according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it contains a device that is able to work together with a central computer (29), whereby, for example, it can be dialed by radio or after intermediate storage online by an authorized person in order to prove the legitimacy of the parking. 8. Kit according to at least one of claims 1 - 7, characterized in that the kit contains a conversion and debiting device. 9. Kit according to at least one of claims 1 - 8, characterized in that the parking machine (4) has a memory unit relating to the street assignment in order to, for example, prevent unauthorized multiple use of the chip card (2) for the same parking space. 10. Kit according to at least one of claims 1 - 9, characterized in that the data carrier (2) contains a microprocessor chip (3) and can thus be used multifunctionally, with the possibility of being used in telephone traffic. 11. Kit according to at least one of claims 1 - 10, characterized in that the data carrier (2) is a multifunctional data carrier and contains an external read/write device and furthermore ^: is programmable for a specific use, wherein the data carrier (2) furthermore has a timer as a special component which legitimizes it only for a defined period of time. 12. Kit according to at least one of claims 1-11, characterized in that the data carrier (2) has several read-only memories (33) and several read/write memories (32). •«&phgr; · ■ 13. Kit according to at least one of claims 1 - 12, characterized in that the data carrier (2) contains a logic memory chip (3). 14. Kit according to at least one of claims 1-13, characterized in
that the data carrier is a hybrid and has external storage units. 15. Kit according to at least one of claims 1 - 14, characterized in that that the data carrier (2) is connected to a debit machine, for example for the use of a certain road network to debit the corresponding usage fee. 16. Kit according to at least one of claims 1 - 15, characterized in that that it has a bar code (17, 37) which can be applied to the windows or the like by means of a laser (37) and which can be read by means of a scanner (35) of the control device (12) and preferably stored in a read/write memory of (14), so that a later exchange of information with the control center (29) is possible, whereby a parking violation as well as a reported theft can be identified. 17. Kit according to at least one of claims 1 - 16, characterized in that the control device (12) is suitable for communicating with the control center via a preferred online connection (36). · 18. Kit according to at least one of claims 1 - 17, characterized in that the bar code can preferably be attached to the vehicle (1) via at least one self-adhesive sticker (17) which is manufactured in such a way that it is irreparably damaged if attempts are made to remove it. 19. Kit according to at least one of claims 1 - 18, characterized in that that the control device (12) is arranged in at least one read/write memory, whereby many different vehicles and their data can be recorded, which can be fed to the central computer (29) at a defined time, whereby an evaluation takes place. 20. Kit according to at least one of claims 1 - 19, characterized in that that the parking machine (4) has an online connection with the central computer (29) for displaying free parking zones after evaluation by the parking machine (4). 21. Kit according to at least one of claims 1 - 20, characterized in that that a transmission device to the central computer (29) exists for the control device (12) if the control device is suitable for temporarily storing data. 22. Kit according to at least one of claims 1 -21, characterized in that that the scanner (35) of the control device (12) is suitable for changing the vehicle code (17,37) in a time-determined or convertible manner (e.g. colour) in order to give the vehicle user the opportunity to pay his parking fee preferentially with a surcharge within a defined time frame. 23. Kit according to at least one of claims 1 - 22, characterized in that that, for example, a corresponding laser is suitable for applying the code (37) to the vehicle (1), preferably multiple times. 24. Kit according to at least one of claims 1 - 23, characterized in that that the control device (12) itself is able to check the legitimacy of the vehicle (1) and preferably has a printer for fines or the like.