EP3020028A1

EP3020028A1 - Parking system

Info

Publication number: EP3020028A1
Application number: EP14823518.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Tuukka Korhonen; Sampsa Siitonen; Jesse Noutere
Original assignee: Seppala Mikael
Current assignee: Korhonen Tuukka; SEPPAELAE, MIKAEL; Siitonen Sampsa
Priority date: 2013-07-08
Filing date: 2014-07-07
Publication date: 2016-05-18
Also published as: WO2015004325A1; FI10285U1; EP3020028A4

Abstract

The invention relates to a parking system for a vehicle (1-30). The system comprises: a vehicle microchip (1-32), which is installed in a vehicle (1-30) and arranged to transmit (1-38) a vehicle identification signal to a series detection devise (1-13, 1-17) through a first communications network; one or more serial detection devices (1-13, 1-17), arranged in connection with a parking place (2-2, 2-4, 2-6) and arranged to receive (1-38) the vehicle identification signal from the vehicle microchip through the first communications network and to transmit (1-39) the vehicle identification signal to a server unit (1-43) through a second communications network; and a server unit (1-43), which comprises a database (1-44) and a processor (1-46), and which is arranged to receive (1-39) the vehicle identification signal (1-30) from the serial detection device (1-13, 1-17) through the second communications network and to calculate, based on the identification signal, the time that the vehicle (1-30) used for parking.

Description

Parking system

Field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a parking arrangement and a parking system which detects a car parking and the end of parking.

Background of the invention

[0002] In prior art, as a motorist is seeking a free parking place or a parking space, the motorist is driving back and forth streets or a parking area until he finds a free parking spot. Once a place is found, the motorist parks his car here and goes to pay for parking. The motorist feeds coins or banknotes in a parking machine and so buys as much parking time as he needs. Time may also be bought by a credit card.

[0003] The prior art solution, however, has several problems. If a motorist has no money at all, or not enough money, he will have to drive to another parking area or somewhere where he can withdraw money. This causes extra traffic and even dangerous situations as the motorist will have to drive back and forth, trying to find a new parking place. In addition, by paying for parking in advance by money or credit card, it has been noted that a parker pays too much for his parking, because the parker often makes sure that there definitely is enough parking time.

Brief description of the invention

[0004] An object of the invention is thus to provide a method and equipment implementing the method so as to enable the aforementioned problems to be solved. The object of the invention is achieved by a method and system which are characterized by what is disclosed in the independent Claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

[0005] The invention is based on arranging a device in the vehicle to be parked, such as a microchip that transmits an identification signal to a server unit, which calculates, at least partly in response to the identification signal, the time that the vehicle uses for parking.

[0006] The benefit of the method and system according to the invention is, among other things, a technically advanced and precise payment, finding a free parking place quickly, and consequently lower fuel consumption and smaller emissions as the motorist will know in advance where there is free parking space or where a higher probability exists to find a free parking space.

Brief description of the drawings

[0007] The invention is now described in more detail in connection with the preferred embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

[0008] Figure 1 shows an arrangement according to the invention and its preferred embodiments,

[0009] Figure 2 shows an arrangement according to the invention and its preferred embodiments.

[0010] Figure 3 shows a flow chart according to the invention and its preferred embodiments;

[0011] Figure 4 shows a signalling diagram according to the invention and its preferred embodiments;

[0012] Figure 5 shows a signalling diagram according to the invention and its preferred embodiments; and

[0013] Figure 6 shows a system diagram according to the invention and its preferred embodiments.

Detailed description of the invention

[0014] In accordance with the invention and its preferred embodiment, an arrangement and a system are implemented, in which the time used for parking is calculated, and which makes paying for parking more defined and more effective, and in which a parking fee may be collected from a parker. In addition, a system and arrangement are implemented which, at the first phase, allow the detection of a free parking place or parking space, at the second phase the free parking place is detected, in the third phase the motorist seeking a free parking place is notified of it, and at the fourth phase a parking fee is collected from the parker.

[0015] Figure 1 shows a system and arrangement according to the invention and its preferred embodiments for allowing and detecting parking as well as a parking place or a parking space.

[0016] In order to be able to detect parking, one or more devices may be arranged in a vehicle (1-30), which may transmit an identification signal through a first communication network, such as a car microchip 1-32, and, associated with it, a switch 1-34 and a display unit 1-36. The display unit may be a device displaying lights of different colours, or an electronic paper or an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screen.

[0017] In Figure 1 , a serial detection device 1-13, 1-17 is used for parking detection. It may be installed, for example, in an elevated position from the parking level 1 -2, such as a parking machine 1 -20 or a pole 1-9. The arranging may take place in such a manner that the serial detection device is fixed to the pole or machine, or integrated either entirely or partly in the pole or machine. Alternatively, the serial detection device may also be arranged on the parking level or entirely or partly under it, as indicated by reference numbers 1- 4 in Figure 1.

[0018] The serial detection device 1-13, 1 -17 comprises an electronics part or a central processing unit 1-14, 1 -16. In connection with the electronics part of the serial detection device, an antenna 1-12, 1 -8 may be arranged, having a specific directional angle 2-44 that it uses to scan the environment. The antenna may be omnidirectional, such as in the middle of a large parking area, detecting the whole area. In an elongated parking area, such as a street, two directional antennas may be used, the first of which detecting in a first direction of a first area from the centre of the whole area, and the second detecting in a second direction of a second area from the centre of the whole area. The second area may be in the opposite direction from the first area, or at a specific angle with respect to the first area. The areas may also be of different sizes and at different levels. It is furthermore possible to use both one or more directional antennas and one or more omnidirectional antennas. So, each serial detection device may have one or more antennas. Therefore, there may be one or more antennas per parking space, and the serial detection device or serial detection devices are placed in such a manner that it is possible to detect the whole area.

[0019] A device located in the vehicle and transmitting an identification signal, such as the car microchip or RFID device 1-32, is arranged to transmit the vehicle identification signal to the antenna 1-12 of the serial detection device through a first communications network. The electronics part of the serial detection device identifies the strength and incoming direction of the received signal, which may be referred to as the raw data of the signal. This is associated with the received identification signal 1-38, and these signals are transmitted as one set through a second communications network to a database 1 -42 in which the location of the device 1 -32 is determined based on the pre-determined precise location of the serial detection device and the raw data of the location of the device 1-32 transmitting the vehicle identification signal. The connection 1-38 in question may be one-way or two-way.

[0020] The purpose of the electronics part, which may comprise a processor, in the serial detection device is to receive signals from the antenna and to relay them or transmit 1-39 them forward to a server 1 -43 or a database 1-44 through the second communications network and, on the other hand, to receive 1-39 signals from the server or database and relay them or transmit them forward through the antenna. So, the electronics part may be in communication 1-39 through the second communications network with a server, cloud service 1 -42, database and/or mobile communications network. The connection through the second communications network may be established in various ways, either in a wired or wireless fashion. A wireless connection may be, for example, a mobile communication network connection, and a wired connection may be a fibre optic connection, for example. A wireless connection may be set up through a module for a WLAN network (Wireless Local Area Network) or a GMS module (Global System for Mobile Communications), these modules being possible to arrange in the electronics part of the serial detection device. The connections are configured to operate in all kinds of different parking places, such as a parking garage or a street.

[0021] As shown in Figure 1 , the server 1-43 may comprise an active part, a processing part 1-46 and a database part or memory part 1-44, which may comprise one or more records, one for each identification signal. The server may be placed in a cloud 1-42 or in connection with it.

[0022] When in operation, in case there are no cars in the area or parking area scanned by the antenna, the antenna may be in a receiving mode or periodically transmit a scanning or excitation signal produced by the electronics part either in an omnidirectional manner or in a specific direction. When a car arrives in the area, the antenna scans at least the identification signal transmitted by the RDIF chip (Radio Frequency Identification) of this car, and/or receives the identification signal transmitted by this car. So, the chip signal transmitted by each car has its own identifier so that cars can be distinguished.

[0023] A received identification signal is relayed to the database and the signal may be, for example, stored in the database. In response to re- ceiving this signal or signal processing, a signal may be transmitted to the car RFID microchip or the motorist's terminal device.

[0024] The antenna of the primary detection device, that is, the serial detection device, may therefore receive signals originating from a car and transmit excitation signals in its coverage area. In addition, the antenna may also transmit an access control signal to a microchip arranged in the car, in response to which an alert device, such as a light-emitting diode in contact with the microchip, may show a light to indicate whether parking is permitted or prohibited.

[0025] As described in the above, an antenna may have two operating modes: it may transmit an excitation signal and/or receive an ID (identification) signal of a vehicle or another element, which at the first phase may be a parking commencement signal, or a start signal, and at the second phase, a parking end signal, that is, a stop signal. A press of a switch may alternately transmit a start signal and a stop signal, and the serial detection device and/or server may be arranged to recognise the parking commencement signal and parking end signal, or that the first signal means that parking commences and the second signal means that parking ends.

[0026] The serial detection device may see, read, or scan the direction and strength of the received signal, and it may thus be arranged to identify the vehicle to be parked or in park with its identity. The chip in the car or another vehicle may be active and transmit a signal to a specific are at intervals of, for example, 0.5 seconds, 1 second, 1.5 seconds, or 3 seconds, this signal being scanned by the serial detection devices. A serial detection device may be active, for example, only when it is receiving a signal or transmitting a signal.

[0027] In addition to a serial detection device, as shown by Figure 1 , a camera 1-8 may be used to identify a parking place, which is installed higher than the parking level 1-2, for example secured to a pole 1 -9. A camera, which may be a fish-eye camera, may scan the parking area with a beam 1 -10 of a specific angle or photograph the parking area and transmit the picture or scanning signal through a communication network to, for example, a database or data warehouse in response to photographing or scanning. There may be one or more cameras in the area.

[0028] In addition to a visual, secondary identifying means, such as a camera, other detection means, such as different kind of antennas or detec- tion means bases on infrared radiation or microwave radiation, may be used. These may include, for example, an infrared camera and different kind of radar arrangements.

[0029] To be able to detect a parking place or space, it is therefore possible to install one or more different detector elements in the parking area. These may be installed, for example, underground, in the ground, or a position elevated from the ground, such as a pole.

[0030] In addition to the primary identifying means, that is, the serial detection device, other, secondary detection means may be used, such as an RFID parking active chip. Figure 1 shows that under the street level, ground level, or parking level 1-2, such as in a street or under it, one or more detection means, that is, a serial detection device 1-4 and a RFID parking active chip 1-6 (Radio Frequency Identification) have been arranged.

[0031] According to a preferred embodiment, one or more serial detection devices and/or RFID parking active chips are arranged above ground level in such a way, for example, that the serial detection device or RFID chip are arranged on the pole or parking meter, and an antenna 1-12 in contact with the serial detection device of RFID chip is arranged outside or on the surface of the pole or parking meter.

[0032] As mentioned in the above, there may be serial detection devices and other detection means, such as RFID parking active chips, above the parking level, above ground level, or under them, or in all of the above positions. There may be serial detection devices and/or secondary RFID parking active chips arranged in a parking meter, for example.

[0033] Figure 2 is a top view of three rectangular parking places, parking spaces, or parking spots 2-2, 2-, 2-6. It should, however, be understood that parking places may exhibit many other shapes as well, such as squares, ellipses, polygons, or round places. There may be from one to several tens, hundreds, or thousands of parking places in a specific public area, public place, or a restricted area, indoors or outdoors.

[0034] In each parking place, one or more detectors, detection means, may be installed, such as a serial detection device and/or an RFID microchip. If several, different types of detectors are arranged in one place, detection will become even more specific. The parking place 2-2 of Figure 2 has two detection means, the series detection means 2-10 and RFID parking active chip 2-13. In addition, Figure 2 shows the antenna 2-12 of the detection means 2-10.

[0035] The detection means- within the parking place, in the vicinity of one, or in relation to another parking place may be placed in a number of ways. For example, they may be located next to one another or in the same line. They may be at the same level or at least partly overlapping, whereby they are at different levels, or level positions. The detection means may also be in a tilted position, for example if the parking places are in a tilted position, or the aim is to detect a specific point of the parking place with extra precision.

[0036] The detection elements may be positioned in the surface material and/or material of the parking place, such as asphalt, concrete, sand, metal, rock, glass or wood, or in the same or different material under the surface material, such as sand. The detection means may also be places at an edge of a parking place, or at an elevated position from the parking place, such as a pole.

[0037] When a parking space may be detected and it can be monitored, a motorist may be informed of a free parking space, and even an individual free parking place. In such a case, a motorist also needs to be informed of a free parking space or parking place.

[0038] Figure 2 also shows a serial detection device, which comprises an electronics part 2-40 and antenna part 2-42. The angle of the antenna lobe, by which lobe a first signal may be transmitted and a second signal received, is marked with reference number 2-44. If a specific parking area makes use of more than one serial detection devices, the reliability and operational precision will be improved. A plurality of serial detection devices may be adapted into one another to form an entity, a so-called group detection device.

[0039] The communication between the serial detection devices and/or parking active chips and the chips placed in a car and/or the chips and the base station and the database may be based on, for example, short-range communication, such as RFID communications (Radio Frequency Identification).

[0040] There are several possible ways to implement the method. These include communication by means of WiFi (Wireless Fidelity), ZigBee, DASH7, Bluetooth and Wi-Max (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), for example. In other words, communication between the devices may be in accordance with, for example, the ISO 18000-7 standard, the so-called DASH7 standard. In accordance with it, all the chips are at the first phase awake, and at the second phase one or more chips may be kept awake with the mode sleep all tags but, whereas the other chips go to sleep. The communication may also be DSRC communication (Dedicated Short Range Communication).

[0041] Figure 4 shows a signalling chart according to the invention and its preferred embodiments for detecting a free parking area or parking space and for providing a motorist with this information, as shown at phases 4- 14 and 5-24 (Figure 5). At that phase 4-2 the serial detection device STL or a camera or another detectable element photographs and/or scans or establishes free parking areas, occupied parking areas, or both free and occupied parking areas, or their ratio, in other words, the utilization degree of parking.

[0042] Once the parking arrangement has detected, by means of one or more detection means or detection elements such as a serial detection device or a fish-eye camera, a free parking place, information on it may be transmitted at phase 4-4 to a communications network, such as the Internet, and a database (DB), information warehouse, or memory on it or associated with it.

[0043] A user using a parking program may use the program and parking place information on the Internet. The use does not require logging in to the program, but anyone is able to see the real-time parking situation on their Internet browser. A user may, however, log in a parking use program or a parking use service on the Internet, for example. This may take place by creating a user identifier, such as a username-password pair, to the program or service. According to a preferred embodiment, as a user logs in the service with the user identifier he has created, at the registration phase at the beginning of the use at phase 5-2, for example, and gives certain profile details in the service, such as the motorist's name and address, the car number plate, car length, width, height and weight, the search for a free parking place or parking area will be further enhanced as a result of the parking use program being able to combine the user's profile details with the obtained or photographed information. For example, based on information on the lengths of cars the quantity of occupied and/or available parking places may be calculated. The program may be adapted to analyse, for example, the size of the parking area or the size of the parking area in relation to the size information of the cars taken in, or the reported size of a car. This way, the system is able to find a parking place of the correct size for a specific car, vehicle, articulated vehicle or other means of transport in the desired place or near the destination.

[0044] In addition, paying for the parking requires a log-in to the program so that the user may be identified and/or authenticated.

[0045] At phase 4-6, the user may activate a web-based program with, a mobile phone application or on a mobile phone browser, navigator, computer browser or another terminal device. At phase 4-8, a user transmits a signal to the database, by means of which signal information may be sought on free parking places, whether there is space available for parking, or the degree of utilization of a specific parking area. At phase 4-10, the parking database responds to the user with information on a free area or free places, and the user receives this information. The information may be conveyed to the user's terminal device, for example, or the car microchip and a detector communicating with it.

[0046] In practise, a user may start the program and activate "Hae vapaat paikat" (find free places) in the program. Free places may be searched for separately in response to a specific request, or they may be ready for displaying. In other words, when a user opens a specific web page or uses a browser to access a specific URL address (Uniform Resource Locator), the free parking space of a specific predefined place may be displayed on the browser of the terminal device that the user is using. If the user is in a new place or searching for a space in a new place, a free parking space in the new place in question may be found. Searching on the Internet may be based on, for example, an HTML5-based program (HTML, Hyper Text Markup Language) or applet.

[0047] At phase 4-12, information on free parking places may be displayed to the user. This displaying may be address-based or, for example, an image of a map or area where the user is trying to find parking space. The map may show in red the areas that are occupied and in green areas that are free. The displaying to the user may be carried out by displaying the utilization degree of the area. The same method may be used to present the users with other details or information, such as changes in the parking fees.

[0048] The displaying may also be displaying to coordinate information and/or GPS location details and/or displaying the location of the car so that the driver finds a route back to his parked car, in other words, the user may be guided to the desired area by means of the program. The user or driv- er may also receive a text message reminder of how much parking time or paid value he has left. The reminder may indicate the location of the car, the valid parking fee, and a change in the fee after a specific date or time of day.

[0049] Many other types of details may also be shown to the user, such as that parking in this area between 9am and 5pm is prohibited.

[0050] Furthermore, additional information or information may be presented to the users. Once the users have been located in accordance with the embodiment of Figure 5, the degree of utilization on active users and payers may be determined, and this piece of information transmitted to the users at phase 4-14.

[0051] As described in the above, the car microchips arranged in a car and secondary parking microchips, cameras, and other detection means of detectors arranged in the parking place may be arranged to communicate on a first communications network with the series detecting device which, on its part, may be arranged to communicate on a second communications network with the Internet or its sub-network. This way, the series detecting device may convey information to a server and/or database, and/or cloud service. The connection to the Internet established through the second communications network may be implemented by, for example, connecting a WIFI (Wireless Fidelity) or GMS-adapter or 4G adapter in connection with the serial detection device, such an adapter communicating with the Internet. The connection may be based on, for example, a wireless local area network (WLAN), phone network, or another wireless or wired communications network. The technology being used may therefore be, for example, 3G (3rd generation), 3.5G, or 4G technology. Through this connection, information may be conveyed to a communication network and/or its information warehouse on parking place, such as whether they are occupied and/or free, or whether a specific area is free of occupied, or what the degree of utilization of the area in question is.

[0052] The required calculation and intelligence may all be performed in the processor in connection with the database. Alternatively, at least part of the calculation may be carried out in the parking machine or in its vicinity. So, calculation may be centralized or decentralized.

[0053] Figure 5 shows a signalling diagram according to the invention and its preferred embodiments for gathering a degree of utilization of parking and for charging for parking. In it, at the first phase, the registration phase 5-2, a user or an RFID microchip in the car transmits an ID number, a unique number, to the parking database DB, by means of which the user of the RFID car microchip may be identified. This identifier number may be used by the user to log in the system and to create an account there, and the log-in may be carried out by the car manufacturer, car dealer, or the user. By means of the identifier number, it is possible to know who uses the parking space and who pays for the parking, for example. The ID number in question may be a random number.

[0054] According to an embodiment, the car microchip may be bought at a normal retail shop or a kiosk, and value or time ma be loaded on it. The chip may be registered at the shop, for example, after which a user may start using the chip straight away. The chip is question is not in such a case fixedly linked with a specific car. So, an RFID chip in a vehicle or in another element may be detachably fixed to a vehicle or another element, or fixedly installed on one.

[0055] The USER in Figure 5 denotes a car microchip, the slave device, and the abbreviation STL in the Figure denotes a serial detection device, the master device.

[0056] At the phase following the registration phase, at phase 5-4, the RFID parking active chip or the serial detection device may transmit and receive a frequency from its surroundings. A passive RFID chip transmits a frequency in the range of, for example, approximately one, three, four, seven, or even up to ten metres, and an active RFID chip transmits a frequency in the range of, for example, one hundred metres, three hundred metres, four hundred metres, 750 metres, or even up to 1,5 km or 2 km. A passive chip may be used, for example, at a parking boom to open a gate, or in a parking garage for passive identification, and an active chip may be used in connection with, for example, outdoor parking for active identification. It is additionally possible to combine both identification methods to allow a more precise identification, for example, and/or to achieve two separate processes or features, or to use two separate identification methods at different parking places and parking situations.

[0057] At phase 5-6, a parker, the RFID microchip in the user's car or another vehicle, comes in a parking area, such as a residential parking place or space, and the user may press the start button on the RFID car microchip, or one in connection with it, or a switch providing a parking start signal. In response to this, the user, that is, the visitor device, RFID car microchip transmits a car identification signal, RFID or another communications signal at phase 5-8 to the serial detection device, that is, the master device, for identification on the master device. The master device may at phase 5-9 check the visitor's ID number and transmit this number or information to the database at phase 5-10. The signal may also pass directly as such to the database through the serial detection device, whereby at phase 5-9 the checking takes place at the database. With the serial detection device, modulation may be performed on the signal and/or the signal may be adapted to suit another communications network. Additionally, a part or parts may be removed from the signal, or a part or parts may be added in it.

[0058] At phase 5- , the active part of the database compares the ID numbers it received at phases 5-2 and 5-10. In the comparison, the received location information, that is, information on the signal strength and signal direction of the identification signal may be compared with information in the database on the location of the serial detection device, in order to obtain the information that a specific vehicle is in a specific area and further on the list of identifiers approved for parking, a so-called white list. When it is known that a specific vehicle is within a specific area, and if the identification numbers match, the user is entitled to park in the area in question. This information is also returned at phase 5-12 to the serial detection device, which can control or assist the opening of a gate or boom, or if a permission cannot be granted, control and assists in displaying, for example, a red prohibition light to the par- ker or user of an RFID car microchip. At phase 5-14, the permission information on parking is returned to the user. This may be indicated with a green light, for example, or another visual and/or audio signal on the user's terminal device 1 -36.

[0059] So, a serial detection device may either realise an action, in other words, the opening of the gate, or produce a signal to indicate the utilization degree of parking, or its permissibility or status details.

[0060] Simultaneously with phase 5-12, phase 5-12b may be carried out, at which a customer may directly be provided with information on parking, to his mobile phone, for example, or for use by an application on the mobile phone. Such information may consist of, for example, details on the hourly fee, location of the car or parking place, opening hours of the parking place, and the balance of the customer's account in a monetary unit or time. [0061] Thus, there may be a list allocated for the parking area boom on the identifiers that are allowed to open the boom. When an RFID car microchip arrives at the boom area, its identifier is compared with the identifiers on the list, such as the so-called white list, and if the chip belongs to the white list, it will be granted the permission to drive into the area and/or park in the area. In such a case, the list resides in the database DB, the information in which is compared with the identifier information that the motorist asking for the permission is transmitting.

[0062] If a motorists parks in a specific area without permission, or if the time he has paid for is exceeded, a signal on this may be sent to parking control. This allows acting as agreed upon, and if so defined, a required number of reminder messages may be delivered to the motorist before the signal is sent.

[0063] A traffic warden, for his part, may have a device that can scan and read, in a short-range area, RFID microchips or number plates of cars, and based on the reading, make a database query on whether the car in question is entitled to park in the area in question. The ID number of a car may also be in view so that the traffic warden can enter it in his device, and enquire about the details of the current parking.

[0064] According to a preferred embodiment, one or more RFID microchips, or tags, in the car are in an idle state or asleep when the car is not within the area of the scanning element. The master device, such as the serial detection device, transmits an excitation signal, and, as a function of a specific distance, time, and/or place, the slave device, such as the car microchip, may wake up to the signal the master device sent.

[0065] At phase 5-4, according to a preferred embodiment, a specific signal may be generated and transmitted, which acts as excitation for the sleeping slave devices. The signal may wake up all the devices, some devices, only, or one device, only. In other words, all the car microchip devices are awake, but the first portion of the devices, only, turn in whereas the second portion remain active. If only some of the devices are woken up, the signal may be of the type "sleep all but". As described in the above, the waking up may also take place actively by a user, in which case the user may press on the activation button on the chip, for example. When an active microchip is turned off, it will become a passive car microchip. [0066] Once a motorist has arrived in a parking area, has obtained permission to park, and has parked, according to the invention and its preferred embodiments at phases 5-16a, 5-16b, 5-16c, the active chip in the car or another vehicle is continuously transmitting, at specific intervals, for example, a signal to the serial detection device so that it knows that the car is still parked in the area. The serial detection device consequently detects the ID signal transmitted by the vehicle at specific intervals or continuously. When the ID signal, sustaining signal, in due course ends, as a result of the motorist pressing the stop button, for example, or the car leaving the parking area, the serial detection device in question detects, at phase 5-18, that the signal has lost for too long a time and transmits, at phase 5-20, information to the database on the ending of parking.

[0067] After generating an invoice at phase 5-22 the database returns the invoice to the customer on the parking time used. The invoice may be sent in a written form in the form of conventional mail, or by e-mail, for example. The parking fee may additionally be taken care of as a prepaid payment, or as a combination of a prepaid invoice and a normal invoice charged for in arrears.

[0068] According to an alternative embodiment, at phase 5-17a, a user actively presses the stop button, and in response to the signal in question, at phase 5-17b, the user transmits a parking stop signal to the serial detection device or alternatively the RFID car microchip is turned off. If the user forgets to provide the stop signal, invoicing may be ceased when the user has distanced himself far enough from the antenna range of the serial detection device.

[0069] The serial detection device, other alternative detection means, and RFID car microchips may be of the so-called transceiver type, or a transceiver may be connected to them, capable of transmitting and receiving one or more frequencies and signals.

[0070] Motorists may be charged for the use of a parking space or parking place as described in the above.

[0071] Phase 5-24 in Figure 5 illustrates signalling to the database by the users, based on which signalling it is possible to determine the utilization degree of a specific area, that is, information on how many parking places of the entire area are in use. This information may be forwarded to the users in a visual and/or audio manner as a machine voice, whereby the user knows in advance the number of free parking places in a specific area, for example that there are only few parking places free in an area, or none at all. The number may be the exact number or an indicative number. The visual representation may be, for example, colouring a specific area or street red in a digital map, if the area is full, or green if there are a lot of free places in the area. This representation may be sent to a user's mobile phone, tablet device, computer, navigator or suchlike terminal device.

[0072] The database DB may comprise a plurality of different information, records, or files. The following information, for example, may be assigned on one RFID identifier: customer name, customer identifier, specific permitted parking area, whether parking is in progress or not, time used for parking, money used for parking, use of prepaid time and value.

[0073] Figure 3 shows a flow chart according to the invention and its preferred embodiments. In it, a detectable element, such as an RFID car microchip, or RFID car chip plate, may be installed either fixedly of detachably in a car or another vehicle or means of transportation which is to be identified and/or which may transmit data or information and/or receive data or information, for which instructions may be given or from which data may be received. A separate chip may be installed in the car at the manufacturing stage or afterwards once the car has been manufactured. The microchip, which can be placed, for example, behind the rear-view mirror, vanity mirror, or in connection with a parking device placed in the car, only comprises the ID (identification) information, therefore the microchip may be used to specify the car.

[0074] As noted in the above, the microchip may be installed in the car at the manufacturing stage of the car or afterwards. The chip may be placed in a separate device or reader. The chip may be active or passive. An active chip has a power source, or it may be connected to a power source, and an active chip may itself actively transmit various kinds of signals, such as the chip identification code, or it may be actively used. A passive chip may transmit a response or a response signal in response to a scanning signal of the chip identifier.

[0075] After the chip is installed (start 3-2) at phase 3-4, the detectable element such as the chip, installed in the car either detachably or permanently, may be registered. The registration may take place so that, for example, the car manufacturer or holder of the chip enters the chip details in the database on the Internet or directly with a text message. The registration may comprise many different kinds of information or information types, such as information on that a car has one or more areas, such as a residential parking area or a park-and-ride parking area where the car is entitled to park 3-6. The right to park may be effective at specific times of day, on a specific day of the week, or a specific week of the month, or continuously.

[0076] If a fee is collected for parking, parking may be paid for in a number of ways. For example, parking may be paid for as a prepaid payment, on an invoice or credit card in the parking machine. At phase 3-8, a user may in fact buy parking time with different electronic or physical methods.

[0077] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, as a user at phase 3-10 parks his car, he presses the activation button on the RFID car microchip or one in contact with the microchip. In such as case, an RFID parking active chip or RFID car chip detector or serial detection device in the parking area or in contact with it receives and identifies the signal from the RFID car microchip. The detection means and detector may be in contact with the database and obtain information identified by the car chip from the database. This may take place, for example, so that after receiving a signal from the car chip, the detector establishes a contact to the database and transmits information on the car chip to the database. In response to the received information on the car chip, the database returns information registered for the car chip and stored in the database to the detector.

[0078] According to a preferred embodiment, the detector compares the identifier ID (Identification) provided by the RFID car microchip to the identifier it obtained from the database, and if the identifiers match, transmits to the database or elsewhere information on that the holder or owner of the chip in question has parked his car in a specific place or position. So, at phase 3-12, parking is approved by the motorists, which may take place manually, for example, as described in the above, by pressing the button on the RFID car microchip, or automatically by entering the area.

[0079] After parking approval, the detectable element may still contact the server at phase 3-14.

[0080] Next at phase 3-16, the serial detection device communicates with the server and the database in contact with it. The following definition means that the server acquires information on parking, and may calculate the time used for parking. At the next phase, the server may subtract time or value allocated for the car microchip, or accumulate parking events on an invoice.

[0081] At the end phase of parking, at phase 3-18, the car driver returns to his car and presses the button on the RFID car microchip on one in contact with it. In response to the pressing, the chip transmits a second signal, a stop signal, for example, to the RFID chip reader or detector or parking machine. After receiving the stop signal, or as activity in the area ends, the parking time calculation is interrupted.

[0082] Information or a register may be gathered on the parking occasions, from which the invoice is compiled and sent to each parker once a month, for example. On the parking occasions, a register may be gathered continuously, or an interruption in parking may launch measures relating to the establishment of the parking fee or transmitting an invoice, and the invoice may be sent by post, it may be settled as a direct payment, on a bank card, or collected in connection with the customer's mobile phone bill.

[0083] At phase 3-20, an entry is sent to the database on parking having ended. In an embodiment, the detection means no longer identifies the RFID car chip. There may be a pause of a predetermined duration in the identification, after which the RFID car chip may be identified anew with the same reader and the car may be parked anew within the area of the same detection means.

[0084] For example, is may be tested either continuously for the entire duration of parking or at phase 3-22 whether the parking period or parking time bought in advance has been exceeded, or whether a car with a specific identifier still has time to park in a specific area. If it is found out that the parking time has run out or that there no longer is value or period left, it is possible to move on to buying more parking time at phase 3-8 or stop parking at phase 3-24. After parking has ended, an invoice may be sent to the parker. If the time bought in advance, the prepaid time, is about to end, a message may be delivered to the parker as a GSM text message, for example, or electronically or another way of communications.

[0085] Additionally, the parker may be informed of the location of the car very accurately, that is, at the accuracy of approximately five metres.

[0086] Parking operators may thus register the RFID microchip installed in the car with the identification details or information, gather infor- mation from the RFID car microchip, and collect parking fees at least partly based on the identification information associated with the car microchip.

[0087] Figure 6 is a town view from above, comprising five houses H1 , H2, H3, H4 and H5, four parking places P1 , P2, P3 and P4 close to the houses, as well as areas between the houses, such as roads. The Figure also shows two serial detection devices STL1 and STL2 as well as cloud C where information may be stored. In parking place P1 there are four cars C1 , C2, C3, and C4 parked, in parking place P2 there is one car C5 parked, and in parking place P4 there is one car C6 parked. The Figure also indicates that parking place P1 has three free spaces for cars F1 , F2, and F3.

[0088] In Figure 6, the serial detection device STL2 is in contact with cars C4, C5 and C6. The serial detection device STL1 is in contact with car C4. Both serial detection devices are in contact with the cloud, cloud server C.

[0089] In Figure 6, the identification signal transmitted by the device in car C4 is passed to the serial detection device STL1 both as a straight signal and/or as one or more reflected signals SC42. The serial detection device STL1 therefore receives a signal that has travelled on two routes, in other words, the identification signal transmitted by the car C4 device has two signal strengths and directions. Based on these, the location of car C4 may be computed in a plurality of ways, such as triangulation (if there are three or more signals available) or by calculating the average of the signals. If the car location were to be calculated only based on the strength and/or the direction of the reflected signal, no precise value could be obtained for the location of the car. For example, by calculating the direction of the signal in the case of Figure 6 only based on the direction of the last part of the three-part signal SC42, the end result would be the free spot F2 instead of the correct location of the car, C4.

[0090] Figure 6 additionally shows angle a which represents the angle of the sector at which the serial detection device STL1 receives identification signals.

[0091] From the viewpoint of parking control, a traffic warden is able to check that the parking of the car has been paid for and/or that the car has permission to park in a specific area. In the case of a RFID car microchip parking, a traffic warden will notice the RFID microchip on the dashboard or a sticker or another mark placed on the car, or he can scan the RFID microchip. The traffic warden may use his own terminal device to communicate with the database and request information on whether parking is underway and whether the car or motorist has permission to park in the area in question. If parking is underway, and parking has been paid for and RFID parking according to the invention and its preferred embodiments is underway, the traffic warden moves on. Otherwise, the traffic warden may issue a warning or a ticket for wrongful parking, parking without permission or unpaid parking.

[0092] In accordance with a preferred embodiment, a detector in the ground under the parking level, or above it, in a specific parking place in a parking area detects that a car has been parked in the place in question. This parking information and parking location information, the parking start information and parking end information may be transmitted through a communications network to a database of the communications network, or one communicating with it. Charging may take place as a function of the difference of the start time and end time and/or as a function of the start time. Charging may takes place directly from the account the customer has provided in his profile. Alternatively, when a car is parked in a charged parking area, the parking fees are approved on a smart phone. According to yet another preferred embodiment, whenever a user parks a car, a fee will be collected.

[0093] According to yet another preferred embodiment, a notification device of a parking place may be set up, which notifies a motorist of his being in a wrong parking place, or a prohibited parking area. A message, for example, may be sent to a motorist's mobile phone, or the LED on the car microchip in the car may be activated to display a red light. That way the motorist may avoid a parking fine, and he is advised not to take a place from those who are entitled to be in the area.

[0094] The arrangement according to the invention and its preferred embodiments may be delivered directly to the Internet and for use by various types of terminal devices, such as smartphones.

[0095] As described in the above, the parking arrangement for a car comprises a vehicle microchip 1-32, which is installed in a vehicle 1-30 and arranged to transmit 1-38 a vehicle identification signal to a series detection devise 1-13, 1- 7 through a first communications network; one or more serial detection devices, arranged in connection with a parking place 2-2, 2-4, 2-6 and arranged to receive 1 -38 the vehicle identification signal from the vehicle microchip and to transmit 1 -39 the vehicle identification signal to a server unit 1- 43 through a second communications network; and a server unit 1-43, which comprises a database 1-44 and a processor 1-46, and which is arranged to receive 1-39 the vehicle identification signal from the serial detection device and to calculate, based on the identification signal, the time that the vehicle (1-30) used for parking.

[0096] In connection with the vehicle microchip, a switch 1 -34 may be placed, and in response to a pressing of the switch the vehicle microchip may be arranged to transmit 1-38 the vehicle identification signal, that is, ID signal to the serial detection device through the first communications network.

[0097] One or more serial detection devices may be arranged to transmit an excitation signal in the parking area, and that the vehicle microchip may be arranged to receive the excitation signal and, in response to receiving the excitation signal, to transmit an identification signal to the serial detection device through the first communications network.

[0098] The vehicle microchip may be arranged to transmit the identification signal to the serial detection device through the first communications network at predetermined intervals.

[0099] In addition, the server unit may be arranged to calculate the time the vehicle used for parking as a function of two identification signals transmitted at different times. The server unit may also be arranged to calculate the parking price in response to the time used for parking, which it calculated.

[0100] Therefore, the server unit may be arranged to receive the vehicle identification signal; compare the received identification signal with the vehicle identification signal stored in the database; and to transmit a parking approval signal to a signalling device arranged in connection with the vehicle microchip, if the received 5-10 identification signal and the stored 5-2 identification signal are the same. The server unit may be arranged to compute the location of the vehicle based on the signal strength and direction of one or more pieces of identification information it has received.

[0101] Information may be stored in the database of the server unit on how many vehicles can park in the parking area, and the server unit is arranged to calculate the utilization degree of the parking area by calculating the ratio or the cars parked in the parking area to the free space in the parking area. [0102] The aforementioned first communications network may be an RFID network and the second communications network may be a mobile phone network, LAN network (Local Area Network) or a WLAN network. The vehicle microchip may be an RFID device.

[0103] According to a preferred embodiment, the system comprises a signalling device, which is arranged in connection with the vehicle microchip, and that, in response to the excitation signal provided by the serial detection device, the signalling device is arranged to provide a signal to the vehicle driver on whether the vehicle is permitted to park in the area.

[0104] The system in question may further comprise a camera, which is arranged to photograph the parking area and to transmit a picture signal to the server unit, and that the server unit is arranged to calculate, at least partly based on the picture signal, the cars parked in the parking area and/or the free space in the parking area.

[0105] The invention and its preferred embodiments achieve a plurality of different benefits. It is now possible to carry out a parking fee of a car as simply, easily, and effectively as possible. In addition, the end-users will save money because it is now possible to pay the sum according to the actual use. Furthermore, the parking place situation may be quickly updated and a free parking area or parking place be searched for and displayed in real time to a motorist, and thus in both ways reduce and minimize unnecessary traffic in parking areas.

[0106] Further advantages include: traffic wardens may use electronic parking control; traffic may be routed to areas having less traffic, whereby there will be less congestion; lower emissions as a result of less unnecessary traffic, which reduces fuel and diesel fuel consumption; end-users also save time, being able to head to the most likely parking place instead or driving around randomly.

[0107] In prior art, the car is parked, after which parking is paid for at a parking machine or parking meter, then one must return to the car to place the paid parking ticket obtained from the parking machine in the car in a visible place. Often, cash is needed for paying, and studies show that prepaid parking costs approximately 25 percent too much. Paying according to the invention and its preferred embodiment is easy, simple, precise, and automatic. The system also works indoors and in places where the reception of a positioning signal, such as the GPS signal (Global Positioning System), is low or inade- quate. Paying for parking becomes faster, more efficient, and easier when, for example, a physically handicapped person need not go from the car to a parking meter or parking machine and back to the car.

[0108] In accordance with the invention and its preferred embodiments, fuel consumption will decrease, there will be less unnecessary traffic and fewer danger situations, because a motorist no longer needs to search for a place or drive back and forth in a small area. Furthermore, emissions will decrease, which in the environmental sense is a desirable outcome.

[0109] In prior art, as a motorist is trying to find a free parking place of parking space, the motorist drives back and forth streets or parking areas until he finds a free parking spot. Once the place is found, the motorist parks here. The driving in search of a free parking place, often driving back and forth a parking place, causes many disadvantages and problems. These are additional fuel consumption, additional traffic and even danger situations as the motorist concentrates on other issues than driving, because the motorist will need to search for a place and often drive back and forth within a small area. These problems can be solved according to the invention and its preferred embodiments.

[0110] In a prior art parking solution, used at airports, for example, a lamp positioned on top of a parking place indicates a free parking place. If the lamp is red, the parking place in question is occupied, and if the light is green, the parking spot of the parking place, under the lamp in question, is free. The solution according to the invention and its preferred embodiments is also suitable for these bounded indoor spaces.

[0111] It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that as technology advances, the basic idea of the invention may be implemented in many different ways. The invention and its embodiments are thus not restricted to the examples described above but may vary within the scope of the claims.

Claims

. A parking system for a vehicle (1-30), characterised in that it comprises:

- a vehicle microchip (1-32), which is installed in a vehicle (1-30) and arranged to transmit (1-38) a vehicle identification signal to a series detection device (1-13, 1-17) through a first communications network;

- one or more serial detection devices (1-13, 1-17), arranged in connection with a parking place (2-2, 2-4, 2-6) and arranged to receive (1-38) the vehicle identification signal from the vehicle microchip through a first communications network and to transmit (1-39) the vehicle identification signal to a server unit (1-43) through a second communications network; and

- and a server unit (1-43), which comprises a database (1-44) and a processor (1-46), and which is arranged to receive (1-39) the vehicle identification signal (1-30) from the serial detection device (1-13, 1-17) through the second communications network and to calculate, based on the identification signal, the time that the vehicle (1-30) used for parking.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, characterise^' d in that in connection with the vehicle microchip (1-32), a switch 1-34 has been arranged, and in response to a pressing of the switch (1-34) the vehicle microchip (1-32) is arranged to transmit (1-38) the vehicle identification signal (1-30) to the serial detection device (1-13, 1- 7) through the first communications network.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that one or more serial detection devices (1-13, 1-17) are arranged to transmit an excitation signal in the parking area through the first communications network, and in that the vehicle microchip (1-30) is arranged to receive (1-38) the excitation signal and, in response to receiving the excitation signal, to transmit (1-38) the identification signal to the serial detection device (1-13, 1-17) through the first communications network.

4. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 1-3, characterised in that the vehicle microchip (1 -32) is arranged to transmit the identification signal to the serial detection device (1-13, 1-17) through the first communications network at predetermined intervals.

5. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 1-4, characterised in that the server unit (1-43) is arranged to calculate the time the vehicle (1-30) used for parking as a function of two identification signals transmitted or received at different times.

6. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 1-3, characterised in that the server unit (1-43) is arranged to calculate the parking price in response to the time used for parking, which it calculated.

7. A system as claimed in any one of the previous claims 1-6, characterised in that identification signals of vehicles have been stored in a database, and in that the server unit (1-43) is arranged to:

- receive (5-2, 5-10) the vehicle (1-30) identification signal through the second communications network;

- compare (5- 1) the received identification signal with the vehicle (1-30) identification signal stored in the database (1-44); and

- transmit (5-12) a parking approval signal to a signalling device (1- 36) arranged in connection with the vehicle microchip (1 -32), if the received (5- 10) identification signal and the stored (5-2) identification signal are the same.

8. A system as claimed in any one of the previous claims 1-7, characterised in that the serial detection device is arranged to transmit the signal strength and direction of the identification signal it received to the server unit through the second communications network, and in that the server unit (1-43) is arranged to compute the location of the vehicle (1-30) based on the signal strength and direction of one or more pieces of identification information it has received.

9. A system as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that the server unit (1-43) is arranged to compare the vehicle (1-30) location it computed with the location of the serial detection device, and to compute the location of the vehicle at least partly in response to this comparison.

10. A system as claimed in any one of the previous claims 1-9, characterised in that information has been stored in the database (1- 44) of the server unit (1-43) on how many vehicles can be parked in a parking area, and the server unit (1-43) is arranged to calculate the utilization degree of the parking area by calculating the ratio of the cars parked in the parking area to the free space in the parking area.

11. A system as claimed in any one of the previous claims 1-10, characterised in that the first communications network is an RFID network and the second communications network is a wired network, such as a LAN network, or a wireless network, such as a mobile communications network or a WLAN network.

12. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 1-11, characterised in that the vehicle microchip (1 -32) is an RFID device.

13. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 1-12, characterised in that it further comprises a camera (1-8), which is arranged to photograph the parking area and to transmit a picture signal to the server unit (1-43), and that the server unit (1-43) is arranged to calculate, at least partly based on the picture signal, the cars parked in the parking area and/or the free space in the parking area.