GB2536436A - Apparatus for managing penalty charge notices - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for managing penalty charge notices (PCNs) comprises a database for storing PCNs; a first interface to receive newly issued PCNs; a processor to receive the newly issued PCNs from the first interface and add the newly issued PCNs to the database; a second interface to receive payment information from a PCN recipient, process the payment, and modify the PCN database to indicate which PCNs have been paid; and a penalty charge notice voucher server configured to issue a voucher that is specific to a voucher operator upon payment of a PCN that was issued to the PCN recipient. The PCN can include parking charge notices, or parking fines, that have been issued using apparatus such as automatic number plate recognition ANPR cameras, or portable PCN issuing devices. The voucher can be sent as an email and can be redeemable against goods or services at a specific store.

Description

APPARATUS FOR MANAGING PENALTY CHARGE NOTICES

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus for managing penalty charge notices, for example penalty charge notices such as car parking fines.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Penalty charge notices (PCNs) are commonly issued for a wide variety of unauthorised actions, for example on-street or off-street parking violations, moving traffic offences, non or incomplete payment on public transport, late check-out of hotels, overdrafts and other bank charges, excess spend or other contract violations of telecoms contracts. PCNs are defined as encompassing any demand for payment which is issued as a result of unauthorised action(s), and include parking charge notices which may be issued as a result of unauthorised parking on private land.

Typically, PCNs are issued from a PCN issuer (such as an authority or company) to a PCN recipient (such as a consumer). PCNs can damage goodwill of the PCN recipient towards the PCN issuer, particularly in cases where the PCN recipient considers the issuance of the PCN was unjustified or unfair. This can be damaging to the public image of PCN issuers, and in cases where the PCN recipient uses services of the PCN issuer, can result in a reduction of the use of such services. A consumer who visits a supermarket car park and receives a parking fine for staying slightly longer than authorised, may be less likely to shop at that supermarket on another occasion.

There may also be a knock-on effect of the PCN recipient's receipt of the PCN, causing damage to entities beyond the just the PCN issuer. For example, consumers who park whilst visiting a collection of shops, and who are subsequently fined by a street parking warden for doing so, are less likely to shop at those shops in the future, even though those shops do not have any direct connection to the street parking warden. Accordingly, a PCN issuing authority may define terms and conditions for issuing PCNs, with limited concern for any negative effect that the PCNs may have on other entities.

The amount of revenue collected by PCN issuers can also be a source of acrimony between PCN issuers and PCN recipients, with large sums of money sometimes being collected, which are significantly higher than any actual damage suffered to the PCN issuer by the PCN recipient's unauthorised actions. A PCN typically requires a fairly significant payment to be made, to ensure the PCN has the desired effect of deterring unauthorised actions.

A parking authority may wish to deter certain groups of people from parking on streets, for example people visiting friends, whilst encourage other people to park, for example people visiting nearby shops. Some systems specify a low maximum length of stay to discourage people from parking for long periods whilst visiting friends, or visiting shops further afield. Although, this short-duration parking system can be inconvenient for people wishing to shop for longer periods, and result in PCNs being issued which dissuade people from parking in that location at all.

To help reduce the negative effects of PCNs upon PCN recipients, it is known to significantly discount the charge levied by the PCN in return for prompt payment of the charge. For example, payment within 10 days may lead to a discount of 50% off some parking fines. A known PCN management system comprises a database for PCNs, and tracks the dates of issuance of the PCNs, so that the correct charges for the PCNs can be applied.

However, such a system still requires significant payments from PCN recipients, and risks alienating the PCN recipients from the PCN issuer.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved system for managing PCNs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for managing PCNs issued to PCN recipients. The apparatus comprises a PCN database configured to store PCNs; a first interface configured to receive newly issued PCNs; and a processor configured to receive the newly issued PCN's from the first interface and add the newly issued PCNs to the PCN database. The apparatus further comprises a second interface configured to receive payment information from PCN recipients, wherein the processor is configured to take payment from PCN recipients based on the payment information, and to modify the PCNs in the PCN database to indicate which PCNs have been paid; and a PCN voucher server for issuing PCN vouchers to PCN recipients, wherein the PCN voucher server is configured to issue to a PCN recipient a PCN voucher that is specific to a PCN voucher operator, upon payment of a PCN that was issued to the PCN recipient.

The PCN recipient therefore receives a PCN voucher from a PCN voucher server in return for paying their PCN, and the PCN voucher is specific to a particular PCN voucher operator. For example, the PCN voucher may be redeemable in return for goods and/or services of the PCN voucher operator. Then, PCN recipients do not lose a proportion of the payment that they make for the PCN, and receive a PCN voucher which may only be redeemed with the PCN voucher operator.

The PCN voucher operator with which the PCN voucher is specific, may be chosen to help influence the future behaviour of the PCN recipient, since the PCN recipient must transact with the PCN voucher operator to redeem the voucher that the PCN recipient has been issued. For example, person who normally parks on the street outside a small group of shops, but who actually shops elsewhere and receives a PCN for a parking overstay, may be issued a PCN voucher for which the person has to visit the small group of shops in order to redeem. The small group of shops are collectively represented by a PCN voucher operator to which the PCN vouchers are specific.

Preferably, each PCN voucher has a monetary value of less than a charge associated with the PCN that was paid by the PCN recipient, so that the PCN still has a significant deterrent effect. Alternatively, the PCN voucher could be equivalent to the full amount of the PCN charge. For example, if the PCN relates to an overstay in a supermarket car park, and the PCN voucher operator is the supermarket, then the PCN voucher server may allow a higher value PCN voucher to be issued if the PCN recipient is a very good customer of the supermarket.

Each PCN may be associated with a particular PCN voucher operator at the point of issuance of the PCN, for example based upon what unauthorised act the PCN is being issued for. Or, each PCN may be associated with a particular PCN voucher operator at the point of payment of the PCN, for example if the PCN recipient is given a choice of PCN voucher operators such as a choice between selection of charities to which the PCN voucher could be made specific. The PCN database may be configured to store for each PCN a designation of a corresponding PCN voucher operator, and then upon payment of each PCN, the PCN voucher server may be configured to issue a PCN voucher that is specific to the PCN voucher operator designated in the database for that PCN.

The PCN voucher could be redeemed against virtually any products or services, depending on the PCN voucher operator associated with the PCN voucher. For example, if the PCN voucher operator is a land owner/ tenant/public authority, then the PCN vouchers could be redeemed with one or more specific ones of: - Retailers, such as single retail sites; retail groups nationally; multiple different retailers online or in-store by virtue of their membership of the service; whole high streets in a local area.

- Services, such as Hotels, restaurants, cinemas, leisure centres, museums, tourist attractions.

- Travel operators, such as public and private transport, flights.

- Memberships or subscriptions, such as English Heritage, National Trust, Magazines/ online content, other services e.g. Netflix etc. - Charitable donations / Crowdfunding.

Funding social/local projects or businesses; funding hyper-local charitable schemes.

The apparatus is typically a computer apparatus, which may or may not be distributed over a plurality of sites. The processor may be a single processing chip, or may comprise multiple processing chips distributed over one or more sites. The PCNs are typically issued by PCN issuing devices, such as a device reviewing vehicle number plates detected by an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera, or a handheld device of a traffic warden, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The computer apparatus may comprise a PCN issuing device configured to send PCNs to the first interface for storage in the PCN database. The first interface is preferably a computer interface, and defines a format in which newly issued PCNs can be sent to the first interface. The second interface is for receiving payments from PCN recipients, and updating statuses of PCNs in the PCN database accordingly. For example, the second interface may comprise a website that is accessible to PCN recipients via the Internet, or a PCN application software for running on a device of a PCN recipient.

Optionally, to improve incorporation of the invention into existing systems, the PCN database may be sub-divided into a first database for PCNs which have yet to be paid, and a second database for PCNs which have been paid and for which PCN voucher(s) have been issued. Then, PCNs can be transferred from the first database to the second database by the processor once the PCNs are paid, the first database being a known database and the second database helping put the present invention into practice. The first and second databases may be located at different physical locations to one another.

The PCN voucher server is configured to issue the PCN vouchers to PCN recipients, and may for example issue the vouchers by email, post, or an application software running on an electronic device of the PCN recipient. An account such as an account of a charity may be designated by a PCN recipient as an account where all PCN vouchers received by the PCN recipient should be redeemed, and the account of the charity may be automatically credited by the PCN voucher server upon issuance of a PCN voucher. Or, PCN vouchers for a PCN voucher operator such as a supermarket could be automatically credited as points on a loyalty scheme card account of the supermarket, the loyalty scheme card account being associated with the PCN recipient.

The apparatus may further comprises a third interface for PCN voucher operators, the third interface configured for querying PCNs in the PCN database and specifying voucher rules to the PCN voucher server. Then, each PCN voucher operator may connect to the third interface to view the PCN vouchers which have been issued, and whether or not the PCN vouchers have been redeemed. The third interface may be configured so that each PCN voucher operator can indicate when the PCN vouchers that have been issued for that PCN voucher operator have been redeemed, so that the PCN database can be updated accordingly.

The apparatus may further comprise another interface that is configured to gather further information on a PCN recipient, to allow more accurate identification of the PCN recipient. This interface may for example send vehicle number plates data to an official government database, and receive owner name and address information of the vehicles corresponding to the number plate, to aid enforcement of the PCN and issuance of the PCN vouchers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of non-limiting example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of an apparatus for managing PCNs according to a first embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 shows a flow diagram of the use of the apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a block diagram of an apparatus for managing PCNs according to a second embodiment of the invention; Fig. 4 shows a flow diagram of a first use of the apparatus of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 shows a flow diagram of a second use of the apparatus of Fig. 3.

The figures are not to scale, and same or similar reference signs denote same or similar figures.

A first embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 1 shows an apparatus for managing PCNs for unauthorised car parking in a supermarket car park. The apparatus comprises a computer system 100 which is connected via the Internet to a PCN issuance device RID, a remote database DVL, a PCN recipient device PRD, and a PCN voucher operator device VOD. The use of Internet connections between the computer system 100 and those devices is convenient, although one of more of these Internet connections could be substituted by other types of connection in alternate embodiments, for example dedicated wired or wireless links.

The PCN issuance device PID is connected to an ANPR camera ANPR1 monitoring the supermarket car park, and logs entry and exit times of vehicles from the car park by logging vehicle number plates detected by the ANPR camera. When a vehicle stays too long, a PCN is issued for the vehicle's number plate, and is sent to a first interface INT1 of the computer system 100 via the Internet.

The PCN issuance device PID is also connected to a parking ticket meter PTM, which drivers of vehicles can use to purchase tickets for staying in the car park. To purchase a ticket, the driver is required to enter the number plate of their vehicle into the parking ticket machine PTM, along with the required payment, and then the parking ticket machine PTM prints a parking ticket associated with the vehicle number plate, for example by printing the vehicle number plate on the parking ticket. The parking ticket machine PTM send the vehicle number plates and information on the payments to the PCN issuance device PID, so the PCN issuance device PID is aware of what payments have been made for vehicles when determining whether to issue a PCN. In an alternate embodiment, the parking ticket machine PTM may be connected to the ANPR camera ANPR1, and upon entry of a vehicle to the car park the parking ticket machine may issue the driver of the vehicle with a ticket associated with the vehicle number plate as determined by the ANPR camera, the tickets to be paid prior to the vehicle leaving the car park.

The remote database DVL is an official government database which allows retrieval of vehicle owner identification information in response to submission of vehicle number plates. Accordingly, the remote database DVL can be used to obtain contact information for the owner of a vehicle based on the vehicle's number plate. The computer system 100 both sends the number plate information and receives the vehicle owner identification information via a further interface INTF of the computer system The PCN recipient device PRD is an electronic device of the owner of a vehicle for which a PCN has been issued. In this embodiment, the electronic device is a smartphone, running an application software APP that has been downloaded to the smartphone for use with the computer system 100. Accordingly, the owner of the vehicle, i.e. the PCN recipient, may use the smartphone PRD to interact with the computer system 100. In particular, the PCN recipient may be sent PCN vouchers from the computer system 100 to their smartphone PRD.

The device VOD is a supermarket computer server of the supermarket that has the supermarket car park, ANPR camera and parking ticket machine PTM. The supermarket is the PCN voucher operator. The supermarket computer server VOD receives a PCN voucher 10 from a PCN recipient via a checkout till CKT of the supermarket, and checks the validity of the PCN vouchers 10 by sending a request to a third interface INT3 of the computer system 100. If the PCN vouchers are valid, then the third interface INT3 informs the supermarket computer server VOD accordingly, and the supermarket computer server VOD instructs the checkout till CKT to accept the PCN vouchers as part-payment towards goods being bought by the PCN recipient.

The computer system 100 comprises a processor PROC which is connected to first and second databases DB1 and DB2, which each store records of PCNs. The processor PROC is configured to store records of newly issued PCNs in the first database DB1, and to copy records of PCNs from the first database DB1 to the second database DB2 when the corresponding PCNs are paid. In this embodiment, the first and second databases are implemented as separate databases, although the two databases could be amalgamated into a single database DB in alternate embodiments to save PCNs from being duplicated in two separate databases.

The computer system 100 also comprises the first interface INT1, the further interface INT, a printing device PRNT, and the second interface INT2, all connected to the processor PROC. Each one of the interfaces allows devices to connect to the computer system 100 according to a defined set of protocols, and provides a defined set of actions which each interface allows a connected device to take and/or request, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In this embodiment, the interfaces are implemented in the computer system 100 by computer software.

The first interface INT1 allows sending of new PCNs to the processor PROC from PCN issuing devices (such as the device PID) which authenticate themselves to the first interface. In this embodiment, the first interface is an FTP (File Transfer Protocol site) accessible via the Internet, which accepts files of new PCNs. In this embodiment, each new PCN comprises a vehicle number plate along with two photographs from the ANPR camera showing the entry and the exit of the vehicle to the supermarket car park, along with any details on what (if any) parking ticket(s) were purchased for the vehicle at the parking ticket machine PTM.

The further interface INTF is configured to communicate with the remote database DVL, and in response to being sent a vehicle number plate from the processor PROC, the further interface INTF authenticates itself to the remote database DVL over the Internet, requests vehicle owner information associated with the vehicle number plate, and returns the vehicle owner information to the processor PROC. The vehicle owner information includes the postal address of the vehicle owner.

The printer PRNT is for printing out newly issued PCNs, so that they can be posted to the owners of the vehicles to which the PCNs relate, or in other words so that they can be posted to the PCN recipients.

The second interface INT2 allows PCN recipients to connect to the computer system 100 using electronic devices, for example the smartphone PRD. The second interface may be a website accessible via the Internet which allows PCN recipients to log into the website, search for any PCMs they have been issued, and pay them.

The computer system 100 also comprises a voucher server VSERV which is connected to the second database DB2. The voucher server is a computer server which issues PCN vouchers for the PCNs appearing in the second database; the PCNs appearing in the second database are the PCNs which have been paid. The PCN voucher server sends newly issued PCN vouchers to the PCN recipient, in this embodiment the PCN voucher server sends newly issued PCN vouchers via the Internet to the application software APP running on the PCN recipient's smartphone PRD. The PCN vouchers comprise a bar code, which can be presented at the checkout till CKT by the PCN recipient to part-pay for supermarket goods. Clearly, in alternate embodiments the PCN vouchers may comprise other types of code than bar codes, and the PCN vouchers may be delivered to the PCN recipient by other means, for example by email, or post.

The third interface INT3 also allows querying of the voucher server VSERV by the supermarket computer server VOD, so that the supermarket can review how many PCN vouchers have been redeemed and how many PCN vouchers have still yet to be redeemed. The supermarket computer server VOD can also specify to the voucher server VSERV voucher rules which define the value of PCN vouchers that can be issued for the supermarket.

The computer system 100 of this embodiment is located at a single physical site, although could be distributed amongst a plurality of physical sites in alternate embodiments with network connections transferring data between the component at the various sites. In particular, the second database DB2 and the voucher server VSERV could be located at a separate physical site from the first database DB1 and the processor PROC.

A flow diagram showing the use of the computer system 100 will now be described with reference to Fig. 2. In a first step 20, an owner of a car drives into the supermarket car park. On the way into the car park, the car's number plate and the time is recorded by the ANPR camera ANPR1.

In a step 22, the vehicle owner violates the terms and conditions for parking, by either not paying, making insufficient payment, overstaying the maximum time allowed, or parking at times when parking is not allowed. On the way out of the car park, car's number plate and the time is recorded by the ANPR camera ANPR1 for a second time.

The PCN issuing device PID receives the car's number plate and the entry and exit times, along with information from the parking ticket machine PTM on whether the car owner bought any parking tickets and how long was paid for, and determines that the car owner has violated the terms and conditions for parking, by overstaying the time for which the car owner has paid. Accordingly, at step 26 the PCN issuing device PID issues a PCN for the car, and sends the PCN to the first interface INT1 of the computer system 100. The PCN includes the entry and exit photographs of the car, along with the car number plate and any times for which parking was validly paid.

The processor PROC receives the PCN from the first interface INT1, and in a step 28 sends the number plate of the PCN to the remote database DVL via the further interface INTF. The processor receives the address details of the car owner from the remote database DVL, and in a step 30 sends the PCN to the printer PRNT for printing and sending to the address of the car owner. The processor also stores the PCN in the first database DB1, along with a status attribute indicating that the PCN has yet to be paid.

The PCN is received by the car owner in the post, and contains a website address of the second interface INT2 webpage. The car owner is advised by the PCN to visit the webpage to pay the PCN charge. In this embodiment, the PCN charge is for £85, and the PCN informs the car owner that the charge will be reduced to £50 for payment within 7 days, and that upon payment the car owner will receive £35 of the charge back in the form of a voucher for spending in the supermarket.

In a step 32, the car owner uses their smartphone PRD to visit the website address of the second interface INT2 webpage, where further details on the scheme are located. The car owner opts to download and install the application software APP to their smartphone PRD, and using the software application, registers with the computer system 100 and sends payment information to the processor PROC via the second interface INT2 to pay the reduced charge of £50. The use of software applications on smartphones to make payments is well known in the art, and so the details of how the payment is sent will not be discussed further herein. Alternatively, the car owner could register and pay using the webpage directly, rather than downloading and installing the application software APP.

In response to the payment, the processor PROC alters the status attribute of the PCN in the first database to indicate that the payment has been made, and copies the PCN to the second database DB2. The processor PROC also notifies the voucher server VSERV that the PCN has been copied to the second database and is awaiting issuance of a PCN voucher.

The voucher server VSERV receives this notification from the processor PROC, and retrieves the information on the PCN from the second database DB2. Alternatively, the notification itself includes all the information on the PCN that is required by the voucher server, such that the voucher server does not need to separately retrieve the information from the second database DB2. In response to the notification, in a step 34, the voucher server VSERV issues a PCN voucher for £35 that is redeemable in the supermarket, and sends the PCN voucher to the application software of the smartphone PRD. Alternatively, the PCN voucher may be emailed to the car owner, or sent to their smartphone PRD in the form of a text message. The voucher server VSERV updates the status attribute of the PCN in the second database DB2 from indicating that payment has been made, to indicating that a PCN voucher has been issued and is awaiting redemption. 13'

The PCN voucher may be sent along with product suggestions for how the PCN voucher could be spent in the supermarket, the product suggestions based on information supplied by the car owner when registering with the computer system 100. A reminder of the PCN voucher could be sent to the smartphone PRD the next time that the ANPR camera ANPR1 detects that the car owner's car has entered the car park. Furthermore, the issuance of a PCN voucher may be made contingent on the car driver fully registering with the computer system 100 by answering all questions asked. An alternate "payment only" option may be offered where the car owner is not required to fully register with the computer system 100, but can instead simply pay the £50 PCN charge, without any PCN voucher being issued.

The next time that the car owner visits the supermarket car park, the car owner decides to visit the supermarket to spend the PCN voucher that the car owner has been issued with. The car owner selects various goods, and presents them at the supermarket checkout till CKT along with the PCN voucher 10. In this embodiment, the PCN voucher is a bar code, and in a step 36, the PCN voucher is scanned at the checkout till as part-payment towards the goods selected by the car owner. The PCN voucher 10 may be printed out by the car owner for handing in at the checkout till CKT, or it may be presented to the checkout till CKT directly on a screen of the smartphone PRD.

The checkout till CKT seeks authorisation from the supermarket computer server VOD to use the PCN voucher as part-payment, and the supermarket computer server VOD queries the voucher server VSERV via the third interface INT3. The voucher server looks up the PCN corresponding to the PCN voucher in the second database DB2, reads the status attribute of the PCN indicating that the PCN is awaiting redemption, and informs the supermarket computer server VOD that the PCN voucher is valid and awaiting redemption. The supermarket computer server VOD instructs the checkout till CKT to accept the PCN voucher as part-payment, and the transaction with the car owner is concluded.

The checkout till CKT confirms to the supermarket computer server VOD that the PCN voucher has been used as part-payment, and the supermarket computer server VOD instructs the voucher server VSERV that the status attribute of the PCN record in the second database should be updated to indicate that the PCN voucher has been redeemed. Then, if the car owner attempts to use the same PCN voucher for a second time, the request will be refused based on that the status attribute says the PCN voucher has already been redeemed.

In an alternate embodiment, the PCN voucher could be applied directly to a loyalty card account of the car driver with the supermarket, rather than being sent to the smartphone PRD of the car owner. Clearly the smartphone PRD could be an alternate computing device such as a tablet, a laptop, or a desktop computer in alternate embodiments.

In this embodiment, the computer system 100 is owned by the supermarket, and so the payment made by the car owner via the second interface INT2, is a payment to the supermarket. However, in an alternate embodiment, the computer system 100 is operated by a separate entity to the supermarket, and so the payment made by the car owner via the second interface INT2 is transferred to the supermarket by the voucher server VSERV instructing a bank transfer to the supermarket when the PCN voucher is redeemed.

A second embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4. Fig. 3 shows an apparatus for managing PCNs for unauthorised car parking in a street.

The apparatus comprises a computer system 200, which comprises first and second databases DB1 and DB2, a processor PROC, first, second, third, and further interfaces INT1, INT2, INT3, INTF, and a voucher server VSERV, all of which are the same as in the computer system 100 of the first embodiment. The apparatus also comprises the same remote database DVL as the first embodiment, connected to the further interface INTF.

The computer system 200 further comprises a voucher printer VPRN for printing PCN vouchers so that the PCN vouchers can be delivered by post. The voucher printer VPRN is connected to the voucher server VSERV, and receives instructions to print PCN vouchers therefrom.

In contrast to the first embodiment, the apparatus of the second embodiment includes first and second PCN issuance devices PID1 and PID2. These PCN issuance devices are portable hand-held devices of traffic wardens, and can be used by traffic wardens to issue PCN notices to owners of vehicles that the traffic wardens determine are parking in contravention of parking regulations.

The portable hand-held devices PID1 and PID2 each include a printer for printing out newly issued PCNs, so the PCNs can be affixed to the windscreens of the vehicles, and each connect to the first interface INT1 via the Internet so that the newly issued PCNs can also be sent to the computer system 200. The portable hand-held devices PID1 and PID2 may connect to the Internet wirelessly each time a new PCN is issued, or may be returned to docking stations at the end of the day so that all the PCNs issued during the day can be sent to the first interface INT1.

The printer PRNT of Fig. 1 does not appear in Fig. 3 since the parking warden delivers the PCNs to PCN recipients by placing the PCNs on the vehicle windscreens, although the computer system 200 could easily be modified to include the printer PRNT if desired so that PCNs could alternatively be delivered by post.

The apparatus of the second embodiment includes two PCN recipient devices, PRD1 and PRD2. The device PRD1 is a tablet computer of a first owner of a first vehicle, and the device PRD2 is a laptop computer of a second owner of a second vehicle. Both devices PRD1 and PRD2 are able to connect to the second interface INT2 via the Internet to pay PCNs issued to the owners of the first and second vehicles.

The apparatus also includes a voucher operator device VOD1 in the form of a computer server which is operated by a group of shops SHP1 and SHP2, a voucher operator device VOD2 in the form of a computer server operated by a shop SHP3, and a voucher operator device CHRTY in the form of a computer server which is operated by a charity. The computer servers VOD1, VOD2, and CHRTY are all connected to the third interface INT3 via the Internet, and are able to receive PCN vouchers from the voucher server VSERV, either directly or via the shops.

The shops SHP1 and SHP2 are located nearby one another along a first street that has room for cars to park on the street. The shop SHP3 is in a second street different from the first street, and has a parking space reserved for vehicles of disabled persons on the street outside of the shop.

A flow diagram showing a first use of the computer system 200 will now be described with reference to Fig. 4. In a first step 40, a first owner of a first vehicle parks their vehicle in a first location on the street outside the first and second shops SHP1 and SHP2. The first owner buys a parking ticket and displays it in the first vehicle, however the parking ticket expires before the first owner return to the first vehicle, and a traffic warden checking parking tickets notices that the parking ticket has expired, and decides to issue a PCN.

The traffic warden is in possession of the portable issuance device PID1, and in a step 42, enters the vehicle number plate into the device PID1, which issues and prints a first PCN. The traffic warden fixes the first PCN to the windscreen of the first vehicle, for the first owner to receive when the first owner returns to the vehicle. The portable issuance device PID1 wirelessly connects to the Internet, for example via a mobile telecommunications network or a wireless network, and sends the first PCN to the first interface INT1 of the computer server 200.

The processor PROC receives the first PCN from the first interface INT1, and stores the PCN in the first database DB1, including a status that the PCN has yet to be paid. The processor PROC also retrieves name and address details of the first owner by sending the number plate of the first vehicle to the remote V7 database DVL via the further interface INTF, and stores the name and address details as part of the first PCN in the first database.

The first owner returns to the first vehicle, and receives the first PCN that is affixed to the windscreen. The first owner reads the first PCN, which informs the first owner to visit a website to pay the first PCN.

Later that day in a step 44, the first owner uses their tablet computer PRD1 to visit the website, which corresponds to the second interface INT2, and sends payment details to the website to pay the first PCN. Once the payment is received, the processor PROC changes the status of the PCN in the first database to indicate the first PCN has been paid, and copies the first PCN to the second database DB2. The processor PROC also sends a notification to the voucher server VSERV that a new PCN has just been paid, and the voucher server VSERV reads the newly paid first PCN from the second database. In an alternate embodiment, instead of the processor PROC copying the first PCN to the second database, the processor may send the first PCN directly to the voucher server VSERV, for the voucher server VSERV to enter the first PCN into the second database instead of the processor. Therefore, the second database may alternatively be implemented within the voucher server VSERV.

The voucher server VSERV then issues a first PCN voucher in response to the payment of the first PCN, the first PCN voucher being specific to the group of first and second shops SHP1 and SHP2. The voucher server VSERV instructs the printer VPRN to print out the first PCN voucher, which is then posted to the name and address of the first vehicle owner in a step 46.

The first vehicle owner receives the first PCN voucher, and the next day visits the first shop SHP1 and in a step 48 presents the first PCN voucher as payment for goods being bought in the first shop SHP1. The first shop SHP1 connects to the computer server VOD1, and requests that the first PCN voucher is used to finance the payment amount of the goods. The computer server VOD1 connects to the second computer system 200 via the third interface INT3, and the voucher server VSERV checks the status of the first PCN in the second database DB2. Since the status of the first PCN in the second database indicates the first PCN voucher has yet to be redeemed, the voucher server VSERV confirms to the computer server VOD1 that the first PCN voucher can be used as payment.

The payment transaction is concluded, and the voucher server VSERV changes the status of the first PCN in the second database to indicate that the first PCN voucher has been redeemed up to the value of the payment amount. The voucher server VSERV instructs a bank transfer of the payment amount to the first shop SHP1.

The first owner then visits the second shop SHP2, and spends the remaining amount of the first PCN voucher as part-payment towards goods in the second shop SHP2, with the second shop SHP2 confirming the validity of the payment with the voucher server VSERV via the computer server VOD1. The value of the first PCN voucher has now been fully redeemed, and the voucher server VSERV changes the status of the first PCN in the second database accordingly, so that the second PCN voucher cannot be used again.

A flow diagram showing a second use of the computer system 200 will now be described with reference to Fig. 5. In a first step 50, a second owner of a second vehicle parks their vehicle in a second location on the street outside the third shop SHP3. The second location is a disabled parking bay, and before the second owner returns to the second vehicle, a traffic warden notices that the second vehicle does not display any entitlement to disabled parking, and decides to issue a PCN.

The traffic warden is in possession of the portable issuance device PID2, and in a step 52, enters the vehicle number plate into the device PID2, which issues and prints a second PCN. The traffic warden fixes the second PCN to the windscreen of the second vehicle, for the second owner to receive when the second owner returns to the vehicle. The portable issuance device PID2 is later connected to a docking station, which sends PCNs including the second PCN to the first interface INT1 of the computer server 200 via the Internet.

The processor PROC receives the second PCN from the first interface INT1, and stores the second PCN in the first database DB1, including a status that the second PCN has yet to be paid. The processor PROC also retrieves name and address details of the second owner by sending the number plate of the second vehicle to the remote database DVL via the further interface INTF, and stores the name and address details as part of the second PCN in the first database.

The second owner returns to the second vehicle, and receives the second PCN that is affixed to the windscreen. The second owner reads the second PCN, which informs the second owner to visit a website to pay the second PCN.

Later that day in a step 54, the second owner uses their laptop computer PRD2 to visit the website, which corresponds to the second interface INT2, and sends payment details to the website to pay the second PCN. The second owner is informed by the website that a higher value PCN vouchers will be issued if the second owner registers with the website by entering personal details and answering a questionnaire on product preferences. Accordingly, the second owner chooses to register, and answer the questionnaire.

The website also provides the second owner with a choice allowing the second owner to specify whether the PCN vouchers should be sent to them in the post, delivered electronically to their email address, or sent directly to the computer server VOD3 of the third shop SHP3 so that the vouchers can be credited to an account of the second owner that the second owner holds with the third shop SHP3.

The second owner specifies that the vouchers should be sent directly to the computer server VOD3 of the third shop SHP3, and credited to an account that the second owner holds with the third shop SHP.

The website then offers the second owner the opportunity to donate some of the value of the PCN vouchers to one or more charities, and the second owner specifies that a particular charity should receive 10% of the value of the vouchers.

Once the payment is received and the second owner has registered and completed the questionnaire, the processor PROC changes the status of the second PCN in the first database to indicate the second PCN has been paid along with registration and completion of the questionnaire, and to specify that 90% of the value of the vouchers should be sent to the computer server VOD3 of the third shop SHP3 so that the vouchers can be credited to the account of the second owner, and that 10% of the value of the vouchers should be sent to the particular charity.

The processor PROC then copies the second PCN to the second database DB2. The processor PROC also sends a notification to the voucher server VSERV that a new PCN has just been paid, and the voucher server VSERV reads the newly paid second PCN from the second database.

In a step 56, the voucher server VSERV then issues a second PCN voucher in response to the payment of the second PCN, the second PCN voucher being specific to the shop SHP3 which the second owner parked outside of. The voucher server VSERV sends the second PCN voucher to the computer server VOD3 of the third shop SHP3, and instructs a bank transfer to the third shop SHP3, the bank transfer corresponding to the second PCN voucher. The voucher server VSERV also sends information on the second owner's responses to the questionnaire to the computer server VOD3.

The voucher server VSERV also issues a third PCN voucher in response to the payment of the second PCN, the third PCN voucher being specific to the charity which the second owner specified during payment of the second PCN. The voucher server VSERV sends the third PCN voucher to the computer server CHRTY of the charity, and instructs a bank transfer to the charity, the bank transfer corresponding to the third PCN voucher.

The voucher server VSERV then alters the status of the second PCN in the second database to indicate that the vouchers for the second PCN have been redeemed.

The next time that the second vehicle owner visits the third shop SHP3, the second vehicle owner uses the money in their account with the third shop SHP3 from the second voucher to finance the purchase of goods or services. When the money is drawn from the second owner's account, the computer server VOD3 sends to the third shop SHP3 details of any promotions connected with the products that the second owner expressed preference for in the questionnaire, for the third shop to flag up to the second owner in case the second owner wishes to make any further purchases.

In this embodiment, the second PCN is issued by a public parking authority employing the traffic warden, since the street outside the third shop SHP3 is public land. Although, in an alternate embodiment where the second owner parks adjacent the street on private land in front of the third shop SHP3, the second PCN may be a parking charge notice issued by a private parking company for unauthorised parking on the private land.

Many other variations of the described embodiments falling within the scope of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, only one PCN issuance device is present in the first embodiment for ease of explanation, although multiple PCN issuance devices for several different parking locations could be connected to the first interface INT1 in alternate embodiments.

Only one voucher operator device is present in the first embodiment for ease of explanation, although multiple different voucher operator devices for several different voucher operators, such as different supermarkets or organisations, could be connected to the third interface INT3 in alternate embodiments, the voucher server VSERV determining which of the voucher operators each voucher should be specific to, based on which parking location the PCN database indicates the PCN was issued in, or which voucher operator is designated in the PCN database for the PCN.

In alternate embodiments, all the elements of the both the Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 apparatuses could be combined into a single apparatus that utilised both ANPR cameras and portable PCN issuance devices held by traffic wardens. Although the specific embodiments relate to PCN issued for unauthorised car parking, the same principles can easily be applied to other unauthorised acts for which PCNs are issued, such as non or incomplete payment on public transport, late check-out of hotels, overdrafts and other bank charges, excess spend or other contract violations of telecoms contracts, all of which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (23)

1. CLAIMS1. An apparatus for managing penalty charge notices (PCNs) issued to PCN recipients, the apparatus comprising: a PCN database configured to store PCNs; a first interface configured to receive newly issued PCNs; a processor configured to receive the newly issued PCN's from the first interface and add the newly issued PCNs to the PCN database; a second interface configured to receive payment information from PCN recipients, wherein the processor is configured to take payment from PCN recipients based on the payment information, and to modify the PCNs in the PCN database to indicate which PCNs have been paid; and a PCN voucher server for issuing PCN vouchers to PCN recipients, wherein the PCN voucher server is configured to issue to a PCN recipient a PCN voucher that is specific to a PCN voucher operator, upon payment of a PCN that was issued to the PCN recipient.
2. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each PCN is associated with a PCN voucher operator, and wherein upon payment of each PCN, a PCN voucher specific to the PCN voucher operator that is associated with the PCN is issued by the PCN voucher server.
3. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the PCN database is configured to store for each PCN a designation of a corresponding PCN voucher operator, and wherein upon payment of each PCN, the PCN voucher server is configured to issue a PCN voucher that is specific to the PCN voucher operator designated in the PCN database for that PCN.
4. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, 2, or 3, further comprising a PCN issuing device for connecting to the first interface and sending newly issued PCNs thereto for recordal in the PCN database.
5. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera that is connected to the PCN issuing device, wherein the PCN issuing device is configured to review vehicle number plates recorded by the ANPR camera.
6. 6. The apparatus of any preceding claim, further comprising a portable PCN issuing device configured to issue PCNs to PCN recipients, and to send the PCNs to the first interface for recordal in the PCN database.
7. 7. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the second interface comprises a website that is accessible to PCN recipients via the Internet.
8. 8. The apparatus of any preceding claim, further configured to send PCN application software to a device of a PCN recipient, for running the PCN application software on the device.
9. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the PCN application software is configured to receive payment details from the PCN recipient and send the payment details to the second interface.
10. 10. The apparatus of claim 8 or 9, wherein the PCN application software is configured to receive PCN vouchers from the PCN voucher server.
11. 11. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the PCN voucher server is configured to issue a PCN voucher to a PCN recipients via an email, the PCN voucher being represented by an electronic code within the email.
12. 12. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the PCN voucher server is configured to issue a PCN voucher to a PCN recipient by crediting an account of the PCN recipient with the PCN voucher, the account being an account that the PCN recipient holds with the PCN voucher operator that is associated with the PCN voucher.
13. 13. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the PCN voucher server is configured to issue to a PCN recipient, a plurality of vouchers associated with a plurality of respective PCN voucher operators, upon payment of a PCN that was issued to the PCN recipient.
14. 14. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus further comprises a third interface for PCN voucher operators, the third interface configured to allow querying of PCNs in the PCN database and specification of voucher rules for the PCN voucher server, the voucher rules defining the value of PCN vouchers that are specific to PCN voucher operators.
15. 15. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the PCN database is configured to store redemption statuses for the PCNs, wherein each redemption status indicates whether a PCN voucher for the PCN has been redeemed.
16. 16. The apparatus of claim 15 when appended to claim 14, wherein the third interface is configured to receive from a PCN voucher operator an indicator that a PCN voucher has been redeemed, and wherein the PCN voucher server is configured to set the redemption status of the PCN that is associated with the indicated PCN voucher in the PCN database to a status indicating the PCN voucher has been redeemed.
17. 17. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the second interface is configured to allow selection of a charity, and wherein the PCN voucher server is configured to issue a PCN voucher to a PCN recipient by crediting an account of a charity selected by the PCN recipient.
18. 18. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the PCN database comprises first and second separate databases, the first database configured to store PCNs which have yet to be paid, and the second database configured to store PCNs which have been paid and for which PCN voucher(s) have been issued, wherein the processor is configured to copy PCNs from the first database to the second database once the PCNs are paid.
19. 19. The apparatus of any preceding claim, further comprising a further interface that is configured to send a first PCN recipient identification information to a remote database, and receive a second PCN recipient identification information from the remote database, the second PCN recipient identification information providing additional identification information to the first PCN recipient identification information, and wherein the processor is configured to record the second PCN recipient identification information in the PCN database.
20. 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first PCN recipient identification information is a vehicle number plate, and wherein the second PCN recipient identification information is a name and address of an owner of the vehicle.
21. 21 The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein each PCN voucher has a monetary value of less than a charge associated with the PCN that was paid by the PCN recipient.
22. 22. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the PCNs are vehicle parking fines.
23. 23. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the PCN vouchers are redeemable in return for goods or services of the PCN voucher operators that are associated with the PCN vouchers.